The Gurbani teaches we Jeeva live in duality (Doojaa Bhaav, a dual existence, two-ness, ਦੁਚਿੱਤੀ-ਦੋ ਮੱਨ…). Thus at the present we are cracked, divided, or fragmented like two pieces of Daal (ਦਾਲ – split seed of lintel – ਦਲੀ ਹੋਈ ਦਾਲ ਵਾਂਗ ਦੋ ਫਾੜ). So long the mind is split as “Daal“, it has no hope for Realizing its Mool (Source…).
- 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).
As we live in duality, two minds or two Chitt appears to be at work:
(1). Inner Consciousness, sentient – Mool (Jot Saroop, Brahm…).
(2). The outer consciousness, connected to Maya – which is connected to the brain, in turn, the brain is connected to the senses. This outer mind or the outer consciousness is Born out of Inner Consciousness which has to merge with the Inner Consciousness (Brahm Leen…).
First off, it’s not that these are two separate entities or minds. These are two divisions of the same one consciousness (ਚੇਤਨਾ ਦੇ ਦੋ ਭਾਗ, ਦੁਚਿੱਤੀ, two-ness…). But they are only different by figures of speech.
For example, both the ocean and the waves are water. Waves arise at the surface of the ocean due to wind. If there is no wind created disturbance (as deep below the surface of the ocean), there will be no waves. Although both the ocean and its waves are made of the same one water, but for the sake of discussion one is called the ocean and the other is called the wave. Similarly, although both the gold and gold-bracelet are one and the same gold, but for the sake of discussion one is called the gold and the other is called the bracelet.
Similarly, for the sake of discussion (‘ਕਹਨ ਸੁਨਨ ਕਉ ਦੂਜਾ’: Kahan sunana kaou dojaa), the relationship between the fragmented mind can be said as between the ocean and waves, gold and a gold-bracelet, clay and a clay-pot, etc., but in essence they are not separate (‘ਭਿੰਨ ਨ ਕਹਨਾ ਜਾਈ’: Bhinn n kahanaa jaaee).
- ਜਲ ਤੇ ਤਰੰਗ ਤਰੰਗ ਤੇ ਹੈ ਜਲੁ ਕਹਨ ਸੁਨਨ ਕਉ ਦੂਜਾ ॥੧॥ : From the water, the waves rise up; and from the waves, the water. They are only different by figures of speech. ||1|| ||1|| (sggs 1252).
- ਤੋਹੀ ਮੋਹੀ ਮੋਹੀ ਤੋਹੀ ਅੰਤਰੁ ਕੈਸਾ ॥ ਕਨਕ ਕਟਿਕ ਜਲ ਤਰੰਗ ਜੈਸਾ ॥੧॥ : You are me, and I am You—what is the difference between us? We are like gold and the bracelet, or water and the waves ||1|| (sggs 93).
- ਮਨ ਮਹਿ ਆਪਿ ਮਨ ਅਪੁਨੇ ਮਾਹਿ ॥ : The Creator Himself is minds of all, and all are in CREATOR’S MIND. (sggs 279).
For discussion purposes, if we want to continue putting it in words of limited human language, the lower mind is the sense of individuality in each one of us (Haumai or false ego-sense). It is external — attached to Maya (‘ਮਨੁ ਮਾਇਆ ਮੈ ਫਧਿ ਰਹਿਓ’), wayward, ego-driven, Adharmee (ਅਧਰਮੀ), impure (Ashudh-ਅਸੁੱਧ), selfish (ਸਵਾਰਥੀ), Manmukh-Mayadhaaree, Saakat (unenlightened), false (ਝੂਠਾ), deluded, conditioned, ignorant, perplexed, agitated, changeful, vices/Bikaar-ridden (lust, anger, greed, etc.), and so on. Entangled in worldly temptations and their corrupting influences (Bhav Saagar). This wayward mind is the sufferer. Due to restlessness and ignorance (state of delirium, or perpetual slumber…), it is like an ignorant child who will foolishly stick its hand in fire or the mouth of the snake!
- ਚੰਚਲ ਮਤਿ ਬਾਰਿਕ ਬਪੁਰੇ ਕੀ ਸਰਪ ਅਗਨਿ ਕਰ ਮੇਲੈ ॥ : The intellect of a child is fickle, when left to himself, the helpless ignorant child touches dangerous things like snake and fire, and become miserable. (sggs 1266)!
On the other hand, the Higher Mind can be said to be the Inner Nature (or Original Nature, Jot Saroop, Mool…); it is transcendent or detached from Maya, Dharmee (ਧਰਮੀ or Dharmraj-ਧਰਮਰਾਜ), True (ਸੱਚਾ-ਸੁੱਚਾ), ਸੱਤ-ਸਰੂਪ (embodiment of God), Pure (Shudh-ਸੁੱਧ), Unselfish, ਪਰਮਾਰਥੀ, All-Good, All-Giaan (Knowledge), Unconditioned, Changeless, the Gurmukh (Enlightened), Amrit, Aware and Awake, and so on.
The outer or ego-mind pulls out into the illusory world of the gross objects-emotions-thoughts, and the Inner Mind (Dharmnraj, the Creator Within, Jot…) pulls inwards towards its Mool (the Source, Jot…). Whatever the deluded mind do becomes a part of its nature that is, it is engraved in its nature (‘ਲਿਖਿ ਨਾਵੈ ਧਰਮੁ ਬਹਾਲਿਆ ॥੨॥’ sggs 463).
Simply put: When veiled by nescience, the same Consciousness views diversity in an agitated state and identifies objects as such. When this illusory division is not seen for what it is, there is the arising of the false ego-sense (Haumai).
- ਮਨ ਤੇ ਮਨੁ ਮਾਨਿਆ ਚੂਕੀ ਅਹੰ ਭ੍ਰਮਣੀ ॥ : The (lower) mind is reconciliated with the (Higher) Mind, and the ego’s wandering ways come to an end (sggs 227).
Whenever there is the reference of conquering, controlling, or annihilating the mind, it pertains to the lower (external (lower, Haumai…) mind. Now perhaps we can appreciate the fact that we cannot ‘kill’ the mind, per se because in its Original Nature the mind is Dharmnraj, the Creator Within, Jot etc., which can only be Experienced or Realized but not killed. The Gurbani wants the mind realize its Jot Saroop (Mool).
- ਨਾਨਕ ਮਨ ਹੀ ਤੇ ਮਨੁ ਮਾਨਿਆ ਨਾ ਕਿਛੁ ਮਰੈ ਨ ਜਾਇ ॥ : O Nanak, through the (Higher) Mind, the (lower) mind is satisfied, and then, nothing comes or goes (sggs 514).
- ਇਸੁ ਮਨ ਕਉ ਨਹੀ ਆਵਨ ਜਾਨਾ ॥ ਜਿਸ ਕਾ ਭਰਮੁ ਗਇਆ ਤਿਨਿ ਸਾਚੁ ਪਛਾਨਾ ॥੬॥ : The mind (soul) of that person is NOT cast in cycle of birth and death (NOT after physical death, BUT Here and Now). A person whose doubt has been dispelled has realized God. ||6|| (sggs 330).
In other words, the Goal is to remove the duality and make the fragmented consciousness ONE again. If the lower mind keeps improving and thus keeps moving Upwards to it’s Higher Status, duality or ਦੂਜਾ ਭਾਵ ends.
Since the Gurbani is a mirror of the mind, the Gurmat Giaan or Wisdom of the SGGS channelized our minds to Enlightenment!
- 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).
In a nutshell, the mind can only be reconciled with the mind. Thus, the mind can only be removed with the mind, or the mind can only be instructed with the mind.
- ਹਉਮੈ ਦੀਰਘ ਰੋਗੁ ਹੈ ਦਾਰੂ ਭੀ ਇਸੁ ਮਾਹਿ ॥ : Ego is a chronic disease, but it contains its own cure as well. (sggs 466).
- ਮਨ ਹੀ ਤੇ ਮਨੁ ਮਿਲਿਆ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਮਨ ਹੀ ਮੰਨੁ ਸਮਾਇਆ ॥ : From the mind, the mind merges into its Mool (Suaamee), thus the mind gets absorbed into the Mind, within (sggs 1259).
Some Related Posts:
- Gurbani Says Investigate the Mind
- Jot Saroop – Mind’s Original Nature
- What is Killing the Mind
- We are Neither the Body nor the Mind
- Conquer the Mind, Conquer the World!
- Dance of the Mind Attached to Maya
- Debugging Mind
- Mind Happens to Us, We don’t Happen to Mind
- Mind That Gives up Hunger for Maya Realizes its Mool
- O Wandering Mind! Come Home
- Two Minds
- We all Act in Accordance with the Nature of our Mind
- Bridge that Links Human Mind to God Within!