To keep the Lord in the pocket or in the heart!
We, Sikhs being learners, should follow Guru Teachings doubtlessly; we love Guru and the Lord; however, we love more ourselves than the Lord. That alone, disturbs our spiritual journey. As long as hypocritical deeds and behavior are accepted by the mind, all appears to be fine but in truth, it is not. To understand it further, it is fair to say that through the deeds and behavior triggered by “I-force”, we keep the Lord in our pockets in stead of in our hearts. Guru says:
ਅੰਤਰਿ ਤੇਰੈ ਹਰਿ ਵਸੈ ਗੁਰ ਸੇਵਾ ਸੁਖੁ ਪਾਇ ॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
Anṯar ṯerai har vasai gur sevā sukẖ pā▫e. Rahā▫o.
The Lord dwells within you; serving the Guru, you shall find peace. ||Pause||
ਮਃ 3
ਘਟ ਘਟ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਰਵਿ ਰਹਿਆ ਸਦਾ ਸਹਾਈ ਸੰਗਿ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ
Gẖat gẖat anṯar rav rahi▫ā saḏā sahā▫ī sang. ||1|| rahā▫o.
He is contained deep within each and every heart. He is always with you, as your Helper and Support. ||1||Pause||
ਮਃ 5
Aren’t we boasting about being Sikhs quite often, feel proud to be Sikhs? How sincerely we learn from the Guru? We like to learn but we don’t in fact. That is why we really do not have peace of mind (I am talking about the ever peace of mind not the momentarily peace)? People say” we are happy and also we are satisfied”; however, what they express through their talk and behavior, is disappointing in the context of peace and contentment. There are a few questions that bother me being a learner.
Why does mind bottle up with hatred if some one says some thing against this” I-force”? Doesn’t Guru says it is immaterial what others say about you? (SGGS Ji 24)
We recite and understand Gurbani (at last its initial principles) but we fail whenever to make a choice to follow Gurbani or the mind?
Why does the mind get thrilled by some one’s a compliment? Who is behind this longing to be praised?
When some one, who is closer, does make a mistake, we eagerly turn generous to forgive but make a mountain out of a hole if other makes the same kind of mistake, why?
In other simple words, why does this mind lack stillness even after declaring our alliance to the Guru?
Why does mind still think that other than the Gurbani, there are lots of stuff that can help us more or it should also considered for spiritual progression besides Gurbani? Why is this duality or a diversion from a complete surrender to Guru?
Guru gives us warning to choose the company because it influences our behavior and attitude a lot
ਓਨਾ ਪਾਸਿ ਦੁਆਸਿ ਨ ਭਿਟੀਐ ਜਿਨ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਕ੍ਰੋਧੁ ਚੰਡਾਲ ॥੩॥
Onā pās ḏu▫ās na bẖitī▫ai jin anṯar kroḏẖ cẖandāl. ||3||
Do not meet with, or even approach those people, whose hearts are filled with horrible anger. ||3||
ਮਃ 4
Why? Answer is:
ਤ੍ਰਿਸਨਾ ਲਾਗੀ ਰਚਿ ਰਹਿਆ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਹਉਮੈ ਕੂਰਿ ॥
Ŧarisnā lāgī racẖ rahi▫ā anṯar ha▫umai kūr.
They are engrossed in clinging desires; within their hearts there is ego and falsehood.
ਮਃ 5
So what is going on then?
If we go through Gurbani, we come across with many Shabadas that state that without cleaning the heart, without having high gravity of sincerity towards Guru, we slip back to the temptations our mind enforces within us; so Guru is not followed as required for spiritual progression. What are the culprits that build a wall between our Guru and us? Guru answers:
ਮਨਹਠਿ ਕਰਮ ਕਮਾਵਦੇ ਨਿਤ ਨਿਤ ਹੋਹਿ ਖੁਆਰੁ ॥
Manhaṯẖ karam kamāvḏe niṯ niṯ hohi kẖu▫ār.
They go about their business stubborn-mindedly; they are disgraced forever and ever.
ਅੰਤਰਿ ਸਾਂਤਿ ਨ ਆਵਈ ਨਾ ਸਚਿ ਲਗੈ ਪਿਆਰੁ ॥੬॥
Anṯar sāʼnṯ na āvī nā sacẖ lagai pi▫ār. ||6||
Inner peace does not come to them; they do not embrace love for the True Lord. ||6||
Guru ji beautifully expresses a picture of His being within us while describing why we just cannot unite with Him:
ਦੁਖੁ ਦਰਵਾਜਾ ਰੋਹੁ ਰਖਵਾਲਾ ਆਸਾ ਅੰਦੇਸਾ ਦੁਇ ਪਟ ਜੜੇ ॥
Ḏukẖ ḏarvājā rohu rakẖvālā āsā anḏesā ḏu▫e pat jaṛe.
Pain is the door, and anger is the guard; hope and anxiety are the two shutters.
ਮਾਇਆ ਜਲੁ ਖਾਈ ਪਾਣੀ ਘਰੁ ਬਾਧਿਆ ਸਤ ਕੈ ਆਸਣਿ ਪੁਰਖੁ ਰਹੈ ॥੨॥
Mā▫i▫ā jal kẖā▫ī pāṇī gẖar bāḏẖi▫ā saṯ kai āsaṇ purakẖ rahai. ||2||
Maya is the water in the moat; in the middle of this moat, he has built his home. The Primal Lord sits in the Seat of Truth. ||2||
So do we try to dismantle all this? If we did, we wouldn’t be in this dilemma any way, so answer is” No” The truth is this that we just don’t take Guru as Guru and the Lord as Lord, we just play games. Many of us are just playing with the Lord as if we would beat the game. Guru ji makes us aware from that illusion too:
ਹਟ ਪਟਣ ਬਿਜ ਮੰਦਰ ਭੰਨੈ ਕਰਿ ਚੋਰੀ ਘਰਿ ਆਵੈ ॥
Hat pataṇ bij manḏar bẖannai kar cẖorī gẖar āvai.
I broke into the shops of the city and well-guarded palaces; stealing from them, I come home again.
ਅਗਹੁ ਦੇਖੈ ਪਿਛਹੁ ਦੇਖੈ ਤੁਝ ਤੇ ਕਹਾ ਛਪਾਵੈ ॥੩॥
Agahu ḏekẖai picẖẖahu ḏekẖai ṯujẖ ṯe kahā cẖẖapāvai. ||3||
I looked in front of me, and I looked behind me, but where could I hide from You? ||3||
Obviously, we act like fools. A path to have union with the Lord needs daring heart; it needs commitment to the Guru and to keep that commitment. “I-force” has to go. This is the one that keeps the Lord in the pockets and never let us enjoy His presence with in us. We fill ourselves with so much filth; it appears that there is not enough space for the Lord. Think about an instance of filling a utensils with milk; if in the utensil, there is some filth, milk will not remain milk, the other thing will get mixed with the milk; so to have pure milk in the utensil, the filth needs to be cleaned. Guru can enable us to do so only if our hearts are cleaned as per Guru Direction; however, a few keep the heart pure as per Guru Observation:
ਸੂਚੈ ਭਾਡੈ ਸਾਚੁ ਸਮਾਵੈ ਵਿਰਲੇ ਸੂਚਾਚਾਰੀ ॥
Sūcẖai bẖādai sācẖ samāvai virle sūcẖācẖārī.
In the pure vessel, the True Name is contained; how few are those who practice true conduct.
ਮਃ 1
To be continued
We, Sikhs being learners, should follow Guru Teachings doubtlessly; we love Guru and the Lord; however, we love more ourselves than the Lord. That alone, disturbs our spiritual journey. As long as hypocritical deeds and behavior are accepted by the mind, all appears to be fine but in truth, it is not. To understand it further, it is fair to say that through the deeds and behavior triggered by “I-force”, we keep the Lord in our pockets in stead of in our hearts. Guru says:
ਅੰਤਰਿ ਤੇਰੈ ਹਰਿ ਵਸੈ ਗੁਰ ਸੇਵਾ ਸੁਖੁ ਪਾਇ ॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
Anṯar ṯerai har vasai gur sevā sukẖ pā▫e. Rahā▫o.
The Lord dwells within you; serving the Guru, you shall find peace. ||Pause||
ਮਃ 3
ਘਟ ਘਟ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਰਵਿ ਰਹਿਆ ਸਦਾ ਸਹਾਈ ਸੰਗਿ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ
Gẖat gẖat anṯar rav rahi▫ā saḏā sahā▫ī sang. ||1|| rahā▫o.
He is contained deep within each and every heart. He is always with you, as your Helper and Support. ||1||Pause||
ਮਃ 5
Aren’t we boasting about being Sikhs quite often, feel proud to be Sikhs? How sincerely we learn from the Guru? We like to learn but we don’t in fact. That is why we really do not have peace of mind (I am talking about the ever peace of mind not the momentarily peace)? People say” we are happy and also we are satisfied”; however, what they express through their talk and behavior, is disappointing in the context of peace and contentment. There are a few questions that bother me being a learner.
Why does mind bottle up with hatred if some one says some thing against this” I-force”? Doesn’t Guru says it is immaterial what others say about you? (SGGS Ji 24)
We recite and understand Gurbani (at last its initial principles) but we fail whenever to make a choice to follow Gurbani or the mind?
Why does the mind get thrilled by some one’s a compliment? Who is behind this longing to be praised?
When some one, who is closer, does make a mistake, we eagerly turn generous to forgive but make a mountain out of a hole if other makes the same kind of mistake, why?
In other simple words, why does this mind lack stillness even after declaring our alliance to the Guru?
Why does mind still think that other than the Gurbani, there are lots of stuff that can help us more or it should also considered for spiritual progression besides Gurbani? Why is this duality or a diversion from a complete surrender to Guru?
Guru gives us warning to choose the company because it influences our behavior and attitude a lot
ਓਨਾ ਪਾਸਿ ਦੁਆਸਿ ਨ ਭਿਟੀਐ ਜਿਨ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਕ੍ਰੋਧੁ ਚੰਡਾਲ ॥੩॥
Onā pās ḏu▫ās na bẖitī▫ai jin anṯar kroḏẖ cẖandāl. ||3||
Do not meet with, or even approach those people, whose hearts are filled with horrible anger. ||3||
ਮਃ 4
Why? Answer is:
ਤ੍ਰਿਸਨਾ ਲਾਗੀ ਰਚਿ ਰਹਿਆ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਹਉਮੈ ਕੂਰਿ ॥
Ŧarisnā lāgī racẖ rahi▫ā anṯar ha▫umai kūr.
They are engrossed in clinging desires; within their hearts there is ego and falsehood.
ਮਃ 5
So what is going on then?
If we go through Gurbani, we come across with many Shabadas that state that without cleaning the heart, without having high gravity of sincerity towards Guru, we slip back to the temptations our mind enforces within us; so Guru is not followed as required for spiritual progression. What are the culprits that build a wall between our Guru and us? Guru answers:
ਮਨਹਠਿ ਕਰਮ ਕਮਾਵਦੇ ਨਿਤ ਨਿਤ ਹੋਹਿ ਖੁਆਰੁ ॥
Manhaṯẖ karam kamāvḏe niṯ niṯ hohi kẖu▫ār.
They go about their business stubborn-mindedly; they are disgraced forever and ever.
ਅੰਤਰਿ ਸਾਂਤਿ ਨ ਆਵਈ ਨਾ ਸਚਿ ਲਗੈ ਪਿਆਰੁ ॥੬॥
Anṯar sāʼnṯ na āvī nā sacẖ lagai pi▫ār. ||6||
Inner peace does not come to them; they do not embrace love for the True Lord. ||6||
Guru ji beautifully expresses a picture of His being within us while describing why we just cannot unite with Him:
ਦੁਖੁ ਦਰਵਾਜਾ ਰੋਹੁ ਰਖਵਾਲਾ ਆਸਾ ਅੰਦੇਸਾ ਦੁਇ ਪਟ ਜੜੇ ॥
Ḏukẖ ḏarvājā rohu rakẖvālā āsā anḏesā ḏu▫e pat jaṛe.
Pain is the door, and anger is the guard; hope and anxiety are the two shutters.
ਮਾਇਆ ਜਲੁ ਖਾਈ ਪਾਣੀ ਘਰੁ ਬਾਧਿਆ ਸਤ ਕੈ ਆਸਣਿ ਪੁਰਖੁ ਰਹੈ ॥੨॥
Mā▫i▫ā jal kẖā▫ī pāṇī gẖar bāḏẖi▫ā saṯ kai āsaṇ purakẖ rahai. ||2||
Maya is the water in the moat; in the middle of this moat, he has built his home. The Primal Lord sits in the Seat of Truth. ||2||
So do we try to dismantle all this? If we did, we wouldn’t be in this dilemma any way, so answer is” No” The truth is this that we just don’t take Guru as Guru and the Lord as Lord, we just play games. Many of us are just playing with the Lord as if we would beat the game. Guru ji makes us aware from that illusion too:
ਹਟ ਪਟਣ ਬਿਜ ਮੰਦਰ ਭੰਨੈ ਕਰਿ ਚੋਰੀ ਘਰਿ ਆਵੈ ॥
Hat pataṇ bij manḏar bẖannai kar cẖorī gẖar āvai.
I broke into the shops of the city and well-guarded palaces; stealing from them, I come home again.
ਅਗਹੁ ਦੇਖੈ ਪਿਛਹੁ ਦੇਖੈ ਤੁਝ ਤੇ ਕਹਾ ਛਪਾਵੈ ॥੩॥
Agahu ḏekẖai picẖẖahu ḏekẖai ṯujẖ ṯe kahā cẖẖapāvai. ||3||
I looked in front of me, and I looked behind me, but where could I hide from You? ||3||
Obviously, we act like fools. A path to have union with the Lord needs daring heart; it needs commitment to the Guru and to keep that commitment. “I-force” has to go. This is the one that keeps the Lord in the pockets and never let us enjoy His presence with in us. We fill ourselves with so much filth; it appears that there is not enough space for the Lord. Think about an instance of filling a utensils with milk; if in the utensil, there is some filth, milk will not remain milk, the other thing will get mixed with the milk; so to have pure milk in the utensil, the filth needs to be cleaned. Guru can enable us to do so only if our hearts are cleaned as per Guru Direction; however, a few keep the heart pure as per Guru Observation:
ਸੂਚੈ ਭਾਡੈ ਸਾਚੁ ਸਮਾਵੈ ਵਿਰਲੇ ਸੂਚਾਚਾਰੀ ॥
Sūcẖai bẖādai sācẖ samāvai virle sūcẖācẖārī.
In the pure vessel, the True Name is contained; how few are those who practice true conduct.
ਮਃ 1
To be continued
