TRUE QUALIFICATION OF A
ਪਰਧਾਨ - PARDHAAN

ਸਚੁ ਵਰਤੁ ਸੰਤੋਖੁ ਤੀਰਥੁ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਧਿਆਨੁ ਇਸਨਾਨੁ ॥ ਦਇਆ ਦੇਵਤਾ ਖਿਮਾ ਜਪਮਾਲੀ ਤੇ ਮਾਣਸ ਪਰਧਾਨ ॥:
Sachu varatu santokhu teerathu giaanu dhianu isnaanu.
Daiaa devataa khimaa japamaalee te maanas pardhaan (sggs 1245).
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The word Pardhan (pronounced as Pardhaan) has a general meaning as understood by most of the people (a leader, Aagoo, chief, a distinguished person, etc.), and also a special meaning as indicated by the Gurbani. This Gurbani Reflection will try to understand the significance of this term. Secondly, the discussion is limited to a Spiritual standpoint only. However, the fundamental principles can be applied to other situations as well.

The nuances of right morality or conduct have been nurtured and passed on from generation to generation in practice. The scriptures not only provide us with the guidelines for the proper conduct, they also indicate that the leaders and elders in the society must set an example by their righteous behavior. If they do not conduct themselves righteously or truthfully, then they cannot expect others, especially the young generation, to be virtuous. Therefore, the elderly or the leaders who occupy important positions in the society have to be conscious of their behavior; so they must hold upright conduct. Does this happen? Very rarely! To the contrary, we all routinely hear and read stories or witness scenes such as:

Clearly, it appears that the people in control of religious places are able to impose their personal agenda or will on others not by the virtue of their Spiritual Wisdom, credibility, ethics, or moral character but because they have behind them some sort of material power or influence (money!). Apparently, such people only want power and recognition without any responsibility such as dissemination of the Gurbani and Dharma in their true sense. They seem to have no genuine interest in the aspirations of the people they represent. Baabaa Nanak thunders: What may be the source of such immorality, unrighteousness, untruthfulness, corruption, falsehood, selfishness and degradation of individual beings in the society? Proper understanding of this falsehood-contaminated behavior can be attained if one tries to examine its root cause. Defects Of A Conditioned Soul

Essentially, there are two kinds of living beings: (a) Liberated Beings (the Gurmukhs), and (b) conditioned beings (the Manmukhs). Liberated souls are those who have realized the Mool (ਮੂਲ-Source, Origin...), and, hence, have freed themselves from the bondage of the material world. The Gurbani calls such Self-realized souls "Gurmukhs". By becoming Gurmukhs, they have ascended themselves to be situated in their True Nature as Unconditioned Consciousness.

Conditioned souls are those who have their senses, mind, intellect and consciousness contaminated by their emotional attachment to this material  world. To put it otherwise, conditioned souls try to dominate the material nature and become subjected to its effects in the process — lust, anger, greed, attachment, pride, enviousness, stubborn mindedness and suffering from repeated birth and death, etc. The Gurbani calls such bonded beings "Manmukhs", or self-willed, etc.

A Wise Man always aspires for higher values in life. The assets of such person are: Self-knowledge (Aatam-Giaan, Bibek-Budhi...), exertion, forbearance, steadiness in virtue, detachment from the unreal, righteousness, truthful living, true contentment, compassion, and so on. A conditioned soul, on the other hand, is subjected to defects such as: It is clear that material conditioning (our love of Maya, ਮਾਇਆ ਦੀ ਭੁਖ...) is the root cause of our problems. Under the spell of such mental delusion, one conditioned being elects another conditioned being as a Pardhaan of Gurdawaaraa, or any other religious/social organization for that matter! The unfailing outcome is chaos, widespread corruption, immorality, selfishness, falsehood and unrighteousness. Unfortunately, these are the very individuals who consider themselves to be the torchbearers of righteousness, truth, spirituality, religion, and morality; as well as the guides for other in the society! Also, such individuals with their instinctive and wisdom-blind mind interpret the Gurbani, and make edicts or decrees for others to follow. True Qualification Of A Pardhaan

"What is then expected of a Pardhaan?", one may ask. The Gurbani provides us with true and essential qualifications of a Pardhaan. Some of these qualifications include, but not limited to, truthful living, true contentment, Spiritual Wisdom (Aatam-Giaan, Bibek-Budhi...), compassion, righteousness, selflessness, desirelessness, egolessness, forgiveness, constant abidance in God-Consciousness, mind fixed in Shabad-Surti (Aatam-Giaan...), well-conducted, thorough understanding of Gurbani and remembering it with every breath and morsel, obeying Hukam (God's Will...), having true love for the only One, sweet-natured, the Gurmukh, and so on.

Thus, a Pardhaan is a person who has the sense of Oneness. He is a man of character, generosity of heart, mercy, Spiritual Wisdom (Aatam-Giaan, Bibek-Budhi...), true contentment, humility, universal love, moral well-being, valor, eminence, fortitude, efficiency and sense of responsibility, etc. He is free of false ego (Haume), and, thereby, does not get disturbed by criticism, praise, insult, failures, success, likes and dislikes. Without greed and selfishness or any material ambitions, he knows the importance of selfless service (Sevaa) thundered by the Gurbani. He is concerned about responsibility and principles, not about recognition. He is a man of Inner Happiness, who feels he has all he needs.

Therefore, a true, upright, and honest Pardhaan will distinguish himself by exemplary Spiritual Wisdom — he will act with vision, righteousness and truth under all circumstances; he is straight forward; he never resorts to falsehood even when compelled by inescapable situations; he keeps the senses under his strict control; he shows restraint and patience; he is kind and charitable; he enshrines the One in his Heart; he observes detachment from all that is unreal; he masters the true meanings of the Gurbani; he does not show jealousy or malice; he feels guilty to do any prohibited act; he refrains from injuring the sentiments of others; he keeps a constant vigil over his mind; he pardons those who attempt to cause him injury, and so on. Anyone who sticks to these rules can be termed as a true Pardhaan or Gurmukh (Spiritual Being)!

Without these true and essential qualities as outlined in the Gurbani (Sri Guru Granth Sahib, SGGS), a person is not qualified to be called a Pardhaan. On the contrary, a person lacking such divine qualities is identified in the Gurbani as Manmukh (self-willed, ignorant, material-being...), Saakat (faithless cynics), Kusang (bad company), Aatam-Ghaatee (soul-murderer), Chor (thief), Mayadhaaree (in love with Maya only), Bemukh (nonbeliever), Jhooth or Koorh (false or fake), non-devotee, selfish, demon, beast, idiot, fool, animal, and so on.

— T. Singh
www.gurbani.org

Updated on Monday, January 30, 2012 12:43 PM (PST)

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