Two Kinds of Cleverness

As adduced in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS), cleverness (ਸਿਆਨਪ, ਸਿਆਣਪ…) can be lumped in two groups:

(1). Oukati Siaanap (‘ਉਕਤਿ ਸਿਆਨਪ’) — spiritually speaking, this is harmful.
(2). Param Siaanap (‘ਪਰਮ ਸਿਆਨਪ’) — spiritually speaking, this is beneficial.

(1). Harmful cleverness (‘Oukati Siaanap-ਉਕਤਿ ਸਿਆਨਪ’)

‘Oukti’ (‘ਉਕਤਿ’) => mental trickery and devices, craftiness, doubt-ridden mind’s corruption, fickle mind’s wickedness, Manmukh-mindset, conditioned intellect (Durmat-ਦੁਰਮਤ), Haumai or ego-guided intellect, empty talk, useless arguments, Mayaic intellect, etc. — deceit, disinformation, duplicity, falsehood, fraud, Pakhand hypocrisy, ਉਲਟੇ ਪਾਸੇ ਲਾਣ ਵਾਲੀ ਸਿਆਨਪ, ਦਲੀਲ-ਬਾਜੀ, ਤਜਵੀਜ-ਬਾਜੀ, ਨਿਰੀਆਂ ਗਲਾਂ…

Hence, ‘Oukati Siaanap’ (‘ਉਕਤਿ ਸਿਆਨਪ’) => Cleverness laced with trickery/craftiness/schemes, clever devices and contrivances etc. Such cleverness takes us away from Mool (Source, Origin, Jot Saroop…); makes us oppose the Naam and Hukam (Universal System-Rule-Law of Nature, ਕੁਦਰਤੀ ਨਿਯਮ), dims our Wisdom (Bibek) etc.

The Gurbani repeatedly reminds us to renounce such wicked cleverness (‘Oukati Siaanap-ਉਕਤਿ ਸਿਆਨਪ’) for it is always covered with craftiness, corruption, falsehood etc.

• ਉਕਤਿ ਸਿਆਣਪ ਸਗਲੀ ਤਿਆਗੁ ॥: Give up all crafty cleverness — ‘Oukati Siaanap’ (sggs 177).
• ਮਨਮੁਖੁ ਅੰਧੁ ਕਰੇ ਚਤੁਰਾਈ ॥: The Manmukh is (mentally) blind, (on account of this mental blindness a Manmukh) practices cleverness (crafty trickery etc.). (sggs 1064).
• ਜਗਿ ਚਤੁਰੁ ਸਿਆਣਾ ਭਰਮਿ ਭੁਲਾਣਾ ਨਾਉ ਪੰਡਿਤ ਪੜਹਿ ਗਾਵਾਰੀ ॥: The one who is lost (in the way of life by falling into the delusion of Maya) is considered to be clever and wise in the world; (such crafty person) reads (Mayaic) education of fools, but calls himself ‘Pandit’ (i.e. scholar-ਵਿਦਵਾਨ). (sggs 1015).

Since the wicked cleverness is devoid of Naam ( true Wisdom, Virtues…), it puts people on the wrong path!

• ਨਾਨਕ ਬਿਨੁ ਨਾਵੈ ਝੂਠੀ ਚਤੁਰਾਈ ॥੮॥੨॥: O Nanak! Without the Naam, all clever tricks are useless. ||8||2|| (sggs 230).
• ਬਹੁਤੇ ਭੇਖ ਕਰੈ ਭੇਖਧਾਰੀ ॥ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਤਿਸਨਾ ਫਿਰੈ ਅਹੰਕਾਰੀ ॥ ਆਪੁ ਨ ਚੀਨੈ ਬਾਜੀ ਹਾਰੀ ॥੬॥ ਕਾਪੜ ਪਹਿਰਿ ਕਰੇ ਚਤੁਰਾਈ ॥ ਮਾਇਆ ਮੋਹਿ ਅਤਿ ਭਰਮਿ ਭੁਲਾਈ ॥
  ਬਿਨੁ ਗੁਰ ਸੇਵੇ ਬਹੁਤੁ ਦੁਖੁ ਪਾਈ ॥੭॥: A person who considers religion as mere religious attire wears many religious attire. (But the desire for Maya) rages within him, and he abides in false ego-sense. He does not understand himself, (for this) he loses the game of human birth. ||6|| The one who does cunning (things) only by wearing religious attire, (that I am religious, but from within) is lost in the delusion of Maya, that person suffers a lot for not serving the Guru (i.e. living daily life according to the Gur-Giaan or Wisdom). ||7|| (sggs 230).

Aptly, we are cautioned by the Gurmat Wisdom of the SGGS that nothing can be accomplished with crafty cleverness (i.e. ‘Oukati Siaanap-ਉਕਤਿ ਸਿਆਨਪ’).

In other words, ‘Oukati Siaanap’ (‘ਉਕਤਿ ਸਿਆਨਪ’) cannot help us accomplish the ultimate purpose of human life — God Realization within!

• ਉਕਤਿ ਸਿਆਨਪ ਇਸ ਤੇ ਕਛੁ ਨਾਹਿ ॥: By the crafty cleverness or ‘Oukati Siaanap‘, nothing is accomplished (sggs 196).
• ਪਾਪਾ ਬਾਝਹੁ ਹੋਵੈ ਨਾਹੀ ਮੁਇਆ ਸਾਥਿ ਨ ਜਾਈ ॥: This wealth cannot be amassed without committing sins and it does not go along with the dead. (sggs 417).
• ਕਰਿ ਕਰਿ ਪਾਪ ਦਰਬੁ ਕੀਆ ਵਰਤਣ ਕੈ ਤਾਈ ॥ ਮਾਟੀ ਸਿਉ ਮਾਟੀ ਰਲੀ ਨਾਗਾ ਉਠਿ ਜਾਈ ॥੨॥ ਜਾ ਕੈ ਕੀਐ ਸ੍ਰਮੁ ਕਰੈ ਤੇ ਬੈਰ ਬਿਰੋਧੀ ॥ ਅੰਤ ਕਾਲਿ ਭਜਿ ਜਾਹਿਗੇ ਕਾਹੇ ਜਲਹੁ ਕਰੋਧੀ ॥੩॥: By continuously committing sins, one kept amassing worldly wealth for his use, but in the end, the person departs naked (without the worldly wealth) and the ashes of the dead body merged with dirt. ||2|| Those for whom one works so hard to amass wealth, they become his spiteful enemies. In the end, they all run away abandoning you; so why do you agonize yourself in anger for their sake? ||3|| (sggs 809).

To the contrary, ‘Oukati Siaanap’ or cunning cleverness only increases the ‘LOAD‘ on the mind – more and more load of Maya or Bikaar (demerits, flaws, negativity, blemishes; faults-lust, anger, greed etc.).

• ਫਾਹੀ ਸੁਰਤਿ ਮਲੂਕੀ ਵੇਸੁ ॥ ਹਉ ਠਗਵਾੜਾ ਠਗੀ ਦੇਸੁ ॥ ਖਰਾ ਸਿਆਣਾ ਬਹੁਤਾ ਭਾਰੁ ॥ ਧਾਣਕ ਰੂਪਿ ਰਹਾ ਕਰਤਾਰ ॥੩॥ : The people sitting in the shrines are dressed as angles/ascetics (i.e. dressed in religious robes, symbols etc.). But their deceitful mind’s focus is on defrauding or trapping people. These big thugs are looting the people. They pretend to be wise. But they carry too much load of sins on their heads. Such righteous looking people are very cruel. ||3|| (sggs 24).
• ਕਾਪੜ ਪਹਿਰਿ ਕਰੇ ਚਤੁਰਾਈ ॥: Wearing (religious) robes (the Manmukh) acts in craftiness (sggs 230).
• ਭੂਪਤਿ ਹੋਇ ਕੈ ਰਾਜੁ ਕਮਾਇਆ ॥ ਕਰਿ ਕਰਿ ਅਨਰਥ ਵਿਹਾਝੀ ਮਾਇਆ ॥: (sggs 391).

Hence the Gurbani Teaches us that such wicked cleverness (Siaanap-ਸਿਆਨਪ) is of no use whatsoever!

• ਬਾਤ ਚੀਤ ਸਭ ਰਹੀ ਸਿਆਨਪ ॥ ਜਿਸਹਿ ਜਨਾਵਹੁ ਸੋ ਜਾਨੈ ਨਾਨਕ ॥੩੯॥: Words (debates, mere talk etc.) and clever tricks are of no use at all. O Nanak! Only that person understands who causes himself to know this. (sggs 258).
• ਝੂਠੀ ਦੁਰਮਤਿ ਕੀ ਚਤੁਰਾਈ ॥: False are the clever tricks of the evil mind. (sggs 1345).

In fact, Baabaa Nanak Teaches us in the very onset of the SGGS:

• ਸਹਸ ਸਿਆਣਪਾ ਲਖ ਹੋਹਿ ਤ ਇਕ ਨ ਚਲੈ ਨਾਲਿ ॥: Hundreds of thousands of clever tricks, but not even one of them will go along with you in the end. (sggs 6).

Therefore, if we wish to abide in our Mool (Source, Jot…) hear and now (not after death!), then the Gurbani urges us to renounce our mind’s crafty trickery (‘Oukati Siaanap‘).

• ਉਕਤਿ ਸਿਆਨਪ ਸਗਲ ਤਿਆਗਿ ਨਾਨਕ ਲਏ ਸਮਾਇ ॥੧॥: O Nanak! Cast aside all clever tricks (‘Oukati Siaanap‘), and you will abide in God. ||1|| (sggs 260).
• ਸਸਾ ਸਿਆਨਪ ਛਾਡੁ ਇਆਨਾ ॥ ਹਿਕਮਤਿ ਹੁਕਮਿ ਨ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਪਤੀਆਨਾ ॥ Sassaa (a letter of the Gurmukhi alphabet): Give up (crafty) cleverness, you ignorant fool! Prabhu (Mool…) is not pleased with tricks and Hukam (or orders of the mind). (sggs 260).

(2). Beneficial cleverness (‘Param Siaanap-ਪਰਮ ਸਿਆਨਪ’)

In nutshell, Param Siaanap (ਪਰਮ ਸਿਆਨਪ) => Supreme Wisdom, becoming WISE (Akalmand-ਅਕਲਮੰਦ), becoming Gurmukh, Living a divine Life etc.

• ਙੰਙਾ ਨਿਗ੍ਰਹਿ ਸਨੇਹੁ ਕਰਿ ਨਿਰਵਾਰੋ ਸੰਦੇਹ ॥ ਨਾਹੀ ਦੇਖਿ ਨ ਭਾਜੀਐ ਪਰਮ ਸਿਆਨਪ ਏਹ ॥੧੧॥ : Ngənga (a letter of the Gurmukhi alphabet): Restrain (your senses), bear Love for God, and dismiss your doubts. Even if you do encounter difficulties in accomplishing this task, you should not run away; this is the Supreme cleverness (Supreme Wisdom, ‘Param Siaanap-ਪਰਮ ਸਿਆਨਪ’). ||11|| (sggs 340).
• ਭੋਜਨ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਮਹਾ ਰਸੁ ਮੀਠਾ ॥ : The Essence of the spiritual food of Giyan (Eternal Wisdom) is Supremely Sweet. (sggs 1032
• ਸੋਈ ਚਤੁਰੁ ਸਿਆਣਾ ਪੰਡਿਤੁ ਸੋ ਸੂਰਾ ਸੋ ਦਾਨਾਂ ॥ ਸਾਧਸੰਗਿ ਜਿਨਿ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਜਪਿਓ ਨਾਨਕ ਸੋ ਪਰਵਾਨਾ ॥੨॥੬੭॥੯੦॥ : That person alone is clever, Pandit, brave and wise who has realized Naam (Giyan-Wisdom/Virtues) by uniting with the Guru. O Nanak! That person alone is fit for God Relaization. ||2||67||90|| (sggs 1221).

Instead of crafty cleverness (‘Oukati Siaanap-ਉਕਤਿ ਸਿਆਨਪ), the Gurbani wants us to understand the Supreme/Highest Wisdom (‘Param Siaanap’-ਪਰਮ ਸਿਆਨਪ).

• ਸੋਈ ਸਿਆਣਾ ਸੋ ਪਤਿਵੰਤਾ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਲਗੈ ਜਿਸੁ ਮੀਠਾ ਜੀਉ ॥: Only that person is clever (i.e. wise, intelligent etc.) and honorable, unto whom the Hukam seems sweet (sggs 108).
• ਸਾਈ ਮਤਿ ਸਾਈ ਬੁਧਿ ਸਿਆਨਪ ਜਿਤੁ ਨਿਮਖ ਨ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਬਿਸਰਾਵੈ ॥: That alone is intelligence, that alone is wisdom and cleverness, by which one does not forget the Creator, even for an instant. (sggs 978).
• ਛੋਡਿ ਸਗਲ ਸਿਆਣਪਾ ਸਾਚਿ ਸਬਦਿ ਲਿਵ ਲਾਇ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥: Give up all your clever tricks, and lovingly attune yourself to the Eternal Shabad (Upadesh, Giyan-Wisdom…). ||1||Pause|| (sggs 51).

In a nutshell, the Gurmat Wisdom of the SGGS urges us to transform our ignorance (ਬੇ-ਸਮਝੀ) and wickedness into Wisdom of the Gurbani. Because, without giving up our own crafty cleverness (‘Oukati Siaanap’), we cannot take the Guru’s Wisdom (‘Param Siaanap).

• ਇਆਨਪ ਤੇ ਸਭ ਭਈ ਸਿਆਨਪ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਮੇਰਾ ਦਾਨਾ ਬੀਨਾ ॥: (My) ignorance has been totally transformed into Wisdom, (on account of this Giaan-Wisdom, now I understand that my Creator is All-seeing and All-knowing. (sggs 823).

Sikhi is Giaan Maarag

Sikhi is Giaan Maarag — a Way of the Supreme Wisdom of the SGGS, NOT a way of the Mayaic trickery, fool-o-sophy or cleverness!

• ਨਾਮੁ ਨਿਧਾਨੁ ਪਾਇਆ ਵਡਭਾਗੀ ਨਾਨਕ ਨਰਕਿ ਨ ਜਾਈ ॥੧੧॥ ਘਾਲ ਸਿਆਣਪ ਉਕਤਿ ਨ ਮੇਰੀ ਪੂਰੈ ਗੁਰੂ ਕਮਾਈ ॥੧੨॥: O Nanak, one becomes of good fortunate through Realizing the Naam-treasure (Eternal Wisdom / Virtues), that person does not suffer hellish existence (of the world’s sorrows). This is does not happen because of my efforts of clever tricks, but by the blessing of the Perfect Guru (Eternal Giaan-Wisdom). (sggs 915).

Thus, with proper understanding and implementation of the (Wisdom) of the SGGS, a Gurmukh burns away all his worldly intellect (all Mayaic intellect. Retaining only the Essential Intelligence (Tatt Budhi-‘ਤਤੁ ਬੁਧਿ’, Tatt Giaan-ਤਤੁ ਗਿਆਨੁ’) etc., the Gurbani commands all other intellect must burn away.

• ਸਭ ਬੁਧੀ ਜਾਲੀਅਹਿ ਇਕੁ ਰਹੈ ਤਤੁ ਗਿਆਨੁ: All (Mayaic) intellect (ਸਾਰੀਆਂ ਹੀ ਸਿਆਣਪਾਂ) are unavailing (useless, futile…); only the Essence of Spiritual Wisdom lasts (remains…). ||4|| (sggs 1413).
• ਲੋਕਨ ਕੀ ਚਤੁਰਾਈ ਉਪਮਾ ਤੇ ਬੈਸੰਤਰਿ ਜਾਰਿ ॥: I have burnt in the fire the artifices and praises of people. (sggs 528).
• ਚਤੁਰਾਈ ਨ ਚਤੁਰਭੁਜੁ ਪਾਈਐ ॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ : God cannot be realized through cleverness. ||Pause|| (sggs 324).

No change can be made in the Divine Hukam (Universal or Cosmic System-Rule-Law of Nature, ਕੁਦਰਤੀ ਨਿਯਮ) by any worldly cleverness, by any belief (ਮੰਨਤ ਮਨੌਤ), by any charity (ਦਾਨ ਪੁੰਨ), by any supplication (ਮਿੰਨਤਾਂ ਤਰਲੇ), by any recitations (ਪਾਠ ਪਠੰਤਰ), by any bribe (ਸੁਖਣਾਂ ਸੁਖਣ) etc. Gurbani says:

• ਨਾ ਤੂ ਆਵਹਿ ਵਸਿ ਬਹੁਤੁ ਘਿਣਾਵਣੇ ॥ ਨਾ ਤੂ ਆਵਹਿ ਵਸਿ ਬੇਦ ਪੜਾਵਣੇ ॥ ਨਾ ਤੂ ਆਵਹਿ ਵਸਿ ਤੀਰਥਿ ਨਾਈਐ ॥ ਨਾ ਤੂ ਆਵਹਿ ਵਸਿ ਧਰਤੀ ਧਾਈਐ ॥ ਨਾ ਤੂ ਆਵਹਿ ਵਸਿ ਕਿਤੈ ਸਿਆਣਪੈ ॥ ਨਾ ਤੂ ਆਵਹਿ ਵਸਿ ਬਹੁਤਾ ਦਾਨੁ ਦੇ ॥ ਸਭੁ ਕੋ ਤੇਰੈ ਵਸਿ ਅਗਮ ਅਗੋਚਰਾ ॥ ਤੂ ਭਗਤਾ ਕੈ ਵਸਿ ਭਗਤਾ ਤਾਣੁ ਤੇਰਾ ॥੧੦॥ : O God, You are not be swayed by begging before You. You are not won over by reading or teaching Vedas (or any scripture for that matter). No one can please You by bathing at the so called locations of pilgrimage. You cannot be won over by wandering all over the world. You cannot be won over through any cleverness. You can not be influenced by giving huge donations to charities. O Inaccessible and Incomprehensible God, every being is under Your control. (But) You are only won over by Your Bhagat (Daas, Jan, Gurmukh Mindset) and they depend only upon Your support. ||10|| (sggs 962).

When Mayaic trickery or cleverness (thoughts, wanderings-ਫੁਰਨੇ) are reduced through constantly remembering or living the Naam; power of the mind and it’s subtlety increases. A mind so cleansed (ਨਿਰਮਲ) becomes in tune or one with the Huakam (i.e. System-Rule-Law of Nature).

• ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕੈ ਸਿਮਰਨਿ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਧਿਆਨੁ ਤਤੁ ਬੁਧਿ ॥: In remembrance of God alone is the Wisdom, meditation and the Essential Intelligence. (sggs 262).
• ਮਨ ਕਰਹਲਾ ਤੂੰ ਚੰਚਲਾ ਚਤੁਰਾਈ ਛਡਿ ਵਿਕਰਾਲਿ ॥ ਮਨ ਕਰਹਲਾ ਵਡਭਾਗੀਆ ਤੂੰ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਰਤਨੁ ਸਮਾਲਿ ॥: O camel-like mind, you are so fickle; give up your horrible cleverness. O camel-like mind, preserve (your) Jewel of Wisdom and become fortunate. (sggs 235).