WHAT MAKES ONE IMMORTAL?
The immortal status is the Name of the Lord (sggs 744).
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Throughout history humans have had the desire to dodge biological
death, prolong physical existing for a potentially infinite or indeterminate length
of time and thus live forever in this world. There are stories of many emperors
who spent all their lives searching for that magic formula or elixir of life that
would grant them Immortality, so that they could remain here forever and enjoy
pleasures of their wealth, power etc.
The SGGS offers all of us the map by following
which we all can dodge death and experience the true Immortality ("Amar Pada, Amaraa
Pada"), here and now. In fact, to become Immortal (deathlessness) is not a privilege
of a few selected ones it's the birthright of each and every person on
this earth; regardless of one's religion, race, color, and so on.
God is said
to be Immortal. Since we all are part-and-parcel or the True Image of that Immortal
Light, inherently we are also Immortal. But because of the limitedness
of the false ego-sense (Haume, conceit etc.) that arose in us the
majority of us (over 99.9 percent!) have forgotten this True Nature ("Joti-Svaroopa")
of ours. According to the SGGS, we all can reclaim this forgotten Immortality.
Time and again repeated throughout the SGGS, the following recommendations of
the SGGS are self-explanatory.
1. Unbroken Abidance in the Lord's Immortal
Naam (Name) Bestows Immortality:
- Amru
hovY jo nwm rsu pwvY: Amar hovai jo naam ras paavai. Whoever obtains the
Sublime Essence of the Naam becomes Immortal (sggs 101).
- nwmu
pdwrQu Amru hY ihrdY mMin vswey: Naam padaarath amar hai hiradai mann vasaaye:
(Through the Guru's Grace, one) enshrine the Naam in his heart and mind; this
is Immortal (never ending, Real) Treasure (sggs 1011).
- inrml
joiq AMimRqu hir nwm ]pIvq Amr Bey inhkwm: Niramal jot amrit har naam.
Peevat amar bheya nihakaam: The Light of the Amrit Name of the Lord is immaculate
and pure. Drinking it in, one becomes Immortal and free of desire (sggs 866)
- hir
aUqmu kwmu jpIAY hir nwmu hir jpIAY AsiQru hovY: Har ootam kaam japeeai
har naam har japeeai asathir hovai: Chanting the Name of the Lord is the most
exalted occupation. By chanting the Name, one becomes Immortal (sggs 444).
- hir
hir nwmu Amr pdu pwieAw hir nwim smwvY soeI: Har har naam amar pada paaiaa
har naam samaavai soee: Through the Name of the Lord (obtained from the Guru),
one obtains the Immortal status, and remains merged into the Lord's Name (sggs
447).
- iehu hir rsu pwvY jnu koie ]AMimRqu
pIvY Amru so hoie: Ihu har ras paavai jan koi. Amrit peevai amar so hoi:
Only a few obtain this Amrit of the Lord's Name .Drinking in this Amrit (Naam),
one becomes Immortal (sggs 287).
- scu iDAwie
Amrw pdu pwieAw Anhd sbd vjwey: Sach dhiaai amaraa pada paaiaa anahad sabad
vajaaye: Meditating on the True Lord, the status of Immortality is obtained, and
the Unstruck Word of the Shabad vibrates and resounds (sggs 850).
- nwnk
jIvdw purKu iDAwieAw Amrw pdu hoeI: Nanak jeevadaa purakh dhiaaeiaa amaraa
pada hoee: O Nanak, meditating on the Lord of eternal life, the status of Immortality
is obtained (sggs 1247).
- jIvn pdvI hir
kw nwau]mnu qnu inrmlu swcu suAwau: Jeevan padavee har kaa naaou. Mann
tann nirmal saach suaaou: The Immortal status is the Name of the Lord. (Due to
the Naam) the mind and body become pure, and the Eternal Lord (realizing Him)
becomes the purpose of life (sggs 744).
2. Death Of False Ego-Sense (Haume)
Leads One to Deathlessness or Immortality:
- Amrw pdu pwieAw
Awpu gvwieAw ivrlw igAwn vIcwrI: Amaraa pada paaiaa aap gavaaiaa viralaa
giaan veechaaree: (Those who) eradicate their self-conceit (false self, ego
etc.) attain the Immortal status; (but) how rare is that person, who contemplates
spiritual wisdom (given by the Guru) (sggs 688).
- ivchu
Awpu gvwie kY rhin sic ilv lwie: Vichahu aap gavaai kai rahan sach liv
laai: (Those who serve their True Guru) eradicate self-conceit from within and
remain lovingly absorbed in the Truth (sggs 88).
- hau
vwrI jIau vwrI Awpu invwrixAw ]Awpu gvwey qw hir pwey hir isau shij smwvixAw:
Hau vaaree jeeou vaaree aap nivaaraniaa. Aap gavaaye taa har paaye har siou sahaj
samaavaniaa: I am a sacrifice to those who eliminate self-conceit. The Lord is
found by eradicating the self-conceit; (meeting the Lord) one remains immersed
in Sahaj--Natural State of Being (sggs 118).
- haumY
roig sBu jgqu ibAwipAw iqn kau jnm mrx duKu BwrI: Houmai rog sabh jagat
biaapiaa tin kaou janam maran dukh bhaaree: The entire world is afflicted by the
disease of egotism. They suffer the terrible pains of birth and death (sggs 735).
- hy
jnm mrx mUlµ AhMkwrM pwpwqmw]imqRM qjMiq sqRM idRVMiq Aink mwXw...:
Hay janam maran moolam ahankaaram paapaatamaa...: O sinner ego, you are the root
of birth and death. By spreading out countless illusions of Maya, you make forsake
friends, and make hold tight to enemies (sggs 1358).
Thus, the root
of man's mortality is indicated to be his false ego-sense, which makes him blind
to his spiritual nature (Immortality). Therefore, according to the Teachings of
the SGGS, detecting false ego-sense, recognizing it's emptiness, guarding against
it, and defeating it by eradicating brings one Immortality.
- AhMmyv
isau msliq CofI ]guir kihAw iehu mUrKu hofI
]iehu nIGru Gru khI n pwey ]hm
guir rwiK lIey ilv lwey ]6]: Ahammev siou masalat shodee. Gur kahiaa ihu
moorakh hodee. Eihu neeghar ghar kahee na paaye. Ham gur raakh leeye liv laaye
||6||: I have forsaken the advice of my ego. The Guru has told me that in ego
a person becomes foolish, obstinate or stubborn. This ego is homeless; it will
never find a home. Attuning me to God, the Guru has saved me ||6|| (sggs 1347).
3.
Meeting the Satguru Brings Immortality:
- khu
nwnk ijsu siqguru ByitAw so jnu inhclu QIAw: Kahu Nanak jis satgur bhetiaa
so jan nihachal theeaa: Says Nanak, one who meets the Satguru, becomes
Immortal (sggs 407).
Just going through the motion of meeting the
Satguru will not bestow Immortality. "Meeting the Guru" or that the "Guru is gracious" does not mean that a seeker can receive wisdom without any effort on his part. Though liberation from bondage is the birthright of every human being but, according to the SGGS, the desire to pursue the spiritual path is intense only in very few individuals. Therefore, the seeker must be eager not only to meet the Guru but also follow the Word (Shabad,
Bani, Teaching etc.) of the Satguru. That will bring Immortality.
- ijau
AMbrIik Amrw pd pwey siqgur muK bcn iDAwvYgo: Jiou ambareek amaraa pada
paaye satgur mukh bachan dhiaavaigo: Just as Ambreek was blessed with the status
of immortality, meditating on the Word of the Satguru (sggs 1311).
- scY
sbid scu kmwvY ]scI bwxI hir gux gwvY ]inj Gir vwsu Amr pdu pwvY ]qw dir swcY
soBw pwvY: Sachai sabad sach kamaavai..: Through the True Shabad (of
the Guru), one practices Truth. He sings the Glorious Praises of the Lord, through
the True Bani (of the Guru). (Instead of chasing Maya outside) He dwells in
the home of his own heart deep within, and obtains the Immortal status. Then,
he is blessed with honor in the Court of the Eternal Lord (sggs 1342).
4.
Working in God Consciousness Brings Immortality:
- jw
kY kwim hovih qUM Amru: Jaa kai kaam hovahi toon amar: Working for Him
(acting in God Consciousness), you will become Immortal (sggs 238).
5.
Saadh-Sangat (Holy Company) Bestows Immortality:
- siqguru
prcY min muMdRw pweI gur kw sbdu qin Bsm idRVeIAw ]Amr ipMf Bey swDU sMig jnm
mrx doaU imit geIAw ]1]myry mn swDsMgiq imil rhIAw ]
ik®pw krhu mDsUdn
mwDau mY iKnu iKnu swDU crx pKeIAw ]1] rhwau ]: Satgur parachai mani mundraa
paaee...: With whom thw Satguru becomes pleased, (the Satguru's this pleasing
becomes) the wearing of the ear-rings (of Yogis) in his mind; he has applied the
Guru's Shabad to his heart, this like applying the ash (Yogis apply ash to their
bodies) to his body. (like this) He has become Immortal, in the Saadh Sangat,
the Company of the Holy (of the Guru). His both birth and death have come to an
end. ||1|| O my mind (pray) to the Lord, (so that) I may remain united with the
Saadh Sangat (Holy Company of the Guru), and each and every instant I may wash
the Holy Feet ||1||Pause|| (sggs 835).
- imil
sMq sBw mnu mWjIAY BweI hir kY nwim invws: Mil sant sabhaa manu maanjeeai
bhaaee har kai naam nivaas: O Brother, Joining the Society of the Saints, cleanse
your mind, and dwell in the Name of the Lord (sggs 639).
- rwm
mo kau hir jn myil min Bwv]Aimau Aimau hir rsu hY mITw imil sMq jnw muiK pwvY:
Raam mo kaou har jan mel mani bhaavai. Amiou amiou har ras hai meethaa mil sant
janaa mukh paavai: O Lord, my mind longs to meet with the humble servants of the
Lord. The sweet, subtle essence of the Lord (Naam Rasa) is Immortalizing.
Meeting the Saints, I want to drink it in (sggs 881).
6. Abandonment
of Other (Maya's) Tastes Brings Immortality:
- myry
mn nwmu AMimRqu pIau ]Awn swd ibswir hoCy Amru jugu jugu jIau: Aan saad
bisaar hoshe amar jug jug jeeou: Mere mann Naam Amrit peeou. O my mind, drink
in the Naam-Amrit. (With the help of Naam-Amrit) abandon other (Mayaic) bland,
insipid tastes; live forever: an Immortal and Eternal life (sggs 1007).
- An
rs mih BolwieAw ibnu nwmY duK pwie ]siqguru purKu n ByitE ij scI bUJ buJwie ]1]ey
mn myry bwvly hir rsu ciK swdu pwie ]An ris lwgw qUM iPrih ibrQw jnmu gvwie:
Ann rasi mahi bholaaiaa...: (The man) wanders around, engrossed in other pleasures
(Mayaic), but without the Naam, he suffers in pain. He does not meet the True
Guru who imparts true understanding. ||1|| O my insane mind, drink in the Naam-Rasa,
and savor its taste. Attached to other pleasures, you wander around, and waste
away your life uselessly (sggs 430).
- kMcn
nwrI mih jIau luBqu hY mohu mITw mwieAw ]Gr mMdr GoVy KusI mnu An ris lwieAw ]hir
pRBu iciq n AwveI ikau CUtw myry hir rwieAw ]1]myry rwm ieh nIc krm hir myry ]guxvMqw
hir hir dieAwlu kir ikrpw bKis Avgx siB myry: Kanchan naaree mahi jeeou
lubhat hai...: My soul is lured by the attachment to gold and women; this attachment
to Maya taste so sweet to me! My mind is attached to the pleasures of houses,
palaces, horses and other enjoyments. (As a result) The Lord does not even enter
my thoughts; how can I be freed (from this Moha)? ||1|| O my Lord, these are my
lowly actions, O my Lord. O Lord, But You are the Treasure of Virtues, and You
are Mercifu, please bless me with Your Grace and forgive me for all my mistakes
(sggs 167).
- hir
rsu pIvq sd hI rwqw ]Awn rsw iKn mih lih jwqw ]hir rs ky mwqy min sdw Anµd
]Awn rsw mih ivAwpY icMd ]1]hir rsu pIvY Almsqu mqvwrw ]Awn rsw siB hoCy ry ]1]
rhwau ]: har ras peevath sadh hee raathaa...: One who drinks in the Lord's
sublime essence is forever imbued with it, while other essences wear off in an
instant. Intoxicated with the Lord's sublime essence, the mind is forever in ecstasy.
Other essences bring only anxiety. ||1|| One who drinks in the Lord's sublime
essence, is intoxicated and enraptured; all other essences have no effect. ||1||Pause||
(sggs 377).
- ey rsnw qU An ris rwic rhI
qyrI ipAws n jwie ]ipAws n jwie horqu ikqY ijcru hir rsu plY n pwie ]hir rsu pwie
plY pIAY hir rsu bhuiV n iqRsnw lwgY Awie ]eyhu hir rsu krmI pweIAY siqguru imlY
ijsu Awie ]khY nwnku hoir An rs siB vIsry jw hir vsY min Awie ]32]: Ye
rasanaa too ana ras raach rahee teree piaas na jaai...: O my tongue (here the
tongue is to hint to indicate all senses), you are engrossed in other tastes,
but your (Maya's) thirst is not quenched. (In this way) Your (Maya's) thirst will
not be quenched by any means, until you attain the Naam-Rasa (Simaran).
If you do obtain the Naam-Rasa, and drink in it, you will not be troubled by the
(Maya's) thirst again. However, this Rasa is obtained by good Karma,
when one comes to meet with the Satguru. Says Nanak, all other tastes are
forgotten, when the Lord comes to dwell within the mind ||32|| (sggs 921).
7.
By Becoming the Gurmukh (the Spiritual Being free of Haume or ego)
One Becomes Immortal:
- suK duK hI qy
Amru AqIqw gurmuiK inj Gru pwiedw: Sukh dukh hee te amar ateetaa Gurmukh
nij ghar paaidaa: By becoming the Gurmukh, become Immortal, and remain untouched
by pleasure and pain. He obtains the Eternal Home of his own Inner Being within
(sggs 1037).
- hir jIau imlY qw gurmuiK bUJY
cInY sbdu AibnwsI hy: Har jeeo milai taa Gurmukh boojhai cheenai sabad
abinaasee hay: By becoming the Gurmukh, when one meets with the Dear Lord, he
then understands and remembers the Shabad of the Immortal Lord (sggs 1048).
- Amru
vyprvwhu hY iqsu nwil isAwxp n cleI n hujiq krxI jwie ]Awpu Coif srxwie pvY mMin
ley rjwie ]gurmuiK jm fMfu n lgeI haumY ivchu jwie: Amar veparavaah hai...:
(The Lord is ) Immortal, , cleverness and arguments will not work against Him.
So abandon your self-conceit, take to His Sanctuary, and accept His Will. (Those
who) become the Gurmukh (eliminate self-conceit from within), are not punished
by the Messenger of Death--fear of death (sggs 1251).
8. Intuitive
Understanding Brings Immortality
- ijh
mrnY sBu jgqu qrwisAw ]so mrnw gur sbid pRgwisAw ]1]Ab kYsy mrau mrin mnu mwinAw
]mir mir jwqy ijn rwmu n jwinAw ]1] rhwau ]mrno mrnu khY sBu koeI ]shjy mrY Amru
hoie soeI ]2]khu kbIr min BieAw Anµdw ]gieAw Brmu rihAw prmwnµdw ]3]20]:
Jih maranai sabh jagat taraasiaa...: That death which terrifies the entire world
- the nature of that death has been revealed to me, through the the Guru's Shabad.
||1|| Now, how will I die? My mind has already accepted death. Those who do not
know the Lord, die over and over again, and then depart. ||1||Pause|| Everyone
says, ""I will die, I will die."" But he alone becomes Immortal,
who dies with intuitive understanding. ||2|| Says Kabeer, my mind is filled with
Bliss; my doubts have been eliminated, and I am in cstasy now. ||3||20| (sggs327).
9.
Constant abidance in God Bestows Immortality:
- Amru
hoie sd Awkul rhY: Amar hoi sada aakul rahai: Whoever constantly abides
in the Lord, becomes Immortal (sggs 1351).
- ijsu
min bsY su hoq inhwlu ]qw kY inkit n Awvq kwlu ]Amr Bey Amrw pdu pwieAw ]swDsMig
nwnk hir iDAwieAw: Jis mani basai su hot nihaal. Taa kai nikat na aavat
kaal. Amar bhaye amaraa pada paaiaa. Saadhsang Nanak har dhiaaiaa: The one, within
whose mind God abides, is blissfully happy. Death (fear of death) does not draw
near him. O Nanak, meditating on the Lord in the Holy Company one becomes Immortal,
and obtains the Immortal status (sggs 1068).
- ibnvMiq
nwnk imil sMig swjn Amr pdvI pwvh: Binavant Nanak mil sang saajan amar
padavee paavh: Prays Nanak, meeting with our True Friend (God), attain the Immortal
status (sggs 846).
kbIr kwm pry hir
ismrIAY AYsw ismrhu inq ]Amrw pur bwsw krhu hir gieAw bhorY ibq ]163]:
Kabeer kaam pare har simareeai aisaa simarahu nit. Amaraa pur baasaa karahu har
gaiaa bahorai bit ||163||: Says Kabeer, you remember the Lord in meditation, only
when the need arises. But, as you remember Him in need, you should remember Him
all the time. (This way) You will dwell in the city (the state) of Immortality,
and the Lord will restore the wealth (of Divine Virtues) you lost ||163|| (sggs
1373)
10. By Becoming Drenched in the Bani One Becomes
Immortal:
- suix vfBwgIAw hir AMimRq
bwxI rwm ]ijn kau krim ilKI iqsu irdY smwxI rwm ]AkQ khwxI iqnI jwxI ijsu Awip
pRBu ikrpw kry ]Amru QIAw iPir n mUAw kil klysw duK hry: Sun vadabhaageeaa
har amrit bani raam...: Listen, O most fortunate ones, to the Amrit Bani of
Lord. He alone (fortunate one), whose Karma is so pre-ordained, has it enter into
his heart (i.e, he lives the Bani). He alone knows the Unspoken Speech
(of the Lord), unto whom God has shown His Mercy. He becomes Immortal, and will
not die again; his troubles, disputes and pains are dispelled (sggs 545).
11.
Compassion (Love, Tolerance, Forgiveness, Mercy etc.) for Others Brings Immortality:
- Ksmih
jwix iKmw kir rhY]qau hoie iniKAau AKY pdu lhY: Khasamahi jaan khimaa kar
rahai. Taou hoi nikhiaou akhai pada lahai: Know the Lord, and become situated
in Him: The Source of compassion. Then, by becoming one with Him, attain the Eternal
state: Immortality (sggs 340).
The material scientists have Hubbell
telescope way up there in the space to explore the external world. The Spiritual
Masters were the Spiritual Scientists who explored the man's inner world, and
map the path to Immortality as clearly depicted above. It's also clear from the
SGGS that one's external trickery will not help in experiencing Immortality.
According
to the SGGS, Immortality is the ultimate objective of life, which is neither prolonging
of the physical life nor something to be experienced or attained after biological
death. It is the Spiritual Vision (the Gurmukh Lifestyle), the state of
being a living liberated (Jeevanmukti) while still alive: free from the
pangs or throes of time. To become a living liberated, one has to die to oneself
(eradication of the false self or Haume) while still living in the body. Simply put: Dying to the ego (Haume) is real death, which makes one Immortal.
It's the state of Self Realization (Aatam Giaan, Turiyaa Avasthaa,
Chauthaa Pada, annihilation of the Haume-mind, Bliss or Anand etc.)
— complete union of the unit consciousness with the Supreme Spirit, the Universal
Consciousness.
In nutshell, Immortality is to move from Asat (untruth,
falsehood unreality, temporary, darkness, ignorance, Haume- or ego-consciousness,
Bikaars, etc.) to Sata (Truth, Reality, Eternal, Permanent, Knowledge,
Light, Wisdom; constant abidance in the Immortal Naam, Virtues, and God
Consciousness, etc.). It's moving from the state of Mrit (meaning death)
to the state of Amrit (meaning no-death, i.e. Immortality). Thus, the path
to Immortality appears to be a constant turning within, turning the Light of the
Consciousness into the dark corners and recesses of the Haume-mind. In
other words, it seems that if one can perceive Light within the body while yet
alive (Jeevanmukti), one is on the path to Immortality. Otherwise there
is the need to work diligently each day to remove negativity or Bikaars
of the mind — lust, anger, greed, attachment, pride, enviousness, stubborn mindedness,
and so on.
To say it otherwise, Immortality is dodging the memories of
the past and worries and fears of the future by bringing them into the Eternity
of the present moment. It's just being the "Joti-Svaroopa", an
Eternal Immortal Principle, which is indicated to be Changeless except it Unfolds
more, and it lives in NOW — the state where nothing ever happened (past) and nothing
will happen (future).
It's difficult to walk on sharp rocks with barefoot. But
it becomes easier to walk on them with shoes. This world (Sansaar) is likened
to sharp rocks: the place of repeated suffering. The above recommendations of
the SGGS makes it easier to walk through the life's journey in this world, leading
to the state of Immortality — awakening, rise or entering of Divinity in our consciousness.
The man's sense of being an identity apart from God is called Maya (Ma—not
and Yaa—this). When this mistaken identity or the sense of an existence
separate from God is removed, there arises the state of Immortality.
— T. Singh
www.gurbani.org
To read Gurbani verses in Gurmukhi, click here to download Gurmukhi font.
Updated on
Friday, August 15, 2008 8:23 AM
(PST)
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