Mere Seeing of the SGGS Will Not Liberate

The spirituality of the Gurmat (Wisdom of the Guru Shabad) is of the SELF, for the SELF, and by the SELF.

That said, the Gurbani of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS) claims that ritual seeing of SGGS will not give liberation. To get liberated from vices/Bikaar or bad thoughts (Soch), it is necessary to internalize the enlightening Message of the Guru Shabad and adopt/live it in daily life. therefore, there is NO concept of transfer of blessings in the spirituality of the Gurbani in the SGGS. Thus, here the following practical Sidhaant of the Guru Shabad applies.

• ਆਪੇ ਬੀਜਿ ਆਪੇ ਹੀ ਖਾਹੁ ॥ : I would eat what I sow. (sggs 4).

In other words, if I want to liberate myself from vices/Bikaar or bad thinking, then I must work hard for it. Just seeing SGGS or someone will not do the trick if the mind within remains corrupted and stubbornly unchanged.

In this context, Guru Sahib in SGGS has presented a valuable Gurmat or Sikhi Sidhaant of:

• ਸਬਦੁ ਗੁਰੂ ਸੁਰਤਿ ਧੁਨਿ ਚੇਲਾ ॥ : The SHABAD is my GURU, and my consciousness (Surat) is the disciple (of this SHABAD GURU). (sggs 943).
• ਸਿਖੀ ਸਿਖਿਆ ਗੁਰ ਵੀਚਾਰਿ ॥ : Sikhi is contemplation on Guru’s teaching (Instructions, Wisdom, Counsel, Guide, Upadesh, Giyan, Bibek) and acting on it. (sggs 465).

Simply put, without Shabad-Vichaar, mere seeing (Darshan-ਦਰਸਨ) of Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS) will not and cannot liberate anybody from Maya, doubts, duality, Haumai (false ego-sense), worldly bondage, mind’s delusions, Bikaars, and so on. This is the Gurbani’s edict.

• ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਨੋ ਸਭੁ ਕੋ ਵੇਖਦਾ ਜੇਤਾ ਜਗਤੁ ਸੰਸਾਰੁ ॥ ਡਿਠੈ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਨ ਹੋਵਈ ਜਿਚਰੁ ਸਬਦਿ ਨ ਕਰੇ ਵੀਚਾਰੁ ॥ ਹਉਮੈ ਮੈਲੁ ਨ ਚੁਕਈ ਨਾਮਿ ਨ ਲਗੈ ਪਿਆਰੁ ॥ : Everybody in this the world physically see the Satgur. Nothing going to happen just by seeing (the Satgur); one can not be ‘Mukt‘ (liberated, unentangled, unhindered etc.) until and unless the Message within the Shabad is Reflected upon. (Because, without the Shabad-Vichaar) the filth of Haumai (false ego-sense) is not removed, and love for the Naam (Shabad, Hukam, Divine Virtues, Divine Wisdom, Giyan…) does not get affixed (in the mind). (sggs 594).

Therefore, to preach, propagate, or believe that mere seeing will free or emancipate one is a fallacy and fraud. Ironically, this is what seems to be the emphasis in the Gurdwaras (by the ਲੋਟੂ-ਟੋਲਾ of Bhais, Raagees…).

The foregoing verse also provides us with the clue as to how liberation (Mukti) is realized.

That is, we can only be liberated through the Reflection on the Gur-Shabad (Vichaar of the Gur-Shabad). Because, without the Shabad-Vichaar, the filth of the false ego-sense (Haumai or Bikaar of the mind) does not end. Also, without the Vichaar of the Gur-Shabad, love for the Naam (Gur-Giyan, Aatam-Giyan, Shabad-Giyan, Gurmat…) cannot be implanted in the mind.

The Gurbani cannot be more clear! Why Shabad-Vichaar is must? Because, it is the Shabad-Vichaar that gives rise to spiritual Giyan-Wisdom (ਸੂਝ-ਬੂਝ). Here the Gurbani further clarifies it:

• ਗੁਰੁ ਡਿਠਾ ਤਾਂ ਮਨੁ ਸਾਧਾਰਿਆ ॥੭॥ : Guru dithaa taan manu sadhaariaa ||7|| (sggs 968).

Here the Gurbani is not talking about ritual seeing, but it is talking about the Gur-Giyan (the term ਗੁਰੁ – Guru – indicates Giyan, Shabad-Giyan, Gurmat, etc.) that can sustain the mind.

• ਮਨ ਸਮਝਾਵਨ ਕਾਰਨੇ ਕਛੂਅਕ ਪੜੀਐ ਗਿਆਨ ॥੫॥ : To instruct the mind one ought to study Knowledge to some extent. ||5|| (sggs 340).

The Gurbani teaches us that our mind can only be restrained by the Gur-Giyan, not by mere seeing or mere bowing to the SGGS or someone.

• ਕੁੰਭੇ ਬਧਾ ਜਲੁ ਰਹੈ ਜਲ ਬਿਨੁ ਕੁੰਭੁ ਨ ਹੋਇ ॥ ਗਿਆਨ ਕਾ ਬਧਾ ਮਨੁ ਰਹੈ ਗੁਰ ਬਿਨੁ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਨ ਹੋਇ ॥੫॥ : As the water remains confined in a pitcher, (just so) the mind is restrained by the Spiritual Wisdom. But (as) the pitcher cannot be shaped without the water, (just so) there can be no Spiritual Wisdom without the Guru. ||5|| (sggs 469).

Once the mind is restrained by the Gur-Giyan, then, as the Gurbani says, the spiritual state of ‘ਮਨਿ ਜੀਤੈ ਜਗੁ ਜੀਤੁ’ arises:

• ਮੁੰਦਾ ਸੰਤੋਖੁ ਸਰਮੁ ਪਤੁ ਝੋਲੀ ਧਿਆਨ ਕੀ ਕਰਹਿ ਬਿਭੂਤਿ ॥ ਖਿੰਥਾ ਕਾਲੁ ਕੁਆਰੀ ਕਾਇਆ ਜੁਗਤਿ ਡੰਡਾ ਪਰਤੀਤਿ ॥ ਆਈ ਪੰਥੀ ਸਗਲ ਜਮਾਤੀ ਮਨਿ ਜੀਤੈ ਜਗੁ ਜੀਤੁ ॥ : (O Yogi) make Godly contentment your earrings, hard work your begging bowl, and contemplation (on Naam: Wisdom/Virtues) ashes that cover your body. Such diligence enable a life time (ਖਿੰਥਾ ਕਾਲੁ) of liberation from vices (free from inflictions of vices or Bikaar– ਕੁਆਰੀ) and the spirituality (or Way – ਜੁਗਤਿ) of unflinching faith (ਡੰਡਾ ਪਰਤੀਤਿ) in (Divine Virtues). (Let Divine Virtues, universal brotherhood) as the highest spirituality for all of humanity (be your ‘Aaee Panthi‘ sect-ਆਈ ਪੰਥੀ), by controlling your mind you can Win (ਮਨਿ ਜੀਤੈ) the command or dictates of our sensory world (ਜਗੁ ਜੀਤੁ). (sggs 6).

Therefore, according to the Gurbani, Understanding the Guru Shabad, and then living it is the true state of ‘ਤੁਧੁ ਡਿਠੇ ਸਚੇ ਪਾਤਿਸਾਹ –Tudhu dithe sache paatisaah‘. With this (ਗੁਰਮਤਿ ਦੇ ਦਰਸਨ) will end  all our inner filth of Bikaars, Haumai, ego, ailments of the mind… (the state of ‘ਜਿਸ ਡਿਠੇ ਸਭਿ ਦੁਖਿ ਜਾਇ – Jis dithe sabhi dukhi jaai’).

In other words, by merely reading, reciting or singing ‘… ਜਿਸ ਡਿਠੇ ਸਭਿ ਦੁਖਿ ਜਾਇ ॥’ will not bring the end to our mind’s illnesses (filth, Bikaars, Haumai, ego and so on).

So, if we really intend to respect (ਕਦਰ, ਸਤਕਾਰ, reverence, veneration…) the SGGS, then, as the Gurbai urges us, we must search (ਖੋਜ) Giyan (ਗਿਆਨ…) in the Gurbani by becoming the ‘rare’ Gurmukh (Enlightened) and live accordingly.

• ਨਾਨਕ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਬੂਝੈ ਕੋ ਸਬਦੁ ਵੀਚਾਰਿ ॥੧੦॥੧॥ : Nanak, a rare person by becoming the Gurmukh (Enlightened/Guru Shabad Oriented being) understands by abiding the Guru Shabad in the mind. (sggs 842).

This is the purport (ਮੁੱਦਾ…) of the Gurbani, not grip or possession (ਕਬਜਾ) of Golak (money) on its name; not corruption on its name; not ਧੜੇਬੰਦੀ on its name (alliances and counter-alliances of Manmukhataa…); not ਲੜਾਈ-ਝਗੜੇ (fight, tussle, contention, etc.) in the Gurdwaras in its name…! The one who truly respects the Gurbani becomes the Gurmukh (Brahm-Giyanee…) and his mind and life get transformed (ਜੀਵਨ ਪਦਵੀ). Because he gets absorbed into the Gurmat (“ਗੁਰ ਕੀ ਮਤਿ”, ਗੁਰ ਕੀ ਸਿਖਿਆ, the Gurbani’s Teaching …). Thus it’s only the Gurbani’s Giyan that will liberate us.

• ਗੁਰ ਕੀ ਮਤਿ ਤੂੰ ਲੇਹਿ ਇਆਨੇ ॥ ਭਗਤਿ ਬਿਨਾ ਬਹੁ ਡੂਬੇ ਸਿਆਨੇ ॥ : O you ignorant, take the Gurmat (internalize the Message embedded in the Gur-Shabad); without this Bhagti, even very wise (self-willed) persons have succumb to vices/Bikaar (worldly temptations and their corrupting influences – Bhav Saagar…). (sggs 288).

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