Poison or Medicine

Recently heard someone repeating one of the most frequently paraphrased statements that the religion is the opium of the people!

Religion in small doses (moderation) could be beneficial provided it’s properly understood and it transforms one’s intellect for Good (‘ਬੁਧਿ ਬਦਲੀ’). However, in big doses, religion is poison, hazard and destructive!

If not properly understood, assimilated, and lived or if it does not change the intellect for Good, it will acts as ‘opium’ (poison…). Just look at all the wars and killing going on in the name of religion and their concocted gods, all over the world!

For a moment, let’s forget about all man-made religions (Mazhab-ਮਜ਼ਹਬ) and their religious texts. Instead, let’s focus on Sikhi.

Sikhi is WAY of life based on the Gurmat Giyan–Wisdom of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS).

Often misunderstood, Sikhi is not a combination or offshoot of any other organized religion (Mazhab-ਮਜ਼ਹਬ). It’s a revolutionary ‘Soch‘ (thinking) of all 35 revolutionary composers of the Bani whose Bani (ਬਾਣੀ) or hymns are recorded in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib.

They did not start an another religion (Mazhab-ਮਜ਼ਹਬ). In fact, they openly critiqued what had become a corrupt clergy system (Pujaaree-Vaad) in all religions.

The Way of life shown by the Gurmat Wisdom of the SGGS is the ‘medicine’.

By becoming a Gurmukh (Enlightened being), however, this medicine has to be constantly consumed or administered (understood-assimilated-lived) in daily life to remove the bad impact of false ego-sense (Haumai).

• ਥਾਲ ਵਿਚਿ ਤਿੰਨਿ ਵਸਤੂ ਪਈਓ ਸਤੁ ਸੰਤੋਖੁ ਵੀਚਾਰੋ ॥ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਨਾਮੁ ਠਾਕੁਰ ਕਾ ਪਇਓ ਜਿਸ ਕਾ ਸਭਸੁ ਅਧਾਰੋ ॥ ਜੇ ਕੋ ਖਾਵੈ ਜੇ ਕੋ ਭੁੰਚੈ ਤਿਸ ਕਾ ਹੋਇ ਉਧਾਰੋ ॥ ਏਹ ਵਸਤੁ ਤਜੀ ਨਹ ਜਾਈ ਨਿਤ ਨਿਤ ਰਖੁ ਉਰਿ ਧਾਰੋ ॥ ਤਮ ਸੰਸਾਰੁ ਚਰਨ ਲਗਿ ਤਰੀਐ ਸਭੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਪਸਾਰੋ ॥੧॥ : (Plate or container of) the human Conscious or mind that has internalized three realizations; (1) the Creator, (2) contentment and (3) thoughtful reflection (into spiritual Life); is the one that realizes spiritual life through the realization of the Amrit Naam (Wisdom/Virtues…) that is the basis of All of spirituality. The mind which consumes or adopts and internalizes Naam is the one that attains its spiritual Goal. This Thing (i.e. spirituality of realization) requires that the divine Naam (Wisdom/Virtues…) be never discarded, therefore be kept permanently inculcated within. Nanak, life within a vices-filled world is traversed by submitting to the Creator who pervades the entire Cosmos. ॥1॥ (sggs 1429).
• ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਅਉਖਧੁ ਸਾਧ ਕਮਾਤਿ ॥: The Sadh (Bhagat, Daas, Jan, Gurmukh…) earn’Hari Hari’ (accumulate / use the Divine Naam) as the medicine (sggs 265).

In other words, the Wisdom or Bibek-Budh of the Gurbani must change or transform one’s Budhi (intellect) for Good.

• ਕਹਿ ਕਬੀਰ ਬੁਧਿ ਹਰਿ ਲਈ ਮੇਰੀ ਬੁਧਿ ਬਦਲੀ ਸਿਧਿ ਪਾਈ ॥੨॥੨੧॥੭੨॥: Says Kabeer! (Wisdom) has taken away my (worldly) intelligence (ਅਕਲ). With this altered intelligence, now I have obtained Sidhi (Spiritual Perfection…). ||2||21||72|| (sggs 339).

Once our intellect is so transformed by internalizing the spiritual Message of the Guru Shabad, it will positively affect our mind and leads it to realize its Untainted Nature (Jot Saroop).

In other words, when our intellect (ਬੁਧਿ-Budh) continually abides in the Wisdom (or Bibek-Budh) of the Guru Shabad, then it instructs (counsels, disciplines etc.) the rebel mind (ਗੁਰਬਾਣੀ ਦਾ ਗਿਆਨ ਲੈਕੇ ਬੁਧਿ ਫਿਰ ਮਾਇਕੀ ਮੰਨ ਨੂੰ ਸਮਝਾਂਦੀ ਹੈ).

To put it otherwise, our intellect’s job is to understand the Gurbani, persuade the mind (Mann) and join Mann and Chitt, making them One again (the state of ‘ਇਕ ਮਨਿ ਇਕ ਚਿਤਿ’ – Ik Mani Ik Chiti,  Gurmukh-hood, one-pointed mind etc. ).

• ਮਨ ਸਮਝਾਵਨ ਕਾਰਨੇ ਕਛੂਅਕ ਪੜੀਐ ਗਿਆਨ ॥੫॥: To instruct the mind one ought to study Knowledge to some extent. ||5|| (sggs 340).
• ਯਾ ਜੁਗ ਮਹਿ ਏਕਹਿ ਕਉ ਆਇਆ ॥ ਜਨਮਤ ਮੋਹਿਓ ਮੋਹਨੀ ਮਾਇਆ ॥: (Man) is born in this life only to become ONE (with Prabh, Mool, etc. – through Naam…). (But) ever since (man’s) birth, (he) has been enticed and deceived by Maya. (sggs 251).

Thus, when we allow the Gur-Shabad to transform our intellect, it is the supreme medicine (‘ਅਉਖਧੁ’-Aoukhadhu) – panacea !

• ਅਉਖਧੁ ਹਰਿ ਕਾ ਨਾਮੁ ਹੈ ਜਿਤੁ ਰੋਗੁ ਨ ਵਿਆਪੈ ॥: The Divine Naam (Wisdom, Virtues, Truth…) is the medicine; with it, no disease afflicts (sggs 814).
• ਦੁਖ ਮਹੁਰਾ ਮਾਰਣ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ॥ ਸਿਲਾ ਸੰਤੋਖ ਪੀਸਣੁ ਹਥਿ ਦਾਨੁ ॥ ਨਿਤ ਨਿਤ ਲੇਹੁ ਨ ਛੀਜੈ ਦੇਹ ॥ ਅੰਤ ਕਾਲਿ ਜਮੁ ਮਾਰੈ ਠੇਹ ॥੧॥ ਐਸਾ ਦਾਰੂ ਖਾਹਿ ਗਵਾਰ ॥ ਜਿਤੁ ਖਾਧੈ ਤੇਰੇ ਜਾਹਿ ਵਿਕਾਰ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥: Sufferings that have become poison due to Vikaar (i.e. lust, anger, greed etc.), the divine Naam (Giaan or Wsdom) is the antidote. Grind it up in the mortar of contentment, make the Daan (i.e. giving of Giaan or Wisdom etc. to help others or needy) a grindstone in your hand. Take this (medicine) everyday, and your body will not pine and waste away (i.e. diminute). Otherwise you will have to bear the brunt of Vikaar. ||1|| O foolish (mind)! Take such medicine, by which (the bad impact of) Vikaar leave you alone (i.e. stay at bay). ||1||Pause|| (sggs 1257).
• ਗੁਰ ਸਬਦੁ ਕਮਾਇਆ ਅਉਖਧੁ ਹਰਿ ਪਾਇਆ ਹਰਿ ਕੀਰਤਿ ਹਰਿ ਸਾਂਤਿ ਪਾਇ ਜੀਉ ॥: Gur sabadu kamaaiaa aoukhadhu hari paaiaa… (sggs 446).

To the contrary, in foolishness and worthless Karamkaand (rituals), if not properly applied then the benefit (‘Laahaa’) will be lost.

• ਵੈਦ ਨ ਭੋਲੇ ਦਾਰੂ ਲਾਇ ॥ ਦਰਦੁ ਹੋਵੈ ਦੁਖੁ ਰਹੈ ਸਰੀਰ ॥ ਐਸਾ ਦਾਰੂ ਲਗੈ ਨ ਬੀਰ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥: O foolish doctor! (if you don’t properly understand the disease…) Don’t give medicine. (Don’t give medicine to me, if with that medicine) the pain persists and the body continues to suffer. O brother (ignorant doctor)! Such medicine has no effect on me. ||1||Pause|| (sggs 1256).

Therefore, the key is in proper understanding (Soojh-Boojh).
Because, without proper understanding, one cannot properly understand subtle ailments of the diseased mind. The Gurbani says we need to understand both — the (mental) disease and the medicine!

• ਰੋਗੁ ਦਾਰੂ ਦੋਵੈ ਬੁਝੈ ਤਾ ਵੈਦੁ ਸੁਜਾਣੁ ॥: If someone understands both the (one’s own mental) disease and the medicine (treatment), only then is he a wise physician (sggs 148).
• ਸੋ ਗੁਰੂ ਸੋ ਸਿਖੁ ਕਥੀਅਲੇ ਸੋ ਵੈਦੁ ਜਿ ਜਾਣੈ ਰੋਗੀ ॥: One is said to be a Guru, a Sikh, and a physician, who knows the patient’s illness (sggs 503).
• ਵੈਦਾ ਵੈਦੁ ਸੁਵੈਦੁ ਤੂ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਰੋਗੁ ਪਛਾਣੁ ॥ ਐਸਾ ਦਾਰੂ ਲੋੜਿ ਲਹੁ ਜਿਤੁ ਵੰਞੈ ਰੋਗਾ ਘਾਣਿ ॥ ਜਿਤੁ ਦਾਰੂ ਰੋਗ ਉਠਿਅਹਿ ਤਨਿ ਸੁਖੁ ਵਸੈ ਆਇ ॥ ਰੋਗੁ ਗਵਾਇਹਿ ਆਪਣਾ ਤ ਨਾਨਕ ਵੈਦੁ ਸਦਾਇ ॥੨॥: O physician! O physician, you are a competent physician, (only) if you first diagnose the disease (pertaining to your own mind-ਆਪਣਾ ਹੀ ਆਤਮਕ ਰੋਗ)… (sggs 1279).

Hence, the problem is not with religions or their texts, but not properly understanding them and interpreting them by the self-serving clergy (Pujaaree), let alone properly applying them to daily life!

In fact, on account of ignorance or greed, many (Particularly the paid clergy or Pujaaree) abuse or use religions or their texts as a mundane business (‘ਰੋਟੀਆ ਕਾਰਣਿ’ ਧੰਧਾ) or money game and mislead people in the process! Owing to their selfishness and greed, masses do follow religious conmen blindly.

• ਪੜਿਐ ਨਾਹੀ ਭੇਦੁ ਬੁਝਿਐ ਪਾਵਣਾ ॥ ਖਟੁ ਦਰਸਨ ਕੈ ਭੇਖਿ ਕਿਸੈ ਸਚਿ ਸਮਾਵਣਾ ॥ ਸਚਾ ਪੁਰਖੁ ਅਲਖੁ ਸਬਦਿ ਸੁਹਾਵਣਾ ॥ : Not by just reading (scriptures), but it is through spiritual Wisdom one Understands this fact (that God is infinite). No one can merge in the eternal God by merely adopting the garbs mentioned in the six Shastras (the Hindu holy books). The eternal God is unfathomable, but revealed through the Guru’s Shabad, He (i.e. Creation, Hukam) looks beautiful. (sggs 148).
• ਬਿਨੁ ਬੂਝੇ ਪਸੂ ਭਏ ਬੇਤਾਲੇ ॥੬॥: Without understanding, people become beast (-nature) and demon ||6|| (sggs 224).
• ਪਢੇ ਗੁਨੇ ਨਾਹੀ ਕਛੁ ਬਉਰੇ ਜਉ ਦਿਲ ਮਹਿ ਖਬਰਿ ਨ ਹੋਈ ॥੨॥: O crazy man! (You) gain nothing by reading and studying if you do not gain the Understanding (ਆਤਮਕ ਸੂਝ-ਬੂਝ) in the Heart. ||2|| (sggs 483).

As asserted in the Gurbani, If everybody in the world becomes the Gurmukh (Enlightened being), then there will prevail only the Divine Vision and Understanding (Soojh-Boojh) of Oneness, eliminating poison (of Maya, vices/Bikaar, ignorance, I-ness etc.) from the minds. Change in the minds of the people translates into social change for good!

• ਵਾਹੁ ਵਾਹੁ ਗੁਰਮੁਖ ਸਦਾ ਕਰਹਿ ਮਨਮੁਖ ਮਰਹਿ ਬਿਖੁ ਖਾਇ ॥: The Gurmukhs ever praise (Rabb: Universal Energy, Hukam: System-Rule-Law of Nature…); However, Manmukhs (Unenlightened beings) die by consuming the poison of Maya. (sggs 515).
• ਬਿਖੁ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤੁ ਕਰਤਾਰਿ ਉਪਾਏ ॥ ਸੰਸਾਰ ਬਿਰਖ ਕਉ ਦੁਇ ਫਲ ਲਾਏ ॥: Poison (-Maya, which brings spiritual death) and Amrit (-Naam, which gives spiritual life) are created by the Kartaar. These two fruits have been attached to the world-tree. (sggs 1172).
• ਆਸਿ ਪਾਸਿ ਬਿਖੂਆ ਕੇ ਕੁੰਟਾ ਬੀਚਿ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤੁ ਹੈ ਭਾਈ ਰੇ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ : O my brother, there are springs full of poison (attachment or hunger for Maya, worldly temptations, vices) around and in the midst you have Amrit (i.e. Naam) flowing within. ||1||Pause|| (sggs 385).

Some related posts:

• Gurbani on Absurdity of Conflicts among Man-Made Religions
• Antidote for Ignorance
• Gurmat and Social Change