Calculated Relationship with Guru or God

The practical spirituality of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS) critiques and rejects the concept of counting (Gintee Mintee-ਗਿਣਤੀ ਮਿਣਤੀ) or business like friendship or relationship with the Guru or God – counting beads, counting Paath (ਪਾਠ), counting Nitnem, counting prayers, counting ritualistic bathing and pilgrimage etc. It is so because in the Unique spirituality of Baabaa Nanak rejects such concocted gimmicks and circus of the corrupt mind.

• ਤੂ ਕਰਤਾ ਆਪਿ ਅਗਣਤੁ ਹੈ ਸਭੁ ਜਗੁ ਵਿਚਿ ਗਣਤੈ ॥ : O Creator! You are INCALCULABLE, while the entire world is Within the realm of calculation. (sggs 314).

Counting (Gintee Mintee-ਗਿਣਤੀ ਮਿਣਤੀ) is business, and business is by its very nature transactional – to be concerned with one’s interests. It is about ‘give and take’, hence calculating, selfish and cold. Therefore, it is the nature of business to demand and want etc.

However, the nature of friendship is rarely so. For example, personal friendship or personal relationships are born from our emotions like love, sharing etc. and hence warm and reassuring. It bonds us to Guru/God and other beings.

• ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਸੇਤੀ ਗਣਤ ਜਿ ਰਖੈ ਹਲਤੁ ਪਲਤੁ ਸਭੁ ਤਿਸ ਕਾ ਗਇਆ ॥ ਨਿਤ ਝਹੀਆ ਪਾਏ ਝਗੂ ਸੁਟੇ ਝਖਦਾ ਝਖਦਾ ਝੜਿ ਪਇਆ ॥ : One who enters into a calculated relationship with the Satgur loses all ‘Halat‘ (external Mayaic world) and ‘Palat‘ (Inner spiritual world). He always remains in agony and ultimately deteriorates spiritually (ਆਤਮਕ ਮੌਤ-death of spiritual life). (sggs 307).
• ਗਣਤੈ ਸੇਵ ਨ ਹੋਵਈ ਕੀਤਾ ਥਾਇ ਨ ਪਾਇ ॥ ਸਬਦੈ ਸਾਦੁ ਨ ਆਇਓ ਸਚਿ ਨ ਲਗੋ ਭਾਉ ॥ : Calculated service is not service at all, and what is done is of no use. Such a calculating person does not Realize the Enlightening Message embedded in the Shabad and the love for God does not well up within him. (sggs 1246).

Since God is incalculable, the Gurbani in SGGS teaches no person can Realize God by any calculations or accounting (Gintee Mintee-ਗਿਣਤੀ ਮਿਣਤੀ).

• ਤੂੰ ਗਣਤੈ ਕਿਨੈ ਨ ਪਾਇਓ ਸਚੇ ਅਲਖ ਅਪਾਰਾ ॥ : O Unfathomable and Infinite God, no one has ever realized You by calculations. (sggs 140).
• ਗਣਤ ਗਣੈ ਸੋ ਜਲੈ ਸੰਸਾਰਾ ॥ ਸਹਸਾ ਮੂਲਿ ਨ ਚੁਕੈ ਵਿਕਾਰਾ ॥ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਹੋਵੈ ਸੁ ਗਣਤ ਚੁਕਾਏ ਸਚੇ ਸਚਿ ਸਮਾਇਦਾ ॥੯॥ : One who keeps on (worldly or Mayaic) counting all the time, is always burning (in the hidden fire of Maya, Trishna etc.) in the world. His doubt does not end at all. The spirituality of Shabad enables the elimination of counting (Gintee Mintee-ਗਿਣਤੀ ਮਿਣਤੀ); and creates Realization of the Creator Within. (sggs 1062).

In short, the Gurbani in the SGGS critiques and rejects the spirituality of counting (Gintee Mintee-ਗਿਣਤੀ ਮਿਣਤੀ). Guru Nanak makes this crystal clear in the onset of the SGGS (Pauri 32 of the Jup Bani):

• ਇਕ ਦੂ ਜੀਭੌ ਲਖ ਹੋਹਿ ਲਖ ਹੋਵਹਿ ਲਖ ਵੀਸ ॥ ਲਖੁ ਲਖੁ ਗੇੜਾ ਆਖੀਅਹਿ ਏਕੁ ਨਾਮੁ ਜਗਦੀਸ ॥ ਏਤੁ ਰਾਹਿ ਪਤਿ ਪਵੜੀਆ ਚੜੀਐ ਹੋਇ ਇਕੀਸ ॥ ਸੁਣਿ ਗਲਾ ਆਕਾਸ ਕੀ ਕੀਟਾ ਆਈ ਰੀਸ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਨਦਰੀ ਪਾਈਐ ਕੂੜੀ ਕੂੜੈ ਠੀਸ ॥੩੨॥ : If a person’s tongue should become one Lakh, and from one Lakh becomes twenty Lakhs. If with these twenty Lakhs tongues a person repetitively chant one (preferred) name of God Lakhs of time. The way to realizing the Creator requires the elevation of one’s Conscience (Surt) / spirituality rung by rung. Upon hearing the narrative of elevated Conscience (Surt) / spirituality, the pretentious come to imitate it. Nanak, the realization of the Creator within is through the Grace of Enlightenment, the imitated ways of the pretentious are devoid of realization. ||32|| (sggs 7).

We are father counseled by the Gurbani that all calculations are in false ego-sense (Haumai). It’s nothing but mind’s Mayaic imaginations (Manmukh-Saakat-Mayadhaaree mindset), stubborn mindedness (Mann-Hatha: ਮਨ ਹਠ), ignorance etc.

• ਹਉਮੈ ਸਭਾ ਗਣਤ ਹੈ ਗਣਤੈ ਨਉ ਸੁਖੁ ਨਾਹਿ ॥ : All counting (calculations, Gintee Mintee-ਗਿਣਤੀ ਮਿਣਤੀ) is in egotism, because of this counting Peace cannot be experienced. (sggs 36).
• ਗਣਤ ਗਣੀਐ ਸਹਸਾ ਦੁਖੁ ਜੀਐ ॥ : When we make calculations (of auspicious or inauspicious time etc.), we subject our mind to cynicism and suffering. (sggs 904).

Since a true lover doses not behave in such calculated (Gintee Mintee-ਗਿਣਤੀ ਮਿਣਤੀ) love, spirituality or friendship, Gurmat or Sikhi of Baabaa Nanak rejects it.

• ਆਸਕੁ ਏਹੁ ਨ ਆਖੀਐ ਜਿ ਲੇਖੈ ਵਰਤੈ ਸੋਇ ॥੧॥ : (A person) cannot be called lover if he behaves only in calculated love. ||1|| (sggs 474).

For example, a calculated relationship would be like ‘I will do this for you, if you do this for me’, and so on.

Or, ‘O Guru, O God‘! if you cure my sickness’; ‘if you improve my business’; ‘if you give me more wealth’; ‘if you help me win case in the court’; ‘if you help my children pass their exams’; ‘if you help me pass my driving test’ etc., ‘then I will perform so many Sukhmani Sahib Paath, Akhand Paath, Sadhaaran Paath, offer Rumaalaa, serve Langar, give donation’, and so on.

Or, ‘O Guru, O God‘! ‘if I count certain rounds of beads (rosary- ਮਾਲਾ ਫੇਰਨੀ), then you will have to do this and that for me’!

• ਕਬੀਰ ਕਾਮ ਪਰੇ ਹਰਿ ਸਿਮਰੀਐ ਐਸਾ ਸਿਮਰਹੁ ਨਿਤ ॥ ਅਮਰਾ ਪੁਰ ਬਾਸਾ ਕਰਹੁ ਹਰਿ ਗਇਆ ਬਹੋਰੈ ਬਿਤ ॥੧੬੩॥ : Kabeer, remember God all the time (i.e. constantly live Virtuous life) with the same sincerity and intensity with which you remember Him in the time of need (ਗ਼ਰਜ਼). Then you Realize God and you restore divine Virtues that were lost while running after worldly temptations. ||163|| (sggs 1373).
• ਊਠਤ ਬੈਠਤ ਸੋਵਤ ਜਾਗਤ ਹਰਿ ਧਿਆਈਐ ਸਗਲ ਅਵਰਦਾ ਜੀਉ ॥੧॥ : While traversing the whole life, remember the Creator (Virtues) – live an entire life of divine Virtues. ||1|| (sggs 101).

Isn’t this what most of us routinely witness in life – in Gurdwaras, Derras, homes, and when Bhais (Granthee) perform Ardaas!

Usually, a Bhai (Granthee) reads from a big list containing names of those who paid him or the Gurdawara, in return for favors from the Guru or God. In order to secure return-business, the self-serving Bhais (clergy or Pujaaree) will say anything to please their host!

To the contrary, the Gurbani of SGGS teaches us do the following Ardaas:

• ਬਚਨੀ ਤੋਰ ਮੋਰ ਮਨੁ ਮਾਨੈ ਜਨ ਕਉ ਪੂਰਨੁ ਦੀਜੈ ॥੧॥ : O God, bless me with this conviction that my mind may internalize Your words of divine Wisdom. (sggs 694).

Just think, for example, if someone does not know how to drive an automobile properly, then why the Guru or God wants to grant that person a driving license? So that he can go out and kill people on the road! What a joke!

The self-serving Pujaaree (clergy: Granthis, Parcharaks, Ragis, Dhadees etc.), the freeloading Deraa-Vaad Baabaas (ਵੇਹਲੜ) and gullible and greedy people who follow them have made mockery of the Baabaa Nanak’s Unique and Revolutionary Gurmat or Sikhi.

This sort of nonsensical Biparvaad thinking (ਸੋਚ) is totally rejected in the SGGS. But, unfortunately, the self-serving Pujaaree (clergy) has hijacked the Baabaa Nanak’s Sikhi and has totally distorted it.

• ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਸਗਲੀ ਗਣਤ ਮਿਟਾਵੈ ॥ : Those who have become Gurmukh (Enlightened mind with the spirituality of the Shabad), eliminate all counting (Gintee Mintee-ਗਿਣਤੀ ਮਿਣਤੀ from within the mind). (sggs 942).
• ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਸਚੀ ਆਸਕੀ ਜਿਤੁ ਪ੍ਰੀਤਮੁ ਸਚਾ ਪਾਈਐ ॥ : Those who have become Gurmukh (Enlightened mind with the spirituality of the Shabad, within them is the true love (for God); through which they Realize God Within. (sggs 1422).

In fact Baabaa Nanak cautions us in the very outset of the SGGS about calculations or counting, which is invariably misinterpreted by the self-serving Pujaaree (clergy):

• ਸੁਅਸਤਿ ਆਥਿ ਬਾਣੀ ਬਰਮਾਉ ॥ ਸਤਿ ਸੁਹਾਣੁ ਸਦਾ ਮਨਿ ਚਾਉ ॥ ਕਵਣੁ ਸੁ ਵੇਲਾ ਵਖਤੁ ਕਵਣੁ ਕਵਣ ਥਿਤਿ ਕਵਣੁ ਵਾਰੁ ॥ ਕਵਣਿ ਸਿ ਰੁਤੀ ਮਾਹੁ ਕਵਣੁ ਜਿਤੁ ਹੋਆ ਆਕਾਰੁ ॥ ਵੇਲ ਨ ਪਾਈਆ ਪੰਡਤੀ ਜਿ ਹੋਵੈ ਲੇਖੁ ਪੁਰਾਣੁ ॥ ਵਖਤੁ ਨ ਪਾਇਓ ਕਾਦੀਆ ਜਿ ਲਿਖਨਿ ਲੇਖੁ ਕੁਰਾਣੁ ॥ ਥਿਤਿ ਵਾਰੁ ਨਾ ਜੋਗੀ ਜਾਣੈ ਰੁਤਿ ਮਾਹੁ ਨਾ ਕੋਈ ॥ ਜਾ ਕਰਤਾ ਸਿਰਠੀ ਕਉ ਸਾਜੇ ਆਪੇ ਜਾਣੈ ਸੋਈ ॥ ਕਿਵ ਕਰਿ ਆਖਾ ਕਿਵ ਸਾਲਾਹੀ ਕਿਉ ਵਰਨੀ ਕਿਵ ਜਾਣਾ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਆਖਣਿ ਸਭੁ ਕੋ ਆਖੈ ਇਕ ਦੂ ਇਕੁ ਸਿਆਣਾ ॥ : O Creator, You yourself are Maya, Bani (Shabad), and Brahma, I bow to You. This Beautiful (Refuse of Shabad) of the Creator creates the Eternal Bliss (of Realization in my mind). What was the moment or time or lunar day or day of the week or season or month when the Cosmos was created? The learned pundits did not know the time for otherwise they would have recorded it in the Puranas (specific groups of Hindu scriptures). Nor did the learned Qazis know the time for creation, otherwise they would have written it in the Quran. Neither do the Yogis know the date or day or month or season when the Cosmos was created. It is only the Creator, Who created the Cosmos, knows. How can I describe God’s Greatness, how can I praise Him, ow can I describe His Virtues, and how can I Realize Him? Nanak, everyone tries to describe the Greatness of the Creator, while each thinking oneself wiser than the other. (sggs 4-5).

Baabaa Nanak further teaches us about how Pujaaee (clergy) has concocted antagonistic adherents, religious codes (Rahat), religious robes, religious paraphernalia, Shara or Shariat, useless rituals etc. However, Baabaa Nanak asserts that NONE of these can help anybody find liberation from vices / Bikaar.

• ਕੁਦਰਤਿ ਹੈ ਕੀਮਤਿ ਨਹੀ ਪਾਇ ॥ ਜਾ ਕੀਮਤਿ ਪਾਇ ਤ ਕਹੀ ਨ ਜਾਇ ॥ ਸਰੈ ਸਰੀਅਤਿ ਕਰਹਿ ਬੀਚਾਰੁ ॥ ਬਿਨੁ ਬੂਝੇ ਕੈਸੇ ਪਾਵਹਿ ਪਾਰੁ ॥ : (Creator-Universal Energy) is pervasive in KUDRAT (Nature), it cannot be valued. Even if one tries to find the value, it could not be described. How can a person, who only continues reflecting on Shara or Shariat (i.e. Rahat, religious codes, rituals etc.), find liberation (from the vices and Bikaar without Realizing the Creator Within)? (sggs 84).

However, the Karamkaand (Rituals) propagated by the self-serving Pujaaree (clergy) fits the popular expression ‘blind leads blind‘.

• ਝੂਠਾ ਮੰਗਣੁ ਜੇ ਕੋਈ ਮਾਗੈ ॥ ਤਿਸ ਕਉ ਮਰਤੇ ਘੜੀ ਨ ਲਾਗੈ ॥ ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਜੋ ਸਦ ਹੀ ਸੇਵੈ ਸੋ ਗੁਰ ਮਿਲਿ ਨਿਹਚਲੁ ਕਹਣਾ ॥੧॥ : One who asks for a false gift (perishable things – ਨਾਸਵੰਤ ਪਦਾਰਥਾਂ ਦੀ ਮੰਗ), will not take even an instant to die (ਆਤਮਕ ਮੌਤ – death of his spiritual life). But one who continually serves the Transcendent, meeting the Guru, he is said to have become simple or free of wiles (ਅਡੋਲ, free of Maya’s cravings, free of desires, etc.). ||1|| (sggs 109).
• ਮਾਇਆ ਸਾਥਿ ਨ ਚਲਈ ਕਿਆ ਲਪਟਾਵਹਿ ਅੰਧ ॥ ਗੁਰ ਕੇ ਚਰਣ ਧਿਆਇ ਤੂ ਤੂਟਹਿ ਮਾਇਆ ਬੰਧ ॥੨॥ : O spiritually blind mortal, Maya will not go along with you in the end, so why do you cling to it? Focus on the Guru’s Wisdom, so that your bonds of Maya may get broken. ||2|| (sggs 1093).

Furthermore, the Gurbani stresses that ‘everything’, including the Creator is within all of us. Therefore, who seeks outside is doubt-ridden.

• ਸਭ ਕਿਛੁ ਘਰ ਮਹਿ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਨਾਹੀ ॥ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਟੋਲੈ ਸੋ ਭਰਮਿ ਭੁਲਾਹੀ ॥ ਗੁਰ ਪਰਸਾਦੀ ਜਿਨੀ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਪਾਇਆ ਸੋ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਸੁਹੇਲਾ ਜੀਉ ॥੧॥ : (The Divine Virtues, Wisdom, Spiritual tranquility, Naam, Shabad, Amrit, Prabh, ਆਤਮਕ ਸੁਖ…) all that is within the Heart-Home; not outside. Who searches outside is deluded by doubts. By ‘Gur Parasaadee’ (i.e., by the Grace of the Gur-Giaan, the Divine Wisdom of the Gurbani …), those who have Realized within are Happy (tranquil) inwardly and outwardly. ||1|| (sggs 102).
• ਭੂਲੀ ਭੂਲੀ ਮੈ ਫਿਰੀ ਪਾਧਰੁ ਕਹੈ ਨ ਕੋਇ ॥ ਪੂਛਹੁ ਜਾਇ ਸਿਆਣਿਆ ਦੁਖੁ ਕਾਟੈ ਮੇਰਾ ਕੋਇ ॥ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਸਾਚਾ ਮਨਿ ਵਸੈ ਸਾਜਨੁ ਉਤ ਹੀ ਠਾਇ ॥ : Confused and deluded, I have been lost and strayed from spiritual Path. But no one tells me the right Way. I should ask the Wise persons, perhaps someone may rid of my misery (and show me the right Path). If the true Wisdom of the Guru’s Shabad is internalized in the mind, then the Creator is also realized there (Within the mind). (sggs 1087).

Clearly, since ‘everything’ – including God – is Within, one’s prayer then must be personal, directed Within as well, not outside to a third-party concocted by the self-serving Pujaaree (clergy).

In addition, Baabaa Nanak says that we do not even need to speak to the Guru or God. Because, even without speaking, the Guru or God knows what’s cooking in our heads (‘ਵਿਣੁ ਬੋਲੇ ਜਾਣੈ ਸਭੁ ਸੋਇ’). For God or Satgur is ever Within!

• ਬਹੁਤਾ ਬੋਲਣੁ ਝਖਣੁ ਹੋਇ ॥ ਵਿਣੁ ਬੋਲੇ ਜਾਣੈ ਸਭੁ ਸੋਇ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ : (Without Wisdom) to prattle much is all the vain. (Because) without our saying, everything is known to the Rabb. ||1||Pause|| (sggs 661).

Hence, in short, its foolishness to play number game (calculations, counting…) with the Guru or God. Because the Gurbani teaches us that the Guru or God to be beyond mundane calculations — ‘Incalculable-ਅਗਣਤ’. This is the Gurbani’s (SGGS) edict:

• ਗਣਤੈ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਨ ਪਾਈਐ ਦੂਜੈ ਭਰਮੀਤਾ ॥ : The Divine cannot be obtained by counting; the mortal wanders in doubt — Maya, duality etc. (sggs 510).
• ਸਾਹਾ ਗਣਹਿ ਨ ਕਰਹਿ ਬੀਚਾਰੁ ॥ ਸਾਹੇ ਊਪਰਿ ਏਕੰਕਾਰੁ ॥ ਜਿਸੁ ਗੁਰੁ ਮਿਲੈ ਸੋਈ ਬਿਧਿ ਜਾਣੈ ॥ ਗੁਰਮਤਿ ਹੋਇ ਤ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਪਛਾਣੈ ॥੧॥ : (O Pujaaree!) you do not understand that (Rabb, Hukam: System-Rule-Law of Nature) has made all the days uniform (ਇਕਸਾਰ) — no day is good or bad). Hence it is foolish to calculate auspicious day for a specific task. Rabb or System-Rule-Law of Nature is above these thoughts (or calculations). He alone knows the ‘Bidhi-ਬਿਧਿ’ (method, technique, ਜੁਗਤ, ਢੰਗ, ਤਰੀਕਾ) who blends with the Gur-Wisdom (Giaan-ਗਿਆਨ). With Gurmat (Guru‘s Giaan, Wisdom…), one understands Hukam (one recognizes that System-Rule-Law of Nature goes on as it goes on, no one can change it). (sggs 904).

There is no counting or calculations for the one who has Internalized the Enlightening Message embedded in the Shabad (Enlightened or Gurmukh Mindset) for he knows he is not separate from the Divine. He thus relieves himself of all egoistic or mental calculations through the constant abidance in his Jot Saroop Within.

• ਹਉਮੈ ਗਣਤ ਗੁਰ ਸਬਦਿ ਨਿਵਾਰੇ ॥ : Egotistic calculations can be eradicated through internalizing the Enlightening Message embedded in the Gur-Shabad. (sggs 1065).

In short, the Way of Sikhi of Baabaa Nanak is internalizing the Enlightening Message embedded in the Guru’s Shabad. THERE IS NO SHORTCUT TO IT!

• ਰਾਮੁ ਰਾਮੁ ਕਰਤਾ ਸਭੁ ਜਗੁ ਫਿਰੈ ਰਾਮੁ ਨ ਪਾਇਆ ਜਾਇ ॥ ਅਗਮੁ ਅਗੋਚਰੁ ਅਤਿ ਵਡਾ ਅਤੁਲੁ ਨ ਤੁਲਿਆ ਜਾਇ ॥ ਕੀਮਤਿ ਕਿਨੈ ਨ ਪਾਈਆ ਕਿਤੈ ਨ ਲਇਆ ਜਾਇ ॥ ਗੁਰ ਕੈ ਸਬਦਿ ਭੇਦਿਆ ਇਨ ਬਿਧਿ ਵਸਿਆ ਮਨਿ ਆਇ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਆਪਿ ਅਮੇਉ ਹੈ ਗੁਰ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਤੇ ਰਹਿਆ ਸਮਾਇ ॥ ਆਪੇ ਮਿਲਿਆ ਮਿਲਿ ਰਹਿਆ ਆਪੇ ਮਿਲਿਆ ਆਇ ॥੧॥ : The entire world goes about CHANTING God’s name, but none realized Him. The Almighty God cannot be weighed in any man-made scales, God is beyond the reach and not perceived by the senses. No one can put price tag on God and cannot be purchased anywhere. The secret of connecting one’s mind with God is revealed by the Guru’s Shabad (i.e. internalizing the Enlightening Message embedded in the Shabad). Nanak, God Himself is beyond measure (Infinite), but by the grace of Guru’s Wisdom one comes to Realize Him Within. God (Hukam) pervades in creation, continues to be in it, and is Realized within. (sggs 555).

Some Related posts:

• Gurbani Disapproves Counting Beads
• Gur Charan Kamal, Gur Charan Dhoorh and Gur Moorat
• Who can Say the Guru is Dead?
• True Guru in Sikhi!
• The Satgur’s Sword of Wisdom
• Dying in Shabad
• Become the Gurbani
• We Try Purchasing Satguru Instead of Selling Our Mind
• Step onto my Path with Your Head in Hand
• Realize Enlightening Message Embedded within Shabad
• Sikhi: a Way of Life
• It’s the Mind that Needs to Become a Sikh
• Seven Days of a Sikh
• Guru Sikhiaa Deekhiaa
• Sikhi of the Clergy – Pujaaree
• Gursikhs Solve the Riddle
• Hukam is the Core of Sikhi
• Target of a Sikh in Life Per the Gurbani
• SGGS Teaches to Discard the Clergy – Pujaaree System,