Gurbani Addresses the Human Mind

Spirituality is to control what happens within me, NOT to control what happens within other people out there. To the contrary, man-made religions are to control what happens outside. A stark difference in spirituality and organized religions indeed! That said, the spirituality of the Gurmat (Wisdom of the Guru Shabad) is of the SELF, for the SELF, and by the SELF. Hence there is NO concept of transfer of blessings in the spirituality of the Gurbani in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS).

In a nutshell, the Message/narrative/aspiration of the Gurbani in SGGS applies to ME – my own mind or my own Conscience (Surat-ਸੁਰਤ), NOT for other people out there or situations out there. Since the Gurbani is written in the ‘first person’ narrative (spiritual experience of the 35 composers), it must be read and understood as such by the person seeking to understand it. That’s the intended target of Message within the Gurbani.

Human brain has all the power connections, wiring, storage, memory and processing power you need to function as a human being. If one’s brain is the hardware, then one’s mind is the software. It’s the operating system that gathers, stores and manages information, using the massive processing resources of your brain.

Psychology is the the scientific study of the mind and behavior. It addresses the mind and how to control thoughts feelings and emotions to be happy and free of mental diseases in life.

The Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS) is the tremendous Psychologist. Upadesh of the Guru Shabad or the Message of the SGGS addresses the human mind.

• ਹਉਮੈ ਰੋਗੁ ਕਠਿਨ ਤਨਿ ਪੀਰਾ ॥: A human body inflicted with the mental disease of false ego-sense (Haumai) endures great pain of this mental disease. (sggs 1172).

The Guide/Counsel of the SGGS helps us in gaining insight into why we think, feel and behave the way we do. We all have the mind in the world! Since we all the mind, and since the mental diseases throughout the world are also the same, the Guide/Counsel of the Guru Shabad (SGGS) is said to be the universal (‘ਸਾਝੀ ਸਗਲ ਜਹਾਨੈ’).

The Gurbani of the SGGS is the mind’s Mirror, which reveals the mind its true state or condition — thoughts, mental diseases, flaws, faults, defects, demerits, false ego-sense (Haumai), hypocrisy, deceptions, doubt, falsehood, fraud, Pakhand, duality, Bikaar (lust, anger, greed, attachment, pride) and so on. Thus, in the Mirror of the Gurbani, we look at our inner self in real time — to KNOW ONESELF or ‘‘Who Am I?’ !

• ਆਪੁ ਪਛਾਣਹਿ ਸਬਦਿ ਮਰਹਿ ਮਨਹੁ ਤਜਿ ਵਿਕਾਰ ॥: (Who has become the Gurmukh) recognizes his own (True) Self; he dies in the Shabad, (and through the Shabad) he banishes Bikaars from his mind (sggs 430).
• ਇਹੁ ਮਨੁ ਆਰਸੀ ਕੋਈ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਵੇਖੈ ॥: This mind is like a mirror, hardly any by becoming the Gurmukh (Spiritual Being…) sees himself in it. (sggs 115).
• ਕਪੜੁ ਰੂਪੁ ਸੁਹਾਵਣਾ ਛਡਿ ਦੁਨੀਆ ਅੰਦਰਿ ਜਾਵਣਾ ॥ ਮੰਦਾ ਚੰਗਾ ਆਪਣਾ ਆਪੇ ਹੀ ਕੀਤਾ ਪਾਵਣਾ ॥ ਹੁਕਮ ਕੀਏ ਮਨਿ ਭਾਵਦੇ ਰਾਹਿ ਭੀੜੈ ਅਗੈ ਜਾਵਣਾ ॥ ਨੰਗਾ ਦੋਜਕਿ ਚਾਲਿਆ ਤਾ ਦਿਸੈ ਖਰਾ ਡਰਾਵਣਾ ॥ ਕਰਿ ਅਉਗਣ ਪਛੋਤਾਵਣਾ ॥੧੪॥: The outer body (‘Kapparh‘) and the subtle Inner body (‘Roop‘), both can become charming or beautiful if you give up worldly ways (corrupt ways and thinking) and GO WITHIN (join the Giaan-Guru or ‘Dhur ki Bani‘ WITHIN). Each person gets the fruit of his / her own good and bad deeds. One may follow his own mind’s dictates or commands (ਅਪਣੀ ਮਰਜੀ, ਅਪਣੀ ਇਛਾ, ਮੰਨਮਾਨੀ ਕਰਨਾਂ…), but this would make his future life difficult (i.e. he would pay for his transgressions etc.). The wrongdoer is exposed of his bad deeds or transgressions, (thus, at the level of his mind) he falls into hellish existence (Here and Now – as punishment of his own wrongdoing) and at that time he looks very awful. By committing transgressions one regrets in the end. ॥14॥ (sggs 470-471).

Since the Gurbani addresses the mind, its Spiritual Wisdom is meant to Awaken the mind from the perpetual slumber of delusion (change Soch or thinking).

Also, since the Gurbani speaks at the level of the mind, it’s beyond man-made religions (ਮਜ਼ਹਬ), and their antagonistic adherents, religious robes or paraphernalia, social status, casteism (Jaat Paat), education, titles, color of skin, ancestry, time, location, family of birth, heredity, religious rituals or Karamkaand etc.

For the doubt-ridden mind to become Awake, Aware or Enlightened (wise, sane, rational, prudent, Bibeki…), the Gurbani asserts it must look into the Gurbani’s Mirror — the Mirror of Spiritual Wisdom / Virtues.

At first, what the perverse mind sees in the Mirror of the Gurbani will shake it to its core! As a result, the majority (99.9% category) will not like what they see in it. Because, they cannot face the Truth (Sach), because the Reality and the Spiritual Wisdom frighten them and burn them!

• ਜਿਨਾ ਅੰਦਰਿ ਕੂੜੁ ਵਰਤੈ ਸਚੁ ਨ ਭਾਵਈ ॥: Truth does not suit those who are permeated by falsehood (sggs 646).

This is the reason a person may daily visit Gurdwaras or wander around many so called Teerath (places of pilgrimage) for entire life, still his/her stubborn mind remains the same — NO Positive change or transformation. Because a person permeated with falsehood cannot love Truth.

• ਉਜਲੁ ਕੈਹਾ ਚਿਲਕਣਾ ਘੋਟਿਮ ਕਾਲੜੀ ਮਸੁ ॥ ਧੋਤਿਆ ਜੂਠਿ ਨ ਉਤਰੈ ਜੇ ਸਉ ਧੋਵਾ ਤਿਸੁ ॥੧॥: Bronze is bright and shiny, but when it is rubbed, its blackness appears. Washing it, its impurity (inner ‘blackness’) is not removed, even if it is washed a hundred times. ||1|| (sggs 729).

It’s easy to robotically chanting ‘Waheguru Waheguru…’, or ‘Raam Raam‘, or some other names; but it’s difficult to live a Divine Life — Gurmukh Lifestyle (Enlightened or Guru Shabad-Oriented mindset).

• ਰਾਮੁ ਰਾਮੁ ਕਰਤਾ ਸਭੁ ਜਗੁ ਫਿਰੈ ਰਾਮੁ ਨ ਪਾਇਆ ਜਾਇ ॥: The entire world goes about CHANTING God’s name, but none realized Him. (sggs 555).
• ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਕਰਹਿ ਨਿਤ ਕਪਟੁ ਕਮਾਵਹਿ ਹਿਰਦਾ ਸੁਧੁ ਨ ਹੋਈ ॥: One who utters ‘Hari, Hari‘, while constantly practicing deception, (his) Heart (i.e. mind) cannot become pure. (sggs 732).

However owing to our mind’s vices/Bikaar, the Gurbani asserts weaving Naam into one’s daily life or conduct is the difficult thing to do (practice-ਅਮਲ). The Gurbani calls defects or demerits (‘Avgun‘) of the mind as chains or noose around one’s neck (‘Janjeer’, ‘Phaahaa‘) etc.

• ਨਾਨਕ ਅਉਗੁਣ ਜੇਤੜੇ ਤੇਤੇ ਗਲੀ ਜੰਜੀਰ ॥ ਜੇ ਗੁਣ ਹੋਨਿ ਤ ਕਟੀਅਨਿ ਸੇ ਭਾਈ ਸੇ ਵੀਰ ॥: O Nanak! As many as are the demerits (Bikaar…), so many are the chains (bonds, Bandhan…) around (one’s) neck. If (one) possesses the Divine Virtues, then the chains are cut away; (hence Virtues) are (one’s) true brothers and mates. (sggs 595).
• ਆਖਾ ਜੀਵਾ ਵਿਸਰੈ ਮਰਿ ਜਾਉ ॥ ਆਖਣਿ ਅਉਖਾ ਸਾਚਾ ਨਾਉ ॥ : I come alive (Aatmak Jeevan-ਆਤਮਕ ਜੀਵਨ) when I am in a Realized State. The Un-Realized State Brings Spiritual Death (Aatmak Mout-ਆਤਮਕ ਮੌਤ). The realization of the divine Naam (Giyan-Wisdom/Virtues) is said to be arduous. (sggs 9 – 349).

Therefore, without Shabad-Vichaar, and without applying the Gurbani’s Wisdom/Virtues to the daily life, the mind’s (thinking or Soch) will not change.

• ਨਾਨਕ ਮਨੁ ਸਮਝਾਈਐ ਗੁਰ ਕੈ ਸਬਦਿ ਸਾਲਾਹ ॥: O Nanak! Instruct the mind through the Gur-Shabad’s Counsel (or Advice, Wisdom…). (sggs 23).
• 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).

Having said that, mere seeing and bowing (Darshan, Mathaa Tekanaa-ਮੱਥਾ ਟੇਕਣਾਂ) to Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS), or mere reading it will not and cannot liberate anybody from the negative impact of Maya, Bikaar, Haumai (false ego-sense), worldly traps or bondage, duality, mind’s delusions, doubt, and so on. This is the Gurbani’s edict.

• ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਨੋ ਸਭੁ ਕੋ ਵੇਖਦਾ ਜੇਤਾ ਜਗਤੁ ਸੰਸਾਰੁ ॥ ਡਿਠੈ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਨ ਹੋਵਈ ਜਿਚਰੁ ਸਬਦਿ ਨ ਕਰੇ ਵੀਚਾਰੁ ॥: Everybody in this the world physically see the Satgur. Nothing going to happen just by seeing (the Satgur); one can not be ‘Mukt‘ (liberated, unentangled, unhindered etc.) until and unless the Message within the Shabad is Reflected upon. (sggs 594).
• ਸੀਸਿ ਨਿਵਾਇਐ ਕਿਆ ਥੀਐ ਜਾ ਰਿਦੈ ਕੁਸੁਧੇ ਜਾਹਿ ॥੧॥: What can be achieved by merely bowing the head, when the heart remains resorted to falsehood (i.e., nothing is achieved!)? ||1|| (sggs 470).

The Gurbani’s counsel is to bring about a storm of Spiritual Wisdom in the mind. In turn, this storm of Wisdom will destroy the ignorance (Durmat or evil mindedness, Bharam or doubt, Abidiaa or false knowledge / Maya etc.).

• ਦੇਖੌ ਭਾਈ ਗ੍ਹਾਨ ਕੀ ਆਈ ਆਂਧੀ ॥ ਸਭੈ ਉਡਾਨੀ ਭ੍ਰਮ ਕੀ ਟਾਟੀ ਰਹੈ ਨ ਮਾਇਆ ਬਾਂਧੀ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ ਦੁਚਿਤੇ ਕੀ ਦੁਇ ਥੂਨਿ ਗਿਰਾਨੀ ਮੋਹ ਬਲੇਡਾ ਟੂਟਾ ॥ ਤਿਸਨਾ ਛਾਨਿ ਪਰੀ ਧਰ ਊਪਰਿ ਦੁਰਮਤਿ ਭਾਂਡਾ ਫੂਟਾ ॥੧॥: O brother, the storm of Spiritual Wisdom or Enlightenment has struck my mind. (This storm of Wisdom) has blown away my mind’s Bharam (doubts, confusion, superstition etc.) and bonds of Maya like the thatched walls of my hut. ||1||pause|| The pillar of my double-mindedness and the beam of my emotional bonds of the hut has come crashing down. The thatched roof of worldly desires (supported on the beam of attachment) has fallen to the ground and the pitcher of evil intellect has broken. ||1|| (sggs 331).

In a nutshell, the Gurbani (SGGS) is the source of Spiritual Giyan-Wisdom which — by BECOMING THE GURBANI — can be applied to mend the conditioned mind (thinking-ਸੋਚ).

Hence, the Gurbani of the SGGS is NOT meant to be ritualistic or robotic reading, memorizing or listening as propagated by the self-serving Pujaaree — clergy: the freeloading Deraa-Vaad Baabaas (ਵੇਹਲੜ)and their trained Granthis, Parcharaks, Ragis, Dhadees etc. These people have brought the Unique Gurmat of Guru Nanak down to a self-serving business transaction. Bhagat Kabeer Ji in the SGGS call them ‘Baanaaras Kae Thugg‘.

Instead of using the Gurbani as a business transaction, it is meant for the human mind (ਸੋਚ-thinking) to realize its True Nature (Jot Saroop) through Shabad-Vichaar and then live daily life accordingly.

• ਗੁਰਮਤਿ ਊਚੋ ਊਚੀ ਪਉੜੀ ਗਿਆਨਿ ਰਤਨਿ ਹਉਮੈ ਮਾਰੀ ਹੇ ॥੪॥: The Gurmat is the ladder to reach the highest of the high (Spiritual Knowledge, understanding…), and with the Jewel of Spiritual Knowledge, egotism is conquered. ||4|| (sggs 1050).

The Mirror of the Gurbani helps the mind perform impartial self-analysis and debugging to assesses its daily conduct.

• ਬੰਦੇ ਖੋਜੁ ਦਿਲ ਹਰ ਰੋਜ ਨਾ ਫਿਰੁ ਪਰੇਸਾਨੀ ਮਾਹਿ ॥ ਇਹ ਜੁ ਦੁਨੀਆ ਸਿਹਰੁ ਮੇਲਾ ਦਸਤਗੀਰੀ ਨਾਹਿ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ : O mortal, search your heart/mind everyday, then you would not wander around perplexed (confused, worried, distressed, anxiety-ridden etc.). This world is like a magic show; there nothing to be gained in it (through being perplexed etc.). ||1||Pause|| (sggs 727).
• ਮਨ ਕੀ ਪਤ੍ਰੀ ਵਾਚਣੀ ਸੁਖੀ ਹੂ ਸੁਖੁ ਸਾਰੁ ॥: The greatest happiness comes from reading the horoscope of the mind (i.e., reading your own mind’s state or condition). (sggs 1093).

However, the Spiritual Wisdom of the Gurbani cannot be thrusted upon somebody by force (ਧੱਕੇ ਨਾਲ). If it could be thrusted upon somebody, Baabaa Nanak would have thrusted it upon his two sons Sri Chand and Lakhmi Das; Guru Ramdas Ji would have thrusted it upon his son Prithy Chand; and Guru Amardas Ji would have thrusted it upon his son Mohan. But they could NOT!

The Gurbani can explain or a Wise person can give us the information, BUT the Gurbani or anybody else cannot force somebody to take it if that person is unwilling to receive it. The Gurbani puts that responsibility on each one of us:

• ਆਪਣ ਹਥੀ ਆਪਣਾ ਆਪੇ ਹੀ ਕਾਜੁ ਸਵਾਰੀਐ ॥੨੦॥: (So long there is breath — Praan) accomplish the task (of God Realization) yourself ( i.e. with self-efforts: Shabad-Vichaar …). ||20|| (sggs 474).

Some Related Posts:

• Search Ownself – Know Yourself
• Who Am I?
• Jot Saroop – Mind’s Original Nature
• Nij Ghar
• Mind Must Remain in its Khorr – True Home
• Mind That Gives up Hunger for Maya Realizes its Mool
• Stubborn Mindedness – a Mental Disease
• Death of Haumai Brings Sukha
• Haumai Maya