The Ginan Gist – By Karim Maherali
This Ginan depicts the purpose of life by way of evoking the imagery of an ocean which ideally has to be traversed in order to reach the other shore of eternal life and peace.
There are two ways of approaching our existence. On the one hand, we can sail the ocean with the boat of the True Guide and hence enjoy its beauty and breeze while traveling. On the other, we can remain submerged in it oblivious of the existence of the surface and reaching the other shore. The ocean can assist and enable us to attain our ultimate objective or it can sink us depending upon how we approach it.
This Ginan first alludes to the nature of the boat and then how to sail skillfully under its guidance and protection.
kheḍo kheḍo jemānī nāvaḍī
Audio
| # | Artist | Audio |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Farida Karmali |
Transliteration, Translation and Commentary
| Eji Kheddo kheddo jemaani naavddi, is re naavddiye chhe bahu prakaash, doy tar tarvun dohelun; sohonsaar saagar maanhe……………1 |
O momins! Sail skillfully in the boat, for such a boat is full of light. Swimming alone in this two dimensional ocean of the world is difficult.
Comment: The boat is symbolic of the guidance and protection of the True Guide. The two dimensions refers to the material and spiritual aspects of life.
| Eji Sole sole sehastra beddli re, sandhelaa tenaa kattkaa trannso ne saatth; vann karme gaanni jaajri sukh dukh likhiyaa nilaatt – kheddo……………2 |
O momins! This boat is perfect in thousand ways and its three hundred sixty pieces are well bound. Without good deeds this body is doomed to sink. Pleasure and pain are written on its forehead.
Comment: The True Guide is the perfect boat with no danger of flooding. The one who through misdeeds, is oblivious to the True Guide is doomed to sink in the ocean of duality oscillating between pleasure and pain.
| Eji Nagri ye nav baarnnaa, enne baarnne dasmo dwaar; sat dit beli be haathiyaa, jiyaan upje sur sthaann – kheddo……………3 |
O momins! This city has nine doors. And in addition it has the tenth door. Truth and generosity are the helpful hands where the sun rises.
Comment: The city alludes to the physical body having nine openings – two eyes, two ears, two nostrils, the mouth and the outlets of urine and stool.. The tenth opening alludes to the gateway to or locus for the spiritual experience. It can be located in any area of the body according to the method and expectation of the individual. For example, in the forehead between the two eyebrows called the bhamar gufa in our tradition.
The sun rise refers to the moment of spiritual enlightenment. Truth and generosity become the force that propels the ‘boat’ forward.
| Eji bauter kotthaa maanhe kottddi, temaan bahu chhe chalaagnaar; sakal vasvaa man vasi rahiyaa, tene sukhe sunkaa dukh kankaane vaar – khedo……………4 |
O momins! This bodily dwelling has seventy two parts and there are many drivers in it. All the temptations are residing inside the mind. Rise above their experiences of pleasure and pain.
Comment: During moments of spiritual enlightenment, life becomes filled with joy and peace transcending the duality of pleasure and pain.
| Eji Praani aapnnu aap-j raakhi,je manre madhuri maanhi; samar lejo saathiyaa, sukhe utaro pele paar jaahi – khedo……………5 |
O momins! Have total control over yourselves, O living ones, by following your precious hearts. Take provisions along with you.Then you will reach the other shore peacefully.
Comment: When one is guided by the enlightened heart, it becomes easy to control the lower instincts taking along the provision of knowledge and obedience. The joy of the higher enables one to overcome the lower desires and temptations.
| Eji Itthoter soho maanhe maachhli, temaan mottaa mottaa magar be chaar; chaar ne chor temaa vase paanchmo, chhe herannahaar – khedo……………6 |
O momins! There are seven thousand eight hundred kinds of fish in the ocean, and inside there are a few very big crocodiles. There are four thieves and the fifth one is teasing them.
Comments:This verse alludes to the pitfalls and dangers of being ‘submerged in the ocean’ ranging from minor obstacles of the variety of ‘fish’ to the major catastrophic ones of ‘crocodiles’.
The four thieves are the vices of lust, pride, anger and attraction to the illusion. The fifth one which is the greatest of all is greed as indicated in the following verse.
| Eji Praanni maayaa no faadho chhe maahaa motto, naakhiy to Sat Gur utaare pele paar; chhal chhal bhed no khaaddi chhe temaan, lobh chhe vikh more paar – khedo……………7 |
O momins! The trap of this illusory existence is great. If you stay detached from it, the True Guide will deliver you to the eternal life. There is a moat of mysterious fraud and deceit. Greed is the greatest obstacle in reaching the other shore.
| Eji Ginaan boliyaa Pir Sadardin, viraa samar lejo saar; to aagal paamsho paar – kheddo……………8 |
O momins! This Ginan has been said by Pir Sadardin. O courageous ones, take along with you pure provision, then ahead you will attain the other shore.
Comment: By pure provision it is meant knowledge and obedience from which good deeds, remembrance, detachment, contentment are derived.
Ismailimail 
Very much enjoyed this piece of knowledge – Would like to know more about “Samar and Ziyarat Kriya”
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