On SGGS 1243, Shri Guru Angad Sahib explains how the philosophy of Shri Guru Nanak Sahib is better than those scriptures which take the believer into fruitless rituals while the mind remains engrossed in the Maya pursuits. Let us ponder over it:
ਸਲੋਕ ਮਃ 2 ॥ ਕਥਾ ਕਹਾਣੀ ਬੇਦਂੀ ਆਣੀ ਪਾਪੁ ਪੁੰਨੁ ਬੀਚਾਰੁ ॥ ਦੇ ਦੇ ਲੈਣਾ ਲੈ ਲੈ ਦੇਣਾ ਨਰਕਿ ਸੁਰਗਿ ਅਵਤਾਰ ॥
ਉਤਮ ਮਧਿਮ ਜਾਤੀਂ ਜਿਨਸੀ ਭਰਮਿ ਭਵੈ ਸੰਸਾਰੁ ॥ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਬਾਣੀ ਤਤੁ ਵਖਾਣੀ ਗਿਆਨ ਧਿਆਨ ਵਿਚਿ ਆਈ ॥
ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਆਖੀ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਜਾਤੀ ਸੁਰਤਂੀ ਕਰਮਿ ਧਿਆਈ ॥ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਸਾਜਿ ਹੁਕਮੈ ਵਿਚਿ ਰਖੈ ਹੁਕਮੈ ਅੰਦਰਿ ਵੇਖੈ ॥
ਨਾਨਕ ਅਗਹੁ ਹਉਮੈ ਤੁਟੈ ਤਾਂ ਕੋ ਲਿਖੀਐ ਲੇਖੈ ॥1॥
Salok mėhlā 2. Kathā kahāṇī beḏīʼn āṇī pāp punn bīcẖār. Ḏe ḏe laiṇā lai lai ḏeṇā narak surag avṯār.
Uṯam maḏẖim jāṯīʼn jinsī bẖaram bẖavai sansār. Amriṯ baṇī ṯaṯ vakẖāṇī gi-ān ḏẖi-ān vicẖ ā-ī.
Gurmukẖ ākẖī gurmukẖ jāṯī surṯīʼn karam ḏẖi-ā-ī. Hukam sāj hukmai vicẖ rakẖai hukmai anḏar vekẖai.
Nānak agahu ha-umai ṯutai ṯāʼn ko likī-ai lekẖai. ||1|| {SGGS –1243}
Slok of Second Nanak.
In essence: The teachings of the Vedas reflect on what a sin is and what a virtue is. It is told in there that what one gives here takes in the next life; thus, they take birth to be in hell and heaven (This is the detailed Karma expressed in those scriptures.). The world wanders in the doubt of high and low caste. The Guru’s nectarous bani expresses all about the origin, Akalpurakh; it has come through the divine knowledge obtained through Akalpurakh’s meditation. The Guru has uttered it and realized it and the followers contemplate it with Akalpurakh’s grace. (This is what Sikhi is all about). As per His Will, Akalpurakh fashions the creation, keeps it under His Ordinance and takes care of it. Oh Nanak! First the conceit of the follower is eradicated and then he becomes acceptable to Akalpurakh.
Thus, in a nut shell, the Guru advises the followers to remain focus on improving themselves to be nice and worthy for the Creator. They need no ritual to please anyone but His meditation and praise.
Wishes
G Singh
On 138, SGGS, in a Waar “ Waar maajh ki”, penned by Shri Guru Nanak, the Second Guru, Shri Guru Angad Sahib addresses the behavior of those who live without keeping the Universal Creator in their hearts; however, he also states that actually they live as per His Will, thus, HE is everywhere; let us ponder over it:
ਵਾਰ ਮਾਝ ਕੀ ਤਥਾ ਸਲੋਕ ਮਹਲਾ 1
ਮਃ 2 ॥ ਦੇਂਦੇ ਥਾਵਹੁ ਦਿਤਾ ਚੰਗਾ ਮਨਮੁਖਿ ਐਸਾ ਜਾਣੀਐ ॥
ਸੁਰਤਿ ਮਤਿ ਚਤੁਰਾਈ ਤਾ ਕੀ ਕਿਆ ਕਰਿ ਆਖਿ ਵਖਾਣੀਐ ॥
ਅੰਤਰਿ ਬਹਿ ਕੈ ਕਰਮ ਕਮਾਵੈ ਸੋ ਚਹੁ ਕੁੰਡੀ ਜਾਣੀਐ ॥
ਜੋ ਧਰਮੁ ਕਮਾਵੈ ਤਿਸੁ ਧਰਮ ਨਾਉ ਹੋਵੈ ਪਾਪਿ ਕਮਾਣੈ ਪਾਪੀ ਜਾਣੀਐ ॥
ਤੂੰ ਆਪੇ ਖੇਲ ਕਰਹਿ ਸਭਿ ਕਰਤੇ ਕਿਆ ਦੂਜਾ ਆਖਿ ਵਖਾਣੀਐ ॥
ਜਿਚਰੁ ਤੇਰੀ ਜੋਤਿ ਤਿਚਰੁ ਜੋਤੀ ਵਿਚਿ ਤੂੰ ਬੋਲਹਿ ਵਿਣੁ ਜੋਤੀ ਕੋਈ ਕਿਛੁ ਕਰਿਹੁ ਦਿਖਾ ਸਿਆਣੀਐ ॥
ਨਾਨਕ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਨਦਰੀ ਆਇਆ ਹਰਿ ਇਕੋ ਸੁਘੜੁ ਸੁਜਾਣੀਐ ॥2॥
Mėhlā 2. Ḏeʼnḏe thāvhu ḏiṯā cẖanga manmukẖ aisā jāṇī-ai.
Suraṯ maṯ cẖaṯurā-ī ṯā kī ki-ā kar ākẖ vakẖāṇī-ai.
Anṯar bahi kai karam kamāvai so cẖahu kundī jāṇī-ai.
Jo ḏẖaram kamāvai ṯis ḏẖaram nā-o hovai pāp kamāṇai pāpī jāṇī-ai.
Ŧūʼn āpe kẖel karahi sabẖ karṯe ki-ā ḏūjā ākẖ vakẖāṇī-ai.
Jicẖar ṯerī joṯ ṯicẖar joṯī vicẖ ṯūʼn bolėh viṇ joṯī ko-ī kicẖẖ karihu ḏikẖā si-āṇī-ai.
Nānak gurmukẖ naḏrī ā-i-ā har iko sugẖaṛ sujāṇī-ai. ||2|| {SGGS – 138}
The bani of Second Nanak.
In essence: The mind-slave prefers Ekankar’s given gifts to Ekankar, who actually gives those gifts to him. It is hard to explain what common sense, wisdom, and cleverness he (the mind-slave) has. Though he acts secretly, his actions become well known. One, who acts virtuously, is known as virtuous and that one, who commits sins, is known as sinner. Oh Har! This is your own play, because they act as you cause them to act. What else we should say? As long as your jyot (light) is present in the mortals, they (actually you) speak; without your jyot, who can speak (none)? Oh Nanak! One can see the all wise and omnipotent Creator everywhere through the Guru.
Wishes!
G Singh
www.gursoch.com
Bhagat Kabir says this:
On SGGS 660, Bhagat Kabir clearly states that he only believes in the Universal Creator who permeates all :
ਰਾਗੁ ਧਨਾਸਰੀ ਬਾਣੀ ਭਗਤ ਕਬੀਰ ਜੀ ਕੀ Rāg ḏẖanāsrī baṇī bẖagaṯ Kabīr jī kī
Raag Dhanasri, the bani of Bhagat Kabir
ੴ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥ Ik-oaʼnkār saṯgur parsāḏ.
There is only One All Pervading Akalpurakh, who is known with the blessings of the Satiguru.
ਸਨਕ ਸਨੰਦ ਮਹੇਸ ਸਮਾਨਾਂ ॥ ਸੇਖਨਾਗਿ ਤੇਰੋ ਮਰਮੁ ਨ ਜਾਨਾਂ ॥1॥
Sanak sanand mahes samānāʼn . Sekẖnāg ṯero maram na jānāʼn. ||1||
In essence: Oh Prabh! Sanak, nand, Shiva and Sheshnaag didn’t know your secret.
ਸੰਤਸੰਗਤਿ ਰਾਮੁ ਰਿਦੈ ਬਸਾਈ ॥1॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ Sanṯsangaṯ rām riḏai basā-ī. ||1|| Rahā-o.
In Akalpurakh’s true devotees’ association, I keep Akalpurakh in my heart. Pause.
ਹਨੂਮਾਨ ਸਰਿ ਗਰੁੜ ਸਮਾਨਾਂ ॥ ਸੁਰਪਤਿ ਨਰਪਤਿ ਨਹੀ ਗੁਨ ਜਾਨਾਂ ॥2॥
Hanūmān sar garuṛ samānāʼn . Surpaṯ narpaṯ nahī gun jānāʼn. ||2||
Oh Prabh! Hanuman, Gararh, the master of Devtas, Indra, Brahma and the master of men didn’t know your virtues (didn’t know Akalpurakh).
ਚਾਰਿ ਬੇਦ ਅਰੁ ਸਿੰਮ੍ਰਿਤਿ ਪੁਰਾਨਾਂ ॥ ਕਮਲਾਪਤਿ ਕਵਲਾ ਨਹੀ ਜਾਨਾਂ ॥3॥
Cẖār beḏ ar simriṯ purānāʼn . Kamlāpaṯ kavlā nahī jānāʼn. ||3||
The four Vedas, the Simirities, the Pranas, Vishnu and Lakhsmi didn’t know you.
ਕਹਿ ਕਬੀਰ ਸੋ ਭਰਮੈ ਨਾਹੀ ॥ ਪਗ ਲਗਿ ਰਾਮ ਰਹੈ ਸਰਨਾਂਹੀ ॥4॥1॥
Kahi Kabīr so bẖarmai nāhī . Pag lag rām rahai sarnāʼnhī. ||4||1||
(Who knows Akalpurakh then? Answer) Kabir says: That person who remains attached to Akalpurakh and stays in His refuge in utter humility doesn’t wander around.
Bhagat Kabir in this Shabda, very clearly states that for him no people, men or Devtas, matter but Akalpurakh. Thus, the Sikhs are to believe not any other power but the Universal Creator.
Wishes.
G.Singh
www.gursoch.com
Under the influence of greed, lust, conceit, anger and attachment, the humans can do bad things which could bring their fall. Bhagat Ravidas addresses this with an example, the Shabad is on SGGS 486:
ੴ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥
Ik-oaʼnkār saṯgur parsāḏ.
There is only one All Pervading Akalpurakh, who is known with the blessings of the Satiguru.
ਮ੍ਰਿਗ ਮੀਨ ਭ੍ਰਿੰਗ ਪਤੰਗ ਕੁੰਚਰ ਏਕ ਦੋਖ ਬਿਨਾਸ ॥ ਪੰਚ ਦੋਖ ਅਸਾਧ ਜਾ ਮਹਿ ਤਾ ਕੀ ਕੇਤਕ ਆਸ ॥1॥
Marig mīn bẖaring paṯang kuncẖar ek ḏokẖ binās. Pancẖ ḏokẖ asāḏẖ jā mėh ṯā kī keṯak ās. ||1||
In essence: Only one weakness of the deer or the fish, or the bumble bee or the elephant destroys them; what is the chance of getting saved of the mortal, who has five vices hard to cure?
ਮਾਧੋ ਅਬਿਦਿਆ ਹਿਤ ਕੀਨ ॥ ਬਿਬੇਕ ਦੀਪ ਮਲੀਨ ॥1॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
Māḏẖo abiḏi-ā hiṯ kīn. Bibek ḏīp malīn. ||1|| Rahā-o.
Oh Akalpurakh! The mortals love ignorance; therefore, their intellect of discriminating of good and bad has faded out. Pause.
ਤ੍ਰਿਗਦ ਜੋਨਿ ਅਚੇਤ ਸੰਭਵ ਪੁੰਨ ਪਾਪ ਅਸੋਚ ॥ ਮਾਨੁਖਾ ਅਵਤਾਰ ਦੁਲਭ ਤਿਹੀ ਸੰਗਤਿ ਪੋਚ ॥2॥
Ŧarigaḏ jon acẖeṯ sambẖav punn pāp asocẖ. Mānukẖā avṯār ḏulabẖ ṯihī sangaṯ pocẖ. ||2||
The animals lack contemplation and unable to discriminate between good and evil, and it is very natural. The human existence is hard to obtain, but if one associates with the bad ones, shouldn’t one think about this?
ਜੀਅ ਜੰਤ ਜਹਾ ਜਹਾ ਲਗੁ ਕਰਮ ਕੇ ਬਸਿ ਜਾਇ ॥ ਕਾਲ ਫਾਸ ਅਬਧ ਲਾਗੇ ਕਛੁ ਨ ਚਲੈ ਉਪਾਇ ॥3॥
Jī-a janṯ jahā jahā lag karam ke bas jā-e. Kāl fās abaḏẖ lāge kacẖẖ na cẖalai upā-e. ||3||
Bound by the done deeds, wherever the beings are, they are subject to the noose of death, which is certain. And, nothing can be done about that.
ਰਵਿਦਾਸ ਦਾਸ ਉਦਾਸ ਤਜੁ ਭ੍ਰਮੁ ਤਪਨ ਤਪੁ ਗੁਰ ਗਿਆਨ ॥
ਭਗਤ ਜਨ ਭੈ ਹਰਨ ਪਰਮਾਨੰਦ ਕਰਹੁ ਨਿਦਾਨ ॥4॥1॥
Raviḏās ḏās uḏās ṯaj bẖaram ṯapan ṯap gur gi-ān.
Bẖagaṯ jan bẖai haran parmānanḏ karahu niḏān. ||4||1|| {SGGS-486}
(Prayer) Oh Destroyer of fear of your devotees! Bless me with the treasure of happiness. Bless your servant, Ravidas, so that he may become detached after abandoning his doubts and start doing real penance by living as per the Guru’s given guidance.
Wishes
G. Singh
www.gursoch.com
On 418, SGGS, Shri Guru Nanak Sahib reminds us to be aware of our limited time span on this earth. Basically, the Guru asks us to praise our Creator by understanding this fact that here is none permanent. Let us ponder over it:
ੴ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥
Ik-oaʼnkār saṯgur parsāḏ.
There is only one all-pervading Akalpurakh, who is known with the blessings of the Satiguru.
ਆਸਾ ਕਾਫੀ ਮਹਲਾ 1 ਘਰੁ 8 ਅਸਟਪਦੀਆ ॥
Āsā kāfī mėhlā 1 gẖar 8 asatpaḏī-ā.
ਜੈਸੇ ਗੋਇਲਿ ਗੋਇਲੀ ਤੈਸੇ ਸੰਸਾਰਾ ॥ ਕੂੜੁ ਕਮਾਵਹਿ ਆਦਮੀ ਬਾਂਧਹਿ ਘਰ ਬਾਰਾ ॥1॥
Jaise go-il go-ilī ṯaise sansārā. Kūṛ kamāvėh āḏmī bāʼnḏẖėh gẖar bārā. ||1||
Raag Asa Kafi, the bani of First Nanak, house eighth, Ashtpadeean.
In essence: This world is temporary like the stay of herdsman on a bank of a river; the man practices falsehood by building houses as if he would live here forever (building and expanding the homes and deeming them as permanent).
ਜਾਗਹੁ ਜਾਗਹੁ ਸੂਤਿਹੋ ਚਲਿਆ ਵਣਜਾਰਾ ॥1॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
Jāgahu jāgahu sūṯiho cẖali-ā vaṇjārā. ||1|| Rahā-o.
Oh people in slumber! Wake up. Look the dealer (of Maya expansions) is departing from here. Pause.
This is the Guru’s wake up call to his followers not to get attached with anything save for living in this world as a guest modestly.
ਨੀਤ ਨੀਤ ਘਰ ਬਾਂਧੀਅਹਿ ਜੇ ਰਹਣਾ ਹੋਈ ॥ ਪਿੰਡੁ ਪਵੈ ਜੀਉ ਚਲਸੀ ਜੇ ਜਾਣੈ ਕੋਈ ॥2॥
Nīṯ nīṯ gẖar bāʼnḏẖī-ah je rahṇā ho-ī. Pind pavai jī-o cẖalsī je jāṇai ko-ī. ||2||
Permanent house should be built if we can stay in them permanently. I hope they would realize this: when the body crumbles, the soul has to go.
ਓਹੀ ਓਹੀ ਕਿਆ ਕਰਹੁ ਹੈ ਹੋਸੀ ਸੋਈ ॥ ਤੁਮ ਰੋਵਹੁਗੇ ਓਸ ਨੋ ਤੁਮ੍ਹ੍ਹਹ ਕਉ ਕਉਣੁ ਰੋਈ ॥3॥
Ohī ohī ki-ā karahu hai hosī so-ī. Ŧum rovhuge os no ṯumĥ ka-o ka-uṇ ro-ī. ||3||
Why are you crying over the dead? There is only Akalpurakh, who is now and who will be ever. You cry over the dead, but who will bewail for you (you will face the same end)?
ਧੰਧਾ ਪਿਟਿਹੁ ਭਾਈਹੋ ਤੁਮ੍ਹ੍ਹਹ ਕੂੜੁ ਕਮਾਵਹੁ ॥ ਓਹੁ ਨ ਸੁਣਈ ਕਤ ਹੀ ਤੁਮ੍ਹ੍ਹਹ ਲੋਕ ਸੁਣਾਵਹੁ ॥4॥
Ḏẖanḏẖā pitihu bẖā-īho ṯumĥ kūṛ kamāvahu. Oh na suṇ-ī kaṯ hī ṯumĥ lok suṇavhu. ||4||
Oh brothers! You are into entanglement and you practice falsehood, because one, for whom you bewail, doesn’t hear you; therefore, you are showing only to the people.
ਜਿਸ ਤੇ ਸੁਤਾ ਨਾਨਕਾ ਜਾਗਾਏ ਸੋਈ ॥ ਜੇ ਘਰੁ ਬੂਝੈ ਆਪਣਾ ਤਾਂ ਨੀਦ ਨ ਹੋਈ ॥5॥
Jis ṯe suṯā nānkā jāgā-e so-ī. Je gẖar būjẖai āpṇā ṯāʼn nīḏ na ho-ī. ||5||
Only Akalpurakh who has caused the mortal to be in the Maya slumber, awakens him. If one recognizes one’s “inner self”, then one doesn’t sleep in Maya.
ਜੇ ਚਲਦਾ ਲੈ ਚਲਿਆ ਕਿਛੁ ਸੰਪੈ ਨਾਲੇ ॥ ਤਾ ਧਨੁ ਸੰਚਹੁ ਦੇਖਿ ਕੈ ਬੂਝਹੁ ਬੀਚਾਰੇ ॥6॥
Je cẖalḏā lai cẖali-ā kicẖẖ sampai nāle. Ŧā ḏẖan sancẖahu ḏekẖ kai būjẖhu bīcẖāre. ||6||
Oh mortal! Think and reflect on this: If at the time of departing, you can take wealth with you, then you can gather it. See if you can!
ਵਣਜੁ ਕਰਹੁ ਮਖਸੂਦੁ ਲੈਹੁ ਮਤ ਪਛੋਤਾਵਹੁ ॥ ਅਉਗਣ ਛੋਡਹੁ ਗੁਣ ਕਰਹੁ ਐਸੇ ਤਤੁ ਪਰਾਵਹੁ ॥7॥
Vaṇaj karahu makẖsūḏ laihu maṯ pacẖẖoṯāvahu. A-ugaṇ cẖẖodahu guṇ karahu aise ṯaṯ parāvahu. ||7||
Deal in that (Akalpurakh’s name praising) which is profitable; don’t deal in that which makes you repent afterwards. Get rid of demerits and adopt virtues; this is the way Akalpurakh is obtained.
ਧਰਮੁ ਭੂਮਿ ਸਤੁ ਬੀਜੁ ਕਰਿ ਐਸੀ ਕਿਰਸ ਕਮਾਵਹੁ ॥ ਤਾਂ ਵਾਪਾਰੀ ਜਾਣੀਅਹੁ ਲਾਹਾ ਲੈ ਜਾਵਹੁ ॥8॥
Ḏẖaram bẖūm saṯ bīj kar aisī kiras kamāvahu. Ŧāʼn vāpārī jāṇī-ahu lāhā lai jāvhu. ||8||
You sow the truthful conduct in the soil of your faith; this is the way, you work rightful way. Only then you can be called a trader, if you take profit with you.
ਕਰਮੁ ਹੋਵੈ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਮਿਲੈ ਬੂਝੈ ਬੀਚਾਰਾ ॥ ਨਾਮੁ ਵਖਾਣੈ ਸੁਣੇ ਨਾਮੁ ਨਾਮੇ ਬਿਉਹਾਰਾ ॥9॥
Karam hovai saṯgur milai būjẖai bīcẖārā. Nām vakẖāṇai suṇe nām nāme bi-uhārā. ||9||
If Ekankar graces the mortal, he/she meets the Satiguru and reflects on these thoughts: he/she utters Ekankar’s name, hears it, and deals only in it.
ਜਿਉ ਲਾਹਾ ਤੋਟਾ ਤਿਵੈ ਵਾਟ ਚਲਦੀ ਆਈ ॥ ਜੋ ਤਿਸੁ ਭਾਵੈ ਨਾਨਕਾ ਸਾਈ ਵਡਿਆਈ ॥10॥13॥
Ji-o lāhā ṯotā ṯivai vāt cẖalḏī ā-ī. Jo ṯis bẖāvai nānkā sā-ī vadi-ā-ī. ||10||13||
The way of the world is that some people get profit and some endure loss. Oh Nanak! Ekankar’s greatness lies in what pleases Him.
Wishes.
G.Singh
www.gursoch.com
