Bani Bhagat Beni Ji

Bani Bhagat Beni Ji

This composition is set to Sirirag, a beautiful, ancient musical mode traditionally sung at dusk. It is known for its ability to evoke deep thoughtfulness and introspection, encouraging us to reflect and engage with the IkOankar (One Creative and Pervasive Force, 1Force, the One) meaningfully. This composition is attributed to Bhagat Beni, one of the fifteen revered bhagats (devoted beings) whose compositions are included in the Guru Granth Sahib. His life revolved around the devotion to the One, and became not just a practice but a guiding force throughout his life. Here, we are guided through different stages of life, each offering a moment of reflection on our journey so far. We are reminded of a fundamental truth: Every person who is born will eventually face death. The reality is that death can come at any age. We are all united by the common experience of regret that arises when we look back and realize we didn’t use our time meaningfully. Ideas about the afterlife are pervasive, where people hope to end up, free from suffering, after death. However, we are offered a different perspective here. Rather than focusing on what happens after death, he suggests that true liberation is not found in dying, but in how we live our lives. He encourages us to make meaningful changes while we are alive, so we can live with purpose and intent.

The creative and all-pervasive IkOankar is One that is unparalleled. IkOankar is realized through the grace of eternal the Wisdom (Guru). The composition commences with the invocation to the One and the anchoring of the omnipotence of IkOankar. It is an invitation, a grounding reminder, perhaps even a call to action, urging seekers to center the One in their remembrance. 

Later, you will repent, O fool! Due to what false thinking are you engrossed in illusion? Remember Ram, or else, you will go into the city of Yama; the being who wanders without worship must go to the city of Yama. Through the Pause line, Bhagat Beni presents us with the central idea of the composition, a striking reminder: the foolishness of wandering through life without discovering its true purpose, and the inevitable regret that follows. We are lost in delusional thinking patterns, based on flawed paradigms and illusions. These are the kinds of thoughts that pull us further away from the One and into unwise actions. Gently calling us in, we are reminded of the cycle trapping us. Here, “foolish” is not a condemnation but an opportunity to reflect on how exactly we spend our time. This leads us to the second part of the stanza, the consequences of living in falsehood. When we fail to remember and consciously connect with Ram, the beautiful, charming One, a synonymous divine name of IkOankar, we end up in a place where death rules—a place of suffering and regret, a “hellish” environment. When we live unconsciously and without reflection, we make unwise choices and act in ways that are unkind or untrue to our essence. Then, when death inevitably comes, we are left wondering, “What will become of me?” The fear of death, in this context, serves as a wake-up call, urging us to start living with awareness and intention. We are urged to stop behaving foolishly, to stop clinging to illusions that will only lead to regret. As a forewarning, the question arises: Why are we not reflecting on the beauty of the One who created us? To understand this, consider a metaphor—a mirror covered in dust. When there is too much dust, it becomes impossible to see our reflection. Similarly, the temporary world can be seen as the dust, and the beautiful One, as the reflection hidden beneath it. As dust falls on the mirror—through attachments, distractions, and misguided thinking—it becomes harder to see the beautiful One within us. As certain as death is, we all inevitably face the consequences of our actions, whether we are prepared or not. In the face of death, we are encouraged to cease our wandering in illusions and start living with awareness, remembering the beautiful One in all that we do. The key is to reflect on our actions and thoughts while we still have the time, before it’s too late to make a change.

O being! When you were the dweller of the coil of the womb, suspended upside down, you remained engaged in meditation and a loving connection with IkOankar. Bhagat Beni gently reminds us of our natural progression in life. At the very beginning, before we even emerged into this world, when we were suspended in the protective coil of the womb, we existed in a state of deep connection to the beautiful One. We were immersed in that connection with the beautiful, charming One, and our consciousness was absorbed in an unblemished, unbroken connection. In this state, there was no room for pride, no room for the ego, because we weren’t defined by our physical form yet. We existed in a constant connection, day and night, untouched by ignorance or illusion. Even though there was pain, such as the natural discomfort of the womb, it did not overwhelm us, because we were not yet fully separated from the beautiful One. But then, something shifted as we began our journey from the womb to the world. We entered the mortal realm—the world of Maya (the allure of transient things and relationships)—and with it, forgetfulness began to cloud our initially clear consciousness. Our mind, once fully immersed in the One, began to scatter. This is when we first began to lose our connection with the truth, and when distractions started to take hold. Think of the mind like a river: at its source, it’s shallow and noisy, rushing over rocks with force and friction. But as it flows onward, it grows deeper and quieter—even if it gathers dirt and debris along the way, its presence remains powerful and enduring. Similarly, once our consciousness was uninterrupted as we entered the world, we began to lose sight of the One and got caught in the flow of worldly distractions. The question, then, is not how we got here, but what we choose to do with our lives now that we’ve entered this world. We are reminded to reflect on our origins—where we came from, and how we were once connected to the One. And now, as we navigate life’s challenges, it is up to us to choose whether to remember and reconnect with that original state of being or to remain lost in forgetfulness. Bhagat Beni is not pointing fingers or assigning blame; instead, he is offering us an invitation to reclaim that early connection—to live in the awareness of the One, as we once did. 

In childhood, you engaged in the plays of children, and in the worry of wanting to experience tastes; moment by moment, your mind is entangled in attachment. Bhagat Beni identifies a typical pattern in our lives. As we enter childhood, our lives are filled with wonder and play. We engage in the joy of games, toys, and exploration, enjoying simple pleasures that stimulate our senses—taste, touch, sound, and sight. This is a natural part of growing up—our minds are occupied with these small, innocent joys. But in this process, attachments begin to form, and they follow us as we grow, shaping our desires and preferences. Everyone around us—our family, our friends—encourages us to chase after these small pleasures, adding layer upon layer to the entanglement of our minds. What happens as we transition from childhood to adolescence? The toys change, and so do our desires. We start chasing other things—delicious foods, material possessions, and experiences we believe will bring us lasting satisfaction. But instead of nourishing, they only deepen our attachment, leading us into a cycle of unending desire. What we thought would bring fulfillment often turns out to be like poison, leaving us dissatisfied, constantly craving something more. And in this process, the five vices—lust, anger, greed, attachment, and ego—begin to reveal themselves, gradually taking control of our lives. We start to focus on external rituals and practices—chanting, penance, and austerities—believing these will solve our problems. But these rituals, while they may have their place, are no substitute for remembering the true essence of life, which is Nam (Identification with IkOankar). In the absence of this deeper remembrance, we become more susceptible to the pull of our desires. Lust, in particular, takes root in our minds, clouding our judgment and leading us to make decisions that seem to promise fulfillment but only trap us further. As lust takes hold, the social environment and our conditioned mindset begin to look for ways to fix it, often resorting to marriage as a solution. However, in this context, marriage is viewed as a superficial answer that does not address the deeper issue. What began as innocent play in childhood has transformed into a deeper entanglement as we grow older. And by the time we realize it, we are trapped in a cycle of desire, ritual, and illusion. The longer we live without remembering the One, the more complicated our lives become. We find ourselves serving endless desires, each one leading us to chase after something new, without ever pausing to reflect on what truly matters. Once clear and connected to the One, our minds become clouded with the soot of our vices. The deeper our attachment to the world, the more we lose sight of the very essence that could soothe our inner fire—the remembrance of the beautiful, charming One. In this cycle, we forget the Wisdom (Guru) we once followed, the guide that would have pointed us back to the One. And when we forget the One, regret creeps in. It may not seem apparent initially, but we begin to feel the emptiness over time. It is only at the end, when death approaches, that we realize how much time we’ve wasted, how far we’ve strayed from the path of remembrance.

Now is the splendor of youth, you stare at the face(s) of others’ women; you have not recognized good or bad. Bhagat Beni asks us to take notice of our accumulation. In youth, the world seems full of charm and allure. We often find ourselves drawn to others, whether it’s the beauty of someone’s face or the fleeting pleasures of indulgence. Our minds, caught up in the intoxication of lust, begin to blur the lines between virtues and vices. It is evident in the world around us today that there is no end to the pursuit of sexual desire, and it also ends many a time in sexual perversion and sexual abuse. We see this happening globally. We are so caught up in our desires and pleasures that we lose sight of what truly matters—our values, virtues, and connection to the One. This addiction to fleeting pleasures clouds our judgment, and we no longer see things clearly. The more we accumulate wealth, possessions, and status, the more our egos swell. Our minds become preoccupied with what we can acquire, rather than the connection we were once meant to have with the One. A striking example of this is when we consider death, not as a reminder of life’s fleeting nature, but as an opportunity to reflect on what we can learn from someone else’s passing. When a relative or loved one dies, many of us calculate what we stand to inherit and what we might gain from their passing. We chase after wealth, lust, pride, and ego, and before we know it, these attachments have hijacked our very existence. Pursuing these desires becomes like an endless loop that we don’t even recognize as destructive. In the pursuit of these fleeting pleasures, we are wasting our human birth—the very gift that could lead us to the remembrance of the beautiful, charming One. We spend our lives distracted by the superficial, while the deeper connection that could bring us lasting harmony and fulfillment remains neglected. The fleeting satisfaction from these indulgences becomes so consuming, so intense, that it mirrors the way sexual pleasure can overpower the mind. In this pursuit, we are drawn deeper into a state where the temporary pleasure feels like it’s all we need, but it only leaves us yearning for more. This constant chase, this cycle of fleeting satisfaction, keeps us locked in a loop that blinds us to the emptiness it creates. When we reach the end of our lives, we may realize that all the wealth, the possessions, and the pride we accumulated were only distractions. The real treasure, the true connection, was always within reach. But it is often too late to turn back the clock.

In old age, when your hairs have turned white, whiter than a white lotus flower; your voice has become like that of the seventh netherworld. Bhagat Beni turns us towards the inevitability of aging and perishability. As we enter the “salt and pepper” phase of life, our hair starts to turn white, and our bodies feel more fragile. The voice may become weaker, as though it’s coming from deep underground. Aging becomes more apparent, and the physical and mental faculties that once seemed so vibrant begin to fade. Yet, despite these outward signs of growing old, something within us remains unchanged—the grip of lust. Even as the eyes lose their sharpness and our thinking slows down, the hunger for desire still lingers. This is not a new observation; across cultures and traditions, it’s clear that the drive for pleasure doesn’t simply disappear even in our later years. In fact, in many parts of the world, we still see older men, even in their 60s, 70s, or 80s, continuing to pursue sexual desires and indulgences. While society might present this as a widespread issue for all genders and ages, it’s particularly noticeable among older men. Bhagat Beni utilizes this pervasive societal imagery to demonstrate that, regardless of how much our physical bodies deteriorate, desires persist. The body is like a lotus flower, once vibrant and full of life, now beginning to wither and fade. Yet, even as the physical body weakens, the mind clings to these desires. The “churning stick of lust” keeps stirring within, producing a tsunami of poisons that drown the mind from within. This is where the teachings of Bhagat Beni truly shine. In a world where people often shy away from discussing such topics, Bani (Utterances of infinite wisdom) doesn’t shy away. It brings everything to light—our desires, attachments, and the consequences of living solely for these indulgences. Bhagat Beni isn’t here to condemn us for our actions but to show us how these behaviors shape our lives and lead us to regret when it’s too late to change. It is easy to notice, observing popular media, that streaming platforms are invested heavily in sexual content and raunch culture because it garners the highest viewership. This isn’t about passing judgment or pointing fingers—it’s about recognizing a pattern in human behavior. Lust, desire, and attachment are universal, but they can control us in ways we don’t even realize. Here, we are encouraged to recognize this pattern, understand its roots, and look for ways to redirect our attention towards the beautiful One. The question is, as we stand at this crossroads of life, can we choose a different path? Can we redirect our energies from temporary indulgences toward lasting fulfillment and peace? Bhagat Beni isn’t offering condemnation—he’s offering an invitation to reflect and change before it’s too late.

Now, in the end, having seen your shrunken body, a tingling sensation of concern arises; but still, you show arrogance and do not understand. Bhagat Beni gives us a clear message. As we approach the final stages of life, we cling desperately to our attachments, especially desires and greed. Even as the body weakens and the inevitable end draws near, our minds remain fixated on the world we know, especially our children, grandchildren, and their lives. We continue to crave life, to wish for more time, and are unwilling to face the truth that our journey here is coming to a close. It’s almost as if we’re putting off the inevitable, avoiding the reality that death is approaching. This final stage of life is presented with a gentle yet powerful metaphor of a bird flying away, symbolizing the departure of life-force from the body. When the life-force that once animated the body leaves, the body becomes nothing more than an empty shell. The body is temporary, and when the life-force leaves, it is beyond our control. We ought not to waste our precious time waiting for liberation after death, as we long to experience it in this life. From the moment we were conceived, we were in connection with the One, and it is that same connection that we ought to seek to remember and nurture throughout our lives. In the present, while we still have the breath of life, is when we can break free from our desires, our attachments, and our vices. Waiting until the end, hoping that death will somehow provide us with liberation, is futile. Bhagat Beni urges us to look at life as it is. When we address our desires and vices in the here and now and return to our remembrance of the One, we can experience liberation. As we navigate the stages of life, whether we are young or old, it’s crucial that we take responsibility for our actions, desires, and attachments while we still have time. The body will eventually wear out, and when it does, no one will remember it. How will we free ourselves from the cycles of desire, attachment, and greed? 

As we navigate life, we find ourselves deeply entwined in a sometimes invisible web of relationships, obligations, and fleeting desires. From childhood to adulthood, we are constantly fed the idea that happiness lies in accumulating things—whether it’s wealth, possessions, status, or even the approval of others. We exchange gifts, offer money, and build networks of connections, but rarely do we pause to ask: Are we fostering the most important connection of all? We get caught up in the cycle of trends and desires, chasing what everyone else seems to value. The struggle to meet society’s expectations becomes so intense that we lose sight of what truly matters. These illusions become our palaces of false security, and we, with all our energy, continue to build these palaces—only to find that we are exhausted and disconnected from the very source of life itself–the eternal Sovereign, the One. In the end, we are left to question: Are we truly free, or are we simply a captive audience to the illusions we’ve constructed? The answers we seek—whether through possessions, relationships, or even psychological insights—often fall short because we are still chained to the falsehoods that have shaped our understanding of life. 

Bhagat Beni reveals this cycle and shows us how to break free from it. Breaking the cycle is about recognizing the illusion for what it is and choosing to act differently. This is where the real work begins. Our devotion, whether to our families, careers, ego, or pleasure-seeking, is not inherently wrong. The question is: Are these things freeing us? We often forget the One eternal true source of freedom and liberation in all our devotion to worldly things. Suppose we can shift our devotion to the One who can truly free us. In that case, we begin to experience life not as a struggle of attachments, but as a journey back to our original state of being—the connection we had in the womb, before the world’s distractions clouded our minds. As we navigate the stages of life—each one filled with its own set of challenges, pleasures, and distractions—Bhagat Beni urges us to return to the core of who we truly are. In recognizing the impermanence of all things, we can begin to untangle ourselves from the web of desires and attachments, and in doing so, we restore our connection to the One who sustains us. Are we willing to look beyond surface-level answers and truly probe what keeps us from returning to our origin? What does it mean to live a life of true devotion—not to objects, people, or outcomes, but to the One—and how can we begin this journey today? Are we becoming increasingly entangled in the world’s illusions as we age, or are we reconnecting with our original unity with the One? How can we loosen the grip of attachment, desire, and fear of death in our everyday lives to experience a lasting harmony and freedom right now?