The Gurmat Wisdom of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS) asserts humans are accompanied by one dog and two bitches — greed is the dog, and desires and avarice (ਆਸਾ, ਤ੍ਰਿਸ਼ਨਾ-Trishanaa etc.) are the two bitches.
Even before one’s body-frame gets out of the bed in the morning, these three (dogs of greed, desires, avarice, corruption etc.) wake up and start barking — indulge in corruption, falsehood and deception, vices or Bikaar etc. while transacting with the outside world of objects, the field of emotions, and the realm of thoughts.
Baabaa Nanak reminds us:
- ਏਕੁ ਸੁਆਨੁ ਦੁਇ ਸੁਆਨੀ ਨਾਲਿ ॥ ਭਲਕੇ ਭਉਕਹਿ ਸਦਾ ਬਇਆਲਿ ॥ ਕੂੜੁ ਛੁਰਾ ਮੁਠਾ ਮੁਰਦਾਰੁ ॥ ਧਾਣਕ ਰੂਪਿ ਰਹਾ ਕਰਤਾਰ ॥1॥: One dog (of greed) and two bitches (desires, avarice, ਆਸਾ, ਤ੍ਰਿਸ਼ਨਾ etc.) are with (the mind of humans). In the early morning, they (rise and) constantly bark (constantly engage in corruption, etc.). The greedy person lies incessantly (i.e. through deception he cheats his own people and strangers). His cunningness is as sharp as a knife. taking what rightfully belongs to other people is equivalent to eating carcasses. O Creator! (the mind) lives as a wild hunter (ਭਾਵ ਭਯਾਨਕ ਅਤੇ ਨੀਚੁ-lowly and scary). ||1|| (sggs 24).
- ਰੰਨਾ ਹੋਈਆ ਬੋਧੀਆ ਪੁਰਸ ਹੋਏ ਸਈਆਦ ॥ ਸੀਲੁ ਸੰਜਮੁ ਸੁਚ ਭੰਨੀ ਖਾਣਾ ਖਾਜੁ ਅਹਾਜੁ ॥ ਸਰਮੁ ਗਇਆ ਘਰਿ ਆਪਣੈ ਪਤਿ ਉਠਿ ਚਲੀ ਨਾਲਿ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਸਚਾ ਏਕੁ ਹੈ ਅਉਰੁ ਨ ਸਚਾ ਭਾਲਿ ॥੨॥ : (Without Giaan or Wisdom) men have become brutal and oppressors (ਜ਼ਾਲਮ), and women have become their counselors (i.e. submissive to them) for such cruelty. Politeness, self-control and mental purity have vanished, and dishonest living has become the way of life of these men. The sense of shame and honor has disappeared from the society. Nanak, there is only One Creator, don’t search for another one. ||2|| (sggs 1243).
Also called ‘rabid dog‘ and ‘poison‘ in the Gurbani, greed is one of the ‘five’ Bikaar mentioned in the Gurbani (or negative inclinations of the mind). The other four are: lust, anger, attachment, and pride. There are also countless variations of these ‘five’ such as Jealousy, hatred, selfishness, cheating, dishonesty, deception, corruption, slandering others, and so on.
A rabid dog cannot be trusted. It will attack, bite and infect whosoever comes in its contact.
A person with greed is compared by the Gurbani to the rabies-ridden dog. Because, unsatisfied greed is akin to the disease of rabies:
- ਜਿਉ ਕੂਕਰੁ ਹਰਕਾਇਆ ਧਾਵੈ ਦਹ ਦਿਸ ਜਾਇ ॥ ਲੋਭੀ ਜੰਤੁ ਨ ਜਾਣਈ ਭਖੁ ਅਭਖੁ ਸਭ ਖਾਇ ॥: Like the mad dog running around in all directions, the greedy person, unaware, grabs or misappropriates everything that comes in his way (ਸਭ ਕੁੱਝ ਹੜਪ ਜਾਂਣ ਦੀ ਵਿਰਤੀ). (sggs 50).
Hence, as it’s safe and commonsense to avoid a rabid dog, the Gurbani urges us to avoid a greedy person, for that person cannot be trusted.
We are time and again Instructed by the Gurbani that desires (Trishana etc.) are wounds (‘ਚੋਟ’) of the mind. And it is only by controlling desires one can realize the Creator within (ਮਨਸਾ ਮਾਰਿ ਸਚਿ ਸਮਾਣੀ ॥ sggs 120).
These desires flow out from the uncontrolled appetite of our defiled senses. Aptly, we are counseled by the Gurbani to restrain the sense and the flow of our desires (Kaam, hunger for Maya, ਬੰਨ ਕੇ, ਰੋਕ ਕੇ ਰਖਣਾਂ).
- ਅਗਿਆਨੁ ਤ੍ਰਿਸਨਾ ਇਸੁ ਤਨਹਿ ਜਲਾਏ ॥: Spiritual ignorance and desire burn this human body. (sggs 1067).
- ਆਸਾ ਮਨਸਾ ਕੂੜੁ ਕਮਾਵਹਿ ਰੋਗੁ ਬੁਰਾ ਬੁਰਿਆਰਾ ਹੇ ॥੭॥: Trapped by hope and desire, (Manmukh) practice falsehood, and remain afflicted by the terrible disease of corruption. ||7|| (sggs 1029).
The moment we wake up in the morning, we have different thoughts (dogs) based on the inclinations of our mind. They take control of our minds as soon as we wake up (this is barking of the dogs).
- ਲੋਭ ਬਿਖਿਆ ਬਿਖੈ ਲਾਗੇ ਹਿਰਿ ਵਿਤ ਚਿਤ ਦੁਖਾਹੀ ॥: Those attached to the poison (i.e. Maya) and Bikaar hurt (others) by stealing their wealth. (sggs 408).
- ਸਾਕਤ ਸੁਆਨ ਕਹੀਅਹਿ ਬਹੁ ਲੋਭੀ ਬਹੁ ਦੁਰਮਤਿ ਮੈਲੁ ਭਰੀਜੈ ॥ ਆਪਨ ਸੁਆਇ ਕਰਹਿ ਬਹੁ ਬਾਤਾ ਤਿਨਾ ਕਾ ਵਿਸਾਹੁ ਕਿਆ ਕੀਜੈ ॥੬॥: Saakat (those separated from God…) are said to be very greedy like dogs; they are full of too much filth of wicked intellect. One who talks excessively but to suit ones own interests; how can such a person be trusted? ||6|| (sggs 1326).
For example, if it is not lust, then it is anger. If it is not anger, it is greed. If it is not greed, it is emotional attachment. If it is not attachment, it is pride. If it is not pride, it is selfishness. If it is not selfishness, it is worry. If it is not worry, it is envy. If it is not envy… (thus goes the unending barrage of thoughts or Bikaars).
- ਭਰੀਐ ਹਥੁ ਪੈਰੁ ਤਨੁ ਦੇਹ ॥ ਪਾਣੀ ਧੋਤੈ ਉਤਰਸੁ ਖੇਹ ॥ ਮੂਤ ਪਲੀਤੀ ਕਪੜੁ ਹੋਇ ॥ ਦੇ ਸਾਬੂਣੁ ਲਈਐ ਓਹੁ ਧੋਇ ॥ ਭਰੀਐ ਮਤਿ ਪਾਪਾ ਕੈ ਸੰਗਿ ॥ ਓਹੁ ਧੋਪੈ ਨਾਵੈ ਕੈ ਰੰਗਿ ॥: Water cleanses my stained physical self (external body). Soap cleanses my stained garments. (Beyond the stained physical self or the garments) my intellect is stained by vices. The cleansing of which (i.e. intellect) is by imbuing in Naam (Wisdom / Virtues). (sggs 4).
Then how can the mind know Peace (or Anand, Blisss, Joy…)? Not possible with such a corrupt and conditioned state of the mind.
- ਕਾਮ ਕ੍ਰੋਧ ਲੋਭ ਮੋਹ ਅਭਿਮਾਨਾ ਤਾ ਮਹਿ ਸੁਖੁ ਨਹੀ ਪਾਈਐ ॥: Lust, anger, greed, emotional attachment and pride – (caught in them) Peace is not obtained (sggs 614).
- ਸਭ ਬਿਧਿ ਖੋਈ ਲੋਭਿ ਸੁਆਨ ॥੨॥: (O mind, due to Ahankaar – false ego-sense, self-conceit…) the dog of greed has ruined you in every way. ||2|| (sggs 374).
Making honest money is not a bad thing. But to remain greedy is compared with a rabid dog in the Gurbani.
The Gurbani asserts that a person inside of whom the dog of greed dies is very ‘rare‘:
- ਤ੍ਰਿਸਨਾ ਬਿਰਲੇ ਹੀ ਕੀ ਬੁਝੀ ਹੇ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ ਕੋਟਿ ਜੋਰੇ ਲਾਖ ਕ੍ਰੋਰੇ ਮਨੁ ਨ ਹੋਰੇ ॥ ਪਰੈ ਪਰੈ ਹੀ ਕਉ ਲੁਝੀ ਹੇ ॥੧॥: Trishnaa (fire of greed, desires…) is extinguished inside a rare person. ||1||Pause|| (The general condition is that a person) earns millions, accumulates millions, yet does not restrain his mind (from greed). (Rather, he) keeps burning (in the fire of Trishnaa) to accumulate more and more extra wealth. ||1|| (sggs 213).
To overcome these worldly temptations effectively, the Gurbani recommends remembrance of Naam (Giaan-Wisdom / Virtues), and live a Gurmukh lifestyle.
- ਬਿਨੁ ਸਿਮਰਨ ਭਏ ਕੂਕਰ ਕਾਮ ॥: Without (Naam-) Simran, one becomes like a dog (sggs 239).
- ਬਹਤੀ ਮਨਸਾ ਰਾਖਹੁ ਬਾਂਧਿ ॥: Keep your flowing desires (pulsating from the senses-ਸਰੀਰਕ ਇੰਦ੍ਰਿਆਂ) restrained. (sggs 342).
- ਗੁਰ ਮੰਤ੍ਰ ਹੀਣਸ੍ਯ੍ਯ ਜੋ ਪ੍ਰਾਣੀ ਧ੍ਰਿਗੰਤ ਜਨਮ ਭ੍ਰਸਟਣਹ ॥ ਕੂਕਰਹ ਸੂਕਰਹ ਗਰਧਭਹ ਕਾਕਹ ਸਰਪਨਹ ਤੁਲਿ ਖਲਹ ॥੩੩॥: That mortal who lacks the Gur-mantra (Guru’s counsel, advice, Wisdom, Guidance, Upadesh, ਸਲਾਹ), cursed and fallen (depraved, polluted…) is his life. That wicked person is a dog, a pig, a jackass, a crow, a snake (in this very life, here and now, not after death). ||33|| (1356).
The Gurbani (SGGS) asserts meeting the Guru (Shabad, Upadesh or Message we all can shatter the hold of Inner Bhangaar or garbage of vices or Bikaar on our mind.
- ਕਾਮਿ ਕਰੋਧਿ ਨਗਰੁ ਬਹੁ ਭਰਿਆ ਮਿਲਿ ਸਾਧੂ ਖੰਡਲ ਖੰਡਾ ਹੇ ॥ ਪੂਰਬਿ ਲਿਖਤ ਲਿਖੇ ਗੁਰੁ ਪਾਇਆ ਮਨਿ ਹਰਿ ਲਿਵ ਮੰਡਲ ਮੰਡਾ ਹੇ ॥੧॥: Meeting my Guru (i.e. Shabad, Upadesh or Message) shattered the hold of lust (worldly desires) and anger (i.e. all Bikaar) over me. My efforts towards connecting with my Guru destined me into realm of Godly Union. (sggs 13).