The Beauty Of Jap Ji Sahib

In this phrase: gaavee-ai  suṇee-ai  man rakhee-ai bhaau. Guru Sahib is teaching us the technique to sing and listen to Kirtan.

The word bhaau is one of the most important words in Sikh spiritual understanding but not explained very well. This word is often used in gurbani when the technique of salvation, moksha etc. is referred to.

bhaao bhagath kar neech sadhaaeae. tho naanak mokha(n)thar paaeae .

I feel that ਭਾਉ (bhaau), meaning: Love, is a very broad meaning.  
More appropriate meaning should be LOVE/FEELINGS & EMOTIONS 
Therefore in this phrase guru sahib is telling us, gursikh whenever you sing or listen to the shabad there should be similar feeling and emotions in your mind which are expressed in that shabad. Then only the connection happens. This is also called as tuning of the mind.

Like we tune our radio to listen BBC news, we have to tune our mind to listen to gurbani because gurbani is (maan nu updesh) message to the mind. Once we understand the concept of One God, all pervading, feeling presence of waheguru, concept of death, accepting will of God, chardikala/happy state of mind, truthful living, no to karam kand, deep desire to meet the Lord, naam jaap, seva, satsagat, ardaas, prema bhakti, grace of waheguru, other divine qualities, our mind will get fine-tuned to receive gurbani message. Many shabads that are sung may revolve around these concepts directly or indirectly.

I would like to give one example to clarify:

I wish you to imagine a situation with great sincerity/depth. One gursikh whose daily Ardaas includes – “deep desire to meet guru/God” and when he comes to the gurdwara and sits down to listen to kirtan and raagi ji starts the shabad – mil mere preetmaa jeeo tudh bin kharee nimaanee. Don’t you think he will hit the peak of vairaag or at least he will understand the shabad much better because his mind was fine tuned to the divine frequency as compared to the other person who was simply listening without going to the depth in meanings/feelings?  Therefore when the meanings as well as the feelings are attached to the shabad, we can understand gurbani with greater depth.  

I feel this is what is meant by gaavee-ai suṇee-ai man rakhee-ai bhaau. 
Keep your eyes closed and try to match your inner feelings with the feelings expressed in the shabad. Better tuning means greater happiness while listening to the kirtan.

RESULT: ek nadar kar vekhai sabh oopar   jeha bhau teha phal paaeeai.
He looks alike upon all; one receives the fruit according to one’s love and devotion. -GGS: 602  -Jasbir Singh Chawla 

The Beauty of Jap Ji Sahib
A Poetic Rendition Part 3

Pauri 8 
By listening – are we made an adept, a spiritual preceptor, 
god like, and a king among yogis.
By listening – are we made privy to the secret of your creation.
By listening – are the continents, nether regions and higher realms made clear.
By listening – are we delivered from the kiss of death. 
O Nanak, the devotee who listens to your Name, remains forever in bloom. 
By listening – is release from sorrow and sin obtained

Pauri 9
By listening – we become like Shiva, Brahma and Indra.  
By listening – are we made capable of your praise. 
By listening – are the secrets of yoga and the body gained. 
By listening – is divine knowledge attained. 
O Nanak, the devotee who listens to your Name, remains forever in bloom.
By listening – is release from sorrow and sin obtained

Pauri 10 
By listening – truthfulness, contentment and wisdom is born. 
By listening – we’re immersed, as if on the sixty-eight pilgrimages.
By listening – scholarly repute we gain. . 
By listening – is mindful attention attained.
O Nanak, the devotee who listens to your Name, remains forever in bloom.
By listening – is release from sorrow and sin obtained.

Pauri 11 
By listening – the ocean of virtue is fathomed. 
By listening – sage like, spiritual teachers and emperors we become. 
By listening – even the blind see the way. 
By listening – the fathomless is grasped.
O Nanak, the devotee who listens to your name, remains forever in bloom.
By listening – is release from sorrow and sin obtained.

Let the world know about Guru Nanak and his divine revelations through this wonderful piece of divine composition!
 

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here