In the Gurbani, blind word is used to define the ignorant and inexperienced person. We listen often a talk about divine experience from those who actually don’t have it; consequently, we are misled about it. On 953 and 854, SGGS, Guru Angad Dev Ji, the second Nanak addresses this issue. Let us look at:
ਮਃ 2 ॥
ਰਤਨਾ ਕੇਰੀ ਗੁਥਲੀ ਰਤਨੀ ਖੋਲੀ ਆਇ ॥ ਵਖਰ ਤੈ ਵਣਜਾਰਿਆ ਦੁਹਾ ਰਹੀ ਸਮਾਇ ॥
ਜਿਨ ਗੁਣੁ ਪਲੈ ਨਾਨਕਾ ਮਾਣਕ ਵਣਜਹਿ ਸੇਇ ॥ ਰਤਨਾ ਸਾਰ ਨ ਜਾਣਨੀ ਅੰਧੇ ਵਤਹਿ ਲੋਇ ॥2॥
Mėhlā 2.
Raṯnā kerī guthlī raṯnī kẖolī ā-e. Vakẖar ṯai vaṇjāri-ā ḏuhā rahī samā-e.
Jin guṇ palai nānkā māṇak vaṇjahi se-e. Raṯnā sār na jāṇnī anḏẖe vaṯėh lo-e. ||2|| (963)
Second Nanak
In essence: If the right appraiser opens a bag of jewels, the jewels’ value stands intact in the minds of the jewel-seller and the buyer. Thus, Oh Nanak! One who has virtues of praising Ekankar’s name can obtain the name jewel; otherwise, those who do not realize His name live in this world like blind people
The Guru says that Ekankar’s name is precious and everyone cannot realize it; therefore, those, who talk merely without realizing it, make fool of themselves; however, the Satiguru who has realized His name makes his followers understand the worth of His name.
ਸਲੋਕ ਮਃ 2 ॥
ਅੰਧੇ ਕੈ ਰਾਹਿ ਦਸਿਐ ਅੰਧਾ ਹੋਇ ਸੁ ਜਾਇ ॥ ਹੋਇ ਸੁਜਾਖਾ ਨਾਨਕਾ ਸੋ ਕਿਉ ਉਝੜਿ ਪਾਇ ॥
ਅੰਧੇ ਏਹਿ ਨ ਆਖੀਅਨਿ ਜਿਨ ਮੁਖਿ ਲੋਇਣ ਨਾਹਿ ॥ ਅੰਧੇ ਸੇਈ ਨਾਨਕਾ ਖਸਮਹੁ ਘੁਥੇ ਜਾਹਿ ॥1॥ ( 954 )
Salok mėhlā 2.
Anḏẖe kai rāhi ḏasi-ai anḏẖā ho-e so jā-e. Ho-e sujākẖā nānkā so ki-o ujẖaṛ pā-e.
Anḏẖe ehi na ākẖī-an jin mukẖ lo-iṇ nāhi. Anḏẖe se-ī nānkā kẖasmahu gẖuthe jāhi. ||1|| (954 )
Slok of Second Nanak
In essence: Oh Nanak! If one is blind, one may follow the path shown by another blind one, but if one can see, why should one go astray? Do not call blind those people who don’t have eyes. Oh Nanak! Those are blind persons who have strayed away from Akalpurakh.
Then the Guru elaborates it further:
ਮਃ 2 ॥
ਸਾਹਿਬ ਅੰਧਾ ਜੋ ਕੀਆ ਕਰੇ ਸੁਜਾਖਾ ਹੋਇ ॥ ਜੇਹਾ ਜਾਣੈ ਤੇਹੋ ਵਰਤੈ ਜੇ ਸਉ ਆਖੈ ਕੋਇ ॥
ਜਿਥੈ ਸੁ ਵਸਤੁ ਨ ਜਾਪਈ ਆਪੇ ਵਰਤਉ ਜਾਣਿ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਗਾਹਕੁ ਕਿਉ ਲਏ ਸਕੈ ਨ ਵਸਤੁ ਪਛਾਣਿ ॥2॥
Mėhlā 2.
Sāhib anḏẖā jo kī-ā kare sujākẖā ho-e. Jehā jāṇai ṯeho varṯai je sa-o ākẖai ko-e.
Jithai so vasaṯ na jāp-ī āpe varṯa-o jāṇ. Nānak gāhak ki-o la-e sakai na vasaṯ pacẖẖāṇ. ||2||
Second Nanak.
In essence: If Prabh has blinded a person, then he/she can see only if Prabh makes him/her see; otherwise, that person acts as per his/her intellect regardless someone’s given good advice. That person in whose mind Prabh’s name doesn’t exist remains dominated by his/her self-conceit. Oh Nanak! How one can buy a thing if one doesn’t know about the thing.
ਮਃ 2 ॥
ਸੋ ਕਿਉ ਅੰਧਾ ਆਖੀਐ ਜਿ ਹੁਕਮਹੁ ਅੰਧਾ ਹੋਇ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਨ ਬੁਝਈ ਅੰਧਾ ਕਹੀਐ ਸੋਇ ॥3॥
Mėhlā 2.
So ki-o anḏẖā ākẖī-ai jė hukmahu anḏẖā ho-e. Nānak hukam na bujẖ-ī anḏẖā kahī-ai so-e. ||3||
The bani of Second Nanak
In essence: Do not call blind that person, who is blind (who has no eyes) as per His Will. Oh Nanak! A person who doesn’t understand Ekankar’s Will is really a blind person.
Thus, the Guru enlightens the followers just to follow the Guru who has experienced the Creator and to realize His Will.
Wishes
G Singh
www.gursoch.com
