The Japji Sahib: Guru Nanak's 15th Century Poem: Transcript of a Bilingual Reading

The Japji Sahib is the first shabad (hymn) in the Adi-Granth, the 1430-page book whose teachings are followed by 30 million Sikhs the world over. The word "Jap" (pronounced 'Jup') means 'meditation'. 'Japji Sahib' is a term of respect. The poem, written in old Punjabi and recorded in Gurmukhi script reads as if Guru Nanak were being spoken to by a source of enlightenment and recording his own reactions and responses to the received ideas. It is truly Guru Nanak's manifesto, for in it he avows his strong monotheism, depicting the Hindu trinity of gods (Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva) as minor deities by contrast with the life force he is called to worship. He describes all ritual, renunciation, pilgrimage and reliance on intermediaries as fruitless for one desiring the grace of this formless Creator and says that a public mantra is available to all -- the Word being simply the name of God (Naam). Right conduct and sincere repetition and meditation are all that are required to progress through a series of spiritual planes, to the grace of the Almighty - an Almighty who has no attributes and is thus neither good nor bad, but simply Truth (Sat), before whom one should have no fear -- only awe.This translation of the Japji Sahib is by Sant Kirpal Singh. It is hoped that a bilingual reading will retain the beauty of the original Punjabi while introducing the listener to the meaning of Guru Nanak's teachings. About the Shauna Singh Baldwin was awarded India's International Nehru Award (Gold Medal) for Public Speaking and the Shastri Award (Silver Medal) for Journalism. She is the producer of the East-Indian American radio show, Sunno!. She lives in Milwaukee, WI where she is working on her second book.Recorded in 1992.