Mind Clinging to Maya can’t be Trusted

The Gurmat Wisdom of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS) tells us that anything and everything, which can be seen with our physical eyes is under the influence of Maya, including all humans.

• ਜਹ ਦੇਖਾ ਤਹ ਜੇਵਰੀ ਮਾਇਆ ਕਾ ਸਨਬੰਧੁ ॥: Wherever (I) look, there (I see) the rope of attachment to Maya. (sggs 551).
• ਏਹੁ ਸਰੀਰੁ ਸਭ ਮੂਲੁ ਹੈ ਮਾਇਆ ॥: Eh(u) sareer(u) sabh mool(u) hai Maya (sggs 1065).

According to the SGGS, whatever makes one forget his/her (1) True Nature (Jot Saroop) or Mool (‘Hari Visrai‘), (2) gives rise to emotional attachment (‘Moh Upjai‘), and (3) creates duality (‘Bhaau Doojaa‘, two-ness, double mindedness…) becomes Maya for that person.

In a nutshell, Maya is anything and everything which makes a person forget the Creator (Hukam) by creating attachment to the corrupting influences of the worldly temptations.

• ਏਹ ਮਾਇਆ ਜਿਤੁ ਹਰਿ ਵਿਸਰੈ ਮੋਹੁ ਉਪਜੈ ਭਾਉ ਦੂਜਾ ਲਾਇਆ ॥ : This is Maya, by which (1) ‘Hari’ (Mool) is forgotten; (2) (worldly) attachment is born, and (3) the love of duality is set (sggs 921).

The Gurbani teaches us that Maya wavers many ways. So does the mind attached to Maya — mind which is duality-stricken; doubt-ridden; disconnected from its Mool; separated from Truth, Naam, Wisdom, Bhagti, Virtues, Hukam, etc).

• ਮਾਇਆ ਡੋਲੈ ਬਹੁ ਬਿਧੀ ਮਨੁ ਲਪਟਿਓ ਤਿਹ ਸੰਗ ॥: Maya wavers many ways, the mind clings to this (Maya, also wavers many ways). (sggs 258).
• ਸਹਸ ਖਟੇ ਲਖ ਕਉ ਉਠਿ ਧਾਵੈ ॥ ਤ੍ਰਿਪਤਿ ਨ ਆਵੈ ਮਾਇਆ ਪਾਛੈ ਪਾਵੈ ॥: Sahas khate Lakh (sggs 278).

The Gurbani advises us that the mind in love with Maya is not trustworthy (‘ਨਹੀ ਬਿਸਾਸੁ’). Such flawed mind (‘ਮਨ ਖੁਟਹਰ’) becomes the cause of one’s hellish existence, here and now.

• ਕਵਨੁ ਕਵਨੁ ਨਹੀ ਪਤਰਿਆ ਤੁਮ੍ਹ੍ਹਰੀ ਪਰਤੀਤਿ ॥ ਮਹਾ ਮੋਹਨੀ ਮੋਹਿਆ ਨਰਕ ਕੀ ਰੀਤਿ ॥੧॥ ਮਨ ਖੁਟਹਰ ਤੇਰਾ ਨਹੀ ਬਿਸਾਸੁ ਤੂ ਮਹਾ ਉਦਮਾਦਾ ॥ ਖਰ ਕਾ ਪੈਖਰੁ ਤਉ ਛੁਟੈ ਜਉ ਊਪਰਿ ਲਾਦਾ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥: (O Mayaic mind!) By placing trust (reliance…) in you, who is not deceived. You are enticed (bewitched) by the great enticer (Maya) – this is the way to a hellish existence! ||1|| O defective mind, you can not be trusted because you remain very intoxicated (by Maya). Just as DONKEY‘s leg-chain is removed only after it is loaded (similarly O mind, you should be controlled by loading you with the Wisdom / Virtues, and thus you should not be given a chance to be enticed Maya, vices or Bikaar etc.). ||1||Pause|| (sggs 815).

The Gurbani teaches us that the waves of Maya are treacherous – Haumai, waves of worldly desires (ਇੱਛਾਵਾਂ), Bikaar (i.e. lust, anger, greed, attachment, and pride and their numerous variations) etc.

• ਮਨਹਿ ਬਿਆਪਤ ਅਨਿਕ ਤਰੰਗਾ ॥: Mind is troubled by so many waves (sggs 759).
• ਹੋਰੁ ਵਣਜੁ ਕਰਹਿ ਵਾਪਾਰੀਏ ਅਨੰਤ ਤਰੰਗੀ ਦੁਖੁ ਮਾਇਆ ॥: Those traders (i.e., Jeev-individuals) who deal with other (i.e., other than Naam…), are caught up in the endless waves of Maya and suffer. (sggs 165).

The Gurbani guides us the world is burning in the hidden fire of Maya (‘Gujhee’ or ‘Goojhee’).

• ਮਾਇਆ ਅਗਨਿ ਜਲੈ ਸੰਸਾਰੇ ॥: The world is burning in the fire of Maya (hunger or love of Maya…). (sggs 1049).
• ਤਿਸਨਾ ਅਗਨਿ ਜਲੈ ਸੰਸਾਰਾ ॥: The world is burning in the fire of desire (sggs 120).
• ਦੁਰਮਤਿ ਅਗਨਿ ਜਗਤ ਪਰਜਾਰੈ ॥: The fire of corrupt thinking (wickedness, foolishness, ignorance…) is burning up the world (sggs 225).
• ਮਨਮੁਖ ਮੂੜ੍ਹ੍ਹ ਜਲਤ ਅਹੰਕਾਰੀ ਹਉਮੈ ਵਿਚਿ ਦੁਖੁ ਪਾਈ ॥: The foolish Manmukh burns in the fire of pride; and suffers in egotism (sggs 1265).

In other words, if the Gurbani is Reflected upon with the mind connected to Maya, then one cannot fully extract and eat the ‘Butter’ (of Wisdom, Gurmat…). Because the Mayaic mind oscillates like wind (i.e., wavers, wanders hither and thither, roams, whirls – unstable, restless…)!

• ਕਬੀਰ ਮਾਇਆ ਡੋਲਨੀ ਪਵਨੁ ਝਕੋਲਨਹਾਰੁ ॥ ਸੰਤਹੁ ਮਾਖਨੁ ਖਾਇਆ ਛਾਛਿ ਪੀਐ ਸੰਸਾਰੁ ॥੧੮॥: O Kabeer! Think of this Maya as a vessel for churning milk, take breath the churning-stick. (While living in the midst of Maya, who have learnt to churn this milk) those sants (i.e., the Bhagat, Daas, Gurmukh, Jan etc.) eat the Butter (of Wisdom…), while rest of the world drinks the whey (Lassee or Chcaachh: ਲੱਸੀ, ਛਾਛ — the world in love with Maya gathers mere Mayaic qualities, Bikaar or false knowledge…). ||18|| (sggs 1365).
• ਮੇਰੇ ਰਾਮ ਐਸਾ ਖੀਰੁ ਬਿਲੋਈਐ ॥ ਗੁਰਮਤਿ ਮਨੂਆ ਅਸਥਿਰੁ ਰਾਖਹੁ ਇਨ ਬਿਧਿ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤੁ ਪੀਓਈਐ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ O my Raam! (Remaining pure in the midst of impurity) in this way the cream is churned (Shabad-Vichaar). Through the Gurmat, hold your steadfast, and in this way, drink the Amrit (Giaan-Wisdom). ||1||Pause|| (sggs 332).

The Gurbani teaches only the ‘rare‘ one (Gurmukh, Daas, Bhagat, Jan, Khojee…) transcends Maya, and obtain Understanding. To put it otherwise, the Gurbani says Maya or doubt (Bharam) can only be transcended by abiding in the Shabad-Consciousness!

• ਜਲਤ ਅਨਿਕ ਤਰੰਗ ਮਾਇਆ ਗੁਰ ਗਿਆਨ ਹਰਿ ਰਿਦ ਮੰਤ ॥: Maya’s (worldliness) Countless waves are burnt away, when the Divine Wisdom is enshrined in the heart, through the ‘Mant‘ (the Gurbani’s Upadesh, Wisdom or Giaan). (sggs 508).
• ਬਿਖਮੁ ਭੁਇਅੰਗਾ ਅਨਤ ਤਰੰਗਾ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਪਾਰਿ ਲੰਘਾਏ ॥: The terrifying world-ocean is rocked by countless waves (of Mayaic thoughts), but by becoming Gurmukh you cross it (sggs 575).
• ਮਾਇਆ ਲਹਰਿ ਸਬਦਿ ਨਿਵਾਰੀ ॥: Deter the waves of Maya with Shabad (sggs 1049).
• ਨਾਨਕ ਮਾਇਆ ਕਾ ਮਾਰਣੁ ਸਬਦੁ ਹੈ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਪਾਇਆ ਜਾਇ ॥੨॥ : Nanak, the antidote of Maya is the Shabad, which is realized by internalizing its Message – becoming the Gurmukh (Enlightened mind). ||2|| (sggs 853).

Instead of churning the Gurbani, the rest of us just keep churning Maya (i.e. water) — cling to the roller coaster of Maya!

• ਮੂਰਖ ਦੁਬਿਧਾ ਪੜ੍ਹਹਿ ਮੂਲੁ ਨ ਪਛਾਣਹਿ ਬਿਰਥਾ ਜਨਮੁ ਗਵਾਇਆ ॥: Fools read in duality, (as a result, they) do not recognize their Mool (Origin, Jot Saroop…); (thus, they) waste their lives uselessly. (sggs 1133).
• ਕੈਸੇ ਬੂਝੈ ਜਬ ਮੋਹਿਆ ਹੈ ਮਾਇਆ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥: (Jeev) bewitched by Maya does not and cannot understand). ||1||Pause|| (sggs 92).

Related Posts:

• What is Maya?
• What is Mind?
• Haumai Maya
• Bhav Saagar
• World is Consumed by Hidden Fire
• Dance Of The Mind Attached To Maya
• Gur-Shabad is the antidote to poison of Maya-serpent
• How Do We Become Maya’s Slave
• Mind That Gives Up Hunger For Maya Realizes Its Mool
• Rope Mistaken for a Snake!
• Gurbani Says We are in a State of Sleep Paralysis
• Nature of Mayaic Delusion: Part 1
• The Nature of Mayaic Delusion: Part 2
• The Nature of Mayaic Delusion: Part 3