ਭੈ (bh-ai)
Meaning: noun: Fear.
Quote:
ਭੈ ਕਾਹੂ ਕਉ ਦੇਤ ਨਹਿ ਨਹਿ ਭੈ ਮਾਨਤ ਆਨ॥
ਕਹੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਸੁਨਿ ਰੇ ਮਨਾ ਗਿਆਨੀ ਤਾਹਿ ਬਖਾਨਿ॥
ਜੋ ਕਿਸੇ ਨੂੰ ਡਰਾਵੇ ਨਹੀਂ ਦਿੰਦਾ ਅਤੇ ਨਾ ਹੀ ਹੋਰਨਾਂ ਦੇ ਡਰਾਵੇ ਮੰਨਦਾ ਹੈ, ਭਾਵ, ਜੋ ਮਨੁਖ ਨਿਰਵੈਰ ਅਤੇ ਨਿਰਭਉ ਹੈ; ਨਾਨਕ ਦਾ ਕਥਨ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਹੇ ਮਨ! ਸੁਣ – ਉਸੇ ਮਨੁਖ ਨੂੰ ਤੂੰ ਗਿਆਨਵਾਨ ਆਖ।
bh-ai kaahoo ko det nah nah bh-ai maanat aan.
kahu naanak sun re manaa giaanee taahi bakhaan.
One who does not frighten anyone, and nor has any fear of others; Nanak says, listen, O mind! Call that person only wise. -Guru Teg Bahadar, Guru Granth Sahib, 1427
Message: The quote above is addressed to the mind. Call him or her spiritually or morally wise who does not frighten anyone nor has any fear. By extension, we can say that it is guidance for all of us.
Fear is the one characteristic that differentiates the spiritually wise from the rest. The wise have no reason to be afraid of anyone or to frighten anyone. Their level of consciousness has placed them at the feet of the Divine who is their eternal protector.
Guru Teg Bahadur was not afraid of the Moghul ruler’s threats as he did not fear death. He had complete faith in the eternal Protector.
He believed in freedom of worship and the right to practice one’s religion with love and tolerance. He was more than willing to make a sacrifice to liberate people from fear and oppression.
Fear rules most of us. It cripples and paralyses us. We allow it to rule us. We do not have enough faith that there is an eternal Master who is our protector. We see a need in this life to protect ourselves from others.
Time and time again, we are reminded to reflect on the Divine and His role in our lives. His wisdom is explained to us. We still choose to be full of fear. We refuse to surrender to His protection. We do not trust Him enough to look after us.
Guru Teg Bahadur had no fear but full trust in his Master.
Etymology: Plural of bhau from Sanskrit bhaya (fear, peril) → Pali → Prakrit bhaya (fear) → Sindhi/Lahndi/Punjabi bhau (fear, danger).
