Beast of Burden

A donkey or an ass is known to be the beast of burden. It carries burden day and night, without knowing for who he is doing it, and why he is doing it. It is happy so long its belly is filled!

ਦੀਨੁ ਬਿਸਾਰਿਓ ਰੇ ਦਿਵਾਨੇ ਦੀਨੁ ਬਿਸਾਰਿਓ ਰੇ ॥ ਪੇਟੁ ਭਰਿਓ ਪਸੂਆ ਜਿਉ ਸੋਇਓ ਮਨੁਖੁ ਜਨਮੁ ਹੈ ਹਾਰਿਓ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ : O madman! You have forgotten your Dharma (of Virtues, Sach or Truth, Duty of life-ਫਰਜ…); you have forgotten your Dharma. Like animals, you fill your belly and sleep; you have wasted and lost this human life. ||1||Pause|| (sggs 1105).

We humans come to world naked and alone, and we will leave alone as well.

However, during the journey of life on this earth we hoard wealth, things, relationships, and so on. Some of which is necessary to survive, but most of it we rarely know why. Enticed by the worldly attractions and their corrupting influences and driven by our wants and baser instincts – such as desires or fear etcetera we hoard more and more. one desire gives rise to thousands more.

Then we humans spent rest of our lives protecting all that we have amassed, most of which is in excess.

Thus we humans torture ourselves by overloading ourselves with excess of baggage. It’s too late to unload ourselves by the time we realize it.

In addition, we humans carry the crushing load of Haumai (false ego-sense), and, in madness, we work day and night like a donkey carrying an excess of baggage. Most of us rarely care for the Way of Understanding and internalizing Spiritual Giyan-Wisdom / Virtues / Hukam. As a result, we end up working like a donkey to cultivate nothing but ignorance. Such lifestyle (Manmukh-Saakat-Mayadhaaree nature) corrupts our sensory apparatus.

We are repeatedly reminded by the Gurbani enshrined within the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS) that the human life is meant for Realizing the Creator. But instead most of us end up just churning water – falsehood!

ਬਿਨੁ ਬੂਝੇ ਪਸੂ ਕੀ ਨਿਆਈ ਭ੍ਰਮਿ ਮੋਹਿ ਬਿਆਪਿਓ ਮਾਇਆ ॥: Without understanding the Spiritual or Divine Life, (a person) remains like an animal, and remains engrossed in doubt and delusion of Maya (i.e. deception or bewilderment of Maya …). (sggs 1300).
ਭਰਮੇ ਭੂਲਾ ਸਾਕਤੁ ਫਿਰਤਾ ॥ ਨੀਰੁ ਬਿਰੋਲੈ ਖਪਿ ਖਪਿ ਮਰਤਾ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ : A Saakat (one separated from his Mool, Wisdom, Virtues…) wanders astray in doubt. He churns water (only), and on account of this useless effort, he continuously wastes away his life and thus continuous experiences death (of his spiritual life). ||1||Pause|| (sggs 739).

The life of those churning water is like the donkey who arising each day grazes upon the green grass; it laughs and brays, and then dies. Or, like the intoxicated bull who runs around wildly, romps, eats and then falls into hellish existence by becoming a subservient to others entire life.

ਹਰੀ ਅੰਗੂਰੀ ਗਦਹਾ ਚਰੈ ॥ ਨਿਤ ਉਠਿ ਹਾਸੈ ਹੀਗੈ ਮਰੈ ॥੧॥ ਮਾਤਾ ਭੈਸਾ ਅੰਮੁਹਾ ਜਾਇ ॥ ਕੁਦਿ ਕੁਦਿ ਚਰੈ ਰਸਾਤਲਿ ਪਾਇ ॥੨॥ : The donkey (i.e., the foolish mind) grazes upon the green grass (of Bikaar or Maya); arising each day, (the mind) laughs and brays (like a donkey), and (finally) dies (in this ‘hee-haw’ or a donkey-lifestyle). ||1|| The intoxicated bull (of the deluded and Bikaaree mind) wanders around wildly. It romps (in false ego-sense) and eats (the crop of Bikaar, Maya …) and then is ruined completely (live a hellish existence or low life…). ||2|| (sggs 326).
ਹਰਿ ਕੇ ਨਾਮ ਬਿਨੁ ਧ੍ਰਿਗੁ ਸ੍ਰੋਤ ॥ ਜੀਵਨ ਰੂਪ ਬਿਸਾਰਿ ਜੀਵਹਿ ਤਿਹ ਕਤ ਜੀਵਨ ਹੋਤ ॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ ਖਾਤ ਪੀਤ ਅਨੇਕ ਬਿੰਜਨ ਜੈਸੇ ਭਾਰ ਬਾਹਕ ਖੋਤ ॥ ਆਠ ਪਹਰ ਮਹਾ ਸ੍ਰਮੁ ਪਾਇਆ ਜੈਸੇ ਬਿਰਖ ਜੰਤੀ ਜੋਤ ॥੧॥ ਤਜਿ ਗੋੁਪਾਲ ਜਿ ਆਨ ਲਾਗੇ ਸੇ ਬਹੁ ਪ੍ਰਕਾਰੀ ਰੋਤ ॥ ਕਰ ਜੋਰਿ ਨਾਨਕ ਦਾਨੁ ਮਾਗੈ ਹਰਿ ਰਖਉ ਕੰਠਿ ਪਰੋਤ ॥੨॥੫॥੧੩॥ : It is disgraceful for the human being who are blessed with the ears – and other organs of the body – not to listen to and live without the Divine Naam (Giyan-Wisdom / Virtues / Hukam). What is the life of those people who live (spend life) oblivious of the Creator?). ||Pause|| Forgetting the life to live by Divine Naam, those who remain confined to eating, drinking are like donkeys carrying loads. They engage themselves to toil for material gains round the clock like an ox yoked to a grinding machine. ||1|| Forgetting the Creator, those who are engaged in other ideas, they suffer in numerous ways. Nanak, I beg for the gift of the Divine Naam, I will always remember it in my mind — I always remain on the path of Divine Naam (Giyan-Wisdom / Virtues / Hukam. ||2||5||13|| (sggs 1121)

The Gurbani also tirelessly urges us to move from the consciousness of the time-space-causation into the timeless-formless-causeless Mool or Jot Saroop. Subjugation of the beat of Maya — freedom from ignorance and attachments — is the end of the dance of the conditioned mind, and the beginning of the Spiritual Dance of the Unconditioned Consciousness (Mool-Abidance). The experience of Spiritual Dance is the ultimate maturing of the Jeeva (individual being) from the time-bound consciousness into the Timeless Consciousness (Jot Sroop). The reason the majority of us (over 99.9 percent) are unable to experience this Spiritual Dance within is our animal-consciousness.

ਢੀਲੁ ਰਬਾਬੀ ਬਲਦੁ ਪਖਾਵਜ ਕਊਆ ਤਾਲ ਬਜਾਵੈ ॥ ਪਹਿਰਿ ਚੋਲਨਾ ਗਦਹਾ ਨਾਚੈ ਭੈਸਾ ਭਗਤਿ ਕਰਾਵੈ ॥੧॥: ਫੀਲੁ ਰਬਾਬੀ ਬਲਦੁ ਪਖਾਵਜ ਕਊਆ ਤਾਲ ਬਜਾਵੈ ॥ ਪਹਿਰਿ ਚੋਲਨਾ ਗਦਹਾ ਨਾਚੈ ਭੈਸਾ ਭਗਤਿ ਕਰਾਵੈ ॥੧॥ : (The mind’s animal nature) plays the guitar of the elephant-nature (egoism…); it plays drums of the ox-nature (indolence, ignorance…); it plays cymbals of the crow-nature (material cleverness…). (The mind’s animal nature) performs dance of the donkey-nature (lust…), and perform Bhagti of the buffalo-nature (uncontrolled conduct or intoxication with Maya…) ||1||. (sggs 477).
ਚਾਰਿ ਪਾਵ ਦੁਇ ਸਿੰਗ ਗੁੰਗ ਮੁਖ ਤਬ ਕੈਸੇ ਗੁਨ ਗਈਹੈ ॥ ਊਠਤ ਬੈਠਤ ਠੇਗਾ ਪਰਿਹੈ ਤਬ ਕਤ ਮੂਡ ਲੁਕਈਹੈ ॥੧॥ ਹਰਿ ਬਿਨੁ ਬੈਲ ਬਿਰਾਨੇ ਹੁਈਹੈ ॥ ਫਾਟੇ ਨਾਕਨ ਟੂਟੇ ਕਾਧਨ ਕੋਦਉ ਕੋ ਭੁਸੁ ਖਈਹੈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ ਸਾਰੋ ਦਿਨੁ ਡੋਲਤ ਬਨ ਮਹੀਆ ਅਜਹੁ ਨ ਪੇਟ ਅਘਈਹੈ ॥ ਜਨ ਭਗਤਨ ਕੋ ਕਹੋ ਨ ਮਾਨੋ ਕੀਓ ਅਪਨੋ ਪਈਹੈ ॥੨॥ ਦੁਖ ਸੁਖ ਕਰਤ ਮਹਾ ਭ੍ਰਮਿ ਬੂਡੋ ਅਨਿਕ ਜੋਨਿ ਭਰਮਈਹੈ ॥ ਰਤਨ ਜਨਮੁ ਖੋਇਓ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਬਿਸਰਿਓ ਇਹੁ ਅਉਸਰੁ ਕਤ ਪਈਹੈ ॥੩॥ ਭ੍ਰਮਤ ਫਿਰਤ ਤੇਲਕ ਕੇ ਕਪਿ ਜਿਉ ਗਤਿ ਬਿਨੁ ਰੈਨਿ ਬਿਹਈਹੈ ॥ ਕਹਤ ਕਬੀਰ ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮ ਬਿਨੁ ਮੂੰਡ ਧੁਨੇ ਪਛੁਤਈਹੈ ॥੪॥੧॥ : (First, see Rahaou verse for the core Message of the Shabad) O human being, life without the Divine Naam (Giyan-Wisdom / Virtues / Hukam) is like being an ox under the control of another. Just as a bull with a pierced nose (ਨੱਥ ਨਾਲ) goes wherever it is driven, similarly, if a human leaves the path of the Divine Naam ( Giyan-Wisdom / Virtues / Hukam), then the life of such humans is also becomes pierced (like the bull’s nose – ‘ਫਾਟੇ ਨਾਕਨ’) due to his slavery of vices/Bikaar, just like that bull. Due to being absorbed in attachment and Maya, even his family becomes a burden to him. Carrying all this worldly burden one’s shoulders break (‘ਟੂਟੇ ਕਾਧਨ’). That is, due to carrying the burden of the vices/Bikaar/Maya, one remains spiritually lazy, tired, and broken (uneasy, unhappy). Just as an ox cannot be satisfied by eating chaff/straw, similarly the mind of a human being cannot be satisfied by the hunger of craving. A person who is devoid of the Divina life (of Giyan-Wisdom / Virtues / Hukam) is like eating chaff/straw (‘ਕੋਦਉ ਕੋ ਭੁਸੁ ਖਈਹੈ’), whatever he is eating. ||1||Pause|| (Now, see the first Pada – here it is important to remember the Gurmat Sidhaant ‘ਕਰਤੂਤ ਪਸੂ ਕੀ ਮਾਨਸ ਜਾਤ’) The bull has four legs, two horns and cannot speak from its mouth. When a person is living a life of ‘Dubidha’ (duality, delusion, illusion, ambiguity, two-ness etc), then this is the embodiment of the bull’s ‘four legs’ (feet). When a person is using his so-called knowledge, intelligence, and cleverness only for fighting and arguing, then these are his ‘two horns’. Not having a sweet and humble nature is like being ‘dumb’. In such a state of mind, a person is daily subjected to the scourge of vices/Bikaar due to a ‘filthy’ mind, he is beaten by the hands of vices/Bikaar. It is as if a bull getting beating and cannot escape. ||1|| …. (sggs 524).

Played out in the eternity of the ‘Now’, the Spiritual Dance is the Dance of Enlightenment, Pure Consciousness, Divine Vision (Darshan) or direct communion with one’s Jot Saroop within: recognition of Oneness of the world of plurality. To such an enlightened person (Gurmukh), the ever changing phenomenal world is a Dance of Joy in the Infinite Bliss within.

ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਨਿਰੰਜਨੁ ਪਾਈਐ ਅਫਰਿਓ ਭਾਰੁ ਅਫਾਰੁ ਟਰੈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ : The Immaculate (free of Maya) Naam is obtained by becoming the Gurmukh; (as a result, his) unbearable load (of Haumai, etc.) is removed. ||1||Pause|| (sggs 1013).
ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਬਿਬੇਕ ਬੁਧਿ ਹੋਇ ॥ : The Gurmukh is blessed with spiritual wisdom and discerning intellect (sggs 317).

In a nutshell, to BECOME the Burbani is the spiritual State of BECOMING One with the Shabad, Naam, Hukam, Virtues, Spiritual Giyan-Wisdom etc. — spiritual Enlightenment or Realization WITHIN own Conscience.

The Gurbani (SGGS) asks its Sikhs to Internalize (understand, practice – ਅਮਲ) the enlightening spiritual Message contained within the Guru Shabad — BECOME the Burbani.

ਜਿਨਾ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਪੁਰਖੁ ਨ ਸੇਵਿਓ ਸਬਦਿ ਨ ਕੀਤੋ ਵੀਚਾਰੁ ॥ ਓਇ ਮਾਣਸ ਜੂਨਿ ਨ ਆਖੀਅਨਿ ਪਸੂ ਢੋਰ ਗਾਵਾਰ ॥ ਓਨਾ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਨ ਧਿਆਨੁ ਹੈ ਹਰਿ ਸਉ ਪ੍ਰੀਤਿ ਨ ਪਿਆਰੁ ॥: Those who have not Internalized the Message of the Guru‘s Shabad; do not call them human beings; they are as dead animals and stupid. They have neither spiritual Giaan–Wisdom of spiritual Life nor Contemplation (Giaan Dhiaan); they have no love and affection for the Creator Within. (sggs 1418).

Ending

Biologically, man is a beast, but an advanced beast able to dominate the planet. However, he also has weaknesses.

In a nutshell, separation from Truth (Creator) is:
= Animal Joon
= Animal life
= animal nature
= human MIND living daily life at the level of animals etc.

ਕਰਤੂਤਿ ਪਸੂ ਕੀ ਮਾਨਸ ਜਾਤਿ ॥ : Although; human in name or creed, but actions are that of animalistic nature. (sggs 267).
ਨਰੂ ਮਰੈ ਨਰੁ ਕਾਮਿ ਨ ਆਵੈ ॥ ਪਸੂ ਮਰੈ ਦਸ ਕਾਜ ਸਵਾਰੈ ॥੧॥ : When the human within dies — (death of humanity within conscience, ਅੰਦਰੋਂ ਇਨਸਾਨੀਅਤ ਦੀ ਮੌਤ) — then I become useless (for my own spiritual Journey and humanity around me). However, when animalistic nature (beast within me) are eliminated (‘ਕਰਤੂਤਿ ਪਸੂ ਕੀ’), then I am of plentiful use — to my own spiritual Journey as well those around me. ||1|| (sggs 870).

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