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ਸੋਹਿਲਾ | Sohilaa
ਰਾਗੁ ਸਿਰੀਰਾਗੁ | Raag Siree-Raag
Gurbani (14-53)
Ashtpadiyan (53-71)
Gurbani (71-74)
Pahre (74-78)
Chhant (78-81)
Vanjara (81-82)
Vaar Siri Raag (83-91)
Bhagat Bani (91-93)
ਰਾਗੁ ਮਾਝ | Raag Maajh
Gurbani (94-109)
Ashtpadi (109)
Ashtpadiyan (110-129)
Ashtpadi (129-130)
Ashtpadiyan (130-133)
Bara Maha (133-136)
Din Raen (136-137)
Vaar Maajh Ki (137-150)
ਰਾਗੁ ਗਉੜੀ | Raag Gauree
Gurbani (151-185)
Quartets/Couplets (185-220)
Ashtpadiyan (220-234)
Karhalei (234-235)
Ashtpadiyan (235-242)
Chhant (242-249)
Baavan Akhari (250-262)
Sukhmani (262-296)
Thittee (296-300)
Gauree kii Vaar (300-323)
Gurbani (323-330)
Ashtpadiyan (330-340)
Baavan Akhari (340-343)
Thintteen (343-344)
Vaar Kabir (344-345)
Bhagat Bani (345-346)
ਰਾਗੁ ਆਸਾ | Raag Aasaa
Gurbani (347-348)
Chaupaday (348-364)
Panchpadde (364-365)
Kaafee (365-409)
Aasaavaree (409-411)
Ashtpadiyan (411-432)
Patee (432-435)
Chhant (435-462)
Vaar Aasaa (462-475)
Bhagat Bani (475-488)
ਰਾਗੁ ਗੂਜਰੀ | Raag Goojaree
Gurbani (489-503)
Ashtpadiyan (503-508)
Vaar Gujari (508-517)
Vaar Gujari (517-526)
ਰਾਗੁ ਦੇਵਗੰਧਾਰੀ | Raag Dayv-Gandhaaree
Gurbani (527-536)
ਰਾਗੁ ਬਿਹਾਗੜਾ | Raag Bihaagraa
Gurbani (537-556)
Chhant (538-548)
Vaar Bihaagraa (548-556)
ਰਾਗੁ ਵਡਹੰਸ | Raag Wadhans
Gurbani (557-564)
Ashtpadiyan (564-565)
Chhant (565-575)
Ghoriaan (575-578)
Alaahaniiaa (578-582)
Vaar Wadhans (582-594)
ਰਾਗੁ ਸੋਰਠਿ | Raag Sorath
Gurbani (595-634)
Asatpadhiya (634-642)
Vaar Sorath (642-659)
ਰਾਗੁ ਧਨਾਸਰੀ | Raag Dhanasaree
Gurbani (660-685)
Astpadhiya (685-687)
Chhant (687-691)
Bhagat Bani (691-695)
ਰਾਗੁ ਜੈਤਸਰੀ | Raag Jaitsree
Gurbani (696-703)
Chhant (703-705)
Vaar Jaitsaree (705-710)
Bhagat Bani (710)
ਰਾਗੁ ਟੋਡੀ | Raag Todee
ਰਾਗੁ ਬੈਰਾੜੀ | Raag Bairaaree
ਰਾਗੁ ਤਿਲੰਗ | Raag Tilang
Gurbani (721-727)
Bhagat Bani (727)
ਰਾਗੁ ਸੂਹੀ | Raag Suhi
Gurbani (728-750)
Ashtpadiyan (750-761)
Kaafee (761-762)
Suchajee (762)
Gunvantee (763)
Chhant (763-785)
Vaar Soohee (785-792)
Bhagat Bani (792-794)
ਰਾਗੁ ਬਿਲਾਵਲੁ | Raag Bilaaval
Gurbani (795-831)
Ashtpadiyan (831-838)
Thitteen (838-840)
Vaar Sat (841-843)
Chhant (843-848)
Vaar Bilaaval (849-855)
Bhagat Bani (855-858)
ਰਾਗੁ ਗੋਂਡ | Raag Gond
Gurbani (859-869)
Ashtpadiyan (869)
Bhagat Bani (870-875)
ਰਾਗੁ ਰਾਮਕਲੀ | Raag Ramkalee
Ashtpadiyan (902-916)
Gurbani (876-902)
Anand (917-922)
Sadd (923-924)
Chhant (924-929)
Dakhnee (929-938)
Sidh Gosat (938-946)
Vaar Ramkalee (947-968)
ਰਾਗੁ ਨਟ ਨਾਰਾਇਨ | Raag Nat Narayan
Gurbani (975-980)
Ashtpadiyan (980-983)
ਰਾਗੁ ਮਾਲੀ ਗਉੜਾ | Raag Maalee Gauraa
Gurbani (984-988)
Bhagat Bani (988)
ਰਾਗੁ ਮਾਰੂ | Raag Maaroo
Gurbani (889-1008)
Ashtpadiyan (1008-1014)
Kaafee (1014-1016)
Ashtpadiyan (1016-1019)
Anjulian (1019-1020)
Solhe (1020-1033)
Dakhni (1033-1043)
ਰਾਗੁ ਤੁਖਾਰੀ | Raag Tukhaari
Bara Maha (1107-1110)
Chhant (1110-1117)
ਰਾਗੁ ਕੇਦਾਰਾ | Raag Kedara
Gurbani (1118-1123)
Bhagat Bani (1123-1124)
ਰਾਗੁ ਭੈਰਉ | Raag Bhairo
Gurbani (1125-1152)
Partaal (1153)
Ashtpadiyan (1153-1167)
ਰਾਗੁ ਬਸੰਤੁ | Raag Basant
Gurbani (1168-1187)
Ashtpadiyan (1187-1193)
Vaar Basant (1193-1196)
ਰਾਗੁ ਸਾਰਗ | Raag Saarag
Gurbani (1197-1200)
Partaal (1200-1231)
Ashtpadiyan (1232-1236)
Chhant (1236-1237)
Vaar Saarang (1237-1253)
ਰਾਗੁ ਮਲਾਰ | Raag Malaar
Gurbani (1254-1293)
Partaal (1265-1273)
Ashtpadiyan (1273-1278)
Chhant (1278)
Vaar Malaar (1278-91)
Bhagat Bani (1292-93)
ਰਾਗੁ ਕਾਨੜਾ | Raag Kaanraa
Gurbani (1294-96)
Partaal (1296-1318)
Ashtpadiyan (1308-1312)
Chhant (1312)
Vaar Kaanraa
Bhagat Bani (1318)
ਰਾਗੁ ਕਲਿਆਨ | Raag Kalyaan
Gurbani (1319-23)
Ashtpadiyan (1323-26)
ਰਾਗੁ ਪ੍ਰਭਾਤੀ | Raag Prabhaatee
Gurbani (1327-1341)
Ashtpadiyan (1342-51)
ਰਾਗੁ ਜੈਜਾਵੰਤੀ | Raag Jaijaiwanti
Gurbani (1352-53)
Salok | Gatha | Phunahe | Chaubole | Swayiye
Sehskritee Mahala 1
Sehskritee Mahala 5
Gaathaa Mahala 5
Phunhay Mahala 5
Chaubolae Mahala 5
Shaloks Bhagat Kabir
Shaloks Sheikh Farid
Swaiyyae Mahala 5
Swaiyyae in Praise of Gurus
Shaloks in Addition To Vaars
Shalok Ninth Mehl
Mundavanee Mehl 5
ਰਾਗ ਮਾਲਾ, Raag Maalaa
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Sikh Sikhi Sikhism
The Purpose Of Our Life
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<blockquote data-quote="Archived_member14" data-source="post: 133224" data-attributes="member: 586"><p>Dear Consciousness,</p><p></p><p></p><p>Since I’ve never had an occasion before to go into such kind of questions, I’d like to respond to some of these that you ask.</p><p>====</p><p>Q: Is there a purpose to our life here on this Earth ? Or are we just part of Darwin's evolution ?</p><p></p><p>A: Before talking in terms of ‘purpose’, I’d like to talk about why and how we are here.</p><p>Beginning with birth, this is result of karma done in the past arisen just before the dying consciousness of the previous life. This same karma also conditions the death of this present life and in between, what is called the life-continuum. However this is not all there is, but there must also be the experience through the five senses all throughout life and these again are result of karma, but are ones from various seeds planted throughout our endless existence.</p><p></p><p>The above are “results”, which given the natural order of things, are inevitably at each instance, followed by moments of volitional impulses, in other words, the ‘reactions’. This latter is what is said to be “cause” or “karma”, although most of them are of the strength resulting simply in accumulation of habit, others however, are strong enough to result in more of the sense experience and some, in further ‘rebirth’. </p><p></p><p>Given this above, we can now talk about ‘purpose’. That our volitional actions are tainted with ignorance and attachment is the reason why the cycle of birth and death keeps spinning endlessly. Not only when they arise with bad deeds that this happens, but good deeds as well, since essentially they are also of the same stuff. Bad deeds give rise to bad results and good deeds to good, yet in the end they are all fleeting and insubstantial and hence not worth clinging to. The only activity which is the gradual breaking down of this prison cell which we otherwise keep adding bricks on to, is ‘wisdom / understanding’. </p><p></p><p>So our purpose is the development of understanding of all our experiences, and this would include distinguishing that which is cause from that which is result and those that are neither. Failing this results in our confusing one for the other or else belief in the kind of cause and effect dictated by ignorance and particular ‘view’ which we happen to incline towards at the time. In other words, we need to gradually come to understand “who we *really* are” as against “who we want to be” which when analysed comes down to the misleading stories we keep telling ourselves driven by craving for ‘being’.</p><p>======</p><p>Q: Should we just enjoy life while we are here on this earth ? Or should we try to achieve a higher state of consciousness ?</p><p></p><p>A: Seeing the harm of craving, why would one aim at it? Seeing the value of developing wisdom, would one aim for anything else?</p><p>======</p><p>Q: If we achieved a higher state of consciousness, would that not be just another prized possesion of our Ego ?</p><p></p><p>A: Attachment is always there around the corner. There is nothing which attachment cannot take as object. However when wisdom does arise regardless this be relatively weak or is strong, it is accompanied by a corresponding level of ‘detachment’. This detachment is directly opposed to the otherwise prevailing attachment. So the more this wisdom is developed, the greater the ability to recognize instances of attachment including those towards any sense of achievement in this regard. </p><p>======</p><p>Q: CAN we attain a higher state of consciousness by choice ?</p><p></p><p>A: Choice is an illusion and the object of concern for those who fail to understand. The past is gone and the future hasn’t arrived, there is ever only the present moment. This moment is *conditioned already* beyond control, about this there is no doubt. Ignorance now conditions more ignorance in the future, likewise wisdom. Understanding this itself is an instance of the latter; on the other hand, a concern about future results with regard to such things is in fact an instance of the former leading to being caught in the vicious cycle even more.</p><p>======</p><p>Q: Is our life pre-programmed ?</p><p></p><p>A: Pre-program implies denying the role of present conditions, and this is quite wrong. No one can say what sound arises next to be heard and what visible object is seen. And no one can say what accumulated tendency will give rise to the reactions following upon such experiences through the five senses. The kind of dream we have at night is often induced by the food we took or any illness we have. Getting to hear the Truth can be a condition for understanding to arise (or not) and getting to hear an un-truth can cause us to be further deluded (or not), but when and how either of this happens clearly must depend on outside conditions as well.</p><p></p><p>In other words, although it is true that we can’t get away from what we’ve accumulated including that ignorance and craving is infinitely more than any good, know that to think that it is all ‘predetermined’ is making it in fact even harder to be free of these tendencies. On the other hand, understanding the present moment, which is neither about determinism nor free-will, is an instance of actualizing that which is our purpose in life. ;-)</p><p>=======</p><p>Q: Are we just a vibration that coalesced into a human body, based on our past Karma ?</p><p></p><p>A: The concept of ‘vibration’ is a result of conditioning primarily by science. We have a mental picture about that which we do not understand based on what we have learnt here and there, all of which are fields of study fuelled all the way, by ignorance and craving.</p><p></p><p>Karma is volition, a *mental* reality arisen and fallen away in a trillionth of a second. Let alone being any close to the idea of ‘vibration’ which is only a concept based on the study of ‘material’ realities, this is a mental reality of which we are essentially in the dark about, and in fact is darker than dark. ;-) However we can begin by learning how our “misconception” comes to be, starting with, it is not that which is seen, heard, smelt, touched or tasted. So if we recognize our mental picture to be tainted by any of these experiences of material phenomena, know that we are in fact wrong.</p><p></p><p>Along with this we would need to differentiate between Karma which is ‘cause’, from say, seeing and hearing which are ‘results’. And then, we also need to distinguish between volition from other kind of mental realities such as feeling, perception, concentration, thinking and so on. </p><p>A very slow and gradual process, hindered often by the very ambition we are likely to have in this regard. And so we’d need to also be reminded about yet other mental realities, such as patience, courage, truthfulness and so on. ;-)</p><p>=======</p><p>Q: Are we condemmend to this cycle of Birth and Death, for a crime we did not commit ? </p><p></p><p>A: We get exactly what we deserve. Each deed through body, speech or mind now will bear its fruit in the future, unless of course we develop the wisdom to cut through it all and attain final liberation. If we do not take responsibility for what happens to us now, then what we do now, the responsibility for this will be denied by the ‘new being’ that we are then born as in the next and future lives. And again this would be adding fuel to the fire even more vigorously as opposed to creating the conditions whereby the final extinction of the flame can occur.</p><p>=======</p><p>Q: Is years and years of Meditation; the only way out ?</p><p></p><p>A: Aeons upon of aeons of development of wisdom is needed to counter the much more time spent in accumulating the ignorance and craving, given especially that the latter is basically all there is when one is born in the lower realms. But does this development of wisdom manifest as what is generally conceived of as the practice of ‘meditation’? The answer is no.</p><p></p><p>Wisdom starts with intellectually understanding that there is ever only the present moment *now*. The nature of this is “one moment of consciousness at a time arisen to experience one object and falling away instantly”. This is so whether we are in the company of people busy talking or alone in the forest. As I said earlier, attachment (and of course ignorance) is around the corner and takes on any object. So to think that one needs to do anything special in order to “understand” is to in fact not only be ignorant about the present moment, but in fact *wrong* about the Path. And this latter is a graver wrong than anything else.</p><p></p><p>In other words, better know that there is so much ignorance now and this is because little understanding has been developed, than to think in terms of future results and be driven by attachment and craving to take up some wrong practice. </p><p>======</p><p>Q: It does not seem fair to me.</p><p></p><p>A: This is due to “attachment to self” a misperception of the way things are. If understanding arose instead, there is detachment and a sense of relief.</p><p></p><p>=======</p><p>=>Any input or opinions would be appreciated.</p><p></p><p>A: I’ve likely given more than you asked for and many here would not like my answers, if they read it. I hope however, others will find something useful in amongst all this.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Archived_member14, post: 133224, member: 586"] Dear Consciousness, Since I’ve never had an occasion before to go into such kind of questions, I’d like to respond to some of these that you ask. ==== Q: Is there a purpose to our life here on this Earth ? Or are we just part of Darwin's evolution ? A: Before talking in terms of ‘purpose’, I’d like to talk about why and how we are here. Beginning with birth, this is result of karma done in the past arisen just before the dying consciousness of the previous life. This same karma also conditions the death of this present life and in between, what is called the life-continuum. However this is not all there is, but there must also be the experience through the five senses all throughout life and these again are result of karma, but are ones from various seeds planted throughout our endless existence. The above are “results”, which given the natural order of things, are inevitably at each instance, followed by moments of volitional impulses, in other words, the ‘reactions’. This latter is what is said to be “cause” or “karma”, although most of them are of the strength resulting simply in accumulation of habit, others however, are strong enough to result in more of the sense experience and some, in further ‘rebirth’. Given this above, we can now talk about ‘purpose’. That our volitional actions are tainted with ignorance and attachment is the reason why the cycle of birth and death keeps spinning endlessly. Not only when they arise with bad deeds that this happens, but good deeds as well, since essentially they are also of the same stuff. Bad deeds give rise to bad results and good deeds to good, yet in the end they are all fleeting and insubstantial and hence not worth clinging to. The only activity which is the gradual breaking down of this prison cell which we otherwise keep adding bricks on to, is ‘wisdom / understanding’. So our purpose is the development of understanding of all our experiences, and this would include distinguishing that which is cause from that which is result and those that are neither. Failing this results in our confusing one for the other or else belief in the kind of cause and effect dictated by ignorance and particular ‘view’ which we happen to incline towards at the time. In other words, we need to gradually come to understand “who we *really* are” as against “who we want to be” which when analysed comes down to the misleading stories we keep telling ourselves driven by craving for ‘being’. ====== Q: Should we just enjoy life while we are here on this earth ? Or should we try to achieve a higher state of consciousness ? A: Seeing the harm of craving, why would one aim at it? Seeing the value of developing wisdom, would one aim for anything else? ====== Q: If we achieved a higher state of consciousness, would that not be just another prized possesion of our Ego ? A: Attachment is always there around the corner. There is nothing which attachment cannot take as object. However when wisdom does arise regardless this be relatively weak or is strong, it is accompanied by a corresponding level of ‘detachment’. This detachment is directly opposed to the otherwise prevailing attachment. So the more this wisdom is developed, the greater the ability to recognize instances of attachment including those towards any sense of achievement in this regard. ====== Q: CAN we attain a higher state of consciousness by choice ? A: Choice is an illusion and the object of concern for those who fail to understand. The past is gone and the future hasn’t arrived, there is ever only the present moment. This moment is *conditioned already* beyond control, about this there is no doubt. Ignorance now conditions more ignorance in the future, likewise wisdom. Understanding this itself is an instance of the latter; on the other hand, a concern about future results with regard to such things is in fact an instance of the former leading to being caught in the vicious cycle even more. ====== Q: Is our life pre-programmed ? A: Pre-program implies denying the role of present conditions, and this is quite wrong. No one can say what sound arises next to be heard and what visible object is seen. And no one can say what accumulated tendency will give rise to the reactions following upon such experiences through the five senses. The kind of dream we have at night is often induced by the food we took or any illness we have. Getting to hear the Truth can be a condition for understanding to arise (or not) and getting to hear an un-truth can cause us to be further deluded (or not), but when and how either of this happens clearly must depend on outside conditions as well. In other words, although it is true that we can’t get away from what we’ve accumulated including that ignorance and craving is infinitely more than any good, know that to think that it is all ‘predetermined’ is making it in fact even harder to be free of these tendencies. On the other hand, understanding the present moment, which is neither about determinism nor free-will, is an instance of actualizing that which is our purpose in life. ;-) ======= Q: Are we just a vibration that coalesced into a human body, based on our past Karma ? A: The concept of ‘vibration’ is a result of conditioning primarily by science. We have a mental picture about that which we do not understand based on what we have learnt here and there, all of which are fields of study fuelled all the way, by ignorance and craving. Karma is volition, a *mental* reality arisen and fallen away in a trillionth of a second. Let alone being any close to the idea of ‘vibration’ which is only a concept based on the study of ‘material’ realities, this is a mental reality of which we are essentially in the dark about, and in fact is darker than dark. ;-) However we can begin by learning how our “misconception” comes to be, starting with, it is not that which is seen, heard, smelt, touched or tasted. So if we recognize our mental picture to be tainted by any of these experiences of material phenomena, know that we are in fact wrong. Along with this we would need to differentiate between Karma which is ‘cause’, from say, seeing and hearing which are ‘results’. And then, we also need to distinguish between volition from other kind of mental realities such as feeling, perception, concentration, thinking and so on. A very slow and gradual process, hindered often by the very ambition we are likely to have in this regard. And so we’d need to also be reminded about yet other mental realities, such as patience, courage, truthfulness and so on. ;-) ======= Q: Are we condemmend to this cycle of Birth and Death, for a crime we did not commit ? A: We get exactly what we deserve. Each deed through body, speech or mind now will bear its fruit in the future, unless of course we develop the wisdom to cut through it all and attain final liberation. If we do not take responsibility for what happens to us now, then what we do now, the responsibility for this will be denied by the ‘new being’ that we are then born as in the next and future lives. And again this would be adding fuel to the fire even more vigorously as opposed to creating the conditions whereby the final extinction of the flame can occur. ======= Q: Is years and years of Meditation; the only way out ? A: Aeons upon of aeons of development of wisdom is needed to counter the much more time spent in accumulating the ignorance and craving, given especially that the latter is basically all there is when one is born in the lower realms. But does this development of wisdom manifest as what is generally conceived of as the practice of ‘meditation’? The answer is no. Wisdom starts with intellectually understanding that there is ever only the present moment *now*. The nature of this is “one moment of consciousness at a time arisen to experience one object and falling away instantly”. This is so whether we are in the company of people busy talking or alone in the forest. As I said earlier, attachment (and of course ignorance) is around the corner and takes on any object. So to think that one needs to do anything special in order to “understand” is to in fact not only be ignorant about the present moment, but in fact *wrong* about the Path. And this latter is a graver wrong than anything else. In other words, better know that there is so much ignorance now and this is because little understanding has been developed, than to think in terms of future results and be driven by attachment and craving to take up some wrong practice. ====== Q: It does not seem fair to me. A: This is due to “attachment to self” a misperception of the way things are. If understanding arose instead, there is detachment and a sense of relief. ======= =>Any input or opinions would be appreciated. A: I’ve likely given more than you asked for and many here would not like my answers, if they read it. I hope however, others will find something useful in amongst all this. [/QUOTE]
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