Once again – with the plastic smiles – it’s that time of annual ‘PARPANCH‘ (‘Pakhand, hypocrisy, deceit, false expanse of the world, ostentation display or show off, worldly affair, ਅਡੰਬਰ etc.) for people to greet or send messages saying ‘HAPPY NEW YEAR’!
Specifically Indians are flooded by messages and greetings all year long!
Temporary Change
From a time perspective, it’s considered new year when the ticking clock strikes midnight on the last day of the 12th month of the Gregorian calendar.
In addition to Gregorian calendar, many other cultures/religions have their own traditional calendars and celebrate new year according to their respective calendars – Hijri Calendar, Chinese Calendar, Nanakshahi Calendar, Panchang Calendar etc.
Regardless of a calendar, such time-dependent change (external, material, business, worldly or Mayaic) is temporary or fleeting. In other words, the day has no separate and permanent existence. The day comes and goes. The new year day being celebrated today will not last, this day too will become tomorrow after 24 hours, and after 24 hours a new today will come, every day changes,
In truth, what’s ticking away is not the clock (time), instead, what ticks away is one’s life! Wealth, fame, power, love, relationships etcetera may come again and again in one’s life, but time simply perishes, forever.
The Gurbani enshrined in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS) attests that a mind inflicted with duality, worldliness or Maya is ‘Parpanchee‘ by nature (deceptive, cunning, illusioned, crafty, Pakhandee etc – non-realized state)!
A temporary change in today’s ‘rat race’ cannot bring about a REAL or Lasting change in a ‘Parpanchee‘ mind – reversal in one’s life, peace, happiness (Sukh), Joy, enthusiasm, Anand etc.
- ਬਿਨੁ ਮੂਏ ਕਿਉ ਪੂਰਾ ਹੋਇ ॥ ਪਰਪੰਚਿ ਵਿਆਪਿ ਰਹਿਆ ਮਨੁ ਦੋਇ ॥ : Without eradicating self-conceit, how can one attain perfection? Instead the mind remains entangled in ‘Parpanch‘ and duality. (sggs 153).
That being said, the enlightening spiritual Message embedded in the SGGS would like us to bring about a Real/Permanent change in life – become ‘Sachiaar‘! If we don’t, then it will be the same OLD, same OLD…!
- ਕਿਵ ਸਚਿਆਰਾ ਹੋਈਐ ਕਿਵ ਕੂੜੈ ਤੁਟੈ ਪਾਲਿ ॥ ਹੁਕਮਿ ਰਜਾਈ ਚਲਣਾ ਨਾਨਕ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਨਾਲਿ ॥੧॥ : How then can I become God-Realized being within (‘Sachiaaraa‘)? How can I remove the obstacle of my non-realized state within? O Nanak! (The way to realize Creator within is to) remain within the confines of His Hukam (the Cosmic System-Rule-Law of Nature, ਕੁਦਰਤੀ ਨਿਯਮ…), as (Creator and His Hukam) is contained with us. ||1|| (sggs 1).
However, the Gurmat Wisdom of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS) attests that the majority of us just end up imitating what we see others do!
- ਦੇਖਾ ਦੇਖੀ ਸਭ ਕਰੇ ਮਨਮੁਖਿ ਬੂਝ ਨ ਪਾਇ ॥ : Manmukhs (Unenlightened persons) do everything seeing other people do to make a show (Pakhand, ਦੇਖਾ ਦੇਖੀ, ਨਕਲ, ਦਿਖਾਵਾ…), but they themselves have no understanding of the true way of living. (sggs 28).
Permanent change
It would ONLY be a Real New Year when one changes Within – Positive change in one’s faulty thinking, corrupt nature, wicked habits, conditioned intellect (Budhi), negative tendencies, prejudices, vices/Bikaar (i.e. lust, anger, greed, attachment, pride…), and so on! In short:
- It’s a change from time-bound conscience (Surt-ਸੁਰਤ) to Timelessness (Akaal, Jot Saroop).
- It’s a change from the memory and anxiety of the past and the future to the Eternity of the present moment (NOW, mindfulness…).
- It’s change from negative thinking to positive thinking.
- It’s a change from a Manmukh-Saakat-Mayadhaaree mindset (unenlightened mind engrossed in ‘Parpanch‘…) to the Gurmukh mindset (enlightened or Non-Parpanchhee).
- It’s a change from untruth (Jhooth) to Truth (Sach)
- It’s a change from false, ephemeral, fleeting, or temporary (Asatt) to Permanent (Satt, Atall etc.).
- It’s a change from demerits to merits or Virtues.
- It’s a change from illusion (doubt, Bharam-Jaal or Maya-Jaal…) to doubt free state of the mind.
- It’s a change from the mind’s unstable state (unnatural state, restlessness, Haumai or false ego-sense etc.) to Stable State (Stillness, Natural State of Being, Sahaj, Whole, Jot Saroop, Saabat etc.) – a change from inner impurity to inner Purity of the mind.
- It’s a change from ignorance to Giyan-Wisdom or from darkness to Enlightenment.
- It’s a change from NOT knowing to KNOWING oneself.
- It’s the Vikaas (ਵਿਕਾਸ), expansion-development-progress-blooming-evolution of intellect or Bibek-Budhi etc.
- In short, it’s a change non-realized state of the mind to the realized-state.
Simply put, without being Awake and Aware there can be no real change in human life!
In a nutshell, the UNIQUE and REVOLUTIONARY Gurmat Wisdom of the SGGS challenges us to live an introspected or examined life, for the UN-examined life is not worth living!
- 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).
An examined or introspected life on a daily basis is a life of positive experiences that touches the innermost core of one’s being, stirs the mind, and challenges the intellect.
Only an Awakened mind can traverse such a Virtuous or Spiritual Life of the Guru Shabad. An Awakened mind is an Aware mind. Only an Awakened mind possesses the ability to differentiate between fact and fiction.
- ਕਹਿ ਕਬੀਰ ਬੁਧਿ ਹਰਿ ਲਈ ਮੇਰੀ ਬੁਧਿ ਬਦਲੀ ਸਿਧਿ ਪਾਈ ॥੨॥੨੧॥੭੨॥ : Says Kabeer! (Wisdom) has taken away my (worldly) intelligence (ਅਕਲ). With this altered intelligence, now I have obtained Sidhi (Spiritual Perfection…). ||2||21||72|| (sggs 339).
Such positive change in thinking can begin Here and Now, not some other day/month/year, afterlife or after death! Otherwise, it wouldn’t matter even if one lives 100 years or more!
- ਜੇ ਸਉ ਵਰ੍ਹਿਆ ਜੀਵਣ ਖਾਣੁ ॥ ਖਸਮ ਪਛਾਣੈ ਸੋ ਦਿਨੁ ਪਰਵਾਣੁ ॥੨॥ : If (one) were to live and eat for hundred years, that day (of one’s life) alone would be authentic (acceptable, approved, auspicious…), when (one) Realizes the One Creator Within. ||2|| (sggs 349).
It’s not important how many years one lives, but how one lives!
The Gurbani’s (SGGS) Wisdom teaches us how to live daily life of Virtues / Wisdom! Hence, no need to wait for the first of the year and make ambitious resolutions for the new year, only to forget few days later as the ‘Parpanchee‘ or ‘Pakhandee‘ minds do!
The Gurbani (SGGS) being the mirror of the mind reminds us the ultimate purpose of human life. When Awakened to Naam (Shabad, Upadesh, Wisdom, Virtues, Truth, Hukam…) people of all walks of life and faith live in ever NEW love and harmony (‘ਪ੍ਰੇਮੁ ਸਦਾ ਨਉਰੰਗੀ’) and peace and amity. They conduct themselves wisely and truthfully and righteously; live without fear of injustice or oppression; respect each other; enjoy equality and human rights; see the same self in everybody, and so on.
The natural result of such INNER change brings about overall prosperity and happiness in an individual life and the in the society and the world.
However, a ‘rare’ person is said to embark on this Way of Inner Revolution. Called Gurmukh in the Gurbani (Enlightened / Guru Shabad-Oriented…), such Enlightened mind does NOT get entangled in ‘Parpanch’ or ‘Pakhand‘!
- ਨਾਨਕ ਬਿਰਲੇ ਪਾਈਅਹਿ ਜੋ ਨ ਰਚਹਿ ਪਰਪੰਚ ॥੫॥ : Nanak, rare are those, who do not create ‘Parpanch‘. ||5|| (sggs 297).
In Short, since without Wisdom we stand plundered, the SGGS asks each of its lifelong learner (i.e. Sikh) to mend the conditioned mind by bathing it in the pool of Wisdom and thus becoming the ‘rare‘ Gurmukh Here and Now, NOT afterlife.
All days are same in Sikhi or Gurmat of Guru Nanak!
According to Sikhi of Guru Nanak no time, no moment, no day, no month, no season is good or bad in itself – all are equal.
- ਮਾਹ ਦਿਵਸ ਮੂਰਤ ਭਲੇ ਜਿਸ ਕਉ ਨਦਰਿ ਕਰੇ ॥ : The months days and moments are auspicious when (we) become good (i.e., abide in Naam, Wisdom, Virtues, Truth, Hukam etc.). (sggs 136).
The illusion of time-space-causation comes into being only if we hold on to the memory of the past and anxiety of the future.
The durations of days , months, years and seasons are arbitrarily chosen by humans. However, the Gurbani says they all are equally (ਇਕ ਸਾਰ) auspicious in the eyes of the Creator and His Hukam (Universal System-Rule-Law of Nature, ਕੁਦਰਤੀ ਨਿਯਮ).
In other words, the Gurbani (SGGS) holds there is NO such thing as an inauspicious day, hour, month, year, season etc. Plainly put, ALL DAYS ARE SAME for a Sikh of the Guru Shabad (Giyan–Wisdom of the SGGS).
- ਥਿਤੀ ਵਾਰ ਸੇਵਹਿ ਮੁਗਧ ਗਵਾਰ ॥ : Only idiots and fools observe the lunar days and the week days (i.e. good and bad omens). (sggs 843).
- ਥਿਤੀ ਵਾਰ ਤਾ ਜਾ ਸਚਿ ਰਾਤੇ ॥ ਬਿਨੁ ਨਾਵੈ ਸਭਿ ਭਰਮਹਿ ਕਾਚੇ ॥੭॥ : The lunar days or the week days become beneficial only when (the mind) becomes imbued in Truth. Those who do not live by the Naam (Wisdom, Virtues, Hukam, Truth etc.), all of them keep on wandering (doubt-ridden…) due to ignorance or falsehood. ||7|| (sggs 842).
- ਵੇਲਾ ਸਚੁ ਪਰਵਾਣੁ ਸਬਦੁ ਪਛਾਣਸੀ ॥੪॥ : The time that is acceptable when the God-Linking shabad is related to. (sggs 422).
- ਸੋ ਦਿਨੁ ਸਫਲੁ ਗਣਿਆ ਹਰਿ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਮਿਲਾਇਆ ਰਾਮ ॥ ਸਭਿ ਸੁਖ ਪਰਗਟਿਆ ਦੁਖ ਦੂਰਿ ਪਰਾਇਆ ਰਾਮ ॥ : That day is considered fruitful when the Creator is realized Within. (That day) all comforts manifest within, and sorrows/pangs of separation disappear (i.e. peace of mind and happiness are realized within). (sggs 547).
In ‘Sidh Gost’ Bani, Sidhas (Yogis) asked Guru Nanak to discourse on:
- ਕਿਤੁ ਬਿਧਿ ਪੁਰਖਾ ਜਨਮੁ ਵਟਾਇਆ ॥ ਕਾਹੇ ਕਉ ਤੁਝੁ ਇਹੁ ਮਨੁ ਲਾਇਆ ॥ : (Towards Realization of the Creator WITHIN) what is the method of traversing the human life? (While traversing the human life towards Realization of the Creator) what is focus of your mind? (sggs 939).
Guru Nanak discoursed the above questions of Sidhas (Yogis) as follows:
- ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਕੈ ਜਨਮੇ ਗਵਨੁ ਮਿਟਾਇਆ ॥ ਅਨਹਤਿ ਰਾਤੇ ਇਹੁ ਮਨੁ ਲਾਇਆ ॥ : Being born into the Spirituality on account of the Satgur ends the cycle of spiritual death (‘Gavan’). (While traversing the human life towards Realization of the Creator) the mind is immersed in undivided focus and love of the Shabad. (sggs 940).
According to the Spiritual Message of the Guru Shabad (SGGS) the lasting newness lies within (‘ਨਵਤਨੁ ਸਦਾ’, ‘ਨੀਤ ਨਵਾ’).
In short, changing the course of life is a continual revolution within! In fact each day when one wakes up in the morning is a New Year, Fresh Start (NEW, ‘ਨੀਤ ਨਵਾ-Neet Navaa‘). Because the universal CREATIVE ENERGY is forever NEW, Fresh. The edict of the SGGS is:
- ਸਾਹਿਬੁ ਮੇਰਾ ਨੀਤ ਨਵਾ ਸਦਾ ਸਦਾ ਦਾਤਾਰੁ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ : My Master-God is ever New, Fresh and for ever the Giver. ||1||Pause|| (sggs 660).
- ਗੁਣ ਨਿਧਾਨੁ ਨਵਤਨੁ ਸਦਾ ਪੂਰਨ ਜਾ ਕੀ ਦਾਤਿ ॥ : (God) the Treasure of Virtues is ever Fresh, and whose Gifts are perfect. (sggs 47).
- ਸਚੁ ਪੁਰਾਣਾ ਹੋਵੈ ਨਾਹੀ ਸੀਤਾ ਕਦੇ ਨ ਪਾਟੈ ॥ : The Creator (‘ਸਚੁ’) does not grow old; a person never get separated once united with Creator. (sggs 956).
Ending
Days, moths, years, seasons etc will come and go but the Gurbani (SGGS) Counsels us to Realize the Divine Presence within which is always new and does not come and go ‘ਸਾਹਿਬੁ ਮੇਰਾ ਨੀਤ ਨਵਾ ਸਦਾ ਸਦਾ ਦਾਤਾਰੁ- Sahib Meraa Neet Navaa…’. Therefore, let us understand the reality of the Gurbani’s edict ‘ਸਾਹਿਬੁ ਮੇਰਾ ਨੀਤ ਨਵਾ…’, then we will not have to wait for the New Year from the time perspective. Every moment of life and every breath will seem new to us. Because in nature, natural evolution is given innovation at every moment which encompass every object and person. No object will look old, but the change in it over time will be a new color for us. The transition from childhood to youth and from youth to old age would also seem a novelty.
That being said, let us digest the reality of the Gurbani’s foregoing edict and make life so colorful that every moment of our life is filled with NEWNESS.
Simply put, the Enlightening Message contained within the Guru Shabad teaches us that each moment of life is a time of new beginnings, and also a terrific time to take the opportunity to reflect on our journey through life.
- ਧੰਨੁ ਸੁ ਵੇਲਾ ਘੜੀ ਧੰਨੁ ਧਨੁ ਮੂਰਤੁ ਪਲੁ ਸਾਰੁ ॥ ਧੰਨੁ ਸੁ ਦਿਨਸੁ ਸੰਜੋਗੜਾ ਜਿਤੁ ਡਿਠਾ ਗੁਰ ਦਰਸਾਰੁ ॥ : Blessed is that time, the hour, the moment, and sublime is that instant, and blessed is that day and occasion, when one realizes the Gur-Giyan-Wisdom. (sggs 958).
Whether we change or not (i.e. become ‘Sachiaar‘), time keeps ticking. And before we know, kaput! The end!
Helloooooooooo New Year!
Some related posts:
- Crowds follow the path of Falsehood, Pakhand…
- Sheepish Attitude – People See, People do
- What comes and goes is not Real
- Seven Days of a Sikh
- The Gurmukh Never Grows Old!
- Battle of Life is Waged Moment to Moment
- Live in the Present Moment – Here and Now
- Gurbani’s Message is Universal and Egalitarian
- Realize Enlightening Message Embedded within Shabad
- Religious Rituals – Karamkaand
- Gurbani Rejects Eclipse Rituals
- Core of Gurmat Spirituality – Kiv Sachiaaraa Hoeeai?
Thank you Roop Ji for your thoughtful reply.
Leaving the stillness of this moment, humans celebrate the movements of psychological time. Leaving the unchanging awareness which is right here right now, in which all of your imagined life happens, you keep on moving further, but in imagination. Abiding in this unchanging awareness, and abiding as this awareness is What is called chewing iron balls, and that too for a relative mind ! Staying home , a home of your being is not easy for the restless mind. All the New Years are only in mind, otherwise beloved is always here, ever fresh , go within , drench and go beyond the phenomenon of time, hence there is no new year but that which is ਨੀਤ ਨਵਾਂ . Live it but beyond the concept of living , beyond the concept of someone’s living as there is no one as someone who lives but living itself, life itself ! A fresh living , an eternal living ! ਸਤਿ ਕਰਤਾਰ
Totally agree with you.
Again, totally agree with you. In fact we have a separate post on this subject at https://www.gurbani.org/gurblog/a-long-journey/
Thank you Bhai Sahib Ramjit Singh Mann Ji for sharing your thoughts.
Respected Tarlok Singh ji, I noticed you mentioned the following in your comment: 1. The filth of countless incarnations 2. In my past life 3. The process can take more than one life.
Please excuse my ignorance, the above mentioned are literal translation of the Gurbani but not the spiritual meaning. I am
certain you are aware of that Gurbani rejects the idea of reincarnation and teaches us all about the present life. In short the reincarnation is mental turmoil or bhatknaa due to engrossed with maya (vices).
Regards
Ramjit Singh Mann
Thank you brother Ashok Vajpayee Ji for taking the time to reply.
Sir
Can u write Gurbaani script also in English before translation ,so I can understand the Gurmukhi also.
Excellent
Sir,thanks 4 giving Gurbaani in English Translation as I didn’t learn Gurmukhi Script
WE ALL ARE BOUND BY MAYA IN EITHER FORM,KAAM,KRODH,MAD,LOBH n MOH,ME FROM KAAM KRODH n MOH(for my daughter at Singapore,n flight forbidden) not the greed,but the last one only difficult to remove but not the greed,HELP WAHE GURU PL.
SAT SI AKAL,SIKH RELIGION ISN’T DIFFERENT THAN OUR SANATAN,ONLY FILTERED FORM,FROM EVILS CREATED DUE TO GREEDY PRIESTS.
HAPPY TO FIND SGGS INCORPORATED HINDI/SANSKRIT WORDS OF ARYAN/SANATAN CIVILIZATION
Flow of money is required not greed 4 money.Greed,worst evil of negativity, deprives other from natural justice.
Thank you Bhai Sahib Ji for taking the time to share your thoughts.
The Gurmat’s “Abinaasee Prabhu” is within.
Surely, then His Grace is also within — directly proportional to our own efforts (Shabad-Vichaar, practice…)!!
So, the Gurbani urges:
• ਆਪਣ ਹਥੀ ਆਪਣਾ ਆਪੇ ਹੀ ਕਾਜੁ ਸਵਾਰੀਐ ॥੨੦॥: (sggs 474).
• ਜੋ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਖੋਜਹਿ ਸੇਈ ਪਾਵਹਿ ਹੋਰਿ ਫੂਟਿ ਮੂਏ ਅਹੰਕਾਰੀ ॥੨੦॥: (sggs 911).
• ਆਪਿ ਬੀਜਿ ਆਪੇ ਹੀ ਖਾਇ ॥: (sggs 25).
• ਮਨ ਸਮਝਾਵਨ ਕਾਰਨੇ ਕਛੂਅਕ ਪੜੀਐ ਗਿਆਨ ॥੫॥: (sggs 340).
Only Grace of Abinaasee Prabhu can initiate changes in the mind and one can become true Gurmukhi.
Thank you Sarbjit Ji for taking the time to share your thoughts. Welcome to the Gurbani Blog!
Very true.
Thank you brother Baljit Soni Ji for taking the time to respond. Welcome to the Gurbani Blog!
Enjoyed reading gurbani interpretation and the comments that followed. The impression I got after reading is it is very difficult or even not possible in one lifetime to attain that state of divinity while you are alive. My experience is it
requires practice (P). P to be in remembrance and to practice peace. That’s when our understanding turns into reality.
The flow of money is equally important and all wordly celebarations (Purpuch) should be viewed in this context only.
Purpunch is also supported from THE CREATOR and only rares are one who are kept away from its Purpuch that is also the game plan of THE CREATOR.
Respected T Singh Ji
Fantastic article, thanks for keeping us focused on the task in hand.
J.
Tank you Bhai Sahib Harbans Singh Kandola Jeo.
We welcome you here at the Gurbani Blog.
MERE MANN EKAS SION CHIT LAEAE. EKAS BIN SABH DHANDH HAI SABH MITHIA MOH MAEAE. (SGGSJI PANNA 44). Yes we need economic progress but inner peace , happiness, bliss and joy comes from living the teachings of GURBANI. Living a balanced life is the key message of GURBANI.
Nobody is saying it’s easy – it’s like “Chewing Iron”.
Nothing is easy!
As about quotations, the Gurbani is full of many more related verses, but all cannot be given from a space point of view. Please note that the meanings of the verses you quoted are literal translation. The Gurmat Wisdom of the SGGS does not support the concept of reincarnation. See this post for more. Welcome to the Gurbani Blog!
Please note the Gurbani in SGGS critiques/rejects/debunks belief in reincarnation/transmigration.
Dear T Singh Jeo;
How to achieve that status isn’t made explicitly clear by you. The spiritual change isn’t like a physical change (switching on a light bulb and you remove darkness in an instant! Or a chemical change where you mix two elements/chemicals and get the third one instantly!), its a long process, because “ਜਨਮ ਜਨਮ ਕੀ ਇਸੁ ਮਨ ਕਉ ਮਲੁ ਲਾਗੀ ਕਾਲਾ ਹੋਆ ਸਿਆਹੁ ॥
The filth of countless incarnations sticks to this mind; it has become pitch black.” Ank 651. Param Pad is rising above the three Gunas of Maya and five Viakaras (that are within Maya) and its not easy. Yatha Gurwak “ਏਕ ਨਗਰੀ ਪੰਚ ਚੋਰ ਬਸੀਅਲੇ ਬਰਜਤ ਚੋਰੀ ਧਾਵੈ ॥
In the one village of the body, live the five thieves; they have been warned, but they still go out stealing.
ਤ੍ਰਿਹਦਸ ਮਾਲ ਰਖੈ ਜੋ ਨਾਨਕ ਮੋਖ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਸੋ ਪਾਵੈ ॥੧॥
One who keeps his assets safe from the three modes and the ten passions, O Nanak, attains liberation and emancipation. ||1||” Ank 503. Also, “ਪੰਚ ਪੂਤ ਜਣੇ ਇਕ ਮਾਇ ॥ The One Mother gave birth to the five sons,” Ank 865. The solution is “ਰਹਤ ਰਹਤ ਰਹਿ ਜਾਹਿ ਬਿਕਾਰਾ ॥
Your evil ways shall be slowly and steadily blotted out,
ਗੁਰ ਪੂਰੇ ਕੈ ਸਬਦਿ ਅਪਾਰਾ ॥
by the Shabad, the Incomparable Word of the Perfect Guru.” Ank 259. The process can take more than one life. No wonder Bhagat Kabir Ji told us about himself while addressing to the Lord “ਪੂਰਬ ਜਨਮ ਹਮ ਤੁਮ੍ਹ੍ਹਰੇ ਸੇਵਕ ਅਬ ਤਉ ਮਿਟਿਆ ਨ ਜਾਈ ॥
In my past life, I was Your servant; now, I cannot leave You.” Ank 970. It is clear that Bhagat Kabir Ji couldn’t reach the Param Pad in one life. While your article is appreciated, I may say that you seemed to have solved the problem in minutes/instantly!
Best Regards.
Guru’s Singh
Tarlok Singh…
ਸਾਹਿਬੁ ਮੇਰਾ ਨੀਤ ਨਵਾ ਸਦਾ ਸਦਾ ਦਾਤਾਰੁ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ (sggs 660).
Thank you Bhai Sahib Jio!
Very well said Veer T Singh Ji,
The real newness lies ‘within’ and can perpetually stay ‘renewed’ by regular assimilation of Gurbani. I don’t exactly recall the complete shabad but another gurbani ‘tuq’ reaffirms … ‘Sahib mera neet navaan, sadaa sadaa daataar ‘
Deep Regards
After reading your all Shri Gurbani Ji’s explanation ma soul is fully satisfied within . Thank you all ma brothers ; Happy Divine New Year Greetings .
Excellent as usuall!
Thank you Veer Ji so much.
Satkar jog gurmukh T.Singh jio
Sat bachan ji.
ਕਹਿ ਕਬੀਰ ਬੁਧਿ ਹਰਿ ਲਈ ਮੇਰੀ ਬੁਧਿ ਬਦਲੀ ਸਿਧਿ ਪਾਈ
It’s a change from Bharam-Jaal (illusion) to Brahm-Giaan (Divine Knowledge, Aatm-Giaan, etc.).
regards
Gurpreet Singh
New Year is the time when greeting cards, gifts, and good wishes keep pouring in from friends and relatives. They are believed to be expressing sentiments but with a lot of money exchanging hands. The expression of sentiments is wrapped in expensive packages and psychological hang-ups…
While reading about birthday and ageing (avadh) in Sri Guru Granth Sahib I was made to realize that at the time of any New Year or any birthday, when our circle of friends and relatives are expressing jubilation, we lose another year from our given life span. And this loss may not be insignificant for many of us with graying of the hair.
As we grow older and amass wisdom and wealth, we proportionately give up opportunity to enjoy those treasures. Bhagat Kabir, while writing in the Guru Granth (page 91) brings home this lesson as follows.
ਜਨਨੀ ਜਾਨਤ ਸੁਤੁ ਬਡਾ ਹੋਤੁ ਹੈ ਇਤਨਾ ਕੁ ਨ ਜਾਨੈ ਜਿ ਦਿਨ ਦਿਨ ਅਵਧ ਘਟਤੁ ਹੈ ॥
jannee jaanat sut badaa hot hai itnaa ko na jaanai je din din avaDh ghatat hai.
Every mother celebrates and takes pleasure in believing that her child is growing up with every birthday she celebrates; she does not realize that, day by day, her son’s or daughter’s life is actually diminishing by a year per birthday.
Guru Arjan brings this point home with another perspective on page 207 of the Guru Granth.
ਰਾਜੁ ਜੋਬਨੁ ਅਵਧ ਜੋ ਦੀਸੈ ਸਭੁ ਕਿਛੁ ਜੁਗ ਮਹਿ ਘਾਟਿਆ ॥
raaj joban avaDh jo deesai sabh kichh jug meh ghaati-aa.
Power and authority, youth and possessions – whatever is seen in this world, all of them are continuously fading away.
On page 247 of the Guru Granth, Guru Arjan further describes the plight of our shortsightedness in counting our growing wealth and influence as something ever-increasing:
ਹਉ ਸੰਚਉ ਹਉ ਖਾਟਤਾ ਸਗਲੀ ਅਵਧ ਬਿਹਾਨੀ ॥
ha-o sancha-o ha-o khaattaa saglee avaDh bihaanee. rahaa-o.
I think that I am earning profits and getting richer with advancing age, without realizing that my life span is declining in similar proportions.
A considerable amount of research, based on the foundational assumption of a finite human life span, has begun to focus on the concept of life span independent of yearly calendars of events. It may be called life expectancy that is spiritually rich and free of dependence on a calendar. It is rather a healthy life expectancy, an active life expectancy, a disability-free life expectancy, an altruistic life span, a functional life expectancy, and a purposeful life expectancy. A life that is gift to enjoy and that is opportunity to fulfill its fundamental objectives…
The New Year introspection may lead us to a solemn declaration that we will endeavor further to building inner bridges to reality so that we may empower our own potential as well as help others to shift the global mind towards eternal reality…
Great!