‘Jali-‘ਜਲਿ’ = in Water
‘Thali-ਥਲਿ’ = on Land (i.e. in all living beings…)
‘Maheeali-ਮਹੀਅਲਿ’ = in Sky
In the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS) the Universal Energy (i.e. Hukam: System-Rule-Law of Nature etc.) is celebrated as Omniscient, Omnipotent and Omnipresent — in everything, at every place, in water, on the land, in the sky…
- ਰਾਮੁ ਰਮੈ ਸੋਈ ਰਾਮਾਣਾ ॥ ਜਲਿ ਥਲਿ ਮਹੀਅਲਿ ਏਕੁ ਸਮਾਣਾ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥: One who is absorbed in (lives daily life or conforms to the Wisdom or Upadesh) of the all-pervasive (Raam or Universal Energy…) only that person is considered to have become one with Raam (ਅਭੇਦ or inseparable). (That person becomes convinced that) Ram is omnipresent in the water, on the earth, in the sky, everywhere. ||1||Pause|| (sggs 194).
- ਆਦਿ ਅੰਤਿ ਮਧਿ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਰਵਿਆ ਜਲਿ ਥਲਿ ਮਹੀਅਲਿ ਸੋਈ ॥: Prabhu (Universal Energy, Hukam…) was the same in the beginning of the world, it will be the same in the end of the world, it is the same now. It dwells in the water, on the earth, in the sky. (sggs 784).
- ਜਲਿ ਥਲਿ ਸਭ ਮਹਿ ਨਾਮੋ ਡੀਠਾ ॥੨॥: In the water, on the earth, I see (Hari-) Naam (Hukam, Universal Energy, Giaan or Wisdom…). ||2|| (sggs 863).
In other words, the Gurbani’s god or Rabbis not just in the milky ocean. The Gurbani’s Rabb is not just in Vaikunth. The Gurbani’s Rabb is not just in paradise or heaven. The Gurbani’s Rabb is not just in temples, Gurdwaras, Mosques etc.
To the contrary, the Gurbani’s Rabb or Universal Energy has become everything — permeates everything and everyplace, evenly.
Hence it’s also said to be Antaryami.
Everything is filled with its Glory — ‘Jali Thali Maheeali Ek(u) Samaanaa-ਜਲਿ ਥਲਿ ਮਹੀਅਲਿ ਏਕੁ ਸਮਾਣਾ’.
In short, call this Universal Energy by whatever name you like – there is but One Hukam (System-Rule-Law of Nature, ਨਿਯਮ). There is no such thing as a separate Sikh god or soul, a separate Christian god or soul, a separate Muslim god or soul, a separate Hindu god or soul, a young soul, an old soul, a rich soul, a poor soul, and so on.
If someone believes otherwise, he apparently lacks understanding. The All-permeating Reality is One without a second. One Universal Energy permeates in all beings and things just as the butter is hidden in the milk, and the fire is hidden in the wood.
- ਸਗਲ ਬਨਸਪਤਿ ਮਹਿ ਬੈਸੰਤਰੁ ਸਗਲ ਦੂਧ ਮਹਿ ਘੀਆ ॥ ਊਚ ਨੀਚ ਮਹਿ ਜੋਤਿ ਸਮਾਣੀ ਘਟਿ ਘਟਿ ਮਾਧਉ ਜੀਆ ॥੧॥: Just as there is fire (hidden) in all plants, just as there is ‘Ghee‘ or Butter (hidden) in all milk, so too the Universal Light is embodied in all beings, good and bad; Universal Energy is in every body. ||1|| (sggs 617).
The Gurbani asserts that only the one who has become the Gurmukh can understand this Truth.
So the Gurbani urges us to become the Gurmukh. Rest is all Paakhand (‘ਪਾਖੰਡੁ’ – hypocrisy).
- ਕਰਿ ਬੈਰਾਗੁ ਤੂੰ ਛੋਡਿ ਪਾਖੰਡੁ ਸੋ ਸਹੁ ਸਭੁ ਕਿਛੁ ਜਾਣਏ ॥ ਜਲਿ ਥਲਿ ਮਹੀਅਲਿ ਏਕੋ ਸੋਈ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਪਛਾਣਏ ॥: (O mind!) Become detached, and renounce hypocrisy (of your superficial Bairaag or Pakhand); the Divine knows everything (from within you). The ONE (Universal Energy) pervades the water, the land and the sky (i.e., He is everywhere – ਹਰ ਥਾਂ ਸਮਾਇਆ ਹੋਇਆ ਹੈ); by becoming the Gurmukh realize the ONE Hukam (i.e. System-Rule-Law of Nature, ਨਿਯਮ). (sggs 440).
This is revealed through reflecting on the Guru’s Shabad (Upadesh, Wisdom or Giaan):
- ਘਟਿ ਘਟਿ ਰਵਿ ਰਹਿਆ ਬਨਵਾਰੀ ॥ ਜਲਿ ਥਲਿ ਮਹੀਅਲਿ ਗੁਪਤੋ ਵਰਤੈ ਗੁਰ ਸਬਦੀ ਦੇਖਿ ਨਿਹਾਰੀ ਜੀਉ ॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥: In each and every heart the Universal Energy permeates and pervades. In the water, on the land and in the sky (You) pervades (but) hidden (ਪਰ ਲੁਕਿਆ ਹੋਇਆ); through the Guru’s Shabad, You are revealed (i.e. O my mind, see THAT ONE through the Guru‘s Shabad: Upadesh, Wisdom or Giaan). ||Pause|| (sggs 597).
- ਜਲਿ ਥਲਿ ਮਹੀਅਲਿ ਪੂਰਿ ਰਹਿਆ ਇਕ ਨਿਮਖ ਮਨਹੁ ਨ ਵੀਸਰੈ ॥: THAT (Universal Energy, Hukam, Naam…) is omnipresent in water, on earth, in space (i.e. everywhere). For as long as the blink of an eye, THAT should not be forgotten from our mind. (sggs 926).