"Waheguru", a sacred chant from the Sikh faith contains a mystical and deep truth which could take a lifetime of reflection to understand.
Vivek, a musical hearted pilgrim, from Los Angeles who offers this week’s Maitri Tune shares: "Guru" has traditionally referred to an external person, and particularly a person who represents a particular lineage of teaching. However my teacher has taught that in the Kali Yuga, we should seek a direct guru-shishya relationship with God as our guru - the Sadguru. In this context, the "wahe" describes the awe with which we approach the guru. In a state of awe, the ego is completely suppressed. We may even define awe as that state in which the ego has at least temporarily accepted submission having faced its own inferiority. And what is the part of oneself that remains when the ego has bowed? The inner divinity of course, the inner teacher. The Sadguru, the Waheguru.”
Guri, another beautiful pilgrim has this to share about this sacred word:
“The meaning of Waheguru can be hard to understand because it is used in several ways at the practical level. You can hear Sikhs chant "Waheguru, Waheguru" when they are invoking God. The literal meaning for 'Wahe' is similar to 'Wah' where one is in awe or admiration of something. It could also mean 'Hail' (as in 'Hail the Lord' or 'Glory to the Lord'). A Guru is one who 'dispels the darkness of ignorance'. So Waheguru implies "in awe of the divine light dispelling spiritual ignorance". Most of the times when I've heard people say Waheguru, their hands are usually clasped together. So there's a sense of humility and bowing down to the great teacher or the divine light. People might even say “Waheguru” as an acceptance of the divine will, or an exclamation of gratitude when one is at peace with and grateful for all that life offers."
We sign off with a beautiful sharing of a pilgrim who finally learnt what it means to truly bow down while hearing the chant “Waheguru Waheguru”.
