Acting without Being or Becoming

The message for Sikhs (seekers or learners) is to BECOME ONE within, BECOME one with the humanity, and BECOME one with the Creation/Creator (i.e. Hukam, Universal Energy), BECOME ONE with the Gurbani etc.

A Sikh’s Spiritual Journey is towards the Gurbani — Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS). Therefore, the Spiritual Message of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS) to all Sikhs (seekers or learners) is to BECOME — REALIZATION, WITHIN.

• ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਕੀ ਬਾਣੀ ਸਤਿ ਸਰੂਪੁ ਹੈ ਗੁਰਬਾਣੀ ਬਣੀਐ ॥: The Satgur’s Bani (the God-Connecting Shabad-Guru) is the embodiment of the Creator; (therefore) BECOME THE GURBANI (to Realize the Creator). (sggs 304).

Towards this Goal of life, the Gurbani time and again urges us to become the Gurmukh (Enlightened).

Clearly ‘Being’ and ‘Becoming’ is very important to the Gurmat (Wisdom, Upadesh, Message or Way of the SGGS).

The Gurbani teaches living daily life of spiritual Wisdom and Virtues. Not out of any worldly fear, compulsion, or ulterior motives but naturally or spontaneously (Sahaj-ਸਹਜ).

A person who lives such a divine Life is called the ‘Gurmukh’ (Daas, Bhagat, Jan…) in the Gurbani. Not out of any fear, compulsion, or ulterior motive but he lives so because he has to be living such Lifestyle. That is his Nature (Jot Saroop).

In short, a Gurmukh (Bhagat, Daas, Jan…) is a person who is Wise, brave, good, virtuous, stable, fearless, blissful (Anand), pious, Joyful, positive, Happy, balanced and poised etc. (ਵਿਦਵਾਨ, ਬਹਾਦੁਰ, ਭਲਾ, ਨੇਕ, ਗੁਣੀ, ਖੁਸ਼, ਅਡੋਲ, ‘ਸਹਜਿ ਸੁਭਾਇ’, ਹਮੇਸ਼ਾ ਚੜ੍ਹਦੀ ਕਲਾ ਵਿਚ…).

In other words, the one who has become the Gurmukh cannot stop living the Gurbani’s Wisdom in daily life, spontaneously and effortlessly (Sahaj – Natural State of Being). It is his nature to live a divine Life (with each and every breath – ‘ਸਾਸਿ ਸਾਸਿ’). He just cannot help being divine! For he cannot be otherwise.

Thus a Gurmukh is always Good, naturally. In other words, he is not Good because of self-interest, selfishness, gaining power (political or otherwise) etc. He is Good because he is aware of his True Nature (Jot Saroop), which is Goodness itself!

Spontaneity is the Original Nature of the mind or its Jot Saroop (Gurmukh-hood). On the other hand, one who is overly identified with the outgoing mind (i.e. Manmukh-Saakat-Mayadhaaree) cannot be spontaneous.

The Truth is Timeless. That Timelessness is Now, and that is Being. Being is always shining (Jot Saroop). Because by Becoming the Gurmukh, living an unbroken Divine Life becomes natural, spontaneous, effortless – Sahaj.

• ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਕਰਮ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਨਿਹਕਰਮਾ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਕਰੇ ਸੁ ਸੁਭਾਏ ਜੀਉ ॥੬॥: Only by becoming the Gurmukh can good deeds be done. One who has become the Gurmukh acts detached from actions (above actions, selfless etc.). Such a person does whatever he does by remaining in Sahaj-Avasthaa (Natural State of Being, Wisdom or Giaan Avasthaa…). ||6|| (sggs 131).

On the other hand, a Manmukh-Saakat-Mayadhaaree (opposite of the Gurmukh) may try to look spiritual on the outside or from an ulterior motive, which others cannot detect. Or it may be he is trying to look spiritual or good because he expects by looking so he will get some rewards that he cannot otherwise get. Or, he may be trying to look spiritual or good because of some fear. Or, he may be blatantly selfish; whatever good he does may only be a cloak to hide his real motive of plundering unsuspecting people, gaining power, political or otherwise.

Thus a Manmukh-Saakat-Mayadhaaree may try to look spiritual or good as only a means to an selfish end! The truth is, one with such a wicked mind pretending to look spiritual or good to others is likely to do more harm than good by the manner in which he will function. A person with such a crooked mind may give some material help, but, in doing so, he may cause much moral damage. He may exploit people, defraud them or he may impose a particular political philosophy on them under the pretext of doing them good…

• ਅੰਦਰਹੁ ਝੂਠੇ ਪੈਜ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਦੁਨੀਆ ਅੰਦਰਿ ਫੈਲੁ ॥ ਅਠਸਠਿ ਤੀਰਥ ਜੇ ਨਾਵਹਿ ਉਤਰੈ ਨਾਹੀ ਮੈਲੁ : Those who are false within, and (display themselves as) honorable on the outside, are ample in this world (common, wide-spread…). Even if they bathe at sixty-eight Teeraths, the ‘filth‘ in their minds never comes off. (sggs 473).
• ਭੇਖ ਦਿਖਾਵੈ ਸਚੁ ਨ ਕਮਾਵੈ ॥: (To show off, the stubborn fool) ostensibly wears religious robes, but does not practice Truth (sggs 738).
• ਅਧਿਕ ਤਿਆਸ ਭੇਖ ਬਹੁ ਕਰੈ ॥: Excessive thirst for Maya makes people wear all sorts of religious garbs (sggs 352).
• ਕਰਤੂਤਿ ਪਸੂ ਕੀ ਮਾਨਸ ਜਾਤਿ ॥ ਲੋਕ ਪਚਾਰਾ ਕਰੈ ਦਿਨੁ ਰਾਤਿ ॥ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਭੇਖ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਮਲੁ ਮਾਇਆ ॥ ਛਪਸਿ ਨਾਹਿ ਕਛੁ ਕਰੈ ਛਪਾਇਆ ॥: Although; human in name or creed, but actions are that of animalistic nature. But day and night he exhibits or shows off to people (that he is a human – ਬੰਦਾ)! Outside (on his body) he wears religious dress but in his mind is the filth of Maya. However he cannot conceal the filth of his mind with (outwardly wearing religious robes, cunningness, pleasing people etc.). (sggs 267).
• ਗਲੀ ਜਿਨ੍ਹ੍ਹਾ ਜਪਮਾਲੀਆ ਲੋਟੇ ਹਥਿ ਨਿਬਗ ॥ ਓਇ ਹਰਿ ਕੇ ਸੰਤ ਨ ਆਖੀਅਹਿ ਬਾਨਾਰਸਿ ਕੇ ਠਗ ॥੧॥: Who have rosaries around their necks, and glittering jugs in their hands, (just because of such religious paraphernalia) they should not be called the Divine’s sant — they are thugs of Banaras (i.e., religious conmen, robbers, cheats…). (sggs 476).
• ਲਖ ਠਗੀਆ ਪਹਿਨਾਮੀਆ ਰਾਤਿ ਦਿਨਸੁ ਜੀਅ ਨਾਲਿ ॥: Lakh thageeaa… (sggs 471).

Therefore, it is very risky to judge a person by how he appears outwardly. The Gurbani does not advise us to do it.

For example, a person may speak sweet and wise words, but in his heart he may be harboring a vengeance, resentment, grudge, hatred, fraud, deception etc. The Gurbani cautions us:

• ਸਿਆਮਲੰ ਮਧੁਰ ਮਾਨੁਖ੍ਯ੍ਯੰ ਰਿਦਯੰ ਭੂਮਿ ਵੈਰਣਹ ॥ ਨਿਵੰਤਿ ਹੋਵੰਤਿ ਮਿਥਿਆ ਚੇਤਨੰ ਸੰਤ ਸ੍ਵਜਨਹ ॥੬੦॥: A person (may look) beautiful and speak sweet words, (but if he) harbors vengeance (i.e., Bikaar)  in the farm of (his) heart; (then his) bowing is false. True Satsangee Jan (the Gurmukh, Daas, Bhagat...) remain conscious or cognizant (of this fault…). ||60||(sggs 1359).
• ਠਗ ਦਿਸਟਿ ਬਗਾ ਲਿਵ ਲਾਗਾ ॥: (You: Lewd) look like a thug; pretending to meditate, you pose like a crane (sggs 1351).

Hence, ‘Being’ and ‘Becoming’ (i.e., the Gurmukh-hood) is always more important to the Gurbani.

Accordingly, throughout the SGGS, we are asked to become the Gurmukh! A Gurmukh’s whole life becomes a model of practical spirituality, a model for others to follow. He is the example of what spirituality is. He is also its meaning and justification.

• ਮਨਮੁਖਿ ਕਰਮ ਕਮਾਵਣੇ ਹਉਮੈ ਅੰਧੁ ਗੁਬਾਰੁ ॥ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤੁ ਪੀਵਣਾ ਨਾਨਕ ਸਬਦੁ ਵੀਚਾਰਿ ॥੧॥: The Manmukh do deeds in the pitch darkness of egotism (ignorance). O Nanak! (However, those who have) become the Gurmukh drink the Amrit by reflecting on the Shabad (sggs 646).

Our minds are tremendously doubt-ridden, confused, conditioned, fragmented, deep in contradiction etc. This conflict in the mind leads to total chaos. As taught in the SGGS, Being is nothing other than the reversal of this whole process of chaos to a State of Original Blissful Nature (Jot Saroop) –  our Original Nature (Saabat Soorati-ਸਾਬਤ ਸੂਰਤਿ).

• ਬਾਰਿ ਵਿਡਾਨੜੈ ਹੁੰਮਸ ਧੁੰਮਸ ਕੂਕਾ ਪਈਆ ਰਾਹੀ ॥ ਤਉ ਸਹ ਸੇਤੀ ਲਗੜੀ ਡੋਰੀ ਨਾਨਕ ਅਨਦ ਸੇਤੀ ਬਨੁ ਗਾਹੀ ॥੧॥ : In this alien forest (of the world – ਸੰਸਾਰ-ਰੂਪ ਬਿਗਾਨੀ ਜੂਹ), there is Hummas (chaos, tumult, the heat from the fire of Mayaic desires…) and Dhummas (confusion…); shrieks (ਚੀਕ ਚਿਹਾੜਾ, ਪੁਕਾਰਾਂ, ਦੁਹਾਈ…) resound from this path (of Maya…). (But) O Beloved (O Prabhoo, I…) Nanak is in love with You, (consequently, I am) going across (this world-) jungle Blissfully (ਆਤਮਕ ਆਨੰਦ ਨਾਲ). ||1|| (sggs 520).

Proper understanding of the Gur-Shabad and then constantly living that understanding in daily life helps us in our evolution, changes patterns in our life by cleansing up the doubt-ridden mind.

The Gurmukh knows he is NOT the body-frame. We are not what we are aware of. We are separate from that which we are aware of.

• ਇਸੁ ਗ੍ਰਿਹ ਮਹਿ ਕੋਈ ਜਾਗਤੁ ਰਹੈ ॥ ਸਾਬਤੁ ਵਸਤੁ ਓਹੁ ਅਪਨੀ ਲਹੈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥: A rare person remains Awake (Aware, Alert, Conscious-ਗਿਆਨ ਅਵਸਤਾ) in his (Inner) House. (Whosoever remains Awake within) remains Intact, (Complete, Whole, Undivided – Saabat…). ||1||Pause|| (182 sggs).

When we act without ‘Being’ and ‘Becoming’, we become the cause of destruction of the human society by leading people astray from the Way of Truth to the path of plundering, rituals (Karamkaand, formalities), fears, sense-gratifications, falsehood, mental blindness or ignorance, superstitions, selfishness, Bikaar (lust, anger, greed, attachment, pride…), Maya, Doojaa Bhaav (duality), Pakhand, mental traps, Bhekh or religious paraphernalia, distortion and abuse of the Dharma of Truth (Sach-ਸੱਚ) etc.

• ਕਾਦੀ ਕੂੜੁ ਬੋਲਿ ਮਲੁ ਖਾਇ ॥ ਬ੍ਰਾਹਮਣੁ ਨਾਵੈ ਜੀਆ ਘਾਇ ॥ ਜੋਗੀ ਜੁਗਤਿ ਨ ਜਾਣੈ ਅੰਧੁ ॥ ਤੀਨੇ ਓਜਾੜੇ ਕਾ ਬੰਧੁ ॥੨॥: The clergy of the Muslim faith was corrupt, the Brahmin was murderous and the Yogi Un-Enlightened. These three (clergy) had become the root cause for the spiritual wreckage and desolation that mankind had come to endure. (sggs 662).
• ਸਤੀ ਪਾਪੁ ਕਰਿ ਸਤੁ ਕਮਾਹਿ ॥: Those human beings who show themselves or claim to be virtuous and religious, but in reality they commit Bikaar, perversion etc. (although outwardly) they only show that they are practicing Truth (or Dharma etc.)! (sggs 951).
• ਪਿਆਰੇ ਇਨ ਬਿਧਿ ਮਿਲਣੁ ਨ ਜਾਈ ਮੈ ਕੀਏ ਕਰਮ ਅਨੇਕਾ ॥: My dear! I have performed many such rituals, but the Divine (Wisdom, Virtues…) is not realized by these methods (ਤਰੀਕੇ).  (sggs 641).