Gurbani Reduced to Magic Mantras

I don't think I can link to commercial websites, so I'll just post a snippet of what's bothering me just now:

The mantra Satigur Kar Deenai, written by Guru Arjan, the 5th Guru of the Sikhs, is an invocation of Love into the home. The presence of high, angelic energy is called upon specifically to protect our homes. It is spoken as an affirmative prayer, as if we know this protection has already come to pass, which makes it especially potent. The force of the Universe rushes in to support you. I'm not saying that you leave this mantra playing in the home and then don't lock your doors. By all means, lock your doors and set an alarm if you choose to. What it means is that protection comes from the Universe, whatever tool it chooses to use to protect your home. This mantra summons a powerful, loving force and reminds you that it is the presence of that Love which places you at ease, whether what we are protecting is your home or your heart.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/hard-talk/36860-gurbani-reduced-to-magic-mantras.html
Mantra for Protecting Your Home: Satigur Kar Deenai

Satigur kar deenai asthir ghar baar
Jo jo nind karai in grihan kee
Tis aagai hee maarai kartaar
Satigur kar deenai asthir ghar baar
Nanak daas taa kee saranaa-ee
Jaa ko shabad akhand apaar

Translation:
The Guru has protected our homes
He who slanders these homes
Is predestined, by the Creator-Lord, to be defeated
The Guru has protected our homes
Nanak seeks but the refuge of that Lord
Whose word is Infinite and Eternal

How to use this mantra:
Recite, chant or listen to this mantra until you feel a sense of peace.

I'm feeling frustrated, kinda angry, and like a massive disrespect is being shown to Gurbani by this. I feel strongly that this sort of publication and encouragement of these practices is anti-Gurmat and paints and very poor picture of Sikhi to the West (target audience).

Look what other magic mantras you can get, whoopee-doo!

• Mantra for Surgery: Triple Mantra, Ra Ma Da Sa and Guru Ram Das
• Mantra for Respect: Pavan guru paani pitaa (Salok of Japji)
• Mantra for Destiny: Jat Paahaaraa (The 38th Pauri of Japji)
• Mantra for Completing Your Karma: Ik Du Jibhau (The 32nd Pauri of Japji)
• Mantra for Moving Forward: So Dar Kehaa (The 27th Pauri of Japji)
• Mantra for Business Success: Amul Gun (The 26th Pauri of Japji)
• Mantra for Elevation: Saalaahi Saalaah (The 23rd Pauri of Japji)
• Mantra for Legal Victory: Paataalaa Paataal (The 22nd Pauri of Japji)

Etc etc etc.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=36860

What the heck do these people think their doing?!

So many Sikhs DIED for Gurbani... and they're selling it like potions in bottles or something.

If this post is inappropriate, admin jis can please delete.

 
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Gross.

Ishna ji

I believe that more needs to be done to make the public aware of these distortions that negate the message of Guru Nanak. And there needs to be more discussion. If these bits of nonsense are not posted somewhere then what is there to negate the corrupted influence found on other sites?

Bhenji,

A few months ago, I would have shared your outrage, however, I think it is important to have an open mind about the subject.

Personally, I agree with the general direction of your opinion, and also SPNadminji, and Gyaniji, but, lets be honest here, most sikhs born into sikhism are a superstitious lot, in fact our very own SPGC firmly believe that you can take a drinking, mona, everyday punjabi type and turn them into a Gursikh, with the heart of a khalsa in 7 days, so we are corrupt from the top down. From conversations with family and friends, I now keep my opinions very much to myself, I will quite happily sit in on a discussion on why Raju should marry within caste, whether it should be 3 different bottles of booze on each table, or the same, I will nod at all the gossip, smile patiently while rituals are discussed and implemented, all knowing in my heart that this is not sikhism.

So that is the world we live in, now the question is, how do we feed these superstitions, do we turn them even more towards hinduism?, do we slowly try and bring them back to Gurbani? What do you say to someone that sees the daily Hukamnana as a sort of horiscope?

I suppose the one good thing about sites like this is that they will encourage the dwelling on Gurbani, but for the wrong reasons, its the same argument for people that take inspiration from Babas, but only they know where it will lead them, I suppose even if one such person breaks free from the Hindu style of sikhism, then such a webpage is worth it, no?
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=36860
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=36860

I would like to add that my own personal opinion in my heart says that this is wrong, however, the above is an opinion, but not necessarily my own!!

I am curious how it is possible to adhere to the teachings of Guru Nanak and subscribe to superstition at the same time?
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=36860
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=36860

No problem on my end if people of any faith or ethos subscribe to superstition. It is not for me to judge. But .... shabad and superstition are mutually contradictory, unless one is thinking of cultural Sikhs. Then perhaps there is no contradiction.

it isnt!

my point is maybe by whatever means get the bani down their throats and then hopefully they will veer away from superstition to sikhi, and possibly end up denouncing the very method that brought them to it.

harry ji

I am trying to think, actually pondering the issue, of how that would work. To push bani down someone's throat in the hopes something might be digested. Is that not what has already happened in households around the world where path is recited mechanicaly, but without any discussion of how the prayers fit into one's life. And all the rejection by children that follows has been pasted all over SPN? I will keep pondering. But it does seem to me that effort is involved. One has to "want" badly and Waheguru has to make the call.

I would like to point out spnadminji, that my argument is flawed, even to me!

however, to clarify, if people want superstition so badly, they obviously need something down their throats, just a thought,

I totally agree with Ishna ji's outrage. Sadly, Sikhi has become Snake oil for many and one can point fingers at all directions including at ourselves. But the main culprits in all this are the honchos of Akal Takhats and SGPC towards whom the Sikhs look for the Gurmat directions of do’s and don’ts.

Let’s talk about Harmander Sahib first. There is an old tree in Parikarama called "Bheri Sahib”. There is a big banner installed by "the guides" of Sikhi which goes across the Parikarama which states in bold letters that if one takes a dip in the sarovar there, a leper can be cured, crows can become swans, (because the black colour is not a good thing and people with darker hue are shunned).

The honchos fail to realize that all hues are parts of the Wow! and Awe! factors that surround us. There is also an enclosed place for the ladies to take a dip in the sarovar.

Taking a dip is not a Sikhi concept but it has become the utmost ritual, a must, when one visits Harmander Sahib.

Now, let’s go inside and behind the back door of the Harmandar Sahib, there is a place where one takes water from the sarovar by cupping the hands and drinks it and fills up bottles to take home. Some of the bottles are washed liquor bottles and they take them to their respective dwellings, sip it and/or give it to the sick person at home while waiting for the miracle to take place.

Bangla Sahib, in New Delhi has a row of people standing with jugs waiting for us to take their offer for a sip or two and put some on the top of the heads which are covered with chunnis/turbans.

There is also a small gutka called Dukhbhanjni "Sahib" which is shamelessly peddled and sadly, many Sikhs including the Amritdharis also parrot it daily with their Nitnem.

The “ Tankah” issued by the Jathedaars of the Takhats is to recite so many times Jap or other paaths as a “punishment” which defeats the purpose, rather than asking them to understand and practice Gurbani. It is not their fault because they are not educated enough to know for themselves.

Yes, we have an Indian culture full of superstitions and the Sikhi minority is surrounded by the majority who believes in and practices these mechanical rituals hoping for some miracle to occur.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=36860

But, when any one of us tries to dwell in any of the superstitions, let’s give a couple of seconds to remind ourselves that Baal Nanak refused to wear the Janieo at the age of 8 which shows how he rejected all kinds of superstitions. There are many Sakhis that demonstrate that.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=36860

We can only shed superstitions when we stop becoming parrots of Gurbani reciters and morph ourselves into true students- Sikhs- by understanding and practicing Gurbani in our own lives, so that the goodness that is bred with that is shared with others like the flower that emits its scent in all directions sans bias.


Tejwant Singh