The Ultimate Medicine

The Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS) is the Doctor of ‘Sachiaar‘ (ਸਚਿਆਰ), Wise and Virtuous life (Hukam-oriented, peaceful, happy, balanced, blissful, Sahaj, Joyful etc).

• ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਬਾਝਹੁ ਵੈਦੁ ਨ ਕੋਈ ॥ ਆਪੇ ਆਪਿ ਨਿਰੰਜਨੁ ਸੋਈ ॥ : There is no one else but the Satigur, the physician who cures the pain of Divine Love. The person who is cured by the Satigur sees that the detached Creator is present everywhere. (sggs 1016).

The Gurmat Wisdom of the SGGS is the ‘Medicine’ that heals a sick mind wounded with suffering inflicted by Bikaar (lust, anger, greed, etc.), bad impact of Maya‘s illusion, ignorance, doubts, two-ness or duality (Doojaa Bhaav), false ego-sense (‘I-ness’, Haumai ), and so on.

It is not the ills of the body that are so dangerous, but the subtle ills of the mind attached to Maya, false ego-sense (Haumai), vices/Bikaar etc.

The question is: When does this experience of primary, Mayaic delusion start? The Gurbani indicates it starts in childhood. The function of childhood is to make us aware that we exist (i.e. the self awareness, ‘I’-ness, Haumai, ‘I’-consciousness…).

When this ‘I’-ness appears, the love for existence is the result of this primary delusion (i.e., Maya). Once a person comes to know that he exists, then, he feels like enduring eternally — always wants to exist, always wants to prolong the life, always wants to survive etc.

• ਯਾ ਜੁਗ ਮਹਿ ਏਕਹਿ ਕਉ ਆਇਆ ॥ ਜਨਮਤ ਮੋਹਿਓ ਮੋਹਨੀ ਮਾਇਆ ॥ : (Man) is born in this life only to become ONE (with Prabh, Mool etc. – through Naam…). (But) ever since (man’s) birth, (he) has been enticed and deceived by Maya. (sggs 251).

Because of this Mayaic illusion, the struggle begins!

• ਜਾ ਤਿਸੁ ਭਾਣਾ ਤਾ ਜੰਮਿਆ ਪਰਵਾਰਿ ਭਲਾ ਭਾਇਆ ॥ ਲਿਵ ਛੁੜਕੀ ਲਗੀ ਤ੍ਰਿਸਨਾ ਮਾਇਆ ਅਮਰੁ ਵਰਤਾਇਆ ॥ ਏਹ ਮਾਇਆ ਜਿਤੁ ਹਰਿ ਵਿਸਰੈ ਮੋਹੁ ਉਪਜੈ ਭਾਉ ਦੂਜਾ ਲਾਇਆ ॥ : According to Hukam (System-Rule-Law of Nature), the child is born, and the family is pleased. (After birth) Connection (with Hukam, Mool or Jot Saroop) snaps, and (the child) becomes attached to (Mayaic) desires; (thereafter) the script of Maya runs its course (ਮਾਇਆ ਉਸ ਉਤੇ ਆਪਣਾ ਜੋਰ ਪਾ ਲੈਂਦੀ ਹੈ). This is Maya, by which (1) ‘Hari’ (Mool) is forgotten; (2) (worldly) attachment is born, and (3) the love of duality is set (sggs 921).
• ਦਸ ਮਾਸ ਮਾਤਾ ਉਦਰਿ ਰਾਖਿਆ ਬਹੁਰਿ ਲਾਗੀ ਮਾਇਆ ॥ : For ten months you was protected (by Divine Hukam) in mother’s womb; (but because of forgetting the Creator) as soon as you were born into the world, Maya came and captured you – you were overwhelmed by Maya. (sggs 481).

In other words, in the state of ‘I’-ness, one loves the state of being alive and wants to perpetuate it as long as possible! In nutshell, bound by Maya, man considers himself to be immortal!

• ਹੋਇ ਆਮਰੋ ਗ੍ਰਿਹ ਮਹਿ ਬੈਠਾ ਕਰਣ ਕਾਰਣ ਬਿਸਰੋਹੀ ॥੨॥ : (Man bound by Maya) sits in the body-home considering himself to be immortal (i.e. unmindful of death); and forgets the Creator, the Cause of causes. ||2|| (sggs 609).

It’s not that Jeeva (individual beings) were born as two separate entities or two minds. NO!

The Jeeva is born as one (Jot Saroop), but he adopted the second aspect due to the mind’s attachment to his body, or love for Maya (ਮਾਇਆ ਦੀ ਭੁੱਖ) or Bhav Saagar.

Akin to split peas or split lentils (‘ਦਾਲਿ’), the Jeeva identifies with his body, and thus behaves as split or separate from its Mool (Source, Origin, True Nature or Jot Saroop …).

• ਬੀਉ ਬੀਜਿ ਪਤਿ ਲੈ ਗਏ ਅਬ ਕਿਉ ਉਗਵੈ ਦਾਲਿ ॥ ਜੇ ਇਕੁ ਹੋਇ ਤ ਉਗਵੈ ਰੁਤੀ ਹੂ ਰੁਤਿ ਹੋਇ ॥ : Those who planted the seed (of Divine Naam) within have departed with honor; (but) those whose mind is split in duality (fragmented-ਦਾਲ ਵਾਂਗ ਦੋ-ਫਾੜ), how can the seed (of Naam: Wisdom /Virtues / Hukam) sprout in their mind? As the seed sprouts only if the seed is whole (undivided, Saabat…) and if the season is right, similarly the seed of Naam will sprout only if the mind is not split in duality (i.e, mind must remain Unfragmented, Whole, Saabat…). (sggs 468).

The reason Naam or Shabad (Wisdom…) is said to be the Ultimate Medicine is that it cures the subtle diseases of the illusioned mind — vices/Bikaar (i.e. lust, anger, greed, attachment, pride…), ignorance, doubts, duality, Haumai (‘I-ness’) stubborn mindedness etc.

• ਰੋਗ ਦੋਖ ਗੁਰ ਸਬਦਿ ਨਿਵਾਰੇ ॥ ਨਾਮ ਅਉਖਧੁ ਮਨ ਭੀਤਰਿ ਸਾਰੇ ॥ ਗੁਰ ਭੇਟਤ ਮਨਿ ਭਇਆ ਅਨੰਦ ॥ : A person who has eradicated mental diseases through the Gur-Shabad (Gur-Upadesh, Brahm-Giaan, Divine Wisdom…), and Keep the Naam-medicine in the mind, upon internalizing the enlightening spiritual Message contained within the Guru Shabad, Anand (Bliss, Joy) arises in his mind. (sggs 1148).
• ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਅਵਖਧੁ ਮੁਖਿ ਪਾਇਆ ਗੁਰ ਸਬਦੀ ਰਸੁ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤੁ ਪੀਵੇ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ : Who kept the Naam-Medicine in their mouths (the disease of spiritual death was removed from within them) with the blessing of Guru Shabad they drank Amrit of Naam, which gives spiritual life. ||1||Pause|| (sggs 374).

The Wisdom of the Gurbani helps us correct the defiled sense organs; concomitantly, the mind sheds negative or bad impact of false ego-sense or vices/Bikaar (lust, anger, greed etc.).

• ਦੁਖ ਮਹੁਰਾ ਮਾਰਣ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ॥ ਸਿਲਾ ਸੰਤੋਖ ਪੀਸਣੁ ਹਥਿ ਦਾਨੁ ॥ ਨਿਤ ਨਿਤ ਲੇਹੁ ਨ ਛੀਜੈ ਦੇਹ ॥ ਅੰਤ ਕਾਲਿ ਜਮੁ ਮਾਰੈ ਠੇਹ ॥੧॥ ਐਸਾ ਦਾਰੂ ਖਾਹਿ ਗਵਾਰ ॥ ਜਿਤੁ ਖਾਧੈ ਤੇਰੇ ਜਾਹਿ ਵਿਕਾਰ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ : Sufferings that have become poison due to Vikaar (i.e. lust, anger, greed etc.), the divine Naam (Giyan or Wsdom) is the antidote. Grind it up in the mortar of contentment, make the Daan (i.e. giving of Giyan or Wisdom etc. to help others or needy) a grindstone in your hand. Take this (medicine) everyday, and your body will not pine and waste away (i.e. diminute). Otherwise you will have to bear the brunt of Vikaar. ||1|| O foolish (mind)! Take such medicine, by which (the bad impact of) Vikaar leave you alone (i.e. stay at bay). ||1||Pause|| (sggs 1257).

When the mind regains its Original untainted state (filled with Naam or Giyan, Shabad or Upadesh, Hukam…), the Gurbani becomes intelligible.

Without such transformation, it is not possible to understand and assimilate the Gurbani. Ultimately, that purification leads to Mool-abidance, which is the purpose of life. By reflecting on the Gurbani, Divine Virtues get dominant, and it the intellect Awakens to the Wisdom.

• ਮਨੁ ਸਬਦਿ ਮਰੈ ਪਰਤੀਤਿ ਹੋਇ ਹਉਮੈ ਤਜੇ ਵਿਕਾਰ ॥ : The mind which dies internalizes the enlightening spiritual Message contained in the Shabad, casts away false ego-sense (Haumai) and vices/Bikaar‘. (sggs 162).
• ਸਬਦਿ ਮਰੈ ਮਨੁ ਨਿਰਮਲੁ ਸੰਤਹੁ ਏਹ ਪੂਜਾ ਥਾਇ ਪਾਈ ॥੫॥ : The mind of a person who follows the teachings of the Guru (instead of his/her own self-will) becomes pure (Gurmukhs: enlightened / Guru Shabad-Oriented) and his/her Poojaa is accepted (However the self-serving Pujaaree, mired in the mud of illusion, do not want to see this aspect of real Poojaa because they have no profit in this transaction). ||5|| (sggs 910).

If and when the mind deviates from Truth (Sach), there is some mental disorder which is termed ‘ਰੋਗ’ (disease/’sickness etc). On account of this disorder, the Rajo quality (ਰਜੋ ਗੁਣ) makes our mind wander in all directions, and the Tamo quality (ਤਮੋ ਗੁਣ) claims doership for those activities.

When we visit a doctor to rectify our bodily sickness, we wait patiently in a doctor’s clinic, until the doctor is able to examine us, diagnose the problem and prescribe medication.

• ਰੋਗੁ ਦਾਰੂ ਦੋਵੈ ਬੁਝੈ ਤਾ ਵੈਦੁ ਸੁਜਾਣੁ ॥ : (Instead of judging others or finding vices/faults in others), if a person recognizes his/her own vices/faults (i.e. judges him/herself) and way to eradicate them, is truly a wise physician (i.e. wise person). (sggs 148).
• ਸੋ ਗੁਰੂ ਸੋ ਸਿਖੁ ਕਥੀਅਲੇ ਸੋ ਵੈਦੁ ਜਿ ਜਾਣੈ ਰੋਗੀ ॥ : One is said to be a Guru who understands what the disciple needs and guides accordingly; similarly, such person is called a Sikh who understand his/her ailment; and such a person is called physician who knows the patient’s illness and how to treat it. (sggs 503).

Similarly — approaching the Gurbani with the same patience, trust, and determination — we learn from the Gurbani, and gain Wisdom. Whosoever is willing to take this Ultimate Medicine rectifies the disorder of the mind and then the mental sickness is cured.

• ਅਉਖੀ ਘੜੀ ਨ ਦੇਖਣ ਦੇਈ ਅਪਨਾ ਬਿਰਦੁ ਸਮਾਲੇ ॥ : (A Mool-united person, aware of his Jot Saroop) does not face difficult time (i.e. that person always remembers his/her Jot Saroop which helps facing difficult times easily). (sggs 682).

However, the Gurbani roars that — with the exception of  a ‘rare‘ one — people are not interested in taking Knowledge (Giyan-ਗਿਆਨ)!

People who have their minds afflicted with this disorder (‘sickness’) are called in the Gurbani Manmukhs, Saakat, Mayadhaaree etc.

• ਦੁਖ ਮਹਿ ਜਨਮੈ ਦੁਖ ਮਹਿ ਮਰਣਾ ॥ ਦੂਖੁ ਨ ਮਿਟੈ ਬਿਨੁ ਗੁਰ ਕੀ ਸਰਣਾ ॥ ਦੂਖੀ ਉਪਜੈ ਦੂਖੀ ਬਿਨਸੈ ਕਿਆ ਲੈ ਆਇਆ ਕਿਆ ਲੈ ਜਾਹਾ ਹੇ ॥੧੨॥ : (A Manmukhs (unenlightened / disconnected from Guru Shabad) is born in miseries/distress, remains miserable and dies in misery. This misery of life time does not end without internalizing the enlightening spiritual Message contained within the Guru’s Shabad. Such a person — between birth and death — lives an misery; what has he/she brought and what will he/she take away (i.e. he/she will have nothing to show for except living entire life in misery). ||12|| (sggs 1033).

The people who have overcome this disorder by applying the Ultimate Medicine of the Gurbani’s Wisdom (Upadesh…), the Gurbani calls them Gurmukhs (enlightened / Guru Shabad-Oriented).

• ਮਨਮੁਖਿ ਦੁਬਿਧਾ ਸਦਾ ਹੈ ਰੋਗੀ ਰੋਗੀ ਸਗਲ ਸੰਸਾਰਾ ॥ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਬੂਝਹਿ ਰੋਗੁ ਗਵਾਵਹਿ ਗੁਰ ਸਬਦੀ ਵੀਚਾਰਾ ॥੧॥: The Manmukhs (unenlightened / disconnected from Guru Shabad) ever remains afflicted with the disease of duality, as is the rest of the world. (But) the Gurmukhs (enlightened / Guru Shabad-Oriented) understands this, and through Reflecting on the Gur-Shabad gets rid of the disease of duality (from within). ||1|| (sggs 1130).

Shabad (Naam, Hukam, Brahm-Giyan…) is the antidote to the primary delusion of Maya). Ultimate Medicine (i.e., Gur-Giyan, Bibek or Wisdom) prescribed by the Physician of the Gurbani helps transcend Maya’s delusion while living in the midst of it! In otherwords, the Gurbani teaches the entire humanity how to discard what is unessential, and benefit from what is essential.

Birds peck through dust and grass to get at even a tiny grain that might lie hidden beneath. Likewise, the Gurbani shows us how to take only what is important, and ignore what is harmful and unessential.

• ਨਾਨਕ ਮਾਇਆ ਕਾ ਮਾਰਣੁ ਸਬਦੁ ਹੈ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਪਾਇਆ ਜਾਇ ॥੨॥ : Nanak, the antidote of Maya is the Shabad, which is realized by internalizing its Message – becoming the Gurmukh (enlightened / Guru Shabad-Oriented). ||2|| (sggs 853).
• ਨਾਨਕ ਮਾਇਆ ਕਾ ਮਾਰਣੁ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਹੈ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਪਾਇਆ ਜਾਇ ॥੧॥ : Nanak, Naam (Wisdom, Virtue, Truth…) is an antidote to Maya, and it is realized by becoming the Gurmukh (enlightened / Guru Shabad-Oriented). ||1|| (sggs 513).

Our minds are heavily conditioned, fragmented, and deep in contradiction. The Gurbani’s Wisdom Guides us to reverse this whole process of chaos, conflict, to a state of Wisdom, simplicity, naturalness, and order (Sahaj), Sukh Saagar…

Ending

In a nutshell, the cure for all mental diseases is to live in harmony with the Divine Hukam (Cosmic System-Rule-Law of Nature with which the Kudrat functions, ਕੁਦਰਤੀ ਨਿਯਮ). Put simply, it is the Divine Law of consequences – we humans are free to choose, but we are not free from the consequences of our choices.

Simply put, Hukam is the lifelong mentor of a Sikh (‘ਹੁਕਮਿ ਰਜਾਈ ਚਲਣਾ) – to understand the Laws of Nature and live accordingly!

• ਕਿਵ ਸਚਿਆਰਾ ਹੋਈਐ ਕਿਵ ਕੂੜੈ ਤੁਟੈ ਪਾਲਿ ॥ ਹੁਕਮਿ ਰਜਾਈ ਚਲਣਾ ਨਾਨਕ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਨਾਲਿ ॥੧॥ : How then can I become God-Realized being within (‘Sachiaaraa‘)? How can I remove the obstacle of my non-realized state within? O Nanak! (The way to realize Creator within is to) remain within the confines of His Hukam (the System or Law of Nature…) and abide in Sahaj , as (Creator and His Hukam) is contained with us. ||1|| (sggs 1).

Some related posts:

• Hukam and it’s Immanence
• Core of Gurmat Spirituality – ਕਿਵ ਸਚਿਆਰਾ ਹੋਈਐ
• Gurbani Defines Naam
• O Wandering Mind! Come Home
• Panch Ko Jhagraa
• Panj Khand – Guru Nanak’s Universal and Practical
• Nature of Mayaic Delusion: Part 1
• Pujaaree’s Sikhi vs. Guru Nanak’s Unique Sikhi
• Poison or Medicine
• Realize Enlightening Message Embedded within Shabad
• Pujaaree’s Sikhi vs. Guru Nanak’s Unique Sikhi