ਜੈਸੇ ਜਲ ਤੇ ਬੁਦਬੁਦਾ ਉਪਜੈ ਬਿਨਸੈ ਨੀਤ ॥

ਜਗ ਰਚਨਾ ਤੈਸੇ ਰਚੀ ਕਹੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਸੁਨਿ ਮੀਤ ॥੨੫॥

Jaise Jal Te Budbudaa Upjai Binsai Neet |

Jag Rachnaa Taise Rachi Kaho Naanak Sun Meet | 25 |

As a bubble on the gurgling water’s surface

Everyday rises and collapses, without leaving a trace.

In same way the Lord has created this beautiful universe,

Says Naanak, O friend, listen mindfully to this verse.

Commentary: 

Guru Ji, following the thread of previous verse, is expounding the unreality of the world, the illusion indeed. This illusory world is like a bubble on water, it appears for seconds and then disappears in the water again. Such is our own physical identity, a bubble, which has forgotten that it’s going to merge again in the water, no matter how big it becomes. This ego, ‘I’, is also a bubble, that will merge at the end of our lifespan in this immense ocean called nature. So, Guru Ji is saying that we must never forget this truth and our life will be beautiful and peaceful. And with peaceful mind we can appreciate this world and live in it without trying to possess it. We with peaceful mind can reflect how to help everyone around us and elsewhere. We only need to remember that our lifetime is in the boundaries of given breaths, so we must use our time wisely and profoundly. We must everyday remind ourselves that death is a certainty, so we should not be worried about our past nor speculate on future. And also, we should not become serious, saying oh no! death is coming after me, but we can be kind to all, and not harbor any grudge towards anyone, and smile and live to the fullest, while remembering the Divine. If we remember that this life going to end one day or another, we will enjoy our each moment with our beloved ones, in helping other, in following our goal, and even our prayers will become more peaceful and sincere, even during the difficult times. Although, as Swami Ji mentioned, that life is full of hardships and each hardship harnesses our will power to do something good, and often hardships come in order to lower down our inflated ego. 

Guru Ji wants us to remember that we are all bubbles, born of water; to water we shall go. This is the law of nature. It is our kindness, the moments of happiness, the moments when brought a smile on somebody’s face that will in the end matter. No matter from what social status we come from, it is our purity of mind, our gentle words that will matter. Now, one thing that is important to think, what of those abusive people, those rapists? Should we be kind to them, too? The answer is the decision is in your hand, you can either forgive and kind to them, or send them to jail, to hospital (for their mental check up), still being kind. I personally believe that capital punishment (because the judge will not behave like Sri Krishna Ji towards Sishupaal Ji)* is a bit exaggerated, for how many people we have hanged, and yet this atrocity does not come to an end. The reason of their behavior, from my perspective, is that they have a bigger ego (bubble), they think that they can do anything to anyone. We can only pray for their mental health, that they may change. 

P.S.

We all know that Sri Krishna Ji, having granted to Sishupaal Ji’s mother a boon that he will forgive him 100 times, keeps on ignoring all the abuses, but as Sishupaal Ji hurled 101 abuse, he with Sudarshan Chakra cut his head off. Sri Krishna Ji did that out of compassion towards Sishupaal Ji, not out of revenge or anger. Indeed, Sishupaal Ji (bubble) becomes part of Sri Krishna Ji (ocean), as per scriptures.