The Gurbani indicates that both honest work (righteous Karma, actions, duties, earning truthful living, etc.) and Bhagti are essential to realize the Truth. The implication is that merely saying Naam-Simran (remembering Naam = Wisdom, Virtues, Truth…) or singing Kirtan without practice or implementation (ਅਮਲ) will not do the trick.
Baabaa Nanak says:
- ਗਿਆਨ ਵਿਹੂਣਾ ਗਾਵੈ ਗੀਤ ॥ ਭੁਖੇ ਮੁਲਾਂ ਘਰੇ ਮਸੀਤਿ ॥ ਮਖਟੂ ਹੋਇ ਕੈ ਕੰਨ ਪੜਾਏ ॥ ਫਕਰੁ ਕਰੇ ਹੋਰੁ ਜਾਤਿ ਗਵਾਏ ॥ ਗੁਰੁ ਪੀਰੁ ਸਦਾਏ ਮੰਗਣ ਜਾਇ ॥ ਤਾ ਕੈ ਮੂਲਿ ਨ ਲਗੀਐ ਪਾਇ ॥ ਘਾਲਿ ਖਾਇ ਕਿਛੁ ਹਥਹੁ ਦੇਇ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਰਾਹੁ ਪਛਾਣਹਿ ਸੇਇ ॥੧॥ : Someone devoid of Divine Giyan-Wisdom becomes a bard and sings hymns (as a source of making living). A hungry Mullah turns his house into a mosque (and uses it to make living). A lazy bum gets his ears pierced (to look like a Yogi). Someone becomes a panhandler and thus loses his social status. Someone proclaims to be a Guru and a Pir (spiritual guide…) but goes begging house to house (for food and money). Don’t ever touch the feet of such (freeloaders, jobless – ਵੇਹਲੜ, ਹੱਡ-ਹਰਾਮ, ਮੰਗਖਾਣਾਂ) person – we should never pay obeisance/reverence and we should never follow and consider such person a Guru or a Pir). Whatever a person eats by earning it with hard work and gives something out of it to the needy; Nanak, only such people know the way of truthful living (Sachiaar / Hukam oriented). ||1|| (sggs 1245).