Praying has been a great support for a believer for centuries; in the materialistic world, praying remains limited to materialistic things or individual comforts; however, in the realm of liberation, the prayer for materialistic purpose loses its luster. In the state of liberation, one’s prayer remains focused on the Creator, and also one’s wishful thinking of remaining one with the Creator is never ceased or decreased. The Sikhs are asked to pray for any task to be done and the entire world as well.
Fourth Nanak verifies how our prayer should be focused on First Nanak’s advice; on 91, SGGS, he writes: “ਕੀਤਾ ਲੋੜੀਐ ਕੰਮੁ ਸੁ ਹਰਿ ਪਹਿ ਆਖੀਐ ਕਾਰਜੁ ਦੇਇ ਸਵਾਰਿ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਸਚੁ ਸਾਖੀਐ ॥ Kīṯā loṛī-ai kamm so har pėh ākẖī-ai Kāraj ḏe-e savār saṯgur sacẖ sākẖī-ai. (we should pray to the Creator what we want to do; the Satiguru verifies that the Creator helps in achieving the goal;” but in the same stanza, the Guru identifies the prayer further: ਸੰਤਾ ਸੰਗਿ ਨਿਧਾਨੁ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤੁ ਚਾਖੀਐ ॥ Sanṯā sang niḏẖān amriṯ cẖākẖī-ai.( In the company of the Sant, His nectarous name should be enjoyed) . Obviously prayer is not limited to materialistic things; our prayer should be for the environment that can help us in becoming one with Him; please see the next line: ਭੈ ਭੰਜਨ ਮਿਹਰਵਾਨ ਦਾਸ ਕੀ ਰਾਖੀਐ ॥ Bẖai bẖanjan miharvān ḏās kī rākẖī▫ai (Oh Kind and destroyer of our fear! Keep honor of your servant) the ultimate wish is to become able to know the Creator: ਨਾਨਕ ਹਰਿ ਗੁਣ ਗਾਇ ਅਲਖੁ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਲਾਖੀਐ ॥੨੦॥ Nānak har guṇ gā-e alakẖ parabẖ lākẖī-ai. ||20|| ( Oh Nanak! This way by praising the virtues of the Creator, who is inexpressible, is known/understood).
I have seen my Sikh brothers and sisters going to various local Gurdwaras and making offerings to fulfill their wishes mostly focused on various materialistic gains. If their wishes are not fulfilled, they go to Harmandir Sahib, Amritsar, to get what they want. It is a set up stage through which the Sikhs are misled and exploited. Those leaders who were clever enough to gain from the ignorance of the believers put all these kinds of rituals for materialistic desires in their minds to keep them in such a discrete materialistic trade. If anyone tried ever to speak against such practices, they keep protecting their net of unending exploitation through incendiary speeches in the name of religion. The misled believers are so convinced by the exploiters’ tactics that they refuge to accept any logic. Once I went to Darbar Sahib with my relatives. As we came out, one of them asked me,’ what did you ask for?” I replied smilingly,” Nothing. Akalpurakh has been honoring my prayers for a long time; He doesn’t want me to visit Darbar Sahib to get what I want.” My relatives looked at me in disbelief.
We cannot manipulate Gurbani lines for our own desires; instead we should follow what is the ultimate advice the Guru offers to us. Second to Tenth Nanak kept advocating First Nanak’s ideology about the only one Creator of all and His eternal ordinance in force. Let us look at the First Nanak’s prayer to understand how our prayer should not be expanded to materialistic things as it has been advocated for centuries in some Sikh circles.
In the Gurbani, we see prayers done for worldly things but very limited way; as we contemplate on those prayers, the ultimate goal remains the same First Nanak leads us to. Let us look over those prayers as well: First, let us contemplate the shabda of prayer by Bhagat Kabir on 656, SGGS:
ਰਾਗੁ ਸੋਰਠਿ ॥
ਭੂਖੇ ਭਗਤਿ ਨ ਕੀਜੈ ॥
ਯਹ ਮਾਲਾ ਅਪਨੀ ਲੀਜੈ ॥
ਹਉ ਮਾਂਗਉ ਸੰਤਨ ਰੇਨਾ ॥
ਮੈ ਨਾਹੀ ਕਿਸੀ ਕਾ ਦੇਨਾ ॥੧॥
Raag sorath.
Bhookhay bhagat na keejai.
Yeh maalaa apnee leejai.
Ha-o maanga-o santan raynaa.
Mai naahee kisee kaa daynaa. ||1||
Raag Sorath, the Bani of Bhagat Kabir.
In essence: Oh Prabh! While hungry, it is hard to perform your devotion (if I do, my mind will not concentrate on you because of the hunger); don’t let me do it if I am hungry. I beg from you the company of your Sants in utter humility and I don’t want to be dependent on any other one.
Prayer is about the basic need, but still the environment of remembering is advocated.
ਮਾਧੋ ਕੈਸੀ ਬਨੈ ਤੁਮ ਸੰਗੇ ॥
ਆਪਿ ਨ ਦੇਹੁ ਤ ਲੇਵਉ ਮੰਗੇ ॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
Maadho kaisee banai tum sangay.
Aap na dayh ta layva-o mangay. Rahaa-o.
Oh Prabh! How it will be all right while being ashamed of asking you? If you don’t give me, I shall beg from you. Pause.
If we don’t have something to eat or to wear, we can ask Him to bless us with that, but when we have these basic things, why we are expending our prayers to many things?
ਦੁਇ ਸੇਰ ਮਾਂਗਉ ਚੂਨਾ ॥
ਪਾਉ ਘੀਉ ਸੰਗਿ ਲੂਨਾ ॥
ਅਧ ਸੇਰੁ ਮਾਂਗਉ ਦਾਲੇ ॥
ਮੋ ਕਉ ਦੋਨਉ ਵਖਤ ਜਿਵਾਲੇ ॥੨॥
Du-ay sayr maanga-o choonaa.
Paa-o ghee-o sang loonaa.
Adh sayr maanga-o daalay.
Mo ka-o don-o vakhat jivaalay. ||2||
(What I need) Give me two seers of flour with a quarter of seer of clarified butter and salt. I beg half a seer of pulse (lentil), which will keep me alive for both times (day and evening).
All what is asked is a man’s need; Bhagat Kabir expands his prayer but still remains limited to the daily need.
ਖਾਟ ਮਾਂਗਉ ਚਉਪਾਈ ॥
ਸਿਰਹਾਨਾ ਅਵਰ ਤੁਲਾਈ ॥
ਊਪਰ ਕਉ ਮਾਂਗਉ ਖੀਂਧਾ ॥
ਤੇਰੀ ਭਗਤਿ ਕਰੈ ਜਨੁ ਥੀਧਾ ॥੩॥
Khaat maanga-o cha-upaa-ee.
Sirhaanaa avar tulaa-ee.
Oopar ka-o maanga-o kheendhaa.
Tayree bhagat karai jan theendhaa. ||3||
I need a cot with four legs along with a pillow and a mattress, and to cover myself. I beg comfort (quilt); then, your devotee will perform your devotion in love.
ਮੈ ਨਾਹੀ ਕੀਤਾ ਲਬੋ ॥
ਇਕੁ ਨਾਉ ਤੇਰਾ ਮੈ ਫਬੋ ॥
ਕਹਿ ਕਬੀਰ ਮਨੁ ਮਾਨਿਆ ॥
ਮਨੁ ਮਾਨਿਆ ਤਉ ਹਰਿ ਜਾਨਿਆ ॥੪॥੧੧॥
Mai naahee keetaa labo.
Ik naa-o tayraa mai fabo.
Kahi kabeer man maani-aa.
Man maani-aa ta-o har jaani-aa. ||4||11||
I haven’t shown greed (these things are needed to survive), because it is your name that decorates me. Kabir says: my mind is pleased with Har. As my mind is pleased, I have realized Him.
In the end, he becomes aware what he has asked for. Asking more than that is not encouraged in the Gurbani. We, most of the time, pray for the materialistic things in access. Now let us look what Bhagat Dhanna demands in his prayer?
The Second prayer is by Bhagat Dhanna on 695, SGGS:
ਧੰਨਾ ॥
ਗੋਪਾਲ ਤੇਰਾ ਆਰਤਾ ॥
ਜੋ ਜਨ ਤੁਮਰੀ ਭਗਤਿ ਕਰੰਤੇ ਤਿਨ ਕੇ ਕਾਜ ਸਵਾਰਤਾ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
Dhannaa.
Gopaal tayraa aartaa.
Jo jan tumree bhagat karantay tin kay kaaj savaarataa. ||1|| rahaa-o.
The Bani of Bhagat Dhanna.
In essence: Oh Akalpurakh! I am your beggar at your door! You settle the affairs right of those, who perform your devotion. Pause.
ਦਾਲਿ ਸੀਧਾ ਮਾਗਉ ਘੀਉ ॥
ਹਮਰਾ ਖੁਸੀ ਕਰੈ ਨਿਤ ਜੀਉ ॥
ਪਨ੍ਹ੍ਹੀਆ ਛਾਦਨੁ ਨੀਕਾ ॥
ਅਨਾਜੁ ਮਗਉ ਸਤ ਸੀ ਕਾ ॥੧॥
Daal seedhaa maaga-o ghee-o.
Hamraa khusee karai nit jee-o.
Panhee-aa chhaadan neekaa.
Anaaj maga-o sat see kaa. ||1||
(What I need) I beg from you lentils, flour, and purified butter; these things will keep my mind happy every day. Also I beg from you footwear, good clothes, and fine grains.
ਗਊ ਭੈਸ ਮਗਉ ਲਾਵੇਰੀ ॥
ਇਕ ਤਾਜਨਿ ਤੁਰੀ ਚੰਗੇਰੀ ॥
ਘਰ ਕੀ ਗੀਹਨਿ ਚੰਗੀ ॥
ਜਨੁ ਧੰਨਾ ਲੇਵੈ ਮੰਗੀ ॥੨॥੪॥
Ga-oo bhais maga-o laavayree.
Ik taajan turee changayree.
Ghar kee geehan changee.
Jan Dhannaa layvai mangee. ||2||4||
I beg from you a cow and a buffalo and a Turkistani mare; Dhana, your servant, also begs of you to have a good wife.
We have seen all the things prayed for are necessary things for a family life. The Gurbani suggests attaining liberation while living a family life and solving problems related to it. The consequential aspect of the prayer of the seekers who become one with the Creator remains expanded to His ultimate love; thus their demands for materialistic things start ebbing.
Demanding only materialistic things leads to a whirlpool of Maya winds, which are the source of frustration, miseries, hypocrisy, lies, envy, greed, lust, anger, and conceit. The shabda that contains the Guru’s prayer is on 1339, SGGS
ਪ੍ਰਭਾਤੀ ਮਹਲਾ ੧ ॥
Parbẖāṯī mėhlā 1.
Raag Prabhati, the bani of First Nanak
ਗੁਰ ਪਰਸਾਦੀ ਵਦਿਆਿ ਵੀਚਾਰੈ ਪਡ਼ ਿਪਡ਼ ਿਪਾਵੈ ਮਾਨੁ ॥
ਆਪਾ ਮਧੇ ਆਪੁ ਪਰਗਾਸਆਿ ਪਾਇਆ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਤੁ ਨਾਮੁ ॥੧॥
Gur parsādī viḏi-ā vīcẖārai paṛ paṛ pāvai mān.
Āpā maḏẖe āp pargāsi-ā pā-i-ā amriṯ nām. ||1||
In essence: those persons, who reflect on the divine knowledge with the blessings of the Guru, obtain honor. Within them, Ekankar becomes manifest with that knowledge as they obtain His name nectar.
The Guru has shown a way out to be with the Creator who showers the devotees with HIS honor. Now the Guru guides the followers how to pray to the Creator:
ਕਰਤਾ ਤੂ ਮੇਰਾ ਜਜਮਾਨੁ ॥
ਇਕ ਦਖਣਾ ਹਉ ਤੈ ਪਹ ਿਮਾਗਉ ਦੇਹ ਿਆਪਣਾ ਨਾਮੁ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
Karṯā ṯū merā jajmān.
Ik ḏakẖiṇā ha-o ṯai pėh māga-o ḏėh āpṇā nām. ||1|| rahā-o.
Oh Creator! You are my giver! I beg from you a gift: give me your name. Pause
First thing a Sikh needs is spontaneous heartily love for the Creator so that through remembering Him, His presence within is realized.
ਪੰਚ ਤਸਕਰ ਧਾਵਤ ਰਾਖੇ ਚੂਕਾ ਮਨ ਿਅਭਮਾਨੁ ॥
ਦਸਿਟ ਿਬਕਾਰੀ ਦੁਰਮਤ ਿਭਾਗੀ ਐਸਾ ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਗਆਿਨੁ ॥੨॥
Pancẖ ṯaskar ḏẖāvaṯ rākẖe cẖūkā man abẖimān.
Ḏisat bikārī ḏurmaṯ bẖāgī aisā barahm gi-ān. ||2||
The divine knowledge about Akalpurakh is so powerful that one’s inclinations toward vice and evil go away as one’s five thieves are put under control and one’s self-conceit is eliminated.
Realizing Him solves the seekers’ all problems that become a wall between the Creator and them. All the negative forces in them cease to exist as His realization occurs.
ਜਤੁ ਸਤੁ ਚਾਵਲ ਦਇਆ ਕਣਕ ਕਰ ਿਪ੍ਰਾਪਤ ਿਪਾਤੀ ਧਾਨੁ ॥
ਦੂਧੁ ਕਰਮੁ ਸੰਤੋਖੁ ਘੀਉ ਕਰ ਿਐਸਾ ਮਾਂਗਉ ਦਾਨੁ ॥੩॥
Jaṯ saṯ cẖāval ḏa-i-ā kaṇak kar parāpaṯ pāṯī ḏẖān.
Ḏūḏẖ karam sanṯokẖ gẖī-o kar aisā māʼnga-o ḏān. ||3||
Oh Creator! Bless me with the rice of continence and chastity, wheat of compassion and wealth of your union (reference is to a Pundit, who seeks only materialistic things). Give me the milk of your grace and clarified butter of contentment; I beg from you such alms.
What should we ask from our Creator? We lack often continence, chastity, contentment, His grace, forgiveness, patience, calmness of the mind, and His praise. If He blesses us with these virtues, we will not even desire the long list of things we prayer desperately:
ਖਮਾ ਧੀਰਜੁ ਕਰ ਿਗਊ ਲਵੇਰੀ ਸਹਜੇ ਬਛਰਾ ਖੀਰੁ ਪੀਐ ॥
ਸਫਿਤ ਿਸਰਮ ਕਾ ਕਪਡ਼ਾ ਮਾਂਗਉ ਹਰ ਿਗੁਣ ਨਾਨਕ ਰਵਤੁ ਰਹੈ ॥੪॥੭॥
Kẖimā ḏẖīraj kar ga-ū laverī sėhje bacẖẖrā kẖīr pī-ai.
Sifaṯ saram kā kapṛā māʼnga-o har guṇ Nānak ravaṯ rahai. ||4||7||
Bless me with the cow of forgiveness and patience so that my mind becomes calm. I, Nanak, beg from you the clothes of your praise so that my mind keeps uttering your virtues.
After that, we become content and start living in His ordinance by making our earning with honesty and hard work. Please note it down, First Nanak’s prayer excludes all materialistic things, because the real aim of a seeker is to become one with the Creator.
My entire effort is to know if like other religions, Sikhi leads us to materialistic things that are provocative and make us selfish, or it tries us to elevate to that level where desires filled with greed, anger, conceit, envy and lust cease to exist regardless what situations we are in like having power, or tremendous wealth, or nothing at all. It leads us, according to the Gurbani, to a state of mind in which we remain dominated by virtues, as we remain glued to the Creator and His ordinance. All mundane affairs are done but with detachment. Thus the ultimate freedom is attained. Trust me, if this is practiced, it may send pilgrimaging business out of business.
On 1342, First Nanak fortifies our faith in His love only comparing it with the Maya for which we sell ourselves; please be with the Guru:
ਦੁਬਧਾ ਬਉਰੀ ਮਨੁ ਬਉਰਾਇਆ ॥
ਝੂਠੈ ਲਾਲਚ ਿਜਨਮੁ ਗਵਾਇਆ ॥
Ḏubiḏẖā ba-urī man ba-urā-i-ā.
Jẖūṯẖai lālacẖ janam gavā-i-ā.
In essence: Because of one’s duality, one’s intellect turns crazy and one’s mind becomes crazy as well. This way, in false greed, the life is wasted.
As said earlier, the prayer done only for materialistic things pushes us into duality and the Guru wants us to remain away from duality, which creates strong hollowness in us with no virtues.
ਲਪਟ ਿਰਹੀ ਫੁਨ ਿਬੰਧੁ ਨ ਪਾਇਆ ॥
ਸਤਗੁਰ ਿਰਾਖੇ ਨਾਮੁ ਦ੍ਰਡ਼ਾਇਆ ॥੧॥
Lapat rahī fun banḏẖ na pā-i-ā.
Saṯgur rākẖe nām driṛ-ā-i-ā. ||1||
The duality of the mind remains dominating and it goes beyond control. The Satiguru saves the followers from it by implanting Ekankar’s name in them.
ਨਾ ਮਨੁ ਮਰੈ ਨ ਮਾਇਆ ਮਰੈ ॥
ਜਨਿ ਿਕਛੁ ਕੀਆ ਸੋਈ ਜਾਣੈ ਸਬਦੁ ਵੀਚਾਰ ਿਭਉ ਸਾਗਰੁ ਤਰੈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
Nā man marai na mā-i-ā marai.
Jin kicẖẖ kī-ā so-ī jāṇai sabaḏ vīcẖār bẖa-o sāgar ṯarai. ||1|| rahā-o
Neither the mind is controlled, nor does Maya leave it alone. The Creator has created this game of Maya and attachment and only He knows about this game (why it is there); by reflecting on the Guru’s shabda, one can ferry across the dreadful ocean. Pause
Sticking to the Guru’s advice will lead us toward loving the Creator sincerely.
Why should we worry about all the materialistic things anyway? The Creator’s power is in force; leaving everything to Him, we should just do our duties with care, honesty, and hard work. We should pray for our sons or daughters with wishful thinking and do the same for all as well. We should face all the problem come in our ways with the brains we are blessed with but without worrying about them or letting them lose our trust in His ordinance; thus our prayer should be the same our Guru does. Seeking the above said virtues will reshape our lives. We will become different than the crowd we have been following blindly.
Wishes
Gurdeep Singh
