Monday

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11

October

2021

Death is a thing we all must do. But we are deeply afraid of it. In classically religious Sikh and non-Sikh understandings, and even in non-religious understandings, death is personified as an aggressive thing that snatches us away, drags us by our hair, beats us over the head.  Follow Jasleen in her exploration of Salok Mahala 9 as Guru Teghbahadar Sahib helps us confront our fear of death and understand the lessons death has to teach us here and now.

Friday

,

1

October

2021

The sakhi of how Guru Angad Sahib and Guru ji met is momentous. Their paths crossed at the perfect time. Guru Angad Sahib was Bhai Lehna ji at that time. Guru ji’s wisdom was something that Bhai Lehna ji was absolutely missing in his life. He was unaware of the power of Vahiguru. Guru ji wisdom and understanding broadened Bhai Lehna ji. This beautiful sakhi truly captures how wise Guru ji was, so wise that Bhai Lehna ji felt that he needed to reshape his life to live by the wisdom of Guru ji. Listen along to hear the meeting of Bhai Lehna ji with Guru ji.

Friday

,

17

September

2021

Introducing Paigham-i-Goya: Expression of Love, new translations of a selection of ghazals from Bhai Nand Lal “Goya.” Today’s podcast begins with a recitation of Bhai Nand Lal’s ghazal in Persian, followed by a new English transcreation, the result of a unique collaboration between Dr. Fatima Fayyaz and Dr. Nadhra Khan of Lahore University of Management Sciences, Damanpreet Singh, writer, and graduate student, and Inni Kaur of SikhRI, followed by a discussion between Daman and Inni about the beauty of the ghazal and the transcreation process. Follow Damanpreet and Inni as they discuss their learnings and challenges while engaging with the words of Bhai Nand Lal. The unique and symbolic meanings that these ghazals reveal are a treat for those who yearn to get a glimpse into the court of Guru Gobind Singh Sahib. Author: Bhai Nand Lal “Goya” Collection: Divan-i-Goya Transcreators: Fatima Fayyaz, Inni Kaur, Nadhra Khan, and Damanpreet Singh Persian Narrator: Gholamhossein Sajadi English Narrator: Ryan Gillis Persian ز فیض مقدمت ای آبروی فصل بهار جهان چو باغِ ارم پُر شد است از گلزار تبسّمِ تو جهان را حیات می بخشد قرارِ دیدهٔ صاحب دلانِ پر اسرار بغیرِ عشق خدا هیچ عشق قایم نیست بغیرِ عاشقِ مولا همه فنا پندار به هر طرف که نگاه می کنی روان بخشی نگاه توست که در هر طرف بود جاندار خدا که در همه حال است حاضر‌ و ناظر کجا ست دیده که بیند به هر طرف دیدار بغیرِ عارفِ مولا کسی نجات نیافت اجل زمین و زمان را گرفته در منقار همیشه زنده بود بندهٔ خدا گویا که غیر بندگیش نیست در جهان آثار English Translation O pride of spring, with the grace of Your arrival, The world, just like the garden of paradise, abounds with flowers. Your smile graces the world with life, It is the ointment that soothes the eyes of men whose hearts can discern divine secrets. No love can last unless graced by Divine love, All shall be annihilated other than the one in love with the Divine. Everywhere You look, You grace life, It is Your gaze that bestows life in every direction. The Divine is always present and watchful, Where is the eye that can witness these manifestations in every direction? It is only the Divine’s mystic who attains liberation, As time and space are held in the beak of fate. Goyā: The Divine’s slave becomes immortal, As other than this bondage, nothing in the world has permanence.