Gurmat is Immensely Pro Education – Vidiya

Regularly investing in ‘Vidya’(‘ਵਿਦਿਆ’) – knowledge, learning, education – is by far the best the investment for self-development and self-improvement.

That said, great importance has been given to ‘Vidya’ (‘ਵਿਦਿਆ’) in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS).

• ਬਿਨੁ ਬਿਦਿਆ ਕਹਾ ਕੋਈ ਪੰਡਿਤ ॥ : How can one be a learned without education (i.e. ‘Vidiya‘)? (sggs 1140).

Fittingly, the word ‘Sikh’ means a lifelong learner or student (ਸਿਖਿਆਰਥੀ)! Alas,  many in the Sikh community remained illiterate, lack critical thinking and don’t understand basic principles of the core Gurmat or Sikhi of Babaa Nanak.

Education is of two types — worldly (Sansari-ਸੰਸਾਰੀ) and Spiritual (Nirankari).

The source of worldly education is parents, schools, colleges, universities etc. Today in the 21st century world, humans are exploring space, flying in the sky, discovering new discoveries everyday, providing modern comforts, and so on.

Science has proved that moon, sun, mars, Saturn etc. are not gods (ਦੇਵਤੇ) as presented by the older Indic or Snatani religion but different planets in the sky. Governed by an Invisible Hukam (Universal System-Rule-Law-Order of Nature, ਕੁਦਰਤੀ ਨਿਯਮ) that pervades the Cosmos, all these planets move around in space. Also, as logically rejected in the SGGS, there is no such thing as ‘hell and heaven‘ or ‘Sach Khand‘ up there in the sky as concocted by the earn-a-living clergy systems of the organized religions (ਮਜ਼ਹਬ)! It also rejects self-serving Pujaaree‘s (clergy system) mentally fabricated idea of a particular building or a geographical location on earth or in the sky where the Creator resides!

Spiritual (Nirankari) education can be obtained from various sources and languages. HOWEVER, for a Baabaa Nanak’s Sikh the authentic source of Spiritual Vidya is the Guru Shabad (Sri Guru Granth Sahib, SGGS).

• ਸੋ ਗਿਆਨੀ ਜਿਨਿ ਸਬਦਿ ਲਿਵ ਲਾਈ ॥ : He alone is a Giyanee (ਗਿਆਨ-ਵਾਨ), who has focused his consciousness on the Shabad (sggs 831).

In short, Spirituality is a sense of connection to something higher than oneself — sense of inner peace, bliss, Joy, interconnectedness with rest of the humanity in the world, recognition of one’s meaning and purpose in life, living in harmony with Hukam, becoming ‘SACHIAARAA‘ (enlightened State of Gurmukh-hood, God Realization within).

• ਗੁਰ ਪਰਸਾਦੀ ਵਿਦਿਆ ਵੀਚਾਰੈ ਪੜਿ ਪੜਿ ਪਾਵੈ ਮਾਨੁ ॥ ਆਪਾ ਮਧੇ ਆਪੁ ਪਰਗਾਸਿਆ ਪਾਇਆ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤੁ ਨਾਮੁ ॥੧॥ : Through the Giyan-Guru’s Grace/Guidance, a person who constantly reflects on ‘Vidiaa‘ (Giyan / Wisdom…) receives honor/recognition. Within the self, the True Self is realized (true human or humanity / Divinity / true ਇਨਸਾਨ or ਇਨਸਾਨੀਅਤ …) when one is blessed with the Amrit Naam. ||1|| (sggs 1329).

Balanced life

Everything has its pros and cons. Although today’s human has reached the pinnacle of worldly education, but is uninterested in Nirankari or Spiritual education. He/she spends many years of life, even entire life, for worldly education but does not have even one hour out of 24 hours for Nirankari education. We use our education for money grab, fame and material vices/Bikaar. The Gurbani attests to the fact that the worldly wealth cannot be amassed without committing sins/corruption:

• ਪਾਪਾ ਬਾਝਹੁ ਹੋਵੈ ਨਾਹੀ ਮੁਇਆ ਸਾਥਿ ਨ ਜਾਈ ॥ : This wealth cannot be amassed without vices, and it does not go along with the dead. (sggs 417).

Gurbani also attests that educated people themselves act foolishly because they lack self-knowledge (Who Am I – Atam Giyan) and are arrogant about their education. Owing to their greed, they (not all) use their education for looting the public, by hook or crook.

• ਪੜਿਆ ਮੂਰਖੁ ਆਖੀਐ ਜਿਸੁ ਲਬੁ ਲੋਭੁ ਅਹੰਕਾਰਾ ॥ : Such a scholar who is mired with greed, obsession and arrogant pride, should be considered a fool (because he has understood/learnt nothing)! (sggs 140).

Some examples are:

• Gurdwaras that were supposed to be the incubators of Awareness, learning and fellowship have slipped into uninspiring atmosphere, where the keenness for reading, learning and understanding from Gurbani has all but vanished.
• Educated teachers, doctors, scientists and scholars are joining hands with uneducated dera sadhs / babas, illiterate and corrupt political and religious leaders and administrators, Jathedaars, self-serving clergy class, astrologers, celebrating good and bad days such as Masiya, Punya, Sangrandas, and so on.
• Clergy concocted system of religion have been misguiding humanity because it has become a business or money grab. So are the followers, societies and nations. To be materialist is to be selfish.
• Educated and scholars are being bought with the power of money. Illiterate and crook administrators and leaders consider educated scholars as servants at religious places. In other words, today’s uneducated political leaders, religious leaders, clergy class (Pujaaree) and wealthy persons rule over not only the illiterate or less educated, but also the learned.
• With the power of money, the media that supposed to bring education or truth to every door is also being bought.
• Educated fools and cunning people are dividing and killing innocent people in the name of religion, caste, country, party, money etc.
• In many places in the world, education has been turned into a business in the form of schools, colleges, universities and tuition. The wealthy and powerful people who run educational institutes are hiring poor teachers for a small amount of money, playing with the lives of students, and earning a lot of money for themselves.
• Admission in government, religious and private educational institutions is not given on the basis of merit but through recommendations and bribes. That is why today only the children of the rich and political leaders can get higher education. The children of the poor and workers are deprived of education due to poverty.
• Simpletons are misguided, exploited, bullied, women are raped etc.

History teaches that the following four classes to be responsible for keeping the humanity in fear and ignorance so that they can easily control humans and rule over them. These are:

• Darbaaree (ਦਰਬਾਰੀ): Rulers, kingships (Rajay-ਰਾਜੇ), leaders, politicians, etc.
• Adhikaaree (ਅਧਿਕਾਰੀ): Corrupt officials of the rulers, Mukadm (ਮੁਕਦਮ) etc. who share the loot with their rulers.
• Pujaaree (ਪੁਜਾਰੀ): Self-serving, greedy and illiterate clergy or priest class.
• Vapaaree (ਵਪਾਰੀ): business class.

Put simply, know that there is no strength for one of them except through others. In reality, since the beginning, they all work in concert, protect each other, and thus need each other!

The Gurbani explains to us how all of them cheat and plunder their fellow human beings. To explain this, the Gurbani uses how deer and falcons trained by hunters trap their own kind for their master hunters.

• ਹਰਣਾਂ ਬਾਜਾਂ ਤੈ ਸਿਕਦਾਰਾਂ ਏਨ੍ਹ੍ਹਾ ਪੜ੍ਹ੍ਹਿਆ ਨਾਉ ॥ ਫਾਂਧੀ ਲਗੀ ਜਾਤਿ ਫਹਾਇਨਿ ਅਗੈ ਨਾਹੀ ਥਾਉ ॥ ਸੋ ਪੜਿਆ ਸੋ ਪੰਡਿਤੁ ਬੀਨਾ ਜਿਨ੍ਹ੍ਹੀ ਕਮਾਣਾ ਨਾਉ ॥ ਪਹਿਲੋ ਦੇ ਜੜ ਅੰਦਰਿ ਜੰਮੈ ਤਾ ਉਪਰਿ ਹੋਵੈ ਛਾਂਉ ॥ : Deer and falcons of hunters are TRAINED to trap their own species, the government officers who are called the LEARNED or educated also act like the trained deer and falcons of hunters. (Like trained dear and falcons of hunters) these government officers entrap their fellow human beings in the trap they set; these corrupt government officers ruin their future – they are disliked by people and are unfit for Divine Union. That person alone is educated/learned and Wise religious scholar (Pandit and) who complies with Naam (Wisdom / Virtues) and guides people to do so. At first a tree takes root underground, only then it grows big enough to provide shade on the ground (likewise, ONLY that learning / education can do good which is rooted in Naam – ‘Sach Dharma‘). (sggs 1288).

Thus, Guru Nanak compares corrupt religious leaders, political leaders, government officials etc to the deer and falcons trained by hunters to trap their own kind for their master hunter! Political parties select and nurture such greedy, publicity and power hungry and ‘Bhekhi‘ faces for votes, who are useful to trap their fellow human beings. Gurbani compares actions of such people to a hungry dog. However, in Sikhi of Guru Nanak, it is must to have Upadesh / Message / Counsel of the Shabad in one’s Surat (Conscience).

• ਮਾਣਸ ਮੂਰਤਿ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਨਾਮੁ ॥ ਕਰਣੀ ਕੁਤਾ ਦਰਿ ਫੁਰਮਾਨੁ ॥ : Says Nanak, (without Naam) a human being is a human in shape and name only; but his conduct / deeds are those of a dog – doing the bidding of its (many) masters for material gains. (sggs 350).
• ਮਾਣਸ ਖਾਣੇ ਕਰਹਿ ਨਿਵਾਜ ॥ ਛੁਰੀ ਵਗਾਇਨਿ ਤਿਨ ਗਲਿ ਤਾਗ ॥ ਤਿਨ ਘਰਿ ਬ੍ਰਹਮਣ ਪੂਰਹਿ ਨਾਦ ॥ ਉਨ੍ਹ੍ਹਾ ਭਿ ਆਵਹਿ ਓਈ ਸਾਦ ॥ ਕੂੜੀ ਰਾਸਿ ਕੂੜਾ ਵਾਪਾਰੁ ॥ ਕੂੜੁ ਬੋਲਿ ਕਰਹਿ ਆਹਾਰੁ ॥ : Those who devour humanity by plundering it recite Namaz (Muslim prayer). Others (of their kind) wield daggers but wear (allegedly) sacred thread around their necks. Within their homes the Brahmin (clergy or Pujaaree) blow the conch to sanctify their doings, but they also have the same taste (i.e. they are also corrupt/plunderers). The capital of falsehood is the only thing they have, and only trade in falsehood. They mislead people by speaking falsehood and make living through falsehood (deception, plundering others etc). (sggs 471).

Gurbani (SGGS) is egalitarian, a new universal Way of living a practical and balanced life by applying the enlightening Message of the Shabad to our daily lives and stop pretending to be something different than we are. It’s about how one can experience more upliftment, Joy, Peace of mind, gratitude, divinity in everyday thoughts and actions, leading a healthier, down to earth, being of service to fellow humans through self-discovery (Who-am-I?), positive growth, commonsense, simple, meaningful, well-rounded and poised human life.

Therefore, to be born is one thing but to be truly alive quite another!

Education can be beneficial only if…

Education or learning can be beneficial only if one acquires it with sincerity, lives a benevolent life, and thinks about one’s own and others’ good (‘Sarbat Da Bhalaa – ਸਰਬੱਤ ਦਾ ਭਲਾ’ meaning ‘may everyone prosper’, ‘may good come to all’, etc.).

• ਵਿਦਿਆ ਵੀਚਾਰੀ ਤਾਂ ਪਰਉਪਕਾਰੀ ॥ : True learning induces in the mind service to humanity. (sggs 356).
• ਬੁਰਾ ਨਹੀ ਸਭੁ ਭਲਾ ਹੀ ਹੈ ਰੇ ਹਾਰ ਨਹੀ ਸਭ ਜੇਤੈ ॥੧॥ : (To a person established in Divine Nature – Jot Saroop) to him/her, no one seems evil, all seem good, there is no defeat, all victory. ॥1॥ (sggs 1302).

As a lamp dispels darkness, education, like a lamp, dispels the darkness of ignorance. The Gurbani (SGGS) asks: What is the use of lamp when, despite its presence, humans wander in the pits of ignorance, superstitions, false ego-sense, vices/Bikaar, Jaat Paat (castism), untouchability, high and low, and so on:

• ਕਬੀਰ ਮਨੁ ਜਾਨੈ ਸਭ ਬਾਤ ਜਾਨਤ ਹੀ ਅਉਗਨੁ ਕਰੈ ॥ ਕਾਹੇ ਕੀ ਕੁਸਲਾਤ ਹਾਥਿ ਦੀਪੁ ਕੂਏ ਪਰੈ ॥੨੧੬॥ : Kabeer, the mind knows everything and knowingly it commits demerits. What is the use of that lamp (Giaan-Wisdom) if we fall into the well (of ignorance, Maya, vices or Bikaar) even with that lamp in our hands? (sggs 1376).
• ਜਹ ਗਿਆਨ ਪ੍ਰਗਾਸੁ ਅਗਿਆਨੁ ਮਿਟੰਤੁ ॥ : Where the Light of Divine Wisdom illuminates, ignorance is dispelled. (sggs 791).

Therefore, in order to become a good human being, a good worker and a benefactor, one should study and ponder over the various forms of knowledge in the world as much as possible. This treasure of knowledge can never be taken away by thieves; it never ends, but rather grows.

The Gurmat teaches the purpose of any type of education / ‘Vidiya‘ is NOT to impress others but to improve one’s own life and behavior or conduct. The Gurbani reminds us that it is of no use being a learned person if one behaves foolishly, shamefully, crookedly to cheat fellow human beings etc!

However, today, literacy generally means material progress. Man is happy if his modern education can bring him ‘quick bucks’ overnight, by hook or crook. A donkey may carry a load of all the scriptures of the world, it still continues to be a donkey!

Nations are happy if they can become rich and powerful, politically and militarily. Man and the state both bribe each other to achieve their separate goals. Naturally, the modern education system is geared to this end — lust and greed (‘Kanic Kaamini‘), causing havoc in the world. When it comes to all man-made religions, most of the followers of them follow or believe in religion without any understanding, do so like the dumb driven cattle in a herd..

• ਮਨਮੁਖੁ ਦਾਝੈ ਪੜਿ ਪੜਿ ਭਾਹੀ ॥ : A Manmukh (UN-enlightened) may be highly educated but burns in the fire (of Maya, desires…). (sggs 1028).

Even though the modern society has achieved unprecedented rates of formal literacy, but man does not know ‘Who Am I?’. Since there is no real change in the way the man is being educated, this void in man continues to grow. Because of the lack or absent of Spiritual and moral development, man only identifies with name, form, flesh, caste, skin-color, race, creed, man-made religion and dogmas, material possessions, material education, material power, and so on. But he does not know his Essential Nature as Jot Saroop.

• ਜਿਨਿ ਆਤਮ ਤਤੁ ਨ ਚੀਨ੍‍ਆਿ ॥ ਸਭ ਫੋਕਟ ਧਰਮ ਅਬੀਨਿਆ ॥ : Whoever does not Realize the Essence or Reality of the Soul (ਆਤਮਾ ਦੀ ਅਸਲੀਅਤ…), all his religious acts are of no value-worthless (sggs 1351).
• ਗੁਰ ਪਰਸਾਦੀ ਵਿਦਿਆ ਵੀਚਾਰੈ ਪੜਿ ਪੜਿ ਪਾਵੈ ਮਾਨੁ ॥ ਆਪਾ ਮਧੇ ਆਪੁ ਪਰਗਾਸਿਆ ਪਾਇਆ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤੁ ਨਾਮੁ ॥੧॥ : Through the Giyan-Guru’s Grace/Guidance, a person who constantly reflects on ‘Vidiaa‘ (Giyan / Wisdom…) receives honor/recognition. Within the self, the True Self is realized (true human or humanity / Divinity / true ਇਨਸਾਨ or ਇਨਸਾਨੀਅਤ …) when one is blessed with the Amrit Naam. ||1|| (sggs 1329).

Education should be about training the mind to think properly/rationally/logically. In a nutshell, although the Unique Gurmat of Guru Nanak is very much pro education (ਵਿਦਿਆ), but it does not stop there — it counsels humanity what to do after acquiring education:

• Acquire education (ਵਿਦਿਆ), and keep learning and questing as long as there is a breath of life.
• After acquiring education (ਵਿਦਿਆ), the Gurmat would like us to become a ‘Vichaavaan‘ person (thoughtful, sensible, rational, thinker, etc.), a Wise person (ਗਿਆਨਵਾਨ), a reasonable person (ਤਰਕ ਕਰਨ ਯੋਗ), etc.
• After becoming a ‘Vichaavaan‘ person, DON’T cheat and loot people, instead contribute to the formation of a better society etc.
• Thus, after acquiring education and becoming a ‘Vichaavaan‘ person, the Gurmat would like us to bring about real change in life — positive change in one’s intellect (Budhi), thinking, actions, attitudes, vision, mindset, entire outlook, understanding, and so on! Such positive change in each individual will result in transformation of the whole society for good!

Ending

The spirituality of the Gurbani (SGGS) is of the SELF, for the SELF, by the SELF. Hence there is NO concept of transfer of blessings in the spirituality of the Gurbani. Also, the spirituality of Gurbani or Sikhi is a spirituality of the HERE and NOW, not afterlife or after physical death. Hence, one has to be sincerely willing to learn or TAKE the knowledge.

There is an old doctrine reported in the history: if you want to rule, control, exploit or ruin a people, keep them illiterate. Unfortunately, all religions, rulers or regimes use it. During the old colonialism, for example, colonized people were purposely kept illiterate. Ignorance lures people to all sorts of addictions, discrimination, inequality etc.

• ਕਬੀਰ ਧਰਤੀ ਸਾਧ ਕੀ ਤਸਕਰ ਬੈਸਹਿ ਗਾਹਿ ॥ : The earth belongs to the Holy (Enlightened, Gurmukhs…), but it is being occupied by thieves/transgressors. (sggs 1375).
• ਮੈਲੇ ਬ੍ਰਹਮੰਡਾਇ ਕੈ ਈਸ ॥ : The rulers/kingships of the world are corrupt. (sggs 1158).

Guru Nanak and all his successors were pro education and social reformers. In this context, on ‘Vaisakhi‘ Day, Guru Gobind Singh did many social reforms of rebuilding society: removed Masand system (crook intermediaries that used to cheat devotees), established the Khalsa, and drank sweet water from one utensils to make everyone equal, including himself; thus establishing a direct connection with his followers.

Some related posts:

• Pujaaree’s Sikhi vs. Guru Nanak’s Unique Sikhi
• Giyan Ratan: the Jewel of Wisdom
• Gurmat is Practical and Universal
• Gurbani’s Message is Universal Brotherhood- Oneness in Diversity
• Gurmat and Social Change
• Storm of Wisdom
• Spiritual Wisdom Protects from Deception and Fraud
• The Satgur’s Sword of Wisdom
• Explosion of the Gurbani’s Wisdom
• Knowledge is Taken, not Given
• Mind Must Bathe in the Pool of Wisdom/Virtues
• One Without Wisdom is Plundered
• Using Wisdom
• Gurbani Debunks Casteism