Beauty

The physical ‘beauty’ is just skin-deep — temporary, fleeting, fading, vanishing, changing, or deceptive (i.e., Maya).

However, as we will se later, the ‘Beauty’ the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS) holds is that ‘Beauty’ which is perceived in the state of the mind’s Jot Saroop — Original Nature, the state of Bliss (i.e. Anand), Wisdom, Bibek, Virtues, character, Kirdaar etc.!

A flower does not ‘try’ to be beautiful. It is beautiful by its very nature!

The mind’s Mool (ਮੂਲ – Source, Jot Saroop, True Nature, Wisdom, Virtues…) mentioned in the SGGS is of unsurpassed Beauty — Perfection itself, not an effort at Perfection or Beauty. The Gurmat Wisdom of the SGGS teaches us that the mind is made in this True Image of unsurpassed ‘Beauty’ (‘Jot Saroop-ਜੋਤਿ ਸਰੂਪੁ’); and the Blissful Nature.

• ਇਉ ਕਹੈ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਮਨ ਤੂੰ ਜੋਤਿ ਸਰੂਪੁ ਹੈ ਅਪਣਾ ਮੂਲੁ ਪਛਾਣੁ ॥੫॥ : This is what Nanak says: O mind, you are the ‘Jot Saroop’ – embodiment of Energy! Recognize your Mool (i.e. Root, Origin…) ||5|| (sggs 441).
• ਮੇਰਾ ਹਰਿ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਸੁੰਦਰੁ ਮੈ ਸਾਰ ਨ ਜਾਣੀ ॥ : My Mool (Source, Jot, True Nature, Wisdom, Virtues, Truth…) is Beautiful, (but I) do not know its essence. (sggs 561).

Bliss (Anand) is the essence of Beauty

In a nutshell, the essence of Beauty SGGS refers to is the eternal Bliss (‘Anand‘). Whatever is perceived Blissfully is Beautiful.

To the contrary, whatever is perceived through tarnished consciousness is ‘filth‘ (‘Mail‘). That is, when the connecting link between Aatam and Parmaatam (i.e., between the mind and its Jot Saroop) is corroded, the original ‘Beauty’ becomes dimmed or obscured.

• ਜਪਿ ਜਪਿ ਕਰਹਿ ਅਨੰਦੁ ਜਨ ਅਚਰਜ ਆਨੂਪੁ ॥੩॥ : Understanding (Prabh – Mool) the embodiment of wonder and incomparable (Beauty…), ‘Jan‘ (Bhagat, Gurmukh, Daas…) remain in bliss. ||3|| (sggs 677).
• ਮਨਮੁਖਿ ਸੀਗਾਰੁ ਨ ਜਾਣਨੀ ਜਾਸਨਿ ਜਨਮੁ ਸਭੁ ਹਾਰਿ ॥ : The Manmukh (unenlightened beings) soul-brides do not know how to decorate themselves (with Virtues); they depart wasting their whole life. (sggs 950).

The sublime Beauty cannot be expressed by any picture

Apparently, the sublime ‘Beauty’ talked about in the SGGS cannot be captured by any camera or painting!

Simply put, the ‘Beauty’ mentioned in the SGGS is none other than the constant abidance in Divine Virtues.

It is through the mirror of Divine Virtues that one is able to behold his own true Beauty. This ‘Beauty’ alone is. Whence the phenomenal world emerges enchanting, like a mirage, a magic show or a dream due to the movement of the deluded mind (worldly temptations and their corrupting influences).

• ਸੇਈ ਸੁੰਦਰ ਸੋਹਣੇ ॥ ਸਾਧਸੰਗਿ ਜਿਨ ਬੈਹਣੇ ॥ : They alone are Beautiful (with Virtuous lifestyle) who participate in the company of seekers (where Divine Virtues are learned). (sggs 132).

In other words, the sublime or lasting ‘Beauty’ mentioned in the SGGS is not to be found in the beauty salons — eyeliners, nails, skin, make-up, hairdo, and so on. Although physical or superficial beauty found in the beauty salons is not rejected in the SGGS, however, it is to be known as temporary, fleeting, momentary, false etc.

• ਭੈ ਕੀਆ ਦੇਹਿ ਸਲਾਈਆ ਨੈਣੀ ਭਾਵ ਕਾ ਕਰਿ ਸੀਗਾਰੋ ॥ ਤਾ ਸੋਹਾਗਣਿ ਜਾਣੀਐ ਲਾਗੀ ਜਾ ਸਹੁ ਧਰੇ ਪਿਆਰੋ ॥੧॥ : (If you want to realize God within, then) apply respectfulness (veneration, obedience of Hukam etc.) of God as mascara in your eyes (Inner eyes of Wisdom), and wear adornment of the Divine Love. A soul-wife is considered fortunate if she loves, and is loved by her Husband-God. ||1|| (sggs 722).
• ਕਹੈ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਅਵਰੁ ਅਵਰੁ ਕਿਛੁ ਕੀਜੈ ਸਭੁ ਬਾਦਿ ਸੀਗਾਰੁ ਫੋਕਟ ਫੋਕਟਈਆ ॥ : If a soul-wife follows her mind (i.e. Manmukh) NOT the Divine Hukam (System-Rule-Law of Nature), then all her embellishments (religiosity, rituals etc.) are useless and in vain. (sggs 836).
• ਸਖੀ ਕਾਜਲ ਹਾਰ ਤੰਬੋਲ ਸਭੈ ਕਿਛੁ ਸਾਜਿਆ ॥ ਸੋਲਹ ਕੀਏ ਸੀਗਾਰ ਕਿ ਅੰਜਨੁ ਪਾਜਿਆ ॥ ਜੇ ਘਰਿ ਆਵੈ ਕੰਤੁ ਤ ਸਭੁ ਕਿਛੁ ਪਾਈਐ ॥ ਹਰਿਹਾਂ ਕੰਤੈ ਬਾਝੁ ਸੀਗਾਰੁ ਸਭੁ ਬਿਰਥਾ ਜਾਈਐ ॥੩॥ : My companion, I have embellished myself like a bride embellishes with everything including eye shadows, necklace, garlands and betel-leaves. (Further she) embellishes herself with sixteen kinds of makeups-ornaments and applies mascara to her eyes. But without Realization of the Divine Beloved, all these adornments of the body are useless ||3|| (sggs 1361).

As time and again asserted in the SGGS, the physical beauty (Maya) is fleeting. Accordingly, the physical or bodily beauty in the Gurbani is called ‘thief’, ‘useless’, ‘false’, ‘enemy’, or simply ‘fraudulent’.

Therefore, any beauty other than the ‘Beauty’ of one’s Essential Nature (Jot Saroop) is like adornment on a dead body; for one day it must vanish. The SGGS labors to make us understand the difference between the Real ‘Beauty’ and the fading beauty as follows:

• ਧਨੁ ਜੋਬਨੁ ਅਰੁ ਫੁਲੜਾ ਨਾਠੀਅੜੇ ਦਿਨ ਚਾਰਿ ॥ : Wealth, youth and flower are guests for four days only (i.e. fleeting…). (sggs 23).
• ਰਾਜ ਕਪਟੰ ਰੂਪ ਕਪਟੰ ਧਨ ਕਪਟੰ ਕੁਲ ਗਰਬਤਹ ॥ : Pride of power, beauty, wealth, and ancestry – are all fraudulent (sggs 708).
• ਬਿਨਸੈਗੋ ਰੂਪੁ ਦੇਖੈ ਸਭ ਦੁਨੀਆ ॥ : (This body or human) form will vanish, as the whole world watches (sggs 325).
• ਨਾਮ ਬਿਨਾ ਜੇਤਾ ਬਿਉਹਾਰੁ ॥ ਜਿਉ ਮਿਰਤਕ ਮਿਥਿਆ ਸੀਗਾਰੁ ॥੨॥ : Without the Divine Naam (Wisdom / Virtues), all all worldly deeds are futile like decorating a dead body. ||2|| (sggs 240).
• ਜੈਸੇ ਸੀਗਾਰੁ ਕਰੈ ਦੇਹ ਮਾਨੁਖ ਨਾਮ ਬਿਨਾ ਨਕਟੇ ਨਕ ਕੀਕ ॥ : People may adorn their body with makeup, but without Naam (Wisdom / Virtues) they look (spiritually) ugly like with a nose cut off. (sggs 1336).

Physical beauty is vanishing

When the mind’s Original Nature (Jot Saroop) is covered with false ego-sense (Haumai), one’s Mool gets confounded with the physical body-frame, and consequently the Mool’s wholesome ‘Beauty’ becomes obscured or dimmed.

A mind free of the negative aspect or negative impact of false ego-sense and its faults become Beauty again — egolessness is Beauty!

• ਹਉਮੈ ਖੋਇ ਕਰੇ ਸੀਗਾਰੁ ॥ ਤਉ ਕਾਮਣਿ ਸੇਜੈ ਰਵੈ ਭਤਾਰੁ ॥ : The one who eradicates egoism, and so adorns herself, realizes God. (sggs 357).
• ਕੀਨੋ ਰੀ ਸਗਲ ਸੀਗਾਰ ॥ ਤਜਿਓ ਰੀ ਸਗਲ ਬਿਕਾਰ ॥ ਧਾਵਤੋ ਅਸਥਿਰੁ ਥੀਆ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ : Doing all Shingaar (of Virtues) is in renouncing all Bikaar (i.e. lust, anger, greed, attachment, and pride). Now my wandering mind has become steady and stable ||1||Pause|| (sggs 1271).

Once the mind’s ‘Jot Saroop’ gets so tarnished with false ego-sense and its faults (Bikaar), the mirage-like universe of names and shapes streams forth like waves from the see. The result is stronger attachment to the illusory world (Maya) of the senses.

• ਜਾਣੁ ਵਸੰਦੋ ਮੰਝਿ ਪਛਾਣੂ ਕੋ ਹੇਕੜੋ ॥: Know that (Mool) dwells within; (but) a rare one realizes this. (sggs 1099).
• ਮੇਰੋ ਸੁੰਦਰੁ ਕਹਹੁ ਮਿਲੈ ਕਿਤ ਗਲੀ ॥ : My (Mool or God) is Beautiful; tell me how can I realize Him? (sggs 527).

The spirit of the entire Gurbani is to make the Mayaic mind (sense-bent mind) trace its steps back to its unsurpassed ‘Beauty’ by applying the makeup of the Divine Wisdom or Virtues through Shabad-Vichaar or churning the Gurbani!

• ਮਨਿ ਭਾਵੈ ਸਬਦੁ ਸੁਹਾਇਆ ॥ : (Those whose) minds internalize the Enlightening Message of the Shabad, (their life) becomes Beautiful. (sggs 1255).
• ਗੁਰ ਕੈ ਸਬਦਿ ਮਰੈ ਮਨੁ ਮਾਰੇ ਸੁੰਦਰਿ ਜੋਗਾਧਾਰੀ ਜੀਉ ॥੩॥ : (That soul-bride who is established in Sahaj or ਆਤਮਕ ਅਡੋਲਤਾ) by internalize the Enlightening Message of the Shabad, this Beautiful soul-bride annihilates her mind (eradicates false-ego-sense, conquers her mind etc.) and Union with God becomes the support of her life. ||3|| (sggs 993).

Everybody has this sublime Beauty within

The Gurbani repeatedly urges the mind to stay in its ‘Khorr‘ – ever fresh ‘Beauty’. By becoming Enlightened (the Gurmukh Mindset), more one comes closer to his/her ‘Khorr‘, the more one will be in Love with It.

Accordingly, the Gurbani edict is: There is nothing more Beautiful then the mind with Intact Consciousness (Saabat-ਸਾਬਤ) .

• ਜਿਤੁ ਘਟਿ ਵਸੈ ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਸੋਈ ਸੁਹਾਵਾ ਥਾਉ ॥: That mind, in which Paarbrahm is realized, is the most blessed or beautiful Place. (sggs 218).
• ਡਿਠੇ ਸਭੇ ਥਾਵ ਨਹੀ ਤੁਧੁ ਜੇਹਿਆ ॥ ਬਧੋਹੁ ਪੁਰਖਿ ਬਿਧਾਤੈ ਤਾਂ ਤੂ ਸੋਹਿਆ ॥: I have witnessed all places (i.e., all states of the mind dictated by vices/Bikaar), but none can compare to you (i.e. ‘Begam Puraa-ਬੇਗਮ ਪੁਰਾ’ — the state of the mind free vices/Bikaar, stress etc.). Rabb has established this state of the mind (Wisdom, Virtues-ਗੁਣ, Bibek, etc.); as a result it looks Beautiful. (sggs 1362).
• 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).

The Gurbani tells us the moment one becomes linked to this Inner ‘Beauty’ (one’s True Essence) within, one’s body-mind-intellect apparatus blossoms forth with the Natural ‘Beauty’, which never fades.

In other words, external beauty becomes meaningful only when one realizes the Spiritual Beauty within (Enlightenment, Gurmukh Mindset).

• ਹਰਿ ਕਾ ਨਾਮੁ ਜਨ ਕਾ ਰੂਪ ਰੰਗੁ ॥ : Hari Naam is the Beauty and Delight of Jan (Gurmukh, Daas, Bhagat…). (sggs 264).
• ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਇਹੁ ਮਨੁ ਲਇਆ ਸਵਾਰਿ ॥ ਹਉਮੈ ਵਿਚਹੁ ਤਜੈ ਵਿਕਾਰ ॥੩॥: As a Gurmukh (a Mind Enlightened by the Shabad), one embellishes his mind; and removes Haumai (false ego-sense) and Vikaar from within (sggs 665).

In a nutshell, according to Gurmat Wisdom of the SGGS: (1) the real Beauty is in one’s good thoughts, words, and actions (i.e. mind, Soch-ਸੋਚ), character, conduct or behavior, ਚੰਗਾ ਕਿਰਦਾਰ, etc. (2) NOT in one’s physical body-frame which is nothing but a bundle of bones, skin, blood, and filth.

• ਇਹੁ ਮਨੁ ਸੁੰਦਰਿ ਆਪਣਾ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮਿ ਮਜੀਠੈ ਰੰਗਿ ਰੀ ॥: Imbue this beautiful mind of yours with the Majeeth-like lasting color of the Divine Naam (Wisdom / Virtues). (sggs 400).
• ਕਬੀਰ ਗਰਬੁ ਨ ਕੀਜੀਐ ਚਾਮ ਲਪੇਟੇ ਹਾਡ ॥: Kabeer, do not be so proud of your (body, after all it is just a bundle of) bones wrapped up in skin. (sggs 1366).