Reform and Make Oneself Better

The purpose of reading and/or listening to the Gurbani is to make oneself better, judge ownself, circumstances and situations etc. – there should be development in terms of change, reform, divine Virtues, and so on.

Enlightenment, Freedom, Liberation is to know one’s true self (Original Nature – Jot Saroop)!

Hence, each person’s competition is with his ownself — reform yourself, change your bad habits, try to be better than your ownself etc.!

Hence the consul of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS) not to worry about impressing others with religious paraphernalia, religious garbs, religious formalities (Karamkaand) etc. But prove things to yourself.

• ਆਪੁ ਸਵਾਰਹਿ ਮੈ ਮਿਲਹਿ ਮੈ ਮਿਲਿਆ ਸੁਖੁ ਹੋਇ ॥ ਫਰੀਦਾ ਜੇ ਤੂ ਮੇਰਾ ਹੋਇ ਰਹਹਿ ਸਭੁ ਜਗੁ ਤੇਰਾ ਹੋਇ ॥੯੫॥: If you REFORM yourself then you will Realize Me (i.e. God), and when you Realize Me (i.e. God), you will rejoice in Spiritual Bliss. O Farid, (reforming yourself) if you become Mine then the entire world would become yours. ||95|| (sggs 1382).

Guru changes our bad habits.

• ਤਵ ਗੁਨ ਕਹਾ ਜਗਤ ਗੁਰਾ ਜਉ ਕਰਮੁ ਨ ਨਾਸੈ ॥ ਸਿੰਘ ਸਰਨ ਕਤ ਜਾਈਐ ਜਉ ਜੰਬੁਕੁ ਗ੍ਰਾਸੈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ : O Guru of the world, what is the use of coming to Your refuge, if (by taking refuse in your Wisdom) because of the effect of my misdeeds (bad habits, bad thoughts etc.), even if now I continue to do misdeeds. What is the benefit of sheltering a lion if one is going to eaten by a jackal anyway. ||1||Pause|| (sggs 858).

So, instead of expecting others to change, the Gurbani’s wisdom teaches focusing on being better than yourself — reform yourself, change yourself, mend your own mind, transform your own thinking, improve your own self, become an Enlightened being (Gurmukh Mindset).

• ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਹੋਇ ਸੁ ਭਉ ਕਰੇ ਆਪਣਾ ਆਪੁ ਪਛਾਣੈ ॥: One who becomes the Gurmukh (Enlightened Mindset) remains affrighted (of acting contrary to the Wisdom of the Shabad Guru), and realizes his own self (sggs 647).
• ਆਪੁ ਪਛਾਣੈ ਸੋ ਸਭਿ ਗੁਣ ਜਾਣੈ ॥: One who realizes his own self, knows all Virtues (sggs 1056).
• ਆਪੁ ਪਛਾਣੈ ਮਨੁ ਨਿਰਮਲੁ ਹੋਇ ॥: Who realizes own self, (his) mind becomes immaculate. (sggs 161).

Hence, the Gurbani’s edict is each one of us should recognize, know, or realize his own true self Within. Because, without knowing one’s true self Within, the moss of doubt cannot be eradicated from the mind; the Divine Virtues cannot be known; one cannot become fearless and realize his Mool (Source, Jot Saroop)….

• ਜਨ ਨਾਨਕ ਬਿਨੁ ਆਪਾ ਚੀਨੈ ਮਿਟੈ ਨ ਭ੍ਰਮ ਕੀ ਕਾਈ ॥੨॥੧॥: ‘Jan’ Nanak says, without KNOWING one’s ownself, the moss of doubt from the mind does not go away. ||2||1|| (sggs 684).
• ਆਪਾ ਪਦੁ ਨਿਰਬਾਣੁ ਨ ਚੀਨ੍ਹ੍ਹਿਆ ਇਨ ਬਿਧਿ ਅਭਿਉ ਨ ਚੂਕੇ ॥੨॥: Until one realizes the State of the self liberated from Mayaic existence, one’s spiritual emptiness does not end. ||2|| (sggs 475).

Called by many terms in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGS) such as ‘Manu Khoji – ਮਨੁ ਖੋਜਿ’, ‘Khoju Dil – ਖੋਜੁ ਦਿਲ’, ‘Aapaa Cheenai – ਆਪਾ ਚੀਨੈ’, ‘Aapu Vichaari – ਆਪੁ ਬੀਚਾਰਿ’ etc. it’s essentially constant ‘debugging‘ of oneself by internalizing the Message embedded in the Shabad.

The Gurbani teaches practical spirituality. Therefore, the Gurbani’s Counsel is dictated by the sound common sense.

For example, let’s consider this age old question as to why does man suffer?

One does not need to turn to this philosophy or that for an answer. Man suffers for he cannot and does not control his own mind. Bhagat Kabeer Ji reminds us that whatever is done, is done by the mind (‘ਜੋ ਕਿਛੁ ਕੀਆ ਸੋ ਮਨ ਕੀਆ’). A person who does not and cannot control his mind is known as Manmukh-Saakat-Mayadhaaree etc. in the Gurbani.

• ਮਨਮੁਖ ਮੂਲਹੁ ਭੁਲਿਆ ਵਿਚਿ ਲਬੁ ਲੋਭੁ ਅਹੰਕਾਰੁ ॥: The Manmukh (self-willed…) forget the Mool; for they are caught in greed, avarice, and pride (i.e., Bikaar). (sggs 316).
• ਸਾਕਤ ਨਿਰਗੁਣਿਆਰਿਆ ਆਪਣਾ ਮੂਲੁ ਪਛਾਣੁ ॥: O devoid of all virtues – ਗੁਣ-ਹੀਨ, Saakat – recognize your own Mool! (sggs 63).

In the darkness of ignorance (‘ਅਗਿਆਨੁ – Agiaan‘) we function with an arrogant sense of false ego-sense (Haumai) – the Manmukh lifestyle. Which runs away with our good judgement and sinks us in the ocean of suffering (Dukha).

• ਉਗਵੈ ਸੂਰੁ ਨ ਜਾਪੈ ਚੰਦੁ ॥ ਜਹ ਗਿਆਨ ਪ੍ਰਗਾਸੁ ਅਗਿਆਨੁ ਮਿਟੰਤੁ ॥: When the sun rises, the moon is not visible. Where the Light of Divine Wisdom illuminates, ignorance is dispelled. (sggs 791).

For the betterment of one’s own self, the Gurbani urges us to wage the battle of life moment to moment. Because, the human body with its physical and mental faculties is the battlefield. The Gurbani calls this human body the ‘field of action’ — the field (‘ਖੇਤ’, ‘ਧਰਤੀ’) on which all activities of one’s life take place.

• ਇਹੁ ਸਰੀਰੁ ਕਰਮ ਕੀ ਧਰਤੀ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਮਥਿ ਮਥਿ ਤਤੁ ਕਢਈਆ ॥ : This body is the field of actions; by becoming Gurmukh (Enlightened/Guru Shabad-Oriented beings), churn and modify these daily actions and obtain a higher spiritual life. (sggs 834).

As indicated in before, the process of recognizing one’s own self involves becoming a Gurmukh (Enlightened or Awakened Mindset, who thoroughly understands and lives the Wisdom of the Gurbani…). A person who has truly realized his own self is called a Gurmukh in the Gurbani. Upon realizing the Gurmukh-hood, the mind becomes fearless and leave the ‘Trikutee-ਤ੍ਰਿਕੁਟੀ’ and come to rest into the Heart (‘Hirdaa-ਹਿਰਦਾ’ or ‘Ghat-ਘਟ’ or ‘Dasavaa Duaaru-ਦਸਵਾ ਦੁਆਰੁ’).

• ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਜਾਗੈ ਸੋਈ ਸਾਰੁ : To be Awake as Gurmukh is the Essence (of Wakefulness). (sggs 1194).
• ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਇਹੁ ਮਨੁ ਭਗਤੀ ਜਾਗੇ ॥: United with Bhagti, the mind of the Gurmukh remains Awakened (sggs 415).

Hence, the Gurbani asks us to become the Gurmukh and look Within to know the true self to where there is no form-shape-color.

It’s clear what the Gurbani asks is difficult for ordinary mortals. But what’s the way out? None can get away for doing deeds he should not be doing.

• ਜੇਹਾ ਬੀਜੈ ਸੋ ਲੁਣੈ ਕਰਮਾ ਸੰਦੜਾ ਖੇਤੁ ॥: Life is the field of actions; I alone will reap all that I sow. (sggs 134).

In other words, it’s the same mind that can take one to his Mool within (Source, Jot…), and the same mind that can take one away from his Mool too! Fittingly, the Gurbani time and again addresses the mind.

According to the Gurbani, linking the mind back to one’s Mool (Jot Saroop) is the goal of human birth or purpose of life. The Gurbani repeatedly indicates this is realized through internalizing the spiritual Message embedded in the Shabad (SGGS), and then living daily life accordingly.

• ਜਿਨਿ ਆਤਮ ਤਤੁ ਨ ਚੀਨ੍‍ਆਿ ॥ ਸਭ ਫੋਕਟ ਧਰਮ ਅਬੀਨਿਆ ॥: Whoever does not Realize the Essence or Reality of the Soul (ਆਤਮਾ ਦੀ ਅਸਲੀਅਤ…), all his religious acts are of no value – worthless (sggs 1351).

According to the Gurbani, one can recognize own self through the Shabad-Vichaar. It cannot be made to an order or given to someone as a ready-made package or as a mundane gift! According to the Gurbani, each one of us must realize his Mool (Source, Jot …) himself:

• ਆਪਿ ਪਛਾਣੈ ਸਬਦੁ ਵੀਚਾਰਾ ॥: Realize own self through the Shabad-Vichaar (sggs 1040).

In a nutshell, the Gurbani wants it’s learners (i.e. Sikhs) to examine their own self and improve it — toe to top!

• ਬੰਧਚਿ ਬੰਧਨੁ ਪਾਇਆ ॥ ਮੁਕਤੈ ਗੁਰਿ ਅਨਲੁ ਬੁਝਾਇਆ ॥ ਜਬ ਨਖ ਸਿਖ ਇਹੁ ਮਨੁ ਚੀਨ੍ਹ੍ਹਾ ॥ ਤਬ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਮਜਨੁ ਕੀਨ੍ਹ੍ਹਾ ॥੧॥: (Maya) captivates. (However the Guru) got (that Maya) in captivity! The Guru, who is liberated himself, has quenched the fire (of Maya, i.e., has liberated me from Maya). When I came to understand this mind from the nails of toes to the top of head (i.e., when I understood my mind completely…), then I bathe within my self (i.e., I bathe in my Mool within…). ||1|| (sggs 972).

To call oneself better without improving the own self is nothing but ‘Kutiltaa‘ (crookedness, perversity etc.). Hence, the Gurbani edict is:

• ਸੋ ਮੂਰਖੁ ਜੋ ਆਪੁ ਨ ਪਛਾਣਈ ਸਚਿ ਨ ਧਰੇ ਪਿਆਰੁ ॥੪॥: A fool is the one, who does not understand ownself. (Such fool) cannot hold on the Truth. ||4|| (sggs 492).