ਗਾਡਰ (gaaḍar)
Meaning: noun: Sheep, lamb.
Quote:
ਕੁਦਮ ਕਰੈ ਗਾਡਰ ਜਿਉ ਛੇਲ॥ ਅਚਿੰਤੁ ਜਾਲੁ ਕਾਲੁ ਚਕ੍ਰੁ ਪੇਲ॥
kudam karai gaaḍar jiu chhel. achiňt jaal kaal chakra pel
As a baby lamb plays with her mother lamb, (so, O mind! You play with Maya, not knowing when) the wheel of time might suddenly cast its noose
Guru Arjan Sahib, Guru Granth Sahib, 899
Message: You play like a baby lamb
Like a lamb, we jump around playing with our mothers and when older, engage in pleasures of the world.
How long will our dalliance in the sun last?
Due to too much attachment to worldly possessions, we are caught in delusions of power of the body and mind. For the sake of mere physical needs, we commit evil deeds.
Choosing the right over the wrong (especially if the wrong gives temporary pleasure) is a sign of will power.
Let’s seek the shelter of the Divine before it is too late. Only the wisdom of the Divine will help us out of the endless cycles of misery disguised as enticing pleasures.
Etymology: From Sanskrit gaḍḍar (sheep) → Prakrit gaḍḍaree → Sindhi/Gujarati/Hindi gaaḍar. This also gave us gaḍariyaa (shepherd).
Summary of the Week:
Learning takes many forms. If…the learner is ready and aware.
In everyday language we often use animal words as symbolic of virtues and vices. Keeping this in mind we can look at the animal kingdom and use our observations, as well as self-reflections on animals, to learn important lessons.
Examining and learning from nature, like our Gurus did, will blow the cobwebs of past destructive habits.
Live what you learn. Detach from ‘Maya’ (not in the form of wealth alone) and attach to the Divine.
