Gurbani Defines being Awake and Aware

When we feel with a total conviction that we are THAT — ‘Jot Saroop‘ — then we are with the Whole, Indivisible, Total, complete, Intact Conscience (‘Saabatu-ਸਾਬਤੁ’). The Gurbani enshrined within the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS) says this is only possible if one remains mentally AWAKE in his/her ‘Nij Ghar‘ (mind) during daily life while transacting with the outside world of objects, emotions, and thoughts.

ਇਸੁ ਗ੍ਰਿਹ ਮਹਿ ਕੋਈ ਜਾਗਤੁ ਰਹੈ ॥ ਸਾਬਤੁ ਵਸਤੁ ਓਹੁ ਅਪਨੀ ਲਹੈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ ਸਗਲ ਸਹੇਲੀ ਅਪਨੈ ਰਸ ਮਾਤੀ ॥ ਗ੍ਰਿਹ ਅਪੁਨੇ ਕੀ ਖਬਰਿ ਨ ਜਾਤੀ ॥ ਮੁਸਨਹਾਰ ਪੰਚ ਬਟਵਾਰੇ ॥ ਸੂਨੇ ਨਗਰਿ ਪਰੇ ਠਗਹਾਰੇ ॥੨॥ ਉਨ ਤੇ ਰਾਖੈ ਬਾਪੁ ਨ ਮਾਈ ॥ ਉਨ ਤੇ ਰਾਖੈ ਮੀਤੁ ਨ ਭਾਈ ॥ ਦਰਬਿ ਸਿਆਣਪ ਨਾ ਓਇ ਰਹਤੇ ॥ ਸਾਧਸੰਗਿ ਓਇ ਦੁਸਟ ਵਸਿ ਹੋਤੇ ॥੩॥ : A rare person remains Awake (Aware, Alert, Conscious) in his/her own house (i.e. mind –Nij Ghar) of the onslaught of Maya (vices/Bikaar, worldly attractions and their corrupting influences – Bhav Saagar). That person keeps his/her spiritual life Intact, (Whole, Undivided, Complete – Saabat…). ||1||Pause|| All sensory organs of the body are busy in enjoying their own pleasures (i.e. sense-objects). They do not care to guard their own home (against vices/Bikaar). The five (i.e. lust, anger, greed, attachment, pride) are the plunderers and robbers. (These five thugs) descend upon the unguarded mind. ||2|| Neither our mother nor father can save us from these. Neither our friend nor brother can protect us from them. They cannot be restrained by wealth or cleverness. These evils/villains can be brought under control only through the Company/Guidance of the Guru (realization of the enlightening Giyan-Wisdom contained within Shabad). ||3|| (sggs 182).

However, instead of being ‘Saabat‘ (whole, complete, unfragmented, undivided etc), if our mind remains cracked, divided, or fragmented like two pieces of Daal (ਦਾਲ – split seed of lintel – ਦਲੀ ਹੋਈ ਦਾਲ ਵਾਂਗ ਦੋ ਫਾੜ) then it has no hope for Realizing its Mool (Source, Original Nature as Jot Saroop).

ਬੀਉ ਬੀਜਿ ਪਤਿ ਲੈ ਗਏ ਅਬ ਕਿਉ ਉਗਵੈ ਦਾਲਿ ॥ ਜੇ ਇਕੁ ਹੋਇ ਤ ਉਗਵੈ ਰੁਤੀ ਹੂ ਰੁਤਿ ਹੋਇ ॥ : Those who planted the seed (of Divine Naam) within have departed with honor; (but) those whose mind is split in duality (fragmented-ਦਾਲ ਵਾਂਗ ਦੋ-ਫਾੜ), how can the seed (of Naam: Wisdom /Virtues / Hukam) sprout in their mind? As the seed sprouts only if the seed is whole (undivided, Saabat…) and if the season is right, similarly the seed of Naam will sprout only if the mind is not split in duality (i.e, mind must remain Unfragmented, Whole, Saabat…). (sggs 468).

The Gurmat Wisdom of the SGGS Awakens our mind from the state of sleep paralysis – ignorance, vices/Bikaar, superstitions, doubt (Bharam), falsehood (Jhooth, Koorh…), untruthfulness, corrupting influences of the worldly attractions (Maya), and so on.

ਜਾਗੁ ਸਲੋਨੜੀਏ ਬੋਲੈ ਗੁਰਬਾਣੀ ਰਾਮ ॥ : O my Beautiful Conscience (mind, soul, Surat-ਸੁਰਤ…) the Gurbani (i.e. Gurmat Wisdom of the SGGS) tells you to Wake up (to Truth – ਅਸਲੀਅਤ, ਤੱਤ, ਸੱਚ). (sggs 844).
ਜਾਗਤੁ ਬਿਗਸੈ ਮੂਠੋ ਅੰਧਾ ॥ ਗਲਿ ਫਾਹੀ ਸਿਰਿ ਮਾਰੇ ਧੰਧਾ ॥ ਆਸਾ ਆਵੈ ਮਨਸਾ ਜਾਇ ॥ ਉਰਝੀ ਤਾਣੀ ਕਿਛੁ ਨ ਬਸਾਇ ॥੧॥ ਜਾਗਸਿ ਜੀਵਣ ਜਾਗਣਹਾਰਾ ॥ ਸੁਖ ਸਾਗਰ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਭੰਡਾਰਾ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ : Even though awake, a spiritually ignorant person is being robbed of his Virtues but he still feels delighted. Around his neck is the noose of Maya and the worldly entanglements keep hitting his head. One comes into the world with many hopes, but departs with many unfulfilled desires. The strings of his life are all tangled up and he is utterly helpless. ||1|| (Creator) the life of the world, always remains Awake and Aware. He is the ‘Sukh Saagar‘ (ocean of peace etc.) and the treasures of Amrit. ||1||Pause|| (sggs 1330).

The Gurmat Wisdom of the SGGS teaches us that until we know the Reality or Truth (ਅਸਲੀਅਤ, ਤੱਤ, ਸੱਚ), the mind will remain confused and restless and continue to wander around in vices/Bikaar, experiencing repeated suffering in the process. The worldly life or the worldly attractions have illusory (Mayaic) quality to it.

ਮਨਮੁਖ ਹਉਮੈ ਮਾਇਆ ਸੂਤੇ ॥ ਅਪਣਾ ਘਰੁ ਨ ਸਮਾਲਹਿ ਅੰਤਿ ਵਿਗੂਤੇ ॥ : Because of Haumai Maya, Manmukhs (unenlightened beings) remain unaware of the virtuous living. They do not protect themselves from the onslaught of Haumai Maya and are (spiritually) ruined in the end. (sggs 1049).
ਆਤਮੁ ਨ ਚੀਨ੍ਹ੍ਹੈ ਭਰਮੈ ਵਿਚਿ ਸੂਤਾ ॥੧॥ : (Manmukh) doesn’t reflect on the self, wandering in doubt he remains unaware of his spiritual life. ||1|| (sggs 362).
ਸੰਸਾ ਇਹੁ ਸੰਸਾਰੁ ਹੈ ਸੁਤਿਆ ਰੈਣਿ ਵਿਹਾਇ ॥ : This world is an illusion; people pass their life-nights sleeping (consumed by the pursuit of worldly temptations). (sggs 36).
ਆਸਾ ਵਿਚਿ ਸੁਤੇ ਕਈ ਲੋਈ ॥ : So many people are asleep (entangled) in the false worldly desires (sggs 423).
ਅਗਿਆਨੀ ਜਗਤੁ ਅੰਧੁ ਹੈ ਭਾਈ ਸੂਤੇ ਗਏ ਮੁਹਾਇ ॥੨॥ : O brother, the ignorant world is blind in the love of Maya; being unaware, they are departing from here after getting robbed of their spiritual Wealth. ||2|| (sggs 603).
ਬਿਕਾਰ ਮਾਇਆ ਮਾਦਿ ਸੋਇਓ ਸੂਝ ਬੂਝ ਨ ਆਵੈ ॥ : One who remains engrossed in vices or Bikaar and the intoxication of Maya; he does not develop any understanding about the righteous conduct. (sggs 408).

Bhagat Ravidas Ji has devoted a Shabad to explain this phenomena. In this Shabad Bhagat Ji has used some practical examples so that our mind can snap out of slumbering state, ignorance, delusion, fears etc.:

ਜਬ ਹਮ ਹੋਤੇ ਤਬ ਤੂ ਨਾਹੀ ਅਬ ਤੂਹੀ ਮੈ ਨਾਹੀ ॥ ਅਨਲ ਅਗਮ ਜੈਸੇ ਲਹਰਿ ਮਇ ਓਦਧਿ ਜਲ ਕੇਵਲ ਜਲ ਮਾਂਹੀ ॥੧॥ ਮਾਧਵੇ ਕਿਆ ਕਹੀਐ ਭ੍ਰਮੁ ਐਸਾ ॥ ਜੈਸਾ ਮਾਨੀਐ ਹੋਇ ਨ ਤੈਸਾ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ ਨਰਪਤਿ ਏਕੁ ਸਿੰਘਾਸਨਿ ਸੋਇਆ ਸੁਪਨੇ ਭਇਆ ਭਿਖਾਰੀ ॥ ਅਛਤ ਰਾਜ ਬਿਛੁਰਤ ਦੁਖੁ ਪਾਇਆ ਸੋ ਗਤਿ ਭਈ ਹਮਾਰੀ ॥੨॥ ਰਾਜ ਭੁਇਅੰਗ ਪ੍ਰਸੰਗ ਜੈਸੇ ਹਹਿ ਅਬ ਕਛੁ ਮਰਮੁ ਜਨਾਇਆ ॥ ਅਨਿਕ ਕਟਕ ਜੈਸੇ ਭੂਲਿ ਪਰੇ ਅਬ ਕਹਤੇ ਕਹਨੁ ਨ ਆਇਆ ॥੩॥ ਸਰਬੇ ਏਕੁ ਅਨੇਕੈ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਸਭ ਘਟ ਭੋੁਗਵੈ ਸੋਈ ॥ ਕਹਿ ਰਵਿਦਾਸ ਹਾਥ ਪੈ ਨੇਰੈ ਸਹਜੇ ਹੋਇ ਸੁ ਹੋਈ ॥੪॥੧॥ : As long as false ego-sense remains inside us beings, then You (the Creator within Creation) do not exist, but when You exist then our ‘I’ (Haumai or egotism) does not exist. (With the disappearance of this ‘I’– Haumai, egotism – it is understood that) as the storm fills the ocean with waves, but in reality those (waves of the ocean) are just water in water (so You pervades in all beings). ||1|| O Creator, what can we say of such elaborate phenomena; on account of our doubt, what we believe does not even exist in reality. ||1||Pause|| It is like a king, who falls asleep upon his throne, and dreams he has become a beggar. (Although) his kingdom is intact but he suffered in sorrow while attached to the illusion of his dream; such is our condition. ||2| As is the story of the rope mistaken for a snake (in darkness), mystery has now been illuminated o me. Like the many bracelets (made of gold), which were mistakenly thought (of separate or of different material); now, (I) do not say that. ||3|| The one Creator pervades all and permeates all over Creation. Ravidas has realized that his Creator is more closer to him than his own hand; whatever is happening is happening in Creator’s Hukam (System-Rule-Law-Order of Nature). ||4||1|| (sggs 657-658).

The Gurbani urges our minds to Awaken from this dream state, a state of sleep paralysis, Bikaar/vices, ignorance etc.

ਜਾਗ ਲੇਹੁ ਰੇ ਮਨਾ ਜਾਗ ਲੇਹੁ ਕਹਾ ਗਾਫਲ ਸੋਇਆ ॥ : Wake up, O mind! Wake up! Why are you sleeping unaware? (sggs 726).
ਜਾਗਹੁ ਜਾਗਹੁ ਸੂਤਿਹੋ ਚਲਿਆ ਵਣਜਾਰਾ ॥ : O sleeping people, wake up from the slumber of Maya; like a street vendor your soul is about to depart from your body. ||1||Pause|| (sggs 418).
ਜੋ ਜਾਗੇ ਸੇ ਉਬਰੇ ਸੂਤੇ ਗਏ ਮੁਹਾਇ ॥ : They who remain aware of the worldly temptations are saved from the vices, and they who remain unaware are plundered of their spiritual wealth. (sggs 34).
ਕਿਆ ਤੂ ਸੋਇਆ ਜਾਗੁ ਇਆਨਾ ॥ ਤੈ ਜੀਵਨੁ ਜਗਿ ਸਚੁ ਕਰਿ ਜਾਨਾ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ : O ignorant one, wake up, why are you still in the slumber of worldly attractions and their corrupting influences? O mortal one, you have mistaken assumed this worldly life to be eternal. ||1||Pause|| (sggs 794).

However, the self-serving Pujaaree (clergy clique) — the freeloading Deraa-Vaad Baabaas (ਵੇਹਲੜ) and their trained Granthis, Parcharaks, Ragis, Dhadees etc. — wants people to stay sleeping in life, unaware and ignorant so that they can fleece, swindle, defraud and deceive masses!

But the emphasis of the entire Gurbani of the SGGS is on WAKING us up!

One may question: Aren’t we awake when we get up from the bed in the morning? Aren’t we awake when we are working, doing chores, talking, transacting with the outside world, and so on? Yes, we are awake but without Awareness. We do things unaware, like a robot etc.

In short, we do things with unconscious mind, defiled senses, conditioned or filthy mind etc.:

ਨੈਨਹੁ ਨੀਦ ਪਰ ਦ੍ਰਿਸਟਿ ਵਿਕਾਰ ॥ ਸ੍ਰਵਣ ਸੋਏ ਸੁਣਿ ਨਿੰਦ ਵੀਚਾਰ ॥ ਰਸਨਾ ਸੋਈ ਲੋਭਿ ਮੀਠੈ ਸਾਦਿ ॥ ਮਨੁ ਸੋਇਆ ਮਾਇਆ ਬਿਸਮਾਦਿ ॥੧॥ : The eyes are unconscious in casting their evil glance on others. The ears are unconscious in listening to slanderous talks. The tongue is unconscious in the desires for tasty relishes. The mind is asleep fascinated by Maya (ocean of worldliness). ||1|| (sggs 182).

The Message of the Guru’s Shabad shows our mind its shortcomings so that we can change ourselves. If we don’t change ourselves for good then there is no use of reading the Gurbani or going to Gurdwaras etc.:

ਗੁਰਿ ਦਿਖਲਾਈ ਮੋਰੀ ॥ ਜਿਤੁ ਮਿਰਗ ਪੜਤ ਹੈ ਚੋਰੀ ॥ ਮੂੰਦਿ ਲੀਏ ਦਰਵਾਜੇ ॥ ਬਾਜੀਅਲੇ ਅਨਹਦ ਬਾਜੇ ॥੧॥ : The Guru has shown me that weakness of mine; because of which the animals like vices/ Bikaar (i.e. lust, anger, greed etc.) were secretly taking over my spiritual life. (With the help of the Guru’s Guidance) now I have full control over my senses as if have closed the doors of the senses through which bad thoughts were entering my mind (i.e. now my mind decides what comes in and what goes out). Now I hear the Voice of my Conscious clear and Loud (i.e. BECOMING the GURBANI, now I have REALIZED the Creator Within). (sggs 656).
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).

Awakening from the illusory dream is simply being Aware — Wise, Virtuous, Shabad-Consciousness (Shabad Surat) etc.

ਜਿਨੀ ਆਤਮੁ ਚੀਨਿਆ ਪਰਮਾਤਮੁ ਸੋਈ ॥ : They alone realize the Creator within, who reflect on their Self. (sgg 421).
ਆਤਮ ਮਹਿ ਰਾਮੁ ਰਾਮ ਮਹਿ ਆਤਮੁ ਚੀਨਸਿ ਗੁਰ ਬੀਚਾਰਾ ॥ : Omnipresent God (Universal Energy…) is in soul, and soul is in Omnipresent God. This is realized through Reflecting on the Guru’s Shabad. (sggs 1153).

To say otherwise, it is our unbroken connection with the Shabad Conscious (Naam: Wisdom / Virtues / Hukam) within with each breath (‘ਸਾਸ ਸਾਸ’).

ਹਾਥ ਪਾਉ ਕਰਿ ਕਾਮੁ ਸਭੁ ਚੀਤੁ ਨਿਰੰਜਨ ਨਾਲਿ ॥੨੧੩॥ : Do all the work using your hands and feet, and connect your mind with the ‘Niranjan‘. ||213|| (sggs 1376).
ਸਾਸ ਸਾਸ ਸਾਸ ਹੈ ਜੇਤੇ ਮੈ ਗੁਰਮਤਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਸਮ੍ਹ੍ਹਾਰੇ ॥ : With (all) breaths (continually), take care of the Naam through the Gurmat (i.e. unceasingly maintain the Divine Knowledge – ਆਤਮ ਗਿਆਨ – through the Gurbani’s Instruction). (sggs 980).

How does being Awake and Aware help? What difference does it make in one’s day-to-day life while transacting with the outside word of objects, the field of emotions, and the realm of thoughts?

For one, being Aware and Awake helps control one’s senses, vices/Bikaars (i.e. lust, anger, greed, attachment, pride etc.), and so on.

For example, if one is Awake and Aware that he is losing handle in a given situation, he can check his temper and thus effectively control it.

To experiment, just observe – when angry – one cannot think properly; cannot speak properly, and so on. As a result, he cannot act properly. Why? Because when we are angry we cannot contemplate on the state of mind. But if we are Aware, we can realize we are on the verge of losing temper, and we can do something about it.

The same can be said about all other faults of our Haumai (false ego-sense).

Thus Awareness is very essential and important in checking and controlling vices/Bikaar.

Being unaware, we may be acting strangely, inappropriately and making mistakes. Because in unawareness we do not think or reflect, lack the ability to differentiate between fact and fiction, and we live in fear.

But the moment our wandering mind become Aware, we truly become conscious.

Thus, remaining Awake from the illusory aspect of the life (called dream), the quality of consciousness is elevated; the quality of our mind is elevated (rid the mind of these perversions or impurities); the quality of our thoughts-words-actions is elevated…

Persons with such elevated mind are also called the Gurmukhs in the Gurbani (Enlightente, Guru-Oriented).

ਆਤਮੁ ਚੀਨਿ ਪਰਮ ਪਦੁ ਪਾਇਆ ਸੇਵਾ ਸੁਰਤਿ ਸਮਾਈ ਹੇ ॥੧੫॥ : Understanding (own) Self, obtain the supreme spiritual status; and remain absorbed in the Creator. ||15||. (sggs 1070).

The Gurmat Wisdom of the SGGS tells us who and how one can obtain this state of ‘Awake and Aware’:

ਕਹੈ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਸੋ ਤਤੁ ਪਾਏ ਜਿਸ ਨੋ ਅਨਦਿਨੁ ਹਰਿ ਲਿਵ ਲਾਗੈ ਜਾਗਤ ਰੈਣਿ ਵਿਹਾਣੀ ॥੨੭॥ : Nanak says that only that person realizes the essence Reality (Creator), who is always imbued with the divine love, and who spends his life remaining Awake and Aware to the allurements of Maya. ||27|| (sggs 920).

In short, the Gurmat Wisdom of the SGGS reminds us that no other person (mother, father etc.) can Awaken the mind from its perpetual slumber of unawareness.

Only the Satguru’s Wisdom taken with sincere self-efforts can Awaken our mind:

ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਜਾਗਤਾ ਹੈ ਦੇਉ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ : The Satiguru (ਸੱਚਾ ਗਿਆਨ – true Wisdom) is the living divinity (ਜੀਉਂਦਾ-ਜਾਗਦਾ ਦੇਉ). ||1||Pause|| (sggs 479).

The spirituality of Baabaa Nanak or the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS) is the Sikhi of the self, for the self, and by the self.

That being said, there is NO concept of transfer of blessing in the Sikhi of Baabaa Nanak.

ਆਪਣ ਹਥੀ ਆਪਣਾ ਆਪੇ ਹੀ ਕਾਜੁ ਸਵਾਰੀਐ ॥੨੦॥ : (So long there is breath — Praan) accomplish the task (of God Realization) yourself ( i.e. with self-efforts, hard work: Shabad-Vichaar …). ||20|| (sggs 474).

The Gurbani in SGGS teaches us to be ALRT and AWARE of vices/Bikaar, Pakhand, rituals or Karamkaand etc. that rob us of our Spiritual life.

ਦੁਨੀਆ ਹੁਸੀਆਰ ਬੇਦਾਰ ਜਾਗਤ ਮੁਸੀਅਤ ਹਉ ਰੇ ਭਾਈ ॥ : O people of the world! Be vigilant and Alert; O brother! you are being robbed even while you are awake. (sggs 972).
ਕਬ ਦੇਖਉ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਆਪਨਾ ਆਤਮ ਕੈ ਰੰਗਿ ॥ ਜਾਗਨ ਤੇ ਸੁਪਨਾ ਭਲਾ ਬਸੀਐ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਸੰਗਿ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ : I long to have vision of ‘Prabh‘ (i.e. Mool, the Treasure of Virtues etc); when will I get (awareness of Prabh’s Virtues; for this I need to have love in my within. A dream is better than being physical awake whereby one lives in company of ‘Prabh’ (i.e. it is better to contemplate rather than search outside). ||1||Pause|| (sggs 816).

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