The Egg of Doubt Must Burst

So long a baby bird is enslaved in the eggshell, its not free to fly around. Similarly, the humans mind is enslaved in an eggshell of ‘DOUBT’ (‘Bharam-ਭਰਮ’) etc. — we are mentally slave.

Greater the self-delusion, mighty the doubt (‘Bharam-ਭਰਮ’).  Like other communities, the doubt (‘Bharam-ਭਰਮ’) is created in the minds of gullible by the self-serving Pujaaree clique — the freeloading Deraa-Vaad Baabaas (ਵੇਹਲੜ) and their trained Granthis, Parcharaks, Ragis, Dhadees etc.

For the doubt-ridden mind to become Awake, Aware or Enlightened (wise, sane, rational, prudent…), the Gurbani asserts it must burst open from its eggshell of doubt.

• ਫੂਟੋ ਆਂਡਾ ਭਰਮ ਕਾ ਮਨਹਿ ਭਇਓ ਪਰਗਾਸੁ ॥ ਕਾਟੀ ਬੇਰੀ ਪਗਹ ਤੇ ਗੁਰਿ ਕੀਨੀ ਬੰਦਿ ਖਲਾਸੁ ॥੧॥ ਆਵਣ ਜਾਣੁ ਰਹਿਓ ॥ ਤਪਤ ਕੜਾਹਾ ਬੁਝਿ ਗਇਆ ਗੁਰਿ ਸੀਤਲ ਨਾਮੁ ਦੀਓ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ : (With the grace of Gur-Giyan or Wisdom) my mind is Enlightened and (as a result, now) the eggshell of doubt (Bharam, delusion) has been broken. The Breaking of the Eggshell was the Liberation of my Shackled (Mind). My Cycle of spiritual birth and death (Aavan Jaan-ਆਵਣ ਜਾਣੁ) has Ended. The Flames (of doubt) Are Extinguished with the Guru‘s spiritually cooling Naam (Eternal Giyan–Wisdom / Virtues). ||1||Pause|| (sggs 1002).
• ਆਪੁ ਗਇਆ ਭ੍ਰਮੁ ਭਉ ਗਇਆ ਜਨਮ ਮਰਨ ਦੁਖ ਜਾਹਿ ॥ : When self-conceit is removed, doubt and fear too go away; suffering of entire life (from birth to death) also ends. (sggs 1093).

The Gurbani in SGGS asserts that the doubt must die off for it is a crushing load on mind. This human life is an opportunity to unload the mind of this burden. Unlike animals, we humans have the choice – either we can chose to carry this crushing load around longer and keep suffering throughout life or we can chose to end it HERE and NOW.

The Gurbani in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS) addresses the human mind. It’s meant to change the mind (Soch or thinking) for good, provided we are willing to change!

Being the mirror of the mind, the Gurbani in SGGS shows the mind its faults, defects, demerits, flaws, vices or Bikaar ( i.e. lust, anger, greed, attachment, pride; and their countless variations). Whether to mend it or not is a personal choice!

Since the SGGS addresses our mind, its Wisdom is not about physical pain and suffering. Rather it is about the pain and suffering experienced at the level of the mind (Conscience). As asserted in the Gurbani, man’s pain and troubles are attributed to his doubt-ridden mind (‘ਭ੍ਰਮ ਕੀ ਕਾਈ’, ‘ਭ੍ਰਮ ਕੀ ਜਾਲੀ’…).

• ਮਨੁ ਭੂਲਉ ਭਰਮਸਿ ਭਵਰ ਤਾਰ ॥ : The mind, deluded by doubt, buzzes (wanders) around like a bumblebee (sggs 1188).
• ਰੋਗੁ ਭਰਮੁ ਭੇਦੁ ਮਨਿ ਦੂਜਾ ॥ : The disease of doubt (causes) separation and duality in the mind. (sggs 416).
• ਭਰਮੇ ਭੂਲਾ ਦੁਖੁ ਘਣੋ ਜਮੁ ਮਾਰਿ ਕਰੈ ਖੁਲਹਾਨੁ ॥ : (The mind) gone astray in doubt, experiences great suffering, the doubt-Jum beats it to a pulp. (sggs 21).

The Gurmat Wisdom of the SGGS thus teaches that what is called Jum (ਜਮ), in reality, is none other than the mind’s doubt, duality, confusion, Bikaar, superstitions, delusion, ignorance or absence of Naam (Wisdom, Virtues, Truth, etc.), etc.

• ਅਵਰਿ ਪੰਚ ਹਮ ਏਕ ਜਨਾ ਕਿਉ ਰਾਖਉ ਘਰ ਬਾਰੁ ਮਨਾ ॥ ਮਾਰਹਿ ਲੂਟਹਿ ਨੀਤ ਨੀਤ ਕਿਸੁ ਆਗੈ ਕਰੀ ਪੁਕਾਰ ਜਨਾ ॥੧॥ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮਾ ਉਚਰੁ ਮਨਾ ॥ ਆਗੈ ਜਮ ਦਲੁ ਬਿਖਮੁ ਘਨਾ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ : O my mind! They are five (lust, anger, greed, etc.). I am but all alone. How can I protect my hearth and home (within, i.e., Virtues, Wisdom, good thoughts…). They daily kill and plunder (my Virtues, Wisdom, good thoughts…). Unto whom can I complain? (O my mind!) Utter the Naam of Raam; (because, stood) before you is (this) awful terrible, and numerous band of Jamm (i.e., lust, anger, greed, etc.). ||1||Pause|| (sggs 155).
• ਪ੍ਰਭ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਕੰਤ ਵਿਹੂਣੀਆ ਮੀਤ ਸਜਣ ਸਭਿ ਜਾਮ ॥ : Without Prabh (Sach, Truth, Mool…), all friends and companions are like the Jum. (sggs 133).

Therefore, in order to bring the fearful, confused or wandering mind back to its Original Nature (i.e. Jot Saroop), it must be freed from the Jum of doubt (Bharam).

• ਨਾਨਕ ਭ੍ਰਮ ਭਉ ਕਾਟੀਐ ਚੂਕੈ ਜਮ ਕੀ ਜੋਹ ॥੧॥ : O Nanak! (by Uniting with the Divine within) my doubts and fears get dispelled, and the stare (or fear of) Jum ends. ||1|| (sggs 256).
• ਭੈ ਭਰਮ ਨਾਠੇ ਛੁਟੀ ਗਾਠੇ ਜਮ ਪੰਥਿ ਮੂਲਿ ਨ ਆਵੀਐ ॥ : (Remembering Naam), all fears and doubts are dispelled, the knot (tied in the mind) is untied, one does not walk on the path of spiritual death at all. (sggs 691).
• ਭ੍ਰਮ ਭੈ ਤਰੇ ਛੁਟੇ ਭੈ ਜਮ ਕੇ ਘਟਿ ਘਟਿ ਏਕੁ ਰਹਿਆ ਭਰਪੂਰੇ ॥ : (He who remembers Naam), he crosses all the fears and doubts (of the world-ocean), all his fears about the Jum also disappear, he sees One (Rabb) pervading everybody. (sggs 825).

So long the mind remains doubt-ridden, one cannot become fearless, Wisdom-oriented, Virtues-oriented, Mool-abided etc.

• ਅਭਿਆਗਤ ਏਹ ਨ ਆਖੀਅਹਿ ਜਿਨ ਕੈ ਮਨ ਮਹਿ ਭਰਮੁ ॥ : Whose mind is doubt-ridden cannot be called ‘Abhiaagat‘ (ascetic; hermit, renunciate, Saadhoo etc.). (sggs 1413).
• ਸੁਣਿ ਸਿਖਵੰਤੇ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਬਿਨਵੈ ਛੋਡਹੁ ਮਾਇਆ ਜਾਲਾ ॥ : O learner (of the Gur-Wisdom: the Sikh, ਸਿੱਖਿਆ ਲੈਣ ਵਾਲਾ)! Listen to the Nanak’s entreaty (ਬੇਨਤੀ)! Renounce Maya-Jaal (bubble of illusion, snare, trap…). (sggs 503).

In fact Bhagat Kabeer Ji has used very stern words for such people whose minds are filled with doubt yet call themselves Guru, spiritual teachers, Sant, Saadhoo, Holy, Sri 108, Brahm-Giaanee etc.

• ਕਬੀਰ ਮਾਇ ਮੂੰਡਉ ਤਿਹ ਗੁਰੂ ਕੀ ਜਾ ਤੇ ਭਰਮੁ ਨ ਜਾਇ ॥ ਆਪ ਡੁਬੇ ਚਹੁ ਬੇਦ ਮਹਿ ਚੇਲੇ ਦੀਏ ਬਹਾਇ ॥੧੦੪॥ : O Kabeer! Shave (the head of) the mother of that Guru, following whom the mind’s doubt does not go away. Such phony gurus not have drowned only themselves in the rituals of four Vedas, they have even caused their followers to be swept away in the same – the fruitless rituals. ॥104॥ (sggs 1369).
• ਕੇਤੇ ਗੁਰ ਚੇਲੇ ਫੁਨਿ ਹੂਆ ॥ ਕਾਚੇ ਗੁਰ ਤੇ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਨ ਹੂਆ ॥ : Many Gurus were born in this world from time to time, but no imperfect (false, phony etc.) Guru was able to liberate himself or his followers. (sggs 932).

That said, a Guru has to be not only thorough, Perfect and forever but also free of doubt. In order to remove doubts of others, first, a Guru’s own mind has to be free of doubt! If not, such drowning teachers will drown others as well.

• ਗੁਰਿ ਪੂਰੈ ਸਭੁ ਭਰਮੁ ਚੁਕਾਇਆ ॥ : The Perfect Guru has dispelled all doubts. (sggs 178).
• 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).

Embedded in the Shabad of the SGGS, the Guru of Sikhs is the Giyan (Wisdom, Bibek) which is free of doubts, thorough, forever etc.! It is capable removing the mind’s doubts provided we are willing to take it by engage in churning the Gurbani through Shabad-Vichaar, and then apply it to daily life.

• ਬਿਨੁ ਸਬਦੈ ਭਰਮੁ ਨ ਚੂਕਈ ਨਾ ਵਿਚਹੁ ਹਉਮੈ ਜਾਇ ॥੬॥ : Without the Shabad, doubt is not dispelled, and egotism is not eliminated from within. ||6|| (sggs 67).
• ਹਰਿ ਕਥਾ ਤੂੰ ਸੁਣਿ ਰੇ ਮਨ ਸਬਦੁ ਮੰਨਿ ਵਸਾਇ ॥ ਇਹ ਮਤਿ ਤੇਰੀ ਥਿਰੁ ਰਹੈ ਤਾਂ ਭਰਮੁ ਵਿਚਹੁ ਜਾਇ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥: O mind! Listen to the Divine sermon (Divine Virtues, Giaan or Wisdom…), and enshrine the Shabad (Upadesh, Giaan or Wisdom, Virtues…) within the mind. (As a result) your intellect will remain stable and steady (i.e., will stop wandering around), and then doubt will depart from within (the mind). ||1||Pause|| (sggs 491).

Clearly, in order to remove the negative impact of Haumai (false ego-sense), first Bharam (doubt) must go. 

• ਮਨ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਹਉਮੈ ਰੋਗੁ ਹੈ ਭ੍ਰਮਿ ਭੂਲੇ ਮਨਮੁਖ ਦੁਰਜਨਾ ॥ : The unenlightened persons (Manmukhs) of corrupt thinking are deluded by doubt because of the mental disease of false ego-sense (Haumai) within their mind. (sggs 301).
• ਸਭ ਕਿਛੁ ਘਰ ਮਹਿ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਨਾਹੀ ॥ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਟੋਲੈ ਸੋ ਭਰਮਿ ਭੁਲਾਹੀ ॥ : Sabh kichhu ghar mahi… (sggs 102).
• ਆਲ ਜਾਲ ਮਾਇਆ ਜੰਜਾਲ ॥ ਹਉਮੈ ਮੋਹ ਭਰਮ ਭੈ ਭਾਰ ॥ : Household bondage (ਘਰਾਂ ਦਾ ਬੰਧਨ – snare…) is Maya’s entanglement. Egotism, attachment, doubt and fear are loads. (sggs 292).

Doubt (Bharam) relates to confusion about the mind’s Mool —Original Nature (i.e. Jot Saroop). Once the confusion of the doubt-ridden mind is kept out of the way, then the negative impact of Haumai (false ego-sense) starts thinning out and mind’s Jot Saroop begins to shine forth.

The Gurbani asserts that with the Grace of the Wisdom, both the doubt and the negative impact of Haumai (false ego-sense) are annihilated. Furthermore, Wisdom also destroys our Mayaic thinking and related Karma.

• ਗੁਰ ਪਰਸਾਦਿ ਭਰਮ ਕਾ ਨਾਸੁ ॥ : By the Grace of the Gur-Giaan or Wisdom, doubt is dispelled. (sggs 294).
• ਭ੍ਰਮ ਕੇ ਪਰਦੇ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਖੋਲ੍ਹ੍ਹੇ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ : The Satigur (i.e., Sach Daa Giaan – Knowledge of Truth) has removed the veil of doubt (from within). ||1||Pause|| (sggs 385).
• ਗਿਆਨੁ ਭਇਆ ਤਹ ਕਰਮਹ ਨਾਸੁ ॥੩॥ : When the spiritual Wisdom wells up within, then the (love of Mayaic efforts or) deeds end. ||3|| (sggs 1167).
• ਨਿਰਮਲ ਬਾਣੀ ਭਰਮੁ ਚੁਕਾਇਆ ॥ : Free of any contamination Bani of the Guru has dispelled all my doubts. (sggs 221).

Hence the Enlightening Message of the Shabad Guru urges us to bring about a ‘storm of the Wisdom‘ within through Shabad-Vichaar. This practice of the Gur-Shabad (ਸਬਦ ਕਮਾਈ) will remove our doubts, confusion, superstitions, Mayaic consciousness, duality, attachment, false ego-sense, desires, fear, wicked intellect, and so on. This all is clearly explained in the following verses:

• ਦੇਖੌ ਭਾਈ ਗ੍ਹਾਨ ਕੀ ਆਈ ਆਂਧੀ ॥ ਸਭੈ ਉਡਾਨੀ ਭ੍ਰਮ ਕੀ ਟਾਟੀ ਰਹੈ ਨ ਮਾਇਆ ਬਾਂਧੀ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ ਦੁਚਿਤੇ ਕੀ ਦੁਇ ਥੂਨਿ ਗਿਰਾਨੀ ਮੋਹ ਬਲੇਡਾ ਟੂਟਾ ॥ ਤਿਸਨਾ ਛਾਨਿ ਪਰੀ ਧਰ ਊਪਰਿ ਦੁਰਮਤਿ ਭਾਂਡਾ ਫੂਟਾ ॥੧॥ : O brother, the storm of Spiritual Wisdom or Enlightenment has struck my mind. (This storm of Wisdom) has blown away my mind’s Bharam (doubts, confusion, superstition etc.) and bonds of Maya like the thatched walls of my hut. ||1||pause|| The pillar of my double-mindedness and the beam of my emotional bonds of the hut has come crashing down. The thatched roof of worldly desires (supported on the beam of attachment) has fallen to the ground and the pitcher of evil intellect has broken. ||1|| (sggs 331).
• ਨਾਮੁ ਨ ਬੂਝਹਿ ਭਰਮਿ ਭੁਲਾਨਾ ॥: (Manmukhs-Unenlightened ones) do not understand the Naam (Giaan or the Divine Knowledge); (as a result, they) wander, deluded by doubt. (sggs 1032).

In a nutshell, the Gurbani’s Wisdom wants us to change our thinking (Soch, thoughts). Accordingly, the Gurbani asks to search ownself, combat one’s own mind and thus change it for good.

• ਕਾਯਉ ਦੇਵਾ ਕਾਇਅਉ ਦੇਵਲ ਕਾਇਅਉ ਜੰਗਮ ਜਾਤੀ ॥ …: For me, to search ownself or to investigate my own mind (thoughts) and change it is Divine… (sggs 695).

In other words, to search ownself and change one’s thinking (Soch) for good is the real Bhagti.

• ਭ੍ਰਮ ਛੂਟੇ ਤੇ ਏਕੰਕਾਰ ॥੩॥ : When all doubts are gotten rid of, then what remains is the ONE (Creative, Universal Energy or Hukam: System-Rule-Law of Nature). (sggs 736).
• ਭਗਤਿ ਜੁਗਤਿ ਮਤਿ ਸਤਿ ਕਰੀ ਭ੍ਰਮ ਬੰਧਨ ਕਾਟਿ ਬਿਕਾਰ ॥ : Through the way of Bhagti, the intellect gets imbued in Truth; doubts, fetters and Bikaar are cut away. (sggs 346).
• ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਪ੍ਰਾਣੀ ਭਰਮੁ ਗਵਾਇ ॥ : Mortals who become the Gurmukh, get rid of doubt. (sggs 231).
• ਇਕ ਮਨਿ ਏਕੁ ਧਿਆਈਐ ਮਨ ਕੀ ਲਾਹਿ ਭਰਾਂਤਿ ॥ : Removing doubt of the mind, contemplate the One with singular mind. (sggs 47).
• ਆਪੁ ਸਵਾਰਹਿ ਮੈ ਮਿਲਹਿ ਮੈ ਮਿਲਿਆ ਸੁਖੁ ਹੋਇ ॥ ਫਰੀਦਾ ਜੇ ਤੂ ਮੇਰਾ ਹੋਇ ਰਹਹਿ ਸਭੁ ਜਗੁ ਤੇਰਾ ਹੋਇ ॥੯੫॥: If you REFORM yourself then you will Realize Me (i.e. God), and when you Realize Me (i.e. God), you will rejoice in Spiritual Bliss. O Farid, (reforming yourself) if you become Mine then the entire world would become yours. ||95|| (sggs 1382).

Hence, according to the SGGS, the key is mending one’s own mind (i.e., thinking or Soch) and remove doubt from his/her brain through the Wisdom or Bibek of the SGGS. Needless to say that mere seeing or mere reading of the SGGS will not do the trick.

• ਜਾਂ ਤਿਸੁ ਭਾਵੈ ਤਾ ਲਾਗੈ ਭਾਉ ॥ ਭਰਮੁ ਭੁਲਾਵਾ ਵਿਚਹੁ ਜਾਇ ॥ ਉਪਜੈ ਸਹਜੁ ਗਿਆਨ ਮਤਿ ਜਾਗੈ ॥ ਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਲਿਵ ਲਾਗੈ ॥੩॥ : When it pleases (a person’s own good nature – ਚੰਗੀ ਵਿਰਤੀ), it is then that person comes to embrace love (for the One Hukam – System or Law of Nature, Universal Energy…), and (then) the delusion of doubt departs from within him. (With the elimination of doubt from within) Sahaj wells up within (Natural state of Being…), the Intellect awakens to Spiritual Wisdom. By the Grace of the Gur (-Giaan – Bibek, Wisdom), he gets united within (with Truth, Hukam…). (sggs 91).
• ਭਰਮੁ ਚੁਕਾਇਆ ਸਦਾ ਸੁਖੁ ਪਾਇਆ ॥ : Eternal Sukh (ਸੁਖ-Happiness, Peace, Joy…) is attained when doubts are dispelled. (sggs 114).ਛੂਟੈ ਸੰਸਾ ਮਿਟਿ ਜਾਹਿ ਦੁਖ ॥ : With the eradication of doubt, Dukha (ਦੁਖ-suffering, sorrow…) is eliminated. (sggs 343).
• ਹਮਰਾ ਭਰਮੁ ਗਇਆ ਭਉ ਭਾਗਾ ॥ ਜਬ ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮ ਚਿਤੁ ਲਾਗਾ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥: Now that my consciousness is attached to the Naam (Wisdom, Virtues, Truth…) ||1||Pause||, my mind’s doubt got dispelled and my fear has fled away. (sggs 655).
• ਗਇਆ ਭਰਮੁ ਰਹਿਆ ਪਰਮਾਨੰਦਾ ॥੩॥੨੦॥ : (My) doubt has been eliminated, and Supreme Bliss has remained behind. ||3||20|| (sggs 327).
• ਭਰਮੇ ਭੂਲੀ ਰੇ ਜੈ ਚੰਦਾ ॥ ਨਹੀ ਨਹੀ ਚੀਨ੍ਹ੍ਹਿਆ ਪਰਮਾਨੰਦਾ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ : O Jai Chand, the entire world is gone astray in doubt. (As a result it) has not realized God, the source of supreme Bliss. ||1||Pause|| (sggs 526).

Some Related posts:

• Rope Mistaken for a Snake!
• Nonsense Rituals and Superstitions
• Sutak
• Gurbani Rejects Eclipse Rituals
• Nature of Mayaic Delusion
• Jot Saroop – Mind’s Original Nature
• Chasing Mirage
• Antidote for Ignorance
• Fear
• Karamkaand
• Sikhi of the Clergy – Pujaaree
• Sikhi: a Way of Life