Birhare

Guru Arjan Sahib

Revealed by Guru Arjan, there are three astpadis (sets of stanzas) within the Guru Granth Sahib titled Birhare, all set to Rag Asa—a musical mode that expresses hope, anticipation, and devotion. This composition evokes the deep longing we feel to connect with IkOankar (One Creative and Pervasive Force, 1Force, the One). The title of these compositions refers to the pangs of separation felt in yearning for this connection despite our inherent unity. It is a recognition of how painful it would be to remain suspended in these feelings of separation and perceived disconnection. As such, these can be seen as "songs of separation" or "songs of longing." Here, Guru Arjan refers to those seeking connection as ‘piare,’ or beloved, empathizing with and acknowledging the experiences of seekers who yearn to surrender for even a momentary glimpse of the One.

The creative and all-pervasive IkOankar is One that is unparalleled. IkOankar is realized through the grace of the eternal Wisdom (Guru). The composition begins with an invocation of the One—an invitation and grounding reminder, perhaps even a call to action, urging the mind to center the One in remembrance. Through grace, remembrance transforms into realization, allowing the mind to return to the One again and again.

Prabhu, the Transcendent Being, should be remembered, O beloved! Guru Arjan addresses us directly, urging wholehearted devotion to remembering Prabhu through the Nam, the Identification with the One. Here, Prabhu evokes the image of a beloved husband, highlighting the protective and caring qualities of IkOankar. The beloved Husband grants the Identification to those who nurture closeness and trust in the One. This Identification inspires the contemplation of the beloved Husband. And when that yearning is fulfilled through closeness with the One, the aches, pains, and suffering that once troubled the mind are soothed in the warmth of connection.
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With this profound revelation, Guru Arjan poses a rhetorical question: Why would anyone forsake that Prabhu? The connection with the beloved One is so compelling that nothing can distract from its pursuit. To illustrate the depth of a dear seeker’s commitment, Guru Arjan uses the imagery of surrender: I would sell this body to the Saint-Guru, O beloved! Through this surrender, the inner self relinquishes control to the eternal Wisdom-Guru and the company of Wisdom-oriented beings, for they carry devotion to the One in their hearts. This company, united in its divine purpose, nurtures companionship and support.

​Invoking the motherly figure, the keeper of both tender struggles and hard-won victories—Guru Arjan shares his own experience with the eternal Wisdom-Guru and rejoices: The comforts and adornments of attachment are insipid, my mother! What was once considered spectacular, easy comforts, and shiny adornments have become tasteless and unexciting. How did this happen? The answer: O beloved, having fallen at the feet of the true Wisdom-Guru, one finds comfort in the humble bond of submission. In this bond, former vices lose their grip by the Grace of the One.

For those who experience this bond, Guru Arjan says they are imbued with Ram, O dearest! They do not go anywhere else. To be imbued with Ram, an epithet for IkOankar that can be understood as the beautiful One, means to cherish and care for the Identification with the beautiful One within. Through this Identification, we enjoy the flavor of Hari, the all-pervasive One, IkOankar. Savoring the essence of the all-pervasive One leads to true, lasting contentment. When internal separation and longing are resolved, the mind’s endless wanderlust ceases. It no longer seeks anything external. The world ocean’s challenges and illusions, and the mind’s inner conflicts, stop holding sway. Guru Arjan concludes: Those who have held the hem of the Sage-Guru, cross the world-ocean, and the perceived, illusory separation from the One comes to an end. 

We come to a greater understanding of our own journey by reflecting on Guru Arjan’s journey and how he overcame the perceived distance from the One. We receive guidance in many ways: directly, through questioning, and passively through the narrative of the journey to connection. Throughout, we are acknowledged with intimacy, love, and humility—as “beloved”—which transcends typical hierarchical or transactional relationships. This softens our perspective and strikes a chord of humanity in all of us. No longer are we simply wandering; we are seekers on a journey to resolve our perceived separation from the One. We are guided to recognize that through the Identification, we transcend our separation through experience, beyond mere words. This remembrance is not a task to be completed; it is a profound experience of remembering the One, so powerful that we would sacrifice even our most essential asset: our own body. This may seem dramatic or frightening, but we ought to consider what this connection truly offers: it fundamentally shifts our experience of suffering. Fear, ego, craving, insecurity, and attachment no longer control the mind as before. Suffering may remain, but it no longer defines or overwhelms us. Instead, we move through it with awareness and trust.

If we have not experienced this connection or cannot imagine it, we are encouraged to reconcile our experiences with those who live in this connection. How can we nurture it? Many find this connection in different ways. What guides one person may not help another. We need to discern what helps us remember the One and allows that connection within. This might involve spending time in nature, reflecting on the One’s qualities, or something else.

We are asked to inquire further: In a world full of false and fleeting offers to eliminate our pain, what could convince us to give up this connection? There is nothing else that compares. Nothing else offers true contentment. When we begin to identify with the One, our actions reflect new understanding. We start resolving the gap with the beautiful One. In our longing for closeness, we surrender our desire to control to the One. We let go of our unhelpful habits. This shift is not about following set rules of “right” or “wrong.” Instead, we understand what brings real resolution to our longing and do only that. The Identification changes how we invest our time and energy in attachments. Our focus on appearance, possessions, and relationships fades, and our relationship with these things shifts. This does not mean we detach completely or neglect our bodies, lives, or relationships. We simply no longer depend on them to give our lives meaning and purpose. 

The grip of our mental patterns can be loosened only by the grace of the One, found in the company of those who have experienced the One. In this company, we reflect honestly on our decisions and their outcomes. We learn the humility needed to practice the virtues of the Wisdom-Guru. What we learn from this company becomes so valuable that we are willing to give up everything for it. This experience brings us into the posture of surrender, at the feet of the eternal Wisdom-Guru, where our patterns of lust, greed, and attachment are uprooted. We no longer seek pleasure in them, as we now seek true pleasure in union with the One. We realize there is nowhere else to go for closure. The separation we long to resolve, the gap we want to close, is done so through the Wisdom-Guru. On this path, we experience the supreme essence of the all-pervasive One and are filled with contentment beyond anything we imagined. This enables us to cross the world-ocean—living with grace, purpose, and guidance from the Wisdom-Guru, keeping us from drowning in illusion.

We may ask ourselves: Are we willing to walk this path, in whatever way we know, to experience remembrance ourselves? Will we leave behind distracting patterns that reinforce the separation we long to resolve? Can we humbly learn from those who exemplify a relationship with eternality and discipline?