Falsehood cannot Propagate Truth

The Gurbani in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS) asserts falsehood cannot propagate Truth (Sach). Because, both — falsehood and Truth — are of opposing nature, thus incompatible. In other words, falsehood cannot influence Truth (Sach).

  • ਵਿਚਿ ਸਚੇ ਕੂੜੁ ਨ ਗਡਈ ਮਨਿ ਵੇਖਹੁ ਕੋ ਨਿਰਜਾਸਿ ॥: Check it out and see in your mind — falsehood does not mix in Truth. (sggs 313).

Why do they both don’t mix? Because, Jeeva (individual beings) permeated by falsehood (Jhooth) cannot love Truth.

  • ਜਿਨਾ ਅੰਦਰਿ ਕੂੜੁ ਵਰਤੈ ਸਚੁ ਨ ਭਾਵਈ ॥ ਜੇ ਕੋ ਬੋਲੈ ਸਚੁ ਕੂੜਾ ਜਲਿ ਜਾਵਈ ॥: Truth does not suit those who are permeated by falsehood. If someone speaks the Truth, the false (one) is burnt (irritated). (sggs 646).
  • ਸਬਦੈ ਸਾਦੁ ਨ ਆਇਓ ਲਾਗੇ ਦੂਜੈ ਭਾਇ ॥ ਵਿਸਟਾ ਕੇ ਕੀੜੇ ਪਵਹਿ ਵਿਚਿ ਵਿਸਟਾ ਸੇ ਵਿਸਟਾ ਮਾਹਿ ਸਮਾਇ ॥੨॥ : (Unenlightened Manmukh) do not internalize the Enlightening Message embedded in the Shabad, they are attached to the love of duality. They are like worms in the filth, they fall in the filth (of vices/Bikaar) and are consumed in there. ॥2॥ (sggs 28).
  • ਦੁਰਮਤਿ ਭਾਗਹੀਨ ਮਤਿ ਫੀਕੇ ਨਾਮੁ ਸੁਨਤ ਆਵੈ ਮਨਿ ਰੋਹੈ ॥ ਕਊਆ ਕਾਗ ਕਉ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਰਸੁ ਪਾਈਐ ਤ੍ਰਿਪਤੈ ਵਿਸਟਾ ਖਾਇ ਮੁਖਿ ਗੋਹੈ ॥੩॥  Those unfortunate persons, misguided by bad advice, are of shallow intellect; upon hearing Naam (Giaan-Wisdom, Virtues…) they feel enraged in their minds. Just as a crow gets satisfied eating filth instead of good food, similarly these evil people, forsaking Amrit of Naam, are satiated by indulging in vices. ||3|| (sggs 493).
  • ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਵੰਸੀ ਪਰਮ ਹੰਸ ਮਨਮੁਖਿ ਠਗ ਬਗ ਵੰਸ ਹਤਿਆਰਾ । ਸਚਿ ਸਚਿਆਰ ਕੂੜਹੁ ਕੂੜਿਆਰਾ ॥੩॥ : The Gurmukh’s familial home is as pure as a flock of swans, the Manmukh’s familial home is as impure as that of the filth-consuming cranes. The truthful beget the truthful, the false beget the false. (Bhai Gurdas Vaar 3:30)

In a nutshell, the Gurbani asserts that the Gurmukh (Enlightened or Guru Shabad-Oriented mindset) does not like falsehood. To the contrary, a Manmukh-Saakat-Mayadhaaree (opposite of the Gurmukh – Unenlightened) does not like Truth. Simple is that!

  • ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਕੂੜੁ ਨ ਭਾਵਈ ਸਚਿ ਰਤੇ ਸਚ ਭਾਇ ॥ ਸਾਕਤ ਸਚੁ ਨ ਭਾਵਈ ਕੂੜੈ ਕੂੜੀ ਪਾਂਇ ॥: (Those who have) become the Gurmukhs do not like falsehood. They remain absorbed in Truth, (and remain united in the) Love of Truth (Sach). (But) Saakat does not like the Truth.False is any attainment of the false (fleeting, temporary etc.). (sggs 22).
  • ਸਾਕਤ ਕੂੜੇ ਸਚੁ ਨ ਭਾਵੈ ॥: The false Saakat does not like Truth (Sach). (sggs 109).
  • ਮਨਮੁਖ ਮੂਲਹੁ ਭੁਲਾਇਅਨੁ ਵਿਚਿ ਲਬੁ ਲੋਭੁ ਅਹੰਕਾਰੁ ॥ ਝਗੜਾ ਕਰਦਿਆ ਅਨਦਿਨੁ ਗੁਦਰੈ ਸਬਦਿ ਨ ਕਰੈ ਵੀਚਾਰੁ ॥ ਸੁਧਿ ਮਤਿ ਕਰਤੈ ਸਭ ਹਿਰਿ ਲਈ ਬੋਲਨਿ ਸਭੁ ਵਿਕਾਰੁ ॥ : Manmukh (unenlightened persons) have forgotten their Mool (Source, Jot Saroop) because they are engrossed in greed and false ego-sense (Haumai). Their each day passes in arguments and they do not reflect on the Shabad. Their Wisdom and intellect has disappeared from Within so whatever they speak is evil and vain. (sggs 549).

Put plainly, the Gurbani asserts falsehood and Truth cannot coexist due to incompatibility issue. In other words, the filthy mind (Jhoothaaa, false, Mayaic, Bikaaree…) and Truth (ਸਚ) cannot unite – become One.

  • ਮਨੁ ਮੈਲਾ ਸਚੁ ਨਿਰਮਲਾ ਕਿਉ ਕਰਿ ਮਿਲਿਆ ਜਾਇ ॥: The Truth is Pure; (so long the man’s) mind is impure (with Haumai, Bikaar, etc.); he cannot realize (the Truth) (sggs 755).
  • ਮਨਮੁਖੁ ਸਚਿ ਨ ਭੀਜਈ ਕੂੜੁ ਕੂੜਿ ਗਡਾਵੈ ॥੪॥: A Manmukh cannot ever abide in Truth; false merges in false. (sggs 419).

Implication is this: Since all the tumult of Maya is said to be false (short lived) in the Gurbani, Maya cannot and will not propagate Truth.

  • ਸਤਿਗੁਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਨਿਧਾਨੁ ਦ੍ਰਿੜਾਇਆ ॥ ਰਾਜੁ ਮਾਲੁ ਝੂਠੀ ਸਭ ਮਾਇਆ ॥: (In whose mind) the Satguru fixed the treasure of Naam, (he sees that) the world’s power, wealth and all Maya is perishable. (sggs 1155).
  • ਝੂਠਾ ਮਾਇਆ ਕਾ ਸਭੁ ਸੋਰੁ ॥: All the noise of Maya is false (bogus, insincere, dishonest…). (sggs 178).

But, strangely, all religions try to propagate Truth with all the noise of Maya — ਰੌਲਾ, ਸ਼ੋਰ ਸ਼ਰਾਬਾ। commotion, tumult!!!!!!!!

What’s the result?

Just look around and see what goes on at the so called religious places — rapes, murders, killing, fights, lawsuits, swindling, stealing, anti-Dharma activities, self-glorification, practice of casteism (Jaat Paat), and so on. It’s because these places have become the dens of Maya-worshippers (‘ਮਾਇਆਧਾਰੀ’, ‘ਮਾਇਆ ਕੈ ਬਿਉਹਾਰੀ’).

  • ਮਾਇਆਧਾਰੀ ਅਤਿ ਅੰਨਾ ਬੋਲਾ ॥ ਸਬਦੁ ਨ ਸੁਣਈ ਬਹੁ ਰੋਲ ਘਚੋਲਾ ॥: One who is attached to Maya is (spiritually) very much blind and deaf (to the Gur-Shabad…). (In such conditioned state), he is unable to listen (i.e., don’t pay attention…) to the Shabad; (but, in love or hunger of Maya) he makes much uproar and tumult (ਰੌਲਾ-ਗੌਲਾ, noise, chatter, etc.).
  • ਕਰਮੁ ਨ ਜਾਣਾ ਧਰਮੁ ਨ ਜਾਣਾ ਲੋਭੀ ਮਾਇਆਧਾਰੀ ॥: (I) do not know about (good) Karma, (I) do not know about Dharma, (I am) greedy Mayadhaaree — chasing after Maya. (sggs 624).
  • ਮੂਰਖ ਅੰਧੇ ਤ੍ਰੈ ਗੁਣ ਸੇਵਹਿ ਮਾਇਆ ਕੈ ਬਿਉਹਾਰੀ ॥ ਅੰਦਰਿ ਕਪਟੁ ਉਦਰੁ ਭਰਣ ਕੈ ਤਾਈ ਪਾਠ ਪੜਹਿ ਗਾਵਾਰੀ ॥: Dealing with Maya alone, the blind fools remain subservient to the three qualities of material nature (i.e., Rajo, Tamo, Sato). With deception within, the fools do Paath (reading of sacred texts) to fill their bellies (sggs 1246).

Therefore, those who say or believe that the love or hunger for Maya can propagate the Gurbani’s Truth, apparently they have not understood the Gurmat Wisdom of the SGGS, or they don’t intend to understand because of anti-Gurmat agenda.

  • ਸੁਣਿ ਸਿਖਵੰਤੇ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਬਿਨਵੈ ਛੋਡਹੁ ਮਾਇਆ ਜਾਲਾ ॥ O learner (of the Gur-Wisdom: the Sikh, ਸਿੱਖਿਆ ਲੈਣ ਵਾਲਾ)! Listen to the Nanak’s entreaty (ਬੇਨਤੀ)! Renounce Maya-Jaal (bubble of illusion, snare, trap…). (sggs 503).
  • ਹੋਰੁ ਵਣਜੁ ਕਰਹਿ ਵਾਪਾਰੀਏ ਅਨੰਤ ਤਰੰਗੀ ਦੁਖੁ ਮਾਇਆ ॥: Those traders (i.e., Jeev-individuals) who deal with other (dealings – other than Naam…), are caught up in the endless waves of Maya and suffer. (sggs 165).
  • ਤਿਆਗਿ ਮਾਨੁ ਝੂਠੁ ਅਭਿਮਾਨੁ ॥ ਜੀਵਤ ਮਰਹਿ ਦਰਗਹ ਪਰਵਾਨੁ ॥੩॥ : (O mind) discard conceit , pretense and false ego-sense. Become living dead (by submitting completely to the Counsel of the Shabad Guru) and become worthy in the eyes of Conscience (i.e. Since the Gurmat’s Creator is Within, Dargah is also Within – ‘ਅੰਦਰਿ ਰਾਜਾ ਤਖਤੁ ਹੈ ਆਪੇ ਕਰੇ ਨਿਆਉ ॥’). ||3|| (sggs 176).

The Gurbani teaches us that Truth can enter within only if the mind-vessel is fist emptied of its falsehood (vices/Bikaars, doubts, hunger for Maya, ਮਾਇਆ ਦੀ ਭੁਖ…)!

  • ਵਸਤੂ ਅੰਦਰਿ ਵਸਤੁ ਸਮਾਵੈ ਦੂਜੀ ਹੋਵੈ ਪਾਸਿ ॥: A thing can be put into a vessel only if (something that is already inside) be first removed. (sggs 474).
  • ਕੂੜੈ ਕੀ ਪਾਲਿ ਵਿਚਹੁ ਨਿਕਲੈ ਸਚੁ ਵਸੈ ਮਨਿ ਆਇ ॥: (When) the wall of falsehood is torn down from within, Truth comes to dwell in the mind. (sggs 591).
  • ਕੂੜੁ ਛੋਡਿ ਸਾਚੇ ਕਉ ਧਾਵਹੁ ॥: Abandon falsehood, and pursue the Truth (sggs 1027).
  • ਹਿਰਦੈ ਸਚੁ ਏਹ ਕਰਣੀ ਸਾਰੁ ॥ ਹੋਰੁ ਸਭੁ ਪਾਖੰਡੁ ਪੂਜ ਖੁਆਰੁ ॥੬॥: Realize the Creator within Heart, make this your sole aim. Otherwise all else is falsity (Pakhand) and the worship of falsity as such. ||6|| (sggs 1343).

Hence, Babba Nanak councils us in the outset of the SGGS:

  • ਕਿਵ ਸਚਿਆਰਾ ਹੋਈਐ ਕਿਵ ਕੂੜੈ ਤੁਟੈ ਪਾਲਿ ॥ ਹੁਕਮਿ ਰਜਾਈ ਚਲਣਾ ਨਾਨਕ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਨਾਲਿ ॥੧॥: How then can you become God-Realized being within (‘Sachiaaraa‘)? How can I remove the obstacle of my non-realized state within? O Nanak! (The way to realize Creator within is to) remain within the confines of His Hukam (the System or Law of Nature…) and abide in Sahaj, as (Creator and His Hukam) is contained with us. ||1|| (sggs 1).

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9 comments

  1. good article on a very relevant topic and good comments from the readers

  2. Falsehood is a condition of the mind but truth is always a revelation of the soul, which is pure, intact and lively. Though mind in its prime state of birth remains pure , but it gets muddled up with impurities of MAYA in its propagation of living and its recovery to original state becomes utterly difficult unless with SIMRAN and God’s GRACE one is forgiven and released from the clutches of MAYA by the Almighty supreme POWER which is ETERNAL TRUTH.

  3. Truth and Falsehood represent the state of presence of Naam (Gurmukh) and absence of Naam (Man-mukh) respectively.

    Thank you Bhai Sahib Jeeo!

  4. Truth and Falsehood represent the state of presence of Naam (Gurmukh) and absence of Naam (Man-mukh) respectively. Naam is a gift of Waheguru obtained as Gurparsad that makes the difference in awareness.
    ਮੂਰਖੁ ਸਿਆਣਾ ਏਕੁ ਹੈ ਏਕ ਜੋਤਿ ਦੁਇ ਨਾਉ ॥ ਮੂਰਖਾ ਸਿਰਿ ਮੂਰਖੁ ਹੈ ਜਿ ਮੰਨੇ ਨਾਹੀ ਨਾਉ ॥੨॥: The same person is foolish and wise; the same light within has two names. The most foolish of the foolish are those who do not believe in the Name. ||2|| (sggs 1015).
    ਸਚੁ ਤਾ ਪਰੁ ਜਾਣੀਐ ਜਾ ਰਿਦੈ ਸਚਾ ਹੋਇ ॥ ਸਚੁ ਤਾ ਪਰੁ ਜਾਣੀਐ ਜਾ ਸਚਿ ਧਰੇ ਪਿਆਰੁ ॥ ਸਚੁ ਤਾ ਪਰੁ ਜਾਣੀਐ ਜਾ ਜੁਗਤਿ ਜਾਣੈ ਜੀਉ ॥ ਸਚੁ ਤਾ ਪਰੁ ਜਾਣੀਐ ਜਾ ਸਿਖ ਸਚੀ ਲੇਇ ॥ ਸਚੁ ਤਾਂ ਪਰੁ ਜਾਣੀਐ ਜਾ ਆਤਮ ਤੀਰਥਿ ਕਰੇ ਨਿਵਾਸੁ ॥: One knows the Truth only when the Truth is in his heart. One knows the Truth only when he bears love to the True Lord. One knows the Truth only when he knows the true way of life. One knows the Truth only when he receives true instruction. One knows the Truth only when he dwells in the sacred shrine of pilgrimage of his own soul. (sggs 468).
    ਗੁਰ ਪਰਸਾਦੀ ਬੁਝਿ ਸਚਿ ਸਮਾਈਐ ॥੨੦॥:By Guru’s Grace, one comes to know the True One, and is absorbed into Him. ||20|| (sggs 147).

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