Dance of the Mind Attached to Maya

First off, what is Maya? Maya is a Sanskrit word which literally means ‘that which is not’ – ‘Ma‘ means ‘not’, ‘Ya‘ means ‘that’. Like chasing mirage (‘ਮ੍ਰਿਗ ਤ੍ਰਿਸਨਾ’) which never ends and never exists! Thus, Maya is that phenomena which produces the impossible – as the Gurmat Wisdom of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS) teaches us what we deem it, it is not like that.

• ਮਾਧਵੇ ਕਿਆ ਕਹੀਐ ਭ੍ਰਮੁ ਐਸਾ ॥ ਜੈਸਾ ਮਾਨੀਐ ਹੋਇ ਨ ਤੈਸਾ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ : O God, what can we say, we are so deluded by doubt, that what we believe, the reality is not like that. ||1||Pause|| (sggs 657).

Maya defined

According to the SGGS, whatever makes me forget his/her (1) True Nature (Jot Saroop) or Mool (‘Hari Visrai‘), (2) gives rise to emotional attachment (‘Moh Upjai‘), and (3) creates duality (‘Bhaau Doojaa‘, two-ness, delusion…) becomes Maya for me.

In a nutshell, Maya is anything and everything which makes a person forget the Creator (the divine Hukam) by creating attachment to the corrupting influences of the worldly temptations Maya or Bhav Saagar).

• ਏਹ ਮਾਇਆ ਜਿਤੁ ਹਰਿ ਵਿਸਰੈ ਮੋਹੁ ਉਪਜੈ ਭਾਉ ਦੂਜਾ ਲਾਇਆ ॥ : This is Maya, by which (1) ‘Hari’ (Mool) is forgotten; (2) (worldly) attachment is born, and (3) the love of duality is set (sggs 921).
• ਮਾਇਆ ਕਿਸ ਨੋ ਆਖੀਐ ਕਿਆ ਮਾਇਆ ਕਰਮ ਕਮਾਇ ॥ ਦੁਖਿ ਸੁਖਿ ਏਹੁ ਜੀਉ ਬਧੁ ਹੈ ਹਉਮੈ ਕਰਮ ਕਮਾਇ ॥ ਬਿਨੁ ਸਬਦੈ ਭਰਮੁ ਨ ਚੂਕਈ ਨਾ ਵਿਚਹੁ ਹਉਮੈ ਜਾਇ ॥੬॥ : What is called Maya? What does Maya do (through beings under its spell)? (The answer is that, under its spell) these beings are bound by pleasure and pain (i.e., the dualistic principle of Sukh and Dukh, etc); and they do their deeds in ‘Haumai’ (false ego-sense). Without the (Realization of the) Shabad, neither the doubt is dispelled nor Haumai is eliminated from within. ||6||(sggs 67).

The duality or doubt-ridden mind dances to the tune of Maya due to its hunger or love of Maya (ਮਾਇਆ ਦੀ ਭੁੱਖ, ਮੋਹ ਮਮਤਾ).

• ਮਾਇਆ ਮੋਹੁ ਇਸੁ ਮਨਹਿ ਨਚਾਏ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਕਪਟੁ ਦੁਖੁ ਪਾਵਣਿਆ ॥੪॥ : The love of Maya makes this mind dance, and the deceit within makes people suffer in pain. ||4|| (sggs 122).
• ਮਾਇਆ ਡੋਲੈ ਬਹੁ ਬਿਧੀ ਮਨੁ ਲਪਟਿਓ ਤਿਹ ਸੰਗ ॥ : Maya wavers many ways, the mind clings to this (Maya, also wavers many ways). (sggs 258).

To illustrate the point, the Gurbani adduces the example of how monkeys are captured in India. They are captured as follows: A narrow-necked pot, filled with grains and other eatables that monkeys love, is placed on the ground as a bait. As a monkey comes to take the grains, he puts his hand into the narrow-necked pot and grab hold of the grains. Now, since his hand is full of grains, he cannot take his hand out of the narrow-necked pot and escape. In greed, thus, the foolish monkey does not open his hand and let go of the grains so that he can escape. On account of his greed, the monkey gets trapped and caught. Consequently, the monkey loses the freedom he had in the forest of abundance of grains and fresh fruits of his liking. In other words, for a few grains he loses his entire world! Now caught and bound, he cannot freely play and enjoy life to his heart’s liking. Instead, he is made to dance door to door by his captive!

• 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).

Similarly, the monkey-mind of humans have chained itself to the narrow-necked pot of the body-consciousness (ਸਰੀਰ ਦਾ ਮੋਹ), the rule of the senses or Maya — attachment to Bhav Saagar of worldly temptations and their corrupting influences.

• ਮਾਇਆ ਕੈ ਅਰਥਿ ਬਹੁਤੁ ਲੋਕ ਨਾਚੇ ਕੋ ਵਿਰਲਾ ਤਤੁ ਬੀਚਾਰੀ ॥ : So many people dance for the sake of Maya; how rare is (one) who Reflects on the Essence (Tatt Giaan, ਤੱਤ ਗਿਆਨ, ਅਸਲ ਆਤਮਕ ਜੀਵਨ ਦੀ ਪਛਾਣ). (sggs 506).
• ਇਨਿ ਮਾਇਆ ਤ੍ਰੈ ਗੁਣ ਬਸਿ ਕੀਨੇ ॥ ਆਪਨ ਮੋਹ ਘਟੇ ਘਟਿ ਦੀਨੇ ॥ : This Maya has subjugated beings through the three qualities. Maya has infused its own attachment (love) in each and every heart. (sggs 251).

Is there a solution? The Gurbani says yes – there is a solution.

• ਬਿਨੁ ਨਾਵੈ ਮਨੁ ਟੇਕ ਨ ਟਿਕਈ ਨਾਨਕ ਭੂਖ ਨ ਜਾਈ ॥ : Nanak, sans of Naam, the mind does not remain stable, and its hunger for worldly temptations or Maya does not go away. (sggs 939).

Arresting the wandering mind

The Gurbani in SGGS teaches that mind detaches from the divine Naam (divine Giyan-Wisdom / Virtues) will wander in delusion.

Towards that solution, the Gurbani in SGGS prescribes that, instead of dancing to the tune of Mayaic intellect , the mind must be attached to Naam — Gurmat Bhagti.

• ਮਨੂਆ ਨਾਚੈ ਭਗਤਿ ਦ੍ਰਿੜਾਏ ॥ ਗੁਰ ਕੈ ਸਬਦਿ ਮਨੈ ਮਨੁ ਮਿਲਾਏ ॥ ਸਚਾ ਤਾਲੁ ਪੂਰੇ ਮਾਇਆ ਮੋਹੁ ਚੁਕਾਏ ਸਬਦੇ ਨਿਰਤਿ ਕਰਾਵਣਿਆ ॥੩॥ : (When live by the Divine Virtues-‘ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਗੁਣ ਗਾਵਣਿਆ’) the mind in elation dances the dance of Bhagti. Through the Guru Shabad, the mind realizes God within. The dance to the tune of the Guru Shabad removes the attachment to Maya, this is the true dance of the mind. ||3|| (sggs 121).
• ਨਾਚੁ ਰੇ ਮਨ ਗੁਰ ਕੈ ਆਗੈ ॥ ਗੁਰ ਕੈ ਭਾਣੈ ਨਾਚਹਿ ਤਾ ਸੁਖੁ ਪਾਵਹਿ ਅੰਤੇ ਜਮ ਭਉ ਭਾਗੈ ॥ : O mind! Dance the dance of living according to the Gur-Wisdom (this is to dance before the Guru — the Gurmukh Lifestyle). If you dance according to the Gur-Wisdom, you will obtain Happiness, and in the end, the dread of Bikaar (lust, anger, greed, etc.) will leave you alone. (sggs 504).
• ਜਪਹੁ ਤ ਏਕੋ ਨਾਮਾ ॥ ਅਵਰਿ ਨਿਰਾਫਲ ਕਾਮਾ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ ਇਹੁ ਮਨੁ ਈਟੀ ਹਾਥਿ ਕਰਹੁ ਫੁਨਿ ਨੇਤ੍ਰਉ ਨੀਦ ਨ ਆਵੈ ॥ ਰਸਨਾ ਨਾਮੁ ਜਪਹੁ ਤਬ ਮਥੀਐ ਇਨ ਬਿਧਿ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤੁ ਪਾਵਹੁ ॥੨॥ : Realize the One Naam (Wisdom / Virtues). All other deeds (i.e. all rituals, which fail to bring Realization of the One Naam) are useless efforts. ||1||Pause|| Control your mind, like you control the churning spindle with rope and its wooden handles with both hands. As butter is obtain by churning yogurt, likewise internalize Naam ( live by Naam while doing daily chores), this way you would obtain the Amrit. ||2|| (sggs 728).

The Gurbani counsels to become Enlightened by internalizing the Message embedded in the Shabad (i.e. the Gurmukh mindset).

• ਸਿਧ ਸਾਧਿਕ ਲਿਵ ਲਾਗੀ ਨਾਚੇ ਜਿਨ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਬੁਧਿ ਵੀਚਾਰੀ ॥੪॥ : By becoming Gurmukh, whose intellect reflects (on the Gur-Wisdom), those ‘Sidh Saadhik’ become single-minded or one-pointed (i.e., ‘Liv Laagee-ਲਿਵ ਲਾਗੀ’). ||4|| (sggs 506).

Except this Divine Dance of the Gurbani as described in the foregoing verses, Guru Nanak says all other dances being Mayaic (Bhav Saahar) only produce sensuousness in the mind, NOT Bhagti!

• ਹੋਰੁ ਨਚਣਾ ਖੁਸੀਆ ਮਨ ਮਾਹ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ : Other dances produce sensuous pleasure in the mind. ||1||Pause|| (sggs 350).
• ਨਾਚਨੁ ਸੋਇ ਜੁ ਮਨ ਸਿਉ ਨਾਚੈ ॥ ਝੂਠਿ ਨ ਪਤੀਐ ਪਰਚੈ ਸਾਚੈ ॥ ਇਸੁ ਮਨ ਆਗੇ ਪੂਰੈ ਤਾਲ ॥ ਇਸੁ ਨਾਚਨ ਕੇ ਮਨ ਰਖਵਾਲ ॥੨॥ : He alone is a dancer, who dances with his mind (not with his body like a street-dancer). (He) does not indulge in falsehood but abides in the Truth. (He) strives to bring the mind into the spiritual realm. (The Divine) is the Guardian of the mind of such a ‘dancer’. ||2|| (sggs 872).

Thus, the Gurbani asserts the true dancer to be the one who dances with his mind to the tune of spiritual Wisdom of the Gurbani (who strives to BECOME the Gurbani, and lives it)!

In a nutshell, the Gurbani asks us to mend the deluded mind, and turn its Mayaic dance (i.e. attachment of worldly temptations and their corrupting influences) into the Dance of Truth through the Gurbani’s Wisdom.

• ਸਤਿ ਨਿਰਤਿ ਬੂਝੈ ਜੇ ਕੋਇ ॥ ਨਾਮੁ ਜਪਤ ਤਾ ਕੀ ਗਤਿ ਹੋਇ ॥ : If a man comes to know the love of the Eternal Rabb (Truth), then by understanding Naam he realizes the expansion-development-progress-blooming of intellect or Budhi. (sggs 284).
• ਸਚਾ ਤਾਲੁ ਪੂਰੇ ਮਾਇਆ ਮੋਹੁ ਚੁਕਾਏ ਸਬਦੇ ਨਿਰਤਿ ਕਰਾਵਣਿਆ ॥੩॥ : That person (as if) does the true dance when — through the Shabad (Upadesh, Wisdom…) — he removes the attachment of Maya from within. ||3|| (sggs 121).

This does not mean that the Gurmat Wisdom of the SGGS is making us killjoy!

NO, No, NO!

A spiritually Enlightened person (i.e. a Gurmukh mindset) is NOT a killjoy!

The Gurmat Wisdom of the SGGS urges us to be engaged in this world, but with a detached attitude, divine Virtues and Wisdom (Akal, keen understanding, discerning intelligence, ਅਕਲ, ਬਿਬੇਕ-ਬੁੱਧੀ…).

• ਕਹੈ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਗੁਰ ਪਰਸਾਦੀ ਜਿਨਾ ਲਿਵ ਲਾਗੀ ਤਿਨੀ ਵਿਚੇ ਮਾਇਆ ਪਾਇਆ ॥ : Says Nanak: By the Gur-Grace (Grace of the Gur-Giaan or Wisdom…) who remain connected (to their Mool, True Nature or Jot Saroop, Aatam Giaan or Wisdom…) realize (Bliss, Mukti or liberation etc.) while using Maya (sggs 921).
• ਜਿਉ ਜਲ ਮਹਿ ਕਮਲੁ ਅਲਿਪਤੋ ਵਰਤੈ ਤਿਉ ਵਿਚੇ ਗਿਰਹ ਉਦਾਸੁ ॥ : As the lotus flower floats unaffected in the water, so does one must remain detached in his own household. (sggs 949).

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• Nature of Mayaic Delusion: Part 1
• The Nature of Mayaic Delusion: Part 2
• The Nature of Mayaic Delusion: Part 3