Gurbani Rejects any Geographical Location or Building as SACH KHAND

The GURBANI in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS) calls for the use of GURBANI to understand, explain, translate and interpret GURBANI.

Unfortunately however the currently available variety of distorted Teekaas of the SGGS available on the Internet etc. are primarily based on sources OUTSIDE of Gurbani to interpret Gurbani in SGGS. For example, they all rely on literal methods, framework of Shastras/Vedas/Purans/Yogic slants, Deraavaad, ideology of Bipparvaad, fake Sakhis (made-up stories), Books written by anti-Nanak and anti-Sikhi groups, and so on.

As a result, these distorted interpretations are becoming the sources of our confusion and misunderstanding of the Gurbani in SGGS. The outcome is that the Sikhi of Baabaa Nanak has been taken back to the belief systems that existed prior to the birth of Baabaa Nanak in 1469 – beliefs that were rejected by Baabaa Nanak.

The result is more and more people becoming alienated from truth of the Gurbani in Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS). As more people drift from truth, the less tolerant they become of those who speak it! It is a sign of cowardly and foolish persons who shut their eyes to facts/truth.

The case in point is ‘SACH KHAND‘. Tremendous confusion and misunderstanding of the Gurbani about ‘Sach Khand‘ has been created by the self-appointed and self-serving Pujaare (clergy) in SikhiTaksals, Deraa-Vaad Baabaas (ਵੇਹਲੜ) and the Granthis, Parcharaks, Ragis, Dhadees, Bhais etc. who are schooled in Taksali, Dera and Sampardayi traditions.

Sach Khand‘ is Not one word as in Sachkhand

First, ‘Sach Khand‘ is Not one word as in Sachkhand.

As appears in the the SGGS, ‘Sach Khand (ਸਚ ਖੰਡਿ)’ consists of two words: ‘Sach‘ means True and ‘Khand‘ means Realm, Domain etc. So ‘Sach Khand‘ means ‘the realm of Truth’ or the ‘Realm of Creator’ Within.

These days the word ‘Sach Khand’ or Sachkhand has widely been used by the Pujaaree (clergy) referring to a particular building or a room, or some geographical location, or an imaginary abode in the sky where God resides.

However, the Gurbani in SGGS logically rejects any external geographical location or building as ‘Sach Khand‘ here on earth or in sky.

  • ਅੰਤਰਿ ਵਸਤੁ ਮੂੜਾ ਬਾਹਰੁ ਭਾਲੇ ॥ ਮਨਮੁਖ ਅੰਧੇ ਫਿਰਹਿ ਬੇਤਾਲੇ ॥ ਜਿਥੈ ਵਥੁ ਹੋਵੈ ਤਿਥਹੁ ਕੋਇ ਨ ਪਾਵੈ ਮਨਮੁਖ ਭਰਮਿ ਭੁਲਾਵਣਿਆ ॥੭॥ : The Spiritual Substance (e.g. God, Naam…) is Within, but the foolish person looks for outside. The spiritually blind Manmukhs (Unenlightened persons) wander around and go astray from the righteous way of life. No one tries to find the Spiritual Substance where it is present, the Manmukhs remain lost in doubt (and keep finding what lies within NOT outside). ||7|| (sggs 117).

Even before describing ‘Sach khand’, Baabaa Nanak describes four other ‘Khands’ in the ‘Jap’ Bani in the SGGS. ‘SACH KHAND’ is described as the final ‘Khand’.

  1. Dharma Khand (ਧਰਮ ਖੰਡ) — The Realm of Dharma (Identification of obligations/duties, Virtues etc.),
  2. Giyan Khand (ਗਿਆਨ ਖੰਡ) — the Realm of spiritual Enlightenment (Giyan Avasthaa),
  3. Saram Khand (ਸਰਮ ਖੰਡ) — the Realm of spiritual efforts (Uddam Avasthaa),
  4. Karam khand (ਕਰਮ ਖੰਡ) — the Realm of Grace.
  5. SACH KHAND (ਸਚ ਖੰਡ) — ‘the realm of Truth’, the ‘Realm of Creator’ Within, or the state of being ONE with God Within.

In a nutshell, first to recognize one’s duties, secondly to acquire Giyan-Wisdom) to Enlighten one’s mind, and thirdly to practice hard work (toil, self-efforts). Then – fourthly – comes the Grace (one’s hard work pays off). Fifthly – FINALLY – one realizes the state of ‘Sach Khand‘ Within which is the state of being one with God Within.

Sach Khand‘ is the last of the five states of the mind

That being so, as per the Gurbani in SGGS, ‘SACH KHAND‘ IS THE LAST OF THE FIVE STATES OF MIND (ਆਤਮਕ ਅਵਸਥਾ) one achieves on one’s way to being Sachiaaraa-ਸਚਿਆਰਾ’ (God-Realized, Hukam-abiding-‘ਹੁਕਮਿ ਰਜਾਈ ਚਲਣਾ’).

  • 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).

In other words, ‘SACH KHAND‘ is a highest spiritual state of one’s mind when one is fully connected with Niraakaar (ੴ ) or the Formless Creator Within NO particular form-shape-color (NO ‘Roopu-ਰੂਪੁ’, NO ‘Raekh-ਰੇਖ’, and NO ‘Rangu-ਰੰਗੁ’).

So for the Pujaaree (clergy clique) to say God lives in a particular physical place called ‘Sach Khand’ (or Sachkhand) in the sky or to call a particular building as such is a total distortion of the Unique teachings of the Gurmat.

It is similar to Brahmin Pujaaree (clergy clique) who has concocted ‘Baikunth‘ or ‘Sawarg‘ up there in the sky which is logically critiqued, debunked and rejected in the SGGS.

It is also similar to the Pujaaree (clergy clique) of Semitic religions. Their clergy has concocted ‘Bahist‘ or heaven up there in the sky which is also logically critiqued, debunked and rejected in the SGGS.

Seeing the clergy groups of other organized religions successfully pulling this ‘Pakhand‘, the self-appointed Sikh clergy could not wait to imitate/copy them — they also concocted ‘Sach Khand’ or Sachkhand up there in the sky and/or some particular building here on earth!

Enlightening Message of the Guru Shabad is NEVER specific to location

Since the Creator is Limitless/Infinite, the Creator Can NOT be confined or limited to one particular building, or one location, or one place etc.

The Enlightening spiritual Message of the Gurbani in the SGGS is oriented to liberation (Mukti) from all kinds of superstitions, rituals (Karamkaand), baser instincts such as prejudices, racism, envy, ignorance, vices/Bikaar etc.

The Spiritual Message of the Guru’s Shabad is Universal, humanistic and elevating – applicable to the entire humanity in the whole world (‘Saajhee Sagal Jahaanai-ਸਾਝੀ ਸਗਲ ਜਹਾਨੈ’).

Apparently, the self-appointed Pujaaree in Sikhi has forgotten that the teachings of the SGGS are Universal. That being said, according to Babaa Nanak, becoming Sikh of the external body-frame does not make Sikh. Being a Sikh from Conscience (Surat – ਸੁਰਤ) is the real Sikhi.

  • ਸਬਦੁ ਗੁਰੂ ਸੁਰਤਿ ਧੁਨਿ ਚੇਲਾ ॥: The SHABAD is my GURU (i.e. the Source of my Enlightenment), and my conscience (Surat, mind) is the disciple (of this SHABAD GURU (i.e. I adherer to the Instructions contained within the Shabad). (sggs 943).
  • ਪਰਥਾਇ ਸਾਖੀ ਮਹਾ ਪੁਰਖ ਬੋਲਦੇ ਸਾਝੀ ਸਗਲ ਜਹਾਨੈ ॥ : The Great Men may be speaking about or addressing certain story or a particular situation, but the Teaching in those is applicable to the entire world. (sggs 647).

In essence, the Unique and Revolutionary Message of the ‘Sarab Saajhee‘ Gurbani in SGGS is NEVER specific to location, occasion, person, incident or era (i.e. it’s not time-bound). Therefore, it is relevant in all times, all locations, and the entire humanity in the world. In short, the Message of the Gurbani is Universal and egalitarian.

But to keep their lucrative business (ਧੰਧਾ) of no investment and no loss, this following verse stands high on the list of mistranslated verses/Shabads by most of the Pujaaree groups:

  • ਸਚ ਖੰਡਿ ਵਸੈ ਨਿਰੰਕਾਰੁ ॥ : Sach Khand Vasai Nirankaar (sggs 8).

The verse is further (wrongly) described as being composed pertaining to some particular geographical location called ‘Sach Khand‘ where God resides! As a consequent, many of us take the literal meaning of this verse explained to us by the Pujaaree that ‘Sach Khand‘ is a particular building on the earth or a location up there in the sky where ‘Nirankaar‘ or the Creator resides! Clearly either most of the self-serving Pujaaree groups:

  • do not understanding its true meaning,
  • or they don’t want to understand its true meaning,
  • or they don’t care about its true meaning,
  • or they rely on ideology of Bipparvaad,
  • or they have anti-Nanak agenda to distort the Gurmat and Sikhi of Guru Nanak to take it back to the pre-1469 belief system that has logically been critiqued, rejected and debunked by by him!

Realizing ‘Sach Khand’ Within

On account of our alienation from the Gurbani’s truth, the Pujaaree and many of us have no clue that the SGGS repeatedly reminds ‘Nirankaar’ or the ‘Creator‘ being present in every atom and resides in His creation including we all humans.

  • ਸਚ ਖੰਡਿ ਵਸੈ ਨਿਰੰਕਾਰੁ ॥ : The (Ultimate) Realm of the Formless Creator is the Realization of the Creator Within (i.e. the ‘Sach Khand‘, the Creator and Realization of the Creator are all Within). (sggs 8).

The Gurbani in SGGS is a boon or a Treasure of Spiritual Wisdom only for that person who has the commonsense and the will to use it.

Since the Creator is Within, common sense would dictate that ‘Sach Khand‘ is also Within! But, unfortunately, the Pujaare has so molded people’s psyche, brain washed them or numbed their minds that commonsense is not common anymore.

Therefore, instead of taking the greedy Pujaaree at face value, let’s ask Baabaa Nanak how to realizeSach Khand’ Within, HERE and NOW.

In the 38th Paurhee (SGGS 8), Baabaa Nanak provides us a summary of the process to realize the ‘Sach Khand’ Within, Here and Now. Baabaa Nanak uses the practical example/metaphor of a goldsmith to explain this process:

  • ਜਤੁ ਪਾਹਾਰਾ ਧੀਰਜੁ ਸੁਨਿਆਰੁ ॥ ਅਹਰਣਿ ਮਤਿ ਵੇਦੁ ਹਥੀਆਰੁ ॥ ਭਉ ਖਲਾ ਅਗਨਿ ਤਪ ਤਾਉ ॥ ਭਾਂਡਾ ਭਾਉ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤੁ ਤਿਤੁ ਢਾਲਿ ॥ ਘੜੀਐ ਸਬਦੁ ਸਚੀ ਟਕਸਾਲ ॥ ਜਿਨ ਕਉ ਨਦਰਿ ਕਰਮੁ ਤਿਨ ਕਾਰ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਨਦਰੀ ਨਦਰਿ ਨਿਹਾਲ ॥੩੮॥ : Let morality be the workplace and forbearance the goldsmith. Let the mind (Conscience) be the anvil and Enlightenment (Knowledge-ਗਿਆਨ) the hammer. Fan (the Enlightenment) by intense toil (self-efforts) towards reverence of the Creator Within. (This toil, reverence and) devotion molds my mind (‘Bhaandaa‘) to become Virtuous (Amrit-Naam). (This is the way) the Shabad becomes sculptured in my mind (Conscience). As a result of this sculpturing, the Creator Graced Blessings from Within. Nanak, of supreme Joy are the Blessings of the Creator’s Grace. ||38|| (sggs 8).

If one sincerely intends to cut roots of his/her fear, foolishness, ignorance, falsehood, doubts, delusion of the Mayaic mind etc., the Gurbani urges us to take up the Sword of the Guru’s Wisdom.

  • ਨਿਰਧਨ ਕਉ ਧਨੁ ਅੰਧੁਲੇ ਕਉ ਟਿਕ ਮਾਤ ਦੂਧੁ ਜੈਸੇ ਬਾਲੇ॥ : Guru Giyan-Wisdom is like wealth to the poor, a cane for the blind, and mother’s milk for a child. Nanak, launch your life-boat in the world-ocean (Bhav Saagar) with the confidence of Guru Giyan, and rest be assured the Divine (Hukam: Universal System-Rule-Law of Nature, ਕੁਦਰਤੀ ਨਿਯਮ) will take care Itself. (sggs 679).
  • ਅੰਤਰਿ ਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਪਛਾਣਿਆ ਗੁਰ ਕੀ ਵਡਿਆਈ ॥੭॥ : Brahm is realized within through the Grace of the Gur-Giyan (i.e. Wisdom). (sggs 425).
  • ਭ੍ਰਮ ਛੂਟੇ ਤੇ ਏਕੰਕਾਰ ॥੩॥ : When all doubts are gotten rid of, then what remains is the ONE (Creative, Universal Energy or Hukam: System-Rule-Law of Nature, ਕੁਦਰਤੀ ਨਿਯਮ). (sggs 736).
  • ਪ੍ਰੀਤਮ ਬਸਤ ਰਿਦ ਮਹਿ ਖੋਰ ॥ : My Beloved lives in the cave of my Heart (sggs 1121).

Those who falsely claim God sitting in a specific building or a specific location in the sky should also read and digest the following Shabad of Bhagat Kabeer Ji. In this Shabad, Bhagat Kabeer Ji has blown up the falsehood and special places of God made by the crafty or illiterate Pujaaee groups or the Pujaaree systems of all organized religions (Majhab-ਮਜਹਬ).

  • ਅਲਹੁ ਏਕੁ ਮਸੀਤਿ ਬਸਤੁ ਹੈ ਅਵਰੁ ਮੁਲਖੁ ਕਿਸੁ ਕੇਰਾ ॥ ਹਿੰਦੂ ਮੂਰਤਿ ਨਾਮ ਨਿਵਾਸੀ ਦੁਹ ਮਹਿ ਤਤੁ ਨ ਹੇਰਾ ॥੧॥ ਅਲਹ ਰਾਮ ਜੀਵਉ ਤੇਰੇ ਨਾਈ ॥ ਤੂ ਕਰਿ ਮਿਹਰਾਮਤਿ ਸਾਈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ ਦਖਨ ਦੇਸਿ ਹਰੀ ਕਾ ਬਾਸਾ ਪਛਿਮਿ ਅਲਹ ਮੁਕਾਮਾ ॥ ਦਿਲ ਮਹਿ ਖੋਜਿ ਦਿਲੈ ਦਿਲਿ ਖੋਜਹੁ ਏਹੀ ਠਉਰ ਮੁਕਾਮਾ ॥੨॥ : If (as per Muslim belief) Allah lives only in mosque, then to whom does the rest of the world belong? And Hindus believe that God resides in an idol; there is no truth (ਅਸਲੀਅਤ) in these claims (of both Hindus and Muslims – both have NOT realized God). ||1|| O God, the Allah and the Ram, I remain spiritually alive by remembering You as ONE. O God! Please bestow Your mercy on me. ||1||Pause|| (Hindus believe their) God’s abode is in the south direction (in Jagannath Puri which is in south India), and (Muslims believe their) God or Allah’s abode is in the west – in Mecca. (But O man!) Search God Within your Heart and ONLY in your Heart; because this is the ONLY place where God lives ||2|| (sggs 1349).

Ending Note

FAKE SEPARATE GOD, FAKE SEPARATE SACH KHAND ETC.– SEPARATE FROM HUMANS – IS A BLUNDER CRAETED BY THE CRAFTY PEOPLE / PUJAAREE CLIQUE.

The reason the Pujaaree and their followers do not want to leave their FAKE GOD or FAKE SACH KHAND is that they do no want to take 100 percent responsibility for their actions. They need this fake third-party to blame for their actions!

THE GURBANI IN SGGS CAUTIONS SIKHS TO BE VERY CAREFUL OF THOSE WHO FALSELY CLAIM THEIR GOD ETC. RESIDE IN THE SKY!

  • ਕਾਯਉ ਦੇਵਾ ਕਾਇਅਉ ਦੇਵਲ ਕਾਇਅਉ ਜੰਗਮ ਜਾਤੀ ॥ ਕਾਇਅਉ ਧੂਪ ਦੀਪ ਨਈਬੇਦਾ ਕਾਇਅਉ ਪੂਜਉ ਪਾਤੀ ॥੧॥ ਕਾਇਆ ਬਹੁ ਖੰਡ ਖੋਜਤੇ ਨਵ ਨਿਧਿ ਪਾਈ ॥ ਨਾ ਕਛੁ ਆਇਬੋ ਨਾ ਕਛੁ ਜਾਇਬੋ ਰਾਮ ਕੀ ਦੁਹਾਈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ ਜੋ ਬ੍ਰਹਮੰਡੇ ਸੋਈ ਪਿੰਡੇ ਜੋ ਖੋਜੈ ਸੋ ਪਾਵੈ ॥ ਪੀਪਾ ਪ੍ਰਣਵੈ ਪਰਮ ਤਤੁ ਹੈ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਹੋਇ ਲਖਾਵੈ ॥੨॥੩॥ : For me, to search my body is the temple wherein God dwells, and the it is the place of pilgrimage of which I am a pilgrim (searching for God Within my body). Searching God within the body is like burning incense, lighting of lamps and offering delicious food on leaf plates in Poojaa. ||1|| When I searched my body within, I found the new Treasure (of Naam) which I was searching outside. (Since I have realized within my ownself) the Glory of Raam (now I can say that) nothing comes, and nothing goes (i.e. I don’t go through repeated scuffing in my daily life). ||1||Pause|| What is pervading in the Universe out there is also within my body (the elements that comprise the universe are the elements that constitute me…); but this realization is the result of my internalizing of it. Peepaa offers – If Satguru (i.e. Giyan-Wisdom: ਸੱਚਾ ਗਿਆਨ) is internalized, then the Supreme Reality (the Source of all, Creator) is revealed within (the conscience-mind). ||2||3|| (sggs 695).
  • ਆਉ ਕਲੰਦਰ ਕੇਸਵਾ ॥ ਕਰਿ ਅਬਦਾਲੀ ਭੇਸਵਾ ॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ ਜਿਨਿ ਆਕਾਸ ਕੁਲਹ ਸਿਰਿ ਕੀਨੀ ਕਉਸੈ ਸਪਤ ਪਯਾਲਾ ॥ ਚਮਰ ਪੋਸ ਕਾ ਮੰਦਰੁ ਤੇਰਾ ਇਹ ਬਿਧਿ ਬਨੇ ਗੁਪਾਲਾ ॥੧॥ ਛਪਨ ਕੋਟਿ ਕਾ ਪੇਹਨੁ ਤੇਰਾ ਸੋਲਹ ਸਹਸ ਇਜਾਰਾ ॥ ਭਾਰ ਅਠਾਰਹ ਮੁਦਗਰੁ ਤੇਰਾ ਸਹਨਕ ਸਭ ਸੰਸਾਰਾ ॥੨॥ ਦੇਹੀ ਮਹਜਿਦਿ ਮਨੁ ਮਉਲਾਨਾ ਸਹਜ ਨਿਵਾਜ ਗੁਜਾਰੈ ॥ ਬੀਬੀ ਕਉਲਾ ਸਉ ਕਾਇਨੁ ਤੇਰਾ ਨਿਰੰਕਾਰ ਆਕਾਰੈ ॥੩॥ ਭਗਤਿ ਕਰਤ ਮੇਰੇ ਤਾਲ ਛਿਨਾਏ ਕਿਹ ਪਹਿ ਕਰਉ ਪੁਕਾਰਾ ॥ ਨਾਮੇ ਕਾ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਅੰਤਰਜਾਮੀ ਫਿਰੇ ਸਗਲ ਬੇਦੇਸਵਾ ॥੪॥੧॥ : O God, You have appeared as ‘Kalandar‘, looking like Sufi Fakir. ||Pause|| (O God) this entire SKY is as Your CAP (Kulaa) and the seven nether worlds (ਸੱਤ ਪਤਾਲ of Muslim belief) are as Your sandal. (O God) all the bodies are Your Abode and this is how You live as the sustainer of the world (Hukam: System-Rule-Law of Nature). ||1|| (O God) 56 million clouds are like Your gown (ਚੋਲਾ) and 16,000 universes are like your skirt (ਤੰਬਾ). (O God) The whole vegetation is your grinding club and this whole world is your plate (ਭਾਂਡਾ). ||2|| (O God!) my body is Your mosque and my mind is the Mullah, the priest, praying in a state of poise. O Formless God, You married to world-play (Maya). ||3|| (O God) while performing Your Bhagti (in temple) my cymbals were snatched away (i.e. Pujaaree thinks I’m low caste etc.), unto whom I should complain now – there is none above You? (Says Namdev!) God is Omniscient and and pervades everywhere (i.e. limitless, Great etc.). ||4||1|| (sggs 1167).

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6 comments

  1. Heaven’s Mentality, there are many Christians that converted to Sikhi and found God. Further, would you agree that Jesus was animated by the same spirit of God that Guru Nanak Ji was.

    Remember, God came first, The Word came after and Jesus manifested in a physical body from The Word (Sabad). As far as my understanding goes, even Jesus advises to look within yourself to find him, as Sikhi teaches to go within to find The Word/God.

    At the end of the day it is all semantics as there is only The One. I assume you are not praying to an external Jesus? The trinity is within you, so you can experience it within. Please forgive me as I do not wish to be critical but to highlight the message of the article.

  2. Thank you Heaven’s Mentality for your response and kind words.

    I’m just an ordinary being who is trying to learn along with everybody to see the world the Way the Gurbani in SGGS sees it.
    – ਇਕਾ ਬਾਣੀ ਇਕੁ ਗੁਰੁ ਇਕੋ ਸਬਦੁ ਵੀਚਾਰਿ ॥ (sggs 646).

  3. Sat Kartar (Hail the Creator)!
    It is obvious from the material that you are sharing on gurbani blog that you have the same spirit that animated Guru Nanak in your heart and I can tell you, as an imperfect Sikh (disciple) of Guru ਈਸਾ – Isa (Yeshu) the Christ (the Anointed One) it is a cause for rejoicing. The reason is because Guru Nanak was animated by the same spirit of Guru Isa and His followers and this I believe can be seen by many examples, one such example being ਸਾਧੂ ਸੁੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ – Sadhu Sundar Singh (1889-1929?). Sundar Singh was a great traveler like Guru Nanak (the second most travelled person in the world) and Guru Isa Himself who was a travelling Teacher. There are many books on his life and several he penned himsel

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