It’s Vaisakhi and as we celebrate springtime together in the joy that renewal and rebirth brings, it’s time to
meditate on the deeper meaning of one of the most sublime metaphors in Gurbani.
~Guruka Singh Khalsa contemplates Guru Ji's teachings on Spring season~
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Over and over again the Guru uses the imagery of dead wood sprouting new leaves and turning lush and green. Here are a few examples:
ਮੇਰੇ ਮਾਧਉ ਜੀ ਸਤਸੰਗਤਿ ਮਿਲੇ ਸੁ ਤਰਿਆ ॥
ਗੁਰ ਪਰਸਾਦਿ ਪਰਮ ਪਦੁ ਪਾਇਆ ਸੂਕੇ ਕਾਸਟ ਹਰਿਆ ॥1॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
O my Dear Lord of souls, one who joins the Sat Sangat is saved. By Guru’s Grace, the supreme
status is obtained, and the dry wood blossoms forth again in lush greenery. (Ang 10)
ਜਨਮ ਜਨਮ ਕਾ ਵਿਛੁੜਿਆ ਮਿਲਿਆ ॥
ਸਾਧ ਕ੍ਰਿਪਾ ਤੇ ਸੂਕਾ ਹਰਿਆ ॥
ਸੁਮਤਿ ਪਾਏ ਨਾਮੁ ਧਿਆਏ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਹੋਏ ਮੇਲਾ ਜੀਉ ॥3॥
I was separated and cut off from the Lord for so many lifetimes; by Guru’s grace the dried-up
branches have blossomed forth again in their greenery. I have obtained sublime understanding,
and I meditate on the Naam; as Gurmukh, I have met the Lord. (Ang 102)
ਜਿਸੁ ਸਿਮਰਤ ਹੋਤ ਸੂਕੇ ਹਰੇ ॥
Remembering Him in meditation, the dry branches become green again. (Ang 182)
ਸੰਤ ਸਰਣਿ ਸਾਜਨ ਪਰਹੁ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਸਿਮਰਿ ਅਨੰਤ ॥
ਸੂਕੇ ਤੇ ਹਰਿਆ ਥੀਆ ਨਾਨਕ ਜਪਿ ਭਗਵੰਤ ॥2॥
Seek the sanctuary of the Saints, O friends; remember the One. The dried branch shall
blossom forth in its greenery again, O Nanak, meditating on the One in everyone. (Ang 927)
From birth, we are trained to put our attention outside our own skin. “Look at the pretty mobile;” “play with the colorful toy…” till, lost within our computer screens, tablets and smartphones, our focus is completely on people and things outside of us. No one trained us how to close our eyes, how to sink deep into the rhythm of our own breath, the beat of our own heart, the rhythm of a mantra. No one trained us how to come home. No one taught us the art of traveling in the inner world.
Trapped within our own minds, we have forgotten how to use our brains. Preoccupied with the games of life, seeking distraction and entertainment, we have no time to look within ourselves. We are too busy. We have lost touch with the root of our own existence and find ourselves adrift in an accelerated and confusing world with no anchor and no rudder.
It is in meditation, in our amrit vela sadhana, that we train ourselves to go within; to move easily between the inner and outer worlds and to stay connected to the One throughout the day by using our breath to be present with each moment.
In that state of receptiveness we create space… space between all the distractions of maya, space between each breath… in that timeless moment when the breath is suspended between inbreath and outbreath, space between each beat of the heart… and in that space… comes grace.
Without making the space, we miss the grace.
Opening to grace, we surrender ourselves over and over again to the Guru. In that surrender, the Guru blesses us with His grace and joy. In that grace and joy, we open ourselves and fill ourselves with peace, compassion and understanding. We awaken, beyond the mind, to the ecstatic flow of the Infinite.
As we rise above the chessboard of mundane life we are able to look down and see things in perspective. We understand how to prioritize our own lives.
In this state of constant inner rebirth and self-awareness, that comes by Guru’s grace, we blossom in each moment, opening ourselves to the possibilities and opportunities that come to us in that moment. We learn, we grow and we experience ecstasy and joy. That’s what it means to live as a Sikh. We are reawakened to our purpose by the Guru. We serve only Him, and thereby the Sangat, for the Guru is the Sangat and the Sangat is the Guru.
ਰੁਤਿ ਸਰਸ ਬਸੰਤ ਮਾਹ ਚੇਤੁ ਵੈਸਾਖ ਸੁਖ ਮਾਸੁ ਜੀਉ ॥
ਹਰਿ ਜੀਉ ਨਾਹੁ ਮਿਲਿਆ ਮਉਲਿਆ ਮਨੁ ਤਨੁ ਸਾਸੁ ਜੀਉ ॥
ਘਰਿ ਨਾਹੁ ਨਿਹਚਲੁ ਅਨਦੁ ਸਖੀਏ ਚਰਨ ਕਮਲ ਪ੍ਰਫੁਲਿਆ ॥
The season of spring is delightful; the months of Cheyt and Vaisaakh (mid March to mid May)
are the most pleasant months. I have obtained the Dear Lord as my Husband, and my
mind, body and breath have blossomed forth. The eternal, unchanging Lord has come
into my home as my Husband, O my companions; dwelling upon His lotus feet, I
blossom forth in bliss. (Ang 927)
ਨਾਨਕ ਤਿਸੈ ਬਸੰਤੁ ਹੈ ਜਿ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਸੇਵਿ ਸਮਾਇ ॥
ਹਰਿ ਵੁਠਾ ਮਨੁ ਤਨੁ ਸਭੁ ਪਰਫੜੈ ਸਭੁ ਜਗੁ ਹਰੀਆਵਲੁ ਹੋਇ ॥59॥
ਸਬਦੇ ਸਦਾ ਬਸੰਤੁ ਹੈ ਜਿਤੁ ਤਨੁ ਮਨੁ ਹਰਿਆ ਹੋਇ ॥
ਨਾਨਕ ਨਾਮੁ ਨ ਵੀਸਰੈ ਜਿਨਿ ਸਿਰਿਆ ਸਭੁ ਕੋਇ ॥60॥
ਨਾਨਕ ਤਿਨਾ ਬਸੰਤੁ ਹੈ ਜਿਨਾ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਵਸਿਆ ਮਨਿ ਸੋਇ ॥
ਹਰਿ ਵੁਠੈ ਮਨੁ ਤਨੁ ਪਰਫੜੈ ਸਭੁ ਜਗੁ ਹਰਿਆ ਹੋਇ ॥61॥
O Nanak, the season of spring comes to one who serves the True Guru. The Lord rains
His Mercy down upon him, and his mind and body totally blossom forth; the entire world
becomes green and rejuvenated. The Word of the Shabad brings eternal spring; it
rejuvenates the mind and body. O Nanak, do not forget the Naam, the Name of the Lord,
which has created everyone. O Nanak, it is the spring season, for those Gurmukhs,
within whose minds the Lord abides. When the Lord showers His Mercy, the mind and
body blossom forth, and all the world turns green and lush. (Ang 1420)
