INNER SEARCH: EVERYTHING IS INSIDE THE BODY

The human body is a great fortress; in it are its shops (senses). By becoming the
Gurmukh (Spiritual Being) who comes to trade (Truth) gathers the cargo of
the Divine Name. He deals (while living in this body-fortress) in the treasure
of the Divine Name — the True (eternal) Jewels and Diamonds. Those who search
for this Wealth outside of the body, in other places, are foolish demoniac
(in the human body). They wander around in the wilderness of doubt, like the deer who
(not knowing that the musk is ever present in his own body) searches
for the musk in the bushes (sggs 309).
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Truth is Nirmal — ever exclusive of any flaw. If it has any flaw in it, then it cannot be called Truth. The Divine Substance is that eternal Truth which resides inside the body as our Pure Aatmaan ( also called Self, Pure Consciousness, Truth, etc.). Hence we are as Divine as we can get at this very moment (NOW). Even so, due to our ignorance of this True Nature (which is "Joti-Svaroopa") of ours, the majority of us are in forgetfulness of this subtle Truth. Therefore, as indicated in the Gurbani and by the Mahaatamaas, man's urgent task in life is to give birth to his new himself — realize his True Being inside his own body while still alive (Jeevanmukti)! For the Gurbani indicates "everything" to be inside the body! Accordingly, the Gurbani recommends inner search and says "Bande Khoj" ("O human being, search"); "Mann Khoj Maarag" ("O mind, seek out the way").

Thus, "Bande Khoj" or "Mann Khoj Maarag" is the journey within. To link with God, this inner searching is needed. All major systems of Indian philosophy accept Freedom (Mukti, Mokh) from bondage while still alive in the body as the goal of human birth. Such state is indicated as an eternal Blissful (Anand) state attaining which there is no more worldly sorrows, distress or unhappiness (Dukha). Realization of this state (Unconditioned Self) is said to be the end of all searching, hence needs to be pursued. The Gurbani indicates that man's real enemy is ignorance — ignorance of his Spiritual Nature ("Joti-Svaroopa"). By identifying with his body-mind-intellect apparatus instead of with his True Self ("Joti-Svaroopa"), man attributes its limitations to himself and thereby plunges into worldly sorrows . Thereby the Gurbani highlights that unless man increases in Spiritual Wisdom all his knowledge will be of no avail in rooting out his worldly Dukha. It is often repeated in the Gurbani that the journey to the "Joti-Svaroopa" (Real Self) is anything but smooth and it is the innermost. Therefore, a seeker of Truth must direct his search (Khoj) within by restraining his senses. However, the Gurbani reiterates that a great soul (Gurmukh) of that type is rare to find in this world.

Therefore, the Gurbani time and again tells us to look inwards to know the Reality. But because the consciousness of most people is attuned to the physical aspect of life, it's hard to believe or accept the simple Truth that everything is within the body. Consequently, most of us don't take our senses and parts of our body (hands, legs, eyes, ears, tongue act.) as that of God and use them in godly way.

In fact, as time and again stated in the Gurbani, man's searching outside of this body becomes the cause of his worldly sorrows. Those who search (God, Peaceful and contended mind, Bliss and so on) outside, the Gurbani calls them "foolish" and "Manmukhs" (person in worldly consciousness). The Gurbani reminds us that the consciousness of the "foolish" and "Manmukhs", distracted and unstable, wanders around in search of transitory things ("Chalanhaar").

The Gurbani shows us the way to realize the state of "everything" within. We need to become the Gurmukhs (Spiritual Beings with Spiritual qualities) adopt Spiritual or Aatamic- Jeevan, hang out with the Saadh-Sangat (Holy or Spiritual Company of the Gurmukhs), Naam-Simran, and reflect (Vichaar) on the Guru's Shabad. These Spiritual practices will help our minds to get established in "Sahaj" and look inwards to know Truth. If followed with sincerity and dedication, the Guru's Shabad helps Free us from negation.

Knowledge of the Self (Aatam-Giaan) is to be aware of the Soul's immortal nature. Although the nature of the body is mortal, but it's very much a part of the Infinite and the Absolute for one can realize Greater Reality within the body while living in it. To tread this path of adhering to truthful living one needs to exercise one's unshakable determination and the sense of discrimination (Viveka-Budhi). In spite of of all our efforts, if we are still unable to realize "everything" within the body, then, as the Gurbani tells us, we must have some fault (self-created) in our body. The mirror of the mind is dirty.

— T. Singh
www.gurbani.org

To read Gurbani verses in Gurmukhi, click here to download Gurmukhi font.

Updated on Friday, August 1, 2008 10:29 PM (PST)

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