KIRTAN PART 2: THE GURBANI'S CAOUTION

That person who adorns his body (with religious symbols, marks, etc.), but
loving devotional worship ("ਭਗਤਿ ਨਾਰਦੀ" - Naarad like loving devotion or ਪ੍ਰੇਮਾ-ਭਗਤੀ)
does not enter into his heart; he sits and play music, but he sits as a hypocrite (ਪਖੰਡ ਦੀ ਮੂਰਤ);
what can such person obtain from the Lord? (i.e., nothing) ||3|| (sggs 654).
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This Reflection is complementary to an another Reflection titled "Kirtan Part 1 ". Yes, the Gurbani has strong words of caution, warning, admonition (whatever we want to call) about Kirtan. However, we almost never hear Raagees (professional singers of Kirtan) talk about it! It's not a surprise. Because, if they do, it will be like the famous proverbial expression: "kicking on one's own stomach" ("ਅਪਣੇ ਪੇਟ ਪਰ ਲੱਤ ਮਾਰਨੀ"). Baabaa Nanak says:

As indicated in the SGGS, the main or the ultimate purpose of the Kirtan is that it must give rise to a real detachment or "ਬੈਰਾਗੁ" ( ਦੁਨੀਆ ਦੇ ਮੋਹ ਵਲੋਂ - detachment from the love of Maya, etc.). To the contrary, if it leads to an increase in one's love of Maya, then it does not constitute Kirtan. Our Haume (false ego-sense) may not admit it, but this is essentially the edict of the Gurbani.

What is the perfect or the complete detachment (ਪੂਰਾ ਬੈਰਾਗ)? In other words, who is the person of the perfect or the complete detachment (ਪੂਰਾ ਬੈਰਾਗੀ)? The SGGS provides us with the answer to this question as follows:

In nutshell, devoid of the perfect detachment ("ਬੈਰਾਗੁ") and the true love of the Lord ("ਭਾਇ ਸਚੈ"); the external, habitual, dry, or mechanical Kirtan (Naam Japnaa) is unavailing.

For the Kirtan to register, it must be internal. By internal means, one must understand, comprehend and realize the Divine Word (Shabad) and than act upon it. When one begins to hear the Sound of this internal Kirtan and enjoys it, he attains Immortality (Amrit) within. The Gurbani affirms that the mystery of the Gur-Shabad is grasped only through it's true understanding. After reading, hearing, and singing, those who still do not attain Gur-Shabad's Intuitive Understanding are compared with donkey in the Gurbani!

As we routinely see around us, the scriptures are being read day and night; daily ritualistic religious routines are being carried out every where; Kirtans are being performed and heard at religious places, homes, radios, televisions, tape-players, cd-players, internet, and so on. In spite of all this, our false ego-sense (Haume), selfishness, falsehood or corruption is on the rampant! There is no Intuitive Peace (Sahaj) or Bliss in our lives. Instead of getting closer to Spiritual Realization, the majority of us are drifting far away from it! Why? Because we are doing all this parade or fanfare under the spell of vanity and spiritual ignorance (duality or Doojaa Bhaav), Pakhand (Spiritual hypocrisy) and selfishness; which is nothing more than a mundane business or Karamkaand (worldly entanglements, the lofe of Maya, etc.). The real thing — Inner Inquiry (Shabad Vichaar) — is totally missing in all of this mental circus of ours. The Gurbani warns: To keep us from sinking into Maya's illusion more than we already are, we are time and again alerted by the Gurbani, every step of the way. If not alert, than we take the risk of falling into the same dark pit of ignorance like countless so called Raagees, Sants, Baabaas, Giaanees, Gurus, Swamis, Saadhoos, and Kathaakaars; not to mention professional singers who sing the Gurbani in the pretext of making money (ਰੋਟੀਆ ਕਾਰਣਿ ਪੂਰਹਿ ਤਾਲ, sggs 465)! They memorize the Banee like a parrot, and sing it in attractive melody or Taals; however, it all goes in vain because they do it in greed and selfishness. This is not the Kirtan the Gurbani talks about. Kirtan is not a concert or a club activity as we witness at the organized religious places now-a-days. Generally, people go to these places to attend Kirtan once a week or even once a month. Or one may go to somebody's house to attend a Kirtan just for the reason of pleasing the host! In fact, more often many people with their families only show up at the Langar time (i.e., the time of distribution of free food)! Kirtan, Satsang or Bhagti is not a religious recreation. Physically attending of an external Kirtan in this manner will not be of much benefit. Because, so acting ritualistically one can not expect to attain God- or Self-realization (the Fourth State, Choutha Pada, the state of Naam or Shabad-consciousness) — the ultimate goal of human life. Singing or listening Kirtan for the sake of pleasing the taste of ears or other senses is worthless; because it only helps in further inciting the senses and inflating the egoism. If one keeps singing and listening Kirtan in this fashion, his mind is bound to become more excited, discontented and restless (impure). The realm of Truth (Sach Khand) is beyond all mental activities. The Gurbani affirms it as follows: Thus, as the Gurbani repeatedly reminds us, without the loving practice of the Divine Name (meditation, Jap or Naam-Simran), the inner God will not be pleased. Therefore, the purpose of meditating on the Divine Name is to develop Shabad-Surti or God-consciousness within. But, as oftentimes mentioned in the Gurbani, very rare person intuitively understands and realizes the Shabad-Surti. Rest of us just keep shaking our heads while listening to Raagees and their "Raag and Naad": the play of our desires, fears and selfishness. This is the reason inner enemies — lust, anger, greed, attachment, conceit, enviousness and stubborn mindedness with their countless variations — of all Raagees and their listeners are on the rampant! Consequently, more and more Raagees are coming into being because it has become a very lucrative business. Many who do not fit in the society because of their crooked ways or lack of any skill, simply turn into professional Raagees or Bhais by picking up a little music! Consequently, the so called religious places have almost become the dens of mammon worshippers. According to the Gurbani, this is all Maya's snare and corruption! Selfless Kirtan is the definition of a true Spiritual student (Sikh). Kirtan of the Holy Name as talked by the Gurbani is meant for mental purification only, so that we may strengthen our Love or Devotion of the Self and attain Intuitive Poise (Sahaj) necessary for linking with the Endless Divine Pulse within. Singing of Kirtan for making money as we see at organized religious places does not constitute selfless Kirtan. That is a mundane business or "Kanic Kaamini" — the play of lust and greed or passion and desire. The Gurbani warns such Raagees and their listeners as both will be ruined in the end.

The true meaning of the Kirtan, thus, has been totally derailed by the bogus Sants, Saadhoos, Baabaas, Raagees, Bhais, Gurus, Giaanees, Parchaaraks, religious leaders, and so on. The nectar of the Divine Name or Shabad-Surti (inner Kirtan) is possible only through the sincere practice of the meditation on Amrit-Name (Shabad-Kamaayee or Naam Japnaa), not by mere mechanical singing or hearing of the Kirtan in a business like manner ("ਬਧਾ ਚਟੀ ਜੋ ਭਰੇ ਨਾ ਗੁਣੁ ਨਾ ਉਪਕਾਰੁ", sggs 787). This is the reason hypocrite Raagees and their listeners only remain in body-consiousness, rather than God-consciousness!

So, what is changed between now and the time of Baabaa Nanak? Not much really, with the exception of adornments of the physical body! The mentality is essentially the same as was observed then by Baabaa Nanak at the religious places and gatherings.

— T. Singh
www.gurbani.org

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Updated on Wednesday, November 18, 2009 10:56 AM (PST)

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