Remember The Old Age And The Death As Well

On SGGS 92, Bhagat Tirlochan says that the mortals have so much engrossed in Maya that they have forgotten that they have to face the old age and the death as well. Let us ponder over this shabda:

ਸਿਰੀਰਾਗੁ ਤ੍ਰਿਲੋਚਨ ਕਾ ॥

ਮਾਇਆ ਮੋਹੁ ਮਨਿ ਆਗਲੜਾ ਪ੍ਰਾਣੀ ਜਰਾ ਮਰਣੁ ਭਉ ਵਿਸਰਿ ਗਇਆ ॥

ਕੁਟੰਬੁ ਦੇਖਿ ਬਿਗਸਹਿ ਕਮਲਾ ਜਿਉ ਪਰ ਘਰਿ ਜੋਹਹਿ ਕਪਟ ਨਰਾ ॥1॥

Sirīrāg Ŧrilocẖan kā.

Mā-i-ā moh man āglaṛā parāṇī jarā maraṇ bẖa-o visar ga-i-ā.

Kutamb ḏekẖ bigsahi kamlā ji-o par gẖar johėh kapat narā. ||1||

Raag Sree Raag, the bani of Tirlochan.

In essence: Oh man! You are too much drenched into the Maya love and you have forgotten the fear of old age and death. Oh, wicked man! Seeing your family, you blossom like a lotus and look with bad intentions at other’s homes.

ਦੂੜਾ ਆਇਓਹਿ ਜਮਹਿ ਤਣਾ ॥ ਤਿਨ ਆਗਲੜੈ ਮੈ ਰਹਣੁ ਨ ਜਾਇ ॥

ਕੋਈ ਕੋਈ ਸਾਜਣੁ ਆਇ ਕਹੈ ॥ ਮਿਲੁ ਮੇਰੇ ਬੀਠੁਲਾ ਲੈ ਬਾਹੜੀ ਵਲਾਇ ॥

ਮਿਲੁ ਮੇਰੇ ਰਮਈਆ ਮੈ ਲੇਹਿ ਛਡਾਇ ॥1॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

   Ḏūṛā ā-i-ohi jamėh ṯaṇā. Ŧin āglaṛai mai rahaṇ na jā-e.

Ko-ī ko-ī sājaṇ ā-e kahai. Mil mere bīṯẖulā lai bāhṛī valā-e.

Mil mere rama-ī-ā mai lehi cẖẖadā-e. ||1|| Rahā-o.

The death is coming with speed and I will not be able to stay here; a rare friend comes to say, “Oh my Akalpurakh! Embrace me; meet me and rescue me”. Pause.

ਅਨਿਕ ਅਨਿਕ ਭੋਗ ਰਾਜ ਬਿਸਰੇ ਪ੍ਰਾਣੀ ਸੰਸਾਰ ਸਾਗਰ ਪੈ ਅਮਰੁ ਭਇਆ ॥

ਮਾਇਆ ਮੂਠਾ ਚੇਤਸਿ ਨਾਹੀ ਜਨਮੁ ਗਵਾਇਓ ਆਲਸੀਆ ॥2॥

Anik anik bẖog rāj bisre parāṇī sansār sāgar pai amar bẖa-i-ā.

Mā-i-ā mūṯẖā cẖeṯas nāhī janam gavā-i-o ālsī-ā. ||2||

Oh Mortal! Having control over others and diverse pleasures, you have forgotten Akalpurakh and you think that you are permanent in this world. Oh, lazy one! You, bewitched by Maya, don’t remember Akalpurakh’s name; you have wasted your life.

ਬਿਖਮ ਘੋਰ ਪੰਥਿ ਚਾਲਣਾ ਪ੍ਰਾਣੀ ਰਵਿ ਸਸਿ ਤਹ ਨ ਪ੍ਰਵੇਸੰ ॥

ਮਾਇਆ ਮੋਹੁ ਤਬ ਬਿਸਰਿ ਗਇਆ ਜਾਂ ਤਜੀਅਲੇ ਸੰਸਾਰੰ ॥3॥

Bikẖam gẖor panth cẖālṇā parāṇī rav sas ṯah na parvesaʼn.

Mā-i-ā moh ṯab bisar ga-i-ā jāʼn ṯajī-ale saʼnsāraʼn. ||3||

Oh Mortal! The path you tread on is very dark, because on it, there is no sun and moon. There is no chance of having the divine knowledge that can stop you from this path. When you leave this world, you will forget the love of Maya.

 Bhagat Tirlochan says: why shouldn’t we get rid of the Maya attachment now when we have the time to remember Akalpurakh?

ਆਜੁ ਮੇਰੈ ਮਨਿ ਪ੍ਰਗਟੁ ਭਇਆ ਹੈ ਪੇਖੀਅਲੇ ਧਰਮਰਾਓ ॥

ਤਹ ਕਰ ਦਲ ਕਰਨਿ ਮਹਾਬਲੀ ਤਿਨ ਆਗਲੜੈ ਮੈ ਰਹਣੁ ਨ ਜਾਇ ॥4॥

Āj merai man pargat bẖa-i-ā hai pekẖī-ale ḏẖaramrā-o.

Ŧah kar ḏal karan mahābalī ṯin āglaṛai mai rahaṇ na jā-e. ||4||

Today, it has become clear in my mind that I have to see the righteous judge and the powerful carriers of death, who crush the lives with force. How can I stand up there?

ਜੇ ਕੋ ਮੂੰ ਉਪਦੇਸੁ ਕਰਤੁ ਹੈ ਤਾ ਵਣਿ ਤ੍ਰਿਣਿ ਰਤੜਾ ਨਾਰਾਇਣਾ ॥

ਐ ਜੀ ਤੂੰ ਆਪੇ ਸਭ ਕਿਛੁ ਜਾਣਦਾ ਬਦਤਿ ਤ੍ਰਿਲੋਚਨੁ ਰਾਮਈਆ ॥5॥2॥

Je ko mūʼn upḏes karaṯ hai ṯā vaṇ ṯariṇ raṯ-ṛā nārā-iṇā.

Ai jī ṯūʼn āpe sabẖ kicẖẖ jāṇḏā baḏaṯ Ŧrilocẖan rām-ī-ā. ||5||2||

Trilochan supplicates: Oh Akalpurakh! When someone instructs me that you are all pervading, I see you everywhere. You know everything.

Bhagat Tirlochan awakens the mortals from the Maya-slumber to focus on the Creator and love Him.

Wishes

G. Singh

www.gursoch.com

The Creator and Us

Bhagat Ravi Das puts a few questions and answers those with his logic and understanding of the Creator  on 93, SGGS. Let us ponder over this very shabda:

ਤੋਹੀ ਮੋਹੀ ਮੋਹੀ ਤੋਹੀ ਅੰਤਰੁ ਕੈਸਾ ॥ ਕਨਕ ਕਟਿਕ ਜਲ ਤਰੰਗ ਜੈਸਾ ॥1॥ 

 Sirīrāg. Ŧohī mohī mohī ṯohī anṯar kaisā. Kanak katik jal ṯarang jaisā. ||1||

Raag Sree Raag, the bani of Bhagat Ravidas.

In essence: Oh Akalpurakh! What is the difference between you and me? It is like a golden bracelet and the gold, and the water and its ripples.

ਜਉ ਪੈ ਹਮ ਨ ਪਾਪ ਕਰੰਤਾ ਅਹੇ ਅਨੰਤਾ ॥ ਪਤਿਤ ਪਾਵਨ ਨਾਮੁ ਕੈਸੇ ਹੁੰਤਾ ॥1॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

Ja-o pai ham na pāp karanṯā ahe ananṯā. Paṯiṯ pāvan nām kaise hunṯā. ||1|| Rahā-o.

Oh infinite Akalpurakh! If we, mortals, do not commit sins, how your name will be known as the redeemer of the sinners? Pause.

ਤੁਮ੍ਹ੍ਹ ਜੁ ਨਾਇਕ ਆਛਹੁ ਅੰਤਰਜਾਮੀ ॥ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਤੇ ਜਨੁ ਜਾਨੀਜੈ ਜਨ ਤੇ ਸੁਆਮੀ ॥2॥

   Ŧumĥ jo nā-ik ācẖẖahu anṯarjāmī. Parabẖ ṯe jan jānījai jan ṯe su-āmī. ||2||

Oh Knower of everyone’s heart! You are my guide; you are my Master. It is figured out from the master what kind of his servant is, and from the servant, the master is known.

ਸਰੀਰੁ ਆਰਾਧੈ ਮੋ ਕਉ ਬੀਚਾਰੁ ਦੇਹੂ ॥ ਰਵਿਦਾਸ ਸਮ ਦਲ ਸਮਝਾਵੈ ਕੋਊ ॥3॥

   Sarīr ārāḏẖai mo ka-o bīcẖār ḏehū. Raviḏās sam ḏal samjẖāvai ko-ū. ||3||

Oh Akalpurakh! Bless me to meditate on you as long as this body is alive. Bless Ravidas with the company of those persons, who can explain that you pervade all equally.

 Bhagat Ravidas says that there is no difference between Akalpurakh and His creation; through the enlightened ones, Akalpurakh imparts the knowledge about His being pervading all equally.

Wishes

G. Singh 

www.gursoch.com

 

Not in the hard ways.

 As we learn, we know that to realize the Creator, in India, many ways were adopted by spiritual minded people, which led them to go astray without a guide who actually realized Him. On SGGS, 324, Bhagat Kabir guides such people by negating the importance of their paths. Here it is:

ਗਉੜੀ ਕਬੀਰ ਜੀ ॥

ਨਗਨ ਫਿਰਤ ਜੌ ਪਾਈਐ ਜੋਗੁ ॥ ਬਨ ਕਾ ਮਿਰਗੁ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਸਭੁ ਹੋਗੁ ॥1॥

 Ga-oṛī Kabīr jī.

Nagan firaṯ jou pā-ī-ai jog. Ban kā mirag mukaṯ sabẖ hog. ||1||

Raag Gaurhi, the bani of Bhagat Kabir.

In essence: If by roaming naked one can unite with Ekankar, the deer of forest will be emancipated.

ਕਿਆ ਨਾਗੇ ਕਿਆ ਬਾਧੇ ਚਾਮ ॥ ਜਬ ਨਹੀ ਚੀਨਸਿ ਆਤਮ ਰਾਮ ॥1॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥  

Ki-ā nāge ki-ā bāḏẖe cẖām. Jab nahī cẖīnas āṯam rām. ||1|| Rahā-o.

What can be obtained by living naked or wearing animal-skin if Ekankar is not realized? Pause.

ਮੂਡ ਮੁੰਡਾਏ ਜੌ ਸਿਧਿ ਪਾਈ ॥ ਮੁਕਤੀ ਭੇਡ ਨ ਗਈਆ ਕਾਈ ॥2॥

Mūd mundā-e jou siḏẖ pā-ī. Mukṯī bẖed na ga-ī-ā kā-ī. ||2||

If by shaving one’s head, a spiritual perfection is obtained then why not any sheep has salvation?

ਬਿੰਦੁ ਰਾਖਿ ਜੌ ਤਰੀਐ ਭਾਈ ॥ ਖੁਸਰੈ ਕਿਉ ਨ ਪਰਮ ਗਤਿ ਪਾਈ ॥3॥  

Binḏ rākẖ jou ṯarī-ai bẖā-ī. Kẖusrai ki-o na param gaṯ pā-ī. ||3||

If by becoming celibate one gets saved, why should not a eunuch get liberation?

ਕਹੁ ਕਬੀਰ ਸੁਨਹੁ ਨਰ ਭਾਈ ॥ ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮ ਬਿਨੁ ਕਿਨਿ ਗਤਿ ਪਾਈ ॥4॥4॥  

Kaho Kabīr sunhu nar bẖā-ī. Rām nām bin kin gaṯ pā-ī. ||4||4||(324)

Kabir says, “Oh Brothers! Without Akalpurakh’s name, whoever obtained salvation?”

Thus, Bhagat Kabir counsels the Creator-seekers to get imbued with His name means to live in His love. How to live in His love is taught by a Guru who has realized Him.

Wishes

G Singh  

 

 

Realizing the Value of Naam

It is usually all our estimates when we try to explain the divine experience; I usually feel it is merely showing our limits about it. There is no way we can realize Him while totally drowned in the Maya pursuits. On 854, SGGS, second Guru explains that only the experienced one, also known as professional, can explain about the value of His Naam. Let us go through that sloka:

 ਮਃ 2 ॥

ਰਤਨਾ ਕੇਰੀ ਗੁਥਲੀ ਰਤਨੀ ਖੋਲੀ ਆਇ ॥

ਵਖਰ ਤੈ ਵਣਜਾਰਿਆ ਦੁਹਾ ਰਹੀ ਸਮਾਇ ॥

ਜਿਨ ਗੁਣੁ ਪਲੈ ਨਾਨਕਾ ਮਾਣਕ ਵਣਜਹਿ ਸੇਇ ॥

ਰਤਨਾ ਸਾਰ ਨ ਜਾਣਨੀ ਅੰਧੇ ਵਤਹਿ ਲੋਇ ॥2॥

   Mėhlā 2.

Raṯnā kerī guthlī raṯnī kẖolī ā-e.

Vakẖar ṯai vaṇjāri-ā ḏuhā rahī samā-e.

Jin guṇ palai nānkā māṇak vaṇjahi se-e.

Raṯnā sār na jāṇnī anḏẖe vaṯėh lo-e. ||2||

Second Nanak

In essence: If the right appraiser opens a bag of jewels, the jewels’ value stands intact in the minds of the jewel-seller and the buyer. Oh Nanak! One who has virtues of praising Ekankar’s name can obtain the name jewel; otherwise, those who do not realize His name live in this world like blind people

           The Guru says that Ekankar’s name is precious and everyone cannot realize it; therefore, those, who talk merely without realizing it, make fool of themselves; however, the Satiguru who has realized His name makes his followers understand the worth of His name. Simply repeating His name is not what helps in this regard but to be ready for His love after abandoning all the longings that take us away from Him. Only the Guru explains how to do that.

Wishes

G Singh