At the Feet of the Teacher

Somehow this lovely piece of music, “At the Feet of the Teacher” has fallen out of circulation and I want to bring it back. It was the first song Livtar Singh and Snatam Kaur wrote together. It was part of three inspired albums they made around the turn of the century, when the Siri Singh Sahib was still physically among us.

The song starts with Snatam Kaur singing, “Tayree meher daa bolnaa. Tudh agay ardaas. Guru Guru Wahay Guru, Guru Raam Daas. Aad Guray Jugaad Guray Nameh Sat Guray Nameh Siri Guru Dayvay Nameh.” It is very pretty and she sings it repeatedly.

The translation is: “Through Thy kindness, we speak. I stand before You in prayer. Guru Guru Wahay Guru, Guru Raam Daas. I submit myself before the Original Teacher. I submit myself before the Teacher of the Ages. I submit myself before the Teacher of Being. I submit myself before the great, Spiritual Teacher.”

The Siri Singh Sahib would recite this before speaking in Gurdwara. Sometimes, he would add lines: “Tayree meher daa jeevnaa.” Through Thy kindness, we live. “Tayree meher daa kehnaa.” Through Thy kindness, we talk.

At the Feet of the Teacher

1. He washes the faces of thousands crying alone

turns the earth in his hands to build a home

Burns the heart of your fear to ashes

At his feet the unknown becomes the known

At the feet of the teacher – destiny found and delivered

Every cell of my being danced when the call was heard

2. He walks among us not bound by time and space

The sun and moon, the stars to him one cosmic face

Only seen by him who sees God in all

The Sun never sees night fall

At the feet of the teacher – destiny bound and delivered

At the moment of waking, then my soul was heard

3. He lives not for lineage, but legacy

to leave a world of beauty, peace, prosperity

A nation built around the Guru’s throne

The foundation his spirit, blood and bone

At the feet of the teacher – destiny sealed and delivered

In the depth of my being the unheard sound was heard

4. He walks across the earth beneath the sky

He walks across the sky with the earth above

He just smiles and asks, what does it matter?

Love is in God, God is in Love

At the feet of the teacher – Destiny stands and delivers

Every cell of my being danced when the call was heard

At the feet of the teacher – destiny sealed and delivered

Every beat of my heart is a song of forever

Sung by Snatam Kaur, Livtar Singh, Prabhu Nam Kaur