Baba Farid - the first Islamic Bhakti Yogi

Banner wishing "Lakh Congratulations" celebration of the birth date of Baba Faird

The following poetry is transcribed in Gurmukhi (a script formulated by the second Sikh Guru Angad Dev) and the writing is found inside page 488 of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, a book containing the Guru Wisdom, a collection of writings of the Sikh Gurus alongside that of Sufi Peers and Sanatan/Hindu Bhagats. Within this writing, Baba Farid is going to define the qualities of a Dervish, and his description matches that is found in the Bhagvad Gita regarding "Divine Vision" and seeing all things as an extension of Krishna). Baba Farid does not decorate his words, he is direct, he uses rough metaphors, like "rotting pork shoulder" ( ਕਾਂਢੇ ਕਚਿਆ ) in reference to those of us who don't speak from the mouth the feelings from the heart. We are so conditioned in self preservation, rarely our tongues speak the language of the heart. Our hearts are like rotting pork meat in the market - its festering and disgusting. Only way to live says Baba Farid, is with a heart full of love. He refers to the Dervish as one who "lets go" to the Divine, one can think of this person letting go to the "Will of God" or the "Order" (things as the are the way they are and that is perfect because it is what is); and he says that those are the Dervishes he could "kiss the feet of", a very powerful saying. Enjoy the read:

ਆਸਾ ਸੇਖ ਫਰੀਦ ਜੀਉ ਕੀ ਬਾਣੀ

Aasaa, (a morning of hope and courage), The Word Of Sheikh Farid.

ੴ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥

One Continuum of Cosmic Consciousness, the gift of Grace Of The True Guru.

ਦਿਲਹੁ ਮੁਹਬਤਿ ਜਿੰਨ੍ਹ੍ਹ ਸੇਈ ਸਚਿਆ ॥

The true ones find a heart full of love

ਜਿਨ੍ਹ੍ਹ ਮਨਿ ਹੋਰੁ ਮੁਖਿ ਹੋਰੁ ਸਿ ਕਾਂਢੇ ਕਚਿਆ ॥੧॥

Those whose heart minds have one thing and another thing in their mouth, they are like raw/rotting pork shoulder* (To be avoided as they are false) ||1|| 

ਰਤੇ ਇਸਕ ਖੁਦਾਇ ਰੰਗਿ ਦੀਦਾਰ ਕੇ ॥

When one is imbued with Divine passion, Khuda shows Khuda’s own immaculate colors (divine vision - similar to the vision Arjuna receives or Krishna says to Arjun in that a Bhakti sees the Divine vision - resembling the language of immaculate colors).

ਵਿਸਰਿਆ ਜਿਨ੍ਹ੍ਹ ਨਾਮੁ ਤੇ ਭੁਇ ਭਾਰੁ ਥੀਏ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

Forgetting the Name (remembrance and seeing "Name Form" of the divine in all things), they become heavy and a burden to the Earth. Pause and Reflect.  --> Saying something heavy that is a "Burden to the Earth" can mean many things. Literally it can mean that the person will be a heavier person. In todays world, we could measure it among other things, the weight of our lifestyle and its cost to the Earth. In fact, if we are very honest, aren't all our problems stemming from our innate desire to put ourself first? Doesn't the cause of that very 'self' when we forget the divine be the cause of all our burdens? By default, wouldn't it just mean that anytime in our ignorance we run after the me/I story instead of seeing the unfolding of the most beautiful to behond thing ever kind of Divinity in all beings and in all breaths, we are according to Baba Farid, not making the fullest use of our life here. His wisdom and guidance demands unending universal love through surrender, like Yogis of the Bhakti Traditions.

ਆਪਿ ਲੀਏ ਲੜਿ ਲਾਇ ਦਰਿ ਦਰਵੇਸ ਸੇ ॥

You brought the cloth and wrapped yourself around to those who let go to you for they are Dervishes.

--> He is defining a Dervish as one who lets go to the Divine, and thus all who let go is a Dervish - this is consistent with all other writings in the Bhakti movement and other writings of Baba Farid.

ਤਿਨ ਧੰਨੁ ਜਣੇਦੀ ਮਾਉ ਆਏ ਸਫਲੁ ਸੇ ॥੨॥

Blessed are the Birthing Mothers (of these Dervishes) for they are the fruits of the world. Blessings to those who recognize them.  ||2||

ਪਰਵਦਗਾਰ ਅਪਾਰ ਅਗਮ ਬੇਅੰਤ ਤੂ ॥

You are Unfathomable, Immeasurable, Endless, Infinite, Sustainer of All.

ਜਿਨਾ ਪਛਾਤਾ ਸਚੁ ਚੁੰਮਾ ਪੈਰ ਮੂੰ ॥੩॥

Those who recognize this truth - I kiss their feet. ||3||

ਤੇਰੀ ਪਨਹ ਖੁਦਾਇ ਤੂ ਬਖਸੰਦਗੀ ॥

I seek your protection Khudaee - you are the All Forgiver.

ਸੇਖ ਫਰੀਦੈ ਖੈਰੁ ਦੀਜੈ ਬੰਦਗੀ ॥੪॥੧॥

I beg you, bless Sheikh Fareed with the mediative bounty of Your constant remembrance. ||4||1||

(Remembering the divine all the time is not easy and can never be done without surrender to the same divine - so at the end of this writing, Sheikh Farid surrenders and begs for the very quality he defines as that of Dervish = that of a Bhakti Yogi, to see all things as Divinity/Krishna)