SGGS - Qualities Of Seeker

I shall be posting the qualities that a seeker should develop as per Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. The following are the qualities as per pages 1-8.

The next post would cover the qualities as per the further/next pages.With His blessings I shall try to post these regularly.I would request that these posts should be left open for editing for some time so that the serialization may be done on weekly basis.

Pages1-8

To obey His Command

1. Obey the Hukam of His Command, and walk in the Way of His Will. [Page-1]

Contemplation

2. What words can we speak to evoke His Love?In the Amrit Vaylaa, the ambrosial hours before dawn, chant the True Name, and contemplate His Glorious Greatness. [Page-2]

Sing His/Naam Praises

3. Sing, and listen, and let your mind be filled with love. [Page-2]

3a.One who is blessed to sing the Praises of the Lord,O Nanak, is the king of kings. [Page-5]

3c. Speak of Him continually, and remain absorbed in His Love. [Page-5]

Have Faith in Him

4. Only one who has faith comes to know such a state of mind. [Page-3]


Love of Naam

5. But when the intellect is stained and polluted by sin,it can only be cleansed by the Love of the Name. [Page-4]

Self Cleansing

6.Listening and believing with love and humility in your mind,cleanse yourself with the Name, at the sacred shrine deep within. [Page-4]

Inculcating Virtues

7. All virtues are Yours, Lord, I have none at all. Without virtue, there is no devotional worship. [Page- 4]

Contentment
8. Make contentment your ear-rings, humility your begging bowl, and meditation the ashes you apply to your body. [Page-6]

Humility

9. Make contentment your ear-rings, humility your begging bowl, and meditation the ashes you apply to your body. [Page-6]

Meditation

10. Make contentment your ear-rings, humility your begging bowl, and meditation the ashes you apply to your body. [Page-6]

Remembrance Of Death

11. Let the remembrance of death be the patched coat you wear, let the purity of virginity be your way in the world, and let faith in the Lord be your walking stick. [Page-6]
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/sikh-sikhi-sikhism/28604-sggs-qualities-of-seeker.html

Brotherhood of mankind

12. See the brotherhood of all mankind as the highest order of Yogis; conquer your own mind, and conquer the world. [Page-6]

Conquer your Mind

13. See the brotherhood of all mankind as the highest order of Yogis; conquer your own mind, and conquer the world. [Page-6]

Spiritual Wisdom

14. Let spiritual wisdom be your food, and compassion your attendant. [Page-6]
14a.Let self-control be the furnace, and patience the goldsmith.
Let understanding be the anvil, and spiritual wisdom the tools. [Page-8]

Compassion

15. Let spiritual wisdom be your food, and compassion your attendant. [Page-6]
15a.Let understanding be the anvil, and spiritual wisdom the tools. [Page-8]

Self Control

16. Let self-control be the furnace, and patience the goldsmith.
Let understanding be the anvil, and spiritual wisdom the tools. [Page-8]

Patience

17. Let self-control be the furnace, and patience the goldsmith.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=28604
Let understanding be the anvil, and spiritual wisdom the tools. [Page-8]

Understanding

18. Let self-control be the furnace, and patience the goldsmith.
Let understanding be the anvil, and spiritual wisdom the tools. [Page-8]

Fear of God

19. With the Fear of God as the bellows, fan the flames of tapa, the body's inner heat. [Page-8]

Love For Lord

20. In the crucible of love, melt the Nectar of the Name,and mint the True Coin of the Shabad, the Word of God. [Page-8]


May kindly advise for better presentation to avoid overlapping etc. The numbering shall be done next-saturday.

To be edited.....
Up to So Dar ~ That Door. Raag Aasaa, First Mehl

 
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Do not Forget HIM
Those who forget their Lord and Master are vile and despicable. [page 10]
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=28604
Have Faith in HIM
The servants of the Lord have the greatest good fortune; they have faith in the Lord, and a longing for the Lord. [Page 10]

Be in Satsang
Obtaining the Name of the Lord, Har, Har, they are satisfied; joining the Sangat, the Blessed Congregation, their virtues shine forth. [Page-10]
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=28604

Blessed, blessed is the Sat Sangat, the True Congregation, where the Lord's Essence is obtained. Meeting with His humble servant, O Nanak, the Light of the Naam shines forth.[Page-10]

Upto Raag Gujri Mehl-5

1. Join the Sat Sangat/Saadh Sangat


·my Dear Lord of souls, one who joins the Sat Sangat, the True Congregation, is saved. [Page-10]

2. Remember/Serve/Meditate on HIM
·Those who meditate on You, Lord, those who meditate on You-those humble beings dwell in peace in this world. [Page-11]

• They are liberated, they are liberated-those who meditate on the Lord. For them, the noose of death is cut away. [Page-11]
• Those who serve, those who serve my Dear Lord, are absorbed into the Being of the Lord, Har, Har. [page-11]
• Blessed are they, blessed are they, who meditate on their Dear Lord. Servant Nanak is a sacrifice to them. [Page-11]

Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=28604
3. Earn His Devotion

• Devotion to You, devotion to You, is a treasure overflowing, infinite and beyond measure. {Page-11]
• Your devotees, Your devotees praise You, Dear Lord, in many and various and countless ways. [Page-11]
• For You, many, for You, so very many perform worship services, O Dear Infinite Lord; they practice disciplined meditation and chant endlessly.[Page-11]
• For You, many, for You, so very many read the various Simritees and Shaastras. They perform rituals and religious rites.
  Those devotees, those devotees are sublime, O servant Nanak, who are pleasing to my Dear Lord God. [Page-11]
• They alone understand, whom You inspire to understand; they continually chant and repeat the Lord's Praises. {page-11]
• Those who serve You find peace. They are intuitively absorbed into the Lord's Name. ||3|| [page-11]

After analyzing the Qualities we come across the following qualities besides other. These are:

• To obey His Command
  Contemplation
  Sing His/Naam Praises
  Have Faith in Him
  Love of Naam
  Self Cleansing
  Inculcating Virtues
  Contentment
  Humility
  Meditation
  Remembrance Of Death
  Brotherhood of mankind
  Conquer your Mind
  Spiritual Wisdom
  Compassion
  Self Control
  Patience
  Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=28604
  Understanding
  Fear of God
  Love For Lord

• Do not Forget HIM
  Have Faith in HIM
  Be in Satsang

1. Join the Sat Sangat/Saadh Sangat
   Remember/Serve/Meditate on HIM
   Earn His Devotion

Let us Look at the very first quality that is extracted from bani.


1. To obey His Command
One come across this in the First Paudi of jap ji sahib.


Kiv Sachiara Hoyeate Kiv Kure Tutte Paal.
Hukum Rajai Chalna Nanak Likhya Naal.


A Sikh or person of God should live and accept the command of God easily and without too much emotional distress. Live in contentment and in Chardikala (positive attitude)


Sabad-1


This Shabad is by Guru Arjan Dev Ji in Raag Gauree on Pannaa 209

gauVI mhlw 5 ]
gourree mehalaa 5 ||
Gauree, Fifth Mehla:

pwrbRhm pUrn prmysur mn qw kI Et ghIjY ry ]
paarabreham pooran paramaesur man thaa kee outt geheejai rae ||
He is the Supreme Lord God, the Perfect Transcendent Lord; O my mind, hold tight to the Support of the One

ijin Dwry bRhmMf KMf hir qw ko nwmu jpIjY ry ]1] rhwau ]
jin dhhaarae brehama(n)dd kha(n)dd har thaa ko naam japeejai rae ||1|| rehaao ||
who established the solar systems and galaxies. Chant the Name of that Lord. ||1||Pause||

mn kI miq iqAwghu hir jn hukmu bUiJ suKu pweIAY ry ]
man kee math thiaagahu har jan hukam boojh sukh paaeeai rae ||
Renounce the intellectual cleverness of your mind, O humble servants of the Lord; understanding the Hukam of His Command, peace is found.

jo pRBu krY soeI Bl mwnhu suiK duiK EhI iDAweIAY ry ]1]
jo prabh karai soee bhal maanahu sukh dhukh ouhee dhhiaaeeai rae ||1||
Whatever God does, accept that with pleasure; in comfort and in suffering, meditate on Him. ||1||

koit piqq auDwry iKn mih krqy bwr n lwgY ry ]
kott pathith oudhhaarae khin mehi karathae baar n laagai rae ||
The Creator emancipates millions of sinners in an instant, without a moment's delay.

dIn drd duK BMjn suAwmI ijsu BwvY iqsih invwjY ry ]2]
dheen dharadh dhukh bha(n)jan suaamee jis bhaavai thisehi nivaajai rae ||2||
The Lord, the Destroyer of the pain and sorrow of the poor, blesses those with whom He is pleased. ||2||

sB ko mwq ipqw pRiqpwlk jIA pRwn suK swgru ry ]
sabh ko maath pithaa prathipaalak jeea praan sukh saagar rae ||
He is Mother and Father, the Cherisher of all; He is the Breath of life of all beings, the Ocean of peace.

dyNdy qoit nwhI iqsu krqy pUir rihE rqnwgru ry ]3]
dhae(n)adhae thott naahee this karathae poor rehiou rathanaagar rae ||3||
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=28604
While giving so generously, the Creator does not diminish at all. The Source of jewels, He is All-pervading. ||3||

jwicku jwcY nwmu qyrw suAwmI Gt Gt AMqir soeI ry ]
jaachik jaachai naam thaeraa suaamee ghatt ghatt a(n)thar soee rae ||
The beggar begs for Your Name, O Lord and Master; God is contained deep within the nucleus of each and every heart.

nwnku dwsu qw kI srxweI jw qy ibRQw n koeI ry ]4]16]137]
naanak dhaas thaa kee saranaaee jaa thae brithhaa n koee rae ||4||16||137||
Slave Nanak has entered His Sanctuary; no one returns from Him empty-handed. ||4||16||137||



Sabad-2
This Shabad is by Guru Arjan Dev Ji in Raag Gauree on Pannaa 253

sloku ]
salok ||
Salok:

kuMt cwir dh idis BRmy krm ikriq kI ryK ]
ku(n)tt chaar dheh dhis bhramae karam kirath kee raekh ||
He wanders around in the four quarters and in the ten directions, according to the dictates of his karma.

sUK dUK mukiq join nwnk iliKE lyK ]1]
sookh dhookh mukath jon naanak likhiou laekh ||1||
Pleasure and pain, liberation and reincarnation, O Nanak, come according to one's pre-ordained destiny. ||1||

There is an error in translation/interpretation here.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=28604

The part about 'obeying His will' is all wrong. It's not about 'obeying'. It's about 'accepting'. You see, we cannot escape His will. It is inescapable. It is absolute. Thus peace can only be found in accepting it.

Consider: You try to put a piece of food in your mouth. But it falls on the floor. It was the last piece and you were really looking forward to it. But - to remain peaceful - one must accept this as the will of the universe/God/whatever. That is, you must accept God's 'hukkam'.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=28604

Simple.

Do not overcomplicate it.

Back Max314! So nice to see you around after a big break.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=28604

It's an absolute pleasure - many thanks for your warm welcome

I apologise for my extended absence, but I needed time to figure out the answer to the Big Question. I'll give you a hint - it's in Gurbani I also needed time to understand my own mind. I didn't think I had any right to keep banging on about others until I knew how my own mind worked. And I'll give you a hint - it's in Gurbani
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=28604

Of course, I read around the subject. I didn't restrict my reading just to Gurbani. Like any kind of study, it sometimes helps to read about the same concept(s) from different sources. Which is what I did.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=28604

I also wondered if it was worth me coming back, but then I realised that the thing I had 'figured out' only made sense if it was shared with others. And unless you're willing to share it, you're not really living your enlightenment. Because it belongs to no-one. And it belongs to everyone.

So that's my excuse for why I was away. And it's the reason I'm back.

I expect to tread on plenty of toes, but that's okay. The truth has a tendency to be painful as long as you fight it. But once you accept it, you realise it is the only path to true bliss.

Your user name ‘max’ is quite interesting. It keeps me close to my profession. We have a company In India by this name that deals with Insurance products and other financial products like securitization.

Anyways, Very many thanks for your input in the form of Hukum and will. It was very helpful. You have clarified the concept of HIS Hukum with the help of the concept of HIS will. WE are not discussing HIs 'will' but are discussing His Hukum and that is only to be obeyed.

Though I do not agree with my friend that everything is wrong. The translation has been taken from the most neutral site i.e. srigranth.org and the substance for presentation from sikhiwiki. None the less it has been a use ful contribution. I was discussing only the ‘Hukum’, the divine Hukum. The Bhana or HIS will was not the part of discussion. However, since it has been touched it would be appropriate to discuss both of them to the extent that the context pf the present thread requires at this point of time. With this limitation I begin that I have understood of the two terms.

A very important concept of ‘Hukum’ has been touched in the above post and before proceeding ahead it would be necessary to state few words about this. Needless to state that ‘Hukum’ and ‘Will’ are two words that are treated as synonyms .These may be. But there is subtle difference between the two. The ‘Will’ shall be discussed at appropriate place when the turn of the same is assigned during the writing of the post. However, it is to press upon that there are two distinct terms and may have some convergence so far as the meaning is concerned. But ‘will’ is a different concept and is generally reflected by the meaning of a Punjabi word i.e. ‘Bhana’. Hukum is Divine order and Bhana is Will, of course, divine. The cause is the divine will and it finds expression through the Divine Hukum.
HUKAM, in ordinary parlance, would mean command or order. It is an Arabic word. It is a divine order and a divine law and writ that is meant for regulating the entire universe. It is fairly important concepts of Sikhism. The word occurs in Pudi-1 and 2 and Its importance in Sikh theology is indicated by its occurrence at the very beginning of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, in paudi-1 of the Jap ji Sahib.
·So how can you become truthful? And how can the veil of illusion be torn away?
·Nanak, it is written that you shall obey the Hukam of His Command, and walk in the Way of His Will. ||1||
The Guru sahib points at a question as to how one can become sachiara and seek enlightenment. In the very next line we find an answer .States Guru Nanak ji: Obey the Hukum of HIS command meaning submit to the Hukum and walk in its way.
In Paudi-2, Guru ji tells the nature of the Command. The salient features are as follows:
·Though Hukum all everything exists in the forms. And HIS Hukum is beyond description.
·All life came into existence through Hukum, and by hukam some gets distinction and
·Some arc exalted by the hukam, some are not .Some must suffer while others find joy.
·Some receive by the hukam blessing, Others are incarnated time to time
·All come within the hukam, none beyond its authority.
hukmY AMdir sBu ko bwhir hukm n koie ] (1-9, jpu, mÚ 1)
The last line of the above paudi is important though.

nwnk hukmY jy buJY q haumY khY n koie ]2] (1-10, jpu, mÚ 1)
Those who understand the Hukum casts away the Ego. We must keep in mind the several important hypothesis that can be derived from the above paudi in regard to the Hukum.
As Akal Purakh is beyond human comprehension, so should be HIS Hukum, All are subject to Hukam and are under the authority of Hukum. By understanding Hukum only man can come out of ego that is stated to be a disease in bani i.e.’ haumein’.It has been stated to be the cause of out alienation from the Akaal.
In the next paudi there is a reference to the eternal law
[hukmI hukmu clwey rwhu ] (2-2, jpu, mÚ 1)
[The Commander, by His Command, leads us to walk on the Path]

By Thy hukam Thou didst create all forms.
hukmI sgl kry Awkwr ] (150-15, mwJ, mÚ 1)
The Lord, by the Hukam of His Command, has created the entire creation.

Assessing or guessing the Hukum is not a physical exercise it has a spiritual dimension in itself. If one has to know the Hukum one is required to follow the path of spirituality. It would resemble the path used for the realization of holy ‘sabda’. Extending the principle we can say that after decoding the Hukum thru. meditation and simran one overcomes ‘ haumai’ and finds the cherished reward.
The Hukum is realized through the Guru. When one follows the Guru's Teachings, then he realizes the Hukam of God's Command. [904-11] Those who obey the Hukam of the Lord's Command, are the perfect persons in the world.[512-11]

swcy gur qy hukmu pCwnu ]2] (414-8, Awsw, mÚ 1)
Through the True Guru, the Command of the Lord's Will is realized. ||2||
Nutshell
In nutshell, Hukum is the Divine law and ‘will’ is the cause of the Hukum. The divine ‘will’ is expressed through the Divine Hukum. This is ratified by the line: The Hukam of Your Command is the pleasure of Your Will, Lord. To say anything else is far beyond anyone's reach.[17-1 sriraag] and Further the Hukam of His Command cannot be erased; whatever He has written, shall go with the mortal.[1091-7] The Hukum has the sanction of HIS will ,the Bhana. Hukum is an expression of the will only. Hukum is the medium through which the ‘will’ is reflected. It may be compared with the promulgation of the ordinary laws and statutes in civil society these days. The various laws and enactments that we see around us are to regulate our physical life are nothing but the intent of the legislature or senate as one may like to call. The law is the expression of the will of the legislature/senate. I think the same principle is applicable here except of the fact that in the case of Divine the same entity is responsible for the will and the law.
I do agree that translators/interprtors do take liberty of using the term ‘will’ in place of ‘Hukum’ that appears in Bani. Still, I think that they have done a marvelous job. They have brought Bani closer to many by putting in the English translations.


Bhul chuk Mauf

Many thanks for your contribution, twinkle.

The presumed 'neutrality' of the source is not the issue. Nor is the effoty of the translators in question. But neither of these things exempts the nature of the translation from being right or wrong. And as committed as the translators are, they often miss the poetry of the Guru Granth Sahib, which tends to make for clunky translations that often fail to communicate the exact message of Gurbani.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=28604

Furthermore, those passages you kindly quoted still fit perfectly if the interpretation of 'Hukkam' is the one I espoused in the post above. The idea that nothing occurs outside God's 'Hukkam' means that everything that is happening is as it is meant to happen. And everything that has yet to happen will happen in precisely that way. That's why it says, "Those who understands the Hukkam casts away the ego." Because those who understand the Hukkam realise that they have no power over it, and thus dissolve their individual ego to be at peace with the way of things. Hence, "All come within Hukkam, and none beyond its authority."
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=28604

This is not the Abrahamic conception of following a certain set of rules and obeying God's command. Rather, it's a much more holistic conception that posits that struggling against 'Hukkam' is futile - all is as it is meant to be.

Gurbani also says, "Not even a single leaf can move unless God wills it."

This is the same concept re-iterated in a different way.