Intellect Must Awaken to Wisdom

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If one’s mind consistently watches itself, then that person is an intellectual.

If we are willing to take and accept the Unique spiritual Wisdom of the Gurbani in the  Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS), it makes the mind Wise (ਗਿਆਨਵਾਨ, ਤਰਕਸ਼ੀਲ, ਬਿਬੇਕੀ, ਪਾਰਖੂ-Paarkhoo …) by providing keen intellect (‘Akal-ਅਕਲ’, Bibek Budh). Thus by becoming the Gurban, one can remove arrogance and mental blindness (ਅੰਧ ਵਿਸ਼ਵਾਸ਼ੀ).

Having said that, the Gurbani Awakens our consciousness (Surat) from the state of sleep paralysis, ignorance, vices/Bikaar (lust, anger, greed, etc.), doubt, illusion (Maya), and so on. In other words, the Gurbani being the mirror of our minds, it channelizes our minds to Enlightenment (Gurmukh-hood), and live life accordingly!

  • ਇਹੁ ਮਨੁ ਸਕਤੀ ਇਹੁ ਮਨੁ ਸੀਉ ॥ ਇਹੁ ਮਨੁ ਪੰਚ ਤਤ ਕੋ ਜੀਉ ॥ ਇਹੁ ਮਨੁ ਲੇ ਜਉ ਉਨਮਨਿ ਰਹੈ ॥ ਤਉ ਤੀਨਿ ਲੋਕ ਕੀ ਬਾਤੈ ਕਹੈ ॥੩੩॥ : (Attaching itself to Maya) this mind becomes Mayaic (engrossed in vices or Bikaar – lust, anger, greed, attachment, pride; and their countless variations), and when it’s united with the Divine within this mind becomes Divine (Bliss-Nature, Virtues…). (By identifying with) the physical body made of the five-elements, this mind becomes like the physical body (i.e. forgets its Original Nature as Jot Saroop, wanders gratifying senses etc.). When this mind is controlled and remains in the Higher State of Wisdom (i.e. Enlightenment, Bliss, Sahaj etc.), then the mind reflects on the Omnipresent or All-pervading Creator. ||33|| (sggs 342).
  • ਜਾਗੁ ਸਲੋਨੜੀਏ ਬੋਲੈ ਗੁਰਬਾਣੀ ਰਾਮ ॥ : O my beautiful consciousness (mind, soul, Surat-ਸੁਰਤ…) the Gurbani (i.e., Gurmat Wisdom of sggs) tells you to Wake up (to Truth – ਅਸਲੀਅਤ, ਤੱਤ, ਸੱਚ). (sggs 844).

The Gurmat Wisdom of the SGGS teaches us that until we know the Reality or Truth, the mind will remain confused and restless and continue to wander around, experiencing repeated suffering in life, here and now.

As is the intellect, so does one understands, thinks, acts, behaves, talks, and so on. Therefore, the Wisdom of the SGGS asserts intellect (Budh) must Awaken to Sahaj (Natural state of Being, Giyan Avasthaa, Wisdom…).

  • ਉਪਜੈ ਸਹਜੁ ਗਿਆਨ ਮਤਿ ਜਾਗੈ ॥ : (With the elimination of doubt from within) Sahaj wells up within (Natural state of Being…), the Intellect awakens to Spiritual Wisdom. (sggs 92).
  • ਸਭ ਬੁਧੀ ਜਾਲੀਅਹਿ ਇਕੁ ਰਹੈ ਤਤੁ ਗਿਆਨੁ ॥ : All (Mayaic) intellect (ਸਾਰੀਆਂ ਹੀ ਸਿਆਣਪਾਂ) are unavailing (useless, futile…); only the Essence of Spiritual Wisdom lasts (remains…). ||4|| (sggs 1413).

At the present, our mind (Mann) or conscience (Chitt) are cracked, divided, or fragmented like two pieces of Daal (ਦਾਲ – split seed of lintel). So long the mind is split as ‘Daal‘, it will wander around in doubt, confusion and superstitions.

  • ਬਿਨੁ ਨਾਵੈ ਜਗੁ ਕਮਲਾ ਫਿਰੈ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਨਦਰੀ ਆਇਆ ॥ : Without the Naam (Wisdom, Truth, Virtues…), the world wanders around insane; this is realized by becoming the Gurmukh. (sggs 643).

With the intellect Awakening to the Wisdom, the split (gap, crack, division…) heals to become one – whole, complete, total, (‘Saabat-ਸਾਬਤ’…).

  • ਬੀਉ ਬੀਜਿ ਪਤਿ ਲੈ ਗਏ ਅਬ ਕਿਉ ਉਗਵੈ ਦਾਲਿ ॥ ਜੇ ਇਕੁ ਹੋਇ ਤ ਉਗਵੈ ਰੁਤੀ ਹੂ ਰੁਤਿ ਹੋਇ ॥ : Those who planted the seed (of Divine Naam) within have departed with honor; (but) those whose mind is split in duality (fragmented-ਦਾਲ ਵਾਂਗ ਦੋ-ਫਾੜ), how can the seed (of Naam: Wisdom /Virtues) sprout in their mind?The seed sprouts only if the seed is whole (undivided-Saabat…) and if the season is proper (the seed of Naam will sprout only if the mind is not split in duality: Unfragmented, Whole-Saabat…). (sggs 468).

Sahaj – State of Wisdom or Giyan Avasthaa

For Sikhs (learners or student of the SGGS), this State of Wisdom is available in the SGGS for those who are sincerely interested in taking it and then living it.

  • ਅਧਮ ਚੰਡਾਲੀ ਭਈ ਬ੍ਰਹਮਣੀ ਸੂਦੀ ਤੇ ਸ੍ਰੇਸਟਾਈ ਰੇ ॥ : The state of mind which was lowly or evil (i.e. like a cat, the wandering mind that hunts for what belongs to others etc., with the Gur-Giyan-Wisdom) becomes pure – state of the mind transformed from very low to sublime, Wise, under control…). (sggs 381).

The Gurbani is given to us for this very purpose – churn it through Shabad-Vichaar, and get the butter of Wisdom (Gurmat) from it.

  • ਮਨੁ ਤਨੁ ਬੁਧਿ ਅਰਪੀ ਠਾਕੁਰ ਕਉ ਤਬ ਹਮ ਸਹਜਿ ਸੋਏ ॥ : (With the Grace of the Gur-Giyan or Wisdom) I have dedicated my mind, body and intellect to the Divine (i.e., Wisdom, Virtues, Truth…), since then I enjoy the Sahaj (-Avasthaa, Natural state of Being, State of Wisdom…). (sggs 214).

The Gurbani instructs us that the Treasure or Jewel of the Giyan-Wisdom and Virtues is ever present Within all of us, waiting to be Awakened.

  • ਮਤਿ ਵਿਚਿ ਰਤਨ ਜਵਾਹਰ ਮਾਣਿਕ ਜੇ ਇਕ ਗੁਰ ਕੀ ਸਿਖ ਸੁਣੀ ॥ : The Internalization of (this) one Priceless Message of my Guru (i.e. Shabad) makes my spirituality Shabad Based (i.e. Virtues-ਗੁਣ, Wisdom). (sggs 2).

Kubudh – corrupt intellect

The intellect, which is not awakened to the Guru Shabad is Kubudh (ਕੁਬੁੱਧ) or Durmat (‘ਦੁਰਮਤਿ’) – evil intellect, corrupt nature, depraved, stupid, foolish, wicked, intellect fallen to the perpetual slumber of Maya, etc..

  • ਮਨ ਕੀ ਮਤਿ ਮਤਾਗਲੁ ਮਤਾ ॥ : Mind’s intellect is like a drunk elephant. (sggs 351).
  • ਤਤੁ ਨ ਚੀਨੈ ਮਨਮੁਖੁ ਜਲਿ ਜਾਇ ॥ ਦੁਰਮਤਿ ਵਿਛੁੜਿ ਚੋਟਾ ਖਾਇ ॥ ਮਾਨੈ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਸਭੇ ਗੁਣ ਗਿਆਨ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਦਰਗਹ ਪਾਵੈ ਮਾਨੁ ॥੫੬॥ : Sans spirituality of the Shabad, the Manmukh (unenlightened mind) remains engulfed in vices; the Creator is not Realized. Sans the Shabad, our spirituality (is unworthy because it) suffers NON Realization. (Spiritual success is the) Realization of the Divine Virtues and Internalization of His Hukam. Nanak, the spirituality of the Shabad provides the Honor (of Realization) within my Conscience. ॥56॥ (sggs 944).

How can this crookedness or corrupt intellect (Kubudh) be eradicated and Awakened to the Gurbani’s Giyan-Wisdom? The Gurbani Guides:

  • ਕੁਬੁਧਿ ਮਿਟੈ ਗੁਰ ਸਬਦੁ ਬੀਚਾਰਿ ॥ : Corrupt intellect or destructive mindset is eliminated by Reflecting on the Gur-Shabad (Shabad-Vichaar). (sggs 944).
  • ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਤੇ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਪਾਇਆ ਹਰਿ ਤਤੁ ਬੀਚਾਰਾ ॥ ਮਤਿ ਮਲੀਣ ਪਰਗਟੁ ਭਈ ਜਪਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਮੁਰਾਰਾ ॥ : Receiving Giyan (Wisdom) from the Satigur and reflecting on Hari Essence (Mool, True Nature or Jot Saroop…),  the polluted intellect becomes enlightened by understanding the Wisdom. (sggs 163).

The Gurbani asserts it’s the mind that needs to become the Sikh!

  • ਸਾ ਮਤਿ ਪੂਰੀ ਜਿਤੁ ਹਰਿ ਗੁਣ ਗਾਵੈ ॥: That intellect is perfect which lives life by the Divine Virtues. (sggs 189)

Otherwise, what’s the use of reasoning, intellectualism, reading Gurbani and listening to its recitations if it does not usher one in Viveka-Budhi (discerning intellect), Virtues or Dharma etc.? What’s the use of talking about Dharma, spirituality and Truth if not lived (ਅਮਲ)?

  • ਗਿਆਨ ਖੜਗ ਪੰਚ ਦੂਤ ਸੰਘਾਰੇ ਗੁਰਮਤਿ ਜਾਗੈ ਸੋਇ ॥ : (The person who) With the sword of the Spiritual Wisdom kill the five demons (i.e., ego and all its faults – lust, anger, greed etc.), (he) remains Awake and Aware because of the Gurmat. (sggs 1414).

Modern Education lacks Awakening

An Awakened mind can discriminate between right and wrong, truth and untruth etc. Accordingly, an Awakened mind blossoms forth and always do what is right, respectful and beneficial to everyone and everything in the society. An Awakened mind can lead the Way of Truth and inspires others to do so.

However, unfortunately, the modern education is only vocational training. Same is true for the Pujaaree systems of all the man-made and organized religions.

You can even train a beast! It simply means training does not require Awakening.

Like a robot, a trained mind just learns to perform as programmed. Its main duty is to please its trainer, be it right or wrong, moral or immoral, false or true, absurd or wise, harmful or beneficial to the humans and rest of the creation, and so on.

We humans amongst all known creatures have the gift of Bibek Budh (discriminating intellect), and can self-judge the consequences of our thoughts and actions.

However, merely a trained mind or a trained beast cannot comprehend the consequences of their thoughts and actions.

Purpose of reading / listening Gurbani

Hence, only when the consciousness is Awakened can we truly say the individual is learned or educated.

The entire Gurbani is Naam (Giyan-Wisdom / Virtues). Therefore, the purpose of reading and listening the Gurbani is to understand it through diligent Shabad-Vichaar, and suck the Wisdom out of it by churning it. This is the real Gurmat Bhagti.

  • ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਬਿਬੇਕ ਬੁਧਿ ਹੋਇ ॥ : The Gurmukh is blessed with spiritual wisdom and discerning intellect (sggs 317).
  • ਸੋ ਧਨਵੰਤਾ ਜਿਸੁ ਬੁਧਿ ਬਿਬੇਕ ॥ : Wealthy is that person who has Bibek Budh. (sggs 1150).

The ritualistic reading of the Gurbani is Useless. Also, embellishing the body-frame with religious paraphernalia and religious robes will NOT do the trick either!

The ego-mind may not agree with the Gurbani’s bold assertion that reading and memorizing (religious texts, Granths…) is of no avail (Spiritual Gain, ਆਤਮਕ ਲਾਹਾ…) unless one gains Understanding (ਆਤਮਕ ਸੂਝ-ਬੂਝ) in his Heart. Here is the proof from the Gurbani:

  • ਪਢੇ ਗੁਨੇ ਨਾਹੀ ਕਛੁ ਬਉਰੇ ਜਉ ਦਿਲ ਮਹਿ ਖਬਰਿ ਨ ਹੋਈ ॥੨॥ : O crazy man! (You) gain nothing by reading and studying if you do not gain the Understanding (ਆਤਮਕ ਸੂਝ-ਬੂਝ) in the Heart. ||2|| (sggs 483).

But unfortunately, the Gurbani has been confined to and made an object of worship like an idol – Karamkaand (rituals), keeping it wrapped in expensive clothes (Rumaalaas), reading it in ritualistic manners (Akhand Paaths, Nit-Nem etc.), displaying it on expensive Palkis, traveling it in helicopters, mere bowing to SGGS, performing Mayaic prayers in front of SGGS, placing Golak in front of SGGS etc.

Bigger the foolishness or false ego-sense, bigger the ostentation (ਪਖੰਡ, ਅਡੰਬਰ)!

This is all business (ਧੰਧਾ) in the Name of SGGS – Brahmanism (ਬ੍ਰਹਮਣੀ ਮਤ) promoted by the self-serving Pujaaree-Vadd in Sikhi — clergy: Granthis, Parcharaks, Ragis, Dhadees etc.) and the freeloading Deraa-Vaad Baabaas (ਵੇਹਲੜ) etc.

Thus, with the exception of ‘ਧੋਤੀ ਟਿਕਾ’ (loin cloths and ritual frontal marks to foreheads, Janaeoo, etc.), the self-serving Pujaaree groups in Gurdwaras (including all Takhat) practice Brahmanism in everything else they do.

The Pujaaree groups and Deraa-Vaad have turned these places into the dens of mammon worshippers –  Mayadhaaree, Manmukhs, Saakat etc. This is what they teach to their followers who work as Bhais, Ragis, Kathaakaar etc. in Gurdawaras!

  • ਗਜ ਸਾਢੇ ਤੈ ਤੈ ਧੋਤੀਆ ਤਿਹਰੇ ਪਾਇਨਿ ਤਗ ॥ 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 ॥ ਬਾਸਨ ਮਾਂਜਿ ਚਰਾਵਹਿ ਊਪਰਿ ਕਾਠੀ ਧੋਇ ਜਲਾਵਹਿ ॥ ਬਸੁਧਾ ਖੋਦਿ ਕਰਹਿ ਦੁਇ ਚੂਲ੍ਹ੍ਹੇ ਸਾਰੇ ਮਾਣਸ ਖਾਵਹਿ ॥੨॥ ਓਇ ਪਾਪੀ ਸਦਾ ਫਿਰਹਿ ਅਪਰਾਧੀ ਮੁਖਹੁ ਅਪਰਸ ਕਹਾਵਹਿ ॥ ਸਦਾ ਸਦਾ ਫਿਰਹਿ ਅਭਿਮਾਨੀ ਸਗਲ ਕੁਟੰਬ ਡੁਬਾਵਹਿ ॥੩॥ : (Freeloading or Pakhandi Sant/Sadh) they wear three and a half yard long loincloths, and triple-wound sacred threads. They wear rosaries around their necks, and glittering jugs in their hands. Just because of such religious paraphernalia they should not be called Sant of God — they are thugs of Baanaaras (i.e., religious conmen, cheats, robbers…). Fallen from human thinking, such pretentious so called Sant are not pleasing to me. Because, they rob their victims of not only their wealth, but also of their life which is like gulping down the entire tree instead of consuming just a branch. ||1||Pause|| They wash their pots and pans before putting them on the stove, and wash the wood before lighting it. (To show others how holy they are) they dig earth, and make two hearths – one for their use and he second for others to use. (But in their real life, they are so cruel) they rob their victims as if they devoured the whole person (i.e. exploit the gullible people and destroy their life). ||2|| Such sinners always keep roaming around (looking for more victims), but they call themselves “Aprass” (i.e. untouched by vices or any other person). They always live in arrogance and thus drown themselves (in vices) along with their family (i.e. those in their company also suffer for their deeds). ||3|| (sggs 476).

Like the Hindu Brahmans/Pandits, these Sikh Brahmins/Pandits spread Karamkaand and mislead people for bread (money, ਰੋਟੀਆਂ).

Mere talks or Pakhand will not do the trick

However, the Gurbani warns us that this sought after Giyan-Wisdom, is not to be realized by mere words or talks (ਫੋਕੀਆਂ ਗੱਲਾਂ), or rituals (Karamkaand) etc.

Through useless talks, all one can obtain is falsehood (‘ਕੂੜੋ’) and fraud, not Wisdom or Union with our Divine Self within (Jot Saroop). Also, through mere talks, mind’s hunger for Maya will only increase.

  • ਗਿਆਨੁ ਨ ਗਲੀਈ ਢੂਢੀਐ ਕਥਨਾ ਕਰੜਾ ਸਾਰੁ ॥ ਕਰਮਿ ਮਿਲੈ ਤਾ ਪਾਈਐ ਹੋਰ ਹਿਕਮਤਿ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਖੁਆਰੁ ॥੨॥ : Divine Giyan-Wisdom cannot be obtained through mere talking, to explain how to obtain it is extremely difficult like chewing iron. Other tricks and dictates (of the mind) are useless. ||2|| (sggs 465).

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