Poison or Medicine

Religion is meant to be a guiding light, a moral compass that leads us to goodness. That said, religion could be beneficial provided it’s properly understood, assimilated, lived, and transforms one’s thinking (Soch) and intellect for Good (‘ਬੁਧਿ ਬਦਲੀ’).

If not, it can easy turn one into religious zealot, fanatic, fundamentalist etc and thus become poison, hazard and destructive! Just look at all the wars and killing going on all over the world in the name of man-made religion (Mazhab-ਮਜ਼ਹਬ) and their concocted gods!

For a moment, let’s forget about all man-made religions (Mazhab-ਮਜ਼ਹਬ) and their religious texts/gods. Instead, let’s focus on Sikhi or Gurmat (the Way of the Guru: Sri Guru Granth Sahib, SGGS) of Guru Nanak, the progenitor Guru of Sikhi.

Challenging the clergy concocted system of man-made religions

Sikhi is Uniqye WAY of life based on the Giyan–Wisdom of the Gurbani enshrined within the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS).

Often wrongly presented or misunderstood, Sikhi is not a combination or offshoot of any other organized religion (Mazhab-ਮਜ਼ਹਬ). It’s a Pure, Unique and revolutionary ‘Soch‘ or ‘Vichaar Dhaaraa‘ (ideology) of the 35 composers of the Bani whose Bani (ਬਾਣੀ) or hymns are recorded in the SGGS. All composers of the Bani included in the SGGS were revolutionary who championed equality and challenged the authority of religious leaders.

Guru Nanak, the progenitor Guru of Sikhi, was revolutionary who meticulously and logically critiqued, rejected, debunked and dismantled the dominant religious orthodoxies of his time, laying the foundation for a tradition that would eventually crystallize into the innovative, unique and revolutionary Sikhi. Therefore, Guru Nanak’s teachings are NOT a restatement of ideas found in the framework of the preexisting Sanatan texts such as Purans, Vedas, Simritis, or texts of any other religions of his time. etc. To think otherwise would be misleading, and a deliberate act. Guru Nanak adopted existing religious terminology and reconstructed it with new meaning exposing its falsity from within.

Having said that, Guru Nanak did not start an another religion (Mazhab-ਮਜ਼ਹਬ).

Poison and medicine

Poison is called Bikhya in the Gurbani. There is one kind of poison that a person eats and dies, and there is another kind of poison that a person keeps inside and spits out from within. Whatever the poison is, it is not good for any person.

The Gurbani enshrined within the SGGS have been composed for the betterment of every human being’s life and for social welfare. That is why every Word of Gurbani conveys an enlightening Message of for the betterment of human life.

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 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 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 ਜਸੁ ਕਰਤ ਸੰਤ ਦਿਨੁ ਰਾਤਿ ॥ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਅਉਖਧੁ ਸਾਧ ਕਮਾਤਿ ॥ : The seekers of truth always abide in the Divine Naam (Har Har: abide the Divine Giyan-Wisdom / Virtues / Hukam). They continuously practice and administer the ultimate medicine of the Naam (Har Har Aukhadh). (sggs 264).

Poison – in mind

The Gurbani explains that bad thoughts are the poison in the mind of a person. These bad thoughts are the filth of vices/Bikaar – lust, anger, greed, attachment, pride and their numerous variations as enmity, jealousy, duality, hatred, falsehood, false ego-sense (Haumai), arrogance, stubbornness etc.

• ਮਨਿ ਮੈਲੈ ਸਭੁ ਕਿਛੁ ਮੈਲਾ ਤਨਿ ਧੋਤੈ ਮਨੁ ਹਛਾ ਨ ਹੋਇ ॥ : When the mind is filthy, everything is filthy; by washing the body, the mind is not cleaned (sggs 558).

It is clear from the foregoing verse that if the mind is filthy, everything becomes filthy. Just washing the body as in ritual bathing does NOT make the mind clean.

• ਸੋਚ ਕਰੈ ਦਿਨਸੁ ਅਰੁ ਰਾਤਿ ॥ ਮਨ ਕੀ ਮੈਲੁ ਨ ਤਨ ਤੇ ਜਾਤਿ ॥ ਇਸੁ ਦੇਹੀ ਕਉ ਬਹੁ ਸਾਧਨਾ ਕਰੈ ॥ ਮਨ ਤੇ ਕਬਹੂ ਨ ਬਿਖਿਆ ਟਰੈ ॥ ਜਲਿ ਧੋਵੈ ਬਹੁ ਦੇਹ ਅਨੀਤਿ ॥ ਸੁਧ ਕਹਾ ਹੋਇ ਕਾਚੀ ਭੀਤਿ ॥ : I may perform external cleansing day and night (at the so called holy places). But the filth of my mind cannot be gotten rid of by bodily cleansing. I may subject body to all sorts of ‘Saadhanaa’ (efforts, Pakhand of ritual bathing etc), but my mind will never be rid of its ‘Bikhiaa’ (poison of vices/Bikaar etc). I may wash my perishable body with loads of water, (still) this wall of mud (i.e. body) cannot be washed clean. (sggs 265).

Medicine – Naam

Therefore, according to the Way of life taught by the Gurmat (SGGS) — continuous practice of the Divine Naam (abidance in Divine Giyan-Wisdom / Virtues / Hukam) in life is the anti-poison ‘medicine‘ to get rid of mental filth (i.e. poison):

• ਮਨ ਹਰਿ ਕੇ ਨਾਮ ਕੀ ਮਹਿਮਾ ਊਚ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਨਾਮਿ ਉਧਰੇ ਪਤਿਤ ਬਹੁ ਮੂਚ ॥੩॥ : O my mind, greatest is the glory of the Divine Naam (Har Har: abide the Divine Giyan-Wisdom / Virtues / Hukam). Nanak, by abiding the Divine Naam (abidance in Divine Giyan-Wisdom / Virtues / Hukam), so many transgressors get rescued from vices/Bikaar. ||3|| (sggs 265).

Simply put, the mind should understand that the medicine to end its poison is none other than the Divine Naam (abidance in Divine Giyan-Wisdom / Virtues / Hukam). in other words adopting Divine Virtues, Giyan-Wisdom, living in harmony with Hukam is the medicine that can save the mind that had become corrupt from the poison of vices/Bikaar.

If internalized or realized in life — the process of knowing, understanding, accepting, believing, habitualizing, inculcating, and finally BECOMING THE GURBANI —  the enlightening Wisdom or Bibek-Budh of the Gurbani will change or transform one’s mind 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 mind/intellect is so transformed by the Enlightening Message of the Guru Shabad (SGGS), it will positively affect our mind and leads it to realize its Original, Untainted Nature (Jot Saroop). In other words, when our intellect (ਬੁਧਿ-Budh) continually abides injunctions of the Guru Shabad, then it instructs (counsels, disciplines etc.) the rebel mind (ਗੁਰਬਾਣੀ ਦਾ ਗਿਆਨ ਲੈਕੇ ਬੁਧਿ ਫਿਰ ਮਾਇਕੀ ਮੰਨ ਨੂੰ ਸਮਝਾਂਦੀ ਹੈ).

• 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 mind/intellect, it becomes the ultimate medicine (‘ਅਉਖਧੁ’-Aoukhadhu) or panacea that clear the mind’s poison!

• ਅਉਖਧੁ ਹਰਿ ਕਾ ਨਾਮੁ ਹੈ ਜਿਤੁ ਰੋਗੁ ਨ ਵਿਆਪੈ ॥ ਸਾਧਸੰਗਿ ਮਨਿ ਤਨਿ ਹਿਤੈ ਫਿਰਿ ਦੂਖੁ ਨ ਜਾਪੈ ॥੨॥ : the Divine Naam (abidance in Divine Giyan-Wisdom / Virtues / Hukam) 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 Vices/Bikaar (i.e. lust, anger, greed etc.), the Divine Naam (abidance in Divine Giyan-Wisdom / Virtues / Hukam) is the antidote. Grind it up in the mortar of contentment, make the Daan (i.e. giving of Giyan-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. Otherwise you will have to bear the brunt of vices/Bikaar. ||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 ॥ : Guru’sThose who live according to the Gur-Shabad receive the healing medicine of the Divine Naam (abidance in Divine Giyan-Wisdom / Virtues / Hukam), and by administering this medicine they realize enduring spiritual peace.  (sggs 446).

To the contrary, if applied in foolishness and empty Karamkaand (rituals), 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 naive physician, (if you don’t properly understand the disease…) don’t administer/prescribe that medicine, even after taking which the pain persists and the body remains afflicted. O brother (naive physician) the medicine — given without diagnosing the cause of ailment — is not effective at all. ||1||Pause|| (sggs 1256).

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

• ਰੋਗੁ ਦਾਰੂ ਦੋਵੈ ਬੁਝੈ ਤਾ ਵੈਦੁ ਸੁਜਾਣੁ ॥ ਵਾਟ ਨ ਕਰਈ ਮਾਮਲਾ ਜਾਣੈ ਮਿਹਮਾਣੁ ॥ : If a person recognizes his/her own disease (i.e. judges own vices/faults etc) and way to treat the disease, is truly a wise physician. Such wise physician does not get involved in any unnecessary things in life, knowing that he is only a guest in this world. (sggs 148).
• ਸੋ ਗੁਰੂ ਸੋ ਸਿਖੁ ਕਥੀਅਲੇ ਸੋ ਵੈਦੁ ਜਿ ਜਾਣੈ ਰੋਗੀ ॥ : One is said to be a Guru who understands what the disciple needs and guides accordingly; similarly, such person is called a Sikh who understand his/her ailment; and such a person is called physician who knows the patient’s illness and how to treat it. (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! You would be considered a competent physician only if you first diagnose/recognize the spiritual disease (pertaining to mind-ਆਤਮਕ ਰੋਗ). Then you ought to find a medicine which would cure the multitude of spiritual maladies (i.e. a true Guru understands what afflicts the human mind and gives advice accordingly). The right medicine is that which could cure diseases and bring comfort/wellness to dwell in the body (i.e. i.e. the guru advises how to overcome afflictions and be at peace). Nanak, only when you get rid of your own affliction (false ego-sense, vices/Bikaar…), only then can you be called a true physician (spiritual healer). ||2|| (sggs 1279).

That said, the problem is not with religions or their texts, but not properly understanding them and interpreting them by the selfish and greedy  clergy (Pujaaree), let alone properly applying them to daily life!

In fact, on account of ignorance, selfishness and greed, many (Particularly the earn-a-living 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 conman 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, envy, I-ness etc.) from the minds. Change in the minds of the people will translate into social change for good!

• ਵਾਹੁ ਵਾਹੁ ਗੁਰਮੁਖ ਸਦਾ ਕਰਹਿ ਮਨਮੁਖ ਮਰਹਿ ਬਿਖੁ ਖਾਇ ॥ : The Gurmukhs (Enlightened/Guru-Shabad-Oriented mindset) ever praise the One Creator (i.e. live in harmony with the Divine Hukam: Universal System-Rule-Law of Nature); However, Manmukhs (Unenlightened mindset) spiritually die by consuming the poison of Maya. (sggs 515).
• ਬਿਖੁ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤੁ ਕਰਤਾਰਿ ਉਪਾਏ ॥ ਸੰਸਾਰ ਬਿਰਖ ਕਉ ਦੁਇ ਫਲ ਲਾਏ ॥ : Poison (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:

• Pujaaree’s Sikhi vs. Guru Nanak’s Sikhi
• Understanding Guru Nanak
• Gurbani on Absurdity of Conflicts among Man-Made Religions
• Universal Message-Oneness in Diversity
• Sikhi: a New ‘Way’ of Life
• Gurbani Defines Naam
• Gurbani Explains Gurbani
• Become the Gurbani
• Antidote for Ignorance
• Bhangaar – Mental Filth
• Mind’s Vices/Bikaar
• Gurmat and Social Change
• Realize Enlightening Message Embedded within Shabad
• Becoming Sachiaar–ਕਿਵ ਸਚਿਆਰਾ ਹੋਈਐ
• Hukam
• Gurbani Speaks of one Universal Dharma of Virtues
• Adopt Divine Virtues
• The Ultimate Medicine
• Pujaaree System Wants People Remain Ignorant, Fearful, Ritualistic…
• Sikhi Teaches to Discard priestly Class