WITHOUT SATSANG ONE COLLECTS FILTH ONLY

Satsang is the first step in spiritual life. Thus, as indicated in the SGGS (Sri Guru Granth Sahib), we just collect "filth" ("ਮੈਲੁ ਭਰੀਜੈ") when we are not with Satsang. It's the "filth" of Maya, the "filth" of ignorance, the "filth" of Haume (false ego-sense), inner garbage or pollution — expansion of Bikaars (negative propensities of the mind) such as lust, anger, greed, attachment, pride or arrogance, jealously, stubborn mindedness and their numerous variations.

• ਹਰਿ ਜਨ ਸੰਤ ਮਿਲਹੁ ਮੇਰੇ ਭਾਈ ॥ ਮੇਰਾ ਹਰਿ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਦਸਹੁ ਮੈ ਭੁਖ ਲਗਾਈ ॥ ਮੇਰੀ ਸਰਧਾ ਪੂਰਿ ਜਗਜੀਵਨ ਦਾਤੇ ਮਿਲਿ ਹਰਿ ਦਰਸਨਿ ਮਨੁ ਭੀਜੈ ਜੀਉ ॥੧॥ ਮਿਲਿ ਸਤਸੰਗਿ ਬੋਲੀ ਹਰਿ ਬਾਣੀ ॥ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਕਥਾ ਮੇਰੈ ਮਨਿ ਭਾਣੀ ॥ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤੁ ਹਰਿ ਮਨਿ ਭਾਵੈ ਮਿਲਿ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤੁ ਪੀਜੈ ਜੀਉ ॥੨॥ ਵਡਭਾਗੀ ਹਰਿ ਸੰਗਤਿ ਪਾਵਹਿ ॥ ਭਾਗਹੀਨ ਭ੍ਰਮਿ ਚੋਟਾ ਖਾਵਹਿ ॥ ਬਿਨੁ ਭਾਗਾ ਸਤਸੰਗੁ ਨ ਲਭੈ ਬਿਨੁ ਸੰਗਤਿ ਮੈਲੁ ਭਰੀਜੈ ਜੀਉ ॥੩॥ ਮੈ ਆਇ ਮਿਲਹੁ ਜਗਜੀਵਨ ਪਿਆਰੇ ॥ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਦਇਆ ਮਨਿ ਧਾਰੇ ॥ ਗੁਰਮਤਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਮੀਠਾ ਮਨਿ ਭਾਇਆ ਜਨ ਨਾਨਕ ਨਾਮਿ ਮਨੁ ਭੀਜੈ ਜੀਉ ॥੪॥੪॥: Har jan sant milahu mere bhaaee... (sggs 95).

But, seemingly, it sounds paradoxical that without "good fortune" one cannot come across the Satsang, and, as a consequent of this, one ends up collecting nothing but inner "filth" in life, and his mind remains stained with Bikaars! Furthermore, Baabaa Nanak in the following verse indicates that it's only the good deeds (Karma) of the past that bestows Naam (the Lord's Name) upon one.

• ਬਿਨੁ ਭਾਗਾ ਸਤਸੰਗੁ ਨ ਪਾਈਐ ਕਰਮਿ ਮਿਲੈ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਹਰੀ ॥: Bin bhaagaa satasang na paaeeai karam milai har naam haree (sggs 1171).

By reading these verses one may get a sense of pessimism and entertain the idea that if he is not fortunate or if it's not in his destiny to obtain Satsang, then it's not his problem. He may then consider to play the "wait and see" game and continue living the usual life. This is not what the Gurbani is advocating here. It's simply making us aware of the web of Karma that one's past Karma can cause spiritual enlightenment or spiritual fall, signifying the gripping effects of one's deeds. In fact this alone should be enough to give us incentive to mend our Manmukh ways (the lifestyle of "filth")! To put it otherwise, adherence to the spiritual life (Gurmukh Lifestyle) for every individual is not optional, and that failure to do so attracts a penalty. These verses also remind us that we cannot continue on the path of Manmukhtaa, and that we can correct at least the future!

• ਸੋ ਕਿਛੁ ਕਰਿ ਜਿਤੁ ਮੈਲੁ ਨ ਲਾਗੈ ॥ ਹਰਿ ਕੀਰਤਨ ਮਹਿ ਏਹੁ ਮਨੁ ਜਾਗੈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥: So kish kar jit mail na laagai. Har kirtan mahi eh manu jaagai ||1|| ||Rahaaou||: Make only those efforts by which the "filth" (fith of Bikaars: lust, anger, greed, attachment, pride and their countless variations) may not stick to your mind; and your mind remains awake (alert or aware of the pull of Bikaars) through the Lord's Kirtan (ਪਰਮਾਤਮ ਦੀ ਸਿਫਤਿ-ਸਾਲਾਹ) ||1|| ||Pause|| (sggs 199).
  
• ਧਾਤੁਰ ਬਾਜੀ ਪਲਚਿ ਰਹੇ ਨਾ ਉਰਵਾਰੁ ਨ ਪਾਰੁ ॥: Dhaatur baajee palach rehe naa ouravaar na paar: Engrossed in this transitory drama, (Manmukhs) are of no avail in either this world or the next (sggs 29).
• ਹਲਤੁ ਪਲਤੁ ਦੁਇ ਲੇਹੁ ਸਵਾਰਿ ॥: Halat palat dui lehu savaar: Embellish both this world and the next (sggs 293).

In other words, in him whose identity with the divine is not present, the false ego-sense (Haume) in one's achievements stands out, thereby binding him to the consequences of Kaarmic actions. With regard to the Satsangat, Baabaa Nanak in a verse of Sri Raaga specifies a strict criteria for it, in which he defines as to what the real Satsangat is. Although congregational worship is important, but as indicated in the following verse, not every congregation can necessarily be called Satsangat.

• ਸਤਸੰਗਤਿ ਕੈਸੀ ਜਾਣੀਐ ॥ ਜਿਥੈ ਏਕੋ ਨਾਮੁ ਵਖਾਣੀਐ ॥ ਏਕੋ ਨਾਮੁ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਹੈ ਨਾਨਕ ਸਤਿਗੁਰਿ ਦੀਆ ਬੁਝਾਇ ਜੀਉ ॥੫॥: Satsangati kaisee jaaneeai. Jithai eko naamu vakhaaneeai. Eko naamu hukamu hai Nanak satiguri deeaa bujhaai jeeou ||5||: How is the Satsangat to be known? There, only Naam is expounded. O Nanak! The Satigur has given this understanding that One Naam is the Hukam. ||5|| (sggs 72).
• 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).
• ਕੋਈ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਸਜਣੁ ਜੇ ਮਿਲੈ ਮੈ ਦਸੇ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਗੁਣਤਾਸੁ ॥: Koee gurmukh sajan je milai mai dasse prabh gunataas: If I meet the Gurmukh, my spiritual Friend, he will show me God, the Treasure of Excellence (sggs 40).
• ਕਾਮੁ ਕ੍ਰੋਧੁ ਲੋਭੁ ਮੋਹੁ ਜਣ ਜਣ ਸਿਉ ਛਾਡੁ ਧੋਹੁ ਹਉਮੈ ਕਾ ਫੰਧੁ ਕਾਟੁ ਸਾਧਸੰਗਿ ਰਤਿ ਜੀਉ ॥: Kaam krodh lobh mohu jan jan siou shaad dhohu houmai kaa fandh kaat saadhasa(n)g rati jeeou: Renounce lust, anger, greed and attachment (i.e. all evil passions); give up your games of deception. Snap the noose of egotism, and let yourself be at home in the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy (sggs 1403).
• ਨਾਨਕੁ ਸਿਖ ਦੇਇ ਮਨ ਪ੍ਰੀਤਮ ਸਾਧਸੰਗਿ ਭ੍ਰਮੁ ਜਾਲੇ ॥: Nanak sikh dayi mann preetam saadhasang bhram jaale: Nanak gives this advice: O dear mind, in the Saadh-Sangat, burn away your doubts (sggs 79).
• ਹਉਮੈ ਮੂਲਿ ਨ ਛੁਟਈ ਵਿਣੁ ਸਾਧੂ ਸਤਸੰਗੈ ॥: Houmai mool na shhutayee vin saadhoo satasangai: Ego is never eradicated without the Saadhoo's Satsangat (sggs 1098).
• ਸਾਧਸੰਗਤਿ ਬਿਨੁ ਤਰਿਓ ਨ ਕੋਇ ॥: Saadhasangat bin tariou na koi: Without the Saadh Sangat, no one swims across (sggs 373).
  

Sat means the Supreme Truth or God, and Sang means association or to associate with That Truth. Clearly, not every and any Sang or Sangat is qualified to be called Satsangat. The SGGS urges us to focus consciousness on the Satguru (Guru's Word or His Teaching) and become the Gurmukh (Self-realized, Jeevanmukta, the one who abode in the Truth). Because, as the SGGS puts it "the Lord is not realized any other way." Such Satsangat will sweep our minds clean of the inner "filth".

• ਨਾਨਕ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਛੁਟੀਐ ਹਰਿ ਪ੍ਰੀਤਮ ਸਿਉ ਸੰਗੁ ॥: Naanak gurmukh shutteeai har preetam siou sang: O Nanak, by becoming the Gurmukh, you will be saved (from the crooked ways of Bikaars: negative propensities of the mind) and (this is how you will abide) with God i.e., God Consciousness (sggs1410).
• ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਮਧੁਸੂਦਨੁ ਨਿਸਤਾਰੇ ॥ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਸੰਗੀ ਕ੍ਰਿਸਨ ਮੁਰਾਰੇ ॥ ਦਇਆਲ ਦਮੋਦਰੁ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਪਾਈਐ ਹੋਰਤੁ ਕਿਤੈ ਨ ਭਾਤੀ ਜੀਉ ॥੨॥: Gurmukh madhusoodan nistaare. Gurmuk sangee Krisna Muraare. Diyaal damodar gurmukh paaeeai horat kitai na bhaatee jeeou ||2|| (sggs 98).
• ਮਨਮੁਖ ਸਉ ਕਰਿ ਦੋਸਤੀ ਸੁਖ ਕਿ ਪੁਛਹਿ ਮਿਤ ॥ ਗੁਰਮੁਖ ਸਉ ਕਰਿ ਦੋਸਤੀ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਸਉ ਲਾਇ ਚਿਤੁ ॥ ਜੰਮਣ ਮਰਣ ਕਾ ਮੂਲੁ ਕਟੀਐ ਤਾਂ ਸੁਖੁ ਹੋਵੀ ਮਿਤ ॥੬੬॥: Manmukh saou kar dosatee sukh ki pushahi mit. Gurmukh saou kar dosatee Satgur saou laai chit. Jamman maran kaa mool katteeai taan sukh hovee mit ||66|| (sggs 1421).
• ਜੁਗਿ ਜੁਗਿ ਪੀੜੀ ਚਲੈ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਕੀ ਜਿਨੀ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਧਿਆਇਆ ॥: Jug jug peerree chalai sathigur kee jinee guramukh naam dhhiaaeiaa (sggs 79).
• ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਸੇਵਿਹੁ ਹਉਮੈ ਮਲੁ ਜਾਈ ॥: Satgur sevihu houmai mall jaaee (sggs 852).
• ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਭੇਟਿ ਭਇਆ ਮਨੁ ਨਿਰਮਲੁ ਜਪਿ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤੁ ਹਰਿ ਰਸਨਾ ॥: Satgur bhet bhaiaa manu niramal jap amrit har rasanaa (sggs 383).

— T. Singh
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