Hi friend paapiman,
I have been seeing your posts for a while and though you are a popular contributor here, but I am sorry to disagree with you here.
First of all, please bear no grudges nor be short tempered, for nobody wants to be down, so if my post hurts you in any way please acept my apologizes, my only intention is to just clear some notions which people tend to mix up.
Mostly it is not their fault, for that is how they have been taught, that is what they have seen and heard since they were born in their surroundings, that atmosphere.
It is just normal to follow some customs and respect them. There is no harm in it. But the thing is, we should not get that much deep into it, that we may stop seeing our only goal of life :
Waheguru Akal Purukh.
We already have so many chains upon us, just as : zaat, paat, gender, dharam, nationalities, social class, political tendencies, etc etc etc.
Guru Sahiban came here to remove all those chains from us, and make us aware of true naked spiritual reality of the Light of that Supreme true Lord Satnam.
They knew, that we human donkeys will fall down and repeat our mistakes again and again, that is why they left SGGS to guide us and dispel the darkness of our fat ignorance.
But the thing is, we just bow to the GURU and repeat what IT tells us to do again and again, but, without we doing what the GURU tells us to do in IT.
The teachings of the GURU Sahiban are free and universal, for all beings, but what we have done is, we have created many fences around it, taking it as our copyright, giving it a form, a face with a different identity, thus we see it from far and fail to see the Truth contained in it.
We are more concerned about the jewel box, than the JEWEL itself, thus we remain spiritually paupers and more engrossed in ignornace, then all the wars, hatred and disputes start, for we think only we are right and all else are wrong, that s not only in Sikhism, but as well with the muslims, hindus or christians ....
The teachings of the GURU SGGS are pure, simple and valid for all of the humanity of all places and times without any limitations, for they are not meant to divide anyone, rather be helpful and respectful to all, and while leading a pure moral life, to meditate on Him through His holy Name to get the salvation.
What more clarity can one want?
Such wisdom. Such grace. Such blessings from the GURU.
Though we may try to sing their praises 24/7, then too we shall always remain short, for we can never ever repay their love and blessings upon us.
Gurbani says:
ਉਤਪਤਿ ਪਰਲਉ ਸਬਦੇ ਹੋਵੈ ॥
Outhapath Paralo Sabadhae Hovai ||
Creation and destruction happen through the Word of the Shabad.
ਸਬਦੇ ਹੀ ਫਿਰਿ ਓਪਤਿ ਹੋਵੈ ॥
Sabadhae Hee Fir Oupath Hovai ||
Through the Shabad, creation happens again.
So you see, this Shabad as a creative power or God, of which SGGS talks about, is not something which can be written or read in any language. it is the unspoken Law, the unwiritten language, for no written words can ever create anything, then what to say about the Infinite Craetion at all levels.
This Shabad or Nam, is the life giver, the sustainer, of all that exists, whether seen or unseen, it is all pervading, it is omniscient and it is omnipotent, without the help or support from anyone. It is all by Itself
The moment this Power wants to withdraw Itself from somewhere, death and dissolution takes place.
The main characteristics of this Shabad or Nam , is that It is all Light or Jot and ever reverberating celestial melodies, thus it is formless, gender less, and in His court there is no discrimination such as that of cast, paat, social status, dharams, mazabs, cities, countries, customs, sidings, attires, coverings, dresses, makeups ....etc etc ... etc These are al chaind which human beings have created and put around their necks, which makes them blind and petty minded for this useless weight on their heads, which they proudly carry and because of this they miss their goal of salvation which is none other than Waheguru, that too no matter how much people may profess their love and devotion for that their mental created image of what or how they think the Lord looks like.
That Lord which is formless, colourless, shapeless, without any attires, how can He be seen with all our limitations, our sins, our ego, our ignorance, our greed.... Then too if we do not follow the instructions of the Guru, how can we realize Him?
According to our current state, we do not only want the GURU, but this, that and that too, we have created more and more divisions by us upon us, thus have got farther and farther from HIM.
That too the GURU alone should be sufficient for us, for He is all wisdom. He is the Sun Light, and all other beings are daytime stars up there, just no comaprison.
Gurbani tells us clearly:
the GURU is my devotion, the Guru is the sustainer(Gobind) of all the creation, the GURU is my trascendental Lord, the GURU is my God (Bhagwant).
We all know the Lord God is all powerful, and in its company we need nobody else, for from it we shall receive the perfect light(gyan), the pure budh/intellect and all protection. Nobody dares to come even near that sikh of the GURU, what to say about jam doots or Kal himself.
It is ok to know our history, our culture, our customs, and be helpful, but, to get caught in its wires to the extent that we mix the pure spirituality with politics and worldly ties, which in His eyes have no value, no matter how much value it may have in the eyes of the people around us. The thing is we must bear in mind we are spiritual beings going through worldly or mayavee experiences, and not otherwise.
For the day we reach in His darbar, all those heroic people in our eyes, as well those of our culture or communities shall not be there, they maybe somewher paying off their karmas, or getting the fruits of their noble karmas but not definetey in Sach Khand. Forget all othes, but not even our bodies will go hereafter.
The second Nanak tells us that, to have access in His court, we have to see without eyes, hear withot ears, walk without feet ..... So if all these limbs of bodies are useless there for they are left behind, then what to say about our false, temporary and perishable identities we have created about ourselves whilst out stay here.
Ther are no Identity cards or passports, with our names, adressess or nationalities. Hereafter we shall be judged only, for our karmas in which we have voluntarily incurred and will for sure have to pay for.
In His eyes, He sees only souls, who carry His Jot or Light, and sees how much of dirt/sins we carry upon us by not using the soap of His name and have us cleaned throughly.
Just as any soap washes away the dirt of whosoever uses it, but the thing is to use to, that is important, for the soap does not see who is using it, its job is to clean and polish whosoever rubs it on its body.
Similarly, with His Holy Name is the same, we just need to rub it on ourselves, for that we do not have to be learned, well versed, be rich, be a sikh, a muslim a hindu or a christian, anybody who uses it, gets cleansed throughly. For it is the body who uses it who gets cleansed.
In a similar way, whichsoever soul meditates on His holy Name, gets its mind purified, and when the mind is purified, that soul regains its original splendour, and gets attarcted to the Shabad of Nam within, like the force of a bullet shot from a gun. Nobody can stop that bulllet to reach its destination, so is with the soul towards Sach Khand.
Sre Guru Nanak Dev, revealing us the summary of whole spirituality in simplicity and clarity without any ditsracting volumes of discussions or debates, right from the very begining of the Gurbani say:
Ik Oankar Satnam Satgur parsad Jap .
Which means, there is only one creator Lord, who is the Truth of Nam, and who is realized by meditative chanting of His Name. As simple as that.
The Guru throughout the SGGS, emphasizses this devoted practice.
*Saas saas simroh Gobind .
* Aisee mat deejay Thakur, sadaah sadaah tudhay dheaave
Moreover:
ਮਿਲੁ ਮੇਰੇ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਅਪਨਾ ਨਾਮੁ ਦੇਹੁ ॥
Mil Maerae Gobindh Apanaa Naam Dhaehu ||
Meet me, O my Lord of the Universe. Please bless me with Your Name
ਨਾਮ ਬਿਨਾ ਜੋ ਪਹਿਰੈ ਖਾਇ ॥
Naam Binaa Jo Pehirai Khaae ||
Without the Naam, one who dresses and eats well
ਜਿਉ ਕੂਕਰੁ ਜੂਠਨ ਮਹਿ ਪਾਇ ॥੧॥
Jio Kookar Joothan Mehi Paae ||1||
Is like a dog, who falls in and eats impure foods.
ਨਾਮ ਬਿਨਾ ਜੇਤਾ ਬਿਉਹਾਰੁ ॥
Naam Binaa Jaethaa Biouhaar ||
Without the Naam, all occupations are useless,
ਜਿਉ ਮਿਰਤਕ ਮਿਥਿਆ ਸੀਗਾਰੁ ॥੨॥
Jio Mirathak Mithhiaa Seegaar ||2||
Like decorations on a dead body. ||2
ਸੁਖੁ ਸੁਪਨੈ ਨਹੀ ਤਨ ਮਹਿ ਰੋਗ ॥੩॥
Sukh Supanai Nehee Than Mehi Rog ||3||
Shall find no peace, even in dreams; his body shall become diseased
ਨਾਮੁ ਤਿਆਗਿ ਕਰੇ ਅਨ ਕਾਜ ॥
Naam Thiaag Karae An Kaaj ||
One who renounces the Naam and engages in other occupations,
ਨਾਮ ਸੰਗਿ ਮਨਿ ਪ੍ਰੀਤਿ ਨ ਲਾਵੈ ॥
Naam Sang Man Preeth N Laavai ||
One whose mind does not embrace love for the Naam
ਕੋਟਿ ਕਰਮ ਕਰਤੋ ਨਰਕਿ ਜਾਵੈ ॥੫॥
Kott Karam Karatho Narak Jaavai ||5||
Shall go to hell, even though he may perform millions of ceremonial rituals.
ਹਰਿ ਕਾ ਨਾਮੁ ਜਿਨਿ ਮਨਿ ਨ ਆਰਾਧਾ ॥
Har Kaa Naam Jin Man N Aaraadhhaa ||
One whose mind does not contemplate the Name of the Lord
ਚੋਰ ਕੀ ਨਿਆਈ ਜਮ ਪੁਰਿ ਬਾਧਾ ॥੬॥
Chor Kee Niaaee Jam Pur Baadhhaa ||6||
Is bound like a thief, in the City of Death. ||6||
So you see bro, it is not me nor any baba singing the infinite glory of His Name an its supreme importance in the Bani, but the GURU Himself.
And if He emphasizes us to devote ourselves through this practice, who can defy His Hukum? No matter how much important in the eyes of the people that person could be.
Only those words of people should be paid attention, who go in accordance with the teachings in the Gurbani, without any additions or edititings, or manipulative explanations, but as natural and as simple in the Bani.
That is how we can express ourselves being respectful and grateful to the Guru or Guru Sahiban.
My only humble advice to whosoever wants, is to go through the Bani with love and devotion, trying to pay attention what the Guru is telling us to do, and then put those teachings into practice.
We have to learn to understand what the Bani tells us about that ultimate Truth of Nam or Shabad, in order to do that onlywhat the GURU tells us to do.
It is even fine if it is difficult to change ourselves in our spiritual practices done since we were born, but at least give some time to manifest that Nam withing us, by repeating in a meditaive state, so that when we go from this world, may the jam doots or Kal do not say, lets take this soul with us, for it has not gathered the wealth of Nam as descrfibed by the Guru in their teachings in the Bani.
The GURU is the personified embodiment of that Truth of Nam or Shabad, that is why He only sings incessantly the praises of Nam and nothing else.
The choice is still ours.... good luck to all .
