GURU IS THE BOHITH - "ਬੋਹਿਥੁ"

"ਬੋਹਿਥੁ" - Bohith - means boat. Some other terms used in the Gurbani (Sri Guru Granth Sahib, SGGS) for boat include" ਬੇੜੀ, ਤੁਲਹਾ, ਜਹਾਜੁ, ਨਾਵ, - Berree, Tulahaa, Jahaaj, Naav". A boat can only take people across a physical body of water such as ocean, river etc. There is another "terrifying" ocean mentioned in the Gurbani (and other Indian scriptures) — this "dreadful" ocean is not the physical ocean.

It is the ocean of "Bhavsaagar" (or "Bhavajal") of Maya, Jagat (material world), Sansaar (the place of repeated suffering), Kaarmic actions, desires and fears, doubts, worldly consciousness or worldliness, ignorance, Haume or ego (I-ness; mine, mine) and so on.

Clearly, the water of the ocean of "Bhavsaagar", as well as its waves and shores cannot be physical. Therefore, the means needed to cross it over cannot be physical as well. We need the subtle boat of the Guru (Divine Knowledge, Aatam-Giaan, ਸਚ ਦਾ ਗਿਆਨ...) to cross this ocean.

Accordingly, the Gurbani says that the Guru is That Boat (Divine Knowledge, Aatam-Giaan, ਸਚ ਦਾ ਗਿਆਨ...). Also the Guru and God are one and the same.  For a boat there has to be a boatman (i.e., Malaah or Khevat) to steer it. For this subtle boat of the Guru-God, the Gurbani says He himself is the Boat and the Boatman.

• ਸਤਿਗੁਰੂ ਹੈ ਬੋਹਿਥਾ ਵਿਰਲੈ ਕਿਨੈ ਵੀਚਾਰਿਆ ॥ ਕਰਿ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਪਾਰਿ ਉਤਾਰਿਆ ॥: Satiguroo hai bohithaa viralai kinai veechaariaa: Kari kirapaa paari outaariaa: The Satiguroo is the Boat, but rare ones Realize this (ਕਿਸੇ ਵਿਰਲੇ ਨੇ ਹੀ ਇਸ ਗੱਲ ਨੂੰ ਸਮਝਿਆ ਹੈ). By His Grace (Grace of His Giaan, ਅਪਣੇ ਗਿਆਨ ਦੀ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਨਾਲ...), He carries (those "rare" ones) across (sggs 470).
• ਸਾਗਰ ਲਹਰਿ ਸੰਸਾ ਸੰਸਾਰੁ ਗੁਰੁ ਬੋਹਿਥੁ ਪਾਰ ਗਰਾਮਨੋ ॥: Saagar lahar sansaa sansaar gur bohith paar garaamano: The Guru is the boat to carry you across the world-ocean, through the waves of doubt (sggs 210).
• ਗੁਰੁ ਬੋਹਿਥੁ ਭਵਜਲ ਤਾਰਣਹਾਰੁ ॥: Gur bohith bhavajal taaranahaar: The Guru is the boat, to carry across the terrifying world-ocean (sgs 1270).
• ਆਪੇ ਸਾਗਰੁ ਬੋਹਿਥਾ ਪਿਆਰਾ ਗੁਰੁ ਖੇਵਟੁ ਆਪਿ ਚਲਾਹੁ ॥: Aape saagar bohithaa piaaraa gur khevat aap chalaahu: The Beloved Himself is the ocean, and the boat; He Himself is the Guru, the boatman who steers it (sggs 604).
• ਗੁਰੁ ਸਰੁ ਸਾਗਰੁ ਬੋਹਿਥੋ ਗੁਰੁ ਤੀਰਥੁ ਦਰੀਆਉ ॥: Gur sar saagar bohitho gur teerath dareeaaou: The Guru is the Boat to carry across the world-ocean; the Guru is the Sacred Shrine of Pilgrimage (sggs 17).
• ਗੁਰੁ ਜਹਾਜੁ ਖੇਵਟੁ ਗੁਰੂ ਗੁਰ ਬਿਨੁ ਤਰਿਆ ਨ ਕੋਇ ॥: Gur jahaaj khevat guroo gur bin tariaa na koi: The Guru is the Boat, and the Guroo is the Boatman. Without the Gur, no one can cross over (sggs 1401).
• ਮਹਾ ਅਗਾਹ ਅਗਨਿ ਕਾ ਸਾਗਰੁ ॥ ਗੁਰੁ ਬੋਹਿਥੁ ਤਾਰੇ ਰਤਨਾਗਰੁ ॥: Mahaa agaah agan kaa saagar. Gur bohith taare ratanaagar: The Guru is the boat to cross over the totally unfathomable ocean of fire; He is treasure of jewels (sggs 377).
  

Where this Boat of the Guru-God will take us? To the "other shore", says the Gurbani. This leads to another question: What is this "other shore"? Simply put, it is a state of Infinite Wisdom; transcending of Maya, ignorance or Haumai etc.

Another question comes to the mind is that "why most of us (over 99.9 percent) are unable to cross this "Bhavsaagar" (ਆਤਮਕ ਮੌਤ ਲਿਆਉਣ ਵਾਲਾ)? It's because we are too heavy — like stones and iron — loaded with the crushing weight of "Bikh" (Haumai or egotism and its Bikaar)...

• ਹਮ ਪਾਥਰ ਗੁਰੁ ਨਾਵ ਬਿਖੁ ਭਵਜਲੁ ਤਾਰੀਐ ਰਾਮ ॥ ਗੁਰ ਦੇਵਹੁ ਸਬਦੁ ਸੁਭਾਇ ਮੈ ਮੂੜ  ਨਿਸਤਾਰੀਐ ਰਾਮ ॥: Ham paathar gur naav bikh bhavajal taareeai raam...: O Guru! (due to the weight of Bikaars, we have become heavy like) a stone, and You are the Boat. Take thou me across the Bhavjal. Bless me with the Gur-Shabad. I am such a fool - please save me (from this "Bhavsaagar"). (sggs 1114).
• ਹਮ ਪਾਥਰ ਲੋਹ ਲੋਹ ਬਡ ਪਾਥਰ ਗੁਰ ਸੰਗਤਿ ਨਾਵ ਤਰਾਵੈਗੋ ॥: Ham paathar loh loh badd paathar gur sangati naav taraavaigo: We are heavy like a stone, like a piece of iron; but embaring on the Boat of the Gur-Sangat (Association of the Gur-Giaan...), we are carried across (sggs 1309).  
• ਬਿਨੁ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਭੇਟੇ ਕੰਚਨੁ ਨਾ ਥੀਐ ਮਨਮੁਖੁ ਲੋਹੁ ਬੂਡਾ ਬੇੜੀ ਪਾਸਿ ॥: Bin satgur bhete kanchan naa theeai manmukh lohu booddaa berree paas: Without meeting with the Satgur (ਸਚ ਦਾ ਗਿਆਨ...), (the Manmukh) is transformed into gold (the Gurmukh). The Manmukh (self-willed...) sinks like iron, while the boat is just close by (sggs 40).
• ਲੋਭ ਵਿਕਾਰ ਨਾਵ ਡੁਬਦੀ ਨਿਕਲੀ ਜਾ ਸਤਿਗੁਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਦਿੜਾਏ ॥: Lobh vikaar naav dubbadee nikalee jaa satgur naam dirraaye: My boat was sinking under the weight of greed and Bikaar, but it was uplifted when the Satguru implanted the Naam (Giaan, Bibek-Budhi...) within me (sggs 443).
• ਅਗਿਆਨੁ ਅੰਧੇਰੁ ਮਹਾ ਪੰਥੁ ਬਿਖੜਾ ਅਹੰਕਾਰਿ ਭਾਰਿ ਲਦਿ ਲੀਜੈ ॥: Agiaanu andheru mahaa panthu bikharhaa ahankaari bhaari ladi leejai (sggs 1326).
• ਮਾਰੂ ਮਹਲਾ ੧ ॥ ਬਿਖੁ ਬੋਹਿਥਾ ਲਾਦਿਆ ਦੀਆ ਸਮੁੰਦ ਮੰਝਾਰਿ ॥ ਕੰਧੀ ਦਿਸਿ ਨ ਆਵਈ ਨਾ ਉਰਵਾਰੁ ਨ ਪਾਰੁ ॥ ਵੰਝੀ ਹਾਥਿ ਨ ਖੇਵਟੂ ਜਲੁ ਸਾਗਰੁ ਅਸਰਾਲੁ ॥੧॥ ਬਾਬਾ ਜਗੁ ਫਾਥਾ ਮਹਾ ਜਾਲਿ ॥ ਗੁਰ ਪਰਸਾਦੀ ਉਬਰੇ ਸਚਾ ਨਾਮੁ ਸਮਾਲਿ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੂ ਹੈ ਬੋਹਿਥਾ ਸਬਦਿ ਲੰਘਾਵਣਹਾਰੁ ॥ ਤਿਥੈ ਪਵਣੁ ਨ ਪਾਵਕੋ ਨਾ ਜਲੁ ਨਾ ਆਕਾਰੁ ॥ ਤਿਥੈ ਸਚਾ ਸਚਿ ਨਾਇ ਭਵਜਲ ਤਾਰਣਹਾਰੁ ॥੨॥ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਲੰਘੇ ਸੇ ਪਾਰਿ ਪਏ ਸਚੇ ਸਿਉ ਲਿਵ ਲਾਇ ॥ ਆਵਾ ਗਉਣੁ ਨਿਵਾਰਿਆ ਜੋਤੀ ਜੋਤਿ ਮਿਲਾਇ ॥ ਗੁਰਮਤੀ ਸਹਜੁ ਊਪਜੈ ਸਚੇ ਰਹੈ ਸਮਾਇ ॥੩॥: Maaroo Mahalaa 1 || Bikh bohithaa laadiaa deeaa samund manjhaar ...: Maaroo Mahalaa 1. (The worldly man's life-) boat is loaded with "Bikhu" (Maya...), and he has launched it into the sea (of Maya, mirage like world-appearance...). The shore cannot be seen on this side, nor on the shore beyond. There are no oars in his hands nor any boatmen (Gur-Giaan...), to cross over the terrifying world-ocean. ||1|| O Baabaa! The material world (Jagat) is caught in the great noose of Maya. Only those escape from this noose who, by the Gur-Grace (Grace of the Gur-Giaan), contemplate the True Name (Aatam Giaan...). ||1||Pause|| The Sateguru is the boat; and His Shabad is capable of taking us across. (At the "other shore" -Transcendental State, beyond Maya - ਉਸ ਆਤਮਕ ਅਵਸਥਾ ਵਿਚ... ) There is neither wind, nor fire, nor water, nor form (no mind, Maya, etc.). (Who reaches there) is absorbed in the Truth and the True Name, for the True Name is capable of carrying one across the Bhabjal. ||2|| (Those Who become the Gurmukhs) reach the shore beyond by lovingly focusing their consciousness on the True One. Their light then merges into the Supreme Light (they link their Mool within), and their cominsg ang goings end (repeated suffering ends). Through Gurmat (Aatam Giaan, Spiritual Wisdom, etc., of the Gurbani), Sahaj - Natural State of Being, ਅਡੋਲ ਆਤਮਕ ਅਵਸਥਾ, etc. - arises within, then one remains absorbed in Truth (sggs 1009).

Who is qualified to board this subtle Boat? Can anyone board it? No.

As indicated in the Gurbani, only those will be ferried across by this Boat who live by the Divine Hukam (Will...). Doing His Will includes following His Upadesa (Teachings, Gurmat, etc.). In other words, sincere self-efforts (Shabad-Vichaar) are required. As the proverbial expression goes "there is no free lunch"! Naam-Simran, Shabad-Kamaaee (Understanding the Gurbani -Jap), and living it are essential.

• ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਬੋਹਿਥੁ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਵ ਹੈ ਕਿਤੁ ਬਿਧਿ ਚੜਿਆ ਜਾਇ ॥ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਕੈ ਭਾਣੈ ਜੋ ਚਲੈ ਵਿਚਿ ਬੋਹਿਥ ਬੈਠਾ ਆਇ ॥: Satgur bohith har naav hai kit bidh charriaa jaai. Satgur kai bhaanai jo chalai vich bohith baithaa aai: The Boat of the Satguru is the Name of the Lord (Aatam Giaan...). How can we climb on board? One who acts according to the Satgur's Will (Upadesa, Hukam...) comes to sit in this Boat (sggs 40).
• ਗੁਰੁ ਪਉੜੀ ਬੇੜੀ ਗੁਰੂ ਗੁਰੁ ਤੁਲਹਾ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਉ ॥: Nanak berree sach kee tareeai gur veechaar: O Nanak, the Boat of Truth will ferry you across; contemplate the Gur (Giaan...) (sggs 20).
• ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਸਚਾ ਹੈ ਬੋਹਿਥਾ ਸਬਦੇ ਭਵਜਲੁ ਤਰਣਾ ॥: Satgur sachaa hai bohithaa sabade bhavajal taranaa: The Satgur is the Boat of Truth (Eternal...); By His Shabad (Shabad-Vichaar, Shabad-Giaan...), we cross over the Bhavjal (sggs 70).
• ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਬੋਹਿਥੁ ਆਦਿ ਜੁਗਾਦੀ ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮਿ ਨਿਸਤਾਰਾ ਹੇ ॥: Satgur bohith aadi jugaadee raam naam nisataaraa hay: From Aadi and Jugaadee (very beginning of time...), the Satguru has been the Boat; through the Lord's Name (Giaan...), He carries us across (sggs 1029).
• ਗੁਰੁ ਬੋਹਿਥੁ ਗੁਰੁ ਬੇੜੀ ਤੁਲਹਾ ਮਨ ਹਰਿ ਜਪਿ ਪਾਰਿ ਲੰਘਾਇਆ ॥: Gur bohith gur berree tulahaa mann har jap paar langhaaiaa: The Guru is the Boat and the raft; Reflecting on the Lord's Name or Naam (Giaan..) in your mind, you will be carried across to the other side (sggs 1040).
• ਭਉ ਬੈਰਾਗੁ ਭਇਆ ਹੈ ਬੋਹਿਥੁ ਗੁਰੁ ਖੇਵਟੁ ਸਬਦਿ ਤਰਾਵੈਗੋ ॥: Bhaou bairaag bhaiaa hai bohith gur khevat sabad taraavaigo: Let the fear (Love, respect, ਹਿਰਦੇ ਵਿਚ ਪਰਮਾਤਮਾ ਦਾ ਅਦਬ ਅਤੇ ਪਿਆਰ, etc.) of God and the detachment be the Boat, and the Guru is the Boatman; (the Guru) through His Shabad carries us across ( sggs 1308).

— T. Singh
www.gurbani.org