Nij Ghar

There are two types of homes (Ghar-ਘਰ) — (1) a physical home where we live, and (2) Nij Ghar (ਨਿਜ ਘਰ) where our mind lives which is certainly NOT a physical home.

Literally Nij Ghar means: ‘personal / own home’. The mind in its ‘Jot Saroop‘ (Conscience-ਸੁਰਤ) lives Within i.e. ‘Nij Ghar’ . It is pure Conscience (Saabat Soorat) – God Realization Within which is none other than the ‘Sach Khand‘. It is mind’s Original Nature (Jot Saroop). Also, it is essentially the same  as ‘Dasam Duaar’, ‘Mahal’, ‘Mool’, ‘Chaoutha Pada‘, and so on.

• ਮਨ ਰੇ ਨਿਜ ਘਰਿ ਵਾਸਾ ਹੋਇ ॥ : O mind, stay in your personal ‘Nij Ghar‘ — Within. (sggs 36).
• ਮੂਲੁ ਪਛਾਣਨਿ ਤਿਨ ਨਿਜ ਘਰਿ ਵਾਸਾ ਸਹਜੇ ਹੀ ਸੁਖੁ ਹੋਈ ॥ : (Those who) understand their personal Mool dwell within the Home of their Inner Being (Nij Ghar) in Peace and Sahaj (Natural State of Being, ਆਤਮਕ ਅਡੋਲਤਾ, ਗਿਆਨ ਅਵਸਤਾ…). (sggs 1334)
• 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).
• ਚਉਥੀ ਪਦਵੀ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਵਰਤਹਿ ਤਿਨ ਨਿਜ ਘਰਿ ਵਾਸਾ ਪਾਇਆ ॥ : Those who become Gurmukh by internalizing the Enlightening Spiritual Message of the Guru’s Shabad behave/interact in ‘Chaoutha Pada‘ (Fourth State – Supreme Spiritual State) and abide in Nij Ghar (State of Godly Realization). (sggs 1130).

Nij Ghar – mind’s ‘personal Ghar‘ – Within

When the mind remains in its Nij Ghar Within (Jot Saroop etc.), it does not wander around in delusion, and saves its Spiritual wealth /life intact (‘Saabat‘). To be abided in in Nij Ghar is essentially becoming ‘SACHIAARAA‘ (God-Realized).

• ਕਿਵ ਸਚਿਆਰਾ ਹੋਈਐ ਕਿਵ ਕੂੜੈ ਤੁਟੈ ਪਾਲਿ ॥ ਹੁਕਮਿ ਰਜਾਈ ਚਲਣਾ ਨਾਨਕ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਨਾਲਿ ॥੧॥ : How then can I become God-Realized being within (‘Sachiaaraa‘)? How can I remove the obstacle of my non-realized state within? O Nanak! (The way to realize Creator within is to) remain within the confines of His Hukam (the Cosmic System-Rule-Law of Nature, ਕੁਦਰਤੀ ਨਿਯਮ…), as (Creator and His Hukam) is contained with us. ||1|| (sggs 1).
• ਸਚਿਆਰ ਸਿਖ ਬਹਿ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਪਾਸਿ ਘਾਲਨਿ ਕੂੜਿਆਰ ਨ ਲਭਨੀ ਕਿਤੈ ਥਾਇ ਭਾਲੇ ॥ : Those Sikhs (learners, students of the Guru Shabad) who have become ‘Sachiaar‘ remain connected with the Giyan-Wisdom of the Guru Shabad in daily life, but false ones are found NOT to follow Message of the Guru Shabad. (sggs 305).

That being said , when the mind does drift away from its Nij Ghar, then it wanders around in delusion — it forgets its Godly Nature (‘Jot Saroop‘).

The Gurmat Wisdom of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS) Awakens our consciousness from the state of sleep paralysis – ignorance, vices/Bikaar (lust, anger, greed, etc.), doubt, illusion (Maya), and so on. However, the Gurbani in the SGGS asserts a very ‘rare’ person remains Awake and Aware by abiding in his/her ‘Nij Ghar‘.

• ਇਸੁ ਗ੍ਰਿਹ ਮਹਿ ਕੋਈ ਜਾਗਤੁ ਰਹੈ ॥ ਸਾਬਤੁ ਵਸਤੁ ਓਹੁ ਅਪਨੀ ਲਹੈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ : A rare person remains Awake (Aware, Alert, Conscious) of the onslaught of Maya (worldly attractions and their corrupting influences – Bhav Saagar). (Whosoever remains Awake within) keeps his spiritual life Intact, (Whole, Undivided – Saabat…). ||1||Pause|| (sggs 182).

Mind drifts away from its ‘Nij Ghar‘

Once the mind drifts away from its Nij Ghar, one’s physical senses gets defiled and one gets plundered by vices/Bikaar. Out of the ten physical senses, the five sense-organs are of knowledge or perception (i.e. Giaan Indriyas — eyes, years, nose, tongue and skin), and the five sense-organs of action (i.e. Karam Indriyas — the genital, anus, mouth, hands and legs).

• ਏਕੁ ਗਿਰਹੁ ਦਸ ਦੁਆਰ ਹੈ ਜਾ ਕੇ ਅਹਿਨਿਸਿ ਤਸਕਰ ਪੰਚ ਚੋਰ ਲਗਈਆ ॥ ਧਰਮੁ ਅਰਥੁ ਸਭੁ ਹਿਰਿ ਲੇ ਜਾਵਹਿ ਮਨਮੁਖ ਅੰਧੁਲੇ ਖਬਰਿ ਨ ਪਈਆ ॥੨॥ ਕੰਚਨ ਕੋਟੁ ਬਹੁ ਮਾਣਕਿ ਭਰਿਆ ਜਾਗੇ ਗਿਆਨ ਤਤਿ ਲਿਵ ਲਈਆ ॥ ਤਸਕਰ ਹੇਰੂ ਆਇ ਲੁਕਾਨੇ ਗੁਰ ਕੈ ਸਬਦਿ ਪਕੜਿ ਬੰਧਿ ਪਈਆ ॥੩॥ : The human body is like a house with ten doors through which five thieves (i.e. lust, anger, greed, attachment, pride; and their countless variations) always break in. They steal away all the wealth of Dharma (Divine Virtues) but the unenlightened Manmukh do not even know about it. ||2|| The human body is like a fort of gold with many precious jewels-like Divine Virtues in it, those who remain Awake and Aware by attuning to the Spiritual Wisdom. By internalizing the Enlightening Message of the Guru’s Shbad they catch and bind down these thieves and robbers (vices/Bikaar) who hide out in the body. ||3|| (sggs 833).

That said, since mind is the driver of the human body, when mind gets deluded we humans do things with corrupted or defiled senses:

• ਮਨੁ ਸੋਇਆ ਮਾਇਆ ਬਿਸਮਾਦਿ ॥੧॥ : The mind is asleep fascinated by Maya (ocean of worldliness). ||1|| (sggs 82).
• ਤ੍ਰੈ ਗੁਣ ਭਰਮੇ ਨਾਹੀ ਨਿਜ ਘਰਿ ਵਾਸਾ ॥੧॥ : ( Even Devtaas – demigods) kept wandering in the three qualities of Maya (worldly attractions and their corrupting influences), they did not find abode in their Nij Ghar. (sggs 230).

In its deluded state, the mind’s condition becomes that of a king who in his sleep dreamed he has become a beggar!

• ਨਰਪਤਿ ਏਕੁ ਸਿੰਘਾਸਨਿ ਸੋਇਆ ਸੁਪਨੇ ਭਇਆ ਭਿਖਾਰੀ ॥ ਅਛਤ ਰਾਜ ਬਿਛੁਰਤ ਦੁਖੁ ਪਾਇਆ ਸੋ ਗਤਿ ਭਈ ਹਮਾਰੀ ॥੨॥ ਰਾਜ ਭੁਇਅੰਗ ਪ੍ਰਸੰਗ ਜੈਸੇ ਹਹਿ ਅਬ ਕਛੁ ਮਰਮੁ ਜਨਾਇਆ ॥ : It is like a king, who falls asleep upon his throne, and dreams (that he has become a) beggar. (Although) his kingdom is intact, but separated from it (in his dream), he suffers pain. Such is our condition. ||2| As is the story of the rope and the snake (i.e., rope mistaken for a snake in darkness), some mystery has now been explained (to me). y forms, and He is enjoying pervading all the Hearts. Ravi Das says: God is nearer to us than even our hands, and whatever is happening, is happening in His Hukam (System-Rule-Law-Order of Nature/Universe). ||4||1|| (sggs 657-658).

Mind’s settling/abiding in its Nij Ghar

In ‘Sidh Gost‘ Bani, yogis questioned Guru Nanak how does the exalted or Enlightened Shabad settle the mind so that both can co-exist. Guru Nanak answers as follows:

• ਨਦਰਿ ਕਰੇ ਤਾ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਮੇਲੇ ਤਾ ਨਿਜ ਘਰਿ ਵਾਸਾ ਇਹੁ ਮਨੁ ਪਾਏ ॥ : Realization of the Enlightenment of the Creator-Connecting Shabad Within (‘Nij Ghar’) the mind settles it. (sggs 945).

The Gurbani enshrined within the SGGS further Guides how the mind can trace its steps back to its Nij Ghar or ‘Jot Saroop‘ Within.

• ਜਿਨੀ ਸੁਣਿ ਕੈ ਮੰਨਿਆ ਤਿਨਾ ਨਿਜ ਘਰਿ ਵਾਸੁ ॥ : Those who having listened (to Naam: Wisdom/Virtues) firmly believed in it, their minds become established in their Nij Ghar ( Own Home within, Mool, Jot Saroop, True Nature, Truth…). (sggs 27).
• ਗੁਰਬਾਣੀ ਸੁਨਤ ਮੇਰਾ ਮਨੁ ਦ੍ਰਵਿਆ ਮਨੁ ਭੀਨਾ ਨਿਜ ਘਰਿ ਆਵੈਗੋ ॥ : My mind (with Naam Ras) gets soaked. (As a result, instead of wandering outside, it) remains fixed in its Nij Ghar within. (sggs 1308).

The Gurbani teaches us for the mind to become settled/abided in its Nij Ghar — Within, first the mind must break through false ego-sense (Haumai), vices/Bikaar, the ‘Trikuti‘ (the three-modes of material nature or triple-qualitied Maya) — worldly temptations and their corrupting influences on the mind) etc.

• ਜਿਸੁ ਛੂਟੈ ਤ੍ਰਿਕੁਟੀ ਤਿਸੁ ਨਿਜ ਘਰਿ ਵਾਸਾ ॥੨॥ : One who is free from the ‘Trikuti‘ (triple-qualitied Maya — worldly temptations and their corrupting influences on the mind) remains abided in Nij Ghar. ||2|| (sggs 374).
• ਨਿਜ ਘਰਿ ਵਸਿਆ ਤਿਥੈ ਮੋਹੁ ਨ ਮਾਇਆ ॥ : God dwells in Nij Ghar where there is no attachmen to Maya. (sggs 1050).
• ਆਪੁ ਪਛਾਣੈ ਘਰਿ ਵਸੈ ਹਉਮੈ ਤ੍ਰਿਸਨਾ ਜਾਇ ॥ : One who realizes ownself, that person abides Within and his/her false-ego-sense (Haumai) and (Mayaic) Trishanaa/ desires go away. (sggs 57).
• ਨਉ ਦਰ ਠਾਕੇ ਧਾਵਤੁ ਰਹਾਏ ॥ ਦਸਵੈ ਨਿਜ ਘਰਿ ਵਾਸਾ ਪਾਏ ॥ : A person who controls the nine doors of the body (two eyes, two ears, two nostrils, one mouth, one genital, and one anus), restrains his/her wandering mind from vices/Bikaar. That person comes to dwell in the Tenth door – Nij Ghar (State Godly Realization). (sggs 124).
• ਨਗਰੀ ਏਕੈ ਨਉ ਦਰਵਾਜੇ ਧਾਵਤੁ ਬਰਜਿ ਰਹਾਈ ॥ ਤ੍ਰਿਕੁਟੀ ਛੂਟੈ ਦਸਵਾ ਦਰੁ ਖੂਲ੍ਹ੍ਹੈ ਤਾ ਮਨੁ ਖੀਵਾ ਭਾਈ ॥੩॥ : One who controls his wandering mind within the body of nine doors, that person frees him/herself from the ‘Trikuti‘ (triple-qualitied Maya — worldly temptations and their corrupting influences on the mind); His/her ‘Tenth door’ (i.e. the Supreme Spiritual State) opens and the mind gets elated (the State of Godly Realization). ||3||. (sggs 1123).

In order to break through the ‘Trikuti‘, the Gurbani Instructs us to internalize the Enlightening Message of the Guru’s Shabad — BECOME THE GURBANI.

• ਗੁਰ ਕੈ ਸਬਦਿ ਰਤਾ ਬੈਰਾਗੀ ਨਿਜ ਘਰਿ ਤਾੜੀ ਲਾਈ ॥੬॥ : By internalizing the Enlightening Message of the Guru’s Shabad, I have become detached (from worldly temptations and their corrupting influences) and remain connected to my Nij Ghar (state of Godly Realization, own inner self). ||6|| (sggs 1232).
• ਗੁਰ ਕੈ ਸਬਦਿ ਹਉਮੈ ਬਿਖੁ ਮਾਰੈ ਤਾ ਨਿਜ ਘਰਿ ਹੋਵੈ ਵਾਸੋ ॥ : The Enlightenment contained within the Guru’s Shabad eliminates one’s false ego-sense and vices; and create a state of Godly Realization. (sggs 940).
• ਗੁਰਮਤੀ ਆਪੈ ਆਪੁ ਪਛਾਣੈ ਤਾ ਨਿਜ ਘਰਿ ਵਾਸਾ ਪਾਵੈ ॥ : Through Gurmat, one comes to understand his (True) Self, and then, he comes to dwell in the Home (of his inner Self). (sggs 565).
• ਪੰਚਾਹਰੁ ਨਿਦਲਿਅਉ ਸੁੰਨ ਸਹਜਿ ਨਿਜ ਘਰਿ ਸਹਾਰ੍ਯ੍ਯਉ ॥ : (Those who by internalizing Amrit Naam: Wisdom/Virtues) settled steadfastly in their Nij Ghar, crush ignorance that leads the five senses to vices/Bikaar. (sggs 1408).

In a nutshell, to Become the Gurbani is to become the Gurmukh (Enlightened state of the mind) for the Gurmukh mindset breaks through the ‘Trikuti‘ and realize Nij Ghar Within, Here and Now.

• ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਨਿਜ ਘਰਿ ਵਾਸਾ ਹੋਇ ॥ : By becoming the Gurmukh, one Realizes (the Creator) Within Conscience (Nij Ghar).
• ਸਭਿ ਸਖੀਆ ਪੰਚੇ ਮਿਲੇ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਨਿਜ ਘਰਿ ਵਾਸੁ ॥ ਸਬਦੁ ਖੋਜਿ ਇਹੁ ਘਰੁ ਲਹੈ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਤਾ ਕਾ ਦਾਸੁ ॥੧॥ : A person who has become the Gurmukh abides in his Nij Ghar Within, all his senses get blessed with five divine Virtues (i.e. Truth-ਸਤ, Godly contentment-ਸੰਤੋਖ, mercy-ਦਯਾ, patience-ਧੀਰਜ, Dharam-ਧਰਮ). Nanak considers himself a servant of such person who realizes Nij Ghar by searching and Reflecting on the Guru’s Shabad. ||1|| (sggs 1291).

The Gurbani’s counsel is that there is ONLY ONE AMRIT, and one can drink it ONLY by abiding in Nij Ghar. Also, by abiding in Nij Ghar, mind’s cyclic nature of Spiritual birth and death (Aavaa Gaman) ceasees to be and one enjoys Happiness, inner Peace, Anand, Sahaj (Natural State of Being, Giaan Avasthaa…), and so on.

• ਨਿਜ ਘਰਿ ਜਾਇ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਰਸੁ ਪੀਆ ਬਿਨੁ ਨੈਨਾ ਜਗਤੁ ਨਿਹਾਰੇ ॥੭॥ : (A person who Reflects on the Guru’s Shabad) drinks Amrit by becoming established in Nij Ghar and sees the world’s reality without physical eyes! ||7| (sggs 983).
• ਆਵਣ ਜਾਣਾ ਨਾ ਥੀਐ ਨਿਜ ਘਰਿ ਵਾਸਾ ਹੋਇ ॥ : Mind’s cyclic nature of Spiritual birth and death (Aavaa Gaman) cease to be for a person established in Nij Ghar. (sggs 993).
• ਨਿਜ ਘਰਿ ਮਹਲੁ ਪਾਵਹੁ ਸੁਖ ਸਹਜੇ ਬਹੁਰਿ ਨ ਹੋਇਗੋ ਫੇਰਾ ॥੩॥ : (O MIND, through the Guru’s Wisdom–Giaan) Realize God’s Presense Within your Nij Ghar and live in ‘Sukh‘ ‘Sahaj‘ (Natural State of Being, Giaan Avasthaa etc.), you will not be consigned to cyclic nature of Spiritual birth and death (Aavaa Gaman). ||3|| (sggs 18).

Ending

In a nutshell, according to the SGGS, the focus of the mind should be on the Essence of the Shabad (i.e. not the physical) for the mind to settle/abide in it’s ‘Nij Ghar‘ i.e. Within. Guru Nanak Counsels:

• ਨਾਭਿ ਪਵਨੁ ਘਰਿ ਆਸਣਿ ਬੈਸੈ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਖੋਜਤ ਤਤੁ ਲਹੈ ॥ ਸੁ ਸਬਦੁ ਨਿਰੰਤਰਿ ਨਿਜ ਘਰਿ ਆਛੈ ਤ੍ਰਿਭਵਣ ਜੋਤਿ ਸੁ ਸਬਦਿ ਲਹੈ ॥ : The Essence of the Shabad gets Realized and reigns in the mind that walks the path of spirituality of the Shabad (internalizing the Enlightening Message contained in the Shabad). (It reigns the mind because walking on the path of spirituality of the Shabad) the Essence of the Shabad is Realized Within (‘Nij Ghar‘) forever/eternally (Tribhavan = Tri + Bhavan = past, present, future; forever, eternally etc.).  (sggs 945).

Some Related Posts:

• Realize Enlightening Message Embedded within Shabad
• Mool – ਮੂਲ
• Mool Realization cannot be Made to an Order
• Mind That Gives up Hunger for Maya Realizes its Mool
• Mind Must Remain in its Khorr – True Home
• Search Ownself – Know Yourself
• Who Am I?
• Jot Saroop – Mind’s Original Nature
• Opening Verse of the SGGS