The entire Gurbani in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS) addresses the human mind. Having said that, the mind is considered central to one’s spiritual development in the Sikhi of Guru Nanak, thus, a vital aspect of the human experience.
Aptly, the Gurbani’s Instruction to all its Sikhs (lifelong learners) is that it is your mind (Conscience/Surat-ਸੁਰਤ) that must become the temple:
- ਮਨੁ ਮੰਦਰੁ ਤਨੁ ਵੇਸ ਕਲੰਦਰੁ ਘਟ ਹੀ ਤੀਰਥਿ ਨਾਵਾ ॥ ਏਕੁ ਸਬਦੁ ਮੇਰੈ ਪ੍ਰਾਨਿ ਬਸਤੁ ਹੈ ਬਾਹੁੜਿ ਜਨਮਿ ਨ ਆਵਾ ॥੧॥ : (Now that the Enlightening spiritual Message of the Shabad has become the support of my life) my mind has become the temple, the dwelling for God, my body (i.e. all of my senses) has become mendicant (i.e. my wandering senses have returned within), now I only BATHE at this TEERATH Within. The one divine Shabad has become the support of my life (now I’m convinced my mind) will not go astray in life again. (sggs 795).
- ਮਨੁ ਮੰਦਰੁ ਤਨੁ ਸਾਜੀ ਬਾਰਿ ॥ : The mind is like a temple (house of God), and the body is like a fence built around it. (sggs 180).
God’s temple (abode) is within human Conscience (Surat)
Spiritually speaking, one’s mind-temple (inner temple) is one’s true connection to one’s own untainted Nature within – Jot Saroop. That’s what we really are. The Gurmukh (Enlightened mindset) understands this Truth through the Giyan-Wisdom of the Gurbani in the SGGS. After understanding and accepting it, one constantly remembers and lives his daily life accordingly (application-ਅਮਲ).
- ਇਉ ਕਹੈ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਮਨ ਤੂੰ ਜੋਤਿ ਸਰੂਪੁ ਹੈ ਅਪਣਾ ਮੂਲੁ ਪਛਾਣੁ ॥੫॥ : This is what Nanak says: O mind, you are the ‘Jot Saroop’ – embodiment of Energy! Recognize your Mool (i.e. Root, Origin…) ||5|| (sggs 441).
Everything of Snatan-Vaad is gross (ਸਥੂਲ-Sathool). Visible is corporeal and thus perishable (‘ਜੋ ਦੀਸੇ ਸੋ ਸਗਲ ਬਿਨਾਸੇ’). However, everything of Gurbani Sidhaant is subtle (ਸੂਖਮ-Sookham) — God is formless, mind, Temple, Darbaar, Takhat, Sachkhand, Giyan-Wisdom embedded in the Guru Shabad are all subtle, and so on.
- ਏਕੋ ਤਖਤੁ ਏਕੋ ਪਾਤਿਸਾਹੁ ॥ ਸਰਬੀ ਥਾਈ ਵੇਪਰਵਾਹੁ ॥ : There is only one God in the entire universe, the sovereign King, hence there is only one eternal throne (‘Takhat‘). That sovereign King pervades everywhere (as Hukam). (sggs 1188).
- ਅੰਦਰਿ ਰਾਜਾ ਤਖਤੁ ਹੈ ਆਪੇ ਕਰੇ ਨਿਆਉ ॥ : God, the sovereign King, is sitting on the throne (‘Takhat‘) within every person, and He Himself delivers justice (based on one’s deeds). (sggs 1092).
In a nutshell, if one’s mind has not realized its Jot Saroop within, he/she is as good as dead because:
- At Macrocosmic level, this entire universe is the Divine Temple; however at microcosmic level a Jot Saroop mind is the Divine’s temple.
- At Macrocosmic level, this entire universe is the Divine ‘Sachkhand‘; however at microcosmic level a Jot Saroop mind is the Divine’s ‘Sachkhand‘.
- At Macrocosmic level, this entire universe is the Divine ‘Takhat‘; however at microcosmic level a Jot Saroop mind is the Divine’s ‘Takhat‘.
- At Macrocosmic level, this entire universe is the Divine ‘Darbaar‘; however at microcosmic level a Jot Saroop mind is the Divine’s ‘Darbaar‘.
The mind becomes temple after the releasement of Haumai (false ego-sense ), which is alien to the human mind. Faults of this Haumai include doubt or delusion (Bharam), duality (Doojaa Bhav), vices/Bikaar, and so on. Releasement of this inner garbage = spiritual Enlightenment.
- ਕਬੀਰ ਜਾ ਦਿਨ ਹਉ ਮੂਆ ਪਾਛੈ ਭਇਆ ਅਨੰਦੁ ॥ ਮੋਹਿ ਮਿਲਿਓ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਆਪਨਾ ਸੰਗੀ ਭਜਹਿ ਗੋੁਬਿੰਦੁ ॥੬॥: Kabeer, when my false ego-sense (Haumai) completely vanished, since the Bliss prevails within my mind. Then I realized my God and now my companions (all senses-ਇੰਦ੍ਰਿਆਂ) are united with Gobind (i.e. Omnipresent God). ||6|| (sggs 1364).
Aptly the Gurbani in SGGS teaches to honor and respect one’s body, take care of it and live a divine life of Virtues/Wisdom (Enlightenment – Gurmukh mindset).
- ਕਰਿ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਜਉ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਮਿਲਿਓ ॥ ਮਨ ਮੰਦਰ ਮਹਿ ਦੀਪਕੁ ਜਲਿਓ ॥ : When a person put efforts to spiritually uplift himself, he realizes the true Wisdom (ਸੱਚਾ ਗਿਆਨ) and thus the Lamp (Light of spiritual Wisdom – ਗਿਆਨ) gets lit within the temple of the mind. (sggs 235).
- ਇਆ ਮੰਦਰ ਮਹਿ ਕੌਨ ਬਸਾਈ ॥ ਤਾ ਕਾ ਅੰਤੁ ਨ ਕੋਊ ਪਾਈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ : What is it that dwells in this temple (within the human body)? No one can find its limits. ||1||Pause|| (sggs 871).
- ਦੁਸਟ ਬਿਦਾਰੇ ਸਾਜਨ ਰਹਸੇ ਇਹਿ ਮੰਦਿਰ ਘਰ ਅਪਨਾਏ ॥ : (O Divine!) I got rid of all the ‘Dusat’ (i.e. vices/Bikaar) from inside me. I have enshrined ‘Saajan‘ (i.e. Divine Virtues-ਗੁਣ) inside me. This House (of my Hirdaa/mind…) has now become a temple. (sggs 1266).
Having said that, a perishable building can NOT be a temple.
- ਦੇ ਦੇ ਨੀਵ ਦਿਵਾਲ ਉਸਾਰੀ ਭਸਮੰਦਰ ਕੀ ਢੇਰੀ ॥ : One digs deep foundations and builds walls of buildings, but in the end these buildings crumble down to heaps of dust. (sggs 155).
- ਕੋਠੇ ਮੰਡਪ ਮਾੜੀਆ ਲਗਿ ਪਏ ਗਾਵਾਰੀ ॥ : Fools (Un-enlightened mindset-Manmukhs) become attached to buildings — worldly possessions, wealth etc. instead of Naam (divine Wisdom / Virtues). (sggs 788).
Realizing God’s temple within the mind
Ignoring this inner temple (God’s Abode) leads to wanderings, inner and external conflicts, vices/Bikaar, worries or anxiety, fear, depression, self-loathing, exhaustion, breakdowns, failed relationships, physical and mental ailments, manipulation, mental enslavement, and so on.
- ਪੰਚ ਦਾਸ ਤੀਨਿ ਦੋਖੀ ਏਕ ਮਨੁ ਅਨਾਥ ਨਾਥ ॥ : (This) one mind (of mine) has become slave of the five thieves (i.e. Bikaar: lust, anger, greed, etc.) and the three dispositions (of Maya). (sggs 1119).
- ਖਸਮੁ ਵਿਸਾਰਿ ਕੀਏ ਰਸ ਭੋਗ ॥ ਤਾਂ ਤਨਿ ਉਠਿ ਖਲੋਏ ਰੋਗ ॥ : Forgetting the Creator, man enjoys sensory pleasures, then all kinds of ailments arise in his body. (sggs 1256).
- ਇਸੁ ਮਨ ਮੰਦਰ ਮਹਿ ਮਨੂਆ ਧਾਵੈ ॥ : In this temple of the mind, the mind wanders around. (sggs 1060).
As time and again revealed in the SGGS, the human body is the living God’s Mandir (temple etc.). Thus, each body in the world is the God’s Temple, in which the Formless God is Realized.
- ਕਾਇਆ ਮਹਲੁ ਮੰਦਰੁ ਘਰੁ ਹਰਿ ਕਾ ਤਿਸੁ ਮਹਿ ਰਾਖੀ ਜੋਤਿ ਅਪਾਰ ॥ : The human body is the Mansion, the Temple and Home of God in which God has infused His Infinite ‘Jot’ or Light. (sggs 1256).
- ਸੋ ਸਚੁ ਮੰਦਰੁ ਜਿਤੁ ਸਚੁ ਧਿਆਈਐ ॥ : True is that temple (mind), within which one meditates on God. (sggs 107).
The Gurbani guides us that this Divine Temple within (Conscience-ਸੁਰਤ) can be realized by mind through the spiritual Giyan-Wisdom.
- ਹਰਿ ਮੰਦਰੁ ਏਹੁ ਸਰੀਰੁ ਹੈ ਗਿਆਨਿ ਰਤਨਿ ਪਰਗਟੁ ਹੋਇ ॥ : This body is the ‘Hari Mandar’ (Hari’s Temple, but this secret) is revealed by the Jewel of the Divine Wisdom (Aatm-Giyan, Brahm Giyan, Divine Knowledge …). (sggs 1346).
- ਗਿਆਨੁ ਪ੍ਰਚੰਡੁ ਬਲਿਆ ਘਟਿ ਚਾਨਣੁ ਘਰ ਮੰਦਰ ਸੋਹਾਇਆ ॥ : In the Heart or mind (of that person who loves Naam: Wisdom…) the bright light of the Wisdom shines brightly, all his senses become the possessors of beautiful spiritual life. (sggs 775).
- ਘਰੁ ਦਰੁ ਮੰਦਰੁ ਜਾਣੈ ਸੋਈ ॥ ਜਿਸੁ ਪੂਰੇ ਗੁਰ ਤੇ ਸੋਝੀ ਹੋਈ ॥ : That one alone realizes the home (of his heart/mind) and door to this temple (the abode of God within), who receives true understanding from the perfect Gur (-Giyan or Wisdom). (sggs 1039).
Un-enlightened minds do not and cannot appreciate this
However, according to the Gurbani, an Un-enlightened mindset (Mamukh-Saakat-Mayadhaaree) does not appreciate all this. Consequently, they look for it outside:
- ਮਨਮੁਖ ਮੂਲੁ ਨ ਜਾਣਨੀ ਮਾਣਸਿ ਹਰਿ ਮੰਦਰੁ ਨ ਹੋਇ ॥੨॥ : The Manmukh (Un-enlightened) people do not know anything about God, the Source of all, therefore (on account of this ignorance) they think that the human body cannot be God’s temple (‘Hari Mandir’). ||2||. (sggs 1346).
- ਅੰਤਰਿ ਚੋਰੁ ਮੁਹੈ ਘਰੁ ਮੰਦਰੁ ਇਨਿ ਸਾਕਤਿ ਦੂਤੁ ਨ ਜਾਤਾ ਹੇ ॥੭॥ : The mind-temple is being plundered by the thief (vices/Bikaar) within, but the Saakat does not even recognize this demon (of vices/Bikaar). ||7|| (sggs 1031).
- ਕਹਤੁ ਕਬੀਰੁ ਸੁਨਹੁ ਰੇ ਲੋਈ ਭਰਮਿ ਨ ਭੂਲਹੁ ਕੋਈ ॥ ਕਿਆ ਕਾਸੀ ਕਿਆ ਊਖਰੁ ਮਗਹਰੁ ਰਾਮੁ ਰਿਦੈ ਜਉ ਹੋਈ ॥੨॥੩॥ : Says Kabeer, listen, O people — let no person fall into any delusion (that liberation is found in Kashi, but not in Magahar). If Divine (Naam: Giyan-Wisdom/Virtues…) in the Heart then there is NO DIFFERENCE between (the so called holy place called) Kashi and (the so called unholy place called) Magahar (NOTE: It is the general belief of Hindus that a person who gives up his body while living in Kashi or Banaras becomes liberated because this city belongs to Shiva and whoever dies in the city of Magahar becomes a donkey. Kabeer Ji here dispels this misconception, and teaches all of us that God realization is NOT location-dependent). ||2||3|| (sggs 692).
Since the mind-body is the temple, God mentioned in the Gurbani walks with the people – not separate from people.
- ਤੋਹੀ ਮੋਹੀ ਮੋਹੀ ਤੋਹੀ ਅੰਤਰੁ ਕੈਸਾ ॥ : You are me, and I am You—what is the difference between us? (sggs 93).
Guru Nanak used ‘ੴ ‘ (Eko or Iko) for the ENTIRE UNIVERSE! Simply put, ‘ੴ ‘ means one within everything and everywhere — one extends into everything and everywhere, unity of both the Creator and the creation.
Our Guru Patshahs taught people to get connected with the ‘ੴ ‘), and disconnect from the traps of temples, mosques, the Pujaaree concocted fake God from imagination, and so on.
- ਮਨੁ ਕਰਿ ਮਕਾ ਕਿਬਲਾ ਕਰਿ ਦੇਹੀ ॥ ਬੋਲਨਹਾਰੁ ਪਰਮ ਗੁਰੁ ਏਹੀ ॥੧॥ : (O Mullah) make your mind the Mecca and your body as the Kiblah (kaaba). Consider (the Creator) speaking within it as the Supreme Guru. ||1|| (sggs 1158).
- ਕਾਯਉ ਦੇਵਾ ਕਾਇਅਉ ਦੇਵਲ ਕਾਇਅਉ ਜੰਗਮ ਜਾਤੀ ॥ : For me, to search my body is the temple wherein God dwells, and it is the place of pilgrimage of which I am a pilgrim (searching for God Within my body). (sggs 695).
- ਗੁਰ ਪਰਸਾਦੀ ਵੇਖੁ ਤੂ ਹਰਿ ਮੰਦਰੁ ਤੇਰੈ ਨਾਲਿ ॥ ਹਰਿ ਮੰਦਰੁ ਸਬਦੇ ਖੋਜੀਐ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੋ ਲੇਹੁ ਸਮ੍ਹ੍ਹਾਲਿ ॥੧॥ : (O my mind), seeking the Grace of the Gur-Giyan (Wisdom), see that ‘Hari Mandar’ (God’s Temple) is right within you. This God’s Temple within the body can be found only through the Guru Shabad; therefore reflect on the Guru Shabad and remember God’s Naam. ||1|| (sggs 1346).
Since the Creator pervades everywhere in the Cosmos, in addition to the human body, this entire Universe is also called God’s temple (‘Har Mandar’) in the SGGS.
- ਹਰਿ ਮੰਦਰੁ ਏਹੁ ਜਗਤੁ ਹੈ ਗੁਰ ਬਿਨੁ ਘੋਰੰਧਾਰ ॥ ਦੂਜਾ ਭਾਉ ਕਰਿ ਪੂਜਦੇ ਮਨਮੁਖ ਅੰਧ ਗਵਾਰ ॥ : This whole world is ‘Hari Mandar’ (Creator’s Temple, for the Creator is All-pervading); there is only pitch darkness of ignorance without the Guru (Giyan-Wisdom of the Gurbani). But, the mentally blind and foolish Manmukhs worship the ‘second‘ (i.e. duality). (sggs 1346).
Since the Gurmat Wisdom of the SGGS addresses the human mind, it asks that the mind be reformed or recreated (‘ਆਪੁ ਸਵਾਰਹਿ’) to recognize its own Original Nature (Mool, Jot Saroop…). This is to realize God.
- ਆਪੁ ਸਵਾਰਹਿ ਮੈ ਮਿਲਹਿ ਮੈ ਮਿਲਿਆ ਸੁਖੁ ਹੋਇ ॥ ਫਰੀਦਾ ਜੇ ਤੂ ਮੇਰਾ ਹੋਇ ਰਹਹਿ ਸਭੁ ਜਗੁ ਤੇਰਾ ਹੋਇ ॥੯੫॥ : If you REFORM yourself (i.e. reshape your mind and conscience) then you will Realize Me (i.e. God), and when you Realize Me (i.e. God), you will rejoice in Spiritual Bliss. O Farid, (reforming yourself) if you become Mine then the entire world would become yours. ||95|| (sggs 1382).
Some Related Posts:
- Sikhi: a Way of Life
- Hukam is the Core of Sikhi
- Gurbani Teaches the Real Harmandir is within human body
- Gurbani Rejects any Geographical Location or Building as SACH KHAND
- It’s the Mind that Needs to Become a Sikh
- The Most Beautiful Place – So Thaan Suhaavaa
- Human Mind Acting Like Animals
- Make Ten Senses Widows
- Core of Gurmat Spirituality – Kiv Sachiaaraa Hoeeai?
- Jot Saroop – Mind’s Original Nature
- Search Ownself – Know Yourself
- Bridge that Links Human Mind to God Within!
- Opening Verse – Guru Nanak’s concept of ‘God’
- Man Invented Invisible God and Related Fear, Blind Faith, Fantasy…
- Death of Haumai Brings Sukha
- The Egg of Doubt Must Burst
- Develop Partnership with Virtues
- Gurbani Asks Burn Mind’s Bikaar