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How Do You Serve The Guru?
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<blockquote data-quote="Ishna" data-source="post: 196428" data-attributes="member: 2709"><p>Thanks everyone for your thoughts so far.</p><p> </p><p>The shabad below starts at the end of <a href="http://www.srigranth.org/servlet/gurbani.gurbani?Action=Page&Param=589&g=1&h=0&r=1&t=1&p=0&k=0&fb=0" target="_blank">Ang 589</a> and I wish I'd read it first, as it's much more explicit about seva.</p><p> </p><p>The first impression I got from it when I read it, was that everything we do, we should do for the Guru, and not for ourselves; dissolve the illusion of separation and do everything in the spirit of Oneness. It's advocating the ultimate, "Do unto others as you would do unto Guru." (A play on the Christian Golden Rule of "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.")</p><p> </p><p>The reason it's not specific about how to serve is because everything the Sikh does can be service to the Guru.</p><p> </p><p>Harry bhaji, Sherdil ji and Ambarsaria ji agree that serving the True Guru means to serve the Creation. Whilst I agree with them, I wonder why Guru Sahiban didn't just say that. As a human with a feeble human mind and feelings, I admit that its easier for me to serve Creation via the Guru than it is to serve reality. I'm sure this is just my weakness, but could perhaps it is a human weakness Guru Sahiban understood and harnessed for positive outcomes. I.e. for some perhaps it's easier to serve the Sat Guru than it is to serve the old lady crossing the street.</p><p> </p><p>The two lines by First Nanak Sahib Ji in the middle of this shabad seem out of place at first, but really bring seva back to serving Creation. Service isn't a blind ritual, it's a labour of love. I've added <span style="color: seagreen">Bhai Manmohan Singh's translation</span> of those tuks because they are clearer. These lines also say that rituals are not service, and the temptation to make a show of your service instead of doing it quietly with love, is a trap.</p><p> </p><p>The last salok reiterates the idea of serving the Most High which is within the Creation.. I think that might be why the salok talks about being shamed by begging from another, it's a reminder not to look for thanks or reward from the old lady you helped across the street; your reward is in love of the Naam, which is much more valuable than any mundane acknowledgement.</p><p> </p><p>Please forgive my mistakes and misunderstandings above.</p><p>--</p><p> </p><p>ਸਲੋਕ ਮਃ ੩ ॥ </p><p>Salok mėhlā 3. </p><p>Shalok, Third Mehl: </p><p> </p><p>ਬਿਨੁ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਸੇਵੇ ਜੀਅ ਕੇ ਬੰਧਨਾ ਵਿਚਿ ਹਉਮੈ ਕਰਮ ਕਮਾਹਿ ॥ </p><p>Bin saṯgur seve jī▫a ke banḏẖnā vicẖ ha▫umai karam kamāhi. </p><p>Without serving the True Guru, the soul is in the bondage of deeds done in ego. </p><p> </p><p>ਬਿਨੁ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਸੇਵੇ ਠਉਰ ਨ ਪਾਵਹੀ ਮਰਿ ਜੰਮਹਿ ਆਵਹਿ ਜਾਹਿ ॥ </p><p>Bin saṯgur seve ṯẖa▫ur na pāvhī mar jamėh āvahi jāhi. </p><p>Without serving the True Guru, one finds no place of rest; he dies, and is reincarnated, and continues coming and going. </p><p> </p><p>ਬਿਨੁ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਸੇਵੇ ਫਿਕਾ ਬੋਲਣਾ ਨਾਮੁ ਨ ਵਸੈ ਮਨ ਮਾਹਿ ॥ </p><p>Bin saṯgur seve fikā bolṇā nām na vasai man māhi. </p><p>Without serving the True Guru, one's speech is vapid and insipid; the Naam, the Name of the Lord, does not abide in his mind. </p><p> </p><p>ਨਾਨਕ ਬਿਨੁ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਸੇਵੇ ਜਮ ਪੁਰਿ ਬਧੇ ਮਾਰੀਅਨਿ ਮੁਹਿ ਕਾਲੈ ਉਠਿ ਜਾਹਿ ॥੧॥ </p><p>Nānak bin saṯgur seve jam pur baḏẖe mārī▫an muhi kālai uṯẖ jāhi. ||1|| </p><p>O Nanak, without serving the True Guru, they are bound and beaten in the City of Death; they arise and depart with blackened faces. ||1|| </p><p> </p><p>ਮਹਲਾ ੧ ॥ </p><p>Mėhlā 1. </p><p>First Mehl: </p><p> </p><p>ਜਾਲਉ ਐਸੀ ਰੀਤਿ ਜਿਤੁ ਮੈ ਪਿਆਰਾ ਵੀਸਰੈ ॥ </p><p>Jāla▫o aisī rīṯ jiṯ mai pi▫ārā vīsrai. </p><p>Burn away those rituals which lead you to forget the Beloved Lord.</p><p><span style="color: seagreen">Burn such ceremonial custom, by which I may forget my Beloved.</span> </p><p> </p><p>ਨਾਨਕ ਸਾਈ ਭਲੀ ਪਰੀਤਿ ਜਿਤੁ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਸੇਤੀ ਪਤਿ ਰਹੈ ॥੨॥ </p><p>Nānak sā▫ī bẖalī parīṯ jiṯ sāhib seṯī paṯ rahai. ||2|| </p><p>O Nanak, sublime is that love, which preserves my honor with my Lord Master. ||2|| </p><p><span style="color: seagreen">Nanak, sublime is the love which builds my honour with the Lord.</span> </p><p> </p><p>ਪਉੜੀ ॥ </p><p>Pa▫oṛī. </p><p>Pauree: </p><p> </p><p>ਹਰਿ ਇਕੋ ਦਾਤਾ ਸੇਵੀਐ ਹਰਿ ਇਕੁ ਧਿਆਈਐ ॥ </p><p>Har iko ḏāṯā sevī▫ai har ik ḏẖi▫ā▫ī▫ai. </p><p>Serve the One Lord, the Great Giver; meditate on the One Lord. </p><p> </p><p>ਹਰਿ ਇਕੋ ਦਾਤਾ ਮੰਗੀਐ ਮਨ ਚਿੰਦਿਆ ਪਾਈਐ ॥ </p><p>Har iko ḏāṯā mangī▫ai man cẖinḏi▫ā pā▫ī▫ai. </p><p>Beg from the One Lord, the Great Giver, and you shall obtain your heart's desires. </p><p> </p><p>ਜੇ ਦੂਜੇ ਪਾਸਹੁ ਮੰਗੀਐ ਤਾ ਲਾਜ ਮਰਾਈਐ ॥ </p><p>Je ḏūje pāshu mangī▫ai ṯā lāj marā▫ī▫ai. </p><p>But if you beg from another, then you shall be shamed and destroyed. </p><p> </p><p>ਜਿਨਿ ਸੇਵਿਆ ਤਿਨਿ ਫਲੁ ਪਾਇਆ ਤਿਸੁ ਜਨ ਕੀ ਸਭ ਭੁਖ ਗਵਾਈਐ ॥ </p><p>Jin sevi▫ā ṯin fal pā▫i▫ā ṯis jan kī sabẖ bẖukẖ gavā▫ī▫ai. </p><p>One who serves the Lord obtains the fruits of his rewards; all of his hunger is satisfied. </p><p> </p><p>ਨਾਨਕੁ ਤਿਨ ਵਿਟਹੁ ਵਾਰਿਆ ਜਿਨ ਅਨਦਿਨੁ ਹਿਰਦੈ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਧਿਆਈਐ ॥੧੦॥ </p><p>Nānak ṯin vitahu vāri▫ā jin an▫ḏin hirḏai har nām ḏẖi▫ā▫ī▫ai. ||10|| </p><p>Nanak is a sacrifice to those, who night and day, meditate within their hearts on the Name of the Lord. ||10||</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Ishna, post: 196428, member: 2709"] Thanks everyone for your thoughts so far. The shabad below starts at the end of [URL="http://www.srigranth.org/servlet/gurbani.gurbani?Action=Page&Param=589&g=1&h=0&r=1&t=1&p=0&k=0&fb=0"]Ang 589[/URL] and I wish I'd read it first, as it's much more explicit about seva. The first impression I got from it when I read it, was that everything we do, we should do for the Guru, and not for ourselves; dissolve the illusion of separation and do everything in the spirit of Oneness. It's advocating the ultimate, "Do unto others as you would do unto Guru." (A play on the Christian Golden Rule of "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.") The reason it's not specific about how to serve is because everything the Sikh does can be service to the Guru. Harry bhaji, Sherdil ji and Ambarsaria ji agree that serving the True Guru means to serve the Creation. Whilst I agree with them, I wonder why Guru Sahiban didn't just say that. As a human with a feeble human mind and feelings, I admit that its easier for me to serve Creation via the Guru than it is to serve reality. I'm sure this is just my weakness, but could perhaps it is a human weakness Guru Sahiban understood and harnessed for positive outcomes. I.e. for some perhaps it's easier to serve the Sat Guru than it is to serve the old lady crossing the street. The two lines by First Nanak Sahib Ji in the middle of this shabad seem out of place at first, but really bring seva back to serving Creation. Service isn't a blind ritual, it's a labour of love. I've added [COLOR=seagreen]Bhai Manmohan Singh's translation[/COLOR] of those tuks because they are clearer. These lines also say that rituals are not service, and the temptation to make a show of your service instead of doing it quietly with love, is a trap. The last salok reiterates the idea of serving the Most High which is within the Creation.. I think that might be why the salok talks about being shamed by begging from another, it's a reminder not to look for thanks or reward from the old lady you helped across the street; your reward is in love of the Naam, which is much more valuable than any mundane acknowledgement. Please forgive my mistakes and misunderstandings above. -- ਸਲੋਕ ਮਃ ੩ ॥ Salok mėhlā 3. Shalok, Third Mehl: ਬਿਨੁ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਸੇਵੇ ਜੀਅ ਕੇ ਬੰਧਨਾ ਵਿਚਿ ਹਉਮੈ ਕਰਮ ਕਮਾਹਿ ॥ Bin saṯgur seve jī▫a ke banḏẖnā vicẖ ha▫umai karam kamāhi. Without serving the True Guru, the soul is in the bondage of deeds done in ego. ਬਿਨੁ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਸੇਵੇ ਠਉਰ ਨ ਪਾਵਹੀ ਮਰਿ ਜੰਮਹਿ ਆਵਹਿ ਜਾਹਿ ॥ Bin saṯgur seve ṯẖa▫ur na pāvhī mar jamėh āvahi jāhi. Without serving the True Guru, one finds no place of rest; he dies, and is reincarnated, and continues coming and going. ਬਿਨੁ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਸੇਵੇ ਫਿਕਾ ਬੋਲਣਾ ਨਾਮੁ ਨ ਵਸੈ ਮਨ ਮਾਹਿ ॥ Bin saṯgur seve fikā bolṇā nām na vasai man māhi. Without serving the True Guru, one's speech is vapid and insipid; the Naam, the Name of the Lord, does not abide in his mind. ਨਾਨਕ ਬਿਨੁ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਸੇਵੇ ਜਮ ਪੁਰਿ ਬਧੇ ਮਾਰੀਅਨਿ ਮੁਹਿ ਕਾਲੈ ਉਠਿ ਜਾਹਿ ॥੧॥ Nānak bin saṯgur seve jam pur baḏẖe mārī▫an muhi kālai uṯẖ jāhi. ||1|| O Nanak, without serving the True Guru, they are bound and beaten in the City of Death; they arise and depart with blackened faces. ||1|| ਮਹਲਾ ੧ ॥ Mėhlā 1. First Mehl: ਜਾਲਉ ਐਸੀ ਰੀਤਿ ਜਿਤੁ ਮੈ ਪਿਆਰਾ ਵੀਸਰੈ ॥ Jāla▫o aisī rīṯ jiṯ mai pi▫ārā vīsrai. Burn away those rituals which lead you to forget the Beloved Lord. [COLOR=seagreen]Burn such ceremonial custom, by which I may forget my Beloved.[/COLOR] ਨਾਨਕ ਸਾਈ ਭਲੀ ਪਰੀਤਿ ਜਿਤੁ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਸੇਤੀ ਪਤਿ ਰਹੈ ॥੨॥ Nānak sā▫ī bẖalī parīṯ jiṯ sāhib seṯī paṯ rahai. ||2|| O Nanak, sublime is that love, which preserves my honor with my Lord Master. ||2|| [COLOR=seagreen]Nanak, sublime is the love which builds my honour with the Lord.[/COLOR] ਪਉੜੀ ॥ Pa▫oṛī. Pauree: ਹਰਿ ਇਕੋ ਦਾਤਾ ਸੇਵੀਐ ਹਰਿ ਇਕੁ ਧਿਆਈਐ ॥ Har iko ḏāṯā sevī▫ai har ik ḏẖi▫ā▫ī▫ai. Serve the One Lord, the Great Giver; meditate on the One Lord. ਹਰਿ ਇਕੋ ਦਾਤਾ ਮੰਗੀਐ ਮਨ ਚਿੰਦਿਆ ਪਾਈਐ ॥ Har iko ḏāṯā mangī▫ai man cẖinḏi▫ā pā▫ī▫ai. Beg from the One Lord, the Great Giver, and you shall obtain your heart's desires. ਜੇ ਦੂਜੇ ਪਾਸਹੁ ਮੰਗੀਐ ਤਾ ਲਾਜ ਮਰਾਈਐ ॥ Je ḏūje pāshu mangī▫ai ṯā lāj marā▫ī▫ai. But if you beg from another, then you shall be shamed and destroyed. ਜਿਨਿ ਸੇਵਿਆ ਤਿਨਿ ਫਲੁ ਪਾਇਆ ਤਿਸੁ ਜਨ ਕੀ ਸਭ ਭੁਖ ਗਵਾਈਐ ॥ Jin sevi▫ā ṯin fal pā▫i▫ā ṯis jan kī sabẖ bẖukẖ gavā▫ī▫ai. One who serves the Lord obtains the fruits of his rewards; all of his hunger is satisfied. ਨਾਨਕੁ ਤਿਨ ਵਿਟਹੁ ਵਾਰਿਆ ਜਿਨ ਅਨਦਿਨੁ ਹਿਰਦੈ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਧਿਆਈਐ ॥੧੦॥ Nānak ṯin vitahu vāri▫ā jin an▫ḏin hirḏai har nām ḏẖi▫ā▫ī▫ai. ||10|| Nanak is a sacrifice to those, who night and day, meditate within their hearts on the Name of the Lord. ||10|| [/QUOTE]
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