ਬਉਰਾ (bauraa)
Meaning: adjective: Mad, crazy.
Quote:
ਬਿਖੈ ਬਾਚੁ ਹਰਿ ਰਾਚੁ ਸਮਝੁ ਮਨ ਬਉਰਾ ਰੇ॥
bikhai baach har raach samajh man bauraa re.
O crazy mind! Understand (take this advice), escape from vices and immerse yourself in the Divine. – Bhagat Kabir, Guru Granth Sahib, 336
Message: The human mind is a powerful faculty of reasoning and thoughts, holding the power of imagination, memory, perception and judgement. It is also responsible for processing feelings and emotion. The outcome of these is seen in our attitude and actions. Simply put, sinful thoughts will lead to sinful actions and vice versa, virtuous thoughts to good deeds.
Pause for a moment and focus on the thoughts running through your mind at this moment. Sit with these thoughts. If they are turned into actions, where would they place you in the scale between sinful and virtuous actions? Bhagat Kabir is asking us to understand the workings of the mind. It may be crazy but it can be directed. With the wisdom from Gurbani, we can sieve through our thoughts and turn into action only those that are virtuous. The mind can be disciplined. Our thoughts can be refreshed. Remember that in us, are qualities of the Divine, which we have forgotten or lost touch with. Gurbani teaches us how to tap into these original, positive qualities, and displace negative patterns.
ਰੇ ਜਨ ਮਨੁ ਮਾਧਉ ਸਿਉ ਲਾਈਐ॥
O human! Link your mind to the Divine. – Bhagat Kabir, Guru Granth Sahib, 324
Click here to listen to the hymn: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0g4sXnvJoaE
Etymology: From Sanskrit vaayur (windy, crazy) → Sindhi vaauraṇu (to winnow), Bengali baauraa, and Punjabi baauraa, baavaraa, bauraa (mad).
