There is an older expression in rural India that if the farmer does not plant seed in his farming fields (Khet) at right time and right season, then he will have no crop, thereby no harvest. This human body is like Khet, the Lord's Name (Naam) is the seed. If we do not sow the seed of the Naam at right time, then there will be nothing to show for this precious and difficult to obtain human birth — the life will be a total waste.

• ijnI AYsw hir nwmu n cyiqE sy kwhy jig Awey rwm rwjy ] iehu mwxs jnmu dulµBu hY nwm ibnw ibrQw sBu jwey ]huix vqY hir nwmu n bIijE AgY BuKw ikAw Kwey ]mnmuKw no iPir jnmu hY nwnk hir Bwey: Jinee aisaa har naam n chetio se kaahe jagi aaye raam raaje. Ihu maanas janam dulanbh hai naam binaa birathaa sabh jaaye. Hun vatai har naam na beejio agai bhukhaa kiaa khaaye. Manmukhaa no fir janam hai Nanak har bhaaye: Those who have not kept the Lord's Name in their consciousness - why did they bother to come into the world, O Lord King? It is so difficult to obtain this human birth, and without the Naam, it is all futile and useless. Now, in this most fortunate season, man does not plant the seed of the Lord's Name; what will the hungry soul (hungry of the Naam) eat, in the world hereafter? The Manmukhs (those guided by their ego-minds) are born again and again. O Nanak, such is the Lord's Will (sggs 450).
• Awn rUqI Awn boeIAY Plu n PUlY qwih: Aan rootee aan boeeai fal na foolai taahi: The seed, planted out season, does not germinate; it does not produce flower or fruit (sggs 1002).
• klir KyqI bIjIAY ikau lwhw pwvY: Kallar khetee beejeeai kiou laahaa paavai: Planting the seeds in the salty soil, how can one reap a profit? (sggs 419).

Just as there is no harvest without sowing, the deluded mind (false ego-sense or Haume) is not annihilated without persistent and timely practice (Simran). The best wisdom is that by which the mind is completely freed from desire, hope or expectations in regards to all sense-objects all the time. It is by this means that this crazy elephant or monkey of the mind can be subdued. It's difficult for one who does engage in serious and timely practice, but easy for one earnest in his effort.

So the Gurbani urges us to take up Naam-Simran (meditation) NOW. Until we turn away from sense-pleasure here and now, we will continue to roam in this world of repeated suffering and sorrows. Without persistent as well as timely practice, no one can reach the state of total dispassion (Gurmukh Lifestyle), which, in turn, helps transcend Maya (illusion or wrong perception). In other words, right exertion NOW is very essential.

• gurisKI hir AMimRqu bIijAw hir AMimRq nwmu Plu AMimRqu pwieAw: Gursikhee har amrit beejiaa har amrit naam fal amrith paaiaa: The GurSikh plants the seed of the Lord's Ambrosial Nectar, and obtains the Lord's Ambrosial Naam as his Ambrosial Fruit (sggs 304).
• gurmuiK Bgiq jug cwry hoeI: Guramukh bhagati jug chaare hoee: To live as Gurmukh is devotion (Bhagti), throughout the four ages (sggs 122).
• gurmuiK iehu mnu BgqI jwgy: Gurmukh ihu manu bhagatee jaage: The mind of the Gurmukh is awakened to devotion (sggs 415).
• vq lgI scy nwm kI jo bIjy so Kwie: Vat lagee sache naam kee jo beeje so khaai: The time has come to plant the seed of the Lord's Name; one who plants it, shall eat its fruit (sggs 321).
• ry mn vqR bIjx nwau: Re mann vatr beejan naaou: O mind, this is the time to plant the seed of the Name (sggs 1002).
• hir Dnu AMimRq vylY vqY kw bIijAw Bgq Kwie Kric rhy inKutY nwhI: Har dhamn amrit vayelai vatai kaa beejiaa bhagat khaai kharach rahe nikhuttai naahee: The devotees of the Lord plant the seed of the Lord's wealth in the Amrit Vaylaa; they eat it, and spend it, but it is never exhausted (sggs 734).

In this age of Kali Yuga there is a strong tendency for most of us to get steeped in worldly affairs and aspire for material gains, rather than follow the divine teachings (Gurmat) to turn towards God. To counter the distractions and temptations that characterize Kali Yuga, the Gurbani reveals that the path to liberation is Prema-Bhagti (loving devotion). Naam-Simran (Jap or meditation) is projected as a sure path to attain God's grace. This has been authenticated by the lives of the Gurus and the Bhagats (saints) who had dedicated themselves to collective singing of the Lord's Name and meditating on it.

• pRym Bgiq pRiB mnu pqIAwieAw: Prem Bhagti Prabh man pateeyaayaa: God's mind is pleased with the Prema Bhagti (sggs 686).
• Bgiq Bwie qrIAY sMswru ] ibnu BgqI qnu hosI Cwru: Bhagti bhaayi tareeyai sansaar. Bin Bhagti tanu hosee shaar: By loving devotion, one will cross over the world-ocean. Without Bhagtee, the body will be just ashes, i.e. useless (sggs 290).
• nwnk BgqI nwim smwie: Nanak bhagti Naam samaayi: Nanak is absorbed in devotional service of God's Name (sggs 289).

So the Gurbani tells us that this age of Kali Yuga is the right season and time to plant the seed of the Naam, the Lord's Name, in the field of our heart. The Gurbani also cautions us that this is not the time to wander lost in doubt and delusion.

• Ab klU AwieE ry ]ieku nwmu bovhu bovhu ]An rUiq nwhI nwhI ]mqu Brim BUlhu BUlhu ]gur imly hir pwey ] ijsu msqik hY lyKw ]mn ruiq nwm ry ]gun khy nwnk hir hry hir hry: Ab kaloo aaio re. Ik naam bovahu bovahu. An rooti naahee naahee. Matu bharam bhoolahu bhoolahu. Gur mile har paaye. Jis masatak hai lekhaa. Mann ruti naam re. Gun kahe Nanak har hare har hare: Now, the Dark Age of Kali Yuga has come. Plant the Naam, the Name of the One Lord. It is not the season to plant other seeds. Do not wander lost in doubt and delusion. One who has such destiny written on his forehead, will meet with the Guru and find the Lord. O mortal, this is the season of the Naam. Nanak utters the Glorious Praises of the Lord (sggs 1185).

— T. Singh
www.gurbani.org

Updated on Friday, August 22, 2008 1:42 PM (PST)

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