To tread on a path, we need very clear instructions. If someone says: this world is a projection of your mind and you see what your mind projects; otherwise, it doesn’t exist; will we realize that? We may never comprehend it actually, because we don’t only feel this world, but we also touch it and verify its existence. We have developed adherence to its existence. We need to bring a change in ourselves in the same way we have been programmed in our environments. The Guru doesn’t take us to such kind of ambiguous and intricate routes; instead, he advises us to overcome our self-conceit that hinders every spiritual phenomenon we seek to experience; the second, he asks us to become detached. Now this is very hard to understand if we are not guided to understand how to do it. The Guru addresses that issue by asking us to live here as a guest, who lives at another’s place without getting attached to anything. After getting over our self-conceit and attachment, the Guru asks us to concentrate on our Creator, who is defined as a permeating power all over in and out.Thus, the path is crystal clear, and to realize it, we must follow what the Guru says. Let us start understanding how our Guru guides us: Third Nanak first puts a few questions then answers them, which are very helpful for our spiritual journey; please read on 1048:
ਮਾਰੂ ਮਹਲਾ ੩ ॥
Maaroo mehlaa 3.
ਕਿਸੁ ਸੇਵੀ ਤੈ ਕਿਸੁ ਸਾਲਾਹੀ ॥
Kis sayvee tai kis saalaahee.
ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਸੇਵੀ ਸਬਦਿ ਸਾਲਾਹੀ ॥
Satgur sayvee sabad saalaahee.
ਸਚੈ ਸਬਦਿ ਸਦਾ ਮਤਿ ਊਤਮ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਕਮਲੁ ਪ੍ਰਗਾਸੀ ਹੇ ॥੩॥
Sachai sabad sadaa mat ootam antar kamal pargaasee hay. ||3||
Raag Maroo, the bani of Third Nanak
In essence: (Questions)To whom should I serve and to whom should I praise?(Answers) Serve (follow) the Satiguru and through his shabda, praise Akalpurakh. One’s intellect becomes sublime and one’s lotus-mind blossoms through praising Him (Akalpurakh).
And again stress is given on the same idea:
ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਚੇਤਾ ਅਵਰੁ ਨ ਪੂਜਾ ॥
Har naam chaytaa avar na poojaa.
ਏਕੋ ਸੇਵੀ ਅਵਰੁ ਨ ਦੂਜਾ ॥
Ayko sayvee avar na doojaa.
ਪੂਰੈ ਗੁਰਿ ਸਭੁ ਸਚੁ ਦਿਖਾਇਆ ਸਚੈ ਨਾਮਿ ਨਿਵਾਸੀ ਹੇ ॥੭॥
Poorai gur sabh sach dikhaa-i-aa sachai naam nivaasee hay. ||7||
In essence: I remember Prabh’s Naam and I do not worship anyone one other.I serve none but only Prabh, the perfect Guru has shown me Prabh and I abide in His Naam.
Abiding in His Naam is not simple; to reach to that state, the Guru guides us. Following the Guru and worshipping the Creator is actually a journey to realize the Creator within. In this context, the Guru also says on 1028:
ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਮਿਲਹੁ ਚੀਨਹੁ ਬਿਧਿ ਸਾਈ ॥
Satgur milhu cheenahu bidh saa-ee.
ਜਿਤੁ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਪਾਵਹੁ ਗਣਤ ਨ ਕਾਈ ॥
Jit parabh paavhu ganat na kaa-ee.
ਹਉਮੈ ਮਾਰਿ ਕਰਹੁ ਗੁਰ ਸੇਵਾ ਜਨ ਨਾਨਕ ਹਰਿ ਰੰਗਿ ਭੀਨਾ ਹੇ ॥੧੭॥੨॥੮॥
Ha-umai maar karahu gur sayvaa jan naanak har rang bheenaa hay. ||17||2||8||
In essence: Brother! You meet the Satiguru and ask the way out to meet Har. When you obtain Har, there will be no account of your deeds. By eliminating your self-conceit, serve the Guru (follow the Guru’s advice strictly in utter humility). Oh Nanak! This way, one gets drenched in Har’s love.
The following Slok of Fifth Nanak states that merely talking doesn’t help; please read on 1100
ਮਃ ੫ ॥
Mehlaa 5.
ਸਜਣ ਸਚੁ ਪਰਖਿ ਮੁਖਿ ਅਲਾਵਣੁ ਥੋਥਰਾ ॥
Sajan sach parakh mukh alaavan thothraa.
ਮੰਨ ਮਝਾਹੂ ਲਖਿ ਤੁਧਹੁ ਦੂਰਿ ਨ ਸੁ ਪਿਰੀ ॥੩॥
Man majhaahoo lakh tudhhu door na so piree. ||3||
In essence: Oh friend! Realize Prabh’s Naam in your heart, because merely talking about it is useless.Look Him within; your beloved Spouse is not far away.
The Guru is not saying that “don’t utter His Naam”, but instead he is saying that His Naam should be uttered heartily; making “His Naam uttering” a ritual is criticized in the Gurbani. Without sincerity, all efforts done in context of realizing Him are literally useless.
Look at the following verses on 1030, SGGS; you will see more clarity about searching Him within:
ਮਾਰੂ ਮਹਲਾ ੧ ॥
Maaroo mehlaa 1.
ਘਰਿ ਰਹੁ ਰੇ ਮਨ ਮੁਗਧ ਇਆਨੇ ॥
Ghar rahu ray man mugadh i-aanay.
ਰਾਮੁ ਜਪਹੁ ਅੰਤਰਗਤਿ ਧਿਆਨੇ ॥
Raam japahu antargat Dhi-aanay.
ਲਾਲਚ ਛੋਡਿ ਰਚਹੁ ਅਪਰੰਪਰਿ ਇਉ ਪਾਵਹੁ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਦੁਆਰਾ ਹੇ ॥੧॥
Laalach chhod rachahu aprampar i-o paavhu mukat du-aaraa hay. ||1||
Raag Maroo, the bani of First Nanak
In essence: Oh silly and childish mind! Be stilled within and utter Prabh’s name internally. Give up all greed and get drenched in the love of Prabh, who is infinite; this way, the salvation is achieved.
To do that, we need some personal advice of the Guru; in other words, we need to know how to get ready to become an apt follower of the Guru? Answer is on 1041. SGGS:
ਮਾਰੂ ਮਹਲਾ ੧ ॥
Maaroo mehlaa 1.
ਕਾਮੁ ਕ੍ਰੋਧੁ ਪਰਹਰੁ ਪਰ ਨਿੰਦਾ ॥
Kaam krodh parhar par nindaa.
ਲਬੁ ਲੋਭੁ ਤਜਿ ਹੋਹੁ ਨਿਚਿੰਦਾ ॥
Lab lobh taj hohu nichindaa.
ਭ੍ਰਮ ਕਾ ਸੰਗਲੁ ਤੋੜਿ ਨਿਰਾਲਾ ਹਰਿ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਰਸੁ ਪਾਇਆ ॥੧॥
Bharam kaa sangal torh niraalaa har antar har ras paa-i-aa. ||1||
Raag Maroo, the bani of First Nanak
In essence: Give up your lust, anger and slandering of others; abandon your greed and possessiveness to become worry free. One, who breaks the chains of doubt, becomes detached and finds Har’s Naam-essence within.
Once, we complete our self analysis and reform ourselves, we are right on a track; we are heading toward the ultimate freedom by shattering our each and every bond, but always bear in mind that we are supposed to live here as guests not owners, please see on 1188 to 1189:
ਗੁਰ ਤੇ ਸਮਝਿ ਰਹੈ ਮਿਹਮਾਣੁ ॥
Gur tay samajh rahai mihmaan.
ਹਰਿ ਰਸਿ ਰਾਤਾ ਜਨੁ ਪਰਵਾਣੁ ॥੭॥
Har ras raataa jan parvaan. ||7||
In essence: A person, who understands Prabh and lives here like a guest as per the Guru’s advice, remains drenched in His love and becomes acceptable to Him.
Now let us go to Bhagat Namdev to know how to practice our concentration on our Creator; he gives many examples in this context; here is his shabda on 972, SGGS
ਆਨੀਲੇ ਕਾਗਦੁ ਕਾਟੀਲੇ ਗੂਡੀ ਆਕਾਸ ਮਧੇ ਭਰਮੀਅਲੇ ॥
Aaneelay kaagad kaateelay goodee aakaas madhay bharmee-alay.
ਪੰਚ ਜਨਾ ਸਿਉ ਬਾਤ ਬਤਊਆ ਚੀਤੁ ਸੁ ਡੋਰੀ ਰਾਖੀਅਲੇ ॥੧॥
Panch janaa si-o baat bata-oo-aa cheet so doree raakhee-alay. ||1||
In essence: Look! A boy brings paper, cuts it and makes a kite; then he flies it in the sky: he keeps talking with his companions, but his mind remains fixed on the string of the kite;
ਮਨੁ ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮਾ ਬੇਧੀਅਲੇ ॥
Man raam naamaa baydhee-alay.
ਜੈਸੇ ਕਨਿਕ ਕਲਾ ਚਿਤੁ ਮਾਂਡੀਅਲੇ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
Jaisay kanik kalaa chit maandee-alay. ||1|| rahaa-o.
Namdev’s mind is pierced with Akalpurakh’s name as the goldsmith keeps his attention on gold-crafting while talking with others. Pause.
ਆਨੀਲੇ ਕੁੰਭੁ ਭਰਾਈਲੇ ਊਦਕ ਰਾਜ ਕੁਆਰਿ ਪੁਰੰਦਰੀਏ ॥
Aaneelay kumbh bharaa-eelay oodak raaj ku-aar purandree-ay.
ਹਸਤ ਬਿਨੋਦ ਬੀਚਾਰ ਕਰਤੀ ਹੈ ਚੀਤੁ ਸੁ ਗਾਗਰਿ ਰਾਖੀਅਲੇ ॥੨॥
Hasat binod beechaar kartee hai cheet so gaagar raakhee-alay. ||2||
The young girls go outside the city and fill their pitchers with water; they laugh and talk and make merry, but they keep their minds in their pitchers (Namdev remembers His Prabh in the same way).
ਮੰਦਰੁ ਏਕੁ ਦੁਆਰ ਦਸ ਜਾ ਕੇ ਗਊ ਚਰਾਵਨ ਛਾਡੀਅਲੇ ॥
Mandar ayk du-aar das jaa kay ga-oo charaavan chhaadee-alay.
ਪਾਂਚ ਕੋਸ ਪਰ ਗਊ ਚਰਾਵਤ ਚੀਤੁ ਸੁ ਬਛਰਾ ਰਾਖੀਅਲੇ ॥੩॥
Paanch kos par ga-oo charaavat cheet so bachhraa raakhee-alay. ||3||
Here is a house with ten gates; a man let loose the cows to graze. The Cows graze five miles away, but they keep their hearts fixed on their calves (in the same way Namdev remembers Him).
ਕਹਤ ਨਾਮਦੇਉ ਸੁਨਹੁ ਤਿਲੋਚਨ ਬਾਲਕੁ ਪਾਲਨ ਪਉਢੀਅਲੇ ॥
Kahat naamday-o sunhu tilochan baalak paalan pa-udhee-alay.
ਅੰਤਰਿ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਕਾਜ ਬਿਰੂਧੀ ਚੀਤੁ ਸੁ ਬਾਰਿਕ ਰਾਖੀਅਲੇ ॥੪॥੧॥
Antar baahar kaaj biroodhee cheet so baarik raakhee-alay. ||4||1||
Namdev says : listen oh Tirlochan! The mother lays the child in the cradle and she remains busy working in and outside the house, but she keeps her thoughts in her child (in the same way, Namdev remembers Him).
Once our minds start concentrating on Akalpurakh’s memory, we will never be disturbed by any desire or worldly attractions, because we will learn how to live with Him while living in this world, which is highly dominated by the Maya influences. We will not feel separate from Him ever; therefore, no duality will exist in us. No need to put marks on the forehead or chanting special mantras, because living in His Naam will become our necessary mantra; then we don’t need to look for auspicious days or time either. As His world runs, we will align with His all pervading ordinance perfectly. It eventually leads us to that state of void in which no difference is seen between our Creator and us. We will be living desire free while performing our assigned jobs. We will eat, share, laugh but deep in our minds, a settled thought of resistance to incessant desiring will glow all the time. The world is perfect. When our duality sets in, it becomes calamitous. If we keep mixing our thoughts or keep applying our self-made tricks in this regard, we may please some people, but our spiritual experience will doom at its inception.Our attention fixed on our Creator unfolds our freedom, which we unknowingly wrapped in bonds. Our minds fixed on Him become stilled, though the wind of worldly affairs keeps blowing.
Wishes
Regards
G Singh
