Death of Haumai Brings Sukha

The Gurbani tells us that killing of the Haumai-mind (ego-mind, ਆਪਾ-ਭਾਵ…) brings Sukha (Peace, Joy, Happiness, Anand, Bliss, Sahaj, Beauty…). Baabaa Kabeer says:

  • ਕਬੀਰ ਜਾ ਦਿਨ ਹਉ ਮੂਆ ਪਾਛੈ ਭਇਆ ਅਨੰਦੁ ॥ ਮੋਹਿ ਮਿਲਿਓ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਆਪਨਾ ਸੰਗੀ ਭਜਹਿ ਗੋੁਬਿੰਦੁ ॥੬॥: Kabeer, when my false ego-sense (Haumai) completely vanished, since the Bliss prevails within my mind. Then I realized my God and now my companions (all senses-ਇੰਦ੍ਰਿਆਂ) are united with Gobind (i.e. Omnipresent God). ||6|| (sggs 1364).
  • ਕਬੀਰ ਸਭ ਤੇ ਹਮ ਬੁਰੇ ਹਮ ਤਜਿ ਭਲੋ ਸਭੁ ਕੋਇ ॥ ਜਿਨਿ ਐਸਾ ਕਰਿ ਬੂਝਿਆ ਮੀਤੁ ਹਮਾਰਾ ਸੋਇ ॥੭॥: O Kabeer! I-ness (Haumai, false ego-sense, Durmat or wicked intellect, bad thinking or ideology…) is the worst of all (thoughts). All thoughts except I-ness (or false ego sense) are good. Whosoever understands this is a friend of mine ||7|| (sggs 1364).
  • ਕਬੀਰ ਆਈ ਮੁਝਹਿ ਪਹਿ ਅਨਿਕ ਕਰੇ ਕਰਿ ਭੇਸ ॥ ਹਮ ਰਾਖੇ ਗੁਰ ਆਪਨੇ ਉਨਿ ਕੀਨੋ ਆਦੇਸੁ ॥੮॥: O Kabeer! False ego-sense (Haumai or false ego-sense, Durmat or wicked intellect, bad thinking or ideology…) came to me in various forms (to delude me – ਕੁਰਾਹੇ ਪਾਣ…). But my Gur (-Giaan, Wisdom, Bibek) saved me, and now it bows to me (became humble). ||8|| (sggs 1364).
  • ਕਬੀਰ ਸੋਈ ਮਾਰੀਐ ਜਿਹ ਮੂਐ ਸੁਖੁ ਹੋਇ ॥ ਭਲੋ ਭਲੋ ਸਭੁ ਕੋ ਕਹੈ ਬੁਰੋ ਨ ਮਾਨੈ ਕੋਇ ॥੯॥: O Kabeer! Kill that (i.e., ego-mind, Haumai-mind, duality, Durmat or wicked intellect…), which, when killed, brings Sukha (Peace, Joy, Happiness…). (If you do that) Everyone will call you good (noble, virtuous…), and no one will deem you bad (wicked…). ||9|| (sggs 1364).

Kill the mind? A scary thought and a doubt is likely to arise in the mind as we read this. Naturally, upon reading this, one may ask: “If the mind is killed, then, would I be a living or a dead person? Even if alive, with dead mind or “no-mind”, how will I experience the external world of things and beings? How will I gain knowledge of worldly objects? How will I remember my experiences? How will I transact and live in this world of names and shapes?” One may become overwhelmed with such and many other fearful notions, thoughts, questions, and doubts. The Gurbani assures us that there is no need to become fearful!

Here is the truth that we will not hear from the illiterate, ignorant, and corrupt Pujaaree groups: Nobody can kill the mind or Bikaar from within!

The Gurbani tells us that the five Bikaar (lust, anger, greed, etc.), as well as Divine Virtues reside within the body of everyone. Neither Bikaar nor the Divine Virtues can be yanked out of the body.

Instead, what’s in our power is to free the mind from the bad influence of Bikaar (ਬੁਰਾ ਪ੍ਰਭਾਵ).

  • ਇਸੁ ਦੇਹੀ ਅੰਦਰਿ ਪੰਚ ਚੋਰ ਵਸਹਿ ਕਾਮੁ ਕ੍ਰੋਧੁ ਲੋਭੁ ਮੋਹੁ ਅਹੰਕਾਰਾ ॥ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤੁ ਲੂਟਹਿ ਮਨਮੁਖ ਨਹੀ ਬੂਝਹਿ ਕੋਇ ਨ ਸੁਣੈ ਪੂਕਾਰਾ ॥: Within this body dwell the five thieves: lust, anger, greed, attachment, and pride. They plunder the Amrit (-Naam, Virtues, Wisdom, etc., from within the body), but the Manmukhs do not realize it; (but once they are plundered, and so suffer, then…) no one hears their cry shout (i.e., then no one can help them). (sggs 600).
  • ਅਵਗੁਣੀ ਭਰਪੂਰ ਹੈ ਗੁਣ ਭੀ ਵਸਹਿ ਨਾਲਿ ॥: (The mortal) is overflowing with demerits, but the Divine Virtue dwells within him as well. (sggs 936).

Hence, the Gurbani urges us to remove or kill the bad effects of Bikaar from the mind (ਬੁਰਾ ਪ੍ਰਭਾਵ).

At the same breath, the Gurbani asks us to Awaken the Divine Virtues that are lying dormant within all of us – Truth (ਸਤ), contentment (ਸੰਤੋਖ), mercy (ਦਯਾ), patience (ਧੀਰਜ), Sahaj (ਸਹਜ-Natural State of Being), Wisdom (ਗਿਆਨ)….

In nutshell, killing the mind or Haumai (false ego-sense) simply indicates killing or eradicating negative impression or impact of Bikaar.

Eradication of defects or bad influence of Haumai or false ego-sense is called “annihilation”, “killing” or “destruction” of the mind, without which it’s unlikely to reach the mind’s substratum (Adhar; pronounced Adhaar) – linking with one’s Mool within (ਮੂਲ-Source, Origin, Jot Saroop...).

As the Gurbani indicates, a filthy mind or falsehood and Truth (ਸਚ) cannot unite – become One.

  • ਮਨੁ ਮੈਲਾ ਸਚੁ ਨਿਰਮਲਾ ਕਿਉ ਕਰਿ ਮਿਲਿਆ ਜਾਇ ॥: The Truth is Pure; (so long the man’s) mind is impure (with Haumai, Bikaar, etc.); he cannot realize (the Truth) (sggs 755).
  • ਮਨ ਰੇ ਤ੍ਰੈ ਗੁਣ ਛੋਡਿ ਚਉਥੈ ਚਿਤੁ ਲਾਇ ॥: O mind! Renounce the three quality-Maya (bad impact or effect of Maya), and focus your consciousness on the Fourth State (Transcending Maya’s influence). (sggs 603).
  • ਬਿਨੁ ਮਨ ਮੂਏ ਕੈਸੇ ਹਰਿ ਪਾਇ ॥: Without annihilating (conquering) the mind, how can “Hari” (Mool, Source…) be realized? (sggs 665).
  • ਇਹੁ ਮਨੁ ਨਿਰਮਲੁ ਹਉਮੈ ਮਾਰੀ ॥: The mind becomes pure when ego is killed (sggs 1049).

False ego-sense (Haumai) kills our True Nature. The Gurbani urges us to eradicate the Durmat (ਦੁਰਮਤ-wicked intellect, Kubudh-corrupt nature…) through the Gurmat (ਗੁਰਮਤ-Wisdom of the Gurbani…). Therefore, the Gurbani’s emphasis is NOT on mere reading of the Gurbani, but on the Vichaar. For it’s the Shabad-Vichaar (Reflections on the Gurbani) that will eradicate the Kubudh (corrupt or crooked nature of the mind), Durmat (wicked intellect), Haumai (egotism), Maya or duality, doubt (Bharam), fear

  • ਕੁਬੁਧਿ ਮਿਟੈ ਗੁਰ ਸਬਦੁ ਬੀਚਾਰਿ ॥: Corrupt intellect or destructive mindset is eliminated by Reflecting on the Gur-Shabad (Shabad-Vichaar). (sggs 944).
  • ਸਬਦੇ ਹਉਮੈ ਮਾਰੀਐ ਮਾਇਆ ਕਾ ਭ੍ਰਮੁ ਜਾਇ ॥: Through the Shabad, egotism is killed and the illusion of Maya dispelled. (sggs 67).

Thus, according to the Gurbani, Sukha is in replacing the self-will (Manmukh, ਅਪਣੀ ਮਰਜੀ, ਮਨਮਤ…) with the Divine Will (ਹੁਕਮ-Hukam, Law of Nature…).

  • ਮਨ ਰੇ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਮੰਨਿ ਸੁਖੁ ਹੋਇ ॥: O mind! Sukh is realized by living the Hukam. (sggs 1258).

In nutshell, the mind has to become free of the Maya’s taint, rituals (Karamkaand), doubts…

  • ਕਬੀਰ ਮਨੁ ਨਿਰਮਲੁ ਭਇਆ ਜੈਸਾ ਗੰਗਾ ਨੀਰੁ ॥ ਪਾਛੈ ਲਾਗੋ ਹਰਿ ਫਿਰੈ ਕਹਤ ਕਬੀਰ ਕਬੀਰ ॥੫੫॥ O Kabeer! (Through Bhagti) upon mind becoming Pure as the “Gangaa Neer” ( i.e., the mind Free of Maya); the Divine follows after me, calling, “Kabeer! Kabeer!” ||55|| (sggs 1367).

In other words, the flow of our Mayaic intellect must be reversed to make it merge with the flow of the Gurmat (The Gurbani’s Aatam Giaan, Spiritual Wisdom, Bibek-Budhi…) within. To put it otherwise, the Gurbani urges us to merge the self-will into the Divine Will (Hukam, Law of Nature…). Because, the self-will is opposite of the Gurmat (Wisdom, Giaan, Upadesh or Way of the SGGS…).

  • ਮਨ ਮੇਰੇ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਕੈ ਭਾਣੈ ਚਲੁ ॥: Man mere stigur kai bhaanai chalu (sggs 37).

Why merge the self-will into the Divine Will? Because, the self-will, which is opposite of the Gurmat, becomes the source of repeated Dukha (sorrows, sufferings…).

  • ਸੋ ਸਿਖੁ ਸਖਾ ਬੰਧਪੁ ਹੈ ਭਾਈ ਜਿ ਗੁਰ ਕੇ ਭਾਣੇ ਵਿਚਿ ਆਵੈ ॥: O Mind! He alone is a Sikh, a friend, and a relative, who walks in the Way of the Guru’s Bhaanaa (Gurmat, Shabad, Upadesh, Giaan-Wisdom). (sggs 601).

Therefore, the greatest Sidhi (ਸਿਧਿ-realization, fulfillment, accomplishment…) in this world is indicated to be annihilation of the mind ridden by Haumai, doubt, Maya…

Accordingly, the Gurbani repeatedly asks us to become Ik Mann Ik Chitt – the Gurmukh.

  • ਮਮਾ ਮਨ ਸਿਉ ਕਾਜੁ ਹੈ ਮਨ ਸਾਧੇ ਸਿਧਿ ਹੋਇ ॥ ਮਨ ਹੀ ਮਨ ਸਿਉ ਕਹੈ ਕਬੀਰਾ ਮਨ ਸਾ ਮਿਲਿਆ ਨ ਕੋਇ ॥੩੨॥: MAMMA: (The mortal’s real purpose or business of life) is with his own mind; (and that purpose or business) is to discipline or control his mind; by doing so, Spiritual Understanding (Soojh or Samajh of the Formless or Niraakaar…) is obtained (and thus life’s real purpose is realized). Kabeer says (that the real work of a person) is with the mind alone. (For he) has not met anything like the mind! ||32|| (sggs 342).

7 comments

  1. Waheguru ji ka Khalsa waheguru ji ki fateh veerji thax for telling this veryyyy true and gud thing to us may god bless u keep writing more and more gud things .

  2. Not just Gur-Vichaar, But Akal Purkh’s GRACE is needed to eradicate haumai or else it is an Impossible task.

  3. Karamjeet Singh Ji… Thank you Vir ji for sharing your Vichaar and this simile:

    We ‘hear’ the alarm (read one of your blogs), hit the snooze button (ignore the message) and go back to the comfortable bed (keep doing our chores the way we have been doing for ever) and then we hear the alarm going off again (when another blog is spotted in the inbox) that makes yet another attempt to wake us up … and the cycle goes on.

    • ਫਰੀਦਾ ਰਾਤਿ ਕਥੂਰੀ ਵੰਡੀਐ ਸੁਤਿਆ ਮਿਲੈ ਨ ਭਾਉ ॥ (sggs 1382).

  4. Thanks Vir Ji for sending wake-up calls every now and then.

    We ‘hear’ the alarm (read one of your blogs), hit the snooze button (ignore the message) and go back to the comfortable bed (keep doing our chores the way we have been doing for ever) and then we hear the alarm going off again (when another blog is spotted in the inbox) that makes yet another attempt to wake us up … and the cycle goes on.

    Well, keep the ‘clock’ going and hopefully one by one the ‘kids’ will be all-awake.

    I agree with you one hundred percent. Killing haume is very difficult but through regular Shabad-Vichaar, that task may become easier. And your blogs, Vir Ji, may lend a strong guiding hand in accomlplishing that ardent mission.

    Deep Regards

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