SunnySingh

Read Gurbani more throughly first I'd say. 

Bro,
I do not think sikhs are living a stupid lifestyle.
As human beings like any others, we may have our pro and cons, but then that is present in all socities and cultures, nobody is free of them.
Maybe, we are mixing some concepts, cause though we have a goal to acheive, which is to become one with Waheguru through spiritual discipline, but then too we do move and mix in the world to an extent, thus it is natural to like and practice sports, watch movies, listen music, gathering with friends and any other healthy social activity as long as we do nothing morally bad or inflict any pain on others .
There maybe a handful of besharams, which is also normal to an extent, but then, that does not covers the rest of our vast majority, who are noble in nature.
We should not be that rigid or hard on ourselves, that we should limit ourselves that much, cause that would really be being stupid. 
 

Well said bro.
But the fact is, the seeds of Sikhi were planted by Guru Sahiban and Bhagat Jan thus they have to flourish.
If anything but that much added by daas, is that at the end of the day, it is good to be helpful, but without losing from our sight, if we are truly working on ourselves the core teachings of Guru Jee, for at any moment without any notification we may have to leave this world, and then there will be no excuses of saying there, oh I am so sorry for not doing that Nam bhakti as I was busy helping  my people, my kaum with all that religion is supposed to be from our narrow vision of the creation.
Let's worry for ourselves first, for as per Bani, nobody, absolutely nobody can go go back to the Father, if not approved by Him.
Believe it, nothing at all happens without His hukum, even the atheists, non believers, or even ourselves can do anything if He does not pull us from within.
We tend to forget, it is His creation, He is the Lord... He knows everything.
Now  before anyone gets me wrong, let me clear, I am not saying He is favoring some and throwing others down, for we know not what are the heavy karmas gathered by others.
Be good, but not to the extent of trying anything on anyone, for each one of us has to cover the chalked path before even we are born.
From our side, me may see imperfections, but from His side, everything is perfect as it should be.
If we are honest, with faith and love for Him, let us just be grateful to Him with each breath, from the very bottom of our hearts, for this His apaar bakshish on us.
SSA.

Hi Bro,
I am going to share my 2 cents with the query in your post above .
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GurjantGnostic   Posted 9 hours ago This translation looks weird. Thoughts on what this is saying? The bit on crucifix and the next particularly.    ਗਰਦਸਤਿਮਨਹਮੇਸ਼ਾਪੈਇਕਾਰਮੀਰਵਦ
gar dhasat man hameshaa pai kaar meeravadh
Although my hands and feet are occupied in my mundane activities,
ਮਨਚੂੰਕੁਨਮਕਿਦਿਲਬਸੂਇਯਾਰਮੀਰਵਦ॥੨੮॥੧॥
man choo(n) kunam k dhil basooi yaar mee ravadh || 28 || 1 ||
But what can I do, (because I am helpless) my mind is constantly thinking of my Beloved. (28) (1)
 
* Here it means, that though one may be busy fulfilling one´s duties towards the world, internally he is thinking about the beloved Guru Jee/Lord,  whenever there are a bit of free moments. jut as a mother goes out for work or anything, yet her heart and mind is always thinking about her child.
 
ਆਵਾਜ਼ਿਲਨਤਰਾਨੀਹਰਦਮਬੋਗ਼ਸ਼ਿਦਿਲ
aavaaz lanataraanee har dham bog(h)sh dhil
Although the voice of 'One cannot see' keeps echoing in our ears all the times,
ਮੂਸਾਮਗ਼ਰਬਦੀਦਨਿਦੀਦਾਰਮੀ-ਰਵਦ॥੨੮॥੨॥
moosaa mag(h)r badheedhan dheedhaar mee-ravadh || 28 || 2 ||
But still Moses kept on going to get a glimpse of the Lord. (28) (2)
ਈਣਦੀਦਾਨੀਸਤਆਣਕਿਅਜ਼ੋਅਸ਼ਕਮੀ-ਚਕਦ
e'een dheedhaa neesat aan k azo ashak mee-chakadh
This is not the eye that will let out any tears,
 
*Though one may not be able to see the beloved Lord with these physical eyes, His Shabad Dhun, Anhad Bani, Sachee Bani, is always resounding within us non stop all the 24/7, which one can hear it if only we concentrate through meditative simran.
Moosaa, once having darshan of the Jot of Beloved within, always wants to have it at all times.
 
ਜਾਮਿਮੁਹੱਬਤਅਸਤਕਿਸਰਸ਼ਾਰਮੀ-ਰਵਦ॥੨੮॥੩॥
jaam muhabat asat k sarashaar mee-ravadh || 28 || 3 ||
In fact, the cup of love and devotion is always full to the brim. (28) (3)
ਦਿਲਦਾਰਵਾਦਿਲਜ਼ਿਬਸਕਿਯਕੇਅੰਦਦਰਵਜੂਦ
dhiladhaar vaa dhil z basak yake a(n)dh dhar vajoodh
The heart and the beloved are so much intertwined with each other,
ਜਾਣਦਿਲਹਮੇਸ਼ਾਜਾਨਬਿਦਿਲਦਾਰਮੀ-ਰਵਦ॥੨੮॥੪॥
jaan dhil hameshaa jaanab dhiladhaar mee-ravadh || 28 || 4 ||
That this is the reason that it always keeps running towards (seeking) the latter. (28) (4)
 
*When one goes within and tastes the flavor of Nam, one gets purified and is fully receptive to the bakhshish of Waheguru, who is constantly showering love-prem and  devotion-bhakti, to any wadbhagee who is brave and goes within by the repetition of His holy Name.
 
ਦਰਹਰਦੋਕੌਨਗਰਦਨਿਊਸਰ-ਬੁਲੰਦਸ਼ੁਦ
dhar har dho kauan garadhan uoo sara-bula(n)dh shudh
Any one who rushes towards the crucifix like Mansoor
ਮਨਸੂਰਵਾਰਹਰਕਿਸੂਇਦਾਰਮੀ-ਰਵਦ॥੨੮॥੫॥
manasoor vaar har k sooi dhaar mee-ravadh || 28 || 5 ||
Will have his neck and head high with pride in both the worlds. (29) (5)
 
* Any one who wishes to run within oneself (the Crucifix),  or has desires to go within, and have His darshan, is most welcome by the Lord Himself and thus that person can proudly say in this world and the world hereafter, he has fulfilled his duty, his purpose as a human being, of God realization and thus achieving the salvation of his soul.
 
ਗੋਯਾਜ਼ਿਯਾਦਿਦੂਸਤਹਕੀਕੀਹੱਯਾਤਯਾਫ਼ਤ
goyaa z yaadh dhoosat hakeekee hayaat yaaphat
Goyaa says, "I have found the real life in the remembrance of my beloved,
ਦੀਗ਼ਰਚਿਰਾਬਕੂਚਾਇਖ਼ੁਮਾਰਮੀ-ਰਵਦ॥੨੮॥੬॥
dheeg(h)r chiraa bakoochai khhumaar mee-ravadh || 28 || 6 ||
Why should I now have any reason to visit the tavern or the pub?" (29) (6)
 
* Goyaa has found the real life, which means, by His grace, he has found that eternal life, of freedom from the cycles and deaths, which is achieved by the only remembrance/ simran of His holy Name, thus is free of the desire of satisfying his bhog/karam indriyas which keep us trapped in committing sins/karmas, thus prisoners in the mayavee perishable creation.
 
Bhai Nand Lal Ji in Vaaran
 
 
SSA

Well said bro.
But the fact is, the seeds of Sikhi were planted by Guru Sahiban and Bhagat Jan thus they have to flourish.
If anything but that much added by daas, is that at the end of the day, it is good to be helpful, but without losing from our sight, if we are truly working on ourselves the core teachings of Guru Jee, for at any moment without any notification we may have to leave this world, and then there will be no excuses of saying there, oh I am so sorry for not doing that Nam bhakti as I was busy helping  my people, my kaum with all that religion is supposed to be from our narrow vision of the creation.
Let's worry for ourselves first, for as per Bani, nobody, absolutely nobody can go go back to the Father, if not approved by Him.
Believe it, nothing at all happens without His hukum, even the atheists, non believers, or even ourselves can do anything if He does not pull us from within.
We tend to forget, it is His creation, He is the Lord... He knows everything.
Now  before anyone gets me wrong, let me clear, I am not saying He is favoring some and throwing others down, for we know not what are the heavy karmas gathered by others.
Be good, but not to the extent of trying anything on anyone, for each one of us has to cover the chalked path before even we are born.
From our side, me may see imperfections, but from His side, everything is perfect as it should be.
If we are honest, with faith and love for Him, let us just be grateful to Him with each breath, from the very bottom of our hearts, for this His apaar bakshish on us.
SSA.

I have always believed our history gives us the answers to all our questions. If sants/sadhus were to solve all issues with their powers, it would go against everything our gurus taught us. Guru Gobind Singh ji did not save his own sons because he said what was happening was the hukam of akal purakh. We read stories of the Ramayan and Mahabharat where warriors were able to vanquish thousands of others in a matter of minutes with their powers. Guru Gobind Singh came here as satguru, if he wanted he could have destroyed the moghuls and anyone else within a blink of an eye by himself. Now to know what the hukam is, gurbani emphasises merging with the shabad so you can find out yourself how to live within his hukam.
I also agree that we need to look at ourselves first and see what are we doing for the panth before pointing fingers at others. Maharaj has gives us everything, why cant we train, learn martial arts and do what puratan Sikhs did? We hear stories of Baba Deep Singh carrying his head on one hand and fighting with the other at 75 year old. Ever thought how he was able to do this? We are able to do these things ourselves if we had the same love for Sikhi. 
Ive always had respect for Sant Jarnail Singh and what he did but when I hear people saying he needs to come back for the kaum, I think to myself, but what is wrong with us? Why cant we carry the fight and do something ourselves instead of pointing fingers at others or wishing other Singhs could come back from the dead?

But what to do? Become that Gursikh, and show how it's done. And network with the other people doing the same. Speak for Gurmat and a better future at all times and die well nourished, super well trained, charged with Naam Gurbani and a story of love. 

Some of our Sants, and I won't name any, because I respect them all overall, but some of them do not demonstrate the proper cohesive demonstrateable mix of Gurmat, Shastar Vidya, Kirtan etc. Let alone understanding of the three other major faith groups. 
We're doing great compared to Kalyugis and other faiths in many regards. Compared to our potential? Lol. We're absolutely struggling with the bar set low. We need to kick it up an entire order of magnitude, an entire quantum. 

It's easier to follow pop culture, parrot imperialism, materialism, and selfishness, and sort of dabble in protestantized oraly transmitted sikhism, and faux nationalism, casteism, racism, than cut your head off and become a Sikh. 

The downside to being born Sikh. It seems to make people comfortable being a fan, or descended from players, but nobody wanting to play. Meanwhile all the fans want to complain about what the club and players are doing. Be a player and influence or form a club. 
Every individual Sikh or Bunga or Gurudwara is free to demonstrate how it's done. Because Gurmat applied correctly is the story of rags to riches. 
The problem is we aren't playing, training like pro athletes or forming clubs or engaging existing clubs as pros with expectations backed by our Seva. 

No we shouldn't expect miracles to save us, let alone provide everything for free. 
We are all Sant Sipahi. Or are supposed to be. The number of us not training diligently in both categories is the problem. 
Samparadas should be doing more because more of us are doing things. Not because the Paanth is like the catholic church 2.0 and welfare had a baby. 

The sampradays are well established institutions that are hundredths of years old headed by sants, sadhu, brahmgyanies and jathedhars.  Should we not have high expectations from these mahapurukhs and sampradays because they have shakti?  
Kathavachaks are always telling us these miracle stories.  So, should we not expect sants to get rid of all panthic problems by their shakti and ardas?
How do we reconcile the fact kathavachak tell us these karamat stories all the time but in reality the panthic problems keep getting worse? 
Should we lower our expectations from sants and sampradays?
 

Exactly bro. We have to keep our heads up. I think, in the face of 'issues', it's usually better to get stuck in trying to understand and challenge them, rather than sitting around despondently. Even if we can't do anything in particular about certain issues, we at the very least can be conscious of them, and not add to the problem and raise awareness when possible.   

We are all slacking. Good points bro. Sajjan does seem a bit depressed and frustrated. Been there. We really need to dig this Naam well deep and get rid the Dukh and function and feel joy or at least neutral. 

I think there is something wrong with your brain. Every last post of yours seems to end with finger pointing at sampardayas. In some cases, relating to certain areas, you might have a point, but when it gets to the point of blaming them for the activities of foreign governments and their agencies like the police, it seems like you've completely lost the plot.
 
Plus you're wrong, despite all of their resources and efforts to deceive and obfuscate, and all of their harassment, lies and outright support of forces inimical to Sikhs - some of us Sikhs in england have still managed to thwart their agenda and warn and protect our community here, as well as give a heads up to other diaspora communities too. 
Maybe, instead of just looking at sampardayas (which is a valid thing to do, don't get me wrong) - how about taking a look at yourself and asking yourself what you've ever done?  Or are you just yet another apna who thinks all our issues need to be sorted out by other people while you comfortably plod along with your life?     

Why do apneys always have this loser mentality and blame their opponents for being better then them?
The government can do all they want but what is our response?  Is the government afraid of OUR response or are we afraid of the government?
In a game you can't blame your opponents for striking you out and defeating you.  You have to make your team better(apneys).
Where are all the puratan sampradays and babas when you need them and what are their responses to all this?
 

Bump - have a read of this if you haven't already - while you can. People on the forum should know that the UK government likes to make stuff like this disappear to silence our voices. 

God is not unfair, that is totally true.
Bro, the problem is not with Waheguru, but is with us people.
 
For the Bani says: aapay bheejeh aapaay khaae
Which means you yourself sow the seeds(karmas) and you yourself will have to eat it(consequences).
What has the good God to do here, if the foolish jeeva heavily incurrs in the entanglement of all sort of karmas, whether bad or good.
It is not that God sows, and makes us reap the fruits, isn´t it? 
But as usual, the weak jeeva, likes to blame God for all his mistakes and bad deeds, what a fool... then too he wishes God to wave an imaginary magic stick and solve away all his problems and pains.
The creation is sustained by the law of karma which God also created when the creation was made, so that there was total justice.
For if here was no pain, how would ever the foolish human learn to abide by the laws of Nature?
Naturally, never ever.
In a way, pain, suffering and sicknesses, is also a blessing by God, so that the fools may learn by the hard way to behave as good human beings, (and also hold on to the arm of the Guru to get out from the endless cycles of births and deaths), when they willingly do not want to learn in the natural and easy way.
The dumbness/moorakhta/agyanta  of the human being is very thickly implemented in his mind, and has no intentions to remove it, so what can the good God do?
We consider ourselves quite wise in worldly matters, but when it comes to our shortcomings, we say, God come and do this for me....  how silly.
 
For example, the Bani in the below 4 verses, clearly summarizes the secrets of any true religion, but let us just think and answer sincerely, how many of us in spite of what Guru Jee is telling us to do to save our souls, yet how many actually put that in practice?
For almost all, prefer to do many other things/practices according to their petty intellect, plus influenced by other moorakhs, that too when the Bani is crystalline clear, simple and direct without any double meanings.
I still can not understand why people do not like to hold on to the One, and prefer to decorate themselves with layers, badges and lablels of "koor" of all that is temporary and perishable on themselves, for when the day will come to leave this plane, the soul will go naked without any of those perishable layers of "koor", either in the company of the mind and his own karmas, or the gathered wealth of Nam bhakti as per Bani, as simple as that.
 
Now let´s have a attentive  look to the 4 simple, beautiful and true verses of the Bani I am talking about:
ਭਈ ਪਰਾਪਤਿ ਮਾਨੁਖ ਦੇਹੁਰੀਆ ॥
Bhee Paraapath Maanukh Dhaehureeaa ||
भई परापति मानुख देहुरीआ ॥
you have obtained this human body
 
ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਮਿਲਣ ਕੀ ਇਹ ਤੇਰੀ ਬਰੀਆ ॥
Gobindh Milan Kee Eih Thaeree Bareeaa ||
गोबिंद मिलण की इह तेरी बरीआ ॥
and this is your chance(in human form) to meet the Lord of the Universe.
 
ਅਵਰਿ ਕਾਜ ਤੇਰੈ ਕਿਤੈ ਨ ਕਾਮ ॥
Avar Kaaj Thaerai Kithai N Kaam ||
अवरि काज तेरै कितै न काम ॥
Nothing else will work.
 
ਮਿਲੁ ਸਾਧਸੰਗਤਿ ਭਜੁ ਕੇਵਲ ਨਾਮ ॥੧॥
Mil Saadhhasangath Bhaj Kaeval Naam ||1||
मिलु साधसंगति भजु केवल नाम ॥१॥
Join the Saadh Sangat,  and meditate on the Naam.
 
*Can anyone see the simplicity, beauty and utmost Truth in these simple lovely 4 verses?
Truly, no one is as wise as Guru Sahiban, and no one is as dumb or fool as the human being....
Guru Jee says, hold on to the One thing only, but we say, no Guru Jee, I want to do this, that, and that, and that, and that also ... we like to incur into varieties/diversity, which is Maya and "koor".
 
Moreover the Bani also says:
ਸੁਰਤਿ ਸਬਦਿ ਭਵ ਸਾਗਰੁ ਤਰੀਐ ਨਾਨਕ ਨਾਮੁ ਵਖਾਣੇ ॥
Surath Sabadh Bhav Saagar Thareeai Naanak Naam Vakhaanae ||
सुरति सबदि भव सागरु तरीऐ नानक नामु वखाणे ॥
With one's consciousness focused on the Word of the Shabad, one crosses over the terrifying world-ocean. O Nanak, chant the Naam, the Name of the Lord.
 
See the grace of God, we commit countless karmas under agyanta and the 5 vices, thus condemn ourselves, yet time after time, He blesses us with human body, with the hope of that we may learn from the teachings of the Guru and clear the total sum of of karmas with the soap of Nam to finish our coming and going in the endless wheel of 84 and merge in Him, our origin and goal.
What more grace, kirpa and maafee, can He bestow upon us?
And still, we only have complaints of Him?
Shameless people.
 

God is not unfair, that is totally true.
Bro, the problem is not with Waheguru, but is with us people.
 
For the Bani says: aapay bheejeh aapaay khaae
Which means you yourself sow the seeds(karmas) and you yourself will have to eat it(consequences).
What has the good God to do here, if the foolish jeeva heavily incurrs in the entanglement of all sort of karmas, whether bad or good.
It is not that God sows, and makes us reap the fruits, isn´t it? 
But as usual, the weak jeeva, likes to blame God for all his mistakes and bad deeds, what a fool... then too he wishes God to wave an imaginary magic stick and solve away all his problems and pains.
The creation is sustained by the law of karma which God also created when the creation was made, so that there was total justice.
For if here was no pain, how would ever the foolish human learn to abide by the laws of Nature?
Naturally, never ever.
In a way, pain, suffering and sicknesses, is also a blessing by God, so that the fools may learn by the hard way to behave as good human beings, (and also hold on to the arm of the Guru to get out from the endless cycles of births and deaths), when they willingly do not want to learn in the natural and easy way.
The dumbness/moorakhta/agyanta  of the human being is very thickly implemented in his mind, and has no intentions to remove it, so what can the good God do?
We consider ourselves quite wise in worldly matters, but when it comes to our shortcomings, we say, God come and do this for me....  how silly.
 
For example, the Bani in the below 4 verses, clearly summarizes the secrets of any true religion, but let us just think and answer sincerely, how many of us in spite of what Guru Jee is telling us to do to save our souls, yet how many actually put that in practice?
For almost all, prefer to do many other things/practices according to their petty intellect, plus influenced by other moorakhs, that too when the Bani is crystalline clear, simple and direct without any double meanings.
I still can not understand why people do not like to hold on to the One, and prefer to decorate themselves with layers, badges and lablels of "koor" of all that is temporary and perishable on themselves, for when the day will come to leave this plane, the soul will go naked without any of those perishable layers of "koor", either in the company of the mind and his own karmas, or the gathered wealth of Nam bhakti as per Bani, as simple as that.
 
Now let´s have a attentive  look to the 4 simple, beautiful and true verses of the Bani I am talking about:
ਭਈ ਪਰਾਪਤਿ ਮਾਨੁਖ ਦੇਹੁਰੀਆ ॥
Bhee Paraapath Maanukh Dhaehureeaa ||
भई परापति मानुख देहुरीआ ॥
you have obtained this human body
 
ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਮਿਲਣ ਕੀ ਇਹ ਤੇਰੀ ਬਰੀਆ ॥
Gobindh Milan Kee Eih Thaeree Bareeaa ||
गोबिंद मिलण की इह तेरी बरीआ ॥
and this is your chance(in human form) to meet the Lord of the Universe.
 
ਅਵਰਿ ਕਾਜ ਤੇਰੈ ਕਿਤੈ ਨ ਕਾਮ ॥
Avar Kaaj Thaerai Kithai N Kaam ||
अवरि काज तेरै कितै न काम ॥
Nothing else will work.
 
ਮਿਲੁ ਸਾਧਸੰਗਤਿ ਭਜੁ ਕੇਵਲ ਨਾਮ ॥੧॥
Mil Saadhhasangath Bhaj Kaeval Naam ||1||
मिलु साधसंगति भजु केवल नाम ॥१॥
Join the Saadh Sangat,  and meditate on the Naam.
 
*Can anyone see the simplicity, beauty and utmost Truth in these simple lovely 4 verses?
Truly, no one is as wise as Guru Sahiban, and no one is as dumb or fool as the human being....
Guru Jee says, hold on to the One thing only, but we say, no Guru Jee, I want to do this, that, and that, and that, and that also ... we like to incur into varieties/diversity, which is Maya and "koor".
 
Moreover the Bani also says:
ਸੁਰਤਿ ਸਬਦਿ ਭਵ ਸਾਗਰੁ ਤਰੀਐ ਨਾਨਕ ਨਾਮੁ ਵਖਾਣੇ ॥
Surath Sabadh Bhav Saagar Thareeai Naanak Naam Vakhaanae ||
सुरति सबदि भव सागरु तरीऐ नानक नामु वखाणे ॥
With one's consciousness focused on the Word of the Shabad, one crosses over the terrifying world-ocean. O Nanak, chant the Naam, the Name of the Lord.
 
See the grace of God, we commit countless karmas under agyanta and the 5 vices, thus condemn ourselves, yet time after time, He blesses us with human body, with the hope of that we may learn from the teachings of the Guru and clear the total sum of of karmas with the soap of Nam to finish our coming and going in the endless wheel of 84 and merge in Him, our origin and goal.
What more grace, kirpa and maafee, can He bestow upon us?
And still, we only have complaints of Him?
Shameless people.
 

The True Guru is the Shabad Guru, for the the physical bodies are made of the 5 perishable mayavee tattwas, so the body can never be the Guru, the Guru is the Jot of Waheguru Akal Purukh,whose main purpose when at our level is to awaken us from the slumber of ignorance by them singing the mahima of Akal Purukh and revealing us the path of the Truth as per Nam to clear our karmas and merge in our origin, Nam/Shabad, ultimate Truth.
That is why Gurbani says:
Sat/Saadh Sangat othay janeeyay, jithay Iko Nam vakhaneeyeh.
The Truth is known there where the praises of Nam are sung in the company of the Holy.

SinghMunda Jee,
though your post/topic is quite old for about 19 years now, I have just come through it and find it useful even today, for it affects each and every human being.
The following verse from Guru Jee answers your query:
ਕਿਰਤੁ ਪਇਆ ਕਰਤੈ ਕਰਿ ਪਾਇਆ ਮੇਟਿ ਨ ਸਕੈ ਕੋਈ ॥
Kirath Paeiaa Karathai Kar Paaeiaa Maett N Sakai Koee ||
किरतु पइआ करतै करि पाइआ मेटि न सकै कोई ॥
The karmic record of past deeds, written by the Creator Lord (as per the law of karma, by which the creation is in constant motion for the soul by the endless cycles of births and deaths)  cannot be erased by anyone.
 
And the limited free will you talk about, is the free will by His apaar kirpa that we become better human beings and collect as much as possible with our tiny hands by Simran, the inexhaustible riches of His Nam, for that akhoot bhandaar of His sacred Name will wipe away all the total sum up of our karmas for once and ever and at the same time strongly attract our surtees to Him, just as iron to magnet, then only shall we be freed from births and deaths.
As simple as,that if no karmas, then no kismet, and consequently no births and deaths, then ultimately, our union with our beloved Waheguru in Sach Khand.
 
Gurbani says: Prabh ka Simran garb na baseh.
So bro, if in this way we wisely use our limited free will, then only we shall be saved for once and ever, by our union with Him, not any otherwise.
Or also:
ਵਿਣੁ ਨਾਵੈ ਨਾਲਿ ਨ ਚਲਸੀ ਸਭ ਮੁਠੀ ਜਮਕਾਲਿ ॥੨੭॥
Vin Naavai Naal N Chalasee Sabh Muthee Jamakaal ||27||
Viṇu nāvai nāli na chalsī sabh muṭhī jamkāli ॥27॥
विणु नावै नालि न चलसी सभ मुठी जमकालि ॥२७॥
Nothing will go with you in the end, except the Name; all are plundered by the Messenger of Death. |
 
*Here Guru Jee can not be more clear, for they say: you may try all other tricks of jap, tap, pooja, paath, tiraths, fastings, moortee pujas, etc etc etc .... but, if you have not gathered the wealth of Nam, you have done nothing, and the messengers of death will pull you and take you to Narak, until you again get the human birth and learn the lesson of Gurmat, that without the devotion of Nam, everything else is just dust.
 
At other place Guru Jee tells us:
ਗੁਰ ਕੀ ਸੇਵਾ ਕਰਿ ਪਿਰਾ ਜੀਉ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਧਿਆਏ ॥
Gur Kee Saevaa Kar Piraa Jeeo Har Naam Dhhiaaeae ||
Serve the Guru, O my dear soul; meditate on the Lord's Name.
 
He means, that to serve the Guru is nothing else, but to meditate on the Lord´s Name, this is the core teaching of Guru Jee, to love, serve and please Guru Jee, for He, Guru Jee, is our saviour, here and hereafter.
 
SSA.

Though this thread is quite old, yet I believe is much valid even today, for the law of karma does not change just like that, it keeps functioning as long as He wants to keep this creation in motion.
Just as there is no tree/ fruit without seed, or , there can be no action without reaction.  So too, our lives can not exist without the law of karma, each one gets exactly what one has sown.
You sow apples, you will reap apples. if you sow chillies, you will not get mangoes, you will definetely reap chillies, and moreover, you yourself will have to eat them, no matter how much one may shout or cry.
The law of karma is just and has to exist, otherwise, the weak humans and maybe other beings, for all of their wrong doings, usually do  blame Him for being partial, that too when the truth is, He is all forgiveness and full of mercy.
We are sent here (this creation)to become better beings and mature spiritualwise, and recognize His true value by being away from Him, yet many are such donkeys, that they keep on being proud of their deep rooted ignorance when true spirituality or even the pure Gurbani is presented before them.
We are born in koor, and we deeply love koor,so naturally we are prisoners in the creation of koor.
Unless, we eat and digest TRUTH, then only, we do regain our true original  healthy nature of purity, and only then do we become fit to merge and become one with that INFINITE,  ETERNAL, EVERLASTING, CHANGELESS TRUTH, our Origin.
The dirt accumulated on our heads since countless births is just beyond our petty imagination, there is no such soap which we can use and wash ourselves totally, no matter even if we use the soap 24/7 again in countless births/janams.
The remedy for that our such huge amount of dirt, is only washable if He pours the water of His kirpa on us.
The secret of our cleanliness is to please Him, just as a child pleases his/her parents, in order to be receptive to His apaar grace, which in the end is the "cleanser" of all our paaps/sins.
Then too, we proud ignorants, we think we have achieved His realization.
We have to bear in mind, we are all spiritually blind, and unless "He" who has eyes and gets hold of our tiny hand to pull us out, we can never ever get out from the mayavee creation.
For that very reason, we should always have to be humble (saadkee) from the very bottom of our hearts, for in being humble, we are in disposition to become virtuous and do His devotion with firm unwareing faith, which is also more of His bakshish.
Karmas, have reactions in engaging us in more unavoidable karmas, but, His true devotion is karmaless, and is the only water to wash away all of our karmas, there is no other way.
He is Ooch, He is apaar, He is beant, so is His devotion/seva, if done faithfully and nishkam, it can wipe away all our accumulated dirt of  karmas/paap/sins.
 

The True Guru is the Shabad Guru, for the the physical bodies are made of the 5 perishable mayavee tattwas, so the body can never be the Guru, the Guru is the Jot of Waheguru Akal Purukh,whose main purpose when at our level is to awaken us from the slumber of ignorance by them singing the mahima of Akal Purukh and revealing us the path of the Truth as per Nam to clear our karmas and merge in our origin, Nam/Shabad, ultimate Truth.
That is why Gurbani says:
Sat/Saadh Sangat othay janeeyay, jithay Iko Nam vakhaneeyeh.
The Truth is known there where the praises of Nam are sung in the company of the Holy.

By Inderpal1994,
July 21 in Gurbani | Gurmat | Spiritual Poetry and Discussions
Akaal Purakh lives within the belly?
 
SSA Bro,
regarding the title of your present thread found the following verse of First Patshahee from the Gurbani, in which it tells us, where we should look for the true Lord Waheguru Akal Purukh
ਗਗਨ ਗੰਭੀਰੁ ਗਗਨੰਤਰਿ ਵਾਸੁ ॥
Gagan Ganbheer Gagananthar Vaas ||
गगन ग्मभीरु गगनंतरि वासु ॥
The Profound Lord dwells in the sky of the mind, the Tenth Gate;
Raag Raamkali Dakhni Guru Nanak Dev
 
Guru Sahiban clearly points out, where we should take our attention in meditation if only we pretend to find Akal Purukh.
There are different energy centres through out our body starting, and Sach Khand is the highest plane of Consciousness far beyond mind and maya, that is why it is called also Paarbrahm.
Where Paar means beyond and brahm means, illusion, maya, koor ....
While all the lower chakras and the energy of Kundalini, are very much at the lower locations.
Through chakras, Kundalini is awakened, the serpent energy, ridhis and sidhis are obtained but the jeev atma, is very much in the perishable creation.
But, Guru Sahiban  and Bhagat Jan through Gurmat, as per Bani, teach us to directly focus at the forehead and ascend upward, crossing the astral and causal planes, which are part and parcel of Brahm, and by holding on to the Jot of Shabad Guru, cross to Parbraham region, and from there on go on ascending in His company and finally reach our origin, Sach Khand, the true and eternal abode of Waheguru Akal Purukh.
 
As seen in the verse above, Guru Jee clearly says that the Lord dwells in the sky of the mind, means, the upper space/location in our head, but definitely not in the belly.
It is with the mind we think, so just as when we want to recall something, our hands move towards and touch our heads, and not about touching our chest, belly, or feet ....
This is just a way of explaining, that the way/path for searching God without and dangers of lower energies, is safer and for sure within and upwards as per Gurmat.
 
Illustration of the lower chakras and the ruling deities in them.

 
1. Muladhara
It is also called as the root chakra and is located at the base of the spine. This chakra is the birth of human mindfulness. When the energy gathers at that point it is also called as Kundali. Muladhara.
The Hindu god associated with it is Lord Ganesha.
 
2. Swadhisthana
It is known as the Sacral Chakra and is positioned under the navel.
This sacral chakra is located in the loins, and is related to sentiments, sexual pleasures and creativity. 
The Hindu God for to this chakra is Lord Vishnu.
 
3. Manipura
Manipura is also known as Solar Plexus Chakra and is placed at the base of the chest bone. This chakra is linked to metabolism, liveliness, change and digestion.
The Hindu God in control of this chakra is Maharudra Shiva.
 
4. Anahata
It is also known as the Heart Chakra and is positioned at the center of the chest.
The Hindu God related to this deity is Ishvara
 
5. Vishuddha
It is known as the Throat Chakra and is positioned at the throat above the larynx.
The Hindu God related is Sadashiva
 
6. Ajna
It is also known as the Third Eye Chakra and is placed at front part of the forehead in between eyebrows.
The Hindu God related is Ardhanarishvara –a genderless form of Lord Shiva and Parvati, also popularly known to be Devi and Shakti.
 
7. Sahasrara
It is also known as the Crown Chakra and is positioned at the top of the head. It is the source of the uppermost intellect or prajnanam. placed at the tip of the head.
The Hindu God related is Lord Shiva. And the goddess is Yakiniyamba. She is represented holding weapons in the faces of all the colors of the chakras and resides in Shukla.
 
*We can clearly see in the above elaboration, that all the energy forces are deities ruling in those centers.
Nowhere can ever anyone say, Akal Purukh is to be found there, simply because Sach Khand, the abode of eternal and absolute Truth, is much much farther and still much higher, where no deities rulers of the lower chakras, can ever reach..... thus not found either.
 
While on the other side, Gurbani says: Sach Khand vaseh Nirankar.
We as sikhs, our aim should be only to look and search for our true Origin, which is none other than Waheguru and Sach Khand, with the only means of devotion and love to the Shabad Guru.
 
I really feel pity, when I see so many teachers of different paths/ ways/sciences/yoga/pranayama, drawing our attention away from what Guru Sahiban tell is in the Bani, and lead us to other undercovered destinations, except that which should lead us to Akal Purukh.
We are all weak, we easily get fascinated and attracted towards these paths, and think we are spiritually achieveing something.
No doubt, we are spiritually reaching some levels... but sadly, towards other inferior levels, but not Sach Khand, and as seen, almost nobody is that much alert or consciouss about the core teachings of Gurmat, we keep on telling others to do this or that, as if that was all what spiritualiy is about... almost nobody cares for Nam, which Guru Sahiban in each and every Ang remind us of only devoting ourselves to IT, with all our mind and body.
Instead of looking for diamonds(Waheguru), we are idiotically satisfied and looking for shells(lower energies).... what else can be expected from the poor fellows .... it is indeed sad, but the bitter truth.
 
*Note:
Lastly I would like to say, that with this my post, my intention is not of hurting anybody, for everyone is free to do whatsover one wants with one´s life, but as a sikh brother and a low disciple of Guru Jee, my only intention is to draw nearer our attention to what Gurmat tells us, teaches us through each and every Ang;  alas... if only we paid careful attention to what we read and listen in Gurbani.
 
There are many countless powers, deities, creations upon creations within us, but, the only Power to which we should pay attention, is the one that of Satnam, Sachee Bani, Anhad Bani, with the devotion of Nam Simran.
Ik Oankar Satnam   Satgur Parsad Jap.
 
Moreover, that is why Guru Jee says:
ਧਨੁ ਵਿਰਲੀ ਸਚੁ ਸੰਚਿਆ ਨਿਰਮਲੁ ਨਾਮੁ ਪਿਆਰਿ ॥
Dhhan Viralee Sach Sanchiaa Niramal Naam Piaar ||
धनु विरली सचु संचिआ निरमलु नामु पिआरि ॥
How rare are those who gather the wealth of Truth, and love the Immaculate Naam, the Name of the Lord.
 
SSA.