Understanding Truth

The Search of Truth = (ਸਚ ਦੀ ਖੋਜ – Sach Dee Khoj) => Shabad-Vichaar => Understanding of Truth – true Understanding of the Gurbani (beyond its literal or worldly meanings: ਅਖਰੀ ਅਰਥਾਂ ਤੋਂ ਅੱਗੇ)…

Intellectual acceptance of the Infinite Glory of the Gur-Shabad is fine; but it has to be Realized as the very Truth in one’s Inner Awareness. This insures Jeeva’s constant “Vigaasu-ਵਿਗਾਸੁ” (growth of Aatam-Giaan, Divine Knowledge, Inner Blossoming, ਅੰਦਰਲਾ ਖੇੜਾ, ਪ੍ਰਸੰਨਤਾ, ਅਨੰਦ, ਗਿਆਨ ਦਾ ਪ੍ਰਕਾਸ / ਚਾਨਣਾ…) that can lead to Mukti (Liberation from: bondage, doubts, fears, ignorance…).

• ਗਿਆਨੀਆ ਅੰਦਰਿ ਗੁਰ ਸਬਦੁ ਹੈ ਨਿਤ ਹਰਿ ਲਿਵ ਸਦਾ ਵਿਗਾਸੁ ॥: Giaaneeaa andari gur sabadu hai nit hari liv sadaa vigaasu (sggs 1415).

In other words, if, after reading / listening the Gurbani, no Giaan (Divine Knowledge, Spiritual Wisdom, ਗੁਰਬਾਣੀ ਦੇ ਅਸਲੀ ਅਰਥਾਂ ਦੀ ਸੂਝ-ਬੂਝ…) wells up within, then we will remain devoid of the Spiritual Benefit of it (ਆਤਮਿਕ ਲਾਹਾ). According to the Gurbani (mind you: the Gurbani uses very strong words!), a person who does not utilize listening/reading to attain Giaan is like an animal (“ਪਸੁ ਜਿਉ”); like loading a donkey with sandalwood (“ਖਰ ਚੰਦਨ ਜਸ ਭਾਰਾ”); etc. That is, this person carries the burden of listening/reading the Gurbani for no avail. The Gurbani alerts us about such dry, ritualistic, robotic, or mechanical listening/reading of the Gurbani as follows:

• ਗੁਰਮਤਿ ਸੁਨਿ ਕਛੁ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਨ ਉਪਜਿਓ ਪਸੁ ਜਿਉ ਉਦਰੁ ਭਰਉ ॥: Gurmati suni kashu giaanu n upjio pasu jiou udaru bharaou (sggs 685).
• ਬਿਨੁ ਬੂਝੇ ਪਸੂ ਭਏ ਬੇਤਾਲੇ ॥੬॥: Binu boojhai pasoo bhaye betaale ||6|| (sggs 224).
• ਬੇਦ ਪੁਰਾਨ ਪੜੇ ਕਾ ਕਿਆ ਗੁਨੁ ਖਰ ਚੰਦਨ ਜਸ ਭਾਰਾ ॥: Bed puraan parre kaa kiaa gunu khar chandan jas bhaaraa (sggs 1102).
• ਪੜਿਐ ਨਾਹੀ ਭੇਦੁ ਬੁਝਿਐ ਪਾਵਣਾ ॥ ਖਟੁ ਦਰਸਨ ਕੈ ਭੇਖਿ ਕਿਸੈ ਸਚਿ ਸਮਾਵਣਾ ॥ ਸਚਾ ਪੁਰਖੁ ਅਲਖੁ ਸਬਦਿ ਸੁਹਾਵਣਾ ॥ : Not by just reading (scriptures), but it is through spiritual Wisdom one Understands this fact (that God is infinite). No one can merge in the eternal God by merely adopting the garbs mentioned in the six Shastras (the Hindu holy books). The eternal God is unfathomable, but revealed through the Guru’s Shabad, He (i.e. Creation, Hukam) looks beautiful. (sggs 148).
• ਕਿਆ ਪੜੀਐ ਕਿਆ ਗੁਨੀਐ ॥ ਕਿਆ ਬੇਦ ਪੁਰਾਨਾਂ ਸੁਨੀਐ ॥ ਪੜੇ ਸੁਨੇ ਕਿਆ ਹੋਈ ॥ ਜਉ ਸਹਜ ਨ ਮਿਲਿਓ ਸੋਈ ॥੧॥: What use is it to read, and what use is it to study (Vichaar, reflecting)? What use is it to listen to the Vedas and Puraans? What use is reading and listening, if Sahaj (Natural State of Being, Giyan-Wisdom Avasthaa, State of Enlightened Conscience, Bliss etc.) is not realized therewith (i.e. Sahaj will come only with practice or implementation of what has been heard, listened and reflected upon) ||1|| (sggs 655).
• ਪੜਿਐ ਮੈਲੁ ਨ ਉਤਰੈ ਪੂਛਹੁ ਗਿਆਨੀਆ ਜਾਇ ॥੧॥: Prriai mailu n outarai puchhahu giaaneea jaai ||1|| (sggs 39).

Reason the Gurbani has used tuff words is that 1) the Gurbani is meant to be thoroughly understood through the sincere Shabad-Vichaar, 2) and then lived.

• ਏਨਾ ਅਖਰਾ ਮਹਿ ਜੋ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਬੂਝੈ ਤਿਸੁ ਸਿਰਿ ਲੇਖੁ ਨ ਹੋਈ ॥੨॥: Enaa akharaa mahi jo gurmukhi boojhai tisu siri lekhu n hoee ||2|| (sggs 432).

Each Jeeva (individual being) is at some stage of realization. This realization deepens with the Grace of the Gur-Giaan (Gurmat, Aatam-Giaan …) obtained from the true Understanding (ਸੂਝ-ਬੂਝ) of the Gurbani through the Shabad-Vichaar. The Shabad-Vichaar uplifts us and takes us closer to our Mool (ਮੂਲ, Source, Origin …).

• ਜਿਨ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਖੋਜਿ ਢੰਢੋਲਿਆ ਤਿਨ ਅੰਦਰਹੁ ਹੀ ਸਚੁ ਲਾਧਿਆ ॥: Jin Gurmukhi khoji dhandholiaa tin anadarahu hii sachu laadhiaa (sggs 313).

The Gurbani is capable of causing Spiritual Awakening within – Realizing the profound Truth (ਸਚ) of our Mool (ਮੂਲ, Source, Origin …). This Experience is attainable only through slaughtering the duality, Dubidhaa, or Doojaa-Bhaav. This slaughtering of the duality has to done slowly, slowly (“ਕੁਠਾ” or as in Halaal-ਹਲਾਲ ਕਰਕੇ: slaughtering of the duality bit by bit-“ਭਾਉ ਦੁਯਾ ਕੁਠਾ”…).

• ਇਕੁ ਨਿਰੰਜਨੁ ਰਵਿ ਰਹਿਆ ਭਾਉ ਦੁਯਾ ਕੁਠਾ ॥: Iku niranjanu ravi rahiaa bhaaou duya kuthaa (sggs 321).
• ਮਪਿ ਮਪਿ ਕਾਟਉ ਜਮ ਕੀ ਫਾਸੀ ॥੧॥: Mapi mapi kaato jam kee phaasee (sggs 485).

However, when we are engaged in our mundane routine activity, search (ਖੋਜ) and Shabad-Vichaar become much difficult.

The Gurbani speaks at the level of the Aatam-Giaan (Divine Knowledge). Thus, it deals with the Transcendental aspect of life. The Gurbani plunges us into the task of questioning our very existence and guide us in exploring this mystery through analogies and symbols since this truth is beyond the limited human thought and reason and is in the realm of Inner Experience (ਅਨੁਭਵ).

• ਖੋਜ ਬੂਝਿ ਜਉ ਕਰੈ ਬੀਚਾਰਾ ॥ ਤਉ ਭਵਜਲ ਤਰਤ ਨ ਲਾਵੈ ਬਾਰਾ ॥੪੦॥: Khoj boojhi jaou kare beechaaraa. Taou bhavjal tarat n laavai baaraa ||40|| (sggs 342).

The more one dives into the Shabad-Vichaar (Reflections on the Gurbani), the more one will benefit (or reap the Giaan-Dhann: “”Butter”) from it. It’s like churning the milk to extract or separate butter from the milk!

• ਨਾਨਕ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਮਥਿ ਤਤੁ ਕਢੀਏ ॥੪॥੫॥੫੭॥: Nanak Gurmukhi mathi tatu kadheee ||4||5||57|| (sggs 367).
• ਸੰਤਹੁ ਮਾਖਨੁ ਖਾਇਆ ਛਾਛਿ ਪੀਐ ਸੰਸਾਰੁ ॥੧੮॥: Santahu maakhanu khaaiaa chhaachhi peeai sansaaru ||18|| (sggs 1365).

The Gurbani time and again reminds us that one does not have to search the external world of names and forms for Truth (ਮੂਲ, Mool, Source, Origin …). Because we can Realize our Mool (ਮੂਲ) inside of us, here and now, without going elsewhere.

• ਸਭ ਕਿਛੁ ਘਰ ਮਹਿ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਨਾਹੀ ॥ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਟੋਲੈ ਸੋ ਭਰਮਿ ਭੁਲਾਹੀ ॥ ਗੁਰ ਪਰਸਾਦੀ ਜਿਨੀ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਪਾਇਆ ਸੋ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਸੁਹੇਲਾ ਜੀਉ ॥੧॥ : (The Creator, Divine Virtues, Spiritual tranquility, Naam, Shabad, Amrit…) all is WITHIN, not outside. The one who searches outside wanders in delusion. By ‘Gur Parasaadee’ (i.e. by the Grace of the Guru’s Giyan-Wisdom), those who have Realized WITHIN are at peace in mind/thoughts and outside dealing with the world. ||1|| (sggs 102).
• ਬਾਹਰੁ ਖੋਜਿ ਮੁਏ ਸਭਿ ਸਾਕਤ ਹਰਿ ਗੁਰਮਤੀ ਘਰਿ ਪਾਇਆ ॥੩॥: Baaharu khoji mue sabhi saakat hari gurmatee ghari paaiaa (sggs 1191).

Clearly, Truth (ਸਚ) cannot be discovered through research in the universities or laboratories. It has to be experienced within. Also, it cannot be given to someone wrapped as a mundane gift, as a ready-made mundane package, or made to an order! Because the Truth is beyond the physical senses (eyes, etc.), but the Shabad-Vichaar.

• ਏਨੀ ਅਖੀ ਨਦਰਿ ਨ ਆਵਈ ਜਿਚਰੁ ਸਬਦਿ ਨ ਕਰੇ ਬੀਚਾਰੁ ॥: Enee akhee nadari n aavaee jicharu sabadi n kare beechaaru (sggs 1279).

The Gurbani indicates to us that he who drives out his doubts, ignorance, Bikaars (lust, anger, greed, attachments…) from within through the Shabad-Vichaar can realize his Mool (ਮੂਲ-Source, Origin…) easily.

• ਗੁਰ ਕਾ ਸਿਖੁ ਬਿਕਾਰ ਤੇ ਹਾਟੈ ॥: Gur kaa Sikhu bikaar te haatai (sggs 286).