WHO IS BLIND, DEAF, DUMB, SICK, DEAD & ALIVE?

Overtaken by the false ego ("I-ness" and "my-ness"), we have forgotten our Eternal Religion — Intact Awareness, Unconditioned Consciousness or Soul Nature — which we all were born with! In this forgetfulness of our Essential Being, we have lost all Knowledge of our Origin (Mool) and our Noble Inheritance. Consequently, we take ourselves to be limited and miserable. Our minds have become deluded and perception dulled. As a result, we suffer. The world is thus full of self-inflicted pain, grief and Spiritual darkness (ignorance). In theological terms, the great majority of mankind to some degree or other is blind, deaf, dumb, sick, dead, hopeless and weary; lost in the thick forest of Spiritual ignorance. This includes poor, rich, highly placed, educated or illiterate. Thus, the ego-mind — lust, anger, greed, emotional attachment, pride, envy and stubborn mindedness, with their numerous variations — have surrounded us on all sides and driven us to near madness. As the Gurbani says, only a rare one is truly Alive: Mool-realized or Living Liberated (the Gurmukh)!

• ਅੰਧੌ ਬੋਲੌ ਮੁਗਧੁ ਗਵਾਰੁ ॥: Andho bolo mugadh gavaar: I am blind, deaf, foolish and ignorant (sggs 1330).
• ਕਬੀਰ ਗੂੰਗਾ ਹੂਆ ਬਾਵਰਾ ਬਹਰਾ ਹੂਆ ਕਾਨ ॥: Kabeer goongaa hooaa baavaraa baharaa hooaa kaan (sggs 1374).
• ਪਾਖੰਡਿ ਰਤਾ ਸਭੁ ਲੋਕੁ ਵਣਾਹੰਬੈ ॥: Paakhand rataa sabh lok vanaahanbai: The whole world is filled with hypocrisy (sggs 1104).
• ਕਬੀਰ ਐਸਾ ਏਕੁ ਆਧੁ ਜੋ ਜੀਵਤ ਮਿਰਤਕੁ ਹੋਇ ॥: Kabeer aisaa ek aadh jo jeevat miratak hoe: Kabeer, rare is such a person, who remains dead while yet alive (sggs 1364).

In the worldly sense, a person who cannot see from his physical eyes is said to be blind. But he is not the Gurbani's blind! According to the Gurbani (SGGS), the real blind is that person who is blind in his mind — who is spiritually ignorant; who has forgotten or whose consciousness is blind to the Divine Name (Shabad...); who is intoxicated with false ego-sense ad mayaic Budhi; who is doubt-ridden; who is not Mool-realized; who is attached to duality and evil-mindedness; who does not serve the Divine; who does not know the One Creator; who does not understand the Hukam; who acts in dark or spiritual blindness; who is attached to evil passions (Bikaar); who is engrossed in blind entanglements; who is unwise and without understanding; who is caught in the fear of death; whose intellect is filthy; who is engrossed in rituals; who does understand the Essence of the Reality; who is arrogantly insane; who is a fool caught in conflict, bothered and bewildered; who is wicked and corrupt; who worships in the love of duality; who does not take in any Spiritual Teaching; who is filled with the fire of desire and fear; and so on. Such Spiritually "dead" people are called Manmukh (material beings...) in the Gurbani. As the Gurbani says, if they do not mend their ways, they will not realize their Mool; for a blind cannot appraise a jewel! Consequently, they putrefy in hellish existence. But, as the Gurbani asserts, it's so intriguing in our Spiritual ignorance we see such blind people as the real "seers"!

• ਅੰਧੇ ਕਾ ਨਾਉ ਪਾਰਖੂ ਏਵੈ ਕਰੇ ਗੁਆਉ ॥: Andhe kaa naao paarakhoo evai karae guaao (sggs 1288).
• ਗੁਨਹੀ ਭਰਿਆ ਮੈ ਫਿਰਾ ਲੋਕੁ ਕਹੈ ਦਰਵੇਸੁ ॥: Gunahee bhariaa mai firaa lok kahai daraves: I wander around full of sins, and yet people call me a Dervish - a holy man! (sggs 1381).
• ਸਲੋਕ ਮਃ ੨ ॥ ਅੰਧੇ ਕੈ ਰਾਹਿ ਦਸਿਐ ਅੰਧਾ ਹੋਇ ਸੁ ਜਾਇ ॥ ਹੋਇ ਸੁਜਾਖਾ ਨਾਨਕਾ ਸੋ ਕਿਉ ਉਝੜਿ ਪਾਇ ॥ ਅੰਧੇ ਏਹਿ ਨ ਆਖੀਅਨਿ ਜਿਨ ਮੁਖਿ ਲੋਇਣ ਨਾਹਿ ॥ ਅੰਧੇ ਸੇਈ ਨਾਨਕਾ ਖਸਮਹੁ ਘੁਥੇ ਜਾਹਿ ॥੧॥: Slok M: 2 || Andhe kai raahi dasiai andhaa hoe s jaae ...: Slok M: 2. He is truly blind, who follows the way shown by the blind man. O Nanak! (By listening to a blind) why should the one who can see, get lost? (In spiritual life – ਆਤਮਕ ਜੀਵਨ ਵਿਚ) Those who don't have eyes in their face are not called blind. O Nanak! They alone are blind who wander away from their Master (Prabhoo, Mool, Source, etc.). ||1|| (sggs 954).
• ਮਨ ਕੇ ਅੰਧੇ ਆਪਿ ਨ ਬੂਝਹੁ ਕਾਹਿ ਬੁਝਾਵਹੁ ਭਾਈ ॥: Mann ke andhe aap na boojhahu kaahi bujhaavahu bhaaee: You are blind in your mind, and do not understand your own Self; how can you make others understand, O brother? (sggs 1103).
• ਅੰਧੀ ਕੰਮੀ ਅੰਧੁ ਮਨੁ ਮਨਿ ਅੰਧੈ ਤਨੁ ਅੰਧੁ ॥: Andhee kammee andh mann mani andhai tann andh: Acting blindly, the mind becomes blind. The blind mind makes the body blind (sggs 1287).
• ਅਗਿਆਨੀ ਅੰਧਾ ਬਹੁ ਕਰਮ ਦ੍ਰਿੜਾਏ ॥ ਮਨਹਠਿ ਕਰਮ ਫਿਰਿ ਜੋਨੀ ਪਾਏ ॥ ਬਿਖਿਆ ਕਾਰਣਿ ਲਬੁ ਲੋਭੁ ਕਮਾਵਹਿ ਦੁਰਮਤਿ ਕਾ ਦੋਰਾਹਾ ਹੇ ॥੯॥: Agiaani andhaa bahu karam drirhaae. Mann hathi karam hiri jonee paae. Bikhiaa kaaran lab lobh kamaavahi durmat kaa doraahaa he ||9||: The ignorant (of spiritual life - ਆਤਮਕ ਜੀਵਨ ਤੋਂ) and blind (in love of Maya - ਮਾਇਆ ਦੇ ਮੋਹ ਵਿਚ) cling to all sorts of rituals. They stubborn-mindedly perform these rituals, and are consigned to reincarnation For the sake of poison (Maya), they act in greed and possessiveness; evil-minded duality (arises in their life-journey. ||9|| (sggs 1055).
• ਅੰਧੁਲੈ ਨਾਮੁ ਵਿਸਾਰਿਆ ਮਨਮੁਖਿ ਅੰਧ ਗੁਬਾਰੁ ॥: Andhulai naamu visaariaa manmukhi andh gabaaru (sggs 19).
• ਦ੍ਰਿਸਟਿ ਨ ਆਵਹਿ ਅੰਧ ਅਗਿਆਨੀ ਸੋਇ ਰਹਿਓ ਮਦ ਮਾਵਤ ਹੇ ॥: Drisatti na aavahi andh agiaanee soe rehiou madd maavat he: You do not see them, you blind and ignorant fool; intoxicated with ego, you just keep sleeping (sggs 822).
• ਅੰਧੁਲੇ ਸੋਝੀ ਬੂਝ ਨ ਕਾਈ ਲੋਭੁ ਬੁਰਾ ਅਹੰਕਾਰਾ ਹੇ ॥: Andhulae sojhee boojh na kaaee lobh buraa ahankaaraa he: The spiritually blind ones have no understanding, no wisdom; they are trapped and ruined by greed and egotism (sggs 1029).
• ਭਰਮਿ ਭੁਲਾਣਾ ਅੰਧੁਲਾ ਫਿਰਿ ਫਿਰਿ ਆਵੈ ਜਾਇ ॥: Bharami bhulaanaa andhulaa fir fir aavai jaae: Wandering in doubt, the spiritually blind come and go in reincarnation, over and over again (sggs 35).
• ਦੂਜੀ ਦੁਰਮਤਿ ਅੰਨੀ ਬੋਲੀ ॥: Doojee duramati annee bolee: In duality and evil-mindedness, the soul-bride is spiritually blind and deaf (sggs 1022).
• ਅੰਧੇ ਆਪੁ ਨ ਪਛਾਣਨੀ ਦੂਜੈ ਪਚਿ ਜਾਵਹਿ ॥: Andhe aap na pashaananee doojai pach jaavahi: The spiritually blind ones do not realize his the Self; in the love of duality, they rot (sggs 1089).
• ਨਾਨਕ ਬਿਨੁ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਭੇਟੇ ਜਗੁ ਅੰਧੁ ਹੈ ਅੰਧੇ ਕਰਮ ਕਮਾਇ ॥: Nanak bin satgur bhette jagg andh hai andhe karam kamaae: O Nanak, without realizing the True Guru, the world is blind, and it does blind deeds (sggs 554).
• ਜਿਨਿ ਰਚਿ ਰਚਿਆ ਤਿਸਹਿ ਨ ਜਾਣੈ ਅੰਧਾ ਅੰਧੁ ਕਮਾਇ ॥: Jin rach rachiaa tisahi na jaanai andhaa andhu kamaae: They do not know the One who created the Creation. The spiritually blind fools do their dark deeds (sggs 138).
• ਮੋਹਿ ਪਚੇ ਪਚਿ ਅੰਧਾ ਮੂਆ ॥: Mohi puche pach andhaa mooaa: But, engrossed in attachment, the spiritually blind fool wastes away to death (sggs 392).
• ਨਾਨਕ ਸਚੇ ਨਾਮ ਬਿਨੁ ਵਰਤਣਿ ਵਰਤੈ ਅੰਧੁ ॥: Nanak sache naam bin varatan varatai andh: O Nanak, without the True Name, the world is engrossed in blind entanglements (sggs 551).
• ਅੰਧੇ ਅਕਲੀ ਬਾਹਰੇ ਮੂਰਖ ਅੰਧ ਗਿਆਨੁ ॥: Andhe akalee baahare moorakh andh giaan: The spiritually blind fools have no wisdom at all; their understanding is blind (sggs 789).
• ਅੰਧੇ ਆਪੁ ਨ ਜਾਣਨੀ ਫਕੜੁ ਪਿਟਨਿ ਧੰਧੁ ॥: Andhe aap na jaananee fakarr pittani dhandh: The spiritually blind do not understand themselves; they are engrossed in false worldly entanglements (sggs 959).
• ਅੰਤਰਿ ਮੈਲੁ ਅਗਿਆਨੀ ਅੰਧਾ ਕਿਉ ਕਰਿ ਦੁਤਰੁ ਤਰੀਜੈ ਹੇ ॥: Antari mailu agiaanee andhaa kiu kar dutar tareejai he: The ignorant blind person is filled with filth within. How can he cross over the impassable world-ocean? (sggs 1050).
• ਅੰਧਾ ਭਰਿਆ ਭਰਿ ਭਰਿ ਧੋਵੈ ਅੰਤਰ ਕੀ ਮਲੁ ਕਦੇ ਨ ਲਹੈ ॥: Andhaa bhariaa bhar bhar dhovai antar kee mallu kade na lahai: The spiritually blind are filled with filth and pollution; they may wash, but the filth within will never depart (sggs 1343).
• ਮੂਰਖੁ ਅੰਧਾ ਤਤੁ ਨ ਪਛਾਣੈ ॥: Moorakhu andhaa tatu n pashhaanai: The (mentally) blind fool does not recognize the essence of Reality (ਅਸਲੀਅਤ ਨਹੀਂ ਸਮਝ ਸਕਦਾ). (sggs 1061).
• ਅੰਧੀ ਫੂਕਿ ਮੁਈ ਦੇਵਾਨੀ ॥: Andhee fooki muee devaanee: The spiritually blind and arrogant die insane (sggs 1286).
• ਅੰਧਾ ਝਖਿ ਝਖਿ ਪਇਆ ਝੇਰਿ ॥: Andhaa jhakhi jhakhi paiaa jheri: The spiritually blind fool is caught in conflict, bothered and bewildered (sggs 1287).
• ਕਹਿਓ ਨ ਬੂਝੈ ਅੰਧੁ ਨ ਸੂਝੈ ਭੋਂਡੀ ਕਾਰ ਕਮਾਈ ॥: Kahio na boojhai andh na soojhai bhonddee kaar kamaaee: He does not understand what he is told; he is spiritually blind - he does not see, and so he does his evil deeds (sggs 1330).
• ਕਬੀਰ ਜਗੁ ਕਾਜਲ ਕੀ ਕੋਠਰੀ ਅੰਧ ਪਰੇ ਤਿਸ ਮਾਹਿ ॥ ਹਉ ਬਲਿਹਾਰੀ ਤਿਨ ਕਉ ਪੈਸਿ ਜੁ ਨੀਕਸਿ ਜਾਹਿ ॥੨੬॥: Kabeer jag kaajal kee kotharee andh pare tis maahi. Haou balihaaree tin kaou paisi ju neekas jaahi ||26||: Kabeer, the world is a room filled with black soot; the blind fall into its trap. I am a sacrifice to those who are thrown in, and still escape ||26|| (sggs 1365).
• ਅੰਧੇ ਏਕ ਨ ਲਾਗਈ ਜਿਉ ਬਾਂਸੁ ਬਜਾਈਐ ਫੂਕ ॥: Andhe ek na laagee jio baans bajaaeeai fook: The spiritually blind do not take in any of Divine Teachings; it is as useless as blowing into bamboo (sggs 1372).
• ਮਨਿ ਅੰਧੈ ਊਂਧੈ ਕਵਲ ਦਿਸਨਿ ਖਰੇ ਕਰੂਪ ॥: Mani andhai oondhai kaval disani khare karoop: With their blind minds, and their upside-down heart-lotus, they look totally ugly (sggs 1411).
• ਮਨਮੁਖੁ ਅੰਧਾ ਦੂਜੈ ਭਾਇ ਲਾਗੈ ॥: Manmukh andhaa doojai bhaae laagai: The blind Manmukh are attached to the love of duality (sggs 113).
• ਮਨਮੁਖ ਅੰਧੇ ਫਿਰਹਿ ਬੇਤਾਲੇ ॥: Manmukh andhe firahi betaalae: The blind Manmukh wander around like demons (sggs 117).
• ਮਨਮੁਖੁ ਅੰਧੁ ਨ ਚੇਤਈ ਕਿਉ ਦਰਸਨੁ ਪਾਏ ॥: Manmukh andh na chetaee kio darsan paaeae: The blind Manmukh do not remember God; how can they obtain the Blessed Vision of His Darshan? (sggs 421).
• ਕਾਮ ਕ੍ਰੋਧਿ ਮਨੁ ਹਿਰਿ ਲਇਆ ਮਨਮੁਖ ਅੰਧਾ ਲੋਇ ॥: Kaam krodh mann hir laiaa manmukh andhaa loe: The Manmukh is blind in the world; his mind is lured away by lust and anger (sggs 1414).
• ਨਾਨਕ ਅੰਧਾ ਹੋਇ ਕੈ ਰਤਨਾ ਪਰਖਣ ਜਾਇ ॥: Nanak andhaa hoe kai ratanaa parakhan jaae: O Nanak, the spirituallyblind man goes to appraise the jewels--Divine Name (sggs 954).
• ਨਾਨਕ ਅੰਧੇ ਸਿਉ ਕਿਆ ਕਹੀਐ ਕਹੈ ਨ ਕਹਿਆ ਬੂਝੈ ॥: Nanak andhe sio kiaa kaheeai kahai na kahiaa boojhai: O Nanak, what can be said to the spiritually blind people? They cannot answer, or even understand what is said (sggs 1289).
• ਨਾਨਕ ਸਮਿਓ ਰਮਿ ਗਇਓ ਅਬ ਕਿਉ ਰੋਵਤ ਅੰਧ ॥: Nanak samiou rami gaeiou ab kio rovat andh: Nanak, your time is past and gone; why are you crying now, you spiritually blind fool? (sggs 1428).

Who is Deaf?:

In the same way, we call a person deaf if he has lost his physical hearing. However, a person lacking in the sense of hearing is not Gurbani's deaf. On the contrary, the Gurbani's real deaf is the person who has deaf intellect and, thereby, does not understand Spiritual Speaking and Teaching. In other words, filled with the fire of desire and fear (Maya), he does not hear the Divine Name. Because his ears and intellect are switched off from the Divine-knowledge (Aatam-Giaan).

• ਬਿਨੁ ਸਬਦੈ ਸੁਣੀਐ ਨ ਦੇਖੀਐ ਜਗੁ ਬੋਲਾ ਅੰਨ੍ਹ੍ਹਾ ਭਰਮਾਇ ॥: Bin sabadai suneeai na dekheeai jagg bolaa annaa bharamaae: Without the Shabad, the world does not hear (Naam...), and does not see (Truth, Mool...); spiritually deaf and blind, it wanders around (in love of Maya...). (sggs 429).
• ਮਨਮੁਖ ਬੋਲੇ ਅੰਧੁਲੇ ਤਿਸੁ ਮਹਿ ਅਗਨੀ ਕਾ ਵਾਸ ॥: Manmukh bole andhule tis mahi aganee kaa vaas: The Manmukh are spiritually deaf and blind; they are filled with the fire of desire (sggs 1415).
• ਇਹੁ ਮਨੁ ਅੰਧਾ ਬੋਲਾ ਹੈ ਕਿਸੁ ਆਖਿ ਸੁਣਾਏ ॥: Ihu mann andhaa bolaa hai kis aakh sunaaeae: But this mind is blind and deaf, so for whose benefit is this speaking and preaching? (sggs 364).
• ਅੰਧੁਲੇ ਕੀ ਮਤਿ ਅੰਧਲੀ ਬੋਲੀ ਆਇ ਗਇਆ ਦੁਖੁ ਤਾਹਾ ਹੇ ॥: Andhule kee mati andhalee bolee aae gaeiaa dukh taahaa he: The spiritually blind person has a blind and deaf intellect; coming and going in reincarnation, he suffers in pain (sggs 1033).
• ਬੇਦ ਸਾਸਤ੍ਰ ਜਨ ਪੁਕਾਰਹਿ ਸੁਨੈ ਨਾਹੀ ਡੋਰਾ ॥: Beda saasatra jan pukaarahi sunai naahee doraa: The Vedas, the Shaastras and the holy men proclaim it, but the spiritually deaf do not hear it (sggs 408).

Who Is Dumb?:

Generally, a person lacking the power of speech from birth is called dumb. But, in the Gurbani, those who do not use their tongue for the Divine Name (Naam) are called real dumb.

The term dumb is also metaphor for muteness or silence. As a religious ritual, many chose to remain silence (Chupp or Maun). As indicated in the Gurbani, a person is said to be a truly silent sage if he has silenced his false ego-sense (Haumai). Also, a Realized person is called mute or dumb, because, if asked, he is unable to describe his Spiritual Experience to others.

• ਬੋਲਿ ਸੁਧਰਮੀੜਿਆ ਮੋਨਿ ਕਤ ਧਾਰੀ ਰਾਮ ॥ ਤੂ ਨੇਤ੍ਰੀ ਦੇਖਿ ਚਲਿਆ ਮਾਇਆ ਬਿਉਹਾਰੀ ਰਾਮ ॥ Bol sudharmeerhiyaa mon kat dhaaree Raam ... (sggs 547).
• ਅੰਧੇ ਗੁੰਗੇ ਅੰਧ ਅੰਧਾਰੁ ॥ ਪਾਥਰੁ ਲੇ ਪੂਜਹਿ ਮੁਗਧ ਗਵਾਰ ॥ ਓਹਿ ਜਾ ਆਪਿ ਡੁਬੇ ਤੁਮ ਕਹਾ ਤਰਣਹਾਰੁ ॥: Andhe gunge andh andhaar...: They are blind and dumb, the blindest of the blind. The ignorant fools pick up stones and worship them. But when those stones themselves sink, who will carry you across? (sggs 556).
• ਸਹਜੇ ਚੂਪ ਸਹਜੇ ਹੀ ਜਪਨਾ ॥: Sahaje choop sahaje hee japanaa: In peace and poise, they remain silent; in peace and poise, they chant (sggs 236).
• ਮਿਲਿ ਸਖੀਆ ਪੁਛਹਿ ਕਹੁ ਕੰਤ ਨੀਸਾਣੀ ॥ ਰਸਿ ਪ੍ਰੇਮ ਭਰੀ ਕਛੁ ਬੋਲਿ ਨ ਜਾਣੀ ॥: Mil sakheeaa pushheai kahu kant neesaanee. Ras prem bharee kashu bol na jaanee: Companions meeting ask (me) to tell them the insignia of the Husband-Lord. (Although) I am filled with the Sublime Essence and the Divine Love, (but) I do not know how to tell (His insignia or (sggs 459).
• ਜਿਨਿ ਚਾਖਿਆ ਤਿਸੁ ਆਇਆ ਸਾਦੁ ॥ ਜਿਉ ਗੂੰਗਾ ਮਨ ਮਹਿ ਬਿਸਮਾਦੁ ॥ ਆਨਦ ਰੂਪੁ ਸਭੁ ਨਦਰੀ ਆਇਆ ॥: Jin chaakhiaa tis aaeiaa saad. Jio goongaa mann mahi bisamaad. Anad roop sabh nadaree aaeiaa: One who has tasted it (Spirirtual Experience), comes to know its flavor; he is like the mute, whose mind is filled with wonder. I see God, the source of Bliss, everywhere (sggs 801).

Who is Sick?:

Physical diseases end with the body. However, the mental or psychological diseases stay with the mind. Since the mind is nothing but psychological ego, the disease of egoism (I-ness or my-ness) is said to be the greatest and deadliest sickness the man is afflicted with. The error is the man overtaken by false ego-sense identifies with his gross body (or selfishness), instead of his Mool (Joti-Svaroopa, Source... ). A person who thus does not remember himself as Joti-Svaroopa or Unconditioned Consciousness is judged by the Gurbani to be a very sick person, regardless whether he is physically healthy or otherwise.

• ਮਨਮੁਖੁ ਰੋਗੀ ਹੈ ਸੰਸਾਰਾ ॥: Manmukh rogee hai sansaaraa: The Manmukhs (material or ego beings) are sick and diseased in the world (sggs 118).
• ਨਾਨਕ ਹਉਮੈ ਰੋਗ ਬੁਰੇ ॥: O Nanak! The diseases (born or begotten) of ego are wicked (sggs 1153).
• ਹਉਮੈ ਰੋਗੁ ਵਡਾ ਸੰਸਾਰਿ ॥: Ego is a massive disease in the world (sggs 1278).
• ਜਿਸੁ ਖਸਮੁ ਨ ਆਵੀ ਚਿਤਿ ਰੋਗੀ ਸੇ ਗਣੇ ॥: Jis khasam na aavee chit rogee se gane: One who does not remember his God, is judged to be a sick person (sggs 964).
• ਇਕੁ ਤਿਲੁ ਪਿਆਰਾ ਵੀਸਰੈ ਰੋਗੁ ਵਡਾ ਮਨ ਮਾਹਿ ॥: Ik til piaaraa veesarai rog vaddaa mann maahi: Forgetting the Beloved, even for a moment, the mind is afflicted with terrible diseases (sggs 21).
• ਜਪੁ ਤਪ ਸੰਜਮ ਵਰਤ ਕਰੇ ਪੂਜਾ ਮਨਮੁਖ ਰੋਗੁ ਨ ਜਾਈ ॥: Jap tap sanjam varat kare poojaa manmukh rog na jaaee: The Manmukh may perform chants, meditations, austere self-discipline, fasts and devotional worship, but his sickness does not go away (sggs 732).
• ਮਨ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਹਉਮੈ ਰੋਗੁ ਹੈ ਭ੍ਰਮਿ ਭੂਲੇ ਮਨਮੁਖ ਦੁਰਜਨਾ ॥: Man antar haumai rog hai bharam bhoole manmukh durjanaa: Those within whose mind is the disease of ego (Haumai - ਹਉਮੈ), those self-willed (Manmukhs), the evil beings (ਬਿਕਾਰੀ ਬੰਦੇ - corrupt people), are deluded by doubt (sggs 301).
• ਅੰਤਰਿ ਰੋਗੁ ਮਹਾ ਅਭਿਮਾਨਾ ਦੂਜੈ ਭਾਇ ਖੁਆਈ ॥: Antar rog mahaa abhimaanaa doojai bhaae khuaaee: Deep within him is the sickness of excessive egotism; in the love of duality he is ruined (sggs 732).

Who is Dead?:

A body without the breath of life (Praan) is called a corpse or dead. However, according to the Gurbani, a dead person (ਆਤਮਕ ਮੌਤ) is he who is overtaken by the false ego-sense (haumai); who is devoid of the Love of the real Mool (Source, origin, Jot...); who does not meditate on the Divine Name; who is devoid of Spiritual Wisdom; who is devoid of Understanding; who is engrossed in evil passions; who is tied up in worldly entanglements...

• ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਜਿਨੀ ਨ ਸੇਵਿਓ ਸਬਦਿ ਨ ਕੀਤੋ ਵੀਚਾਰੁ ॥ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਨ ਆਇਓ ਮਿਰਤਕੁ ਹੈ ਸੰਸਾਰਿ: Satigur jinee n sevio sabadi n keeto Veechaar || Antar giaan na aaeiou miratak hai sansaar: They who do not serve the Satguru (via Naam-Simran) and do not ponder over the Shabad (Shabad-Vichaar, contemplation on the Shabad, reflection on the Shabad, etc.), obtain not Divine Knowledge (Wisdom, Giaan, etc.) within (ਹਿਰਦੇ ਵਿਚ ਸੱਚਾ ਚਾਨਣ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੋਇਆ) and (they may appear as alive in the world, but) are as dead in the world (sggs 88).  
• ਹਉਮੈ ਵਿਚਿ ਜਗਤੁ ਮੁਆ ਮਰਦੋ ਮਰਦਾ ਜਾਇ ॥: Houmai vich jagat muaa marado maradaa jaae: In egotism, the world is dead; it dies and dies, again and again (sggs 555).
• ਸੋ ਮੂਆ ਜਿਸੁ ਮਨਹੁ ਬਿਸਾਰੈ ॥: So mooaa jis manahu bisaarai: One who is forgotten by God, is already dead (sggs 292).
• ਬਿਨੁ ਸਬਦੈ ਮੁਆ ਹੈ ਸਭੁ ਕੋਇ ॥: Bin sabadai muaa hai sabh koe: Without the Shabad, everyone is dead (sggs 1418).
• ਸਚੇ ਬਾਝਹੁ ਕੋ ਅਵਰੁ ਨ ਦੂਆ ॥ ਦੂਜੈ ਲਾਗਿ ਜਗੁ ਖਪਿ ਖਪਿ ਮੂਆ ॥: Sache baajhahu ko avar n dooaa. Doojai laag jag khap khap mooaa: Without the (One) Truth, there is no other (or second, etc.) at all. (But) attached to duality (due to having been caught in the love of Maya), the world is distracted and distressed to death (death of Spiritual Life - ਆਤਮਕ ਮੌਤ) (sggs 113).
• ਨਿੰਦਕੁ ਮੁਆ ਉਪਜਿ ਵਡ ਤਾਪੁ ॥੨॥ ਤਿਨਿ ਮਾਰਿਆ ਜਿ ਰਖੈ ਨ ਕੋਇ ॥ ਆਗੈ ਪਾਛੈ ਮੰਦੀ ਸੋਇ ॥੩॥: Nindak muyaa upaj wad taap||2||. Tin maariaa je rakhe n koi. Aagai paachhai mandee soi ||3||: The slanderer died after contracting the deadly fever of slander. ||2|| He is (spiritually) killed by God (ਆਤਮਕ ਮੌਤੇ ਮਾਰ ਦਿੱਤਾ), and no one can save him. Here and hereafter, his reputation is evil ||3|| (sggs 199).
• ਪੜਹਿ ਗੁਣਹਿ ਤੂੰ ਬਹੁਤੁ ਪੁਕਾਰਹਿ ਵਿਣੁ ਬੂਝੇ ਤੂੰ ਡੂਬਿ ਮੁਆ ॥: Parhahi gunahi toon bahut pukaarahi vinu boojhe toon doobi muaa (sggs 435).
• ਇਹੁ ਜਗਤੁ ਮਮਤਾ ਮੁਆ ਜੀਵਣ ਕੀ ਬਿਧਿ ਨਾਹਿ ॥: Ihu jagat mamataa muaa jeevan kee bidh naahi: This world is dead (ਆਤਮਕ ਮੌਤ) in attachment and possessiveness; no one knows the way of life (sggs 508).
• ਮਨਮੁਖੁ ਮੁਆ ਅਪੁਨਾ ਜਨਮੁ ਖੋਇ ॥: Manmukh muaa apunaa janam khoi: The Manmukh dies (ਆਤਮਕ ਮੌਤ); his life is wasted (sggs 1418).

Who is Alive?:

As indicated in the Gurbani, in the ignorance of the death, what is already dead (ਆਤਮਕ ਮੌਤ...) seems alive to us, and what is alive (ਆਤਮਕ ਜਾਗ...) seems dead! Therefore, even though we may be alive, but, in reality, we may be dead because of our separation from our Mool within!

According to the Gurbani, the truly alive are those who have become "Jeevanmukta" (the Gurmukh) or who remain dead while yet alive — who have eradicated egoism, selfishness or duality from within; who are attuned to the Divine Name (or Shabad); who have their consciousness focused within; who are Enlightened, Awakened or Mool-realized within; who have become selfless; who reflect on the Gur-Shabad; who are free of Maya (the limiting factor, illusion or ignorance); who live truthfully; who are full of Divine qualities such as love, compassion, contentment, Divine-knowledge, etc.; who are free from passion and desires; and so on.

• ਜੀਵਤ ਕਉ ਮੂਆ ਕਹੈ ਮੂਏ ਨਹੀ ਰੋਤਾ ॥੪॥: Jeevat ko mooaa kahai mooeae nahee rotaa: The living (spiritual Life - ਆਤਮਕ ਜੀਵਨ) are said to be dead, and no one mourns for those who have died (of spiritual Life - ਆਤਮਕ ਮੌਤੇ ਮਰੇ ਹੋਏ ਨੂੰ). ||4|| (sggs 229).
• ਮੁਆ ਜੀਵੰਦਾ ਪੇਖੁ ਜੀਵੰਦੇ ਮਰਿ ਜਾਨਿ ॥: Muaa jeevandaa pekh jeevandae mari jaan: See, that only one who has died, truly lives; one who is alive, consider him dead (sggs 1102).
• ਮਤੁ ਜਾਣਹੁ ਜਗੁ ਜੀਵਦਾ ਦੂਜੈ ਭਾਇ ਮੁਇਆਸੁ ॥: Matt jaanahu jagg jeevadaa doojai bhaae muiaas: Don't think that he is alive in the world - he is spiritually dead, through the love of duality (sggs 643).
• ਜੀਵਨੁ ਤਉ ਗਨੀਐ ਹਰਿ ਪੇਖਾ ॥: Jeevan tayu ganeeai har paykhaa: A person is judged to be alive, only if he sees the Divine (sggs 1221).
• ਜੀਵਨ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਸੋ ਆਖੀਐ ਮਰਿ ਜੀਵੈ ਮਰੀਆ ॥: Jeevan mukat so aakheeai mar jeevai mareeaa: Those who die, and remain dead while yet alive, are said to be Jivan Mukta, liberated while yet alive (sggs 449).
• ਜੀਵਤੁ ਮਰੈ ਤਾ ਸਭੁ ਕਿਛੁ ਸੂਝੈ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਜਾਣੈ ਸਰਬ ਦਇਆ ॥: Jeevat murai taa sabh kish soojhai antari jaanai sarab daiaa: If one remains dead while yet alive, then he understands everything; he knows the Divine deep Within himself, who is kind and compassionate to all (sggs 940).
• ਮਣੀ ਮਿਟਾਇ ਜੀਵਤ ਮਰੈ ਗੁਰ ਪੂਰੇ ਉਪਦੇਸ ॥: Manee mittaae jeevat marai gur poore upades: One who eradicates his ego, remains dead while yet alive, through the perfect Divine Teachings (sggs 256).
• ਗੁਰ ਕੈ ਸਬਦਿ ਜੀਵਤੁ ਮਰੈ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਭਵਜਲੁ ਤਰਣਾ ॥: Gur kai sabad jeevat marai gurmukh bhvajal taranaa: Through the Word of the Guru-Shabad, the Gurmukh remains dead while yet alive, and swims across the terrifying world-ocean (sggs 69).
• ਜੀਵਤੁ ਮਰੈ ਹਰਿ ਸਿਉ ਚਿਤੁ ਲਾਏ ॥: Jeevat marai har sio chit laae: Those who focus their consciousness on God remain dead while yet alive (sggs 116).
• ਉਲਟ ਭਈ ਜੀਵਤ ਮਰਿ ਜਾਗਿਆ ॥: Ulatt bhaee jeevat mari jaagiaa: (When the mind) turned away (from the worldly ways), (it) became dead while yet alive and (it) has Awakened (ਆਤਮਕ ਜਾਗ). (sggs 221).
• ਆਪੁ ਛੋਡਿ ਸੇਵਾ ਕਰਨਿ ਜੀਵਤ ਮੁਏ ਰਹੰਨਿ ॥: Aap shod sevaa karan jeevat mueae rahann: Subduing their selfishness and conceit, and performing selfless service, they remain dead while yet alive (sggs 233).
• ਜੀਵਤ ਮਰੈ ਮਰੈ ਫੁਨਿ ਜੀਵੈ ਐਸੇ ਸੁੰਨਿ ਸਮਾਇਆ ॥ ਅੰਜਨ ਮਾਹਿ ਨਿਰੰਜਨਿ ਰਹੀਐ ਬਹੁੜਿ ਨ ਭਵਜਲਿ ਪਾਇਆ ॥੧॥: Jeevat marai marai phun jeevai aise sunn samaaiaa. Anjan maahi niranjan reheeai bahurr n bhavajal paaiaa ||1||: One who remains dead while yet alive (by erading Bikaars from the mind, etc.), he lives (the real life - ਅਸਲ ਜੀਵਨ); thus he merges into Sunn (remains in the state that is devoid of Mayaic thoughts, etc.). Remaining pure in the midst of impurity (Maya), he will never again fall into the terrifying world-ocean (of Maya). ||1|| (sggs 332).
• ਏਹਾ ਭਗਤਿ ਜਨੁ ਜੀਵਤ ਮਰੈ ॥: Ehaa bhagati jan jeevat marai: True Devotion is to remain dead while yet alive (sggs 365).
• ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਮਿਲਿਐ ਜੀਵਤੁ ਮਰੈ ਬੁਝਿ ਸਚਿ ਸਮੀਤਾ ॥: Satgur miliai jeevat marai bujhi sach sameetaa: Meeting the True Guru (Self, God, etc.), one remains dead while yet alive; understanding Him, he is absorbed in the Truth (sggs 510).
• ਨਾਨਕ ਜੀਵਤਿਆ ਮਰਿ ਰਹੀਐ ਐਸਾ ਜੋਗੁ ਕਮਾਈਐ ॥: Nanak jeevatiaa mar raheeai aisaa jog kamaaeeai: O Nanak, remain dead while yet alive - practice such a Yoga (sggs 730).
• ਜੀਵਤ ਮਰੈ ਬੁਝੈ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਸੋਇ ॥: Jeevat marai bujhai prabh soe: One who remains dead while yet alive understands God (sggs 741).
• ਕਬੀਰ ਐਸਾ ਏਕੁ ਆਧੁ ਜੋ ਜੀਵਤ ਮਿਰਤਕੁ ਹੋਇ ॥: Kabeer aisaa ek aadh jo jeevat miratak hoe: Kabeer, rare is such a person, who remains dead while yet alive (sggs 1364).
• ਜੀਵਤੇ ਕਉ ਜੀਵਤਾ ਮਿਲੈ ਮੂਏ ਕਉ ਮੂਆ ॥: Jeevnante ko jeevataa milai mooeae ko mooaa: The living mingle with the living, and the dead mingle with the dead (sggs 788).
• ਸਹਜਿ ਮਰਉ ਜੀਵਤ ਹੀ ਜੀਵਉ ॥: Sahaj maro jeevat hee jeevo: I have died in Sahaj, and now I am alive to live (sggs 1189).
• ਜੀਵਤ ਮੁਕਤ ਸਦਾ ਨਿਰਬਾਨ ॥: Jeevat mukat sadaa nirabaan: Those who are Jeevan-mukta, liberated while yet alive - are forever in the state of Nirvaanaa (sggs 1167).

What is the Cure?:

In essence, it is a selfish (or ego-being, Manmukh, Saakat...) person who is truly a blind, deaf, dumb, sick and dead. According to the Gurbani, the cure for such deadly disease is Jap or Naam-Simran . If applied with faith, sincerity, longing, love, selflessness and concentration, it brings the seeker face-to-face with his Mool (Joti-Svaroopa), which is ever afresh and disease free! But, as Kabeer Sahib says, such "Alive" (ਆਤਮਕ ਜਾਗ) person is very rare indeed!

• ਬਹਲੇ ਭੇਖ ਭਵਹਿ ਦਿਨੁ ਰਾਤੀ ਹਉਮੈ ਰੋਗੁ ਨ ਜਾਈ ॥: Bahale bhekh bhavahi din raatee houmai rog n jaaee: Trying on all sorts of (religious) robes, those who wander around day and night, (this way) the disease of their egotism is not cured (sggs 1131).
• ਅੰਧੇ ਚਾਨਣੁ ਤਾ ਥੀਐ ਜਾ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਮਿਲੈ ਰਜਾਇ ॥: Andhe chaanan taa theeai jaa satgur milai rajaae (sggs 551).
• ਆਪੁ ਛੋਡਿ ਜੀਵਤ ਮਰੈ ਗੁਰ ਕੈ ਸਬਦਿ ਵੀਚਾਰ ॥: Aapu shodi jeevat marai gur kai sabadi veechaar (sggs 34).
• ਧਿਆਇ ਹਰਿ ਜੀਉ ਹੋਇ ਮਿਰਤਕੁ ਤਿਆਗਿ ਦੂਜਾ ਭਾਉ ॥: Dhiaae har jeeo hoe miratak tiaag doojaa bhaao: Meditate on the Divine, and be dead to the world; renounce your love of duality (sggs 1002).
• ਜੀਵਤੁ ਮਰੈ ਤਾ ਸਬਦੁ ਬੀਚਾਰੈ ਤਾ ਸਚੁ ਪਾਵੈ ਕੋਈ ॥: Jeevatu marai taa sabadu beechaarai taa sachu paavai koee (sggs 506).
• ਨਾਉ ਮੰਨਿਐ ਹਉਮੈ ਗਈ ਸਭਿ ਰੋਗ ਗਵਾਇਆ ॥: Naaou manniai houmai gaee sabh rog gavaaiaa: With faith in Naam, egotism is eradicated, and all sickness is cured (sggs 1242).

— T. Singh
www.gurbani.org