ਜੀਵਨ ਮਰਨਾ (jeevan marnaa)
Meaning: To kill or extinguish one’s self-centredness whilst one still lives.
Quote:
ਜੋ ਜੀਵਨ ਮਰਨਾ ਜਾਨੈ॥ ਸੋ ਪੰਚ ਸੈਲ ਸੁਖ ਮਾਨੈ॥
ਜੋ ਮਨੁਖ ਜੀਵਤ-ਭਾਵ (ਆਪਾ-ਭਾਵ) ਤੋਂ ਮਰਨਾ ਜਾਣਦਾ ਹੈ, ਓਹੀ ਪੰਚਾਂ ਵਾਲੇ ਅਟੱਲ ਆਤਮ-ਸੁਖ ਨੂੰ ਮਾਣ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ।
jo jeevan marnaa jaanai. so paňch sail sukh maanai.
One, who knows to extinguish one’s self-centredness whilst one still lives, can enjoy the eternal or enormous spiritual peace of the exalted ones.-Bhagat Kabir, Guru Granth Sahib, 655
Message: The eternal and accomplished life, which is also considered good and virtuous, cannot be attained without first subduing our arrogance and egoism. If we want to enjoy spiritual enrichment and long-lasting bliss which is never exhausted, then we need to still our egos as if we have died to the world: We are not affected by insults, injuries, remarks and slanders of people. We do not strive to be judged by others but by the Divine.
When we transcend honour and dishonour, praise and flattery, we rejoice in the will of the Divine. We embrace the Divine so closely that we cannot live without Him.
Etymology: Combination of jeevan (literally life, but here it refers to self-hood or self-centredness in life) + maranaa (to die, to cease).
