ਹਰਿ ਜਨ (hari jan)
Meaning: noun: Devotee of the Divine; devout person.
Quote:
ਹਰਿ ਜਨ ਕਉ ਇਹੀ ਸੁਹਾਵੈ॥ ਪੇਖਿ ਨਿਕਟਿ ਕਰਿ ਸੇਵਾ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਹਰਿ ਕੀਰਤਨਿ ਹੀ ਤ੍ਰਿਪਤਾਵੈ॥
hari jan kau ihee suhaavai.
pekh nikaṭ kar sevaa satgur hari keertan hee triptaavai.
This is what pleases a devotee of the Divine: Serve the true Guru, recognise the Divine proximity and be satiated by singing the praises of the Divine. – Guru Arjan Sahib, Guru Granth Sahib, 613
Message:
What does a devotee desire or what motivates a devout person?
A devotee follows the Guru’s teachings and acknowledges the Creator’s close proximity by remembering and singing His praises. In this manner, the devotee becomes satiated.
The devotee of the Divine enjoys a unique position since his relationship with the Divine is exceptional as the Divine also reciprocates and loves His devotee.
When we endeavour hard to recognise the Divine presence within us and all around us, our emancipation results in our transformation into a divine-oriented soul.
However, when our egoism becomes our own enemy, the consequences are dire. We regularly witness great superstars overachieving and ultimately dying early or simply becoming addicted to drugs etc. to alleviate some pain.
Conversely, a true devotee controls the egoism as he or she always remembers the Almighty and follows the path of righteousness.
Etymology: From Sanskrit hari (God, the Lord) + jan (person, man, servant; literally, jan means to be born, to take birth). Janak (father) and janam (birth) are also from the same root jan. English kin, Latin genus and Greek geno (that brought English genocide) are comparable.
