Crazy Mind

A mind devoid of Wisdom is crazy. Such crazy mind will say anything indiscriminately, eat anything indiscriminately, do anything indiscriminately, and so on.

Crazy Mind

In short, a crazy — ‘Kamalaa’ (‘Bauraa’, ‘Baavraa’, ‘Mugadh’, ‘Divaanaa’, ‘Gaaphal’ etc. — mind conducts itself at the level of nonhuman animals.

  • ਬਿਨੁ ਨਾਵੈ ਜਗੁ ਕਮਲਾ ਫਿਰੈ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਨਦਰੀ ਆਇਆ ॥: Without the Naam (Wisdom, Truth, Virtues…), the world wanders around insane; this is realized by becoming the Gurmukh. (sggs 643).
  • ਮਨਮੁਖਿ ਕਮਲਾ ਰਗੜੈ ਲੁਝੈ ॥ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਹੋਇ ਤਿਸੁ ਸਭ ਕਿਛੁ ਸੁਝੈ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਮਨ ਸਿਉ ਲੁਝੈ ॥੪੬॥: The crazy Manmukh wanders around, quarreling (with others). But those who become Gurmukh understand everything (ਆਤਮਕ ਜੀਵਨ ਦੇ ਹਰੇਕ ਭੇਤ ਨੂੰ). O Nanak, by becoming the Gurmukh struggle with your own mind (ਆਪਣੇ ਮਨ ਨਾਲ ਟਾਕਰਾ). ||46|| (sggs 1418).

We are reminded by the Gurmat Wisdom of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS) that the human mind which conducts itself at the nonhuman animals (e.g., camel, elephant, monkey, frog, dog, deer, crow, etc.) is crazy.

The Gurbani urges us to look into our crazy mind and ask:

  • ਮਨ ਰੇ ਕਹਾ ਭਇਓ ਤੈ ਬਉਰਾ ॥: O mind, why have you gone crazy? (sggs 220).
  • ਸੁਣਿ ਬਾਵਰੇ ਤੂ ਕਾਏ ਦੇਖਿ ਭੁਲਾਨਾ ॥: Listen, O crazy man looking at the worldly riches and power (Maya), why are you forgetting the righteous way of life? (sggs 777).

The words of the Gurbani (Gur Sgabad) are abrupt, concise, direct, immensely profound but simple, terse yet potent — cutting to the core and wasting no effort on non-essentials.

These deep yet plain words are able to trigger shifts in our Mayaic or egocentric consciousness, producing pointed and fine intellect (Bibek Budhi) coupled with conviction and faith about our True Identity – leading to intense and direct abidance in our Mool within (Source, Origin, Jot…), right here where we are.

The Truth revealed in the words of the Gurbani (SGGS) is thus meant to annihilate our outgoing senses and jolt us into Awareness of our Original Nature (Jot Saroop).

In fact, the Gurbani tells us that one is crazy (ਪਾਗਲ) without recognizing his true self. Because, it is by knowing the true self one comes to know the ONE (IK).

  • ਸੋ ਬਉਰਾ ਜੋ ਆਪੁ ਨ ਪਛਾਨੈ ॥ ਆਪੁ ਪਛਾਨੈ ਤ ਏਕੈ ਜਾਨੈ ॥੪॥: Man is crazy without knowing himself (Mool-realization…). When he knows himself (ਆਪਣੇ ਅਸਲੇ ਦੀ ਪਛਾਣ, the Reality of his Being, his True Nature, etc.), only then he comes to know the One (All-pervading Truth). ||4|| (sggs 855).

What makes the mind crazy is the mental confusion or psychic disturbances resulting from psychological conditionings — relativist consciousness (Mayaic Budhi…), false ego-sense (Haume), or Mayaic Budhi. Everything is only subsequent to this modification of the consciousness.

For example, according to the Gurmat Wisdom of the SGGS, the mind that is gone crazy (due to modification of its Jot Saroop) does not abide in the Guru’s Shabad (Enlightenment).

  • ਮਨਮੁਖ ਮੁਗਧ ਗਾਵਾਰੁ ਪਿਰਾ ਜੀਉ ਸਬਦੁ ਮਨਿ ਨ ਵਸਾਏ ॥: O my dear mind, the Manmukh person is foolish and crazy, he does not enshrine the Guru’s Shabad (Message or Upadesh) in his mind. (sggs 247).

Crazy mind is likened to a ‘Sekhnaag‘ (Shesnaag-snake). After feeding on milk, snake (Naag) only increases its poison. Similarly, even after reading the Gur-Shabad the crazy mind remains full to the brim with Manmat (ਮਨਮਤ or self-will…). As a result, it cannot realize its Mool (ਸੇਖਨਾਗਿ ਤੇਰੋ ਮਰਮੁ ਨ ਜਾਨਾਂ ॥੧॥, sggs 691).

Such crazy mind devoid of the Wisdom does not and can not fearlessly contemplate the Naam.

  • ਨਿਰਭੈ ਹੋਇ ਨ ਹਰਿ ਭਜੇ ਮਨ ਬਉਰਾ ਰੇ ਗਹਿਓ ਨ ਰਾਮ ਜਹਾਜੁ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥: O crazy mind, you haven’t fearlessly meditated on God and have not taken His support. ||1||Pause|| (sggs 336).

Reflections on the Naam (Wisdom / Virtues) enable us to dwell on Higher Virtues (ਗੁਣ) and Ideals and approximate the crazy mind more and more to its Mool within.

To help the crazy mind Awaken to Wisdom, Bhagat Kabeer Jee gives example of trapping of elephant, monkey, deer, parrot etc.

  • ਕਾਲਬੂਤ ਕੀ ਹਸਤਨੀ ਮਨ ਬਉਰਾ ਰੇ ਚਲਤੁ ਰਚਿਓ ਜਗਦੀਸ ॥ ਕਾਮ ਸੁਆਇ ਗਜ ਬਸਿ ਪਰੇ ਮਨ ਬਉਰਾ ਰੇ ਅੰਕਸੁ ਸਹਿਓ ਸੀਸ ॥੧॥ ਬਿਖੈ ਬਾਚੁ ਹਰਿ ਰਾਚੁ ਸਮਝੁ ਮਨ ਬਉਰਾ ਰੇ ॥ …: Like the straw figure of a female elephant, fashioned to trap the bull elephant, O crazy mind, the Lord of the Universe has staged the drama of this world. Attracted by the lure of lust, the elephant is captured, O crazy mind, and now the halter is placed around its neck. O crazy mind! Be Wise and escape from sense-gratification and immerse yourself in Hari (i.e., Mool, Truth, Wisdom, Virtues…); take this advice. … (sggs 335).
  • ਮਰਕਟ ਮੁਸਟੀ ਅਨਾਜ ਕੀ ਮਨ ਬਉਰਾ ਰੇ ਲੀਨੀ ਹਾਥੁ ਪਸਾਰਿ ॥ ਛੂਟਨ ਕੋ ਸਹਸਾ ਪਰਿਆ ਮਨ ਬਉਰਾ ਰੇ ਨਾਚਿਓ ਘਰ ਘਰ ਬਾਰਿ ॥੨॥: O crazy mind! The monkey stretches out its hand (into the narrow-necked pot), and takes a handful of grains; now unable to escape (since its hand is full of grains, it cannot take its hand out of the narrow-necked pot and escape. That is, because of the greed, the monkey will not let go of the grabbed grains – ਦਾਣਿਆਂ ਦੀ ਭਰੀ ਹੋਈ ਮੁੱਠ). O crazy mind! (because of its greed, now the monkey) is made to dance door to door ||2|| (sggs 336).
  • ਜਿਉ ਨਲਨੀ ਸੂਅਟਾ ਗਹਿਓ ਮਨ ਬਉਰਾ ਰੇ ਮਾਯਾ ਇਹੁ ਬਿਉਹਾਰੁ ॥ ਜੈਸਾ ਰੰਗੁ ਕਸੁੰਭ ਕਾ ਮਨ ਬਉਰਾ ਰੇ ਤਿਉ ਪਸਰਿਓ ਪਾਸਾਰੁ ॥੩॥: O crazy mind! Like the parrot caught in the trap (by sitting on the Nalanee), you are trapped by the affairs (ਵਰਤਾਰਾ, ਸਲੂਕ) of Maya. O crazy mind! Like the weak dye of the safflower, so is the expanse of this material world (i.e., temporary, fleeting, etc.). ||3|| (sggs 336).

Similarly, Bhagat Kabeer Jee says there are also traps for humans with crazy minds.

One of that trap is the so called (ਅਖੌਤੀ) ‘Teerath‘ (locations of pilgrimage).

A crazy mind wanders at these so called locations of pilgrimage (‘Teerath‘) and gets trapped.

Also, on account of ignorance, a crazy mind worships fake God(s) concocted by the crafty Pujaaree. AND gets trapped like elephant, monkey, deer, parrot etc.

  • ਨਾਵਨ ਕਉ ਤੀਰਥ ਘਨੇ ਮਨ ਬਉਰਾ ਰੇ ਪੂਜਨ ਕਉ ਬਹੁ ਦੇਵ ॥ ਕਹੁ ਕਬੀਰ ਛੂਟਨੁ ਨਹੀ ਮਨ ਬਉਰਾ ਰੇ ਛੂਟਨੁ ਹਰਿ ਕੀ ਸੇਵ ॥੪॥੧॥੬॥੫੭॥: O crazy mind! There are so many places of pilgrimage in which to bathe, and so many gods to worship. Says Kabeer! O crazy mind, there is no liberation like this; only by serving Hari (Mool, Truth, Wisdom…) will you find liberation (from doubt, Maya…). ||4||1||6||57|| (sggs 335).

Consequently, such crazy mind gets absorbed in Mayaic corruption (vices or Bikaar (i.e. lust, anger, greed, attachment, pride etc.). Our mind is urged by the Gurbani to escape from these traps.

The Gurbani asks how this crazy and stupid mind be rescued?

  • ਇਹੁ ਮਨੁ ਮੁਗਧੁ ਕਹਹੁ ਕਿਉ ਰਹਸੀ ॥: Tell me, how can this foolish mind remain stable? (sggs 415).

The answer of the Gurmat Wisdom of the SGGS is:

  • ਬਿਨੁ ਗੁਰ ਸਬਦੈ ਮਨੁ ਨਹੀ ਠਉਰਾ ॥: The mind finds no stillness without focusing on the Guru’s Shabad (Message or Upadesh). (sggs 415).
  • ਗਿਆਨ ਖੜਗੁ ਲੈ ਮਨ ਸਿਉ ਲੂਝੈ ਮਨਸਾ ਮਨਹਿ ਸਮਾਈ ਹੇ ॥੩॥: Taking up the Sword of the Spiritual Wisdom, struggle with the mind, and (all Mayaic desires, thoughts, ਫੁਰਨੇ, ਖੋਟੀ ਮਨਸਾ, etc., ) born of the mind are nipped within the mind (ਮਨ ਦੇ ਵਿਚ ਹੀ ਮੁੱਕ ਜਾਂਦੇ ਹਨ). ||3|| (sggs 1022).
  • ਫਾਹੇ ਕਾਟੇ ਮਿਟੇ ਗਵਨ ਫਤਿਹ ਭਈ ਮਨਿ ਜੀਤ ॥ : By conquering or controlling the mind, triumph over vices/Bikaar is obtained, traps/bonds of Maya are cut, and its (Mayaic) wanderings cease to be. (sggs 258).
  • ਮੈ ਨਾਹੀ ਕੀਤਾ ਲਬੋ ॥ ਇਕੁ ਨਾਉ ਤੇਰਾ ਮੈ ਫਬੋ ॥ ਕਹਿ ਕਬੀਰ ਮਨੁ ਮਾਨਿਆ ॥ ਮਨੁ ਮਾਨਿਆ ਤਉ ਹਰਿ ਜਾਨਿਆ ॥੪॥੧੧॥ : (O God) I have harbored no greed (for things that are necessities of life); in fact it is only Your Naam (Wisdom / Virtues) which is pleasing to my mind. Kabeer say, (O God) my mind is completely convinced about You, and when my mind was totally convinced, only then I truly understood You. ||4||11|| (sggs 656).

Baavar Gaavar

Baavar (‘ਬਾਵਰ’) => Crazy, mad, demented, fool etc.

Gaavar (‘ਗਾਵਰ’) => Fool, crazy, stupid, primitive etc.

The Gurbani calls that person ‘Baavar Gaavar‘ whose deluded or conditioned mind is full of Maya’s hunger, Maya’s love, Maya’s attachment, Bikaar Etc.

To make the point, the Gurbani uses an example of a stray animal, clinging to green grass or crop in the forgoing verse.

  • ਛੋਡਿ ਛੋਡਿ ਰੇ ਬਿਖਿਆ ਕੇ ਰਸੂਆ ॥ ਉਰਝਿ ਰਹਿਓ ਰੇ ਬਾਵਰ ਗਾਵਰ ਜਿਉ ਕਿਰਖੈ ਹਰਿਆਇਓ ਪਸੂਆ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥: (O foolish and crazy man!) Give up the pleasures of Maya. O foolish and crazy person you are entangled in these pleasures like an animal engrossed in the green pasture. |1||pause|| (sggs 206).

Here is an another example of a donkey and a bull from the Gurbani! In this example, Kabeer Sahib compares a life of such falsehood or corruption with a donkey who grazes upon the green grass; arising each day, he laughs and brays, and then dies, or like an intoxicated bull who runs around wildly, romps, eats and lives a hellish existence:

  • 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).

Thus, the mind attached to Maya is called Baavar by the Gurbani – crazy, deluded, etc.

  • ਮੋਹਨਿ ਸਿਉ ਬਾਵਰ ਮਨੁ ਮੋਹਿਓ ਝੂਠਿ ਠਗਉਰੀ ਪਾਈ ॥੧॥: O fool, your mind has been enticed by the mind captivating Maya, as if you have taken the poisonous herb of falsehood. ||1|| (sggs 1213).
  • ਮਦਿ ਮਾਇਆ ਕੈ ਭਇਓ ਬਾਵਰੋ ਸੂਝਤ ਨਹ ਕਛੁ ਗਿਆਨਾ ॥: (Mind) intoxicated with Maya, does not understand even a bit of Giaan (Knowledge, Wisdom…). (sggs 632).
  • ਮਦਿ ਮਾਇਆ ਕੈ ਭਇਓ ਬਾਵਰੋ ਹਰਿ ਜਸੁ ਨਹਿ ਉਚਰੈ ॥: Madi maya kai bhaio baavaro… (sggs 536).

In addition to a donkey and a bull, the conduct of a Maya-ridden or a crazy mind is compared with the behavior of many other animals in the Gurbani (e.g., elephant, monkey, dog, parrot, frog, deer, and so on). Consider some verses as follow:

  • ਸੁਆਨ ਪੂਛ ਜਿਉ ਭਇਓ ਨ ਸੂਧਉ ਬਹੁਤੁ ਜਤਨੁ ਮੈ ਕੀਨਉ ॥: (My greedy mind that disregards Naam: Wisdom/Virtues…) does not straighten out like a dog’s tail; (similarly this greedy mind will not straighten out) despite my innumerable efforts (i.e. remains unrepentant towards temporal indulgence). (sggs 633).
  • ਮਨੁ ਮੁਗਧੌ ਦਾਦਰੁ ਭਗਤਿਹੀਨੁ ॥ ਦਰਿ ਭ੍ਰਸਟ ਸਰਾਪੀ ਨਾਮ ਬੀਨੁ ॥: The mind devoid of true Bhagti is like a foolish frog. Bereft of the Naam (Wisdom, Virtues, Truth…), the mind (becomes as it) is corrupt and cursed. (sggs 1188).
  • ਹਰਿਚੰਦਉਰੀ ਚਿਤ ਭ੍ਰਮੁ ਸਖੀਏ ਮ੍ਰਿਗ ਤ੍ਰਿਸਨਾ ਦ੍ਰੁਮ ਛਾਇਆ ॥: O my friend, Maya is an illusion of mind like an imaginary city in the sky, or a mirage in a desert and the transitory shade of a tree. (sggs 803).

These are just a few examples from the Gurbani. There are numerous more!

The Gurbani says that a crazy mind in love with Maya cannot realize its Mool within (Source, Jot…).

  • ਚਿਟੇ ਜਿਨ ਕੇ ਕਪੜੇ ਮੈਲੇ ਚਿਤ ਕਠੋਰ ਜੀਉ ॥ ਤਿਨ ਮੁਖਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਨ ਊਪਜੈ ਦੂਜੈ ਵਿਆਪੇ ਚੋਰ ਜੀਉ ॥ ਮੂਲੁ ਨ ਬੂਝਹਿ ਆਪਣਾ ਸੇ ਪਸੂਆ ਸੇ ਢੋਰ ਜੀਉ ॥੩॥: Their clothes are white (beautiful religious robes) but their conscience is cruel and filthy (full of vices — they look holy or Mahaatamaa on the outside only). Their minds don’t acquire Naam (Giaan-Wisdom, Virtues…); engrossed in duality they cheat people (i.e. their external appearance is only pretense-Pakhand to cheat people). They do not Understand their own Mool (Source, Jot Saroop…); that’s why they are fools with animal intelligence ||3|| (sggs 751).
  • ਮਨਮੁਖ ਤਤੁ ਨ ਜਾਣਨੀ ਪਸੂ ਮਾਹਿ ਸਮਾਨਾ ॥੩॥: The Manmukhs do not understand (this) Essence (Truth…), they remain centered in animal-consciousness (ਪਸੂ-ਬ੍ਰਿਤੀ). ||3|| (sggs 1009).
  • ਬਾਵਰੇ ਤੈ ਗਿਆਨ ਬੀਚਾਰੁ ਨ ਪਾਇਆ ॥ ਬਿਰਥਾ ਜਨਮੁ ਗਵਾਇਆ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥: O foolish person! You have not acquired divine Wisdom to realize God, and so you have wasted your life in vain. ||1||Pause|| (sggs 793).

So, the Gurbani asks such crazy mind to eradicate this craziness with the help of Spiritual Wisdom of the Gurbani, obtained through Shabad-Vichaar.

  • ਸੁਣਿ ਮਨ ਭੂਲੇ ਬਾਵਰੇ ਗੁਰ ਕੀ ਚਰਣੀ ਲਾਗੁ ॥: Listen, O deluded and demented mind: hold tight to the Guru’s Feet (i.e., Gur-Shabad…). (sggs 57).
  • ਕੁੰਭੇ ਬਧਾ ਜਲੁ ਰਹੈ ਜਲ ਬਿਨੁ ਕੁੰਭੁ ਨ ਹੋਇ ॥ ਗਿਆਨ ਕਾ ਬਧਾ ਮਨੁ ਰਹੈ ਗੁਰ ਬਿਨੁ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਨ ਹੋਇ ॥੫॥: As the water remains confined in a pitcher, (just so) the mind is restrained by the Spiritual Wisdom. But (as) the pitcher cannot be shaped without the water, (just so) there can be no Spiritual Wisdom without the Guru. ||5|| (sggs 469).
  • ਭੂਲਾ ਮਨੁ ਸਮਝੈ ਗੁਰ ਸਬਦੀ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਸਦਾ ਧਿਆਏ ॥: A misguided mind learns only by engaging in the Guru’s Shabad and then he always remembers God’s Naam (Wisdom / Virtues). (sggs 561).

6 comments

  1. mann reh kaun kumat teh leenee……this is a beautiful shabad in Gurbani where we are reminded about….what are YOU doing here….you have been given this very keemti human being life form after many many births and deaths….do not waste your opportunity to meet the almighty….. but YOU have become totally enveloped by MAYA, and you must act NOW before it’s too late.

  2. Thank you Veer Jiou for sharing your Vichhar.
    ਬਾਵਰ ਸੋਇ ਰਹੇ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ (sggs 406).
    ਮਨਮੁਖਿ ਕਮਲਾ ਰਗੜੈ ਲੁਝੈ ॥ (sggs 1418).

  3. Thanks again for yet another Gurbani-rich, wisdom-packed piece. Shabad is truly the one-madicine-for-all-ailments. I remember listening to this line from a shabad — “Bin Shabdai sab jag bauraana” … the whole world will go crazy without ‘shabad’.

    Deep regards.

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