CONTD FROM Vol 7 ISSUE 36 || 6 || 14 || 21 || ONE UNIVERSAL CREATOR GOD. BY THE GRACE OF THE TRUE GURU: RAAG AASAA, FIFTH MEHL, CHHANT, FIRST HOUSE: Joy – great joy! I have seen the Lord God! Tasted – I have tasted the sweet essence of the Lord. The sweet essence of the Lord has rained down in my mind; by the pleasure of the True Guru, I have attained peaceful ease. I have come to dwell in the home of my own self, and I sing the songs of joy; the five villains have fled. I am soothed and satisfied with the Ambrosial Bani of His Word; the friendly Saint is my advocate. Says Nanak, my mind is in harmony with the Lord; I have seen God with my eyes. || 1 || Adorned – adorned are my beauteous gates, O Lord. Guests – my guests are the Beloved Saints, O Lord. The Beloved Saints have resolved my affairs; I humbly bowed to them, and committed myself to their service. He Himself is the groom’s party, and He Himself the bride’s party; He Himself is the Lord and Master; He Himself is the Divine Lord. He Himself resolves His own affairs; He Himself sustains the Universe. Says Nanak, my Bridegroom is sitting in my home; the gates of my body are beautifully adorned.

|| 2 || The nine treasures – the nine treasures come into my home, Lord. Everything – I obtain everything, meditating on the Naam, the Name of the Lord. Meditating on the Naam, the Lord of the Universe becomes the one’s eternal companion, and he dwells in peaceful ease. His calculations are ended, his wanderings cease, and his mind is no longer afflicted with anxiety. When the Lord of the Universe reveals Himself, and the unstruck melody of the sound current vibrates, the drama of wondrous splendor is enacted. Says Nanak, when my Husband Lord is with me, I obtain the nine treasures. || 3 || Over-joyed – over-joyed are all my brothers and friends. Meeting the Guru, I have won the most arduous battle in the arena of life. Meeting the Guru, I am victorious; praising the Lord, Har, Har, the walls of the fortress of doubt have been destroyed. I have obtained the wealth of so many treasures; the Lord Himself has stood by my side. He is the man of spiritual wisdom, and he is the leader, whom God has made His own. Says Nanak, when the Lord and Master is on my side, then my brothers and friends rejoice.

|| 4 || 1 || AASAA, FIFTH MEHL: Inexpressible is the sermon of the inexpressible Lord; it cannot be known at all. The demi-gods, mortal beings, angels and silent sages express it in their peaceful poise. In their poise, they recite the Ambrosial Bani of the Lord’s Word; they embrace love for the Lord’s Lotus Feet. Meditating on the One incomprehensible and immaculate Lord, they obtain the fruits of their heart’s desires. Renouncing self-conceit, emotional attachment, corruption and duality, their light merges into the Light. Prays Nanak, by Guru’s Grace, one enjoys the Lord’s Love forever. || 1 || The Lord’s Saints – the Lord’s Saints are my friends, my best friends and helpers. By great good fortune, by great good fortune, I have obtained the Sat Sangat, the True Congregation. By great good fortune, I obtained it, and I meditate on the Naam, the Name of the Lord; my pains and sufferings have been taken away. I have grasped the Guru’s Feet, and my doubts and fears are gone. He Himself has erased my self-conceit. Granting His Grace, God has united me with Himself; no longer do I suffer the pains of separation, and I shall not have to go anywhere. Prays Nanak, I am forever Your slave, Lord; I seek Your Sanctuary.

|| 2 || The Lord’s Gate – at the Lord’s Gate, Your beloved devotees look beautiful. I am a sacrifice, a sacrifice, again and again a sacrifice to them. I am forever a sacrifice, and I humbly bow to them; meeting them, I know God. The Perfect and All-powerful Lord, the Architect of Destiny, is contained in each and every heart, everywhere. Meeting the Perfect Guru, we meditate on the Naam, and do not lose this life in the gamble. Prays Nanak, I seek Your Sanctuary; please, shower Your Mercy upon me, and protect me. || 3 || Innumerable – innumerable are Your Glorious Virtues; how many of them can I sing? The dust of Your feet, of Your feet, I have obtained, by great good fortune. Bathing in the Lord’s dust, my filth has been washed away, and the pains of birth and death have departed. Inwardly and outwardly, the Transcendent Lord God is ever-present, always with us. Suffering departs, and there is peace; singing the Kirtan of the Lord’s Praises, one is not consigned to reincarnation again. Prays Nanak, in the Guru’s Sanctuary, one swims across, and is pleasing to God. || 4 || 2 || AASAA, CHHANT, FIFTH MEHL, FOURTH HOUSE: ONE UNIVERSAL CREATOR GOD. BY THE GRACE OF THE TRUE GURU: My mind is pierced by the Lord’s Lotus Feet; He alone is sweet to my mind, the Lord King. Joining the Society of the Saints, I meditate on the Lord in adoration; I behold the Lord King in each and every heart.

I behold the Lord in each and every heart, and the Ambrosial Nectar rains down upon me; the pains of birth and death are gone. Singing the Praises of the Lord, the treasure of virtue, all my pains are erased, and the knot of ego has been untied. My Beloved shall not leave me to go anywhere – this is His natural way; my mind is imbued with the lasting color of the Lord’s Love. The Lotus Feet of the Lord have pierced Nanak’s mind, and now, nothing else seems sweet to him. || 1 || Just like the fish which revels in water, I am intoxicated with the sublime essence of the Lord, my Lord King. The Perfect Guru has instructed me, and blessed me with salvation in my life; I love the Lord, my King. The Lord Master, the Searcher of hearts, blesses me with salvation in my life; He Himself attaches me to His Love. The Lord is the treasure of jewels, the perfect manifestation; He shall not forsake us to go anywhere else. God, the Lord Master, is so accomplished, beauteous, and all-knowing; His gifts are never exhausted. As the fish is enraptured by the water, so is Nanak intoxicated by the Lord. || 2 || As the song-bird yearns for the rain-drop, the Lord, the Lord my King, is the Support of my breath of life. My Lord King is more beloved than all wealth, treasure, children, siblings and friends.

The absolute Lord, the Primal Being, is more beloved than all; His condition cannot be known. I shall never forget the Lord, for an instant, for a single breath; through the Word of the Guru’s Shabad, I enjoy His Love. The Primal Lord God is the Life of the Universe; His Saints drink in the Lord’s sublime essence. Meditating on Him, doubts, attachments and pains are shaken off. As the song-bird yearns for the rain-drop, so does Nanak love the Lord. || 3 || Meeting the Lord, my Lord King, my desires are fulfilled. The walls of doubt have been torn down, meeting the Brave Guru, O Lord King. The Perfect Guru is obtained by perfect pre-ordained destiny; God is the Giver of all treasures – He is merciful to the meek. In the beginning, in the middle, and in the end, is God, the most beautiful Guru, the Sustainer of the World. The dust of the feet of the Holy purifies sinners, and brings great joy, bliss and ecstasy. The Lord, the Infinite Lord, has met with Nanak, and his desires are fulfilled.

|| 4 || 1 || 3 || AASAA, FIFTH MEHL, CHHANT, SIXTH HOUSE: ONE UNIVERSAL CREATOR GOD. BY THE GRACE OF THE TRUE GURU: SHALOK: Those beings, unto whom the Lord God shows His Mercy, meditate on the Lord, Har, Har. O Nanak, they embrace love for the Lord, meeting the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy. || 1 || CHHANT: Just like water, which loves milk so much that it will not let it burn – O my mind, so love the Lord. The bumble bee becomes enticed by the lotus, intoxicated by its fragrance, and does not leave it, even for a moment. Do not let up your love for the Lord, even for an instant; dedicate all your decorations and pleasures to Him. Where painful cries are heard, and the Way of Death is shown, there, in the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, you shall not be afraid. Sing the Kirtan, the Praises of the Lord of the Universe, and all sins and sorrows shall depart. Says Nanak, chant the Hymns of the Lord, the Lord of the Universe, O mind, and enshrine love for the Lord; love the Lord this way in your mind. || 1 || As the fish loves the water, and is not content even for an instant outside it, O my mind, love the Lord in this way. Like the song-bird, thirsting for the rain-drops, chirping each and every moment to the beautiful rain clouds.

So love the Lord, and give to Him this mind of yours; totally focus your consciousness on the Lord. Do not take pride in yourself, but seek the Sanctuary of the Lord, and make yourself a sacrifice to the Blessed Vision of His Darshan. When the Guru is totally pleased, the separated soul-bride is re-united with her Husband Lord; she sends the message of her true love. Says Nanak, chant the Hymns of the Infinite Lord Master; O my mind, love Him and enshrine such love for Him. || 2 || The chakvi bird is in love with the sun, and thinks of it constantly; her greatest longing is to behold the dawn. The cuckoo is in love with the mango tree, and sings so sweetly. O my mind, love the Lord in this way. Love the Lord, and do not take pride in yourself; everyone is a guest for a single night. Now, why are you entangled in pleasures, and engrossed in emotional attachment? Naked we come, and naked we go. Seek the eternal Sanctuary of the Holy and fall at their feet, and the attachments which you feel shall depart. Says Nanak, chant the Hymns of the Merciful Lord God, and enshrine love for the Lord, O my mind; otherwise, how will you come to behold the dawn? || 3 || Like the deer in the night, who hears the sound of the bell and gives his heart – O my mind, love the Lord in this way. Like the wife, who is bound by love to her husband, and serves her beloved – like this, give your heart to the Beloved Lord.

Give your heart to your Beloved Lord, and enjoy His bed, and enjoy all pleasure and bliss. I have obtained my Husband Lord, and I am dyed in the deep crimson color of His Love; after such a long time, I have met my Friend. When the Guru became my advocate, then I saw the Lord with my eyes. No one else looks like my Beloved Husband Lord. Says Nanak, chant the Hymns of the merciful and fascinating Lord, O mind. Grasp the lotus feet of the Lord, and enshrine such love for Him in your mind. || 4 || 1 || 4 || AASAA, FIFTH MEHL, SHALOK: From forest to forest, I wandered searching; I am so tired of taking baths at sacred shrines of pilgrimage. O Nanak, when I met the Holy Saint, I found the Lord within my mind.