To hammer Giaan-Wisdom into our ignorant minds, all sorts of practical examples have been employed in the Gurbani (Sri Guru Granth Sahib, SGGS). For example, consider the following Salok of Bhagat Kabeer Ji:
- 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).
Small pool, metaphorically, is akin to the deluded mind ridden with ignorance, delusion, false ego-sense (Haumai), identification with one’s limited body-mind-intellect personality (Jeeva), individualized awareness, worldly temptations and their corrupting influences, hunger for Maya, seeking spiritual support from anybody other than the True Guru, and so on.
- 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 – Bikaar, etc.). ||1||Pause|| (sggs 685).
The Ocean, on the other hand, metaphorically is akin to the Guru’s Giaan-Wisdom, Supreme Light, Sukh Saagar, Infinite Light, Infinite Consciousness, Undivided Awareness, the Source, God, and so on.
- 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).
Here, with the example of the (1) fish, (2) shallow water and (3) ocean, Bhagat Kabeer Ji is trying to impart spiritual Wisdom to the entire humanity.
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, we cannot escape the torture or beating from these ‘five‘.
Bhagat Kabeer Ji says if we want escape the trap of ‘five’, then we should return to the Infinite Ocean of Pure Consciousness.
- 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).
In other words, the One, All-pervading Creator (Universal Energy, Cosmic Law), 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 (Cosmic Law). 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 Kabeer Ji further Instructs us that once we return to the Ocean (Guru, God), do not leave It.
- ਕਬੀਰ ਸਮੁੰਦੁ ਨ ਛੋਡੀਐ ਜਉ ਅਤਿ ਖਾਰੋ ਹੋਇ ॥ ਪੋਖਰਿ ਪੋਖਰਿ ਢੂਢਤੇ ਭਲੋ ਨ ਕਹਿਹੈ ਕੋਇ ॥੫੦॥: Kabeer, 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).