Acting without Being or Becoming

We become what we give our attention to! The Enlightening Message of the Guru’s Shabad (Sri Guru Granth Sahib, SGGS) for Sikhs (students or learners) is to BECOME ONE within, BECOME ONE with the Gurbani, BECOME one with the entire humanity, and BECOME one with the Creation/Creator (i.e. Hukam, Omnipresent Energy) etc.

• ਜੈਸਾ ਸੇਵੈ ਤੈਸੋ ਹੋਇ ॥੪॥: One becomes just like the One he serves (i.e., as one thinks, so he becomes). ||4|| (sggs 223).
• ਜੈ ਸਿਉ ਰਾਤਾ ਤੈਸੋ ਹੋਵੈ ॥: A person becomes like the one he falls in love with (i.e. associated or imbued with etc.). (sggs 411).
• ਏ ਮਨ ਜੈਸਾ ਸੇਵਹਿ ਤੈਸਾ ਹੋਵਹਿ ਤੇਹੇ ਕਰਮ ਕਮਾਇ ॥ ਆਪਿ ਬੀਜਿ ਆਪੇ ਹੀ ਖਾਵਣਾ ਕਹਣਾ ਕਿਛੂ ਨ ਜਾਇ ॥੭॥: O (my) mind! You become what you pursue and acts accordingly. (You) reap what you sow; nothing more needs to be said about this. ||7|| (sggs 755).

A Sikh’s Spiritual Journey is towards BECOMING ONE with the Enlightening Spirituality contained in the Guru Shabad. Therefore, the Spiritual Message of the SGGS to all Sikhs is to BECOME — realize the God’s presence within, here and Now.

• 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 give our attention to becoming the Gurmukh (Enlightened, Guru Shabad-Oriented).

• ਬੇਗਮ ਪੁਰਾ ਸਹਰ ਕੋ ਨਾਉ ॥ ਦੂਖੁ ਅੰਦੋਹੁ ਨਹੀ ਤਿਹਿ ਠਾਉ ॥ ਨਾਂ ਤਸਵੀਸ ਖਿਰਾਜੁ ਨ ਮਾਲੁ ॥ ਖਉਫੁ ਨ ਖਤਾ ਨ ਤਰਸੁ ਜਵਾਲੁ ॥੧॥ ਅਬ ਮੋਹਿ ਖੂਬ ਵਤਨ ਗਹ ਪਾਈ ॥ ਊਹਾਂ ਖੈਰਿ ਸਦਾ ਮੇਰੇ ਭਾਈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ ਕਾਇਮੁ ਦਾਇਮੁ ਸਦਾ ਪਾਤਿਸਾਹੀ ॥ ਦੋਮ ਨ ਸੇਮ ਏਕ ਸੋ ਆਹੀ ॥ ਆਬਾਦਾਨੁ ਸਦਾ ਮਸਹੂਰ ॥ ਊਹਾਂ ਗਨੀ ਬਸਹਿ ਮਾਮੂਰ ॥੨॥ ਤਿਉ ਤਿਉ ਸੈਲ ਕਰਹਿ ਜਿਉ ਭਾਵੈ ॥ ਮਹਰਮ ਮਹਲ ਨ ਕੋ ਅਟਕਾਵੈ ॥ ਕਹਿ ਰਵਿਦਾਸ ਖਲਾਸ ਚਮਾਰਾ ॥ ਜੋ ਹਮ ਸਹਰੀ ਸੁ ਮੀਤੁ ਹਮਾਰਾ ॥੩॥੨॥: (Bhagat Ravidas says) ‘Baygum Pura‘, ‘the city without sorrow’ — SPIRITUAL STATE OF MIND — in which I now reside. In that place or state of mind (ਆਤਮਕ ਅਵਸਥਾ) there is neither any suffering nor worry. In that state of mind there are no worries and no taxes on possessions (because there is no worldly property). In that state of mind there is no fear of committing sins, or any dread of spiritual decline. ||1|| Now I have found a very pleasant place to reside, where there is always peace and calm. ||1||Pause|| This state of mind is an everlasting dominion. No one is treated there as a second or third class citizen, all are considered EQUAL. That city or state of mind is populous and eternally famous. Those who live there are so blessed with the wealth of Naam (Wisdom / Virtues) that they feel themselves wealthy and satiated. ||2|| In that state of bliss they go about as they please. They are familiar with God’s presence, therefore, nobody prevents them from realizing Him. Ravidas, a cobbler who has been liberated, says, whosoever lives in this town (i.e. state of mind) is my friend. ||3||2|| (sggs 345).

Clearly, ‘Being’ and ‘Becoming’ is very important to the Gurmat (Wisdom, Upadesh, Message or Way of the SGGS). Everything else is unimportant to the SGGS — Pakhand, showoff religiosity of robes and other paraphernalia, worthless rituals (Karamkaand), concoctions, afterlife or after death nonsense, etc.

The Gurbani’s Instruction to its Sikhs is to live a daily life of spiritual Wisdom / Virtues. Not out of any worldly fear, compulsion, Pakhand, selfishness 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 motives etc. 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 state of the mind of a person who is Enlightened, Guru Shabad-Oriented, 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, naturally. 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 Original Nature (Jot Saroop), which is Goodness itself!

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

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 mindset (opposite of the Gurmukh minset) may try to look spiritual on the outside or from an ulterior motive, which others cannot detect. Or it may be he/she 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 mentality 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).
• ਗਜ ਸਾਢੇ ਤੈ ਤੈ ਧੋਤੀਆ ਤਿਹਰੇ ਪਾਇਨਿ ਤਗ ॥ ਗਲੀ ਜਿਨ੍ਹ੍ਹਾ ਜਪਮਾਲੀਆ ਲੋਟੇ ਹਥਿ ਨਿਬਗ ॥ ਓਇ ਹਰਿ ਕੇ ਸੰਤ ਨ ਆਖੀਅਹਿ ਬਾਨਾਰਸਿ ਕੇ ਠਗ ॥੧॥ ਐਸੇ ਸੰਤ ਨ ਮੋ ਕਉ ਭਾਵਹਿ ॥ ਡਾਲਾ ਸਿਉ ਪੇਡਾ ਗਟਕਾਵਹਿ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ ਬਾਸਨ ਮਾਂਜਿ ਚਰਾਵਹਿ ਊਪਰਿ ਕਾਠੀ ਧੋਇ ਜਲਾਵਹਿ ॥ ਬਸੁਧਾ ਖੋਦਿ ਕਰਹਿ ਦੁਇ ਚੂਲ੍ਹ੍ਹੇ ਸਾਰੇ ਮਾਣਸ ਖਾਵਹਿ ॥੨॥ ਓਇ ਪਾਪੀ ਸਦਾ ਫਿਰਹਿ ਅਪਰਾਧੀ ਮੁਖਹੁ ਅਪਰਸ ਕਹਾਵਹਿ ॥ ਸਦਾ ਸਦਾ ਫਿਰਹਿ ਅਭਿਮਾਨੀ ਸਗਲ ਕੁਟੰਬ ਡੁਬਾਵਹਿ ॥੩॥ : (Freeloading/Pakhandi Sant/Sadh) they wear three and a half yard long loincloths, and triple-wound sacred threads. They wear rosaries around their necks, and glittering jugs in their hands. Just because of such religious paraphernalia they should not be called Sant of God — they are thugs of Baanaaras (i.e., religious conmen, cheats, robbers…). Fallen from human thinking, such pretentious so called Sant are not pleasing to me. Because, they rob their victims of not only their wealth, but also of their life which is like gulping down the entire tree instead of consuming just a branch. ||1||Pause|| They wash their pots and pans before putting them on the stove, and wash the wood before lighting it. (To show others how holy they are) they dig earth, and make two hearths – one for their use and he second for others to use. (But in their real life, they are so cruel) they rob their victims as if they devoured the whole person (i.e. exploit the gullible people and destroy their life). ||2|| Such sinners always keep roaming around (looking for more victims), but they call themselves “Aprass” (i.e. untouched by vices or any other person). They always live in arrogance and thus drown themselves (in vices) along with their family (i.e. those in their company also suffer for their deeds). ||3|| (sggs 476).
• ਲਖ ਚੋਰੀਆ ਲਖ ਜਾਰੀਆ ਲਖ ਕੂੜੀਆ ਲਖ ਗਾਲਿ ॥ ਲਖ ਠਗੀਆ ਪਹਿਨਾਮੀਆ ਰਾਤਿ ਦਿਨਸੁ ਜੀਅ ਨਾਲਿ ॥: (A person’s mind) commits thousands of robberies, thousands of acts of adultery, thousands of falsehoods and thousands of abuses. His mind commits thousands of deceptions and secret deeds (bad deeds done in secrecy), night and day, against his fellow beings. (sggs 471).
• ਖਾਂਦਿਆ ਖਾਂਦਿਆ ਮੁਹੁ ਘਠਾ ਪੈਨੰਦਿਆ ਸਭੁ ਅੰਗੁ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਧ੍ਰਿਗੁ ਤਿਨਾ ਦਾ ਜੀਵਿਆ ਜਿਨ ਸਚਿ ਨ ਲਗੋ ਰੰਗੁ ॥੨॥ : Entire life is passed taking care of the needs of the physical body, mouth (teeth) is worn out by eating and all other body parts have grown weary by wearing clothes. Nanak, accursed is the life of persons who do not realize the Creator. ||2|| (sggs 523).
• ਨਾਮ ਬਿਨਾ ਜੋ ਪਹਿਰੈ ਖਾਇ ॥ ਜਿਉ ਕੂਕਰੁ ਜੂਠਨ ਮਹਿ ਪਾਇ ॥੧॥: Without remembering the Naam, whatever a person wears and eats, it is as a wandering dog eating leftover food (false or filth). ||1|| (sggs 240).
• ਅੰਧੀ ਰਯਤਿ ਗਿਆਨ ਵਿਹੂਣੀ ਭਾਹਿ ਭਰੇ ਮੁਰਦਾਰੁ ॥ : (Because of) deprived of the Divine Knowledge, people (as if have become mentally) blind (ignorant), and are engaged in gratifying their fire (of desires, Maya…). (sggs 469).

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. 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…). Nanak, whose mind is attuned and in love with You (O Creator) are Blissfully crossing this forest of worldlines. ||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 our deluded mind is aware of. We (Jot Saroop) 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) of the onslaught of Maya (worldly attractions and their corrupting influences – Bhav Saagar). (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 (i.e. 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).

Some Related Posts:

• The Gurmukh Never Grows Old!
• Non-Gurmukh Mindset – Manmukh, Saakat, Mayadhaaree.
• Crowds follow the path of Falsehood, Pakhand…
• Imitation: People See, People do
• Looking Pious and Mahatma Outside but Fraud Inside
• Gurbani and Religious Paraphernalia
• We’re only as Good as the Company We Keep