A Pile of Bones, Filth and Worms

When the Truth that has not been personally experienced, one can not grasp it directly. However, with the help of examples, analogies, similes, allegories, metaphors, figurative or mystic representations and illustrations, idioms (ਮੁਹਾਵਰੇ), etc., the Truth becomes relatively easier to grasp. Such methods have extensively been used in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS).

The Guru Sahibans have given valuable teachings to mankind by using words like Vishta or Bishta (ordure), Charam (skin), Asat (bone), Murdar (carcass, dead body), Karang (carcass,skeleton), Durgandh (rotten smell), etc. The Gurmat Wisdom of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS) Teaches Sikhs (learners, seekers – ਸਿਖਿਆਰਥੀ) the human body is fragile, and fleeting — just a PILE OF BONES, FILTH AND MAGGOT.

• ਬਿਸਟਾ ਅਸਤ ਰਕਤੁ ਪਰੇਟੇ ਚਾਮ ॥ ਇਸੁ ਊਪਰਿ ਲੇ ਰਾਖਿਓ ਗੁਮਾਨ ॥੩॥ ਏਕ ਵਸਤੁ ਬੂਝਹਿ ਤਾ ਹੋਵਹਿ ਪਾਕ ॥ ਬਿਨੁ ਬੂਝੇ ਤੂੰ ਸਦਾ ਨਾਪਾਕ ॥੪॥ : You are nothing but ordure, bones and blood wrapped in skin. It is upon this filthy bundle you have based your conceit. If you could realize God within, then you would become pure. (sggs 374).
• ਚਲਤ ਕਤ ਟੇਢੇ ਟੇਢੇ ਟੇਢੇ ॥ ਅਸਤਿ ਚਰਮ ਬਿਸਟਾ ਕੇ ਮੂੰਦੇ ਦੁਰਗੰਧ ਹੀ ਕੇ ਬੇਢੇ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ ਰਾਮ ਨ ਜਪਹੁ ਕਵਨ ਭ੍ਰਮ ਭੂਲੇ ਤੁਮ ਤੇ ਕਾਲੁ ਨ ਦੂਰੇ ॥ ਅਨਿਕ ਜਤਨ ਕਰਿ ਇਹੁ ਤਨੁ ਰਾਖਹੁ ਰਹੈ ਅਵਸਥਾ ਪੂਰੇ ॥੨॥ : Why do you walk crooked ways? You are nothing more than a bundle of bones, wrapped in skin, filled with ordure (excrement, etc.); you give off a rotten smell! ||1||Pause|| (sggs 1124).
• ਮਨ ਕਹ ਅਹੰਕਾਰਿ ਅਫਾਰਾ ॥ ਦੁਰਗੰਧ ਅਪਵਿਤ੍ਰ ਅਪਾਵਨ ਭੀਤਰਿ ਜੋ ਦੀਸੈ ਸੋ ਛਾਰਾ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ : O my mind, why are you so puffed up with false ego-sense? Inside this body are foul odors, filth and impurities, this body of yours you see is also perishable. ||1||Pause|| (sggs 530).
• ਧ੍ਰਿਗੁ ਸਰੀਰੁ ਅਸਤ ਬਿਸਟਾ ਕ੍ਰਿਮ ਬਿਨੁ ਹਰਿ ਜਾਨਤ ਹੋਰ ॥੧॥ : Accursed is that body of that person who recognizes anybody else except God, and is nothing but bones, filth and worms. ll1ll (sggs 1228).
• ਕਾਚ ਕੋਟੰ ਰਚੰਤਿ ਤੋਯੰ ਲੇਪਨੰ ਰਕਤ ਚਰਮਣਹ ॥ : This fragile body-fortress is made up of water, plastered with blood and wrapped in skin. (sggs 1354).
• ਕਬੀਰ ਗਰਬੁ ਨ ਕੀਜੀਐ ਚਾਮ ਲਪੇਟੇ ਹਾਡ ॥ : Kabeer, do not be so proud of your (body, after all it just a bundle of) bones wrapped up in skin. (sggs 1366).
• ਕਰਪੂਰ ਪੁਹਪ ਸੁਗੰਧਾ ਪਰਸ ਮਾਨੁਖ੍ਯ੍ਯ ਦੇਹੰ ਮਲੀਣੰ ॥ ਮਜਾ ਰੁਧਿਰ ਦ੍ਰੁਗੰਧਾ ਨਾਨਕ ਅਥਿ ਗਰਬੇਣ ਅਗ੍ਯ੍ਯਾਨਣੋ ॥੧॥ : Camphor, flowers and perfume become filthy by coming in contact with the human body. The human body contains bone marrow, blood, and many foul smelling things, but Nanak, still the ignorant man takes egotistical pride in it. ||1|| (sggs 1360).
• ਜਾਣੋ ਸਤਿ ਹੋਵੰਤੋ ਮਰਣੋ ਦ੍ਰਿਸਟੇਣ ਮਿਥਿਆ ॥ ਕੀਰਤਿ ਸਾਥਿ ਚਲੰਥੋ ਭਣੰਤਿ ਨਾਨਕ ਸਾਧ ਸੰਗੇਣ ॥੩॥ : We should understand that physical death is inevitable, and whatever is visible in this world is illusory or perishable (i.e. ‘Mithiya’). Nanak says, so live your daily life according to the Wisdom of the Guru; this alone will help you in life. ||3|| (sggs 1360).

Hence, the Gurmat or Wisdom of the Guru teaches us to make this life better — not to live in a state of ignorance and duality, develop partnership with Virtues / Wisdom, earn ‘Laahaa‘ of human birth.

• ਪ੍ਰਾਣੀ ਤੂੰ ਆਇਆ ਲਾਹਾ ਲੈਣਿ ॥:  O mortal, you came to earn a (Spiritual) Profit. (sggs 43).
• ਗੁਣ ਵਿਹੂਣ ਮਾਇਆ ਮਲੁ ਧਾਰੀ ॥ : (Those) without Virtues, bear the filth of Maya (in their minds). (sggs 367).
• ਵਿਛੁੜਿਆ ਕਾ ਕਿਆ ਵਿਛੁੜੈ ਜਿਨਾ ਦੂਜੈ ਭਾਇ ਪਿਆਰੁ ॥ : What more separation could they suffer since they are already separated from God due to their love of duality? (sggs 587).

Aptly, we are taught by the Gurbani of the SGGS that man’s paramount duty in life is to understand his degradation and reclaim himself from the state of ignorance and outer domination — Maya-slavery, duality-slavery, sense-slavery, Haumai or ego-slavery, Pujaaree-slavery etc.

In fact, according to Bhagat Kabeer Ji, there is no difference between humans and animals or vegetation if we humans are just limited to filling our belly in Mayaic slumber!

• ਸੁਆਨ ਸਿਆਲ ਮਾਇਆ ਮਹਿ ਰਾਤਾ ॥ ਬੰਤਰ ਚੀਤੇ ਅਰੁ ਸਿੰਘਾਤਾ ॥ ਮਾਂਜਾਰ ਗਾਡਰ ਅਰੁ ਲੂਬਰਾ ॥ ਬਿਰਖ ਮੂਲ ਮਾਇਆ ਮਹਿ ਪਰਾ ॥੪॥ ਮਾਇਆ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਭੀਨੇ ਦੇਵ ॥ ਸਾਗਰ ਇੰਦ੍ਰਾ ਅਰੁ ਧਰਤੇਵ ॥ ਕਹਿ ਕਬੀਰ ਜਿਸੁ ਉਦਰੁ ਤਿਸੁ ਮਾਇਆ ॥ ਤਬ ਛੂਟੇ ਜਬ ਸਾਧੂ ਪਾਇਆ ॥੫॥੫॥੧੩॥ : Dogs and jackals are imbued with Maya. Monkeys, leopards, and lions, are all indulged in Maya. So are cats, sheep, and foxes. Trees and roots have all fallen victim to Maya in the form of food and water for their survival. ||4|| Even the demigods (Devtas-ਦੇਵਤੇ) are drenched with the love for Maya. All the creatures living in the ocean, space and the earth are engrossed in Maya. Says Kabeer, whoever has a belly to fill, is under the spell of Maya. Release from Maya’s grip happens only when one internalize the enlightening Giyan-Wisdom of the Guru. ||5||5||13|| (sggs 1160).
• ਮਾਇਆ ਰੰਗ ਬਿਰੰਗ ਕਰਤ ਭ੍ਰਮ ਮੋਹ ਕੈ ਕੂਪਿ ਗੁਬਾਰਿ ਪਰਿਓ ਹੈ ॥ ਏਤਾ ਗਬੁ ਅਕਾਸਿ ਨ ਮਾਵਤ ਬਿਸਟਾ ਅਸ੍ਤ ਕ੍ਰਿਮਿ ਉਦਰੁ ਭਰਿਓ ਹੈ ॥ ਦਹ ਦਿਸ ਧਾਇ ਮਹਾ ਬਿਖਿਆ ਕਉ ਪਰ ਧਨ ਛੀਨਿ ਅਗਿਆਨ ਹਰਿਓ ਹੈ ॥ : O brother, this Maya plays many kinds of enticing shows and due to the delusion and love for it, you have fallen into the dark pit of Maya. You indulge in so much pride/arrogance, as if you cannot be contained even in the sky, but the reality is that your belly is filled with ordure, bones and worms. For the sake of this extremely poisonous Maya, you run in all directions and snatch other’s wealth because you have been deceived by ignorance. (sggs 1388).

The spirituality of Baabaa Nanak or the Shabad (SGGS) is the Sikhi of the self, for the self, and by the self. Hence, there is NO concept of transfer of blessing in the Sikhi of Baabaa Nanak. Here is the principle of Baabaa Nanak’s Sikhi or Gurmat:

• ਆਪਣ ਹਥੀ ਆਪਣਾ ਆਪੇ ਹੀ ਕਾਜੁ ਸਵਾਰੀਐ ॥੨੦॥ : (So long there is breath – Praan) we should accomplish our (spiritual) task with our own actions done on our own by ourselves (i.e. with self-efforts) – meaning someone cannot do on my behalf, and I cannot do on someone’s behalf. ||20|| (sggs 474).

Therefor, before the body turns into ashes, dust or is eaten by worms the SGGS asks Sikhs to Internalize the Spiritual Message of the Shabad (Enlightenment).

• ਦੂਜੀ ਦੁਰਮਤਿ ਸਬਦੇ ਖੋਈ ॥ : The polluted intellect of duality is destroyed by the Gur-Shabad. (sggs 1051).
• ਸਬਦਿ ਮਰੈ ਭਗਤਿ ਪਾਏ ਜਨੁ ਸੋਇ ॥੩॥ : Dying within the enlightening spiritual Message contained in the Shabad, one realizes Bhagti ||3|| (sggs 159).

The Gurbani (SGGS) asserts a person without Virtues (Gun-ਗੁਣ) is as useless as a cow without milk; a bird without wings; vegetation or crop without water; an emperor without respect, empty husk without grain etc. This is the edict (ਫੈਸਲਾ) of the SGGS:

• ਦੁਧ ਬਿਨੁ ਧੇਨੁ ਪੰਖ ਬਿਨੁ ਪੰਖੀ ਜਲ ਬਿਨੁ ਉਤਭੁਜ ਕਾਮਿ ਨਾਹੀ ॥ ਕਿਆ ਸੁਲਤਾਨੁ ਸਲਾਮ ਵਿਹੂਣਾ ਅੰਧੀ ਕੋਠੀ ਤੇਰਾ ਨਾਮੁ ਨਾਹੀ ॥੧॥ : A cow without milk; a bird without wings; vegetation without water (i.e. useless)! What is an emperor without respect? (Similarly) without the Naam (i.e., ਗੁਣ, Virtues, Wisdom, Truth…), the soul (or the mind) is just a dark room. ||1|| (sggs 354).
• ਗ੍ਰਿਹ ਰਚਨਾ ਅਪਾਰੰ ਮਨਿ ਬਿਲਾਸ ਸੁਆਦੰ ਰਸਹ ॥ ਕਦਾਂਚ ਨਹ ਸਿਮਰੰਤਿ ਨਾਨਕ ਤੇ ਜੰਤ ਬਿਸਟਾ ਕ੍ਰਿਮਹ ॥ : Those who remain engrossed in the enjoyment of their beautifully decorated houses, pleasures of the mind and in the relishes of tasty foods, they never remember God; Nanak, they are just like the worms of filth. ||1|| (sggs 707).
• ਏਤਾ ਗਬੁ ਅਕਾਸਿ ਨ ਮਾਵਤ ਬਿਸਟਾ ਅਸ੍ਤ ਕ੍ਰਿਮਿ ਉਦਰੁ ਭਰਿਓ ਹੈ ॥ ਦਹ ਦਿਸ ਧਾਇ ਮਹਾ ਬਿਖਿਆ ਕਉ ਪਰ ਧਨ ਛੀਨਿ ਅਗਿਆਨ ਹਰਿਓ ਹੈ ॥ : (O my foolish mind!) You indulge in so much arrogance, as if you cannot be contained even in the sky, but the reality is that your belly is filled with ordure, bones and worms. For the sake of Maya, you run in all directions and snatch other’s wealth because you have been deceived by ignorance. (sggs 1388).

Since the Gurbani is the ‘Gun Bani-ਗੁਣ ਬਾਣੀ’ (Gun = Virtues), the more Virtues Awaken within translate into more gain in Spiritual Giyan-Knowledge (Bibek…).

• ਜਨੁ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਬੋਲੇ ਗੁਣ ਬਾਣੀ ਗੁਰਬਾਣੀ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮਿ ਸਮਾਇਆ ॥੪॥੫॥ : ‘Janu’ Nanak utters this Bani of the Divine Virtues; one gets absorbed in the Divine Naam through the Gurbani (i.e. living by the Divine Wisdom / Virtues of the Gurbani). ||4||5|| (sggs 494).

The Gurbani does NOT want us to become the follower of BLIND FAITH (ਅੰਧ ਵਿਸ਼ਵਾਸ, ਅੰਨੀ ਸ਼ਰਧਾ-Sardhaa) concocted by the self-serving Pujaaree (clergy). In fact the Gurbani has RE-DEFINED ‘ਸਰਧਾ-Sardhaa‘ for Sikhs as follows.

• ਜਿਨ ਸਰਧਾ ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮਿ ਲਗੀ ਤਿਨ੍ਹ੍ਹ ਦੂਜੈ ਚਿਤੁ ਨ ਲਾਇਆ ਰਾਮ ॥ : Those, who develop ‘ਸਰਧਾ-Shardhaa‘ (faith etc.) in Divine Naam (Giyan-Wisdom / Virtues), do not attach their consciousness to someone else. (sggs 444).

Hence, instead of BLIND FAITH (ਅੰਨੀ ਸ਼ਰਧਾਂ, ਅੰਧ ਵਿਸ਼ਵਾਸ), in order to make human body and life worthwhile while alive Here and Now, the SGGS asks Sikhs to BECOME THE GURBANI.

• ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਕੀ ਬਾਣੀ ਸਤਿ ਸਰੂਪੁ ਹੈ ਗੁਰਬਾਣੀ ਬਣੀਐ ॥ : The Satgur’s Bani is the enlightenment — the Creator aligned and the Creator Connecting; BECOME THE GURBANI (i.e. become the enlightenment that the Gurbani is). (sggs 304).

Essentially the Gurbani is asking us not to let the duality run our lives. Instead, the Gurbani asks us to remember that our physical existence in this world is meant for Realizing the Creator within Here and Now, NOT afterlife or after death.

Off course, this will require sincere self-efforts toward the target of life. And, to meet this ultimate purpose of life, the Gurbani asks us to keep aimed at the target with the sword or arrow of the Guru’s Giyan-Wisdom.

• ਭਈ ਪਰਾਪਤਿ ਮਾਨੁਖ ਦੇਹੁਰੀਆ ॥ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਮਿਲਣ ਕੀ ਇਹ ਤੇਰੀ ਬਰੀਆ ॥ ਅਵਰਿ ਕਾਜ ਤੇਰੈ ਕਿਤੈ ਨ ਕਾਮ ॥ ਮਿਲੁ ਸਾਧਸੰਗਤਿ ਭਜੁ ਕੇਵਲ ਨਾਮ ॥੧॥ : (O Human being!) You have been blessed with a human body. This is your only opportunity to unite with the Creator. Other worldly deeds (e.g. Karamkaand, rituals, formalities, concocted concepts etc.) are of no use to you in realizing God. Therefore join the holy congregation (i.e. Satsangee Jan, seekers) and lovingly remember the divine Naam (Virtues / Wisdom). ||1|| (sggs 12).

The SGGS asserts there is only One Omnipresent Creator. To consider any ‘other’ is duality (‘Avar– ਅਵਰੁ’) — the principle of plurality, relativism, two-ness, worldliness, Doojaa Bhaav, Dubidhaa (‘ਦੁਬਿਧਾ’, ਦੁਚਿੱਤਾ) etc.

• ਸਚੇ ਬਾਝਹੁ ਕੋ ਅਵਰੁ ਨ ਦੂਆ ॥ ਦੂਜੈ ਲਾਗਿ ਜਗੁ ਖਪਿ ਖਪਿ ਮੂਆ ॥ : except the eternal God, there is no one else. Attached to duality, humanity suffers and deteriorates spiritually. (sggs 113).
• ਜਿਸੁ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਪ੍ਰੀਤਿ ਰਾਮ ਰਸੁ ਨਾਹੀ ਦੁਬਿਧਾ ਕਰਮ ਬਿਕਾਰੀ ॥੩॥ : Within whose mind the Bliss of God’s love does not well up, that person remains engrossed in duality and vices or Bikaar. ||3|| (sggs 1198).
• ਵਿਛੁੜਿਆ ਕਾ ਕਿਆ ਵਿਛੁੜੈ ਜਿਨਾ ਦੂਜੈ ਭਾਇ ਪਿਆਰੁ ॥ : What more separation could they suffer since they are already separated from God due to their love of duality? (sggs 587).
• ਜਬ ਜਰੀਐ ਤਬ ਹੋਇ ਭਸਮ ਤਨੁ ਰਹੈ ਕਿਰਮ ਦਲ ਖਾਈ ॥ : If dead body is cremated, it becomes ashes; if buried it is eaten by the army of worms. (sggs 654).

Duality gives rise to divisions, separateness, foolishness, false ego-sense (i.e. Haumai), the notion of ‘I, me, mine, you’, vices or Bikaar, suffering etc.

• ਇਹੁ ਤਨੁ ਸਭੋ ਰਤੁ ਹੈ ਰਤੁ ਬਿਨੁ ਤੰਨੁ ਨ ਹੋਇ ॥ ਜੋ ਸਹਿ ਰਤੇ ਆਪਣੈ ਤਿਨ ਤਨਿ ਲੋਭ ਰਤੁ ਨ ਹੋਇ ॥ : This body is all blood; without blood, the body cannot survive. Those who are imbued with the love of their God, do not have any greed in their blood (i.e. they are free all vices or Bikaar…). (sggs 949).
• ਨਾਨਕ ਬਿਨੁ ਹਰਿ ਅਵਰੁ ਜਿ ਚਾਹਨਾ ਬਿਸਟਾ ਕ੍ਰਿਮ ਭਸਮਾ ਰਾਮ ॥੩॥ : Nanak, to desire anything ‘other’ than God is like being consumed like a worm of filth; it is nothing but ruining of spiritual life. ||3|| (sggs 848).

If duality is likened to a body, suffering would be its head. The more one loves duality, the more one will suffer.

Yet, most of us in duality inexorably chase the illusion or mirage. As time and again pointed out in the SGGS, to live in a mere duality is the man’s sad fall into a low state of the mind and suffers here and now.

• ਬਿਸਟਾ ਕੇ ਕੀੜੇ ਬਿਸਟਾ ਮਾਹਿ ਸਮਾਣੇ ਮਨਮੁਖ ਮੁਗਧ ਗੁਬਾਰਾ ॥੩॥ : Just as the worms of filth remain in the filth, similarly (without Internalizing Naam) the foolish Manmukh persons (Unenlightened) remain consumed in the darkness of ignorance. ||3||(sggs 601).
• ਪ੍ਰਾਨ ਮਾਨ ਪਤਿ ਪਿਤ ਸੁਤ ਬੰਧਪ ਹਰਿ ਸਰਬਸੁ ਧਨ ਮੋਰ ॥ ਧ੍ਰਿਗੁ ਸਰੀਰੁ ਅਸਤ ਬਿਸਟਾ ਕ੍ਰਿਮ ਬਿਨੁ ਹਰਿ ਜਾਨਤ ਹੋਰ ॥੧॥ : For me God is my life breath, honor, pride, father, son, relative, and everything. The body of a person who recognizes anybody else except God becomes accursed because then his/her human body is nothing but bones, dirt, and worms. ll1ll (sggs 1228).

Some Related Posts:

• Pujaaree’s Sikhi vs. Guru Nanak’s
• Birth is the Proof of Impending Death
• Core of Gurmat Spirituality – Becoming Sachiaar – ਕਿਵ ਸਚਿਆਰਾ ਹੋਈਐ
• Be in the World, but not of the World!
• Gurmat Concept of Death
• I-Am-the-Body Idea
• Anything that Appears will Soon Disappear
• Two Kinds of Cleverness
• Oblivious to the Passage of Time
• Two aspects of Jeeva
• Gurmukh mindset
• Manmukh-Saakat-Mayadhaaree mindset
• Enjoy Grass Before it Grows on Top of You!
• Bhangaar – Mental Filth
• What is Maya?