'Sublime Life of Wonder' and 'Universal Human Values' :

A 'SLOW' Journey Through Bhai Vir Singh’s Select Poetry

Abstract

This paper reimagines Bhai Vir Singh’s life and poetic contributions through the concept of ‘SLOW’—‘sublime life of wonder’—a framework that emphasizes deliberate, profound engagement with life’s moral and philosophical dimensions. Bhai Vir Singh’s (hereafter, BVS) exploration of universal human values (hereafter UHV) emerges not merely as societal niceties but as deep existential insights that guide the individual’s conscious interaction with the world. In today’s fast-paced, ethically fragmented society, his works offer a meditative space to reconsider these values as timeless and essential. By slowing down to contemplate these values, BVS’s poetry invokes a wonder at the interconnectedness of ‘right understanding’, feeling, and human existence. This approach invites a reflective  pause, where his ethical vision transcends temporal and cultural confines, presenting literature as more than a mirror to society—it becomes a transformative force that reshapes ethical consciousness. His works reflect the moral crises of his time and serve as a guidepost for navigating modern disorientation. In this way, his philosophy aligns with the ‘SLOW’ paradigm, where wonder and ethical deliberation foster a moral self capable of deep, sustained reflection. This paper critiques how BVS’s philosophy, in its engagement with universal virtues, functions as a living framework for personal and collective renewal. His alignment of spiritual insight with moral action creates a philosophical system that reshapes how we view literature’s capacity to promote ethical and societal elevation. His contributions, under the lens of ‘SLOW’, remind us that the contemplative life,immersed in wonder, holds the key to ethical progress and personal  transformation.