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Do You Ever Feel Completely Disconnected?

RD1

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Sep 25, 2016
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Ever feel like an outsider in life? Like all these people around you, perhaps coworkers or general society, all seem to have a similar worldview such as an ‘us vs. them’ type of mentality. And you just see how much futility people seem to fill their lives with. How the majority of people cannot seem to think, reflect, and empathize. And it just hits you again and again that you just do not seem to fit in with the mainstream. I by all means am no saint. But sometimes it seems like no one is taken aback as I am by the triviality around us. Everyone just lives their robotic existence. Life truly starts to feel so completely meaningless and pointless, and I start to feel a little nihilistic. We all just seem to live in such mediocrity.
 

Inderjeet Kaur

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Oct 13, 2011
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Ever feel like an outsider in life? Like all these people around you, perhaps coworkers or general society, all seem to have a similar worldview such as an ‘us vs. them’ type of mentality. And you just see how much futility people seem to fill their lives with. How the majority of people cannot seem to think, reflect, and empathize. And it just hits you again and again that you just do not seem to fit in with the mainstream. I by all means am no saint. But sometimes it seems like no one is taken aback as I am by the triviality around us. Everyone just lives their robotic existence. Life truly starts to feel so completely meaningless and pointless, and I start to feel a little nihilistic. We all just seem to live in such mediocrity.
I was just reading in SGGS about these trivial things and how unsatisfying they become. Let me go find it. I'll be back in a bit.
OK I found what I was looking for.

http://www.srigranth.org/servlet/gurbani.dictionary?Param=ਲਖ

[URL='http://www.srigranth.org/servlet/gurbani.dictionary?Param=%E0%A8%B2%E0%A8%96']ਲਖ
ਉਰਾਸੀਹ ਭ੍ਰਮਤੇ ਭ੍ਰਮਤੇ ਦੁਲਭ ਜਨਮੁ ਅਬ ਪਾਇਓ ॥੧॥[/URL]
लख चउरासीह भ्रमते भ्रमते दुलभ जनमु अब पाइओ ॥१॥
Lakẖ cẖa▫orāsīh bẖaramṯe bẖaramṯe ḏulabẖ janam ab pā▫i▫o. ||1||
Wandering and roaming through 8.4 million incarnations, you have now been given this human life, so difficult to obtain. ||1||

ਰੇ
ਮੂੜੇ ਤੂ ਹੋਛੈ ਰਸਿ ਲਪਟਾਇਓ
रे मूड़े तू होछै रसि लपटाइओ ॥
Re mūṛe ṯū hocẖẖai ras laptā▫i▫o.
You fool! You are attached and clinging to such trivial pleasures!

ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤੁ
ਸੰਗਿ ਬਸਤੁ ਹੈ ਤੇਰੈ ਬਿਖਿਆ ਸਿਉ ਉਰਝਾਇਓ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ
अम्रितु संगि बसतु है तेरै बिखिआ सिउ उरझाइओ ॥१॥ रहाउ ॥
Amriṯ sang basaṯ hai ṯerai bikẖi▫ā si▫o urjẖā▫i▫o. ||1|| rahā▫o.
The Ambrosial Nectar abides with you, but you are engrossed in sin and corruption. ||1||Pause||

ਰਤਨ
ਜਵੇਹਰ ਬਨਜਨਿ ਆਇਓ ਕਾਲਰੁ ਲਾਦਿ ਚਲਾਇਓ ॥੨॥
रतन जवेहर बनजनि आइओ कालरु लादि चलाइओ ॥२॥
Raṯan javehar banjan ā▫i▫o kālar lāḏ cẖalā▫i▫o. ||2||
You have come to trade in gems and jewels, but you have loaded only barren soil. ||2||

ਜਿਹ
ਘਰ ਮਹਿ ਤੁਧੁ ਰਹਨਾ ਬਸਨਾ ਸੋ ਘਰੁ ਚੀਤਿ ਆਇਓ ॥੩॥
जिह घर महि तुधु रहना बसना सो घरु चीति न आइओ ॥३॥
Jih gẖar mėh ṯuḏẖ rahnā basnā so gẖar cẖīṯ na ā▫i▫o. ||3||
That home within which you live - you have not kept that home in your thoughts. ||3||

ਅਟਲ
ਅਖੰਡ ਪ੍ਰਾਣ ਸੁਖਦਾਈ ਇਕ ਨਿਮਖ ਨਹੀ ਤੁਝੁ ਗਾਇਓ ॥੪॥
अटल अखंड प्राण सुखदाई इक निमख नही तुझु गाइओ ॥४॥
Atal akẖand parāṇ sukẖ▫ḏā▫ī ik nimakẖ nahī ṯujẖ gā▫i▫o. ||4||
He is immovable, indestructible, the Giver of peace to the soul; and yet you do not sing His Praises, even for an instant. ||4||

ਜਹਾ
ਜਾਣਾ ਸੋ ਥਾਨੁ ਵਿਸਾਰਿਓ ਇਕ ਨਿਮਖ ਨਹੀ ਮਨੁ ਲਾਇਓ ॥੫॥
जहा जाणा सो थानु विसारिओ इक निमख नही मनु लाइओ ॥५॥
Jahā jāṇā so thān visār▫i▫o ik nimakẖ nahī man lā▫i▫o. ||5||
You have forgotten that place where you must go; you have not attached your mind to the Lord, even for an instant. ||5||

ਪੁਤ੍ਰ
ਕਲਤ੍ਰ ਗ੍ਰਿਹ ਦੇਖਿ ਸਮਗ੍ਰੀ ਇਸ ਹੀ ਮਹਿ ਉਰਝਾਇਓ ॥੬॥
पुत्र कलत्र ग्रिह देखि समग्री इस ही महि उरझाइओ ॥६॥
Puṯar kalṯar garih ḏekẖ samagrī is hī mėh urjẖā▫i▫o. ||6||
Gazing upon your children, spouse, household and paraphernalia, you are entangled in them. ||6||

ਜਿਤੁ
ਕੋ ਲਾਇਓ ਤਿਤ ਹੀ ਲਾਗਾ ਤੈਸੇ ਕਰਮ ਕਮਾਇਓ ॥੭॥
जितु को लाइओ तित ही लागा तैसे करम कमाइओ ॥७॥
Jiṯ ko lā▫i▫o ṯiṯ hī lāgā ṯaise karam kamā▫i▫o. ||7||
As God links the mortals, so are they linked, and so are the deeds they do. ||7||

ਜਉ
ਭਇਓ ਕ੍ਰਿਪਾਲੁ ਤਾ ਸਾਧਸੰਗੁ ਪਾਇਆ ਜਨ ਨਾਨਕ ਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਧਿਆਇਓ ॥੮॥੧॥
जउ भइओ क्रिपालु ता साधसंगु पाइआ जन नानक ब्रहमु धिआइओ ॥८॥१॥
Ja▫o bẖa▫i▫o kirpāl ṯā sāḏẖsang pā▫i▫ā jan Nānak barahm ḏẖi▫ā▫i▫o. ||8||1||
When He becomes Merciful, then the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, is found; servant Nanak meditates on God. ||8||1||
SGGS p. 1017

I am no great interpreter of Gurbani, but this shabad seems to be talking about those who get engrossed and totally immersed in maya. When you have found something better, something real inside you, "The Ambrosial Nectar abides with you," these people are painful to be around. I think of a situation I used to often find myself in, the only sober person at a party. I eventually learned to handle that by staying away from such parties.

I have no control over others. I can see them entangled in maya, going off after things that are ultimately - and often immediately - useless and unsatisfying. Sometimes it is so maddening that I want to grab them and shake them and yell at them, "Wake up!" something that would be completely counterproductive. They would most likely, and rightfully respond, "Who the H. do you think you are? Go away. Get out of my way and leave me alone." There is a very real danger of falling into an ego trap at this point, feeling myself spiritually superior to others. That's a very bad trap and a hard one to claw myself out of. When I find myself in this situation, it's useful to consider if these people engrossed in trivialities are mirroring back to me a part of myself that I don't like, a part I go so far as to deny I even have.

The fact is, of course, that each of us is where we are on this great journey, some a bit ahead, some a bit behind. We are most fortunate because we have direct access to ten people who have completed the journey successfully, and have left us their writings and the examples of their lives to help us learn what we need to know and then to put it into practice.

As the last line suggests, it is through the mercy of Guru ji that I find myself amongst the Saadh Sangat, where I can live and learn and grow, moving forward in my journey.

Would I be too far out of line if I suggest it might be a good thing to feel disconnected from those so entangled i n maya? I must be cautious not to be drawn into their world., If I keep going to drunken parties, how long will I remain sober?

These are just a few of my thoughts. You'll have to find your own answers that work for you. Our Eternal Guru, the Siri Guru Granth Sahib, has the answers there for you to find. It is "the key to every door." Remember, a key will only open a door if you put it into the lock and turn it.

I feel myself getting preachy, which means it's time for me to stop. Remain in charhdi kala and let us know how you're coming along.
 

Sikhilove

Writer
SPNer
May 11, 2016
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Ever feel like an outsider in life? Like all these people around you, perhaps coworkers or general society, all seem to have a similar worldview such as an ‘us vs. them’ type of mentality. And you just see how much futility people seem to fill their lives with. How the majority of people cannot seem to think, reflect, and empathize. And it just hits you again and again that you just do not seem to fit in with the mainstream. I by all means am no saint. But sometimes it seems like no one is taken aback as I am by the triviality around us. Everyone just lives their robotic existence. Life truly starts to feel so completely meaningless and pointless, and I start to feel a little nihilistic. We all just seem to live in such mediocrity.

Every single day. But Guru Ji does say that everywhere he goes, all he sees are ghosts. It may seem like a bitter pill to swallow but humans are primitive. Throughout the ages, the way of the Bhagat has been a somewhat lonely path.

The feelings you have are within themselves a Huge blessing, as you've awoken and wisened up to the deep sleep that the masses have yet to awaken from.

You may wonder, why you out of so many, but it's just blessed hukam, your karam from this and previous Janams that lead you to contemplate and begin to see the world for what it really is.

Teach them out of their slumber when the opportunity arises.
 

Harry Haller

Panga Master
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Jan 31, 2011
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perhaps it is not our role to teach anyone, after all, one cannot install blessed hukam on another.

we all have our journey, its all personal, nothing has to be static, one can take the blue or the red pill on a daily basis, on an hourly basis, it depends on the circumstances, i think it is about honing oneself till one finds that knowledge of who they are, what they are about, its all a game,
 

Sikhilove

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May 11, 2016
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perhaps it is not our role to teach anyone, after all, one cannot install blessed hukam on another.

we all have our journey, its all personal, nothing has to be static, one can take the blue or the red pill on a daily basis, on an hourly basis, it depends on the circumstances, i think it is about honing oneself till one finds that knowledge of who they are, what they are about, its all a game,

Teaching is Love- it is Selfless Service.

You could teach a soul when you come across a being who is acting in a primitive manner eg, Bhagat Prahlaad Ji taught his father Harkanaash, Guru Nanak Ji taught Sajaan Thug, you can teach a soul who is thirsty for Truth or you feel could benefit from the Gyan(the latter which is everyone)

Learning Truth is great, yes, but sharing and teaching it is Divine as our beloved Gurus and bhagats taught. Even Jesus asked his bhagats to go out and spread truth like sheep amongst the wolves.

This comes under Truthful living, Truth in action- the only way Satyug will come into being and Kalyug to be wiped out is to practice and teach. To live your higher purpose is to Live, Serve and Deliver the Truth. And there's no time like the present.

Many bhagats will just sit in samadhi and enjoy their visions, using powers etc. This is not what Truth is about- we don't practice Truth to win a place in heaven- to sit in heaven and frolick around in the palaces and paradise for eternity- thats selfishness and that isn't what our Gurus did.

They learned and they Got up and Served. They got out of selfishness and didn't see any merit or honour in keeping what they'd learned to themselves. We are spiritual warriors, not spiritual time wasters, we serve the universe.
 
Last edited:

Original

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We are spiritual warriors, not spiritual time wasters,
..hey girl, I was just about to switch off for the night and then this "we are spiritual warriors......", too good to let it go without a word or two, had to say, "I love it" !

The word sat as you know means truth and sang means associate; put them together you get satsang, meaning associates of truth. The burden on the knower of truth [satsangi] is greater than that of the ordinary man and is considered an obligation with which the satsangi must discharge accordingly. Teaching others of the true nature of reality is what Sikhism doctrinal is all about. Baba Nanak nips it in the bud beautifully, "khumba vada jal reha, jal bin khumb na hoya, gyan ka vada mann reha gur bin gyan na hoya" [SGGSJ, 469 - juicy bit in bold, meaning, without a teacher wisdom cannot be had].

Sikhism doctrinal is to an end to show the unreal [Maya] has no existence and the real [satnam] never ceases to be; the reality of both has thus been perceived by the seers of truth. The seers were as you and Inderjeet have correctly captured, our Gurus.

And since I'm on it, I might as well add few words for the owner of the thread. RD1 Ji - Good evening !

The outside world contains too much information for individuals to process. Every species is adapted to process information only in ways that contribute to their needs n reproduction. And, as I said before, you're at a stage where you've started seeing the wood from the trees, meaning, you're discounting everything because its unreal [see above], your soul is now thirsty for the real deal. Waheguru has brought you to this point in time so that you can begin the real journey.

Your observations above are pretty neat, but what do you expect in industrialised societies if not spiritual deprivation ? Not only do they tend to satisfy all human needs, allegedly, but equally the consumer goes to the greater extent of creating new needs to satisfy; damned if the society do and damned if the society don't - nature of the beast. The real purpose in life has been sidetracked by these very societies and that as a result, uprooted humans from traditions and alienated them from those very core values with which they once had a meaning and a purpose. Baba Nanak had to come down to reconnect "time wasters" !

More another time - late for bed !

Goodnight
 

sukhsingh

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Aug 13, 2012
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Teaching is Love- it is Selfless Service.

You could teach a soul when you come across a being who is acting in a primitive manner eg, Bhagat Prahlaad Ji taught his father Harkanaash, Guru Nanak Ji taught Sajaan Thug, you can teach a soul who is thirsty for Truth or you feel could benefit from the Gyan(the latter which is everyone)

Learning Truth is great, yes, but sharing and teaching it is Divine as our beloved Gurus and bhagats taught. Even Jesus asked his bhagats to go out and spread truth like sheep amongst the wolves.

This comes under Truthful living, Truth in action- the only way Satyug will come into being and Kalyug to be wiped out is to practice and teach. To live your higher purpose is to Live, Serve and Deliver the Truth. And there's no time like the present.

Many bhagats will just sit in samadhi and enjoy their visions, using powers etc. This is not what Truth is about- we don't practice Truth to win a place in heaven- to sit in heaven and frolick around in the palaces and paradise for eternity- thats selfishness and that isn't what our Gurus did.

They learned and they Got up and Served. They got out of selfishness and didn't see any merit or honour in keeping what they'd learned to themselves. We are spiritual warriors, not spiritual time wasters, we serve the universe.

Selfless service where truly don't ask for anything,demonstrating unconditional love, without ever proselytising or evangelising
 

Sikhilove

Writer
SPNer
May 11, 2016
608
166
..hey girl, I was just about to switch off for the night and then this "we are spiritual warriors......", too good to let it go without a word or two, had to say, "I love it" !

The word sat as you know means truth and sang means associate; put them together you get satsang, meaning associates of truth. The burden on the knower of truth [satsangi] is greater than that of the ordinary man and is considered an obligation with which the satsangi must discharge accordingly. Teaching others of the true nature of reality is what Sikhism doctrinal is all about. Baba Nanak nips it in the bud beautifully, "khumba vada jal reha, jal bin khumb na hoya, gyan ka vada mann reha gur bin gyan na hoya" [SGGSJ, 469 - juicy bit in bold, meaning, without a teacher wisdom cannot be had].

Sikhism doctrinal is to an end to show the unreal [Maya] has no existence and the real [satnam] never ceases to be; the reality of both has thus been perceived by the seers of truth. The seers were as you and Inderjeet have correctly captured, our Gurus.

And since I'm on it, I might as well add few words for the owner of the thread. RD1 Ji - Good evening !

The outside world contains too much information for individuals to process. Every species is adapted to process information only in ways that contribute to their needs n reproduction. And, as I said before, you're at a stage where you've started seeing the wood from the trees, meaning, you're discounting everything because its unreal [see above], your soul is now thirsty for the real deal. Waheguru has brought you to this point in time so that you can begin the real journey.

Your observations above are pretty neat, but what do you expect in industrialised societies if not spiritual deprivation ? Not only do they tend to satisfy all human needs, allegedly, but equally the consumer goes to the greater extent of creating new needs to satisfy; damned if the society do and damned if the society don't - nature of the beast. The real purpose in life has been sidetracked by these very societies and that as a result, uprooted humans from traditions and alienated them from those very core values with which they once had a meaning and a purpose. Baba Nanak had to come down to reconnect "time wasters" !

More another time - late for bed !

Goodnight

Haha, nice post :thumbupp:

Selfless service where truly don't ask for anything,demonstrating unconditional love, without ever proselytising or evangelising

Of course :) People are free to believe what they choose to believe.
 

RD1

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Sep 25, 2016
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Would I be too far out of line if I suggest it might be a good thing to feel disconnected from those so entangled i n maya? I must be cautious not to be drawn into their world., If I keep going to drunken parties, how long will I remain sober?

Great post! I agree, it is overall a good thing to be disconnected. One can still respect and accept someone, without becoming engrossed in their entanglements. We all have a degree of our own maya entanglements to deal with anyways.
 

RD1

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Sep 25, 2016
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They learned and they Got up and Served. They got out of selfishness and didn't see any merit or honour in keeping what they'd learned to themselves. We are spiritual warriors, not spiritual time wasters, we serve the universe.

Powerful and inspirational! I think this is something I particularly struggle with. Now that I have awareness, what do i do? In most ways I still continue to just live the status quo - wake up, go to work, come home, repeat. All the while feeling disconnected, and resenting the meaningless routine, and not being able to stand so much of the hate and ignorance and superficiality around me. I think I need to start to become more active and "do" something, maybe some volunteering or activism, just something that will help to "make a difference" in the world....just going on like I am right now seems pointless. I don't feel like I put out much positivity or "good" out there, but I feel like I should be doing so.
 

RD1

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Sep 25, 2016
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Your observations above are pretty neat, but what do you expect in industrialised societies if not spiritual deprivation ? Not only do they tend to satisfy all human needs, allegedly, but equally the consumer goes to the greater extent of creating new needs to satisfy; damned if the society do and damned if the society don't - nature of the beast. The real purpose in life has been sidetracked by these very societies and that as a result, uprooted humans from traditions and alienated them from those very core values with which they once had a meaning and a purpose. Baba Nanak had to come down to reconnect "time wasters" !

So true. "Industrialization" and "capitalism" have exponentially increased greed, materialism, and ego, and in turn have led to the destruction of the environment and ourselves. Human beings have become quite disconnected from their core selves by becoming so attached to the illusion.
 

sukhsingh

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Great post! I agree, it is overall a good thing to be disconnected. One can still respect and accept someone, without becoming engrossed in their entanglements. We all have a degree of our own maya entanglements to deal with anyways.

I have to disagree.. It's not a good thing to disconnect. Naam Jap, vandh shake, keerat karo. These principles are not directly articulated in bani, but offer us a framework to live within.. Each of the three are interdependent and and underpinned by 1onkaar - sat naam. Naam japo is of no value without the other 2. To be disconnected would mean its OK for us to go sit in a cave and meditate and use the experience of nirvana in the same way a junkie uses a drug. It would be selfish. For me sikhi teaches balance and rationality, to never arrive but to accept the beauty of khoj. Disconnection is born of ego? My own thought.. Would be interesting to explore..
 

sukhsingh

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Haha, nice post :thumbupp:



Of course :) People are free to believe what they choose to believe.
Its not even about whether we say people are free to choose what they want or believe. To be truly selfless, and destroy one's ego surely you have to move beyond accepting that people have different beliefs but rather frame the mind to challenge oneself and ask "I'm searching for the truth, I apply critical rational thinking to my own beliefs, I test my opinions, beliefs and will grow through the pursuit of truth as opposed to strengthening my opinions in opposition to the other". For me A aspect of guru tegh bahadur ji sacrificing himself was also a demonstration in humility. If we frame our thinking by saying "they have their beliefs, it's different to mine, I they will find the path or haven't found the truth that I have" ultimately its patronising.?
 

sukhsingh

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So true. "Industrialization" and "capitalism" have exponentially increased greed, materialism, and ego, and in turn have led to the destruction of the environment and ourselves. Human beings have become quite disconnected from their core selves by becoming so attached to the illusion.
I think it's disingenuous to use industrialisation and capitalism as a explanation for "maya" over simplified for me.. Greed, inequality have existed since the in pre-historic times. animals create hierarchical structures, humans just have more tools or levers. Michael foucault talks about how power defines all relationships. Sikhi in many ways accepts 'materialism' as a feature of human progression Eg. Vandh chako. Produce but share. Personally I'm a socialist and believe in equitable distribution of wealth. The idea that we should aspire to live in a imagined pre-kalyug perfect state is regressive as opposed to creative.. And for me at least creativity is a to at least try to find new ways of living is a defining feature of how sikhi accommodates and succinctly articulates existential, metaphysical and philosophical thinking.. In fact mool mantar is able to transcend such concerns
 

RD1

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Sep 25, 2016
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I have to disagree.. It's not a good thing to disconnect. Naam Jap, vandh shake, keerat karo. These principles are not directly articulated in bani, but offer us a framework to live within.. Each of the three are interdependent and and underpinned by 1onkaar - sat naam. Naam japo is of no value without the other 2. To be disconnected would mean its OK for us to go sit in a cave and meditate and use the experience of nirvana in the same way a junkie uses a drug. It would be selfish. For me sikhi teaches balance and rationality, to never arrive but to accept the beauty of khoj. Disconnection is born of ego? My own thought.. Would be interesting to explore..

What I said has been misinterpreted. I meant disconnecting from other peoples' maya entanglements - we can still accept, love, and help people without indulging in whatever their particular maya is. For example, if I have a best friend who abuses drugs, I can still love that person, and see them as a whole person who carries the One, and at the same time I do not have to indulge in drug use myself. After all, we all have our own vices, so no need to judge others. I did not mean physically disconnecting from other people or the world. Its about mentally removing ourselves from things that feed illusion and distance us from the One.
 

RD1

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I think it's disingenuous to use industrialisation and capitalism as a explanation for "maya" over simplified for me.. Greed, inequality have existed since the in pre-historic times. animals create hierarchical structures, humans just have more tools or levers.

I did not say that capitalism/industrialism are explanations for maya. Indeed, maya, greed etc. have always existed. And in todays age, capitalism/industrialization are huge contributors to fueling this. Capitalism is our modern manifestation of that hierarchy, with the one percent at the top sustained on top through the mass exploitation of the environment and other people.

Michael foucault talks about how power defines all relationships. Sikhi in many ways accepts 'materialism' as a feature of human progression Eg. Vandh chako. Produce but share.

Indeed, materialism is not all bad, but the attachment to materialism, and the mass over-indulgence of materialism in today's society is the issue. There are some people who have an enormous abundance of things, and others who have none. Yet, there is enough wealth produced in the world that such extreme discrepancies do not necessarily have to exist.

Personally I'm a socialist and believe in equitable distribution of wealth. The idea that we should aspire to live in a imagined pre-kalyug perfect state is regressive as opposed to creative.. And for me at least creativity is a to at least try to find new ways of living is a defining feature of how sikhi accommodates and succinctly articulates existential, metaphysical and philosophical thinking.. In fact mool mantar is able to transcend such concerns

Yes, times change, the worldly life evolves. However, Sikh teachings are eternal.
 

sukhsingh

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What I said has been misinterpreted. I meant disconnecting from other peoples' maya entanglements - we can still accept, love, and help people without indulging in whatever their particular maya is. For example, if I have a best friend who abuses drugs, I can still love that person, and see them as a whole person who carries the One, and at the same time I do not have to indulge in drug use myself. After all, we all have our own vices, so no need to judge others. I did not mean physically disconnecting from other people or the world. Its about mentally removing ourselves from things that feed illusion and distance us from the One.
Apologies for jumping on my own hobby horse! :) it's been a hard week. I suppose what set me off was the use of the word 'disconnected' I've become quite a pedant of late (annoying I know). Maybe a different way of describing it would be "apathetic" in the disinvested sense of the word. I'm sure theirs a more succinct and concise articulation..
Apologies if I my original response sounded critical without being constructive
 

sukhsingh

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Aug 13, 2012
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I did not say that capitalism/industrialism are explanations for maya. Indeed, maya, greed etc. have always existed. And in todays age, capitalism/industrialization are huge contributors to fueling this. Capitalism is our modern manifestation of that hierarchy, with the one percent at the top sustained on top through the mass exploitation of the environment and other people.

Indeed, materialism is not all bad, but the attachment to materialism, and the mass over-indulgence of materialism in today's society is the issue. There are some people who have an enormous abundance of things, and others who have none. Yet, there is enough wealth produced in the world that such extreme discrepancies do not necessarily have to exist.



Yes, times change, the worldly life evolves. However, Sikh teachings are eternal.
In my reference to 'materialism' I was thinking about it in the economic /Marxist sense as opposed to materialistic in a individual sense. Capitalism and Marxism are both ideologies which are centered around 'Materialism' ie. They both see the creation of objects as being progressive. Materialism in the sense of wanting to accumulate and feel self worth is the something I feel like is akin to the forbidden fruit.. Lol
I hope that makes sense
 

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