The Spiritual Importance of Reciting Gurbani Daily

The Spiritual Importance of Reciting Gurbani Daily - By Bhai Sahib Bhai Joginder Singh Jee Talwara

Question:
When once an understanding of some Baanee is obtained then what is the benefit of reading it over and over again on a daily basis?

Answer:

Every Gursikh who has partaken of Amrit (undergone the initiation ceremony of the Khaalsaa), receives an injunction from the panj pi-aa-ray, the five beloveds at the time of the Amrit ceremony to daily, with regularity, read or recite the following Baanees:

At the ambrosial hours of the morning:
Sree Jap Jee Sahib.
Sree Jaap Sahib.
Sree Tav-parsaad Savayeh.
Sree Bayntee Chaupa-ee.
Sree Anand Sahib (full).
In the evening (dusk):
Sree Sodhar Rahraas Sahib.
At night just before sleeping:
Sree Sohilaa Sahib.
As the above Baanees are read or recited regularly on a daily basis, they are also called Nitnaym dee-aan Baanee-aan, meaningthe Baanees that are read or recited regularly on a daily basis.

Rationally the reply to the above question is as follows:

1
The first responsibility of every Gursikh is to nurture the commands of the Guru through thought, word and deed.

gur isKI dw krm eyhu gur Purmwey gurisK krxw]
Acting according the instructions of the Guru is the performance of the Sikh life.
(Bhai Gurdas Jee)

In the spiritual field the spiritual growth of a seeker depends entirely on ‘Gur-parsaad’, the blessings of the Guru. The ‘Blessings of the Guru’ simply cannot be obtained in exchange for any effort. To become its beneficiary the principal condition is total self-surrender. To lead the life of a disciple total self-surrender is the first step. A person who has surrendered to the Guru finds that the effort that is needed continues to come naturally to him. The desire for self-development creates a joy in the disciple to cultivate all the Guru’s hukam or commands. The virtues thus inculcated in a disciple, eventually leads him on to become a ‘Gurmukh’, Guru-orientated.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/sikh-sikhi-sikhism/15077-the-spiritual-importance-reciting-gurbani-daily.html

2
Making excuses for not complying with the Guru’s commands is regarded as a clear sign of lack of faith and impoliteness. This is equivalent to the sin of criticizing the omniscience (all encompassing knowledge) of the Guru. According to a proverb which means ‘someone who has no intention of doing something, manufactures mountains of excuses for not doing it’, making excuses for not complying with the commands of the Guru is a clear sign of one’s lack of intention to abide by them. The mind of a corrupt man who becomes its (the mind’s) tool, will make him dance like a monkey and treading the path of aimless wandering, his current life and the life hereafter is ruined. In the spiritual sphere becoming a ‘disciple of the mind’ or a ‘manmukh’ is considered to be an appalling sin.

3
In our physical body the struggle between good microbes (bacteria) and bad microbes is an ongoing process. We repeatedly do many things in our daily life to strengthen the good bacteria, or keep the harmful bacteria under check. For example we daily clean our stomach, brush our teeth, bathe, eat, exercise, rest etc. Doing these things repeatedly on a daily basis appears to be beneficial for a disease free life. The truth is that, by repeatedly doing any action in any sphere, man’s experimental nature develops and it is in this skill or practice that the secret of progress lays. Like physical wellbeing, mental health is even more essential. In our mind the struggle between good and bad thoughts is continually going on. To keep the mind healthy and strong it is essential that it continually keeps developing a healthy thought-process. Gurbaanee is the principal source of this healthy thought-process and in every aspect of life it provides guidance. On one side Gurbaanee provides peace and serenity by extinguishing the fire of desire and on other side man achieves the supreme status through its blessings.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=15077

AMimRq bwxI hir hir qyrI ]
suix suix hovY prm giq myrI ]
jlin buJI sIqlu hoie mnUAw
siqgur kw drsnu pwey jIau ]1]
Amrith baanee har har thaeree ||
Sun sun hovai param gath maeree ||
Jalan bujhee seethal hoe manooaa
Sathigur kaa dharasan paaeae jeeo ||1||
The Word of Your Bani, Lord, is Ambrosial Nectar.
Hearing it again and again, I am elevated to the supreme heights.
The burning within me has been extinguished, and my mind has been cooled and soothed, by the Blessed Vision of the True Guru. ||1||

So for a healthy and joyous life it is essential that man continuously remains under the influence of Gurbaanee. The minimum daily target set by the ‘Khaalsaa Code of Conduct’ needs to be honoured at all cost, for to miss doing it or allowing some form of weakness to set in, will render one foul of the Khaalsaa Code of Conduct thereby depriving him of the Guru’s pleasure. It must be remembered that residing within the body are lust, anger, greed, attachment and egotism, the five evil passions, which continually keep imposing themselves on the mind. Gurbaanee is the only protection to remain safe and secure from them. Gurbaanee is not simply intellectual knowledge. It is divine knowledge-filled ambrosial substance, the mainstay of the consciousness, the food for the soul. By availing oneself of the Guru’s teachings man becoming spiritually strong, and does not get drowned in materialistic misdeeds.

4
Many a time after cleaning a room we close it up. No one ever enters the room, but the next day when we open it up we see dust on the glass and on the white bed- sheets etc. We are surprised. Where did the dust come from. How did the dust come into a closed room. The wise ones know that as the atmosphere is polluted, the dust particles keep floating continually into the room through tiny openings. Therefore cleaning the room daily with regularity is an absolute must. In the same way, living in this world under the influence of maya or materialism, the pollution attached to the mind too, needs to be removed regularly with the pure water of Gurbaanee.

5
Actions that we regularly perform over and over again become a part of our habit over a period of time and gradually our habits and rites become ingrained. A child repeats his multiplication tables over and over again and this regular repetitive action results in the multiplication tables diffusing into his sub-conscious mind. Multiplication tables learnt in this way help one solve difficult problems in no time at all. Remember this, when evil and immorality makes a strike out of the blue, most of the time the intellect does not work, in fact the consciousness becomes paralysed. At such a time of reckoning that habit or rite that has been ingrained through regular practice comes in handy. This is why the wise Guru has given the hukam or directive to continue repeating the Naam, or keep reading the Baanee. Guru Ji says:

inq auiT gwvhu pRB kI bwxI ]
AwT phr hir ismrhu pRwxI ]2]
Nith out(h) gaavahu prabh kee baanee ||
Aat(h) pehar har simarahu praanee ||2||
Rise early, and sing the Glorious Word of God’s Bani.
Twenty-four hours a day, meditate in remembrance on the Lord, O mortal. ||2||

bwr bwr hir ky gun gwvau ]
gur gim Bydu su hir kw pwvau ]1] rhwau ]
Baar baar har kae gun gaavo ||
Gur gam bhaedh s har kaa paavo ||1|| rehaao ||
Sing the Glorious Praises of the Lord each and every day.
Meeting with the Guru, you shall come to know the mystery of the Lord. ||1||Pause||

And together with this a reminder is given:

jY qin bwxI ivsir jwie ]
ijau pkw rogI ivllwie ]1]
Jai than baanee visar jaae ||
Jio pakaa rogee vilalaae ||1||
That body, which forgets the Word of the Guru’s Bani,
cries out in pain, like a chronic patient. ||1||


Source: Singhs at Crossroads » Blog Archive » The Spiritual Importance of Reciting Gurbani Daily - By Bhai Sahib Bhai Joginder Singh Jee Talwara


Many thanks to the "ToTheMax" team.



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Kaur1 ji

I respond to this post for two reasons. One, the topic is of extreme importance to those who would like to move closer to the core of the Sikh faith. And, the topic has been up for nearly a week, yet no one has responded to it, in spite of the fact that it touches on a issue that may trouble Sikhs who live an everday life, and for whom the notion that they recite banis without exception at prescribed times during the day does not always work. A plaguing notion -- are they sinners? This isn't a small matter, or one that can be simply resolved with a quick answer from the "pious sikhs" or from the "practical" sikhs.

I am not trying here to contradict you. Actually I am actually very tuned in to your point of view.

A short story about a Punjabi cab driver who drove me back and forth to the hospital 4 days a week to visit a very sick and beloved relative. He drives a cab to feed his family, and so he must answer calls when they come through. To do banis he played tapes in the cab. So on the trip up and on the trip back, he and I listened to Japji and Jaap together, like a couple of buddies. He barely speaks English. I don't speak any Punjabi. Somehow we traded thoughts on the daily hukamnama. He is a kind and helpful person who told me proudly, "My 4-year old son loves me." That mattered more than most other things in his life. And banis also mattered or he would not have played them with me in the car. What if I, as his customer, had a problem with that? As it turned out I appreciated doing this with another human being.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=15077
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=15077

So is he a sinner? He does his best. His values and actions are grounded in love and devotion. The religious dilemma he faces is also faced by many other people. Who is closer to Nanak and the Guru (Mr. Singh or a Nihang at Amritsar)? I don't know. What do you think?

Respectfully

Dear aad0002 ji, I do agree with you. Moorakh like me especially do not always follow the hukam of early morning prayers. But throughout the day I try to remember Waheguroo and love listening to Gurbani Keertan. Gurbani Keertan has more benefit if one knows what the shabad means. Personally I do recite or listen to at least some of the Nitnem. In the Sampuran Rehras for eg, a longer Benti chaupai is included as opposed to the one in sodar rehras sahib. So i dont recite chaupai sahib on its own.
keeping rehit(discipline) is quite difficult esp for a moorakh like me.

Reading any part of Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji and doing vichaar on what one has read is very important.

Btw, a few links of online Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji if you need them:

Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji :Page :SearchGurbani.com

SikhiToTheMAX - Enabling Gurmat Knowledge

Sri Granth

(gives the meaning - next to the mouse pointer)



Siri Guru Granth Sahib - The Living Guru of the Sikhs

Guru*Granth*Sahib.com Message of the Sikh Gurus, win Free Gurbani CD & download Free Gurbani ringers and ringtones



Brief on translations:
Sri Guru Granth Sahib - English Translation

Audio
ProudToBeSikh: Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji in Raags

Learn Jupji Sahib Online: -The Sikh Prayers
(has the text too)

Kaur1 ji

Many of the links you listed are completely new to me, and the web sites that have a way to search Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji were exciting to find out about. This will keep me busy for a long time. The additional resources on the web sites, such as audio Nitnem, are valuable. Here is hoping that others will read this thread and find these links valuable too. Every resource makes a big difference. There is so much to learn.

On the topic. It is very difficult to draw a line between strictly following nitnem and gurbani and expressing deep devotion through actions and deeds. Probably we shouldn't even try to draw a line.

For me, the difficulty is more a matter of understanding when the ritual of daily prayers really does create a framework that supports devotion, versus when the ritual of prayer gets out of hand and takes on a life of its own that has little to do with devotion. If I miss a day of prayer, where does that leave me? If I pray but ignore responsibilities and people who need me at that moment, what does that say?
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=15077
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=15077

It is painful when a day goes by without listening and thinking about the hukamnama. I am very dependent on that in particular. The day revolves around the hukamnama and all the other prayers enrich it. Somehow, whenever I do Rehras Sahib one person or another interrupts, and it doesn't matter whether if it is 6 pm or 9 pm. They just have to be heard. Crazy?

At last, what is "moorakh" just in case I am moorakh too?

Respectfully

Kaur1 ji
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=15077

Somehow and someway your answer to my question about the definition of moorakh is no longer on my browser. This reply is not in the correct location.

Anyway, I am moorakh then too.

aad0002 ji, This is the link which has the reply http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/sikh-g...html#post52396

PM me please if more links or any other information is needed.

I prefer listening to Gurbani keertan. Looking up the Ang's for the Keertan in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji and sometimes even singing loud (off key most times!). Its a wonderful experience.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=15077
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=15077

We can read all the literature as a guide to GurSikhi but at the end of the day we MUST refer to Guru ji - Sri Guru Granth Sahib Jee.

If U have deep love for ur Guru U will never say no to any of his Hukums however hard they r.Just look at the five sikhs who placed their head before Guru becoz Guru asked for it.Guru reborn them with new life n energy n Guru hugged them all n blessed them as FiveLovedOnes.what is more beautiful than this.Guru's love is obtained with great blessings of his n nothing is worth in this world than obeying Guru's Orders/Bachaans n obtaining Guru's love.The Guru who loves us all with all his heart days n nights n remains with us with each breath we take.So kaur1 Ji go for whatever Guru says.without facing hardship U will not get the real hapiness while performing his Hukums.
I wake up at 2:00 o clock the time when Golden temple doors r open for his Gursikh devotees-The real Amrit vela.I found difficulty for one week but nothing could provide more hapiness than obeying Guru's Hukums.Mind is always stuck in Love with Guru 's feet while performing his hard orders.Forgive my ego.
Five Loved Ones did the hardest part n Guru made rest easy for them.Result sikhs wiped out tyrant Mugal empire all together n sikhi florished to peak.

So nothing is hard after few hard steps n soon hardship will be wiped out by Guru himself by providing u the physical n Mental might from within U.He resides with U all time.
"Joh Brahamandey Sohe Pinday." - Bhagat Pipa ji from Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji maharaj.

Do it n U will find ourself what I am saying.

Servent of Guru ask for forgiveness if any mistake committed.

Satnaam Wahe aaaaaaaaa.................................Guru ooooo..................................

Kaur-1 BhenJi

So good to hear your voice again in the forum! To hear you on the thread you started a while ago! To hear what kirtan and evening prayers mean to you!

This what I have been thinking about.

Naanak gave us his hukam before there was such a thing as a night-shift, a split-shift, or a working mother without a mother or mother-in-law to fill in when times at home were tough. Did he not also give us a religion that is tolerant of the real challenges of our lives?
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=15077

If we say Naam Simran and Japuji Sahib in the amrit vela in the US at -5 GMT does Waheguru hear us +5 GMT and at 0 hours on the Greenwich Meridian?

We pray during amrit vela to wash away our filth, to ready ourselves for a God-centered day ahead. But will Waheguru care less for our prayers when we need his grace in the afternoon, because a parent is sick, a child is injured, a co-worker has become depressed, or a friend has died in an accident?

Does Waheguru hear us more or less when we call on him through Kirtan or Gurbani? How long should Naam Simran last? 6 minutes? 13 minutes? 22 minutes? 59 minutes? Or as long as it takes to feel his grace?
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=15077

So sad when we cannot feel the grace and compassion of Waheguru!