Without Giaan, there can be no Dhiaan and Dharma

The Gurbani tells us that the Human birth is a valuable opportunity for the Jeevaatmaa caught in Dubidhaa (repeated suffering, duality, divided state-like a shattered seed or ਦਾਲ, douts- ਭਰਮ ਜਾਲ, Maya…) to know the Truth (ਸਚ). However, Divine Knowledge (Aatm-Giaan, Brahm-Giaan, Spiritual Wisdom…) is not easy to come by and the Gurbani makes it clear that it is the “rare” one is able to know Truth in reality (one out of millions who becomes the Gurmukh: ਜਨ ਨਾਨਕ ਕੋਟਨ ਮੈ ਕਿਨਹੂ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਹੋਇ ਪਛਾਨਾ ॥੨॥੨॥: Jan Nanak kotan mai kinahoo gurmukhi hoi pachhaanaa, sggs 219).

It is difficult because a very “rare” one puts forward the dedicated and single-minded self-efforts (called Uddam in the Gurbani) to obtain the butter of the Aatm-Giaan from the Gurbani by stirring it through the sincere Shabad-Vichaar.

Such a Gurmukh (who has realized the Truth within) experiences God’s presence in everything, and hence, with one mind and Chit (making his mind and Budhi or intellect One) focuses on the Truth (ਸਚ) and takes refuge in the Truth.

  • ਜਿਨ ਸਬਦਿ ਗੁਰੂ ਸੁਣਿ ਮੰਨਿਆ ਤਿਨ ਮਨਿ ਧਿਆਇਆ ਹਰਿ ਸੋਇ ॥: Jin sabadi Guroo suni manniaa tin mani dhiaaiaa hari soi: Those who hear and believe in the Guru’s Shabad, meditate on the Lord in their minds. (sggs 27).
  • 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).

As revealed by the Gurbani itself, this happens when by becoming fully established in the heart (ਇਕ ਮੱਨ ਇਕ ਚਿੱਤ ਹੋ ਕੇ – being Saabat, Whole, Undivided; ਨਿਸਚਿੰਤ ਹੋ ਕੇ-worry free; by becoming the Gurmukh…), we heedfully Reflect (Vichaar-ਵਿਚਾਰ) on the Teachings (Gur-Updesh, Gurmati, Gur-Giaan…) of the Gurbani.

The Gurbani thus reminds us that there are no short cuts in this process. Mental circus of ours (Dhaamic Karamkaand or rituals, Bhekh or religious robes, material cleverness, and so on) will not do the trick.

Out of compassion for the Jeevaatmaa – who has lost the moorings with the Source – we are given the Gurbani suck the Aatm-Giaan (Spiritual Wisdom, Brahm-Giaan…) from it just as a bee sucks nectar from the flower. Thus, the Gurbani urges us to become the Brahm-Giaanee (the Gurmukh), who constantly possesses all Good Values, and constantly eats the food of the Divine Wisdom.

  • 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).

This does not mean that a Brahm-Giaanee does not eat bread (ਰੋਟੀ). It simply indicates that their thoughts are never about mundane pursuits, but are always on a high intellectual plane (ਉੱਚੀ ਸਮਝ, etc.). Just by being in their company, a person imbibes Good Values and is able to steer his life in the right direction. In other words, the true Giaanees live their lives in accordance with the highest principles ( ਭੋਜਨ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਮਹਾ ਰਸੁ ਮੀਠਾ ॥: Bhojan giaanu mahaa rasu meethaa, sggs 1032).

The Gurbani also indicates that without the real Giaan, there can be no real Dhiaan (or Dhiyan – ਧਿਆਨ – meditation, contemplation, reflection, self-communication, attention, heed…).

Further, the Gurbani also makes it clear that without the real Giaan there can be no real Dharma (i.e., living a life of true Dharma-ਧਰਮ…).

  • ਕਬੀਰਾ ਜਹਾ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਤਹ ਧਰਮੁ ਹੈ ਜਹਾ ਝੂਠੁ ਤਹ ਪਾਪੁ ॥ : O Kabeer, where there is Giyan (Spiritual Wisdom) there is Dharma; where there is falsehood, there is sin. (sggs 1372).
  • ਨਾ ਤਿਸੁ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਨ ਧਿਆਨੁ ਹੈ ਨਾ ਤਿਸੁ ਧਰਮੁ ਧਿਆਨੁ ॥ : (A person who performs all sorts of religious rituals and is devoid of Virtues) such a person acquires no Spiritual Wisdom, no meditation, no Dharma and no focus of the mind. (sggs 935).

10 comments

  1. Guru Fateh jee
    Bahut vadhiya vichar han.Kindly c season here is Amrit wale & it is the right time and available through out the year/life time for giaan vichar.

  2. Thanks Kgbang Ji for taking time to comment on this post.
    Please see the Gurpreet Singh Ji’s reply to your inquiry.

    This Shabad is generally seen sung in the Gurdwaras by the Bhais or Raagees while placing a new Rumaalaa on SGGS. That’s neither the meaning nor the purpose of this Shabad.
    Again, please see Gurpreet Singh Ji’s Vichar!

    In the future, we might devote a separate blog post to “Prem Patola”.

  3. Gurmukh Kgbandg jio
    Please rectify your quote (Shalok) it is –
    || Prem patola tain seh dita dhakan ku pat meri ||
    dana bina sai maida nanak sar na jana teri || 1 || mahala 5 – 520(SGGS)

    Ithe gurbani de 4 padarath(GYAN,MUKT,NAAM,JANAM) vicho pahle padarath GYAN padarath nu prem patola keh ke samjhaya hai. Gurbani nu vichar ke, samagh ke ,bujh ke jo tat- gyan, sar-gyan milda hai oh GYAN padarath hai, jisde milan naal man apni durmat(duja bhav, sakat di mat) chad ke akaal purakh de bhane(hukam) vich a janda hai jis naal usda apni antar-atma(chit) naal prem ban janda hai(man mar janda hai, kaam,krodh,lobh,moh ,ahankar khatam ho janda hai te MUKT padarath mil janda hai).

    regards
    Gurpreet Singh

  4. SSA sir ji,

    Read ur article. Bada acha lageya.
    Ek request hai ji.
    could u plz explain the meaning of following quote.

    “prem patal teh seeh ditaa dakhan koo pat meri”

  5. Piyare Manjeet Singh ji
    Abhyaas NAAM da nahi karna gurbani vichar da karna hai tan jo prachand gyan(brahm gyan ) mil jaye. NAAM ta janam padarath hai, dhur ki bani hai , ram-ras hai ik vari mil jaye ta phir os ras nu pina hi hai, os anhad dhun da anand hi mannana hai…
    regards
    Gurpreet Singh

  6. you are right Ji.

    ਗੁਰ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਪਦਾਰਥੁ ਨਾਮੁ ਹੈ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੋ ਦੇਇ ਦ੍ਰਿੜਾਇ ॥: Gur Giaan padaarath naamu hai hari naamo dei drirhaai (sggs 759).

  7. @Manjit Singh Ji, Gur Fateh Ji.
    Thank you for the kind words.

    “Oho sirf naam abhyaas naal hee mildaa hai.”

    You are right. According to the Gurbani, the Naam is:
    ਗੁਰ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਪਦਾਰਥੁ ਨਾਮੁ ਹੈ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੋ ਦੇਇ ਦ੍ਰਿੜਾਇ ॥ (sggs 759).
    ਨਾਨਕ ਕੈ ਘਰਿ ਕੇਵਲ ਨਾਮੁ ॥੪॥੪॥ (sggs 1136).

  8. Pyare ji Fateh,
    Bahut changa lagdaa hai aap da keeta upraala bahut changa hai keep it up. Waheguru tuhaanu more accurate wisdom naal bakhshay. Oho sirf naam abhyaas naal hee mildaa hai. Hope waheguru ji blesses you with more n more naam abhyaas..ikk da ehsaas.
    Guru Fateh

  9. I find Blog posts well searched in the Gurbani. So, they are well anchored in the Gurbani.

    In addition, they are brilliantly written.

    Thank you Vir Ji. Gurfateh.

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