ਗਿਆਨੀ (giaanee)
Meaning: noun: Knower, knowledgeable, one who possesses higher spiritual knowledge, spiritually enlightened being; Gnostic.
Quote:
ਰਾਜਨ ਮਹਿ ਰਾਜਾ ਉਰਝਾਇਓ ਮਾਨਨ ਮਹਿ ਅਭਿਮਾਨੀ॥
ਲੋਭਨ ਮਹਿ ਲੋਭੀ ਲੋਭਾਇਓ ਤਿਉ ਹਰਿ ਰੰਗਿ ਰਚੇ ਗਿਆਨੀ॥
raajan mahi raajaa urjhaaio maanan mahi abhimaanee.
lobhan mahi lobhee lobhaaio tiu hari raňg rache giaanee.
As the king is entangled in kingly affairs, the egotist in egoistic endeavours, and the greedy is enticed by greedy endeavours, so are the spiritually enlightened beings absorbed in the love of the Divine. – Guru Arjan Sahib, Guru Granth Sahib, 613
Message:
Who is a learned one?
Three examples evident in the hymn above (though not fully positive at times) emphasize the depth and mystical essence of a devotee’s absorption in the Divine.
Using the examples of a king, an egoist and a greedy person to illustrate how deeply one can pursue an objective, the Guru winds up this verse by demonstrating how deeply the spiritually enlightened being behaves.
Infact such a person is the opposite of the types of people mentioned above i.e. the king, the egoist and the greedy. The spiritually awakened person is an image of our own potential, true, higher self.
Having the knowledge of truth and practising it, one slowly acquires wisdom and is constantly absorbed and dyed in the mystical love of the Divine.
If you have knowledge, let others light their candles in it. -Margaret Fuller, author, 1810 -1850
Etymology: From Sanskrit ǰaanin/jyanin, one who possesses higher, spiritual wisdom; Gnostic.