One Without Wisdom is Plundered

Baabaa Nanak says that people without the Wisdom (Aatam Giaan...) are plundered.

The Gurbani teaches although the material of this world is for man’s livelihood, however, in reality, it’s but trouble! Because, abandoning the Spiritual Wisdom, we fall in love with the mirage-like enchanting world, and misappropriate everything — use it unwisely!

  • ਸਗਲੀ ਧਰਤੀ ਮਾਲੁ ਧਨੁ ਵਰਤਣਿ ਸਰਬ ਜੰਜਾਲ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਮੁਸੈ ਗਿਆਨ ਵਿਹੂਣੀ ਖਾਇ ਗਇਆ ਜਮਕਾਲੁ ॥੧॥: Property and wealth of all of the earth is for livelihood (but) are all entanglements. O Nanak! Without the Wisdom, one is plundered and devoured by ‘Jamkaalu’ (Bikaar: lust, anger, greed, attachment and pride and their numerous variations). ||1|| (sggs 465).
  • ਗਿਆਨ ਵਿਹੂਣੀ ਭਵੈ ਸਬਾਈ ॥: Deprived (abandoned, deserted…) of the Divine Knowledge (Giaan, Spiritual Wisdom), the entire world (ਸਾਰੀ ਲੁਕਾਈ) wanders around (to stray, err, forget…). (sggs 1034).

It should be noted that the Gurmat neither say position and power is bad, nor wealth is bad, nor love and emotions are bad, nor name or education is bad, and so on. Because they are all integral parts of our lives, even essential to our existence. The problem occurs with attachment, we believe that the position is for ever as will be our wealth, strength, beauty, youth, property, people in our life etc. In reality, they are all temporary or fleeting, even our own body and mind.

That said, the simple and commonsense solution according to the Gurbani is to applying (ਅਮਲ) the Wisdom understood through the Shabad-Vichaar! Because — according to the Gurbani — it’s only the Wisdom that can stabilize the doubt-ridden mind.

  • ਮਨ ਸਮਝਾਵਨ ਕਾਰਨੇ ਕਛੂਅਕ ਪੜੀਐ ਗਿਆਨ ॥੫॥: To instruct the mind one ought to study Knowledge to some extent. ||5|| (sggs 340).
  • ਗਿਆਨ ਕਾ ਬਧਾ ਮਨੁ ਰਹੈ ਗੁਰ ਬਿਨੁ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਨ ਹੋਇ ॥੫॥: Giaan ka badhaa manu rahai… (sggs 469).

The Light (‘Chaananu’, Wisdom, Giaan...: ‘ਗੁਰਬਾਣੀ ਇਸੁ ਜਗ ਮਹਿ ਚਾਨਣੁ’) of the Gurbani removes the darkness of ignorance from within.

  • ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਸਬਦਿ ਉਜਾਰੋ ਦੀਪਾ ॥ ਬਿਨਸਿਓ ਅੰਧਕਾਰ ਤਿਹ ਮੰਦਰਿ ਰਤਨ ਕੋਠੜੀ ਖੁਲ੍ਹ੍ਹੀ ਅਨੂਪਾ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥: The Satigur‘s Shabad is like the light of the lamp (through which the Light of Giaan or Wisdom emanates – ਆਤਮਕ ਜੀਵਨ ਦਾ ਚਾਨਣ). (When the Giaan-Light from this Lamp of the Satigur’s Shabad enters in the body-temple) It dispels the darkness of ignorance from the body, and opens the beautiful chamber of Jewels (Wisdom, Virtues, ਆਤਮਕ ਗੁਣ). ||1||Pause|| (sggs 821).
  • ਗੁਰਮਤੀ ਘਟਿ ਚਾਨਣਾ ਸਬਦਿ ਮਿਲੈ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਉ ॥੨॥: Gurmati ghati chaananaa sabadi milai hari naaou (sggs 30).

Now perhaps we can appreciate as to why the Gurbani so boldly tells us that — devoid of the Shabad (Upadesh, Naam, Giaan or Wisdom …) — everyone remains as dead in this world (i.e. Spiritual death – ਆਤਮਕ ਮੌਤੇ ਮਰਿਆ ਹੋਇਆ)!

  • ਬਿਨੁ ਸਬਦੈ ਮੁਆ ਹੈ ਸਭੁ ਕੋਇ ॥: Without the Guru’s Shabad everyone remains spiritually dead. (sggs 1418).
  • ਵਿਣੁ ਨਾਵੈ ਭ੍ਰਮਿ ਭੁਲੀਆ ਠਗਿ ਮੁਠੀ ਕੂੜਿਆਰਿ ਜੀਉ ॥: The Jeev (being) who trades in Maya misses Naam (Wisdom) and goes astray in delusion, is deceived, and its (capital of) spiritual life is looted. (sggs 751).

The Gurbani further teaches us:

  • ਜਿਉ ਮੰਦਰ ਕਉ ਥਾਮੈ ਥੰਮਨੁ ॥ ਤਿਉ ਗੁਰ ਕਾ ਸਬਦੁ ਮਨਹਿ ਅਸਥੰਮਨੁ ॥: As a pillar supports a building, similarly, the Gur-Shabad is the mind’s support. (sggs 282).

To put it otherwise, the Gurbani says that Maya or doubt (Bharam) can only be transcended by abiding in the Shabad-Consciousness (the Gurmukh-Lifestyle, ‘ਸਬਦ’ ਨਾਲ ‘ਸੁਰਤਿ’ ਜੋੜ ਕੇ…)!

  • ਨਾਨਕ ਮਾਇਆ ਕਾ ਮਾਰਣੁ ਸਬਦੁ ਹੈ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਪਾਇਆ ਜਾਇ ॥੨॥ : Nanak, the antidote of Maya is the Shabad, which is realized by internalizing its Message – becoming the Gurmukh (Enlightened mind). ||2|| (sggs 853).
  • ਕਰਹਿ ਬਿਕਾਰ ਵਿਥਾਰ ਘਨੇਰੇ ਸੁਰਤਿ ਸਬਦ ਬਿਨੁ ਭਰਮਿ ਪਇਆ ॥ ਹਉਮੈ ਰੋਗੁ ਮਹਾ ਦੁਖੁ ਲਾਗਾ ਗੁਰਮਤਿ ਲੇਵਹੁ ਰੋਗੁ ਗਇਆ ॥੬॥ (O crazy man) you act in corruption (ਬਿਕਾਰ: lust, anger, greed, etc.), and put on ostentatious shows, but without Awareness of the Shabad, you have fallen into confusion. You are afflicted with greatest pain from the disease of egotism. Following the Gurmat, you can be rid of this disease. ||6|| (sggs 906).

In short, via proper understanding plus implementation of the Gurbani’s Wisdom, the Gurbani asks us to burn away all Mayaic Budhi (ਸਾਰੀਆਂ ਸਿਆਣਪਾਂ…) through the Gur-Shabad-Vichaar. In other words, the Gurbani wants us to retain only the Tatt Budhi or Tatt Giaan (‘ਤਤੁ ਬੁਧਿ’, ‘ਤਤੁ ਗਿਆਨੁ’-Bibek Budhi of the Gurbani; Essence of the Wisdom of the Gurbani…).

  • 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).

However, the Gurbani cautions us that this sought after Wisdom (giaan) is not to be realized by mere talks (ਨਿਰੀਆਂ ਜਾਂ ਫੋਕੀਆਂ ਗੱਲਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਨਹੀ).

  • ਗਿਆਨੁ ਨ ਗਲੀਈ ਢੂਢੀਐ ਕਥਨਾ ਕਰੜਾ ਸਾਰੁ ॥ ਕਰਮਿ ਮਿਲੈ ਤਾ ਪਾਈਐ ਹੋਰ ਹਿਕਮਤਿ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਖੁਆਰੁ ॥੨॥: Divine Giyan-Wisdom cannot be obtained through mere talking, to explain how to obtain it is extremely difficult like chewing iron. Other tricks and dictates (of the mind) are useless. ||2|| (sggs 465).
  • ਗਾਲ੍ਹ੍ਹੀ ਅਲ ਪਲਾਲੀਆ ਕੰਮਿ ਨ ਆਵਹਿ ਮਿਤ ॥੧॥: O my friend, all other useless talks and babbling serve no purpose. ||1|| (sggs 320).

The Gurbani teaches us that the reason mere or empty words are of no use because through lies or false talks (ਝੂਠ-lies), all we can obtain is falsehood (‘ਕੂੜੋ’), not Wisdom or Virtues. Also, through mere talks, our attachment or hunger for Maya (‘ਭੁਖ’) will not go away…

  • ਨਾਨਕ ਗਲੀ ਕੂੜੀਈ ਕੂੜੋ ਪਲੈ ਪਾਇ ॥: Nanak, false talking begets only falsehood. ||2|| (sggs 141).
  • ਭੁਖਿਆ ਭੁਖ ਨ ਉਤਰੈ ਗਲੀ ਭੁਖ ਨ ਜਾਇ ॥: Who are Hungary, their hunger cannot eradicated by mere words. (sggs 147).

In short, if WE ARE WILLING TO TAKE and PRACTICE, the SGGS provides us Wisdom (Giaan), which:

4 comments

  1. The following points are worth consideration,
    1ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਗੁਰ ਨਾਹੀ ਭੇਦ ॥੪॥੧੧॥੨੪॥
    paarabreham gur naahee bhaedh ||4||11||24||
    There is no difference between the Supreme Lord God and the Guru

    2.In the Quote as
    ਗੁਰ ਕਾ ਸਬਦੁ ਰਤੰਨੁ ਹੈ ਕਰਿ ਚਾਨਣੁ ਆਪਿ ਦਿਖਾਇਆ ॥ (Raag Malaar M. 1, GGS. 1290).
    gur kaa sabadh rathann hai kar chaanan aap dhikhaaeiaa ||
    The Word of the Guru’s Shabad is a jewel, through which the Lord shines forth and reveals Himself

    The reference is Gur ka Sabadu as THE WORD OF GuR but this is being given as “The Word of the Guru’s Shabad” One can see that for SABADu the meaning is already taken as THE WORD.

    This is being posted just to point out how incorrectly the translation of Gurbanee is done in English language as such incorrect interpretations ultimately do not provide true meanings as being envisaged.
    This is only a suggestion for consideration.

    In the above quote the meaining of “gur ” is taken as guru How?

  2. ਨਾਨਕ ਸੋਧੇ ਸਿੰਮ੍ਰਿਤਿ ਬੇਦ ॥(Raag Bhairo M. 5, GGS. 1142).:Nanak has studied the Simritees and the Vedas.
    ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਗੁਰ ਨਾਹੀ ਭੇਦ ॥੪॥੧੧॥੨੪॥:There is no difference between the Supreme Lord God and the Guru. ||4||11||24||
    Now according to the Gurbani when the Waheguru and Guru are the same and the power of Waheguru is behind the Guru, then it makes a lot of sense that we trust in Gursbd, which is the voice (Truth) conveyed by Waheguru through the Guru:-
    ਗੁਰ ਕਾ ਸਬਦੁ ਰਤੰਨੁ ਹੈ ਕਰਿ ਚਾਨਣੁ ਆਪਿ ਦਿਖਾਇਆ ॥ (Raag Malaar M. 1, GGS. 1290).
    The Word of the Guru’s Shabad is a jewel, through which the Lord shines forth and reveals Himself.
    On receiving the Divine light from the Guru, one gets enlightentment and emancipation and the darkness of ignorance is dispelled:-
    ਗਿਆਨ ਅੰਜਨੁ ਗੁਰਿ ਦੀਆ ਅਗਿਆਨ ਅੰਧੇਰ ਬਿਨਾਸੁ ॥ (Raag Gauhree M. 5, Sloak 23, GGS. 293):
    The Guru has given the healing ointment of spiritual wisdom, and dispelled the darkness of ignorance.

  3. From the contents of the blog it is very clear that one must know
    ਸਬਦੁ as the only SPIRITUAL WISDOM.

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