The Bani of the truly realized/experienced Gurus and Bhagats in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS) have given this Message that God is not something to be believed or disbelieved, but only a matter of Knowing through realization/experience. Those who have known/ enjoyed/realized/experienced this Truth (Sach-ਸੱਚ) declare ‘Sabh Goind Hai Sabh Gobind Hai…’:
- ਸਭੁ ਗੋਬਿੰਦੁ ਹੈ ਸਭੁ ਗੋਬਿੰਦੁ ਹੈ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਬਿਨੁ ਨਹੀ ਕੋਈ॥ : Sabh Goind Hai Sabh Gobind Hai… : Gobind (Universal Energy) is All (i.e., in everything and everywhere), Gobind is All (i.e., in everything and everywhere); without Gobind, there is nothing at all. (sggs 485).
That being said, this entire universe connected as a Unit is Rabb (Creator, God, Gobind…). All of this is running in what the SGGS calls Hukam (Universal System-Rule-Law of Nature, ਕੁਦਰਤੀ ਨਿਯਮ…). Nothing here is separate from each other: ‘Gobind Bin Nahee Koee‘. Thus Gobind is revealed in the Gurbani to be Infinite, beyond the reach of our limited intellect. Being Infinite, Gobind can be known, enjoyed through realization/experience.
Although people call God by many names, but, the Gurmat teaches us about One Creator (Universal Energy) which is the common denominator (the Mool, Source, Origin, Jot…) of all beings and all that exists – the Whole Existence!
However, duality-ridden mind does not and cannot grasp this simple truth of ONENESS or SAMENESS. As a result, those who have not known/enjoyed God through realization/experience engage in debates as to whether God exists or not. As a matter of truth, both (believer and non-believer) of them bark at the wrong tree. Because, as the Gurmat teaches us, God is not something to be believed or disbelieved, but only a matter of knowing/enjoying through realization/experience Within.
This is why the SGGS repeatedly reminds us that the intellect which is fit to yoke with Gobind Within is of different kind (‘ਹੋਰਾ-Horaa‘) — free of vices/Bikaar.
- ਗੋਵਿੰਦ ਭਜਨ ਕੀ ਮਤਿ ਹੈ ਹੋਰਾ ॥ ਵਰਮੀ ਮਾਰੀ ਸਾਪੁ ਨ ਮਰਈ ਨਾਮੁ ਨ ਸੁਨਈ ਡੋਰਾ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ : The intellect to unite with ‘Gobind‘ (Mool, Truth…) is different. If one does not listen to the Naam (then his external religious Karamkaand is akin to beating the snake-hole instead of the snake, but, by just) beating the snake-hole, the snake is not killed! ||1||Pause|| (sggs 381).
- ਅਪੁਸਟ ਬਾਤ ਤੇ ਭਈ ਸੀਧਰੀ ਦੂਤ ਦੁਸਟ ਸਜਨਈ ॥ ਅੰਧਕਾਰ ਮਹਿ ਰਤਨੁ ਪ੍ਰਗਾਸਿਓ ਮਲੀਨ ਬੁਧਿ ਹਛਨਈ ॥੧॥ ਜਉ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਭਈ ॥ ਸੁਖ ਸੰਪਤਿ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮ ਫਲ ਪਾਏ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਮਿਲਈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ : Upon Realization of ‘Gobind‘ (Mool…) Within, my corrupt intellect (ਪੱਠੀ ਵਿਚਾਰ) became right (Awakened-ਸਿਧੀ ਹੋ ਗਈ), whom I considered enemies (Divine Virtues-ਗੁਣ) became my friends, Jewel like Giyan-Wisdom illuminated the darkness of my ignorant mind and my corrupt intellect became pure (good, Virtuous, moral etc.), Internalizing the Enlightening Giayn-Wisdom of the Guru Shabad (ਸੱਚਾ ਗਿਆਨ) I Realized Peace and the Wealth of the Divine Naam (Giyan-Wisdom / Virtues). ||1||Pause|| (sggs 402).
Spirituality is to compassionately consider others. Specifically, the Gurbani says know others as you want yourself to be known or treat others as you like to be treated!
- ਖਸਮੁ ਪਛਾਨਿ ਤਰਸ ਕਰਿ ਜੀਅ ਮਹਿ ਮਾਰਿ ਮਣੀ ਕਰਿ ਫੀਕੀ ॥ ਆਪੁ ਜਨਾਇ ਅਵਰ ਕਉ ਜਾਨੈ ਤਬ ਹੋਇ ਭਿਸਤ ਸਰੀਕੀ ॥੪॥: (O Qazi), recognize (same One) Rabb in all and have compassion in mind, kill false ego-sense and render it insipid. When a person makes himself aware – that Rabb is within – and understands others like himself, then that person becomes a partner of heaven (i.e. he lives a heavenly life here and now, NOT after death – a state beyond
duality). ||4|| (sggs 480).
The Gurbani’s Wisdom teaches us there is but One Reality (One Omnipresent Energy). This one Universal Energy is the substratum (Support-Aadhaar) of all. It is this Reality, the Homogeneous Oneness, the highest plane of Universal Energy, which runs in and through all beings — ‘Sabh Goind Hai Sabh Gobind Hai…’.
In other words, a person must first understand onself (i.e., his own Essential Nature as Jot Saroop), and then understand others as himself. A person of such untainted Awareness lives peacefully with all and dies peacefully.
The implication is that without first understanding oneself, mind’s moss of doubts (Bharam) will stick around. And without eradication of one’s own moss of doubts, one cannot see or treat others as his ownself.
- ਜਨ ਨਾਨਕ ਬਿਨੁ ਆਪਾ ਚੀਨੈ ਮਿਟੈ ਨ ਭ੍ਰਮ ਕੀ ਕਾਈ ॥੨॥੧॥: ‘Jan’ Nanak says, without KNOWING one’s ownself, the moss of doubt from the mind does not go away. ||2||1|| (sggs 684).
The Gurbani asserts the One Light has become everything!
- ਏਕ ਨੂਰ ਤੇ ਸਭੁ ਜਗੁ ਉਪਜਿਆ ਕਉਨ ਭਲੇ ਕੋ ਮੰਦੇ ॥੧॥: The entire universe has taken place from One ‘Noor‘ (One Universal Energy, Hukam, System or Law of Nature, ਕੁਦਰਤ ਦਾ ਨਿਯਮ). So who is good, and who is bad? ||1|| (sggs 1349).
Thus, the Gurbani says ‘Gobind’ in me is ‘Gobind‘ in all. Hence there is no ‘other‘ at all.
- ਜੋ ਦੀਸੈ ਸੋ ਤੇਰਾ ਰੂਪੁ ॥: Whatever is seen is Your form (sggs724).
- ਮੇਰੇ ਮਨ ਹਰਿ ਬਿਨੁ ਅਵਰੁ ਨ ਕੋਇ ॥: O my mind, without ‘Hari‘ (Mool, Prabh, Gobind, Raam, Alah…), there is no other at all (sggs 47).
This One Reality appears as many because of different names and forms which are superimposed on it.
The names and forms are not Real for they change. Everything we see around us changes. In fact the whole phenomenal world is changeful, thus unreal (Mithiya or dream…).
If the test of Reality is that it does not change, then is there anything Real? The Gurbani says there is something that never changes, that is there in the beginning, in the middle, and in the end. It is not only Unchanging, it is everywhere, in the small as well as in the big, in the good as well as in the bad! This Ultimate Reality cannot be fully explained or defined. Things originate from it, subsist on it, and ultimately merge in it.
- ਨਾਨਕ ਸੋ ਸਾਲਾਹੀਐ ਜਿ ਸਭਸੈ ਦੇ ਆਧਾਰੁ ॥: O Nanak, praise the One who gives Support to all (sggs 791).
The diversity is only in terms of names and forms, but, at the Transcendental level, there is nothing but Unity. The feelings of diversity or ‘otherness’ is the ego-mind (Haumai) in action.
- ਮਨ ਮੇਰੇ ਹਉਮੈ ਮੈਲੁ ਭਰ ਨਾਲਿ ॥: O my mind, you are filled with the filth of egotism (sggs 35).
In the divided consciousness (Haumai or Mayaic intellect, Manmukhtaa…), there is always the feeling of ‘Me’ and ‘You’, which now marks all our relationships. When there is no sense of ‘Me’ and ‘You’ and ‘otherness’, there is only the selflessness, true love, peace, harmony, joy, and happiness. The Gurbani assures us that our mind can reach its Jot Saroop here and now, because that’s essentially what it is!
Thus, we all are One with the Universal Energy at this very moment. However, due to the madness of the rebellious ego-mind (Haumai), we do not see that way. Consequently, we have made this world the play of the self-centered false ego-sense, which is inherently selfish. This is why the Gurbani time and again reminds removing the negative impact of it.
The universality of the Gurbani thus lies in the fact that it deals directly with the human mind and personality. The potentials and possibilities of the inner personality that are pertinent and applicable to the human race at all times are addressed at great length.
Unity in thought, word and action makes one an integrated personality.
The truth is that we carry two personalities — the body-frame and the True Self (Mool, Jot Saroop…). According to the Gurbani, the greatest hurdle is our identification with the temporary body/mind/intellect component and not with the mind’s Jot Saroop within (i.e Mool). Unlearning this habit and seeing the Jot Saroop as our True Nature brings about a change in our entire outlook. As a result, instead of perceiving the differences in the universe, one sees Totality or Reality. The Gurbani’s Wisdom taken through Shabad-Vichhar affords us the ability to live with Unity in thought, word and action (the Gurmukh Lifestyle).
Thus, Universal is the Gurbani’s Message (Wisdom, Gurmat Upadesh or Way of the SGGS)!
Gurbani sees all mankind as One, and teaches us to joins in Oneness. If there has to be harmony at the individual or collective level, it must be on the bedrock of this Oneness!
So, the Gurbani asks us not to forget Gobind Naam (Divine Wisdom / Virtues):
- ਅੰਤਿ ਕਾਲਿ ਜੋ ਲਛਮੀ ਸਿਮਰੈ ਐਸੀ ਚਿੰਤਾ ਮਹਿ ਜੇ ਮਰੈ ॥ ਸਰਪ ਜੋਨਿ ਵਲਿ ਵਲਿ ਅਉਤਰੈ ॥੧॥ ਅਰੀ ਬਾਈ ਗੋਬਿਦ ਨਾਮੁ ਮਤਿ ਬੀਸਰੈ ॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ ਅੰਤਿ ਕਾਲਿ ਜੋ ਇਸਤ੍ਰੀ ਸਿਮਰੈ ਐਸੀ ਚਿੰਤਾ ਮਹਿ ਜੇ ਮਰੈ ॥ ਬੇਸਵਾ ਜੋਨਿ ਵਲਿ ਵਲਿ ਅਉਤਰੈ ॥੨॥ ਅੰਤਿ ਕਾਲਿ ਜੋ ਲੜਿਕੇ ਸਿਮਰੈ ਐਸੀ ਚਿੰਤਾ ਮਹਿ ਜੇ ਮਰੈ ॥ ਸੂਕਰ ਜੋਨਿ ਵਲਿ ਵਲਿ ਅਉਤਰੈ ॥੩॥ ਅੰਤਿ ਕਾਲਿ ਜੋ ਮੰਦਰ ਸਿਮਰੈ ਐਸੀ ਚਿੰਤਾ ਮਹਿ ਜੇ ਮਰੈ ॥ ਪ੍ਰੇਤ ਜੋਨਿ ਵਲਿ ਵਲਿ ਅਉਤਰੈ ॥੪॥ ਅੰਤਿ ਕਾਲਿ ਨਾਰਾਇਣੁ ਸਿਮਰੈ ਐਸੀ ਚਿੰਤਾ ਮਹਿ ਜੇ ਮਰੈ ॥ ਬਦਤਿ ਤਿਲੋਚਨੁ ਤੇ ਨਰ ਮੁਕਤਾ ਪੀਤੰਬਰੁ ਵਾ ਕੇ ਰਿਦੈ ਬਸੈ ॥੫॥੨॥: (Forgetting Naam while alive – Wisdom / Virtues) should one spend human life constantly contemplating Maya/materialityBikaar/, ultimately spiritual death occurs; because it’s a life constantly lived in the cycle of negative traits (Bikaar) behaving as a snake (poison etc.). ||1|| O mind of mine, never forsake the Naam (Spiritual Wisdom / Virtues) of the Creator. ||Pause|| Should human Life constantly be spent in contemplation of carnal pleasures (Bikaar), ultimately spiritual death occurs; because it’s a life lived in the cycle of negative traits behaving as a prostitute (corrupt man or woman). ||2|| Should Human Life constantly be spent in contemplation of offspring, ultimately spiritual death occurs; because it’s a life lived in the cycle of negative traits of a hog (eating filth). ||3|| Should Human Life constantly be spent in contemplation of one’s property (mansions etc.), ultimately spiritual death occurs; because it’s a life lived in the cycle of demonic traits (Bikaar). ||4|| Should Human Life constantly be spent in contemplation of the Creator to the end, and should one constantly dead from Bikaar, Bhagat Tirlochan says doing so offers Freedom (from undue focus on material, carnal pleasures, offspring, property, possessions) and realizes the Creator Within. ||5||2|| (sggs 526).
Some Related Posts:
- Mool – ਮੂਲ
- Mool Realization cannot be Made to an Order
- Mind That Gives up Hunger for Maya Realizes its Mool
- Opening Verse of the SGGS – Concept of God in Sikhi
- Who Am I?
- Jot Saroop – Mind’s Original Nature
- Hukam is the Core of Sikhi
- Mr. God or Madam God!
- Sargun Nirgun – Visible and Invisible
- Gurbani Defines Form of God
- Omnipresent God
- Bridge that Links Human Mind to God Within!
- Signs of Mool Realization
- Sukh Saagar
- Sach Khand
Thank you Veer Jio!
Thank you Bhai Sahib Jio!
Thank you “J” Jio!
Great post T Singh Ji.
Thank you for reminding us what is important in life.
. Gurbaanee very clearly tells about that ONE REALITY as should be evident from a Quote as
:
ਜਲਿ ਥਲਿ ਮਹੀਅਲਿ ਪੂਰਿਆ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਸਿਰਜਨਹਾਰੁ ॥:The Creator Lord and Master is pervading the water, the land, and the sky.
ਅਨਿਕ ਭਾਂਤਿ ਹੋਇ ਪਸਰਿਆ ਨਾਨਕ ॥੧॥: In so many ways, the One, the Universal Creator has diffused Himself, O Nanak. ||1||
We are being directed to recognise ਏਕੰਕਾਰੁ but do we ?
Complete truth. When I disappears, he does not have to appear as nothing remains and yet everything comes from that no-thing. Gurbani cuts through the layers of the egoic mind . Human find something which he himself is. It is just one twist which has deluded humans for billions of years of coming and going. It is funny too as we are that which we are finding everywhere else. But yet very simple, do not identify any thought and be as it is. Trust life as it is and see the result.