JOTISH
Do not tell lies, O Pandit; speak the Truth. When egoism is
eradicated
through the Shabad, then one finds His Home,
Reality. Calculating
and counting, the astrologer draws the
horoscope. He studies it and announces
it, but he does not
understand Reality. Understand, that the Gur-Shabad
is above
all. Do not speak of anything else; it is all just ashes (sggs 904).
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Non-apprehension of Reality creates in us
misapprehension that we are miserable, limited, helpless, tearful, desperate,
weak-minded, fearful and sorrowful individuals. Our non-apprehension of Reality
and the consequent misapprehensions are together called Maya — illusion, ignorance,
delusion, false ego, duality, conditioned consciousness, wrong identity, etc.).
The SGGS (Sri Guru Granth Sahib) indicates that, unless one is completely surrendered to Guru-God, most
of us (over 99.9 percent) deal throughout our life in this Maya only! The SGGS further indicates that any belief in astrology or Jotish is sheer dealing in Maya. Therefore, the SGGS does not
support any
belief in Jotish and future prediction by it. Yet,
the practice is becoming pretty common
than before among the Sikhs!
- ਤਿਹੀ ਗੁਣੀ ਸੰਸਾਰੁ ਭ੍ਰਮਿ ਸੁਤਾ ਸੁਤਿਆ ਰੈਣਿ ਵਿਹਾਣੀ ॥:
The world is asleep in the three-qualitied Maya and doubt (Bharam); it
passes the night of its life sleeping (sggs 920).
- ਗਣਤੈ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਨ ਪਾਈਐ ਦੂਜੈ ਭਰਮੀਤਾ ॥: God cannot be obtained by counting; (by doing
so the man only) wanders in duality or Maya (sggs 510).
The
law of Karma point outs that we reap what we sow. The effects of past Karma
thus brings one Dukha or Sukha. Accordingly, there are certain periods
of one's life when one may have to suffer ( e.g., Dukha) relatively more.
These are the opportunities given to us so that we can learn new lessons and move
ever closer to God-Consciousness, liberating ourselves from the cycle of repeated
suffering.
The Jotish (also spelt Jyotish) holds that it
can help alleviate the unfavorable results of past actions through special measures.
However, the SGGS seems to be of the opinion that the permanent and foolproof
solutions to the results of past Karma is through complete surrender to
the Guru-God. Thus, we are urged by the SGGS not to indulge in Mayaic activities.
Instead, we are urged to completely surrender to the Guru-God through the Naam,
the Name of the Lord. Because, when one is completely so surrendered, one's body
mind and spirit are purified and harmonized by the spiritual living (a state beyond
the influence of the planetary lines). This is the permanent solution to the life's
problems. Other worldly solutions can be temporary at best and will create a new
chain of Karma. Intuitively, substituting Jotish and propitiation
of the planets using prescribed measures by it for a spiritual life cannot do
the trick. If it did, then God and His Grace, the law of Karma, Prarabdh, devotion,
meditation, truthful living, good deeds (Karanee, Amal etc.), the
mind's equanimity in all situations etc. have no meaning. There is no substitute
for these. In other words, there is no easy way out. True spiritual quest goes
beyond dogma, religion etc. Thus, counting is meaningless when it comes to matters like God and His Grace. Now perhaps one can appreciate where the SGGS is coming
from in regard to the Jotish.
- ਗੁਰ ਪੂਰੇ ਕੀ ਸਰਣੀ ਉਬਰੇ ਕਾਰਜ ਸਗਲ ਸਵਾਰੇ ॥: Gur poorae kee saranee oubarae kaaraj
sagal savaare: Those who come to the Sanctuary of the Satguru are saved, and
all their affairs are resolved (sggs 620).
- ਗੁਰ ਪੂਰੇ ਕੀ ਸਰਣੀ ਉਬਰੇ ਕਾਰਜ ਸਗਲ ਸਵਾਰੇ ॥: (devotees who consider the One
Name of the Lord as their social status and honor) remain forever in the Protection
of His Sanctuary. As it pleases His Will, He arranges their affairs (sggs 429).
- ਅਪਨੇ ਗੁਰ ਕੰਉ ਤਨੁ ਮਨੁ ਦੀਜੈ ਤਾਂ ਮਨੁ ਭੀਜੈ ਤ੍ਰਿਸਨਾ ਦੂਖ ਨਿਵਾਰੇ ॥: Surrender body and mind to your Guru, and then you will
become happy; and your desires and pain will be taken away (sggs 584).
As
indicated in the SGGS, when complete surrender takes place within, for that person
there is no need for astrology and related rituals, because the Guru-God takes
over one's affairs fully and cut asunder the chains of Karma. However,
those with that level of complete surrender are very rare in this world. Consequently,
they seek the help astrology, numerology, tarot cards, horoscope, face reading,
palmistry, palm-leaf manuscripts, and so on. These systems are practiced throughout
the world. Either we are surrendered to our Guru-God or false ego-sense (Haume).
The SGGS indicates that all calculations are in egotism (Mayaic mind).
The SGGS also indicates God to be incalculable, while the entire world is within
the realm of calculations.
- ਪੰਡਿਤ ਪੜਦੇ ਜੋਤਕੀ ਨਾ ਬੂਝਹਿ ਬੀਚਾਰਾ ॥: The Pandits and the astrologers study their books,
but they do not understand inner inquiry (sggs 970).
- ਗਣਿ ਗਣਿ ਜੋਤਕੁ ਕਾਂਡੀ ਕੀਨੀ ॥ ਪੜੈ ਸੁਣਾਵੈ ਤਤੁ ਨ ਚੀਨੀ ॥: Calculating and counting, the
astrologer draws the hroscope. He studies it and announces it, but he does not
understand Reality (sggs 904).
- ਹਉਮੈ ਸਭਾ ਗਣਤ ਹੈ ਗਣਤੈ ਨਉ ਸੁਖੁ ਨਾਹਿ ॥: All accounting is in egotism, in these, there
is no Peace (sggs 36).
- ਸਉਣ ਸਗੁਨ ਬੀਚਾਰਣੇ ਨਉਂ ਗ੍ਰਹ ਬਾਰਹ ਰਾਸਿ ਵੀਚਾਰਾ ॥ ਕਾਮਣ ਟੂਣੇ ਅਉਸੀਆਂ ਕਣ ਸੋਹੀ ਪਾਸਾਰ ਪਾਸਾਰਾ ॥: The life
led in the light of omens, the nine planets, the twelve signs of the zodiac; Incantations,
magic divination by lines and by the voice is all futile (Bhai Gurdaas, Vaar:
5 Pauree: 9).
- ਤੂ ਕਰਤਾ ਆਪਿ ਅਗਣਤੁ ਹੈ ਸਭੁ ਜਗੁ ਵਿਚਿ ਗਣਤੈ ॥: You Yourself, O Creator, are incalculable, while the entire
world is within the realm of calculation (sggs 314).
Jotish
is a Sanskrit word, which literally means "science of light"
— the science of understanding the subtle influences that come to us from the
universe. Jotish considers these influences a reflection of the law of
Karma. Jotish holds that the periods when the results of our past
actions, favorable or unfavorable, come to fruition are indicated by planetary
positions at the time our birth. Jotish also holds that it can help one
to understand how to optimize his potential by giving one an idea of the trends
and periods of life - when to act, how to act and when not to act. Thus, Jotish
claims it can help one to understand his weaknesses, where one may need to put
extra attention in order to attain fullness in his life. The Jotish further
holds that Saadhanaa (spiritual practices) and propitiation of the planets
through special Pooja (ritual worship) and other prescribed measures can
neutralize the effects of Karma. The main Upayas (remedial measures)
of Jotish consist of rituals, Mantras and meditation.
Our
sins or trespasses (reactionary Kaarmic actions) against the universal
law performed in material consciousness (ego or Haume) create Vaasnaas:
psychological conditionings, latent memories, innate tendencies, inherent inclinations,
self-limitations, dispositions, obstinate clinging to a fancy or deluded imagination,
memories or subtle impressions of the past etc. In turn — since Vaasnaas
produce thoughts and thoughts produce actions — these Vaasnaas seek their
exhaustion through further causative or fruitive actions. For which, man
moves from one field of activities to another within the span of his life; creating
unending barrage of more Vaasnaas in the process. The system of Jotish
is based on the premise that man's these tendencies are recorded under the astrological
signs in which he is born. In other words, the man takes birth through an astrological
conglomeration of signs. By preparing and interpreting one's birth chart, a Jotishee
(astrologist) predicts the future events of one's present incarnation. Card readers,
palm readers, face readers, etc., do essentially the same.
- ਆਂਟ ਸੇਤੀ ਨਾਕੁ ਪਕੜਹਿ ਸੂਝਤੇ ਤਿਨਿ ਲੋਅ ॥ ਮਗਰ ਪਾਛੈ ਕਛੁ ਨ ਸੂਝੈ ਏਹੁ ਪਦਮੁ ਅਲੋਅ ॥: Aant setee naak pakarrahi soojhate tin loa. Magar paashai kash na soojhai ehu padam aloa: They (those who try to deceive the world) close off their nostrils with their fingers, and (sitting in the lutus-pose) claim to see the three worlds. But it is very astonishing
that they do not even know what is behind their back. What a strange lotus-pose this is (sggs 662)!
As indicated
in the SGGS, the infallible Law of Karma (Hukam) holds everyone
responsible for what he is or going to be. We harvest exactly what we sow. If
there is a cause, there is an effect. If there is a Karma or activity (cause),
there is a reaction or result (effect). This is the Kaarmic principle that
brings back the results of one's actions to him, to be worked out later. The Gurbani
indicates there is no escape from this Divine Law. However, those who are
not completely surrendered to Guru-God always think that they can circumvent the
system! For example the Jotish considers that it cannot only predict the
good and bad events in one's future, but, by maneuvering the planetary influence
through some paid prescribed actions or rituals, it can also remedy the negative
situations or their effects!
- ਜੇਹਾ ਬੀਜੈ ਸੋ ਲੁਣੈ ਮਥੈ ਜੋ ਲਿਖਿਆਸੁ ॥ : As the man plants so does he reap; his destiny
is recorded on his forehead (sggs 134).
- ਜੇਵੇਹੇ ਕਰਮ ਕਮਾਵਦਾ ਤੇਵੇਹੇ ਫਲਤੇ ॥ : One obtains fruits according to the deeds which
he does (sggs 317).
- ਪੜਿ ਪੜਿ ਪੰਡਿਤ ਜੋਤਕੀ ਥਕੇ ਭੇਖੀ ਭਰਮਿ ਭੁਲਾਏ ॥: The Pandits, the religious scholars, and the
astrologers read and read until they grow weary, while the fanatics are deluded
by doubt (sggs 68).
- ਪੰਡਿਤ ਵਾਚਹਿ ਪੋਥੀਆ ਨਾ ਬੂਝਹਿ ਵੀਚਾਰੁ ॥ ਅਨ ਕਉ ਮਤੀ ਦੇ ਚਲਹਿ ਮਾਇਆ ਕਾ ਵਾਪਾਰੁ ॥ ਕਥਨੀ ਝੂਠੀ ਜਗੁ ਭਵੈ ਰਹਣੀ ਸਬਦੁ ਸੁ ਸਾਰੁ ॥ ਕੇਤੇ ਪੰਡਿਤ ਜੋਤਕੀ ਬੇਦਾ ਕਰਹਿ ਬੀਚਾਰੁ ॥ ਵਾਦਿ ਵਿਰੋਧਿ ਸਲਾਹਣੇ ਵਾਦੇ ਆਵਣੁ ਜਾਣੁ ॥ ਬਿਨੁ ਗੁਰ ਕਰਮ ਨ ਛੁਟਸੀ ਕਹਿ ਸੁਣਿ ਆਖਿ ਵਖਾਣੁ ॥: The Pandits read their books, but
they do not understand the real meaning. They give instructions to others, and
then walk away, but they deal in Maya themselves. Speaking falsehood, they wander
around the world, while those who remain true to the Shabad are excellent and
exalted. There are so many Pandits and astrologers who ponder over the Vedas.
They glorify their disputes and arguments, and in these controversies they continue
coming and going. Without the Guru, they are not released from their karma, although
they speak and listen and preach and explain (sggs 56).
Before the final
marriage vows are spoken, before taking a journey or before starting a new business,
and so on, many pay to Jotishees to judge astrological compatibility of
their undertaking. This is one example of how an unsurrendered (a conditioned,
doubt-ridden etc.) mind functions. Under the influence of body-bound inclinations
arising from emotional attachment to vanishing worldly objects, one loses his
reasoning and discriminating intellect (Viveka Budhi), and end up not knowing
Real from unreal.
- ਲੈ ਭਾੜਿ ਕਰੇ ਵੀਆਹੁ ॥ ਕਢਿ ਕਾਗਲੁ ਦਸੇ ਰਾਹੁ ॥ ਸੁਣਿ ਵੇਖਹੁ ਲੋਕਾ ਏਹੁ ਵਿਡਾਣੁ ॥ ਮਨਿ ਅੰਧਾ ਨਾਉ ਸੁਜਾਣੁ ॥: He (Jotashee)
takes payment for performing marriages; reading their horoscopes, he shows them
the way. Hear, and see, O people, this wondrous thing. He is mentally blind, and
yet his name is wisdom! (sggs 471).
- ਪੰਡਿਤ ਜੋਤਕੀ ਸਭਿ ਪੜਿ ਪੜਿ ਕੂਕਦੇ ਕਿਸੁ ਪਹਿ ਕਰਹਿ ਪੁਕਾਰਾ ਰਾਮ ॥ ਮਾਇਆ ਮੋਹੁ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਮਲੁ ਲਾਗੈ ਮਾਇਆ ਕੇ ਵਾਪਾਰਾ ਰਾਮ ॥ ਮਾਇਆ ਕੇ ਵਾਪਾਰਾ ਜਗਤਿ ਪਿਆਰਾ ਆਵਣਿ ਜਾਣਿ ਦੁਖੁ ਪਾਈ ॥ ਬਿਖੁ ਕਾ ਕੀੜਾ ਬਿਖੁ ਸਿਉ ਲਾਗਾ ਬਿਸ੍ਟਾ ਮਾਹਿ ਸਮਾਈ ॥ ਜੋ ਧੁਰਿ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਸੋਇ ਕਮਾਵੈ ਕੋਇ ਨ ਮੇਟਣਹਾਰਾ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਨਾਮਿ ਰਤੇ ਤਿਨ ਸਦਾ ਸੁਖੁ ਪਾਇਆ ਹੋਰਿ ਮੂਰਖ ਕੂਕਿ ਮੁਏ ਗਾਵਾਰਾ ॥: All the religious scholars
and astrologers read and study, and argue and shout. Who are they trying to teach?
Deep within, they are stained with the filth of emotional attachment to Maya;
they deal in Maya alone. They love to deal in Maya in this world; coming and going,
they suffer in pain. The worm of poison is addicted to poison; it is immersed
in manure. He does what is pre-ordained for him; no one can erase his destiny.
O Nanak, attuned to the Naam, lasting peace is found; the ignorant fools die screaming
(sggs 570-571).
Who is likely to worry about good and bad omens? According
to the SGGS, those who worry about Shubh or Ashubh (auspicious and
inauspicious, Sagan and Apsagan) are devoid of the Divine Name and
complete surrender to Guru-God. Therefore, as indicated by the SGGS, they do not
have the understanding of the sublime essence of the Divine ( Shabad, Naam
or Word). Only a fully surrendered being is above and beyond the influence
of Shubh and Ashubh, thus immune from their results. By thinking
and worrying about auspicious and inauspicious omens, one falls victim
to fear and anxiety.
- ਸਗੁਨ ਅਪਸਗੁਨ ਤਿਸ ਕਉ ਲਗਹਿ ਜਿਸੁ ਚੀਤਿ ਨ ਆਵੈ ॥: Good omens and bad omens affect those who do
not keep the Lord in the mind (sggs 401).
- ਏਕੋ ਨਾਮੁ ਧਿਆਇ ਤੂੰ ਸੁਖੁ ਪਾਵਹਿ ਮੇਰੇ ਭਾਈ ॥ ਹਉਮੈ ਦੂਜਾ ਦੂਰਿ ਕਰਿ ਵਡੀ ਵਡਿਆਈ ॥1॥ਰਹਾਉ॥ ਇਸੁ ਭਗਤੀ ਨੋ ਸੁਰਿ ਨਰ ਮੁਨਿ ਜਨ ਲੋਚਦੇ ਵਿਣੁ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਪਾਈ ਨ ਜਾਇ ॥ ਪੰਡਿਤ ਪੜਦੇ ਜੋਤਿਕੀ ਤਿਨ ਬੂਝ ਨ ਪਾਇ ॥: Meditate on the One Naam, and you will find real Peace, O my Siblings
of Destiny. Eradicate egoism and duality, and your glory will be glorious. ||1||
Pause || The angels, humans and silent sages long for this devotional worship,
but without the True Guru, it cannot be attained. The Pandits and the astrologers
read their books, but they do not understand (sggs 425).
- ਗਣਤ ਗਣੀਐ ਸਹਸਾ ਦੁਖੁ ਜੀਐ ॥: Ganat ganeeai sahasaa dukh jeeai: By making
calculations (of auspicious or inauspicious time, ਸ਼ੁਭ ਅਸ਼ੁਭ ਮੁਹੂਰਤਾਂ ਦੇ ਲੇਖੇ ਗਿਣਨੇ, etc.), doubt and suffering afflict
the Jeeva - individual being (sggs 904).
The Jotish
or reactionary Karma cannot release man's personality from its misapprehensions.
It's the unbroken Naam-Simran (meditation) on the Divine Essence that can
set one free from the dualistic principle of Maya such as Shubh and Ashubh.
So long the ego-mind entertains its fancies, one subjects himself to be taken
for ride by Jotishees, bogus Sants or Saadh, mentally blind
religious scholars, deluded priests or Bhaais, and so on.
- : After
all their reading, the Pandits, the religious scholars, and the astrologers argue
and debate. Their intellect and understanding are perverted; they just don’t understand.
They are filled with greed and corruption. Through 8.4 million incarnations they
wander lost and confused; through all their wandering and roaming, they are ruined.
They act according to their pre-ordained destiny, which no one can erase (sggs
27).
Baabaa Nanak spent all his life trying to set us free from doubts,
Karamkaands (worldly entanglements), empty rituals and superstitions. He
urged us to live by the Hukam (Divine Law, Will etc.), thereby, take the
life as it presents itself to us. He urged us to live a surrendered or Divine
Life as a Spiritual Being (the Gurmukh) — the state beyond the influence
of the planetary lines, and fear. For our true Self (Joti-Svaroopa) is
not a bundle of fear and temptations. Instead, it's a Blissful-Conscious-Existance.
As indicated by the SGGS, only upon Realizing this Truth the moss of doubt (Bharam)
will leave us alone. - ਜਨ ਨਾਨਕ ਬਿਨੁ ਆਪਾ ਚੀਨੈ ਮਿਟੈ ਨ ਭ੍ਰਮ ਕੀ ਕਾਈ ॥ : O servant Nanak, without knowing
one’s own Self, the moss of doubt is not removed (sggs 684).
- ਚਿੰਤ ਅੰਦੇਸਾ ਗਣਤ ਤਜਿ ਜਨਿ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਪਛਾਤਾ ॥: Anxieties, worries and calculations are
dismissed; God's humble servant accepts His Hukam (sggs 813).
Among
millions of species of living beings (animals, birds, insects and worms), the
human being alone is privileged to have the choice of action. No other sentient
has this rare capacity and freedom to act. Along with the choice of action, the
human being has been also endowed with the power to think before acting. However,
in bondage, ignorance and greed we misuse or abuse this capacity and freedom and
then blame some outside agency such as God, fate or destiny for Shubh and
Ashubh omens. Thus, it's not the fault of Spiritual Masters or the scriptures
if we keep falling back into doubts, again and again.
- ਦਦੈ ਦੋਸੁ ਨ ਦੇਊ ਕਿਸੈ ਦੋਸੁ ਕਰੰਮਾ ਆਪਣਿਆ ॥ ਜੋ ਮੈ ਕੀਆ ਸੋ ਮੈ ਪਾਇਆ ਦੋਸੁ ਨ ਦੀਜੈ ਅਵਰ ਜਨਾ ॥: Daddai dos na deooo kisai dos krammaa aapaniaa. Jo mai keeaa so mai paaiaa dos na deejai avar janaa: Dadda (a letter of the Gurmukhi alphabet), I should not blame anyone else (for my suffering); I blame instead my own actions. Whatever I did, for that I have suffered; I don't blame anyone else (sggs 433).
- : As is your awareness, so is your way (sggs 25).
- : As you think, so you become (sggs 224).
- : As is the mentality, so is the meed (sggs
116).
Our ego-mind is the culprit. If we want
to end our misapprehensions once and forever, then the Gurbani's advice is to
continuously read the "horoscope" of the mind. This may lead us to a question:
since mind is nothing but thoughts-stuff, how can one go about reading its horoscope?
What is that tool which can help us read the mind's
horoscope?
The SGGS has given us a very simple
tool for this purpose! Every moment, there is a Spiritual and psychological battle
going on between the Soul and the blind sense-infatuated mind under the delusive
influence of the false ego. We can invoke this God given power of introspection
to review the battle of the day in our mind in order to determine who won the
battle - the good or the evil. "Good" being that which expresses truth and virtue
and attracts the consciousness to God; and "evil" being ignorance and delusion,
repels the consciousness from God. Thus, we, the material beings, can realize
the All-auspicious within, here and now, only if we side with "goodness" and win
the battle between the good and evil inclinations that guide our activities on
the external bodily field of actions. Maintaining continuos contemplation and association
of the Sat (Truth) within and without are sure aids to transcend the fancies
of Shubh and Ashubh.
- ਜਬ ਆਪਨ ਆਪੁ ਆਪਿ ਉਰਿ ਧਾਰੈ ॥ ਤਉ ਸਗਨ ਅਪਸਗਨ ਕਹਾ ਬੀਚਾਰੈ ॥: When He kept Himself,
All-in-all, unto His Own Heart, then who considered omens to be good or bad? (sggs
291).
- ਬੰਦੇ ਖੋਜੁ ਦਿਲ ਹਰ ਰੋਜ ਨਾ ਫਿਰੁ ਪਰੇਸਾਨੀ ਮਾਹਿ ॥: O human being, search your own heart every
day, and do not wander around in confusion (sggs 727).
- ਮਃ ੩ ॥ ਮਨ ਕੀ ਪਤ੍ਰੀ ਵਾਚਣੀ ਸੁਖੀ ਹੂ ਸੁਖੁ ਸਾਰੁ ॥ ਸੋ ਬ੍ਰਾਹਮਣੁ ਭਲਾ ਆਖੀਐ ਜਿ ਬੂਝੈ ਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਬੀਚਾਰੁ ॥ ਹਰਿ ਸਾਲਾਹੇ ਹਰਿ ਪੜੈ ਗੁਰ ਕੈ ਸਬਦਿ ਵੀਚਾਰਿ ॥ ਆਇਆ ਓਹੁ ਪਰਵਾਣੁ ਹੈ ਜਿ ਕੁਲ ਕਾ ਕਰੇ ਉਧਾਰੁ ॥ ਅਗੈ ਜਾਤਿ ਨ ਪੁਛੀਐ ਕਰਣੀ ਸਬਦੁ ਹੈ ਸਾਰੁ ॥ ਹੋਰੁ ਕੂੜੁ ਪੜਣਾ ਕੂੜੁ ਕਮਾਵਣਾ ਬਿਖਿਆ ਨਾਲਿ ਪਿਆਰੁ ॥ ਅੰਦਰਿ ਸੁਖੁ ਨ ਹੋਵਈ ਮਨਮੁਖ ਜਨਮੁ ਖੁਆਰੁ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਨਾਮਿ ਰਤੇ ਸੇ ਉਬਰੇ ਗੁਰ ਕੈ ਹੇਤਿ ਅਪਾਰਿ ॥੨॥:
Ma: 3 || To read the horoscope of the mind, is the most Sublime Joyful Peace. He alone
is called a good Brahmin, who understands God in contemplative meditation. He
praises the Lord, and reads of the Lord, and contemplates the Gur-Shabad. Celebrated
and approved is the coming into the world of such a person, who saves all his
generations as well. Hereafter, no one is questioned about social status; excellent
and sublime is the practice of the Shabad. Other study is false, and other actions
are false; such people are in love with poison. They do not find any peace within
themselves; the Manmukhs (material beings) waste away their lives. O Nanak, those
who are attuned to the Naam are saved; they have infinite love for the Guru ||2|| (sggs
1093-1094).
As indicated in the SGGS, only that time is Shubh which
passes in remembrance of the Divine; only that place is Shubh where the
Divine is remembered; and only that breadth is Shubh which is utilized
to meditate on the Divine Essence. All else is just the working of one's false
ego-sense.
- ਆਗਮ ਨਿਰਗਮ ਜੋਤਿਕ ਜਾਨਹਿ ਬਹੁ ਬਹੁ ਬਿਆਕਰਨਾ ॥ ਤੰਤ ਮੰਤ੍ਰ ਸਭ ਅਉਖਧ ਜਾਨਹਿ ਅੰਤਿ ਤਊ ਮਰਨਾ ॥੨॥ ਰਾਜ ਭੋਗ ਅਰੁ ਛਤ੍ਰ ਸਿੰਘਾਸਨ ਬਹੁ ਸੁੰਦਰਿ ਰਮਨਾ ॥ ਪਾਨ ਕਪੂਰ ਸੁਬਾਸਕ ਚੰਦਨ ਅੰਤਿ ਤਊ ਮਰਨਾ ॥੩॥ ਬੇਦ ਪੁਰਾਨ ਸਿੰਮ੍ਰਿਤਿ ਸਭ ਖੋਜੇ ਕਹੂ ਨ ਊਬਰਨਾ ॥ ਕਹੁ ਕਬੀਰ ਇਉ ਰਾਮਹਿ ਜੰਪਉ ਮੇਟਿ ਜਨਮ ਮਰਨਾ ॥੪॥੫॥: Those who know the Shaastras
and the Vedas, astrology and the rules of grammar of many languages; those who
know Tantras and mantras and all medicines — even they will die in the end. ||2|| Those
who enjoy regal power and rule, royal canopies and thrones, many beautiful women,
betel nuts, camphor and fragrant sandalwood oil — in the end, they too will die.
||3|| I have searched all the Vedas, Puraanas and Simritees, but none of these can save
anyone. Says Kabeer, meditate on the Lord, and eliminate birth and death ||4||5|| (sggs
476-477).
- ਸਾਸ ਸਾਸ ਸਾਸ ਹੈ ਜੇਤੇ ਮੈ ਗੁਰਮਤਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਸਮ੍ਹ੍ਹਾਰੇ ॥ ਸਾਸੁ ਸਾਸੁ ਜਾਇ ਨਾਮੈ ਬਿਨੁ ਸੋ ਬਿਰਥਾ ਸਾਸੁ ਬਿਕਾਰੇ ॥੭॥ : According to
Gurmati (instructions of the Shabad), with as many breaths as I have, I chant
the Naam. Each and every breath which escapes me without the Naam — that breath
is useless and corrupt ||7|| (sggs 980).
- ਸਭਸੈ ਊੁਪਰਿ ਗੁਰ ਸਬਦੁ ਬੀਚਾਰੁ॥ਹੋਰ ਕਥਨੀ ਬਦਉ ਨ ਸਗਲੀ ਛਾਰੁ ॥: Understand, that the
Gur-Shabad is above all. Do not speak of anything else; it is all just ashes (sggs
904).
If we want to release our personality from its misapprehensions,
the SGGS urges us to become Gurmukhs (Spiritual Beings who are completely
surrendered to Guru-God). All calculations are for the Manmukhs (material
beings who are not surrendered to Guru-God) for his world is in the realm of calculations
(egoism or Maya). There is no accounting or calculations for the Gurmukh;
because he is relieved of all egoistic mental calculations through the Shabad-Surti,
or God-consciousness. Instead of reading the horoscopes of others, the Gurmukh reads the
horoscope of his own mind to find the highest Joy.
- ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਸਗਲੀ ਗਣਤ ਮਿਟਾਵੈ ॥: The Gurmukh erases all calculations (sggs 942).
- ਹਉਮੈ ਗਣਤ ਗੁਰ ਸਬਦਿ ਨਿਵਾਰੇ ॥: Egotistic or mental calculations are relieved through
the Shabad (sggs 1065).
- ਤੂੰ ਗਣਤੈ ਕਿਨੈ ਨ ਪਾਇਓ ਸਚੇ ਅਲਖ ਅਪਾਰਾ ॥: No one has attained You by clever calculations, O
True, Unseen and Infinite Being (sggs 140).
- ਬੇਸੁਮਾਰ ਅਥਾਹ ਅਗਨਤ ਅਤੋਲੈ ॥: God is beyond calculation, beyond measure, uncountable
and unfathomable (sggs 292).
— T. Singh
www.gurbani.org
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Updated on
Friday, May 22, 2009 3:52 PM
(PST)
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