Truth is not Realized Until…

Truth is not an acquisition that has to be sought. It is a realization and an Awakening.

The Gurbani tells us that we cannot realize or Awaken Truth (= The Creator) until we are pure in Heart:

• ਸੁਚਿ ਹੋਵੈ ਤਾ ਸਚੁ ਪਾਈਐ ॥੨॥: ||2|| If you are pure (within), then you will obtain Truth ||2|| (sggs 472).
• ਸਚੀ ਕਾਰੈ ਸਚੁ ਮਿਲੈ ਗੁਰਮਤਿ ਪਲੈ ਪਾਇ ॥ ਸੋ ਨਰੁ ਜੰਮੈ ਨਾ ਮਰੈ ਨਾ ਆਵੈ ਨਾ ਜਾਇ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਦਰਿ ਪਰਧਾਨੁ ਸੋ ਦਰਗਹਿ ਪੈਧਾ ਜਾਇ ॥੪॥੧੪॥ : Let man do honest and true work. Then understand that he has come to understand the Truth — Gurmat has settled in his mind. Such a person will not waver. He will not die a spiritual death (ਆਤਮਕ ਮੌਤ) because of repeated good and bad thoughts. Wearing this Siropa (of the Gurmat), that person lives as a ‘Pardhaan‘ (supreme, distinguished, eminent etc.) in this universal ‘Dargah’. ||4||14|| (sggs 19).

But why do we need to realize the Truth? The Gurbani says:

• ਤਬ ਲਗੁ ਮਹਲੁ ਨ ਪਾਈਐ ਜਬ ਲਗੁ ਸਾਚੁ ਨ ਚੀਤਿ ॥: As long as Truth does not enter into the consciousness, the Mansion of the Lord’s Presence is not found.
• ਸਾਚ ਬਿਨਾ ਕਹ ਹੋਵਤ ਸੂਚਾ ॥: Without the Truth, how can anyone be pure? (sggs 269).
• ਅੰਤਰਿ ਜੂਠਾ ਕਿਉ ਸੁਚਿ ਹੋਇ ॥ ਸਬਦੀ ਧੋਵੈ ਵਿਰਲਾ ਕੋਇ ॥: If (someone) is impure within, (he) cannot become pure (without washing the mind with Shabad. How rare is the person who washes (his mind) with the Shabad (Wisdom, Upadesh, Sikhiaa, Naam…). (sggs 1344).

The Gurbani’s edict is that one’s bond is established with Truth when one speaks the Truth (as a  Gurmukh, Bhagat, Daas, truthful, ਸਚਿਆਰਾ…).

• ਬੇਦਾ ਗੰਢੁ ਬੋਲੇ ਸਚੁ ਕੋਇ ॥: (One) establishes a link with the holy scriptures if (one) speaks Truth (i.e., live Truth). (sggs 143).

To put it otherwise, spiritual realization or Awakening (ਛੁਟਕਾਰਾ) comes by realizing Truth (Sach-ਸਚ), not by mere talk, etc. In other words, spiritual triumph or success comes through Truth (Sach-ਸਚ). No wonder this One Sach (ਸਚ-Truth) is Glorified in the Gurbani as the Master of all (‘ਸਚੁ ਸਭਨਾ ਕਾ ਖਸਮੁ ਹੈ’)!

• ਨਾਨਕ ਗਲੀ ਕੂੜੀਈ ਕੂੜੋ ਪਲੈ ਪਾਇ ॥: O Nanak! From false talks (ਝੂਠ-lies), only falsehood is obtained. ||2|| (sggs 141).
• ਗਿਆਨੁ ਨ ਗਲੀਈ ਢੂਢੀਐ ਕਥਨਾ ਕਰੜਾ ਸਾਰੁ ॥ ਕਰਮਿ ਮਿਲੈ ਤਾ ਪਾਈਐ ਹੋਰ ਹਿਕਮਤਿ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਖੁਆਰੁ ॥੨॥: Saying knowledge does not make one wise. It takes hard work to acquire knowledge. If we keep practicing as hard as chewing iron, we can reach the destination. Other tricks and dictates (i.e. orders or hukam of the mind) are useless. ||2|| (sggs 465).
• ਇਹੁ ਸਚੁ ਸਭਨਾ ਕਾ ਖਸਮੁ ਹੈ ਜਿਸੁ ਬਖਸੇ ਸੋ ਜਨੁ ਪਾਵਹੇ ॥: This Truth is the Master of all; blessed “Janu” (Gurmukh, Daas, Bhagat …) obtains it (sggs 922).
• ਕੂੜ ਨਿਖੁਟੇ ਨਾਨਕਾ ਓੜਕਿ ਸਚਿ ਰਹੀ ॥੨॥: O Nanak! Falsehood comes to an end and Truth ultimately prevails. (sggs 953).

Accordingly, Praise or Glorification (ਸਿਫਤ ਸਲਾਹ) of the One (Rabb) is said to be Sach (Truth) in the Gurbani.

• ਸਚੁ ਸਚੇ ਕੀ ਸਿਫਤਿ ਸਲਾਹ ਹੈ ਸੋ ਕਰੇ ਜਿਸੁ ਅੰਦਰੁ ਭਿਜੈ ॥: Sach is the Praise of the Sach; he alone utters (it-ਸਿਫਤ ਸਲਾਹ), whose (Heart) is drenched within (with the Gurbani’s Aatam-Giaan…). (sggs 312).
• ਹਉ ਆਖਿ ਸਲਾਹੀ ਸਿਫਤਿ ਸਚੁ ਸਚੁ ਸਚੇ ਕੀ ਵਡਿਆਈ ॥ I utter and eulogize Virtues and the glory of the Truth. (sggs 310).

And, according to the Gurbani, he alone undertakes the Praise of the Sach whose Heart is already drenched with the Wisdom of the Gur-Shabad (Aatam-Giaan of the Gurbani). Furthermore, the Gurbani also reveals to us that he alone can Praise, continually, who has no iota of Maya’s hunger (ਮਾਇਆ ਦੀ ਭੁੱਖ)!

• ਫਲਗੁਣਿ ਨਿਤ ਸਲਾਹੀਐ ਜਿਸ ਨੋ ਤਿਲੁ ਨ ਤਮਾਇ ॥੧੩॥: Phalguni nit salaaheeai jis no tilu n tamaai (sggs 136).

In fact, the entire Gurbani is the Praise of the One (Sach – Truth): It provides us with the Divine Virtues and Wisdom about the One Truth. Simply put: The Gurbani affords us Darshan of the One Truth.

A true being is known as the Gurmukh (Bhagat, Jan, Daas...) in the Gurbani – who understands the Gurbani, remembers it, and lives it in his daily life. To the contrary, the Manmukhs is mentioned to go astray, and wander repeated suffering.

• ਨਾਨਕ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਸਚੁ ਕਮਾਵੈ ਮਨਮੁਖਿ ਆਵੈ ਜਾਇ ॥੨॥: O Nanak! The Gurmukh earns Truth, (but) the Manmukh… ||2|| (sggs 87).
• ਸਚੁ ਸਚੇ ਕੇ ਜਨ ਭਗਤ ਹਹਿ ਸਚੁ ਸਚਾ ਜਿਨੀ ਅਰਾਧਿਆ ॥ ਜਿਨ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਖੋਜਿ ਢੰਢੋਲਿਆ ਤਿਨ ਅੰਦਰਹੁ ਹੀ ਸਚੁ ਲਾਧਿਆ ॥…: Sachu sache ke Jan Bhagat... (sggs 313).

The Truth is said not to get old in the Gurbani (i.e., remains the same in past, present, future…). Accordingly, a Gurmukh (who has realized Truth…) is also said to never grow old as well! Obviously, here the Gurbani is talking about the “old” (or the young) from a spiritual standpoint!

• ਸਚੁ ਪੁਰਾਣਾ ਨਾ ਥੀਐ ਨਾਮੁ ਨ ਮੈਲਾ ਹੋਇ ॥: The Truth does not grow old; the Divine Naam is never soiled (defiled, etc.). (sggs 1248).
• ਸਚਾ ਤੇਰਾ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਜਾਣਿਆ ॥ ਗੁਰਮਤੀ ਆਪੁ ਗਵਾਇ ਸਚੁ ਪਛਾਣਿਆ ॥: Your Hukam (System-Rule-Law of Nature, ਨਿਯਮ…) is Permanently in Existence (i.e. Hukam cannot be changed or violated); this is the Guru’s Realization. The Recognition or Realization (that the Creator / Hukam is Permanently in Existence) comes through the Gurmat (Giaan or Wisdom of the SGGG) removing Haumai (false ego-sense, ਖ਼ੁਦੀ). (sggs 144).

Now, how is this Truth realized (ਸਮਝ) and Awaken?

• ਆਇ ਨ ਜਾਈ ਥਿਰੁ ਸਦਾ ਗੁਰ ਸਬਦੀ ਸਚੁ ਜਾਣੁ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥: For being ever fixed or stable, (Saahib, Truth, Universal Energy…) does not come or go. The Truth is realized through the Wisdom of the Gur-Shabad (Gur-Giaan, Bibek, Upadesh…). ||1||Pause|| (sggs 70).

Baabaa Nanak says that the Truth is realized when the Truth abides in the Heart; when we bear love for the Truth; when we live the Way of Divine Life (the Gurmukh Lifestyle); when we have realized the Brahm-Giaan (Wisdom, Divine Knowledge) or the Gurmat (Wisdom, Giaan, Upadesh or Way of the SGGS…); when we dwell in the sacred shrine of pilgrimage of our own soul…

• ਸਚੁ ਤਾ ਪਰੁ ਜਾਣੀਐ ਜਾ ਰਿਦੈ ਸਚਾ ਹੋਇ ॥ : The Creator is Realized then when the mind has BECOME true (sincere, genuine). (sggs 468).
• ਸਚੁ ਤਾ ਪਰੁ ਜਾਣੀਐ ਜਾ ਸਚਿ ਧਰੇ ਪਿਆਰੁ ॥ : The Creator is Realized then when (the mind) abides in Love of the Creator. (sggs 468).
• ਸਚੁ ਤਾ ਪਰੁ ਜਾਣੀਐ ਜਾ ਜੁਗਤਿ ਜਾਣੈ ਜੀਉ ॥ : The Creator Realized then when the Conscience (mind, self) knows the Way of (spiritual). (sggs 468).
• ਸਚੁ ਤਾ ਪਰੁ ਜਾਣੀਐ ਜਾ ਸਿਖ ਸਚੀ ਲੇਇ ॥ ਦਇਆ ਜਾਣੈ ਜੀਅ ਕੀ ਕਿਛੁ ਪੁੰਨੁ ਦਾਨੁ ਕਰੇਇ ॥ : The Creator is Realized when the authentic Counsel (spiritual Wisdom-Giaan, Advice, Direction etc) is received by the mind. Realize Compassion for one’s self, provide for the needs of the Conscience. (mind, self). (sggs 468).

Hence, according to the Gurbani, true Sikhs (“ਵਣਜਾਰੇ ਸਿਖ”, “ਸਚੇ ਵਣਜਾਰੇ”) constantly deal only with the Shabad-Vichaar to learn the Wisdom (Gurmat, Aatam-Giaan or Knowledge of the Gurbani…).

• ਵਣਜਾਰੇ ਸਿਖ ਆਵਦੇ ਸਬਦਿ ਲਘਾਵਣਹਾਰੁ ॥: The trader Sikhs (who trade in the Gur-Shabad) come and through the Shabad, they are carried across (Bhavajal-Mayaic ocean…). (sggs 313).
• ਸਿਖੀ ਸਿਖਿਆ ਗੁਰ ਵੀਚਾਰਿ ॥ ਨਦਰੀ ਕਰਮਿ ਲਘਾਏ ਪਾਰਿ ॥ : Sikhi is contemplation on Guru’s teaching (Instructions, Wisdom, Counsel, Guide, Upadesh, Giyan, Bibek) and acting on it. Being blessed by the Grace of the Guru’s teaching one then crosses the ocean of worldly temptations and their corrupting influences (Bhav Saagar). (sggs 465).

Babba Nanak tells us in the outset of the SGGS:

• ਕਿਵ ਸਚਿਆਰਾ ਹੋਈਐ ਕਿਵ ਕੂੜੈ ਤੁਟੈ ਪਾਲਿ ॥ ਹੁਕਮਿ ਰਜਾਈ ਚਲਣਾ ਨਾਨਕ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਨਾਲਿ ॥੧॥: How then can you 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).