ਭਗਤਿ - BHAGTI - DEVOTION

ਗੁਰ ਕੀ ਮਤਿ ਤੂੰ ਲੇਹਿ ਇਆਨੇ ॥ ਭਗਤਿ ਬਿਨਾ ਬਹੁ ਡੂਬੇ ਸਿਆਨੇ ॥:
Gur kee mati toon lehi iaane.
Bhagti binaa bahu doobe siaane (sggs 288).
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In nut shell, for a Sikh, Bhagti (also spelt Bhakti ) is to recieve the Gur-Giaan (Gurmat....).

True Bhagti (for lack of better word in English, Bhagti = Devotion) kills false ego-sense (Haume). Devotion is the underlying theme of all scriptures. In essence, Bhagti is the way of knowing onself (Atamic-Giaan). Therefore, its main objective is helping sincere seekers to attain Purity of the mind by Understanding Aatm-Giaan; for behind the mansion of the mind stands the Supreme Lord! Purity of mind is also called by many other names such as annihilation of mind (ego or Haume), quieting of mind, absorption of mind, conquering of mind, attaining serene equipoise, Sahaj Avasthaa, and so on. Simply put, it is godly life (the Gurmukh Lifestyle). It springs from Awareness of One's godly Nature (Joti-Svaroopa).

Thus, Bhagti is not just repetition of some "Mantra" or singing of devotional songs, but it is to understand, or Realize, or attain, or know Gurmat, Aatmic-Giaan, Gur-Giaan... through sincere Shabad-Vichaar.

Simply put: Bhagti means acting spiritually in accordance with Hukam (Divine Will or Divine Law...). It is the science for Self-realization, which brings about Divine Union, in love, between the individual or unit consciousness (Jeeva) and the Infinite Consciousness. A true devotee (Bhagat or Gurmukh) becomes softhearted (loving and compassionate, humble), satiated (contentment in all situations), ripened or pure, free from attachments to the sensory world and related baser desires, and full of wisdom. He has no enemies, he sees God in all etc.

Bhagti is said to be the most simple, practical, sublime, direct, suitable, relatively easy, immediate, and effective process of linking with God ("Joti-Svaroopa") within. As mentioned in the Gurbani (Sri Guru Granth Sahib, SGGS), without true Bhagti, there is no real joy to be found in the world. In nutshell, pure devotion is to become a Gurmukh (Spiritual Being, Brahm-Giaanee, etc.) in this life.

The sincere display of one-pointed conscious and unwavering devotion is effective way to Realize Godhood and the Divine Grace — the state of selflessness, desirelessness or egolessness. Furthermore, the practice of this path is not the monopoly of a particular caste or creed, particular race or color, particular religion or group, gender or age, or one's education or status in life. Uneducated persons or householders toiling while living a truthful life, can, through this medium, attains the highest state of Spiritual Perfection. To put it otherwise, through sincere Bhagti, we all can Realize the sacredness of human life and employ this awareness for the higher purpose of living the nobler life to make it a successful mission in this very life, here and now.

God is Pure Consciousness. For one to attain union (Yoga) with Him, one must also become Pure through Bhagti. For example, if one wants to enter the medical practice, he must meet certain requirements. Similarly, if one wants to enter God's Transcendental Abode, there is a qualification to be met — he must be free of material contamination (egoism).

What is this material contamination? Simply put: The material contamination is none other than unrestricted sense gratification. As mind controls the senses, it also becomes impure. As indicated in the the Gurbani, one with impure senses or mind is unfit for God-realization.

To become qualified to enter the Divine Kingdom within, we need to free ourselves from inner impurity. The question is: How? To this end, the Men of Light and the true scriptures have suggested different methods with one aim: To prepare the mind for God-realization by freeing it from Maya and its tentacles such as baser desires, fears, doubts, ignorance, selfishness, and so on. In this context, this Gurbani Reflection will attempt to reflect on the following: Why Bhagti?

In "Kali", there is only one royal road to liberation from material bondage. (ਤੀਨੌ ਜੁਗ ਤੀਨੌ ਦਿੜੇ ਕਲਿ ਕੇਵਲ ਨਾਮ ਅਧਾਰ ॥੧॥: Teeno jug teeno dirre kali keval naam adhaar. sggs 346.)

The Supreme Lord possesses innumerable powers (Shakti). Out of which the Spiritual Shakti is the main one. We all are part and parcel of God's Spiritual power. Dwells in this body is the Spirit Soul, whose Essential Nature is the same as of God — Sachidaanand. The word Sachidaanand is made of three Sanskrit words: Sat, Chit and Anand. Sat means Truth or Eternal, Chit means full of Knowledge or Pure Consciousness, and Anand means Bliss Absolute.

As indicated by the Gurbani, The Supreme Lord cannot be won over without Bhagti. No wonder the Lord is said to be under the control of His Bhagat! Culmination Of Bhagti

Now, the question is: How one can acquired this most precious of all attainments - Bhagti? To attain admission in a university, one has to meet some qualification. Similarly, to attain Bhagti, one has to acquire some essential Divine qualities (ਵਿਣੁ ਗੁਣ ਕੀਤੇ ਭਗਤਿ ਨ ਹੋਇ ॥: vinu gun keete bhagti n hoi - sggs 4). These qualities may include, but not limited to, discrimination, mental control, physical control, self-withdrawl, endurance or forbearance, faith, equanimity, intense yearning for liberation from material bondage, etc. Once engaged in Bhagti with faith, conviction, sincere endeavor and longing, all other Divine qualities follow. Apparently, Bhagti devoid of Spiritual Wisdom (Aatam-Giaan, Gurmat...) is duality.

Our mind gives us the greatest problems to our progress in Bhagti. A mind in control is in tune with the Self (God, Satguru, Self, etc.). However, a mind out of control is slave of desires and fear, running wild to gratify the senses. Thus, the mind full of worldly desires is the main impediment that blocks our progress in devotional service. Therefore, an annihilated mind, devoid of material desires and ego-sense (ignorance of the real Self), is essential for God-realization. In fact, the Gurbani declares that without restraining baser desires we can not even begin Bhagti!

True Bhagti is devoid of any type of desires. Therefore, a true devotee does not desire anything other than to serve the Supreme Lord. As long as desires reside in the mind, until then the true Bhagti is unlikely to manifest in it.

There is a saying to the effect that one becomes like the company he keeps. To develop the interest for Divine Name (Divin Knowledge, Aatam Giaan, Shabad, Hukam...), one has to constantly seek the Spiritual Company (of the Sach-Truth) within and without. It's beneficial to associate with those who have similar interest and are at the same wavelength. If one plants a bramble tree, he should not expect mangos from it! If he does, he will be frustrated and disappointed in the end. Similarly, if we seek demoniac association (Kusang or worldly company) within and without, we should not expect our consciousness to become Spiritualized. Simply put: If we seek demoniac company, our consciousness will become demoniac. On the other hand, if we seek Divine Association, our consciousness will become Divine.

God is whole and perfect. Similarly, our bodies are also completely equipped for Spiritual-realization because they are enlivened by the the same complete and perfect Eternal Factor. We are supplied with all the necessary equipments; all we have to do is utilize them as intended to vibrate the Shabad or Naam within.

Bhagti is a powerful cleansing process. By vibrating the Shabad in our bosom, all nine gates become purified, and then we enter the mystic "Tenth Gate". But, what does it mean by "purification of senses" and the opening of  the "Tenth Gate"? Purification of senses means the ceasing of their material demands for sense gratification, and opening of the Tenth Gate means becoming linked with the Mool within (Source, Origin...). Such devotee after attaining proper Divine Knowledge (Gur-Giaan, Gurmat...) transcends through stages. For example, the devotee (Bhagta) may become completely intoxicated and lost in the Love Divine. Due to this intoxication or Naam Khumaaree, he behaves beyond the usual mode and attitude of worldly people, thereby such people brand him "mad" or "crazy". But he feels no shame or reserve (Look Laaj). Other times he may even become totally still.

In this context, the best example can be given of Baabaa Nanak. People would call him "spirit", "demon", "crazy", "insane", etc.  If people can call Baabaa Nanak by such names, then what to speak of us! But this sort of worldly nonsense did not cause Baabaa Nanak to give up Bhagti.

Bhagat enjoys intuitive peace, quietude, Absolute Silent (egolessness) both within and without. Fee of the pair of likes and dislikes (duality), he becomes like a tree, feeling no difference whether somebody sits underneath it or cuts it, that is, whether somebody praises him or insult him. He simply remains unconcerned about mundane affairs.

He plunges deeper and deeper into Aatam-Giaan and Realizes his True Nature as "Joti-Svaroop". He then ever revels in his True Self, and ever drink in the Ambrosial Nectar (Amrit or Immortality), endless Anand (Bliss), peak of satisfaction, Sahaj, etc. This state of his cannot be described in words or made to an order.

Khaalsaa And Sikh Defined

Who is qualified to be called a Sikh or Khalsa (pronounced Khaalsaa)? How can one become a true Sikh or Khaalsaa? Literally, the word Sikh means a spiritual disciple. The word Khaalsaa comes from Khaalas - or khalas - meaning Pure. According to the Gurbani, the Sikh or Khaalsaa is defined as he who is imbued in an unadulterated Bhagti, and thus have become internally Pure and linked to his Mool within (Source, Origin...).

Thus, as we can see, one does not become a Sikh or a Khaalsaa by just taking birth in a Sikh family. These names represent the state of Higher Spiritual Realization one has to experience within. Hence, a Sikh or Khaalsaa is not a question of heredity, family of birth, ancestry, race, region, social status, caste, creed, education, titles, religion or any peculiar external appearance of a person; it is a question of Self-realization!

This is how the names Sikh and Khaalsaa are defined by the Eternal Word of the Gurbani (SGGS); accordingly, this is what matters the most. Also, the definition of Khaalsaa provided in the following verses of Guru Gobind Singh Jee conforms with the definition provided in the SGGS.

Thus, anybody in the world can become a Sikh or Khaalsaa, "here" and "now", provided one's bosom is immersed in pure Bhagti, and one is perfectly established in the Mool within (Source, Origin...). No other worldly qualification or Karamkaand matters. Bhagti: A Royal Path To God-Realization

The purpose of this life is to reestablish our lost relationship with our True Mool within (Source, Origin, our Unconditioned Consciousness...).

Bhagti is the El Camino or the Royal Road to Realizing this Spiritual Target of life. The process of Spiritual Realization is like a long chain. The stage of Pure Bhagti is the last link of this chain. The Gur-Shabad can guide us along the wai. We are time and again reminded by the Gurbani that without the Pure Bhagti, this precious and rare to attain human form will be a waste; only to suffer more. Therefore, we are urged to be vigilant against all types of impediments to Bhagti, because Maya's snaring nets are mighty charming!

To reach the perfectional stage of Pure Bhagti, both mind and body need to be integrated. This sought after integration can be achieved by training the mind and the body in accordance with the divine instructions of the Gurbani through the Shabad-Vichaar.

— T. Singh
www.gurbani.org

Updated on Thursday, February 2, 2012 9:44 AM (PST)

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