Unlike the belief of Middle Eastern religions and general belief among people that root of sufferings is SIN, and its washing detergent is virtue, the gurbani on the contrary declare the root of suffering is not SIN but ignorance as out of ignorance only most of the time we hurt someone feelings. Guru Nanak in this stanza logically and realistically clears this delusion and says, ‘[FONT=GurbaniAkharHeavy, serif]pwp puMn duie eyk smwn ] [/FONT]since quest for power and control for vice and virtue stems from the submission to lust, anger, attachment, greed and ego, thus base of both sin and virtue are same.’ SGGS 325-7 like, ‘[FONT=GurbaniAkharHeavy, serif]qIrQ brq Aru dwn kir mn mY DrY gumwnu ][/FONT] instead of chanting and mediataing on His name when mortal takes pride in pilgrimages to sacred shrines, observe ritualistic fasts and make donations to charity, is useless, like the elephant, who takes a bath, and then rolls in the dust, then what is the difference between both of them, how can then SIN alone be the cause of sufferings. It says SIN is like a flower from which fruit of sufferings sprout out and is not the seed or root of sufferings, thus seed of suffering is ignorance.
Brain of mankind works in two ways. And job of brain is to invent. Now it depends upon us whether we go after worldly creation or after God. The one who understood the rule of worldly objects is called scientist whereas the one who understood rule of God is saint and they have attuned themselves accordingly to achieve eternal bliss and merge in HIM. In same manner Guru Nanak is expressing those secrets in stanza twenty. It is true mankind does not want to soil his hands and feet but it is apparent that environment is polluted and one cannot avoid it. Therefore the soap is quoted as detergent to clean the body and dirty clothes. Thus we keep the body and dirty clothes clean always by washing them with soap. It will be significant to mention that none of the holy saints had ever used the word ‘soap’ in any holy scripture.
In similar manner mankind wants to live in bliss and does not want sufferings but the attachment of maya does not let it happen and as such mortals are unhappy and suffering throughout of their life. Thus [FONT=Arial Unicode MS, serif]when the understanding of the mind is stained or[/FONT] mind becomes polluted due to attachment with maya, Guru Nanak in contradiction to the belief prevalent is telling us the only detergent to clean the mind is devotion single-mindedly and colored in His love by remembrance of God’s Name. The divergence of mind from our own to God is the elimination of suffering.[FONT=Arial Unicode MS, serif] Gurbani clearly tells us, ‘[/FONT][FONT=GurbaniAkharHeavy, serif]ibnu sbdY suDu n hoveI jy Anyk krY sIgwr ][/FONT]Without the Word of the Shabad, purity is not obtained or knowledge between vi[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]ce and virtue is not obtained, even though the soul-bride may adorn herself with all sorts of decorations. [/FONT][FONT=Arial Unicode MS, serif][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Only Love for HIM has any affect which develop awareness that work as cleaning detergent [/FONT][/FONT][FONT=Arial Unicode MS, serif].[/FONT]
Guru Nanak in next line is clearly warning us that, ‘[FONT=GurbaniAkharHeavy, serif]puMnI pwpI AwKxu nwih ][/FONT][FONT=GurbaniAkharLight, serif]’ -[/FONT]vice and virtues are not for the name sake but whatever one does is engraved on mind and is accountable. Once anything with the intention to cheat with full concentration is done, ‘[FONT=GurbaniAkharHeavy, serif]lyKu n imteI hy sKI jo iliKAw krqwir ][/FONT] the inscription inscribed by the Hukam cannot be erased, O my companions.’ SGSS 937.15, thus ‘[FONT=GurbaniAkharHeavy, serif]Awpy bIij Awpy hI Kwhu ]’[/FONT]one has to harvest or yield what he plants.. Throughout life human beings are suffering, does it mean they are committing sin throughout. If origin of sufferings is SIN then human being wouldn’t have committed SIN. Sin is also like fire or poison but due to ignorance one enjoys slandering or exploiting his power. BUT ‘[FONT=GurbaniAkharLight, serif]imTw kir kY kauVw KwieAw ] [/FONT]Thus seed of suffering is ignorance. If one knows it is poison he will not take. A child does not know fire will burn his hand or putting his hand in snake mouth will harm him thus without knowing he acts but as he gets older or becomes aware he does not risk. But unfortunately despite best of University Degrees and worldly knowledge, change in deeply held unconscious belief system of hollow rituals does not take place thus ignorance of vice and virtues. Generally people commit sin while not considering it as sin but out of ignorance.How will we accomplish and [FONT=GurbaniAkharHeavy, serif]mnih BieAw prgwsw ] [/FONT]– mind is enlightened to know vice and virtue or technique to avoid and neutralize the effect of vice and virtue it is by with great good fortune meeting the true guru? Gurbani tells, ‘[FONT=GurbaniAkharHeavy, serif]Ehu DopY nwvY kY rMig ][/FONT] - It is by concentration on God till you access brahm agni which works as cleaning detergent. Thus before the fruit of sufferings sprout out, name of God makes the SEED or flower ineffective.
Best regards
Mohinder Sahni
Brain of mankind works in two ways. And job of brain is to invent. Now it depends upon us whether we go after worldly creation or after God. The one who understood the rule of worldly objects is called scientist whereas the one who understood rule of God is saint and they have attuned themselves accordingly to achieve eternal bliss and merge in HIM. In same manner Guru Nanak is expressing those secrets in stanza twenty. It is true mankind does not want to soil his hands and feet but it is apparent that environment is polluted and one cannot avoid it. Therefore the soap is quoted as detergent to clean the body and dirty clothes. Thus we keep the body and dirty clothes clean always by washing them with soap. It will be significant to mention that none of the holy saints had ever used the word ‘soap’ in any holy scripture.
In similar manner mankind wants to live in bliss and does not want sufferings but the attachment of maya does not let it happen and as such mortals are unhappy and suffering throughout of their life. Thus [FONT=Arial Unicode MS, serif]when the understanding of the mind is stained or[/FONT] mind becomes polluted due to attachment with maya, Guru Nanak in contradiction to the belief prevalent is telling us the only detergent to clean the mind is devotion single-mindedly and colored in His love by remembrance of God’s Name. The divergence of mind from our own to God is the elimination of suffering.[FONT=Arial Unicode MS, serif] Gurbani clearly tells us, ‘[/FONT][FONT=GurbaniAkharHeavy, serif]ibnu sbdY suDu n hoveI jy Anyk krY sIgwr ][/FONT]Without the Word of the Shabad, purity is not obtained or knowledge between vi[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]ce and virtue is not obtained, even though the soul-bride may adorn herself with all sorts of decorations. [/FONT][FONT=Arial Unicode MS, serif][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Only Love for HIM has any affect which develop awareness that work as cleaning detergent [/FONT][/FONT][FONT=Arial Unicode MS, serif].[/FONT]
Guru Nanak in next line is clearly warning us that, ‘[FONT=GurbaniAkharHeavy, serif]puMnI pwpI AwKxu nwih ][/FONT][FONT=GurbaniAkharLight, serif]’ -[/FONT]vice and virtues are not for the name sake but whatever one does is engraved on mind and is accountable. Once anything with the intention to cheat with full concentration is done, ‘[FONT=GurbaniAkharHeavy, serif]lyKu n imteI hy sKI jo iliKAw krqwir ][/FONT] the inscription inscribed by the Hukam cannot be erased, O my companions.’ SGSS 937.15, thus ‘[FONT=GurbaniAkharHeavy, serif]Awpy bIij Awpy hI Kwhu ]’[/FONT]one has to harvest or yield what he plants.. Throughout life human beings are suffering, does it mean they are committing sin throughout. If origin of sufferings is SIN then human being wouldn’t have committed SIN. Sin is also like fire or poison but due to ignorance one enjoys slandering or exploiting his power. BUT ‘[FONT=GurbaniAkharLight, serif]imTw kir kY kauVw KwieAw ] [/FONT]Thus seed of suffering is ignorance. If one knows it is poison he will not take. A child does not know fire will burn his hand or putting his hand in snake mouth will harm him thus without knowing he acts but as he gets older or becomes aware he does not risk. But unfortunately despite best of University Degrees and worldly knowledge, change in deeply held unconscious belief system of hollow rituals does not take place thus ignorance of vice and virtues. Generally people commit sin while not considering it as sin but out of ignorance.How will we accomplish and [FONT=GurbaniAkharHeavy, serif]mnih BieAw prgwsw ] [/FONT]– mind is enlightened to know vice and virtue or technique to avoid and neutralize the effect of vice and virtue it is by with great good fortune meeting the true guru? Gurbani tells, ‘[FONT=GurbaniAkharHeavy, serif]Ehu DopY nwvY kY rMig ][/FONT] - It is by concentration on God till you access brahm agni which works as cleaning detergent. Thus before the fruit of sufferings sprout out, name of God makes the SEED or flower ineffective.
Best regards
Mohinder Sahni
