Once the research is done, the question becomes: how to translate in a way that has beauty and depth in English, while still staying true to the meaning of the original.
I look at India’s glorious, and at times exaggerated glorified, past and I see that India has given the world many things and important ideas but rarely has it given any effective or productive leadership.
"The Hindu Shahi dynasty is now extinct, and of the whole house there is no longer the slightest remnant in existence. We must say that, in all their grandeur, they never slackened in the ardent desire of doing that which is good and right, that they were men of noble sentiment and bearing."
Beginning the Basics of Sikhi Web Series on SikhNet. Over 12 weeks we go through each of the 11 Gurus and then the Khalsa. This week, episode 1: Why Did Guru Nanak Come To This Earth? We find out that Guru Nanak Dev Ji answers this question directly, and not only that, the answer has also been given in Bani.
If I had only a few hours or days to live what would I do? Would I spend the next hours mindlessly traveling social media? Would I spend time reading and contemplating something philosophical and uplifting, or would I think and do something that would leave my footprints in the sands of time after I am gone?
Nasīhatanāmā was said in a conversation between the King of Misar or Rum (regions around Egypt and Turkey), who was a cruel tyrant, and Guru Nanak Dev Ji. It is a letter of advice from the Guru to the Emperor or King named as Hamid Karun.
Jim said that it would be quite an upheaval for himself, his bride to be, and their families to partake of 'amrit sanchar' which he had read about. I informed him that 'amrit sanchar' and joining the ranks of the Khalsa were still far away for him. All he and Jacqueline needed to do in the first instance was to sincerely profess the Sikh faith and thus embark on the path of Sikhi.
“Let us form a partnership, and share our virtues; let us abandon our faults, and walk on the Path”. You can form a sangat with your partner, sibling, mother, father, friend etc. Let us find a person or two and form a partnership to become the best version of ourselves.
God is everywhere in everything and Kabir ji, 750 years ago shared this simple truth with people. This truth is even taught in middle school. People are very much stubborn creatures of habit.
I just wanted to share a few thoughts from my own experience about the Partnership Question. I hope the young man who spoke to me at the conference reads this essay, and I pray that these thoughts will be of some use to you.