Poison or Medicine

Recently heard someone repeating one of the most frequently paraphrased statements that the religion is the opium of the people!

Religion in small doses (moderation) could be beneficial provided it’s properly understood and it transforms one’s thinking (Soch) and intellect for Good (‘ਬੁਧਿ ਬਦਲੀ’). However, in big doses, it can easy turn one into religious zealot, fanatic, fundamentalist etc and thus become poison, hazard and destructive!

If not properly understood, assimilated, and lived or if it does not change one’s thinking and intellect for Good, it will acts as ‘opium’ (poison…). Just look at all the wars and killing going on all over the world in the name of man-made religion (Mazhab-ਮਜ਼ਹਬ) and their concocted gods!

For a moment, let’s forget about all man-made religions (Mazhab-ਮਜ਼ਹਬ) and their religious texts. Instead, let’s focus on Sikhi. or Gurmat of Baba Nanak.

Challenging the clergy concocted system of man-made religions

Sikhi is WAY of life based on the Gurmat Giyan–Wisdom of the Gurbani enshrined within the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS).

Often wrongly presented or misunderstood, Sikhi is not a combination or offshoot of any other organized religion (Mazhab-ਮਜ਼ਹਬ). It’s a Pure, Unique and revolutionary ‘Soch‘ or ‘Vichaar Dhaaraa‘ (idealogy) of the 35 composers of the Bani whose Bani (ਬਾਣੀ) or hymns are recorded in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib. All composers of the Bani included in the SGGS were revolutionary figures who championed equality and challenged the authority of religious leaders.

Having said that, they did not start an another religion (Mazhab-ਮਜ਼ਹਬ). In fact, they openly critiqued what had become a corrupt clergy system (Pujaaree-Vaad) in all man-made religions.

Poison and medicine

Poison is called Bikhya in the Gurbani. There is one kind of poison that a person eats and dies, and there is another kind of poison that a person keeps inside and spits out from within. Whatever the poison is, it is bad, it is not good for any person.

The Gurbani enshrined within the SGGS have been composed for the betterment of every human being’s life and for social welfare. That is why every word or every line of Gurbani conveys a an enlightening Message of Giyan or Wisdom for the betterment of human life.

By becoming a Gurmukh (Enlightened being), however, this medicine has to be constantly consumed or administered (understood-assimilated-lived) in daily life to remove the bad impact of false ego-sense (Haumai).

• ਥਾਲ ਵਿਚਿ ਤਿੰਨਿ ਵਸਤੂ ਪਈਓ ਸਤੁ ਸੰਤੋਖੁ ਵੀਚਾਰੋ ॥ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਨਾਮੁ ਠਾਕੁਰ ਕਾ ਪਇਓ ਜਿਸ ਕਾ ਸਭਸੁ ਅਧਾਰੋ ॥ ਜੇ ਕੋ ਖਾਵੈ ਜੇ ਕੋ ਭੁੰਚੈ ਤਿਸ ਕਾ ਹੋਇ ਉਧਾਰੋ ॥ ਏਹ ਵਸਤੁ ਤਜੀ ਨਹ ਜਾਈ ਨਿਤ ਨਿਤ ਰਖੁ ਉਰਿ ਧਾਰੋ ॥ ਤਮ ਸੰਸਾਰੁ ਚਰਨ ਲਗਿ ਤਰੀਐ ਸਭੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਪਸਾਰੋ ॥੧॥ : (Plate or container of) the human Conscious or mind that has internalized three realizations; (1) the Creator, (2) contentment and (3) thoughtful reflection (into spiritual Life); is the one that realizes spiritual life through the realization of the Amrit Naam that is the basis of All of spirituality. The mind which consumes or adopts and internalizes Naam is the one that attains its spiritual Goal. This Thing (i.e. spirituality of realization) requires that the divine Naam be never discarded, therefore be kept permanently inculcated within. Nanak, life within a vices-filled world is traversed by submitting to the Creator who pervades the entire Cosmos. ॥1॥ (sggs 1429).
• ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਅਉਖਧੁ ਸਾਧ ਕਮਾਤਿ ॥: The Sadh (Bhagat, Daas, Jan, Gurmukh…) earn’Hari Hari’ (accumulate / use the Divine Naam) as the medicine (sggs 265).

Poison in the mind

The Gurbani explains that bad thoughts are the poison in the mind of a person. These bad thoughts are the filth of vices/Bikaar – lust, anger, greed, attachment, pride and their numerous variations as enmity, jealousy, duality, hatred, falsehood, false ego-sense (Haumai), arrogance, stubbornness etc.

• ਮਨਿ ਮੈਲੈ ਸਭੁ ਕਿਛੁ ਮੈਲਾ ਤਨਿ ਧੋਤੈ ਮਨੁ ਹਛਾ ਨ ਹੋਇ ॥ : When the mind is filthy, everything is filthy; by washing the body, the mind is not cleaned (sggs 558).

It is clear from the foregoing verse that if the mind is filthy, everything becomes filthy. Just washing the bodyas in ritual bathing does NOT make the mind clean.

• ਸੋਚ ਕਰੈ ਦਿਨਸੁ ਅਰੁ ਰਾਤਿ ॥ ਮਨ ਕੀ ਮੈਲੁ ਨ ਤਨ ਤੇ ਜਾਤਿ ॥ ਇਸੁ ਦੇਹੀ ਕਉ ਬਹੁ ਸਾਧਨਾ ਕਰੈ ॥ ਮਨ ਤੇ ਕਬਹੂ ਨ ਬਿਖਿਆ ਟਰੈ ॥ ਜਲਿ ਧੋਵੈ ਬਹੁ ਦੇਹ ਅਨੀਤਿ ॥ ਸੁਧ ਕਹਾ ਹੋਇ ਕਾਚੀ ਭੀਤਿ ॥ : I may perform external cleansing day and night (at the so called holy places). But the filth of my mind cannot be gotten rid of by bodily cleansing. I may subject body to all sorts of ‘Saadhanaa’ (efforts, Pakhand of ritual bathing etc), but my mind will never be rid of its ‘Bikhiaa’ (poison of vices/Bikaar etc). I may wash my perishable body with loads of water, (still) this wall of mud (i.e. body) cannot be washed clean. (sggs 265).

Hence, the Way of life shown by the Gurmat Wisdom of the SGGS is the anti-poison ‘medicine’. In the following verses of the forgoing Shabad, the Gurbani (SGGS) explains how to get rid of mental filth:

• ਮਨ ਹਰਿ ਕੇ ਨਾਮ ਕੀ ਮਹਿਮਾ ਊਚ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਨਾਮਿ ਉਧਰੇ ਪਤਿਤ ਬਹੁ ਮੂਚ ॥੩॥ : O my mind, greatest is the glory of Divine Naam ( Divine Giyan, Wisdom, Virtues, Hukam…). Nanak, so many transgressors get saved from vices/Bikaar by contemplation on the Naam ||3|| (sggs 265).

Simply put, one’s mind should understand that the medicine to end mind’s poison is Divine Naam. in other words adopting Divine Virtues, Giyan, Wisdom, living in harmony with Hukam is the medicine that can save countless evil-doers who had become corrupt from the poison of vices/Bikaar.

If internalized, accepted and assimilate in life, the enlightening Wisdom or Bibek-Budh of the Gurbani will change or transform one’s Soch and Budh (intellect) for Good.

• ਕਹਿ ਕਬੀਰ ਬੁਧਿ ਹਰਿ ਲਈ ਮੇਰੀ ਬੁਧਿ ਬਦਲੀ ਸਿਧਿ ਪਾਈ ॥੨॥੨੧॥੭੨॥ : Says Kabeer! (Wisdom) has taken away my (worldly) intelligence (ਅਕਲ). With this altered intelligence, now I have obtained Sidhi (Spiritual Perfection…). ||2||21||72|| (sggs 339).

Once our intellect is so transformed by the spiritual Message of the Guru Shabad, it will positively affect our mind and leads it to realize its Untainted Nature (Jot Saroop).

In other words, when our intellect (ਬੁਧਿ-Budh) continually abides in the Wisdom (or Bibek-Budh) of the Guru Shabad, then it instructs (counsels, disciplines etc.) the rebel mind (ਗੁਰਬਾਣੀ ਦਾ ਗਿਆਨ ਲੈਕੇ ਬੁਧਿ ਫਿਰ ਮਾਇਕੀ ਮੰਨ ਨੂੰ ਸਮਝਾਂਦੀ ਹੈ).

To put it otherwise, our intellect’s job is to understand the Gurbani, persuade the mind (Mann) and join Mann and Chitt, making them One again (the state of ‘ਇਕ ਮਨਿ ਇਕ ਚਿਤਿ’ – Ik Mani Ik Chiti,  Gurmukh-hood, one-pointed mind etc. ).

• ਮਨ ਸਮਝਾਵਨ ਕਾਰਨੇ ਕਛੂਅਕ ਪੜੀਐ ਗਿਆਨ ॥੫॥ : To instruct the mind one ought to study Knowledge to some extent. ||5|| (sggs 340).
• ਯਾ ਜੁਗ ਮਹਿ ਏਕਹਿ ਕਉ ਆਇਆ ॥ ਜਨਮਤ ਮੋਹਿਓ ਮੋਹਨੀ ਮਾਇਆ ॥ : (Man) is born in this life only to become ONE (with Prabh, Mool, etc. – through Naam…). (But) ever since (man’s) birth, (he) has been enticed and deceived by Maya. (sggs 251).

Thus, when we allow the Gur-Shabad to transform our intellect, it is the supreme medicine (‘ਅਉਖਧੁ’-Aoukhadhu) – panacea !

• ਅਉਖਧੁ ਹਰਿ ਕਾ ਨਾਮੁ ਹੈ ਜਿਤੁ ਰੋਗੁ ਨ ਵਿਆਪੈ ॥ : The Divine Naam is the medicine; with it, no disease afflicts (sggs 814).
• ਦੁਖ ਮਹੁਰਾ ਮਾਰਣ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ॥ ਸਿਲਾ ਸੰਤੋਖ ਪੀਸਣੁ ਹਥਿ ਦਾਨੁ ॥ ਨਿਤ ਨਿਤ ਲੇਹੁ ਨ ਛੀਜੈ ਦੇਹ ॥ ਅੰਤ ਕਾਲਿ ਜਮੁ ਮਾਰੈ ਠੇਹ ॥੧॥ ਐਸਾ ਦਾਰੂ ਖਾਹਿ ਗਵਾਰ ॥ ਜਿਤੁ ਖਾਧੈ ਤੇਰੇ ਜਾਹਿ ਵਿਕਾਰ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ : Sufferings that have become poison due to vikaar/Bikaar, the divine Naam (Giyan or Wsdom) is the antidote. Grind it up in the mortar of contentment, make the Daan a grindstone in your hand. Take this (medicine) everyday, and your body will not pine and waste away. Otherwise you will have to bear the brunt of vices/Bikaar. ||1|| O foolish (mind)! Take such medicine, by which (the bad impact of) vices/Bikaar leave you alone. ||1||Pause|| (sggs 1257).
• ਗੁਰ ਸਬਦੁ ਕਮਾਇਆ ਅਉਖਧੁ ਹਰਿ ਪਾਇਆ ਹਰਿ ਕੀਰਤਿ ਹਰਿ ਸਾਂਤਿ ਪਾਇ ਜੀਉ ॥ : Gur sabadu kamaaiaa aoukhadhu hari paaiaa… (sggs 446).

To the contrary, if applied in foolishness and worthless Karamkaand (rituals), then the benefit (‘Laahaa’) will be lost.

• ਵੈਦ ਨ ਭੋਲੇ ਦਾਰੂ ਲਾਇ ॥ ਦਰਦੁ ਹੋਵੈ ਦੁਖੁ ਰਹੈ ਸਰੀਰ ॥ ਐਸਾ ਦਾਰੂ ਲਗੈ ਨ ਬੀਰ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ : O foolish doctor! (if you don’t properly understand the disease…) Don’t give medicine. (Don’t give medicine to me, if with that medicine) the pain persists and the body continues to suffer. O brother (ignorant doctor)! Such medicine has no effect on me. ||1||Pause|| (sggs 1256).

Therefore, the key is in proper understanding (Soojh-Boojh).
Because, without proper understanding, one cannot properly understand subtle ailments of the diseased mind. The Gurbani says we need to understand both — the (mental) disease and the medicine!

• ਰੋਗੁ ਦਾਰੂ ਦੋਵੈ ਬੁਝੈ ਤਾ ਵੈਦੁ ਸੁਜਾਣੁ ॥ : (Instead of judging others or finding vices/faults in others), if a person recognizes his/her own vices/faults (i.e. judges him/herself) and way to eradicate them, is truly a wise physician (i.e. wise person). (sggs 148).
• ਸੋ ਗੁਰੂ ਸੋ ਸਿਖੁ ਕਥੀਅਲੇ ਸੋ ਵੈਦੁ ਜਿ ਜਾਣੈ ਰੋਗੀ ॥ : One is said to be a Guru who understands what the disciple needs and guides accordingly; similarly, such person is called a Sikh who understand his/her ailment; and such a person is called physician who knows the patient’s illness and how to treat it. (sggs 503).
• ਵੈਦਾ ਵੈਦੁ ਸੁਵੈਦੁ ਤੂ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਰੋਗੁ ਪਛਾਣੁ ॥ ਐਸਾ ਦਾਰੂ ਲੋੜਿ ਲਹੁ ਜਿਤੁ ਵੰਞੈ ਰੋਗਾ ਘਾਣਿ ॥ ਜਿਤੁ ਦਾਰੂ ਰੋਗ ਉਠਿਅਹਿ ਤਨਿ ਸੁਖੁ ਵਸੈ ਆਇ ॥ ਰੋਗੁ ਗਵਾਇਹਿ ਆਪਣਾ ਤ ਨਾਨਕ ਵੈਦੁ ਸਦਾਇ ॥੨॥ : O physician! O physician, you are a competent physician, (only) if you first diagnose the disease (pertaining to your own mind-ਆਪਣਾ ਹੀ ਆਤਮਕ ਰੋਗ)… (sggs 1279).

Hence, the problem is not with religions or their texts, but not properly understanding them and interpreting them by the clergy (Pujaaree), let alone properly applying them to daily life!

In fact, on account of ignorance or greed, many (Particularly the paid clergy or Pujaaree) abuse or use religions or their texts as a mundane business (‘ਰੋਟੀਆ ਕਾਰਣਿ’ ਧੰਧਾ) or money game and mislead people in the process! Owing to their selfishness and greed, masses do follow religious conman blindly.

• ਪੜਿਐ ਨਾਹੀ ਭੇਦੁ ਬੁਝਿਐ ਪਾਵਣਾ ॥ ਖਟੁ ਦਰਸਨ ਕੈ ਭੇਖਿ ਕਿਸੈ ਸਚਿ ਸਮਾਵਣਾ ॥ ਸਚਾ ਪੁਰਖੁ ਅਲਖੁ ਸਬਦਿ ਸੁਹਾਵਣਾ ॥ : Not by just reading (scriptures), but it is through spiritual Wisdom one Understands this fact (that God is infinite). No one can merge in the eternal God by merely adopting the garbs mentioned in the six Shastras (the Hindu holy books). The eternal God is unfathomable, but revealed through the Guru’s Shabad, He (i.e. Creation, Hukam) looks beautiful. (sggs 148).
• ਬਿਨੁ ਬੂਝੇ ਪਸੂ ਭਏ ਬੇਤਾਲੇ ॥੬॥ : Without understanding, people become beast (-nature) and demon ||6|| (sggs 224).
• ਪਢੇ ਗੁਨੇ ਨਾਹੀ ਕਛੁ ਬਉਰੇ ਜਉ ਦਿਲ ਮਹਿ ਖਬਰਿ ਨ ਹੋਈ ॥੨॥ : O crazy man! (You) gain nothing by reading and studying if you do not gain the Understanding (ਆਤਮਕ ਸੂਝ-ਬੂਝ) in the Heart. ||2|| (sggs 483).

As asserted in the Gurbani, If everybody in the world becomes the Gurmukh (Enlightened being), then there will prevail only the Divine Vision and Understanding (Soojh-Boojh) of Oneness, eliminating poison (of Maya, vices/Bikaar, ignorance, I-ness etc.) from the minds. Change in the minds of the people translates into social change for good!

• ਵਾਹੁ ਵਾਹੁ ਗੁਰਮੁਖ ਸਦਾ ਕਰਹਿ ਮਨਮੁਖ ਮਰਹਿ ਬਿਖੁ ਖਾਇ ॥ : The Gurmukhs ever praise (Rabb: Universal Energy, Hukam: System-Rule-Law of Nature…); However, Manmukhs (Unenlightened beings) die by consuming the poison of Maya. (sggs 515).
• ਬਿਖੁ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤੁ ਕਰਤਾਰਿ ਉਪਾਏ ॥ ਸੰਸਾਰ ਬਿਰਖ ਕਉ ਦੁਇ ਫਲ ਲਾਏ ॥ : Poison (which brings spiritual death) and Amrit (-Naam, which gives spiritual life) are created by the Kartaar. These two fruits have been attached to the world-tree. (sggs 1172).
• ਆਸਿ ਪਾਸਿ ਬਿਖੂਆ ਕੇ ਕੁੰਟਾ ਬੀਚਿ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤੁ ਹੈ ਭਾਈ ਰੇ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ : O my brother, there are springs full of poison (attachment or hunger for Maya, worldly temptations, vices) around and in the midst you have Amrit (i.e. Naam) flowing within. ||1||Pause|| (sggs 385).

Some related posts:

• Pujaaree’s Sikhi vs. Guru Nanak’s Unique Sikhi
• Gurbani on Absurdity of Conflicts among Man-Made Religions
• Antidote for Ignorance
• Bhangaar – Mental Filth
• Gurbani Asks Burn Mind’s Bikaar
• Gurmat and Social Change
• Realize Enlightening Message Embedded within Shabad
• Core of Gurmat Spirituality – ਕਿਵ ਸਚਿਆਰਾ ਹੋਈਐ
• Hukam and it’s Immanence
• Gurbani Speaks of one Universal Dharma of Virtues
• The Ultimate Medicine