GO WITHIN

Man wanders through foreign lands, but does not look Within himself. (sggs 1060).
When I look Within my being, I find that my Beloved is with me. (sggs 1395).
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To Realize one's Mool within (Source, Origin, Jot...) is the end of all searching; for the Mool is the only Truth, all else is inference. To create the right conditions needed for rediscovery of this Supreme Truth, therefore, the Gurbani asks us to go Within, look Within, search Within, or simply be established in the Mool within (Source, Origin, Jot...) Within. 

Why?  The Gurbani tells us that the Lord dwells Within! The Mool within (Source, Origin, Jot...), the embodiment of  That Pure Existence-Knowledge-Bliss, is Complete, Absolute, most Intimate, Conscious Being, Timeless, Eternal, Spaceless, Beginningless, Endless, Changeless, Causeless, always full of Love and Trust, always Within us, ever available to everybody! We are simply That (Joti-Svaroop)!

Going Within is the ultimate search, the simplest and the shortest. However, being infected with the virus of body-consciousness ("I, me, mine, your"), we give attention to everything but ourselves. Being obscured by inattention, we allow ourselves to be what we are not, and than look for the causes and justification for it! Clinging to such sensate life, fanciful ideas and imagination, the mind turns outward and begins to desire the false and fear the Truth. In order to know what we really are, we are urged by the scriptures to go beyond the mind by once again turning the consciousness Within. That which is infinitely continuous is permanent, all else is transitory. Since the body and the world are changeful (Maya), they are transient and hence subject to differentiation, diversity, or differences. But in ignorance, doubts or illusoriness we hold on to which is transitory. The only way to understand the transitory nature of the worldly objects is to hold on to something that is permanent in nature. What's that Thing? It is none other than the Mool within (Source, Origin, Jot...). All of us are That Fathomlessness, in which all experiences, perceptions, feelings, concepts and precepts appear. It is the level of this Unchangeable Absolute Reality where diversity and related differences do not have meaning as they cease to exist. The material body and world are just fleeting (discontinuous) phenomena passing on the screen of the Mool which is stationary. The scriptures and ancient Wisdom draw our attention to It, and ask us to rivet our mind on this Timeless Truth. We need not search It outside, because we are what we are looking for! It is here, at this very moment, Within! Duality (Doojaa Bhaav) denotes false ego or ignorance. The Gurbani repeatedly reminds us: "He is Me" or "That Thou art". However, in ignorance we leave out what is most intimate and immediate, and search the rest! For example, in the above statement of the scriptures, "Thou" or "Me" is the Inner Self immanent in all beings; therefore is directly experienced. But in doubts, leaving the Inner Self out, we go on seeking "That" or "He"! In other words, leaving himself out, one tries to find the Mool within (Source, Origin, Jot...) in the world of objectivity! The scriptures remind us that all such deluded ideas arise only on forgetting one's True Nature. What can be found Within cannot be found outside. Accordingly, we are time and again reminded by the Gurbani to stop searching outside what can be found only Within. Suffering from the acute misapprehension, however, we have confounded the Self with the physical body. As a result, in such delusion we keep searching for the Eternal Joy (Anand) in the externalities of the material world. The Gurbani (Sri Guru Granth Sahib, SGGS) urges us to stop this futile external search; instead, it teaches us to look Within because everything is located Within the Home of the Self. It is this Internal Way of life that is emphasized by the Gurmat (Aatam Giaan); where one's external or material life is unimportant. False ego-sense, doubts, mental delusion or Spiritual ignorance is but the Mool-forgetfulness. And this Mool-forgetfulness is the Sansaar, the place of repeated suffering. Like beads of a rosary are strung on one thread, all thoughts or states of our mind are strung on the basic error of Mool-forgetfulness. Each one of the states of mind is transitory, hence unreal. Since the mind is nothing but a collection of these transitory thoughts-stuff, it is also transitory. Non-reflection, non-investigation, non-inquiry, or the absence of Shabad-Vichaar is the thread on which the beads of all these unreal states of mind are strung. Due to the fact that all mental notions are rooted in the darkness of the Mool-forgetfulness, the Truth that one is nothing but the "Joti-Svaroopa" becomes forgotten and, consequently, one takes the transitory states of his mind as his real Self. Forgetfulness of our Essential Nature gives rise to egoism (and its countless Bikaar), which makes us forget Divine Virtues. Consequently, we lack in Wisdom, Intuitive Understanding, truthfulness, clarity, attention, alertness and earnestness. This lack of awareness gives rise to the state of self-will (Manmukh or materialistic), unbelief, affliction, hardness of heart, impenitence, selfishness, reprobacy, heinousness, fanaticism, crookedness, evil-mindedness, mental-weakness, immaturity, and indiscipline. In such dense conditioning, although one may be aware of thinking, feeling, and acting, but he is unaware of his true Being. The reason man has become so wretched is that, due to forgetfulness of his True Being as Unconditioned Consciousness, he has adopted improper habits. For example, in ancient days, the man led a very contented and happy life because he adhered to proper habits such as Truth and Righteousness, etc. Forgetting his Real Nature, he has now become narrow-minded and is being gobbled by the demon of selfishness, falsehood and corruption. Though endowed with a precious and rare human lifeand Bibek Budhi, etc., he is unable to enjoy these possessions because he has forsaken that the same One Mool within (Source, Origin, Jot...) dwells within the Hearts of all beings, including himself. As a result, we are unable to recognize our own values, and unable to appreciate the significance of the legacy we have inherited. If we do not know our own value then how can we ever know that of the Divinity? As repeatedly declared by theGurbani, the root of man's suffering is his ignorance of his Mool within (Source, Origin, Jot...). Identifying with the world of sensory experience, he attempts to find the everlasting Bliss in the evanescent sense gratification, deluding himself in the bargain. These efforts provide man temporary joy, followed by long spells of miseries and sorrows! The deer, for example, is known for searching musk (Kastooree) in the bushes. In reality, the musk is stored within the deer's body, but in his illusioned state of mind he keeps searching it outside. Similarly, even though the Spirit, the source of Truth-Knowledge-Bliss, dwells Within our body, we keep searching Him in the gross objects of the outer world! Just like the deer we also wander around in the wilderness of doubts caused by Maya's deception. Consequently, we also search the sublime thing such as God (Satguru), Blissful Realm, Naam, Panch Shabad, Anhata Dhuni, etc., outside, in other places and objects. In reality, it is all hidden Within! Going Within is to become inwardly integrated. But, how can we go Within and realize the All-pervading Consciousness? For the All-pervading Consciousness never leaves us, we are never apart from It. Further, there are not two selves. The Mool within (Source, Origin, Jot...) is only one, and we can't live without It. As such, It is not the matter of realizing the Mool, but of realizing that we never were not the Mool! In other words, it is the Mool experiencing the Mool! All that is needed is detaching the mind from without and turning it Within. That's all! However, as the scriptures point out to us that, under the spell of ignorance, we have committed the error of confounding the Mool with the material body. The essentials of being established Within is knowing that we are not this material body but we are different from it, beyond death and birth. In material consciousness, the mind is spread in time and space. At once we look Within, we will know that all names and forms are but temporary and fleeting waves on the surface of the ocean of consciousness; and we will see that we are just a bundle of memories of past pains and pleasures held together by the glue of emotional attachment. The edict of the Gurbani is that the Reality is ever Present Within each one of us; therefore, we must look Within and find it there. It is as simple as to see one's face in mirror, provided the surface of the mirror is true and clear of all filth. Because of the mental conditionings, the Mool within (Source, Origin, Jot...) becomes superimposed or covered by the false phenomena called psychological ego. As soon as the cover of this false ego is removed, the unlimited, timeless, spaceless and formless Reality shines forth. Therefore, Mool-realization is simply the loss of the false ego. As one can not see himself in a dust-covered mirror, similarly, one can not perceive the atomic Mool due to the dust of false ego covering the mirror of the mind or heart. If we want to change the picture on the television screen, we simply change the channel or station, we do not change the picture tube! Similarly, all we need to do is set our vision right. The only difference between the Giaanee (Spiritually Wise, the Gurmukh) and the Agiaanee (ignorant, the manmukh) is in their angles of vision - the Giaanee has killed his false ego, whereas the Agiaanee identifies himself with it and mistakes its activities for those of the Self. If we can change our vision, no other change is necessary. Since we suffer from mental delusion, we need to clarify our minds, purify our hearts, and sanctify our lives. In other words, we need to remove our whims, fancies or egoism. Many play with different paths, systems, religions, practices, verbal structures, relative truths, tangible objectives, etc. For example, it so happens that most people trust their time-bound (Deh Dhaaree) Gurus only as long as materially all is well with them. However, when some worldly problems come, they feel let down and go out in search of another one. Playing with different approaches is an indication of one's resistance to seeking Within. Why do we resist going Within? It is because we are afraid of detaching from the sense objects or externalities of the phenomenal world we love so much! To look at it from an another angle, it is the fear of having to abandon the illusion of considering ourselves as the physical body.

The Gurbani indicates that the Mool within (Source, Origin, Jot...) is not this physical body. Therefore, it is error either to take this body as the Mool. As indicated in the holy texts, our chance of linking with our Mool within (Source, Origin, Jot...) depends on our true identification. If we miss this point, that is, if we do not recognize our True Nature as Joti Svaroop, Unconditioned Consciousness, then we take the risk of being lost in the pitch darkness of material existence.

How can the body-consciousness be abandoned? As revealed in the Gurbani, the seemingly unending body-consciousness or world-appearance is sustained by our impure, spiritually ignorant mind. Just as the snake abandons his skin effortlessly, similarly the body-consciousness can easily be abandoned by ascending to the more uplifting mode of Goodness or Purity. Those who are of Pure Nature always remain likned their Mool within.

In each path, system, practice or religion the value lies in bringing people to the need of going Within, otherwise it has no meaning. To seek water, we dig or drill a deep well at one place. Instead, if we go on digging shallow pits all over the place, we will only find disappointment and frustration. Similarly, if one is sincere in finding himself, he must dig deep Within himself. Love of the Mool within (Source, Origin, Jot...) is the true devotion or Bhagti. It's our refusal to go Within that binds us in Mayaic efforts. It's a rare person, declare the scriptures, who rises above the world-illusion and tries to find out the real Source of the True Joy that will be everlasting in nature. And that rare person is called "Gurmukh" in the Gurbani. Thus, being a Gurmukh is a state one has to reach. Therefore, to be a Gurmukh is not a question of heredity, family of birth, ancestry, race, region, social status, caste, creed, education, titles, religion or any peculiar external appearance of a person; it s a question of being established in the Mool within (Source, Origin, Jot...) Within. Accordingly, we are asked by the Gurbani to become a Gurmukh if we desire to enter the True Home of our Inner Being. Here the Gurbani makes it clear that to become a Gurmukh is to train one's mind to contemplate the Divine Name (Shabad-Vichaar. The more the Divine Name sinks into the Heart, the more one becomes the Gurmukh. He then realizes that, as the Almighty is all-pervasive, He resides in every being as "Antaryaamee'', unaffected by Maya. He understands the essence of the Gur-Shabad and sees the Divine Light Within each and every Heart. In other words, the Gurmukhs always look Within. On the contrary, the Manmukhs (material beings) always look outside.

How can we become Gurmukhs and realize the Mool within (Source, Origin, Jot...) our Hearts? By applying the Divine Knowledge (Aatam Giaan) of the Gurbani to our daily living. The Gur-Shabad is only meant to be applied. Its mere mechanical or dry reading or hearing is unavailing. In all earnestness, once the Gur-Shabad is applied to one's life, it will take him Within. Since the atomic Self is subtler than the space, it is beyond the reach and comprehension of our limited mind and physical senses. To realize this subtlest Being, we must take means which are equally fine and subtle. Being subtle in nature, the Divine Name is perfectly capable of catching the Mool within (Source, Origin, Jot...)!

There is no real chanting, meditation, Jap, Tap, Sanjam, etc., as long as one does not live to the Gurmat (Aatam Giaan). Accepting the Gurmat, one obtains understanding of the Truth; through Truth, one merges in the True Mool Within. All other actions only lead to all sorts of material entanglements, which only add to all the pain. Also known as spiritual ignorance, the terrible poison of false ego cannot be completely eliminated until the Shabad-Surti or Spiritual Wisdom awakens Within. Hence, tShabad-Vichaar must continue until the Supreme Essence is unfolded and the Mool within (Source, Origin, Jot...) realized! The Gurbani repeatedly reminds us that the precious jewel of Infinite Bliss is hidden Within our body and that we can attain It at this very moment if we want to. But the problem is our outgoing mind, which insanely and tumultuously craves the enjoyment of the evil passions instead! Consequently, like a deer who keeps searching for the musk in the bushes, we also keep searching for the Mool within (Source, Origin, Jot...) in the externalities of the world, the gross sense objects.

Everything is contained Within - the Lord, Satguru, Shabad, Naam, Amrit, and so on. There is nothing "there yonder" which is not Within! Like the fish is in water and cannot be without water, similarly, all the universe is in man and cannot be without him. In other words, the universe is in us, not other way around. However, in ignorance, we have projected onto ourselves a world of our own false concepts and notions, based on our Vaasnaas (past memories, tendencies, deep-rooted desires and fear, etc.). In turn, we have imprisoned ourselves in it in the process.

Once we realize all comes from Within, our desires and fears come to an end. Once we know that the world of names and forms in which we live has not been projected onto us by any external agency but by us, the world-illusion ceases to be. Until we become established on the platform of this Transcendental Knowledge, we will keep identifying ourselves with the externals. Without realizing that we are the painters who have painted this ephemeral world on the screen of our own mind or consciousness, we cannot break the spell or habit of taking the imaginary to be the real.

It is our undisciplined, maya-ridden mind that gives us the greatest problems in going Within. A mind in control is ever in tune with the Self. However, a mind out of control is slave of desires and fears, running wild to gratify the senses. Thus, the mind in material bondage is the main impediment that blocks our Spiritual Unfoldment. Therefore, an annihilated mind - devoid of material desires, etc. - is essential to go Within. The value of the Gurbani's Wisdom lies in bringing us to the need of seeking Within. It is the mirror of our mind that is filthy (Mailaa) and untrue; giving us false reflections. We need to clean the mirror. In other words, we need to train ourselves to separate ourselves from the filthy mirror and its false images; for we are neither the phantom called mind nor its false projections. The Gurbani urges us to break the self-imposed spell of ignorance and be free.

— T. Singh
www.gurbani.org

Updated on Tuesday, April 17, 2012 11:11 AM (PST)

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