Vahiguru ji ka Khalsa, Vahiguru ji ki Fatih!

How do we make sense of genocide, war, human suffering, and the struggle for human rights taking place globally? How do we comprehend the daily struggle for survival faced by millions today? The pain and loss seem overwhelming, the scale of injustice staggering. Yet, amidst this chaos, we seek meaning, yearning for understanding and a path to justice and healing. How do we transform our anguish into compassion, our despair into resilience? How do we find light in the darkest corners of human experience and rise above the tide of suffering that engulfs so many?

Shall we turn a blind eye, lost in oblivion?
Shall we let our hearts grow cold, dulled by numbness?
Shall we succumb to despair, our spirits weighed down?

Or shall we rise, as the sun does each day, casting light upon the darkness?
Shall we let empathy flow like a river, carving paths through the hardest of stones?
Shall we transform our sorrow into a beacon of hope, illuminating the way for others?
Shall we stand unwavering in the face of suffering with courage and compassion?
Shall we find strength in solidarity, in the shared quest for justice and peace?
Shall we, amid the tumult of despair, listen for the whispers of resilience and grace?

In the first composition of Babarvani (Utterances on Babar), Guru Nanak Sahib poignantly documents the profound human suffering caused by Babar’s brutal invasion of South Asia, framing it within the divine context of IkOankar, the 1Force, the Creator.

The Guru proclaims, O Creator! You are the caretaker of all! If the powerful strikes the powerful, then no anger is felt in the mind. People naturally call out to the Creator in deep grief, seeking solace and understanding. Even the ruthless military and political leaders who orchestrate horrific acts of violence are ultimately subservient to the Creator. However, the Guru imparts a profound and challenging insight: the destruction, suffering, and dramatic shifts in political power are all manifestations of the greatness of the Creator. It is the Creator who unites and separates, creates, and destroys. Amid the chaos and turmoil, the Guru maintains a deep sense of awe for IkOankar, recognizing the divine play in every moment of upheaval.

We pause.
We reflect.

The Guru witnessed.
The Guru chronicled.
The Guru endured imprisonment.

Can we envision ourselves responding with such grace?
Can we perceive 1Ness, the singular perfection in all things?
Can we transcend despair and act with purpose?
Can we immerse in Nam, Divine-Identification, to uphold our serenity amidst suffering?

May we long to embrace the awe of IkOankar.
May the Wisdom-Guru guide us!