Part 8: Stubborn Mindedness

Reading And Listening Scriptures In Stubbornness (ਮਨ ਹਠ)

Today, in the Gurdawaaraa the page to page reading of Sri Guru Granth Sahib called Akhand-Paath is sold to the public in a businesslike manner. It is an example of “blind leads blind” – that is, one Mayadhaaree cheating the other Mayadhaaree!

In mental stubbornness, many go and pay Pujaarees (Bhais, Raagees, etc.) dearly, or hire Paathees (professional Gurbani readers) to perform Akhand-Paath in their homes. Now, people can also buy Akhand Paath over the Internet! Also, many read scriptures themselves in ritualistic manner, over and over again. However, the Gurbani never gets tired of reminding us that this type of practice has nothing to do with the Prema-Bhagti or Naam-Simran.

• ਅਖਰ ਪੜਿ ਪੜਿ ਭੁਲੀਐ ਭੇਖੀ ਬਹੁਤੁ ਅਭਿਮਾਨੁ ॥: Akhar parh parh bhuleeai bhekhee bahut abhimaan: Reading their books over and over again, people continue making mistakes; and by wearing religious robes they take great pride (sggs 61).
• ਕਿਆ ਪੜੀਐ ਕਿਆ ਗੁਨੀਐ ॥ ਕਿਆ ਬੇਦ ਪੁਰਾਨਾਂ ਸੁਨੀਐ ॥ ਪੜੇ ਸੁਨੇ ਕਿਆ ਹੋਈ ॥ ਜਉ ਸਹਜ ਨ ਮਿਲਿਓ ਸੋਈ ॥੧॥: Kiaa parheeai kiaa guneeai …: What use is it to read, and what use is it to study? What use is it to listen to the scriptures? What use is reading and listening, if (Truth ) is not naturally (spontaneously, Sahaj, etc.,) realized? ||1|| (sggs 655).

 As revealed in the Gurbani, a mind that is bound by the stubbornness or three dispositions – three modes of Maya: Taamas, Raajas, and Saatav – goes weary by reading and reciting religious books. But, as indicated in the Gurbani, we can never realize the Supreme Essence by doing so. Thus, mere reading of countless Paath or Akhand-Paath in duality are of no avail, for the Truth cannot be reached by such empty practices of ignorance, greed, and so on.

• ਮੂਰਖਿ ਪੜਿ ਪੜਿ ਦੂਜਾ ਭਾਉ ਦ੍ਰਿੜਾਇਆ॥ ਬਹੁ ਕਰਮ ਕਮਾਵੈ ਦੁਖੁ ਸਬਾਇਆ ॥: Parh parh doojaa bhaav driraaiaa. Bahu karak kamaavai dukh sabaaiaa: The fool reads and reads, but holds tight to duality. He performs all sorts of rituals, but still suffers terrible pain (sggs 424).
• ਸਲੋਕੁ ਮਃ ੧ ॥ ਪੜਿ ਪੜਿ ਗਡੀ ਲਦੀਅਹਿ ਪੜਿ ਪੜਿ ਭਰੀਅਹਿ ਸਾਥ ॥ ਪੜਿ ਪੜਿ ਬੇੜੀ ਪਾਈਐ ਪੜਿ ਪੜਿ ਗਡੀਅਹਿ ਖਾਤ ॥ ਪੜੀਅਹਿ ਜੇਤੇ ਬਰਸ ਬਰਸ ਪੜੀਅਹਿ ਜੇਤੇ ਮਾਸ ॥ ਪੜੀਐ ਜੇਤੀ ਆਰਜਾ ਪੜੀਅਹਿ ਜੇਤੇ ਸਾਸ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਲੇਖੈ ਇਕ ਗਲ ਹੋਰੁ ਹਉਮੈ ਝਖਣਾ ਝਾਖ ॥੧॥: Slok M: 1 || Parri parri gaddee laddeeahi parri parri bhareeahi saath …: Slok M: 1. You may read and read loads of books; you may read and study vast multitudes of books. You may read and read boat-loads of books; you may read and read and fill pits with them. You may read them year after year; you may read them as many months are there. You may read them all your life; you may read them with every breath. O Nanak, only one thing is of any account (the Truth, etc.), everything else is useless babbling and idle talk in ego ||1|| (sggs 467). 

However, the Pujaaree or priest group is making a good return business out of all this Karamkaand (Jhoothaa Sodaa)! Why are they so successful in cheating people? Because people want something as Sublime as God and want it cheaply, in a ready-made package. As a result, they put themselves in a position to be easily cheated. In other words, a stubborn person has no sense of consequences of his actions!

• ਪਢੇ ਗੁਨੇ ਨਾਹੀ ਕਛੁ ਬਉਰੇ ਜਉ ਦਿਲ ਮਹਿ ਖਬਰਿ ਨ ਹੋਈ ॥੨॥:Parhe gune naahee kashoo baoure jaou dil mahi khabari n hoee ||2||: You gain nothing by reading and studying, O mad (Qazi), if you don’t gain (this) Understanding (ਸੂਝ) in your heart ||2|| (sggs 483).
• ਸਲੋਕੁ ਮਃ ੩ ॥ ਪੜਣਾ ਗੁੜਣਾ ਸੰਸਾਰ ਕੀ ਕਾਰ ਹੈ ਅੰਦਰਿ ਤ੍ਰਿਸਨਾ ਵਿਕਾਰੁ ॥ ਹਉਮੈ ਵਿਚਿ ਸਭਿ ਪੜਿ ਥਕੇ ਦੂਜੈ ਭਾਇ ਖੁਆਰੁ ॥ ਸੋ ਪੜਿਆ ਸੋ ਪੰਡਿਤੁ ਬੀਨਾ ਗੁਰ ਸਬਦਿ ਕਰੇ ਵੀਚਾਰੁ ॥ ਅੰਦਰੁ ਖੋਜੈ ਤਤੁ ਲਹੈ ਪਾਏ ਮੋਖ ਦੁਆਰੁ ॥ ਗੁਣ ਨਿਧਾਨੁ ਹਰਿ ਪਾਇਆ ਸਹਜਿ ਕਰੇ ਵੀਚਾਰੁ ॥ ਧੰਨੁ ਵਾਪਾਰੀ ਨਾਨਕਾ ਜਿਸੁ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਅਧਾਰੁ ॥੧॥: Slok M: 3|| Parhnaa gunanaa sansaar kee karr hai andar trisnaa vikaar …: Slok M: 3. Reading and studying (have become) just worldly pursuits, (but still) greed and corruption remain present within. Reading in egotism, all have grown weary; through the love of duality (Maya), they are ruined. He alone is educated, and he alone is a wise Pandit, who reflects and contemplates the Gur-Shabad (i.e., consider that person Pandit). He searches within himself, and finds the True Essence within; he attains the Door of Salvation. He finds God, the Treasure of Excellence, and contemplates with Sahaj, Natural State of Being, etc.). Blessed is the trader (of Naam, the Name), O Nanak, who, as a Gurmukh (Spiritual Being, etc.), takes the Name as his only Support ||1|| (sggs 650). 

Tthe Gurbani makes it very clear that by reading religious books without real understanding and followed by living that understanding, one cannot realize God; also, by speaking and talking, His limits cannot be found. The purpose of reading or listening scriptures is to develop Divine Understanding (Aatam-Giaan), and then act upon it (the Gurmukh Life Style). If that does not happen, then, there is no difference between a human being engaged in reading or listening to scriptures and a beast engaged in filling his belly. The Gurbani says:

• ਗੁਰਮਤਿ ਸੁਨਿ ਕਛੁ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਨ ਉਪਜਿਓ ਪਸੁ ਜਿਉ ਉਦਰੁ ਭਰਉ ॥: Gurmati suni kashu giaan n upjio pasu jiou udar bharaou: Despite listening to the Gurmati (Shabad-Giaan, Divine Teaching of the Gur-Shabad, etc.), (if) no spiritual wisdom (understanding of spiritual or Divine Life) wells up within (me); (then it would be) like a beast (routinely) filling its belly (sggs 685).
• ਪੜੀਐ ਗੁਨੀਐ ਨਾਮੁ ਸਭੁ ਸੁਨੀਐ ਅਨਭਉ ਭਾਉ ਨ ਦਰਸੈ: Parheeai guneeai naam sabh suneeai anabhaou bhaaou n darsai: All read, hear and reflect upon God’s Name; but (due to lust, anger, etc.) they cannot develop the Divine Love, and they cannot Experience God within (sggs 973-974).