Non-Gurmukh Mindset – Manmukh, Saakat, Mayadhaaree…

The Gurbani in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS) addresses the mind.

The Gurbani talks a lot about two mindsets: (1) a ‘rare‘ one, the Gurmukh mindset (Enlightened or Guru Shabad-Oriented State of the mind) who lives the Awakened Life by Internalizing the Enlightening Message contained in the Guru Shabad and (2) the rest of us, the NON-GURMUKH mindsets — Manmukhs-Saakat-Mayadhaaree mindsets or thought process (Unenlightened State of the mind).

First thing first — it should be noted that the Gurbani in SGGS is NOT saying here that we should have no relations with fellow citizens of the society and we should stay away from them. That’s NOT the basic principal of Unique and Revolutionary Sikhi of Baabaa Nanak:

• ਅਵਲਿ ਅਲਹ ਨੂਰੁ ਉਪਾਇਆ ਕੁਦਰਤਿ ਕੇ ਸਭ ਬੰਦੇ ॥ ਏਕ ਨੂਰ ਤੇ ਸਭੁ ਜਗੁ ਉਪਜਿਆ ਕਉਨ ਭਲੇ ਕੋ ਮੰਦੇ ॥੧॥ : Every human being is created in equality by ONE Omnipresent and Omnipotent Creator. From one Omnipresent and Omnipotent Creator, the entire Creation has been created then whom can we call good and who is bad? ||1|| (sggs 1349).
• ਨਾ ਕੋ ਬੈਰੀ ਨਹੀ ਬਿਗਾਨਾ ਸਗਲ ਸੰਗਿ ਹਮ ਕਉ ਬਨਿ ਆਈ ॥੧॥ : No one is my enemy, no one is a stranger to me, I have BECOME ONE with the entirety of the humanity. ||1|| (sggs 1299).

This above divine Message is for all of us – Universal – for how to conduct ourselves in society. The Sikhi Message is about showing love, compassion, kindness and tolerance to every human we come in contact with – Universal Brotherhood.

Having said that, a person is not MANMUKH/SAKAT/MAYADHAAREE; IT IS ONE’S thoughts, habits, behavior, ideas in his/her head that is MANMUKH/SAKAT/MAYADHAAREE etc. The Gurbani in SGGS asks us to stay away from MANMUKH/SAKAT/MAYADHAAREE thought process!

The Gurbani asks us to Internalize the Message of the Guru’s Shabad and live accordingly as the Gurmukh Mindset (Enlightened or Guru Shabad-Oriented State of the Mind).

In the Gurbani, the nature of a non-Gurmukh Mindset is compared with the bitterness of:

• ਤੁਮੀ (Tumee): Bitter melon or gourd,
• ਤੁਮਾ (Tumaa): Colocynth,
• ਅਕੁ (Akk): Swallow-wort or colotropis procera,
• ਧਤੂਰਾ (Dhatooraa): Thorn-apple,
• ਨਿਮੁ ਫਲੁ (Nimm Phal): Nimm fruit or the seed of aza-dirachta, etc.

‘Bitterness‘ signifies the nature of the Mindsets that do not remember the ONE Creator and practice the divine Naam (Truth, Wisdom, Virtues…) – the Manmukhs- Saakats-Mayadhaaree Mindsets.

• ਤੁਮੀ ਤੁਮਾ ਵਿਸੁ ਅਕੁ ਧਤੂਰਾ ਨਿਮੁ ਫਲੁ ॥ ਮਨਿ ਮੁਖਿ ਵਸਹਿ ਤਿਸੁ ਜਿਸੁ ਤੂੰ ਚਿਤਿ ਨ ਆਵਹੀ ॥: Bitter melon, swallow-wort, poison, thorn-apple and Nimm fruit (i.e., bitter stuff like these, etc.) – resides in the mind and mouth of him in which (YOU) do not reside (sggs 147).
• ਹਰਿ ਜਸੁ ਸੁਨਹਿ ਨ ਹਰਿ ਗੁਨ ਗਾਵਹਿ ॥ ਬਾਤਨ ਹੀ ਅਸਮਾਨੁ ਗਿਰਾਵਹਿ ॥੧॥ : (Many) do not listen to the ‘Hari Jasu‘ (Shabad-Vichaar, reflections on the Gurbani or Truth or Wisdom…), and they do not live daily life by the Divine Wisdom or Virtues. But knock down the sky with their (nonsense, idle) talks. (sggs 332).
• ਸੁਨੀ ਨ ਜਾਈ ਸਚੁ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਕਾਥਾ ॥ ਰਾਰਿ ਕਰਤ ਝੂਠੀ ਲਗਿ ਗਾਥਾ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ : (Being perplexed, man) cannot hear the Amrit-like discourse of Truth (Shabad-Vichaar, Wisdom…). Attached to false (made-up, manufactured) story, he is engaged in quarrel. ||1||Pause|| (sggs 376).
• ਦੇਂਦੇ ਥਾਵਹੁ ਦਿਤਾ ਚੰਗਾ ਮਨਮੁਖਿ ਐਸਾ ਜਾਣੀਐ ॥: They prefer the gift, instead of the Giver; such is the way of the Manmukh. (sggs 138).

This ‘bitterness’ abides within the Mindsets that do not remember and apply the Shabad – Upadesh, Message, Advice, Wisdom, Direction, Virtues etc. in their daily life!

In other words, non-Gurmukh Mindsets are not interested in taking the Guru’s Giyan-Wisdom or Virtues, let alone applying them!

Such state of the Mind is crooked, ignorant, foolish, unvirtuous, untruthful, false, utmost Pakhnadee that takes pride in showing off religiosity, religious paraphernalia, Haumai-ridden (false ego-sense), Bikaar-ridden (i.e. lust, anger, greed, attachment, pride etc.)!

In a nutshell, as envisaged by the Gurmat Wisdom of the SGGS, a Manmukh (Unenlightened State of the mind) is:

• ਭਗਤੀ ਸਾਰ ਨ ਜਾਣਨ੍ਹ੍ਹੀ ਮਨਮੁਖ ਅਹੰਕਾਰੀ ॥: Egotistical Manmukhs (Unenlightened minds) do not know the essence of Bhagti. (sggs 429).
• ਮਨਮੁਖਿ ਝੂਠੋ ਝੂਠੁ ਕਮਾਵੈ ॥: A Manmukh (Unenlightened mind) always practices falsehood. (sggs 363).
• ਮਨਮੁਖੁ ਅਗਿਆਨੀ ਅੰਧੁ ਅੰਧਾਰਾ ॥ : A Manmukh (Unenlightened mind) totally remains in the darkness of ignorance. (sggs 1067).
• ਨਾਮੁ ਨ ਚੇਤਹਿ ਸਬਦੁ ਨ ਵੀਚਾਰਹਿ ਇਹੁ ਮਨਮੁਖ ਕਾ ਆਚਾਰੁ ॥: The conduct of the Manmukh is that he does not think of the Divine Naam, and he does not contemplate the Shabad (sggs 508).
• ਸੇ ਮਨਮੁਖ ਜੋ ਸਬਦ ਨ ਪਛਾਨਹਿ ॥: They alone are Manmukhs who do not Realize the Shabad (sggs 1054).
• ਮਨਮੁਖਿ ਨਹ ਪਾਈਐ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਗਿਆਨੋ ॥ : Internalization of the Guru’s Shabad or Giaan-Wisdom (Enlightenment: Gurmukh-Hood State of the Mind.) gives one a deep connection with the Creator, one who follows his own mind (i.e. the one who does not follow the Shabad – Manmukh State of the Mind) does not get (this gift). (sggs 1112).
• ਮਨ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਹਉਮੈ ਰੋਗੁ ਹੈ ਭ੍ਰਮਿ ਭੂਲੇ ਮਨਮੁਖ ਦੁਰਜਨਾ ॥ : The unenlightened persons (Manmukhs) of corrupt thinking are deluded by doubt because of the mental disease of false ego-sense (Haumai) within their mind. (sggs 301).
• ਮਨਮੁਖਿ ਅੰਧੁਲੇ ਗੁਰਮਤਿ ਨ ਭਾਈ ॥ ਪਸੂ ਭਏ ਅਭਿਮਾਨੁ ਨ ਜਾਈ ॥: Manmukh is (an ignorant or mentally) blind; he does not like the Gurmat (Wisdom, Giaan, Upadesh or Way of the SGGS…). Becoming a beast, (he) cannot get rid of egoistic pride (sggs 1190).
• ਮਨਮੁਖ ਮੂਲਹੁ ਭੁਲਿਆ ਵਿਚਿ ਲਬੁ ਲੋਭੁ ਅਹੰਕਾਰੁ ॥: The Manmukh (self-willed…) forget their Mool; for they are caught in greed, avarice, and pride (i.e. Bikaar). (sggs 316).
• ਮਨਮੁਖੁ ਅੰਧਾ ਦੂਜੈ ਭਾਇ ਲਾਗੈ ॥: The mentally blind Manmukh are attached to the love of duality (sggs 113).
• ਮਨਮੁਖ ਅੰਧੇ ਫਿਰਹਿ ਬੇਤਾਲੇ ॥: The mentally blind Manmukh wander around like demons. (sggs 117).
• ਮਨਮੁਖਿ ਅੰਧੇ ਸੁਧਿ ਨ ਕਾਈ ॥: The mentally blind Manmukh have no understanding at all (sggs 118).

In a nutshell, as envisaged by the Gurmat Wisdom of the SGGS, a Saakat mindset is:

• ਸਾਕਤੁ ਲੋਭੀ ਇਹੁ ਮਨੁ ਮੂੜਾ ॥ : A SAKAT MIND remains engulf in ignorance and greed. (sggs 415).
• ਪਰ ਹਰਨਾ ਲੋਭੁ ਝੂਠ ਨਿੰਦ ਇਵ ਹੀ ਕਰਤ ਗੁਦਾਰੀ ॥ ਮ੍ਰਿਗ ਤ੍ਰਿਸਨਾ ਆਸ ਮਿਥਿਆ ਮੀਠੀ ਇਹ ਟੇਕ ਮਨਹਿ ਸਾਧਾਰੀ ॥੧॥ ਸਾਕਤ ਕੀ ਆਵਰਦਾ ਜਾਇ ਬ੍ਰਿਥਾਰੀ ॥ ਜੈਸੇ ਕਾਗਦ ਕੇ ਭਾਰ ਮੂਸਾ ਟੂਕਿ ਗਵਾਵਤ ਕਾਮਿ ਨਹੀ ਗਾਵਾਰੀ ॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ : One passes his entire life stealing the property of others, acting in greed, lying and slandering (i.e. ALL vices or Bikaar). He considers the mirage like false hopes as true and he makes these false hopes as the support of his mind. ||1|| The life of a person with Saakat mindset goes in vain (in vices/Bikaar, keeping eye on other’s property etc.), just like a mouse who wastes away loads of paper by nibbling at them and none of that paper is of any use to that foolish creature. ||Pause|| (sggs 681).
• ਸਾਕਤ ਨਰ ਅਹੰਕਾਰੀ ਕਹੀਅਹਿ ਬਿਨੁ ਨਾਵੈ ਧ੍ਰਿਗੁ ਜੀਵੀਜੈ ॥੭॥: Saakat mindsets are called egotistical; their living is disdainful (for they live) without the Naam. ||7|| (sggs 1325).
• ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤੁ ਕਉਰਾ ਬਿਖਿਆ ਮੀਠੀ ॥ ਸਾਕਤ ਕੀ ਬਿਧਿ ਨੈਨਹੁ ਡੀਠੀ ॥ ਕੂੜਿ ਕਪਟਿ ਅਹੰਕਾਰਿ ਰੀਝਾਨਾ ॥ ਨਾਮੁ ਸੁਨਤ ਜਨੁ ਬਿਛੂਅ ਡਸਾਨਾ ॥੨॥ ਮਾਇਆ ਕਾਰਣਿ ਸਦ ਹੀ ਝੂਰੈ ॥ …: Amrit (i.e., Divine Naam) seems bitter, and poison sweet. Such is the condition of Saakat (mind separated from Truth), which I have seen with my own eyes. He is fond of falsehood, fraud and egotism. If he (i.e., Saakat — mind separated from Truth) hears Divine Naam (i.e., Divine Knowledge, Giaan…), he feels like he has been stung by a scorpion ||2||. He continually yearns for Maya… (sggs 892).

In a nutshell, as envisaged by the Gurmat Wisdom of the SGGS, a Mayadhaaree mindset is:

• 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).
• ਨਿੰਦਕੁ ਨਿੰਦਾ ਕਰਿ ਮਲੁ ਧੋਵੈ ਓਹੁ ਮਲਭਖੁ ਮਾਇਆਧਾਰੀ ॥: By slandering, the slanderer washes other’s filth, but in the process a Mayadhaaree (one attached to Maya himself becomes used to) eating the filth. (sggs 507).

Having said that, Manmukhs/Saakat/Mayadhaaree mindsets (Unenlightened State of the mind) are ridden with vices/Bikaar.

A person with such non-Gurmukh thought process – Manmukhs-Saakat-Mayadhaaree (Unenlightened State of the mind) – can visit and bath at all the places of pilgrimage, but its bitter nature or inner filth (vices/Bikaar) will not leave him just as the gourd does not shed its bitterness even if you bathe it at all of the so-called holy places! Bhagat Kabeer Jee says:

• ਲਉਕੀ ਅਠਸਠਿ ਤੀਰਥ ਨ੍ਹ੍ਹਾਈ ॥ ਕਉਰਾਪਨੁ ਤਊ ਨ ਜਾਈ ॥੨॥: (Remember) the gourd may be washed at the sixty-eight sacred shrines, but even then, its bitterness is not removed (from inside) ||2|| (sggs 656).

The Gurbani (SGGS) compares the Unenlightened State of the Mind of Manmukh-Saakat-Mayadhaaree etc. with that of filthy ‘crane’:

• ਮਨਮੁਖੁ ਸਦਾ ਬਗੁ ਮੈਲਾ ਹਉਮੈ ਮਲੁ ਲਾਈ ॥: The Manmukh (Unenlightened Mindset) will always be filthy as a crane (ਬਗਲੇ ਵਾਂਗ ਪਖੰਡੀ-Pakhandee); smeared with the filth of false ego-sense. (sggs 129).
• ਮਨਹਠਿ ਜੋ ਕਮਾਵੈ ਤਿਲੁ ਨ ਲੇਖੈ ਪਾਵੈ ਬਗੁਲ ਜਿਉ ਧਿਆਨੁ ਲਾਵੈ ਮਾਇਆ ਰੇ ਧਾਰੀ ॥ : One who acts (performs religious acts, etc.) through stubbornness is of no account at all (his actions are of no avail); (because) like a crane, he pretends to meditate, but he is still stuck in Maya (i.e. Mayadhaaree ). (sggs 687).
• ਮਨਮੁਖ ਕਰਮ ਕਰੇ ਬਹੁਤੁ ਅਭਿਮਾਨਾ ॥ ਬਗ ਜਿਉ ਲਾਇ ਬਹੈ ਨਿਤ ਧਿਆਨਾ ॥ : Manmukh (Unenlightened mind) performs actions (religious rituals etc.) in great pride. (A Manmukh) pretends to be sitting in meditation, but actually like a stork it is fixed on next victim.  (sggs 230).
• ਹੰਸਾ ਵਿਚਿ ਬੈਠਾ ਬਗੁ ਨ ਬਣਈ ਨਿਤ ਬੈਠਾ ਮਛੀ ਨੋ ਤਾਰ ਲਾਵੈ ॥ ਜਾ ਹੰਸ ਸਭਾ ਵੀਚਾਰੁ ਕਰਿ ਦੇਖਨਿ ਤਾ ਬਗਾ ਨਾਲਿ ਜੋੜੁ ਕਦੇ ਨ ਆਵੈ ॥ ਹੰਸਾ ਹੀਰਾ ਮੋਤੀ ਚੁਗਣਾ ਬਗੁ ਡਡਾ ਭਾਲਣ ਜਾਵੈ ॥ ਉਡਰਿਆ ਵੇਚਾਰਾ ਬਗੁਲਾ ਮਤੁ ਹੋਵੈ ਮੰਞੁ ਲਖਾਵੈ ॥: Sitting among the swans, the crane does not become one of them; sitting there, he keeps staring at the fish. And when the gathering of swans look and see, they realize that they can never form an alliance with the crane. (Because) The swans peck at the diamonds and pearls, while the crane chases after frogs. The poor crane (eventually) flies away (from the gathering of swans), so that his secret (of his Mindset) will not be exposed. (sggs 960).

In other words, thinking (Soch) and words of Manmukh-Saakat- Mayadhaaree Mindsets are ridden with demerits, resulting in bad deeds, bad behavior, bad habits, false ego-sense (Haumai), pretense, and so on.

• ਮਨਮੁਖ ਮੂੜ ਮਾਇਆ ਚਿਤ ਵਾਸੁ ॥: Residence of the consciousness of the foolish Manmukh is Maya (sggs 222).
• 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).
• 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).
• ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਅਲਿਪਤੁ ਲੇਪੁ ਕਦੇ ਨ ਲਾਗੈ ਸਦਾ ਰਹੈ ਸਰਣਾਈ ॥ ਮਨਮੁਖੁ ਮੁਗਧੁ ਆਗੈ ਚੇਤੈ ਨਾਹੀ ਦੁਖਿ ਲਾਗੈ ਪਛੁਤਾਈ ॥੬॥ : A person who becomes the Gurmukh remains free from the shackles of Maya (i.e. remain unaffected by Maya) because he takes refuse in (Hukam: System-Rule-Law of Nature). A Manmukh person is foolish; he does not think of Wisdom; when trouble comes because of his stupidity then he cries and regrets. ||6|| (sggs 1344).

In a nutshell thought process (Soch), habits or actions of a non-Gurmukh mindsets are akin to ‘churning water’! To the contrary, thinking (Soch), habits or actions of Gurmukh mindsets are in accordance with the spirituality of the Guru Shabad (Gurmat), hence akin to churning the cream!

• ਪੰਡਿਤ ਦਹੀ ਵਿਲੋਈਐ ਭਾਈ ਵਿਚਹੁ ਨਿਕਲੈ ਤਥੁ ॥ ਜਲੁ ਮਥੀਐ ਜਲੁ ਦੇਖੀਐ ਭਾਈ ਇਹੁ ਜਗੁ ਏਹਾ ਵਥੁ ॥ : O Pandit! By churning cream, butter is produced. O brother! By churning water, you will only see water; this world is like that (i.e., this Mayaic world churns water only). (sggs 63).

Aptly, the Gurbani urges us to use this opportunity of human birth NOT to cultivate and not to live the lifestyle of a Saakat-Manmukh-Mayadhaaree mindset or thought process. If we do, then it would amount to only ‘churning water’ — Karamaand or rituals, external religious paraphernalia etc. in the name of Dharma etc. This would be akin to tearing up one’s own roots!

• ਦੂਜੈ ਭਾਇ ਸਦਾ ਦੁਖੁ ਹੈ ਨਿਤ ਨੀਰੁ ਵਿਰੋਲੈ ॥: (Manmukh) churns the water endlessly. The love of duality (i.e., his attachment to Maya brings him) pain forever. (sggs 955).
• ਸਾਕਤ ਕਰਮ ਪਾਣੀ ਜਿਉ ਮਥੀਐ ਨਿਤ ਪਾਣੀ ਝੋਲ ਝੁਲਾਰੇ ॥: The actions of Saakat mind are like the churning of water; (Saakat) constantly keeps churning only water. (sggs 982).
• ਜਿਨਾ ਰਾਸਿ ਨ ਸਚੁ ਹੈ ਕਿਉ ਤਿਨਾ ਸੁਖੁ ਹੋਇ ॥ ਖੋਟੈ ਵਣਜਿ ਵਣੰਜਿਐ ਮਨੁ ਤਨੁ ਖੋਟਾ ਹੋਇ ॥: Those who do not have the Fund (i.e, Capital, Asset) of Truth, how can they find Sukh (Happiness, Bliss, Peace…)? By dealing in false trade, mind and body become false.(sggs 23).

In a nutshell, life of non-Gurmukh mindset is empty of Virtues, Wisdom, Truth, Shabad-Vichaar or Bhagti. The Gurbani urges us to stay away from such worthless lifestyle — Manmukh/Saakat/Mayadhaaree state of the mind ridden with vices/Bikaar; stay away from Manmukh/Saakat/Mayadhaaree thought process: negative, ignorant and egoistic…).

• ਨਾਨਕ ਮਨਮੁਖਾ ਨਾਲੋ ਤੁਟੀ ਭਲੀ ਜਿਨ ਮਾਇਆ ਮੋਹ ਪਿਆਰੁ ॥੧॥: O Nanak! It is good to break away from Manmukhs, who have love and attachment to Maya. ||1|| (sggs 316).
• ਉਲਟੀ ਰੇ ਮਨ ਉਲਟੀ ਰੇ ॥ ਸਾਕਤ ਸਿਉ ਕਰਿ ਉਲਟੀ ਰੇ ॥: Turn away, O my mind, turn away. Turn away from the Saakat (Saakat: a mind ridden with vices/Bikaar; run far away from Saakat thought process: negative, ignorant and egoistic…). (sggs 535).
• ਹਮਰਾ ਝਗਰਾ ਰਹਾ ਨ ਕੋਊ ॥ ਪੰਡਿਤ ਮੁਲਾਂ ਛਾਡੇ ਦੋਊ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥: (Bhagat Kabeer Ji says) I have no conflict in my mind whatsoever — no struggle within me anymore. (I have achieved this state because) I have discarded all the claims of the clergy (Pujaaree). |1|| Pause || (sggs 1158).
• ਕਬੀਰ ਸਾਕਤ ਸੰਗੁ ਨ ਕੀਜੀਐ ਦੂਰਹਿ ਜਾਈਐ ਭਾਗਿ ॥ ਬਾਸਨੁ ਕਾਰੋ ਪਰਸੀਐ ਤਉ ਕਛੁ ਲਾਗੈ ਦਾਗੁ ॥੧੩੧॥: Kabeer, don’t do Saakat’s company (Saakat: a mind ridden with vices/Bikaar; run far away from Saakat thought process: negative, ignorant and egoistic…). If you touch a vessel stained with soot, some of the soot is bound to stick to you! ||131|| (sggs 1371).
• ਸਾਕਤ ਸੰਗੁ ਨ ਕੀਜੀਐ ਜਾ ਤੇ ਹੋਇ ਬਿਨਾਹੁ ॥੯੩॥: Don’t do Saakat’s company ( Saakat: a mind ridden with vices/Bikaar; stay away from Saakat thought process: negative, ignorant and egoistic…); it would bring ruin (of intellect, spiritual life…). ||93|| (sggs 1369).

Thus the Gurbani teaches practical spirituality with emphasis on self-efforts (no middleman), self-Transcendence, knowing ownself, improving ownself, persuading ownself, changing ownself, explaining ownself through the Guru Shabad, advising ownself, instructing ownself etc. It is so because we cannot change others minds but our own. Fittingly, the Gurbani’s edict (ਫੈਸਲਾ) is:

• ਮਨਮੁਖੁ ਲੋਕੁ ਸਮਝਾਈਐ ਕਦਹੁ ਸਮਝਾਇਆ ਜਾਇ ॥: One may try to counsel a Manmukh but that person can never be made to understand. (sggs 87).
• ਆਪੁ ਸਵਾਰਹਿ ਮੈ ਮਿਲਹਿ ਮੈ ਮਿਲਿਆ ਸੁਖੁ ਹੋਇ ॥ ਫਰੀਦਾ ਜੇ ਤੂ ਮੇਰਾ ਹੋਇ ਰਹਹਿ ਸਭੁ ਜਗੁ ਤੇਰਾ ਹੋਇ ॥੯੫॥: If you REFORM yourself then you will Realize Me (i.e. God), and when you Realize Me (i.e. God), you will rejoice in Spiritual Bliss. O Farid, (reforming yourself) if you become Mine then the entire world would become yours. ||95|| (sggs 1382).
• ਸਾਕਤ ਨਿੰਦਕ ਦੁਸਟ ਖਿਨ ਮਾਹਿ ਬਿਦਾਰਿਅਨੁ ॥ : (Through remembrance of divine wisdom and by internalizing divine Virtues one realizes spiritual Awakening and experiences Enlightenment) my ignorance, egoistic centered thought process (SAKAT midset), my labeling and judging others (NINDAK) and my full of vices (DUSHAT) thought processes are transformed and destroyed. (sggs 517).

Some Related Posts:

• The Gurmukh Never Grows Old!
• Evil Company – Kusang
• Bitter as Nimm