We are Neither the Body nor the Mind

All forms are a result of the play of the five elements or Maya, including the human body. With the form of the body, false ego-sense appears. All human sufferings begin after this psychological construction called false ego-sense (Haumai) has arisen.

The Gurbani asserts that without understanding or knowing one’s own true self, his doubts (Bharam) will not leave him alone!

  • 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).

We are not the body

Simply put, false ego-sense means accepting this gross body as oneself.

The Gurbani Teaches us the body-consciousness or “I-am-the body” idea is erroneous – mistaken identity. This error arises out of love or attachment to gross body-frame, which is indicative of Haumai (false ego-sense), Bharam (doubts), Bikaar (lust, anger, greed, etc.), hunger for Maya (ਮਾਇਆ ਦੀ ਭੁੱਖ) …

Hence, body-consciousness is Maya-consciousness, for according to the Gurbani, the gross body is nothing but Maya!

  • ਇਹੁ ਸਰੀਰੁ ਮਾਇਆ ਕਾ ਪੁਤਲਾ ਵਿਚਿ ਹਉਮੈ ਦੁਸਟੀ ਪਾਈ ॥: This body is the puppet of Maya. The evil of egotism is within it (sggs 31).

Due to material conditionings, the consciousness mistakenly attaches itself to the body, and, in this body identity, it then works through innate tendencies, attributes, dispositions or Maya. In this ignorance, we take our physical body as the base point and see ourselves existing in time and space.

  • ਕਾਇਆ ਮਿਟੀ ਅੰਧੁ ਹੈ ਪਉਣੈ ਪੁਛਹੁ ਜਾਇ ॥: The body is (just) the blind dust (ignorant, inert in itself, etc.), go and ask the soul. (sggs 511).

Therefore, the Gurbani has painstakingly explained the need to understand the difference between one’s external body (“ਬਿਦੇਹੀ”-Bidehee; Pindaa-ਪਿੰਡਾ…), and one’s Soul that is Formless, Immortal, and Undying (“ਦੇਹੀ ਗੁਪਤ”-Gupat Dehee; Inner Kaaiaa, subtle body…). The external body has a temporary existence, and is visible to the physical eyes (“ਬਿਦੇਹੀ ਦੀਸੈ”). To the contrary, the Gupat Dehee or Kaaiaa (“ਦੇਹੀ ਗੁਪਤ”) cannot be seen with the physical eyes of the external body.

  • ਦੇਹੀ ਗੁਪਤ ਬਿਦੇਹੀ ਦੀਸੈ ॥: Dehee (ਦੇਹੀ – subtle body within) is hidden; Bidehee (ਬਿਦੇਹੀ – gross, external body) is seen (sggs 900).

Opposite of the body-consciousness is the Shabad-Consciousness (Shabad-Surti consciousness of the Divine Wisdom or Giaan).

  • ਜੈਸੇ ਜਲ ਮਹਿ ਕਮਲੁ ਨਿਰਾਲਮੁ ਮੁਰਗਾਈ ਨੈ ਸਾਣੇ ॥ ਸੁਰਤਿ ਸਬਦਿ ਭਵ ਸਾਗਰੁ ਤਰੀਐ ਨਾਨਕ ਨਾਮੁ ਵਖਾਣੇ ॥: The way to successful spirituality is to be detached from the world WHILE LIVING IN IT; just like the detachment of the Lotus from the stagnant water and the swan from the river water. O Nanak! The Journey of spirituality (i.e. to go across Bhav Saagar) is thus transversed in detachment by keeping the Message of the Shabad within our Consciousness in order to Realize / live the Virtues of God. (sggs 938).

We are even not the mind

The mind is a phantom! In fact, all religions exist because there exists this phantom called the mind.

The Spiritual Knowledge (Brahm-Giaan) of the Gurbani is meant to annihilate body-consciousness (Mayaic-mind, Haumai…) and jolt the mind into abiding in its Mool (Source, Origin, True Nature, Jot…).

But this will not happen until we gain insights into the disorder created by the conditioned thinking (Soch) of the conditioned orPardaesee” mind (strange, wandering, alien, outsider…).

  • ਮਨੁ ਪਰਦੇਸੀ ਜੇ ਥੀਐ ਸਭੁ ਦੇਸੁ ਪਰਾਇਆ ॥੭॥: If the mind becomes a stranger (to its Mool, within), then all the world becomes a stranger to him. ||7||(sggs 767).

The river is characterized as fast, turbulent, slow, calm, clean and muddy if the water in the river is fast, turbulent, slow, calm, clean and muddy, respectively. Similarly, the mind is said to be agitated, worried, anxious, stressful, vulgar, clean, pure and calm if the thoughts are agitated, worried, anxious, stressful, vulgar, clean, pure and calm, respectively.

Just as a drunkard person sees objects moving, the ignorant one sees movement in this world and sees diversity in the unity. Thus, the mind is able to veil the All pervading, Infinite Consciousness and confound it with the inert physical body-frame. Once so confounded with the limited body consciousness, the Soul can no longer express its omnipresence, omniscience, and omnipotence.

  • ਮਾਇਆ ਡੋਲੈ ਬਹੁ ਬਿਧੀ ਮਨੁ ਲਪਟਿਓ ਤਿਹ ਸੰਗ ॥: Maya wavers many ways, the mind clings to this (Maya, also wavers many ways). (sggs 258).

So, the Gurbani asks to Inquire into this mind (“Khoj-ਖੋਜ” = search, investigation, inquiry…). Upon investigation, we will realize that the mind happens to us, we don’t happen to the mind!:

  • ਇਸੁ ਮਨ ਕਉ ਕੋਈ ਖੋਜਹੁ ਭਾਈ ॥ … ਇਸੁ ਮਨ ਕਉ ਨਹੀ ਆਵਨ ਜਾਨਾ ॥ ਜਿਸ ਕਾ ਭਰਮੁ ਗਇਆ ਤਿਨਿ ਸਾਚੁ ਪਛਾਨਾ ॥੬॥ ਇਸੁ ਮਨ ਕਉ ਰੂਪੁ ਨ ਰੇਖਿਆ ਕਾਈ ॥ ਹੁਕਮੇ ਹੋਇਆ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਬੂਝਿ ਸਮਾਈ ॥੭॥ ..: O brother, someone should search own mind (try to explore his/her own mind). … The mind (soul) of that person is NOT cast in cycle of birth and death (NOT after physical death, BUT Here and Now). A person whose doubt has been dispelled has realized God. ||6|| This mind (soul) has no form or feature. It happens in Hukam (Universal System-Rule-Law of Nature, ਕੁਦਰਤੀ ਨਿਯਮ) and after understanding Hukam, it merges back into Hukam. ||7|| …. (sggs 330).

The mind’s True Nature

The SGGS reminds the mind of its True Nature — ‘Jot Saroop’.

The Gurbani asserts that the One ‘Jot’ is the True Base (Adhaar) or Substratum of all. As ocean is the base of the wave, similarly, the This One Reality is the Substratum of our ego-consciousness and all subsequent manifestations. Ocean is the metaphor for the one’s True Self, and the wave is the metaphor for the false ego-sense arising on the True Self. Our body is the food for this false ego-sense without which the manifestation or Maya is not present. When the wave subsides, only ocean remains, which was there before the wave. Similarly, when the false “I” consciousness subsides, only the ‘Jot Saroop’ remains, which was present prior to the appearance of the physical body or the rise of the false ego-sense (Haumai).

  • ਜੋਤਿ ਜੀਅ ਅਸੰਖ ਦੇਇ ਅਧਾਰੁ ॥੫॥: ‘Jot’ is the Base (Substratum, Support…) of innumerable beings. ||5|| (sggs 1190).

Simply put, the mind is the separation from its Mool. Wider the gap of this separation, denser the mind — thicker the Haumai or false ego-sense. Hence, the mind happens to us, we don’t happen to the mind!

However, instead, the Gurbani says the mortal thinks himself as ego-center (Haumai). That is, the majority of us mistakenly confound our Mool with the body-mind-intellect personality. The fire of this ego-center (lust, anger, greed, attachment, pride, stubbornness, enviousness, etc.) burns within and keeps our doubt-ridden mind separated from its Mool (Source…).

  • ਕਬੀਰ ਪਰਦੇਸੀ ਕੈ ਘਾਘਰੈ ਚਹੁ ਦਿਸਿ ਲਾਗੀ ਆਗਿ ॥: O Kabeer! The kilt (of sense-organs) of this alien (i.e., mind-“ਮਨੁ ਪਰਦੇਸੀ”) has caught fire on all four sides (i.e., fire of Bikaar – lust, anger, greed, etc.). (sggs 1366).

Immediate knowledge of mind’s True Nature — ‘Jot Saroop-ਜੋਤਿ ਸਰੂਪੁ’

Jot’ simply means Light. The word ‘Saroop’ is made of two words, namely ‘Sa‘ or ‘Sva‘ and ‘Roop’. The first part ‘Sva‘ means ‘your own’, and the second part ‘Roop’ means ‘true state, true embodiment’ etc. The SGGS asserts we are That ‘Jot-Saroop’ — the true state of the mind prior to the movement of the false ego-sense (Haumai).

As indicated in the Gurbani, the steps for realizing one’s Jot Saroop entail eradicating the false ego-sense, renouncing the crooked ways of the objective world, and transcending the three Gunas of Maya. To accomplish this task, the conviction that we are the Jot-Saroop’ and not the physical body is must.

To that end, the Gur-Shabad is the indispensable aid. For the Gur-Shabad is like ice (‘ਹਿਵ ਸੀਤਲੁ ਸਬਦੁ’) that cools the mind with Aatam-Giaan (Gurmat, Teaching of the Gurbani, Wisdom or Divine Knowledge of the Gurbani…).

  • ਅੰਤਰਿ ਅਗਨਿ ਸਬਲ ਅਤਿ ਬਿਖਿਆ ਹਿਵ ਸੀਤਲੁ ਸਬਦੁ ਗੁਰ ਦੀਜੈ ॥: The powerful fire of Maya (desires, Bikaars…) is raging greatly within (Jeeva-individual beings); (O Raam!) Give (me) the ice-cold Gur-Shabad (so that the raging fire of Maya may be quenched). (sggs 1325).

The mind that dies in the Shabad (Shabad-Vichaar) gains the Divine Wisdom, which makes the mind stable (‘ਨਿਹਚਲੁ’) and helps transcend Maya and recognize the Truth. The Shabad-Vichaar insures Jeeva’s constant ‘Vigaas-ਵਿਗਾਸੁ’ (growth of Aatam-Giaan, Divine Knowledge, Inner Blossoming …).

  • ਜਿਉ ਮੰਦਰ ਕਉ ਥਾਮੈ ਥੰਮਨੁ ॥ ਤਿਉ ਗੁਰ ਕਾ ਸਬਦੁ ਮਨਹਿ ਅਸਥੰਮਨੁ ॥: As a pillar supports a building, similarly, the Gur-Shabad is the mind’s support. (sggs 282).

Because — according to the Gurbani — it’s only the Divine Knowledge (Aatam-Giaan, Spiritual Wisdom…) that can stabilize the doubt-ridden mind. In nutshell, without Shabad-Vichaar, true understanding of the Spiritual Wisdom of the Gurmat cannot be realized and the mind cannot be annihilated (conquered …).

  • ਮਨ ਸਮਝਾਵਨ ਕਾਰਨੇ ਕਛੂਅਕ ਪੜੀਐ ਗਿਆਨ ॥੫॥: To instruct the mind one ought to study Knowledge to some extent. ||5|| (sggs 340).

Hence, the Gurbani urges us to go beyond Maya or body-consciousness (‘Basai Thaani Oochai-ਬਸੈ ਥਾਨਿ ਊਚੈ’) by inculcating the outgoing mind (‘ਮਨ ਸਮਝਾਵਨ’) with the Wisdom or Bibek-Budh of the Gurbani obtained through its constant churning (Shabad-Vichaar). Because, according to the Gurbani, the mind can only be annihilated by Spiritual Wisdom of the Gur-Shabad (‘ਗਿਆਨ ਕਾ ਬਧਾ ਮਨੁ ਰਹੈ’).

In nutshell, the Gurbani reminds the fickle mind of its True or Original Nature — ‘ਜੋਤਿ ਸਰੂਪੁ’

Therefore, if we have to think, the Gurbani teaches us to think “I am ‘Jot Saroop’- (Unconditioned Consciousness, Pure  Awareness …).

The SGGS provides us with the immediate Knowledge (Aatam-Giaan) of that which already exists — ‘Jot Svroop’. This Divine Knowledge is the only means of realizing the Mool!

  • ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਗਿਆਨੀ ਕਾ ਭੋਜਨੁ ਗਿਆਨ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਗਿਆਨੀ ਕਾ ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਧਿਆਨੁ ॥੩॥: Spiritual Wisdom (ਉੱਚੀ ਸਮਝ, etc.) is the food or nourishment of the Brahm Giyani – the knower of Truth. Nanak, the Brahm Giyani is absorbed in God’s meditation. ||3|| (sggs 273).

The nature of the Gurmukh (Bhagat, Daas, Jan, Brahm-Giaanee, Jeevanmukta...) is the Nature of Aatmaa (‘Jot Saroop’…) or Pure Awareness and there are no external features by which such an individual can be identified. Only such Gursikhs (learners of the Wisdom of the SGGS) solve the Riddle!

Clearly, since the SGGS is the Giaan-Guru, the Way of the Gurbani is the Way of the Divine Wisdom or Giaan realized through proper Understanding. Because, as the Gurbani indicates, one is sure to get plundered due to lack of  Wisdom (Giaan Ratan)!

  • ਗਿਆਨ ਵਿਹੂਣਾ ਕਿਛੂ ਨ ਸੂਝੈ ॥: Without Spiritual Wisdom, (one) understands nothing at all (sggs 1044).

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  1. SUBH VATH JOTi TEREE……………….SGGS JEE
    Everything is a WAVE only. This is also the conclusion of Sir Einstien

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