What is Killing the Mind

The Gurmat Wisdom of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS) tells us that it is the man’s mind that is responsible for his problems or suffering. Also, it is the mind that can liberate him from bondage.

This is why it is said that one’s mind can be his best friend, and the same time it can be one’s worse enemy too! It is the cause of bondage and the resulting sorrows, and it is also the cause of Freedom (Mukti). Clearly, the mind is powerful and wonderful instrument. In other words, if utilized properly the same mind can take one closer to his True Nature as Jot Saroop, and the same mind if utilized improperly can dump one in a mire of worldliness!

The mind is one and the same, it all depends on how we chose to conduct and channel it. The freedom of choice is in our hands. We also have the liberty to chose lots of excuses for not channeling or guiding it in the right direction.

Since the mind can liberate us from bondage and suffering, You don’t want to kill the mind. If you kill the mind, then what is left behind with you? A person cannot live without the mind. The mind will be necessary to achieve understanding (Soojh-Boojh, Wisdom), Gurmukh-Hood, Mool-abidance, becoming living dead, meeting responsibilities and duties, transacting with the outside world, etc.

Then what is it that need to be killed? When the Gurbani says ‘kill’ the mind, what exactly does the Gurbani mean by it?

In short, the question is not ‘how’ the mind is ‘killed’ or quietened or how it can abide in its Mool or Jot Saroop but ‘what’ is the mind which causes man so many problems. If such an inquiry is conducted properly and thoroughly through Wisdom or Bibek-Budh the mind itself disappears. When the mind itself disappears where is the need to ‘kill’ it?

Two aspects of the mind?

First off, we need to know what the mind is before we can kill it. Without knowing a thing, how can anyone work on it? The Gurbani teaches that one can continuously keep something in his focus (ਧਿਆਨ) only if he has knowledge of it (ਜਾਣ ਕੇ/ਸਮਝ ਕੇ – ‘ਜਾਨਿ ਭਜਹਿ’). In other words, the Gurbani teaches we must know what we are trying to accomplish or contemplate on. Otherwise we are sure to be disappointed in the end!

• ਜੋ ਜਨ ਜਾਨਿ ਭਜਹਿ ਅਬਿਗਤ ਕਉ ਤਿਨ ਕਾ ਕਛੂ ਨ ਨਾਸਾ ॥: Those ‘Jan’ (Daas, Bhagat, Gurmukh…) who remember the Invisible (Prabhoo) with the Knowledge (ਸੂਝ-ਬੂਝ…) are not ruined at all (i.e., their life is not wasted). (sggs 793).

The mind has two aspects. At present, it is divided, fragmented or split by duality (Doojaa Bhaav, a dual existence, two-ness, ਦੁਚਿੱਤੀ-ਦੋ ਮੱਨ, Dubidhaa…) like two pieces of Daal (ਦਾਲ – split seed of lintel).

• ਪਰਪੰਚਿ ਵਿਆਪਿ ਰਹਿਆ ਮਨੁ ਦੋਇ ॥: The mind is engrossed in ‘Parpanch’ and duality (sggs 153).
• 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) sprout in their mind?The seed sprouts only if the seed is whole (undivided-Saabat…) and if the season is proper (the seed of Naam will sprout only if the mind is not split in duality: Unfragmented, Whole-Saabat…). (sggs 468).

ONE ASPECT that recognizes objects as they are — perceived by the senses, remembers, experiences understands etc. By the restrain of the mind, this aspect of the mind is not killed, destroyed or annihilated. Hence there is no reason to fear the killing or destruction of the mind. This aspect of the mind functions till the objects are perceived and known. This aspect of the mind does not cause any problems to us. In fact it aids our life. In short, this aspect of the mind — untainted by Maya (‘ਅੰਤਰਿ ਬਸੇ’) or likes and dislikes etc. — remains stable (‘ਅਡੋਲੁ’), within.

• ਸਭ ਕੈ ਮਧਿ ਸਗਲ ਤੇ ਉਦਾਸ ॥: Remain in the midst of all, and yet detached from all (sggs 296).
• ਆਪਿ ਅਡੋਲੁ ਨ ਕਬਹੂ ਡੋਲੈ ॥: Aapi adolu n kabahoo dolai (sggs 294).

The SECOND ASPECT broods over the perceived objects, creating feelings of likes, dislikes, desires (Trishanaa), etc. For example, once a desire arises, man finds no peace till it is fulfilled. All this because man feels that he gains happiness from objects. Therefore, the gain and loss of objects become a source of joy and sorrow. In short, this aspect of the mind — attached to delusive Maya, likes and dislikes, etc. — remains ‘without’ or ‘outside’ (‘ਬਾਹਰਿ’ – delusion, duality or ‘Dubidhaa’…), disturbed and restless, agitated, wandering, etc. (‘ਲਹਰੀ ਵਿਚਿ’). It is this aspect of the mind that needs to be ‘killed’.

• ਭੂਲਿਓ ਮਨੁ ਮਾਇਆ ਉਰਝਾਇਓ ॥: The mind that has forgotten (right way of life) remains entangled in the attachment of Maya.  (sggs 702).
• ਜਿਚਰੁ ਇਹੁ ਮਨੁ ਲਹਰੀ ਵਿਚਿ ਹੈ ਹਉਮੈ ਬਹੁਤੁ ਅਹੰਕਾਰੁ ॥: As long as this mind is tossing around in waves (of Maya), so long there is a lot of ego and pride. (sggs 1247).

The Gurbani refers to the real nature of our Mool (Source, Jot…) as immortal and as the essence of Consciousness-Knowledge-Bliss. The Haumai mind that dwells ‘without’ (‘ਬਾਹਰਿ’ – delusion, duality or ‘Dubiadhaa’…) in Maya has rebelled against its Mool or its True Nature as Jot Saroop.

It’s the mind’s brooding aspect that gets annihilated

Thus, in nutshell, the external mind is nothing but Mayaic thoughts-stuff (imaginations, fancies, bloated egotism, Trishanaa, ਫੁਰਨੇ, ਬਾਹਰਲਾ ਧਿਆਨ…).

Baabaa Nanak time and again reminds this rebellious mind to go within and realize its Jot Saroop — its real Substratum.

An illusion cannot exist without a substratum (Aadhaar: Support). An experience of the mind is only due to the non-apprehension of its real Substratum would remove the illusion called the mind.

Simply put, to kill the mind is to remove delusion, duality or ‘Dubidhaa’ by understanding the Truth by churning the Gurbani through Shabad-Vichaar; it’s to make the mind shed its coloring of Maya-nature and dye it in the color of Naam (Wisdom, Virtues, etc.), etc.

• ਸੋ ਮੁਨਿ ਜਿ ਮਨ ਕੀ ਦੁਬਿਧਾ ਮਾਰੇ ॥: He alone is the silent sage, who kills his mind’s duality (or ‘Dubidhaa’…). (sggs 1128).
• ਹਰਿ ਕਾ ਨਾਮੁ ਮਨਹਿ ਆਧਾਰੁ ॥੧॥: The divine Naam (Wisdom…) is the Support of the mind. ||1|| (sggs 394).

Yet, to put it in simple Punjabi: ਮੰਨ ਮਾਰਨਾ => ਮੰਨ ਨੂੰ ਸੁਧਾਰਨਾ; ਹਉਮੈ ਵਾਲੀ ਸੁਰਤ ਜਾ ਹੰਕਾਰ ਵਾਲੀ ਸੁਰਤ ਜੋ ਮਨ ਵਿਚ ਹੁੰਦੀ ਹੈ ਉਸ ਨੂੰ ਮਾਰਨਾ; ਮੰਨ ਨਾਲ ਲੜਾਈ, ਮੰਨ ਨੂੰ ਸਮਝਾਣਾਂ ਜਾ ਬੁਧੀ ਦਾ ਕਾਲੇ ਮੰਨ ਨੂੰ ਸਾਧਣਾਂ, ਜਿਹੜਾ ਅੱਧਾ ਅਸਾਧ ਮੰਨ ਬਾਹਰ ਹੈ ਇਸ ਦਾ ਸੋਝੀ ਜਾ ਗਿਆਨ ਨਾਲ ‘ਊਜਲ’ ਹੋਣਾਂ (ਅਰਥਾਤ ਮੰਨ ਨੂੰ ਸਮਝਣਾਂ ਹੀ ਇਸ ਨੂੰ ਸਾਧਣਾਂ ਹੈ)…

• ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਆਪਣਾ ਮਨੁ ਮਾਰਿਆ ਸਬਦਿ ਕਸਵਟੀ ਲਾਇ ॥ ਮਨ ਹੀ ਨਾਲਿ ਝਗੜਾ ਮਨ ਹੀ ਨਾਲਿ ਸਥ ਮਨ ਹੀ ਮੰਝਿ ਸਮਾਇ ॥ : By becoming the Gurmukh, applying the Touchstone of the Shabad (Wisdom, Naam, Upadesh…), the Gurmukh kills his mind (conquers his mind by annihilating false ego-sense, its attachment to Maya etc.). He fights with his own mind (to give up its evil inclinations or Bikaar and when they are given up), he settles with his mind (on how to lead life by Naam and then) remains absorbed in the mind itself (i.e. keeps other ideas away and leads life by Naam). (sggs 87).

Now perhaps it’s more clear as to when the mind is killed, what is it that gets killed or what is it that needs to be killed.

Also, now perhaps it’s more clear as to when we hear expressions like ‘control the mind’, ‘annihilate the mind’, or ‘destroy the mind’, etc., what is it that needs to be, conquered, controlled, annihilated, destroyed or quieted.

The Gurbani further simplifies it for us:

• ਪਉਣੈ ਪਾਣੀ ਅਗਨੀ ਕਾ ਮੇਲੁ ॥ ਚੰਚਲ ਚਪਲ ਬੁਧਿ ਕਾ ਖੇਲੁ ॥ ਨਉ ਦਰਵਾਜੇ ਦਸਵਾ ਦੁਆਰੁ ॥ ਬੁਝੁ ਰੇ ਗਿਆਨੀ ਏਹੁ ਬੀਚਾਰੁ ॥੧॥ ਕਥਤਾ ਬਕਤਾ ਸੁਨਤਾ ਸੋਈ ॥ ਆਪੁ ਬੀਚਾਰੇ ਸੁ ਗਿਆਨੀ ਹੋਈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ॥ ਦੇਹੀ ਮਾਟੀ ਬੋਲੈ ਪਉਣੁ ॥ ਬੁਝੁ ਰੇ ਗਿਆਨੀ ਮੂਆ ਹੈ ਕਉਣੁ ॥ ਮੂਈ ਸੁਰਤਿ ਬਾਦੁ ਅਹੰਕਾਰੁ ॥ ਓਹੁ ਨ ਮੂਆ ਜੋ ਦੇਖਣਹਾਰੁ ॥੨॥ ਜੈ ਕਾਰਣਿ ਤਟਿ ਤੀਰਥ ਜਾਹੀ ॥ ਰਤਨ ਪਦਾਰਥ ਘਟ ਹੀ ਮਾਹੀ ॥ ਪੜਿ ਪੜਿ ਪੰਡਿਤੁ ਬਾਦੁ ਵਖਾਣੈ ॥ ਭਤਿਰਿ ਹੋਦੀ ਵਸਤੁ ਨ ਜਾਣੈ ॥੩॥ ਹਉ ਨ ਮੂਆ ਮੇਰੀ ਮੁਈ ਬਲਾਇ ॥ ਓਹੁ ਨ ਮੂਆ ਜੋ ਰਹਿਆ ਸਮਾਇ ॥ ਕਹੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਗੁਰਿ ਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਦਿਖਾਇਆ ॥ ਮਰਤਾ ਜਾਤਾ ਨਦਰਿ ਨ ਆਇਆ ॥੪॥੪॥ : (O wise man! From the Guru‘s teachings) Understand that when water, air and fire (elements) merge (then this body is formed, and in it) a play of restless intellect starts. All the nine doors (of the body: nose eyes, ears, etc., are involved in this rat-race), it’s only the mind (through which the knowledge of the spiritual life can be obtained. O wise man! Understand  (that when a human being attains the Sangat of the Guru, only false ego-sense – ਆਪਾ ਭਾਵ – dies from within the human being) ||1|| The human being who (according to the Guru’s teachings) keeps on examining his spiritual life, becomes a human being with spiritual Wisdom. (He understands) that (the One Universal Energy alone pervades all beings) is the speaker and listener. ||1||Pause|| The breath continues to flow in this body made of elements like earth etc. O wise man! Understand who has died. (Meeting the Guru) the attraction (towards Maya) dies inside the human being, the strife (of the mind for the sake of Maya) and the egotism dies. But that seer does not die. ||2|| For the sake of this (Naam Ratan or Jewel…), you journey to the banks of sacred shrines (i.e., places of pilgrimage); but this Jewel (of Naam) is within you. The Pandit reads (Vedas…) and engages in debate (etc.), but (he) does not understand the (Real) thing which is within. ||3|| I understand that (when my body dies) it is not that I have died, but it is my demon (who does NOT reflects upon his own self) which has died. The Omnipresent Creator (the One Universal Energy, Hukam, Natural elements…) never dies. Nanak, the Guru (Giaan-Wisdom) has made me to see Brahm (the Universal Energy, Hukam or System-Rule-Law of Nature…). Now I understand that the Omnipresent Creator does not die and take birth. ||4||4|| (sggs 152).

Thus when the conditioned consciousness (lower state or deluded consciousness) dies, the Unconditioned Consciousness (Higher State or Consciousness) within Awakens!

• ਅਰਧਹ ਛਾਡਿ ਉਰਧ ਜਉ ਆਵਾ ॥ ਤਉ ਅਰਧਹਿ ਉਰਧ ਮਿਲਿਆ ਸੁਖ ਪਾਵਾ ॥੨੫॥: When a being leaves the lower state or consciousness (i.e, attachment to Maya) and reaches the Higher State or Consciousness, then the mortal unites (with his Mool), and obtains Happiness. (sggs 341).
• ਹਉਮੈ ਰੋਗੁ ਗਇਆ ਦੁਖੁ ਲਾਥਾ ਆਪੁ ਆਪੈ ਗੁਰਮਤਿ ਖਾਧਾ ॥: Through the Gurmat (Wisdom of the SGGS), the sickness of my egotism (Haumai) has been dispelled, and my pain (of egotism) is over and done; (the Wisdom or Giaan) of my (True) Identity has consumed my identical identity (i.e., false identity or ਆਪਾ-ਭਾਵ). (sggs 78).

Remove mind with mind

The idea behind killing the mind is to merge the tainted consciousness with the Untainted Consciousness of the Mool (Source, Jot...) within. Simply put: It’s the self mending the self!

In essence the Gurbani is urging us to remove the mind with the mind. Sounds like a paradox. But it’s not.

• ਨਾਨਕ ਮਨ ਹੀ ਤੇ ਮਨੁ ਮਾਨਿਆ ਨਾ ਕਿਛੁ ਮਰੈ ਨ ਜਾਇ ॥: O Nanak, through the (Higher) Mind, the (lower) mind is satisfied, and then, nothing comes or goes (sggs 514).
• ਮਾਣਕੁ ਮਨ ਮਹਿ ਮਨੁ ਮਾਰਸੀ ਸਚਿ ਨ ਲਾਗੈ ਕਤੁ ॥: The Divine Jewel (of Wisdom) within the (Higher) Mind annihilates the (lower) mind; thus attached to the Truth, it does not wander deluded again (sggs 992).

Why do we need to kill the deluded aspect of the mind that happens to us? The Gurbani tells us that without killing the duality stricken mind (Dubidhaa), it is NOT POSSIBLE to realize: (1) Bhagti (understanding of Gurmat), (2) Transcending Maya’s attachment or bondage, and (3) Hari (becoming One with Rabb, abidance in Mool-Jot Saroop-True Nature-divine Virtues- Wisdom, becoming Ik Mann Ik Chitt-Whole-Total-Undivided-ਸਾਬਤ…).

• ਬਿਨੁ ਮਨ ਮੂਏ ਭਗਤਿ ਨ ਹੋਇ ॥: Without subduing the mind, Bhagti cannot be practiced (sggs 1277).
• ਬਿਨੁ ਮਨ ਮੂਏ ਕੈਸੇ ਹਰਿ ਪਾਇ ॥: Without annihilating (conquering) the mind, how can ‘Hari’ (Mool, Source…) be realized? (sggs 665).
• ਨਾ ਮਨੁ ਮਰੈ ਨ ਮਾਇਆ ਮਰੈ ॥: Maya can not be conquered without annihilation of the mind (sggs 1342).
• ਨਾ ਮਨੁ ਮਰੈ ਨ ਕਾਰਜੁ ਹੋਇ ॥ ਮਨੁ ਵਸਿ ਦੂਤਾ ਦੁਰਮਤਿ ਦੋਇ ॥: As long as the mind is under the control of Bikaar (lust, anger, greed, attachment, pride…), evil intent, and duality, till then (the purpose of life of becoming One with Rabb or Mool-abidance…) is not accomplished. (sggs 222).

With what weapon can we kill the instinctive mind? It is the sword of the Wisdom of the Guru which is capable of changing the nature of the external mind (i.e., killing it).

• ਗਿਆਨ ਖੜਗੁ ਲੈ ਮਨ ਸਿਉ ਲੂਝੈ ਮਨਸਾ ਮਨਹਿ ਸਮਾਈ ਹੇ ॥੩॥: I fight to overcome the desires of my mind with the double-edged Sword (Kharag) of Wisdom (of the Satguru). ||3|| (sggs 1022).
• ਸਬਦੁ ਸੂਝੈ ਤਾ ਮਨ ਸਿਉ ਲੂਝੈ ਮਨਸਾ ਮਾਰਿ ਮਾਵਣਿਆ ॥:When someone understands the Shabad, then he wrestles with his own mind; annihilating his desires, he merges (in Mool). (sggs 113).

Hence, in nutshell, the mind reconciles the mind!

• ਮਨ ਤੇ ਮਨੁ ਮਾਨਿਆ ਚੂਕੀ ਅਹੰ ਭ੍ਰਮਣੀ ॥: The (lower) mind is reconciliated with the (Higher) Mind, and the ego’s wandering ways come to an end (sggs 227).
• ਮਨ ਹੀ ਤੇ ਮਨੁ ਮਿਲਿਆ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਮਨ ਹੀ ਮੰਨੁ ਸਮਾਇਆ ॥: From the mind, the mind merges into its Mool (Suaamee), thus the mind gets absorbed into the Mind, within (sggs 1259).
• ਹਉਮੈ ਦੀਰਘ ਰੋਗੁ ਹੈ ਦਾਰੂ ਭੀ ਇਸੁ ਮਾਹਿ ॥: Ego is a chronic disease, but it contains its own cure as well (sggs 466).

Therefore, the Gurbani says, by becoming the Gurmukh (the Gurbani’s Sooraa), Awaken the Wisdom or Bibek Budh (discerning intellect) within, search ownself and look into the mind within!

• ਮਨ ਸਮਝਾਵਨ ਕਾਰਨੇ ਕਛੂਅਕ ਪੜੀਐ ਗਿਆਨ ॥੫॥: To instruct the mind one ought to study Knowledge to some extent. ||5|| (sggs 340).
• ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਬਿਬੇਕ ਬੁਧਿ ਹੋਇ ॥: The Gurmukh is blessed with spiritual wisdom and discerning intellect (sggs 317).
• ਭਾਂਡਾ ਹਛਾ ਸੋਇ ਜੋ ਤਿਸੁ ਭਾਵਸੀ ॥ ਭਾਂਡਾ ਅਤਿ ਮਲੀਣੁ ਧੋਤਾ ਹਛਾ ਨ ਹੋਇਸੀ ॥ ਗੁਰੂ ਦੁਆਰੈ ਹੋਇ ਸੋਝੀ ਪਾਇਸੀ ॥ ਏਤੁ ਦੁਆਰੈ ਧੋਇ ਹਛਾ ਹੋਇਸੀ ॥: The only mind that is pure is pleasing to (the Gur-Giaan or Wisdom). The mind that is filthy with Bikaar (i.e. lust, anger, greed, etc.) does not become pure simply by being washed (e.g., bathing at the so called sacred Srovar, rivers etc.). One is Blessed with the true Wisdom of the Guru only by internalizing the Message contained in the Guru’s Shabad. By getting the mind cleansed this way alone one Realizes the Creator within. (sggs 730).

In short, ‘killing’ of the mind is essentially annihilation of its false ego-sense (Haumai). I ‘killed’ mind is like a mirror which (1) denies or refuses nothing (it reflects everything in its view); it grasps nothing (once you move away from a mirror, your reflection in it also moves away; (3) Thus it receives but does not keep or retain anything (be in the world but not of the world — detached affectionately)!!

• ਜੋ ਇਸੁ ਮਾਰੇ ਸੋਈ ਸੂਰਾ ॥: One who kills this (i.e., duality) is a Sooraa — Spiritual Hero (sggs 238).