Asant and Asaadh

In order to impart the Truth (ਸਚ), all 35 contributors of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS) have used terms that were already within the use and within the psyche of people of the time.

However, these terms have been used in the Gurbani as examples (ਹਵਾਲਾ), but explicitly with new meanings and understanding to fit the new spiritual paradigms of Sikhi or Gurmat (Giaan or Wisdom of the SGGS).

Sant and Saadh

The Gurmat Wisdom of the SGGS tells us as to who is the real ‘Sant’ or ‘Saadh’.

It’s covered in more details in a separate post entitled ‘Sant‘

Asant and Asaadh

‘Asant’ (ਅਸੰਤ) and ‘Asaadh’ (ਅਸਾਧ) is the opposite of the Sant (ਸੰਤ) or Saadh (ਸਾਧ).

In short, one who becomes happy on hearing the Truth (Sach-ਸਚ) is ‘Sant’ or ‘Saadh’, and one who becomes sad after hearing the Truth is ‘Asant’ or ‘Asaadh’.

Essentially, a part of the mind connected to Maya or Bikaar (lust, anger, greed, etc.) and disconnected from its Mool (Jot Saroop-True Nature) is Asant or Asaadh.

Thus in nutshell, Asant or Asaadh is the mind that is crafty, undisciplined, uncontrolled, unconquered, unmanaged, uncured, unconditioned, habitual, stubborn, Bikaar-ridden (lust, anger, greed, etc.), Maya-ridden, etc.

• ਰਹਤ ਅਵਰ ਕਛੁ ਅਵਰ ਕਮਾਵਤ ॥ ਮਨਿ ਨਹੀ ਪ੍ਰੀਤਿ ਮੁਖਹੁ ਗੰਢ ਲਾਵਤ ॥ ਜਾਨਨਹਾਰ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਪਰਬੀਨ ॥ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਭੇਖ ਨ ਕਾਹੂ ਭੀਨ ॥: The outward signs of religion are different and practical life is different; (i.e., Gurbani’s Rahat is quite different than what’s being practiced; the outward display of Dharma is quite different than living actual spiritual life; the man professes one thing and practices quite another, etc.). There is no divine love in (his) mind, but with his mouth he talks big. The Inner Knower (Rabb) is Wise. (Rabb is never) impressed (pleased) with anyone’s outward appearance. (sggs 269).
• ਮਨਿ ਬਾਸਨਾ ਰਚਿ ਬਿਖੈ ਬਿਆਧਿ ॥ ਪੰਚ ਦੂਤ ਸੰਗਿ ਮਹਾ ਅਸਾਧ ॥੩॥: The  mind engrossed in ‘Vaasanaa’ suffers from diseases due to Bikaar. The five incorrigible thieves (i.e., Bikaar: lust, anger, greed, etc.), cling to (the mind). ||3|| (sggs 675).
• ਮਨੁ ਅਸਾਧੁ ਸਾਧੈ ਜਨੁ ਕੋਈ ॥: The mind is undisciplined (uncontrollable); only a rare ‘Jan’ (Gurmukh, Daas, Bhagat…) can discipline or control it. (sggs 665).

Hence, Asant or Asaadh is that mind which is vicious, immoral (‘ਦੁਰਜਨ’, ਦੁਰਾਚਾਰੀ, ਦੁਰਚਰਿਤਰ), evil, wicked, crooked, roguish, religious con artist, Thugg (‘ਬਾਨਾਰਸਿ ਕੇ ਠਗ’), devoid of Vivek-Budhi (discerning intellect), unwise, Moorakh or fool, greedy, separated from its True Nature or Jot Saroop, adversary of Hukam (System-Rule-Law of Nature), Bikaaree, sunk in Bhav Saagar, etc.

• ਮਨ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਹਉਮੈ ਰੋਗੁ ਭ੍ਰਮਿ ਭੂਲੇ ਹਉਮੈ ਸਾਕਤ ਦੁਰਜਨਾ ॥: Those who are separated from their Mool (Saakat, Mayadhaaree, Manmukh), within their mind is the disease of ego (Haumai). These perverse wander strayed in doubt and ego (sggs 1424).
• ਸਾਧੋ ਮਨ ਕਾ ਮਾਨੁ ਤਿਆਗਉ ॥ ਕਾਮੁ ਕ੍ਰੋਧੁ ਸੰਗਤਿ ਦੁਰਜਨ ਕੀ ਤਾ ਤੇ ਅਹਿਨਿਸਿ ਭਾਗਉ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥:  O ‘Saadho‘ (i.e. those who call themselves Saadh / seekers but in reality are fraud)! Shed the egotistical pride of your mind. Abstain from lust and anger (i.e. all Bikaar) which is like being in the company of evil persons. ||1||Pause|| (sggs 219).

In short, Asant or Asaadh is a Manmukh-Saakat-Mayadhaaree, whose thoughts-speech-actions counters the Hukam (System or Law of Nature).

• ਮਨੁ ਵੇਕਾਰੀ ਵੇੜਿਆ ਵੇਕਾਰਾ ਕਰਮ ਕਮਾਇ ॥: (This is the Law of Nature that) the mind, entangled in Bikaar (i.e., lust, anger, greed, etc., performs (only) deeds with Bikaar. (sggs 88).

The Gurbani further calls ‘Asant’ as ‘Asant Anaarree’ — Anaaree (ਅਨਾੜੀ) = blockhead, silly, stupid, novice, bungler, Bikaar-ridden, full of hunger for Maya, etc..

• ਅਸੰਤੁ ਅਨਾੜੀ ਕਦੇ ਨ ਬੂਝੈ ॥ ਕਥਨੀ ਕਰੇ ਤੈ ਮਾਇਆ ਨਾਲਿ ਲੂਝੈ ॥ ਅੰਧੁ ਅਗਿਆਨੀ ਕਦੇ ਨ ਸੀਝੈ ॥੨॥: Asant can never get the understanding of the spiritual life (Gurmukh Lifestyle). He (also) keeps on talking about Wisdom, and is also engrossed in Maya. (In such an attachment to Maya) a mentally blind and ignorant man (in never succeeds. (in the game of life). ||2|| (sggs 160).

The power of observation is the first faculty to appear in the Awakening of the intuitive regions.

This is why the pious beings (the Gurmukhs, Bhagat, Daas, Jan…) do not talk nonsense. Because their intuition works through discerning intellect (Bibeka Budhi). The Gurbani’s (Gur Shabad) advice is to abstain from talking to Asant.

• ਸੰਤੁ ਮਿਲੈ ਕਿਛੁ ਸੁਨੀਐ ਕਹੀਐ ॥ ਮਿਲੈ ਅਸੰਤੁ ਮਸਟਿ ਕਰਿ ਰਹੀਐ ॥੧॥: If a Sant or pious being is met, then (his teachings) should be listened to, and (the intricacies of the path of life) should be asked (Shabad-Vichaar…). But if an Asant is met, it is only right to remain silent there. ||1|| (sggs 870).
• ਕਬੀਰ ਸੰਤੁ ਨ ਛਾਡੈ ਸੰਤਈ ਜਉ ਕੋਟਿਕ ਮਿਲਹਿ ਅਸੰਤ ॥ ਮਲਿਆਗਰੁ ਭੁਯੰਗਮ ਬੇਢਿਓ ਤ ਸੀਤਲਤਾ ਨ ਤਜੰਤ ॥੧੭੪॥: O Kabeer! A pious person does not forsake pious nature, even though he meets millions of impious persons. (Similar as) when sandal tree is surrounded by snakes, it does not give up its coolness (fragrance). ||174|| (sggs 1373).

In fact, the Gurmat Wisdom of the SGGS urges to pray to NOT to give us Darshan of an Asant, for he is immoral, impious, con artist-ਠਗ, one who resists or opposes the Hukam, whose thoughts-speech-actions counter the Hukam, etc.!

• ਜਣੀ ਲਖਾਵਹੁ ਅਸੰਤ ਪਾਪੀ ਸਣਿ ॥੩॥: (O Rabb!) do not show (Darshan) me the immoral and wicked — ‘Asant’. ||3|| (sggs 486).
• ਗਜ ਸਾਢੇ ਤੈ ਤੈ ਧੋਤੀਆ ਤਿਹਰੇ ਪਾਇਨਿ ਤਗ ॥ ਗਲੀ ਜਿਨ੍ਹ੍ਹਾ ਜਪਮਾਲੀਆ ਲੋਟੇ ਹਥਿ ਨਿਬਗ ॥ ਓਇ ਹਰਿ ਕੇ ਸੰਤ ਨ ਆਖੀਅਹਿ ਬਾਨਾਰਸਿ ਕੇ ਠਗ ॥੧॥ ਐਸੇ ਸੰਤ ਨ ਮੋ ਕਉ ਭਾਵਹਿ ॥ ਡਾਲਾ ਸਿਉ ਪੇਡਾ ਗਟਕਾਵਹਿ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ ਬਾਸਨ ਮਾਂਜਿ ਚਰਾਵਹਿ ਊਪਰਿ ਕਾਠੀ ਧੋਇ ਜਲਾਵਹਿ ॥ ਬਸੁਧਾ ਖੋਦਿ ਕਰਹਿ ਦੁਇ ਚੂਲ੍ਹ੍ਹੇ ਸਾਰੇ ਮਾਣਸ ਖਾਵਹਿ ॥੨॥ ਓਇ ਪਾਪੀ ਸਦਾ ਫਿਰਹਿ ਅਪਰਾਧੀ ਮੁਖਹੁ ਅਪਰਸ ਕਹਾਵਹਿ ॥ ਸਦਾ ਸਦਾ ਫਿਰਹਿ ਅਭਿਮਾਨੀ ਸਗਲ ਕੁਟੰਬ ਡੁਬਾਵਹਿ ॥੩॥ : (Freeloading/Pakhandi Sant/Sadh) they wear three and a half yard long loincloths, and triple-wound sacred threads. They wear rosaries around their necks, and glittering jugs in their hands. Just because of such religious paraphernalia they should not be called Sant of God — they are thugs of Baanaaras (i.e., religious conmen, cheats, robbers…). Fallen from human thinking, such pretentious so called Sant are not pleasing to me. Because, they rob their victims of not only their wealth, but also of their life which is like gulping down the entire tree instead of consuming just a branch. ||1||Pause|| They wash their pots and pans before putting them on the stove, and wash the wood before lighting it. (To show others how holy they are) they dig earth, and make two hearths – one for their use and he second for others to use. (But in their real life, they are so cruel) they rob their victims as if they devoured the whole person (i.e. exploit the gullible people and destroy their life). ||2|| Such sinners always keep roaming around (looking for more victims), but they call themselves “Aprass” (i.e. untouched by vices or any other person). They always live in arrogance and thus drown themselves (in vices) along with their family (i.e. those in their company also suffer for their deeds). ||3|| (sggs 476).
• ਹਿਰਦੈ ਜਿਨ੍ਹ੍ਹ ਕੈ ਕਪਟੁ ਵਸੈ ਬਾਹਰਹੁ ਸੰਤ ਕਹਾਹਿ ॥ ਤ੍ਰਿਸਨਾ ਮੂਲਿ ਨ ਚੁਕਈ ਅੰਤਿ ਗਏ ਪਛੁਤਾਹਿ ॥੨॥: The desire to be labelled as ‘sant‘ based on an external identity signifies a corrupt mind. Their desires (cravings for Maya) are never satisfied, in the end they have nothing to show for except grief (Dukh). ||2|| (sggs 491).

Bhai Gurdaas Ji says all these crafty and crooks who call themselves Saadh or Sant indulge in doing ‘APRAADH’ (crimes, wrong-doings, transgressions, ਮੁੰਡੇ ਦੇਣੇ, etc.).

• ਸਾਧਨ ਦੁਰਾਇ ਕੈ ਅਸਾਧ ਅਪਰਾਧ ਕਰੈ ਉਲਟੀਐ ਚਾਲ ਕਲੀਕਾਲ ਭ੍ਰਮ ਭਾਖੀਐ ॥੫੩੨॥: Present themselves as Sasdhs and produce other similar means; but they indulge in doing ‘APRAADH’ (crimes, wrong-doings, transgressions, etc.). These are people who went backwards (contrary, opposite, reverse, etc.). Because man (ਆਮ ਆਦਮੀ) is in delusion, he does not understand this. (Bhai Gurdaas, Kabitt 532).

The Gurbani teaches us that our Bikaar-ridden or Mayaic mind has split and separated from its Mool (ਮੂਲ, Source, Base-ਅਧਾਰ…), and has thus become divided (i.e., two, fragmented, like a split grain or seed-ਦਲੀ ਹੋਈ ਦਾਲ ਵਾਂਗ ਦੋ ਫਾੜ…):.

This Mayaic or Haumai-ridden mind (i.e., conditioned, modified, Manmukh-Saakat-Mayadhaaree…) essentially conducts itself as Asant or Asaadh.

• ਨਾਨਕ ਮਨਮੁਖਿ ਬੰਧੁ ਹੈ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਕਰਾਏ ॥੪॥੩॥: O Nanak! Manmukhs remain in bondage; (but those who) become Gurmukhs become liberated. ||4||3|| (sggs 559).
• ਮਨਮੁਖਿ ਸੂਤਾ ਮਾਇਆ ਮੋਹਿ ਪਿਆਰਿ ॥ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਜਾਗੇ ਗੁਣ ਗਿਆਨ ਬੀਚਾਰਿ ॥: The Manmukh is asleep, in love and attachment to Maya. The one who has become the Gurmukh by contemplating Spiritual Wisdom and the Divine Virtues remains Awake. (sggs 160).