Divinepower

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

LEKH 4

1.1 One who is attached to Maya is totally blind and deaf. He does not listen to the Word of the Shabad; he makes a great uproar and tumult. 313 m3 L17
In these lines the central theme is ‘maya’. There is a need to discuss this topic in depth.

According to the normal thinking only money, cash, gold, silver etc is refered to as ‘maya’. But if we research carefully then we will realise that our thinking is wanting (incomplete) and one sided.

“Maya’ has many forms and aspects:-

1. Inanimate (root) Maya - In inanimate maya are included all those things in which there is no consciousness - like earth, buildings, minerals, gold, silver etc.

1.2 *Turkish horses, gold, silver and loads of gorgeous clothes —
none of these shall go with you, O Nanak. They are lost and left behind, you fool!
*I have tasted all the sugar candy and sweets, but Your Name alone is Ambrosial Nectar.
*Digging deep foundations, the walls are constructed, but in the end, the buildings return to heaps of dust.
*People gather and hoard their possessions, and give nothing to anyone else — the poor fools think that everything is theirs. 155 m1 L5

1.3 Pearl necklaces, gold, rubies and diamonds please the mind, but they are only Maya. 700 m5 L5

1.4 Power, property and all Maya is false. 1155 m3 L2

2. Animate maya - ‘Animate maya’ are those beings in whom consciousness or intelligence is present like in animals, birds, human beings etc.. The degree of their consciousness varies. According to nature, in every form of life, this consciousness is ‘limited’. But in human beings consciousness and intelligence is not limited. It has the power to develop to to an infinite degree. It is because of this ‘subtle consciousness and sharp intelligence that man remains absorbed in attachment and affection.

1.5 They are emotionally attached to their children, family and home. The blind, self-willed manmukhs come and go in reincarnation.161 m3 L12

4.2

2.1 The soul of the man is lured by gold and women; emotional attachment to Maya is so sweet to him.
The mind has become attached to the pleasures of houses, palaces, horses and other enjoyments. 167 m4 L12

2.2 In this way, they bind themselves to children, friends, Maya and possessiveness. 219 m9 L10

2.3 Mother, father, siblings, children and spouse — he is entangled in their love. 685 m9 L18

2.4 Maya, his children, his wife and the world are so dear to him; he bites the bait, and is caught. 1110 m1 L8

3. Sub-conscious maya - many a time a certain situation develops in which the cause cannot be trace to our conscious thoughts or deeds. This is the result of our past (previous lifes) deeds. We have no choice but to face the consequences.

2.5 They think up all sorts of schemes and plans. Their minds and bodies are distracted by pleasure and pain, and their fever never departs. 297 m5 L6

Many a time we have to bear the burden of the wrong doings of society. Apart from this we also have to weather nature’s ocean of existence (worldly life).

JV JKV EhwV lhrI vhin lKysrI ]
2.6 The storm rages and the rain floods the land; thousands of waves rise and surge. 1410 m1 L11

2.7 When there is an earthquake all the buildings and forts shiver.
In the face of a storm the trees begin to sway.
In the jungle when the jungle catches fire all the vegetation gets burnt.
In times of rising floods who can dam the rivers. Var Bh, Gurdas 35/21

4 Thought filled maya - by Divine grace, man with his sharp intelligence dwells and probes on many kinds of ‘thoughts’, makes plans and keeps himself busy in fulfilling them. In reality man is incessantly weaving his own good or bad world around himself by his own thoughts - like a silkh worm, and suffer the consequences of his own thoughts and deeds; thereby creating his own fate and destiny.

4.3

3.1 He is entangled in sinful associations;
Hhis mind is troubled by so very many waves. 759 m5 L12

3.2 You are distracted by thoughts of Maya and worldly attachment.
In the City of Death, you will be caught by the noose of the Messenger of Death. 993 m1 L9

5 Maya of the senses - The five elements - lust, anger greed, attachment and pride are the sensors of our mind, and under their influence we colour (or mould) our thoughts, keep creating the ‘world of senses’ and facing the consequences. This ‘world of senses’ is very subtle and dynamic in which the whole world is entangled (or absorbed) and experiences suffering.

3.3 Maya has spread out her net, and in it, she has placed the bait. The bird of desire is caught, and cannot find any escape, O my mother. 50 m5 L7

3.4 The conscious mind is engrossed in sexual desire, anger and Maya.
The conscious mind is awake only to falsehood, corruption and attachment.
It gathers in the assets of sin and greed. 153 m1 L3

3.5 The duality of Maya dwells in the consciousness of the people of the world.
They are destroyed by sexual desire, anger and egotism. 223/224 m1

3.6 Burnt by desire, and bound by the karma of their past actions,
they go round and round, like the ox at the mill press. 800 m4 L14

6. Maya of Ego - is extremely imperceptible, gross, multicoloured, immence and like the warp and woof, intertwined in the triple attributes (of rajo,tamo and sato)

‘Ego’ is the ‘seed’ of creation.
This ego or ‘hawmai’ is the root cause of ‘duality’ emerging from the three attributes.

Around our ‘soul’s’ light form is the ‘bubble of imagination’ of ego, for which reason our ego ridden mind, forgetting the soul’s light form, unknowlingly or unconcernedly does deeds and faces the consequences.

3.7 What is called Maya? What does Maya do?
These beings are bound by pleasure and pain; they do their deeds in egotism. 67 m3 L3
4.4

4.1 In the love of duality, no one can serve the Lord.
In egotism and Maya, they are eating toxic poison.161 m3 L11

4.2 Egotism and Maya are total poison; in these, people continually suffer loss in this world. 300 m4 L18

4.3 O mind, you are so full of pride; loaded with pride, you shall depart.
The fascinating Maya has fascinated you, over and over again, and lured you into reincarnation. 441 m3 L6
4.4 1. In ego they come, and in ego they go.
2. In ego they are born, and in ego they die.
3. In ego they give, and in ego they take.
4. In ego they earn, and in ego they lose.
5. In ego they become truthful or false.
6. In ego they reflect on virtue or vice
7. In ego they go to heaven or hell.
8. In ego they laugh, and in ego they weep.
9. In ego they become dirty, and in ego they are washed clean.
10. In ego they lose social status and class.
11. In ego they are ignorant, and in ego they are wise.
12. They do not know the value of salvation and liberation.
13. In ego they love Maya, and in ego they are kept in darkness by it.
14. Living in ego, mortal beings are created. 466 m1 L10

4.5 Attachment to Maya is totally false, and false are those who go that way. Through egotism, the world is caught in conflict and strife, and it dies. 790 m1 L5
4.6 Through egotism, fascination with Maya has trapped them in duality. 853 m3 L14
It is clear from this discussion that ‘ego’ is the seed, the root cause or form of maya (or worldliness). ‘Duality’ has emerged from maya and within it, the whole creation engrossed (or absorbed) in the three attributes thinks, ponders, does deeds and faces consequences.

7 Religious Maya To free oneself from ego and duality many forms of religions have been created but man adds on the colour of ego or ‘duality’ even to these religions. Under the influence of such ego ridden religions, we are attached to the numerous mundane (or worldly) rituals and philosophies



4.5

5.1 In ego they become truthful or false.
In ego they reflect on virtue or vice. 466 m1 L12

In other words in the fold of our religious activities, rites and rituals, paath (recitation Bani) - worship, religious knowledge - meditation, the formost reason is ‘hawmai’ (ego)

5.2 They may perform all sorts of religious rituals and good actions, but without the Name, the egotistical ones are cursed and doomed. 162 M3 L4

5.3. 1. They read scriptures, and contemplate the Vedas; they practice the inner cleansing techniques of Yoga, and control of the breath.
2. But they cannot escape from the company of the five passions; they are increasingly bound to egotism.
3. Beloved, this is not the way to meet the Lord; I have performed these rituals so many times.
4. I have collapsed, exhausted, at the Door of my Lord Master; I pray that He may grant me a discerning intellect.
5. One may remain silent and use his hands as begging bowls, and wander naked in the forest.
6. He may make pilgrimages to river banks and sacred shrines all over the world, but his sense of duality will not leave him.
7. His mind’s desires may lead him to go and dwell at sacred places of pilgrimage, and offer his head to be sawn off;
8. but this will not cause the filth of his mind to depart, even though he may make thousands of efforts.
9. He may give gifts of all sorts — gold, women, horses and elephants.
10. He may make offerings of corn, clothes and land in abundance, but this will not lead him to the Lord’s Door.
11. He may remain devoted to worship and adoration, bowing his forehead to the floor, practicing the six religious rituals.
12. He indulges in egotism and pride, and falls into entanglements, but he does not meet the Lord by these devices.
13. He practices the eighty-four postures of Yoga, and acquires the supernatural powers of the Siddhas, but he gets tired of practicing these.
14. He lives a long life, but is reincarnated again and again; he has not met with the Lord. 641
5.4 Practicing hypocrisy and superstition, people have grown weary of the effort, but still, deep within their hearts, they yearn for Maya, Maya. 1178 M4 L8

5.5. 1. The wretched, self-willed manmukhs do not realize His Will; they continually act in ego.
2. By ritualistic fasts, vows, purities, self-disciplines and worship ceremonies, they still cannot get rid of their hypocrisy and doubt.
3. Inwardly, they are impure, pierced through by attachment to Maya;
they are like elephants, who throw dirt all over themselves right after their bath.1423 M4 L5

5.6 The whole world, being in the grip of false ceremonies, has not found God’s secrets. Saw.P10
It is clear from the above discussion that the first quotation ‘One who is attached to Maya is totally blind and deaf’ the word ‘attached to Maya’ refers to the mind that is s egoridden.
With such a ego ridden mind, man, worn out by the many types and hues of ‘subtle maya (worldliness)
4.6

and living in duality, remains entangled in the three attributes and is completely ignorant of his original ‘soul’ or ‘the Supreme Soul’ (God) or being ‘blind and deaf’ he does deeds.
6.1 Being in love with Maya, they do not think of the Lord.
Bound and gagged in the City of Death, they suffer in terrible pain.
Blind and deaf, they see nothing at all;
the self-willed manmukhs rot away in sin. 111 M3 L10

6.2 He is blind and deaf; he loses his way, and wanders lost in the wilderness. The blind, self-willed manmukh comes and goes in reincarnation;314 M3L15

The mind is ‘blind’ because it cannot see the ‘Divine Light’ within itself.

6.3 The five enemies are plundering the world. The blind, self-willed manmukhs do not understand or appreciate this. 113 M3 L4

6.4 Death was pre-ordained for them when they came into the world,114 M3 L9

6.5 Deep within the self is the secret, but the fool looks for it outside. The blind self-willed manmukhs wander around like demons. 117 M3 L17

6.6 He does not see, he does not hear, and he does not understand; he is blind, enticed and bewitched by Maya. 760 m5 L13

6.7 Do not call them blind, who have no eyes in their face. They alone are blind, O Nanak, who wander away from their Lord and Master. m2 L16

6.8 O Nanak, one who does not understand the Hukam of the Lord’s Command should be called blind. 954 m2 L 19

6.9 I hear that You are near, but I cannot see You. I wander in suffering, deluded by doubt. 1209 m5 L4

‘Deaf” or ‘not hearing the shabad’ - The mind is ‘deaf’ because the being within itself cannot hear the ‘eternal sound current’.

We seem to have accepted the fact that listening is the activity of the physical ears, but according to Gurbani this ‘listening’ is only possible through intuition by raising the consciousness above the 9 openings (in the body through which the information is sensed). To listen to this ‘Divine sound current’, the ‘ intuition’ can only be developed by doing simran in the company of the holy ones.
4.7

7.1 Beyond the nine gates, the Tenth Gate is found, and liberation is obtained. The Unstruck Melody of the Shabad vibrates. 110 M3 L5

7.2 I have now closed off the doors, and the unstruck celestial sound current resounds. 656 B.kabir L11

The main line of this essay “One who is attached to Maya is totally blind and deaf’ the word ‘maa-i-aa dhaaree’ (one who is attached to maya) is very important and has a hidden connotation. The common people believe that ‘maya’ is ‘wealths’ or ‘assets’. According to them ‘maya dharee’ refers to only the rich ones. So when we read or listen this line “One who is attached to Maya is totally blind and deaf’ we think that this line does not apply to us because we are not wealthy. This was perhaps uttered specially for the rich ones. Such a thought is a pointer to our mental ignorance. In this way we are doing this injustice to Gurbani and cheating ourselves.

If the ‘rich’ were being referred to as ‘maya-dhaaree’, then it is not possible for them to be ‘totally blind and deaf’ because they are very clever and cunning - the very attributes that help them to earn ‘maya’ and become ‘rich’.

7.3 For the sake of personal profit and Maya, he goes out, searching in the ten directions. 261 L3

7.4 He works for the sake of Maya. 1151 m5 L15

7.5 Kings, rulers and monarchs enjoy pleasures and gather the poison of Maya. In love with it, they collect more and more, stealing the wealth of others. 1245 M3 L 15

7.6 For the sake of Maya, the mortal works very hard.
He takes the wealth of Maya, and buries it in the ground.
He acquires so much, but the fool does not appreciate it.
His wealth remains buried in the ground, while his body turns to dust. 1252

Just like ‘the absence of light’ is darkness - in the same way ‘forgetting’ the presence of the infinite Lord leads to the darkness of ‘maya’.

7.7 Love for the Lord wears off, and the child becomes attached to desires; the script of Maya runs its course. 921 m3 L3

The meaning of this is, the moment a being is born, ‘the ghost of maya’ comes and gets stuck to it.

In other words, ‘ego’ develops from forgetting the presence of the Infinite Lord and the being lives in the ‘me -mine’love of another.
4.8

8.1 They have come into this world to meditate on the One Lord.
But ever since their birth, they have been enticed by the fascination of Maya. 251 M5 L9

8.2 The womb of the mother is an ocean of pain, O Beloved; even there, the Lord causes His Name to be chanted.
When he emerges, he finds corruption pervading everywhere, O Beloved, and he becomes increasingly attached to Maya. 640 M5 L14

8.3 Maya is the name of the power which causes us to be born; renouncing it, we obtain the Blessed Vision of the Lord’s Darshan. 693 Bgt.Namdev 8

8.4 Says Kabeer, whoever has a belly to fill, is under the spell of Maya. 1160 Bh.Kabir L18

In Gurbani the ‘form of maya or worldliness’ is explained as follows -

8.5 The blind man has forgotten the Name; he is in limbo, neither here nor there. 15 M1 L4

8.6 In attachment to Maya, they have forgotten the Father, the Cherisher of the World. 30 M3 L11

8.7 Those who forget the Name of the Lord, Raam, Raam, are foolish, unfortunate, self-willed manmukhs.
Within, they are engrossed in emotional attachment; each and every moment, Maya clings to them.
The filth of Maya clings to them, and they become unfortunate fools — they do not love the Lord’s Name. 443 M4 L10

8.8 It has forsaken the meditative remembrance of the Lord’s Name, and sold itself out to Maya. 684 M9 L18

8.9 This Maya has made me forget Your feet, O Lord of the World, Master of the Universe. 857 Bgt.Kabir L3

8.10 This is Maya, by which the Lord is forgotten; emotional attachment and love of duality well up. 921 m3 L4
As every person grows up, the ‘doubt fallacy’ of worldliness comes and clings on to him and entangled / absorbed in that ‘fallacy ridden’ pitch darkness all his life, he dies.
8.11 Maya is a serpent, clinging to the world. Whoever serves her, she ultimately devours. 510 M3 L9

8.12 By egotism and pride, the self-willed manmukhs are enticed, and consumed.
Those who center their consciousness on duality are caught in it, and remain stuck. 513 M3 L15

8.13 Emotionally attached to Maya, one’s consciousness is not attached to the Lord.
In the love of duality, he will suffer terrible agony in the world hereafter. The hypocritical, self-willed manmukhs are deluded by doubt; at the very last moment, they regret and repent. 1052 M3 L15


4.9

9.1 The three-phased Maya infects all.
Whoever clings to it suffers pain and sorrow. 1145M5L4

9.2 Without the grace of good karma, all are deluded by doubt.
In attachment to Maya, they suffer in terrible pain.
The blind, self-willed manmukhs find no place of rest.
They are like maggots in manure, rotting away in manure. 1175M3L3

9.3 This three-phased Maya has deluded the whole world into cynicism about death and birth. 1257M3L16

9.4 The veil of Maya is a thick and heavy veil, a whirlpool which destroys one’s home. 1308M4L15

In other words our

body
mind
consciousness
intelligence
thinking

desires
suffering
comforts
happiness
grief

wisdom
spiritual knowledge & meditation
philosophies
lust
anger

greed
attachment
love
anger-grievance
jealousy - discrimination



4.10

enmity - confrontation
thoughts
faith & belief
rites & rituals
birth & death
hell & heaven

etc. in every thought or desire, ‘egotistical maya’ is reflected in numerous colours and waves.

10.1 I have gazed upon the many forms of Maya, in so many ways. 179 M5 L13

10.2 Maya torments us in so many ways. 182M5L2

10.3 This enticer is so incredibly beautiful and clever; she entices with countless suggestive gestures. 847M5L7

10.4 In so many ways, attachment to Maya leads to ruin. 1269M5L9

10.5 There are so many colors and flavors of attachment to Maya. 1342M1L6

This “egotistical maya’s” consciousness over many births through (its) meditation has pierced, permeated and diffused into our sub-consciousness and become an intrinsic part of our life in fact ‘maya’ has become our ‘life-style’.

This ‘maya tainted life-style’ unknowingly keeps surfacing without fail into every facet of our life. and keep reflecting (itself) through many hues and wave forms.

For example by saying

MY body
MY family
MY property
MY wisdom
MY desire

etc. the feeling of ‘me’ or ‘mine’ that is reflected through our thinking, conversation and desires



4.11

is intertwined and diffused in the warf and woof of the mind and without fail keeps surfacing. Without this desire of ‘me - mine’, none of the things in our life will be fulfilled.
11.1 He is so involved with his wife and sons. 179 M5L7

11.2 Continually claiming, “Mine, mine”, the mortals are drowned; the fools waste away and die. 380M5L4

11.3 Love and attachment to Maya are utter darkness.
Egotism and possessiveness have spread throughout the expanse of the universe.
Night and day, they burn, day and night; without the Guru, there is no peace or tranquillity. 1045m3L2

11.4 Emotional attachment to Maya is a treacherous ocean of pain and poison, which cannot be crossed.
Screaming, “Mine, mine!”, they rot and die; they pass their lives in egotism. 1417M3L1

This whole creation emerged from the ‘delusion’ of ‘egotism’ and bewitched in this false ‘delusion’ of ‘maya’ it continues to go astray.

11.5 The Unseen Lord is deep within the self; He cannot be seen; the curtain of egotism intervenes. In emotional attachment to Maya, all the world is asleep. Tell me, how can this doubt be dispelled? 205M5L1

In other words, this whole creation is the
shadow
manifestation
growth
dealings
supremacy
extension
expanse
‘massive play of drama’
of ‘fallacy ridden maya’.

Just like the absence of light is called ‘darkness’ - when light manifests itself, the ‘darkness’ by itself dissappears.In the same way without the divine light of the Infinite Lord’s ‘Name’ or the ‘forgetfulness’ (ITS non-remembrance) is refereed to as ‘maya’.
4.12

12.1 She has forgotten the Lord, her Life-companion, her Master; she has become attached to Maya, the deceitful one. 133M5L17

12.2 Egotism is opposed to the Name of the Lord; the two do not dwell in the same place. 560M3L12

12.3 Forgetting the Naam, the Name of the Lord, the mind and body suffer in pain. Attached to the love of Maya, he earns nothing but disease.1064 M3L8

12.4 Forgetting the Naam, the Name of the Fearless Lord, he becomes attached to Maya. 1099M5L14

12.5 But as long as his heart is not enlightened, he is stuck in pitch black darkness. 1205M5L17

12.6 Those who forget the Naam, the Name of the Lord, and become attached to greed and fraud,
are engrossed in the entanglements of Maya the enticer, with the fire of desire within them. 1413M3L8

In the fallacy of ‘worldly ignorance’, man is not aware or has no knowledge of the reality of ones real self - for which reason he is ‘truly blind and deaf’ to his own divine ‘heritage’. In this way by ‘forgetting’ the existence of Infinite Lord and playing the role of the rich, the poor, the wise, the giani, the philosopher, the virtuous etc. man like the physically ‘blind and deaf’ ones, gets bewitched and does deeds and keeps suffering.

12.7 This world is asleep in emotional attachment to Maya. Forgetting the Naam,the Name of the Lord, it ultimately comes to ruin. 112M3L5

12.8 The whole world is engrossed in emotional attachment to Maya.
Those who are controlled by the three qualities are attached to Maya. .....
The source, the root, of the gods and goddesses is Maya.
For them, the Simritees and the Shaastras were composed.
Sensual desire and anger are diffused throughout the universe.
Coming and going, people suffer in pain. 129M3L6

12.9 In emotional attachment to Maya, all the world is asleep. Tell me, how can this doubt be dispelled? 205M5L1

This whole ‘play’ is beyond the ‘three dimensions’. It is the ‘intuitional play’ of the fourth dimension, which our limited intellect’s craftiness, schemes and planning, knowledge, philosophies cannot ‘grasp’ or be made ‘aware of’.
For this reason all the ‘maya orientated’ ones that is, those who are caught in the ignorance of worldliness (or materialism) are.

4.13

‘deaf’ to the ‘infinite sound current’ of the divine world
and ‘blind’ to the wondrous miracles of the spiritual realm.

13.1 Being in love with Maya, they do not think of the Lord.
Bound and gagged in the City of Death, they suffer in terrible pain.
Blind and deaf, they see nothing at all; the self-willed manmukhs rot away in sin. 111 m3 L10

13.2 Those who do not know the Shabad are blind and deaf; why did they even bother to come into the world?
They do not obtain the subtle essence of the Lord’s elixir; they waste away their lives, and are reincarnated over and over again.
The blind, idiotic, self-willed manmukhs are like maggots in manure, and in manure they rot away. 601 M3L6

13.3 1.He sees with his eyes, but he is called blind; he hears, but he does not hear. 2. And the One who dwells near at hand, he thinks that He is far away; the sinner is committing sins. 741 M5L4

13.4 The Simritees and the Shaastras do not know His limits.
The blind fool does not recognize the essence of reality. 1061 M3L10

13.5 The blind and ignorant are attached to duality.
The unfortunates are drowned without water, and die. 1063 M3L12

From the phrase ‘so much of noise and confusion’ it is explicitly clear that we are being severely warned in Gurbani.

When our attention is focused in the divine ‘oneness’ then our soul, in the meditative ‘word-mind -state’ will get really intoxicated and absorbed in the divine hue-relish-joy and love of the inner self.

13.6 If you focus your consciousness on the Feet of the One Lord, what reason would you have to chase after greed? 156 M1 L1

13.7 The Deepest Samaadhi, and the unstruck sound current of the Naad are there. The wonder and marvel of it cannot be described. 293 M1 L17

13.8 He remembers the One Lord, his mind does not waver, and he restrains its wanderings.
He is intoxicated with celestial bliss, and is ever imbued with the Lord’s Love; he sings the Glorious Praises of the True Lord. 634 M1L12

13.9 I am wonderstruck, gazing upon the Wondrous Lord. The Merciful Lord is All-pervading everywhere.
I drink in the Invaluable Nectar of the Naam, the Name of the Lord. Like the mute, I can only smile — I cannot speak of its flavor. 1205 M5L5

4.14

14.1 Permeated by the One Word of the Shabad, the mortal is immersed in Truth. 1275 M1L10

In contrast to this, when our ego-ridden mind is covered with the chrome of worldliness (maya), then this mind detaches itself from the divine light form and lives in the darkness of maya or worldliness. Being blind and deaf to the divine ‘intuitional knowledge’, in the darkness of maya or worldliness, man thinks and does deeds under the influence of his ego. Entangled in the ‘false deeds and attachment’, he suffers pain and agony and continues to be entrapped in the vicious cycle of births and deaths.

14.2 1.In the corruption of the three qualities, there is blindness; in attachment to Maya, there is darkness. 2. The greedy people serve others, instead of the Lord, although they loudly announce their reading of scriptures. 3. They are burnt to death by their own corruption; they are not at home, on either this shore or the one beyond. 30 M3 L10

14.3 Attachment to Maya is an ocean of darkness; neither this shore nor the one beyond can be seen.
The ignorant, self-willed manmukhs suffer in terrible pain; they forget the Lord’s Name and drown. 89 M3 L12

14.4 Those who are totally in love with Maya, Maya, shall rot away in Maya. The path of ignorance and darkness is utterly treacherous; they are loaded down with the crushing load of egotism. 1326 M4L17

If we look carefully, our mind, like mercury, does not pause even for a moment. Every moment, under the influence of worldly ‘love of duality’, propelled by the sensuous greed, lust, anger, attachment, pride etc. does deeds and remains entangled in fear, anxiety, jealousy and duality. When he is free from work and tries to sleep, even there the dreams do not allow him any peace, because within him is the tempest of noise and confusion caused by the numerous types of sensuousness created by these five passions.

14.5 Within Maya, the poise of intuitive balance is not produced. Maya leads to the love of duality. 68 M3L11

14.6 Day and night, they remain engrossed in Maya. Tell me, how can they sing God’s Glories? 219 M9L9

14.7 Sometimes, the soul soars high in the heavens, and sometimes it falls to the depths of the nether regions.
The greedy soul does not remain stable; it searches in the four directions. 876 M1L3

14.8 He wanders through foreign lands, but does not look within himself. Attached to Maya, he is bound and gagged by the Messenger of Death.1060 3L6
4.15

15.1 Mortals give great thought to Maya and emotional attachment; they harbor great hopes, in greed and corruption.
The self-willed manmukhs do not become steady and stable; they die and are gone in an instant. 1417 M3 L11

Due to this noise and confusion, our mind is unable to witness the divine light through internal spiritual insight. Hence we remain incapable of hearing the ‘sound current’ of the ‘essence of the eternal word’. In this way we remain divorced from our birth right of divine peace, hue, relish, joy and love of the inner self. The painful thing is that after reading, listening and singing Gurbani’s sharp warning -filled messages, we are still absorbed in ‘worldly intoxication’ and trapped in ignorance. By being unaware, negligent and stubborn, we are unnecessarily wasting our precious life in the false glamour of maya or worldliness.

15.2 Emotional attachment to Maya is created by my God; He Himself misleads us through illusion and doubt.
The self-willed manmukhs perform their actions, but they do not understand; they waste away their lives in vain. 67 M3L9

15.3 Having obtained this human body, so very difficult to obtain, it is now being uselessly wasted.
Emotional attachment to Maya is such a treacherous wilderness, and yet, people are in love with it. 220M9L1

The thoughts, needs, wishes, desires of ‘materialistic’ people being different, it is inevitable that feelings like anger-grievance, jealousy-duality arise amongst them. This is the reason why in their mind the noise and confusion of tension, anger-grievance or duality ( that is - love of worldliness) keeps burning. In the noise and confusion of such a materialistic ridden mind, the sound current of the word can not be heard and neither can the divine light within be witnessed.

That is why Gurbani has this advice for us:-

15.4 Says Nanak, those who have obtained the dust of the feet of the Saints, Maya does not draw near them. 182M5L7

15.5 1. Remain steady in the home of your own self, O beloved servant of the Lord. 2.The True Guru shall resolve all your affairs. 201M5L6

15.6 Those, unto whom the Lord shows His Mercy, remain dead while yet alive. In the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, they cross over the ocean of Maya. 213 M5L13

15.7 Within your mind, over and over again, think of Him, and your love of Maya shall depart. 2. The Imperishable Lord is always with you. 238 M5L14
4.16

16.1 O Nanak, the pain of Maya is taken away by focusing one’s consciousness on the Word of the Guru’s Shabad. 247 M3L1

16.2 The Lord showers His Mercy, and leads us to join the Sat Sangat, the True Congregation.
O Nanak, Maya does not even come near. 251 M5L14

16.3 DHADHA: The mind’s wanderings cease, when one comes to dwell in the Society of the Saints. 257 M5L14

16.4 Those Gurmukhs who chant the treasure of the Naam, are not destroyed by the poison of Maya. 257 M5L18

16.5 Shaykh, you wander in the four directions, blown by the four winds; bring your mind back to the home of the One Lord.
Renounce your petty arguments, and realize the Word of the Guru’s Shabad. 646 M3L13

16.6 Attachment to Maya, doubt and fear are eradicated, when one enters the Sanctuary of the Saints. 748 M5L5

16.7 Joining the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, I have found peace and tranquility; I shall not wander away from there again. 818 M5L6

16.8 I have grasped the Support, and entered the Sanctuary of the Lord, the Father of the world.
The Messenger of Death is terrifying and horrendous, and sea of Maya is impassable.
Please be merciful, Lord, and save me, if it is Your Will; please lead me to join with the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy. 1083 M5L6

16.9 Have mercy on me, Lord, and unite me with the Sat Sangat, the True Congregation, so that I may be released from Maya’s noose of death. 1134 M4L10

Wednesday, February 07, 2007

ROSSE GILLE(PART-2)

Lekh 3 ANGER GRIEVANCE PART 2


Our house hold rubbish, dust, peels, left over food particles, dirt-urine - numerous types of filth is stored in some nook or corner and this is referred to as the ‘refuse -heap’. In it a variety of things keep rotting and decomposing. From this ‘refuse heap’ an extremely harmful foul odour (smell) keeps escaping.

This ‘refuse heap’ is usually well away from the house - but we continue regularly to deposit in our mind, heart, and subconscious, the heavily polluted thoughts and emotions of anger-grievance, jealousy, discrimination and hatred. Over a period of time these develop into ‘baser inclinations (attitudes)’ within us.

We have no idea whatsoever that by leading our lives with the stench of this refuse-heap or ‘fiery ocean of grief’ within us, we are burning and singeing our mind body and heart.

3.1 The world is being consumed by this hidden fire, but Maya does not cling to the Lord’s devotees. 673

3.2 Anger and egotism are within him night and day; he burns, and suffers constant pain. 1415

The result of all this is that we become the victims of many physical and mental diseases and suffer enormous pain.

Chronic physical diseases like T.B. and cancer come to an end with the death of a person but

suspicion
doubt
fear



3.2

anger
envy

hatred
jealousy

discrimination
slander

eminently
opposition

selfishness
................(kuljhana)

revenge
antagonism

are chronic ‘mental diseases’ that accompany the soul via the subconscious and create ‘;hell’ in subsequent births.

Patients suffering from chronic diseases are allergic to many things that keep triggering the onslaught (attack) of that disease.

Similarly from our self created ‘black list’ there are some people against whom we have strong intense revulsion. In other words we are so allergic to them that merely thinking of them or hearing their name, ‘sets us on fire’ and within us explode the bombs of hatred, anger and revenge. Within these poisonous flames we burn with anger and smolder for a long time. When the mind is calm at some time or other, a slight provocation triggers another ‘allergy’ bomb to explode.


3.3

Thus our mind continues to burn with anger in the poisonous flames of our own self created ‘allergy’. This is the reason why peace and happiness can never be attained.

3.1 The body is burnt to ashes; by its love of Maya, the mind is rusted through. 19

With such and ‘allergy’ through the polluted mental rays of the negative mind our immediate environment becomes uncomfortable.

Slowly these negative mental rays merge into the world’s atmosphere.

Physically the patient can exercise abstinence from external things but from the fumes of negative inclinations (or allergy) of the self created anger-grievance in the mind, heart and the subconscious, there can be absolutely not protection.

A person entangled in the poison of such jealousy - discrimination, hatred

becomes short tempered
unnecessarily finds faults
suspect even the most normal things
become irritated over petty (small) matters
simply accuse anyone
keeps snapping at everybody
is all the time ready to erupt like a volcano
criticises everybody
is unable to see goodness in anybody
feels the whole world appears negative and dangerous



3.4

the whole world appears demonic
lives in fear of suffering all the time

With such a polluted and poisonous ‘outlook’ within this world, he

cannot see any goodness
can see no beauty

cannot feel any virtuousness
experiences no lofty courage or valour

feels no sublime yearning
experiences no joy

is bereft of emotions of love
has no ‘friends’ in sight
finds no one to share moments of grief

Living in this way in the vast world, being alive and conscious, he experiences the ‘loneliness’ of ghosts and spirits and engrossed in his ‘solitary cell’ he wastes away his precious life.

Such a person himself suffers the ‘pang of hell’ and ignites ‘hidden forces’ in this beautiful creation through his jealousy, discrimination, enmity and hindrance.

The current dreadful condition of the whole world is the visible ‘proof’ of all that has been mentioned above.

For a mind -orientated person (manmukh) all of God’s virtues and grace such as:-



3.5

truth
contentment
mercy
forgiveness
comfort
peace
friendship
service
sacrifice
love
affection
attachment
joy
yearning
delight
faith
belief
trust

and other divine virtues are beyond his reach and he remains devoid of them.

For physical diseases medical treatment and self-restraint are medication are essential. We have to abstain or forgo the usage of those things to which we are allergic.

Without self-restraint medication is never effective.

Similarly, for chronic mental diseases (having their origin) in anger, grievance, jealousy, discrimination, enmity and confrontation, it is absolutely necessary to exercise ‘abstinence’ and ‘self-restraint’.

But instead of ‘abstaining’ from anger - grievance, we grind and regrind the faults/ weaknesses of others and derive satisfaction from slander and back-biting.
3.6

In this way we sift through the refuse of people’s ills and joyously expose ourselves to the stench by inhaling (its foul odour). This causes our mind-intellect- heart to become even more defiled and polluted.

These black (polluted) lists and white and clean lists with divine inclination have origination from our thoughts-beliefs or created according to the variety of experiences of our mental make up (hue). Because our beliefs and personal experiences are different, so our ‘lists’ too are different. It is possible for a man on a ‘black list’ of someone to gain acceptance into the ‘white list’ of another.

If our encounter with someone is pleasing to the mind, comfortable and advantages, it gives rise to togetherness,kinship, trust, affection, respect and faith; and that person is registered into our white and clean list.

On the other hand, if someone is exposed to a bitter and dangerous encounter with another person, it give rise to wrath, revulsion, anger, enmity, confrontation and that person finds his way into his ‘black-list’.

In other words, the black and white (clean) list depend on the condition of our mind.

If our mind is polluted, then in our hearts the ‘black list’will keep getting longer. In the same way as our mind continues to become purer, the ‘black list’ will become shorter and the faith filled ‘white list’ will grow longer.

But like the ‘sanitary inspector’ our attitude is one where we sift through people’s ills (weaknesses) and bear hatred towards them.

Sifting through people’s ills, being high nosed, and talking bad about others, is clear proof and evidence of our internal mental ‘pollution.

6.1 By slandering, the slanderer washes the filth off others; he is an eater of filth, and a worshipper of Maya. 507

6.2 It is not good to slander anyone, but the foolish, self-willed manmukhs still do it. 755

3.7

7.1 When the slanderer sees a fault in someone else, he is pleased. Seeing goodness, he is depressed.
Twenty-four hours a day, he plots, but nothing works.
The evil man dies, constantly thinking up evil plans. 823

By and by, knots or ‘casefiles’ of pollution keep building in our subconscious. We delve into, sometimes this file and sometimes that file and burn and singe our body-mind-heart and subconscious with anger, grievance, jealousy, discrimination, hatred, enmity against that person.

The result of this on our ‘attitude’ - dwelling on petty -petty things of people and

being suspicious
complaining
criticising
shieving through ills and weakness (of people)
feeling irritated
showing anger
showing disrespect
being high nosed
showing annoyance
being sacarstic
taunting
passing poisonous remarks
showing disgustful attitude

and repulsing relatives, friends, pals and sympathisers by ignoring them, thereby creating enmity and confrontation with them.

In this way we isolate ourselves from society, and lead a life of hell in our self-created ‘solitary cell’ and also distance ourselves from the spiritual path.

3.8

The continuous effect of such base (low) thoughts, emotions and behaviour, affects our facial expressions, heart, mind and personality. In this way, our appearance too becomes ugly and frightening and people tend to avoid us.

Such a mind-orientated (manmukh’s) life is like that of a ‘snake’ because like a snake they (manmukhs) burn, simmer and fret in their own internal poison and if someone moves near them, that person too gets scorched with their poison.

8.1 Without meditating in remembrance on the Lord, life is like a burning fire, even if one lives long, like a snake. Guru Arjan Dev L1 712

8.2 The snake may be locked in a basket, but it is still poisonous, and the anger within its mind remains.
One obtains what is pre-ordained; why does he blame others?
Guru Nanak Dev L16 1009

In this way potraying ourselves as virtuous and infallible and with noses raised, looking upon others as low or bad and shieving through their ills is nothing but the height of our egotistical arrogance.

Gurbani, on the contrary, advises us on humility and modesty as follows:-

8.3 I am not good; no one is bad.
Prays Nanak, He alone saves us! Guru NanakL16 728

8.4 Kabeer, I am the worst of all. Everyone else is good.
Whoever understands this is a friend of mine. Bh.Kabir l16 1364

This is ‘mental abstinence’ which can only be achieved through mental thoughts and emotions.

The one and only one very simple and effective method of ‘mental abstinence’ is:
when a low or bad thought arises within us against someone, or emotions of anger, grievance surge, then at once say,

3.9

let it be
never mind
so what has happened
let it pass
forget about it

at that very moment act to ‘forget about it’, ‘ignore it’.

Such a lofty attitude, divine attribute can only emerge from ‘forgiveness’ and is the manifestation and symbol of ‘forgiveness’. For this reason some views about the divine attribute of ‘forgiveness’ are being put forward.

The meaning of ‘forgiveness’ is -

to pardon
to bless
to ignore (unsee) the mistake.

There are many degrees of forgiveness :-

1. Forgive someone on the surface but maintain the ;’anger’ and enmity deep within.

By doing this, unknowingly, the mind gets more polluted and accumulated more dirt and eventually the ‘bomb’ of mental ‘anger’ explodes. This is entirely ‘superficial’ and we are ‘cheating’ ourselves. This is cannot be regarded as forgiveness.

2. To sincerely forgive a mistake.
In this way ‘anger’ does surface in the mind but an effort is made to forget ‘anger’ through intellectual reasoning.
With this (effort), it is possible for ‘anger’ to be erased but the blemish or ‘hurt’ that the ‘dirt’ of anger has inflicted, remains in the deepest recesses of the subconscious.

3. To be totally unmindful of the short-comings of another and being ‘helpful’ towards him. This is a ‘counter game’ that is very formidable (difficult).
3.10

10.1 Fareed, answer evil with goodness; do not fill your mind with anger. Your body shall not suffer from any disease, and you shall obtain everything. 1382 Bhagat .Farid

4. Don’t allow the mind to be ‘receptive’ to the short-comings ‘ of others. This is the spiritual(Godly) level in which the heart is so engrossed in Naam Simran (meditation of the Naam) and ‘love of the Self” (the soul within) that the low and defiled external environment has absolutely no effect on him

10.2 Renounce both praise and blame; seek instead the state of Nirvaanaa.
O servant Nanak, this is such a difficult game; only a few Gurmukhs understand it! 219

10.3 Some speak good of me, and some speak ill of me, but I have surrendered my body to You. 528

But we are completely ignorant of the divine virtues of ‘forgiveness’ or knowingly pretend otherwise, as if the counsel of ‘forgiveness’ has been uttered for someone else.

We regard it our duty to ‘respond to a brick with a stone’ and slowly this becomes our habit or attitude. This is the reason why there is an increase in tension, jealousy, discrimination, enmity, confrontation, quarrels and fights thereby making the world ‘hell’ like.

Since the beginning, through the gurus, avatars (divine incarnations) holy men and prophets, man has been given encouragement to ‘forgive’, ‘pardon’ the short-comings or sins of others. Some have advised to ‘forgive’ three times, some seven times and some seventy times.

But the blessed Guru Nanak felt that man is forever erring.

10.4 When their accounts are called for, they shall not be released; their wall of mud cannot be washed clean.
One who is made to understand — O Nanak, that Gurmukh obtains immaculate understanding. 252

10.5 When their accounts are called for, they shall not be released; their wall of mud cannot be washed clean.
One who is made to understand — O Nanak, that Gurmukh obtains immaculate understanding 261
3.11

‘Children’ make countless mistakes, but the mother, engrossed in her motherly love, remains ‘unmindful’ of them and continues to love her child.

11.1 As many mistakes as the son commits;
His mother does not hold them against him in her mind. 478

In the same way we are the children of the Infinite Lord and as a Parent, the Supreme One, as is His nature, takes no notice our wrong doings or vices and all the time continues to ‘forgive’ or ‘pardon’ - for the Supreme Lord knows that man errs. If the Infinite Lord were to take account of our short comings and sins, that is consider the writ of our deeds, then there can be no hope for us to escape from the ‘worldly hell’.

11.2 O Dear Lord, if You made an account of my mistakes, my turn to be forgiven would not even come. Please forgive me, and unite me with Yourself. 1416 M3 L7


This is why, man’s salvation can only take place through the Supreme Lord’s Divine Virtue, His Nature, ‘forgiveness’

It is elucidated (mentioned) in Gurbani that the Infinite Lord, who

‘forever blesses’
‘forever is merciful’
‘is not mindful of vices’
‘bears up with much ignorance’
‘saves the virtueless’

by virtue of His Divine ‘Nature’

disregards our mistakes, omissions, ignorance or sins and forget about them.

11.3 Even the ungrateful ones are cherished by God. O Nanak, He is forever the Forgiver. 47

11.4 He is the Giver of all beings. He ever cherishes and cares for all beings, but the fool does not appreciate any of His virtues. 612


3.12

12.1 He saves even the ungrateful;
My God is forever merciful. 898

12.2 The Saviour of the down-trodden, the Merciful, the Treasure of Grace sees our short-comings but He never tires of giving. Guru Gobind Singh

We become the benefactors of the ‘Divine Nature’ of the Supreme Lord when we

become aware of
become regretful
become repentful
become dejected

about our mistakes and vices and

suffering the pang

fall at the feet (shelter) of the Guru.

12.3 Save me, any way You can; O Lord God, I am Yours.
My demerits are uncountable; how many of them should I count? 704

12.4 I am foolish, idiotic and ignorant; I seek Your Sanctuary, O Primal Being, O Lord beyond birth.
Have Mercy upon me, and save me, O my Lord and Master; I am a lowly stone, with no good karma at all. M4 L6 799

12.5 You are the all-powerful Cause of causes.
Please cover my faults, Lord of the Universe, O my Guru;
I am a sinner — I seek the Sanctuary of Your Feet. ..............
It is my nature to make mistakes, forever and ever;
It is Your Natural Way to save sinners. 828 Bi.M5 L1&3

12.6 Begging, imploring, I seek Your Sanctuary; Lord, shower me with Your Mercy, and save me, God. 997 MM4 L14

12.7 Says Nanak, I am totally filled with faults. I have come to Your Sanctuary — please save me, O Lord! 1232 Sarang M9 L3

12.8 Begging and pleading, I have come to Your Sanctuary; I am on fire — please shower me with Your Mercy! 1270 Malar M5 L1



































In creation every things undergoes change - only the Infinite Lord and His ‘Naam’ are permanent and unchanging.
In such a changeable world every being undergoes change according to ones own environment and ‘society’.
That person who is a manmukh (mind-orientated) today, through ‘sangat’ (association of those who find joy in divine matters) can slowly become a gurmukh (guru-orientated). On the other hand through bad sangat (company) or negative society, a gurmukh (guru orientated) can slide into the mind-dominated world.
3.17
But we, totally in opposition to this divine rule, are not ready even once to forgive the faults of others and give them a chance to remedy (change for the better) or progress. Instead we condemn them forever and put them into our permanent ‘black list’.

Thus, by witnessing just one fault of someone, we register him forever and permanently on our own self created black list, and put out of sight (ignore) the possibility of him mentally changing. This is nothing but our ‘egoistical stubborness’.

Inspite of our egoistical stubbornness, the Supreme Lord continually gives chances to every being to progress spiritually. This is because in the divine world there is no ‘black list’. In the divine world, all beings are regarded as ‘spiritual children’.
17.1 Tell me, who should I call good or bad, since all beings are Yours? 383 M5 L8

17.2 Unto whom should we speak, O Nanak, when He Himself is all-in-all? 475 M2 L5
In this matter, Gurbani guides us as follows:-

17.3 Do not harbor anger in your mind, or blame the Messenger of Death; instead, realize the immaculate state of Nirvaanaa. 973 Nama L15

17.4 The One Lord is all-pervading; there is no other at all. The mortal might complain, if there were any other. 842 M3 L14

17.5 O my mind, why are you angry? In this Dark Age of Kali Yuga, the Lord’s Name is the source of profit. Contemplate and appreciate the Guru’s Teachings within your heart, night and day. 1262 M3 L 9


All our low self destructive thoughts or emotions are the symbols or ‘steam’ of our defiled (polluted) mind. It is impossible for low and defiled thoughts or emotions to emerge from a pure and divine mind.

On the other hand, divine thought or ‘love for worship’ cannot emerge from a defiled mind and we keep moving away from the Godly path.

3.18
18.1 With a polluted mind, devotional service cannot be performed, and the Naam, the Name of the Lord, cannot be obtained. 39 M3 L9

18.2 The mind is impure; only the True Lord is pure. So how can it merge into Him? 755 M3 L14

Low and defiled thoughts or emotions only emerge from a mind trapped in egoism. In Gurbani such a mind that is trapped in egoism is refered to as ‘manmukh’ (mind orientated) or ‘saakat’ (worshipper of materialism).
18.3 The more they walk away, the deeper it pierces them, and the more they suffer in pain, until finally, the Messenger of Death smashes his club against their heads. 13 M4 L11

18.4 The self-willed manmukhs are polluted. They are filled with the pollution of egotism, wickedness and desire. 29 M3 L7

18.5 Nectar seems bitter to you, and poison is sweet.
Such is your condition, you faithless cynic, which I have seen with my own eyes.
You are fond of falsehood, fraud and egotism.
If you hear the Naam, the Name of the Lord, you feel like you have been stung by a scorpion. 892 M5 L 19

18.6 The faithless cynics are called egotistical;
without the Name, their lives are cursed. 1325 M4 L14

So if we want to change our defiled ‘manmukh’ mind and convert it into one with pure, divine attributes of a Gurmukh, then the habits of our daily life have to be the complete opposite of that of manmukhs or saakats.
18.7 Turn away from the faithless cynic. 535 M5 L17

This means that we have to ‘self surrender to the soul within’, our thoughts, emotions, desires, habits and ‘the life flow’, otherwise we will continue to burn and simmer in the old defiled ‘life flow’.

If there is a ‘stench’ coming from some ‘rubbish’ we move away from it or we throw that rubbish far away thus saving ourselves from the ‘stench’. But we cannot save ourselves from the ‘stench’ that emerges from the internal defiled mind because this is the ‘odour’ of our internal low thoughts, defiled tendencies and polluted desires.
3.19
This ‘odour’ given off by the dirt inevitably continues to generates itself, thereby also polluting our environment.

This self created internal mental ‘odour’, in every place and all the time is ‘leeched on’ (stuck) to us and spontaneously makes its presence felt in every facet of our life causing us to isolate ourselves from society and moving further away from the supreme (divine) goal.

In this way, by and by, our ‘power to sniff’ or ‘power to discern’ does not remain, there depriving us of the ability to feel the presence of our own ‘mental odour’.

When the odour of rubbish is present in the house or in the drains, we climb up to the flat roof top (balcony) to escape it - to obtain some clean and fresh air.

In the same way if we want to insulate ourselves from this defiled ‘mental odour’, then we have to move to a high, virtuous, beautiful and divine ‘environment’ or ‘plane’ where there is expose to lofty (sublime) thoughts, divine tendencies and love filled desires- this is only possible in ‘company of the Truth Seekers’ or ‘ the society of Evolved Souls’.
19.1 In the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, you shall become absolutely pure, and the noose of death shall be cut away. 44 M5 L15

19.2 In the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, filth is washed off. The Supreme Lord God has become our friend and helper. 625 M5 L18

19.3 But if he joins the Society of the Saints, then he comes to embrace love for the Truth. 756 M3 L2

19.4 In the Realm of the Saints, one’s lifestyle is immaculate. In the Society of the Saints, one comes to love the One Lord. 1146 M5 L8

To insulate ourselves from the low and defiled external ‘effects’, Gurbani guides us as follows -

‘share of the virtuous’
‘ move on, leave the vices behind’
‘extend goodwill towards the bad’
‘anger must not weaken the mind’
‘don’t harbour any ill will towards another’
3.20

‘ talking ill of anyone is not beneficial’
‘quit listening to back-biting’
‘have mercy on other beings’
‘cultivate the habit of ‘forgiveness & patience’
‘see and be unmindful’
‘there is no enemy, there is no stranger’
‘be like a guest (who knows he has to go) to tread the path of divine realisation’
‘do not be angry with anyone else’
‘contemplate on our own self’

The last line ‘‘contemplate on our own self’ carry a very deep and important message.

By seeing ‘one or two’ short comings or faults of someone, we put on him the hateful label of being ‘guilty’ or the ‘transgressor’ and register him on our ‘black list’ and forever place on him this reproachful blemish or make a decree of condemnation.

In this way we overlook all of his other ‘virtues’ and ‘goodness’. Our hatred for him becomes so deep rooted that we are not even prepared to listen to his ‘virtues’ or his praises. If he sincerely pleads for forgiveness or ‘turns over a new leaf’ even then we are not prepared to remove him from our ‘black list’.

In this way we are only assimilating his ‘vices’ and censuring his ‘virtues’ - but Gurbani advises just the opposite

20.1 Through the Word of the Shabad, merits are gathered in, and demerits are burned away. 222 M1 L7

20.2 I am a sacrifice to those who gather merits. 361 M3 L11

20.3 Let us form a partnership, and share our virtues; let us abandon our faults, and walk on the Path. 766 M1 L1
3.21

On the other side, we are unaware or ignorant of our short-comings or intentionally attempt to ‘cover’ them up and we keep ‘blowing the trumpet’ of our own ‘virtues’.

In this way we a being ‘hypocritical’ and we are cheating ‘ourselves’.

21.1 One who calls himself good — goodness shall not draw near him.
278 m5 L15

21.2 The self-willed manmukhs see themselves as being very virtuous; they have absolutely no understanding at all. 601 m3 L 14

If people also put us on their ‘black list’ and create an ‘unpleasant relationship’ with us, then we get annoyed, burn, get tormented and show anger and grievance.

But we tend to forget that the kind of relationship we extend to people, its ‘reflection’ or result falls back (or boomerangs) on to us.

21.3 Whatever I did, for that I have suffered; I do not blame anyone else.
433 m1 L14

21.4 Why do you do such evil deeds, that you shall have to suffer so?
474 m2 L7

21.5 As one acts, so does he receive. As he plants, so does he eat. 662 m1 L7

21.6 As you plant, so shall you harvest. The proud, egotistical person will surely be uprooted. 869 m5 L17


Slowly it becomes our habit and behaviour to ‘rummage or look through the rubbish’ of others and ‘raise our nose’ (with a better than thou attitude).In doing all this, our polluted mind finds satisfaction.

In this way:

Our mind become defiled and restless.
Anger - grievance and enmity - antagonism keep on increasing.
The ‘black list’ become longer.
We burn- simmer-feel torment


3.22

(We) keep moving away from godliness.
Our ‘good deeds’ too become dirty.
From ‘divinity’ we move towards ‘materialism’.
Simply waste away our precious human life.

The mental anger- grievance, jealousy - discrimination etc. are limited not only to life in a society but are also present in the religious circles. Consequently, the so called religious people or ‘religions’ sift through the short-comings of each other and through jealousy-discrimination spread the poison of ‘religious intolerance (or fanaticism).

For this reason in Gurbani we are advised to ‘contemplate on our own self’ instead of sifting through the short-comings of people.

22.1 O human being, search your own heart every day, and do not wander around in confusion. 727 Kabir L8

22.2 To read the horoscope of the mind, is the most sublime joyful peace. 1093 m5 L19
That is why Baba Farid Ji has written -

22.3 Fareed, if you have a keen understanding, then do not write black marks against anyone else. Look underneath your own collar instead.
1378 Bh.Farid L3

This means that don’t write ‘poison letters’ by dwelling upon the short-comings of others or don’t impose any ‘decrees’. Instead go into the deepest recesses of your own heart or sub-conscious and contemplate on the hidden short-comings and worry or consider about how to free yourself of them.

But the external sense and mind orientated man, is oblivious (or unaware) of the ‘internal play’ of ‘self introspection’ (or going within oneself). This divine and secret internal ‘play’ is arduous (difficult), which cannot be cultivated without the guidance of the sadh sangat (the society of evolved souls).

An example about this is given here. An animal with sores and wounds is made to suffer by the pecking of flies, crows, birds and other insects. To escape from such pecking it dives into the water and saves itself. As long as it is in water, until then it is safe. The moment it comes out, immediately the birds begin to irritate it



3.23

We get very beautiful advice from this example, that as long as we can keep our mind, orientated inwards and dwell on simran, for that period we will be insulated from the painful external ‘worldly effects’, and we will have no time to be ‘angry’ with anyone. In this way, we neither succumb to ‘external influence’ nor be troubled by ‘anger-grievance’. But all this play is about being ‘orientated inwards’ and its methodology cannot be acquired without (the help of) guru-orientated and evolved souls or ‘sadh-sangat’ (the company of evolving souls).

23.1 I have totally forgotten my jealousy of others,
since I found the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy.
No one is my enemy, and no one is a stranger. I get along with everyone. 1299 m5 L13

23.2 In the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, I have renounced my other cares and anxieties.
I dug a deep pit, and buried my egotistical pride, emotional attachment and the desires of my mind.
No one is my enemy, and I am no one’s enemy.
God, who expanded His expanse, is within all; I learned this from the True Guru.
I am a friend to all; I am everyone’s friend.
When the sense of separation was removed from my mind, then I was united with the Lord, my King. 671 m5 L6

The essence of this essay in the light of gurbani can be analysed and put forward in the following way:-

23.3 Do not be angry with anyone else; look within your own self instead.
Be humble in this world, O Nanak, and by His Grace you shall be carried across. 259 m5 L6

23.4 Do not harbor anger in your mind, or blame the Messenger of Death; instead, realize the immaculate state of Nirvaanaa. 973 Bh.Naamdev L15

23.5 O my mind, why a re you angry?
In this Dark Age of Kali Yuga, the Lord’s Name is the source of profit. Contemplate and appreciate the Guru’s Teachings within your heart, night and day. 1262 m3 L3

23.6 Fareed, do not turn around and strike those who strike you with their fists. Kiss their feet, and return to your own home. 1378 Bh.Farid L5

23.7 Fareed, answer evil with goodness; do not fill your mind with anger. Your body shall not suffer from any disease, and you shall obtain everything. 1382 Bh.Farid L 1
3.24

The important ‘crux’ or root problem pertaining to this subject lies in, being in a state of
‘forgetfulness or rememberance’

To make human life -

good or bad
pure or dirty
divine or worldly
peaceful or painful
guru-orientated or mind-orientated

it is essential to

‘forget’ or ‘discard’ mental short-comings

and

acquire or cultivate divine virtues.

If a VIP is supposed to come to our house, we clean the house inside-out so that no dirt can be seen.

Although we keep the outside clean, but the heart in which we keep longing for the presence of the king of kings - the glorious Guru Nanak - in that heart we keep accumulating the dirty ‘rubbish’ of numerous short-comings like anger, grievance, disgust. jealousy, discrimination, hatred, enmity-confrontation etc.! From this, the odour of horrible ‘stench’ keeps emerging. In such a polluted heart, how can the pure ‘light form’ of ‘Satguru’ ever reside.

24.1 Do not harbor evil intentions against others in your mind, and you shall not be troubled, O Siblings of Destiny, O friends. 386 m5 L14


24.2 So, when standing up and sitting down, dwell upon the Lord, and cherish the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy.
O Nanak, evil-mindedness is eradicated, when the Supreme Lord God comes to dwell in the mind. 297 m5 L2