Mental Blindness

Blindness may be lumped in two categories as follows:

Physical blindness: unable to see with the bodily eyes or the complete lack of form and visual light perception – the condition of lacking visual perception due to physiological or neurological factors.
Then there is the mental blindness (Un-enlightenment). This is a metaphor generally used to represent the spiritual inability to know or realize the Truth or Creator within, inability to discern right from wrong, inability to understand Hukam (Universal System-Rule-Law of Nature, ਕੁਦਰਤੀ ਨਿਯਮ…), etc. In short, it’s the state of utter ignorance.

A physically blind person cannot see the material world (Sargun aspect) — he can not see the gross object around him.

However, a mentally or spiritually blind person cannot see Transcendent aspect or invisible revelation of the Creator/Universal Energy (Nirguna aspect). Such person cannot appreciate the Gurbani’s Enlightening Message of humanity, Oneness, Sameness, One Omnipresent Creator, divine Virtues, Grace, Joy, Peace, Blessing, righteousness, Love, truthful living etc.

ਫੋਕਟ ਕਰਮ ਕਰਹਿ ਅਗਿਆਨੀ ਮਨਮੁਖਿ ਅੰਧ ਕਹਾਵਥ ॥੨॥: An ignorant Manmukh do useless deeds, (this why, in spite of having eyes, he is) called Blind. ||2|| (sggs 1001).
ਮਾਇਆਧਾਰੀ ਅਤਿ ਅੰਨਾ ਬੋਲਾ ॥ ਸਬਦੁ ਨ ਸੁਣਈ ਬਹੁ ਰੋਲ ਘਚੋਲਾ ॥: One who is attached to Maya is (spiritually) very much blind and deaf (to the Gur-Shabad…). (In such conditioned state), he is unable to listen (i.e., don’t pay attention…) to the Shabad; (but, in love or hunger of Maya) he makes much uproar and tumult (ਰੌਲਾ-ਗੌਲਾ, noise, chatter, etc.).

Most of the time, the mind strays from the right path. For this reason, the Guru Sahib has declared the mind to be blind. Such wicked and self-willed people do not understand the right way of life throughout their lives. Those fools are called “ਮਨਿ ਅੰਧੈ ਜਨਮੁ ਗਵਾਇਆ” – Mann Andhia Janam Gvaiya” in the Gurbani enshrined within the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS).

ਆਪੀਨੑੈ ਭੋਗ ਭੋਗਿ ਕੈ ਹੋਇ ਭਸਮੜਿ ਭਉਰੁ ਸਿਧਾਇਆ ॥ ਵਡਾ ਹੋਆ ਦੁਨੀਦਾਰੁ ਗਲਿ ਸੰਗਲੁ ਘਤਿ ਚਲਾਇਆ ॥ ਅਗੈ ਕਰਣੀ ਕੀਰਤਿ ਵਾਚੀਐ ਬਹਿ ਲੇਖਾ ਕਰਿ ਸਮਝਾਇਆ ॥ ਥਾਉ ਨ ਹੋਵੀ ਪਉਦੀਈ ਹੁਣਿ ਸੁਣੀਐ ਕਿਆ ਰੂਆਇਆ ॥ ਮਨਿ ਅੰਧੈ ਜਨਮੁ ਗਵਾਇਆ ॥੩॥ : Living a life anchored in worldly pursuits dictated by an anguished mind that wanders from one pursuit to another, my spiritual journey is reduced to nothing (Here and Now). I have lived my worldly life in the illusion that I am in control; but (in reality) my life is being run as bound in shackles to vices/Bikaar (Here and Now). O Mind, do understand that progress on the journey of spirituality is assessed / weighed on the accumulation of praiseworthy deeds. My spiritual life descending into disrespect and indignity, O mind, listen without delay, so you don’t regret later. O blind / unenlightened mind! My life is being squandered as a result (of your unenlightened state). ||3|| (sggs 464).
ਮਨਹੁ ਜਿ ਅੰਧੇ ਘੂਪ ਕਹਿਆ ਬਿਰਦੁ ਨ ਜਾਣਨੀ ॥ ਮਨਿ ਅੰਧੈ ਊਂਧੈ ਕਵਲ ਦਿਸਨਿ ਖਰੇ ਕਰੂਪ ॥ ਇਕਿ ਕਹਿ ਜਾਣਨਿ ਕਹਿਆ ਬੁਝਨਿ ਤੇ ਨਰ ਸੁਘੜ ਸਰੂਪ ॥ ਇਕਨਾ ਨਾਦੁ ਨ ਬੇਦੁ ਨ ਗੀਅ ਰਸੁ ਰਸੁ ਕਸੁ ਨ ਜਾਣੰਤਿ ॥ ਇਕਨਾ ਸੁਧਿ ਨ ਬੁਧਿ ਨ ਅਕਲਿ ਸਰ ਅਖਰ ਕਾ ਭੇਉ ਨ ਲਹੰਤਿ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਤੇ ਨਰ ਅਸਲਿ ਖਰ ਜਿ ਬਿਨੁ ਗੁਣ ਗਰਬੁ ਕਰੰਤ ॥੧੫॥ : Those who are totally blind in their minds (utterly foolish), do not have the integrity to keep their word. With their blind minds, and their upside-down heart-lotus (devoid of Dharma), they look totally ugly (i.e. their living is ugly). Some know how to speak and understand what they are told. Those people are wise and look good. Some do not know Naad (inner melody), spiritual wisdom, holy hymns and the differentiation between virtue and vice or good and bad. Some don’t have any spiritual understanding, Wisdom, intellect, and don’t understand the mystery of the (Guru’s) word (and still remain bloated with pride!). Nanak, those who have no virtues but egotistically feel proud of themselves, are total idiots like donkeys. ||2|| (sggs 1246 and 1411)

In the eyes of the world, there are many Pujaaree groups, religious leaders, dera sadh babas, Bhekhi etc who look pious and Mahatma outside but are fraud inside. For these Manmukhs (Un-enlightened), the Guru Sahib has given this command.

ਸੁਣਿ ਵੇਖਹੁ ਲੋਕਾ ਏਹੁ ਵਿਡਾਣੁ ॥ ਮਨਿ ਅੰਧਾ ਨਾਉ ਸੁਜਾਣੁ ॥੪॥ : (Pandits-Pujaaree) He takes payment for performing marriages; reading their horoscopes, he shows them the way. O people, look and listen to this astonishing game. That Pandit himself is ignorant, and yet he calls himself the wise one! ||4|| (sggs 471).
ਆਪਿ ਨ ਬੂਝੈ ਲੋਕ ਬੁਝਾਵੈ ॥ ਮਨ ਕਾ ਅੰਧਾ ਅੰਧੁ ਕਮਾਵੈ ॥ ਦਰੁ ਘਰੁ ਮਹਲੁ ਠਉਰੁ ਕੈਸੇ ਪਾਵੈ ॥੩॥ : One who himself does not understand spiritual wisdom but preaches others, he is mentally blind and acts in ignorance. Such person cannot realize God’s presence within. ||3|| (sggs 832).

In a nutshell, a mentally or spiritually blind person cannot see the difference in physical body (matter) and the subtle or Inner body (Spirit).

ਦੇਹੀ ਗੁਪਤ ਬਿਦੇਹੀ ਦੀਸੈ ॥: ‘Dehee’ (ਦੇਹੀ – subtle body within) is hidden; ‘Bidehee’ (ਬਿਦੇਹੀ – gross, external body) is seen (sggs 900).
ਸੁਣਿ ਮਨ ਅੰਧੇ ਕੁਤੇ ਕੂੜਿਆਰ ॥ ਬਿਨੁ ਬੋਲੇ ਬੂਝੀਐ ਸਚਿਆਰ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥: Listen, O my spiritually blind (UN-Enlightened), greedy ( dog like) and false mind (untruthful)! A ‘Sachiaar‘ stands out without him even saying a word. ||1||Pause|| (sggs 662).

As a physical blind person does not see the vast expanse of the universe, so the blind mind does not see the vast Holiness and Purity of Consciousness. Spiritual Sight (as opposed to the spiritual blindness) is opening of the Inner eyes of the mind to understand the Universal Light and to comprehend Divine Truth. It enables one to understand ‘who am I?’.

That being said, which of these two – (1) mental blindness and (2) physical blindness is more terrible?

Here is the Gurbani’s edict (ਫੈਸਲਾ):

ਅੰਧੇ ਏਹਿ ਨ ਆਖੀਅਨਿ ਜਿਨ ਮੁਖਿ ਲੋਇਣ ਨਾਹਿ ॥ ਅੰਧੇ ਸੇਈ ਨਾਨਕਾ ਖਸਮਹੁ ਘੁਥੇ ਜਾਹਿ ॥੧॥ : Consider Not blind those who have NO eyes. The blind, O Nanak, are those who are lost on their journey of Spirituality (to Realize the Creator Within). ||1|| (sggs 954).
ਅੰਧਾ ਸੋਇ ਜਿ ਅੰਧੁ ਕਮਾਵੈ ਤਿਸੁ ਰਿਦੈ ਸਿ ਲੋਚਨ ਨਾਹੀ ॥ : Blind are those who acquire ignorance; (as a result) there minds are blind (to Realization, spiritual enlightenment). (sggs 1289).
ਸੋ ਕਿਉ ਅੰਧਾ ਆਖੀਐ ਜਿ ਹੁਕਮਹੁ ਅੰਧਾ ਹੋਇ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਨ ਬੁਝਈ ਅੰਧਾ ਕਹੀਐ ਸੋਇ ॥੩॥ : Why call a sightless person blind? Blind is the one who does not comprehend the Hukam. ||3|| (sggs 954).
ਮਨਮੁਖ ਅੰਧੁਲੇ ਸੋਝੀ ਨਾਹੀ ॥: Manmukhs are mentally blind (Un-Enlightened), without any understanding. (sggs 1029).

The majority of us choose to remain mentally or spiritually blind, as the ‘ostrich-head-in-sand’.

Thus mental or spiritual blindness – according to the Gurbani – may be voluntary. To the contrary, physical blindness is involuntary. As indicated in the foregoing verses, the mental or spiritual blindness – the refusal to see Reality As Is – is even profoundly dreadful than the physical blindness.

A blind mind punishes itself and suffers the consequences of its ignorance-guided thinking (Soch) and the resulting actions causing physical and mental inflictions.

ਮਨ ਅੰਧੇ ਕਉ ਮਿਲੈ ਸਜਾਇ ॥: The mind that is blinded (in attachment to Maya or Bikaar etc.) is punished (through its own corrupt thinking and actions resulting in physical and mental ailments). (sggs 1256).

In a nutshell, in the worldly sense, a person who cannot see from his physical eyes is said to be blind. However, he is not the Gurbani’s blind!

The real blind according to the Gurbani (SGGS) is that person who is mentally or spiritually blind (Unenlightened). Having said that, the physical eyes are useless when the mind is blind!

ਅੰਧੇ ਅਕਲੀ ਬਾਹਰੇ ਮੂਰਖ ਅੰਧ ਗਿਆਨੁ ॥: The spiritually blind fools have no wisdom at all; their understanding is blind (sggs 789).
ਅੰਧੇ ਅਕਲੀ ਬਾਹਰੇ ਕਿਆ ਤਿਨ ਸਿਉ ਕਹੀਐ ॥: There is no point in explaining this to the people who have been blinded and made devoid of intellect or Wisdom (i.e. made ignorant by the attachment to Maya). (sggs 229).
ਮਨਮੁਖੁ ਅੰਧਾ ਦੂਜੈ ਭਾਇ ਲਾਗੈ ॥: The blind Manmukh are attached to the love of duality (sggs 113).
ਮਨਮੁਖ ਅੰਧੇ ਫਿਰਹਿ ਬੇਤਾਲੇ ॥: The (mentally) blind Manmukh wander around like demons. (sggs 117).
ਮਨਮੁਖਿ ਅੰਧੇ ਸੁਧਿ ਨ ਕਾਈ ॥: The blind Manmukh have no understanding at all (sggs 118).
ਇਕਿ ਭਰਮਿ ਭੂਲੇ ਸਾਕਤਾ ਬਿਨੁ ਗੁਰ ਅੰਧ ਅੰਧਾਰ ॥: There are many people (in the world) who remain separated from Rabb and go astray, without the Gur-(Giaan or Wisdom) they are completely blind to the spiritual life. (sggs 986).
ਦੂਜੀ ਦੁਰਮਤਿ ਅੰਨੀ ਬੋਲੀ ॥: In duality and evil-mindedness, (the soul-bride) is (mentally) blind and deaf. (sggs 1022).
ਮਨ ਕੇ ਅੰਧੇ ਆਪਿ ਨ ਬੂਝਹੁ ਕਾਹਿ ਬੁਝਾਵਹੁ ਭਾਈ ॥: O mentally blind Pandit, you don’t understand yourself (the righteous way of life), then how can you make others understand? (sggs 1103).
ਭਰਮਿ ਭੁਲਾਣਾ ਅੰਧੁਲਾ ਫਿਰਿ ਫਿਰਿ ਆਵੈ ਜਾਇ ॥: The mentally blind, doubt-ridden gets lost in the path of life and continues to suffer again and again. (sggs 35).

Now, according to the Gurmat Wisdom of the SGGS, what is the antidote for ignorance (Agiaanataa, Avidiaa, ਅਗਿਆਨਤਾ)?

ਅੰਧੀ ਕੰਮੀ ਅੰਧੁ ਮਨੁ ਮਨਿ ਅੰਧੈ ਤਨੁ ਅੰਧੁ ॥ ਚਿਕੜਿ ਲਾਇਐ ਕਿਆ ਥੀਐ ਜਾਂ ਤੁਟੈ ਪਥਰ ਬੰਧੁ ॥ ਬੰਧੁ ਤੁਟਾ ਬੇੜੀ ਨਹੀ ਨਾ ਤੁਲਹਾ ਨਾ ਹਾਥ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਸਚੇ ਨਾਮ ਵਿਣੁ ਕੇਤੇ ਡੁਬੇ ਸਾਥ ॥੩॥ : As we commit foolish deeds without thinking, our mind also becomes ignorant, and when the mind is ignorant, the body’s senses become ignorant and indulge in vices/Bikaar. When a dam of stones breaks, then nothing can be achieved by applying mud to it. When a dam gives way, the water’s depth becomes unfathomable, then neither the boat nor the raft remains under one’s control; similarly when the strong support of the Divine Naam (abidance in Divine Giyan-Wisdom / Virtues / Hukam) is broken, then nothing can help anyone. Nanak, without God’s Naam multitudes of human beings drown in vices/Bikaar. ||3|| (sggs 832).
ਬਿਨੁ ਗੁਰ ਸਾਚੇ ਭਰਮਿ ਭੁਲਾਏ ॥ ਮਨਮੁਖ ਅੰਧੇ ਸਦਾ ਬਿਖੁ ਖਾਏ ॥ ਜਮ ਡੰਡੁ ਸਹਹਿ ਸਦਾ ਦੁਖੁ ਪਾਏ ॥੪॥ : Without the Guru (Giyan-Wisdom), Manmukhs remain deluded by doubt. These mentally blind Manmukhs (un-enlightened), always consume the poison of false worldly pursuits. They bear the brunt of “Jum” (vices/Bikaar) and always suffer in pain. (sggs 231).
ਖਸਮੁ ਵਿਸਾਰਿ ਕੀਏ ਰਸ ਭੋਗ ॥ ਤਾਂ ਤਨਿ ਉਠਿ ਖਲੋਏ ਰੋਗ ॥ ਮਨ ਅੰਧੇ ਕਉ ਮਿਲੈ ਸਜਾਇ ॥ : Forgetting the Creator, man enjoys sensory pleasures, then all kinds of ailments arise in his body. The mind that is blinded (in attachment to Maya or Bikaar etc.) is punished (through its own corrupt thinking and actions resulting in physical and mental ailments). (sggs 1256).
ਮਨੁ ਅੰਧੁਲਾ ਅੰਧੁਲੀ ਮਤਿ ਲਾਗੈ ॥ ਗੁਰ ਕਰਣੀ ਬਿਨੁ ਭਰਮੁ ਨ ਭਾਗੈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ : The (ignorant or mentally) blind man follows the blind counsel. Unless one takes the Gurmat (Wisdom, Upadesh or Way of the SGGS), his doubt is not dispelled. ||1||Pause|| (sggs 1190).

To avoid falling into the dark pit of ignorance, the SGGS Guides us to cultivate Wisdom through Shabad-Vichaar and keeping the company of the Gurmukhs (Enlightened/Guru Shabad-Oriented mindsets).

ਕੁੰਭੇ ਬਧਾ ਜਲੁ ਰਹੈ ਜਲ ਬਿਨੁ ਕੁੰਭੁ ਨ ਹੋਇ ॥ ਗਿਆਨ ਕਾ ਬਧਾ ਮਨੁ ਰਹੈ ਗੁਰ ਬਿਨੁ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਨ ਹੋਇ ॥੫॥: As the water remains confined in a pitcher, (just so) the mind is restrained by the Spiritual Wisdom. But (as) the pitcher cannot be shaped without the water, (just so) there can be no Spiritual Wisdom without the Guru. ||5|| (sggs 469).
ਨਾਨਕ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਪਰਾਪਤਿ ਹੋਵੈ ਤਿਮਰ ਅਗਿਆਨੁ ਅਧੇਰੁ ਚੁਕਾਇਆ ॥: O Nanak! The Divine Wisdom is obtained by becoming the Gurmukh, and the pitch darkness of ignorance is dispelled (sggs 512).
ਮਨ ਸਮਝਾਵਨ ਕਾਰਨੇ ਕਛੂਅਕ ਪੜੀਐ ਗਿਆਨ ॥੫॥: To instruct the mind one ought to study Knowledge to some extent. ||5|| (sggs 340).
ਬਿਨੁ ਤੇਲ ਦੀਵਾ ਕਿਉ ਜਲੈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ ਪੋਥੀ ਪੁਰਾਣ ਕਮਾਈਐ ॥ ਭਉ ਵਟੀ ਇਤੁ ਤਨਿ ਪਾਈਐ ॥ ਸਚੁ ਬੂਝਣੁ ਆਣਿ ਜਲਾਈਐ ॥੨॥ ਇਹੁ ਤੇਲੁ ਦੀਵਾ ਇਉ ਜਲੈ ॥ ਕਰਿ ਚਾਨਣੁ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਤਉ ਮਿਲੈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥: Without the oil (of the remembrance of the Gur-Wisdom, Virtues…), how can the lamp be lit (of spiritual life)? ||1||Pause|| Let the practice of the Teaching of the Guru. be the oil and the Fear (pure respect of Rabb or the Divine…) be the wick (for the lamp of this body). Light this lamp with the (fire of) understanding of Truth. ||2|| Use this oil to light this lamp. Make such light (of Naam – Wisdom, Virtues...) and then you meet the Divine. ||1||Pause|| (sggs 25).

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