Spiritual Wisdom Protects from Deception and Fraud

The Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS) is the Giaan-Guru.

If willingly and sincerely taken and applied, the Wisdom (Giaan) of the SGGS (Gurmat) makes one immune from deception and fraud – protects one from being deceived or cheated of his Spiritual Life (Aatmak Jeevan-ਆਤਮਕ ਜੀਵਨ).

  • ਕਹੁ ਕਬੀਰ ਮੈ ਸੋ ਗੁਰੁ ਪਾਇਆ ਜਾ ਕਾ ਨਾਉ ਬਿਬੇਕੋੁ ॥੪॥੫॥: Says Kabeer, I have found that Guru, whose Name is ‘Bibek(u)’ (Wisdom, Discerning Intelligence…). ||4||5|| (sggs 793).
  • ਗੁਰੁ ਮੇਰਾ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਗੁਰੁ ਰਿਦੈ ਧਿਆਨੁ ॥: Guru is my Giaan (Knowledge or Wisdom…), the Guru is (ever) within my Heart; this is my meditation (Dhiaan, Reflection, contemplation …). (sggs 864).

The true Bhagat (the Gurmukh) are ever absorbed in such Tatt Giaan (ਤੱਤ ਗਿਆਨ-Essence of Spiritual Wisdom…).

  • ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਤਤੁ ਗਿਆਨੋ ॥: By becoming the Gurmukh, realize the Essence of the Spiritual Wisdom (Aatam Giaan-ਅਸਲੀ ਆਤਮਕ ਜੀਵਨ ਦੀ ਸੂਝ). (sggs 1006).
  • ਗਿਆਨ ਕਾ ਬਧਾ ਮਨੁ ਰਹੈ ਗੁਰ ਬਿਨੁ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਨ ਹੋਇ ॥੫॥: Giaan ka badhaa man(u) rahai… (sggs 469).

Any intellect (i.e., Mati-ਮਤਿ) devoid of the Naam or Wisdom is prone to deception and fraud (ਛਲ-ਕਪਟ). All such intellect is false (Mayaic), thus worthless (‘ਸਭਿ ਕੂੜੁ ਗਾਲ੍ਹ੍ਹੀ ਹੋਛੀਆ’).

  • ਨਾਮ ਬਿਨਾ ਸਭਿ ਕੂੜੁ ਗਾਲ੍ਹ੍ਹੀ ਹੋਛੀਆ ॥੧॥ ਨਾਮੁ ਨਿਧਾਨੁ ਅਪਾਰੁ ਭਗਤਾ ਮਨਿ ਵਸੈ ॥…: Without the Naam, everything is false and worthless. ||1|| The Treasure of the Naam abides within the mind of the Bhagat… (sggs 761).

The Wisdomt of the Gurbani is ‘Bhagti Vachhalu‘ (‘ਭਗਤਿ ਵਛਲੁ’) — which saves the true Bhagat from any deception and fraud (ਛਲ-ਕਪਟ).

  • ਜਗਿ ਦਾਤਾ ਸੋਇ ਭਗਤਿ ਵਛਲੁ ਤਿਹੁ ਲੋਇ ਜੀਉ ॥ ਗੁਰ ਸਬਦਿ ਸਮਾਵਏ ਅਵਰੁ ਨ ਜਾਣੈ ਕੋਇ ਜੀਉ ॥: The Giver (to all Jeeva) of the world, is kind to devotees throughout the three worlds. (One who is) permeated in the Gur-Shabad (i.e., one who constantly lives by the Wisdom of the Gurbani) does not know any other. (sggs 923).
  • ਹਰਿ ਸੰਗਿ ਰਾਤੇ ਮਾਇਆ ਨਹੀ ਛਲੈ ॥: Maya cannot deceive or cheat (those) who are attuned to (their) Mool, within. (sggs 201).

Why does the Wisdom of the Gurbani save the true Bhagat from deception and fraud (ਛਲ-ਕਪਟ)?

Because, it sets them free of chains of false ego-sense (Haumai), doubts (Bharam-ਭਰਮ), illusion, skepticism, Bikaar (lust, anger, greed, attachment, pride…), fear attachment etc.

  • ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਪ੍ਰਾਣੀ ਭਰਮੁ ਗਵਾਇ ॥: Mortals who become the Gurmukh, get rid of doubt. (sggs 231).

Due to lack of true understanding of the Gurbani, we become easy victim of doubts or illusion (Bharam-ਭਰਮ), and slide down into the Manmukh-Saakat-Mayadhaaree mentality. Consequently, due to our own lack of proper understanding of the Gurbani, we become easy pray to the religious con artists and get defrauded and plundered (from Spiritual Life-ਆਤਮਕ ਜੀਵਨ ਵਲੋਂ).

  • ਗਿਆਨ ਪਦਾਰਥੁ ਖੋਇਆ ਠਗਿਆ ਮੁਠਾ ਜਾਇ ॥੧॥: (Whosoever) loses the Giaan Padaarath (Naam-Dhann, Wealth of Spiritual Wisdom…), they depart defrauded and plundered (from their Spiritual Life-ਆਤਮਕ ਜੀਵਨ ਵਲੋਂ…). ||1|| (sggs 60).

Once the illusion or doubt is dispelled from the mind through the earnest Shabad-Vichaar, only Reality (Mool or Jot Saroop…) remains over:

  • ਫੂਟੋ ਆਂਡਾ ਭਰਮ ਕਾ ਮਨਹਿ ਭਇਓ ਪਰਗਾਸੁ ॥ ਕਾਟੀ ਬੇਰੀ ਪਗਹ ਤੇ ਗੁਰਿ ਕੀਨੀ ਬੰਦਿ ਖਲਾਸੁ ॥੧॥ ਆਵਣ ਜਾਣੁ ਰਹਿਓ ॥ ਤਪਤ ਕੜਾਹਾ ਬੁਝਿ ਗਇਆ ਗੁਰਿ ਸੀਤਲ ਨਾਮੁ ਦੀਓ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ : (With the grace of Gur-Giaan or Wisdom) my mind is Enlightened and (as a result, now) the eggshell of doubt (Bharam, delusion) has been broken. The Breaking of the Eggshell was the Liberation of my Shackled (Mind). My Cycle of spiritual birth and death (Aavan Jaan-ਆਵਣ ਜਾਣੁ) has Ended. The Flames (of doubt) Are Extinguished with the Guru‘s spiritually cooling Naam (Eternal Giaan–Wisdom / Virtues). ||1||Pause|| (sggs 1002).

That’s why the Gurbani’s emphasis is on understanding (ਸੂਝ-ਬੂਝ) the true meanings of the Gur-Shabad, through constant and earnest Shabad-Vichaar or churning the Gurbani performed without being held down or shackled by chains false ego-sense, anger, greed, lust and attachments etc.

It should be noted that the Gurmat neither say position or power is bad, nor wealth is bad, nor love and emotions are bad, nor name or education is bad, and so on. Because they are all integral parts of our lives, even essential to our existence. The problem occurs with attachment, we believe that the position is for ever as will be our wealth, strength, beauty, youth, property, people in our life etc. In reality, they are all temporary or fleeting, even our own body and mind.

That said, the Gurbani will not do much if we ritually read and verbalize it or merely worship (Poojaa) it as an idol.

In other words, mere reading of it, mere listening to its recitations, or mere memorizing it will not cure our psychological illness (Haumai or false ego-sense and its faults…).

Next step – Shabad Vichaar – is necessary to obtain its true understanding (ਸੂਝ-ਬੂਝ). Without obtaining the Gurbani’s true understanding (ਸੂਝ-ਬੂਝ), the Gurbani says we are sure to get drowned (‘ਡੂਬਿ ਮੁਆ’: death of Spiritual Life – ਆਤਮਕ ਮੌਤ):

  • ਪੜਿਐ ਨਾਹੀ ਭੇਦੁ ਬੁਝਿਐ ਪਾਵਣਾ ॥ ਖਟੁ ਦਰਸਨ ਕੈ ਭੇਖਿ ਕਿਸੈ ਸਚਿ ਸਮਾਵਣਾ ॥ ਸਚਾ ਪੁਰਖੁ ਅਲਖੁ ਸਬਦਿ ਸੁਹਾਵਣਾ ॥ : Not by just reading (scriptures), but it is through spiritual Wisdom one Understands this fact (that God is infinite). No one can merge in the eternal God by merely adopting the garbs mentioned in the six Shastras (the Hindu holy books). The eternal God is unfathomable, but revealed through the Guru’s Shabad, He (i.e. Creation, Hukam) looks beautiful. (sggs 148).

Next step after obtaining understanding is practice in daily life.

Once our Budhi (intellect) is attuned to the Gurbani’s Bibek-Budhi, religious con artists cannot deceive and defraud us (ਛਲ-ਕਪਟ). Otherwise, we will be easy targets of their Pakhand.

  • ਮਾਇਆ ਛਲੀਆ ਬਿਕਾਰ ਬਿਖਲੀਆ ॥: Maya is deceitful (plunder people of their Spiritual Life-ਆਤਮਕ ਜੀਵਨ), and Bikaar (lust, anger, greed, etc.) are poisonous. (sggs 385).

The path of fraud and Pakhand (ਝੂਠ, rituals…) seems easy (ਸੌਖਾ) to imitate. So it attracts greedy and fearful people! Consequently, the crowds of people follow this path, as sheep follow sheep (ਦੇਖਾ ਦੇਖੀ…) — the path of Karamkaand, the path of hypocrisy, pilgrimage, path of those who desire name and fame and want to be worshiped by others (self-glory, ਅਪਣੀ ਪੂਜਾ ਕਰਾਉਣੀ), the path of Pujaaree System, the path of pretension/humbug/prudery, the path of falsehood or ostentatious shows, the path of Derravaad, and so on.

  • ਕਬੀਰ ਜਿਹ ਮਾਰਗਿ ਪੰਡਿਤ ਗਏ ਪਾਛੈ ਪਰੀ ਬਹੀਰ ॥ ਇਕ ਅਵਘਟ ਘਾਟੀ ਰਾਮ ਕੀ ਤਿਹ ਚੜਿ ਰਹਿਓ ਕਬੀਰ ॥੧੬੫॥: O Kabeer! To follow ways of the enlightened beings, one must abandon the crowd (i.e. the stale and distorted path of falsehood, Pakhand, Karamkaand, superstitions…). There is a treacherous and rugged cliff on the way to becomingRaam‘ (i.e. becoming Kartaa, Hari, divine, enlightened, spiritual being…); Kabeer is climbing that cliff (alone!). ||165|| (sggs 1373).
  • ਦੇਖਾ ਦੇਖੀ ਸਭ ਕਰੇ ਮਨਮੁਖਿ ਬੂਝ ਨ ਪਾਇ ॥: Manmukhs (Unenlightened persons) do everything seeing other people do to make a show (Pakhand, ਦੇਖਾ ਦੇਖੀ, ਨਕਲ, ਦਿਖਾਵਾ…), but they themselves have no understanding of the true way of living. (sggs 28).
  • ਪਾਖੰਡਿ ਭਗਤਿ ਨ ਹੋਵਈ ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਨ ਪਾਇਆ ਜਾਇ ॥: Through hypocrisy, Bhagti cannot be done, and Paarbrahm is not Realized (sggs 849).

In short, if WE ARE WILLING TO TAKE and PRACTICE, the SGGS provides us Wisdom (Giaan), which:

The following Shabad of Baabaa Nanak will challenge (ਲਲਕਾਰ) our mind forever:

  • ਨ ਭੀਜੈ ਰਾਗੀ ਨਾਦੀ ਬੇਦਿ ॥ ਨ ਭੀਜੈ ਸੁਰਤੀ ਗਿਆਨੀ ਜੋਗਿ ॥ ਨ ਭੀਜੈ ਸੋਗੀ ਕੀਤੈ ਰੋਜਿ ॥ ਨ ਭੀਜੈ ਰੂਪੀ ਮਾਲੀ ਰੰਗਿ ॥ ਨ ਭੀਜੈ ਤੀਰਥਿ ਭਵਿਐ ਨੰਗਿ ॥ ਨ ਭੀਜੈ ਦਾਤੀ ਕੀਤੈ ਪੁੰਨਿ ॥ ਨ ਭੀਜੈ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਬੈਠਿਆ ਸੁੰਨਿ ॥ ਨ ਭੀਜੈ ਭੇੜਿ ਮਰਹਿ ਭਿੜਿ ਸੂਰ ॥ ਨ ਭੀਜੈ ਕੇਤੇ ਹੋਵਹਿ ਧੂੜ ॥ ਲੇਖਾ ਲਿਖੀਐ ਮਨ ਕੈ ਭਾਇ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਭੀਜੈ ਸਾਚੈ ਨਾਇ ॥੨॥ (God) is NOT won over (i.e. pleased, made happy etc.) with singing ragas, playing Naad or reading Vedas (i.e. religious books). (God) is NOT won over by meditation, debating knowledge or doing any means of Yoga. (God) can’t be won over even if you just sit there crying. (God) is NOT won over (on you) even when engaged in beauty, riches and pleasures. (God) is NOT won over by ritual bathing at Teerath (shrines) or wandering naked (in jungles, mountaintops etc.). (God) is NOT won over with giving alms (Daan). (God) is NOT won over by fighting and dying as a warrior in battle (i.e., by becoming a martyr or Shaheed). (God) is not won over even if you are mixed with dust. The test (of good and bad of people) is done according to what’s in the mind. O Nanak! (God) is pleased only through the True Naam (Wisdom or Giaan). (sggs 1237).

8 comments

  1. Thank you Bhai Sahib Sukhbir Singh Ji for taking the time to share your thoughts. Also, thanks for your kind words. Welcome to the Gurbani Blog Ji!

  2. Greetings Saiya Ji! Thank you for your kind words and encouragement, and sharing your Vichaaar.

    I hope you know that you are making a difference in peoples lives by your writings.

    I write all this to teach myself. Some seekers may find them of some spiritual value; in that spirit they are “shared” here (“Vand Shaknaa”).
    I am learning it along with you.
    We are all in the same boat.

  3. Thank you Bhai Sahib Balwant Singh Seera Ji, for your kind words and sharing your Vichaar.

    Gurbani empowers us to attain a divine analytical wisdom .i.e budh bibek to make distiction between good and bad…

    Very nicely put!
    • ਸੋ ਧਨਵੰਤਾ ਜਿਸੁ ਬੁਧਿ ਬਿਬੇਕ ॥: So dhanvantaa jisu budhi bibek (sggs 1150).

  4. Waheguru ji ka khalsa, Waheguru ji ki Fateh!!
    With all humility at my command and with a deep sense of gratitude i thank you for acknowledging my very unscholarly comments on your blog.Sri Guru Granth Sahibji very kindly advises and guides us to lead an honest life as per the commands of Waheguruji.Gurbani empowers us to attain a divine analytical wisdom .i.e budh bibek to make distiction between good and bad, between desirable and undesirable ,there by protecting us from falling prey to the tendencies of greed, corruption and frauds.
    A true Gursikh believes in Kirt karo, Naam Japo and Vand chhako.Thanks

    Balwant Singh Seera

  5. Thank you for this blog. Being born and raised outside of India I am struggling with understanding the Gurbani and find that most translations are biased and incorrect. I found this blog a few months ago and it has changed my life. I visit it everyday and read it to my children as well. Is there a translation of the Gurbani that you find accurate if not will you be translating it?

    I hope you know that you are making a difference in peoples lives by your writings. It has brought so much joy into my life. I realize that there is only one god and I was born into a sikh family to know this path to attaining his grace. I sometimes find it easier to read about other religions to quench my thirst for knowledge but am drawn back to the Gurbani.

    I am trying to read the Gurbani and trying very hard to get the deeper meaning from each word but I struggle with the vocabulary. Do you suggest any other readings that can improve my understanding?

    Thank you for sharing your insights with your readers, and lets hope that our youth stumble upon this blog and it brings enlightenment to their lives.

    Thank you sincerely.

  6. Thank you Vir Ji for sharing your Vichaar.
    The Gurbani also reminds us if we miss this chance, repeated suffering will be awaiting us!:
    • ਇਸੁ ਪਉੜੀ ਤੇ ਜੋ ਨਰੁ ਚੂਕੈ ਸੋ ਆਇ ਜਾਇ ਦੁਖੁ ਪਾਇਦਾ ॥੨॥: Isu paourree te jo naru chookai so aai jaai dukhu paidaa: That human who misses this chance, will suffer through coming and going. ||2|| (sggs 1075).

  7. Thank you for your posts – and for the insight you give. They are a good reminder of what is real and important in this life time.
    May you be blessed to continue this great work of sharing the precious teachings of the great gurus.
    With Thanks.

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