Reading and studying, one becomes confused, and suffers punishment.

SSA everyone

While reading the daily hukamnama, I came over a sentence that I didn't fully grasp;

Reading and studying, one becomes confused, and suffers punishment.

Can someone explain what this implies?
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DHANAASAREE, FIRST MEHL:

That union with the Lord is acceptable, which is united in intuitive poise. Thereafter, one does not die, and does not come and go in reincarnation. The Lord’s slave is in the Lord, and the Lord is in His slave. Wherever I look, I see none other than the Lord. || 1 || The Gurmukhs worship the Lord, and find His celestial home. Without meeting the Guru, they die, and come and go in reincarnation. || 1 || Pause || So make Him your Guru, who implants the Truth within you, who leads you to speak the Unspoken Speech, and who merges you in the Word of the Shabad. God’s people have no other work to do; they love the True Lord and Master, and they love the Truth. || 2 || The mind is in the body, and the True Lord is in the mind. Merging into the True Lord, one is absorbed into Truth. God’s servant bows at His feet. Meeting the True Guru, one meets with the Lord. || 3 || He Himself watches over us, and He Himself makes us see. He is not pleased by stubborn-mindedness, nor by various religious robes. He fashioned the body-vessels, and infused the Ambrosial Nectar into them; God’s Mind is pleased only by loving devotional worship. || 4 || Reading and studying, one becomes confused, and suffers punishment. By great cleverness, one is consigned to coming and going in reincarnation. One who chants the Naam, the Name of the Lord, and eats the food of the Fear of God becomes Gurmukh, the Lord’s servant, and remains absorbed in the Lord. || 5 || He worships stones, dwells at sacred shrines of pilgrimage and in the jungles, wanders, roams around and becomes a renunciate. But his mind is still filthy — how can he become pure? One who meets the True Lord obtains honor. || 6 || One who embodies good conduct and contemplative meditation, his mind abides in intuitive poise and contentment, since the beginning of time, and throughout the ages. In the twinkling of an eye, he saves millions. Have mercy on me, O my Beloved, and let me meet the Guru. || 7 || Unto whom, O God, should I praise You? Without You, there is no other at all. As it pleases You, keep me under Your Will. Nanak, with intuitive poise and natural love, sings Your Glorious Praises. || 8 || 2 ||
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/gurmat-vichaar/33789-reading-studying-one-becomes-confused-suffers.html
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=33789


Friday, 16th Poh (Samvat 542 Nanakshahi) (Page: 686)



SOURCE: http://sgpc.net/hukumnama/index.asp
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Thanks in advance [/COLOR]

 
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Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn't learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn't learn a little, at least we didn't get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn't die; so, let us all be thankful.

Charan ji,
Here is my understanding on reading through the shabad on page 686. I'm going to put into context of the shabad as it makes more sense that way. I hope others more learned than myself will advise also....

The rahao line talks about how those that follow the Guru's path and become committed to Waheguru, stop their soul from dying. The rest of the shabad are some tips on achieving that. Firstly we have to be careful about which Guru we choose. Only the Guru that talks about the truth and connects you with the shabad so in our case this would be only Guru Granth Sahib Ji. The person who connects and immerses mind and body into contemplating Waheguru has nothing but love for the creation. I think the next bit means that when you are connected to Waheguru your mind remains in the body meaning that your body is controlled by naam rather than anger, lust etc. So when Waheguru remains in the mind then you become absorbed in devotion by living according to Gurbani. The shabad then states that Waheguru knows each in his creation and if you think outward show alone will please then there is not point so this is condemning the saffron robes and sadhu's attire etc of the time. Now here's the line you are interested in-those who become completely absorbed in knowledge and start worship that rather than using it as a means to further spirituality suffer from a sick soul as they stray off the path. The next line goes on to condemn blind worship such as worshipping stones. The right path is somewhere in the middle-a quiet mind which is contemplative of the wonder of creation. Who can you be praised to when you are in each person and everywhere!
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=33789

Hope that helps. Thank you so much for sharing a lovely shabad.
Jasleen.

Thank you so much, Jasleen ji!! It makes sense. Your contribution is highly appreciated.

I hope you don't mind me asking another question that has been on my mind lately. In the shabad 'Kahia Karna, Ditta Laina', which I understand as 'What You say, I will do. What You give, I will take', there is a line that goes 'Na ko murakh, na ko siana." Could this be an indication to the balance, that somewhere-in-the-middle, that you are referring to above? As in, we should neither be murakhs (we shouldn't be involved with the Five Evils) nor should we be siane (act as besserwissers, think we have more knowledge than others and maybe God himself?) ... Just let me know if you don't understand what I am asking about, and I'll try again

Charan ji,
Questions are wonderful! I ask too many myself
The lines you quote I think are these from page 98?
ਮਾਝ ਮਹਲਾ ੫ ॥ maajh mehalaa 5 ||

ਕਹਿਆ ਕਰਣਾ ਦਿਤਾ ਲੈਣਾ ॥ kehiaa karanaa dhithaa lainaa ||
ਗਰੀਬਾ ਅਨਾਥਾ ਤੇਰਾ ਮਾਣਾ ॥ gareebaa anaathhaa thaeraa maanaa ||
ਸਭ ਕਿਛੁ ਤੂੰਹੈ ਤੂੰਹੈ ਮੇਰੇ ਪਿਆਰੇ ਤੇਰੀ ਕੁਦਰਤਿ ਕਉ ਬਲਿ ਜਾਈ ਜੀਉ ॥੧॥
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=33789
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=33789
sabh kishh thoonhai thoonhai maerae piaarae thaeree kudharath ko bal jaaee jeeo ||1||
ਭਾਣੈ ਉਝੜ ਭਾਣੈ ਰਾਹਾ ॥ bhaanai oujharr bhaanai raahaa ||
ਭਾਣੈ ਹਰਿ ਗੁਣ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਗਾਵਾਹਾ ॥ bhaanai har gun guramukh gaavaahaa ||
ਭਾਣੈ ਭਰਮਿ ਭਵੈ ਬਹੁ ਜੂਨੀ ਸਭ ਕਿਛੁ ਤਿਸੈ ਰਜਾਈ ਜੀਉ ॥੨॥
bhaanai bharam bhavai bahu joonee sabh kishh thisai rajaaee jeeo ||2||
ਨਾ ਕੋ ਮੂਰਖੁ ਨਾ ਕੋ ਸਿਆਣਾ ॥ naa ko moorakh naa ko siaanaa ||
ਵਰਤੈ ਸਭ ਕਿਛੁ ਤੇਰਾ ਭਾਣਾ ॥ varathai sabh kishh thaeraa bhaanaa ||
ਅਗਮ ਅਗੋਚਰ ਬੇਅੰਤ ਅਥਾਹਾ ਤੇਰੀ ਕੀਮਤਿ ਕਹਣੁ ਨ ਜਾਈ ਜੀਉ ॥੩॥
agam agochar baeanth athhaahaa thaeree keemath kehan n jaaee jeeo ||3||
ਖਾਕੁ ਸੰਤਨ ਕੀ ਦੇਹੁ ਪਿਆਰੇ ॥ khaak santhan kee dhaehu piaarae ||
ਆਇ ਪਇਆ ਹਰਿ ਤੇਰੈ ਦੁਆਰੈ ॥ aae paeiaa har thaerai dhuaarai ||
ਦਰਸਨੁ ਪੇਖਤ ਮਨੁ ਆਘਾਵੈ ਨਾਨਕ ਮਿਲਣੁ ਸੁਭਾਈ ਜੀਉ ॥੪॥੭॥੧੪॥ dharasan paekhath man aaghaavai naanak milan subhaaee jeeo ||4||7||14||

This is all about how everything is in Akal Purakh's will, good and bad is all His/Her will. All are looked after by the creator. I think the line you refer to is saying no-one is stupid as they are created by the same being but no-one is clever either as in comparison to infinity itself how can anyone be clever!

I would appreciate Gyani Jarnail Singh ji's interpretation on both shabad's too as his understanding is greater than mine!

Findingway ji,
All I can add is that it goes back to seeing the world with the veil of duality. Seeing ignorant and intelligent, seeing friend and stranger, seeing good and evil. Well, actually the problem isn't seeing it but buying into it.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=33789

"na ko murakh, na ko siana..."
similarly, Guru Arjan Dev ji says in a different passage , "na ko bairi nahi begana"
Guru Nanak Dev ji says "hum nahi change bura nahi koye"

It's easy to switch on the rational mind, and think about how true it is. We can make some line of reasoning in our heads and feel good about ourselves, that we now know that no one is good and bad. But later on, we still go on thinking in those terms. "he shoulnd't have done that he is so..."
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=33789
I think that according to Gurbani, it should come to us intuitively, without thought. We JUST KNOW and FEEL INSIDE that no one is this or that, and that "sabh kich Thoon hain". Its one thing to believe, which is through thought... it's another to just be aware...

It's like what Tejwant Singh ji usually says. It all about seeing ONENESS.

Jasleen ji and Bhagat Singh ji, thank you so much for helping me understand this better. I am very grateful and it means a lot to me that there is a place where I can get answers to questions like these. Had it not been that I constantly learn new things and sort out misunderstandings about Sikhism through, for example you guys and SPN, I might have let go of Sikhi... like many abroad-born teenagers tend to do. But I am glad I didn't. I am still learning and in no way a perfect Sikh. Most likely I will never be a perfect Sikh. But this process of learning will always keep me attached to Sikhi and that's more than enough.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=33789

And yes Bhagat Singh ji, it is indeed very important to practice what we preach/think we understand... but unfortunenately it is equally difficult. What can we do to become less judgemental? Can we ever become fully non-judgemental? Sometimes I feel human-nature is in the way...

It also happens quite often that when we learn and study too much..we becoem conceited with our "knowledge"...this is called Siannappan....chalakiaan..chatrayeean ( an example of chalakii and chatrayee is matha teking or even more insidious..."donating" a tiny sum Rs 1.25, having a RECEIPT cut, and having the Name announced in Ardass so that everyone "knows" what a great donor we are...and then asking the Gyani to ask Guru Ji for UNTOLD RICHES..lotteries..sons..buisnesses....good health...etc etc...evr wondered exactly how expensive good helath relaly is..?? ask the Cardiologist..kidney transplant specialist..liver transplant costs ??? all we have FREE from God !!..but still we play chalakian chatriyaan with HIM !!
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=33789
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=33789
The "punishment" of such...is SEPARATION FROM HIM...we just cannot achieve UNION...so we suffer....and the GURU doesnt wnat that....hence this shabad....a lesson for us...

Charan ji,
Who knows who is a perfect Sikh! All we can do is work on ourselves. You posting questions and sharing your understanding helps all of us a great deal too! The threads for gurbani vichaar are the ones that make me happiest
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=33789

Bhagat Singh ji talks about the veil of duality very well and I still have a long way to go in eradicating it but here are some things that helped me reduce my prejudices; when I was at university for my 1st degree, I became very active in the international office. We had 2 roles - help international students settle in and promote integration between international and home students to avoid cliques forming. That experience really broadened my horizons and exposed me to a lot of different people helping to break down stereotypes. I still have friends in all areas of the world and have visited some in their original countries which is amazing. Its wonderful to be able to share cultures-to learn and teach at the sametime without trying to convert on either side
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=33789
Jasleen

Thank you for contributing ji May I ask another question? Is siana both a negative and a positive word? Until now I thought it was only a positive word, as we always refer to our elders as siane bande...