Small Pool vs. Ocean

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To hammer Giyan-Wisdom into our ignorant minds, all sorts of practical examples, metaphors etc have been employed in the Gurbani enshrined within the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, SGGS.

For example, consider the following Shlok of Bhagat Farid, in which he uses metaphor of two very different bodies of water side by side to impart Giyan-Wisdom to seekers of Truth.

  • ਫਰੀਦਾ ਸੋਈ ਸਰਵਰੁ ਢੂਢਿ ਲਹੁ ਜਿਥਹੁ ਲਭੀ ਵਥੁ ॥ ਛਪੜਿ ਢੂਢੈ ਕਿਆ ਹੋਵੈ ਚਿਕੜਿ ਡੁਬੈ ਹਥੁ ॥੫੩॥ : Farid, search out that lake (i.e. the Guru) from where you can receive the precious commodity (wealth) of the Divine Naam (abidance in Divine Giyan-Wisdom / Virtues / Hukam). Because nothing can be achieved by searching in a pond (i.e. Kusang – evil company), where the hand sinks only into the mud of worldly quagmire. ||53|| (sggs 1380).

The two different bodies of water in the foregoing Shabad are:

  1. Shapparh (‘ਛਪੜਿ’) –> Shallow, muddy, filthy pool of standing/spoiled water –> metaphorically, it is akin to the wrong spiritual path,  UN-Gurmat rituals (Karamkaand) Hypocrisy or Pakhand, the way of concocted narratives or myths, the way of self-serving earn-a-living clergy (Pujaaree), Kusang (evil company), Bhav Saagar (worldly temptations and their corrupting influences), ignorance, delusion, falsehood, false ego-sense (Haumai), identification with one’s limited body-mind-intellect personality (Jeeva), love of Maya, seeking spiritual guidance from sources other than the True Guru, and so on.
  2. Sarvar (‘ਸਰਵਰੁ’)   –> Flowing water in River, ocean etc –> metaphorically, it is akin to the right spiritual Way, conforming life to the Divine Naam (abidance in Divine Giyan-Wisdom / Virtues / Hukam), the Shabad Guru’s enlightening Message, and so on.

That said, Bhagat Frid’s counsel to the entire humanity is to choose the right spiritual Path to realizing AKAL within (‘ਵਥੁ’-Creator), Here and Now.

However, if we make the wrong choice — if we choose the wrong Path — then we will sink deeper into the worldly quagmire. That said, Bhagat Frid Ji cautions humanity about the choice make. Wrong choice will certain result in more mental filth, vices/Bikaar, Karamkaand, Pakhand, dissatisfaction, frustration, suffering, and so on.

Therefore, spiritual success or failure is dependent on one’s choices. The Gurbani (SGGS) further enlightens us:

  • ਗੁਰੂ ਸਮੁੰਦੁ ਨਦੀ ਸਭਿ ਸਿਖੀ ਨਾਤੈ ਜਿਤੁ ਵਡਿਆਈ ॥: (This is the true bath or Ishanaan of a Sikh) the Guru (as if) is the ocean, His teachings (as if) are all rivers, bathing in (this Gur-Wisdom or Gur-Sikhya — by attuning consciousness to it) glory is obtained. (sggs 150).
  • ਤੂੰ ਸਾਗਰੋ ਰਤਨਾਗਰੋ ਹਉ ਸਾਰ ਨ ਜਾਣਾ ਤੇਰੀ ਰਾਮ ॥ : O Omnipresent God! You are like an Ocean and a quarry of Jewels-like Virtues, but I do not understand Your worth. (sggs 779).
  • ਹਰਿ ਗੁਰੁ ਸਰਵਰੁ ਸੇਵਿ ਤੂ ਪਾਵਹਿ ਦਰਗਹ ਮਾਨੁ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ : Internalize the Counsel of the Guru, the ocean of purity, and the mind will find eternal recognition and alignment within the Infinite Conscience. ||1||Pause|| (sggs 21).

Bhagat Kbir has similar Message for for us:

  • ਕਬੀਰ ਥੋਰੈ ਜਲਿ ਮਾਛੁਲੀ ਝੀਵਰਿ ਮੇਲਿਓ ਜਾਲੁ ॥ ਇਹ ਟੋਘਨੈ ਨ ਛੂਟਸਹਿ ਫਿਰਿ ਕਰਿ ਸਮੁੰਦੁ ਸਮ੍ਹ੍ਹਾਲਿ ॥੪੯॥:  O Kabeer! (if) the fish dwells in the shallow water; (then) the Jheevar (ਝੀਰ, fisherman, etc.) casts his net (and catches the fish). You cannot escape (the Jheevar’s net in) this little pool; (therefore, if you wish to escape the Jheevar’s net, then) think about returning to the ocean. ||49|| (sggs 1367).

Here, with the example of the (1) fish, (2) shallow water and (3) ocean, Bhagat Kabir is imparting spiritual Giyan-Wisdom to the entire humanity to choose right spiritual Path if wish to realize AKAL.

As fish dwelling in shallow water gets caught in the fisherman’s net, similarly, Jeeva (individual being) dwelling in material consciousness get snared in the net of the ‘five‘ — lust, anger, greed, attachment, pride (and their countless variations). As fish of little and shallow pool cannot escape the fisherman’s net, similarly, humans cannot escape the torture of the ‘five‘.

  • ਕਿਆ ਬਗੁ ਬਪੁੜਾ ਛਪੜੀ ਨਾਇ ॥ ਕੀਚੜਿ ਡੂਬੈ ਮੈਲੁ ਨ ਜਾਇ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥: What can the poor crane accomplish by bathing in a small pond? (It accomplishes nothing, instead it) sinks into the mire, and its filth is not washed away (i.e., who, instead of bathing in the Ocean of the Gurbani, visits all sorts of places of pilgrimage, end up accumulating more filth – vices/Bikaar, etc.). ||1||Pause|| (sggs 685).

The Gurbani teaches if we want escape the trap of ‘five‘, then we should return to the Infinite Ocean of the Shabad Guru — Internalizing the Counsel of the Shabad included in the SGGS.

  • ਏਹ ਕਾਇਆ ਪਵਿਤੁ ਹੈ ਸਰੀਰੁ ॥ ਗੁਰ ਸਬਦੀ ਚੇਤੈ ਗੁਣੀ ਗਹੀਰੁ ॥ : This (Inner) body of that person is immaculate, who remembers God, the Ocean of Virtues, through the Guru’s Enlightening Wisdom of Shabad. (sggs 1065).
  • ਆਪੇ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਸਮੁੰਦੁ ਮਥਾਹਾ ॥ ਪਾਵਹੁ ਨਾਮੁ ਰਤਨੁ ਧਨੁ ਲਾਹਾ ॥ : Internalize the Counsel of the Guru, who is like a unfathomable ocean (of Naam), and receive from him the wealth of Awareness of jewel-like precious Naam (abidance in Divine Giyan-Wisdom / Virtues / Hukam), which is the only profit of human life. (sggs 1043).

In other words, the Omnipresent Creator is to be understood as distinct from, and beyond the physical apparatus constituted of the finite body-mind-intellect personality. Therefore, if we can transcend this limited apparatus, then the individualized awareness (false ego-sense) projected forth from us will merge with the Totality, the Homogeneous Oneness. One’s experience of this Ocean of Totality is called by many names such as Self-realization, God-realization, Chauthaa Pada, Turiya Avasthaa, Tenth Gate etc.

As one’s individual light (Jeeva) blends into the Supreme Light, the Heart-Lotus blossoms forth in eternal Peace and Bliss.

  • ਜਿਨ੍ਹ੍ਹ ਪੀਆ ਸੇ ਮਸਤ ਭਏ ਹੈ ਤੂਟੇ ਬੰਧਨ ਫਾਹੇ ॥ ਜੋਤੀ ਜੋਤਿ ਸਮਾਣੀ ਭੀਤਰਿ ਤਾ ਛੋਡੇ ਮਾਇਆ ਕੇ ਲਾਹੇ ॥੨॥:  Those who drink the Amrit (nectar) of Naam are enraptured; their bonds and shackles (of Maya) are cut away. When one’s (individual) light blends into the (Supreme) Light, then the desire for Maya is ended. ||2|| (sggs 351).
  • ਹਉਮੈ ਮੇਰਾ ਜਾਤਿ ਹੈ ਅਤਿ ਕ੍ਰੋਧੁ ਅਭਿਮਾਨ ॥ ਸਬਦਿ ਮਰੈ ਤਾ ਜਾਤਿ ਜਾਇ ਜੋਤੀ ਜੋਤਿ ਮਿਲੈ ਭਗਵਾਨੁ ॥੨॥: Haumai, self-centeredness (ਮੈਂ ਮੈਂ, ਮੇਰੀ ਮੇਰੀ) and ‘Jaati‘ (pride of being superior, separate, different…), (gives rise to) too much anger and pride (i.e. all Bikaar). If died through the Shabad (i.e., becoming absorbed in Naam, Hukam, Shabad-Vichaar, Wisdom….), then ‘Jaati‘ (pride of being superior, separate, different…) goes away, (and then one’s) light merges into the (Supreme) Light and (he) Realizes ‘Bhagwaan’ (Mool, Parmaatam…). ||2|| (sggs 429).

Bhagat Kabir further counsels us that once we return to the Ocean (Guru, Creator), do not leave It.

  • ਕਬੀਰ ਸਮੁੰਦੁ ਨ ਛੋਡੀਐ ਜਉ ਅਤਿ ਖਾਰੋ ਹੋਇ ॥ ਪੋਖਰਿ ਪੋਖਰਿ ਢੂਢਤੇ ਭਲੋ ਨ ਕਹਿਹੈ ਕੋਇ ॥੫੦॥: Kabir, fish should not leave the ocean, even if it is very saline (i.e. one should not forget the Creator in spite of the worldly difficulties and hurdles – it may seem hard to live in obedience to God, but there is destruction of spiritual life otherwise). Do not leave the Ocean (of the Guru / God), though it be very saline (i.e., difficult, bitter-truth…). No one should call fish wise who searches pond to pond, similarly a seeker wise should not be called wise who keeps seeking support from different worldly means – does not remain focused on obedience to the One Creator and runs all over pursuing other means – practice worthless rituals, taking ritual bath in various ponds or Srovars, follow fake worldly gurus, Baabaas, Deras etc. ||50|| (sggs 1367).

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