Not Liable For Change

The Gurbani says we are THAT — Joti Saroop(u)-ਜੋਤਿ ਸਰੂਪੁ”!

The Gurbani reminds us that we as “Joti Saroop(u)” (“ਜੋਤਿ ਸਰੂਪੁ”) are not separate from the Reality – Mool. Therefore, the Gurbani never gets tired of reminding us this truth.

  • ਆਤਮ ਮਹਿ ਰਾਮੁ ਰਾਮ ਮਹਿ ਆਤਮੁ ਚੀਨਸਿ ਗੁਰ ਬੀਚਾਰਾ ॥: Omnipresent God (Universal Energy…) is in soul, and soul is in Omnipresent God. This is realized through Reflecting on the Guru’s Shabad. (sggs 1153).

Our Mool (Source, Reality, Jot, Raam, Gobind, Hari, Allah…) is Changeless — not liable to change.

  • ਨਾ ਓਹੁ ਬਢੈ ਨ ਘਟਤਾ ਜਾਇ ॥ ਅਕੁਲ ਨਿਰੰਜਨ ਏਕੈ ਭਾਇ ॥੩॥: (Brahm) does not increase or decrease. (Brahm) is without lineage, Immaculate (beyond Maya’s influence), and ever remains the same (i.e., not liable to change). ||3|| (sggs 343).
  • ਤੂੰ ਜੁਗੁ ਜੁਗੁ ਏਕੋ ਸਦਾ ਸਦਾ ਤੂੰ ਏਕੋ ਜੀ ਤੂੰ ਨਿਹਚਲੁ ਕਰਤਾ ਸੋਈ ॥: Tun jug jug ekai… (sggs 11).
  • ਵਡਾ ਨ ਹੋਵੈ ਘਾਟਿ ਨ ਜਾਇ ॥੨॥: Vadaa n hovai ghaati n jaai (sggs 9).

Thus, according to the Gurbani, it’s an error to identify with the gross body (Maya…), which is liable to constant change — the body is born, gets old, and ultimately dies.

  • ਸਾਕਤ ਨਿਰਗੁਣਿਆਰਿਆ ਆਪਣਾ ਮੂਲੁ ਪਛਾਣੁ ॥ ਰਕਤੁ ਬਿੰਦੁ ਕਾ ਇਹੁ ਤਨੋ ਅਗਨੀ ਪਾਸਿ ਪਿਰਾਣੁ ॥: O Saakat (i.e., devoid of Virtues…)! Recognize your own Mool (Source, Jot…)! This body is made of blood and semen (i.e., this body you are so proud of is not your Mool…). Remember it will be consigned to fire (of pyre in the end). (sggs 63).

When we feel with a total conviction that we are THAT — which is not liable to change — then we are with the Whole (“Saabatu-ਸਾਬਤੁ“), Indivisible, Total, or Intact Consciousness.

  • ਨਦਰਿ ਤਿਨਾ ਕਉ ਨਾਨਕਾ ਜਿ ਸਾਬਤੁ ਲਾਏ ਰਾਸਿ ॥: O Nanak! The Divine Grace is to them who have preserved their Spiritual Wealth “Saabatu” (Intact…). (sggs 1238).
  • 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) remains Intact, (Complete, Whole, Undivided – Saabat…). ||1||Pause|| (182 sggs).

The Gurbani asks us to silently observe this feeling (every breath – “ਸਾਸ ਸਾਸ”). If we constantly (every breath – “ਸਾਸ ਸਾਸ”), by and by we come to realize that we (as Jot Saroop, Mool...) are different from the gross body-frame and its activities (Maya). Thus constantly observing breath will keep the mind under constant watch or vigilance. As a result, the mind ceases to wander around.

If we don’t, then the Gurbani tells us our consciousness will break:

  • ਕਬੀਰ ਕਾਇਆ ਕਾਚੀ ਕਾਰਵੀ ਕੇਵਲ ਕਾਚੀ ਧਾਤੁ ॥ ਸਾਬਤੁ ਰਖਹਿ ਤ ਰਾਮ ਭਜੁ ਨਾਹਿ ਤ ਬਿਨਠੀ ਬਾਤ ॥੨੨੨॥: O Kabeer! The Kaaiaa is (like) a raw (ਕਾਚੀ: ਕੱਚੀ, unripe, crude, clay-built) pot (i.e., the racing mind attached to Maya is Kachaa-ਕੱਚਾ…). If you wish to keep it Intact (Total, Whole – free of Bikaars, Maya…), then Unite (Join…) Raam (the Inner, “Aatam Raam“); otherwise, it will break (ਵਿਅਰਥ ਹੀ ਬਿਨਸ ਜਾਏਗੀ) ॥੨੨੨॥. (sggs 1376).

The Gurbani tells us that this delusion of identification with the gross body cannot be broken without being Awaken to our True Nature. In other words, the Gurbani teaches us that without being “Whole” (“Saabati Dil”), there can be no Spiritual Realization.

  • ਸੇਖ ਸਬੂਰੀ ਬਾਹਰਾ ਕਿਆ ਹਜ ਕਾਬੇ ਜਾਇ ॥ ਕਬੀਰ ਜਾ ਕੀ ਦਿਲ ਸਾਬਤਿ ਨਹੀ ਤਾ ਕਉ ਕਹਾਂ ਖੁਦਾਇ ॥੧੮੫॥: O Sheikh, if you do not have Godly contentment within you, then why do you go to Kaaba (in Macca) for pilgrimage? O Kabir, one whose Heart (mind) is not Complete (fully contented, doubt free, ‘ਸਾਬਤ’ etc.), how can he Realize God? ||185|| (sggs 1374).

The Spiritual Beings who have realized their True Identity or Intact Status are called “Gurmukh” in the Gurbani. The opposite of Gurmukh is Manmukh (self-willed, Saakat, Mayadhaaree...). In other words, a Gurmukh is a person situated at the platform of Undivided Consciousness (“Saabat-ਸਾਬਤ“). To the contrary, a Manmukh is a person infected with divided consciousness — false ego-sense (Haumai), Mayaic or doubt-ridden intellect, etc.

The Gurbani is Brahm-Vichaar. Therefore, it speaks at the level of the Aatmaa (Soul, Mool, Jot – Niraakaar…) not at the level of the gross body-consciousness (Maya). In fact, the Gurbani does not promote the body-consciousness at all (Maya, falsehood…). To the contrary, the Gurbani wants us to transcend or go beyond the body-consciousness (Maya, falsehood…). Because the body-consciousness makes us neurotic.

Therefore, to understand and appreciate the Gurbani’s Divine Wisdom, we have to go beyond the body-consciousness (Maya…).

  • ਮਨਮੁਖ ਸੋਇ ਰਹੇ ਸੇ ਲੂਟੇ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਸਾਬਤੁ ਭਾਈ ਹੇ ॥: O Brother! The Mnmukhs remain asleep (in bondage, delusion…), and are plundered. Who have become Gurmukhs remain Intact or Complete (Undivided Consciousness-Saabat…). (sggs 1024).

Thus, the content of the Gurbani is esoteric Knowledge (Brahm-Giaan) recorded for the purpose of reflection and contemplation (1) to break the false identity, (2) and to realize the True Identity — realization of one’s Mool (Source, Origin, Jot…), within.

4 comments

  1. Thank you Chitranjan Dev Ji for your kind words.
    I’m just a beginner, learning along with everybody!

    As per my knowledge Gurbani always favour to live like a family person with rememberance of God

    Yes, this is the Gurbani’s edict.
    According to the Gurbani, “Mukti” has to be realized while living in the midst of Maya, not after death or “there yonder” or “up there”!!
    • ਗ੍ਰਿਹਸਤ ਮਹਿ ਸੋਈ ਨਿਰਬਾਨੁ ॥:In the midst of your household, remain in Nirvana (sggs 281).
    Related:
    http://www.gurbani.org/articles/webart171.htm
    http://www.gurbani.org/gurblog/be-in-the-world-but-not-of-the-world/

    However, the Gurbani time and again reminds us it’s not easy!
    http://www.gurbani.org/gurblog/chewing-iron/
    http://www.gurbani.org/articles/webart293.htm
    http://www.gurbani.org/gurblog/game-of-life/
    http://www.gurbani.org/gurblog/seeing-the-world-as-the-gurbani-sees-it/

  2. Gurmukhji…….
    Can we be with our true Identity(Mool) and live a Househoder Life? As per my knowledge Gurbani always favour to live like a family person with rememberance of God…………….Kindly reply if you can on my Email ID…………………WJKWJF………
    Thanks

  3. Joti Saroopu-ਜੋਤਿ ਸਰੂਪੁ”! is the reference for a specific FORM . In this context SUPREME REALITY
    also exist as the same FORM. Thus SUPREME REALITY can not be said to be FORMLESS as we normally understand.

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