Understanding Japji Sahib Pauri 1 to 7

simpy · #1 (**permalink**) 15-Mar-2007, 02:20 AM

] jpu ]
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/jap-ji-sahib/15128-understanding-japji-sahib-pauri-1-7-a.html
Recite/Chant (Meditate)

The heading of the following Bani.

The word Jap refers to Simran.

This is the title of the Bani(Japuji). This includes one shaloke in the beginning, one in the end and 38 Pauries.
The message of the “JapuJi Sahib” is abiding in nature and universal in application. It is a description of the nature of Universal Reality and prescribes the way to comprehend it. Here Guru Ji reaffirms the Supremacy of the Almighty over and over again.

Awid scu jugwid scu ]
He was True In The Primal Beginning. He was True Throughout The Ages. Such here refers to the Changeless/Immortal. False is Mortal, that deforms. God is the only Reality that does not change.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=15128

scu –siq, nwS rihq, sdw iek rs[

hY BI scu nwnk hosI BI scu ]1]

He is True Here And Now. O Nanak, Forever And Ever He is True. So He is the only Truth. He is Changeless.

Pauri 1

socY soic n hoveI jy socI lK vwr ]
By Cleansing our bodies, the mental filth cannot be cleaned, even by cleansing hundreds of thousands of times.

Outer Bathing cannot clean the inner koor.

cupY cup n hoveI jy lwie rhw ilv qwr ]
By remaining silent, inner silence is not obtained, even by remaining lovingly absorbed deep within.

Moan Vart(observing Silence) cannot reduce the inner koor as outer silence does not stop the inner Chatter(non stop chatter-box/mind).

BuiKAw BuK n auqrI jy bMnw purIAw Bwr ]

The hunger of the hungry is not appeased, even after piling up loads of worldly goods.

Vart cannot reduce the inner hunger for MAYA. If Surti stays in accumulating worldly wealth, keeping yourself hungry for days or weeks, does not help at all.

shs isAwxpw lK hoih q iek n clY nwil ]
Hundreds of thousands of clever tricks, but not even one of them will go along with you in the end.

Worldly intellect and Ridhi/Sidhi do not help. As these can help one to acquire worldly comforts only. No Spiritual progress.

ikv sicAwrw hoeIAY ikv kUVY qutY pwil ]

Now Guru Ji is asking if all these efforts(then known aspects of Bhagti) do not help in Spiritual Progress then what: So how can you become truthful? And how can the veil of illusion be torn away?

hukim rjweI clxw nwnk iliKAw nwil ]

Then Answering the above Question, Guru Ji says: O Nanak, it is written (that this is the truth) that you shall obey the Hukam of His Command, and walk in the Way of His Will. (Living by considering- His Will as your will, not- your will as His Will).

Ø Outer purifications, silence observations, fasting, and mental tricks(sidhies) cannot achieve us any Spiritual Aspirations.
ØTo become truthful we need to be completely under His command. Surrender the I-ness. Accept whatever is –as it is(happily). So be CONTENT under ALL CIRCUMSTANCES. As He is the KARTAPURKH. Stop judging.

So the very first step Guru Ji is recommending for a seeker -ABIDE BY HIS HUKAM(order). It refers to SAT SANTOKH

simpy · #2 (**permalink**) 16-Mar-2007, 18:04 PM

Pauri 2

Here Guru Ji is explaining Hukam in further detail –what is happening under Hukam and what happens when we live in tune with Hukam…

hukmI hovin Awkwr hukmu n kihAw jweI ]

By His Command, bodies are created(forms come into existence); His Command cannot be described.
Creation is so vast and deep it is impossible for Human intelligence to describe it all for it(expression of human knowledge) is bound to time and space.

hukmI sgl kry Awkwr ]
qyrw hukmu Apwr hY koeI AMqu n pwey ]

hukmI hovin jIA hukim imlY vifAweI ]

By His Command, souls come into being; by His Command, glory and greatness are obtained.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=15128

jMmxu mrxw hukmu hY BwxY AwvY jwie ]

hukmI auqmu nIcu hukim iliK duK suK pweIAih ]

By His Command, some are high and some are low; by His Written Command, pain and pleasure are obtained.

hukmy nwn@w vfw QIvY ]

ieknw hukmI bKsIs ieik hukmI sdw BvweIAih ]
Some, by His Command, are blessed and forgiven( achieved Salvation/Mukat) by His Command; others, by His Command, wander aimlessly forever(chaurasi da chakkar)

hukmY AMdir sBu ko bwhir hukm n koie ]
Everyone is subject to His Command; no one is beyond His Command.

eyko hukmu vrqY sB loeI ]

nwnk hukmY jy buJY q haumY khY n koie ]2]

O Nanak, one who understands His Command, does not speak in ego.
Dnu sohwgin jo pRBU pCwnY ] mwnY hukmu qjY AiBmwnY ]
hukmu mMnih qw hir imlY qw ivchu haumY jwie ]

In the first Pauri Guru ji Described that the way to become Sachyara is to stay under His Command. In this Pauri He is elaborating the Command and Stating that Ego dies by understanding His Command.

EGO DIES WHEN WE COME UNDER GOD'S COMMAND

Source of Command is Within.
Mind that is controlled by ego is disqualified to recognize this power within, because all the negative energy (of anger, hate, worldly love, and all other negative qualities) keeps him/her shut off from that power.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=15128
Ego deny God’s Command.
Ego wants us to go wherever it wants us to go. And most important part for us is to understand that It does not want us to recognize that we are on the descent on the staircase of life. At any point of time even if we do not want to go down, it tries its best to keep us at that point, if one tries to go up, it will keep trying to stop the growth(at every step), it does anything and everything to prevent us from going up. Dhan Dhan Siri Guru Nanak Dev Ji is prescribing us the antidote to this evil-EGO: LIVE UNDER THE COMMAND OF OUR MASTER/GOD/FATHER/ALMIGHTY.

Man tu Jote Saroop Hai Apnaa Mool Pachhaan.

Recognizing God’s Command and then ACCEPTING it, is the MASTER key to success on the Spiritual path(staircase of life). Always remember only the recognition is not enough, you have to accept this truth/live this truth/follow GuruJi’s word.

forgive me please

SSMDCX · #3 (**permalink**) 16-Mar-2007, 19:18 PM

Ik Oankaar Sat Naam Satgur Parsaad

Guru's Hukam - Everything Is In Hukam Then What Is Wrong And What Is Right? When Everything That Happens Is In Hukam Then What Is Wrong And What Is Right For A Person Who Goes In To Puran Hukam ? Then Where Is The Place For Nindya Or Ustat?
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=15128

Dassan Dass

simpy · #4 (**permalink**) 16-Mar-2007, 21:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SSMDCX

Ik Oankaar Sat Naam Satgur Parsaad

Guru's Hukam - Everything Is In Hukam Then What Is Wrong And What Is Right? When Everything That Happens Is In Hukam Then What Is Wrong And What Is Right For A Person Who Goes In To Puran Hukam ? Then Where Is The Place For Nindya Or Ustat?

Dassan Dass

Respected Saadh Sangat Ji,

The Understanding that everything is in His Hukam, makes us think to be Loyal to ParmPitaParmatma. So all has to be accepted with Content, without questioning the validity of what is happening.

Human Life is also His Hukam- a great and unique manifestation of AkaalPurkh.

A person residing in Puran Hukam is in a state of equilibrium(Sehaj). This person is aware of Sach-God’s Existence. This person lives in Truth; not in the evaluations of rights and wrongs.

There is no place for Nindya or Ustat.

Now let us know what are these terms.

Nindya- Negative criticism of somebody with or without an intent to let the person down. And/Or false criticism(without knowing the facts).
Criticism that is caused and results in the emotion-HATRED, is classified as NINDYA.

Be careful here- lots of people start considering a criticism resulted from a Valid Cocern (also called constructive criticism) as Nindya. This is not correct. This is not Nindya. A teacher has to tell the students how to read and write, parents have to teach everything to their kids…. can all that be done without constructive criticism- NO. This is more like- making others aware of the reality with a positive intent.
ies nMU pMjwbI ivc smJwauxw AwKdy hn[

Ustat- It is Praise of somebody beyond Reality and or based on false assumptions, and/or it is done with an intent to bring false glory.

Be careful here-appreciation of good work is not categorized under ustat.
ies nMU pMjwbI ivc SwbwSI AwKdy hn[

A Gurmukh knows the entity behind everything and does AkaalUstat while performing worldly duties, as Guru Ji directs us to do.

forgive me please

SSMDCX · #5 (**permalink**) 16-Mar-2007, 23:15 PM

Ik Oankaar Sat Naam Satgur Parsaad

Is There Any Place For Any Kind Of Nindya In The Gurmat, Nindya Is Only A Durmat (whatever It May Be - No Justification), But Still People Preaching To Others Engage Themselves In Nindya Even After Accepting And Experiencing Physically The Gur Kirpa And Gur Parsaad In The Real Life.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=15128
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=15128

Dassan Dass

simpy · #6 (**permalink**) 17-Mar-2007, 02:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SSMDCX

Ik Oankaar Sat Naam Satgur Parsaad

Is There Any Place For Any Kind Of Nindya In The Gurmat, Nindya Is Only A Durmat (whatever It May Be - No Justification), But Still People Preaching To Others Engage Themselves In Nindya Even After Accepting And Experiencing Physically The Gur Kirpa And Gur Parsaad In The Real Life.

Dassan Dass

Forgive me please, i am not here to judge others. just sharing the experience and knowledge humbly.

Dhan Dhan Siri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Di Bani- every word is Gurprasaad, it depends on us how we take this Gurprasaad, waste it or live it Truthfully.

Bani Prabh Ki Sabh Ko Bolay Aap Adol Na Kabhu Dolay

forgive me please

simpy · #7 (**permalink**) 20-Mar-2007, 16:41 PM

Pauri 3

gwvY ko qwxu hovY iksY qwxu ]

Some, who has the power to sing about Him, chants songs of His Power. Only the blessed ones can sing/chant/think/feel/hear/be aware of Him.

gwvY ko dwiq jwxY nIswxu ]

Some sing of His Gifts, and identify His bounties as His Sign and Insignia.

gwvY ko gux vifAweIAw cwr ]

Some sing of the beauty of His Glorious Virtues and Great Excellences. Here ‘chaar’ signifies beauty.

gwvY ko ividAw ivKmu vIcwru ]

Some sing of knowledge obtained of Him, through difficult(arduous) philosophical studies.

gwvY ko swij kry qnu Kyh ]

Some sing that He fashions the body, and then again reduces it back to dust.

gwvY ko jIA lY iPir dyh ]

Some sing that He takes life away, and then again restores it.

gwvY ko jwpY idsY dUir ]

Some sing that He seems and appears to be very far away.

gwvY ko vyKY hwdrw hdUir ]

Some sing that He watches over us, face to face, ever-present.

kQnw kQI n AwvY qoit ]

There is no shortage of those who preach and teach. No dearth of persons who dwell upon His discourses.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=15128

kiQ kiQ kQI kotI koit koit ]

Millions upon millions offer millions of sermons and stories.

dydw dy lYdy Qik pwih ]

The Great Giver keeps on giving, while those who receive grow weary of receiving.
What ever He gives us become useless after sometime, and we keep on asking for what we don't have, without valuing what we have. Never accept His Hukum.

jugw jugMqir KwhI Kwih ]

Throughout all the ages, consumers consume all the provisions He provides.

hukmI hukmu clwey rwhu ]

The Commander, by His Command, leads us to walk on the (True) Path.

nwnk ivgsY vyprvwhu ]3]

O Nanak, He blossoms forth, Carefree and Untroubled. The Master is always making merry.

In this pauri Guru Ji is describing all the different ways humans sing His Praises. God, the Superpower is recognized by every body based on the level of knowledge they have about Him.

And the very first line here says- only that one can sing His praises, who is blessed with the power to do so.

In the end Guru Ji again concludes that the Carefree Master is the only one who can lead us on this path.

So how can we obtain the blessing- We have to become truthful servants of our Lord(God). Go back to the First Pauri-

ikv sicAwrw hoeIAY ikv kUVY qutY pwil ]
hukim rjweI clxw nwnk iliKAw nwil ]

So we have to follow His Command to get His Blessings. With His Blessings we will be able to sing His Praises. This action will make our love for God stronger, in return more and more mysteries of His Highness will be revealed to us. And we will sing more and more of His praises.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=15128

As Guru Nanak Dev Ji says

qyry gux gwvw dyih buJweI ]

This cycle continues until the Love for GOD becomes UNCONDITIONAL AND UNSHAKABLE.

forgive me please

simpy · #8 (**permalink**) 28-Mar-2007, 17:37 PM

Pauri 4

swcw swihbu swcu nwie BwiKAw Bwau Apwru ]

True is the Master, True is His Name. And the devotees speak it with infinite love. Here Guru Ji is addressing God as “Sahib”:the Master/Commander.

AwKih mMgih dyih dyih dwiq kry dwqwru ]

People beg(based on the needs and demands) and pray, ""Give to us, give to us"", and the Great Giver bestows His Gifts. This stresses upon the truth that all we have is given to us by the Almighty.

Pyir ik AgY rKIAY ijqu idsY drbwru ]

So what offering can we place before Him, by which we might see the Darbaar of His Court(considering the truth that everything we have is bestowed by Him?

muhO ik bolxu bolIAY ijqu suix Dry ipAwru ]

What words can we utter with our mouths to evoke His Love?

AMimRq vylw scu nwau vifAweI vIcwru ]

In the Amrit Vaylaa, the ambrosial hours before dawn, chant the True Name, and contemplate His Glorious Greatness.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=15128
cauQY phir sbwh kY suriqAw aupjY cwau ]

krmI AwvY kpVw ndrI moKu duAwru ]

By the karma of past actions, the robe of this physical body is obtained(so if we rely upon our actions only we will be lost in the bondage of life and death(84)). By His Grace, the Gate of Liberation is found(so we need to do something that will bring His Grace to us).

nwnk eyvY jwxIAY sBu Awpy sicAwru ]4]

Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=15128

Liberation brings us the knowledge of the True Master- HE Himself is ALL
inrgunu Awip srgunu BI EhI ]

In this Pauri Guru Ji is explaining that liberation comes from Prema Bhagti. Other actions(karam) cause bondages to this physical world(mortal world), nothing else. To acquire His Benediction we need to stay under His Hukum(as discussed earlier).

forgive me please

simpy · #9 (**permalink**) 10-Apr-2007, 02:32 AM

Pauri 5

QwipAw n jwie kIqw n hoie ]

He cannot be established, He cannot be created by any one. He is not subject to cause/effect.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=15128

Awpy Awip inrMjnu soie ]

He Himself is Immaculate and Pure. He is all in all Himself.

ijin syivAw iqin pwieAw mwnu ]

Those who serve Him find the reality about Him (the proof of His existence), they are accepted gracefully at His Dargah and are liberated from the bondage.

nwnk gwvIAY guxI inDwnu ]

O Nanak, sing praises of the Lord, the Treasure of Excellences. Now Guru Ji is telling us how to serve Him.

gwvIAY suxIAY min rKIAY Bwau ]

Sing, and listen, and let your mind be filled with love. Unselfish love with Him is the key.

duKu prhir suKu Gir lY jwie ]

By doing so our pain shall be sent far away, and peace shall come to our abode.

gurmuiK nwdM gurmuiK vydM gurmuiK rihAw smweI ]

When we serve Him what we find-The Guru's Word(God’s Word) is the Sound-current of the Naad; the Guru's Word is the Wisdom of the Vedas(religious books); the Guru's Word is all-pervading. Here He is pondering on this truth-
Awpy Awip inrMjnu soie ]
Gurmukh realizes the truth about Him, gurmukh listens to the Naad,and Knows that He is All.

guru eIsru guru gorKu brmw guru pwrbqI mweI ]

The Guru is Shiva, the Guru is Vishnu and Brahma; the Guru is Paarvati and Lakhshmi/Sarasvati. These are all His sargun savroops, worshipped or meditated on by the believers.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=15128

jy hau jwxw AwKw nwhI khxw kQnu n jweI ]

Even after knowing about God, I cannot describe Him; He cannot be described in words. He is Limitless. There is always more to know about Him. so purKu inrMjnu hir purKu inrMjnu hir Agmw Agm Apwrw ]

gurw iek dyih buJweI ]

The Guru(Lord) has given me this one understanding:

sBnw jIAw kw ieku dwqw so mY ivsir n jweI ]5]

there is only the One, the Giver of all souls. May I never forget Him.

In this Pauri Guru Ji is talking more about how to serve God. In the previous pauries He talked about

hukim rjweI clxw nwnk iliKAw nwil ]
AMimRq vylw scu nwau vifAweI vIcwru ]

And now He stressed upon how to do it
gwvIAY suxIAY min rKIAY Bwau ]
and what we will get out of it.

So far it tells us-

He is One and He is All.
We must live under His Will.
We should sing and listen as well as contemplate on His Name with a heart full of love. Amrit Vela is the Best time.
Those who serve Him are able to know the truth about Him.

simpy · #10 (**permalink**) 19-Apr-2007, 04:31 AM

Pauri 6
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=15128
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=15128

qIriQ nwvw jy iqsu Bwvw ivxu Bwxy ik nwie krI ]

If I am pleasing to Him, then that is my pilgrimage bath. Without pleasing Him, what good are ritual cleansings? So the ablution is of no avail if He(God) is not pleased.
qIriQ nwvx jwau qIrQu nwmu hY ]
qIrQu sbd bIcwru AMqir igAwnu hY ]

jyqI isriT aupweI vyKw ivxu krmw ik imlY leI ]

I gaze upon all the created beings: without the karma of good actions, what are they given to receive? We do not obtain anything without good karma.

miq ivic rqn jvwhr mwixk jy iek gur kI isK suxI ]
Within the mind are gems, jewels and rubies(pure knowledge and understanding), if we listen to the Guru's Teachings, even a single one. We need to act upon our Guru’s instructions, if we hearken to even a single teaching, we can obtain unlimited knowledge.

gurw iek dyih buJweI ]
Guru Sahib says-The Guru has given me this one understanding:

sBnw jIAw kw ieku dwqw so mY ivsir n jweI ]6]
there is only the One, the Giver of all souls, the bestower for all beings. May I never forget Him

So this belief (out of ignorance) that outer bathing is a religious ritual and equating the physical neatness and cleanliness with mental Purity or Spiritual Life, is shear foolishness. You cannot find God by taking cold baths or taking bath on a specific hour or at a specific place. Guru Ji is rejecting all these superstitions. To become pure we need to immerse in the Inner Ambrosial Pool of the Divine Name (Amrit-Naam). We need to focus our consciousness on the Pure Self (Divine Essence, Shabad or Naam, Satguru, God, Unconditioned Consciousness) within.