It is very hard to change for a person, who is heavily involved in the Maya pursuits, to become a devotee of the Creator. Many of us, the Sikh-seekers, fail to understand what actually the Gurbani wants us to do. Our deep indulgence in the worldly affairs makes us think that by doing daily recitation of some banis will get us the ultimate freedom also known as “liberatated while alive”. We fail to realize that such kind of daily routine only prepares a ground for the spiritual realms, but never ever it leads to the spiritual goals the Gurbani talks about. The Gurus and the Bhagatas have tried to guide the followers to turn toward the Creator and to obtain liberation in different ways. It is common practice of the people to do rituals and already established religious acts without ever becoming honest toward their seers; in the Gurbani, hypocrisy is totally rejected especially in context of gaining a spiritual peak. In the following shabda, Ninth Nanak sums up how to be His true devotee. No detail of religious acts is promoted but a simple way of remembering the Creator. One’s religiosity should not bind one; instead it should free one from all bonds to see a vast world, as the Creator’s own play filled with negativity and positivity. The shabda is on 902, SGGS:
ਰਾਮਕਲੀ ਮਹਲਾ ੯ ॥
ਸਾਧੋ ਕਉਨ ਜੁਗਤਿ ਅਬ ਕੀਜੈ ॥
Raamkalee mehlaa 9.
SaaDho ka-un jugat ab keejai.
Raag Ramkali, the bani of Ninth Nanak.
In essence: Oh Sants! What a way should be adopted through which
ਜਾ ਤੇ ਦੁਰਮਤਿ ਸਗਲ ਬਿਨਾਸੈ ਰਾਮ ਭਗਤਿ ਮਨੁ ਭੀਜੈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
Jaa tay durmat sagal binaasai raam bhagat man bheejai. ||1|| rahaa-o.
all ill-thoughts go away and the mind gets involved in Prabh’s meditation? Pause.
The Guru puts a few questions, which he answers later on; below, the Guru gives a reason why it is difficult for the people, heavily involved in Maya pursuits, to turn toward the Creator, who has blessed them with so much:
ਮਨੁ ਮਾਇਆ ਮਹਿ ਉਰਝਿ ਰਹਿਓ ਹੈ ਬੂਝੈ ਨਹ ਕਛੁ ਗਿਆਨਾ ॥
Man maa-i-aa meh urajh rahi-o hai boojhai nah kachh gi-aanaa.
The mortal doesn’t understand the divine knowledge, because he is involved in Maya. Again the Guru asks by remembering what name, one can obtain a status of liberation?
ਕਉਨੁ ਨਾਮੁ ਜਗੁ ਜਾ ਕੈ ਸਿਮਰੈ ਪਾਵੈ ਪਦੁ ਨਿਰਬਾਨਾ ॥੧॥
Ka-un naam jag jaa kai simrai paavai pad nirbaanaa.
What is that name by contemplating which asublime status can be obtained in this world?
Now the Guru gives answers:
ਭਏ ਦਇਆਲ ਕ੍ਰਿਪਾਲ ਸੰਤ ਜਨ ਤਬ ਇਹ ਬਾਤ ਬਤਾਈ ॥
Bha-ay da-i-aal kirpaal sant jan tab ih baat bataa-ee.
By showing kindness, the Sants (the true devotees of Ekankaar) have told this:
ਸਰਬ ਧਰਮ ਮਾਨੋ ਤਿਹ ਕੀਏ ਜਿਹ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕੀਰਤਿ ਗਾਈ ॥੨॥
Sarab Dharam maano tih kee-ay jih parabh keerat gaa-ee. ||2||
If a person sings the praises of Akalpurakh, it means he has performed all the religious ceremonies.
ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮੁ ਨਰੁ ਨਿਸਿ ਬਾਸੁਰ ਮਹਿ ਨਿਮਖ ਏਕ ਉਰਿ ਧਾਰੈ ॥
Raam naam nar nis baasur meh nimakh ayk ur Dhaarai.
Oh Nanak! If he enshrines Prabh’s name in his heart momentarily day and night,
ਜਮ ਕੋ ਤ੍ਰਾਸੁ ਮਿਟੈ ਨਾਨਕ ਤਿਹ ਅਪੁਨੋ ਜਨਮੁ ਸਵਾਰੈ ॥੩॥੨॥
Jam ko taraas mitai naanak tih apuno janam savaarai. ||3||2||
his fear of death ends, and he makes his life successful.
All stress is given on remembering the Creator; it doesn’t matter what name is used to remember Him. When one’s mind remembers the Creator in love, one turns only toward positivity found in the world; one keeps rejecting negativity. Such power holds the Creator’s name. In Japji, First Nanak goes in detail how much power the Creator’s name holds. It changes regular people into angels; it removes wickedness; it changes the mind to be a universal entity. It shatters its all bonds. Believing in His name and hearing His name create miracles (SGGS, 3). Remembering Him satiates the fickle mind. The life takes a harmonious turn never to fall into anxiety or frustration, and the Ordinance the Creator has put in force is understood. Nothing seems against His ordinance. The battle between the negativity and positivity becomes clear. Siding with the positivity, the seeker battles with the negativity to become a true warrior of the Creator. Then contentment takes over his or her mind’s frustration. This way, through remembering the Creator, we embellish our lives and we live our lives free from worries, bonds and ritualistic behavior. By simply discussing or debating, one’s mind never settles with His name. His name is chosen to enshrine the Creator’s memory in the mind so that by living in His memory, one can get rid of duality to become one with Him.
Humbly
G Singh
