Instead Reflect on One Creator…

Bhagat Kabeer Ji says — on account of mental delusion (‘Bharam‘) — Hindus call ‘Kateb’ (Quraan etc.) to be ‘Jhoothae-ਝੂਠੇ’ (i.e.’ false, untrue…).

Similarly Muslims say the Hindu Vedas are ‘Jhoothae‘ (i.e. false, untrue…).

In the same breath, Bhagat Kabeer Ji tells them that dishonest or false (‘Jhoothae‘) are those who don’t Reflect (i.e. Vichaar, contemplate) on the One Truth (the One Creator).

Thus Baabaa Kabeer tells both to cut it off and, instead, Reflect on the the divine Essence within.

• ਬੇਦ ਕਤੇਬ ਕਹਹੁ ਮਤ ਝੂਠੇ ਝੂਠਾ ਜੋ ਨ ਬਿਚਾਰੈ ॥ ਜਉ ਸਭ ਮਹਿ ਏਕੁ ਖੁਦਾਇ ਕਹਤ ਹਉ ਤਉ ਕਿਉ ਮੁਰਗੀ ਮਾਰੈ ॥੧॥ ਮੁਲਾਂ ਕਹਹੁ ਨਿਆਉ ਖੁਦਾਈ ॥ ਤੇਰੇ ਮਨ ਕਾ ਭਰਮੁ ਨ ਜਾਈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ : Do not tell Vedas and the Kateb (Quraan etc.) as false. False is he who does not Reflect (on the One Creator). (O Mullaa-the Muslim priest), if you say that the same One God is present in all creatures, then why do you kill a chicken in sacrifice to please God? ||1|| O Mullah, the Muslim priest, you preach others about the divine justice, but the ‘Bharam‘ (doubt) of your own mind doesn’t go away, because you are doing things which don’t make sense according to your own belief. ||1||Pause|| (sggs 1350).
• ਬੇਦ ਕਤੇਬ ਕਰਹਿ ਕਹ ਬਪੁਰੇ ਨਹ ਬੂਝਹਿ ਇਕ ਏਕਾ ॥: Vedas and Kateb (Quraan etc.) are helpless, (because) people do not understand the One Creator. (sggs 1153).

‘Bichaarai-ਬਿਚਾਰੈ’) is a very significant word in the above verse.

What is Bichaar or Vichaar?

Vichaar or Bichaar (reelection, contemplation…) enables one to experience and Realize the One Creator within.

Therefore, the practice of Vichaar, quest of Realizing the One Creator Within is the introspective contemplation.

Thus, in a nutshell, false are those who keep reading or reciting religious books (in doubt or in love of Maya etc.) without Reflecting on the One Essence within.

• ਬੇਦ ਕਤੇਬ ਸਿਮ੍ਰਿਤਿ ਸਭਿ ਸਾਸਤ ਇਨ੍ਹ੍ਹ ਪੜਿਆ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਨ ਹੋਈ ॥: The Vedas, Katebs (Quran etc.), the Simritis and Shastras, by (merely) reading all, liberation (from Bikaar, doubt etc.) is not obtained: (sggs 747).
• ਪੰਡਿਤ ਮੈਲੁ ਨ ਚੁਕਈ ਜੇ ਵੇਦ ਪੜੈ ਜੁਗ ਚਾਰਿ ॥: O Pandit! Even your filth (of Bikaar, doubt…) does not get erased (even if you) read the Vedas for four ages. (sggs 647).
• ਬੇਦ ਕਤੇਬ ਇਫਤਰਾ ਭਾਈ ਦਿਲ ਕਾ ਫਿਕਰੁ ਨ ਜਾਇ ॥: O brother, the anxiety of one’s mind does not go away by exaggerating the reality and giving references from Vedas and Katebs (for the sake of argument, show off, ਦਿਖਲਾਵਾ etc.). (sggs 727).
• ਵੇਦਾ ਮਹਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਉਤਮੁ ਸੋ ਸੁਣਹਿ ਨਾਹੀ ਫਿਰਹਿ ਜਿਉ ਬੇਤਾਲਿਆ ॥ ਕਹੈ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਜਿਨ ਸਚੁ ਤਜਿਆ ਕੂੜੇ ਲਾਗੇ ਤਿਨੀ ਜਨਮੁ ਜੂਐ ਹਾਰਿਆ ॥੧੯॥: In the Vedas, God’s Naam (Wisdom, Virtues…) has been declared supreme, but they don’t listen to this advice and keep on wandering like ghosts. Nanak says, those who forsake the One Creator and cling to falsehood (Maya), have lost their human life in this game. ||19|| (sggs 919).

There are three kinds of people who control or are in charge of the organized or institutionalized religions and the so called religious places in this world: (1) those who want to be worshiped by others (ਅਪਣੀ ਪੂਜਾ ਕਰਾਉਣੀ), (2) those who are greedy (Mayadhaaree-ਮਾਇਆਧਾਰੀ, ਠੱਗ…), (3) and those who desire name and fame (ਪਰਤਿਛਟਾ: honor…).

The Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS) asserts the self serving Pujaaree (clergy: Granthis, Parcharaks, Ragis, Dhadees etc.) and the freeloading Deraa-Vaad Baabaas (ਵੇਹਲੜ) etc. have plundered people in the world.

They misled people (ਗੁਮਰਾਹ, ਪੁੱਠੇ ਰਾਹ…) away from the Path of the Truth and put them on the path of Maya, Jhooth or falsehood, Dubidha or duality, empty rituals or Karamkaand, concocted concepts, Daan – Poojaa, stale spirituality, myths (ਮੰਨ ਘੜੰਤ ਸਾਖੀਆ, weird stories…) etc.

• ਕਬੀਰ ਕਾਗਦ ਕੀ ਓਬਰੀ ਮਸੁ ਕੇ ਕਰਮ ਕਪਾਟ ॥ ਪਾਹਨ ਬੋਰੀ ਪਿਰਥਮੀ ਪੰਡਿਤ ਪਾੜੀ ਬਾਟ ॥੧੩੭॥: Kabeer, the religious books (of Pandits/ Pujaaree) are like a prison made of paper, and the rituals (Karamkaand) written in ink are like the doors of that prison. The stone idols have spiritually drowned the people of this world (in the ocean of worldliness), and Pandits (i.e. the clergy/Pujaaree) are plundering people (i.e. robbing people by engaging them in useless rituals and idolatry Poojaa and though donation-Daan etc.). ||137|| (sggs 1371).
• ਕਬੀਰ ਪਾਹਨੁ ਪਰਮੇਸੁਰੁ ਕੀਆ ਪੂਜੈ ਸਭੁ ਸੰਸਾਰੁ ॥ ਇਸ ਭਰਵਾਸੇ ਜੋ ਰਹੇ ਬੂਡੇ ਕਾਲੀ ਧਾਰ ॥੧੩੬॥ : Kabeer, establishing and deeming a stone (statue) as God, people all over the world are worshipping it. Those who have this belief that by worshipping idols they are remembering God, are totally ruined spiritually, as if they are drowned in the deep waters (from where no trace of them can be found). ||136|| (sggs 1371).
• ਨ ਪਾਥਰੁ ਬੋਲੈ ਨਾ ਕਿਛੁ ਦੇਇ ॥ ਫੋਕਟ ਕਰਮ ਨਿਹਫਲ ਹੈ ਸੇਵ ॥੨॥ : This stone (idol) neither speaks nor can give anything, The Act of worshipping the stone (Idol) is Worthless and Fruitless. ॥2॥(sggs 1160).
• ਏਕੈ ਪਾਥਰ ਕੀਜੈ ਭਾਉ ॥ ਦੂਜੈ ਪਾਥਰ ਧਰੀਐ ਪਾਉ ॥ ਜੇ ਓਹੁ ਦੇਉ ਤ ਓਹੁ ਭੀ ਦੇਵਾ ॥ ਕਹਿ ਨਾਮਦੇਉ ਹਮ ਹਰਿ ਕੀ ਸੇਵਾ ॥੪॥੧॥ : Some Stones Are Worshipped and Some Stepped On. If Some Are Gods, then the Others Must Be Gods as well. ॥4॥1॥ (sggs 525).

To mend or correct this corruption or errors of the Pujaaree system, the Guru Sahibaan and the Bhagats searched and studied all the Simritis and Shastras. Their Bani contains all the corrections.

By the way, literally, the word ‘Veda’ means Knowledge or Giaan.

• ਸਭਿ ਨਾਦ ਬੇਦ ਗੁਰਬਾਣੀ ॥ ਮਨੁ ਰਾਤਾ ਸਾਰਿਗਪਾਣੀ ॥ ਤਹ ਤੀਰਥ ਵਰਤ ਤਪ ਸਾਰੇ ॥: (A person who is engaged in Bhagti, Shabad-Vichaar, etc., for that person…) All Naad and Vedas are in the Gurbani. (Through the Gurbani’s Wisdom) the mind becomes imbued with Rabb. (In the spiritual state in which that person reaches) there is his sacred shrine of pilgrimage, fasting and austere self-discipline (sggs 879).
• ਨਾਨਕ ਸੋਧੇ ਸਿੰਮ੍ਰਿਤਿ ਬੇਦ ॥: Nanak, (I) have carefully studied (searched etc.) Simritis and Vedas. (sggs 1142).
• ਸਾਸਤ ਬੇਦ ਸਿਮ੍ਰਿਤਿ ਸਭਿ ਸੋਧੇ ਸਭ ਏਕਾ ਬਾਤ ਪੁਕਾਰੀ ॥ ਬਿਨੁ ਗੁਰ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਨ ਕੋਊ ਪਾਵੈ ਮਨਿ ਵੇਖਹੁ ਕਰਿ ਬੀਚਾਰੀ ॥੨॥ : I have searched all the Shastras, Vedas and Simritis, they all affirm one thing, that without the Guru (Giaan-Wisdom), no one obtains liberation (from vices, Bikaar, Maya…); reflect upon this in your mind. ||2|| (sggs 495).
• ਸੋਧੇ ਸਾਸਤ੍ਰ ਸਿਮ੍ਰਿਤਿ ਸਗਲ ॥: I have explored all the Shastras and Simritis (and concluded that the wall of worldly attachment does not break without Naam). (sggs 890).

Thus, the Wisdom of the Gurbani or Gurmat (Wisdom, Upadesh or Way of the SGGS) is not only for the Sikhs but also for Hindu brethren, Muslim brethren, and so on. Because, it contains all the corrections.

Therefore the Spiritual Message of the Shabad is Universal, for everybody in this world to take (‘ਗੁਰਬਾਣੀ ਇਸੁ ਜਗ ਮਹਿ ਚਾਨਣੁ’: Gurbani isu jag mahi chaananu) and benefit.

• ਖਤ੍ਰੀ ਬ੍ਰਾਹਮਣ ਸੂਦ ਵੈਸ ਉਪਦੇਸੁ ਚਹੁ ਵਰਨਾ ਕਉ ਸਾਝਾ ॥: The Counsel of Gurbani is COMMON and SHARED (‘Saanhaa’) for the ENTIRETY of MANKIND (as represented by the all-encompassing four so called classes or ‘Varna‘ of mankind) – Brahman, Khatri, Soodar and Vais. (sggs 747).

Having said that, according to the Gurbani (SGGS), anybody and everybody can read the Gurbani and benefit from it (ਲਾਹਾ…). No particular person or a group owns it. Those who claim in the Gurdwaras that only a particular person or a particular group can read the Gurbani are utterly ignorant of the Gurbani’s Wisdom!

Now, the question is: ‘Is the current purveyors of the Sikhi — self serving Pujaaree (clergy: Granthis, Parcharaks, Ragis, Dhadees etc.), the freeloading Deraa-Vaad Baabaas (ਵੇਹਲੜ), leaders/politician, people running the Gurdwaras, scholars etc. — doing the same with the Divine Knowledge of the Gurbani what the purveyors of other worldly religions did with their scriptures? This author happens to think yes.

• ਮਾਇਆ ਡਰ ਡਰਪਤ ਹਾਰ ਗੁਰਦੁਅਰੈ ਜਾਵੈ ਤਹਾ ਜਉ ਮਾਇਆ ਬਿਆਪੈ ਕਹਾ ਠਹਰਾਈਐ ॥੫੪੪॥: Weary of the dread and dragon-net of Maya (i.e. Maya’s onslaught…), if one goes to the Gurdwara, and if Maya penetrates there too, then where would one go to Rest or Escape! (Kabit Bhai Gurdas Ji, 544).
• ਗਲੀ ਜਿਨ੍ਹ੍ਹਾ ਜਪਮਾਲੀਆ ਲੋਟੇ ਹਥਿ ਨਿਬਗ ॥ ਓਇ ਹਰਿ ਕੇ ਸੰਤ ਨ ਆਖੀਅਹਿ ਬਾਨਾਰਸਿ ਕੇ ਠਗ ॥੧॥ ਐਸੇ ਸੰਤ ਨ ਮੋ ਕਉ ਭਾਵਹਿ ॥ ਡਾਲਾ ਸਿਉ ਪੇਡਾ ਗਟਕਾਵਹਿ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥: Who have rosaries around their necks, and glittering jugs in their hands, (just because of such religious paraphernalia) they should not be called the Divine’s sant — they are thugs of Baanaaras (i.e. religious conmen, robbers, cheats…). Such sants are not pleasing to me. They devour (trees including) stems and branches (i.e. who do not even hesitate to kill human beings for the sake of Maya, etc.). (sggs 476).
• ਕਾਦੀ ਕੂੜੁ ਬੋਲਿ ਮਲੁ ਖਾਇ ॥ ਬ੍ਰਾਹਮਣੁ ਨਾਵੈ ਜੀਆ ਘਾਇ ॥ ਜੋਗੀ ਜੁਗਤਿ ਨ ਜਾਣੈ ਅੰਧੁ ॥ ਤੀਨੇ ਓਜਾੜੇ ਕਾ ਬੰਧੁ ॥੨॥: The clergy of the Muslim faith was corrupt, the Brahmin was murderous and the Yogi Un-Enlightened. These three (clergy) had become the root cause for the spiritual wreckage and desolation that mankind had come to endure. (sggs 662).