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Understanding “Mool Mantra” , A Prelude To Jap Ji

If we, the Sikhs, don’t understand Mool Mantra (A prelude To Jap Ji), we know nothing about Sikhi; without understanding the concept of the Creator in “Mool Mantra”, we simply build our mansion of knowledge on stories told over times by those who were more interested in pursuit of their own quest than understanding fully the goal of our Gurus, or we are indulging in implying ideas of our own limits to every word used in Mool Mantra; if so, we often forget that every word used in Mool Mantra is elaborated in Sri Guru Granth in detail with examples ( Please check on 33,SGGS, 54 ,SGGS, 73,SGGS,78,SGGS,108,SGGS,391,SGGS,720,SGGS 748,SGGS, 930 SGGS, 931,SGGS,1385,SGGS and1412 SGGS); we cannot imply our own thought for which the words used in Mool Mantra do not stand. First Nanak introduces to us the Creator he has adored, praised and realized; his goal is to take the followers away from prevailed misconceptions about Him and to lead them directly to Him who, even being Formless and Invisible, keeps His presence in all. Through Many shabdas it is made clear that indeed, He is ikkonakaar which means “One All Pervading:; in other words, He is present very much within all (Please check for references on 11. SGGS, 25 SGGS, 33 SGGS, 47 SGGS, 56 SGGS, 128 SGGS, 152 SGGS, 181 SGGS,and 342 SGGS).

           It is commonplace practice of defining “ ੴ / Ikk Onakaar” as a new and complete description of “OM” in some Sikh circles, but It is not true if we look at its description in entire Sri Guru Granth Sahib. First Nanak elaborates it further through the words that follow it. From where he has taken the word “ਓ” is very clear from its own form; it is not found “as it is” in any ancient scriptures of India. While reading Upanishad and Simirtis, we come across a word “Aum” used for “Atam”; in Mandukya Upanishad (1-12), it is stated, “ Aum”, this is an eternal word. It symbolizes” what was, what is, and what shall be”. It also represents what is beyond the present and beyond the future”. Interestingly this concept keeps changing though, please read on: “God is all and the soul is God. The soul has four conditions. First condition is wakefulness, when the senses are turned outwards focusing on external world. The second condition is dreaming, when the senses are turned inwards focusing on past deeds and present desires. The third condition is dreamless sleep when desires are resting. The fourth condition is purity. The senses are neither turned outwards nor inwards; there is neither wakefulness nor dreaming. This condition is supreme consciousness, when there is complete awareness of the Soul. This fourth condition is expressed by the syllable “Aum”. This Upanishad calls the soul God but it also expresses “Aum” not as God but a Syllable that represents fourth condition of the soul. After reading that sometimes, the words like “Aum”, “Soul or Supreme Soul” and “God” appear to be conveying meaning of the Creator, but sometimes they appear to give different meanings, for example: God is all and the soul is God” as stated above, but look at this another example, “ by means of the soul, all living beings can know God; and this knowledge fills them with joy … “ Taittiriya Upanishad 2-6, 7. If through a soul, God is known; obviously, it appears that God is separate from the soul; by reading this, the mind certainly get confused about the concept God and the soul. In Rig Veda, Aum is expressed as divine syllable, the sustainer of the world:

           “The four quarters of the sky, reach down to the oceans on the edge of the universe, and from there, the waters flow, the whole universe is sustained by the divine syllable, Aum, which flows everywhere” Rig Veda 1:164-4, 45-46,51-52

           Later on in Rig Veda it is stated that God is one with many names but wise men know that He is one. No wonder, the Guru refers to such thought in Veda in Gurbani by saying that what the reality is expressed in Veda, they don’t believe but they follow later on sages who led them to idol worshiping ( Please check on 919 SGGS, 556 SGGS). Well, that is not topic of this article; therefore, let us see How the Guru expresses the Creator in His full concept.

           The Guru differs slightly with Upanishad and Vedas; the soul is not God but a part of God because God or Ikkoankar is also separate from the soul though it exists in beings like the butter in the milk. On 966, Mehla 5:

ਆਪੇ ਸਭਨਾ ਮੰਝਿ ਆਪੇ ਬਾਹਰਾ ॥

Āpe sabẖnā manjẖ āpe bāhrā.

In Essence: He is within all and He Himself is beyond all.

           There is very interesting statement in “Isa Upanishad “
“God travels and yet he does not, He is far away and yet He is near. He is in all beings, yet He is outside all beings”

It adds:

           “Those, who find God within themselves, and find God in others, lose all fear; those, who are at one with all beings, and discern the unity of all beings, lose all sorrows.
Isa Upnishda 1-2,4-8

           This is very closest statement to Gurbani in context of the Ikkoankaar. Interestingly, the soul is treated as one entity pervading in all in Upanishad, but Gurbani takes it further by separating the Creator completely from His Creation (555, SGGS):

ਪਉੜੀ ॥ ਆਪੇ ਸਭ ਘਟ ਅੰਦਰੇ ਆਪੇ ਹੀ ਬਾਹਰਿ ॥

ਆਪੇ ਗੁਪਤੁ ਵਰਤਦਾ ਆਪੇ ਹੀ ਜਾਹਰਿ ॥

ਜੁਗ ਛਤੀਹ ਗੁਬਾਰੁ ਕਰਿ ਵਰਤਿਆ ਸੁੰਨਾਹਰਿ ॥

ਓਥੈ ਵੇਦ ਪੁਰਾਨ ਨ ਸਾਸਤਾ ਆਪੇ ਹਰਿ ਨਰਹਰਿ ॥

ਬੈਠਾ ਤਾੜੀ ਲਾਇ ਆਪਿ ਸਭ ਦੂ ਹੀ ਬਾਹਰਿ ॥

ਆਪਣੀ ਮਿਤਿ ਆਪਿ ਜਾਣਦਾ ਆਪੇ ਹੀ ਗਉਹਰੁ ॥੧੮॥

Pa▫oṛī. Āpe sabẖ gẖat anḏre āpe hī bāhar.

Āpe gupaṯ varaṯḏā āpe hī jāhar.

Jug cẖẖaṯīh gubār kar varṯi▫ā sunnāhar.

Othai veḏ purān na sāsṯā āpe har narhar.

Baiṯẖā ṯāṛī lā▫e āp sabẖ ḏū hī bāhar.

Āpṇī miṯ āp jāṇḏā āpe hī ga▫uhar. ||18||

Stanza.

In Essence: Prabh Himself is within all but He is also outside. He prevails hidden and He Himself is manifest. For thirty six ages, He prevailed by Himself in pitch darkness. During that time, there were no Puranas and Shastras but Akalpurakh by Himself. Prabh is sitting in a trance separate from all. Prabh knows His limits though He is unfathomable ocean.

In context of Onakaar, let us read First Nanak on 929 SGGS:

ਓਅੰਕਾਰਿ ਬ੍ਰਹਮਾ ਉਤਪਤਿ ॥ ਓਅੰਕਾਰੁ ਕੀਆ ਜਿਨਿ ਚਿਤਿ ॥

ਓਅੰਕਾਰਿ ਸੈਲ ਜੁਗ ਭਏ ॥ ਓਅੰਕਾਰਿ ਬੇਦ ਨਿਰਮਏ ॥

ਓਅੰਕਾਰਿ ਸਬਦਿ ਉਧਰੇ ॥ ਓਅੰਕਾਰਿ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਤਰੇ ॥

ਓਨਮ ਅਖਰ ਸੁਣਹੁ ਬੀਚਾਰੁ ॥ ਓਨਮ ਅਖਰੁ ਤ੍ਰਿਭਵਣ ਸਾਰੁ ॥੧॥

O▫ankār barahmā uṯpaṯ. O▫ankār kī▫ā jin cẖiṯ.

O▫ankār sail jug bẖa▫e. O▫ankār beḏ nirma▫e.

 O▫ankār sabaḏ uḏẖre. O▫ankār gurmukẖ ṯare.

Onam akẖar suṇhu bīcẖār. Onam akẖar ṯaribẖavaṇ sār. ||1||

In Essence: Brahama was created by Onakaar(Akalpurakh). Brahama cherished Him in his mind. The whole world and the time difference of yuga (ages) have existed from Him, From Him Vedas came into existence. Through the Guru Shabada, the world was saved. With the grace of Onakaar, the mortals are saved (through the Guru shabda); thus, Onankaar ferries across the mortals through the Guru. Listen (oh Pundit!) and ponder over the word “onam” you write. This is for Akalpurakh who is the essence (the origin) of the whole world

Note; The Guru is addressing those people who write “onam nameh” for idols, and he makes it clear that the Barhma known as a Devta was His creation who kept Akalpurakh in his mind; whole world, ages and Vedas are because of Him. There was Guru Shabad through which many were saved; therefore, it is important to know for whom these words “onam nameh” should be used. These words should be used for the creator, the essence of the whole world.

           It is this word Onakaar that was literally corrected by First Nanak by attaching number one (੧) with it.

           As we study Gurbani, it becomes very clear that there is no other entity but one Creator that runs the entire show of the world and beyond. Obviously, using number one with “OnaKaar” (Onakaar is described in Gurbani, we know that (Please check on 885 and 999 SGGS Mehla 5, 929, 1285 SGGS, Mehla 1), the Guru stresses on oneness of the Creator. It is clear that the Guru doesn’t accept word “Om” or “Aum” as completely defining words of His virtues; therefore, he takes “ਓ” and uses a suffix “Kaar” with it to complete its meaningful usage, and its sound becomes different from “Aum ” and that is “ ਓਅੰਕਾਰ “(929 SGGS); obviously, there is no sound of “Om.” This very word is also used by Bhagat Kabir Ji as well (on 340 SGGS); however, the Guru brings it to its new version and that is “ੴ”. It is well explained in Gurbani as stated earlier. Stress here is given on His being one with His power of pervading all over. Bhai Gurdas defines the Mool Mantra in a compact version:

“ਏਕਾ ਏਕੰਕਾਰੁ ਲਿਖਿ ਦੇਖਾਲਿਆ ।

Aykaa aykankaaruz|ikhi daykhaaliaa|

By writing 1 (One number) in the beginning, Ekkankar is defined as the one only (ਏਕੰਕਾਰੁ is the right pronunciation of ੴ; please on 153, SGGS Mehla 1)

ਊੜਾ ਓਅੰਕਾਰੁ ਪਾਸਿ ਬਹਾਲਿਆ ।

Oorhaa aoankaaru paasi bahaaliaa|

[With the first number], and by using “oorha” as “Onkaar” with it (number one), [idea continues]

ਸਤਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਕਰਤਾਰੁ ਨਿਰਭਉ ਭਾਲਿਆ ।

Sati naamu karataaru nirabhau bhaaliaa|

The reality of the Name of fearless Creator is made understood.

ਨਿਰਵੈਰਹੁ ਜੈਕਾਰੁ ਅਜੂਨਿ ਅਕਾਲਿਆ ।

niravairahu jaikaaru ajooni akaaliaa|

and also it is explained that the Creator is beyond enmity, birth and death [Vaaran Bhai Gurdas]

           Bhai Gurdas had the honor of scribing Gurbani as per the order of Fifth Nanak; obviously, he got the Mool Mantra understood completely by being very close to Fifth Nanak. Some people question him too, why I wonder?

Now let us see how far First Nanak goes to express it in his own words.

ੴ ਸਤਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਕਰਤਾ ਪੁਰਖੁ

ਨਿਰਭਉ ਨਿਰਵੈਰੁ

ਅਕਾਲ ਮੂਰਤਿ ਅਜੂਨੀ ਸੈਭੰ ਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥

Ik▫oaʼnkār saṯ nām karṯā purakẖ

nirbẖa▫o nirvair

akāl mūraṯ ajūnī saibẖaʼn gurparsāḏ.

ੴ, before First Nanak, there was “Onakaar,” as we see used by Bhagat Kabir Ji who was here before First Nanak. it was indeed used for the Creator but First Nanak used “੧” with Onakaar; it consists of two parts, first is, “”On” and the second is “Kaar”; “Onkaar” has been also used in Gurbani as the Creator of “the beginning”(1061 SGGS) “Kaar” is described by Bhai Veer Singh as “only one special” (Sri Guru Granth Sahib Kosh-51), but as per Dr Sahib Singh, it means“ All Pervading equally” . First Nanak adds with it “, ੧” to convey oneness of “Onankaar; in simple words as per the Guru,” Akalpurakh is the only one who pervades all over equally.” Here it also represents the Creator and all the names given to Him. The Gurus and the Bhagatas call Him with numerous names; many of such names were attached to exceptional personalities of the History of India; that is why they all, the Gurus and the Bhagatas,keep calling Him as “all pervading” to separate Him from all others who bore these (His) names ( Please see examples on 436,SGGS and 469, SGGS); however, they departed from here as per His “will.” Obviously they couldn’t be “Ikkankaar”.

[Part 1 ends] To Be Continued.

https://www.gursoch.com/gurmat-vichar/understanding-mool-mantra-a-prelude-to-japji-final/

Humbly

G Singh

The Guru’s Call: Coming Out Of Deceptive Concepts

Last year, I visited Punjab, India; what I saw was mind boggling in context of a Sikh way of life. I am not against any faith but what is not acceptable to me is to claim to be Sikhs while also practicing stone idol honoring as a Sikh. Sikhi rejects worshiping of stones or men outright; there are numerous Gurbani verses that prohibit such practices while walking on the path of Sikhi. I went to attend Bhog –ceremony (completion of reading of Sri Guru Granth Sahib) and faced Ganesh idol welcoming me as I entered the house of a Sikh where bhog ceremony was held; besides, I have seen many shops of Sikh proprietors decorated with idols of Devtas. Is it to get customers? Contrary to that I visited shops run by Muslim proprietors and found no such idols or pictures in their shops, and surprisingly they were getting pretty good business. What went wrong? Many Sikhs may know already that Sikh missionary- efforts are almost dead and Guru-golak is under the control of those persons who don’t care about the Guru Message highly advocated by the Gurus by putting their lives on the line. Today in Punjab, the plight of Sikhi is pitiable; the Guru Golak of Gurdawaras existing throughout India needs to be given to those who are determined to pass on the Guru Message without bowing in to Maya avalanche or who act as volunteers to spread the ideology of the Guru. Doesn’t it appear sad that against what the Gurus stood is being practiced right in Gurduwara ? When did Tenth Nanak sacrifice an innocent goat to put blood on the weapons? It is old Hindu tradition but why it is happening in Hazoor Sahib Gurduwara? Anandpur Sahib, where Tenth Nanak spent about 39 years, is not deemed as important as Hazoor Sahib where he merely spent 4 years. Why it is propagated that if one doesn’t go to Hazoor Sahib once in life time, he or she will suffer; Gurmat rejects such claims. Such dogma is prevailed among Muslims and Hindus in context of their pilgrimage-places? Reason is very simple, we, Sikhs, have forgotten what our Gurus said through Gurbani and have started following the crowd. Hearsay has become more important to us than the evidence found in Gurbani. If I start giving examples of defiant behavior of some Sikhs toward the Guru teachings, this article will not be able to cover that all. Instead, I am going to elaborate a Guru Shabda that opens the eyes of the Guru followers in the context I just stated above. It is all about worshiping of the All Pervading One Almighty, and it also explains how worship should be performed. It is in Raag Gujri, on 499, SGGS.

ਰਾਗੁ ਗੂਜਰੀ ਮਹਲਾ ੧ ਚਉਪਦੇ ਘਰੁ ੧ ॥ 

Rāg gūjrī mėhlā 1 cẖa▫upḏe gẖar 1

Raag Gujri, Bani of First Nanak, Choupade, House 1

ਤੇਰਾ ਨਾਮੁ ਕਰੀ ਚਨਣਾਠੀਆ ਜੇ ਮਨੁ ਉਰਸਾ ਹੋਇ ॥

ਕਰਣੀ ਕੁੰਗੂ ਜੇ ਰਲੈ ਘਟ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਪੂਜਾ ਹੋਇ ॥੧॥ 

Ŧerā nām karī cẖanṇāṯẖī▫ā je man ursā ho▫e.

Karṇī kungū je ralai gẖat anṯar pūjā ho▫e. ||1||

In Essence: Oh Prabh! , if I could use your Name as sandal to impregnate my mind with your fragrance and If I could make my mind stone to rub it with your Name, and if my pure way of living could serve as saffron for worshiping, then your worship would start occurring within.

          Please read carefully and try to find out what is needed for worshiping the Creator. Do we need flowers, Sandal or Saffron to please Him? The Guru is very clear on this; he says that what we need is Prabh’s Name (also you can take it as His memory). It is done by Keeping His memory in the heart, making the heart strong enough to negate Maya influences and bedecking it with virtues to get ready to worship the Creator. When the heart is impregnated with the fragrance of His Name, and it is filled with virtues through His Name, a virtuous way of life emerges; that is the very important factor to worship Him. With all that, a miracle occurs within, through His memory, an automatic worshiping starts occurring. We rarely focus on Him as our Guru says. What do we do? Placing materialistic things before Sri Guru Granth Sahib and bow even when our minds fly with our fantasies; then we read a list of demands to be fulfilled. We call it prayer. Our devotion dies at its birth. It is littered with desires, greed and conceit. The Guru teaches otherwise; in other words, he asks us to get changed by shedding off the crowd mentality. The Guru has taught us in very clear words that we really don’t need to accept the prevailed process of worshiping but to create within an automatic worshiping.

          ਚਨਣਾਠੀਆ = {ਚੰਦਨ ਕਾਠ} ਚੰਦਨ ਦੀ ਲੱਕੜੀ। ਕਰੀ = ਮੈਂ ਕਰਾਂ। ਉਰਸਾ = ਸਿਲ, ਚੰਦਨ ਘਸਾਣ ਵਾਲਾ ਵੱਟਾ। ਕਰਣੀ = ਉੱਚਾ ਆਚਰਨ। ਕੁੰਗੂ = ਕੁੰਕੁਮ, ਕੇਸਰ। ਘਟ = ਹਿਰਦਾ।੧।

          (ਹੇ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ!) ਜੇ ਮੈਂ ਤੇਰੇ ਨਾਮ (ਦੀ ਯਾਦ) ਨੂੰ ਚੰਨਣ ਦੀ ਲੱਕੜੀ ਬਣਾ ਲਵਾਂ, ਜੇ ਮੇਰਾ ਮਨ (ਉਸ ਚੰਦਨ ਦੀ ਲੱਕੜੀ ਨੂੰ ਘਸਾਣ ਵਾਸਤੇ) ਸਿਲ ਬਣ ਜਾਏ, ਜੇ ਮੇਰਾ ਉੱਚਾ ਆਚਰਨ (ਇਹਨਾਂ ਦੇ ਨਾਲ) ਕੇਸਰ (ਬਣ ਕੇ) ਰਲ ਜਾਏ, ਤਾਂ ਤੇਰੀ ਪੂਜਾ ਮੇਰੇ ਹਿਰਦੇ ਦੇ ਅੰਦਰ ਹੀ ਪਈ ਹੋਵੇਗੀ।੧।

ਪੂਜਾ ਕੀਚੈ ਨਾਮੁ ਧਿਆਈਐ ਬਿਨੁ ਨਾਵੈ ਪੂਜ ਨ ਹੋਇ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ 

Pūjā kīcẖai nām ḏẖi▫ā▫ī▫ai bin nāvai pūj na ho▫e. ||1|| rahā▫o.

In Essence: Perform worship by contemplating His Name because without His Name, worship cannot be done. (Pause)

          Whatever the ways of worshiping prevail, they don’t come to the standard of worshiping if contemplation of His Name is lacked; contemplating Him requires the heart totally devoted to Him. And, the heart devoted to Him, seeks virtues that purify and enable it to perform real worship; however, contaminated mind regardless what it does, remains in question because of its impurity created by low morality and faulted ethics. Again, yes, worship Him but through focusing on His Name and cleaning the mind with the Name. If He is kept in the heart, nothing bad can be done because His memory in the heart stands like the iron fence against ill – intentions.

          ਕੀਚੈ = ਕਰਨੀ ਚਾਹੀਦੀ ਹੈ। ਪੂਜ = ਪੂਜਾ।੧।ਰਹਾਉ।

          (ਹੇ ਭਾਈ!) ਪਰਮਾਤਮਾ ਦਾ ਨਾਮ ਸਿਮਰਨਾ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ ਹੈ, ਇਹੀ ਪੂਜਾ ਕਰਨੀ ਚਾਹੀਦੀ ਹੈ। ਪਰਮਾਤਮਾ ਦਾ ਨਾਮ ਸਿਮਰਨ ਤੋਂ ਬਿਨਾ ਹੋਰ ਕੋਈ ਪੂਜਾ (ਐਸੀ) ਨਹੀਂ (ਜੋ ਪਰਵਾਨ ਹੋ ਸਕੇ)।੧।ਰਹਾਉ।

ਬਾਹਰਿ ਦੇਵ ਪਖਾਲੀਅਹਿ ਜੇ ਮਨੁ ਧੋਵੈ ਕੋਇ ॥

ਜੂਠਿ ਲਹੈ ਜੀਉ ਮਾਜੀਐ ਮੋਖ ਪਇਆਣਾ ਹੋਇ ॥੨॥ 

Bāhar ḏev pakẖālī▫ah je man ḏẖovai ko▫e.

Jūṯẖ lahai jī▫o mājī▫ai mokẖ pa▫i▫āṇā ho▫e. ||2||

In Essence: Devta-idols are washed outside, but instead, if a person cleanses his/her heart, only then it is good; by cleaning the heart, the impurity of the heart is washed off; thus, the journey of life becomes free of filth of Maya.

          Cleaning idols is very simple act; you can do it while planning to rob someone; it is a conditional act often done by our subconscious mind. Contrary to that, cleaning the mind by keeping Prabh in the heart is not that easy; it is not a conditional act either. It needs complete attention and strong efforts. The Guru says that this is what is necessary for worshiping Akalpurakh.

          Here the Guru is pointing out the fall many people take as they practice superficial rituals for worshiping to make their lives graceful; in these verses, the Guru brings their lives enveloped in hypocrisy in question. The Guru says that it would have been wonderful for them if they cleaned their hearts by keeping Prabh’s memory in their hearts instead of sticking to the rituals (which literally do not help to become worthy of Him). Performing rituals is not a true worship (See the Rahao Verses) because without His Name, worship just cannot be done; it doesn’t do anything; he stresses that without keeping His Name in the heart, there will be no worship; it is His memory and love for Him that bring a beautiful change in the life. If self conceit, lust, anger, greed and attachment remain powerful to guide the life, what avail are religious deeds? He continues to express his idea of becoming virtuous by giving an example of the animals that eat modest food but in return give the milk that is very benefit for all. That is the virtuous way of life the Guru refers to in the first verses.

          ਦੇਵ = ਦੇਵਤੇ, ਮੂਰਤੀਆਂ। ਪਖਾਲੀਅਹਿ = ਧੋਤੇ ਜਾਂਦੇ ਹਨ। ਜੂਠਿ = ਵਿਕਾਰਾਂ ਦੀ ਮੈਲ। ਮਾਜੀਐ = ਮਾਂਜਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ, ਸਾਫ਼ ਪਵਿਤ੍ਰ ਹੋ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ। ਮੋਖ = ਵਿਕਾਰਾਂ ਤੋਂ ਆਜ਼ਾਦ, ਖੁਲ੍ਹਾ। ਪਇਆਣਾ = {प्रयाण} ਸਫ਼ਰ।੨।

          ਜਿਵੇਂ ਬਾਹਰ ਦੇਵ-ਮੂਰਤੀਆਂ ਦੇ ਇਸ਼ਨਾਨ ਕਰਾਈਦੇ ਹਨ, ਤਿਵੇਂ ਜੇ ਕੋਈ ਮਨੁੱਖ ਆਪਣੇ ਮਨ ਨੂੰ (ਨਾਮ-ਸਿਮਰਨ ਨਾਲ) ਧੋਵੇ, ਤਾਂ ਉਸ ਦੇ ਮਨ ਦੀ ਵਿਕਾਰਾਂ ਦੀ ਮੈਲ ਲਹਿ ਜਾਂਦੀ ਹੈ, ਉਸ ਦੀ ਜਿੰਦ ਸੁੱਧ-ਪਵਿਤ੍ਰ ਹੋ ਜਾਂਦੀ ਹੈ, ਉਸ ਦਾ ਜੀਵਨ-ਸਫ਼ਰ ਵਿਕਾਰਾਂ ਤੋਂ ਆਜ਼ਾਦ ਹੋ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ।੨।

ਪਸੂ ਮਿਲਹਿ ਚੰਗਿਆਈਆ ਖੜੁ ਖਾਵਹਿ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤੁ ਦੇਹਿ ॥

ਨਾਮ ਵਿਹੂਣੇ ਆਦਮੀ ਧ੍ਰਿਗੁ ਜੀਵਣ ਕਰਮ ਕਰੇਹਿ ॥੩॥ 

Pasū milėh cẖang▫ā▫ī▫ā kẖaṛ kẖāvėh amriṯ ḏėh.

Nām vihūṇe āḏmī ḏẖarig jīvaṇ karam karehi. ||3||

In Essence: The animals that give milk after eating mere grass are praised, but the lives of the human beings and what they do are accursed without His Name.

          What the people do without His Name? They plan to gather wealth to satisfy their insatiable minds, to deceive others and to feed their own conceit. They perform prevailed religious worshiping to be accepted by the society they live in. They make hypocrisy their weapon to succeed in their lives. The Guru says that such persons’ lives and actions are accursed. The Guru is absolutely pointing out the truth. They do not have Prabh’s memory in their hearts and they run directionless like a mad animal. When His memory is in the heart, only He is worshiped; only virtuous deeds are done as He is felt very close. Those who forget Him, they feel Him far away; they think they can get away what they do at the command of their minds. The Guru says that He is not far away, therefore, never ever think that anything can be hidden from Him; actually we get what He provides to us, and if we think we obtain everything at our own, obviously, we are enjoying an illusion. We are always led by Him as per First Nanak (935, SGGS, Mehla 1).

          ਖੜੁ = ਘਾਹ। ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤੁ = (ਦੁੱਧ ਵਰਗਾ) ਉੱਤਮ ਪਦਾਰਥ। ਵਿਹੂਣੇ = ਸੱਖਣੇ। ਧ੍ਰਿਗੁ = ਫਿਟਕਾਰ-ਯੋਗ। ਕਰੇਹਿ = ਕਰਹਿ, ਕਰਦੇ ਹਨ।੩।

          (ਇਸ ਧਰਤੀ ਉਤੇ ਮਨੁੱਖ, ਪਸ਼ੂ ਪੰਛੀ ਆਦਿਕ ਸਭ ਦਾ ਸਿਰਦਾਰ ਮੰਨਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ, ਪਰ) ਪਸ਼ੂਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਸ਼ਾਬਾਸ਼ੇ ਮਿਲਦੀਆਂ ਹਨ, ਉਹ ਘਾਹ ਖਾਂਦੇ ਹਨ ਤੇ (ਦੁੱਧ ਵਰਗਾ) ਉੱਤਮ ਪਦਾਰਥ ਦੇਂਦੇ ਹਨ। ਨਾਮ ਤੋਂ ਸੱਖਣੇ ਮਨੁੱਖਾਂ ਦਾ ਜੀਵਨ ਫਿਟਕਾਰ-ਜੋਗ ਹੈ ਕਿਉਂਕਿ ਉਹ (ਨਾਮ ਵਿਸਾਰ ਕੇ ਹੋਰ ਹੋਰ) ਕੰਮ ਹੀ ਕਰਦੇ ਹਨ।੩।

ਨੇੜਾ ਹੈ ਦੂਰਿ ਨ ਜਾਣਿਅਹੁ ਨਿਤ ਸਾਰੇ ਸੰਮ੍ਹ੍ਹਾਲੇ ॥

ਜੋ ਦੇਵੈ ਸੋ ਖਾਵਣਾ ਕਹੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਸਾਚਾ ਹੇ ॥੪॥੧॥ 

Neṛā hai ḏūr na jāṇi▫ahu niṯ sāre samĥāle.

Jo ḏevai so kẖāvṇā kaho Nānak sācẖā he. ||4||1||

In Essence: Nanak utter this: Akalpurakh is eternal who takes care of all of us, and He is not far away but very near; we all eat what He gives to us.

          ਨੇੜਾ = ਨੇੜਤਾ, ਨੇੜੇ ਦੀ ਸਾਂਝ, ਡੂੰਘੀ ਸਾਂਝ। ਸਾਰੇ = ਸਾਰ ਲੈਂਦਾ ਹੈ। ਸੰਮ੍ਹ੍ਹਾਲੇ = ਸੰਭਾਲ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ। ਸਾਚਾ = 

ਸਦਾ-ਥਿਰ ਰਹਿਣ ਵਾਲਾ। ਹੇ = ਹੈ।੪।

          ਹੇ ਨਾਨਕ! (ਆਖ-ਹੇ ਭਾਈ!) ਸਾਡੀ ਤੇ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਦੀ ਬੜੀ ਨੇੜੇ ਦੀ ਸਾਂਝ ਹੈ (ਇਤਨੀ ਨੇੜੇ ਦੀ ਕਿ) ਜੋ ਕੁਝ ਉਹ ਸਾਨੂੰ ਦੇਂਦਾ ਹੈ ਉਹੀ ਅਸੀਂ ਖਾਂਦੇ ਹਾਂ (ਖਾ ਕੇ ਜੀਵਨ-ਨਿਰਬਾਹ ਕਰਦੇ ਹਾਂ), ਉਹ (ਦਾਤਾ) ਹੈ ਭੀ ਸਦਾ (ਸਾਡੇ ਸਿਰ ਉਤੇ) ਕਾਇਮ। ਉਸ ਨੂੰ ਆਪਣੇ ਤੋਂ ਦੂਰ ਨਾਹ ਸਮਝੋ, ਉਹ ਸਦਾ ਸਾਡੀ ਸਾਰ ਲੈਂਦਾ ਹੈ ਸੰਭਾਲ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ (ਮੂਰਤੀਆਂ ਦੀ ਪੂਜਾ ਕਰਨ ਦੇ ਥਾਂ ਉਸ ਹਾਜ਼ਰ-ਨਾਜ਼ਰ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਦਾ ਨਾਮ ਧਿਆਵੋ)।੪।੧।

          Nobody gives us; nobody has that potent power but the Creator; when He is the benefactor and protector, why should we worship anyone other? When He is always close by us, why to perform hypocritical deeds? He is watching us and nothing is hidden from Him. The Guru suggests that what we eat is not given by anyone but Him and He is always close to us; therefore, we should worship Him. How we should worship Him, the Guru has made that also clear by giving example of real worshiping done by keeping His Name memory in the heart.

          Why do we need a picture or an idol? Why we show weakness when we have taken refuge of Him who is the Creator and Protector of all? The Guru has explained us how close He is; there is no reason to wander around in search of Him on the places people built on hearsay stories. He is within us and to get blended with Him, our “within” needs to be cleaned through the love of His Name. When He is with us, we do not need anyone. He has created the Maya (15, SGGS, Mehla 1) but He has also shown us a way out of it through the Guru and His true devotees (17, SGGS, Mehla 1). It doesn’t matter what kind of drums are being beaten by others when we are blessed to understand what the Guru wants from us to become worthy to worship Him. If we follow the Guru, we respect the Guru truly, and we are on Guru’s boat. If we keep looking around in dilemma, the Guru’s boat will pass by. That is why the Guru says that there are some mind slaves who sink in Maya ocean while the boat of the Guru is close by (40, SGGS, Mehla 4). The Guru concludes that real worship or bowing is not in mere talking or performing rituals but keeping true faith in His Name; please read the following verses, they are 878, SGGS:

ਰਾਮਕਲੀ ਮਹਲਾ ੧ ॥

ਤੁਧਨੋ ਨਿਵਣੁ ਮੰਨਣੁ ਤੇਰਾ ਨਾਉ ॥

ਸਾਚੁ ਭੇਟ ਬੈਸਣ ਕਉ ਥਾਉ ॥ ਸਤੁ ਸੰਤੋਖੁ ਹੋਵੈ ਅਰਦਾਸਿ ॥

ਤਾ ਸੁਣਿ ਸਦਿ ਬਹਾਲੇ ਪਾਸਿ ॥੧॥ 

Rāmkalī mėhlā 1.

Ŧuḏẖno nivaṇ manaṇ ṯerā nā▫o.

Sācẖ bẖet baisaṇ ka▫o thā▫o. Saṯ sanṯokẖ hovai arḏās.

Ŧā suṇ saḏ bahāle pās. ||1||

Raag Ramkli, Bani of First Nanak.

In Essence: Oh Prabh! To put faith in your Name is bowing to you; to praise your true Name is the offering to you that brings your closeness. If serving others (humanity service) and contentment are begged from Prabh, He hears that prayer and blesses the mortal to be with Him.

          ਤੁਧ ਨੋ = ਤੈਨੂੰ, ਤੇਰੇ ਅੱਗੇ। ਨਿਵਣੁ = ਸਿਰ ਨਿਵਾਣਾ। ਮੰਨਣੁ = ਪਤੀਜਣਾ, ਡੂੰਘੀ ਸਾਂਝ ਪਾਣੀ। ਸਾਚੁ = ਸਿਫ਼ਤਿ-ਸਾਲਾਹ। ਬੈਸਣ ਕਉ = ਬੈਠਣ ਲਈ। ਸਤੁ = ਦਾਨ, ਸੇਵਾ। ਸੁਣਿ = ਸੁਣ ਕੇ। ਸਦਿ = ਸੱਦ ਕੇ।੧।

          (ਹੇ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ!) ਤੇਰੇ ਨਾਮ ਨਾਲ ਡੂੰਘੀ ਸਾਂਝ ਪਾਣੀ ਤੇਰੇ ਅੱਗੇ ਸਿਰ ਨਿਵਾਣਾ ਹੈ, ਤੇਰੀ ਸਿਫ਼ਤਿ-ਸਾਲਾਹ (ਤੇਰੇ ਦਰ ਤੇ ਪਰਵਾਨ ਹੋਣੀ ਵਾਲੀ) ਭੇਟਾ ਹੈ (ਜਿਸ ਦੀ ਬਰਕਤਿ ਨਾਲ ਤੇਰੀ ਹਜ਼ੂਰੀ ਵਿਚ) ਬੈਠਣ ਲਈ ਥਾਂ ਮਿਲਦਾ ਹੈ। (ਹੇ ਭਾਈ!) ਜਦੋਂ ਮਨੁੱਖ ਸੰਤੋਖ ਧਾਰਦਾ ਹੈ, (ਦੂਜਿਆਂ ਦੀ) ਸੇਵਾ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ (ਤੇ ਇਸ ਜੀਵਨ-ਮਰਯਾਦਾ ਵਿਚ ਰਹਿ ਕੇ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ-ਦਰ ਤੇ) ਅਰਦਾਸ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ, ਤਦੋਂ (ਅਰਦਾਸ) ਸੁਣ ਕੇ (ਸਵਾਲੀ ਨੂੰ) ਸੱਦ ਕੇ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਆਪਣੇ ਕੋਲ ਬਿਠਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ।੧।

          We, Sikhs, should not fear of others and never ever should give in to please others; we should keep full faith in the Guru and the Creator and should continue our lives guided by the Guru teachings; we should respect all people of different faiths but strictly our aim of life is to please the Guru by obeying Him instead of pleasing others. If others claim to find satisfaction in idols or in any other ways, we should wish them good luck but our liberation lies in worshiping of that Akalpurakh who has created all; nothing should come between Him and us.

          My appeal to my Sikh brothers and sisters is that it is time to come home and remain with the Guru forever and never let anyone denture you away from the Guru and His gift of Prabh’s Name. The Guru saves us from falling if his teachings are enshrined in the heart, the Guru verifies it on 587 SGGS ( Mehla 4):

ਸੋ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਪਿਆਰਾ ਮੇਰੈ ਨਾਲਿ ਹੈ ਜਿਥੈ ਕਿਥੈ ਮੈਨੋ ਲਏ ਛਡਾਈ ॥

ਤਿਸੁ ਗੁਰ ਕਉ ਸਾਬਾਸਿ ਹੈ ਜਿਨਿ ਹਰਿ ਸੋਝੀ ਪਾਈ ॥

So saṯgur pi▫ārā merai nāl hai jithai kithai maino la▫e cẖẖadā▫ī.

Ŧis gur ka▫o sābās hai jin har sojẖī pā▫ī.

In Essence: That dear true Guru is with me who here and there saves me (from Maya influences and ill – intentions); I applaud that Guru who has given me understanding of Akalpurakh.

          ਉਹ ਪਿਆਰਾ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੂ ਮੇਰੇ ਅੰਗ ਸੰਗ ਹੈ, ਸਭ ਥਾਈਂ ਮੈਨੂੰ (ਵਿਕਾਰਾਂ ਤੋਂ) ਛਡਾ ਲੈਂਦਾ ਹੈ; ਸ਼ਾਬਾਸ਼ੇ ਉਸ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੂ ਨੂੰ ਜਿਸ ਨੇ ਮੈਨੂੰ ਪਰਮਾਤਮਾ ਦੀ ਸੂਝ ਪਾਈ ਹੈ।

          The Guru’s guidance bars us from falling for idols and other entities other than the Creator because our Guru wants to connect us to Akalpurakh to whom we belong; the Guru asks us to do the right worshiping and to get out of misguided paths; all the attractive but deceptive shops are not for us. Keeping the Guru’s advice in the mind and ignoring all the shows is real Sikhi. If we forget what the Guru says, and we try to blend in deluded crowd mentality ignorantly, we will keep falling further; we should realize that the Guru is no more with us; thus, we walk in the darkness of ignorance. We don’t deserve that. If we deem the Guru guidance as our guiding light, our Guru will definitely save us.

          Always bear it in mind that we fall when we lose balance.

Interpretation is done by Dr. Sahib Singh Ji

Humbly,

G Singh

Dealing With The World While Remaining Connected To The Creator

We, Sikhs, are very proud of our Gurus; they have led the Sikhs through horrible times; when the sense of treating all humans equally was strangled openly, the Gurus were actually promoting it; they took the greatest risk of confronting the people in power, and they ignored the norms set up centuries ago as a part of “God’s set up rules.” Unfortunately, those norms are also being advocated today by some people who somehow have succeeded in luring some Sikhs toward them like caste system and senseless rituals. In context of civil rights of human beings, the Gurus kept infusing that sense of freedom which is deemed today as the basic norms of a democratic society. That was a simple part of their teachings because they went further to reach to a peak of spirituality where conflicts, three modes of Maya and other selfish inclinations totally become void. That state of mind qualifies a Sikh to be a true Guru Follower; the path on which the Gurus have led us is very tough to tread on; however, it lays a foundation of the ultimate freedom for a Sikh who, if remains determined, enjoys it eventually.

          I am going to share with my readers the experience of a Guru follower in the Guru’s own words; the Guru followers, who get changed through the Guru teachings, do not follow the group mentality ( Mehla 4, SGGS), organized religions (3, SGGS ) and do not care what other people think or say about Sikhi (399 SGGS); it is a devoted path after surrendering to the Guru teachings. The Sikh Gurus applaud and praise His devotees more than any already established entity in the world. Why? Its answer takes us back to the path on which His devotees walked on in the past and do these days as well. Sikhi is not for bragging about, and it is certainly not to prove others wrong but to experience what was experienced by His Devotees and the Gurus themselves. We can never understand intensity of their experience if we keep measuring it with abundance of knowledge layered in scientific outlook; If you want to remain tied to a group or an organization to trash others, this Guru Shabda is not for you. This Guru Shabda is on 384, SGGS. Let us go deep while studying it and analyze if we have progressed or not!

ਆਸਾ ਮਹਲਾ ੫ ॥ ਸਾਚਿ ਨਾਮਿ ਮੇਰਾ ਮਨੁ ਲਾਗਾ ॥

ਲੋਗਨ ਸਿਉ ਮੇਰਾ ਠਾਠਾ ਬਾਗਾ ॥੧॥ 

Āsā mėhlā 5. Sācẖ nām merā man lāgā.

Logan si▫o merā ṯẖāṯẖā bāgā. ||1||

In Essence: My mind is attached to His Eternal Name, now my dealing with people has become just a formality.

          Please think about it carefully how we deal in this society. Do we deal just normally in this world or indulge in it too much? In these verses, one condition is put before changing the behavior and that is to get attached to the Creator. If that truly occurs (getting the mind attached to the Creator), the behavior of the mind is destined to change; if it doesn’t change, there is a deficiency in the attachment we claim for the Creator.

          ਸਾਚਿ = ਸਦਾ-ਥਿਰ ਰਹਿਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਵਿਚ। ਨਾਮਿ = ਨਾਮ ਵਿਚ। ਸਿਉ = ਨਾਲ। ਠਾਠਾ ਬਾਗਾ = ਠੱਠ, ਵੱਗ, ਠਾਹ-ਠੀਆ, ਕੰਮ ਸਾਰਨ ਜੋਗਾ ਉੱਦਮ, ਉਤਨਾ ਕੁ ਵਰਤਣ-ਵਿਹਾਰ ਜਿਤਨੇ ਦੀ ਅੱਤ ਜ਼ਰੂਰੀ ਲੋੜ ਪਵੇ।੧।

          (ਹੇ ਭਾਈ!) ਮੇਰਾ ਮਨ ਸਦਾ ਕਾਇਮ ਰਹਿਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਪਰਮਾਤਮਾ ਦੇ ਨਾਮ ਵਿਚ (ਸਦਾ) ਜੁੜਿਆ ਰਹਿੰਦਾ ਹੈ, ਦੁਨੀਆ ਦੇ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਮੇਰਾ ਉਤਨਾ ਕੁ ਹੀ ਵਰਤਣ-ਵਿਹਾਰ ਹੈ ਜਿਤਨੇ ਦੀ ਅੱਤ ਜ਼ਰੂਰੀ ਲੋੜ ਪੈਂਦੀ ਹੈ।੧।

ਬਾਹਰਿ ਸੂਤੁ ਸਗਲ ਸਿਉ ਮਉਲਾ ॥

ਅਲਿਪਤੁ ਰਹਉ ਜੈਸੇ ਜਲ ਮਹਿ ਕਉਲਾ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ 

Bāhar sūṯ sagal si▫o ma▫ulā.

Alipaṯ raha▫o jaise jal mėh ka▫ulā. ||1|| rahā▫o.

In Essence: Outwardly I deal with all on good terms (nicely); however, I remain detached to all as the lotus in the water. Pause

          The Guru teaches us very beautifully how to attach to Akalpurakh, how to keep that attachment intact and how to detach from the world we are put in. An example is given of lotus flower which has to be in the (usually) dirty water but its beauty of remaining above that dirty water has become an inspiration for the devotee of Akalpurakh. Advice is: live right in this Maya fascinated world but without getting affected by its negative influences.

          ਬਾਹਰਿ = ਦੁਨੀਆ ਵਿਚ, ਦੁਨੀਆ ਨਾਲ ਵਰਤਣ ਸਮੇਂ। ਸੂਤੁ ਮਉਲਾ = ਸੂਤ ਮਿਲਿਆ ਹੋਇਆ ਹੈ, ਪਿਆਰ ਬਣਿਆ ਹੋਇਆ ਹੈ, ਪਿਆਰ ਵਾਲਾ ਸੰਬੰਧ ਹੈ। ਅਲਿਪਤੁ = ਨਿਰਲੇਪ। ਰਹਉ = ਮੈਂ ਰਹਿੰਦਾ ਹਾਂ। ਕਉਲਾ = ਕੌਲ-ਫੁੱਲ।੧।ਰਹਾਉ।

          (ਹੇ ਭਾਈ!) ਦੁਨੀਆ ਨਾਲ ਵਰਤਣ-ਵਿਹਾਰ ਸਮੇ ਮੈਂ ਸਭਨਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਪਿਆਰ ਵਾਲਾ ਸੰਬੰਧ ਰੱਖਦਾ ਹਾਂ, (ਪਰ ਦੁਨੀਆ ਨਾਲ ਵਰਤਦਾ ਹੋਇਆ ਭੀ ਦੁਨੀਆ ਨਾਲ ਇਉਂ) ਨਿਰਲੇਪ ਰਹਿੰਦਾ ਹਾਂ ਜਿਵੇਂ ਪਾਣੀ ਵਿਚ (ਟਿਕਿਆ ਹੋਇਆ ਭੀ) ਕੌਲ-ਫੁੱਲ (ਪਾਣੀ ਤੋਂ ਨਿਰਲੇਪ ਰਹਿੰਦਾ ਹੈ)।੧।ਰਹਾਉ।

ਮੁਖ ਕੀ ਬਾਤ ਸਗਲ ਸਿਉ ਕਰਤਾ ॥

ਜੀਅ ਸੰਗਿ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਅਪੁਨਾ ਧਰਤਾ ॥੨॥ 

Mukẖ kī bāṯ sagal si▫o karṯā.

Jī▫a sang parabẖ apunā ḏẖarṯā. ||2||

In Essence: I am talking terms with all; however, I keep my heart fixed on Prabh.

          The Guru teaching is not to become silent sage; it is not to severe relations if negativity is experienced but it is about remaining focused on Prabh while dealing with all good and bad people. A beautiful idea is enveloped in these verses. Dealing with people by keeping Prabh in the heart will take away all kinds of conflicts within and out because His memory makes the mind pure: no hatred, no anger in context of disagreement, no desire to insult others or to prove to be superior to others. All the negativity that brings anxiety, hatred, hard feelings and revenge is leveled completely when He is kept in the mind; such sweet is His memory. Why we don’t come close to that feeling? Answer lies in our being loaded with so much stuff that is quiet contrary to the Guru teachings. In real life, the Guru faced anger and conceit loaded with hatred; however, he remained calm till the last breath; what he wrote, he lived it, and he proved how the memory of the Creator could become so powerful.

          ਮੁਖ ਕੀ ਬਾਤ = ਮੂੰਹੋਂ ਗੱਲਾਂ। ਜੀਅ ਸੰਗਿ = ਹਿਰਦੇ ਵਿਚ, ਜਿੰਦ ਵਿਚ।੨।

          (ਹੇ ਭਾਈ!) ਮੈਂ ਸਭ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਨਾਲ (ਲੋੜ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ) ਮੂੰਹੋਂ ਤਾਂ ਗੱਲਾਂ ਕਰਦਾ ਹਾਂ (ਪਰ ਕਿਤੇ ਮੋਹ ਵਿਚ ਆਪਣੇ ਮਨ ਨੂੰ ਫਸਣ ਨਹੀਂ ਦੇਂਦਾ) ਆਪਣੇ ਹਿਰਦੇ ਵਿਚ ਮੈਂ ਸਿਰਫ਼ ਆਪਣੇ ਪਰਮਾਤਮਾ ਨੂੰ ਹੀ ਟਿਕਾਈ ਰੱਖਦਾ ਹਾਂ।੨।

ਦੀਸਿ ਆਵਤ ਹੈ ਬਹੁਤੁ ਭੀਹਾਲਾ ॥

ਸਗਲ ਚਰਨ ਕੀ ਇਹੁ ਮਨੁ ਰਾਲਾ ॥੩॥ 

Ḏīs āvaṯ hai bahuṯ bẖīhālā.

Sagal cẖaran kī ih man rālā. ||3||

In Essence: My behavior appears dreadfully cold; however, my mind is utterly humble toward all.

          You see, the people are judgmental; they are habitual of describing other people fully without even knowing them; this is what the Guru indicates here. Remaining focused on the Creator, brings peace to the mind, and the commotion all around becomes totally uninteresting; when we don’t show interest in some one’s futile talk, our responses become cold or very formal and that is the time when we face displeasure of that person because he or she doesn’t want to hear what he or she doesn’t like; such a person is interested in praising and applauding. Here the Guru expresses clearly that internally, the minds of His devotees are totally void of pride and that is why they are totally embodiment of humility but people don’t understand that, and they judge the devotees in a wrong way.

          ਭੀਹਾਲਾ = ਡਰਾਉਣਾ, ਰੁੱਖਾ, ਬੇ-ਮੇਹਰਾ, ਕੋਰਾ। ਰਾਲਾ = ਚਰਨ-ਧੂੜ, ਖ਼ਾਕ।੩।

          (ਹੇ ਭਾਈ! ਮੇਰੇ ਇਸ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੇ ਆਤਮਕ ਜੀਵਨ ਦੇ ਅੱਭਿਆਸ ਦੇ ਕਾਰਨ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਮੇਰਾ ਮਨ) ਬੜਾ ਰੁੱਖਾ ਕੋਰਾ ਦਿੱਸਦਾ ਹੈ; ਪਰ (ਅਸਲ ਵਿਚ ਮੇਰਾ) ਇਹ ਮਨ ਸਭਨਾਂ ਦੇ ਚਰਨਾਂ ਦੀ ਧੂੜ ਬਣਿਆ ਰਹਿੰਦਾ ਹੈ।੩।

ਨਾਨਕ ਜਨਿ ਗੁਰੁ ਪੂਰਾ ਪਾਇਆ ॥

ਅੰਤਰਿ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਏਕੁ ਦਿਖਾਇਆ ॥੪॥੩॥੫੪॥ 

Nānak jan gur pūrā pā▫i▫ā.

Anṯar bāhar ek ḏikẖā▫i▫ā. ||4||3||54||

In Essence: Nanak says: who has obtained the perfect Guru, he is enabled (by the perfect Guru) to envision the one Creator being present within and outside.

          In Gurbani, the path of Akalpurakh is shown rightful way only by the perfect Guru who himself experienced union with Him and then shows Him to others as well. In the last verses, the Guru stresses on the importance of the perfect Guru (please note down the word “perfect” used with the Guru). So this change in behavior comes only if a perfect Guru is obtained and followed flawlessly. Today, Sikh’s perfect Guru is Sri Guru Granth Sahib.

          Through Sri Guru Granth Sahib, a Sikh can get changed to behold the Creator within, in every one and everywhere. To reach to that peak, living by keeping Prabh’s memory in the heart is mandatory. Living right in the Maya prevailed world but remaining detached like a lotus is the Guru’s call; if we, Sikhs, want to reach to that state of mind where He is realized within and beheld everywhere, we need to do our home work and certainly overhaul ourselves. Talking or debating or making display of our knowledge will not help us in becoming true Guru followers. Sikhi should not be judged by the numbers but quality.

          ਜਨਿ = ਜਨ ਨੇ, ਦਾਸ ਨੇ। ਅੰਤਰਿ = ਅੰਦਰ-ਵੱਸਦਾ। ਬਾਹਰਿ = ਸਾਰੇ ਜਗਤ ਵਿਚ ਵੱਸਦਾ।੪।

          ਹੇ ਨਾਨਕ! ਜਿਸ (ਭੀ) ਮਨੁੱਖ ਨੇ ਪੂਰਾ ਗੁਰੂ ਲੱਭ ਲਿਆ ਹੈ (ਗੁਰੂ ਨੇ ਉਸ ਨੂੰ) ਉਸ ਦੇ ਅੰਦਰ ਤੇ ਬਾਹਰ ਸਾਰੇ ਜਗਤ ਵਿਚ ਇੱਕ ਪਰਮਾਤਮਾ ਹੀ ਵੱਸਦਾ ਵਿਖਾ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਹੈ (ਇਸ ਵਾਸਤੇ ਉਹ ਦੁਨੀਆ ਨਾਲ ਪਿਆਰ ਵਾਲਾ ਸਲੂਕ ਭੀ ਰੱਖਦਾ ਹੈ ਤੇ ਨਿਰਮੋਹ ਰਹਿ ਕੇ ਸੁਰਤਿ ਅੰਦਰ-ਵੱਸਦੇ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਵਿਚ ਹੀ ਜੋੜੀ ਰੱਖਦਾ ਹੈ)।੪।੩।੫੪।

          Mere talks lead us to nowhere; debating about the experience we don’t have is wastage of time; proving others wrong is an iceberg of self conceit that kills our spiritual instinct bit by bit. As the Guru says, choice always is with the mortals; choosing the Guru path and remaining faithful to him while battling within positively can bring attention of the Creator. Searching Him within is an initial step and when He is realized within, the outside world is changed significantly. When we don’t even realize His presence within, how can we dream to become the Guru followers? His presence within first must be believed, then it should be felt and then to unite with Him, the barrier created by Maya must be demolished. For that, we must abandon the crowd mentality. You are in the crowd, you are no body but when you are out of the crowd, you are noticed. It is the story of getting noticed by Him through displaying positivity. When we become one with Him, we certainly split away from the crowd; therefore, as the Guru says, we should deal with the people (Maya influenced) by remaining focused on the Creator heartily.

          May the Creator bless you!

Interpretation in Punjabi is done by Dr. Sahib Singh Ji.

Humbly,

G Singh

A Story Of Pitiable Choices And The Guru Advice

To experience the Creator, following the true Guru is mandatory. Following one’s own mind and harboring a wish of beholding the Creator is a folly in the spiritual realms. It is one’s responsibility to make a living by working hard sincerely. That alone is not enough to experience the Creator because to experience Him, it must be under stood how His show is played and how to remain immaculate like a lotus in His glittering show. There is a thin line on which all His true devotees walked; by following their tracks, over indulgence in the worldly commotion must be ceased. We cannot have the both ways; we must know through a true Guru how the Creator is felt and envisioned throughout His expansion. The following Guru Shabda expresses our sealed destiny of failure in spiritual progression. The Creator has blessed us with the intellect which is very much necessary to survive in His harmonious and contradictory show. Unfortunately, the same intellect becomes a reason of our failure to realize Him. Gurbani is an expression of spiritual experience; its truth is realized if that same very experience is obtained; it should be used to have the experience it glorifies. Why we miss the Guru message? Why do we remain on the hot plate of desires that burns us slowly? What is that which keeps us away from our Creator? All these questions are answered in this Shabda; please be with me, I shall take you through the Guru Guidance that should not be ignored if truly we want to become the Guru followers, it is on 832, in Raag Bilawal by Mehla 1.

ਬਿਲਾਵਲੁ ਮਹਲਾ ੧ ॥ ਮਨ ਕਾ ਕਹਿਆ ਮਨਸਾ ਕਰੈ ॥

ਇਹੁ ਮਨੁ ਪੁੰਨੁ ਪਾਪੁ ਉਚਰੈ ॥ ਮਾਇਆ ਮਦਿ ਮਾਤੇ ਤ੍ਰਿਪਤਿ ਨ ਆਵੈ ॥

ਤ੍ਰਿਪਤਿ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਮਨਿ ਸਾਚਾ ਭਾਵੈ ॥੧॥ 

Bilāval mėhlā 1. Man kā kahi▫ā mansā karai.

Ih man punn pāp ucẖrai. Mā▫i▫ā maḏ māṯe ṯaripaṯ na āvai.

Ŧaripaṯ mukaṯ man sācẖā bẖāvai. ||1||

Raag Bilawal, Bani of First Nanak.

In Essence: The mortal does what his or her mind says, and talks about virtue and sin. The mortal, engrossed in Maya – intoxication, remains unsatisfied. One can obtain satiation and liberation only when Akalpurakh pleases to the mind.

           What we deem as a profitable and necessary for our life is not necessarily useful for our spiritual progression; our conclusion about something profitable and necessary is based on the influence on us of the three modes of Maya we are stuck with. All the solutions of our problems are sought through those ways out that lead us right into the quagmire of Maya influences. What is really important is either ignored or deemed as an irrational. Our Guru says that we get spiritually doomed as we try to satisfy our insatiable minds. How our minds can be satiated is revealed to us by our Guru but we don’t have that experience that brings contented state of mind. Our Guru reflects on the reasons behind our failure to bring contentment to our minds, and he inspires us to do what is very important to obtain the spiritual goal by questioning those temporary goals that we adore. What the Guru says is coming out of his experience through which practically he has been gone; like a lotus is bound in the water, we are bound in Maya; however, the Guru inspires us to take inspiration from the lotus not to get drenched in the water it sprouts out. Living in the Maya doesn’t stop us from progressing spiritually if we remain aware of our inclination towards those desires that drown us in infatuation and attachment of Maya. To be successful in this, we must follow the Guru guided path, and we must be determined not to follow the crowd mentality. It is a unique experience but we should realize that the crowd is always fascinated with common experiences. We need wealth, relations and other stuff to survive in His created show; the Guru doesn’t ask us to abandon everything and sit idle in His memory or go out in solitude; contrarily, he simply asks us to fall in love with the Creator in a way that His memory in the mind should guide our actions triggered by our needs and desires. The Guru leads us to a state of mind where one lives just as we see a movie without participation in the occurrences or reactions displayed in the movie. In spiritual realms it is also called: Turi Awastha/ a fourth state of mind. It is very subtle to understand because we are loaded with a lot of baggage. Remember He is present within us and we just don’t try to connect to Him. The Guru is addressing that issue in the following:

           ਮਨਸਾ = ਬੁੱਧੀ, ਅਕਲ। ਉਚਰੈ = ਗੱਲਾਂ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ। ਮਦਿ = ਮਦ ਵਿਚ, ਨਸ਼ੇ ਵਿਚ। ਮਾਤੇ = ਮਸਤੇ ਹੋਏ ਨੂੰ। ਮੁਕਤਿ = (ਮਾਇਆ ਦੇ ਪੰਜੇ ਵਿਚੋਂ) ਖ਼ਲਾਸੀ। ਮਨਿ = ਮਨ ਵਿਚ। ਸਾਚਾ = ਸਦਾ-ਥਿਰ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ।੧।

           (ਪ੍ਰਭੂ-ਨਾਮ ਤੋਂ ਖੁੰਝੇ ਹੋਏ ਮਨੁੱਖ ਦੀ) ਬੁੱਧੀ (ਭੀ) ਮਨ ਦੇ ਕਹੇ ਵਿਚ ਤੁਰਦੀ ਹੈ, ਤੇ, ਇਹ ਮਨ ਨਿਰੀਆਂ ਇਹੀ ਗੱਲਾਂ ਸੋਚਦਾ ਹੈ ਕਿ (ਸ਼ਾਸਤ੍ਰਾਂ ਦੀ ਮਰਯਾਦਾ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ) ਪੁੰਨ ਕੀਹ ਹੈ ਤੇ ਪਾਪ ਕੀਹ ਹੈ। ਮਾਇਆ ਦੇ ਨਸ਼ੇ ਵਿਚ ਮਸਤ ਹੋਏ ਮਨੁੱਖ ਨੂੰ (ਮਾਇਆ ਵਲੋਂ) ਰਜੇਵਾਂ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੁੰਦਾ। ਮਾਇਆ ਵਲੋਂ ਰਜੇਵਾਂ ਤੇ ਮਾਇਆ ਦੇ ਮੋਹ ਤੋਂ ਖ਼ਲਾਸੀ ਤਦੋਂ ਹੀ ਹੁੰਦੀ ਹੈ ਜਦੋਂ ਮਨੁੱਖ ਨੂੰ ਸਦਾ-ਥਿਰ ਰਹਿਣ ਵਾਲਾ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਮਨ ਵਿਚ ਪਿਆਰਾ ਲੱਗਣ ਲੱਗ ਪਏ।੧।

ਤਨੁ ਧਨੁ ਕਲਤੁ ਸਭੁ ਦੇਖੁ ਅਭਿਮਾਨਾ ॥

ਬਿਨੁ ਨਾਵੈ ਕਿਛੁ ਸੰਗਿ ਨ ਜਾਨਾ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ 

Ŧan ḏẖan kalaṯ sabẖ ḏekẖ abẖimānā.

Bin nāvai kicẖẖ sang na jānā. ||1|| rahā▫o.

In Essence: The mortal feels proud to see his body, wealth, wife and all that; however, nothing goes with him (as the end arrives) Pause

           Now here is the choice the Guru gives to us: sticking to the Creator by praising His name and deeming all the rest as a temporary show. The Guru says that these things that we adore do not help us when we depart from here; If that is accepted (many people will not, especially those who have come to a conclusion that life is to live one time and it must be lived to the full. It is a given fact that spirituality has nothing to do the physical experience of pleasures but it enables us to enjoy a continuous bliss within by connecting to the Creator); we must learn how to live totally in humbleness regardless what we have like power and wealth. Let me give one example, a guard at the bank guards the bank money but never feels proud of the money in the Bank. What is the reason? He understands that the money belongs to the investors not to Him. Same way, Guru asks us to deem whatever is around us as not belonging to us but to Him. Nothing is there to feel proud of, it is all for His glory. Try to believe that your family belongs to Him and you are just an assigned helper. If really we live that feeling, a lot of baggage will be off our minds and our deeds will be directed by His love. As we know very well, this so much talked and adored pride all the time fails to keep us happy. Let the conceit die at its own death.

           ਕਲਤ = ਇਸਤ੍ਰੀ {ਨੋਟ: ਇਹ ਲਫ਼ਜ਼ ਵੇਖਣ ਨੂੰ ਪੁਲਿੰਗ ਹੈ। ਸੰਸਕ੍ਰਿਤ ਲਫ਼ਜ਼ कलत्र ਨਪੁੰਸਕ ਲਿੰਗ ਹੈ}। ਅਭਿਮਾਨਾ = ਹੇ ਅਭਿਮਾਨੀ!।੧।ਰਹਾਉ।

           ਹੇ ਅਭਿਮਾਨੀ ਜੀਵ! ਵੇਖ, ਇਹ ਸਰੀਰ, ਇਹ ਧਨ, ਇਹ ਇਸਤ੍ਰੀ-ਇਹ ਸਭ (ਸਦਾ ਨਾਲ ਨਿਭਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਨਹੀਂ ਹਨ) ਪਰਮਾਤਮਾ ਦੇ ਨਾਮ ਤੋਂ ਬਿਨਾ ਕੋਈ ਚੀਜ਼ (ਜੀਵ ਦੇ) ਨਾਲ ਨਹੀਂ ਜਾਂਦੀ।੧।ਰਹਾਉ।

ਕੀਚਹਿ ਰਸ ਭੋਗ ਖੁਸੀਆ ਮਨ ਕੇਰੀ ॥

ਧਨੁ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਤਨੁ ਭਸਮੈ ਢੇਰੀ ॥

ਖਾਕੂ ਖਾਕੁ ਰਲੈ ਸਭੁ ਫੈਲੁ ॥

ਬਿਨੁ ਸਬਦੈ ਨਹੀ ਉਤਰੈ ਮੈਲੁ ॥੨॥ 

Kīcẖėh ras bẖog kẖusī▫ā man kerī.

Ḏẖan lokāʼn ṯan bẖasmai dẖerī.

Kẖākū kẖāk ralai sabẖ fail.

Bin sabḏai nahī uṯrai mail. ||2||

In Essence: One fulfills his mind’s pleasures and thus enjoys revelry; (When one dies) his wealth goes to others and the body becomes a heap of ashes. Thus, the dust mingles with the dust, and the entire expansion becomes dust. Without the Guru Shabda, the filth (of Maya) doesn’t go away.

           Now the Guru is coming back to the stuff we totally get indulged in. All the pleasures, revelry and the activities of satisfying the mind do not bring peace. They actually create filth in the mind. Why it is filth? It is filth because it marred the mind by taking all its virtues away. The wealth, for which bad deeds are embraced and decency is compromised, is passed on to others and the body becomes the part of this earth again. Why this game goes on? The Guru says that the mortals do not learn anything from this over indulgence, and without the Guru, they fail to clean their filth. Different ways by which many people try to please their souls is not helpful in obtaining eternal happiness. All joys coming out of Maya are short lived; however, the bliss obtained after eradicating conceit and infatuation is stable.

           ਕੀਚਹਿ = ਕਰੀਦੇ ਹਨ। ਕੇਰੀ = ਦੀ, ਦੀਆਂ। ਭਸਮੈ = ਸੁਆਹ ਦੀ। ਖਾਕੂ = ਖ਼ਾਕ ਵਿਚ। ਫੈਲੁ = ਪਸਾਰਾ।੨।

           ਮਾਇਕ ਰਸਾਂ ਦੇ ਭੋਗ ਕਰੀਦੇ ਹਨ, ਮਨ ਦੀਆਂ ਮੌਜਾਂ ਮਾਣੀਦੀਆਂ ਹਨ, (ਪਰ ਮੌਤ ਆਉਣ ਤੇ) ਧਨ (ਹੋਰ) ਲੋਕਾਂ ਦਾ ਬਣ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ ਤੇ ਇਹ ਸਰੀਰ ਮਿੱਟੀ ਦੀ ਢੇਰੀ ਹੋ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ। ਇਹ ਸਾਰਾ ਹੀ ਪਸਾਰਾ (ਅੰਤ) ਖ਼ਾਕ ਵਿਚ ਹੀ ਰਲ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ (ਮਨ ਉਤੇ ਵਿਸ਼ੇ ਵਿਕਾਰਾਂ ਦੀ ਮੈਲ ਇਕੱਠੀ ਹੁੰਦੀ ਜਾਂਦੀ ਹੈ, ਉਹ) ਮੈਲ ਗੁਰੂ ਦੇ ਸ਼ਬਦ ਤੋਂ ਬਿਨਾ ਨਹੀਂ ਲਹਿੰਦੀ।੨।

ਗੀਤ ਰਾਗ ਘਨ ਤਾਲ ਸਿ ਕੂਰੇ ॥

ਤ੍ਰਿਹੁ ਗੁਣ ਉਪਜੈ ਬਿਨਸੈ ਦੂਰੇ ॥

ਦੂਜੀ ਦੁਰਮਤਿ ਦਰਦੁ ਨ ਜਾਇ ॥

ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਦਾਰੂ ਗੁਣ ਗਾਇ ॥੩॥ 

Gīṯ rāg gẖan ṯāl sė kūre.

Ŧarihu guṇ upjai binsai ḏūre.

Ḏūjī ḏurmaṯ ḏaraḏ na jā▫e.

Cẖẖūtai gurmukẖ ḏārū guṇ gā▫e. ||3||

In Essence: The songs, melodies and rhythmic beats are false (temporary). One comes and goes under the influence of three modes of Maya and remains away from the Creator. The pain doesn’t go away because of ill – intellect (the intellect that is into duality). Gurmukh is liberated because of singing the curing praises of Akalpurakh.

           As per Gurbani, the world is created and bound to Maya. This bondage keeps the soul separate from the Creator. The one who follows the Guru gets liberated from the Maya bondage by praising the Creator, but who seek refuge of others (duality), they cannot get rid of this pain: the pain of separation from Him and the pain created by desires. What is the other refuge, the Guru reflects on that below.

           ਘਨ = ਬਹੁਤ। ਸਿ = ਇਹ ਸਾਰੇ। ਕੂਰੇ = ਕੂੜੇ, ਝੂਠੇ। ਤ੍ਰਿਹੁ ਗੁਣ = ਮਾਇਆ ਦੇ ਤਿੰਨਾਂ ਗੁਣਾਂ ਵਿਚ। ਉਪਜੈ ਬਿਨਸੈ = (ਜੀਵ) ਜੰਮਦਾ ਮਰਦਾ ਹੈ। ਦੂਜੀ = ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਤੋਂ ਬਿਨਾ ਹੋਰ ਆਸਰੇ ਦੀ ਝਾਕ। ਦਰਦ = ਰੋਗ।੩।

           (ਪ੍ਰਭੂ-ਨਾਮ ਤੋਂ ਖੁੰਝ ਕੇ) ਮਨੁੱਖ ਅਨੇਕਾਂ ਕਿਸਮਾਂ ਦੇ ਗੀਤ ਰਾਗ ਤੇ ਤਾਲ ਆਦਿਕਾਂ ਵਿਚ ਮਨ ਪਰਚਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ ਪਰ ਇਹ ਸਭ ਝੂਠੇ ਉੱਦਮ ਹਨ (ਕਿਉਂਕਿ ਨਾਮ ਤੋਂ ਬਿਨਾ ਜੀਵ) ਤਿੰਨਾਂ ਗੁਣਾਂ ਦੇ ਅਸਰ ਹੇਠ ਜੰਮਦਾ ਮਰਦਾ ਰਹਿੰਦਾ ਹੈ ਤੇ (ਪ੍ਰਭੂ-ਚਰਨਾਂ ਤੋਂ) ਵਿਛੁੜਿਆ ਰਹਿੰਦਾ ਹੈ। (ਇਹਨਾਂ ਗੀਤਾਂ ਰਾਗਾਂ ਦੀ ਸਹਾਇਤਾ ਨਾਲ ਜੀਵ ਦੀ) ਹੋਰ ਝਾਕ ਤੇ ਭੈੜੀ ਮਤਿ ਦੂਰ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੁੰਦੀ, ਆਤਮਕ ਰੋਗ ਨਹੀਂ ਜਾਂਦਾ। (ਇਸ ਦੂਜੀ ਝਾਕ ਤੋਂ, ਦੁਰਮਤਿ ਤੋਂ, ਆਤਮਕ ਰੋਗ ਤੋਂ ਉਹ ਮਨੁੱਖ) ਖ਼ਲਾਸੀ ਪਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ ਜੋ ਗੁਰੂ ਦੇ ਸਨਮੁਖ ਹੋ ਕੇ ਪਰਮਾਤਮਾ ਦੇ ਗੁਣ ਗਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ (ਇਹ ਸਿਫ਼ਤਿ-ਸਾਲਾਹ ਹੀ ਇਹਨਾਂ ਰੋਗਾਂ ਦਾ) ਦਾਰੂ ਹੈ।੩।

ਧੋਤੀ ਊਜਲ ਤਿਲਕੁ ਗਲਿ ਮਾਲਾ ॥

ਅੰਤਰਿ ਕ੍ਰੋਧੁ ਪੜਹਿ ਨਾਟ ਸਾਲਾ ॥

ਨਾਮੁ ਵਿਸਾਰਿ ਮਾਇਆ ਮਦੁ ਪੀਆ ॥

ਬਿਨੁ ਗੁਰ ਭਗਤਿ ਨਾਹੀ ਸੁਖੁ ਥੀਆ ॥੪॥ 
Ḏẖoṯī ūjal ṯilak gal mālā.

Anṯar kroḏẖ paṛėh nāt sālā.

Nām visār mā▫i▫ā maḏ pī▫ā.

Bin gur bẖagaṯ nāhī sukẖ thī▫ā. ||4||

In Essence: Some people wear white loin – cloth, anoint the brows with a mark and wear rosary around the neck. Within them is anger and they read (scriptures) and performs dramas (like playing acts of religious stories). They forget His Name and drink the Maya – wine. Without the Guru, one cannot perform Akalpurakh’s devotion, and the peace is not attained.

           There are some people who think that by performing and showing off religious deeds they can get liberated from Maya but it is not possible because they do keep them tied to the bonds of Maya. By wearing symbols and robes or reading scriptures, one cannot get liberated because within them the fire of conceit and anger continues to burn. It is all like having intoxication of Maya; it is nothing more than that. In reality, without the Guru, one doesn’t learn how to be truly devotional, and one fails to obtain peace. The Guru gives a complete procedure; if we miss one item of the procedure, we will fall flat; the Guru keeps making us aware from these falls.

           ਊਜਲ = ਚਿੱਟੀ। ਗਲਿ = ਗਲ ਵਿਚ। ਨਾਟ ਸਾਲਾ = ਨਾਟ-ਘਰ, ਜਿਥੇ ਨਾਟ ਸਿਖਾਇਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ। ਮਦੁ = ਸ਼ਰਾਬ।੪।

           ਜੇਹੜੇ ਮਨੁੱਖ ਚਿੱਟੀ ਧੋਤੀ ਪਹਿਨਦੇ ਹਨ (ਮੱਥੇ ਉਤੇ) ਤਿਲਕ ਲਾਂਦੇ ਹਨ, ਗਲ ਵਿਚ ਮਾਲਾ ਪਾਂਦੇ ਹਨ ਤੇ (ਵੇਦ ਆਦਿਕਾਂ ਦੇ ਮੰਤ੍ਰ) ਪੜ੍ਹਦੇ ਹਨ ਪਰ ਉਹਨਾਂ ਦੇ ਅੰਦਰ ਕ੍ਰੋਧ ਪ੍ਰਬਲ ਹੈ ਉਹਨਾਂ ਦਾ ਉੱਦਮ ਇਉਂ ਹੀ ਹੈ ਜਿਵੇਂ ਕਿਸੇ ਨਾਟ-ਘਰ ਵਿਚ (ਨਾਟ-ਵਿੱਦਿਆ ਦੀ ਸਿਖਲਾਈ ਕਰ ਕਰਾ ਰਹੇ ਹਨ)। ਜਿਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਮਨੁੱਖਾਂ ਨੇ ਪਰਮਾਤਮਾ ਦਾ ਨਾਮ ਭੁਲਾ ਕੇ ਮਾਇਆ (ਦੇ ਮੋਹ) ਦੀ ਸ਼ਰਾਬ ਪੀਤੀ ਹੋਈ ਹੋਵੇ, (ਉਹਨਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਸੁਖ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੋ ਸਕਦਾ)। ਗੁਰੂ ਤੋਂ ਬਿਨਾ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਦੀ ਭਗਤੀ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੋ ਸਕਦੀ, ਤੇ ਭਗਤੀ ਤੋਂ ਬਿਨਾ ਆਤਮਕ ਆਨੰਦ ਨਹੀਂ ਮਿਲਦਾ।੪।

           In the following, the Guru elaborates on the separation from Akalpurakh in forms reincarnation; many out there do not believe in reincarnation even being Sikhs; they try to give new meaning to the word “Joon.” They also strongly believe that in Gurbani the central idea is only expressed in the Rahao Verses (which is not true always) and they believe that there is no mention of reincarnation in Rahao Verses. They need to search more for that because the Guru uses the expression of reincarnation in the Rahao Verses as well. Those references are found on 190, 195, 1137, 1255, 1267 1322, SGGS.

ਸੂਕਰ ਸੁਆਨ ਗਰਧਭ ਮੰਜਾਰਾ ॥

ਪਸੂ ਮਲੇਛ ਨੀਚ ਚੰਡਾਲਾ ॥

ਗੁਰ ਤੇ ਮੁਹੁ ਫੇਰੇ ਤਿਨ੍ਹ੍ਹ ਜੋਨਿ ਭਵਾਈਐ ॥

ਬੰਧਨਿ ਬਾਧਿਆ ਆਈਐ ਜਾਈਐ ॥੫॥ 

Sūkar su▫ān garḏẖabẖ manjārā.

Pasū malecẖẖ nīcẖ cẖandalā.

Gur ṯe muhu fere ṯinĥ jon bẖavā▫ī▫ai.

Banḏẖan bāḏẖi▫ā ā▫ī▫ai jā▫ī▫ai. ||5||

In Essence: Those who turn their back to the Guru are put through various existences like, dogs, swine, donkeys, cats, animals, and mean, lower and merciless beings. Thus being in bonds, they come and go.

           Note: Some people interpret the first verse: Those who turn away from the Guru, they are dogs, swine and so on. I disagree with such interpretation because the Guru is not into name calling but is describing what happens to those who follow their own ill – intellect instead of following the Guru. The word “ਜੋਨਿ ਭਵਾਈਐ “ is passive form of the active form of the expression “bhawana” which means “ to make wander”

           The Guru takes the mortals to the Creator; when the Guru is ignored, the Creator is ignored. When that occurs, the mortals end up in various existences. The Guru breaks up the bonds; however, without the Guru, the bonds remain in force. Vaaka number 3 is elaborated here. The separation from the Creator remains due to the mortals’ infatuation with the Maya.

           ਸੂਕਰ = ਸੂਰ। ਸੁਆਨ = ਕੁੱਤੇ। ਗਰਧਭ = ਖੋਤੇ। ਮੰਜਾਰਾ = ਬਿੱਲੇ। ਤੇ = ਤੋਂ। ਬੰਧਨਿ = ਬੰਧਨ ਵਿਚ।੫।

           ਜਿਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਬੰਦਿਆਂ ਨੇ ਆਪਣਾ ਮੂੰਹ ਗੁਰੂ ਵਲੋਂ ਮੋੜਿਆ ਹੋਇਆ ਹੈ ਉਹਨਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਸੂਰ ਕੁੱਤੇ ਖੋਤੇ ਬਿੱਲੇ ਪਸ਼ੂ ਮਲੇਛ ਨੀਚ ਚੰਡਾਲ ਆਦਿਕਾਂ ਦੀਆਂ ਜੂਨਾਂ ਵਿਚ ਭਵਾਇਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ। ਮਾਇਆ ਦੇ ਮੋਹ ਦੇ ਬੰਧਨ ਵਿਚ ਬੱਝਾ ਹੋਇਆ ਮਨੁੱਖ ਜਨਮ ਮਰਨ ਦੇ ਗੇੜ ਵਿਚ ਪਿਆ ਰਹਿੰਦਾ ਹੈ।੫।

ਗੁਰ ਸੇਵਾ ਤੇ ਲਹੈ ਪਦਾਰਥੁ ॥ ਹਿਰਦੈ ਨਾਮੁ ਸਦਾ ਕਿਰਤਾਰਥੁ ॥

ਸਾਚੀ ਦਰਗਹ ਪੂਛ ਨ ਹੋਇ ॥ ਮਾਨੇ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਸੀਝੈ ਦਰਿ ਸੋਇ ॥੬॥ 

Gur sevā ṯe lahai paḏārath.  Hirḏai nām saḏā kirṯārath.

Sācẖī ḏargėh pūcẖẖ na ho▫e.  Māne hukam sījẖai ḏar so▫e. ||6||

In Essence: Through the Guru Service (by following the Guru honestly), one procures Naam – wealth and one’s mind is ever benefited (from it). In His Eternal court, nobody questions then. The one, who obeys His Ordinance, becomes successful in His court.

           Let us look at what the Guru has said so far. When one involves only in satiating the insatiable mind, his or her separation from the Creator continues. All things, all revelry and all claims end in nothing because when we depart from here only His Name helps us. Over indulgence in mind’s game leads us to various existences. Thus by sticking to temporary things,we loses the chances of obtaining union with the Creator which can be obtained by following the Guru. Liberation from Maya bonds cannot be attained through hypocritical deeds; it can be gained by praising the Creator as per the advice of the Guru. What is the advice? Follow the Guru sincerely and obtain His Name to hang on to it; live in His memory as a guest. This involvement with the Guru and His Name brings success in spiritual progression. One eventually becomes able to merge with the Creator, and the separation from the Creator ends even when one is alive. Those devotees of the Creator, who understand His ordinance, are honored successfully in His court.

           ਲਹੈ = ਪ੍ਰਾਪਤ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ। ਪਦਾਰਥੁ = ਨਾਮ-ਵਸਤੁ। ਕਿਰਤਾਰਥੁ = ਸਫਲ, ਕਾਮਯਾਬ। ਸੀਝੈ = ਕਾਮਯਾਬ ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ। ਦਰਿ = ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਦੇ ਦਰ ਤੇ। ਸੋਇ = ਉਹ ਮਨੁੱਖ।੬।

           ਗੁਰੂ ਦੀ ਦੱਸੀ ਸੇਵਾ ਦੀ ਰਾਹੀਂ ਹੀ ਮਨੁੱਖ ਨਾਮ-ਸਰਮਾਇਆ ਪ੍ਰਾਪਤ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ। ਜਿਸ ਮਨੁੱਖ ਦੇ ਹਿਰਦੇ ਵਿਚ ਪਰਮਾਤਮਾ ਦਾ ਨਾਮ ਸਦਾ ਵੱਸਦਾ ਹੈ ਉਹ (ਜੀਵਨ-ਜਾਤ੍ਰਾ ਵਿਚ) ਸਫਲ ਹੋ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ। ਪਰਮਾਤਮਾ ਦੀ ਦਰਗਾਹ ਵਿਚ ਉਸ ਪਾਸੋਂ ਲੇਖਾ ਨਹੀਂ ਮੰਗਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ (ਕਿਉਂਕਿ ਉਸ ਦੇ ਜ਼ਿੰਮੇ ਕੋਈ ਬਾਕੀ ਨਹੀਂ ਨਿਕਲਦੀ)। ਜੇਹੜਾ ਮਨੁੱਖ ਪਰਮਾਤਮਾ ਦੀ ਰਜ਼ਾ ਨੂੰ (ਸਿਰ ਮੱਥੇ) ਮੰਨਦਾ ਹੈ ਉਹ ਪਰਮਾਤਮਾ ਦੇ ਦਰ ਤੇ ਕਾਮਯਾਬ ਹੋ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ।੬।

ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਮਿਲੈ ਤ ਤਿਸ ਕਉ ਜਾਣੈ ॥  ਰਹੈ ਰਜਾਈ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਪਛਾਣੈ ॥

ਹੁਕਮੁ ਪਛਾਣਿ ਸਚੈ ਦਰਿ ਵਾਸੁ ॥  ਕਾਲ ਬਿਕਾਲ ਸਬਦਿ ਭਏ ਨਾਸੁ ॥੭॥ 

Saṯgur milai ṯa ṯis ka▫o jāṇai.  Rahai rajā▫ī hukam pacẖẖāṇai.

Hukam pacẖẖāṇ sacẖai ḏar vās.  Kāl bikāl sabaḏ bẖa▫e nās. ||7||

In Essence: If a True Guru is met, one can only then know the Creator and live in His ordinance by understanding it. By understanding His Ordinance, one abides with the eternal Akalpurakh. This way, one’s birth and death are effaced.

           Now the Guru inserts his ideas about how to know the Creator and how to become one with Him. The idea elaborated above is similar to the idea given in the First stanza of Jap Ji. First thing is to meet a True Guru. Who is the True Guru? Who has envisioned Him, and who is capable of enabling others to see Him. Who meets a true Guru comes to know the Creator (realizes Him). How? Answer is by believing that His Ordinance prevails and to remain aligned with it by remaining imbued with the Creator. When a person learns to understand that truth, he or she becomes one with Him. Getting connected to Him leads to a very different state of mind: a fourth state/Turi Awastha; it is above the crowd mentality. This way, birth and death are eradicated by the Guru shabda. In the following, the Guru continues describing how to understand His Ordinance and be one with Him.

           ਤਿਸ ਕਉ = ਉਸ (ਪਰਮਾਤਮਾ) ਨੂੰ। ਰਜਾਈ = ਰਜ਼ਾ ਵਿਚ। ਪਛਾਣਿ = ਪਛਾਣ ਕੇ। ਕਾਲ ਬਿਕਾਲ = ਮੌਤ ਤੇ ਜਨਮ, ਜਨਮ ਮਰਨ।੭।

           ਜਦੋਂ ਮਨੁੱਖ ਨੂੰ ਗੁਰੂ ਮਿਲ ਪੈਂਦਾ ਹੈ ਤਾਂ ਇਹ ਉਸ ਪਰਮਾਤਮਾ ਨਾਲ ਡੂੰਘੀ ਸਾਂਝ ਪਾ ਲੈਂਦਾ ਹੈ, ਪਰਮਾਤਮਾ ਦੀ ਰਜ਼ਾ ਨੂੰ ਸਮਝਦਾ ਹੈ ਤੇ ਰਜ਼ਾ ਵਿਚ (ਰਾਜ਼ੀ) ਰਹਿੰਦਾ ਹੈ। ਸਦਾ-ਥਿਰ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਦੀ ਰਜ਼ਾ ਨੂੰ ਸਮਝ ਕੇ ਉਸ ਦੇ ਦਰ ਤੇ ਥਾਂ ਪ੍ਰਾਪਤ ਕਰ ਲੈਂਦਾ ਹੈ। ਗੁਰੂ ਦੇ ਸ਼ਬਦ ਦੀ ਰਾਹੀਂ ਉਸ ਦੇ ਜਨਮ ਮਰਨ (ਦੇ ਗੇੜ) ਮੁੱਕ ਜਾਂਦੇ ਹਨ।੭।

ਰਹੈ ਅਤੀਤੁ ਜਾਣੈ ਸਭੁ ਤਿਸ ਕਾ ॥  ਤਨੁ ਮਨੁ ਅਰਪੈ ਹੈ ਇਹੁ ਜਿਸ ਕਾ ॥

ਨਾ ਓਹੁ ਆਵੈ ਨਾ ਓਹੁ ਜਾਇ ॥  ਨਾਨਕ ਸਾਚੇ ਸਾਚਿ ਸਮਾਇ ॥੮॥੨॥ 

Rahai aṯīṯ jāṇai sabẖ ṯis kā.  Ŧan man arpai hai ih jis kā.

Nā oh āvai nā oh jā▫e.  Nānak sācẖe sācẖ samā▫e. ||8||2||

In Essence: If a person deems everything as Akalpurakh’s belonging and remains detached by dedicating the body and the soul to Him who actually owns them; he or she does not come and go. Nanak says that such a person remains absorbed in the eternal Creator.

           Here the secret of an enlightened soul is revealed. How one can become one with the Creator? It must be believed that whatever occurs, it falls under His Ordinance. The Guru advice is that one should remain detached to everything; just as the Bank guard performs his duty, we should perform our duties by not getting moved any way by what we get out of them. What we have is enough. All, what we have and what others have, belong to the Creator. Then, one must surrender to Him as His servant. That negation of conceit and contentment brings unity with the Creator. The duality ends, and the soul settles with the Creator.

           ਅਤੀਤੁ = ਨਿਰਲੇਪ, ਤਿਆਗੀ। ਤਿਸ ਕਾ = ਉਸ ਪਰਮਾਤਮਾ ਦਾ। ਅਰਪੈ = ਭੇਟਾ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ। ਓਹੁ = ਉਹ ਜੀਵ। ਸਾਚੇ ਸਾਚਿ = ਸਾਚਿ ਹੀ ਸਾਚਿ, ਸਦਾ ਹੀ ਸੱਚੇ ਹਰੀ ਵਿਚ।੮।

           (ਸਿਮਰਨ ਦੀ ਬਰਕਤਿ ਨਾਲ) ਜੇਹੜਾ ਮਨੁੱਖ (ਅੰਤਰ ਆਤਮੇ ਮਾਇਆ ਦੇ ਮੋਹ ਵਲੋਂ) ਉਪਰਾਮ ਰਹਿੰਦਾ ਹੈ ਉਹ ਹਰੇਕ ਚੀਜ਼ ਨੂੰ ਪਰਮਾਤਮਾ ਦੀ (ਦਿੱਤੀ ਹੋਈ) ਹੀ ਸਮਝਦਾ ਹੈ। ਜਿਸ ਪਰਮਾਤਮਾ ਨੇ ਇਹ ਸਰੀਰ ਤੇ ਮਨ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਹੈ ਉਸ ਦੇ ਹਵਾਲੇ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ। ਹੇ ਨਾਨਕ! ਉਹ ਮਨੁੱਖ ਜਨਮ ਮਰਨ ਦੇ ਗੇੜ ਵਿਚੋਂ ਬਚ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ, ਉਹ ਸਦਾ ਸਦਾ ਕਾਇਮ ਰਹਿਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਪਰਮਾਤਮਾ ਵਿਚ ਲੀਨ ਰਹਿੰਦਾ ਹੈ।੮।੨।

           The state of mind, the Guru leads to comes slowly; a few steps are mandatory to take to have it. Self conceit works many ways to misdirect our behavior; it gives nothing save for a temporary a feeling of being something; it must be targeted first by seeking humbleness as a tool to defeat the power of self conceit and also the attachment should be eliminated that many times mingles with self conceit to delude us. It should be replaced with a feeling of responsibility of what we have and how to use it positively. Positive behavior is enough to kill negativity that detours us away from our spiritual goal. By enshrining Prabh’s memory in the heart, we should let it guide us toward our goal. The Guru’s guidance should always remain our light to dispel the darkness of our ignorance. The Creator is within and what are eclipsing His sight must be first understood; we know now that those are the self conceit and the attachment. Below is given the Guru’s simple directions to see the Creator within, the Shabda is on 1255, SGGS:

ਮਹਲਾ ੧ ਮਲਾਰ ॥  

ਪਰ ਦਾਰਾ ਪਰ ਧਨੁ ਪਰ ਲੋਭਾ ਹਉਮੈ ਬਿਖੈ ਬਿਕਾਰ ॥

ਦੁਸਟ ਭਾਉ ਤਜਿ ਨਿੰਦ ਪਰਾਈ ਕਾਮੁ ਕ੍ਰੋਧੁ ਚੰਡਾਰ ॥੧॥ 

Mėhlā 1 malār.

Par ḏārā par ḏẖan par lobẖā ha▫umai bikẖai bikār.

Ḏusat bẖā▫o ṯaj ninḏ parā▫ī kām kroḏẖ cẖandār. ||1||

In Essence: (to be worthy of Almighty) Who lives according to the Guru – guidance, gives up bad intentions and longings like setting eyes on others wives, wealth, avarice, self-conceit, bad inclinations, bad intentions, slandering of others, lust and anger.

           Above is given an essence of a life of a Gurmukh; Gurmukh doesn’t have longing for others wives, wealth, and he rises above greed, conceit and vice. Gurmukh abandons slandering of others and having lust and anger because that is the advice the Guru passes on to him. Then, whatever comes into the mind in a negative color, it is painted over with The Guru – teachings. Interestingly, when mind falls in love with Akalpurakh, love of His Name rules the mind; consequently, it doesn’t embrace lust, greed, and anger and conceit anyway. The powerful urges for this stuff, are unseated in His love. If the mind is still in control; obviously, the Guru is not listened to and the love for the Creator within doesn’t blossom at all. Deceiving others is a worse act, but doing self deception is equal to a suicide.

           All above Guru Verses state about abandoning bad habits to realize Akalpurakh; the Guru Instructions are very precious because with the help of them, we reach to that state of mind where the Guru has envisioned Him within; just ponder over what the Guru says in the following Guru verses in this context.

ਮਹਲ ਮਹਿ ਬੈਠੇ ਅਗਮ ਅਪਾਰ ॥

ਭੀਤਰਿ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤੁ ਸੋਈ ਜਨੁ ਪਾਵੈ ਜਿਸੁ ਗੁਰ ਕਾ ਸਬਦੁ ਰਤਨੁ ਆਚਾਰ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ 

Mahal mėh baiṯẖe agam apār.

Bẖīṯar amriṯ so▫ī jan pāvai jis gur kā sabaḏ raṯan ācẖār. ||1|| rahā▫o.

In Essence: Within resides the Inaccessible and Infinite Almighty; only those obtain His Nectar – Presence (His Naam/knowledge to experience His vision) within, who are holding to the Guru-Shabad- jewel, and are living according to it (Pause)

           As advised in previous verses above, lust, greed, anger, conceit and bad intentions must be abandoned, and these should be replaced with the Guru – teachings. In other words, only the Guru – teachings should steer the mind instead of letting other influences dominate the mind. If it is done with sincerity, then the presence of Akalpurakh, who is inaccessible and infinite, is envisioned within. Otherwise, sticking to those things, which create negativity within, will not be helpful in grabbing the chance of beholding Him within and outside. Then, one’s meditation and singing the praises of Akalpurakh will not work. In this regard, what more clarity a Sikh needs from the Guru? What fails us, the Guru has expressed in very simple and clear words.

Partial interpretation in Punjabi is Dr Sahib Singh Ji

Humbly

G Singh