Living The Shabad Guru : My Thoughts And Feelings

Mai Harinder Kaur · #1 (**permalink**) 05-Aug-2009, 10:22 AM

Preface: Most of us have had this experience. A shabad enters our mind and stays there as we repeat, listen, feel, think about its meaning for us. We may have heard that shabad at the Gurudwara Sahib; or came across it while studying. Perhaps it is a personal favorite.
An Invitation To Share The Experience of Shabad Guru

Most of us have had this experience. A shabad enters our mind and stays there as we repeat, listen, feel, think about its meaning for us. We may have heard that shabad at the Gurudwara Sahib; or came across it while studying. Perhaps it is a personal favorite. Then, suddenly while walking, hiking, jogging, driving, or working out, there it is filling our attention. This can be a very sweet and gentle experience, or a strong, over-powering sort of thing, or just a simple thought (these are often the most insightful).
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/sikh-sikhi-sikhism/26127-living-shabad-guru-my-thoughts-feelings.html
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=26127

However it comes to you, we could all expand our understanding of Gurbani if we shared these thoughts and ideas and insights with each other. Whatever this experience is for you, please share it with the rest of us. Don't be shy! None of us is an expert, we are all learning from each other. So.....

Speak with your own inspiration from the Shabad
Describe is value and meaning to you in your daily life
Brainstorm with us, your fellow Seekers

Gyani Jarnail Singh · #2 (**permalink**) 05-Aug-2009, 11:46 AM

This is what Guru Ji actually taught us how to use GURBANI (the Tools) in the Tool Box (Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji)..Tejwant Jis expressions borrowed by me with appreciation and thanks...to CHANGE our Daily Lives.
Gurbani is for LIVING...as declared in the Closing Shabad of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji...Thaal wich teen vastoo paiyoh..Sat Santokh Vicharo..Amarit naam thakur ka paiyoh, Jis ka Sabhs adharo...Je Ko KHAVEH, Je ko BHUNCHEH tis ka hoi Udharo...GURBANI..has to be "EATEN"...Tasted.. CHEWED...DIGESTED....in order for US to have the Benefits of its "juices"...vitamins..within it...to GROW our "bodies..mann's Health...
SAdly the growing "Pujaree class/neo brahmins and clergy" in Sikhism has enforced the growing tendency among Sikhs to merely BOW, pay obeisance, matha tek money, gifts, make karrah parshad, langgars, etc and place the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji in perpetual Rumallas..ONLY to be "read" by PAID Granthis/Ragis/Parcharaks/Jathedars etc and NOT by SIKHS. The Pujarees grabbed thsi RIGHT of SIKHS..and the latter is guilty of RELINQUISHING its Rights through voluntary abdication of responsibilitues fors elf impriovement through Gurbani..and instead choosing the short cut path promised by the DERA BABAS..Dehdharee Gurus, and granthis, jathedars, ragis to.."leave the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji paaths/Gurbani to us to read, do paath, sing as Gurbani"...while YOU SIKHS just arrange the PAYMENT. Thus the ENTIRE SIKH NATION is in DEEP STUPOR...we are in trouble..and we are all keeping the TOOL BOX and its TOOLS safely LOCKED UP..and have given the "keys" to the Pujarees/clergy..Guru Arjun ji Called this the PIO DADDEH DA KHAZANAH..which we are supposed to USE for OUR BENEFIT..instead we gave it to the PUJAREES for "safekeeping"...
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=26127

Its my sincerest hope that this THREAD will help open a lot of closed doors..and allow us all to have a look at the WONDERS Guru Ji left for us...the Pio daddeh da Khazanah...as Ali Baba entered the cave of Treasures and was awed by the rubies and gold ornaments piled up..we SIKHS will see what we have been missing...for so long...

Narayanjot Kaur · #3 (**permalink**) 05-Aug-2009, 18:44 PM

Gyani ji

I agree with you and hope that the thread opens up space for dialog in the spirit of Sikh learning.

japjisahib04 · #4 (**permalink**) 05-Aug-2009, 20:36 PM

Giani Ji
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=26127

For me Living the Sabd Guru is teen age love. The more I contemplate, the more hungry I become - Jeo Jeo oh vadhaeyeh teo teo har seo rang. It reminds me a Hindi film song, abhi abhi to aaeye ho bahar ban kai chhai ho'. It happens that Namaz from my nearby home turns into kirtan for me.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=26127

Best regards
Mohinder Singh Sahni

harbansj24 · #5 (**permalink**) 05-Aug-2009, 20:41 PM

Yes when Guruji says Pio Dade Da Khol Ditha Khazanah, it lierally means that we have to see and use precious wealth of Gurbani bequeathed to us.

Fortunately for our generation we have different channels bringing to us live the soul touching Asa Di war from Harmandir sahib and Bangla Sahib and Kathas by people like Giani Pinderpal singh ji, Bhai Gur Iqbal Singh ji, Giani Harnam Singh ji. Many of us, may not have had the formal education to interpret Gurbani correctly but even then it never fails to touch anyone who hears it.

I was born a year after the partition holocaust which my parents went through and I was brought up only in different parts of South India. In those days Sikhs were more rare there, than even in UK or US. So the only exposure I had was from my mother. She, instead of singing lullabies would sing different Shabads to me depending on the occasion. Shabads like;

Naal Narayan mere.....
Tati Vaho na laagi.....
Aukhi ghadi na dekhan dehi...
Hamari karo hath de racha...
Gagan mein thal....

Of coarse she would also recite Japji Sahib, Rehras Sahib, Anand sahib, quotes from Sukhmani Sahib etc.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=26127
As a bonus we would hear sakhis of Mardana ji and Guru Nanak Dev ji, of Dhruv, Prahlad, Namdev, 4 Sahib zade. Though I had no formal training in Punjabi, my mother's above gifts are etched in my mind.

Tejwant Singh · #6 (**permalink**) 06-Aug-2009, 00:03 AM

Sadh Sangat,

Guru Fateh.

What a great name of the thread!" Living The ShabadGuru: My Thoughts And Feelings".
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=26127

Thanks to the two lovely ladies that are instrumental in creating this great title and also are the very important parts of this Gurmat Engine that is juggernauting towards its 10,000 members in mere 5 years since its inception.

So, THANK YOU Mai ji and Narayanjot ji for your inspiration during the brainstorming session for this thread.

Some of you may know that I walk 7 days a week at 4 am in the morning. 5.3 miles from Monday to Friday and 7 miles on Saturdays and Sundays. I do not use I pod because I like to listen to my inner self and the birds chirping around me. During this time, Gurbani verses pop up into my head which accompany me through this journey.

Some of the new members who may not know this but I used to be a Marathon Runner. The short story of my endeavours in running can be found in the following thread:

http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/sikh-s...-in-sikhi.html

Enough about me-ism.

So, allow me to break the ice here by sharing some of the Shabads that have come to mind while walking:

July 31st,2009.

Went for my 5.3 miler at 4 am. The fire that destroyed Khalsa School in Vancouver, Canada, was on my mind all night long and during this journey. The Shabad that accompanied me today was," Jiskah Sahib Dadha hovei, Usnu MAAR nan sakei koyei".
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=26127

One who is blessed with the True Guru( SatGuru) as a guide, then no harm can come even close to him or her.

Tejwant Singh

Tejwant Singh · #7 (**permalink**) 06-Aug-2009, 05:54 AM

August 1st,2009.

Went for my 7 miler today.The Shabad that accompanied me during this journey was:

mil maerae preethamaa jeeo thudhh bin kharee nimaanee ||
I plead you my beloved, please come and meet me. Without you, I am no one, nothing, nada, zip, zero. I am insignificant without you, my love.

mai nainee needh n aavai jeeo bhaavai ann n paanee ||
Your absence, my beloved, has made me lose any desire to sleep and eat.

paanee ann n bhaavai mareeai haavai bin pir kio sukh paaeeai ||
As all my desires are gone. How can I find peace, my love, without you?

gur aagai karo binanthee jae gur bhaavai jio milai thivai milaaeeai ||
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=26127
I plead to my Guru, my beloved, and with His grace, we will be united.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=26127

aapae mael leae sukhadhaathaa aap miliaa ghar aaeae ||
My beloved has listened to my pleas. He is the giver of peace, the fulfiller of my yearnings and longings. I have found the connection with Him within me. He has united me with Himself.

naanak kaaman sadhaa suhaagan naa pir marai n jaaeae ||4||2||
O Nanak,Now my love is eternal with my beloved, Ik Ong Kaar,it is never going to die. We will be together for eternity.||4||2||

Tejwant Singh

Tejwant Singh · #8 (**permalink**) 07-Aug-2009, 00:17 AM

The journey continues.....

August 2nd,2009.

Went for my 7 miler today and the Shabad that accompanied me in today's journey was: Eh sareerah mereiah, iss jug mein ayei kei, kia tudh karam kamaeiya?

"Hey, person, what kind of footprints are you planning to leave on this speck of sand called the Earth before departing?"

August 3rd,2009

The same Shabad continued and accompanied me on my 5.3 mile journey at 4am today: Ki karam kamayeiah tudh sareerah, jah tum jug mein ayeia? "Hey person, What have you been up to so far in your life? Show the world your ledgers of your actions and deeds."

Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=26127

August 4th,2009

The journey continues in my 5.3 miles of contemplation today: Jin Har terah rachan racheiya, so Har munn nah vasaeia." The ONE who gave you this body - Ik Ong Kaar- , You did not bother to cultivate any connection with The Source in your mind in order to learn how to breed goodness within as footprints to be left after your departure on this speck of sand called The Earth.

Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=26127
August 5th,2009

The journey with the same Shabad continues today on my 5.3 miler. Gur Parsadi HAR munn vaseia, poorab likhiah payeiah. With the Grace of the Guru,One finds THE ONE within as part & parcel of one's own destiny.Kahei Nanak ehu sareer pravaan hoa, jin SATGURU sio chit layeiah.||35|| Says Nanak, hey person, you are only able to create the footprints to be left behind, provided you find the connection with SATGURU||35||

Tejwant Singh

Mai Harinder Kaur · #9 (**permalink**) 07-Aug-2009, 00:45 AM

On the evening of 25 April 2006, I went to bed with full, lovely kes, my head hair shining and healthy, a bit below my waist. *(Being a woman, I lacked all but a tiny bit of facial adornment.)

When I came out of a coma about a week later, my hair were broken off, mostly just past my shoulders; what was left was dull and lifeless.

I had had a massive stroke and had died. To revive me, the paramedics at home and later the doctors at the hospital had repeatedly used a defibrillator to revive my lifeless body. Although, my hair was not shorn, I felt naked - and a little guilty - without it I am told that hairs take three years to regain their natural state after being damaged, however the damage occurs. Three years have now passed and, while it's still quite short (mid-back), I am grateful to feel that I have my kesh back.

During this time, I have often listened to and meditated on this part of this shabad: (Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Ang 941:

ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਰੋਮਿ ਰੋਮਿ ਹਰਿ ਧਿਆਵੈ ॥
guramukh rom rom har dhhiaavai ||
The Gurmukh meditates on the Lord with every hair of his body.
The whole Shabad can be heard at:

YouTube - The Gurmukh meditates on God with every hair of his body.

Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=26127
preceded by a short talk on the importance of kes (in Punjabi).

The words to the whole Shabad follow, although what is left of my brain hangs on to that one line above:
ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਸਾਚੇ ਕਾ ਭਉ ਪਾਵੈ ॥
guramukh saachae kaa bho paavai ||
The Gurmukh lives in the Fear of God, the True Lord.
4 Raamkalee Guru Nanak Dev ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਬਾਣੀ ਅਘੜੁ ਘੜਾਵੈ ॥
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=26127
guramukh baanee agharr gharraavai ||
Through the Word of the Guru's Bani, the Gurmukh refines the unrefined.
4 Raamkalee Guru Nanak Dev ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਨਿਰਮਲ ਹਰਿ ਗੁਣ ਗਾਵੈ ॥
guramukh niramal har gun gaavai ||
The Gurmukh sings the immaculate, Glorious Praises of the Lord.
5 Raamkalee Guru Nanak Dev ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਪਵਿਤ੍ਰੁ ਪਰਮ ਪਦੁ ਪਾਵੈ ॥
guramukh pavithra param padh paavai ||
The Gurmukh attains the supreme, sanctified status.
5 Raamkalee Guru Nanak Dev ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਰੋਮਿ ਰੋਮਿ ਹਰਿ ਧਿਆਵੈ ॥
guramukh rom rom har dhhiaavai ||
The Gurmukh meditates on the Lord with every hair of his body.
5 Raamkalee Guru Nanak Dev ਨਾਨਕ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਸਾਚਿ ਸਮਾਵੈ ॥੨੭॥
naanak guramukh saach samaavai ||27||
O Nanak, the Gurmukh merges in Truth. ||27||
6 Raamkalee Guru Nanak Dev ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਪਰਚੈ ਬੇਦ ਬੀਚਾਰੀ ॥
guramukh parachai baedh beechaaree ||
The Gurmukh is pleasing to the True Guru; this is contemplation on the Vedas.
6 Raamkalee Guru Nanak Dev ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਪਰਚੈ ਤਰੀਐ ਤਾਰੀ ॥
guramukh parachai thareeai thaaree ||
Pleasing the True Guru, the Gurmukh is carried across.
6 Raamkalee Guru Nanak Dev ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਪਰਚੈ ਸੁ ਸਬਦਿ ਗਿਆਨੀ ॥
guramukh parachai s sabadh giaanee ||
Pleasing the True Guru, the Gurmukh receives the spiritual wisdom of the Shabad.
7 Raamkalee Guru Nanak Dev ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਪਰਚੈ ਅੰਤਰ ਬਿਧਿ ਜਾਨੀ ॥
guramukh parachai anthar bidhh jaanee ||
Pleasing the True Guru, the Gurmukh comes to know the path within.
7 Raamkalee Guru Nanak Dev ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਪਾਈਐ ਅਲਖ ਅਪਾਰੁ ॥
guramukh paaeeai alakh apaar ||
The Gurmukh attains the unseen and infinite Lord.
7 Raamkalee Guru Nanak Dev ਨਾਨਕ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਦੁਆਰੁ ॥੨੮॥
naanak guramukh mukath dhuaar ||28||
O Nanak, the Gurmukh finds the door of liberation. ||28||