Anything that Appears will Soon Disappear

That which is Real never ends, and that which ends is not Real!

The Gurmat Wisdom of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS) teaches us that anything seen is ephemeral, temporary, fleeting, impermanent, Mithia — it will soon disappear.

What rises must set. What comes and goes is time-bound, thus temporary or unreal. That said, the Gurbani’s counsel is not to get emotionally attached to anything fleeting!

• ਦ੍ਰਿਸਟਿਮਾਨ ਹੈ ਸਗਲ ਮਿਥੇਨਾ ॥ : All that is visible is impermanent – perishable, fleeting, Mithia etc (sggs 1083).
• ਤਿਸੁ ਸਿਉ ਨੇਹੁ ਨ ਕੀਜਈ ਜੋ ਦੀਸੈ ਚਲਣਹਾਰੁ ॥ : Do not become attached to that which is seen to be fleeting – perishable, fleeting, Mithia etc. (sggs 21).

Simply put, any person born must finish one day for birth is the proof of impending death! For example, the physical body is born, and it is also continuously disappearing like a passing shadow of a tree or a cloud!

• ਬਿਰਖ ਕੀ ਛਾਇਆ ਸਿਉ ਰੰਗੁ ਲਾਵੈ ॥ ਓਹ ਬਿਨਸੈ ਉਹੁ ਮਨਿ ਪਛੁਤਾਵੈ ॥ : A person falls in love with the shade of the tree, and when it disappears, he/she feels regret in his mind. (sggs 268).
• ਜੋ ਦੀਸੈ ਸੋ ਸਗਲ ਬਿਨਾਸੈ ਜਿਉ ਬਾਦਰ ਕੀ ਛਾਈ ॥ : Whatever is visible vanishes like the shadow of a cloud. (sggs 219).
• ਚਿੰਤਾ ਤਾ ਕੀ ਕੀਜੀਐ ਜੋ ਅਨਹੋਨੀ ਹੋਇ ॥ ਇਹੁ ਮਾਰਗੁ ਸੰਸਾਰ ਕੋ ਨਾਨਕ ਥਿਰੁ ਨਹੀ ਕੋਇ ॥੫੧॥ ਜੋ ਉਪਜਿਓ ਸੋ ਬਿਨਸਿ ਹੈ ਪਰੋ ਆਜੁ ਕੈ ਕਾਲਿ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਹਰਿ ਗੁਨ ਗਾਇ ਲੇ ਛਾਡਿ ਸਗਲ ਜੰਜਾਲ ॥੫੨॥ : One should worry only if some impossible thing happens. Nanak, this is the only way in the world that none is going to stay here for ever. ||51|| Whatever is created, will perish sooner or later. Nanak, shun all worldly entanglements and live by divine Virtues. ||52|| (sggs 1429).

To be Real or Timeless means to be free of beginning, middle, and end. Whatever comes and goes is bound and limited by beginning, middle, and end. Therefore unreal — false, changeful, temporary, impermanent, perishable, illusive, or ‘Mithiya‘.

So the Gurbani asks us to stay detached and not run after this fleeting world.

• ਮ੍ਰਿਗ ਤ੍ਰਿਸਨਾ ਜਿਉ ਜਗ ਰਚਨਾ ਯਹ ਦੇਖਹੁ ਰਿਦੈ ਬਿਚਾਰਿ ॥: Reflect in your mind and see for yourself that this world play is like the thirst of the deer – mistaken for water, who runs towards the mirage in the desert (humans tempted by the world-play also run after it). (sggs 536).

In addition to a ‘mirage‘, this material world is also likened to a ‘safflower’ in the Gurbani (SGGS). It’s deceptively enchanting. The Gurbani warns us that the color (the look, appearance…) of this enchanting world and its objects will fade away (i.e., these worldly objects will perish).

• ਜੈਸਾ ਰੰਗੁ ਕਸੁੰਭ ਕਾ ਤੈਸਾ ਇਹੁ ਸੰਸਾਰੁ ॥: This world is like the (pale, temporary…) color of the safflower (sggs 346).
• ਹਥੁ ਨ ਲਾਇ ਕਸੁੰਭੜੈ ਜਲਿ ਜਾਸੀ ਢੋਲਾ ॥: O friend! Do not touch the safflower (i.e., Maya); if you do, you will get ‘burnt‘ (i.e., your love for this deceptive Maya will lead you to sufferings) (sggs 794).

In addition, the Gurbani (SGGS) also counsels us about the nature of this enchanting material world which is as unsubstantial as a ‘dream‘.

• ਨਾਨਕ ਕਹਤ ਜਗਤ ਸਭ ਮਿਥਿਆ ਜਿਉ ਸੁਪਨਾ ਰੈਨਾਈ ॥੨॥੧॥: Nanak says, the entire material world is illusion like the nightly dream ||2||1|| (sggs 1231).

To instill detachment (Bairaag) in us, the Gurbani uses various examples, allegories, metaphors, illustrations, similes, etc. With their help, the Gurbani cautions us about this massive world-picture which looks very real, wondrous, and hypnotizing. But it’s all illusive, fleeting!

• ਚਚਾ ਰਚਿਤ ਚਿਤ੍ਰ ਹੈ ਭਾਰੀ ॥ ਤਜਿ ਚਿਤ੍ਰੈ ਚੇਤਹੁ ਚਿਤਕਾਰੀ ॥ ਚਿਤ੍ਰ ਬਚਿਤ੍ਰ ਇਹੈ ਅਵਝੇਰਾ ॥ ਤਜਿ ਚਿਤ੍ਰੈ ਚਿਤੁ ਰਾਖਿ ਚਿਤੇਰਾ ॥੧੨॥: CHACHA (a letter of the Gurmukhi alphabet): This universe created by the Creator is as it were a very huge painting. Forget this painting and remember the Painter (the One Creator). (Because) the problem is that this Painting is captivating to the mind. (So, to avoid the attachment to this captivating picture) forget this picture and focus your Conscience on the Painter (i.e. the Creator). ||12|| (sggs 340).

So, to escape unburnt from this world, the Gurbani urges us to focus the conscience on the Painter of this world-picture, not the world itself.

The Gurbani teaches us that such discerning intellect (Vivek-Budh) can be Awakened by constantly probing the nature of one’s Mool (Source, Jot Saroop…) through the Shabad-Vichaar. The Wisdom obtained by churning the Gurbani helps us learn to dissociate affinities to the body-senses and the material world. In other words, the real nature of this world is realized only when we Wake up to the Wisdom.

• ਹਰਿ ਜਪਤੇ ਮਨੁ ਮਨ ਤੇ ਧੀਰਾ ॥ : By habitualizing or BECOMING the Divine Naam (abidance in Divine Giyan-Wisdom / Virtues / Hukam), the (extrovert) mind is pacified as it gets succor from the (introvert) mind itself. (sggs 1042).

The Gurbani asks us our mind to look within to where there is no name or form. The Gurbani Teaches us to remove the form from the mind by removing attachment to any object, thought or action. In nutshell, the Gurbani asks us to become the Gurmukh (Enlightened / Guru-Shabad-Oriented). Because, only the Gurmukh understands the real nature of this world. Thus only he knows how to handle it without getting ‘burnt’ in the process!

A Gurmukh is convinced that the Giyan-Wisdom is worth sacrificing anything for, because everything else is just a ‘mirage’. Hence, guided by the Giyan-Wisdom, a Gurmukh remains open to everything but detached from everything!

• ਜਨ ਨਾਨਕ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਜਗਤੁ ਤਰਿਓ ॥੮॥੧॥੧੩॥ : By becoming the Gurmukh (Enlightened / Guru-Shabad-Oriented), humanity gets across the world-ocean (i.e. Bhav Saagar – worldly attractions/temptations and their corrupting influences). ||8||1||13|| (sggs 31).

Waves come and go, but the ocean is. Similarly all that’s seen comes and goes, but our Mool is (Jot Saroop).

• ਮਮਾ ਮੂਲ ਗਹਿਆ ਮਨੁ ਮਾਨੈ ॥ ਮਰਮੀ ਹੋਇ ਸੁ ਮਨ ਕਉ ਜਾਨੈ ॥ : MAMAA: Clinging to the Mool, the mind is satisfied (ਮੰਨੇ, ਸਮਝੇ, comply…). One who is “Maramee” (who understands this mystery) understands the mind. (sggs 342).

Some related posts:

• Pujaaree’s Sikhi vs. Guru Nanak’s Sikhi
• Mithiya
• This World is a Dream
• Birth is the Proof of Impending Death
• Crowds follow the path of Falsehood, Pakhand…
• Deeming False to be Real
• Falsehood cannot Propagate Truth
• Nature of Mayaic Delusion
• Chasing Mirage
• Enchanting World-Picture
• Gurbani Says only a Rare Person Realizes Truth
• Be in the World, but not of the World!
• Passing Shadow
• A Pile of Bones, Filth and Worms
• Birth is the Proof of Impending Death
• What comes and goes is not Real
• What is Maya?
• Bhangaar – Mental Filth
• Live in the Present Moment – Here and Now
• Gurmat Concept of Death