Tag: Thought of the Period

While reading from Sri Guru Granth Sahib, I came across the following:

ਸੋ ਕਿਉ ਅੰਧਾ ਆਖੀਐ ਜਿ ਹੁਕਮਹੁ ਅੰਧਾ ਹੋਇ॥
ਨਾਨਕ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਨ ਬੁਝਈ ਅੰਧਾ ਕਹੀਐ ਸੋਇ ॥ ੩ ॥

This is Unicode text for Gurmukhi so hopefully everyone should be able to read. If not, try downloading Unicode font. If there are still problems, here is a transliteration:
So kyo andha aakhiye ji Hukamo andha hoye, Nanak Hukam na bujhayi andha kahiye soyi.

Here is what it means:
How can someone be called blind if he was made blind through the God’s Will? Says Nanak, one who does not understand God’s Will is the one who should be called blind.

In other words, Guru Nanak wants us to understand that nothing is within our control, and everything is happening through His Will. Unless we can understand that, imbibe that in our lives – we are blind.

I encourage readers to try and understand Gurbani – any translation can never create the same feelings as the original. While translation can be a means, it is not an end. I enjoyed reading this, and wanted to share the Guru’s definition of blindness.