Japji Sahib
Japji Sahib Translation Synopsis
with 8 different English Translations
Guru Nanak’s Japji Sahib is one of the most powerful, beautiful, deep and all-embracing compositions in Divine inspiration. It is the heart and essence of the Siri Guru Granth Sahib, the living Shabad Guru. Many essays and translations into many languages have been published.
Reading different translations of this jewel of Divine poetry, we find a variety of possible understandings of its message, different minds reflecting different aspects of its essence ca 500 years after its conception. In this synopsis, eight different English translations are listed next to each other. The original Gurmukhi with transliteration in the first column is followed by translations from:
1. Pritam Singh Chahil, Sri Guru Granth Sahib translation, New Delhi, India, 1992
2. Harbans Singh Doabia, Sacred Nitnem, Amritsar, India, 2002
3. Osho, The True Name, New Age International, New Delhi, India, 2003
4. Sant Kirpal Singh, The Jap Ji: The Message of Guru Nanak, Delhi, India, 1959
5. Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa, Sri Guru Granth Sahib translation, Tuscon, USA, 2013
6. Guruliv Singh Khalsa, Japji of Guru Nanak, Ancient Healing Ways, Eugene, USA, 1982
7. Guruka Singh Khalsa, Japji Sahib: Meditation of the Soul, Española, USA, 2004
8. Ek Ong Kar Kaur Khalsa, Japji Sahib: Song of the Soul, USA, 2004
The preceding introduction elaborates on the motivation of the synopsis, considerations of “understanding” Japji Sahib, explaining notions like Naam, Naad, Simran and Jap, the life and legacy of Guru Nanak, and the problem of limitations within translations into other languages.
Deutsche Übersetzung
Feedback zur Deutschen Japji Übersetzung
“Deine Japji Übersetzung ist absolut klasse. Danke dir es so zu veröffentlichen.” – Jastej Kaur Sandra Brunnet
“Ich hab mich sehr gefreut, vor allem die vielen Erklärungen helfen mir beim Verständnis!” – Michael Pickel
“Ich möchte mich ganz herzlich für das Geschenk deiner Japji Auflage bedanken, für all die Details, was mich rundum berührt. Danke!” – Sherpal Singh
Nach dem Lesen verschiedener englischer und deutscher Übersetzungen und Kommentare von Guru Nanak’s Japji Sahib muss man feststellen dass eine eindeutige Übersetzung in eine Sprache wie Englisch oder Deutsch unmöglich scheint. Alle existierenden Übertragungen (einschließlich der vorliegenden) müssen weitgehend als Interpretationen oder Auslegungen bezeichnet werden. Die Texte weichen grammatikalisch und semantisch signifikant voneinander ab. Die Struktur der heiligen, poetischen Sprache Gurmukhi scheint in Englisch oder Deutsch nicht vollständig darstellbar.
Die allermeisten Übersetzungen versuchen das Original so weit zu “bearbeiten” dass alles “verstanden” werden kann. Dies scheint jedoch gegen die Absicht von Guru Nanak zu sein. Seine Poesie ist offen, mehrdeutig und machmal verwirrend. Bei den Übersetzungen der Bibel sowie allen anderen Hinterlassenschaften von Mystikern aller Zeiten gibt es das gleiche Phänomen. Die Absicht scheint immer zu sein nicht den Verstand zu befriedigen, sondern etwas tieferes in uns zu berühren, das Herz, die Seele. Um den Zugang zu den Mysterien der heiligen Schriften zu finden gibt es eine Methode: Jap, wiederholtes rezitieren in Meditation.
In der vorliegenden Übersetzung ins Deutsche wurde versucht die offene und uneindeutige Poesie und den revolutionären und unbequemen Geist Guru Nanaks zu erhalten und nichts durch hinzugefügte Grammatik und Semantik zu interpretieren und zu vereindeutigen. Jedoch bleibt auch dieser Text weitgehend eine mehr oder weniger “kreative” Interpretation.
Das Büchlein (sowie das PDF) enthält die original Gurmukhi Schrift, eine Transliteration und die Deutsche Übersetzung. Darüber hinaus findet man eine kurze Einleitung über Guru Nanak, ein Vorwort zur Deutschen Übersetzung und zahlreiche Fußnoten mit Erklärungen zu wichtigen Ausdrücken und Mythologien, sowie eine kurze Liste mit Literatur zum Japji Sahib.
A6 Format mit hübscher Drahtbindung, 66 Seiten, handgemacht in eigener Produktion. Zusammengestellt und veröffentlicht von Sat Siri Singh Khalsa, 5. (überarbeitete) Auflage, Mai 2011, Southall, U.K.
Preis: €7 plus Verpackung & Versand
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Japji Sahib Workshop
Recitation of sacred scriptures and mantras has been practised in all spiritual traditions throughout all ages of human mankind. It is the most sublime way of inner cleansing and transformation, the supreme preparation for the devotee and lover. By repetition in meditation, the essence of the Divine word penetrates deeply into the Being and brings it into resonance and remembrance. The seed of the word blossoms and prospers in the soil of the physical body. Individuals and communities call on the morphic fields of their spiritual ancestry.
Japji Sahib, received by Guru Nanak ca. 1500AD, is the opening chapter of the Siri Guru Granth Sahib, a sacred scripture and songbook of Divine Love and human inclusiveness, reiterating the essence and priorities of the perennial teachings for a successful, liberated life during the dark ages of kali yug. Our Divine identity and essence (sat nam) can be realised through the Divine word (shabad, bani) which is the connection (guru) between the timeless Divine consciousness and the beauty and suffering in temporary creation, the world ocean. This is the fascinating concept of Gurbani.
“In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God.” (John 1.1)
In this workshop, we will explore Japji Sahib in various ways and experience, discover and deepen our love and fascination for its sound, content and effect.
Watch Online Workshop
In December 2020, I recorded this Japji Sahib online workshop for KYTA, the Kundalini Yoga Teachers Association.
If you watch it, please kindly donate £5 (or more) to KYTA. They have been serving Kundalini Yoga teachers and students in the UK for decades generously and efficiently. I was working for KYTA as website and newsletter editor from 2007 to 2018.
Download the slides for the workshop.
Testimonials
from Japji Sahib Weekend Workshops 2013 – 2017
English Feedback
“I love the way you spread your inner light.” – Carla, Netherlands, 2013
“I enjoyed the weekend immensely. I experienced a total reset and feel very much more in love with the Japji as I really feel that it holds all answers (and “secrets”) of life. In gratitude and love” – Shabad Deep Kaur, Netherlands, 2013
“Thank you very much. At this moment my cells are dancing and vibrating with new life energy. That makes my laugh and cry at the same time. The Guru has awakened my senses, now it’s time for me to get real… with lightness into being.” – Linda, Netherlands, 2013
“Thank you for your words and reminders, they have found their way directly into my heart! At this moment, many connections between experiences and qualities open up, make me grow further and become clearer! Waheguru!” – Updesh Kaur, Austria, 2013
“This workshop gave me new insight into the Japji, my understanding of Yoga, singing and the Naad! Your understanding of the German, English and Gurmukhi languages gave the workshop extra quality. There was never any blah blah, but something that came from your depth and clarity, which was always intelligible.” – Sham Inder Singh, Austria, 2013
“This workshop was wonderful in all its aspects. Another ‘Pauri’ closer to God.” – Siri Hari Kaur, Austria, 2013
“You showed me so many wonderful possibilities which I would like to explore further… The collective chanting of the Mool Mantra and the singing of pauris was wonderful.” – Santjot Kaur, Austria, 2013
“Thank you very much for sharing your enthusiasm for the Japji, for your joy about its beauty, your knowledge, and the idea of simply being with its sound and understanding with our hearts. Thank you for an inspiring, demanding and genial weekend.” – Dev Mukh Kaur, Germany, 2014
“Very quickly, I was confident that Sat Siri knows what he is talking about. He studied his subjects in depth, speaks from experience, and is clear about his personal comments. Competent knowledge, delivered with enthusiasm and humility offer you the opportunity to learn, understand and be inspired.” – Christoph, Germany, 2014
“This Japji course was a re-awakening and deepening of my connection to Japji, Naad and my Soul. I particularly loved the vocal practice as it brought me great happiness. The course has rebooted my Sadhana and magnified the peace and love in my heart. The company was excellent, I always learn so much from others in this safe space where we are free to be honest and open. Thank you for holding the space for us and for your love, empathy and direction. You are clear, engaging and so clearly deeply in love with what you do and your way of life, which is exactly what I want from a teacher.” – Sat Charan Kaur, England, 2015
“Since I took part in Sat Siri’s Japji workshop my access to the Japji Sahib has become so much more profound. Sat Siri’s teachings went directly into my heart. Maybe this is so because he does not speak from a theoretical point of view, but from his own profound personal experience of a practicing Sikh and as somebody who is truly searching for a comprehensive understanding of this religion and its traditions. I am very grateful that I had the chance to participate in this workshop.” – Paramdhan Kaur, Germany, 2014
Deutsche Stimmen
“Mein momentaner Zustand dazu ist dass ich vor Glück fast platze. Ein sehr wegweisendes Wochenende.” – Dayaljot Kaur, Germany, 2016
“Das Mul Mantra gehört jetzt zum täglichen Sadhana dazu und ich werde dein Lehrgang weiterempfehlen, denn ich habe dadurch neue Inspirationen empfangen dürfen. Dieses Seminar hat mein Verständnis über die spirituelle Sicht vollständiger werden lassen.” – Taran Jot Singh, Germany, 2016
“Ich danke Dir für all die tollen Erfahrungen und Informationen am Japji Wochenende. Ich hätte Dir noch ewig zuhören können! Ganz besondern schön fand ich, wenn Du einzelne Pauris übersetzt hast und gleichzeitig mit Geschichten und Erfahrungen abgerundet hast, und wenn Du die Pauris mit uns gesungen hast. Das hätte nicht enden müssen.” – Mahan Jiwan Kaur, Germany, 2016
“Das Wochenende fand ich großartig und wir haben viel mehr gemacht als ich erwartet habe.” – Keherpreet Kaur, Germany, 2016
Japji Sahib Resources
Audio
NORMAL SPEED
Bibi Harninder Kaur [17:20]
Giani Sukhwinder Singh (Damdami Taksal) [22:45]
Master Darshan Singh Namdhari [18:30]
Bhai Dhian Singh Komal [23:40]
Guru Raj Kaur Khalsa (3HO) [23:15]
Sat Siri Singh Khalsa [19:00]
SLOW SPEED
Giani Thakur Singh [29:32]
Bhagat Jaswant Singh (Gursevak) [42:37]
Bhai Sukhwinder Singh Dedehar [31:03]
Snatam Kaur Khalsa (3HO) [31:16]
Nirinjan Kaur (3HO) [58:53]
Literature
Literature Resources
a list of selected literature and translation resources on Japji Sahib
The Mool Mantra Controversy*
a short history about recent attempts to modify the mool mantra
*Listen to Bhai Avtar Singh singing Ghalley Aaveh Nanaka (number 16 in the list), which includes recitations of the mool mantra from 9:30 min
Internet Articles
Japji Sahib (Wikipedia)
Japji Sahib (SikhiWiki)
Yogic Living: Japji – Meditation of the Soul (3HO)
Japji: The Song of the Soul (by Dev Suroop Kaur, 3HO)
Guru Nanak: Awakened Sensory Human (by Guruka Singh, 3HO)
Effects of individual Pauries (SDI)
Videos & App
Basics of Sikhi Youtube Channel:
Japji Sahib English Lectures & Kirtan
Nanak Naam Youtube Channel:
JapJi Sahib Katha – English translation and meaning
3HO Europe Youtube Channel:
40 Day Study of Japji
Japji Sahib read along with Bhai Gurpreet Singh Shimla Wale on youtube
SDI Japji for the Aquarian Age App for Apple and Android