One of the important aspects of Baabaa Nanak's Teaching is one's dedication to the Sangat (Good or Holy Company/Association/Congregation, Satsang, Saadh-Sangat etc.). This gives rise to the following question, "does he define as to what the true "Sangat" is?" Yes. Not any Sangat; but we are urged by Baabaa Nanak to join the Sangat of those who are absorbed in only God's One Name (God-Consciousness, Shabad-Surti etc.). In a verse of Sri Raag, Baabaa Nanak specifies this strict criteria for Sangat, in which he defines as to what the real Sangat is. Although congregational worship is important as recommended by Baabaa Nanak and the SGGS, but as indicated in the following verse, not every congregation can necessarily be called Sangat.

• ਸਤਸੰਗਤਿ ਕੈਸੀ ਜਾਣੀਐ ॥ ਜਿਥੈ ਏਕੋ ਨਾਮੁ ਵਖਾਣੀਐ ॥ ਏਕੋ ਨਾਮੁ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਹੈ ਨਾਨਕ ਸਤਿਗੁਰਿ ਦੀਆ ਬੁਝਾਇ ਜੀਉ ॥: Satsangat kaisee jaaneeai || Jithai eko naam vakhaaneeai || Eko naam hukam hai Nanak satigur deeaa bujhaai jeeou ||5||: Eko naam hukam hai Nanak satgur deeaa bujhaai jeeou: How is the Satsangat to be known? There, (only) God's One Name is chanted. The One Name is the Hukam (Will of God); O Nanak, the True Guru has given me this understanding ||5|| (sggs 72).

Here we have an irrefutable definition of a true Sangat. By using the word "Eko" here Baabaa Nanak has eliminated any speculation and doubt. Those who meet this criteria are also called the Gurmukhs in the Gurbani. We can label the Gurmukhs whatever we want to (e.g., Mahaatamaa, saint, Saadhoo, spiritual being, Brahm-Giaanee, Jeevanmukta, Baabaa etc.), but the upshot is that the Gurmukh is the fully God-Realized being, completely absorbed in the Name- or God-Consciousness.

• ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਸਾਧ ਸੇਈ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਭਾਏ ਕਰਿ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਆਪਿ ਮਿਲਾਵੈ ॥: Gurmukh saadhh seyee prabh bhaae kar kirapaa aap milaavai: The Gurmukhs are the Holy, pleasing to God; in His mercy, He blends them with Himself (sggs 881).
• ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਪਿਆਰੇ ਆਇ ਮਿਲੁ ਮੈ ਚਿਰੀ ਵਿਛੁੰਨੇ ਰਾਮ ਰਾਜੇ ॥: Gurmukh piaare aai mil mai chiree vishhunne raam raaje: O my Beloved Lord, come and meet me through the Gurmukh; I have been separated from You for so long (sgg 449).
• ਚਾਰ ਵਰਨ ਸਤਿਸੰਗ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਮੇਲਿਆ ॥: Chaar varan satsang gurmukh meliaa: The people of all the four Varnas sit together in the Company of Gurmukhs (Vaar Bhai Gurdaas, 3).
• ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਹੋਇ ਸੁ ਰਾਚੈ ਨਾਇ ॥: Gurmukh hoi su raachai naai: One who becomes Gurmukh is absorbed in the Name (sggs 1330).
• ਅਵਿਗਤ ਕੀ ਗਤਿ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਜਾਤੀ ॥: Avigat kee gat gurmukh jaatee: The Gurmukh knows the state of the eternal, unchanging God (sggs 904).
• ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਬੂਝੈ ਆਪੁ ਪਛਾਣੈ ਸਚੇ ਸਚਿ ਸਮਾਏ ॥: Gurmukh boojhai aap pashaanai sache sach samaaye: As Gurmukh, I have come to understand and realize the Self; I have merged in the Truest of the True (sggs 938).
• ਸਰਬ ਰਸਾਇਣੁ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਜਾਤਾ ॥: Sarab rasaaein guramukh jaathaa: Realize the essence of Totality by becoming the Gurmukh (sggs 415).
• ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਬਾਣੀ ਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਹੈ ਸਬਦਿ ਮਿਲਾਵਾ ਹੋਇ ॥: Gurmukh bani braham hai sabad milaavaa hoi: The Word of the Gurmukh is God Himself. Through the Shabad merge in Him (sggs 39).

According to the Gurbani, the Gurmukh has completely eradicated his false ego-sense (Haume) and related negativity of the mind (Kaam, Krodh, Lobh etc.); he has thus conquered his mind. Whatever comes into contact with both sandalwood and Paaras is uplifted. Similarly, the Gurbani compares the nature of the Saadh-Sangat with that of sandalwood and Paaras - in the Saadh-Sangat, a lowly conditioned Soul is purified, thus uplifted and transformed into Divine Consciousness! In the presence of such Holy Company, one finds energy, integrity, understanding, and persistence to liberate himself from the domain of the false ego-sense (Haume). The Association of the true Gurmukhs can sweep our "filthy" minds clean and remove our doubts. It can open up our closed minds and thus change our conduct. In the Sangat, faith - an important element of Bhagti (devotion) - is developed and strengthened. But the true Gurmukhs are very "rare". Also, they are not easily decipherable from the imitation because such beings have risen above any worldly labels or dogmas. Their greatness get camouflaged by their simplicity and humility. Such True and Wise ones ravel constantly in Universal Consciousness, radiating selfless love and compassion, selfless service (Nishakaam Sevaa) and sacrifice, and deep Peace to all. To recognize such true Sangat, one needs the basic understanding of spirituality (power of discrimination or Viveka, intuition etc.). Although some may chose to live in seclusion dissolved in the Divine Name, but others may chose (as suggested by the Gurbani) to become an offering to the world - selflessly helping rest of us who are groping in the darkness of ignorance. The Gurbani urges us to seek, join and keep the Company of such Sangat.

• ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਹਉਮੈ ਮਾਰੀਐ ਮਨੁ ਨਿਰਮਲੁ ਹੋਈ ॥: Gurmukh houmai maareeai manu niramal hoee: By becoming the Gurmukh, the egotism (Haume) is kills, and (consequently) the mind becomes immaculately pure (sggs 424).
• ਅਪੁਨੇ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਕਉ ਸਦਾ ਬਲਿ ਜਾਈ ॥ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਜੋਤੀ ਜੋਤਿ ਮਿਲਾਈ ॥: Apune satgur kaou bali jaaee. Gumukh jotee joti milaaee: I am forever a sacrifice to my Satguru. Who becomes the Gurmukh, (the Satguru) blends his light (consciousness, ਸੁਰਤਿ, etc.) with the Divine Light (sggs 362).
• ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਸਹਜੁ ਹੈ ਮਨੁ ਚੜਿਆ ਦਸਵੈ ਆਕਾਸਿ ॥: Gurmukhi antar sahaj hai manu charriaa dasavai aakaas: Upon becoming Gurmukh (Spiritual Being), Intuitive Poise (Sahaj) awakens within; then his mind ascends to the Tenth Plane - Dasam Duaar (sggs 1414).
• ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਆਪਣਾ ਮਨੁ ਮਾਰਿਆ ਸਬਦਿ ਕਸਵਟੀ ਲਾਇ ॥ ਮਨ ਹੀ ਨਾਲਿ ਝਗੜਾ ਮਨ ਹੀ ਨਾਲਿ ਸਥ ਮਨ ਹੀ ਮੰਝਿ ਸਮਾਇ ॥: Guramukh aapanaa manu maariaa sabad kasavatee laai. Mann hee naal jhagarraa mann hee naal sath mann hee manjh samaai: Applying the Touchstone of the Shabad, by becoming the Gurmukh, the Gurmukh conqueres his mind (prevents it from falling in love with Maya, etc.). He fights with his mind (its evil inclinations: ਬਿਕਾਰ-ਬਿਰਤੀ), he settles with his mind (make his mind understand), and he becomes immersed (in the auspicious nature of: ਸ਼ੁਭ-ਬਿਰਤੀ) his mind (sggs 87).
• ਜੀਵਨ ਮੁਕਤੁ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਕੋ ਹੋਈ ॥: Jeevan mukat gurmukh ko hoee: How rare are those who, as Gurmukh, become Jeevamukta - liberated while yet alive (sggs232).
• ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਸੰਸਾ ਮੂਲਿ ਨ ਹੋਵਈ ਚਿੰਤਾ ਵਿਚਹੁ ਜਾਇ ॥: Guramukh sansaa mool n hovee chinthaa vichahu jaae: The Gurmukh does not have an iota of skepticism or doubt; worries depart from within him (sggs 853).
• ਮਹਾ ਪਵਿਤ੍ਰ ਸਾਧ ਕਾ ਸੰਗੁ ॥: Mahaa pavitr saadh kaa sang: The Saadh Sangat is so very pure and sacred (sggs 392).
• ਸਾਧਸੰਗਤਿ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਭਇਓ ਮੁਕਤਾ ਦਰਸਨੁ ਪੇਖਤ ਭੋਰੀ ॥: Saadhasa(n)gat Nanak bhaiou mukataa darasan pekhat bhoree: In the Saadh Sangat, the Holy Company, Nanak has been liberated, gazing upon the Divine Vision, even for an instant (sggs 1216).
• ਗਤਿ ਸੰਗਿ ਮੀਤਾ ਸੰਤਸੰਗਤਿ ਕਰਿ ਨਦਰਿ ਮੇਲਿ ਮਿਲਾਇਆ ॥: Gat sang meetaa santsangat kar nadar mel milaaiaa: Salvation is attained by associating with the Society of the Saints, O friend; granting His Grace, God unites us in His Union (sggs 688).
• ਸਾਧਸੰਗਤਿ ਸਚੁ ਖੰਡ ਹੈ ਵਾਸਾ ਨਿਰੰਕਾਰੇ ॥: Saadhasangat sach khand hai vaasaa nirankaare: Saadh Sangat is the abode of Truth, the formless Lord abides there (Vaar Bhai Gurdaas 34).
• ਨਾਨਕ ਹਰਿ ਜਸੁ ਸੰਗਤਿ ਪਾਈਐ ਹਰਿ ਸਹਜੇ ਸਹਜਿ ਮਿਲਾਇਆ ॥: Nanak har jas sangat paaeeai har sahaje sahaj milaaiaa: O Nanak, in the Sangat, the Holy Congregation, the Lord's Praise is obtained, and one easily, intuitively meets the Lord (sggs 1042).
• ਨਾਨਕ ਹਰਿ ਜਸੁ ਹਰਿ ਗੁਣ ਲਾਹਾ ਸਤਸੰਗਤਿ ਸਚੁ ਫਲੁ ਪਾਇਆ ॥: Naanuk har jus har gun laahaa satsangat sach fal paaiaa: O Nanak, singing God's Glorious Praises, the true Spiritual Profit is obtained; in the association with Satsang, the fruit of Truth is obtained (sggs 1040).
• ਨਾਨਕ ਸੰਗਤਿ ਮੇਲਿ ਹਰਿ ਸਭ ਬਿਖੁ ਲਹਿ ਜਾਇਆ ॥: Nanak sangat mel har sabh bikh lahi jaaiaa: O Lord please unite Nanak with the Sangat, the Holy Congregation, so that he may be rid of all poison (of the love of Maya) (sggs 1244).
• ਕਬੀਰ ਸੰਗਤਿ ਸਾਧ ਕੀ ਦਿਨ ਦਿਨ ਦੂਨਾ ਹੇਤੁ ॥: Kabeer sangat saadh kee din din doonaa heth: Kabeer, in the Saadh Sangat, love for the Lord doubles day by day (sggs 1369).

— T. Singh
www.gurbani.org

Updated on Friday, March 27, 2009 2:46 PM (PST)

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