ਗਰੀਬੀ (gareebee)
Meaning: noun: Poverty.
Quote:
ਅਨਦੁ ਗਰੀਬੀ ਸਾਧਸੰਗਿ ਜਿਤੁ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਚਿਤਿ ਆਏ॥
ਜਲਿ ਜਾਉ ਏਹੁ ਬਡਪਨਾ ਮਾਇਆ ਲਪਟਾਏ॥
ਉਸ ਗਰੀਬੀ ਵਿਚ ਵੀ ਅਨੰਦ ਹੈ, ਜਿਸ ਦੀ ਬਦੌਲਤ ਸਾਧ-ਸੰਗਤ ਕਰਕੇ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਜੀ ਚਿੱਤ ਵਿਚ ਆ ਵੱਸਣ। ਸੜ ਜਾਏ ਏਹੋ ਜਿਹਾ ਮਾਇਕੀ ਵਡਪੁੱਣਾ, ਜਿਹੜਾ ਮਨੁਖ ਨੂੰ ਮਾਇਆ ਵਿਚ ਖੱਚਤ ਕਰੇ।
anad gareebee saadh-saňg jit prabh chit aae.
jal jaau eh baḍpanaa maa-i-aa lapṭaae.
There is bliss even in poverty if by associating with the virtuous the Divine comes to mind. Let that worldly glory burn, which entangles one in Maya. -Guru Arjan Sahib, Guru Granth Sahib, 745
Message: What do you prefer? Humble living endowed with virtues or a lavish lifestyle full of vices?
The Guru prefers the company of virtuous people even if they are poor rather than associating with the so-called mighty and great people.
Why crave for excessive material possessions? Blissful living within moderate conditions is possible if we live by good moral values. Neither extremes of wealth nor poverty are desirable, rather living by virtue and dignity is the real goal.
It’s good to have money and the things that money can buy, but it’s good, too, to check up once in a while and make sure that you haven’t lost the things that money can’t buy. -George H. Lorimer, an American editor, 1867-1937
Etymology: From Arabic/Persian ghareebee from ghareeb (stranger, foreigner; poor).
