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ਮਨ ਕਰਹਲਾ ਗੁਰ ਗੋਵਿੰਦੁ ਸਮਾਲਿ ॥ man karehalaa gur govindh samaal O camel-like mind, dwell upon the Guru and the Lord of the Universe.

His Creation is a sacred thing. And in this shabad Guru Ram Das uses the cultivation of fields as a metaphor for Creation. Everyone is the field of the Lord God. He cares for His Creation. the Lord Himself cultivates this field. In imitation of Him we should cultivate forgiveness. The farmer cultivates his fields trusting that against the odds of drought and blight the field will bear fruit because of his sheer devotion. The GurSikh plants the seed of the Lord's Ambrosial Nectar, and obtains the Lord's Ambrosial Naam as his Ambrosial Fruit. Devotion cures all anxiety. One who worships and adores the Naam saves the world (this part of His creation) as well.

ਸਲੋਕ ਮਃ ੪ ॥
salok ma 4 ||
Shalok, Fourth Mehl:

ਹਰਿ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕਾ ਸਭੁ ਖੇਤੁ ਹੈ ਹਰਿ ਆਪਿ ਕਿਰਸਾਣੀ ਲਾਇਆ ॥
har prabh kaa sabh khaeth hai har aap kirasaanee laaeiaa ||
Everyone is the field of the Lord God; the Lord Himself cultivates this field.

ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਬਖਸਿ ਜਮਾਈਅਨੁ ਮਨਮੁਖੀ ਮੂਲੁ ਗਵਾਇਆ ॥
guramukh bakhas jamaaeean manamukhee mool gavaaeiaa ||
The Gurmukh grows the crop of forgiveness, while the self-willed manmukh loses even his roots.

ਸਭੁ ਕੋ ਬੀਜੇ ਆਪਣੇ ਭਲੇ ਨੋ ਹਰਿ ਭਾਵੈ ਸੋ ਖੇਤੁ ਜਮਾਇਆ ॥
sabh ko beejae aapanae bhalae no har bhaavai so khaeth jamaaeiaa ||
They all plant for their own good, but the Lord causes to grow only that field with which He is pleased.

ਗੁਰਸਿਖੀ ਹਰਿ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤੁ ਬੀਜਿਆ ਹਰਿ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਨਾਮੁ ਫਲੁ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤੁ ਪਾਇਆ ॥
gurasikhee har anmrith beejiaa har anmrith naam fal anmrith paaeiaa ||
The GurSikh plants the seed of the Lord's Ambrosial Nectar, and obtains the Lord's Ambrosial Naam as his Ambrosial Fruit.

ਜਮੁ ਚੂਹਾ ਕਿਰਸ ਨਿਤ ਕੁਰਕਦਾ ਹਰਿ ਕਰਤੈ ਮਾਰਿ ਕਢਾਇਆ ॥
jam choohaa kiras nith kurakadhaa har karathai maar kadtaaeiaa ||
The mouse of Death is continually gnawing away at the crop, but the Creator Lord has beaten it off and driven it away.

ਕਿਰਸਾਣੀ ਜੰਮੀ ਭਾਉ ਕਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਬੋਹਲ ਬਖਸ ਜਮਾਇਆ ॥
kirasaanee janmee bhaao kar har bohal bakhas jamaaeiaa ||
The farm was successful, by the Love of the Lord, and the crop was produced by God's Grace.


ਤਿਨ ਕਾ ਕਾੜਾ ਅੰਦੇਸਾ ਸਭੁ ਲਾਹਿਓਨੁ ਜਿਨੀ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਪੁਰਖੁ ਧਿਆਇਆ ॥
thin kaa kaarraa andhaesaa sabh laahioun jinee sathigur purakh dhhiaaeiaa ||
He has removed all the burning and anxiety of those, who have meditated on the True Guru, the Primal Being.

ਜਨ ਨਾਨਕ ਨਾਮੁ ਅਰਾਧਿਆ ਆਪਿ ਤਰਿਆ ਸਭੁ ਜਗਤੁ ਤਰਾਇਆ ॥੧॥
jan naanak naam araadhhiaa aap thariaa sabh jagath tharaaeiaa ||1||
O servant Nanak, one who worships and adores the Naam, the Name of the Lord, swims across, and saves the whole world as well. ||1||

Guru Ram Das
Ang 304

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ਮਨ ਕਰਹਲਾ ਗੁਰ ਗੋਵਿੰਦੁ ਸਮਾਲਿ ॥ man karehalaa gur govindh samaal O camel-like mind, dwell upon the Guru and the Lord of the Universe.

Guru Naank asks: What was God's purpose in creating us? Where did we come from? How were we made? Where are we going? What is our destiny? We have lived so many lifetimes and taken on so many forms. We recount our sins, pray for His mercy.

Life is like an endless video-tape of past deeds and today's reflections. We cannot escape from this screenplay. It has so many scenes. Nor do we want to. There is always an end and always a new beginning. His creation is endless.


ਗਉੜੀ ਚੇਤੀ ਮਹਲਾ ੧ ॥
gourree chaethee mehalaa 1 ||
Gauree Chaytee, First Mehl:



ਕਤ ਕੀ ਮਾਈ ਬਾਪੁ ਕਤ ਕੇਰਾ ਕਿਦੂ ਥਾਵਹੁ ਹਮ ਆਏ ॥
kath kee maaee baap kath kaeraa kidhoo thhaavahu ham aaeae ||
Who is our mother, and who is our father? Where did we come from?


ਅਗਨਿ ਬਿੰਬ ਜਲ ਭੀਤਰਿ ਨਿਪਜੇ ਕਾਹੇ ਕੰਮਿ ਉਪਾਏ ॥੧॥
agan binb jal bheethar nipajae kaahae kanm oupaaeae ||1||
We are formed from the fire of the womb within, and the bubble of water of the sperm. For what purpose are we created? ||1||


ਮੇਰੇ ਸਾਹਿਬਾ ਕਉਣੁ ਜਾਣੈ ਗੁਣ ਤੇਰੇ ॥
maerae saahibaa koun jaanai gun thaerae ||
O my Master, who can know Your Glorious Virtues?


ਕਹੇ ਨ ਜਾਨੀ ਅਉਗਣ ਮੇਰੇ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
kehae n jaanee aougan maerae ||1|| rehaao ||
My own demerits cannot be counted. ||1||Pause||


ਕੇਤੇ ਰੁਖ ਬਿਰਖ ਹਮ ਚੀਨੇ ਕੇਤੇ ਪਸੂ ਉਪਾਏ ॥
kaethae rukh birakh ham cheenae kaethae pasoo oupaaeae ||
I took the form of so many plants and trees, and so many animals.


ਕੇਤੇ ਨਾਗ ਕੁਲੀ ਮਹਿ ਆਏ ਕੇਤੇ ਪੰਖ ਉਡਾਏ ॥੨॥
kaethae naag kulee mehi aaeae kaethae pankh ouddaaeae ||2||
Many times I entered the families of snakes and flying birds. ||2||



ਹਟ ਪਟਣ ਬਿਜ ਮੰਦਰ ਭੰਨੈ ਕਰਿ ਚੋਰੀ ਘਰਿ ਆਵੈ ॥
hatt pattan bij mandhar bhannai kar choree ghar aavai ||
I broke into the shops of the city and well-guarded palaces; stealing from them, I snuck home again.

ਅਗਹੁ ਦੇਖੈ ਪਿਛਹੁ ਦੇਖੈ ਤੁਝ ਤੇ ਕਹਾ ਛਪਾਵੈ ॥੩॥
agahu dhaekhai pishhahu dhaekhai thujh thae kehaa shhapaavai ||3||
I looked in front of me, and I looked behind me, but where could I hide from You? ||3||


ਤਟ ਤੀਰਥ ਹਮ ਨਵ ਖੰਡ ਦੇਖੇ ਹਟ ਪਟਣ ਬਾਜਾਰਾ ॥
thatt theerathh ham nav khandd dhaekhae hatt pattan baajaaraa ||
I saw the banks of sacred rivers, the nine continents, the shops and bazaars of the cities.


ਲੈ ਕੈ ਤਕੜੀ ਤੋਲਣਿ ਲਾਗਾ ਘਟ ਹੀ ਮਹਿ ਵਣਜਾਰਾ ॥੪॥
lai kai thakarree tholan laagaa ghatt hee mehi vanajaaraa ||4||
Taking the scale, the merchant begins to weigh his actions within his own heart. ||4||



ਜੇਤਾ ਸਮੁੰਦੁ ਸਾਗਰੁ ਨੀਰਿ ਭਰਿਆ ਤੇਤੇ ਅਉਗਣ ਹਮਾਰੇ ॥
jaethaa samundh saagar neer bhariaa thaethae aougan hamaarae ||
As the seas and the oceans are overflowing with water, so vast are my own sins.



ਦਇਆ ਕਰਹੁ ਕਿਛੁ ਮਿਹਰ ਉਪਾਵਹੁ ਡੁਬਦੇ ਪਥਰ ਤਾਰੇ ॥੫॥
dhaeiaa karahu kishh mihar oupaavahu ddubadhae pathhar thaarae ||5||
Please, shower me with Your Mercy, and take pity upon me. I am a sinking stone - please carry me across! ||5||


ਜੀਅੜਾ ਅਗਨਿ ਬਰਾਬਰਿ ਤਪੈ ਭੀਤਰਿ ਵਗੈ ਕਾਤੀ ॥
jeearraa agan baraabar thapai bheethar vagai kaathee ||
My soul is burning like fire, and the knife is cutting deep.


ਪ੍ਰਣਵਤਿ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਪਛਾਣੈ ਸੁਖੁ ਹੋਵੈ ਦਿਨੁ ਰਾਤੀ ॥੬॥੫॥੧੭॥
pranavath naanak hukam pashhaanai sukh hovai dhin raathee ||6||5||17||
Prays Nanak, recognizing the Lord's Command, I am at peace, day and night. ||6||5||17||

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ਮਨ ਕਰਹਲਾ ਗੁਰ ਗੋਵਿੰਦੁ ਸਮਾਲਿ ॥ man karehalaa gur govindh samaal O camel-like mind, dwell upon the Guru and the Lord of the Universe.

Before He created us, He created nourishment so that we would not go hungry. He knew that we would hunger for spiritual things. His Gift as the Giver: He created His creation -- that we might know Him and find salvation from the cycle of life and death in this knowledge.Practicing the mantra of the Holy, They themselves swim across, and they save all their ancestors and families as well. In the Court of the Lord, they meet with no obstruction

ਪਹਿਲੋ ਦੇ ਤੈਂ ਰਿਜਕੁ ਸਮਾਹਾ ॥
pehilo dhae thain rijak samaahaa ||
First, You created nourishment;


ਪਿਛੋ ਦੇ ਤੈਂ ਜੰਤੁ ਉਪਾਹਾ ॥
pishho dhae thain janth oupaahaa ||
then, You created the living beings.


ਤੁਧੁ ਜੇਵਡੁ ਦਾਤਾ ਅਵਰੁ ਨ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਲਵੈ ਨ ਕੋਈ ਲਾਵਣਿਆ ॥੬॥
thudhh jaevadd dhaathaa avar n suaamee lavai n koee laavaniaa ||6||
There is no other Giver as Great as You, O my Lord and Master. None approach or equal You. ||6||


ਜਿਸੁ ਤੂੰ ਤੁਠਾ ਸੋ ਤੁਧੁ ਧਿਆਏ ॥
jis thoon thuthaa so thudhh dhhiaaeae ||
Those who are pleasing to You meditate on You.

ਸਾਧ ਜਨਾ ਕਾ ਮੰਤ੍ਰੁ ਕਮਾਏ ॥
saadhh janaa kaa manthra kamaaeae ||
They practice the Mantra of the Holy.


ਆਪਿ ਤਰੈ ਸਗਲੇ ਕੁਲ ਤਾਰੇ ਤਿਸੁ ਦਰਗਹ ਠਾਕ ਨ ਪਾਵਣਿਆ ॥੭॥
aap tharai sagalae kul thaarae this dharageh thaak n paavaniaa ||7||
They themselves swim across, and they save all their ancestors and families as well. In the Court of the Lord, they meet with no obstruction. ||7||

Ang 130
Guru Arjan Dev

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ਮਨ ਕਰਹਲਾ ਗੁਰ ਗੋਵਿੰਦੁ ਸਮਾਲਿ ॥ man karehalaa gur govindh samaal O camel-like mind, dwell upon the Guru and the Lord of the Universe.

One's inner quest is over after one has seen, read and bisected the current literature to arrive at the Locus standi of the self in relation to the relationship with others and as to with the Supreme.The bisection stops if one arrives at a definitive answer. Unless it is clear, mind is always in delusion.

We are all seekers at different levels. Having no resource available with me I have to take refuge in the thread, that you have carefully nurtured, by putting across the plain question that is the title of the thread i.e Why did he Create us.?

Is there any pointed reply given in Granth sahib.?

Yes, one come across the answer in the format that HE created this creation for devotional worship.If you come across any other answer to this ,besides the one stated above, please do post and I shall be grateful.
It shall help a lot.

Regards.

I was going thru. the following when I stopped and posted above. Just sharing with...
[It is said that once Sage Narad and a common householder entered the court of Lord Krishan almost at the same time. Lord Krishan chose to see the householder first. Now Sage Narad considered himself to be the foremost devotee of the Lord. So being passed up in favor of a common householder really hurt him. So much so that when he had an audience with the Lord, he complained about this incident. The Lord decided to teach the Sage a lesson. He handed him a pot full of 'ghee' and asked him to put it on his head and to go around the world without spilling a drop of it. This, the Sage was able to accomplish without any problem. So when he came back to the Lord after going around the world, the Lord commended him on his feat and asked him as to how many times did he chant His name during the trip. The Sage said that the Lord must be really joking for he was so busy balancing the pot of ghee that he could not afford to be distracted even for a single instant. Lord Krishan told him that the house holder had to juggle a thousand responsibilities that go with being a father, a husband, a son, a brother, a breadwinner and still found time to chant His name. Sage Narad on the other hand, had only the task of balancing a pot of ghee, and could not find time to chant His name. Therefore the householder was leading a more spiritual life than the Sage. The Sage felt humbled and recognized the greatness of a householder. Householders are the backbone of the human race. They are the ones who grow the food we eat, design and manufacture consumer goods and appliances needed to make life livable, and provide health care to get us back on our feet when we get sick. They are the ones who contribute most to the material development of society since they have a vested interest in seeing that their children inherit a better world than the one in which they were raised. In short a householder is the most important element of the human race and spiritual householders are the beings most loved by God.]

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~~~**Jap mun Satnaam sda Satnaam...sda satnaam sda satnaam.....~~~

Sikh80 ji

Are you asking me to answer the question given my limited efforts and understanding -- Why did he create His creation? I think I am beginning to understand -- only because of working on this thread every day or so. The answer is coming in small bits.

But it is also very good to h ear that you find refuge here. The thread was in my mind intended for us to puzzle over Gurbani in a calm place where the Shabads could be studied.

Good then.

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ਮਨ ਕਰਹਲਾ ਗੁਰ ਗੋਵਿੰਦੁ ਸਮਾਲਿ ॥ man karehalaa gur govindh samaal O camel-like mind, dwell upon the Guru and the Lord of the Universe.

Respected aad ji,

Thanks for your reply. I am sorry that due to connectivity problem I could not see it. I think you must be studying 'shabad' with due care as is your usual habit.

Kindly let the question be answered by Gurbani. There would be many places in Gurbani when you will come across as to why the creation was created. If you hit upon something new during your study kindly let it be known, may be, by addressing that post to me.
I have no intention of breaking the rhythm/momentum right now.

You may kindly continue. I feel guilty of interruption.

Regards.

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~~~**Jap mun Satnaam sda Satnaam...sda satnaam sda satnaam.....~~~

Sikh90 ji

A thoughtful response from you which is your usual habit. Do not worry about the momentum -- all your comments are pertinent and there have to be forum members who are interested in what you have to say. As I am also interested in what you say.

I need time to go back through all the Gurbani that various individuals have posted here and gather together the themes that keep coming up over and over again.

My quick answer is this -- He created His Creation -- as the Creator, Nourisher, Supporter and Destroyer. He looks over His Creation with great pleasure, like an artist who is glad to complete a painting or like a farmer who has faith that his crops will grow given nourishment and care. His Creation pleases Him.

But to Humans He gave more because He had another reason. All of creation is caught in the cycle of coming and going. To humans He gave this Great Gift. The gift was the opportunity to overcome the cycle of life and death, to choose Destiny over Reincarnation. Only humans have the capacity to be aware that there is this choice. He Created us so that we could make this choice and be one with Him.

My thinking, but it is very limited. A better attempt would be to go back as I said and do a careful job. In the end, the answer may be -- I don't know -- Because He Alone Knows His Reasons.

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ਮਨ ਕਰਹਲਾ ਗੁਰ ਗੋਵਿੰਦੁ ਸਮਾਲਿ ॥ man karehalaa gur govindh samaal O camel-like mind, dwell upon the Guru and the Lord of the Universe.

You have summed up the subject very nicely. I do agree with you in entirety. There can not be any other answer. This life is a precious gift from Him and we should make the best use of for going back from where we originated. i.e., that is our eternal home.

This is the best job to pursue as well. This is as per Gurmat as well. I have not many questions left now.

Bon Voy..

Thanks and regards.

P.s .
[You may kindly post and maintain the sequence.]

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~~~**Jap mun Satnaam sda Satnaam...sda satnaam sda satnaam.....~~~

Bhai Manpreet Singh - Sansar Samundey Taar Gobindey
Bhai Nand Singh Ji (Delhi) - Nanak Dhukiya Sab Sansar

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