"NO ONE IS MY ENEMY"

In addition to ethics and morality, the Gurbani teaches us spiritual unity of mankind. It teaches us real Love, friendship, universal brotherhood, and Oneness. It time and again points to the common bonds that exist among all of us. On account of the curtain of false ego-sense or Haume (the sense of "I-ness", etc.), this reality of Oneness remains hidden from us. So the Gurbani repeatedly urges us to remove the veil of Haume. The Gurbani on universal brotherhood, spiritual unity of mankind, and frienship:

• ਨਾ ਕੋ ਬੈਰੀ ਨਹੀ ਬਿਗਾਨਾ ਸਗਲ ਸੰਗਿ ਹਮ ਕਉ ਬਨਿ ਆਈ ॥: Naa ko bairee nahee bigaanaa sagal sang ham kaou ban aaee ||: No one is my enemy, and no one is a stranger to me. I get along with everyone (sggs 1299).
• ਏਕੁ ਪਿਤਾ ਏਕਸ ਕੇ ਹਮ ਬਾਰਿਕ ਤੂ ਮੇਰਾ ਗੁਰ ਹਾਈ ॥: Ek pitaa ekas ke ham baarik too meraa gur haaee (sggs 611).
• ਨਾ ਹਮ ਹਿੰਦੂ ਨ ਮੁਸਲਮਾਨ॥ ਅਲਹ ਰਾਮ ਕੇ ਪਿੰਡੁ ਪਰਾਨ ॥: Naa ham Hindu na Musalmann || Allah Raam ke pind praan ||: I am not a Hindu, nor am I a Muslim. My body and breath of life belong to (whom muslims call) Allah and to (whom Hindus call) Raam (sggs 1136).

These words of the Gurbani (Sri Guru Granth sahib, SGGS) are not meant in-one-ear-and-out-the-other. Hearing (also including reading) is attentive listening to the Truth expounded in the divine words, then contemplating the idea contained in them, and lastly living them. However, to absorb the great ideas contained in the divine words, to assimilate them and put those values in practice is the problem of the majority of us. Consequently, owing to the consciousness of duality (relativist consciousness or Doojaa Bhaav), we consider some as our friends so long they are able to gratify our selfishness, and others our enemies and bomb them.

The Gurbani declares that the man's real enemies are within his own body, not outside. These are the faults of his own false ego-sense (Haume) — lust, anger, greed, attachment, pride with their numerous variations such as enviousness, stubborn mindedness, selfishness, untruthfulness, unrighteousness, corruption, slander, arrogance and so on. These are the man's real enemies born of his passionate nature of the Haume ("I-ness" or false ego-sense), all devouring, tormenting and evil.

• ਪੰਚ ਦੋਖ ਛਿਦ੍ਰ ਇਆ ਤਨ ਮਹਿ ਬਿਖੈ ਬਿਆਧਿ ਕੀ ਕਰਣੀ ॥: Panch dokh shidr iaa tan mahi bikhai biaadh kee karanee (sggs 1219).
• ਪੰਚ ਦੂਤ ਮੁਹਹਿ ਸੰਸਾਰਾ ॥ ਮਨਮੁਖ ਅੰਧੇ ਸੁਧਿ ਨ ਸਾਰਾ ॥: Panch doot muhahi sansaaraa: Manmukh andhe sudh na saaraa: The five enemies are plundering the world. The blind, self-willed Manmukhs do not understand or appreciate this (sggs 113).
• ਜੀਤੇ ਪੰਚ ਬੈਰਾਈਆ ਨਾਨਕ ਸਫਲ ਮਾਰੂ ਇਹੁ ਰਾਗੁ ॥: Jeete panch bairaaeeaa Nanak safal maaroo ihu raag: When the five enemies are overcome, O anak, this musical measure of Raga Maaroo becomes frtuiful (sggs 1425).
• ਪੰਚ ਸਤਾਵਹਿ ਦੂਤ ਕਵਨ ਬਿਧਿ ਮਾਰਣੇ ॥: Panch sataavahi doot kavan bidh maarane: The five evil enemies are tormenting me; how can I destroy them? (sgs 1363).
• ਹਉਮੈ ਝਗੜਾ ਪਾਇਓਨੁ ਝਗੜੈ ਜਗੁ ਮੁਇਆ ॥: Haume jhagarraa paaion jhagarrai jag muiaa ||: Through egotism, the world is caught in conflict and strife, and it dies (sggs 790).
• ਝਖਿ ਬੋਲਣੁ ਕਿਆ ਜਗ ਸਿਉ ਵਾਦੁ ॥ ਝੂਰਿ ਮਰੈ ਦੇਖੈ ਪਰਮਾਦੁ ॥: Jhakh bolan kiaa jag siou vaad. Jhoor marai dekhai paramaad: Why do you speak nonsense, and argue with the world? Seeing your madness (of arguing with the world instead of God's meditation or Naam-Simran, etc.), you will die repenting in the end (sggs 933).
• ਬਦਫੈਲੀ ਗੈਬਾਨਾ ਖਸਮੁ ਨ ਜਾਣਈ ॥ ...: Badfailee gaibaanaa kkhasam na jaanaee...: The foolish demon, who does evil deeds, does not know God. Call him a mad-man, if he does not understand the Self. The strife of this world is evil; these struggles are consuming it. Without the Lord’s Name, life is worthless. Through doubt, the people are being destroyed (sggs 142).
• ਵੈਰੁ ਕਰੇ ਨਿਰਵੈਰ ਨਾਲਿ ਝੂਠੇ ਲਾਲਚਾ ॥: Vai kare nirvair naal jhoothe laalachaa ||: He tries to take vengeance upon who bears no vengeance; such a person is rapped by falsehood and greed (sggs 1099).
• ਸਿਆਮਲੰ ਮਧੁਰ ਮਾਨੁਖ੍ਹੰ ਰਿਦਯੰ ਭੂਮਿ ਵੈਰਣਹ ॥: Sialam madhur manukhamh ridayam vairnah (sggs 1359).

Not only on the personal level, even some organized religions consider other religions their enemies! Because these religions do not want to recognize their own shortcomings, ills, errors etc. Instead, they find it easy and convenient to blame others for their own problems. Religion is supposed to be the key meant to open our minds and hearts that are locked shut by our chaotic outlook created by our false ego or Haume ("I-ness" or false ego-sense).

Unless we know our real enemies (their location, weaknesses etc.), how can we hope to destroy them? Hence, the Gurbani advises all mankind to recognize one's real enemies within, and then destroy them. Unfortunately, however, this is the man's exact problem. — he does not recognize his real enemies. As a result, he barks at the wrong tree per se. The Gurbani gives us pointers as to how we can destroy our real enemies (inner foes). The Gurbani urges us to become Gurmukhs (true spiritual beings) and detached, and then shoot the inner enemies using the arrow of the Lord (the Lord's Name, Shabad etc.).

• ਹਤੰ ਪੰਚ ਸਤ੍ਰੇਣ ਨਾਨਕ ਹਰਿ ਬਾਣੇ ਪ੍ਰਹਾਰਣਹ ॥: Hatam panch satren Nanak har baanae prehaaranah: The five enemies are killed, O Nanak, by shooting the Arrow of the Lord (sggs1360).
• ਅਤੀਤ ਭਏ ਮਾਰੇ ਬੈਰਾਈ ॥: Ateet bhaye maare bairaaee: Those who become detached, and conquer the five enemies (sggs 840).
• ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਹੋਵੈ ਸੁ ਅਪਣਾ ਘਰੁ ਰਾਖੈ ਪੰਚ ਦੂਤ ਸਬਦਿ ਪਚਾਵਣਿਆ ॥: Gurmukh hovai su apanaa ghar raakhai panch doot sabad pachaavaniaa: Those who become Gurmukh-their houses are protected. The five enemies are destroyed by the Shabad (sggs 113).

One may wonder why it's so important to destroy one's inner enemies in the first place? The inner enemies are the "pollution" of the Haume-mind ("I-ness" or false ego-sense), and as the Gurbani tells -with the impure mind, Truth cannot be Realized. In other words, shooting the Haume (false "I") requires awareness of the false in our life. There is mutation of polluted consciousness when the Haume ("I-ness" or false ego-sense) ends. It's the true Bhagti that takes one beyond self-created limitations.

• ਮਨੁ ਮੈਲਾ ਸਚੁ ਨਿਰਮਲਾ ਕਿਉ ਕਰਿ ਮਿਲਿਆ ਜਾਇ ॥: Mann mailaa sach nirmalaa kiou kar miliaa jaai: The True Lord is Pure; (so long the man's) mind is impure (with Haumai, Bikaar, etc.); he cannot meet (Truth or the Lord) (sggs 755).

True Gurmukhs or devotees (Bhagats) do not harbor animosity towards anybody, because they have conquered their inner enemies. As a result, they recognize the same One God in all. However, since the majority of us have failed to do so, we inflict suffering on others taking them as our real enemies. Conflicts are inevitable, so long the false "I" (Haume) does not dissolve. If we want to realize God, the Gurbani asks us to annihilate Haume ("I-ness" or false ego-sense) and "go beyond vengeance". With the false "I" up and active, all our handling of people in the world is selfish. Annihilation of the false sense of "I, me, mine, you" constitutes real Love. The Gurbani here teaches us that real Love, friendship, universal brotherhood, and Oneness.

• ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਕੇ ਭਗਤ ਨਿਰਵੈਰ ॥: The devotees of the Supreme Lord are beyond hate and vengeance (sggs 1145).
• ਹਰਿ ਸਿਉ ਜੁਰੈ ਤ ਸਭੁ ਕੋ ਮੀਤੁ ॥: Har siou jurai ta sabh ko meet: When someone attaches himself to the Lord, then everyone is his friend (sggs 238).
• ਨਾ ਕੋ ਮੇਰਾ ਦੁਸਮਨੁ ਰਹਿਆ ਨਾ ਹਮ ਕਿਸ ਕੇ ਬੈਰਾਈ ॥ ਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਪਸਾਰੁ ਪਸਾਰਿਓ ਭੀਤਰਿ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਤੇ ਸੋਝੀ ਪਾਈ ॥੨॥ ਸਭੁ ਕੋ ਮੀਤੁ ਹਮ ਆਪਨ ਕੀਨਾ ਹਮ ਸਭਨਾ ਕੇ ਸਾਜਨ ॥ ਦੂਰਿ ਪਰਾਇਓ ਮਨ ਕਾ ਬਿਰਹਾ ਤਾ ਮੇਲੁ ਕੀਓ ਮੇਰੈ ਰਾਜਨ ॥੩॥: Naa ko meraa dusman rahiaa na hum kis ke bairaaee. Braham pasaar pasaariou bheethar satgur te sojhee paaee ||2||. Sabh ko meet hum aapan keenaa ham sabhanaa ke saajan. door paraaeio mann kaa birahaa taa mel keeo merai raajan ||3|| : No one is my enemy, and I am no one's enemy. God, who expanded His expanse, is within all; I learned this from the Satguru. I have befriend all; I am everyone's friend. Upon removal of the sense of separateness from my mind, I got united with the Lord, my King. ||3|| (sggs 671).
• ਨਾ ਕੋ ਬੈਰੀ ਨਹੀ ਬਿਗਾਨਾ ਸਗਲ ਸੰਗਿ ਹਮ ਕਉ ਬਨਿ ਆਈ ॥: Naa ko bairee nahee begaanaa sagal sang ham kaou ban aaee ||: No one is my enemy, and no one is a stranger to me. I get along with everyone (sggs 1299).
• ਸਰਬ ਭੂਤ ਏਕੈ ਕਰਿ ਜਾਨਿਆ ਚੂਕੇ ਬਾਦ ਬਿਬਾਦਾ ॥: Sarab bhoot ekai kar jaaniaa chooke baad bibaadaa: I look upon all beings alike, and my conflict and strife are ended (sggs 483).
• ਵਵਾ ਵੈਰੁ ਨ ਕਰੀਐ ਕਾਹੂ ॥ ਘਟ ਘਟ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਸਮਾਹੂ ॥: Vavaa vair na kareeai kaahoo. Ghat ghat antari brahm samaahoo: Vavaa (34th letter of Gurmukhi alphabet), Do not create enmity with anyone as God is within everyone (sggs 259).
• ਮਨਮੁਖੀਆ ਸਿਰਿ ਮਾਰ ਵਾਦਿ ਖਪਾਈਐ ॥: Manmukheeaa siri maar vaad khapaaeeai: The problem of the materialistic's head is this: he is consumed by conflict (sggs 420).
• ਇਕੁ ਸਜਣੁ ਸਭਿ ਸਜਣਾ ਇਕੁ ਵੈਰੀ ਸਭਿ ਵਾਦਿ ॥: Ik sajan sabh sajanaa ik vairee sabhi vaadi: When I take One God as Friend, then I look upon all as my friends. But when I take One God as enemy, then conflicts with all ensue (sgg 957).
• ਬੈਰੀ ਮੀਤ ਹੋਏ ਸੰਮਾਨ ॥: Bairee meet hoe sanmaan: Enemy and friend are all the same to me (sggs 1147).
• ਏਹ ਵੈਰੀ ਮਿਤ੍ਰ ਸਭਿ ਕੀਤਿਆ ਨਹ ਮੰਗਹਿ ਮੰਦਾ ॥: Eh vairee mitr sabh keetiaa nah mangahi mandaa: All these enemies have become my friends, and no one wishes me ill anymore (sggs 1096).
• ਹਰਖੁ ਸੋਗੁ ਜਾ ਕੈ ਨਹੀ ਬੈਰੀ ਮੀਤ ਸਮਾਨਿ ॥ ਕਹੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਸੁਨਿ ਰੇ ਮਨਾ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਤਾਹਿ ਤੈ ਜਾਨਿ ॥: Harakh sog jaa kai nahee bairee meet smaan. Kahu Nanak sun rae manaa mukat taahi tai jaan: One who is not affected by pleasure or pain, who looks upon friend and enemy alike. Says Nanak, listen, mind: know that such a person is liberated (sggs 1427).

Thus, unless we recognize our real enemies and then conquer them, we cannot get along with everyone. Be kind even to your enemies, teaches the Gurbani. People consumed with conflict, resentment, hatred etc. are called Manmukhs (materialistic or unenlightened) in the Gurbani. The Gurbani tells us that the One God is the Support of the entire Universe. It simply means there is no difference between God and the creation. But our deluded mind (false ego-sense, Haume, corrupt consciousness etc.) create the barrier, the cause of apparent differences. When this barrier is transcended, the notion of differences disappear. In other words, if we are one with the Pure Consciousness (Gurmukh Lifestyle), there is the sense of Oneness ("Sabh gobind hai sabh gobind hai"), and we see the whole Universe as our own Self. Simply put, the Gurbani urges us that the anger and hatred in our hearts be transformed into repentance, forgiveness, understanding, love, peace and harmony for all people of the world.

• ਛੋਡਹੁ ਕਪਟੁ ਹੋਇ ਨਿਰਵੈਰਾ ਸੋ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਸੰਗਿ ਨਿਹਾਰੇ ॥: Shodahu kapat hoi nirvairaa prabh sang nihaare ||: Abandon your deception, and go beyond vengeance; see God who is always with you (sggs 1220).
• ਕਾਹੇ ਜਨਮੁ ਗਵਾਵਹੁ ਵੈਰਿ ਵਾਦਿ ॥: Kaahe janam gavavahu vair vaad ||: Why do you waste your life in hatred, vengeance and conflict? (sggs 1176).
• ਸਾਚ ਕਹੋਂ ਸੁਨ ਲੇਹੁ ਸਭੈ ਜਿਨ ਪ੍ਰੇਮ ਕੀਓ ਤਿਨ ਹੀ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਪਾਇਓ ॥: Saach kahon sun lehu sabhai jin prem keeo tin hee prabh paaio ||: Listen all, I tell you the Truth: One who practices love attains God (Guru Gobind Singh Jee).

— T. Singh
www.gurbani.org