Re: Wearing a cap
Here is an article about How we treat GOD as a Plaything...HE is NOT to fool around with...
ਲੋਗਨ ਰਾਮੁ ਖਿਲਉਨਾ ਜਾਨਾਂ - LOGAN RAAM KHILONAA JAANAA
IS GOD A TOY? Excessive thirst for Maya makes people wear all sorts of religious robes (sggs 352). The
more one wears religious robes, the more pain he causes his body (sggs 467). People
apply ceremonial marks to their foreheads, hold
Maalaa or rosary in their hands, and
wear religious robes. People think that the Lord is a toy or a play-thing ||1|| (sggs1158)!
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Pretending to be religious or spiritual, some wear peculiar religious robes, some apply ceremonial marks to their body, some hang ceremonial symbols to it, some keep unshorn hair while others shave their head clean, some go naked while others wear dear skin, and so on. However, devoid of Truthfulness and Righteousness (
Dharma), their hearts are filthy and their minds are contaminated; for their soul is attached to deceptive Maya (illusion, ignorance, false ego, delusion, wrong identity, etc.). Obviously, in their guile, such people take God to be merely a toy or a plaything!
- ਮਾਥੇ ਤਿਲਕੁ ਹਥਿ ਮਾਲਾ ਬਾਨਾਂ ॥ ਲੋਗਨ ਰਾਮੁ ਖਿਲਉਨਾ ਜਾਨਾਂ ॥੧॥: Maathe tilk hath maalaa baanaa. Logan Raam khilonaa jaanaa ||1||: People apply ceremonial marks to their foreheads, hold maalaa or rosary in their hands, and wear religious robes. People think that the Lord is a toy or a play-thing ||1|| (sggs 1158)!
- ਬਹੁ ਭੇਖ ਕੀਆ ਦੇਹੀ ਦੁਖੁ ਦੀਆ ॥: Bahu bhekh keeyaa dehee dukh deeaa: The more one wears religious robes, the more pain he causes his body (sggs 467).
This material world is the manifestation of God's material energy called Maya. Another name for Maya is illusion or "that which is not". It clings to this material world like a serpent. Because of the mind's attachment to this Maya, one becomes extrovert, selfish, greedy, envy, superstitious and doubt-ridden. Consequently, he does not get to Realize his True Nature, which is Pure Consciousness.
On account of such deluded state, man begins to believe that he can attain God by merely going for pilgrimage, parrot-like reciting or memorizing of scriptures, keeping uncut hair, shaving head, keeping
Jataas or matted hair, wearing a
Dhotee (loincloth) in certain style, wearing a special short, hanging a sacred thread or a sword or a dagger on to the material body, drinking a sweetened liquid called
Amrit or
Charnaamrit, wearing a rosary around the neck, wearing rings, covering head with piece of a cloth or wearing a headgear, putting a mark on the forehead and other parts of the body, wearing peculiar religious dress, performing
Nitnem or five
Namaaj, attending sermons at organized religious places, keeping
Akhand-Paath of scriptures (uninterrupted reading), hiring
Raagees or preachers to perform in one's house, sacrificing innocent animals in the name of religion and God, renouncing the world, wandering in jungles and mountains, living in caves or secluded places, observing fasts, abandoning family-life, keeping mum, performing rituals for material gains, praying for mundane objects, becoming a religious fanatic, serving or following swindlers in religious garbs (Saints,
Bhais, Raagees, Baabaas, Gurus, Parchaaraks, Yogis, Swamis, and so on), thinking oneself religiously better than others, keeping and maintaining the illusion that one can hide his sinful actions from God, hating and killing people in the name of religion and God, applying ashes to the body and torturing it, using religion for gaining name or fame, calling oneself a saint or
Bhagwaan, cheating and stealing on the name of religion, wandering naked, covering mouth with a piece of a white cloth, performing magic like tricks to impress upon unsuspecting people, performing meditation or
Jap and
Tap like a heron does, bathing in specific ponds or rivers, giving charity or donations, building temples, taking initiation, baptizing, performing circumcision, the list goes on and on.
- ਕਾਹੂ ਜੁਗਤਿ ਕਿਤੈ ਨ ਪਾਈਐ ਧਰਮਿ ॥: Kahoo jugati kitai na paaeeai Dharma: Dharma cannot be obtained by any rituals (sggs 274).
All such phony rituals have been rejected by the Gurbani (Sri Guru Granth Sahib, SGGS) and many other true scriptures as God cannot be pleased or approached by them. Why? Because rituals make people atheist; for they give rise to blind faith and superstitions, resulting in increasing the fire of false ego or ignorance. To put it in other way, empty religious rituals cannot help in attaining God-consciousness (
Naam or
Shabad-Surti). However, spiritually blinds practice empty rituals and phony beliefs because they think the Supreme Lord is just as foolish and ignorant as they are. Without the True Name, as the Gurbani says, wearing religious robes, applying ceremonial marks or hanging objects to this perishable material body are like decorations on a dead body! The Gurbani thunders forth the declaration that, without the Truth, there is nothing in this world that can render us pure.
- ਨਾਮ ਬਿਨਾ ਜੇਤਾ ਬਿਉਹਾਰੁ ॥ ਜਿਉ ਮਿਰਤਕ ਮਿਥਿਆ ਸੀਗਾਰੁ ॥: Naam binaa jetaa biouhaar. Jio miratak mithiaa seegaar: Without the Divine Name, all occupations are useless, like decorations on a dead body (sggs 240).
- ਭੇਖ ਅਨੇਕ ਅਗਨਿ ਨਹੀ ਬੁਝੈ ॥ ਕੋਟਿ ਉਪਾਵ ਦਰਗਹ ਨਹੀ ਸਿਝੈ ॥: Bhekh anek agan nahee boojhai. Koti upaav dargah nahee sijhai: Wearing various religious robes, the fire (of desire) is not extinguished; even making millions of (such) efforts, one will not be accepted in the Court of the Lord (sggs 266).
- ਸਾਚ ਬਿਨਾ ਕਹ ਹੋਵਤ ਸੂਚਾ ॥: Saach bina kah hovat soochaa: Without the Truth, how can anyone be pure? (sggs 269).
- ਜੇ ਜਾਣਸਿ ਬ੍ਰਹਮੰ ਕਰਮੰ ॥ ਸਭਿ ਫੋਕਟ ਨਿਸਚਉ ਕਰਮੰ ॥: Je jaanas Brahamam karmam. Sabh Fokat nisachau karmam: If one knew the Nature of God, he would know that all of these beliefs and rituals are in vain (sggs 470).
The Gurbani thus roars that the ritual practices bind people in egoism; which, in turns, veils our real Self. Without knowing the True Nature of the Self, one cannot know the Nature of God. Without knowing the Nature of God, one subjects himself to repeated spell of useless beliefs and rituals. Once caught in these "
Fokat" or worthless practices, man forgets the Truth that he is Pure Consciousness. The consequent is spiritual blindness, bewilderment and delusion of the mind. Through such material conditioning or self-limitations, followers of different religions begin to think that if you do not believe in their particular path or scripture, and if you do not follow their religious rituals or ceremonies in their peculiar way, then you are nonbeliever and can not attain God-realization. As a result, many people have made God look like nothing more than a toy or a plaything! Apparently, as the Gurbani says, such people have no clue about the true Nature of God!
- ਕਰਮ ਕਰਤ ਬਧੇ ਅਹੰਮੇਵ ॥ ਮਿਲਿ ਪਾਥਰ ਕੀ ਕਰਹੀ ਸੇਵ ॥: Karam karat badhe ahanmev. Mil paathar kee karahee sev: Ritual practices bind people in egotism; meeting together, they worship stones (sggs 324).
According to the Gurbani, God is A
gmaa (inaccessible), A
gam (unreachable or unapproachable), A
paaraa (unrivaled or incomparable), A
gochar (incomprehensible),
Alakh (invisible),
Abhevaa (inscrutable),
Beant (infinite),
Athaahaa or
Agaadh or
Agaah (unfathomable), and so on. On the contrary, the mortals are said to be silly, foolish, ignorant and meritless. Still, we mortals go to the extreme to make the Supreme Being the subject of our mental speculations and material logic; thinking that God can be accessed, comprehended and approached through our useless beliefs, rituals, and garbs! As this is not enough, we judge others as good or bad based on such useless (
"Fokat") beliefs!
- ਕਰਤੂਤਿ ਪਸੂ ਕੀ ਮਾਨਸ ਜਾਤਿ ॥ ਲੋਕ ਪਚਾਰਾ ਕਰੈ ਦਿਨੁ ਰਾਤਿ ॥ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਭੇਖ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਮਲੁ ਮਾਇਆ ॥ ਛਪਸਿ ਨਾਹਿ ਕਛੁ ਕਰੈ ਛਪਾਇਆ ॥: kartoot pasoo kee maanas jaat. Lok pachaaraa karai din raat. Bahri bhekh antar mal Maya. Shapasi naahi kashu karai shapaaiaa: They (ਮਾਇਆ-ਧਾਰੀ ਜੀਵ - those in love with Maya, etc.) belong to the human species, but they act like animals. Day and night, they make show (ਲੋਕ ਦਿਖਾਵੇ ਦੇ ਕੰਮ). Outwardly, they (those who act like animals) wear religious robes, but within is the filth of Maya. They cannot conceal (their inner filth with outwardly wearing religious robes) (sggs 267).
- ਆਪਸ ਕਉ ਜੋ ਭਲਾ ਕਹਾਵੈ ॥ ਤਿਸਹਿ ਭਲਾਈ ਨਿਕਟਿ ਨ ਆਵੈ ॥: Aaps kaou jo bhalaa kahaavai. Tisahi bhalaaee nikit n aavai: One who calls himself good — goodness will not draw near him (sggs 278).
Truth is beyond all kinds of
Bhekh (religious wearing). This is why scriptures proclaim that a
Bhekdhaaree can never become liberated. On the contrary, owing to his
Bhekh, he subjects himself to repeated pains and sufferings caused by his own such ignorance. The scriptures thunder that without knowing the Truth, one can not attain the abode of
Akaal Purukh, the Timeless Consciousness.
- ਭੇਖ ਵਰਨ ਦੀਸਹਿ ਸਭਿ ਖੇਹ ॥: Bhekh varan deesahi sabhi kheh: All the false religious garbs and castes look like dust (sggs 352).
- ਬਹੁ ਭੇਖ ਕੀਆ ਦੇਹੀ ਦੁਖੁ ਦੀਆ ॥: Bahu bhekh keeyaa dehee dukh deeaa: The more one wears religious robes, the more pain he causes his body (sggs 467).
- ਭੇਖ ਦਿਖਾਵੈ ਸਚੁ ਨ ਕਮਾਵੈ ॥ ਕਹਤੋ ਮਹਲੀ ਨਿਕਟਿ ਨ ਆਵੈ ॥੨॥: Bhekh dikhaavai sach na kmaavai. Kahto mahalee nikit na paavai ||2||: He wears religious robes, but he does not practice Truth; he says that he has found the Mansion of God's Presence, but he can not even get near it ||2|| (sggs 738).
- ਭੇਖੀ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਨ ਲਭਈ ਵਿਣੁ ਸਚੀ ਸਿਖੰ ॥: Bhekhi prabhu na labhaee vin sachee sikham: God can be found by true instructions, not by religious garbs (sggs 1099).
- ਬਾਹਰਿ ਭੇਖ ਕਰਹਿ ਘਨੇਰੇ ॥ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਬਿਖਿਆ ਉਤਰੀ ਘੇਰੇ ॥: Baahri bhekh karhi ghanere. Antar bikhiaa utree ghere: Outwardly (to look pious and to impress others), they wear various religious robes, but within, they are enveloped by poison (of Maya). (sggs 372).
- ਪੜਿ ਪੜਿ ਪੰਡਿਤ ਮੋਨੀ ਥਾਕੇ ਭੇਖੀ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਨ ਪਾਈ ॥: Par par pandit monee thaake bhekhee mukti na paaee: By continual reading, the scholars and silent sages are tired, and through religious garbs emancipation is not attained (sggs 440).
- ਜੇ ਜੇ ਭੇਖ ਸੁ ਤਨ ਮੈਂ ਧਾਰੈ ॥ ਤੇ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਜਨ ਕਛੁ ਕੈ ਨ ਬਿਚਾਰੈ ॥: Je je bhekh su tan mai dhaarai. Te prabh jan kashoo kai na bichaarai: Those who adopt different religious garbs are never liked by the men of God (Guru Gobind Singh Jee, Bachitra Naatak, Dasam Granth, page 140, line 7).
Fanaticism comes from ignorance (illusion, delusion, false ego, Maya, mistaken identity, etc.). According to the scriptures, one can not practice devotion and become Self-realized if he is under the spell of fanaticism. This is the reason Baabaa Nanak rejected any and all religious wearing as well as fanaticism. Instead, he instructs us to only stick to the Holy Name; which is the only True
Dharma.
- ਭੇਖੁ ਭਵਨੀ ਹਠੁ ਨ ਜਾਨਾ ਨਾਨਕਾ ਸਚੁ ਗਹਿ ਰਹੇ ॥: Bhekh bhavnee hathu na jaanaa Nanakaa sach gahi rahe ||: I know of no religious bodily-dress or garbs, pilgrimages, or stubborn fanaticism; Says Nanak, I only holdfast to the Truth (sggs 844).
This is the heart and soul of Baabaa Nanak's teaching. This also has been the cardinal point of the teachings of other true Spirituals Masters of the world. However, as the history of the world religions reminds us, after a Spiritual Master is gone, his real teachings become forgotten or corrupted when they fall in the hands of greedy and selfish who want name and gain. As revealed by the Gurbani, God can not be Realized through empty religious ceremonies, rituals, rites, Bhekh, phony beliefs, absurd doctrines and frightening concepts of God.. Why? Because it is impossible to achieve a complete God-realization by such worthless means. They are solely performed to satisfy evil emotions of ignorant men. Such practices are empty of good vibrations, and are of no help to others. In the words of Vivekananda:
- There may be a thousand radii but they all converge at the one center, and that is the realization of God. Something behind this world of sense, this world of eternal eating and drinking and talking nonsense, this world of false shadows and selfishness. There is that beyond all books, beyond all creeds, beyond the vanities of this world - and that is the realization of God within oneself. A man may believe in all the churches in the world; he may carry in his head all the sacred books ever written; he may baptize himself in all the rivers of the earth - still if he has no perception of God, I would class him with the rankest atheist. A man may have never entered a church or mosque, nor performed any ceremony; but if he realizes God within himself, and is thereby lifted above the vanities of the world, that man is a holy man, a saint, call him what you will ...
A burning example can be given of Baabaa Nanak when he was asked to wear a so called sacred thread around his body. He emphatically rejected it, because he knew that one cannot obtain union with God by such absurd beliefs. Now, just imagine how the same Master can recommend others to wear some kind of marks, symbols, or peculiar wearing around their body; or suggest them to live by some "Fokat" beliefs and rituals! The fact of the matter is that he spent all his life helping people around the world to become free of such inner "filth" of ignorance. But, it seems that people are back to square one! Here is what Baabaa Nanak has to say about putting so called religious symbols and garbs on the body.
- ਅਧਿਕ ਤਿਆਸ ਭੇਖ ਬਹੁ ਕਰੈ ॥: Adhik tiyaas bhekh bahu krai: Excessive thirst for Maya makes people wear all sorts of religious robes (sggs 352).
- ਉਦਮੁ ਕਰਿ ਲਾਗੇ ਬਹੁ ਭਾਤੀ ਬਿਚਰਹਿ ਅਨਿਕ ਸਾਸਤ੍ਰ ਬਹੁ ਖਟੂਆ ॥ ਭਸਮ ਲਗਾਇ ਤੀਰਥ ਬਹੁ ਭ੍ਰਮਤੇ ਸੂਖਮ ਦੇਹ ਬੰਧਹਿ ਬਹੁ ਜਟੂਆ ॥ ਬਿਨੁ ਹਰਿ ਭਜਨ ਸਗਲ ਦੁਖ ਪਾਵਤ ਜਿਉ ਪ੍ਰੇਮ ਬਢਾਇ ਸੂਤ ਕੇ ਹਟੂਆ ॥ ਪੂਜਾ ਚਕ੍ਰ ਕਰਤ ਸੋਮਪਾਕਾ ਅਨਿਕ ਭਾਂਤਿ ਥਾਟਹਿ ਕਰਿ ਥਟੂਆ ॥੨॥੧੧॥੨੦॥: Uddam kar laage bahu bhantee ...: (Many Men) are engaged in making efforts many ways. They reflect upon the various aspects of the six Shaastras. Rubbing ashes all over their bodies, many wander around at the various sacred shrines of pilgrimage; they fast until their bodies are emaciated, and braid their hair into tangled messes. Many perform worship ceremonies, draw ritual marks on their bodies, cook their own food fanatically (ਸੁੱਚ ਦੀ ਖ਼ਾਤਰ), and make pompous shows of themselves in all sorts of ways. Without devotional worship of the Lord, they all suffer in pain, caught in the tangled web of their love (of all their pompous shows - ਅਡੰਬਰ). ||2||11||20|| (sggs 1389).
Clearly, it seems we are sinking back into the same swamp from which we were freed by Baabaa Nanak (i.e., the filth of rituals, doubts, ignorance, selfishness, fanaticism, mental concoctions, delusions, sense gratification, corruption, etc.). This is generally what happens when the teachings of a Master become forgotten or corrupted by the selfish agenda of selfish people. We will take a few examples from the Gurbani to see how people can become prisoner of their phony beliefs and rituals. Some believe that God can be pleased only by keeping long or matted hair. On the contrary, some believe that He can be pleased only by clean shaving the head. Obviously, all these people have taken God as a plaything. If the emancipation can be attained by keeping long hair or shaving the head, then all those animals in the jungle should be able to do so because nobody ever cuts their hair, or a sheep who does get trimmed!
- ਮੂਡ ਮੁੰਡਾਏ ਜੌ ਸਿਧਿ ਪਾਈ ॥ ਮੁਕਤੀ ਭੇਡ ਨ ਗਈਆ ਕਾਈ ॥੨॥: Moond mudaaye jo sidh paayee. Mukti bhed na gayeeyaa kaayee: If the spiritual perfection of Sidhaas can be obtained by shaving the head, then why havn't sheep found liberation (sggs 324).
- ਕਬੀਰ ਪ੍ਰੀਤਿ ਇਕ ਸਿਉ ਕੀਏ ਆਨ ਦੁਬਿਧਾ ਜਾਇ ॥ ਭਾਵੈ ਲਾਂਬੇ ਕੇਸ ਕਰੁ ਭਾਵੈ ਘਰਰਿ ਮੁਡਾਇ ॥: Kabeer preet ik siyu keeye aan dubidhaa jaayi. Bhaavai laambe kes kar bhaavai gharari mudaayi: Kabeer, when you are in love with the One Lord, duality departs. (Untill duality is departed) it does not matter if you keep long hair or if you shave your head bald (sggs 1365).
- ਵਾਲ ਵਧਾਇਆਂ ਪਾਈਐ ਬੜ ਜਟਾਂ ਪਲਾਸੀ: Vaal vadhaaiaan paaeeai barh jataan plaasee: If God can be attained by growing long hair then the tree of Boharr should be able to attain God because it also grows long creepers (rootlets) like matted hair (Bhaai Gurdaas, 33-14-2).
- ਮੂੰਡੁ ਮੁਡਾਇ ਜਟਾ ਸਿਖ ਬਾਧੀ ਮੋਨਿ ਰਹੈ ਅਭਿਮਾਨਾ ॥ ਮਨੂਆ ਡੋਲੈ ਦਹ ਦਿਸ ਧਾਵੈ ਬਿਨੁ ਰਤ ਆਤਮ ਗਿਆਨਾ ॥: Moond mudaayi jataa sikh baadhee moni rahai abhimaanaa. Manuyaa dolai dah dis dhaavai bin rat aatam giyaanaa: Some shave their head, some keep matted-locks, some wear hair-tuffs, some through pride remain silent. But without the love of the Divine Knowledge, their mind waves and wanders in ten directions (sggs 1013).
- ਨ ਜਟਾ ਮੂੰਡ ਧਾਰੋਂ ॥ ਨ ਮੁੰਦ੍ਰਕਾ ਸਵਾਰੋਂ ॥ ਜਪੋ ਤਾਸ ਨਾਮੰ ॥ ਸਰੈ ਸਰਬ ਕਾਮੰ ॥੫੧॥: Na jataa moond dhaaro. Na mundraka savaaro. Japo taas namam. Sarai sarab kaamam: neither wear matted hair on the head nor bedeck myself with ear-rings. meditate on the Name of the Lord, which helps me in all my errands (Guru Gobind Singh Jee, Bachitra Naatak 51, Dasam Granth, 140).
- ਮੋਨ ਭਜੇ ਨਹੀ ਮਾਨ ਤਜੇ ਨਹੀ ਭੇਖ ਸਜੇ ਨਹੀ ਮੂੰਡ ਸੁਹਾਏ ॥ ਕੰਠ ਨ ਕੰਠੀ ਕਠੋਰ ਧਰੇ ਨਹੂ ਸੀਸ ਜਟਾਨ ਕੇ ਜੂਟ ਸੁਹਾਏ ॥ ਸਾਚੁ ਕਹੋਂ ਸੁਨ ਲੈ ਚਿਤ ਦੈ ਬਿਨੁ ਦੀਨ ਦਿਆਲ ਕੀ ਸਾਮ ਸਿਧਾਏ ॥ ਪ੍ਰੀਤਿ ਕਰੇ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਪਾਯਤ ਹੈ ਕ੍ਰਿਪਾਲ ਨ ਭੀਜਤ ਲਾਂਡ ਕਟਾਏ ॥੧੦੦॥: Kanchan siyu paayeeai nahi tol. Man de Raam leeaa hai mol. Kanth na kanthee kathor dharai nahoo sees jataan ke joot suhaaye. Saach kaho sun lai chit dai binu deen diyaal kee saam sidhaaye. Preet kare prabhu paayat hai kirpaal n bheejat laand kataaye ||100||: God can not be found by practising silence, abandoning pride, wearing holy garments, or by shaving your head. He can't be attained by wearing a rosary (Kanthi: a short necklace of small beads of different kinds made of wood or seeds worn by mendicants or ascetics) or by maintaining making a knot of matted hair on the head. Listen attentively, I speak Turth, Thou shalt not achieve the target without going under the Refuge of the LORD, Who is ever Merciful to the lowly. God can only be realized with LOVE, He is not pleased by circumcision ||100|| (Guru Gobind Singh Jee, Bachitra Naatak, Dasam Granth, 111-112).
Some claim that one must wear a
Janeyu (sacred thread), sword or a knife or a dagger, loincloth in certain style, waistband (
Camarbandh), ring, rosary, list goes on and on. What does the Gurbani (sggs) say about all of this? According to the Gurbani, for example, Baabaa Nanak also wore a sword; but his sword was none other than the Absolute Truth, and he secured this sword in a scabbard made of Noble Virtues! Further, the Tenth Master compliments the First Master by declaring that God is the sword! About the
Janeyu and ring, Baabaa Nanak says that his
Janeyu is the Spiritual Wisdom, his ring and the rosary are the remembrance of God's Name, and contentment is his C
amarbandh (waistband)!
- ਤਰਕਸ ਤੀਰ ਕਮਾਣ ਸਾਂਗ ਤੇਗਬੰਦ ਗੁਣ ਧਾਤੁ ॥: Taskar teer kamaan saang tegband gun dhaat: The pursuit of virtue is my bow, arrow, quiver, sword and scabbard (sggs 16).
- ਸਚ ਕੀ ਕਾਤੀ ਸਚੁ ਸਭੁ ਸਾਰੁ ॥ ਘਾੜਤ ਤਿਸ ਕੀ ਅਪਰ ਅਪਾਰ ॥ ਸਬਦੇ ਸਾਣ ਰਖਾਈ ਲਾਇ ॥ ਗੁਣ ਕੀ ਥੇਕੈ ਵਿਚਿ ਸਮਾਇ ॥: Sach kee kaatee sach sabh saar...: My knife is Truth, and its steel is totally True. Its workmanship is incomparably beautiful. It is sharpened on the grindstone of the Shabad (Naam). It is placed in the scabbard of Virtues (sggs 956).
- ਤੀਰ ਤੁਹੀ ਸੈਹਥੀ ਤੁਹੀ ਤੁਹੀ ਤਬਰ ਤਲਵਾਰ ॥ ਨਾਮ ਤਿਹਾਰੋ ਜੋ ਜਪੈ ਭਏ ਸਿੰਧ ਭਵ ਪਾਰ ॥:Teer Tuhee saithee Tuhee tabar tarvaar. Naam tihaaro jo japai bhaye sindh bhav paar: O Lord, You are the sword, arrow, and spear; whoever remembers your Name crosses the world-ocean (Guru Gobind Singh Jee, Dasam Granth, page 1356).
- ਕਾਇਆ ਬ੍ਰਹਮਾ ਮਨੁ ਹੈ ਧੋਤੀ ॥ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਜਨੇਊ ਧਿਆਨੁ ਕੁਸਪਾਤੀ ॥: Kaayaa Brahma mann hai dhotee. Giyaan janeyoo dhyan kuspaatee: The body (which is devoid of evil tendencies or Bikaars because of Naam-Simran) is the Brahmin, and (the pure) mind is the loin-cloth; Spiritual Wisdom is the sacred thread, and meditation is the ceremonial ring (sggs 355).
- ਕਮਰਬੰਦੁ ਸੰਤੋਖ ਕਾ ਧਨੁ ਜੋਬਨੁ ਤੇਰਾ ਨਾਮੁ ॥: Camarbandh santokh kaa dhann joban teraa Naam: Contentment is my waist-band (Camarbandh), and your Name is my wealth and youth (sggs 16).
- ਹਰਿ ਮਾਲਾ ਉਰ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਧਾਰੈ ॥: Hari maalaa ur antar dhaare: Enshrines the rosary of God's Name within the heart (sggs 388).
In truth, when a person dies all external things attached to his his body fall off or get burnt before the body. The Soul (Consciousness) departs without them. Only thing that helps the Soul hereafter, therefore, is the Divine Name. Hence, the Gurbani urges us to make use of this body for churning the Divine Name only. For example, Baabaa Nanak says "Make compassion the cotton, contentment the thread, modesty the knot and truth the twist. This is the sacred thread of the soul; if you have it, then go ahead and put it on me. It does not break, it cannot be soiled by filth, it cannot be burnt, or lost (sggs 472)."
- ਸਿਖਾ ਕੰਨਿ ਚੜਾਈਆ ਗੁਰੁ ਬ੍ਰਾਹਮਣੁ ਥਿਆ ॥ ਓਹੁ ਮੁਆ ਓਹੁ ਝੜਿ ਪਇਆ ਵੇਤਗਾ ਗਇਆ ॥੧॥: Sikhaa kann charhaayeeyaa Gur brahaman theeyaa. Oh Muyaa oh jharh payiyaa ve taggaa gayaa ||1||: Whispering instructions into others’ ears, the Brahmin becomes a guru. But he dies, and the sacred thread falls away, and the Soul departs without it ||1|| (sggs 471).
In a futile bid to catch God, many regularly get up early in the morning to bathe (
Ishanaan or
Ishanan) in cold water. They preach that if you do not follow this ritual, than you cannot find God. According to Baabaa Nanak, all these people are nothing but a bunch of ignorant fools. Instead of focusing their consciousness on
Naam-Simran (meditation on the Divine Name) and thereby cleansing their mind, they focus it on external cleansing. As a consequence of such foolishness, people end up accumulating more mental "filth" in the process! Whenever there is a mention of
Ishanaan (bathing) in the Gurbani, it refers only to the inner
Ishanaan — bathing in the inner pool (
Sarovar) of the Divine Name or
Shabad located within the body.
- ਅੰਤਰਿ ਮੈਲੁ ਲੋਭ ਬਹੁ ਝੂਠੇ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਨਾਵਹੁ ਕਾਹੀ ਜੀਉ ॥: Antar mailu lobh bahu jhoothe bahari naavahu kaahee jeeyu: Within you is the great filth of greed and falsehood; why do you bother to wash your body on the outside? (sggs 598).
- ਏਹੁ ਸਰੀਰੁ ਸਰਵਰੁ ਹੈ ਸੰਤਹੁ ਇਸਨਾਨੁ ਕਰੇ ਲਿਵ ਲਾਈ ॥: Ehu sareer saravaru hai santahu isanaan karae liv laaee: This body is a pool ("Srovar"), O so-called saints; bathe in it, and enshrine love for the Divine within (sggs 909).
- ਨਾਵਣ ਚਲੇ ਤੀਰਥੀ ਮਨਿ ਖੋਟੈ ਤਨਿ ਚੋਰ ॥ ਇਕੁ ਭਾਉ ਲਥੀ ਨਾਤਿਆ ਦੁਇ ਭਾ ਚੜੀਅਸੁ ਹੋਰ ॥ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਧੋਤੀ ਤੂਮੜੀ ਅੰਦਰਿ ਵਿਸੁ ਨਿਕੋਰ ॥ ਸਾਧ ਭਲੇ ਅਣਨਾਤਿਆ ਚੋਰ ਸਿ ਚੋਰਾ ਚੋਰ ॥: Naawan chale teerthee man khote tan chor. Ik bhaayu lathee naatiyaa duyi bhaa chreeus hor. Baahar dhotee tumree andar vis nikor. Saadh bhale annaatiyaa chor si choraa chor: Men of evil mind and thievish bodies, go to bathe at the pilgrim places. The one part of their body filth is washed off by bathing, but they accumulate twice as much of mental filth. Like a gourd, they may be washed off on the outside, but on the inside, they are still filled with poison (of egoism). A saintly soul is blessed, even without such bathing, while a thief is a thief, no matter how much he bathes (sggs 789).
- ਨਹ ਜਾਇ ਸਹਸਾ ਕਿਤੈ ਸੰਜਮਿ ਰਹੇ ਕਰਮ ਕਮਾਏ ॥ ਸਹਸੈ ਜੀਉ ਮਲੀਣੁ ਹੈ ਕਿਤੁ ਸੰਜਮਿ ਧੋਤਾ ਜਾਏ ॥ ਮੰਨੁ ਧੋਵਹੁ ਸਬਦਿ ਲਾਗਹੁ ਹਰਿ ਸਿਉ ਰਹਹੁ ਚਿਤੁ ਲਾਇ ॥ ਕਹੈ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਗੁਰ ਪਰਸਾਦੀ ਸਹਜੁ ਉਪਜੈ ਇਹੁ ਸਹਸਾ ਇਵ ਜਾਇ ॥: Nah jaai sahasaa kitai sanjami rahae karam kamaaeae. Sahasai jeeo maleen hai kit sanjam dhotaa jaaai. Mannu dhovahu sabadi laagahu hari siou rahahu chit laai. Kahai Nanak gur parasaadee sahaj oupajai ihu sahasaa iv jaai: Skepticism does not depart by contrived actions; everybody is tired of performing these rituals. The soul is polluted by skepticism; how can it be cleansed? Wash your mind by attaching it to the Shabad, and keep your consciousness focused on the Reality. Says Nanak, by the Divine Grace, intuitive poise is produced, and this skepticism is dispelled (sggs 919).
- ਮਨਮੁਖ ਮੁਗਧ ਕਰਹਿ ਚਤੁਰਾਈ ॥ ਨਾਤਾ ਧੋਤਾ ਥਾਇ ਨ ਪਾਈ ॥: Manmukh mughad kare chaturaayee. Naataa dhotaa thaaye na paayee: The idiotic Manmukhs try to be clever, but in spite of their bathing and washing, they will not be acceptable to God (sggs 114).
- ਭਾਂਡਾ ਹਛਾ ਸੋਇ ਜੋ ਤਿਸੁ ਭਾਵਸੀ ॥ ਭਾਂਡਾ ਅਤਿ ਮਲੀਣੁ ਧੋਤਾ ਹਛਾ ਨ ਹੋਇਸੀ ॥ ਗੁਰੂ ਦੁਆਰੈ ਹੋਇ ਸੋਝੀ ਪਾਇਸੀ ॥ ਏਤੁ ਦੁਆਰੈ ਧੋਇ ਹਛਾ ਹੋਇਸੀ ॥: Bhaandaa hashhaa soi jo tis bhaavasee. Bhaandaa ati maleen dhotaa hashaa ....: That (body) vessel alone is pure, which is pleasing to Him. Very filthy (body) vessel (that has become filthy with Bikaars: lust, anger, greed, etc.) does not become pure, simply by being washed. Through the Guru's Door (Guru's Teaching or Shabad-Giaan, Aatam-Giaan, etc.), one obtains Intuitive Understanding. By being washed through this (the Guru's) Door, (the body-vessel) becomes pure (sggs 730).
- ਭਾਈ ਰੇ ਮੈਲੁ ਨਾਹੀ ਨਿਰਮਲ ਜਲਿ ਨਾਇ ॥: Bhaayee re mailu naahee nirmal jal naayi: O Siblings of Destiny, filth is washed away by bathing in the Pure Water of the Divine Name within (sggs 57).
Many self-appointed saints and Baabaas (and their followers), Sikh and non-Sikh alike, fanatically cook their own food; using their separate kitchen and utensils! Although they preach and attend congregations (Sangat) at private and organized religious places, but refuse to eat food from the Langar (common kitchen) or share their own cooking with rest of the Sangat. Apparently, when it comes to God and Spiritual matters, such idiotic people do not know the difference between the ear and the elbow! According to the Gurbani, whosoever engages in such absurd practices is a fanatic, ignorant or Manmukh; because he does not understand the true meaning of the Shabad (Word).
- ਮਾਣਸ ਖਾਣੇ ਕਰਹਿ ਨਿਵਾਜ ॥ ਛੁਰੀ ਵਗਾਇਨਿ ਤਿਨ ਗਲਿ ਤਾਗ ॥ ਤਿਨ ਘਰਿ ਬ੍ਰਹਮਣ ਪੂਰਹਿ ਨਾਦ ॥ ਉਨ੍ਹ੍ਹਾ ਭਿ ਆਵਹਿ ਓਈ ਸਾਦ ॥ ਕੂੜੀ ਰਾਸਿ ਕੂੜਾ ਵਾਪਾਰੁ ॥ ਕੂੜੁ ਬੋਲਿ ਕਰਹਿ ਆਹਾਰੁ ॥ ਸਰਮ ਧਰਮ ਕਾ ਡੇਰਾ ਦੂਰਿ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਕੂੜੁ ਰਹਿਆ ਭਰਪੂਰਿ ॥ ਮਥੈ ਟਿਕਾ ਤੇੜਿ ਧੋਤੀ ਕਖਾਈ ॥ ਹਥਿ ਛੁਰੀ ਜਗਤ ਕਾਸਾਈ ॥ ਨੀਲ ਵਸਤ੍ਰ ਪਹਿਰਿ ਹੋਵਹਿ ਪਰਵਾਣੁ ॥ ਮਲੇਛ ਧਾਨੁ ਲੇ ਪੂਜਹਿ ਪੁਰਾਣੁ ॥ ਅਭਾਖਿਆ ਕਾ ਕੁਠਾ ਬਕਰਾ ਖਾਣਾ ॥ ਚਉਕੇ ਉਪਰਿ ਕਿਸੈ ਨ ਜਾਣਾ ॥ ਦੇ ਕੈ ਚਉਕਾ ਕਢੀ ਕਾਰ ॥ ਉਪਰਿ ਆਇ ਬੈਠੇ ਕੂੜਿਆਰ ॥ ਮਤੁ ਭਿਟੈ ਵੇ ਮਤੁ ਭਿਟੈ ॥ ਇਹੁ ਅੰਨੁ ਅਸਾਡਾ ਫਿਟੈ ॥ ਤਨਿ ਫਿਟੈ ਫੇੜ ਕਰੇਨਿ ॥ ਮਨਿ ਜੂਠੈ ਚੁਲੀ ਭਰੇਨਿ ॥ ਕਹੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਸਚੁ ਧਿਆਈਐ ॥ ਸੁਚਿ ਹੋਵੈ ਤਾ ਸਚੁ ਪਾਈਐ ॥੨॥: Maanas khaane karahi nivaaj ...: The man-eaters (i.e., the corrupt muslim priests and rulers) say their prayers (Nivaaj). (Many employees of these Muslim rulers were non-Muslims: Khatrees etc.) who wield the knife (i.e., exploit the poor, commit evil deeds, etc. ) and wear the sacred thread around their necks. In their homes (those non-Muslim employees who exploited poor), the Brahmins go and sound the conch. They too have the same taste (that of the non-Muslim employees who exploited poor). False is their capital, and false is their trade. Speaking falsehood, they take their food (or earn their living). The home of modesty and Dharma is far from them (i.e. they do not practice modesty and Dharma). O Nanak, they are totally permeated with falsehood. The sacred marks are on their foreheads, and the saffron loin-cloths are around their waists; in their hands they hold the knives - they are the butchers of the world (they commit evil deeds)! Wearing blue robes, they seek the approval of the Muslim rulers. Accepting bread from the Muslim rulers (whom they call Malesh), they worship the Puraanas (in other words they show as they live in accordance with the Puraanaas). They eat the (Halal) meat of the goats (killed after the Muslim prayers are read over them), but they do not allow anyone else to enter their kitchen areas. They draw lines around them, besmear the ground with cow-dung. (These) false (people) who come and sit (in the kitchen) are false themselves! They cry out, "Do not touch our food, or it will be polluted!" But with their polluted bodies, they commit evil deeds. With filthy minds, they try to cleanse their mouths. Says Nanak, meditate on Truth. If you are pure (within), then you will obtain Truth ||2|| (sggs 471-472).
Some believe that wandering naked would help them find God. If this was the case then why haven't animals of the forest found emancipation? Yet there are some of us who believe that wearing a deer skin will do the trick. Well, if this was the case then all deer of the forest should have attained liberation by now! Some believe that one may be saved merely by celibacy or applying a religious mark to the forehead. If this was the case then why haven't the eunuch (Khusraa or Hijrhaa) obtained the Supreme Being? Some believe that one has to be born in priest or Brahmin (Pandit) family to become eligible for attaining liberation. Well, if this was the case then why haven't a priest or a Pandit came through different way from their mother's womb then rest of us? Obviously, under the spell of Spiritual ignorance, all these people believe that God is merely a toy! The Gurbani reminds us:
- ਨਗਨ ਫਿਰਤ ਜੌ ਪਾਈਐ ਜੋਗੁ ॥ ਬਨ ਕਾ ਮਿਰਗੁ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਸਭੁ ਹੋਗੁ ॥੧॥: Nagan phirt jo paayeeye yog. Ban kaa mirg mukti sabh hog ||1||: If Yoga (union with God) could be obtained by wandering around naked, then all the deer of the forest would be liberated ||1|| (sggs 324).
- ਜੌ ਤੂੰ ਬ੍ਰਾਹਮਣੁ ਬ੍ਰਹਮਣੀ ਜਾਇਆ ॥ ਤਉ ਆਨ ਬਾਟ ਕਾਹੇ ਨਹੀ ਆਇਆ ॥੨॥: Jao toon braahman brahmanee jaya. Tayu aan baat kaahe nahee aya ||2||: If you are indeed a Brahmin, born of a Brahmin mother, then why didn’t you come by some other way ||2|| (sggs 324)?
- ਬਿੰਦੁ ਰਾਖਿ ਜੌ ਤਰੀਐ ਭਾਈ ॥ ਖੁਸਰੈ ਕਿਉ ਨ ਪਰਮ ਗਤਿ ਪਾਈ ॥੩॥: Bind raakh jo tareeyai bhaayee. Khusrai kiyu na paramgati paayee ||3||: If someone could save himself by celibacy, O Siblings of Destiny, why then haven’t eunuchs obtained the state of Supreme Dignity ||3|| (sggs 324)?
There are essentially three categories of people. People belonging to the first category are those who are God-centered, and may be called Gurmukh, true devotees, or Spiritually Wise. The second category entails those people who do not believe in God, and may be called Manmukh, non-devotees, or material beings. People belonging to the third category are those who pretend or show as they are religious or believer but they are not, and these people can be called Pakhandee or hypocrites. Most of the people in the world (over 99.9 percent) belong to the latter two categories. In the Gurbani, the Manmukhs and Pakhnadees are compared to a prostitute's child who does not know the name of his father. Practicing hypocrisy, such people become prisoners of their phony beliefs, ceremonies, and rituals. As a result, they become emotionally attached to the worldliness and suffer. Thus, they get consumed in the flames of fire they set themselves.
- ਕਰਿ ਕਰਿ ਕਿਰਿਆਚਾਰ ਵਧਾਏ ਮਨਿ ਪਾਖੰਡ ਕਰਮੁ ਕਪਟ ਲੋਭਈਆ ॥ ਬੇਸੁਆ ਕੈ ਘਰਿ ਬੇਟਾ ਜਨਮਿਆ ਪਿਤਾ ਤਾਹਿ ਕਿਆ ਨਾਮੁ ਸਦਈਆ ॥੬॥: Kari kari kiriyachaar vadhaaye mani pakhand karam kapat lobhayeeyaa. Besuyaa ke ghar betaa janmiyaa pita tahi kiyaa naam sadayeeyaa ||6||: One may perform many rituals, but the mind is filled with hypocrisy, evil deeds and greed. When a son is born in the house of a prostitute, who can tell the name of his father ||6|| (sggs 837)?
- ਲੋਭੀ ਕਪਟੀ ਪਾਪੀ ਪਾਖੰਡੀ ਮਾਇਆ ਅਧਿਕ ਲਗੈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥: Lobhee kaptee paapee paakhnadee maya adhik lagai ||1||Rahaaou||: It is the greedy, deceitful, sinful, and hypocritical who is totally attached to Maya ||1||Pause|| (sggs 359).
- ਮਨਮੁਖ ਭਰਮਿ ਭੁਲੇ ਭੇਖਧਾਰੀ ਅੰਤ ਕਾਲਿ ਪਛੁਤਾਤਾ ਹੇ ॥੮॥: Manmukh bharam bhoole bhekhdhaaree ant kaal pachhutaataa hai ||8||: The hypocritical egocentrics stray in doubt and regret at the last moment ||8|| (sggs 1052).
Kirtan, Bhagti and Naam Jap are essentially synonymous. Many wearing all sorts of religious symbols and garbs on their body sing Kirtan, but their minds are occupied in swindling people as we see daily at organized religious places.Singing of
Kirtan for making money as we see at these places does not constitute
Kirtan. That is a mundane business. Singing of the Holy Name as talked in the Gurbani is meant for pleasing the Lord only!
The external, selfish, dry and mechanical Kirtan is unavailing. The true Kirtan is internal, that is, one must engage in it with the complete involvement of the body, mind, and Soul — one must understand, comprehend and realize the Gurbani, and than act upon it. As the Gurbani roars, the mystery of the Gur-Shabad (Divine Word) is grasped only through it's proper understanding. If Kirtan, reading, and hearing does not manifest into such Intuitive Understanding, then, as the Gurbani says, we are no better than a donkey!
- ਇਕਨਾ ਸੁਧਿ ਨ ਬੁਧਿ ਨ ਅਕਲਿ ਸਰ ਅਖਰ ਕਾ ਭੇਉ ਨ ਲਹੰਤਿ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਸੇ ਨਰ ਅਸਲਿ ਖਰ ਜਿ ਬਿਨੁ ਗੁਣ ਗਰਬੁ ਕਰੰਤਿ ॥੨॥: Iknaa sudh na budh na akal sar akhar kaa bheyu na lahant. Nanak se nar asal khar je bin gun garab krant ||2||: Some are not blessed with understanding, intelligence, or sublime intellect; they do not grasp the mystery of God’s Word (Shabad). O Nanak, they are donkeys; they are very proud of themselves, but they have no virtues at all ||2|| (sggs 1246).
- ਇਕਿ ਗਾਵਹਿ ਰਾਗ ਪਰੀਆ ਰਾਗਿ ਨ ਭੀਜਈ ॥: Ik gaavahi raag pareeyaa raag na bheejayee: Some sing according to traditional ragas, but the Lord is not pleased by these ragas (sggs 1285).
- ਕੋਈ ਗਾਵੈ ਰਾਗੀ ਨਾਦੀ ਬੇਦੀ ਬਹੁ ਭਾਤਿ ਕਰਿ ਨਹੀ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਭੀਜੈ ਰਾਮ ਰਾਜੇ ॥: Koyee gaavai raagee naadee bedee bahu bhant kar nahee Har Har bheejai Raam Rajai: Some sing of Lord' glories through musical Ragas and the sound current of the Naad, through the Vedas, and in so many other ways. But the Lord is not pleased by these (sggs 450).
- ਇਕਿ ਗਾਵਤ ਰਹੇ ਮਨਿ ਸਾਦੁ ਨ ਪਾਇ ॥ ਹਉਮੈ ਵਿਚਿ ਗਾਵਹਿ ਬਿਰਥਾ ਜਾਇ ॥: Ik gaavat rahe mann saad na paaye. Haumai vich gaavahi birathaa jaaye: Some sing on and on, but their minds do not find happiness. In egotism, they sing, but it is all wasted uselessly (sggs 158).
- ਰਾਗ ਰਾਗਨੀ ਡਿੰਭ ਹੋਇ ਬੈਠਾ ਉਨਿ ਹਰਿ ਪਹਿ ਕਿਆ ਲੀਨਾ ॥੩॥: Raag raagnee bhind hoyi bethaa un Har pahi kiyaa leenaa ||3||: You sit and play music, but you are still a hypocrite; what do you expect to receive from the Lord? ||3|| (sggs 654).
- ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਰਾਗ ਸੁਆਦ ਅਨ ਤਿਆਗੇ ॥ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਇਹੁ ਮਨੁ ਭਗਤੀ ਜਾਗੇ ॥ ਅਨਹਦ ਸੁਣਿ ਮਾਨਿਆ ਸਬਦੁ ਵੀਚਾਰੀ ॥ ਆਤਮੁ ਚੀਨ੍ਹ੍ਹਿ ਭਏ ਨਿਰੰਕਾਰੀ ॥੭॥: Gurmukh raag suyaad ann tiyaagai. Gurmukh ih mann bhagti jaagai. Anhad sun maaniyaa Shabad veechaaree. Aatm cheen bhaye nirankaaree||7||: The Gurmukh renounces other "Raag" and tastes. The mind of the Gurmukh is awakened to Bhagti (devotion). (That person who) contemplates the Shabad (Shabad-Vichaar), hearing the unstruck sound current (of the Inner Joy - ਅੰਦਰਲੇ ਆਤਮਕ ਖੇੜੇ ਦੇ) accepts it (becomes attuned to the unstruck sound current within). Understanding itself, he becomes like God ||7|| (sggs 415).
Many spend their entire life in a rituals of dry and mechanical reading and memorizing of the scriptures, thinking they have comprehended and reached God. In fact they do not even get near that state! As the Gurbani asserts, the Lord can not be approached or comprehended by mere reading and memorizing scriptures. The scriptures further declare that the pride of satisfaction experienced from gaining such knowledge blinds man from seeing God.
- ਪੰਡਿਤ ਮੈਲੁ ਨ ਚੁਕਈ ਜੇ ਵੇਦ ਪੜੈ ਜੁਗ ਚਾਰਿ ॥ ਤ੍ਰੈ ਗੁਣ ਮਾਇਆ ਮੂਲੁ ਹੈ ਵਿਚਿ ਹਉਮੈ ਨਾਮੁ ਵਿਸਾਰਿ ॥ ਪੰਡਿਤ ਭੂਲੇ ਦੂਜੈ ਲਾਗੇ ਮਾਇਆ ਕੈ ਵਾਪਾਰਿ ॥: Pandit mail na chukayee je vaid prai jug chaar ...: O pandit, O religious scholar, your filth will not be erased even if you read Vedas for four ages. The three qualities are the roots of Maya; in egotism, one forgets the Naam, the Name of the Lord. Pandits are deluded, attached to duality, and they deal only in Maya (sggs 647).
- ਪੜਿਆ ਮੂਰਖੁ ਆਖੀਐ ਜਿਸੁ ਲਬੁ ਲੋਭੁ ਅਹੰਕਾਰਾ ॥: Pariyaa moorakh aakheeyai jis lab lobh ahankaar: That educated person who is full of greed, arrogant pride and egotism, is known to be a fool (sggs 140).
- ਬੇਦ ਕਤੇਬ ਸਿਮ੍ਰਿਤਿ ਸਭਿ ਸਾਸਤ ਇਨ੍* ਪੜਿਆ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਨ ਹੋਈ ॥ ਏਕੁ ਅਖਰੁ ਜੋ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਜਾਪੈ ਤਿਸ ਕੀ ਨਿਰਮਲ ਸੋਈ ॥: Bed Kateb Simriti sabh Saasat in parhiyaa mukat na hoyee: One may read all the books of the Vedas and Kateb (Bible, Quraan, etc.), the Simritees and the Shaastras, but they will not bring liberation. One who, as Gurmukh, chants the One Word, acquires a spotlessly pure reputation (sggs 747).
- God says: My vision is not unveiled simply by studying the Vedas, nor by undergoing serious penances, nor by charity, nor by formal worship. It is not by these means one can see Me as I am (Gita, 11-53).
There is a nice little story to the effect that one of the disciples of Kabeer Sahib asked his permission for visiting the pilgrim places and take ritual bath in their so-called holy rivers and ponds. Kabeer Sahib gave his disciple a gourd and asked: "Please bathe this gourd where ever you bathe". The disciple did exactly that — where ever he bathed in the so-called holy waters, he also bathed the gourd. Upon his returning from the pilgrimage, he gave the gourd back to his Master, Kabeer Sahib. In turn, Kabeer Sahib handed it over to the cook in charge of the Ashram's kitchen with the instructions: "Please cook this gourd and serve it with the next meal to all devotees". So he did. However, as we know that the gourd is poisonously bitter, no one could eat it. Kabeer Sahib wanted to make the point to his immature disciple that, as the gourd did not shed its bitterness by bathing at all of the holy places, similarly, the mental "filth" cannot be washed off by bathing at such places. If someone thinks otherwise, obviously he as no clear concept of God.
- ਕਾਂਇਆ ਮਾਂਜਸਿ ਕਉਨ ਗੁਨਾਂ ॥ ਜਉ ਘਟ ਭੀਤਰਿ ਹੈ ਮਲਨਾਂ॥ ਲਉਕੀ ਅਠਸਠਿ ਤੀਰਥ ਨ੍*ਾਈ ॥ ਕਉਰਾਪਨੁ ਤਊ ਨ ਜਾਈ ॥: Kaya manjas kayun gunaa. Jayu ghat bheetar hai malnaa. Layukee athsath teerath naayee. Kauraapan tayu na jaayee: Of what avail is to wash the body, when the mind is full of filth? The gourd may be bathed at sixtyeight pilgrim places, but even then, its bitterness is not removed (sggs 655).
- ਨਾਵਣ ਚਲੇ ਤੀਰਥੀ ਮਨਿ ਖੋਟੈ ਤਨਿ ਚੋਰ ॥ ਇਕੁ ਭਾਉ ਲਥੀ ਨਾਤਿਆ ਦੁਇ ਭਾ ਚੜੀਅਸੁ ਹੋਰ ॥ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਧੋਤੀ ਤੂਮੜੀ ਅੰਦਰਿ ਵਿਸੁ ਨਿਕੋਰ ॥ ਸਾਧ ਭਲੇ ਅਣਨਾਤਿਆ ਚੋਰ ਸਿ ਚੋਰਾ ਚੋਰ ॥: Naawan chale teerthee man khote tan chor. Ik bhaayu lathee naatiyaa duyi bhaa chreeus hor. Baahar dhotee tumree andar vis nikor. Saadh bhale annaatiyaa chor si choraa chor: Men of evil mind and thievish bodies, go to bathe at the pilgrim places. The one part of their body filth is washed off by bathing, but they accumulate twice as much of mental filth. Like a gourd, they may be washed off on the outside, but on the inside, they are still filled with poison (of egoism). A saintly soul is blessed, even without such bathing, while a thief is a thief, no matter how much he bathes (sggs 789).
Scriptures declare that the complete absorption in Love of God, Naam or Shabad-Surti, is the only Real Nectar; for it gives one Immortality. However, under the spell of delusion, some believe that drinking some sort of sweet liquid is the only True Nectar. The Gurbani emphatically rejects this kind of beliefs, ceremonies, practices, and rituals. The Gurbani tells us exactly what the Real Nectar (Amrit) is, and how we all can obtain it Within.
- ਹਰਿ ਕਾ ਨਾਮੁ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤੁ ਕਲਿ ਮਾਹਿ ॥ ਏਹੁ ਨਿਧਾਨਾ ਸਾਧੂ ਪਾਹਿ ॥: Hari kaa Naam Amrit Kal mahi. Ih nidhaan saadhoo pahi: God's Name is Ambrosial Nectar in this Dark Age of Kali Yuga. This treasure is realized by the true and wise ones: God-centered souls (sggs 888).
- ਗੁੜੁ ਕਰਿ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਧਿਆਨੁ ਕਰਿ ਧਾਵੈ ਕਰਿ ਕਰਣੀ ਕਸੁ ਪਾਈਐ ॥ ਭਾਠੀ ਭਵਨੁ ਪ੍ਰੇਮ ਕਾ ਪੋਚਾ ਇਤੁ ਰਸਿ ਅਮਿਉ ਚੁਆਈਐ ॥੧॥ ਬਾਬਾ ਮਨੁ ਮਤਵਾਰੋ ਨਾਮ ਰਸੁ ਪੀਵੈ ਸਹਜ ਰੰਗ ਰਚਿ ਰਹਿਆ ॥: Gurh kar giaan dhiyaan kar dhaavai kari karni kas paayeeyai. ||1|| Bhaathee bhavan prem ka pochaa it ras amiyu chuaayeeyai. Baabaa man matvaaro Naam ras peevai sahaj rang rachi rahiyaa: Make spiritual wisdom your molasses, and meditation your scented flowers; let good deeds be the herbs. Let devotional faith be the distilling fire, and your love the ceramic cup. Thus the sweet nectar of life is distilled. ||1|| O Baabaa, the mind is intoxicated drinking in the Amrit of the Naam; and remains naturally absorbed in God’s Love (sggs 360).
- ਗੁਰ ਕੀ ਸਾਖੀ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਬਾਣੀ ਪੀਵਤ ਹੀ ਪਰਵਾਣੁ ਭਇਆ ॥: Gur kee saakhee Amrit Bani peevat hee parvaan bhayiyaa: Gurbani, the Gur-Shabad or God's Word, is a Nectar; by drinking it (i.e., Realizing the Shabad or Naam), one becomes acceptable to God (sggs 360).
- ਹਰਿ ਕੈ ਰੰਗਿ ਰਤਾ ਮਨੁ ਗਾਵੈ ਰਸਿ ਰਸਾਲ ਰਸਿ ਸਬਦੁ ਰਵਈਆ ॥: Hari kai rang rattaa man gaavai rasi rsaal rasi Shabad ravayeeyaa: Imbued with God’s Love, my mind sings His Praise, joyfully chanting the Shabad, the source of Nectar and Bliss (sggs 835).
- ਜਪਹੁ ਤ ਏਕੋ ਨਾਮਾ ॥ ਅਵਰਿ ਨਿਰਾਫਲ ਕਾਮਾ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ ਇਹੁ ਮਨੁ ਈਟੀ ਹਾਥਿ ਕਰਹੁ ਫੁਨਿ ਨੇਤ੍ਰਉ ਨੀਦ ਨ ਆਵੈ ॥ ਰਸਨਾ ਨਾਮੁ ਜਪਹੁ ਤਬ ਮਥੀਐ ਇਨ ਬਿਧਿ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤੁ ਪਾਵਹੁ ॥੨॥: Japahu taa eko Naamaa. ||1||Rahaaou|| Avar niraphal kaamaa. Ih mann eetee haath karahu phun netrayu need na aavai. Rasnaa Naam japo tab matheeyai in bidhi Amrit paavahu ||2||: Remember only the Name of the One Lord. All other actions are fruitless. ||1||Pause|| Let your mind be the handles, and then churn it, without sleeping. If you chant the Naam, the Name of the Lord, with your tongue, then the curd will be churned. In this way, the Ambrosial Nectar is obtained ||2|| (sggs 728).
- ਬਿਖੈ ਬਨੁ ਫੀਕਾ ਤਿਆਗਿ ਰੀ ਸਖੀਏ ਨਾਮੁ ਮਹਾ ਰਸੁ ਪੀਓ ॥: Bikhai ban pheekaa tiyaag ree sakheeye Naam Maharas peeyo: Renounce the tasteless water of sin or corruption, O my companion, and drink in the supreme Nectar of the Naam. Without the taste of this Nectar, all have drowned, and their souls have not found happiness (sggs 802).
Engrossed in evil-mindedness and skepticism, many practice the violent restraints in a futile hope to know God. For example, some bathe in cold water early morning, some sit in cold and icy conditions to perform penance, the ascetics absorb in asceticism, many read the Gurbani (and other scriptures) without paying any attention to its meaning, the celibates practice celibacy, the
Udaasees abide in detachment, people keep reciting scriptures without understanding their true essence, some remain naked renunciates, many apply patch on their mouth, some wear patched coats, many practice occult powers like magicians, some remain always awake, many bathe at holy places of pilgrimage, many go without food, those believing in untouchability never touch others, there are hermits who remain secluded and never show themselves, many think themselves wise in their own minds, some pluck the hair out of their heads, those who are afraid of cleanliness drink in filthy water and beg endlessly and eat the garbage which others have thrown away, some spread manure and suck in rotting smells, some keep their bodies smeared with ashes, the renunciates renounce their families, some have their begging bowls hanging from their waists and their fly-brushes in their hands, some go to forest and practice austere meditation and live on roots and the fruits they gather, some live at sacred shrines of pilgrimage, some renunciates have shaven-headed and some long or matted hair, some have wandered all across the earth, some discipline their body and the mind which runs around in ten directions, the
Sanyasi (pronounced
Sunyaasee) wanders around at sacred shrines of pilgrimage with mindless anger still within, the temple dancers tie bells around their ankles to earn their living, others go on fasts and take vows, the religionists wear religious robes for show, some sing melodies and hymns with their minds focused on corruption, some practice rigid meditation, those calling themselves wise practice spiritual wisdom, some practice self-discipline, the Yogi speaks of liberation, the householders assert their faith in family life, and so on. The Gurbani thunders forth the declaration that the Intuitive Poise or Union with God cannot be experienced through this circus of mental activities.
- ਜੋਗੀ ਜਤੀ ਤਪੀ ਸੰਨਿਆਸੀ ਬਹੁ ਤੀਰਥ ਭ੍ਰਮਨਾ ॥ ਲੁੰਜਿਤ ਮੁੰਜਿਤ ਮੋਨਿ ਜਟਾਧਰ ਅੰਤਿ ਤਊ ਮਰਨਾ ॥੧॥: Jogi jatee tappee bahu tirath bhramnaa. Lunjat munjat moun jataadhar ant tayu marnaa ||1||: The Yogis, celibates, penitents and Sannyaasees make pilgrimages to all the sacred places. The Jains with shaven heads, the silent ones, the beggars with matted hair — in the end, they all will die ||1|| (sggs 476).
- ਨਾਨਕ ਨਾਮੁ ਨ ਚੇਤਨੀ ਅਗਿਆਨੀ ਅੰਧੁਲੇ ਅਵਰੇ ਕਰਮ ਕਮਾਹਿ ॥: Nanak Naam na chetnee agiyaanee andhule avare karam kaamaahi: O Nanak, the blind, ignorant fools do not remember the Naam; they involve themselves in other activities (sggs 648).
While there are some who think and take God as a spare wheel! Such people when inflicted with a serious illness, economical or legal problems, and so on, start showing up at religious places. Once the problem disappears, their religious mood also disappears like horn of a donkey! God is not a spare wheel, a toy or a plaything. As long as we consider Him as such, our condition will be of the person on a tiny boat in the mid-ocean, tossed by dreadful waves, with death staring him in his face. In the name of religion and God, the list of nonsense rituals goes on and on. Since they are all Karamkaand (worldly entanglements), the Gurbani rejects all of them outright. For material gain and name, it is the selfish, ignorant, idiotic and crafty Pujaaree group (priests) responsible for the existence of all rituals and false show of religion and Spirituality. There is no place in the SGGS for them! The Gurbani puts an end to all such worldly nonsense as follows:
- ਜਪਹੁ ਤ ਏਕੋ ਨਾਮਾ ॥ ਅਵਰਿ ਨਿਰਾਫਲ ਕਾਮਾ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥: Japahu taa eko Naamaa. ||1||Rahaaou||: Remember only the Name of the One Lord. All other actions are fruitless. ||1||Pause|| (sggs 728).
Why? Because, as Baabaa Nanak thunders: "God is not won over by music, songs or reading the Vedas (i.e., scriptures). He is not won over by empty wisdom, knowledge or Yoga. He is not won over by feeling sad and depressed forever. He is not won over by beauty, wealth and pleasures. He is not won over by wandering naked at sacred shrines. He is not won over by giving donations in charity. He is not won over by living alone in the wilderness. He is not won over by fighting and dying as a warrior (
Shaheed). He is not won over by acting as the dust of the masses. He is won only by the Naam uttered with heartily love and complete involvement of the mind. O Nanak, God is thus won over only by His Name" (
Na bheejai raagee naadee bedi...: sggs 1237). Along the same lines, Guru Gobind Singh Jee declares:
- ਤੀਰਥ ਕੋਟ ਕੀਏ ਇਸਨਾਨ ਦੀਏ ਬਹੁ ਦਾਨ ਮਹਾ ਬ੍ਰਤ ਧਾਰੇ ॥ ਦੇਸ ਫਿਰਿਓ ਕਰ ਭੇਸ ਤਪੋਧਨ ਕੇਸ ਧਰੇ ਨ ਮਿਲੇ ਹਰਿ ਪਿਆਰੇ ॥ ਆਸਨ ਕੋਟ ਕਰੇ ਅਸਟਾਂਗ ਧਰੇ ਬਹੁ ਨਿਆਸ ਕਰੇ ਮੁਖ ਕਾਰੇ॥ਦੀਨ ਦਇਆਲ ਅਕਾਲ ਭਜੇ ਬਿਨੁ ਅੰਤ ਕੋ ਅੰਤ ਕੇ ਧਾਮ ਸਿਧਾਰੇ ॥१०॥२५२॥: Tirath Kot keeye ishnaan deeye bahu daan mahaa brat dhaare. Des firio kari bhes tapodhan kes dhare na mile Hari piyare. Aasana kot kare ashtaang dhare bahu niyaas kare mukh kaare. Deen dayaal akaal bhaje bin ant ko ant ke dhaam sidhaare ||10||252||: You cannot attain God by bathing millions of times at shrines of pilgrimage, by giving alms, by observing fasts, having wandered in the garb of an ascetic in many countries and by keeping hair, the beloved Lord could not be realized. Those who sit in millions of Aasanas (Yogic postures), perform Ashtang Yoga, wear peculiar clothes, they cannot attain God; for without God's loving devotion they in the end meet death ||10||252|| (Guru Gobind Singh Jee, Sawayie, Dasam granth, page 88).
Facing west, many muslims perform five Namaaz (prayers) a day. Most of them have no clue as to why they do it! The Master's idea behind the five Namaaz was that his disciples should attain and live by the five Divine qualities — corresponding to the first Namaaz is truthfulness, second the honest earning, third charity in God's Name, fourth pure intent and mind, and the fifth God's admiration and praise. Now, perhaps one can appreciate how worthless it is to keep performing Namaaz without acquiring these godly virtues!
- ਪੰਜਿ ਨਿਵਾਜਾ ਵਖਤ ਪੰਜਿ ਪੰਜਾ ਪੰਜੇ ਨਾਉ ॥ ਪਹਿਲਾ ਸਚੁ ਹਲਾਲ ਦੁਇ ਤੀਜਾ ਖੈਰ ਖੁਦਾਇ ॥ ਚਉਥੀ ਨੀਅਤਿ ਰਾਸਿ ਮਨੁ ਪੰਜਵੀ ਸਿਫਤਿ ਸਨਾਇ ॥ ਕਰਣੀ ਕਲਮਾ ਆਖਿ ਕੈ ਤਾ ਮੁਸਲਮਾਣੁ ਸਦਾਇ ॥: Panje nivaajaa vakhat ..: There are five prayers and five times of day for prayer; the five have five names. Let the first be truthfulness, the second honest living, and the third charity in the Name of God. Let the fourth be good will to all, and the fifth the praise of the Lord. Repeat the prayer of good deeds, and then, you may call yourself a Muslim. O Nanak, the false obtain falsehood, and only falsehood (sggs 141).
- ਦਖਨ ਦੇਸਿ ਹਰੀ ਕਾ ਬਾਸਾ ਪਛਿਮਿ ਅਲਹ ਮੁਕਾਮਾ ॥ ਦਿਲ ਮਹਿ ਖੋਜਿ ਦਿਲੈ ਦਿਲਿ ਖੋਜਹੁ ਏਹੀ ਠਉਰ ਮੁਕਾਮਾ ॥: Dakhan desi Hari kaa vaasaa pashimi Allah mukaamaa. Dil mahi khoji dilai dili khojahu ehee thaur mukaamaa: Hindus say their God is in the south direction, and the Muslims say their God is in the west. Search in your heart — look deep into your heart of hearts within; this is the home and the place where God lives (sggs 1349).
The same principle can be applied to daily reading or hearing of various Banis (Nitnem or Paath), or any other scripture for that matter. The Gurbani never tires of reminding us that mechanical or parrot-like reading or hearing of the scriptures will not bring much benefit. As Baabaa Nanak declares in the Gurbani:
- ਪੜਿ ਪੜਿ ਗਡੀ ਲਦੀਅਹਿ ਪੜਿ ਪੜਿ ਭਰੀਅਹਿ ਸਾਥ ॥ ਪੜਿ ਪੜਿ ਬੇੜੀ ਪਾਈਐ ਪੜਿ ਪੜਿ ਗਡੀਅਹਿ ਖਾਤ ॥ ਪੜੀਅਹਿ ਜੇਤੇ ਬਰਸ ਬਰਸ ਪੜੀਅਹਿ ਜੇਤੇ ਮਾਸ ॥ ਪੜੀਐ ਜੇਤੀ ਆਰਜਾ ਪੜੀਅਹਿ ਜੇਤੇ ਸਾਸ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਲੇਖੈ ਇਕ ਗਲ ਹੋਰੁ ਹਉਮੈ ਝਖਣਾ ਝਾਖ ॥: Parh parh gaddee laddeai ...: You may read and read loads of books; you may read and study vast multitudes of books. You may read and read boat-loads of books; you may read and read and fill pits with them. You may read them year after year; you may read them as many months are there. You may read them all your life; you may read them with every breath. O Nanak, only one thing is of any account: everything else is useless babbling and idle talk in ego (sggs 467).
- ਬੂਝੈ ਨਾਹੀ ਏਕੁ ਸੁਧਾਖਰੁ ਔਹੁ ਸਗਲੀ ਝਾਖ ਝਖਾਈਐ ॥: Boojhai naahee ayk sudhaakhar oh saglee jhaakh jhakhaa-ee-ai: Those who do not understand the One Pure Word, utter total nonsense (sggs 216).
- ਪੜਣਾ ਗੁੜਣਾ ਸੰਸਾਰ ਕੀ ਕਾਰ ਹੈ ਅੰਦਰਿ ਤ੍ਰਿਸਨਾ ਵਿਕਾਰੁ ॥ ਹਉਮੈ ਵਿਚਿ ਸਭਿ ਪੜਿ ਥਕੇ ਦੂਜੈ ਭਾਇ ਖੁਆਰੁ ॥ ਸੋ ਪੜਿਆ ਸੋ ਪੰਡਿਤੁ ਬੀਨਾ ਗੁਰ ਸਬਦਿ ਕਰੇ ਵੀਚਾਰੁ ॥ ਅੰਦਰੁ ਖੋਜੈ ਤਤੁ ਲਹੈ ਪਾਏ ਮੋਖ ਦੁਆਰੁ ॥ ਗੁਣ ਨਿਧਾਨੁ ਹਰਿ ਪਾਇਆ ਸਹਜਿ ਕਰੇ ਵੀਚਾਰੁ ॥ ਧੰਨੁ ਵਾਪਾਰੀ ਨਾਨਕਾ ਜਿਸੁ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਅਧਾਰੁ ॥੧॥: Parhnaa gunanaa sansaar kee karr hai andar trisnaa vikaar ...: eading and studying are just worldly pursuits, if there is greed and corruption within. Reading in egotism, all have grown weary; through the love of duality, they are ruined. He alone is educated, and he alone is a wise Pandit, who reflects and contemplates the Gur-Shabad. He searches within himself, and finds the true essence; he finds the Door of Salvation. He finds God, the treasure of excellence, and peacefully contemplates Him. Blessed is the trader, O Nanak, who, as a Gurmukh (Spiritual Being), takes the Name as his only Support ||1|| (sggs 650).
- ਕਿਆ ਪੜੀਐ ਕਿਆ ਗੁਨੀਐ ॥ ਕਿਆ ਬੇਦ ਪੁਰਾਨਾਂ ਸੁਨੀਐ ॥ ਪੜੇ ਸੁਨੇ ਕਿਆ ਹੋਈ॥ਜਉ ਸਹਜ ਨ ਮਿਲਿਓ ਸੋਈ ॥: Kiaa parheeai kiaa suneeai ...: What use is it to read, and what use is it to study? What use is it to listen to the Vedas and Kateb (Bible, Quraan, etc.)? What use is reading and listening, if naturally or spontaneously (Sahaj) the Self is not realized? (sggs 655).
- ਸਨਕ ਸਨੰਦ ਅੰਤੁ ਨਹੀ ਪਾਇਆ ॥ ਬੇਦ ਪੜੇ ਪੜਿ ਬ੍ਰਹਮੇ ਜਨਮੁ ਗਵਾਇਆ ॥੧॥ ਹਰਿ ਕਾ ਬਿਲੋਵਨਾ ਬਿਲੋਵਹੁ ਮੇਰੇ ਭਾਈ ॥ ਸਹਜਿ ਬਿਲੋਵਹੁ ਜੈਸੇ ਤਤੁ ਨ ਜਾਈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ ਤਨੁ ਕਰਿ ਮਟੁਕੀ ਮਨ ਮਾਹਿ ਬਿਲੋਈ ॥ ਇਸੁ ਮਟੁਕੀ ਮਹਿ ਸਬਦੁ ਸੰਜੋਈ ॥੨॥ ਹਰਿ ਕਾ ਬਿਲੋਵਨਾ ਮਨ ਕਾ ਬੀਚਾਰਾ ॥ ਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ਪਾਵੈ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਧਾਰਾ ॥੩॥: Sanak Sanand ant nahee paaiaa. Bed parre parri brahame janam gavaaiaa ||1|| Hri ka bilovanaa bilovahu mere bhaaee. Sahaji bilovahu jaise tatu n jaaee. ||1||Rahaaou|| Tanu kari matakee man maahi biloee. Is matakee mahi Sabad sanjoee. ||2|| Hari kaa bilovanaa man kaa beechaaraa. Gur prasaad paavai amrit dhaaraa ||3||: Continually reading the Vedas of Brahma (ਬ੍ਰਹਮਾ ਦੇ ਰਚੇ ਵੇਦ), Sanak and Sanand (the sons of Brahma) wasted their lives away. But could not find God's limits. ||1|| O Brother, churn the churn of the Lord (the Lord's Simran - ਪਰਮਾਤਮਾ ਦਾ ਸਿਮਰਨ). Churn it steadily (Do Simran in Sahaj Avasthaa - ਸਹਿਜ ਅਵਸਥਾ ਵਿਚ ਟਿਕ ਕੇ ਸਿਮਰਨ ਕਰਨਾਂ), so that the Essence (ਤੱਤ) may not be lost. ||1||Pause|| Make your body the churning jar, and use the stick of your mind to churn it. Gather the curds of the Shabad. ||2|| The churning of the Lord is to reflect upon Him within the mind. (One who does this churning) by the Guru’s Grace, Amrit (of the Lord's Name) flows into him ||3|| (sggs 478).
- ਮੂਰਖ ਅੰਧੇ ਤ੍ਰੈ ਗੁਣ ਸੇਵਹਿ ਮਾਇਆ ਕੈ ਬਿਉਹਾਰੀ ॥ ਅੰਦਰਿ ਕਪਟੁ ਉਦਰੁ ਭਰਣ ਕੈ ਤਾਈ ਪਾਠ ਪੜਹਿ ਗਾਵਾਰੀ ॥: Moorakh andhe trai gun sevahi maya kai biuhaaree. Anadari kapat udar bharan kai taaee paath parhahi gaavaaree: The blind fools serve the three modes of material nature, the three dispositions; they deal only with Maya. With deception in their hearts, the fools read sacred texts to fill their bellies (sggs 1246).
- ਚਿਤੁ ਜਿਨ ਕਾ ਹਿਰਿ ਲਇਆ ਮਾਇਆ ਬੋਲਨਿ ਪਏ ਰਵਾਣੀ ॥: Chitu jin kaa hiri laiaa maya bolani paye ravaanee: Those whose consciousness has been lured by Maya keep reading scriptures mechanically (sggs 920).
People on Hajj are asked to perform a ritual of sacrifice which involves slaughtering of innocent animals. How cruel! God cannot be pleased by killing an innocent animal, for it's not the animal responsible for your sins, but you! Apparently the idea of the Master was that his disciples should sacrifice their egoism, worldly desires, pride, attachment to material objects, envy, corruption, greed, selfishness, lust, anger, unrighteousness, and so on. Does this happen? Very rare indeed! On the contrary, the person who has performed Hajj has more pride than the person who did not! Why is it so? Because the real teachings of the Spiritual Teacher have been either forgotten or have become corrupted.
- ਜਉ ਸਭ ਮਹਿ ਏਕੁ ਖੁਦਾਇ ਕਹਤ ਹਉ ਤਉ ਕਿਉ ਮੁਰਗੀ ਮਾਰੈ ॥੧॥ ਮੁਲਾਂ ਕਹਹੁ ਨਿਆਉ ਖੁਦਾਈ ॥ ਤੇਰੇ ਮਨ ਕਾ ਭਰਮੁ ਨ ਜਾਈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥: Jayu sabh mahi ek Khudaai kahat hau tau kiyon murgee maarai ||1||. Mullaan kahahu niaau Khudaaee. Tere mann kaa bharam na jaaee ||1||Rahaaou||: You say that the One Lord is in all, so why do you kill chickens? ||1|| O Mullah, tell me: is this God’s Justice? The doubts of your mind have not been dispelled ||1||Pause|| (sggs 1350).
- ਆਪਿ ਮਰੈ ਅਵਰਾ ਨਹ ਮਾਰੈ ॥੩॥: Aap marai avraa nah maarai ||3||: Kill your ego, do not kill other beings ||3|| (sggs 1128).
- ਰੋਜਾ ਧਰੈ ਮਨਾਵੈ ਅਲਹੁ ਸੁਆਦਤਿ ਜੀਅ ਸੰਘਾਰੈ ॥ ਆਪਾ ਦੇਖਿ ਅਵਰ ਨਹੀ ਦੇਖੈ ਕਾਹੇ ਕਉ ਝਖ ਮਾਰੈ ॥੧॥: Rojaa dharai manaavai Alahu suaadati jeea sanghaarai. Aapaa dekhi avar nahee dekhai kaahe kayu jhakh maarai ||1||: You keep your fasts to please Allah, while you murder other beings for pleasure. You look after your own interests, and so not see the interests of others. What good is your word? ||1|| (sggs 483).
- ਦਿਲ ਮਹਿ ਕਪਟੁ ਨਿਵਾਜ ਗੁਜਾਰੈ ਕਿਆ ਹਜ ਕਾਬੈ ਜਾਂਏਂ ॥੪॥: Dil mahi kapat nivaaj gujaarai kiaa haj kaabai jaanye ||4||: If someone has deception (or hypocrisy) in his heart, what good is it for him to utter prayers, and go on pilgrimage to Mecca? ||4|| (sggs 1349).
- ਕਬੀਰ ਜੀਅ ਜੁ ਮਾਰਹਿ ਜੋਰੁ ਕਰਿ ਕਹਤੇ ਹਹਿ ਜੁ ਹਲਾਲੁ ॥ ਦਫਤਰੁ ਦਈ ਜਬ ਕਾਢਿ ਹੈ ਹੋਇਗਾ ਕਉਨੁ ਹਵਾਲੁ ॥੧੯੯॥: Kabeer jiya ju maarahi jor kar kahte hahi ju halaal ...: Kabeer says, you kill animals by cruelty and call it sanctified food! When the Lord calls for your account, what will your condition be? ||199|| (sggs 1375) .
- ਕਬੀਰ ਜਾ ਕੀ ਦਿਲ ਸਾਬਤਿ ਨਹੀ ਤਾ ਕਉ ਕਹਾਂ ਖੁਦਾਇ ॥: Kabeer jaakee dil saabati nahee taa kayu kahaan khudaayi: Kabeer says: Without Intact or Pure Heart (Saabat Dill) one can not attain God (sggs 1374).
Christians and their clergy will tell you that the only way to God is through Jesus! If you do not follow him then you go to hell, where you have no hope to get into the Kingdom of God! The clergy of the Judiasm claims they are the chosen people of God! Muslims and their clergy will label you "Kaaffir" (infidel) unless you are a Muslim — a "Kaaffir" does not even deserve to live! What a cynical view of the Spirituality, God and matters related to Him! As we can see, it is equally embarrassing for the rest of us (Sikhs, Hindus, Buddhist, Jains, etc.) as well. The reason the Pujaarees (the priest groups) are able to fool people is that most of us are ignorant of the Holy Word of the scriptures ourselves. As a result, we set ourselves to be cheated by these professional con artists; and we set ourselves to become prisoners of worldly nonsense, walled in by our own ignorance of the Holy Word. If we want to set ourselves free from this fortress of ignorance or corruption, all we have to do is walk out of this self-constructed prison of phony codes, beliefs, rituals, and ceremonies. Like the Buddha says: "None hold you, but yourself".
- ਸਮਝੈ ਸੂਝੈ ਪੜਿ ਪੜਿ ਬੂਝੈ ਅੰਤਿ ਨਿਰੰਤਰਿ ਸਾਚਾ ॥: Samjhai soojhai parh parh boojhai ant nirantar saachaa...: If one understands, realizes and comprehends what he reads and studies, in the end he will realize that the True God dwells deep Within his nucleus (sggs 930).
The Pure Being, the All-pervading Consciousness, is to be understood as distinct from, and beyond the physical equipments constituted of the body, mind, and intellect. As rituals, beliefs, religious robes, etc., are the play of only material vehicle made up of the body-mind-intellect apparatus, God is beyond their reach or apprehension. Why? Because the body can't comprehend the Infinite Reality because He is not the object of senses or perception; the mind can't either because God is not the object of emotions; and the intellect can't comprehend as well because God is not the object of cognition.
- ਆਪੁ ਬੀਚਾਰੇ ਸੁ ਗਿਆਨੀ ਹੋਈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ Aap beechaare su giaanee hoee ||1||Rahaaou||: One who engages in Vichaar (ਆਤਮਕ ਜੀਵਨ ਦੀ ਪੜਤਾਲ) becomes truely Wise or Giaanee (ਆਤਮਕ ਜੀਵਨ ਦੀ ਸੂਝ ਵਾਲਾ) ||1||Pause|| (sggs 152).
The Supreme Reality is robed in Divine Shakti (power) and Beauty. To see God in that Beauty, we need to replace our immorality and Spiritual ignorance with deep love and devotion for the Divine. We need to become God's true devotees imbued in His Holy Name; keeping in mind that the Name abides in the heart of a true devotee only. Useless ("Fokat") beliefs, rituals, ceremonies, and peculiar wearing do not matter. This is the essence of the entire religion.
- ਸਗਲ ਮਤਾਂਤ ਕੇਵਲ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮ ॥ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਭਗਤ ਕੈ ਮਨਿ ਬਿਸ੍ਰਾਮ ॥: Sagal mataant keval hari naam. Gobind bhagat kai manni bisaraam: The essence of all religion is God's Name alone. It abides in the minds of God's devotees (sggs 296).
- ਸਗਲੇ ਕਰਮ ਧਰਮ ਜੁਗ ਸੋਧੇ ॥ ਬਿਨੁ ਨਾਵੈ ਇਹੁ ਮਨੁ ਨ ਪ੍ਰਬੋਧੇ ॥: Sagle karam dharam jug sodhe. Bin naavai ih man na parbodhe: I have studied the religions and rituals of all the ages. Without the Name, this mind is not awakened (sggs 913).
— T. Singh
Sikhism - Reflections On Gurbani :welcome::welcome::welcome::welcome:
