THE RIGHT ATTITUDE

The Gurbani says spiritual Realization is easy of access to those who are imbued in the Naam / Shabad, but is difficult for those without it. Apparently, therefore, it is one’s attitude to the Supreme Essence that determines whether He is unfathomable or not.

To say it otherwise, the right attitude matters for the spiritual Realiztion. For example, consider the following verses from the Gurbani:

  • ਚਾਦਨਾ ਚਾਦਨੁ ਆਂਗਨਿ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਜੀਉ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਚਾਦਨਾ ॥੧॥ ਆਰਾਧਨਾ ਅਰਾਧਨੁ ਨੀਕਾ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਅਰਾਧਨਾ ॥੨॥ ਤਿਆਗਨਾ ਤਿਆਗਨੁ ਨੀਕਾ ਕਾਮੁ ਕ੍ਰੋਧੁ ਲੋਭੁ ਤਿਆਗਨਾ ॥੩॥ ਮਾਗਨਾ ਮਾਗਨੁ ਨੀਕਾ ਹਰਿ ਜਸੁ ਗੁਰ ਤੇ ਮਾਗਨਾ ॥੪॥ ਜਾਗਨਾ ਜਾਗਨੁ ਨੀਕਾ ਹਰਿ ਕੀਰਤਨ ਮਹਿ ਜਾਗਨਾ ॥੫॥ ਲਾਗਨਾ ਲਾਗਨੁ ਨੀਕਾ ਗੁਰ ਚਰਣੀ ਮਨੁ ਲਾਗਨਾ ॥੬॥ ਇਹ ਬਿਧਿ ਤਿਸਹਿ ਪਰਾਪਤੇ ਜਾ ਕੈ ਮਸਤਕਿ ਭਾਗਨਾ ॥੭॥ ਕਹੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਤਿਸੁ ਸਭੁ ਕਿਛੁ ਨੀਕਾ ਜੋ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕੀ ਸਰਨਾਗਨਾ ॥੮॥੧॥੪॥: Chaadhanaa chaadhan aaangan prabh jeeo anthar chaadhanaa ||1||…: In the courtyard (of the mind), let the moon of the (Name of the ) Lord shine. This is the Light of lights. ||1|| Meditation, meditation (i.e, out of all meditations) – sublime is meditation on the Name of the Lord. ||2|| (People leave home to get out of attachment to Maya, but) to give up lust, anger, greed (i.e. all Bikaar) is the best renunciation of all. ||3|| Begging, begging (i.e., out of all sorts of begging, favors, or demands – ਮੰਗਾਂ – from the Lord or the Guru) – it is noble to beg for the Lord’s Praise from the Guru. ||4|| Vigils, vigils (i.e., out of all sorts of vigils, watch, or wakefulness – ਜਾਗਰੇ) – sublime is the vigil spent singing the Kirtan of the Lord’s Praises. ||5|| Attachment, attachment (i.e., out of all attachments – ਲਗਨਾਂ) – sublime is the attachment of the mind to the Guru’s Feet. ||6|| He alone is blessed with this manner (way of life, ਜੁਗਤਿ, etc.), upon whose forehead such destiny (is awakened). ||7|| Says Nanak! Everything is sublime and noble (i.e., he attains all noble virtues), for one who enters the Sanctuary of God. ||8||1||4|| (sggs 1018).
  • ਅੰਤਰਜਾਮੀ ਪੁਰਖ ਬਿਧਾਤੇ ਸਰਧਾ ਮਨ ਕੀ ਪੂਰੇ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਦਾਸੁ ਇਹੈ ਸੁਖੁ ਮਾਗੈ ਮੋ ਕਉ ਕਰਿ ਸੰਤਨ ਕੀ ਧੂਰੇ ॥੪॥੫॥: Antarjaamee purakh bidhaate saradhaa mann kee poore. Nanak daas ihai sukh maagai mo kaou kar santan kee dhoore ||4||5||: O Inner-knower (ਦਿਲ ਦੀ ਜਾਣਨ ਵਾਲੇ, Searcher of Hearts, etc.), O Primal Being (All-pervading), O Creator (Ruler, Maker, God, Providence, etc.): please fulfill this yearning of my mind. Nanak, Your slave, begs for this happiness that let me be the dust of the feet of the Saints. ||4||5|| (sggs 13).
  • ਬਿਦਰੁ ਉਧਾਰਿਓ ਦਾਸਤ ਭਾਇ ॥: Bidar oudhaario daasat bhaai: Vidura was saved by his attitude of humility (sggs 1192).
  • ਖਿਮਾ ਗਹੀ ਸਚੁ ਸੰਚਿਓ ਖਾਇਓ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤੁ ਨਾਮ ॥ ਖਰੀ ਕ੍ਰਿਪਾ ਠਾਕੁਰ ਭਈ ਅਨਦ ਸੂਖ ਬਿਸ੍ਰਾਮ ॥: Khimaa gahee sach sanchio khaaio anmrit naam. Kharee kirapaa thaakur bhee anad sookh bisraam: (One who) Adops an attitude of forgiveness, gathers truth, and partake of the Amrit of the Name (spiritual food – ਆਤਮਕ ਖ਼ੁਰਾਕ); the Lord bestows upon him His Great Mercy, and he finds Peace, Happiness and Bliss (i.e., spiritual Joy – ਆਤਮਕ ਆਨੰਦ-ਸੁਖ) (sggs 261).

As the Gurbani indicates, this is the mark of true Bhagti or devotional attitude.

In essence, of what use is anything if one has not become spiritually fit (which is the real purpose of the human life)?

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published.     Comment Policy.     * = required fields.