Crookedness

The Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS) teaches us that our fight or struggle should be with our own crooked mind (i.e. thoughts, habits, ਸੁਭਾ…), NOT with the physical body-frame!

• ਨਾਨਕ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਮਨ ਸਿਉ ਲੁਝੈ ॥੪੬॥ : O Nanak, by becoming the Gurmukh struggle with your own mind (ਆਪਣੇ ਮਨ ਨਾਲ ਟਾਕਰਾ). ||46|| (sggs 1418).
• ਜਨਮ ਜਨਮ ਕੀ ਇਸੁ ਮਨ ਕਉ ਮਲੁ ਲਾਗੀ ਕਾਲਾ ਹੋਆ ਸਿਆਹ ॥: The scum (i.e. impurity) of so many spiritual births and deaths is attached to this mind of ours and it has become pitch black. (sggs 651). ****
• ਚੰਚਲ ਮਨੁ ਦਹ ਦਿਸਿ ਕਉ ਧਾਵਤ ਅਚਲ ਜਾਹਿ ਠਹਰਾਨੋ ॥: This mercurial mind keeps wandering in ten directions, it needs to be pacified and restrained. (sggs 685).
• ਅੰਤਰਿ ਅਗਿਆਨ ਦੁਖੁ ਭਰਮੁ ਹੈ ਵਿਚਿ ਪੜਦਾ ਦੂਰਿ ਪਈਆਸਿ ॥: Ignorance, temporal trappings, doubt are like separating screen from God. (sggs 40).
• ਮਾਇਆ ਪਟਲ ਪਟਲ ਹੈ ਭਾਰੀ ਘਰੁ ਘੂਮਨਿ ਘੇਰਿ ਘੁਲਾਵੈਗੋ ॥: The veil of Maya is thick and heavy, a whirlpool which destroys one’s Home (mind, Heart…). (sggs 1308).

A mind guided by worldly temptations and their corrupting influences (Manmukhs, Saakat, Mayadhaaree… midset) behaves crookedly or wickedly. That is, its thinking (Soch), habits and the resulting actions are directed by crookedness or meanness (Kutiltaa or Kameenagee (ਕੁਟਿਲਤਾ, ਕਮੀਨਗੀ)! 

• ਬੈਠਤ ਉਠਤ ਕੁਟਿਲਤਾ ਚਾਲਹਿ ॥ ਆਪੁ ਗਏ ਅਉਰਨ ਹੂ ਘਾਲਹਿ ॥੩॥: Sitting down or standing up – i.e. all the time – (those devoid of Bhagti, their) ways remain crooked. (These people) who have ruined themselves also ruin others. ||3|| (sggs 332).
• ਚਲਤ ਕਤ ਟੇਢੇ ਟੇਢੇ ਟੇਢੇ ॥ ਅਸਤਿ ਚਰਮ ਬਿਸਟਾ ਕੇ ਮੂੰਦੇ ਦੁਰਗੰਧ ਹੀ ਕੇ ਬੇਢੇ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥: Why do you walk crooked ways? You are nothing more than a bundle of bones, wrapped in skin, filled with ordure (excrement, etc.); you give off a rotten smell! ||1||Pause|| (sggs 1124).
• ਕਹਾ ਨਰ ਗਰਬਸਿ ਥੋਰੀ ਬਾਤ ॥ ਮਨ ਦਸ ਨਾਜੁ ਟਕਾ ਚਾਰਿ ਗਾਂਠੀ ਐਂਡੌ ਟੇਢੌ ਜਾਤੁ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥: O mortal, why are you so proud of small matters (of fleeting life)? With a few mounds of grain and a few coins in your pocket, you are totally puffed up with pride (mind’s crooked behavior or lifestyle). ||1||Pause|| (sggs 1251).

Aptly, the Gurbani compares the crooked human mind with the dog’s tail, which always curls!

• ਸੁਆਨ ਪੂਛ ਜਿਉ ਹੋਇ ਨ ਸੂਧੋ ਕਹਿਓ ਨ ਕਾਨ ਧਰੈ ॥ ਕਹੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਭਜੁ ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮ ਨਿਤ ਜਾ ਤੇ ਕਾਜੁ ਸਰੈ ॥੨॥੧॥: Like a dog’s tail, this (greedy mind) does not become straight (i.e. remains unrepentant towards temporal indulgence); it does not attend to (any Advice, Teaching, ਸਿੱਖਿਆ…). Says Nanak, forever meditate on the Naam and your affairs (the ultimate purpose of life, etc.) will get resolved. ||2||1|| (sggs 536).
• ਸਾਕਤ ਸੁਆਨ ਕਹੀਅਹਿ ਬਹੁ ਲੋਭੀ ਬਹੁ ਦੁਰਮਤਿ ਮੈਲੁ ਭਰੀਜੈ ॥ ਆਪਨ ਸੁਆਇ ਕਰਹਿ ਬਹੁ ਬਾਤਾ ਤਿਨਾ ਕਾ ਵਿਸਾਹੁ ਕਿਆ ਕੀਜੈ ॥੬॥: Saakat (those separated from God…) are said to be very greedy like dogs; they are full of too much filth of wicked intellect. One who talks excessively but to suit ones own interests; how can such a person be trusted? ||6|| (sggs 1326).

In addition to dog, the crazy and crooked nature of the human mind is also compared in the Gurbani with the behavior of many other animals. For example, camel, elephant, frog, monkey, stork or crane, fish, deer, buffalo, donkey, and so on.

• ਗੁਰ ਮੰਤ੍ਰ ਹੀਣਸ੍ਯ੍ਯ ਜੋ ਪ੍ਰਾਣੀ ਧ੍ਰਿਗੰਤ ਜਨਮ ਭ੍ਰਸਟਣਹ ॥ ਕੂਕਰਹ ਸੂਕਰਹ ਗਰਧਭਹ ਕਾਕਹ ਸਰਪਨਹ ਤੁਲਿ ਖਲਹ ॥੩੩॥: That mortal who lacks the Gur-mantra (Guru’s counsel, advice, Wisdom, Upadesh, ਸਲਾਹ), cursed and fallen (depraved, polluted…) is his life. That wicked person is a dog, a pig, a jackass, a crow, a snake (in this very life, here and now, not after death). ||33|| (1356).

The SGGS teaches us even if crooked or mean people leave their country and go overseas, they will take their wickedness with them – their Mayaic mind follow them wherever they go! Just look around and see what’s going on in the Gurdwaras throughout the world. In most part, they are controlled and run by the self-serving management committee members and the self-serving Pujaaree (clergy: Granthis, Parcharaks, Ragis, Dhadees etc.) and the freeloading Deraa-Vaad Baabaas (ਵੇਹਲੜ) etc.

• ਪੂੰਅਰ ਤਾਪ ਗੇਰੀ ਕੇ ਬਸਤ੍ਰਾ ॥ ਅਪਦਾ ਕਾ ਮਾਰਿਆ ਗ੍ਰਿਹ ਤੇ ਨਸਤਾ ॥ ਦੇਸੁ ਛੋਡਿ ਪਰਦੇਸਹਿ ਧਾਇਆ ॥ ਪੰਚ ਚੰਡਾਲ ਨਾਲੇ ਲੈ ਆਇਆ ॥੪॥: You worship fire (ਧੂਣੀਆਂ ਤਪਾਂਣਾਂ) and wear saffron colored robes. Smitten by calamity (distress, trouble…), you run away from your home. Leaving your country, you wander in foreign lands. (But your Mayaic mind) brings the five pariahs (Bikaar: lust, anger, greed, etc.) with it. ||4|| (sggs 1348).
• ਕੂਪੁ ਭਰਿਓ ਜੈਸੇ ਦਾਦਿਰਾ ਕਛੁ ਦੇਸੁ ਬਿਦੇਸੁ ਨ ਬੂਝ ॥ ਐਸੇ ਮੇਰਾ ਮਨੁ ਬਿਖਿਆ ਬਿਮੋਹਿਆ ਕਛੁ ਆਰਾ ਪਾਰੁ ਨ ਸੂਝ ॥੧॥: As a well is filled with frogs, (but those frogs in the well) know nothing of the world (outside the well); just so, my mind, infatuated with the poison (of Maya), understands nothing from one side to the other. ||1|| (sggs 346).

The so called scholars (ਅਖੌਤੀ ਵਿੱਦਵਾਨ or Pandit) are the worst of all. No wonder, throughout the Gurbani, the so called religious scholars are called ‘fool‘ (‘ਮੂਰਖ’), ‘ignorant’ etc.! Because, they sell their knowledge; and they have thus reduced the Gurmat, Sikhi or Dharma to a mere mundane business (‘ਮਾਇਆ ਕੇ ਵਾਪਾਰਾ’, ‘ਰੋਟੀਆ ਕਾਰਣਿ’, ਧੰਧਾ, business…). Fittingly, the Gurbani asks us to be carful and not to take anything at face value!

• ਮੂਰਖ ਪੰਡਿਤ ਹਿਕਮਤਿ ਹੁਜਤਿ ਸੰਜੈ ਕਰਹਿ ਪਿਆਰੁ ॥: The greedy Learned fools (Pundit, priest, clergy, religious scholars) gathers wealth through chicanery and clever arguments. (sggs 469).
• ਮਾਇਆ ਕਾਰਨ ਬਿਦਿਆ ਬੇਚਹੁ ਜਨਮੁ ਅਬਿਰਥਾ ਜਾਈ ॥੩॥: (O mentally blind! You) sell knowledge (learning etc.) for the sake of Maya; your life is totally worthless. (sggs 1103).
• ਰੋਟੀਆ ਕਾਰਣਿ ਪੂਰਹਿ ਤਾਲ ॥: For the sake of bread, they perform melodiously (sggs 465).

Furthermore, it’s not that the mind of crooked and mean people don’t know the difference between right and wrong! They do! However, on account of their addiction of mean thinking, they can’t stop behaving this way.

• ਕਬੀਰ ਮਨੁ ਜਾਨੈ ਸਭ ਬਾਤ ਜਾਨਤ ਹੀ ਅਉਗਨੁ ਕਰੈ ॥: O Kabir! The mind knows everything and knowingly it commits demerits (sggs 1376).
• ਮਨ ਕਾ ਸੁਭਾਉ ਸਭੁ ਕੋਈ ਕਰੈ ॥: Every one acts according to his mind’s nature (habit, disposition, inclination…). (sggs 1167).

How does this wickedness arise in people? The Gurbani answers as follows:

• ਰਾਖਿ ਲੇਹੁ ਹਮ ਤੇ ਬਿਗਰੀ ॥ ਸੀਲੁ ਧਰਮੁ ਜਪੁ ਭਗਤਿ ਨ ਕੀਨੀ ਹਉ ਅਭਿਮਾਨ ਟੇਢ ਪਗਰੀ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥: (O Divine!) Preserve  me, The wrong (ਬੜਾ ਮਾੜਾ ਕੰਮ) I did is that I have not cultivated Good Nature, Dharma and Bhagti (Naam, Shabad-Vichaar…); I am proud (arrogant, conceited…), and I have taken a crooked path (crooked lifestyle). ||1||Pause|| (sggs 856).
• ਵਾਟ ਨ ਪਾਵਉ ਵੀਗਾ ਜਾਉ ॥: (Without the true Shabad-Vichhar, Giaan, Gurmat…) I don’t walk on (the right) Path; I follow the crooked (wrong) path (sggs 354).
• ਮਾਇਆ ਮੋਹਿਆ ਟੇਢਉ ਜਾਤ ॥੧॥:||1|| (A person) enticed by Maya, takes the crooked (wrong) path. ||1|| (sggs 892).
• ਬਾਵੈ ਮਾਰਗੁ ਟੇਢਾ ਚਲਨਾ ॥ ਸੀਧਾ ਛੋਡਿ ਅਪੂਠਾ ਬੁਨਨਾ ॥੩॥: (Because of deeming false as true, we) walk crookedly (i.e. we take the wrong, crooked path of Bikaar). (Thus) leaving the Straight Way (i.e. abandoning the Gurbani’s Path of Truth, we), weave backwards (ਜੀਵਨ-ਤਾਣੀ ਦੀ ਪੁੱਠੀ ਬੁਣਤ) ||3||. (sggs 185).

As indicated in the foregoing verse, this crookedness arises in us on account of falsehood or Haumai. False ego-sense (Haumai) exhibits faults such as lust, anger, greed, etc. which give rise to vices and crookedness. The problem with the Haumai is that it cannot coexist with Naam (Wisdom / Virtues).

• ਹਉਮੈ ਨਾਵੈ ਨਾਲਿ ਵਿਰੋਧੁ ਹੈ ਦੁਇ ਨ ਵਸਹਿ ਇਕ ਠਾਇ ॥: False-ego-sense (Haumai) is opposed to the divine Naam (Wisdom / Virtues); the two cannot coexist in one’s mind. (sggs 560). *****
• ਬਿਨੁ ਬਸਿ ਪੰਚ ਕਹਾ ਮਨ ਚੂਰੇ ॥: The mind cannot be annihilated without overcoming the ‘five’ (Bikaar — lust, anger, greed, attachment, and pride and their numerous variations). (sggs 1140). *****
• ਇਨ ਪੰਚਨ ਮੇਰੋ ਮਨੁ ਜੁ ਬਿਗਾਰਿਓ ॥ : Ih panchan meraa mann ju bigaario (sggs 710.
• ਮਨੁ ਭੂਲੋ ਬਹੁ ਚਿਤੈ ਵਿਕਾਰੁ ॥ : Mann bhoolo bahu chitai vikaar. (sggs 222).

The Gurbani tells us that without eradicating mind’s Haumai or falsehood, we cannot become Enlightened (Gurmukh mindset).

• ਰੇ ਮਨ ਡੀਗਿ ਨ ਡੋਲੀਐ ਸੀਧੈ ਮਾਰਗਿ ਧਾਉ ॥ ਪਾਛੈ ਬਾਘੁ ਡਰਾਵਣੋ ਆਗੈ ਅਗਨਿ ਤਲਾਉ ॥ : O my mind! Don’t wander on the crooked path (of Bikaar: lust, anger, greed, etc.); take the Straight Path (i.e, the Path of Truth, Wisdom, Virtues). (Instead, if you Wander on the path of crookednes…) behind is the tiger (i.e., tiger of Bikaar within that destroys divine life – ਆਤਮਕ ਮੌਤ), and ahead is the pool of fire (i., fire of desires, Trishanaa…). (sggs 1410).
• ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਹਉਮੈ ਸਬਦਿ ਜਲਾਏ ॥: Internalization of the spiritual Message of the Shabad (the Gurmukh-Hood State of Mind) burn Haumai (false ego-sense). (sggs 942).

The SGGS also guides us that the crookedness can be eradicated through the Naam  – Becoming the Gurbani.

Clearly, the Gurbani addresses the human mind that needs to change its crooked habits, thinking and actions, here and now, not after death.

As medicine is for alive people not for dead, similarly the Wisdom of the Gurbani is for the minds of the living people, not for animals, not for stones or dead people. It’s the mind that has been shut up and confined, as a chick in an eggshell (of doubt, Karamkaand, ignorance, religious robes, Bikaar or vices, religious paraphernalia, and so on).

• ਹਰਿ ਕਾਟੀ ਕੁਟਿਲਤਾ ਕੁਠਾਰਿ ॥ ਭ੍ਰਮ ਬਨ ਦਹਨ ਭਏ ਖਿਨ ਭੀਤਰਿ ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮ ਪਰਹਾਰਿ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥: (Within whom) the Raam (Naam – Shabad, Gurmat, Wisdom, Virtues…) has cut down the crookedness with the stroke of the axe (of the Naam…), from within (him) the forest of doubt is burnt away in an instant, by the fire of the Divine Naam (..). ||1||Pause|| (sggs1225).
• ਮਨ ਕਮੀਨ ਕਮਤਰੀਨ ਤੂ ਦਰੀਆਉ ਖੁਦਾਇਆ ॥ ਏਕੁ ਚੀਜੁ ਮੁਝੈ ਦੇਹਿ ਅਵਰ ਜਹਰ ਚੀਜ ਨ ਭਾਇਆ ॥: I am ‘Kameen‘ (mean, crooked, wicked…); O Divine! You are Benevolent (Gratuitous, Kind). Please, bless me with this one thing (i.e., Naam: Wisdom, Virtues, Truth…); everything else is poison, and does not tempt me. (sggs 1291).