The Gurbani (Sri Guru Granth Sahib, SGGS) often talks about two groups of people Gurmukhs (Enlightened) and Manmukhs (UN-Enlightened). Since the Gurbani is Spiritual and speaks to the mind, these are the States of the Mind.

• ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਲਾਹਾ ਲੈ ਗਏ ਮਨਮੁਖ ਚਲੇ ਮੂਲੁ ਗਵਾਇ ਜੀਉ ॥੧੯॥: Gurmukh laahaa lai gaye manmukh chalae mool gavaai jeeou ||19|| (sggs 74).

Accordingly, these two terms appear again and again in the Gurbani. 

With the help of the Divine Guide of the Gurbani, this Reflection will attempt to briefly reflect on as to how the Gurmukh and the Manmukh is defined in the the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS).

The Gurmukh

A Gurmukhs is a Wise / Virtuous person whom the Gurbani calls Divine. He is Spiritually positioned, naturally (Sahaj). Throughout the SGGS, the Gurbani defines Gurmukh-Hood as a State of the Mind (Enlightened) that has Internalized the Shabad, and live daily life accordingly.

• ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਆਪਣਾ ਮਨੁ ਮਾਰਿਆ ਸਬਦਿ ਕਸਵਟੀ ਲਾਇ ॥ ਮਨ ਹੀ ਨਾਲਿ ਝਗੜਾ ਮਨ ਹੀ ਨਾਲਿ ਸਥ ਮਨ ਹੀ ਮੰਝਿ ਸਮਾਇ ॥: Guramukh aapanaa mann maariaa sabad kasavatee laai. Mann hee naal jhagarraa mann hee naal sath mann hee manjh samaai (sggs 87).

In nutshell, the Gurmukh is linked to his Mool Within (ਮੂਲ, Source, Origin, Truth...) and ever remains so. He is contented in all situations (Santokhee); he is the follower of the Message of the Guru's Shabad; his mind is linked to its Jot Sarop, his mental state is that of 'Ik Mani Ik Chiti'; he is detached in the midst of Maya - ਮਾਇਆ ਵਿਚ ਉਦਾਸੀ etc.

A Gurmukh is a Self-Realized person, free of the false ego-sense (Haume) and its menacing faults (Bikaars: lust-desires, anger, greed, attachment, pride and their countless variations). 

• ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਵਿਚਹੁ ਹਉਮੈ ਜਾਇ ॥ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਮੈਲੁ ਨ ਲਾਗੈ ਆਇ ॥: Gurmukh vichahu houmai jaai || Gurmukh mail n laagai aai (sggs 230).
• ਨਾਨਕ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਪਰਾਪਤਿ ਹੋਵੈ ਤਿਮਰ ਅਗਿਆਨੁ ਅਧੇਰੁ ਚੁਕਾਇਆ ॥: Nanak Gurmukh giaan praapat hovai timar agiaan andher chukaaiaa (sggs 512).
• ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਸਹਜੁ ਹੈ ਮਨੁ ਚੜਿਆ ਦਸਵੈ ਆਕਾਸਿ ॥ ਤਿਥੈ ਊਂਘ ਨ ਭੁਖ ਹੈ ਹਰਿ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਨਾਮੁ ਸੁਖ ਵਾਸੁ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਦੁਖੁ ਸੁਖੁ ਵਿਆਪਤ ਨਹੀ ਜਿਥੈ ਆਤਮ ਰਾਮ ਪ੍ਰਗਾਸੁ ॥੧੬॥: Gurmukhi antar sahaj hai mann charriaa dasavai aakaas ... (sggs 1414).

Call him a Self-realized person, God-realized, Shabad-realized or Naam-realized, Spiritual Being, Wise Man, a householder, a Holy person, or any other name you like. He may externally even appear to be irreligious, not well cultured, or not learned. However, he is one hundred percent established in Godly Virtues. Such Beings is indicated to be very are in the Gurbani (SGGS).

• ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਸਬਦਿ ਰੰਗਾਵਲੇ ਅਹਿਨਿਸਿ ਹਰਿ ਰਸੁ ਭੋਗੁ ॥੩॥: Gurmukh Sabad rangaavale ahinis Hari ras bhog ||3|| (sggs 63).
• ਇਹੁ ਮਨੁ ਆਰਸੀ ਕੋਈ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਵੇਖੈ ॥ ਮੋਰਚਾ ਨ ਲਾਗੈ ਜਾ ਹਉਮੈ ਸੋਖੈ ॥ : Ih mann aarsee koee Gurmukh vyKai.... (sggs 115).
• ਕੋਟਨ ਮੈ ਨਾਨਕ ਕੋਊ ਨਾਰਾਇਨੁ ਜਿਹ ਚੀਤਿ ॥੨੪॥: Kotan mai Nanak kou narain jih cheet ||24| (sggs 1427).

A person established in Gurmukh State of the Mind leada a Spiritual Life of non-attachment.

• ਬੰਧਨਿ ਬਾਧਿਆ ਇਨ ਬਿਧਿ ਛੂਟੈ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਸੇਵੈ ਨਰਹਰੇ ॥੧॥: Bandhan baadhiaa in bidh shootai gurmukh sevai narahare ||1|| (sggs 1112).
• ਸੰਤਹੁ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਗਤਿ ਪਾਈ ॥: Santahu gurmukh mukti gati paaee (sggs 911).
• ਕਉਣੁ ਸੁ ਮੁਕਤਾ ਕਉਣੁ ਸੁ ਜੁਗਤਾ ॥ ਕਉਣੁ ਸੁ ਗਿਆਨੀ ਕਉਣੁ ਸੁ ਬਕਤਾ ॥ ਕਉਣੁ ਸੁ ਗਿਰਹੀ ਕਉਣੁ ਉਦਾਸੀ ਕਉਣੁ ਸੁ ਕੀਮਤਿ ਪਾਏ ਜੀਉ ॥੧॥ ਕਿਨਿ ਬਿਧਿ ਬਾਧਾ ਕਿਨਿ ਬਿਧਿ ਛੂਟਾ ॥ ਕਿਨਿ ਬਿਧਿ ਆਵਣੁ ਜਾਵਣੁ ਤੂਟਾ ॥ ਕਉਣ ਕਰਮ ਕਉਣ ਨਿਹਕਰਮਾ ਕਉਣੁ ਸੁ ਕਹੈ ਕਹਾਏ ਜੀਉ ॥੨॥ ... ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਮੁਕਤਾ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਜੁਗਤਾ ॥ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਗਿਆਨੀ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਬਕਤਾ ॥ ਧੰਨੁ ਗਿਰਹੀ ਉਦਾਸੀ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਕੀਮਤਿ ਪਾਏ ਜੀਉ ॥੫॥ ਹਉਮੈ ਬਾਧਾ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਛੂਟਾ ॥ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਆਵਣੁ ਜਾਵਣੁ ਤੂਟਾ ॥ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਕਰਮ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਨਿਹਕਰਮਾ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਕਰੇ ਸੁ ਸੁਭਾਏ ਜੀਉ ॥੬॥: Kaounu su muktaa kaounu su jugataa... (sggs 131).

A person of Godly Virtues is free from doubts, superstitions, material bondage, falsehood, corruption, evil-mindedness, demoniac actions, jealousy and enviousness, false ego-sense, vices, demerits, sinful reactions, lamentation and hankering for material objects, desire and fear, hatred, conflicts, fanaticism, differences, and so on. In essence, he is a living-liberated (Jeevan Mukta). Accordingly, the Gurbani declares such person is God-like.

• ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਬਾਣੀ ਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਹੈ ਸਬਦਿ ਮਿਲਾਵਾ ਹੋਇ ॥: Gurmukh bani Brahm hai Sabad milaavaa hoi (sggs 39).
• ਅਪੁਨੇ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਕਉ ਸਦਾ ਬਲਿ ਜਾਈ ॥ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਜੋਤੀ ਜੋਤਿ ਮਿਲਾਈ ॥: Apune satgur kaou bali jaaee. Gumukh jotee jot milaaee (sggs 362).
• ਤ੍ਰੈ ਗੁਣ ਮਾਇਆ ਮੋਹੁ ਹੈ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਚਉਥਾ ਪਦੁ ਪਾਇ ॥: Trai gun maya moh hai Gurmukh chauthaa pad paai (sggs 30).
• ਨਾਨਕ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਦੁਆਰੁ ॥੨੮॥: Nanak gurmukh mukat duaar ||28|| (sggs 941).

Hence, according to the Gurbani, a Gurmukh State of the Mind is not a question of heredity, family of birth, ancestry, race, region, social status, caste, creed, education, titles, religion, or any peculiar external appearance of a person; it is a question of Realization of the Creator Within through Internalization of the Guru's Shabad! Undoubtedly,it is like standing in a fire without getting burnt!

• ਇਹੁ ਮਨੁ ਨਿਹਚਲੁ ਹਿਰਦੈ ਵਸੀਅਲੇ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਮੂਲੁ ਪਛਾਣਿ ਰਹੈ ॥: Ihu manu nihachalu hiradai vaseeale gurmukhi moolu pachhaani rahai (sggs 945).

The Manmukh

A Manmukh State of the Mind (Un-Enlightened) is the opposite of Gurmukh. 

In short, a Manmukh is a denier of the Truth (ਸਚ, the Creator). His mind escapes through senses and run after sense-objects, uncontented. He has no understanding of the Gur-Shabad.

• ਸੇ ਮਨਮੁਖ ਜੋ ਸਬਦ ਨ ਪਛਾਨਹਿ ॥: Se manmukh jo Sabad na pachhaanah (sggs 1054).
• ਮਨਮੁਖਿ ਮੈਲਾ ਸਬਦੁ ਨ ਪਛਾਣੈ ॥: Manmukhi mailaa sabadu n pashhaanai (sggs 415).
• ਮਨਮੁਖੀ ਦੁਹਾਗਣਿ ਨਾਹਿ ਭੇਉ ॥: Manmukhee duhaagan naahi bhaeo (sggs 1170).
• ਮਨਮੁਖੁ ਰੋਗੀ ਹੈ ਸੰਸਾਰਾ ॥: Manmukhu rogee hai sansaaraa (sggs 118).

In nutshell, anyone who has not realized the Mool Within (Jot Saroop , Source, Origin...) alone is a Manmukh engrossed in unenlightened existence..

• ਨਾਮੁ ਨ ਚੇਤਹਿ ਸਬਦੁ ਨ ਵੀਚਾਰਹਿ ਇਹੁ ਮਨਮੁਖ ਕਾ ਆਚਾਰੁ ॥: Naam n cheetahi sabad n vichaarahi ihu manmukh kaa aachaar. (sggs 508).
• ਮਨ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਹਉਮੈ ਰੋਗੁ ਹੈ ਭ੍ਰਮਿ ਭੂਲੇ ਮਨਮੁਖ ਦੁਰਜਨਾ ॥: Man antar haumai rog hai bharam bhoole manmukh durjanaa (sggs 301).
• ਮਨਮੁਖੁ ਅੰਧਾ ਦੂਜੈ ਭਾਇ ਲਾਗੈ ॥: Manmukh andhaa doojai bhaae laagai (sggs 113).
• ਮਨਮੁਖ ਅੰਧੇ ਫਿਰਹਿ ਬੇਤਾਲੇ ॥: Manmukh andhe firahi betaale (sggs 117).
• ਮਨਮੁਖਿ ਅੰਧੇ ਸੁਧਿ ਨ ਕਾਈ ॥: Manmukh andhe sudh na kaaee (sggs 118).

In this world, everyone is either a servant of Maya (illusion, delusion, etc.) or the Creator. Those who serve Maya are called Manmukhs or demons (Truth deniers, etc. Thus, a Manmukh regardless of how advanced he may be in material qualifications by education and culture, lacks in Godly Virtues; consequently, does not know the essence of the Reality that is contained within himself. Such individuals fail to attain Spiritual Perfection. Istead of seeking holiness Within, they chase after Maya and, as a result, wander in this dense forest of material existence like a beast in human garb.

• ਭਗਤੀ ਸਾਰ ਨ ਜਾਣਨ੍ਹ੍ਹੀ ਮਨਮੁਖ ਅਹੰਕਾਰੀ ॥: Bhagtee saar na jaananee Manmukh ahankaaree (sggs 429).
• ਮਨਮੁਖਿ ਝੂਠੋ ਝੂਠੁ ਕਮਾਵੈ ॥: Manmukh jhootho jhooth kamaavai (sggs 363).
• ਮਨਮੁਖੁ ਅਗਿਆਨੀ ਅੰਧੁ ਅੰਧਾਰਾ ॥: Manmukh agiaanee andh andhaaraa (sggs 1067).
• ਮਨਮੁਖ ਤਤੁ ਨ ਜਾਣਨੀ ਪਸੂ ਮਾਹਿ ਸਮਾਨਾ ॥੩॥: Manmukh tatu na jaananee pasoo maahi samaanaa ||3|| (sggs 1009).

As the Manmukh or demons take shelter in material corruption, they are called the lowest of mankind despite their advancement in material education, science and politics. Association with such material beings is called Kusang (false or bad association). By its very nature, such association separates an individual from the Truth, and makes him forgetful of his True Nature, which is Pure Consciousness (Jot Saroop).

• ਮਨਮੁਖ ਸੇਵਾ ਜੋ ਕਰੇ ਦੂਜੈ ਭਾਇ ਚਿਤੁ ਲਾਇ ॥ ਪੁਤੁ ਕਲਤੁ ਕੁਟੰਬੁ ਹੈ ਮਾਇਆ ਮੋਹੁ ਵਧਾਇ ॥: Manmukh sevaa jo karae doojai bhaai chit laai. Putt kalat kattamb hai Maya mohu vadhaai (sggs 1422).

A Manmukh minset is void of humility, true contentment, compassion, and spiritual wisdom. Such lifestyle exhibits nothing but undesirable qualities in a person. To make us aware of Manmukhs and their conduct, the Gurbani has provided us with numerous symptoms of such material beings caught in the vertex of unenlightened existence. Some of these symptoms include: egoism, ignorance, selfishness, duality, bondage, evil-mindedness, falsehood, violence, untruthfulness, doubts, superstitions, uncontrolled senses, identification with the feeling of "I, me, mine, your", lust, anger, greed, attachment, self pride, self-conceit; jealousy and enviousness, stubborn mindedness, hatred, fanaticism, conflicts, lack of contentment, material hankering and lamentation, lack of mental control and inner peace, self-centered, full of quarrel and contentions, lack of faith, extroverted ness, ritualistic, unhappy, always interested in taking instead of giving, affinity for bad association, lack of self-discipline, mental agitation, unceasing wandering (rat-race), begging material things from God, complaining, finding faults in others, unable to bear pains and sorrows of life, love for material world instead of the Mool within, corruption, fraud, larceny and swindling, bribery, cheating, lying, plundering, stealing, fond of mental speculations and material logic, attachment to material world, deceitful nature, fearful, unceasing desire for sense objects, cynicism, hypocrisy, always wanting to control the world, always wanting to be appreciated, unceasing hunger for name and fame, love for titles and honor, divisiveness, prejudices, cruelty, bigotry, indulgence in worldly pleasures, illusion, delusion, wrong identity, stupor, obstinate error, love of Maya or worldliness, crookedness, animosity, and so on.

Hence, according to the Gurbani, a Manmukh Mindset is not a question of heredity, family of birth, ancestry, race, region, social status, caste, creed, education, titles, religion or any peculiar external appearance of a person; it is a question of unenlightened existence, cynicism, egoism, ignorance, hypocrisy, bondage, mental delusion, body-consciousness, mistaken identity, and so on! 

• ਮਨਮੁਖ ਮੂਲਹੁ ਭੁਲਿਆ ਵਿਚਿ ਲਬੁ ਲੋਭੁ ਅਹੰਕਾਰੁ ॥: Manmukh moolahu bhuliaa vichi lab lobh ahankaar (sggs 316).

The Gurbani Further sums up the Manmukh Mindset and the Gurmukh Mindset:

• ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਬਖਸਿ ਜਮਾਈਅਨੁ ਮਨਮੁਖੀ ਮੂਲੁ ਗਵਾਇਆ ॥: Gurmukh bakhasi jamaaeean manmukhee mool gavaaiaa (sggs 304).
• ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਚਾਨਣੁ ਜਾਣੀਐ ਮਨਮੁਖਿ ਮੁਗਧੁ ਗੁਬਾਰੁ ॥: Gurmukh chaanan jaaneeai Manmukh mughad gubaar (sggs 20).
• ਨਾਨਕ ਮਨਮੁਖਿ ਬੰਧੁ ਹੈ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਕਰਾਏ ॥੪॥੩॥: Nanak manmukh bandh hai gurmukh mukati karaae ||4||3 (sggs 559).
• ਮਨਮੁਖ ਸਉ ਕਰਿ ਦੋਸਤੀ ਸੁਖ ਕਿ ਪੁਛਹਿ ਮਿਤ ॥ ਗੁਰਮੁਖ ਸਉ ਕਰਿ ਦੋਸਤੀ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਸਉ ਲਾਇ ਚਿਤੁ ॥ ਜੰਮਣ ਮਰਣ ਕਾ ਮੂਲੁ ਕਟੀਐ ਤਾਂ ਸੁਖੁ ਹੋਵੀ ਮਿਤ ॥੬੬॥: Manmukh saou kar dosatee sukh ki pushahi mit. Gurmukh saou kar dosatee Satgur saou laai chit. Jamman maran kaa mool katteeai taan sukh hovee mit ||66|| (sggs 1421).

Related:
Gurmukh Never Grows Old
Non-Gurmukh Mindset – Manmukh, Saakat, Mayadhaaree …

— T. Singh
www.gurbani.org

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Updated on Monday, October 10, 2022 10:05 PM (PST)

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