GURMUKHS CITED IN THE GURBANI

Who is the Gurmukh? the Gurmukh transcends Maya; he is free of the false ego-sense (Haumai, ਆਪਾ ਭਾਵ, "ਮੈ ਮੈ") and duality (Doojaa-Bhaav); he abides in the Divine Hukam (ਹੁਕਮੀ ਬੰਦੇ-ਅਮਲੀ ਜੀਵਨ, ਹੁਕਮੀ ਜੀਵਨ...); he is linked to his Mool within (ਮੂਲ: Source, Origin, Truth, Jot...) and ever remains so; he is contented in all situations (Sach Santokhee); he is the follower of the Truth; his mind is linked to Antar-Aatmaa; he restrains his mind instead of following his mind; he remains integrated in the state of "ਇਕ ਮਨਿ ਇਕ ਚਿਤਿ " - Ik Mani Ik Chiti; he is detached in the midst of Maya - ਮਾਇਆ ਵਿਚ ਉਦਾਸੀ; he is established in Bibek Budhi - ਜਿਸ ਨੂੰ ਗੁਰਮਤ ਦੀ ਪੂਰੀ ਸੋਝੀ ਹੈ; his Akal (ਅਕਲ , wisdom, intellect, reason, etc.) follows the Gurbani (Aatam Giaan Spiritual Wisdom of the Gur-Shabad); he is Aatam Giaanee or Brahm Giaanee ; he is established in Chauthaa Pada or Turiyaa Avasthaa (Tenth Gate, Sahaj Avasthaa - Natural State of Being; Sunn Samaadhi, ਆਤਮਕ ਅਡੋਲਤਾ, Shabad-Surti, etc.); he knows all the "Way of the soul" ("ਜਾਨੈ ਆਤਮ ਕੀ ਰਹਤ", ਆਤਮਕ ਜੀਵਨ...); he is Jeevan Mukat (living Liberated or Enlightened); he is the fully "Awakened" one who is established at Dasam Duaar (the Tenth-Gate, the Highest Plane of Consciousness)...

• ਆਪੁ ਪਛਾਣਹਿ ਸਬਦਿ ਮਰਹਿ ਮਨਹੁ ਤਜਿ ਵਿਕਾਰ ॥: Aap pachhaanahi Sabadi marahi manahu taj vikaar: (The one who has become the Gurmukh) realizes his own (True) Self; he dies in the Shabad, (and through the Shabad) he banishes Bikaars from his mind (sggs 430).
• ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਆਪਣਾ ਮਨੁ ਮਾਰਿਆ ਸਬਦਿ ਕਸਵਟੀ ਲਾਇ ॥ ਮਨ ਹੀ ਨਾਲਿ ਝਗੜਾ ਮਨ ਹੀ ਨਾਲਿ ਸਥ ਮਨ ਹੀ ਮੰਝਿ ਸਮਾਇ ॥: Guramukh aapanaa manu maariaa sabad kasavatee laai. Mann hee naal jhagarraa mann hee naal sath mann hee manjh samaai: Applying the Touchstone of the Shabad, by becoming the Gurmukh, the Gurmukh conqueres his mind (prevents it from falling in love with Maya, etc.). He fights with his mind (its evil inclinations: ਬਿਕਾਰ-ਬਿਰਤੀ), he settles with his mind (make his mind understand), and he becomes immersed (in the auspicious nature) his mind (sggs 87).
• ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਸਹਜੁ ਹੈ ਮਨੁ ਚੜਿਆ ਦਸਵੈ ਆਕਾਸਿ ॥: Gurmukh antar sahaj hai man chariaa dasvai aakaas: Within the Gurmukh is intuitive peace and poise; his mind ascends to the Tenth Plane of the Akaashic Ethers (sggs 251).
• ਨਾਨਕ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਪਰਾਪਤਿ ਹੋਵੈ ਤਿਮਰ ਅਗਿਆਨੁ ਅਧੇਰੁ ਚੁਕਾਇਆ ॥: Nanak Gurmukh giaan praapat hovai timar agiaan andher chukaaiaa: O Nanak, the Spiritual Wisdom (ਉੱਚੀ ਸਮਝ, etc.) is attained by becoming the Gurmukh, and the pitch-black darkness of ignorance is dispelled (sggs 512).
• ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਵਿਰਲੀ ਏਕੋ ਜਾਣਿਆ ॥: Gurmukhi viralee eko jaaniaa: Rare indeed is that person who by becoming a Gurmukh realizes the One God (sggs 905).
• ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਓਅੰਕਾਰਿ ਸਚਿ ਸਮਾਇਆ ॥: Gurmukhi ouankaari sach samaaiaa: The Gurmukh is absorbed in the True, One Universal Being (sggs 1285).
• ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਸਾਚੀ ਕਾਰ ਕਮਾਇ: Gurmukh saachee kaar kamaai: The Gurmukh practices Truth in action. (sggs 942).

Among the Gurmukhs names mentioned in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, SGGS, are: Prahlaada, Dhruva, Janak, Vibheeshana, Vashisht (also spelt Vashishtha ), Vidura, Bhagat Dhanna and Baalmeek. Clearly, these names must have been very important and extraordinary for they made their way into the Gurbani as "Gurmukh".

• ਧ੍ਰੂ ਪ੍ਰਹਿਲਾਦੁ ਬਿਦਰੁ ਦਾਸੀ ਸੁਤੁ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਨਾਮਿ ਤਰੇ ॥: Dhru Prahlaadu Bidaru daasee sutu gurmukhi naami tare: Dhruva, Prahlaada and Vidura the slave-girl's son, became Gurmukh, and through the Naam, crossed over: the ocean of worldliness (sggs 995).
• ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਜਨਕਿ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮਿ ਲਿਵ ਲਾਈ ॥: Gurmukhi Janaki hari naami liv laaee: By becoming a Gurmukh, Janak lovingly centered his consciousness on the Divine Name (sggs 591).
• ਭੇਦੁ ਬਭੀਖਣ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਪਰਚਾਇਣੁ ॥: Bhed Babheekhan gurmukhi parachaain: The Gurmukh Vibheeshana reveals the secret — how to kill the Raavana (of ego). (sggs 942).
• ਧੰਨਾ ਜਟੁ ਬਾਲਮੀਕੁ ਬਟਵਾਰਾ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਪਾਰਿ ਪਇਆ ॥: Dhannaa jatu baalameek batavaaraa gurmukh paar paiaa: Dhanna Jatu, and Baaalmeek the highway robber, became Gurmukh, and crossed over (sggs 995).
• ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਬਸਿਸਟਿ ਹਰਿ ਉਪਦੇਸੁ ਸੁਣਾਈ ॥: Gurmukh basisti hari upadesa sunaaee: By becoming the Gurmukh, Vashisht taught the Teachings (ਹਰੀ ਦਾ ਉਪਦੇਸ) of the Lord (sggs 591).
• ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਪ੍ਰਹਿਲਾਦਿ ਜਪਿ ਹਰਿ ਗਤਿ ਪਾਈ ॥: Gurmukhi prahilaadi japi hari gati paaee: Gurmukh Prahlaad meditates on the Divine, and attains emancipattion (sggs 591).
• ਜਨਕੁ ਸੋਇ ਜਿਨਿ ਜਾਣਿਆ ਉਨਮਨਿ ਰਥੁ ਧਰਿਆ ॥ ਸਤੁ ਸੰਤੋਖੁ ਸਮਾਚਰੇ ਅਭਰਾ ਸਰੁ ਭਰਿਆ ॥ ਅਕਥ ਕਥਾ ਅਮਰਾ ਪੁਰੀ ਜਿਸੁ ਦੇਇ ਸੁ ਪਾਵੈ ॥: Janaku soi jini jaaniaa unamani rathu dhariaa...: He alone is Janak who has Realized; who links the chariot of his mind to the state of Ever Blessedness - Self-realization. He gathers the True Contentment, and fills the empty pool (of the heart, within). He speaks the Unspoken Speech of the Eternal Abode (ਅਡੋਲ ਆਤਮਕ ਅਵਸਥਾ...), and he alone obtains it unto whom God gives it (i.e., a rare Gurmukh attains this state). (sggs 1398).

Some of the esoteric messages of these Gurmukh examples could be drawn as follows: false ego is the seed of the instinctive mind and is responsible for man's undoing, hence it must be eradicated; the only way to know the secret of annihilating false ego is by becoming a Gurmukh; begin Spiritual Life (Gurmukhtaa) from early age as this will ensure steady progress; give up demoniac life (Manmukhtaa); never divert attention from the Spiritual Life even to the smallest extent even if one is persecuted; practice tolerance and bear insult and dishonor from others because if one is engaged in the advancement of the Divine Knowledge (Aatam Giaan, Spiritual Wisdom), there will be plenty of insults and much dishonor from others; continue inner unfoldment with determination, even there may be many impediments to making advancement; be fearless and never be afraid of any material danger; always maintain poise, calm, and peace; do not indulge in self-praise; surrender falsehood at the alter of the Divine within; think of the welfare of the entire universe including those who wish ill; never be disturbed by inimical activities; love all and see One God in all; live and let live; be truthful, simple and straightforward so that one can disclose the real truth even to an enemy; be satisfied and contented in all circumstances; do not be emotionally attached to the opposite sex for it's the greatest impurity of the mind; control the mind; keep good association; do not compromise with Dharma even in material distress because compromises take one away from the Mool (Source, Origin, Jot...); recognize oneness of all beings in this world; do not nurture hostility, animosity, distrust, and hatred; do not be attached to materialistic life — home, family, wife, husband, children, material possessions, etc. — because a man guided by sense gratification cannot develop Divine Consciousness; never bereft of your position on the path of liberation from bondage; follow Divine Teachings sincerely; the attitude of surrender to the Divine should not be motivated by covetous designs; anyone irrespective of his caste, creed, social status, education as well as regardless of if one is a householder or a renunciate can attain Divine Knowledge and become a Spiritual Being and a Teacher; live a dedicated life of absolute purity, where life is eternal; those who engage in Shabad-Vichaar (Jap, Naam-Simran...) with humility and faith are not disappointed; develop a childlike innocence, give up evil deeds and blind attachment, and so on. In nutshell, actually all this is to show us that one must Spiritually work and live a Divine Life (Aatam-Maarag, the Gurmukh Lifetyle); then only one can get the state of Mool-realization (Gurmukh).

— T. Singh
www.gurbani.org