Jo Bole So Nihaal – Sat Sri Akaal

We are celebrating the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak on 08th November. On this day, we visit the Gurudwara and worship the holy scripture – the Guru Granth Sahib. We also wish each other “Jo Bole So Nihaal – Sat Sri Akaal”. We keep hearing these words, but what is their essential meaning?

Nihaal means blissful. The one who utters the Divine word is in bliss. But why? If we were to hear the Divine word – Ek Omkar Sat Naam – in an unknown language, would it be of any use? It wouldn’t bring any bliss.

We become blissful only when we recognize the essence of the Divine word. We are reminded of the treasure within us and stop yearning and begging for love and happiness. We would then be in communion with the Source of love, bliss and peace within us.

Sat Sri Akaal represents the experience of the real Self, God, Pure Consciousness. Whether we call it Ishwar or Allah or by any other name, it refers to the Source of everything – the One that lives through the human embodiment.

Akaal means eternal – the One that is deathless. What is present within us, which is eternal? If it is deathless, it has to be birthless. It is beyond birth and death. Another meaning of Akaal is Timeless – that which is beyond time, beyond past, present and future.

Sat – the Truth has been pointed at in several languages – whether it be Sanskrit, English or Gurumukhi. Gurumukhi literally means “pronounced by the Guru”. But it is only when we are fully receptive to the Guru’s words that we can understand through direct experience. It is then that we can truly be Nihaal – blissful! Only then can we rightfully say “Bole so Nihaal”. Without recognition of the Truth, these words would be uttered merely for the sake of saying.

We keep chanting “Waheguru”. But what really is its meaning? “Wahe” means path, ‘Guru’ means the One who shows us the way. So then, Waheguru is the path shown by the Guru for us to walk in life, not just to chant. Chanting has its own benefit, but the ultimate benefit comes only when we walk the path.

When will we stop merely chanting and start walking? The anniversary of Guru Nanak can be celebrated in earnest only when we contemplate the essence of these words and make them a living experience in our lives.

~ Based on the teachings of Sirshree