Chewing Iron!

The Gurus and Bhagats were not only God-Connected Within, they were also excellent communicators, poets, writers, and presenters. They effectively used idioms / metaphors to explain very complex spiritual Messages. Hence, impregnated with spiritual Wisdom or suggestions, numerous idioms can be found in SGGS.

Since the entirety of the Gurbani is for the Mind, idioms / metaphors etc. express the subtlety of the spiritual experiences of the Gurus and Bhagats, draw the reader’s attention, awaken senses, amplify the Message, capture subtle nuances of spirituality, they create imagery in the mind and make the reader see things in a new way, improve understanding, and so on.

The Gurbani compares the spiritual path (the Gurmukh Lifestyle, the Divine Life) to chewing iron with the teeth of wax!

• ਮੈਣ ਕੇ ਦੰਤ ਕਿਉ ਖਾਈਐ ਸਾਰੁ ॥: How does one undertake Genuine spirituality without Enlightenment? (Idiomatically / Metaphorically speaking: its akin to chewing iron with teeth of wax!). (sggs 943).

In ‘Sidh Gost’ Bani, Sidhas (Yogis) asked Baabaa Nanak to discourse on: 

• ਬਿਨੁ ਦੰਤਾ ਕਿਉ ਖਾਈਐ ਸਾਰੁ ॥ : (Under taking renunciation without Enlightenment) is akin to chewing iron without teeth! (sggs 939-940).

Baabaa Nanak discoursed the above questions of Sidhas (Yogis) as follows:

• ਤ੍ਰੈ ਗੁਣ ਮੇਟੇ ਖਾਈਐ ਸਾਰੁ ॥ : (Renunciation is) undertaking the body, mind or soul attractions of temporal life (without the Enlightenment of the Shabad) is akin to chewing iron without teeth. (sggs 940).

It is so, because, as the Gurbani aptly describes, this path is arduous, as difficult as walking along a double-edged sword!

• ਮਾਨ ਮੋਹ ਮੇਰ ਤੇਰ ਬਿਬਰਜਿਤ ਏਹੁ ਮਾਰਗੁ ਖੰਡੇ ਧਾਰ ॥ : To forsake pride, attachment, and the sense of ‘mine and yours’ (ego-sense), this is the path that is sharper than the blade of a sword (i.e. not easy to walk on this path keener than the blade). (sggs 534).
• ਖੰਨਿਅਹੁ ਤਿਖੀ ਵਾਲਹੁ ਨਿਕੀ ਏਤੁ ਮਾਰਗਿ ਜਾਣਾ ॥: Khanniahu tikhee vaalahu nikee…. (sggs 918).

Accordingly, the Gurbani points out, though there are millions of seekers all over the world, only a very “rare” are known to have obtained the ultimate Goal (of Mool-realization). They are called “Gurmukh”, “Daas”, “Bhagat”, “Jan”, etc., in the Gurbani.

• ਜਨ ਨਾਨਕ ਇਹੁ ਖੇਲੁ ਕਠਨੁ ਹੈ ਕਿਨਹੂੰ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਜਾਨਾ ॥੨॥੧॥: O “Jan” Nanak! This is such a difficult game; only a rare Gurmukh understands it! ||2||1|| (sggs 219).

It is like chewing iron because it is very difficult for a person in this modern society to cross the ocean of Maya, thoughts (ਫੁਰਨੇ), doubts (ਭਰਮ), false ego-sense (Haumai), self-conceit, Bikaar (lust, anger, greed, etc.), poignant longing for the worldly objects, sense pleasures and material desires…

As indicated in the SGGS (Sri Guru Granth Sahib), the path to spiritual realization (Mool-realization) is anything but smooth. That is, it’s not a straight one in which the spiritual aspirant can progress easily. It’s a bumpy road, full of twists, turns, and pitfalls along the way!

Therefore, to tread such an arduous path, we need a spiritual guide such as the SGGS who knows the destination, knows all the road-bumps, knows all the twists and turns, and knows all the pitfalls along the way. Who also knows the strengths and weaknesses of the human mind, and knows the delicate art of balancing spirituality and worldly life…

Not only does the SGGS knows the destination and the way to get there, the SGGS is also willing to hold our hand at every step of the way and illuminate the path ahead so that we don’t fall off or cut ourselves!

But, the Gurbani tells us that merely being in the physical presence of the SGGS is NOT enough; or, nothing can be achieved by bowing the head (Mathaa Tekanaa -ਮੱਥਾ ਟੇਕਣਾਂ) if the mind remains bent on falsehood, malice, crookedness, etc. Here is the Gurbani’s edict (ਫੈਸਲਾ):

• ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਨੋ ਸਭੁ ਕੋ ਵੇਖਦਾ ਜੇਤਾ ਜਗਤੁ ਸੰਸਾਰੁ ॥ ਡਿਠੈ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਨ ਹੋਵਈ ਜਿਚਰੁ ਸਬਦਿ ਨ ਕਰੇ ਵੀਚਾਰੁ ॥ ਹਉਮੈ ਮੈਲੁ ਨ ਚੁਕਈ ਨਾਮਿ ਨ ਲਗੈ ਪਿਆਰੁ ॥: Everybody in this the world physically see the Satgur. Nothing going to happen just by seeing (the Satgur); one can not be ‘Mukt‘ (liberated, unentangled, unhindered etc.) until and unless the Message within the Shabad is Reflected upon. (Because, without the Shabad-Vichaar) the filth of Haumai (false ego-sense) is not removed, and love for the Naam (Shabad, Hukam, Divine Virtues, Divine Wisdom, Giaan…) does not get affixed (in the mind). (sggs 594).
• ਸੀਸਿ ਨਿਵਾਇਐ ਕਿਆ ਥੀਐ ਜਾ ਰਿਦੈ ਕੁਸੁਧੇ ਜਾਹਿ ॥੧॥: What can be achieved by merely bowing the head, when the heart remains resorted to falsehood (i.e., nothing is achieved!)? ||1|| (sggs 470).

The Gurbani further warns us that the personal experience of spiritual realization is not to be accomplished through intellectual speculations or clever tricks (Karamkaand, Pakhand…) but poignant longing, earnest Shabad-Vichaar, and then truthfully living the Gurbani’s wisdom in daily life (the Gurmukh Lifestyle) is needed to succeed.

• ਅਕਲ ਕਲਾ ਨਹ ਪਾਈਐ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਅਲਖ ਅਲੇਖੰ ॥: (God) is not found by intellectual or clever devices; He is Unseeable and Incalculable (sggs 1098).
• ਗੁਰ ਕੈ ਸਬਦਿ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਪਛਾਣੁ ॥੨॥: Recognize Brahm within through the Gur-Shabad. ||2|| (sggs 362).
• ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਹੋਵੈ ਸੁ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਤਤੁ ਬੀਚਾਰੈ ਹਉਮੈ ਸਬਦਿ ਜਲਾਏ ॥: I Adopt the spirituality of the Shabad (the Gurmukh-Hood State of the MInd), the Contemplation and Enlightenment of its (i.e. Shabad’s) Essence eliminates my false ego-sense. (sggs 946).

In nutshell, the Divine Knowledge is the only mans of treading the spiritual path and realizing the Mool (Source, Jot Saroop...), just as fire is the only means of cooking the food. In the Company of the Gurbani’s Brahm-Giaan (Wisdom laden with deep insights), we spiritually grow and iron-like Maya, Haumai, Bikaar, etc., become like cotton candy!

• ਜਗੁ ਕਰੜਾ ਮਨਮੁਖੁ ਗਾਵਾਰੁ ॥ ਸਬਦੁ ਕਮਾਈਐ ਖਾਈਐ ਸਾਰੁ ॥: Spiritual Life is impossible in a self-willed and unenlightened state. To undertake genuine spirituality is to Become the Shabad (by Internalizing the Shabad, one can chew genuine spirituality which is difficult or hard like iron). (sggs 943).
• ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਜੋਤਿ ਭਲੀ ਸਿਵ ਨੀਕੀ ਆਨਿ ਪਾਨੀ ਸਕਤਿ ਭਰੀਜੈ ॥ ਮੈਨਦੰਤ ਨਿਕਸੇ ਗੁਰ ਬਚਨੀ ਸਾਰੁ ਚਬਿ ਚਬਿ ਹਰਿ ਰਸੁ ਪੀਜੈ ॥੩॥: By becoming the Gurmukh (i.e. Enlightened Mind by Internalizing the Message of the Guru’s Shabad), with the sublime Divine Light, then the Maya starts serving him. By following the Guru’s Shabad, (he can so control his vices or Bikaar), as if he can chew steel with teeth of wax, and drink the sublime elixir of Divine Naam. ||3|| (sggs 1324).
• ਤ੍ਰੈ ਗੁਣ ਮੇਟੇ ਖਾਈਐ ਸਾਰੁ ॥: (By burning the mind’s desires through the Shabad, as a Gurmukh) eradicating three qualities (of Maya), iron (iron-like Maya) is eaten (sggs 940).