MADNESS OF JUDGING OTHERS
O Nanak, if someone judges himself, only then is he known as a real judge.(ਦੂਜਿਆਂ ਦੀ ਪੜਚੋਲ ਕਰਨ ਦੇ ਥਾਂ, ਦੂਜਿਆਂ ਦੇ ਵਿਕਾਰ-ਰੂਪ ਰੋਗ ਲੱਭਣ ਦੇ ਥਾਂ,
instead of looking for others' faults, etc.). (sggs 148).
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Judging others through false ego is a symptom as well as pastime of a worldly person (Mayadhaaree). Also called Manmukh — material or unenlightened being, etc. — the daily life of such person engrossed in evil ways is full of its natural contentions, contradictions, jealousy, usual competitions, selfishness, corruption, falsehood, baser desires and fears. Consequently, he ends up living a wrong life in all his worldly contacts and experiences; thus wasting useful time and energy by undergoing tensions, strains, and creating chaos within for himself and confusion without for others.
- ਮਨਮੁਖ ਬੋਲਿ ਨ ਜਾਣਨ੍ਹ੍ਹੀ ਓਨਾ ਅੰਦਰਿ ਕਾਮੁ ਕ੍ਰੋਧੁ ਅਹੰਕਾਰੁ ॥ ਥਾਉ ਕੁਥਾਉ ਨ ਜਾਣਨੀ ਸਦਾ ਚਿਤਵਹਿ ਬਿਕਾਰ ॥: Manmukh boli na jaananee onaa andari kaam krodh ahankaar...: The Manmukhs (material beings) do not even know how to speak. They are filled with lust, anger and false pride (i.e. all evil passions, which are the faults of the same false ego-sense or Haume). They do not know the difference between good and bad; they constantly think of corruption. (sggs 1248).
- ਨਾਨਕ ਪਰਖੇ ਆਪ ਕਉ ਤਾ ਪਾਰਖੁ ਜਾਣੁ ॥: Nanak parkhe aap kayu ta paarakh jaan: O Nanak, if someone judges himself, only then is he known as a real judge (ਦੂਜਿਆਂ ਦੀ ਪੜਚੋਲ ਕਰਨ ਦੇ ਥਾਂ, ਦੂਜਿਆਂ ਦੇ ਵਿਕਾਰ-ਰੂਪ ਰੋਗ ਲੱਭਣ ਦੇ ਥਾਂ, instead of looking for others' faults, etc.). (sggs 148).
- ਪ੍ਰਣਵਤਿ ਨਾਨਕ ਗਿਆਨੀ ਕੈਸਾ ਹੋਇ ॥ ਆਪੁ ਪਛਾਣੈ ਬੂਝੈ ਸੋਇ ॥: Pranvati Nanak giaanee kaisaa hoi. Aapu pashaanai boojhai soi: Prays Nanak, of what nature is the Giaanee (the Wise one, the knower of the Truth...)? (A true Giaanee is he who) recognizes his (Mool-ਮੂਲ, Source, Origin, Essential Nature, etc.), such (Giaanee-ਜੋ ਆਪਣੇ ਅਸਲੇ ਨੂੰ ਪਛਾਣਦਾ ਹੈ) Understands God (sggs 25).
- ਪੜਿ ਪੰਡਿਤੁ ਅਵਰਾ ਸਮਝਾਏ ॥ ਘਰ ਜਲਤੇ ਕੀ ਖਬਰਿ ਨ ਪਾਏ ॥: Parh Pandit avraa samjhaae. Ghar jalte kee khabar na paae: The Pandit reads (religious books) and instructs others, but he does not realize that his own home is on fire (fire of Bikaars, Maya, desires, etc.) (sggs 1046).
- ਸੋ ਬਉਰਾ ਜੋ ਆਪੁ ਨ ਪਛਾਨੈ ॥ ਆਪੁ ਪਛਾਨੈ ਤ ਏਕੈ ਜਾਨੈ ॥੪॥: So baouraa jo aap na pachaanai. Aap pacchaanai ta eko jaanai ||4||: Man is crazy without Self-realization. When he knows himself (ਆਪਣੇ ਅਸਲੇ ਦੀ ਪਛਾਣ, the Reality of his Being, his True Nature, etc.), only then he comes to know the One (All-pervading Truth). ||4|| (sggs 855).
- ਕਥਨੀ ਬਦਨੀ ਕਰਤਾ ਫਿਰੈ ਹੁਕਮੈ ਮੂਲਿ ਨ ਬੁਝਈ ਅੰਧਾ ਕਚੁ ਨਿਕਚੁ ॥੨॥: Kathanee badanee kartaa phirai hukmai mooli na bujhaee andhaa kach nicach ||2||: (The person who) wanders around babbling and speaking (mere talking - ਨਿਰੀਆਂ ਮੂੰਹ ਦੀਆਂ ਗੱਲਾਂ - etc.), but does not understand the Hukam (Divine Will, Order, etc.), He is blind, the falsest of the false (sggs 509).
- ਮੂਰਖੁ ਹੋਇ ਨ ਆਖੀ ਸੂਝੈ ॥ ਜਿਹਵਾ ਰਸੁ ਨਹੀ ਕਹਿਆ ਬੂਝੈ ॥ ਬਿਖੁ ਕਾ ਮਾਤਾ ਜਗ ਸਿਉ ਲੂਝੈ ॥੬॥: Moorakhu hoi n aakhee soojhai ..: That person is a fool who does not see (the All-pervading Lord...) with his eyes; whose tongue is devoid of the (Naam-) Ras (ਨਾਮ-ਰਸ, Taste of Naam...), and who does not understand (the Gurmat, Gurbani's Teaching...). Intoxicated with the poison (of Maya), he argues with the world ||6|| (sggs 414).
- ਮਹਲੁ ਕੁਮਹਲੁ ਨ ਜਾਣਨੀ ਮੂਰਖ ਅਪਣੈ ਸੁਆਇ ॥ ਸਬਦੁ ਚੀਨਹਿ ਤਾ ਮਹਲੁ ਲਹਹਿ ਜੋਤੀ ਜੋਤਿ ਸਮਾਇ ॥: Mahal kumahal na jaananee moorakh apne suaae. Shabad cheenahi ta mahal lahe joti jot samaae: The fools do not know the difference between good and bad (ਥਾਂ ਕੁਥਾਂ, ਆਤਮਾ ਅਨਾਤਮਾ, ਅਸਲਾ ਤੇ ਜੋ ਅਸਲਾ ਨਹੀ ਹੈ...); they are deceived by their self-interests. But if they contemplate the Shabad, they Realize the Divine Presence within (Mool, ਅਪਣਾਂ ਮੂਲ ਸਰੂਪ, ਅਸਲਾ...), and their individual light merges in the Supreme Light (sggs 649).
- ਫਰੀਦਾ ਜੇ ਤੂ ਅਕਲਿ ਲਤੀਫੁ ਕਾਲੇ ਲਿਖੁ ਨ ਲੇਖ ॥...: Freeda je tu akal lateef hai kaale likh na lekh. Aapanrhe gireevaan mahi sir neevaa kar dekh ||6||: Fareed, if you are so clever, (of keen understanding -ਬਰੀਕ ਅਕਲ ਵਾਲਾ, ਸਮਝਦਾਰ - etc.) then you should not do evil (e.g., ਹੋਰ ਬੰਦਿਆਂ ਦੇ ਮੰਦੇ ਕਰਮਾਂ ਦੀ ਪਛਚੋਲ ਕਰਨਾ, look for faoults in others, etc.). (instead) examine your own self. ||6|| (sggs 1378).
- ਗੁਰਮੁਖ ਸਿਉ ਮਨਮੁਖੁ ਅੜੈ ਡੁਬੈ ਹਕਿ ਨਿਆਇ ॥: Gurmukh siou manmukh arhai dubbai hakk niaae: If the Manmukh (materialistic, self-willed, etc.) fights (ਖਹਿਬੜਦਾ ਹੈ) with the Gurmukh (spiritual being, etc.), (according to the True Judge) he drowns (in the world-ocean - ਸੰਸਾਰ-ਸਮੁੰਦਰ) (sggs 148).
- ਮੂਰਖ ਗਣਤ ਗਣਾਇ ਝਗੜਾ ਪਾਇਆ ॥ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਹਥਿ ਨਿਬੇੜੁ ਝਗੜੁ ਚੁਕਾਇਆ ॥: Moorakh ganat gnaae jhagrhaa paayaa. Satgur hath niber jhagarh chukaaiaa: The fools try to account for their misdeeds, and argue uselessly. The judgment is in the Hands of the True Guru, who puts an end to the argument (sggs 139).
Therefore, we are urged to renounce the urge to judge others. The Gurbani Teaches us to leave behind all mental perversions, break the chains of doubts and to remain affectionately unattached. The Gurbani tirelessly reminds us that this rare human life is meant to seek the Mool within (Source, Origin, Jot...), not uselessly contradicting the world around.
What is the cure? Before finding the cure, we need to find out the cause of the disease. As mentioned before, the reason the instinct of judging others exists is the expanded psychological ego (Haume). It is not the Mool within (Source, Origin, Jot...), rather, it is our deluded ego that craves for judging others. That's why the genuine religious texts and the Spiritual Beings repeatedly remind us that the destruction of false ego is the purpose of human life as well as all religions, not other way around. Trying to justify the egoistic urge to judge others would be like falling into the coal-pit; again and again, and then try to shake the body off!
- ਹਉਮੈ ਕਰੈ ਨਿਹਕਰਮੀ ਨ ਹੋਵੈ ॥ ਗੁਰ ਪਰਸਾਦੀ ਹਉਮੈ ਖੋਵੈ ॥ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਬਿਬੇਕੁ ਸਦਾ ਆਪੁ ਵੀਚਾਰੇ ਗੁਰ ਸਬਦੀ ਗੁਣ ਗਾਵਣਿਆ ॥੩॥: Haumai kari nihkarmi hovai. Gur parsaadee haumai khovai. Antari bibek sadaa aap veechare gur sabadee gun gaavaniaa ||3||: Those who act in ego do not go beyond Karma. It is only by Guru’s Grace that one is rid of ego. (Those who eradicate their ego, they possess) discriminating minds (Viveka-Budhi: discerning intellect, ਚੰਗੇ ਮੰਦੇ ਕੰਮ ਦੀ ਪਰਖ ਦੀ ਸੂਝ) in them; they continually examine their ownself (ਆਪਣੇ ਆਤਮਕ ਜੀਵਨ ਦੀ ਵਿਚਾਰ). Through the Gur-Shabad, they sing Glorious Praises ||3|| (sggs 128).
- ਹਮ ਨਹੀ ਚੰਗੇ ਬੁਰਾ ਨਹੀ ਕੋਇ ॥ ਪ੍ਰਣਵਤਿ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਤਾਰੇ ਸੋਇ ॥੪॥੧॥੨॥: Ham nahee change buraa nahee koi. Pranavat Nanak taarae soi ||4||1||2|| (sggs 728).
- ਨਾਨਕ ਖੋਜਿ ਲਹਹੁ ਘਰੁ ਅਪਨਾ ਹਰਿ ਆਤਮ ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮੁ ਪਾਇਆ ॥੫॥: Nanak khoji lahau ghar apnaa hari aatam raam naam paya ||5||: O Nanak, search and examine your own inner being, and attain the Supreme Soul (i.e., see the All-pervading Lord within), and the Lord's Name ||5|| (sggs 1039).
For this very purpose, we are given the power of impartial intuitive self-analysis or discerning introspection. To attain the pure awareness of the Shabad-Surti (Naam or God-consciousness), The Gurbani has recommended daily introspection of our blind sense-mind. To be successful, this introspection has to be impartial, accurate, and without any prejudice. If we let this introspection become marred with the wicked and impulsive mental and sense tendencies such as judging others to satisfy our false ego-sense, then it will be totally meaningless.
Every moment, there is a spiritual and psychological battle going on between the Soul and the sense-infatuated mind under the delusive influence of the false ego-sense. We can invoke the God given power of introspection to review the battle of the day in our mind in order to determine who won the battle the good or the evil. As scriptures tell us, "good" being that which expresses truth and virtue and attracts the consciousness to the Lord; and "evil" being ignorance and delusion, repels the consciousness from Truth. Thus, we, the material or unenlightened beings, can realize the eternal Bliss (Anand) only if we side with "goodness" and win the battle between the good and evil inclinations that guide our activities on the external bodily field of action.
- ਬੰਦੇ ਖੋਜੁ ਦਿਲ ਹਰ ਰੋਜ ਨਾ ਫਿਰੁ ਪਰੇਸਾਨੀ ਮਾਹਿ ॥: Bande khoj dil har roj naa phir presaanee maahi: O man, search your own heart every day, and do not wander around in confusion (sggs 727).
- ਜਨ ਨਾਨਕ ਬਿਨੁ ਆਪਾ ਚੀਨੈ ਮਿਟੈ ਨ ਭ੍ਰਮ ਕੀ ਕਾਈ ॥੨॥੧॥: Jan Nanak binu aapaa cheenai mitai n bhram kee kaaee ||2||1||: O Daas Nanak! Without Realizing one’s own self (Original, Essential, or True Nature, etc. – ਆਪਣਾ ਆਤਮਕ ਜੀਵਨ ਪਰਖਣ ਤੋਂ ਬਿਨਾ, etc.), the moss of doubt (ignorance of one’s True Nature, etc.) is not eradicated (from the mind) ||2||1|| (sggs 684).
Once the false ego is thinned out, many evil urges will lose their grip on us. We can shake the unripe ego off by becoming humble beings, and knowing that "I am not good; no one is bad". To a spiritually wise (Gurmukh), what is bad is a good, and what is good is a good; for he is beyond duality (false ego)! The scriptures disapprove of judging others because in Pure Consciousness there is no good, and there is no bad! We Manmukhs (material beings), suffering in ignorance of the Mool within (Source, Origin, Jot...), however, do not understand this mystery.
- ਸਭ ਤੇ ਨੀਚੁ ਆਤਮ ਕਰਿ ਮਾਨਉ ਮਨ ਮਹਿ ਇਹੁ ਸੁਖੁ ਧਾਰਉ ॥੧॥: Sabh te neech aatam kari maanahu mann amhi ih sukh dhaarahu ||1||: I judge myself to be the lowest of all; in this way, I instill Peace within my mind ||1|| (sggs 532).
- ਹਮ ਨਹੀ ਚੰਗੇ ਬੁਰਾ ਨਹੀ ਕੋਇ ॥ ਪ੍ਰਣਵਤਿ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਤਾਰੇ ਸੋਇ ॥੪॥੧॥੨॥: Ham nahee change buraa nahee koi. Pranavat Nanak taarae soi ||4||1||2||
- ਉਸਤਤਿ ਨਿੰਦਾ ਕਰੇ ਕਿਆ ਕੋਈ ॥ ਜਾਂ ਆਪੇ ਵਰਤੈ ਏਕੋ ਸੋਈ ॥੨॥: Ustat nindaa kare kiyaa koee. jaa aape vartai eko soee ||2||: (O mate, now I know that) the One God Himself is pervading and permeating all (slanderers and non-slanderers alike), (now) either praise or slander by anyone has no effect on me ||2|| (sggs 1128).
- ਕਬੀਰ ਸਭ ਤੇ ਹਮ ਬੁਰੇ ਹਮ ਤਜਿ ਭਲੋ ਸਭੁ ਕੋਇ ॥ ਜਿਨਿ ਐਸਾ ਕਰਿ ਬੂਝਿਆ ਮੀਤੁ ਹਮਾਰਾ ਸੋਇ ॥੭॥: Kabeer sabh te ham bure ham taji bhalo sabh koi. Jin aisaa kari boojhiaa meet hamaaraa soi ||7|| (sggs 1364).
- ਸਲੋਕ ਕਬੀਰ ॥ ਗਗਨ ਦਮਾਮਾ ਬਾਜਿਓ ਪਰਿਓ ਨੀਸਾਨੈ ਘਾਉ ॥ ਖੇਤੁ ਜੁ ਮਾਂਡਿਓ ਸੂਰਮਾ ਅਬ ਜੂਝਨ ਕੋ ਦਾਉ ॥੧॥ ਸੂਰਾ ਸੋ ਪਹਿਚਾਨੀਐ ਜੁ ਲਰੈ ਦੀਨ ਕੇ ਹੇਤ ॥ ਪੁਰਜਾ ਪੁਰਜਾ ਕਟਿ ਮਰੈ ਕਬਹੂ ਨ ਛਾਡੈ ਖੇਤੁ ॥੨॥੨॥: Salok Kabeer || Gagan damaamaa baajio pario nisaanai ghaaou. Khet ju maandio soormaa ab joojhan ko daaou ||1|| Sooraa so pehchaaneeai jo larai deen ke het. Purajaa purajaa kat marai kabahoo n shhaadai khet ||2||2|| (sggs 1105).
- Gurmukh laahaa kai gaye. Manmukh challe mool gavaae jeeo: The Gurmukhs (Self-realized) reap the true profits of their life and leave, while the Manmukhs (material beings) lose all and depart (sggs 74).
- ਸਬਦੁ ਸੂਝੈ ਤਾ ਮਨ ਸਿਉ ਲੂਝੈ ਮਨਸਾ ਮਾਰਿ ਸਮਾਵਣਿਆ ॥: Sabad soojhai taa mann siyu loojhai (sggs 113).
— T. Singh
www.gurbani.org