RELIGIOUS FANATICISM — PART 10
ITS CURE: LET RELIGION DEVELOP SPIRITUAL BEINGS

Among humans, there are two types of beings: Material beings and Spiritual Beings. Also called "Manmukhs", the material beings dwell in ego illusion — time and space, animal nature, spiritual ignorance, deluded consciousness, impure or undisciplined mind, death-birth cycle, "Dukha" or suffering, evil passions, ill-will, hatred, foolishness, selfishness, desires and fear, lust, greed, anger, worldly attachment, self-conceit, enviousness, stubbornness, perverted intellect, bigotry, prejudice, hatred, and so on.

• ਮਨਮੁਖੁ ਅਗਿਆਨੀ ਅੰਧੁ ਅੰਧਾਰਾ ॥: Manmukh agiaanee andh andhaaraa: The Manmukhs (because of emotional attachment: Moh) remain immersed in utter darkness of ignorance (of their spiritual life: ਆਤਮਕ ਜੀਵਨ) (sggs 1067).
• ਮਨਮੁਖੁ ਰੋਗੀ ਹੈ ਸੰਸਾਰਾ ॥: Manmukh rogee hai sansaaraa: The Manmukh is sick and diseased (with evil passions) in the world (sggs 118).
• ਮਨਮੁਖਿ ਝੂਠੋ ਝੂਠੁ ਕਮਾਵੈ ॥: Manmukh jhootho jhooth kamaavai: The Manmukh practices falsehood, only falsehood (sggs 363).
• ਮਨਮੁਖੀ ਮਨਹਠਿ ਹਾਰਿਆ ਕੂੜੁ ਕੁਸਤੁ ਕਮਾਇ ॥: Manmukhee manahath haariaa koorr kusat kamaae: The material beings, through stubborn-mindedness and the practice of falsehood, lose the game of life (sggs 87).
• ਮਨਮੁਖੁ ਅੰਧਾ ਦੂਜੈ ਭਾਇ ਲਾਗੈ ॥: Manmukh andhaa doojai bhaai laagai: The blind material beings are attached to duality (sggs 113).
• ਮਨਮੁਖ ਅੰਧੇ ਫਿਰਹਿ ਬੇਤਾਲੇ ॥: Manmukh andhe firahi betaalae: The blind material beings wander around like demons (sggs 117).
• ਮਨਮੁਖਿ ਅੰਧੇ ਸੁਧਿ ਨ ਕਾਈ ॥: Manmukh andhe sudh na kaaee: The blind material beings have no understanding at all (sggs 118).

Spiritual Beings are completely opposite of material beings; for they have eradicated their ego illusion. They are also known by many other names such as the Gurmukhs, Ttrue Beings, Pure Beings, Realized Beings, living-liberated (Jeevanmukta)...

• ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਝਗੜੁ ਚੁਕਾਇਓਨੁ ਇਕੋ ਰਵਿ ਰਹਿਆ ॥: Gurmukhi jhagarru chukaaeionu iko ravi rahiaa (sggs 790).
• ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਇਹੁ ਮਨੁ ਲਇਆ ਸਵਾਰਿ ॥: Gurmukhi ihu manu laiaa savaari: By becoming a Spirirtual being, he has purified his mind (sggs 665).
• ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਮੁਕਤਾ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਜੁਗਤਾ ॥: Gurmukh mukataa gurmukh jugataa: The Gurmukh is liberated, and the Gurmukh is linked (to God) (sggs 131).
• ਮਨਮੁਖ ਸੋਇ ਰਹੇ ਸੇ ਲੂਟੇ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਸਾਬਤੁ ਭਾਈ ਹੇ ॥: Manmukh soi rehe se loote gurmukh saabat bhaaee hae (sggs 1024).
• ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਆਪੁ ਪਛਾਣਿਆ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਵਸਿਆ ਮਨਿ ਆਇ ॥ ਅਨਦਿਨੁ ਭਗਤੀ ਰਤਿਆ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੇ ਸੁਖਿ ਸਮਾਇ ॥੩॥: Gurmakhi aap pashaaniaa Harinaam vasiaa manni aai. Andin bhagti rattiaa harinaame suh samaai ||3||: By becoming the Gurmukh, (one) understands his own Self (ਆਤਮਕ ਜੀਵਨ. spiritual Lifestyle, etc.). The Lord’s Name comes to dwell within his mind. Imbued with the devotion to the Lord’s Name, night and day, he merges in Peace (ਆਤਮਕ ਆਨੰਦ, Joy, etc.) ||3|| (sggs 162).
• ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਹੋਵੈ ਮਨੁ ਖੋਜਿ ਸੁਣਾਏ ॥: Gurmukhi hovai manu khoji sunaae: One who becomes Spiritual being (first) examines his own mind, and (then) instructs others (sggs 1059).
• ਗੁਰਮੁਖੇ ਸਚੁ ਕਰਣੀ ਸਾਰੀ ਬਿਨਸੇ ਭ੍ਰਮ ਭੈ ਝੂਠਾ ਰਾਮ ॥: Gurmukhe sach karnee saaree binse bhram bhai jhoothaa raam: As Spirirtual being, my lifestyle is excellent and true; my false hopes and doubts are dispelled (sggs 781).

The only purpose of religion is to change the material beings (the Manmukhs) into the Spiritual Beings (the Gurmukhs). But, to one's amazement, the Spiritual Beings are very rare and far in between! The opposite is true for the material beings: the world is full of them — more than 99-percent to be more precise! What a paradox!

• ਸ੍ਰਿਸਟਿ ਸਭ ਇਕ ਵਰਨ ਹੋਈ ਧਰਮ ਕੀ ਗਤਿ ਰਹੀ ॥: Srisatti sabh ik varan hoee dharam kee gati rahee: The whole world has been reduced to the same status (of deceptiveness or falsehood); the state of righteousness or Dharma has been lost (sggs 663).
• ਜਨ ਨਾਨਕ ਕੋਟਨ ਮੈ ਕੋਊ ਭਜਨੁ ਰਾਮ ਕੋ ਪਾਵੈ ॥: Jan Nanak kotan mai koyu bhajan Raam ko paavai: O servant Nanak, among millions, there is scarcely anyone who attains God's meditation (sggs 219).
• ਕੋਟਨ ਮੈ ਨਾਨਕ ਕੋਊ ਨਾਰਾਇਨੁ ਜਿਹ ਚੀਤਿ ॥: Kotan mai Nanak kou narain jih cheet: Rare is the one amongst millions, who enshrines Divine in his mind, O Nanak (sggs 1427).
• Manushyaanaamam sahasreshu kashchid yatati siddhaye, yatataam api siddgaanaamam kashchin maamam vetti tattvatah: Among thousands of men, one strives for spiritual perfection; and, among the blessed true seekers that assduously try to reach Me, hardly one knows Me in fact (Geeta 7-3).

What went wrong? Instead of creating Spiritual beings, the custodians of all religions of the world are preoccupied with building Churches, Mosques, Mandirs, Gurdwaaraas, Synagogue, Aashrams, temples, and so on — the dens of mammon worshippers!

Instead of eradicating human selfishness, which is the root of all evil in the world, they are wrapped up in sex, money, power, fame and name. Instead of building a society of good human beings, they are bundled up in building their own empires. Instead of reaching out to people to help them in their genuine Spiritual Unfoldment, they are enveloped in competition for converting others into their own religion by "force", "hook" or "crook" — not for Spiritual cause, but for ulterior motives. What a tragedy!

• ਰਾਮਕਲੀ ਮਹਲਾ ੫ ॥ ਕਉਡੀ ਬਦਲੈ ਤਿਆਗੈ ਰਤਨੁ ॥ ਛੋਡਿ ਜਾਇ ਤਾਹੂ ਕਾ ਜਤਨੁ ॥ ਸੋ ਸੰਚੈ ਜੋ ਹੋਛੀ ਬਾਤ ॥ ਮਾਇਆ ਮੋਹਿਆ ਟੇਢਉ ਜਾਤ ॥੧॥ ਅਭਾਗੇ ਤੈ ਲਾਜ ਨਾਹੀ ॥ ਸੁਖ ਸਾਗਰ ਪੂਰਨ ਪਰਮੇਸਰੁ ਹਰਿ ਨ ਚੇਤਿਓ ਮਨ ਮਾਹੀ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤੁ ਕਉਰਾ ਬਿਖਿਆ ਮੀਠੀ ॥ ਸਾਕਤ ਕੀ ਬਿਧਿ ਨੈਨਹੁ ਡੀਠੀ ॥ ਕੂੜਿ ਕਪਟਿ ਅਹੰਕਾਰਿ ਰੀਝਾਨਾ ॥ ਨਾਮੁ ਸੁਨਤ ਜਨੁ ਬਿਛੂਅ ਡਸਾਨਾ ॥੨॥ ਮਾਇਆ ਕਾਰਣਿ ਸਦ ਹੀ ਝੂਰੈ ॥ ਮਨਿ ਮੁਖਿ ਕਬਹਿ ਨ ਉਸਤਤਿ ਕਰੈ ॥ ਨਿਰਭਉ ਨਿਰੰਕਾਰ ਦਾਤਾਰੁ ॥ ਤਿਸੁ ਸਿਉ ਪ੍ਰੀਤਿ ਨ ਕਰੈ ਗਵਾਰੁ ॥੩॥ ਸਭ ਸਾਹਾ ਸਿਰਿ ਸਾਚਾ ਸਾਹੁ ॥ ਵੇਮੁਹਤਾਜੁ ਪੂਰਾ ਪਾਤਿਸਾਹੁ ॥ ਮੋਹ ਮਗਨ ਲਪਟਿਓ ਭ੍ਰਮ ਗਿਰਹ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਤਰੀਐ ਤੇਰੀ ਮਿਹਰ ॥੪॥੨੧॥੩੨॥: Ramkalee Mahalaa 5 || kouddee badalai tiaagai ratan ...: Ramkalee Mahalaa 5. In exchange for a shell, (Saakat: the one who is disconnected from Truth) gives up a jewel (of the Lord's Name). He tries to get what he must give up. He collects those things which are worthless. Enticed by Maya, he takes the crooked path ||1||.  You unfortunate man — have you no shame? You do not remember in your mind the ocean of peace, the perfect Transcendent God ||1||rahaaou||. Amrit (Naam) seems bitter, and poison sweet. Such is the Saakat's condition, which I have seen with my own eyes. He is fond of falsehood, fraud and egotism. If he hears Naam, he feels like he ahs been stung by a scorpion ||2||. He continually yearns for Maya, and he never chants God's Praises in his mind (and/or) with his mouth. The Lord is fearless and formless; He is the Great Giver. But you do not love Him, you fool! ||3|| God, the True King, is above the heads of all kings. People are intoxicated by emotional attachment, entangled in doubt and family life. Nanak: they are saved only by Your Mercy, Lord. ||4||21||32|| (sggs 892).
• ਥਾਨਸਟ ਜਗ ਭਰਿਸਟ ਹੋਏ ਡੂਬਤਾ ਇਵ ਜਗੁ ॥: Thaansatt jag bhrishat hoye doobtaa iv jag(u) (sggs 662).
• ਪੜਿ ਪੜਿ ਪੰਡਿਤੁ ਬਾਦੁ ਵਖਾਣੈ ॥: Parr parr pandit baad vakhaanai: The Priests, read and read scriptutes endlessly, only to stir up arguments and controversies (sggs 152).
• ਜਿਤਨੇ ਸਾਹ ਪਾਤਿਸਾਹ ਉਮਰਾਵ ਸਿਕਦਾਰ ਚਉਧਰੀ ਸਭਿ ਮਿਥਿਆ ਝੂਠੁ ਭਾਉ ਦੂਜਾ ਜਾਣੁ ॥: Jitne sah paatsah umraav sikdaar chaudharee sabh mithiaa jhooth bhaau doojaa jaan: All the kings, emperors, nobles, lords and chiefs are false, transitory, and engrossed in duality — know this well (sggs 861).
• Do not do according to their (priests) deeds, for they say but do not perform (Bible, Mt 23:3). But you men (priests) have turned aside from the way, you have caused many to stumble in the law, you have ruined the covenant of Levi (Bible, Mal 2:8).

Thus, at the present time, the falsehood moves around freely in the world as the leader. The preaching has become mundane business or livelihood to the priest-class (Pujaaree group), while the practice of religion has vanished like horns from the donkey's head!

Overtaken by the Spiritual ignorance, man has forgotten his True Religion (or Pure Dharma) that underlies all man-made religions. On account of lust and greed ("Kanic Kaamini"), he has forgotten all about the Essence of Divine Wisdom contained in his religious texts. So he has come down to the level of animal-nature. Overtaken by his body-consciousness, he creates havoc, destruction, fear, wars and calamities.

• ਆਪਿ ਨ ਬੁਝਾ ਲੋਕ ਬੁਝਾਈ ਐਸਾ ਆਗੂ ਹੋਵਾਂ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਅੰਧਾ ਹੋਇ ਕੈ ਦਸੇ ਰਾਹੈ ਸਭਸੁ ਮੁਹਾਏ ਸਾਥੈ ॥ ਅਗੈ ਗਇਆ ਮੁਹੇ ਮੁਹਿ ਪਾਹਿ ਸੁ ਐਸਾ ਆਗੂ ਜਾਪੈ ॥੨॥: Aap na bujhaa lok bujhaayee esaa aagoo hovaan. Nanak andhaa hoyai dase raahai sabgsu muhaaye sathai. agai gayaa mihe muhi paahi su esaa aagoo jaapai ||2||: I do not understand myself, and (yet) I try to show others the way. Such is the leader I am! O Nanak, the one who is blind shows others the way, and misleads all his companions. But, going hereafter (ਅੱਗੇ ਚੱਲ ਕੇ), he will be beaten in the face; then, it will be obvious, what sort of leader he was! ||2|| (sggs 140).
• ਸਰਮੁ ਧਰਮੁ ਦੁਇ ਛਪਿ ਖਲੋਏ ਕੂੜੁ ਫਿਰੈ ਪਰਧਾਨੁ ਵੇ ਲਾਲੋ ॥ ਕਾਜੀਆ ਬਾਮਣਾ ਕੀ ਗਲ ਥਕੀ ਅਗਦੁ ਪੜੈ ਸੈਤਾਨੁ ਵੇ ਲਾਲੋ ॥: Saramu dharamu dui chhap khaloe koorru phiria Pardhaanu ve laalo ...: Modesty (ਹਯਾ, shame, bashfulness, etc.) and Dharma both have vanished, and falsehood moves about as the chief (Pardhaanu-ਚੌਧਰੀ). The Qazis and the Brahmins have lost their roles, and (it's like) Satan now conducts the marriage rites, O Lalo (sggs 722).
• ਮੂਲੁ ਨ ਬੂਝਹਿ ਆਪਣਾ ਸੇ ਪਸੂਆ ਸੇ ਢੋਰ ਜੀਉ ॥: Moolu na boojhahi aapanaa se pasooaa se dhor jeeou: Those who do not understand their own Mool (Source, Origin, Jot...); they are beasts and they are cattle (i.e., great fools of animal intellect-ਡੰਗਰ ਬੁਧੀ ਵਾਲੇ ਮਹਾਂ ਮੂਰਖ)! (sggs 751).
• ਮਾਰੂ ਕਬੀਰ ਜੀਉ ॥ ਦੀਨੁ ਬਿਸਾਰਿਓ ਰੇ ਦਿਵਾਨੇ ਦੀਨੁ ਬਿਸਾਰਿਓ ਰੇ ॥ ਪੇਟੁ ਭਰਿਓ ਪਸੂਆ ਜਿਉ ਸੋਇਓ ਮਨੁਖੁ ਜਨਮੁ ਹੈ ਹਾਰਿਓ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ ਸਾਧਸੰਗਤਿ ਕਬਹੂ ਨਹੀ ਕੀਨੀ ਰਚਿਓ ਧੰਧੈ ਝੂਠ ॥ ਸੁਆਨ ਸੂਕਰ ਬਾਇਸ ਜਿਵੈ ਭਟਕਤੁ ਚਾਲਿਓ ਊਠਿ ॥੧॥ ਆਪਸ ਕਉ ਦੀਰਘੁ ਕਰਿ ਜਾਨੈ ਅਉਰਨ ਕਉ ਲਗ ਮਾਤ ॥ ਮਨਸਾ ਬਾਚਾ ਕਰਮਨਾ ਮੈ ਦੇਖੇ ਦੋਜਕ ਜਾਤ ॥੨॥ ਕਾਮੀ ਕ੍ਰੋਧੀ ਚਾਤੁਰੀ ਬਾਜੀਗਰ ਬੇਕਾਮ ॥ ਨਿੰਦਾ ਕਰਤੇ ਜਨਮੁ ਸਿਰਾਨੋ ਕਬਹੂ ਨ ਸਿਮਰਿਓ ਰਾਮੁ ॥੩॥ ਕਹਿ ਕਬੀਰ ਚੇਤੈ ਨਹੀ ਮੂਰਖੁ ਮੁਗਧੁ ਗਵਾਰੁ ॥ ਰਾਮੁ ਨਾਮੁ ਜਾਨਿਓ ਨਹੀ ਕੈਸੇ ਉਤਰਸਿ ਪਾਰਿ ॥੪॥੧॥: Maaroo Kabeer jeeou || Deen bisaariyo re divaane deen bisaariyo re ...:  Maaroo Kabeer jeeou. O madman, You have forgotten your Dharma; you have forgotten your Dharma. Like animals, you fill your belly and sleep; you have wasted and lost this human life. ||1||Pause|| ... (sggs 1105).

Hence, the world is vicious. As the Spiritual Beings tell us, the world is wicked not for want of truthful and righteous living, nor on account of various religions and the religious texts, nor on account of Prophets, Spiritual Master, etc., but it is crooked like the tail of a dog for the lack of true followers of religions and the ideals they teach.

The common theme of all religions is to teach a Spiritual, Divine or Eternal Life to their followers. Therefore, let the religions do the right thing — develop Spiritual Beings instead of ignorant fanatics. Let the religions educate their followers properly, so that they can live a life of truthfulness, righteousness, selflessness, love and compassion. These are the fundamentals or essentials of all religions. We must.

• ਘਰੁ ਬੰਧਹੁ ਸਚ ਧਰਮ ਕਾ ਗਡਿ ਥੰਮੁ ਅਹਲੈ ॥: Ghar banadhahu sach dharam kaa gaddi tham ahalai: So build your temple of trurhfulness and righteousness (Dharma) within, with the unshakable pillars (of Divine Name) (sggs 320).
• ਬੋਲੀਐ ਸਚੁ ਧਰਮੁ ਝੂਠੁ ਨ ਬੋਲੀਐ ॥: Boleeai sach dharam jhooth na boleeai (sggs 488).
• ਕੂੜਹੁ ਕਰੇ ਵਿਣਾਸੁ ਧਰਮੇ ਤਗੀਐ ॥: Koorhahu karae vinaas dharamae tageeai: One is destroyed through falsehood; through truthfulness and Dharma (Dharma), one prospers (sggs 518).
• ਨਹ ਬਿਲੰਬ ਧਰਮੰ ਬਿਲੰਬ ਪਾਪੰ ॥: Nah bilanb dharamam bilamb paapam: Do not delay in practicing Dharma; delay in committing sins (sggs 1354).
• ਨਾਨਕ ਭਗਤਿ ਭਾਉ ਕਰਿ ਦਇਆਲ ਕੀ ਜੀਵਨ ਪਦੁ ਪਾਈਐ ਰਾਮ ॥੨॥: Nanak bhagati bhaaou kari daiaal kee jeevin padu paaeeai raam ||2||: O Nanak, by loving devotion of the Merciful Lord, attain the state of Eternal Life ||2|| (sggs 848).
• ਕਬੀਰਾ ਜਹਾ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਤਹ ਧਰਮੁ ਹੈ ਜਹਾ ਝੂਠੁ ਤਹ ਪਾਪੁ ॥: Kabeeraa jahaa giaanu tah dharamu hai jahaa jhoothu tah paapu: O Kabeer! (Within a person, if) there is Giaan (Spiritual Wisdom, Divine Knowledge, Aatm-Giaan...) there is Dharma; (if within him) there is falsehood, there is sin (sggs 1372).

— T. Singh
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