What Is GOD ?

[Tejwant Singh]

Dear amarpal veerji
I beg to differ with u on your interpretation of "nirbhau" into "nirbhav", what i feel that it has been translated right as fear not as an emotion or "bhava" and this word "bhau" has been used and has come very frequently in SGGS
to quote a few to clarify


Bau Klw Agin qp qwau ]
bho khalaa agan thap thaao ||
With the Fear of God as the bellows, fan the flames of tapa, the body's inner heat.

isir isir irjku sMbwhy Twkuru kwhy mn Bau kirAw ]2]
sir sir rijak sa(n)baahae t(h)aakur kaahae man bho kariaa ||2||
For each and every person, our Lord and Master provides sustenance. Why are you so afraid, O mind? ||2||

Guru Arjan Dev Ji
So Dar
10
mn ry scu imlY Bau jwie ]
man rae sach milai bho jaae ||
O mind, meeting with the True One, fear departs.

Guru Nanak Dev Ji
Siree Raag
18
BY ibnu inrBau ikau QIAY gurmuiK sbid smwie ]1] rhwau ]
bhai bin nirabho kio thheeai guramukh sabadh samaae ||1|| rehaao ||
Without the Fear of God, how can anyone become fearless? Become Gurmukh, and immerse yourself in the Shabad. ||1||Pause||

Guru Nanak Dev Ji
Siree Raag
18
Bau Bij jwie ABY hoie rhIAY ]1] rhwau ]
bho bhaj jaae abhai hoe reheeai ||1|| rehaao ||
There, fear is dispelled and one lives without fear. ||1||Pause||

Bhagat Kabeer Ji
Raag Gauree
325
qUM myrw rwKw sBnI QweI qw Bau kyhw kwVw jIau ]1]
thoo(n) maeraa raakhaa sabhanee thhaaee thaa bho kaehaa kaarraa jeeo ||1||
You are my Protector everywhere; why should I feel any fear or anxiety? ||1||

Guru Arjan Dev Ji
Raag Maajh
103
BY ivic jMmY BY mrY BI Bau mn mih hoie ]
bhai vich ja(n)mai bhai marai bhee bho man mehi hoe ||
In fear we are born, and in fear we die. Fear is always present in the mind.

Guru Amar Daas Ji
Raag Maajh
149 Guru Nanak Dev Ji
Jap
8

inrBau sMig qumwrY bsqy iehu frnu khw qy AwieAw ]1] rhwau ]​

nirabho sa(n)g thumaarai basathae eihu ddaran kehaa thae aaeiaa ||1|| rehaao ||
The Fearless Lord abides with you. So where does this fear come from? ||1||Pause||

Guru Arjan Dev Ji
Raag Gauree
206
BY qy inrBau hoie bswnw ]
bhai thae nirabho hoe basaanaa ||
Coming out of fear, he comes to live without fear.

Guru Arjan Dev Ji
Raag Gauree
285

BY Bau rwiKAw Bwie svwir ]1] rhwau ]
bhai bho raakhiaa bhaae savaar ||1|| rehaao ||
This Fear of God adorns the Love of the Lord. ||1||Pause||


Guru Nanak Dev Ji
Raag Gauree
151


gur kY BY kyqy insqry BY ivic inrBau pwie ]
gur kai bhai kaethae nisatharae bhai vich nirabho paae ||
Through the Fear of the Guru, many have been saved; in this fear, find the Fearless Lord.
Guru Amar Daas Ji
Raag Bihaagraa
551



BY ivic sBu Awkwru hY inrBau hir jIau soie ]
bhai vich sabh aakaar hai nirabho har jeeo soe ||


BY ivic inrBau pwieAw ]
bhai vich nirabho paaeiaa ||
Through the Fear of God, one attains the Fearless Lord;

Guru Nanak Dev Ji
Raag Sorath
599
qyry syvk kau Bau ikCu nwhI jmu nhI AwvY nyry ]1] rhwau ]
thaerae saevak ko bho kishh naahee jam nehee aavai naerae ||1|| rehaao ||
Your servant is not afraid of anything; the Messenger of Death cannot even approach him. ||1||Pause||

Guru Arjan Dev Ji
Raag Soohee
750

In Sikhi concept of IK ONG KAAR, a Sikh is NOT GOD fearing but GOD loving. Fear of 'God' is used in semitic religions- Judaism, Christanity, Islam and also in Hinduism. All faiths in which the respective deity has created Hell ( as a fear tactic). The above thought process shows that God they seek is wrathful, angry,a ready to pounce punisher, all traits of a mortal.

Keeping MOOL MANTAR as our benchmark, we realise that IK ONG KAAR is sans duality, hence, sans wrath, anger, hatred. Nor is HE?SHE?IT? a punisher but all loving and forgiving. Gurbani also defines one of the traits as THE FATHER.

Now lets try to dwell on the role of a father a bit.

Which father who bases his life on Gurbani will impose his own ego to instill fear in his own kids and would eagerly look forward to punish them with a slight blink of an eye?

The answer is NOT the Dad whose way of life is based on Gurmat.

A Gurmat Dad will instill love, motivation in his kids so that they can learn how to fly on their own when the time is to leave the nest.

A Gurmat Father will always remain an invisble safety net for his kids no matter where they may be.

A Gurmat Dad can only play his role as one if he is GOD loving NOT GOD fearing.

Based on the above, one can reach to the conclusion that the words Bhau or Bhav used in Gurbani do not mean FEAR but IGNORANCE/ DARKNESS.

In the above verses given if we substitute Fear with Ignorance / Darkness, we may be able to grasp the cornerstone of Sikhi, which is to get rid of our ignorance and let the light of love shineand when the light is shone, fear/darkness is devoured, but the opposite is impossible.

My.02cents

Tejwant

Related thread:- http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/threads/people-connect-people-important-please-read-on.80/