Breaking the Metaphoric Wall of Falsehood

When the Truth that has not been personally experienced, one can not grasp it directly. However, with the help of analogies, similes, allegories, metaphors, idioms, euphemism, symbolic expressions, figurative or mystic representations and illustrations etc, the Truth becomes relatively easier to grasp and digest. Gurbani enshrined within the the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS) often employ them to deliver the universally relevant enlightening Spiritual Message.

There are multiple similes, allegories, metaphors, idioms etc. For example:

• Dog’s tail,
• Toe to Top,
• Wring Hands,
• Paap Punn,
• Fish Climbs a Tree,
• Ladles do not know the Taste Of Food They Cruise In,
• Chewing iron with the teeth of wax,
• Uphill climb,
• The wife gives birth to her husband,
• The son leads his father in play,
• Without breasts the mother nurses her baby,
• Son marries his mother,
• Without feet the mortal jumps,
• Without a mouth he bursts into laughter,
• Without feeling sleepy he lays down and sleeps,
• Without a churn the milk is churned,
• Without udders the cow gives milk,
• Without traveling a long journey is made,
• Destruction of wall,
• Son born before his mother,
• The guru falls at the feet of the disciple,
• Fish of the water gives birth upon a tree,
• Saw a cat carrying away a dog,
• Branches are below, and the roots are above,
• Trunk of tree bears fruits and flowers.
• Riding a horse, the buffalo goes out to graze,
• Bull is away, while the bull’s load (cart) has come home,
• Lion herds cows,
• Donkey grazes upon green grass,
• Gur Charan Kamal, Gur Charan Dhoorh, Gur Moorat,
• Chully,
• An empty vessel makes noise
• Walking along a double-edged sword,
• Cripple crossing over the mountain, and so on.

The purpose of employing this tool is to drive the Wisdom (Giyan) into heads of the immature learners (i.e. Sikhs, ਸਿਖਿਆਰਥੀ).

Since all human languages are dynamic, the current form of these idioms may not be exactly the same as they appear in the SGGS.

Nonetheless, here is another one – breaking / destroying the wall:

• ‘ਕੰਧੁ ਛੇਦਾਵੈ’ (Kandh Chhedaavai),
• ‘ਕੰਧੁ ਛੀਜੈ’ (Kandh Chheejai),
• ‘ਪੜੈ ਨ ਕੰਧੁ’ (Parrai Na Kandh),
• ‘ਭ੍ਰਮ ਭੀਤਿ’ (Bhram Bheet),
• ‘ਪਾਲਿ’ (‘Paal‘), and so on.

Kandh (ਕੰਧ), Bheet (ਭੀਤਿ) = a wall;
Chhijjanaa (ਛਿੱਜਣਾ) = crumble, shatter, break, destroy, demolish etc.

The Gurus and Bhagats frequently employ such statements as a teaching tool to help seekers of Truth (ਸਚ) break free from the chains of fear, ignorance, doubts (ਭਰਮ), vices/Bikaar (lust, anger, greed…), etc by Enlightening.

Since the Gurbani speaks at the level of the mind, the Gurbani in this metaphor seems to hint towards:

• Forgetfulness or separation of the Mayaic mind from its Mool or True Nature as Jot Saroop,
• deplotion or loss of one’s discerning intellect or Bibek Budh (‘ਦੁਰਮਤਿ ਕੁਬੁਧਿ ਕੁਮੂੜਾ ਮਨਿ ਲਾਗਾ’…), and Wisdom (Giyan) (‘ਅਗਿਆਨਿ ਤਿਮਰਿ ਮੋ ਮਨੁ ਰਹਿਓ ਉਰਝਾਈ’…),
• degradation of the mind, or weakening of the mind with vices/Bikaar (‘ਮਨੁ ਭੂਲੋ ਬਹੁ ਚਿਤੈ ਵਿਕਾਰੁ’…),
• the mind becoming doubt-ridden (‘ਰੋਗੁ ਭਰਮੁ ਭੇਦੁ ਮਨਿ ਦੂਜਾ’…),
• the mind becoming ignorance-ridden (‘ਅੰਤਰਿ ਅਗਿਆਨੁ ਅੰਧੇਰੁ’…),
• the mind becoming unstable (‘ਚੰਚਲ ਮਨੁ’…),
• mind’s equilibrium or equipoise (‘ਮਨੁ ਟਿਕਣੁ ਨ ਪਾਵੈ ਰਾਈ’…),
• ਅਗਿਆਨਤਾ ਦਾ ਛਾ ਜਾਣਾਂ, ਭਰਮ ਦਾ ਛਾ ਜਾਣਾਂ, ਬੁਧੀ ਦਾ ਨਾਸ ਹੋਣਾਂ, ਗਿਆਨ ਦਾ ਨਾਸ ਹੋਣਾਂ, ਅਡੋਲਤਾ ਦਾ ਭੰਗ ਹੋਣਾਂ…

In a nutshell, the Gurbani (SGGS) teaches us to break / destroy the wall of of attachment to Maya, doubts, falsehood, ignorance, and so on. Let’s take some verses from the Gurbani to understand:

• ਹਉ ਭੀਤਿ ਭਇਓ ਹੈ ਬੀਚੋ ਸੁਨਤ ਦੇਸਿ ਨਿਕਟਾਇਓ ॥ ਭਾਂਭੀਰੀ ਕੇ ਪਾਤ ਪਰਦੋ ਬਿਨੁ ਪੇਖੇ ਦੂਰਾਇਓ ॥੩॥ : (O my mother, I) hear this that (my Beloved) dwells near within (me but) the wall of egotism separates us. Like the wings of a butterfly, there is this thin veil (of egotism that separates us); without being able to see (due to the curtain of egotism, my Beloved), seems to be far away. ||3|| (sggs 624).
• ਕਮਲਾ ਭ੍ਰਮ ਭੀਤਿ ਕਮਲਾ ਭ੍ਰਮ ਭੀਤਿ ਹੇ ਤੀਖਣ ਮਦ ਬਿਪਰੀਤਿ ਹੇ ਅਵਧ ਅਕਾਰਥ ਜਾਤ ॥ : Maya is the wall of doubt – Maya is the wall of doubt. It is such a powerful and destructive intoxicant; it corrupts and wastes away one’s life (sggs 461).
• ਕੂੜੈ ਕੀ ਪਾਲਿ ਵਿਚਹੁ ਨਿਕਲੈ ਸਚੁ ਵਸੈ ਮਨਿ ਆਇ ॥ : (When) the wall of falsehood is torn down from within, Truth comes to dwell in the mind. (sggs 591).
• ਕੂੜੈ ਕੀ ਪਾਲਿ ਵਿਚਹੁ ਨਿਕਲੈ ਤਾ ਸਦਾ ਸੁਖੁ ਹੋਇ ॥ : (O my mind, stay attuned to God by which it attains such high spiritual state) that bestows lasting peace by  removing the veil of falsehood from within. (sggs 490).
• ਖੋਲ੍ਹ੍ਹਿ ਭੀਤਿ ਮਿਲੇ ਪਰਮਾਨੰਦਾ ॥੪॥੧੪॥ : Tearing down the wall, I have obtained the Supreme Bliss. ||4||14|| (sggs 1206).

Furthermore, in addition to ‘Kandh’ (‘ਕੰਧ’), ‘Bheet‘ (ਭੀਤਿ’) etc, this wall or separation between the deluded mind and its Pure Nature as Jot Saroop is also called curtain or veil of false ego-sense (Haumai) and Maya in the Gurbani — ‘Pardo’, ‘Pardaa’, ‘Patal’-‘ਪਰਦੋ’, ‘ਪੜਦਾ’, ‘ਪਟਲ’, and so on.

• ਅੰਤਰਿ ਅਲਖੁ ਨ ਜਾਈ ਲਖਿਆ ਵਿਚਿ ਪੜਦਾ ਹਉਮੈ ਪਾਈ ॥ ਮਾਇਆ ਮੋਹਿ ਸਭੋ ਜਗੁ ਸੋਇਆ ਇਹੁ ਭਰਮੁ ਕਹਹੁ ਕਿਉ ਜਾਈ ॥੧॥ : Within (the Jeeva – an individual being) dwells the Invisible Rabb, but (the Jeeva) cannot comprehend this because (within the Jeeva) lies the veil of false ego-sense (Haumai). In attachment to Maya, all the world is asleep. Tell me, how can this doubt (of the Jeeva) be dispelled? ||1|| (sggs 205).
• 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).
• ਮੋਹ ਪਟਲ ਸਭੁ ਜਗਤੁ ਬਿਆਪਿਓ ਭਗਤ ਨਹੀ ਸੰਤਾਪਾ ॥੩॥: The veil of attachment is cast over the whole world, but it does not trouble Bhagat. ॥3॥ (sggs 658).

All we need to do is tear down the wall, veil or curtain of the false ego-sense (Haumai), doubt, vices/Bikaar (lust, anger, greed…), etc. that separates us from our Mool, inhibiting us from realizing the Creator‘, the Source of true Anand within!

• ਭ੍ਰਮ ਭੀਤਿ ਜੀਤਿ ਮਿਟਾਵਉ ॥ : (By forbidding my mind from indulging in worldly desires, deceptions, delusion or doubt etc) I remove the wall of doubt that separates me from the Creator. (sggs 408).

This wall, veil or curtain is that mountain of smoke which stands between an individual being and the Creator. The Gurbani’s ‘Sooraa‘ (Hero, Braveheart) brings this mighty wall of the duality-ridden mind down.

• ਜੋ ਇਸੁ ਮਾਰੇ ਸੋਈ ਸੂਰਾ ॥ : One who kills this (i.e., duality) is a Sooraa — Spiritual Hero (sggs 238).
• ਊਚਨ ਊਚਾ ਬੀਚੁ ਨ ਖੀਚਾ ਹਉ ਤੇਰਾ ਤੂੰ ਮੋਰਾ ॥੨॥ : (When there is the Gur-Giaan or Wisdom in the mind) then only that highest of the high Rabb appears to dwell, no curtain remains (i.e., no separation between me and Rabb; at that time it’s thus said, O Rabb!) I am Yours and You are mine. (sggs 821).

Guru Nanak teaches us in the outset of the SGGS how to destroy this wall, veil or curtain of illusion:

• ਕਿਵ ਸਚਿਆਰਾ ਹੋਈਐ ਕਿਵ ਕੂੜੈ ਤੁਟੈ ਪਾਲਿ ॥ ਹੁਕਮਿ ਰਜਾਈ ਚਲਣਾ ਨਾਨਕ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਨਾਲਿ ॥੧॥ : How then can I become God-Realized being within (‘Sachiaaraa‘)? How can I remove the obstacle of my non-realized state within? O Nanak! (The way to realize Creator within is to) remain within the confines of His Hukam (the Cosmic System-Rule-Law of Nature, ਕੁਦਰਤੀ ਨਿਯਮ…), as (Creator and His Hukam) is contained with us. ||1|| (sggs 1).

Furthermore this metaphor of wall is also employed to suggest a stable mind fixed in Guru’s Wisdom or Giyan like a formidable wall — mind’s equilibrium or equipoise.

• ਜਿਨੀ ਇਕ ਮਨਿ ਇਕੁ ਅਰਾਧਿਆ ਤਿਨ ਕਾ ਕੰਧੁ ਨ ਕਬਹੂ ਛਿਜੈ ॥ : Those who adore the One (Truth) with Ikk Mann Ikk Chitt (joining their mind and Chitt together – complete Jot…), their Wisdom or equilibrium never breaks down (they ever remain stable or fixed like a wall, their life is never diminished or wasted by Bikaar, Maya, etc…). (sggs 312).
• ਚੰਦ ਸੂਰਜ ਕੀ ਪਾਏ ਗੰਢਿ ॥ ਤਿਸੁ ਉਦਾਸੀ ਕਾ ਪੜੈ ਨ ਕੰਧੁ ॥ : (Who) ties (his) moon and sun (mind and Chitt…), the Wisdom or equilibrium of such an Udasi (one detached from Maya…) never breaks down (ਉਹਨਾ ਦੀ ਅਡੋਲਤਾ/ਗਿਆਨ ਕਦੇ ਭੰਗ ਨਹੀ ਹੁੰਦੇ…). (sggs 952).
• ਮੀਨ ਕੀ ਚਪਲ ਸਿਉ ਜੁਗਤਿ ਮਨੁ ਰਾਖੀਐ ਉਡੈ ਨਹ ਹੰਸੁ ਨਹ ਕੰਧੁ ਛੀਜੈ ॥੧॥ : Keep (the fickle) fish-like mind (in check; in this way) the swan (of the mind, soul…) does not fly away, and the Wisdom or equilibrium does not break down (ਅਡੋਲਤਾ/ਗਿਆਨ ਕਦੇ ਭੰਗ ਨਹੀ ਹੁੰਦੇ…). ||1|| (sggs 991).
• ਅਜਰੁ ਜਰੈ ਤ ਨਉ ਕੁਲ ਬੰਧੁ ॥ ਪੂਜੈ ਪ੍ਰਾਣ ਹੋਵੈ ਥਿਰੁ ਕੰਧੁ ॥: If (one) bears the unbearable (mind), then he comes to control his nine senses. One who adores (Parmeshar) with his breath (ਸਾਸ ਸਾਸ), gains stability in Wisdom or equilibrium (ਅਡੋਲਤਾ/ਗਿਆਨ). (sggs 1289).
• ਗੁਰ ਪੂਰੇ ਕੀ ਚਾਕਰੀ ਥਿਰੁ ਕੰਧੁ ਸਬਾਇਆ ॥: Attendance of the Perfect Guru (through the Gur-Shabad/Shabad-Vichaar), the Wisdom or equilibrium becomes Whole (ਉਹਨਾ ਦੀ ਅਡੋਲਤਾ/ਗਿਆਨ ਵਿਚ ਬਹੁਤ ਵਾਧਾ ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ…) (sggs 1250).
• ਸੁੰਨ ਨਿਰੰਤਰਿ ਦੀਜੈ ਬੰਧੁ ॥ ਉਡੈ ਨ ਹੰਸਾ ਪੜੈ ਨ ਕੰਧੁ ॥: If the mind is continuously tied to the Sunn (Parmeshar, who is beyond Maya – ਫੁਰਨੇ), the swan (of the mind, soul…) does not fly away, and the Wisdom or equilibrium never breaks down. (sggs 939).

Some related posts:

• False Ego-Sense Kills our Original Nature
• Mind Clinging to Maya can’t be Trusted
• What is Maya?
• Falsehood cannot Propagate Truth
• Nature of Mayaic Delusion
• Realize Enlightening Message Embedded within Shabad