Keeping the body externally clean by bathing it is a good practice in personal hygiene — a common sense. But what about the mind? The Gurbani says that the dirt of our mind cannot be washed away with water or any other material product. This "filth" - "ਮਲੁ", " ਮੈਲੁ", etc. - of our instinctive mind is responsible for our repeated suffering and delusion. It's called by many names including Haume or false ego-sense, love of Maya, restlessness, veil of ignorance, delusion, doubts, conditioned consciousness, duality, selfishness, desires and fear, falsehood, lust, anger, greed, emotional attachment, false pride, enviousness, stubborn mindedness, corruption, and so on. The physical bathing can remove the outer dirt and odor of the body, but, as the SGGS indicates, it can never remove this "filth" of the mind.

• ਮਨਿ ਮੈਲੈ ਸਭੁ ਕਿਛੁ ਮੈਲਾ ਤਨਿ ਧੋਤੈ ਮਨੁ ਹਛਾ ਨ ਹੋਇ ॥: Mani mailai sabh kish mailaa tani dhotai manu hashaa na hoe: When the mind is filthy, everything is filthy; by washing the body, the mind is not cleaned (sggs 558).
• ਬਾਹਰਿ ਮਲੁ ਧੋਵੈ ਮਨ ਕੀ ਜੂਠਿ ਨ ਜਾਏ ॥: Baahar mal dhovai man kee jooth na jaaye: Outwardly, he (hypocrite) washes off the filth, but the impurity of his mind does not go away (sggs 88).
• ਅੰਤਰਿ ਮੈਲੁ ਲੋਭ ਬਹੁ ਝੂਠੇ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਨਾਵਹੁ ਕਾਹੀ ਜੀਉ ॥: Antari mailu lobh bahu jhoote baahari naavahu kaahee jeeou: O man, within you is the great filth of greed and falsehood; why do you bother to wash your body on the outside? (sggs 598).
• ਮਨਮੁਖੁ ਸਦਾ ਬਗੁ ਮੈਲਾ ਹਉਮੈ ਮਲੁ ਲਾਈ ॥ ਇਸਨਾਨੁ ਕਰੈ ਪਰੁ ਮੈਲੁ ਨ ਜਾਈ ॥ ਜੀਵਤੁ ਮਰੈ ਗੁਰ ਸਬਦੁ ਬੀਚਾਰੈ ਹਉਮੈ ਮੈਲੁ ਚੁਕਾਵਣਿਆ ॥: Manamukh sadaa bagu mailaa houmai malu laaee. Isanaan karai paru mail na jaaee. Jeevat marai gur sabadu beechaarai houmai mail chukaavaniaa: The Manmukhs (materialists or ego being) will always be filthy cranes, smeared with the filth of ego. They may bathe, but their filth is not removed. One who dies while yet alive, and contemplates the Word of the Gur-Shabad, is rid of this filth of ego (sggs 129).
• ਧੋਤੇ ਮੂਲਿ ਨ ਉਤਰਹਿ ਜੇ ਸਉ ਧੋਵਣ ਪਾਹਿ ॥: Dhotae mool na outarahi jae sau dhovan paahi: By washing, their inner pollution is not removed, even though they may wash hundreds of times (sggs 149).
• ਮਲੁ ਹਉਮੈ ਧੋਤੀ ਕਿਵੈ ਨ ਉਤਰੈ ਜੇ ਸਉ ਤੀਰਥ ਨਾਇ ॥: Malu houmai dhotee kivai na outarai jae so teerath naai: This filth of egotism cannot be washed away, even by taking cleansing baths at hundreds of sacred shrines (sggs 39).
• ਜਗਿ ਹਉਮੈ ਮੈਲੁ ਦੁਖੁ ਪਾਇਆ ਮਲੁ ਲਾਗੀ ਦੂਜੈ ਭਾਇ ॥: Jagg haumai mailu dukh paaiaa mall laagee doojai bhaai: On account of the filth of Haume (egotism), the world suffers in pain. Because of the (love of Maya), the filth of duality sticks to the world (sggs 39).

Why cannot the external bathing remove the inner "filth" that sticks to our mind? Because this "filth" that stains the mind is subtle and stubborn like the "oily rag". Also, as indicated in the Gurbani, since the mind is accumulating this"filth" for time immemorial, the mind has become "pitch black". Such subtle and stubborn "filth" cannot be removed by just bathing the body in waters of wells, ponds, rivers etc. This is the Gurbani's edict. The SGGS logically asks "If salvation can be obtained by bathing in water, then what about the frog, which is always bathing in water? As is the frog, so is that mortal".

• ਅੰਤਰਿ ਮੈਲੁ ਜੇ ਤੀਰਥ ਨਾਵੈ ਤਿਸੁ ਬੈਕੁੰਠ ਨ ਜਾਨਾਂ ॥ ਲੋਕ ਪਤੀਣੇ ਕਛੂ ਨ ਹੋਵੈ ਨਾਹੀ ਰਾਮੁ ਅਯਾਨਾ ॥੧॥ ਪੂਜਹੁ ਰਾਮੁ ਏਕੁ ਹੀ ਦੇਵਾ ॥ ਸਾਚਾ ਨਾਵਣੁ ਗੁਰ ਕੀ ਸੇਵਾ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ ਜਲ ਕੈ ਮਜਨਿ ਜੇ ਗਤਿ ਹੋਵੈ ਨਿਤ ਨਿਤ ਮੇਂਡੁਕ ਨਾਵਹਿ ॥ ਜੈਸੇ ਮੇਂਡੁਕ ਤੈਸੇ ਓਇ ਨਰ ਫਿਰਿ ਫਿਰਿ ਜੋਨੀ ਆਵਹਿ ॥੨॥: Antar mail je teerath naavai tis baikunth naa jaanaa ...:  With filth within the heart, even if one bathes at sacred places of pilgrimage, still, he will not go to heaven. Nothing is gained by trying to please others (seeing you bathing at sacred places people may think you are Bhagat, but) — God cannot be fooled (who is knower of all the hearts). ||1|| Worship the One Divine God. The true cleansing bath is service to the Guru. If salvation can be obtained by bathing in water, then what about the frog, which is always bathing (always remain in water)? As is the frog, so is that mortal; (without the Lord's Name, Naam) he is reincarnated, over and over again ||2|| (sggs 484).
• ਖੰਨਲੀ ਧੋਤੀ ਉਜਲੀ ਨ ਹੋਵਈ ਜੇ ਸਉ ਧੋਵਣਿ ਪਾਹੁ ॥: Khanalee dhotee ujalee na hovee jae so dhovan paahu: The oily rag cannot be cleaned by merely washing it, even if it is washed a hundred times (sggs 651).
• ਜਨਮ ਜਨਮ ਕੀ ਇਸੁ ਮਨ ਕਉ ਮਲੁ ਲਾਗੀ ਕਾਲਾ ਹੋਆ ਸਿਆਹ ॥: Janam janam kee is mann kayu mal laagee kaalaa hoaa siaah: The scum (i.e., impurity) of so many births is attached to this mind and it has become pitch black (sggs 651).
• ਅੰਤਰਿ ਮੈਲੁ ਲੋਭ ਬਹੁ ਝੂਠੇ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਨਾਵਹੁ ਕਾਹੀ ਜੀਉ ॥: Antar mailu lobh bahu jhoothe bahari naavahu kaahee jeeyu: Within you is the great filth of greed and falsehood; why do you bother to wash your body on the outside? (sggs 598).
• ਮਨਿ ਜੂਠੈ ਤਨਿ ਜੂਠਿ ਹੈ ਜਿਹਵਾ ਜੂਠੀ ਹੋਇ ॥ ਮੁਖਿ ਝੂਠੈ ਝੂਠੁ ਬੋਲਣਾ ਕਿਉ ਕਰਿ ਸੂਚਾ ਹੋਇ ॥ ਬਿਨੁ ਅਭ ਸਬਦ ਨ ਮਾਂਜੀਐ ਸਾਚੇ ਤੇ ਸਚੁ ਹੋਇ ॥: Mani joothai tani jooth hai jihavaa joothee hoi....: If the mind is polluted, then the body is polluted, and the tongue is polluted as well (i.e., all senses become defiled with Bikaars). With false mouths, people speak falsehood. They cannot be made pure (by external Karamkaand).Without the Holy Water of the Shabad, they are not cleansed. From the True One alone comes (this) Truth (of Naam-Simran) (sggs 56).

However, the majority of us, in our Manmukhtaa, try be clever. The Gurbani says that our material cleverness is of no avail; for it's not possible to circumvent the Divine System or Hukam. Nonetheless, in a futile bid to purify ourselves, on account of our Manmukhtaa, many of us go and take a dip in the so-called holy rivers and ponds, and boast about it! The Gurbani says that man's all such dealings are in duality (Doojaa-Bhaav, corruption of the conditioned consciousness or foolishness). The Gurbani says that "The gourd may be bathed at sixty-eight pilgrim places, but even then, its bitterness is not removed."

• ਹ੍ਰਿਦੈ ਕਪਟੁ ਮੁਖ ਗਿਆਨੀ ॥ ਝੂਠੇ ਕਹਾ ਬਿਲੋਵਸਿ ਪਾਨੀ ॥੧॥ ਕਾਂਇਆ ਮਾਂਜਸਿ ਕਉਨ ਗੁਨਾਂ ॥ ਜਉ ਘਟ ਭੀਤਰਿ ਹੈ ਮਲਨਾਂ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ ਲਉਕੀ ਅਠਸਠਿ ਤੀਰਥ ਨ੍ਹ੍ਹਾਈ ॥ ਕਉਰਾਪਨੁ ਤਊ ਨ ਜਾਈ ॥੨॥: Hirdai kapat mukh giyaani. Jhoothai kahaa bilovas paanee. ||1|| Kaaiaa maanjas kaou gunaa. Jaou ghat bheetar hai malnaa. ||1||Rahaaou|| Laoukee athsath teerth nhaaee. Kaouraapan taooo n jaaee ||2||: (O hypocrite man) in your heart there is deception, and yet in mouth mouth are words of wisdom. ||1|| (O deceptive man) you are false — why are you churning (this) water; why do you bother to wash your body (i.e. you look clean on the outside, but inside you are "filthy")? (For) Your heart is full of filth. ||1||Pause|| (Remember) the gourd may be washed at the sixty-eight sacred shrines, but even then, its bitterness is not removed (from inside) ||2|| (sggs 656).
• ਮਃ ੧ ॥ ਨਾਵਣ ਚਲੇ ਤੀਰਥੀ ਮਨਿ ਖੋਟੈ ਤਨਿ ਚੋਰ ॥ ਇਕੁ ਭਾਉ ਲਥੀ ਨਾਤਿਆ ਦੁਇ ਭਾ ਚੜੀਅਸੁ ਹੋਰ ॥ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਧੋਤੀ ਤੂਮੜੀ ਅੰਦਰਿ ਵਿਸੁ ਨਿਕੋਰ ॥ ਸਾਧ ਭਲੇ ਅਣਨਾਤਿਆ ਚੋਰ ਸਿ ਚੋਰਾ ਚੋਰ ॥੨॥: M: 1|| Naawan chale teerthee man khote tan chor. Ik bhaaou lathee naatiaa dui bhaa chreeus hor. Baahar dhotee tumree andar vis nikor. Saadh bhale annaatiaa chor si choraa chor ||2||: M: 1. Men of evil mind and thievish bodies (body ocupied with thieves like lust, anger, greed, etc.), go to bathe at the pilgrim places. The one part of their body filth (external filth) is washed off by bathing, but they accumulate twice as much of mental filth (pride, etc.). Like a gourd, they may be washed off on the outside, but on the inside, they are still filled with poison (of egoism). A saintly being is blessed, even without such bathing (at pilgrim places - ਤੀਰਥਾਂ ਤੇ), while a thief is a thief, no matter how much he bathes (at pilgrim places - ਤੀਰਥਾਂ ਤੇ) ||2|| (sggs 789).
• ਮਨਮੁਖ ਮੁਗਧ ਕਰਹਿ ਚਤੁਰਾਈ॥ਨਾਤਾ ਧੋਤਾ ਥਾਇ ਨ ਪਾਈ ॥: Manmukh mughad kare chaturaayee. Naataa dhotaa thaaye na paayee: The idiotic Manmukhs try to be clever, but in spite of their bathing and washing, they will not be acceptable to God (sggs 114).
• ਸਤਗੁਰੁ ਪੁਰਖ ਨ ਮੰਨਿਓ ਸਬਦਿ ਨ ਲਗੋ ਪਿਆਰ ॥ ਇਸਨਾਨੁ ਦਾਨੁ ਜੇਤਾ ਕਰਹਿ ਦੂਜੈ ਭਾਇ ਖੁਆਰੁ ॥: Satgur purakh na manniou sabad na lago piaar. Isanaan daan jetaa karahi doojai bhaai khuaar: Those who do not have faith in the the Satguru, and who do not enshrine love for the Shabad, such people take their cleansing baths, and give to charity again and again, but they are ultimately consumed by their love of duality (sggs 34).
• ਪੁੰਨ ਦਾਨ ਅਨੇਕ ਨਾਵਣ ਕਿਉ ਅੰਤਰ ਮਲੁ ਧੋਵ ॥: Punn daan anek naavan kiyu antar mall dhov: How can giving donations to charities and countless cleansing baths wash off the filth within the Heart? (sggs 243).
• ਕੋਟਿ ਤੀਰਥ ਮਜਨ ਇਸਨਾਨਾ ਇਸੁ ਕਲਿ ਮਹਿ ਮੈਲੁ ਭਰੀਜੈ ॥ ਸਾਧਸੰਗਿ ਜੋ ਹਰਿ ਗੁਣ ਗਾਵੈ ਸੋ ਨਿਰਮਲੁ ਕਰਿ ਲੀਜੈ ॥੨॥: Koti tirath majan isnaanaa is kal mahi mail bhreejai. Saadhsang jo Harigun gaavi so nirmal kari leejai ||2||: Millions of cleansing baths at sacred shrines of pilgrimage only fill the mortal with the filth (of Bikaars - ਵਿਕਾਰਾਂ ਦੀ) in this Dark Age of Kali Yuga. One who glorifies God's Name in the Holy Company (Saadh-Sangat) becomes spotlessly pure ||2|| (sggs 747).
• ਨ੍ਹਾਤ ਫਿਰਿਓ ਲੀਏ ਸਾਤ ਸਮੁਦ੍ਰਨਿ ਲੋਕ ਗਯੋ ਪਰਲੋਕ ਗਵਾਇਓ ॥: Naat phiriyo leeyai saat samundaran lok gayo parlok gavaayo: Those who have bathed even in seven oceans (i.e., all places of pilgrimages in the entire world) would loose this world as well as the next one (Guru Gobind Singh Jee, Tavprasaadi Savaiye 9).
• ਖਟੁ ਸਾਸਤ ਬਿਚਰਤ ਮੁਖਿ ਗਿਆਨਾ॥ ਪੂਜਾ ਤਿਲਕੁ ਤੀਰਥ ਇਸਨਾਨਾ ॥ ਨਿਵਲੀ ਕਰਮ ਆਸਨ ਚਉਰਾਸੀਹ ਇਨ ਮਹਿ ਸਾਂਤਿ ਨ ਆਵੈ ਜੀਉ ॥: Khattu saasath bicharat mukhi giaanaa. Poojaa tilak teerath isnaanaa. Nivalee karam aasan chouraaseeh in mahi saant na aavai jeeo: People recite from memory the wisdom of the six schools of philosophy; they perform worship services, wear ceremonial religious marks on their foreheads, and take ritual cleansing baths at sacred shrines of pilgrimage. They perform the inner cleansing practice with water and adopt the eighty-four Yogic postures; but still, they find no peace in any of these (sggs 98).

The Gurbani tells us that without cleansing the mind (eradication, annihilation, killing or destruction of the Haume-mind), it's not possible to link with one's True Nature within, the Supreme Essence. The SGGS reveals to us as to exactly how one can go about bathing and cleansing the mind. The Gurbani says that when our body or clothes become dirty, they can be cleansed with soap and water, but when the mind becomes dirty, it can be cleansed with the "Love of the Divine Name".

• ਭਰੀਐ ਹਥੁ ਪੈਰੁ ਤਨੁ ਦੇਹ ॥ ਪਾਣੀ ਧੋਤੈ ਉਤਰਸੁ ਖੇਹ ॥ ਮੂਤ ਪਲੀਤੀ ਕਪੜੁ ਹੋਇ ॥ ਦੇ ਸਾਬੂਣੁ ਲਈਐ ਓਹੁ ਧੋਇ ॥ ਭਰੀਐ ਮਤਿ ਪਾਪਾ ਕੈ ਸੰਗਿ ॥ ਓਹੁ ਧੋਪੈ ਨਾਵੈ ਕੈ ਰੰਗਿ ॥: Bhareeai hath pair tanu deh. Paanee dhotai outaras khaeh. Moot paleetee kaparr hoi. Dae saaboon layeeai ouhu dhoi. Bhareeai Mati paapaa kai sangi. Ohu dhopai naavai kai rangi: When the hands, feet and the body are dirty, water can wash away the dirt. When the clothes are soiled and stained by urine, soap can wash them clean. But when the intellect is stained and polluted by sin, it can only be cleansed by the Love of the Divine Name (sggs 4).
• ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਮਨੁ ਨਿਰਮਲੁ ਸਤ ਸਰਿ ਨਾਵੈ ॥: Guramukh manu niramal sat sar naavai: Immaculate and pure is the mind of the one has become the Gurmukh; he bathes in the Pool of Truth (sggs 1058).
• ਨਾਨਕ ਨਾਮੁ ਵਸੈ ਮਨ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਮੈਲੁ ਚੁਕਾਵਣਿਆ ॥: Nanak naam vasai mann antar gurmukh mailu chukaavaniaa: Says Nanak, let the Naam abides deep within the minds; by becoming the Gurmukhs, cleanse your filth (sggs 121).
• ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਮਜਨੁ ਚਜੁ ਅਚਾਰੁ ॥: Gurmukh majan chaj achaar: The Gurmukh's cleansing bath is the performance of good deeds (sggs 932).
  
• ਨਾਮ ਬਿਨਾ ਸਭੁ ਜਗੁ ਹੈ ਮੈਲਾ ਦੂਜੈ ਭਰਮਿ ਪਤਿ ਖੋਈ ॥: Naam binaa sabhu jagu hai mailaa doojai bharami pati khoee: Without the Divine Name, the whole world is polluted; wandering in duality, it loses its honor (sggs 1234).
• ਨਾਮਿ ਇਸਨਾਨੁ ਕਰਹਿ ਸੇ ਜਨ ਨਿਰਮਲ ਸਬਦੇ ਮੈਲੁ ਗਵਾਈ ॥: Naam isnaan karahi sae jan niramal sabade mailu gavaaee: Those who cleanse themselves through the Divine Name are the most immaculate people; through the Shabad, they wash off their filth (sggs 909).
• ਹਉਮੈ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਮੈਲੁ ਹੈ ਸਬਦਿ ਨ ਕਾਢਹਿ ਧੋਇ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਬਿਨੁ ਨਾਵੈ ਮੈਲਿਆ ਮੁਏ ਜਨਮੁ ਪਦਾਰਥੁ ਖੋਇ ॥: Haumai aantar mailu hai sabadi na kaadhahi dhoi. Nanak binu naavai mailiaa muye janam padaarath khoi: People are filled with the filth of egotism; they do not wash it away with the Word of the Shabad. O Nanak, without the Divine Name, they die in their filth; they waste the priceless opportunity of this human life (sggs 1415).
• ਨਾਮੁ ਹਮਾਰੈ ਮਜਨ ਇਸਨਾਨੁ ॥: Naam hamaarai majan isnaan: The Naam is my cleansing bath and purification (sggs 1145).
• ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕੈ ਸਿਮਰਨਿ ਤੀਰਥ ਇਸਨਾਨੀ ॥: Prabh kai simaran teerath isanaanee: In the remembrance of God are purifying baths at sacred shrines of pilgrimage (sggs 262).
• ਗੁਰ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਕਾ ਜੋ ਸਿਖੁ ਅਖਾਏ ਸੁ ਭਲਕੇ ਉਠਿ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਧਿਆਵੈ ॥ ਉਦਮੁ ਕਰੇ ਭਲਕੇ ਪਰਭਾਤੀ ਇਸਨਾਨੁ ਕਰੇ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਸਰਿ ਨਾਵੈ ॥: Gur satgur kaa jo sikh akhaaeae su bhalakae othi har naam dhiaavai. Uddam karae bhalakae parabhaatee isnaan karae amrit sari naavai: One who calls himself a Sikh of the Guru, the Satguru, will rise in the early morning hours and meditate on the Divine Name. Upon arising early in the morning, he is to bathe in the pool of the Amrit-Name within (sggs 305).
• ਸੰਤ ਕਾ ਦਰਸੁ ਪੂਰਨ ਇਸਨਾਨੁ ॥: Sant kaa daras pooran isanaan: The Blessed Vision of the Divine is the perfect cleansing bath (sggs 189).
• ਰਾਮਦਾਸ ਸਰੋਵਰਿ ਨਾਤੇ ॥ ਸਭਿ ਉਤਰੇ ਪਾਪ ਕਮਾਤੇ ॥ ਨਿਰਮਲ ਹੋਏ ਕਰਿ ਇਸਨਾਨਾ ॥ ਗੁਰਿ ਪੂਰੈ ਕੀਨੇ ਦਾਨਾ ॥੧॥ ਸਭਿ ਕੁਸਲ ਖੇਮ ਪ੍ਰਭਿ ਧਾਰੇ ॥ ਸਹੀ ਸਲਾਮਤਿ ਸਭਿ ਥੋਕ ਉਬਾਰੇ ਗੁਰ ਕਾ ਸਬਦੁ ਵੀਚਾਰੇ ॥ਰਹਾਉ॥ ਸਾਧਸੰਗਿ ਮਲੁ ਲਾਥੀ ॥ ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਭਇਓ ਸਾਥੀ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਨਾਮੁ ਧਿਆਇਆ ॥ ਆਦਿ ਪੁਰਖ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਪਾਇਆ ॥੨॥੧॥੬੫॥: Raamadaas sarovar naatae. Sabh utarae paap kamaatae niramal hoeae kar isanaanaa. Guri poorai keene daanaa. ||1|| sabh kusul khaem prabh dhhaarae. Sahee salaamat sabh thok ubaarae gur kaa sabad veechaarae. Pause. Saadhsangi malu laathee. Paarabrahm bhaeio saathee. Nanak naam dhiaaeiaa. Aadi purakh prabh paaeiaa: Bathing in the Holy Company of the God's devotees, all sins are erased. One becomes immaculately pure, taking this cleansing bath. The Perfect Guru (God or Self) has bestowed this gift. ||1|| By focussing his consciousness on the Gur-Shabad (Divine Word or Name) within, who has thus preserved his Divine Virtues safe and sound, God has blessed him with Spiritual Peace and Bliss. Pause. In the Saadh Sangat, the Holy Company within and without, mental filth is washed off. The Supreme Being becomes our Friend. O Nanak, whosoever meditates on the Divine Name, he finds God, the Primal Being, the Source ||2||1||||65|| (sggs 625).

Thus the SGGS reminds us that, in addition to bathing the body in the morning, our mind also needs a morning bath, before we start our day. This internal cleanliness can only be attained through meditation ("bathing in the pool of the Amrit-Name within") and other spiritual practices (such as keeping the Company of the saints orthe Gurmukhs, becoming the Gurmukh, living truthfully, performing good deeds, and so on). Because until the mind is so bathed and cleansed daily, mere bathing of the body-frame will not be enough.

— T. Singh
www.gurbani.org

Updated on Friday, June 19, 2009 3:42 PM (PST)

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