Glory of the Giyani

The Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS) teaches the ‘Mahatu-ਮਹਤੁ’ (i.e. greatness, significance, importance, glory, magnificence, gravity, distinction, nobility, grandeur, ਵਡਿਆਈ…) of a Giayani – a person who has become a true Giyani ever remains in his/her mind (ਮਨ ਵਿਚ ਟਿਕੇ ਰਹਿਣਾਂ; ਇਕ ਮਨ ਇਕ ਚਿਤ ਹੋ ਜਾਣਾਂ; ਅਪਣੇ ਮੂਲ ਵਿਚ ਸਮਾਏ ਰਹਿਣਾਂ).

In other words, a true Giyani’s mind ever remains linked to his/her Jot Saroop Within.

• ਗਿਆਨੀਆ ਕਾ ਇਹੁ ਮਹਤੁ ਹੈ ਮਨ ਮਾਹਿ ਸਮਾਨਾ ॥ : This is the greatness (glory, eminence, ਵਡਿਆਈ) of the Giyani that they remain in their own mind (i.e. they have a stable mind unaffected by worldly temptations and their corrupting influences). (sggs 1089).

In other words, the Giyani does not chase the mirage of worldly temptations and their corrupting influences (Bhav Saagar). Having transcended Maya, the Giyani’s mind remains interiorized (ਅੰਦਰ ਵਲ ਪਰਤੇ ਰਹਿਣਾਂ, ਅੰਤਰਮੁਖੀ, introverted, ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਗਿਆਨ ਵਿਚ ਲੀਨ, ਮਾਇਆ ਵਿਚ ਉਦਾਸੀ…).

In a nutshell:
Giyan = Knowledge, Wisdom, Aatam-Giaan…
Giyani = the person of Aatam-Giyan or Wisdom, the Wise person, the Gurmukh mindset, the Truth-realized (i.e. God-realized), ਜਿਸ ਨੂੰ ਗੁਰਮਤ ਦੀ ਪੂਰੀ ਸੋਝੀ ਹੈ etc.

Thus a true Giyani values Giyan for its own sake and stands to benefit (Laahaa) in the long run. The Gurbani time and again affirms that nothing can equal Giyan; not even power because even kings had to bow before the men of Giyan!

The Gurbani asserts that this Giaan reveals the Innate Nature of our mind as Bliss (ਅਨੰਦ), and so on.

• ਮਹਾ ਅਨੰਦੁ ਗੁਰ ਸਬਦੁ ਵੀਚਾਰਿ ॥ : Reflecting on the Gur-Shabad, Great Joy (is experienced…). (sggs 370).

So, the Giyani continues to Reflect on the Giyan, and, as a result, the Giyan keeps growing, expanding, deepening…:

• ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਗਿਆਨੀ ਕਾ ਭੋਜਨੁ ਗਿਆਨ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਗਿਆਨੀ ਕਾ ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਧਿਆਨੁ ॥੩॥ : Spiritual Wisdom (ਉੱਚੀ ਸਮਝ, etc.) is the food or nourishment of the Brahm Giyani – the knower of Truth. Nanak, the Brahm Giyani is absorbed in God’s meditation. ||3|| (sggs 273).
• ਭਾਠੀ ਗਗਨੁ ਸਿੰਙਿਆ ਅਰੁ ਚੁੰਙਿਆ ਕਨਕ ਕਲਸ ਇਕੁ ਪਾਇਆ ॥ ਤਿਸੁ ਮਹਿ ਧਾਰ ਚੁਐ ਅਤਿ ਨਿਰਮਲ ਰਸ ਮਹਿ ਰਸਨ ਚੁਆਇਆ ॥੨॥ : (For distilling the Divine liquor) my mind has become a furnace, my mind sucks in Virtues and throws our vices/Bikaar from my mind, now I have Realized the one Creator Within. I pour this Divine liquor (of Naam: Wisdom / Virtues) into the vat of my mind where the most sublime and pure stream of the Divine nectar (of Naam) drips gently. ||2|| (sggs 92).

In this way, the Giaanee keeps searching as to who he truly is (ਆਪਣੇ ਅਸਲੇ – ਮੂਲ – ਨੂੰ ਪਛਾਣਨਾਂ, ਸਮਝਣਾਂ …).

• ਆਪੁ ਬੀਚਾਰੇ ਸੁ ਗਿਆਨੀ ਹੋਈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ : Who reflects ownself (ਆਪਣੇ ਅਸਲੇ ਨੂੰ ਵਿਚਾਰਦਾ ਹੈ – ਆਤਮਕ ਜੀਵਨ ਦੀ ਪੜਤਾਲ…) is truly Giaanee (Wise – ਆਤਮਕ ਜੀਵਨ ਦੀ ਸੂਝ ਬੂਝ ਵਾਲਾ). ||1||Pause|| (sggs 152).

Furthermore, as the Gurbani indicates, the Giyani deals only with Sach (ਸਚ, One Truth), Divine Virtues (ਗੁਣ) etc.

• ਗੁਣ ਵੀਚਾਰੇ ਗਿਆਨੀ ਸੋਇ ॥ ਗੁਣ ਮਹਿ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਪਰਾਪਤਿ ਹੋਇ ॥ : (One who) contemplates the Divine Virtues is spiritually Wise. (sggs 931). (931).
• ਮਨਿ ਸਾਚਾ ਮੁਖਿ ਸਾਚਾ ਸੋਇ ॥ ਅਵਰੁ ਨ ਪੇਖੈ ਏਕਸੁ ਬਿਨੁ ਕੋਇ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਇਹ ਲਛਣ ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਗਿਆਨੀ ਹੋਇ ॥੧॥ : Nanak, these are the signs of a ‘Brahm Giyani‘: He/she is God-Realized in mind/word (i.e. NOT pretentious-Pakhandee); sees none other except the One Creator (i.e. sees the One Creator in everyone and everything). ॥1॥ (sggs 272).

In the worldly sense, material wealth or riches is considered as the real Wealth (Dhann-ਧੰਨ). However, the Gurbani indicates the Naam (Giaan-Wisdom / Virtues) to be the Real Wealth of the Giyani. With this Wealth, the Giyani transacts with the world of names and forms in Sahaj Avastaa (the Natural State of Being, ਆਤਮਿਕ ਅਡੋਲਤਾ, ਗਿਆਨ ਅਵਸਤਾ…)! Also, the Gurbani in SGGS teaches that only a Brahm Giyani can know the state of the mind of an other Brahm Giyani.

• ਗਿਆਨੀਆ ਕਾ ਧਨੁ ਨਾਮੁ ਹੈ ਸਹਜਿ ਕਰਹਿ ਵਾਪਾਰੁ ॥ : The Wealth of the persons of Giaan (Wise, ਗਿਆਨ-ਵਾਨ) is the Naam; with Sahaj, they trade (in this Naam Wealth). (sggs 68).
• ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਗਿਆਨੀ ਕੀ ਗਤਿ ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਗਿਆਨੀ ਜਾਨੈ ॥ : Only a Brahm Giyani knows the high state of mind of a Brahm Giyani.  (sggs 273).

In short, the SGGS has very specific definition of a ‘Giyani‘. If one matches the Gurbani’s definition then one is Giayni, otherwise NOT.

• ਪ੍ਰਣਵਤਿ ਨਾਨਕ ਗਿਆਨੀ ਕੈਸਾ ਹੋਇ ॥ ਆਪੁ ਪਛਾਣੈ ਬੂਝੈ ਸੋਇ ॥ : Nanak beseeches, what kind of person is a Giyani (Wise person)? A true Giyani is he who has Realized ownself (Mool-realized). (sggs 25).
• ਸੋ ਗਿਆਨੀ ਜਿਨਿ ਸਬਦਿ ਲਿਵ ਲਾਈ ॥ : He alone is a Giyani (ਗਿਆਨ-ਵਾਨ), who has focused his consciousness on the Shabad (sggs 831).
• ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਗਿਆਨੀ ਬੰਧਨ ਤੇ ਮੁਕਤਾ ॥ : Brahm Giyani – the knower of Truth – is free from worldly entanglements (sggs 273).

The basis of the Way of Sikhi is Giyan. But according to Gurbani the the Karma-Kandi (ritualistic), Andh-Visvashi (blind faith) and useless (Fokat) debates is not Giyan, nor is there any achievement of life through this Giyan.

• ਜਾਨਉ ਨਹੀ ਭਾਵੈ ਕਵਨ ਬਾਤਾ ॥ ਮਨ ਖੋਜਿ ਮਾਰਗੁ ॥ 1॥ ਰਹਾਉ॥ ਧਿਆਨੀ ਧਿਆਨੁ ਲਾਵਹਿ ॥ ਗਿਆਨੀ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਕਮਾਵਹਿ ॥ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਕਿਨ ਹੀ ਜਾਤਾ ॥੧॥ : I don’t know with which ways the Creator is Realized. O my mind, seek out the Way. ||1||Pause|| The contemplators fix their attention. The scholars debate about their Giyan of scriptures. But only some rare one Realizes the Creator Within. ॥1॥ (sggs 71).
• ਭੈ ਕਾਹੂ ਕਉ ਦੇਤ ਨਹਿ ਨਹਿ ਭੈ ਮਾਨਤ ਆਨ ॥ ਕਹੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਸੁਨਿ ਰੇ ਮਨਾ ਗਿਆਨੀ ਤਾਹਿ ਬਖਾਨਿ ॥੧੬॥: Whosoever frightens none nor is afraid of (threats of) anyone; says Nanak, listen, O mind! Call that person a Giyani (a Wise person, spiritually Enlightened). (sggs 1427).
• ਸੋਈ ਗਿਆਨੀ ਜਿ ਸਿਮਰੈ ਏਕ ॥ ਸੋ ਧਨਵੰਤਾ ਜਿਸੁ ਬੁਧਿ ਬਿਬੇਕ ॥ ਸੋ ਕੁਲਵੰਤਾ ਜਿ ਸਿਮਰੈ ਸੁਆਮੀ ॥ ਸੋ ਪਤਿਵੰਤਾ ਜਿ ਆਪੁ ਪਛਾਨੀ ॥੨॥: He is the Giaanee (ਆਤਮਕ ਜੀਵਨ ਦੀ ਸੂਝ ਵਾਲਾ) who remembers the One. He alone is wealthy (Dhanvantaa) who possesses discriminating intellect (Bibek-Budhi). Noble (Kulvantaa) is he who contemplate the Lord. Honorable (Pativantaa) is he who recognizes his ownself (Mool-ਮੂਲ, Source, Essential Nature or Jot Saroop, etc.). ||2|| (sggs 1150).
• ਅੰਤਰਿ ਸਾਚੁ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਸਾਚੁ ਵਰਤਾਏ ॥ ਸਾਚੁ ਨ ਛਪੈ ਜੇ ਕੋ ਰਖੈ ਛਪਾਏ ॥ ਗਿਆਨੀ ਬੂਝਹਿ ਸਹਜਿ ਸੁਭਾਏ ॥੫॥: One who has realized Truth (realization of God) Within radiates Truth outwardly too. The Truth does not remain hidden even though one may try to hide it. The Giyani understands this intuitively (Natural state of being, Giyan Avasthaa…). (sggs 232).
• ਗਿਆਨੀ ਹੋਇ ਸੁ ਚੇਤੰਨੁ ਹੋਇ ਅਗਿਆਨੀ ਅੰਧੁ ਕਮਾਇ ॥: A Giyani remains Alert to the consequences of his/her deeds, but the AGiyani (un-wise) keeps indulging in deeds without thinking. (sggs 556).
• ਗਿਆਨੀਆ ਕਾ ਧਨੁ ਨਾਮੁ ਹੈ ਸਦ ਹੀ ਰਹੈ ਸਮਾਇ ॥: For a Giyani Naam is the true Wealth which stays in their mind forever. (sggs 1282).
• ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਗਿਆਨੀ ਆਪਿ ਨਿਰੰਕਾਰੁ ॥: Brahm Giyani himself is (the embodiment of) Formless God. (sggs 274).