Essence Of Paudi-1

When one proceeds further it is realized that one can assign many meanings.I was earlier stuck up with as to the exact meaning that could be assigned to the following two lines of the Paudi-1.On re-reading it I find that these lines contain the essence of the Paudi-1

kv sicAwrw hoeIAY ikv kUVY qutY pwil ] (1-6, jpu, mÚ 1)
So how can you become truthful? And how can the veil of illusion be torn away?

hukim rjweI clxw nwnk iliKAw nwil ]1] (1-7, jpu, mÚ 1)
O Nanak, it is written that you shall obey the Hukam of His Command, and walk in the Way of His Will. ||1|


How should we become 'Sachiara' is the basic question posed by Guru Sahibs and the answer is contained in the very next line.It is self explanatory and it was not so when I had taken up this. I am sharing as to how should we be truthful and lead the life as is ordained by Guru sahibs.

We should lead the life as per HIS hukum or will. What is the will of the Lord is not known to us , the mortals, who are engrossed in Maya and the illusion of the same. Bani do state that we are all poor creatures and are engaged in the activity as per That Divine will. The position of creature has been explained by the helplessness of the creature as he is not in a position to anything without His grace.

ikAw hm jIA jMq bycwry brin n swkh eyk romweI ] (822-11, iblwvlu, mÚ 5)
What am I? Just a poor living being. I cannot even describe one of Your hairs, O Lord.

Total submission is also expected of a seeker:

mY nwhI pRB sBu ikCu qyrw ] (827-16, iblwvlu, mÚ 5)
I am nothing, God; everything is Yours.

One finds many expressions of this nature where it has been stated that the mortals are poor creatures engaged in whatever is deemed best by the Almighty. We do not have any power to do anything of our own.The destiny governs our actions and we gather the Karmas that are to be repaid or settled in the lives to come till we are able to break this cycle of rebirths.

Expressing the above Guru sahibs have stated the following:

nwnk jo iqsu BwvY so QIAY ienw jMqw vis ikCu nwih ]8]4] (55-18, isrIrwgu, mÚ 1)
O Nanak, whatever pleases His Will comes to pass. Nothing is in the hands of these beings. ||8||4||


nwnk jMq vjwey vwjih ijqu BwvY iqqu rwih cleIAw ]8]2]5] (834-11, iblwvlu, mÚ 4)
O Nanak, we are the instruments upon which He plays; as He wills, so is the path we take. ||8||2||5||

ikAw vycwrw jMqu jw Awip BulwieAw ]8] (707-16, jYqsrI, mÚ 5)
What can the poor helpless creature do? The Lord Himself has deluded him. ||8||


In the wider context, how should we find out as to what is HIS will according to which we have to work and lead this life, the answer lies in some other lines of bani as well. The above line is reflective of the power of Almighty and the helplessness of the creatures, the mortals.

What is HIS will and Hukum? This is still illusory. One can become sachiara by accepting HIs will.
One has following line to ponder upon:


khY nwnku Awip krqw Awpy hukmu buJwey ]26] (920-14, rwmklI, mÚ 3)
Says Nanak, He Himself is the Creator; He Himself reveals the Hukam of His Command. ||26||


Till we are not able to understand the Will , we shall all be miserable:

jb lgu hukmu n bUJqw qb hI lau duKIAw ] (400-16, Awsw, mÚ 5)
As long as he does not understand the Command of God's Will, he remains miserable.


It is through Guru that we come to understand HIS will.


swcy gur qy hukmu pCwnu ]2] (414-8, Awsw, mÚ 1)
Through the True Guru, the Command of the Lord's Will is realized. ||2||

We all are blessed to have Guru Granth sahib ji to provide us with the understanding and guidance. I have summed up HIS will as per my understanding as follows.

suK duK sm kir nwmu n Cofau Awpy bKis imlwvxhwrw ]1] rhwau ] (416-3, Awsw, mÚ 1)
I look upon pleasure and pain alike; I shall not forsake the Naam, the Name of the Lord. The Lord Himself forgives me, and blends me with Himself. ||1||Pause||

And

burw Blw jy sm kir jwxY ien ibiD swihbu rmqu rhY ]8] (432-18, Awsw, mÚ 1)
One who recognizes bad and good as one and the same - in this way he is absorbed into the Lord and Master. ||8||

And

hrK sog duhu mwih inrwlw krxYhwru pCwqw ]2] (498-1, gUjrI, mÚ 5)
He remains unaffected by both fortune and misfortune, and he recognizes the Creator Lord. ||2||

There is clear cut meaning that one can assign to these lines. If one is not disturbed by the pain and is not overwhelmed by the pleasure one should have to be in the state where it can be said that one has been able to understand HIS will. It is one of the important qualifications for attaining the state of Equipoise. It is in this state that one reaches 'sahaj' as well. It is in this state that everything appears to be the desire and wish of the creator and everything seems to happen naturally. The divine will finds its meaning when we are able to appreciate that whatever is happening is as per His orders and we do not then have any anguish or pain or anxiety that are stated to be the part of lower consciousness.

I shall finish this by the following beautiful shabad.


soriT mhlw 9 ] (633-15)
Sorat'h, Ninth Mehl:
jo nru duK mY duKu nhI mwnY ] (633-15, soriT, mÚ 9)
That man, who in the midst of pain, does not feel pain,
suK snyhu Aru BY nhI jw kY kMcn mwtI mwnY ]1] rhwau ] (633-16, soriT, mÚ 9)
who is not affected by pleasure, affection or fear, and who looks alike upon gold and dust;||1||Pause||
nh inMidAw nh ausqiq jw kY loBu mohu AiBmwnw ] (633-16, soriT, mÚ 9)
Who is not swayed by either slander or praise, nor affected by greed, attachment or pride;
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/jap-ji-sahib/20096-jap-ji-sahib-paudi-1-a.html
hrK sog qy rhY inAwrau nwih mwn Apmwnw ]1] (633-17, soriT, mÚ 9)
who remains unaffected by joy and sorrow, honor and dishonor;||1||
Awsw mnsw sgl iqAwgY jg qy rhY inrwsw ] (633-17, soriT, mÚ 9)
who renounces all hopes and desires and remains desireless in the world;
kwmu k®oDu ijh prsY nwhin iqh Git bRhmu invwsw ]2] (633-18, soriT, mÚ 9)
who is not touched by sexual desire or anger - within his heart, God dwells.


As a concluding Line:


jo qum@ krhu soeI Blw min lyqw mukqw ] (809-10, iblwvlu, mÚ 5)
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=20096
One who accepts whatever You do as good - that mind is liberated.


Wjkk Wjkf