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Location: New Mexico

Publications: Japji Sahib: The Song of the Soul by Guru Nanak translated by Ek Ong Kaar Kaur Khalsa. Anand Sahib: The Song of Bliss by Guru Amar Das translated by Ek Ong Kaar Kaur Khalsa. Available through www.sikhdharma.org.

Monday, June 11, 2012

Guru Ram Das’s Laavaan: Revised

Time. It’s a funny thing.

Sometimes in the hustle and bustle of our electronic world, where every message can be instantly communicated around the world with a touch of a button, we forget that we live in an organic, creative reality. A seed has all of the knowledge to become a great and mighty tree. But a seed is not the tree. It is a potential that has to unfold day by day, month by month, year by year. What we call time and space, that the physicists attempt to understand with their mathematical formulas, has another name: maturity.

Not only does everything in life have the opportunity to mature, creation demands it. And this necessity of maturity is equally true when translating the writings of the Sikh Gurus.

Back in 2007, a dear friend of mine thought she was going to get married. She asked me to translate Guru Ram Das’s Laavaan for her wedding, and so I did. I was never completely happy with the translation. It never crystallized. Coincidentally, my friend’s relationship did not work out, either, and she ended up not getting married.

Five years later, my friend finally found her one and only. And I went back to the drawing board to revise the translation of the Laavaan. Maturity. It comes from one simple thing. Through time and space, we learn. And the more we learn, the more we see life differently. 

Something matured in her life. She got married this last Sunday. And something matured in me. When I went back to the Laavaan, it was like another door had opened and I could see a dimension that I hadn't seen before.

Since I posted the old version of the Laavaan from 2007 on my blog, I thought it only appropriate to share what I hope is a more “mature” version with you.

Enjoy.

With Divine Light,

Ek Ong Kaar Kaur


Guru Ram Das’s Laavaan Siri Guru Granth Sahib, Ang 773

First Round

Oh Divine Essence in all things,
In the first round of the marriage ceremony,
I become strong in my commitment
To preserve the grace of family life and do the work I am called to do,

As I offer myself to the One who creates
The balance and dance
Between the sun and the moon.

From the Divine, subtle vibration of the Creator
Come these sacred instructions:
Be strong in your Dharma –
And live a compassionate truthful life.

I renounce all those habits
Which harm myself or cause pain to others,

As I offer myself to the One who creates
The balance and dance
Between the sun and the moon.

Be strong in your Dharma.
Meditate upon the authentic, creative, Divine Potential
In every identity,
Including your own.

I am completely committed
To the identity the Divine has given me
As the sacred instructions tell me to be.

Rely upon the Sound of Wisdom
That takes you to truth.
It is the completely perfect
Guide and Teacher.

I destroy all those habits of mind that are negative,
That cause harm to myself and to others.

Flowing with the flow of life,
Acting from the bliss of my own spirit,
By amazing good luck, I focus my mind
On the ever-present sweetness of the Divine Essence.

Servant Naanak says,
The first round of the marriage ceremony
Initiates me into the work
That I came here to do.


Second Round

Oh Divine Essence in all things,
In the second round of the marriage ceremony,
I am united with my Protector,
The Sound of Wisdom that takes me to truth,

As I offer myself to the One who creates
The balance and dance
Between the sun and the moon.

The fearful mind becomes fearless.
And I shed the filth of my ego.

As I offer myself to the One who creates
The balance and dance
Between the sun and the moon.

Singing about the virtues of the Divine Essence,
I become pure and deeply respectful.
Directly perceiving the Divine,
I come into the presence of the One
Who balances the sun and the moon.

The Creative, Divine Self expands because of that One.
The Master resides, complete and full, in the whole Creation.

Within and without,
Embrace the one Supreme Lord
Whose essence dwells in all.

The servants of the Divine
Sing with delight.

Servant Naanak,
As I walk this second round of the marriage ceremony,
The silent, subtle music of self-awakening resounds.


Third Round

Oh Divine Essence in all things,
In the third round of the marriage ceremony,
My mind becomes filled with light and love
When it lives without attachment to the world.

I offer myself to the One who creates
The balance and dance
Between the sun and the moon.

Those servants who live by their purity, grace and discipline
Merge with the Divine Essence in all things.

By rare good fortune, I obtain the experience
Of my inner Divinity,

As I offer myself to the One who creates
The balance and dance
Between the sun and the moon.

I attain purity through the Divine Essence,
And sing about the virtues and qualities of Divinity.
What my mouth speaks matches
The vibration and frequency of Infinity.

Those pure, graceful and disciplined servants
Who, through tremendous good fortune,
Have obtained the Divine Essence
Tell the story that is Beyond Telling.

The melody of the Divine
Is born and grows in me.

An incredible destiny has been recorded on my forehead,
Oh Beloved One.
I continuously call on the Divine in all things.

Servant Naanak says,
In this third round of the marriage ceremony,
The Divine Essence has taken root
So that the mind may live unattached to the world.


Fourth Round

Oh Divine Essence in all things,
In the fourth round of the marriage ceremony,
My mind surrenders to the harmonious flow of the universe
By experiencing the seed of Divinity within me and within all.

I offer myself to the One who creates
The balance and dance
Between the sun and the moon.

Aligning myself to the Guru’s teachings,
I merge easily into that Divine Essence.
A sweetness overtakes my body and mind,

As I offer myself to the One who creates
The balance and dance
Between the sun and the moon.

The sweetness of my inner Divinity
Overtakes me.
I become pleasing to my Creator Lord.

Night and day,
I live attuned to my love
Of the Divine.

The mind, filled with longing,
Receives its reward,

And the Master of Creation
Causes the Divine Identity within
To play the music of Infinity
Expansively.

The One Creative Consciousness
Which expresses Itself as both
Inner-Divinity and Master of Everything
Fashions this work.

The wife’s heart is so happy
With who she Truly Is.

Servant Naanak says, in the fourth round of the marriage ceremony,
My Inner- Divinity obtains union
With the Invincible and Undying Creator Lord.


(Poetically interpreted by Ek Ong Kaar Kaur Khalsa. Copyright. April 2012.)

4 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

'Ek Ong Kaar Kaur Khalsa'...!!

Exodus 20:7 reads:
"Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him/her guiltless that taketh his name in vain."

Ek Ong Kar means, the 'One God', that You are not & neither are you Khalsa. Its hard to see a wolf in sheeps clothing, but I see you !

Go ahead...delete this comment, in time someone called Ek Ong Kaar will truly delete you to Dust.

PS: You have absolutely no idea what the Lahvaan are nor will you ever know. Have a nice day !

8:16 AM  
Blogger Ek Ong Kaar Kaur said...

Dear Anonymous,

My name actually is Ek Ong Kaar KAUR. It means "Princess of the One God" which is what I am. And what every woman has a right to be.

You really should learn about how Gurbani works as a language before making statements that show your prejudice and ignorance.

Look I did publish your comment. Who is afraid of you?

Good luck. May the One show you that fanaticism has never been a path to the Divine for anyone.

Gratefully yours,

Ek Ong Kaar Kaur

8:57 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Dear Ek Ong Kaar Kaur,

What an absolutely beautiful translation. It is a joy to read and fills me with upliftment. Thank you for sharing it.

7:32 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Dear Ek Ong Kaar Kaur,

Thank you for your lovely translation. I always look forward to your blog post.

Another Princess of the One God!

4:46 PM  

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