Allow Gurbani to go through Conscience-ਸੁਰਤ

As long as you keep Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS) wrapped in designer’s Rumalas, you keep it out of the reach of Sikhs and scare the Sikhs so that ordinary Sikhs do not read it, then the authentic Sikhi of Baba Nanak cannot be understood, let alone flourish. We have made the Shabad Guru (Giyan-Guru) a means of collecting money only (business, ਧੰਧਾ – ‘ਰੋਟੀਆ ਕਾਰਣਿ…’), and scaring Sikhs by saying that the Guru is present as a person (ਹਾਜਰ ਨਾਜਰ ਪ੍ਰਗਟ ਗੁਰਾ ਦੀ ਦੇਹ ਕਹਿ ਕੇ ਡਰਾਉਣਾਂ). Crowds come to Gurdwaras, especially around Langar time. They just bow down to the SGGS, eat elaborate Langar and go home. Gurbani is seldom discussed, let alone engaged with. In this uninspiring atmosphere, where the keenness for reading, inquiry, Shabad Vichaar, understanding, and learning from Gurbani has all but vanished. With the exception of some enlightened Sikhs, the knowledge of Sikhs about SGGS is 0%. Every Sikh should read the Bani himself/herself and not depend on the ignorant, greedy, and self-serving Pujaaree clique (clergy). Only then can Sikhs become true Sikhs (learners) of Gurmat of Baba Nanak.

Baba Nanak Teaches that one’s Conscience / mind / Surat-ਸੁਰਤ needs to become the Sikh (learner, student, seeker, ਸਿਖਿਆਰਥੀ), NOT the physical body-frame.

• ਸਬਦੁ ਗੁਰੂ ਸੁਰਤਿ ਧੁਨਿ ਚੇਲਾ ॥: The SHABAD is my GURU (i.e. the Source of my Enlightenment), and my conscience (Surat, mind) is the disciple (of this SHABAD GURU (i.e. I adhere to the Instructions contained within the Shabad). (sggs 943).

That said, allowing the Gurbani (SGGS) to go through our conscience / mind /Surat (ਸੁਰਤ) essentially is to understand the enlightening Spiritual Giyan / Wisdom embedded within it, internalize it / accept it (Mannan) / apply or integrate it into everyday life.

• ਆਠ ਪਹਰ ਆਰਾਧੀਐ ਪੂਰਨ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਗਿਆਨੁ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ : One should remember or stay connected with this Naam (Giyan / Wisdom / Virtues…) throughout a day – the perfect Satguru has given us this Wisdom (to ever live Wisely – ਗਿਆਵਾਨ ਹੋ ਕੇ ਜੀਉਣਾਂ). ||1||Pause|| (sggs 218).
• ਗੁਰ ਕਾ ਬਚਨੁ ਬਸੈ ਜੀਅ ਨਾਲੇ ॥ ਜਲਿ ਨਹੀ ਡੂਬੈ ਤਸਕਰੁ ਨਹੀ ਲੇਵੈ ਭਾਹਿ ਨ ਸਾਕੈ ਜਾਲੇ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ : Guru’s teaching (Shabad) ever stay in my mind / Conscience. (When so enshrined within) water can’t sink it, fire can’t burn it, nor can thieves steal it – one who sincerely internalizes the Guru’s teaching is never distracted from it by any cause). ||1||Pause|| (sggs 679).

But, Gurbani is NOT allowed to go through conscience

However, although we may go through the Gurbani, but the majority of us (probably over 99 percent category) seldom or never allow the Gurbani to go through conscience / mind / Surat-ਸੁਰਤ! Because:

• We go though the Gurbani (SGGS) via ritual reading / hearing, mechanical and robotic recitations and memorization which halt the Gurbani to go through our minds! additionally, we hire professionals to read / sing it as in Akhand Paths, Kotri Paths, Kirtans, and so on.
• So far, the available interpretations of the Gurbani enshrined within the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS) follow the older Sanatani (Brahminical) viewpoints and traditions, some little and some a lot. Professor Sahib Singh worked very hard, put in a lot of effort, but it seems he also got tripped up (ਟਪਲਾ ਖਾਣਾਂ) – sometimes falling into traditional or Snatani viewpoints.
• In Gurdwaras worldwide, more respect and importance is given to the anti-Nanak, anti-Gurmat or anti-Sikhi fabricated narratives from numerous texts written by the Banaras trained Nirmalas (Bipar) in Brahmanical traditions (e.g. Suraj Prakash by Poet Santokh Singh, and so on). But the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS) is treated as an idol.
• Written by the enemies of Unique Gurmat of Baba Nanak, these fabricated texts attempt to negate every aspect of SGGS so that Sikhs cannot derive Guidance from it. Furthermore, these false texts present Gurmat as an appendage of the more older Sanatan philosophy to divert our attention from the real Granth (SGGS). Instead of rejecting these false texts wrongly attributed to Sikhi attempting to eliminate Baba Nanak’s Path or teachings, we Sikhs blindly accept them! In short, these false texts have been written to keep people misled.
• Self-serving Pujaaree clique (clergy, priests) who earn their livelihood in the name of religion have turned Sikhi of Baba Nanak into just another sect by introducing rituals (Karamkaand) and practices that Sikh Gurus had originally freed people from. Gurbani brings people out of their delusions/doubts (Bharam), while the main job of a Pujaaree is to lead people into delusions/doubts.

As a result, the Sikhi we see today is not the Pure and Unique Sikhi of Baba Nanak. Instead, it is a Sikhi of the self-serving Pujaare with elements of Un-Gurmat rituals and practices, misinterpretation and distortion of the Gurbani, intimidation, fanaticism, conflicts, bullying, Pakhand, etc, unlike Baba Nanak’s original teachings of humanity and pure deeds. This have led Sikh community away from the truth of the Gurbani. The result is utter confusion in Sikh community about the true or core Sikhi or Gurmat of Baba Nanak.

The truth is Baba Nanak had made Sikhi the SIMPLEST, EGALITARIAN, PURE, UNIQUE, PRACTICAL and REVOLUTIONARY WAY in the world. But, later after the Guru period the anti-Nanak Pujaaree class took over and made it more and more difficult and diluted. When the number of followers of a religion needs to be reduced, then fanaticism, ritualized dogmas, fundamentalism etc is created in it. When fanaticism sets in, the followers of that PATH slowly start distancing themselves from it.

• ਸਰਬ ਧਰਮ ਮਹਿ ਸ੍ਰੇਸਟ ਧਰਮੁ ॥ ਹਰਿ ਕੋ ਨਾਮੁ ਜਪਿ ਨਿਰਮਲ ਕਰਮੁ ॥ : Of all Dharma the most sublime Dharma is to realize the Naam (Wisdom / Virtues) and emulating them to perform deeds free of corrupting influence of Maya. (sggs 266).

The SGGS asserts mere hearing, reciting, reading etc won’t make any difference in terms of Spiritual development and progress – empty talks devoid of the Divine Wisdom of the Shabad Guru! Simply put, worshiping the Gurbani, and SGGS as an idol instead of understanding / internalizing / accepting / living the enlightening Message contained within It will not cut it. The Gurbani’s decree (ਫੁਰਮਾਨ) is:

• ਰਾਮ ਰਾਮ ਸਭੁ ਕੋ ਕਹੈ ਕਹਿਐ ਰਾਮੁ ਨ ਹੋਇ ॥ ਗੁਰ ਪਰਸਾਦੀ ਰਾਮੁ ਮਨਿ ਵਸੈ ਤਾ ਫਲੁ ਪਾਵੈ ਕੋਇ ॥1॥ : Everyone utters Raam Raam; but by such utterance (merely uttering by tounge-ਨਿਰਾ ਜੀਭ ਨਾਲ), Raam does not happen. By Gur-Grace (Grace of the Gur-Shabad-Giyan), Raam comes to dwell in the mind, and then, the fruit (of Aatam-Giyan…) is obtained. ||1|| (sggs 491).
• ਆਖਣੁ ਸੁਨਣਾ ਪਉਣ ਕੀ ਬਾਣੀ ਇਹੁ ਮਨੁ ਰਤਾ ਮਾਇਆ ॥ : (So long) the mind is in love with Maya, listening to spiritual discourse is like the sough of the wind (in one ear and out the other). (sggs 24).
• ਆਖਿ ਆਖਿ ਮਨੁ ਵਾਵਣਾ ਜਿਉ ਜਿਉ ਜਾਪੈ ਵਾਇ ॥ ਜਿਸ ਨੋ ਵਾਇ ਸੁਣਾਈਐ ਸੋ ਕੇਵਡੁ ਕਿਤੁ ਥਾਇ ॥ : By merely uttering / reciting / expressing (praises of the Creator) again and again, the mind is only disturbed. (By doing so) the Greatness and whereabouts of the Creator is NOT known. (sggs 53).
• ਕਰਮਿ ਮਿਲੈ ਤਾ ਪਾਈਐ ਨਾਹੀ ਗਲੀ ਵਾਉ ਦੁਆਉ ॥੨॥ : God Realization is attained through deeds / self-efforts; NOT through empty talk and prayer requests. ||2|| (sggs 16).
• ਨਾਨਕ ਆਏ ਸੇ ਪਰਵਾਣੁ ਹੈ ਜਿਨ ਹਰਿ ਵੁਠਾ ਚਿਤਿ ॥ ਗਾਲ੍ਹ੍ਹੀ ਅਲ ਪਲਾਲੀਆ ਕੰਮਿ ਨ ਆਵਹਿ ਮਿਤ ॥੧॥ : Nanak, approved is the coming (into this world) of those beings within whose conscience God abides. O my friend, all other useless talks and babbling serve no purpose. ||1|| (sggs 320).
• ਮੁਖ ਤੇ ਪੜਤਾ ਟੀਕਾ ਸਹਿਤ ॥ ਹਿਰਦੈ ਰਾਮੁ ਨਹੀ ਪੂਰਨ ਰਹਤ ॥ : With his tongue, (the  Pujaaree) reads (scriptures) along with their commentaries/translations. (However) neither his mind focused on Omnipresent Creator nor his life/conduct is clean. (sggs 887).

Taking advantage of people’s lack of understanding (ਸੂਝ-ਬੂਝ) of the spiritual Message contained within the Gurbani (SGGS), religious con-artists are flourishing and populating around the world. They control majority of the Gurdwaras in the world (probably over 95%). control.

The Gurbani is a Way of Understanding and abiding

Since the Gurbani is meant to be understood and applied, it is not the way of the meaningless Karamkaand or rituals etc as propagated by the self serving Pujaaree clique (clergy) – freeloading babas or sadhs (ਵੇਹਲੜ), ignorant Bhais / Ragis / Granthis / Pathis / Dhadis / Parcharaks, Jathedars, leaders and administrators etc schooled and trained in Taksali, Deraa, Sampardayi, Sanatanism, Nirmala or Benaras traditions who present Gurmat of Baba Nanak as an appendage of the Sanatan philosophy.

• ਗੁਰਮਤਿ ਸੁਨਿ ਕਛੁ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਨ ਉਪਜਿਓ ਪਸੁ ਜਿਉ ਉਦਰੁ ਭਰਉ ॥ : Listening to the Gurmat (Shabad-Giyan, Teaching of the Gurbani, etc.), (if) no Spiritual Wisdom (understanding of the Spiritual Life…) wells up within; (then it would be) like a beast (routinely) filling its belly (sggs 685).
• ਬਿਨੁ ਬੂਝੇ ਸਭ ਹੋਇ ਖੁਆਰ ॥ : Without understanding, ALL are troubled (afflicted, perplexed…). (sggs 791).
• ਪੰਡਿਤ ਮੁਲਾਂ ਜੋ ਲਿਖਿ ਦੀਆ ॥ ਛਾਡਿ ਚਲੇ ਹਮ ਕਛੂ ਨ ਲੀਆ ॥੩॥ : ALL that the Pandit and Mullah Clergy have prescribed or presented to us, I have DISCARDED (while walking on the Path of Spirituality). I DISCARD IT ALL and have ACCEPTED NOTHING at all. ||3|| (sggs 1159).

Spirituality of the SGGS is of the SELF, for the SELF, by the SELF

There is an old saying — you can lead a horse to the water, but you can’t make it drink the water! Similarly, one cannot make or force people to take spiritual Giyan / Wisdom / Virtues etc. All one can do is inspire them to think rationally and critically, adopt, reform, and so on.

The spirituality of the Gurbani (SGGS) is of the SELF, for the SELF, by the SELF. Therefore, the Gurbani is meant to be understood and internalized by oneself and for oneself! Simply put, there is NO concept of transfer of blessings in the spirituality of the Gurbani.

• ਬਿਨੁ ਖਾਏ ਬੂਝੈ ਨਹੀ ਭੂਖ ॥ : Without eating, hunger is not satisfied. (sggs 1149).
• ਸਿਖੀ ਸਿਖਿਆ ਗੁਰ ਵੀਚਾਰਿ ॥ ਨਦਰੀ ਕਰਮਿ ਲਘਾਏ ਪਾਰਿ ॥ : Sikhi is contemplation on Guru’s teaching (Instructions, Wisdom, Counsel, Guide, Upadesh, Giyan, Bibek) and acting on it. Being blessed by the Grace of the Guru’s teaching one then crosses the ocean of worldly temptations and their corrupting influences (Bhav Saagar). (sggs 465).

Gurbani ‘Awakens‘ and ‘Alerts‘ the humanity Physically, Intellectually and Spiritually.

Therefore, a genuine Sikh’s Spiritual Journey is towards the Gurbani (Sri Guru Granth Sahib, SGGS), and ultimately BECOMING the Gurbani — becoming fit for the Grace of the Shabad Guru in terms of (1) Understanding the enlightening Message contained in the Shabad and (2)  Internalizing it, and (3) bring about a realization of the Divine within one’s own Conscience Here and Now, NOT after death!

That said, the SGGS time and again reminds its learners (i.e.Sikhs) that constantly living in remembrance (Simran) of the Divine Naam (Giyan / Wisdom / Virtues / Hukam) is the best of all Wealth, a valued Divine Gift, the Greatest Treasure and Asset in human life etc.

• ਗਿਆਨੀਆ ਕਾ ਧਨੁ ਨਾਮੁ ਹੈ ਸਹਜਿ ਕਰਹਿ ਵਾਪਾਰੁ ॥ : The Wealth of the persons of Giyan (Wise, ਗਿਆਨ-ਵਾਨ) is the Naam; with Sahaj, they trade (in this Naam Wealth). (sggs 68).
• ਧਨੁ ਸਾਚਾ ਤੇਊ ਸਚ ਸਾਹਾ ॥: The real wealthy (moneylenders, bankers, ਸਾਹੂਕਾਰ etc.) are those (who have the everlasting Naam-Wealth). (sggs 257).
• ਸਗਲ ਥਾਨ ਤੇ ਓਹੁ ਊਤਮ ਥਾਨੁ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਜਿਹ ਘਟਿ ਵਸੈ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ॥੮॥੩॥ : Nanak, of all places, the most sublime place is that mind in which the Divine Naam (Giyan-Wisdom / Virtues) dwells. ||8||3|| (sggs 266).

Ending – mindful approach to Gurbani

Baba Nanak points out in the outset of the SGGS that the one who truly listens and accepts (Mannan-ਮੰਨਣਾਂ) the Divine Hukam (the Cosmic System-Rule-Law of Nature, ਕੁਦਰਤੀ ਨਿਯਮ…) faces no obstacles in their Path. In other words, those who understand and follow the Divine Hukam tread life’s journey without impediments and gain respect everywhere.

• ਨਾਇ ਮੰਨਿਐ ਦੁਰਮਤਿ ਗਈ ਮਤਿ ਪਰਗਟੀ ਆਇਆ ॥ … ਨਾਨਕ ਨਾਮੁ ਰਤੰਨੁ ਹੈ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਹਰਿ ਧਿਆਇਆ ॥੧੧॥ : By Internalizing Naam, evil-mindedness goes away and divine Wisdom manifests. By Internalizing Naam, False ego-sense and all afflictions of mind vanish. … Nanak, Naam is precious like a Jewel, but only that person lovingly remembers God who follows the spiritual Message of the Shabad (Gurmukh mindset / Enlightenment). ||11|| (sggs 1242).

Living according to the Divine Hukam essentially means enlightened / Gurmukh or Guru Shabad-oriented mindset, remembering the Divine Virtues, Shabad based family life, and functioning in harmony with the Divine Hukam (‘ਹੁਕਮਿ ਰਜਾਈ ਚਲਣਾ’) – become ‘Sachiaaraa‘ or truthful and break the wall of falsehood. Thus, according to Baba Nanak, only then one’s own bodily ‘family’ of senses and faculties becomes reformed. Without acceptance of the Hukam, any and all ritualized dogmas / Pakhand is NOT automatically considered devotion – examples from Sikh history reveal that many sons of Gurus didn’t accept / follow their fathers’ paths.

• ਕਿਵ ਸਚਿਆਰਾ ਹੋਈਐ ਕਿਵ ਕੂੜੈ ਤੁਟੈ ਪਾਲਿ ॥ ਹੁਕਮਿ ਰਜਾਈ ਚਲਣਾ ਨਾਨਕ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਨਾਲਿ ॥੧॥ : How then can I become God-Realized being within (‘Sachiaaraa‘)? How can I remove the obstacle of my non-realized state within? O Nanak! (The way to realize Creator within is to) remain within the confines of His Hukam (the Cosmic System-Rule-Law of Nature, ਕੁਦਰਤੀ ਨਿਯਮ…), as (Creator and His Hukam) is contained with us. ||1|| (sggs 1).

Some related posts:

• Pujaaree’s Sikhi vs. Guru Nanak’s Unique Sikhi
• Empty Talk
• Gurmat Spirituality is Practical and Universal
• Panj Khand – Guru Nanak’s Universal and Practical Guide for Spiritual
• Gurbani is Meant to be Understood and Applied
• Gurbani is not Meant to Repeat Pre-1469 Belief System
• Become the Gurbani
• Entire Gurbani is Naam
• Naam Padaarath and Giaan Padaarath
• Gurbani Defines Naam
• Reading and Memorizing Gurbani is of no Avail Unless…
• Ritualistic Reading of the Gurbani
• Religious Rituals – Karamkaand
• Rituals Bind Us in Egotism
• Knowledge is Taken, not Given
• Giyan Ratan: the Jewel of Wisdom
• Realize Enlightening Message Embedded within Shabad
• Sikhi Teaches to Discard priestly Class
• Missing Component from Sikhi Parchar
• Self-Efforts
• Accomplish Your Life’s Task with Your Hands Yourself!
• Hukam and it’s Immanence
• Crowds follow the path of Falsehood, Pakhand…