Message:
Our Guru acts as a boat and ferries us across this worldly ocean. Our souls are the sailors in this boat. Guru’s shabad carries us across terrifying waves and provides stability. Those Gurmukhs who follow Guru’s teachings and remain connected to Paramatma are safely carried across to the other side. These Gurmukhs are liberated once they reach the shore and their souls become one with the Creator, merging into Paramatma’s Jyot, light.
A snake may be shut in a basket; however its poison and anger remains. Similarly, no matter how much we attempt to change ourselves from the outside it is irrelevant until we change ourselves from the inside. If we follow Guru’s teachings then all vikars, which are like poisons are eliminated.
A Manmukh is like a crocodile caught in a net. He is trapped in the net of Moh Maya. He remains trapped as he does not understand birth and death and keeps getting caught in this cycle.
A talking parrot caught in a cage only speaks the words that are taught to him by his owner. The cage is our body and the parrot our soul. Paramatma is symbolized by the owner. Similar to how an owner is pleased when the parrot mimics him, Paramatma is pleased by those reciting Guru’s shabad. Guru’s shabad provides the gift of liberation. A parrot released from a cage is the representation of our soul being released from the cycle of rebirth.
Reflection:
Although Bhai Sawan Mal was the nephew of Guru Amar Das Ji he never let his worldly relationship get in the way of his spiritual relationship with Guru Ji. Bhai Sawan Mal followed the teachings of his Guru and never deviated from the tenets and principles taught to him by his Guru. Spreading his Guru’s message remained his priority as he travelled to Gobindwal in search of wooden materials.
When we get stuck in Moh Maya and put our focus on worldly relationships, we get stuck in Vikars and let ourselves deviate from our spiritual journey; thus breaking away from Paramatma. Through meeting our Guru we come to know Paramatma and a deep connection and love is formed. This leads us to the doors of liberation.