das

Stated another way, Hukam is the present moment.
In simple words, Hukam is the here and now.
 
From Jap ji Sahib -
"How can one realize the truth that all is impermanent?
By staying with the current of the eternal present moment one can recognize things for what they truly are.
What is the eternal present moment?
The eternal present moment cannot be stated, you can only be with it. But know that it is in the present moment in which things take form, in which living beings come to life, in which greatness is obtained, in which one becomes high or low, in which pleasure and pain is received. Everything is happening inside this eternal moment, there is nothing outside of it."
http://www.sikhiart.com/guru-nanak-dev-ji-flow-with-the-hukam/
 

In more simpler words:
Salvation's pre-requisite is the control of Mind. But mind works as per our old habits. So, in order to bring the mind under control is to replace the old habits with new habits. And by definition habit is the result of Repeating [Habit formation is the process by which a behaviour, through regular repetition, becomes automatic or habitual.]
Some more details:
When we examine our personality we realize that our personality is nothing but deep rooted habits. We try to change our personality but we cannot, because of these habit patterns. A habit is powerful thing. That which we have done repeatedly is our habit. When we do something again and again that action of ours will be stored in Chitta, the store house of merits and demerits. That becomes motivation for us to do same thing again. Habits are motivations in life. Mind always leads us toward our habits (Samsakaras), our senses, and sense objects. Therefore, place special attention on your habits.
Yogi Harbhajan Singh has mentioned following interesting stuff, which could definitely help us to change habits.
- 40 days to break a habit
- 90 days to gain the new habit
- 120 days and you are the habit
- 1,000 days you are Master of it
In order to be successful to change a habit, try to do Path/Simran/Meditation at the STPD: Same-Time-and-Place-Daily (without any skipping).

In more simpler words:
Salvation's pre-requisite is the control of Mind. But mind works as per our old habits. So, in order to bring the mind under control is to replace the old habits with new habits. And by definition habit is the result of Repeating [Habit formation is the process by which a behaviour, through regular repetition, becomes automatic or habitual.]
Some more details:
When we examine our personality we realize that our personality is nothing but deep rooted habits. We try to change our personality but we cannot, because of these habit patterns. A habit is powerful thing. That which we have done repeatedly is our habit. When we do something again and again that action of ours will be stored in Chitta, the store house of merits and demerits. That becomes motivation for us to do same thing again. Habits are motivations in life. Mind always leads us toward our habits (Samsakaras), our senses, and sense objects. Therefore, place special attention on your habits.
Yogi Harbhajan Singh has mentioned following interesting stuff, which could definitely help us to change habits.
- 40 days to break a habit
- 90 days to gain the new habit
- 120 days and you are the habit
- 1,000 days you are Master of it
In order to be successful to change a habit, try to do Path/Simran/Meditation at the STPD: Same-Time-and-Place-Daily (without any skipping).

In more simpler words:
Salvation's pre-requisite is the control of Mind. But mind works as per our old habits. So, in order to bring the mind under control is to replace the old habits with new habits. And by definition habit is the result of Repeating [Habit formation is the process by which a behaviour, through regular repetition, becomes automatic or habitual.]
Some more details:
When we examine our personality we realize that our personality is nothing but deep rooted habits. We try to change our personality but we cannot, because of these habit patterns. A habit is powerful thing. That which we have done repeatedly is our habit. When we do something again and again that action of ours will be stored in Chitta, the store house of merits and demerits. That becomes motivation for us to do same thing again. Habits are motivations in life. Mind always leads us toward our habits (Samsakaras), our senses, and sense objects. Therefore, place special attention on your habits.
Yogi Harbhajan Singh has mentioned following interesting stuff, which could definitely help us to change habits.
- 40 days to break a habit
- 90 days to gain the new habit
- 120 days and you are the habit
- 1,000 days you are Master of it
In order to be successful to change a habit, try to do Path/Simran/Meditation at the STPD: Same-Time-and-Place-Daily (without any skipping).

This section was meant for light hearted jokes........but in reality, both Man and Woman are part of the same universe where duality is the primary force. If we want to cross this ocean, then we've got to learn how to traverse this duality.
And where-ever (read everywhere) there is duality, it follows the following common rules:
1. Opposition: They constantly interact with each other, hence the alteration and development of an object.
2. Inter-dependence: They rely on each other for existence, coexisting in a singe entity. E.g If we look from space, we see that night and day actually coexist.
3. Mutual consumption and support: Positive and Negative each give of themselves to nourish the other.
4. Inter-transformation: Man can become Woman and Woman can become Man....one can change into the other, but it is not a random event, happening only when the time is right....may be next births depending upon the karmas.
5. Infinite sub-divisibility
let me end this with another joke:
Husband takes the wife to a disco. There’s a guy on the dance floor giving it large – break dancing, moonwalking, back flips, the works. The wife turns to her husband and says: "See that guy? 25 years ago he proposed to me and I turned him down." Husband says: "Looks like he’s still celebrating!!"

Have a quick question on all this...
So my current understanding is that Sanatan Dharam is what was the traditional name of what is now "Hinduism," and it was more of a continuous, morphing, tradition over time than a static religion "revealed" by a prophet (a more Abrahamic concept that came around during British imperialism).
"Hindu" was first used as a word from Persian, Arab, and Turkic invaders to describe residents of South Asia, which is why Babur named his son "Hindal" in honor of capturing India and India was called "Hindustan" (BTW, always makes me chuckle when Khalistanis cite the word "Hindustan" as some sort of showing of Hindu oppression....a lot of hardcore Hindutvaists also cite it as a sign of Islamic oppression, lol)
"Hindoo" was later once again appropriated by the British as a racial term to describe non-Muslims in India, and was later again changed to specify the adherents of "Hindu" (Sanatani) religion. 
So that's clear and whatnot. 
My question is this--why does Gurbani sometimes use Hindu to refer to a group of religious people? Bhai Gurdas Ji da vaar refer to this. The idea of "Tisar Panth," that of an independent Khalsa Panth arising from independent Hindu and Turk panths. I understand that "Turk" is referred to often as Mughal, yet it's used interchangeably at times with "Musalmaan"; even Bulleh Shah's poetry shows this.
 
My personal belief on all this based on what I've read so far is that Sikhi itself is a philosophical framework. It is neither the post-Singh Sabha distortion of an independent religion based on a prophet revealing a divine truth (people forget that this framework for evaluating religion doesn't make it "independent"; it solely makes it within Abrahamic views), nor do I believe it's the RSS version of a warrior-amped-up upgrade of Hinduism for Punjab. Historically, religion was extremely mixed within Punjab, something that would trouble the Salafists, the Sikh fundamentalists, and Arya Samajis in contemporary Punjab. Example of this is Ranjha, the Muslim....who went to study under a "Hindu" Jogi, Guru Gorakhnath. He didn't "convert" to Hinduism; when he came out of the experience, he was still a Muslim and had a nikah. You can see this in other places as well, such as the Rababi Muslims who follow Baba Nanak, and especially among the multitude of Punjabi Hindus/Sikhs who used to originally practice a blend of both faiths and identify with both. 
That said, I recognize there's an independent Sikh identity, and that's traditionally found in the Khalsa. Even Harjot Oberoi doesn't assume the Singh Sabha made up their "neo-Sikh" identity out of nowhere; he holds the view that they simply enforced the separate Khalsa identity onto the broader Sikh populace and boxed them in. Even within the Khalsa framework of religious identity, though, other religions are not rejected because they are "false," which is why so many Khalsa still incorporated Indic concepts into their belief system. You also have the additional factor of Islamic as well as Indic concepts being used as metaphors within Gurbani; there are plenty of shabads talking about "Shaitaan," and one shabad mentioning angels, shaykhs, prophets, and Baba Adam. Recently, my father also told me that before he learned about evolution in school, his father (we were Khalsa Sikhs, not Muslim), talked about Baba Adam as the first man. To me, the most important thing is to evaluate to what level each citing of a spiritual concept within GGS (the vast majority of them being Indic and a tiny proportion being Islamic) acts as a metaphor within Sikhi and how it does so versus an actual "belief" of the Sikh philosophy. And that's an extremely complicated question--a lot more complicated than the current simplistic dialogue between the two camps of "Guru Nanak Dev Ji says 'ik Oankar' therefore we are not polytheist therefore we are not Hindus," and "Guru Nanak cites Hindu gods and metaphysics so therefore Sikhi is a branch of Hinduism."
On a side note, we also need to think more on what identity entails in Sikhi; Sanatan Dharam often held that it was solely your dharam, your actions+their merit, that brought you "towards God" for lack of better terminology, and Abrahamic faiths (well, with some complications such as the Catholic belief of works) thought it was your religious identity that brought you to God. Sikhi is extremely interesting this way; we hold a core of our belief system to be "na koi Hindu, na koi Musalmaan," a universalism that extends past petty religious bickering and focuses on the merit of your actions instead of rituals, yet we have placed so much emphasis historically on keeping our Khalsa Rehit. I don't think that the first precludes the second per say, but rather, we should think of them in separate terms. Outside of many current Sikhs' sorta fundie beliefs and also some hyperbolic poetry within certain Khalsa Puratan rehits, my belief is that the identity was used as a unifier and for community, while the spirituality still remains intact. If someone is spiritual and cuts their hair, they can still receive spiritual mukti, IMO, but are not a part of the Khalsa community. However, just because someone adopts the hair and identity and Rehit does not immediately make them spiritually liberated; they still have to honor what Gurbani talks about spirituality. To put it succinctly: the Khalsa identity is very tight-knit, even though it's based on a spiritual core of Sikhi, which is *universal*. 

Isn't this because we've tried to trap Sikhi in a box and not understood the real thing? Haven't we reduced Sikhi to grow hair and Amrit (sanskar)? or may be it's just the effect of Mind/Kaal because it is said in Bhagat Kabir's Anurag Sagar that whenever any Saint/Guru will come to earth for the betterment of mankind, then Kaal will try everything to derail that stream....
 

I am NOT suggesting that one needs Dehghari Guru, actually I'm NOT suggesting anything, if you read Guru Granth Sahib Ji (WITHOUT THE history in mind), then it would be quite clear that Guru Ji HIMSELF (Sri Gruru Granth Sahib Ji) is talking about the necessity/need of Sants. Guru Gobind Singh Ji never said that Sants are not required. If a person really takes Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji as his/her Guru, then he/she would be more looking for Sat-Sangat (company of the Truth - the ones who has already achieved something). In other words, if you're really a seeker and have taken Amrit to become Guru-Ka-Sikh, then isn't this a duty of student to listen to his/her Guru (Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji)? These days, our thinking is: Take Amrit, do Paths and then declare that we have Guru and we don't need Sants. It's has become ritual for us and we never bothered to take a deep look into what Guru is saying.
If a mere darshan of a real Sant can be beneficial (many references in Guru Granth Sahib Ji), then think about what would be achieved if we're able to serve Him? And here I'm talking about REAL Sants and not the ones who are in news for one reason or the other.
Sant is
- NOT the one who teach you
- NOT the one who guide you
- NOT the one who instructs you
- NOT the one who gives you the meaning of Scripture(s)
- NOT the mediator.
The above mentioned ones could be Kathakars, excellent teachers, very high Spiritual state but NOT the Sants. Even though a Sant could do all the above but that is one of His techniques.
Sant is
- THE one who has come from the Dargah (Karak) to take the souls back home.
- THE one who can produce many other Sants and give them any duty.
- THE one which gives you an internal experience and then it is upto seeker to develop that.
- THE one which gives us the Vivek budh using which we can try to see the real cause. i.e then we can look-within. self-introspection.
e.g Once Arjun (excellent archer) heard about a old Saint who is known to be excellent archer even better than him. At that point of time, arjun already had all the education and training. So, arjun went to see him and requested him to teach him. The Sant said that I don't have anything to TEACH you, YOU already KNOW what is needed for the best archer. The Sant also mentioned that he has not taken the bor/arrow for the last many decades and the Sant asked arjun to go for a bath in river.
Arjun and the Sant started walking towards a little pond; on the way they had to cross a very wek temporary rope bridge over the 2 mountains. The Sant asked arjun for his bow and arrow as he wanted to check if he remembered everything. The Sant walked on the rope bridge (which was moving side-to-side) and then stopped in the middle of the bridge to take the aim at one of the fruit hanging from the tree in the mountain. He hit the aim. Arjun was astonished at the Sant's feet. The Sant asked the arjun to try the same shot again from the bridge. It took arjun many minutes to just stabilize himself on the moving rope and he shot the arrow so badly that it didn't even hit the tree what to say about the fruit. Now, the Sant mentioned to arjun that arjun does have ALL THE KNOWLEDGE but still lacks the STABLENESS.
In other words, Sant is The one which provides support to our Soul in this moving maya world. He gives us the spark which holds us stable and we need to develop that stableness further.
HE cannot be found no matter how hard we try, no matter how hard we think, no matter how hard we do self-introspection, no matter how hard we look within. We cannot find the ONE which was never lost, HE IS here. BUT HE HIMSELF discloses HIMSELF when we've tried our best and eventually have Surrended......... [Karma, Surrender, Vivek]

Isn't this because we've tried to trap Sikhi in a box and not understood the real thing? Haven't we reduced Sikhi to grow hair and Amrit (sanskar)? or may be it's just the effect of Mind/Kaal because it is said in Bhagat Kabir's Anurag Sagar that whenever any Saint/Guru will come to earth for the betterment of mankind, then Kaal will try everything to derail that stream....
 

"Don't be satisfied with stories, how things have gone with others. Unfold your own myth.”
 
― Rumi, The Essential Rumi

What is the use of Amrit (in the sense you guys are taking) if You (a mere flick in this universe) can break the Amrit? If a weak human being can break it, then what's the guarantee that it will help in next life or such.
How could such a Amrit help you after this life?
Core Sikhism was once a way of practicality in this kalyug to meet HIM, but nowdays Sikhism has been confined to kakkars; may be this is the Kalyug's way of deviating us from our core Sikh path.
At last, I'm NOT suggesting that rehat is not needed..........but keep in mind that rehat in the first place was to keep us checked/disciplined. But if we create God out of rehat, then its Our problem and Not with the rehat. It's the same way, Mind was given to us to get work done from it, but in reality mind is instructing us.........Strange ways of kalyug to keep us in this loop.

Before we further dive deep into it; let me state some of the facts first:
Gurugaddi was given to Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. No Dehdhari Guru was appointed. Most of the Gurus orally did arths of the Bani included in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.  Prominent Sikhs during that time have incorporated those arths in their respective teekas. Yes, any Spiritual knowledge is supposed to be absorbed or translated by individuals as per their own level/mind/budh. [ ਆਪੁ ਆਪੁਨੀ ਬੁਧਿ ਹੈ ਜੇਤੀ ॥ ] Now, that being said, the question remains that if Gurus could write the Dargahi Bani then why did They Choose not to write the arths?
Let's take another example which does not involve any religious scripture. e.g Someone visited a never ending treasure and now wish everyone to get benefit from it. He prepared a map which describes that the Source and Destination are the same and some other instructions regarding why/how/what one should try to get to the treasure but does not dictate the exact co-ordinates. Isn't his intention was to help all or he is trying to point out some missing element without which the knowledge of real map might not be understood.?

What is the use of Amrit (in the sense you guys are taking) if You (a mere flick in this universe) can break the Amrit? If a weak human being can break it, then what's the guarantee that it will help in next life or such.
How could such a Amrit help you after this life?
Core Sikhism was once a way of practicality in this kalyug to meet HIM, but nowdays Sikhism has been confined to kakkars; may be this is the Kalyug's way of deviating us from our core Sikh path.
At last, I'm NOT suggesting that rehat is not needed..........but keep in mind that rehat in the first place was to keep us checked/disciplined. But if we create God out of rehat, then its Our problem and Not with the rehat. It's the same way, Mind was given to us to get work done from it, but in reality mind is instructing us.........Strange ways of kalyug to keep us in this loop.

What is the use of Amrit (in the sense you guys are taking) if You (a mere flick in this universe) can break the Amrit? If a weak human being can break it, then what's the guarantee that it will help in next life or such.
How could such a Amrit help you after this life?
Core Sikhism was once a way of practicality in this kalyug to meet HIM, but nowdays Sikhism has been confined to kakkars; may be this is the Kalyug's way of deviating us from our core Sikh path.
At last, I'm NOT suggesting that rehat is not needed..........but keep in mind that rehat in the first place was to keep us checked/disciplined. But if we create God out of rehat, then its Our problem and Not with the rehat. It's the same way, Mind was given to us to get work done from it, but in reality mind is instructing us.........Strange ways of kalyug to keep us in this loop.

What is the use of Amrit (in the sense you guys are taking) if You (a mere flick in this universe) can break the Amrit? If a weak human being can break it, then what's the guarantee that it will help in next life or such.
How could such a Amrit help you after this life?
Core Sikhism was once a way of practicality in this kalyug to meet HIM, but nowdays Sikhism has been confined to kakkars; may be this is the Kalyug's way of deviating us from our core Sikh path.
At last, I'm NOT suggesting that rehat is not needed..........but keep in mind that rehat in the first place was to keep us checked/disciplined. But if we create God out of rehat, then its Our problem and Not with the rehat. It's the same way, Mind was given to us to get work done from it, but in reality mind is instructing us.........Strange ways of kalyug to keep us in this loop.

There is nothing wrong or anti-Gurmat in bowing to someone out of respect.
I bow to my parents and did to my grandmother also. When we are introduced to elders from our family/village I also touch their knees or feet with both hands. I bowed to my Dilruba and touched his feet even though he is a Namdhari Singh, hope she has nothing against Namdharis). I also used to bow to my Vidya Guru and touch his feet with folded hands as well.
It is our ancient sanskrit to bow out of respect.
Can someone pass the message on?
 

Bhawant Mann has claimed that he was not drunk and he clarified it on facebook. So, may be he is right or may be he is wrong. It's better not to create a judgement based on half truths. There are many these day who are blindly accusing RSS, some are accusing badals, some are accusing some other foreign element. No-one knows what is the truth. Best option is NOT to create communal rift in Punjab by carelessly accusing common man of particular religion or generalizing the ongoings.
We're living in bad times where we don't know what is truth and what is false; just like a mirage where we think that what is see is truth but it's not.

Sometimes English translations just loose the essence of the shabad.
ਸਲੋਕ  ਮਹਲਾ  ੨  ॥
ਗੁਰੁ  ਕੁੰਜੀ  ਪਾਹੂ  ਨਿਵਲੁ  ਮਨੁ  ਕੋਠਾ  ਤਨੁ  ਛਤਿ  ॥
ਨਾਨਕ  ਗੁਰ  ਬਿਨੁ  ਮਨ  ਕਾ  ਤਾਕੁ  ਨ  ਉਘੜੈ  ਅਵਰ  ਨ  ਕੁੰਜੀ  ਹਥਿ  ॥੧॥
---------------------------
ਮਹਲਾ  ੨  ॥
ਸਿਫਤਿ  ਜਿਨਾ  ਕਉ  ਬਖਸੀਐ  ਸੇਈ  ਪੋਤੇਦਾਰ  ॥
ਕੁੰਜੀ  ਜਿਨ  ਕਉ  ਦਿਤੀਆ  ਤਿਨ੍ਹ੍ਹਾ  ਮਿਲੇ  ਭੰਡਾਰ  ॥
ਜਹ  ਭੰਡਾਰੀ  ਹੂ  ਗੁਣ  ਨਿਕਲਹਿ  ਤੇ  ਕੀਅਹਿ  ਪਰਵਾਣੁ  ॥
ਨਦਰਿ  ਤਿਨ੍ਹ੍ਹਾ  ਕਉ  ਨਾਨਕਾ  ਨਾਮੁ  ਜਿਨ੍ਹ੍ਹਾ  ਨੀਸਾਣੁ  ॥੨॥
---------------------------
ਰਾਗੁ  ਗਉੜੀ  ਪੂਰਬੀ ਮਹਲਾ  ੫
ੴ  ਸਤਿਗੁਰ  ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ  ॥
ਕਿਨ  ਬਿਧਿ  ਮਿਲੈ  ਗੁਸਾਈ  ਮੇਰੇ  ਰਾਮ  ਰਾਇ  ॥
ਕੋਈ  ਐਸਾ  ਸੰਤੁ  ਸਹਜ  ਸੁਖਦਾਤਾ  ਮੋਹਿ  ਮਾਰਗੁ  ਦੇਇ  ਬਤਾਈ  ॥੧॥  ਰਹਾਉ  ॥
ਅੰਤਰਿ  ਅਲਖੁ  ਨ  ਜਾਈ  ਲਖਿਆ  ਵਿਚਿ  ਪੜਦਾ  ਹਉਮੈ  ਪਾਈ  ॥
ਮਾਇਆ  ਮੋਹਿ  ਸਭੋ  ਜਗੁ  ਸੋਇਆ  ਇਹੁ  ਭਰਮੁ  ਕਹਹੁ  ਕਿਉ  ਜਾਈ  ॥੧॥
ਏਕਾ  ਸੰਗਤਿ  ਇਕਤੁ  ਗ੍ਰਿਹਿ  ਬਸਤੇ  ਮਿਲਿ  ਬਾਤ  ਨ  ਕਰਤੇ  ਭਾਈ  ॥
ਏਕ  ਬਸਤੁ  ਬਿਨੁ  ਪੰਚ  ਦੁਹੇਲੇ  ਓਹ  ਬਸਤੁ  ਅਗੋਚਰ  ਠਾਈ  ॥੨॥
ਜਿਸ  ਕਾ  ਗ੍ਰਿਹੁ  ਤਿਨਿ  ਦੀਆ  ਤਾਲਾ  ਕੁੰਜੀ  ਗੁਰ  ਸਉਪਾਈ  ॥
ਅਨਿਕ  ਉਪਾਵ  ਕਰੇ  ਨਹੀ  ਪਾਵੈ  ਬਿਨੁ  ਸਤਿਗੁਰ  ਸਰਣਾਈ  ॥੩॥
ਜਿਨ  ਕੇ  ਬੰਧਨ  ਕਾਟੇ  ਸਤਿਗੁਰ  ਤਿਨ  ਸਾਧਸੰਗਤਿ  ਲਿਵ  ਲਾਈ  ॥
ਪੰਚ  ਜਨਾ  ਮਿਲਿ  ਮੰਗਲੁ  ਗਾਇਆ  ਹਰਿ  ਨਾਨਕ  ਭੇਦੁ  ਨ  ਭਾਈ  ॥੪॥
ਮੇਰੇ  ਰਾਮ  ਰਾਇ  ਇਨ  ਬਿਧਿ  ਮਿਲੈ  ਗੁਸਾਈ  ॥
ਸਹਜੁ  ਭਇਆ  ਭ੍ਰਮੁ  ਖਿਨ  ਮਹਿ  ਨਾਠਾ  ਮਿਲਿ  ਜੋਤੀ  ਜੋਤਿ  ਸਮਾਈ  ॥੧॥  ਰਹਾਉ  ਦੂਜਾ  ॥੧॥੧੨੨॥
---------------------------------
HOW THE TRUE GURU IS FOUND: Aka: How to unlock what Guru is really telling us.
ਸਿਰੀਰਾਗੁ  ਮਹਲੁ  ੧  ॥
ਧਾਤੁ  ਮਿਲੈ  ਫੁਨਿ  ਧਾਤੁ  ਕਉ  ਸਿਫਤੀ  ਸਿਫਤਿ  ਸਮਾਇ  ॥
ਲਾਲੁ  ਗੁਲਾਲੁ  ਗਹਬਰਾ  ਸਚਾ  ਰੰਗੁ  ਚੜਾਉ  ॥
ਸਚੁ  ਮਿਲੈ  ਸੰਤੋਖੀਆ  ਹਰਿ  ਜਪਿ  ਏਕੈ  ਭਾਇ  ॥੧॥
ਭਾਈ  ਰੇ  ਸੰਤ  ਜਨਾ  ਕੀ  ਰੇਣੁ  ॥
ਸੰਤ  ਸਭਾ  ਗੁਰੁ  ਪਾਈਐ  ਮੁਕਤਿ  ਪਦਾਰਥੁ  ਧੇਣੁ  ॥੧॥  ਰਹਾਉ  ॥
ਊਚਉ  ਥਾਨੁ  ਸੁਹਾਵਣਾ  ਊਪਰਿ  ਮਹਲੁ  ਮੁਰਾਰਿ  ॥
ਸਚੁ  ਕਰਣੀ  ਦੇ  ਪਾਈਐ  ਦਰੁ  ਘਰੁ  ਮਹਲੁ  ਪਿਆਰਿ  ॥
ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ  ਮਨੁ  ਸਮਝਾਈਐ  ਆਤਮ  ਰਾਮੁ  ਬੀਚਾਰਿ  ॥੨॥
ਤ੍ਰਿਬਿਧਿ  ਕਰਮ  ਕਮਾਈਅਹਿ  ਆਸ  ਅੰਦੇਸਾ  ਹੋਇ  ॥
ਕਿਉ  ਗੁਰ  ਬਿਨੁ  ਤ੍ਰਿਕੁਟੀ  ਛੁਟਸੀ  ਸਹਜਿ  ਮਿਲਿਐ  ਸੁਖੁ  ਹੋਇ  ॥
ਨਿਜ  ਘਰਿ  ਮਹਲੁ  ਪਛਾਣੀਐ  ਨਦਰਿ  ਕਰੇ  ਮਲੁ  ਧੋਇ  ॥੩॥
ਬਿਨੁ  ਗੁਰ  ਮੈਲੁ  ਨ  ਉਤਰੈ  ਬਿਨੁ  ਹਰਿ  ਕਿਉ  ਘਰ  ਵਾਸੁ  ॥
ਏਕੋ  ਸਬਦੁ  ਵੀਚਾਰੀਐ  ਅਵਰ  ਤਿਆਗੈ  ਆਸ  ॥
ਨਾਨਕ  ਦੇਖਿ  ਦਿਖਾਈਐ  ਹਉ  ਸਦ  ਬਲਿਹਾਰੈ  ਜਾਸੁ  ॥੪॥੧੨॥
------------------------
ਸਭਿ ਸੁਖ ਹਰਿ ਰਸ ਭੋਗਣੇ ਸੰਤ ਸਭਾ ਮਿਲਿ ਗਿਆਨੁ ॥
===================================
Basically, what I'm trying to say is that: Real Saints are must for the breaking the highest level. Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is NOT the replacement of Sants. In-fact, there are many references in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji where is clear that Guru and Sant (real Sant) both are required and often inter-changeable (isn't this just a name tag). And this might be the reason that Guru did not write down the arths/translations of Guru Granth Sahib Ji: because TRUTH never changes but the seeker is always on change and therefore seeker needs a customized understanding as per their current level and that where Sants come to the picture. 
Sant is the one who has the key to unlock the treasure. So, how could we play-down-the-importance-of-Sants. I agree that these days a lot of not-so-high and some even fake Sants are present and these are the only type of Sant these days youngsters are exposed to. So, naturally the youngsters will be against these so-called Sants but this is leading our young generation towards the point where Muslims are: Katarpanthi and loosing the essence.
Moreover, I've seen another brand of people who say that puratan Sants were perfect and today there are none and therefore they just do ninda of today's Saints. It is correct to say that there are less Sants (real) these days but we often forget that there is also the downwall of the real seekers. Why would we expect a Phd teachers in excess whereas there are very less students? After-all Sants come to help the Souls on the path of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji (Shabad marg).
So, bottom line is: when we're in lower grades e.g say in kindergarten then it IS okay to take lessons from lower grade teacher (keeping in mind that this is not the destination) and keep moving and eventually once we're ready, then we'll get the real understanding of Bani. Isn't it foolish to argue/blame/debate regarding the lack of true teachers or fake-teachers without relizing where we're standing on the path? These days, we put great stress on debates regarding rIght (MY version) vs wrong (OTHER's version.)
 

I am NOT suggesting that one needs Dehghari Guru, actually I'm NOT suggesting anything, if you read Guru Granth Sahib Ji (WITHOUT THE history in mind), then it would be quite clear that Guru Ji HIMSELF (Sri Gruru Granth Sahib Ji) is talking about the necessity/need of Sants. Guru Gobind Singh Ji never said that Sants are not required. If a person really takes Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji as his/her Guru, then he/she would be more looking for Sat-Sangat (company of the Truth - the ones who has already achieved something). In other words, if you're really a seeker and have taken Amrit to become Guru-Ka-Sikh, then isn't this a duty of student to listen to his/her Guru (Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji)? These days, our thinking is: Take Amrit, do Paths and then declare that we have Guru and we don't need Sants. It's has become ritual for us and we never bothered to take a deep look into what Guru is saying.
If a mere darshan of a real Sant can be beneficial (many references in Guru Granth Sahib Ji), then think about what would be achieved if we're able to serve Him? And here I'm talking about REAL Sants and not the ones who are in news for one reason or the other.
Sant is
- NOT the one who teach you
- NOT the one who guide you
- NOT the one who instructs you
- NOT the one who gives you the meaning of Scripture(s)
- NOT the mediator.
The above mentioned ones could be Kathakars, excellent teachers, very high Spiritual state but NOT the Sants. Even though a Sant could do all the above but that is one of His techniques.
Sant is
- THE one who has come from the Dargah (Karak) to take the souls back home.
- THE one who can produce many other Sants and give them any duty.
- THE one which gives you an internal experience and then it is upto seeker to develop that.
- THE one which gives us the Vivek budh using which we can try to see the real cause. i.e then we can look-within. self-introspection.
e.g Once Arjun (excellent archer) heard about a old Saint who is known to be excellent archer even better than him. At that point of time, arjun already had all the education and training. So, arjun went to see him and requested him to teach him. The Sant said that I don't have anything to TEACH you, YOU already KNOW what is needed for the best archer. The Sant also mentioned that he has not taken the bor/arrow for the last many decades and the Sant asked arjun to go for a bath in river.
Arjun and the Sant started walking towards a little pond; on the way they had to cross a very wek temporary rope bridge over the 2 mountains. The Sant asked arjun for his bow and arrow as he wanted to check if he remembered everything. The Sant walked on the rope bridge (which was moving side-to-side) and then stopped in the middle of the bridge to take the aim at one of the fruit hanging from the tree in the mountain. He hit the aim. Arjun was astonished at the Sant's feet. The Sant asked the arjun to try the same shot again from the bridge. It took arjun many minutes to just stabilize himself on the moving rope and he shot the arrow so badly that it didn't even hit the tree what to say about the fruit. Now, the Sant mentioned to arjun that arjun does have ALL THE KNOWLEDGE but still lacks the STABLENESS.
In other words, Sant is The one which provides support to our Soul in this moving maya world. He gives us the spark which holds us stable and we need to develop that stableness further.
HE cannot be found no matter how hard we try, no matter how hard we think, no matter how hard we do self-introspection, no matter how hard we look within. We cannot find the ONE which was never lost, HE IS here. BUT HE HIMSELF discloses HIMSELF when we've tried our best and eventually have Surrended......... [Karma, Surrender, Vivek]

I am NOT suggesting that one needs Dehghari Guru, actually I'm NOT suggesting anything, if you read Guru Granth Sahib Ji (WITHOUT THE history in mind), then it would be quite clear that Guru Ji HIMSELF (Sri Gruru Granth Sahib Ji) is talking about the necessity/need of Sants. Guru Gobind Singh Ji never said that Sants are not required. If a person really takes Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji as his/her Guru, then he/she would be more looking for Sat-Sangat (company of the Truth - the ones who has already achieved something). In other words, if you're really a seeker and have taken Amrit to become Guru-Ka-Sikh, then isn't this a duty of student to listen to his/her Guru (Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji)? These days, our thinking is: Take Amrit, do Paths and then declare that we have Guru and we don't need Sants. It's has become ritual for us and we never bothered to take a deep look into what Guru is saying.
If a mere darshan of a real Sant can be beneficial (many references in Guru Granth Sahib Ji), then think about what would be achieved if we're able to serve Him? And here I'm talking about REAL Sants and not the ones who are in news for one reason or the other.
Sant is
- NOT the one who teach you
- NOT the one who guide you
- NOT the one who instructs you
- NOT the one who gives you the meaning of Scripture(s)
- NOT the mediator.
The above mentioned ones could be Kathakars, excellent teachers, very high Spiritual state but NOT the Sants. Even though a Sant could do all the above but that is one of His techniques.
Sant is
- THE one who has come from the Dargah (Karak) to take the souls back home.
- THE one who can produce many other Sants and give them any duty.
- THE one which gives you an internal experience and then it is upto seeker to develop that.
- THE one which gives us the Vivek budh using which we can try to see the real cause. i.e then we can look-within. self-introspection.
e.g Once Arjun (excellent archer) heard about a old Saint who is known to be excellent archer even better than him. At that point of time, arjun already had all the education and training. So, arjun went to see him and requested him to teach him. The Sant said that I don't have anything to TEACH you, YOU already KNOW what is needed for the best archer. The Sant also mentioned that he has not taken the bor/arrow for the last many decades and the Sant asked arjun to go for a bath in river.
Arjun and the Sant started walking towards a little pond; on the way they had to cross a very wek temporary rope bridge over the 2 mountains. The Sant asked arjun for his bow and arrow as he wanted to check if he remembered everything. The Sant walked on the rope bridge (which was moving side-to-side) and then stopped in the middle of the bridge to take the aim at one of the fruit hanging from the tree in the mountain. He hit the aim. Arjun was astonished at the Sant's feet. The Sant asked the arjun to try the same shot again from the bridge. It took arjun many minutes to just stabilize himself on the moving rope and he shot the arrow so badly that it didn't even hit the tree what to say about the fruit. Now, the Sant mentioned to arjun that arjun does have ALL THE KNOWLEDGE but still lacks the STABLENESS.
In other words, Sant is The one which provides support to our Soul in this moving maya world. He gives us the spark which holds us stable and we need to develop that stableness further.
HE cannot be found no matter how hard we try, no matter how hard we think, no matter how hard we do self-introspection, no matter how hard we look within. We cannot find the ONE which was never lost, HE IS here. BUT HE HIMSELF discloses HIMSELF when we've tried our best and eventually have Surrended......... [Karma, Surrender, Vivek]

Sometimes English translations just loose the essence of the shabad.
ਸਲੋਕ  ਮਹਲਾ  ੨  ॥
ਗੁਰੁ  ਕੁੰਜੀ  ਪਾਹੂ  ਨਿਵਲੁ  ਮਨੁ  ਕੋਠਾ  ਤਨੁ  ਛਤਿ  ॥
ਨਾਨਕ  ਗੁਰ  ਬਿਨੁ  ਮਨ  ਕਾ  ਤਾਕੁ  ਨ  ਉਘੜੈ  ਅਵਰ  ਨ  ਕੁੰਜੀ  ਹਥਿ  ॥੧॥
---------------------------
ਮਹਲਾ  ੨  ॥
ਸਿਫਤਿ  ਜਿਨਾ  ਕਉ  ਬਖਸੀਐ  ਸੇਈ  ਪੋਤੇਦਾਰ  ॥
ਕੁੰਜੀ  ਜਿਨ  ਕਉ  ਦਿਤੀਆ  ਤਿਨ੍ਹ੍ਹਾ  ਮਿਲੇ  ਭੰਡਾਰ  ॥
ਜਹ  ਭੰਡਾਰੀ  ਹੂ  ਗੁਣ  ਨਿਕਲਹਿ  ਤੇ  ਕੀਅਹਿ  ਪਰਵਾਣੁ  ॥
ਨਦਰਿ  ਤਿਨ੍ਹ੍ਹਾ  ਕਉ  ਨਾਨਕਾ  ਨਾਮੁ  ਜਿਨ੍ਹ੍ਹਾ  ਨੀਸਾਣੁ  ॥੨॥
---------------------------
ਰਾਗੁ  ਗਉੜੀ  ਪੂਰਬੀ ਮਹਲਾ  ੫
ੴ  ਸਤਿਗੁਰ  ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ  ॥
ਕਿਨ  ਬਿਧਿ  ਮਿਲੈ  ਗੁਸਾਈ  ਮੇਰੇ  ਰਾਮ  ਰਾਇ  ॥
ਕੋਈ  ਐਸਾ  ਸੰਤੁ  ਸਹਜ  ਸੁਖਦਾਤਾ  ਮੋਹਿ  ਮਾਰਗੁ  ਦੇਇ  ਬਤਾਈ  ॥੧॥  ਰਹਾਉ  ॥
ਅੰਤਰਿ  ਅਲਖੁ  ਨ  ਜਾਈ  ਲਖਿਆ  ਵਿਚਿ  ਪੜਦਾ  ਹਉਮੈ  ਪਾਈ  ॥
ਮਾਇਆ  ਮੋਹਿ  ਸਭੋ  ਜਗੁ  ਸੋਇਆ  ਇਹੁ  ਭਰਮੁ  ਕਹਹੁ  ਕਿਉ  ਜਾਈ  ॥੧॥
ਏਕਾ  ਸੰਗਤਿ  ਇਕਤੁ  ਗ੍ਰਿਹਿ  ਬਸਤੇ  ਮਿਲਿ  ਬਾਤ  ਨ  ਕਰਤੇ  ਭਾਈ  ॥
ਏਕ  ਬਸਤੁ  ਬਿਨੁ  ਪੰਚ  ਦੁਹੇਲੇ  ਓਹ  ਬਸਤੁ  ਅਗੋਚਰ  ਠਾਈ  ॥੨॥
ਜਿਸ  ਕਾ  ਗ੍ਰਿਹੁ  ਤਿਨਿ  ਦੀਆ  ਤਾਲਾ  ਕੁੰਜੀ  ਗੁਰ  ਸਉਪਾਈ  ॥
ਅਨਿਕ  ਉਪਾਵ  ਕਰੇ  ਨਹੀ  ਪਾਵੈ  ਬਿਨੁ  ਸਤਿਗੁਰ  ਸਰਣਾਈ  ॥੩॥
ਜਿਨ  ਕੇ  ਬੰਧਨ  ਕਾਟੇ  ਸਤਿਗੁਰ  ਤਿਨ  ਸਾਧਸੰਗਤਿ  ਲਿਵ  ਲਾਈ  ॥
ਪੰਚ  ਜਨਾ  ਮਿਲਿ  ਮੰਗਲੁ  ਗਾਇਆ  ਹਰਿ  ਨਾਨਕ  ਭੇਦੁ  ਨ  ਭਾਈ  ॥੪॥
ਮੇਰੇ  ਰਾਮ  ਰਾਇ  ਇਨ  ਬਿਧਿ  ਮਿਲੈ  ਗੁਸਾਈ  ॥
ਸਹਜੁ  ਭਇਆ  ਭ੍ਰਮੁ  ਖਿਨ  ਮਹਿ  ਨਾਠਾ  ਮਿਲਿ  ਜੋਤੀ  ਜੋਤਿ  ਸਮਾਈ  ॥੧॥  ਰਹਾਉ  ਦੂਜਾ  ॥੧॥੧੨੨॥
---------------------------------
HOW THE TRUE GURU IS FOUND: Aka: How to unlock what Guru is really telling us.
ਸਿਰੀਰਾਗੁ  ਮਹਲੁ  ੧  ॥
ਧਾਤੁ  ਮਿਲੈ  ਫੁਨਿ  ਧਾਤੁ  ਕਉ  ਸਿਫਤੀ  ਸਿਫਤਿ  ਸਮਾਇ  ॥
ਲਾਲੁ  ਗੁਲਾਲੁ  ਗਹਬਰਾ  ਸਚਾ  ਰੰਗੁ  ਚੜਾਉ  ॥
ਸਚੁ  ਮਿਲੈ  ਸੰਤੋਖੀਆ  ਹਰਿ  ਜਪਿ  ਏਕੈ  ਭਾਇ  ॥੧॥
ਭਾਈ  ਰੇ  ਸੰਤ  ਜਨਾ  ਕੀ  ਰੇਣੁ  ॥
ਸੰਤ  ਸਭਾ  ਗੁਰੁ  ਪਾਈਐ  ਮੁਕਤਿ  ਪਦਾਰਥੁ  ਧੇਣੁ  ॥੧॥  ਰਹਾਉ  ॥
ਊਚਉ  ਥਾਨੁ  ਸੁਹਾਵਣਾ  ਊਪਰਿ  ਮਹਲੁ  ਮੁਰਾਰਿ  ॥
ਸਚੁ  ਕਰਣੀ  ਦੇ  ਪਾਈਐ  ਦਰੁ  ਘਰੁ  ਮਹਲੁ  ਪਿਆਰਿ  ॥
ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ  ਮਨੁ  ਸਮਝਾਈਐ  ਆਤਮ  ਰਾਮੁ  ਬੀਚਾਰਿ  ॥੨॥
ਤ੍ਰਿਬਿਧਿ  ਕਰਮ  ਕਮਾਈਅਹਿ  ਆਸ  ਅੰਦੇਸਾ  ਹੋਇ  ॥
ਕਿਉ  ਗੁਰ  ਬਿਨੁ  ਤ੍ਰਿਕੁਟੀ  ਛੁਟਸੀ  ਸਹਜਿ  ਮਿਲਿਐ  ਸੁਖੁ  ਹੋਇ  ॥
ਨਿਜ  ਘਰਿ  ਮਹਲੁ  ਪਛਾਣੀਐ  ਨਦਰਿ  ਕਰੇ  ਮਲੁ  ਧੋਇ  ॥੩॥
ਬਿਨੁ  ਗੁਰ  ਮੈਲੁ  ਨ  ਉਤਰੈ  ਬਿਨੁ  ਹਰਿ  ਕਿਉ  ਘਰ  ਵਾਸੁ  ॥
ਏਕੋ  ਸਬਦੁ  ਵੀਚਾਰੀਐ  ਅਵਰ  ਤਿਆਗੈ  ਆਸ  ॥
ਨਾਨਕ  ਦੇਖਿ  ਦਿਖਾਈਐ  ਹਉ  ਸਦ  ਬਲਿਹਾਰੈ  ਜਾਸੁ  ॥੪॥੧੨॥
------------------------
ਸਭਿ ਸੁਖ ਹਰਿ ਰਸ ਭੋਗਣੇ ਸੰਤ ਸਭਾ ਮਿਲਿ ਗਿਆਨੁ ॥
===================================
Basically, what I'm trying to say is that: Real Saints are must for the breaking the highest level. Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is NOT the replacement of Sants. In-fact, there are many references in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji where is clear that Guru and Sant (real Sant) both are required and often inter-changeable (isn't this just a name tag). And this might be the reason that Guru did not write down the arths/translations of Guru Granth Sahib Ji: because TRUTH never changes but the seeker is always on change and therefore seeker needs a customized understanding as per their current level and that where Sants come to the picture. 
Sant is the one who has the key to unlock the treasure. So, how could we play-down-the-importance-of-Sants. I agree that these days a lot of not-so-high and some even fake Sants are present and these are the only type of Sant these days youngsters are exposed to. So, naturally the youngsters will be against these so-called Sants but this is leading our young generation towards the point where Muslims are: Katarpanthi and loosing the essence.
Moreover, I've seen another brand of people who say that puratan Sants were perfect and today there are none and therefore they just do ninda of today's Saints. It is correct to say that there are less Sants (real) these days but we often forget that there is also the downwall of the real seekers. Why would we expect a Phd teachers in excess whereas there are very less students? After-all Sants come to help the Souls on the path of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji (Shabad marg).
So, bottom line is: when we're in lower grades e.g say in kindergarten then it IS okay to take lessons from lower grade teacher (keeping in mind that this is not the destination) and keep moving and eventually once we're ready, then we'll get the real understanding of Bani. Isn't it foolish to argue/blame/debate regarding the lack of true teachers or fake-teachers without relizing where we're standing on the path? These days, we put great stress on debates regarding rIght (MY version) vs wrong (OTHER's version.)
 

Some of you will find this entertaining.  Interview was from last November, but The Sikh Review printed it in the Sept 2015 issue.  I don't care if my real name is in it (previous and new one both) I don't have anything to hide.
However, I am praying that there won't be any personal attacks either through the Sangat here in person etc...as a result of my posting this. Please keep your negative comments / attacks to here only. 
 

Don't get mixed up............You have to realise that it is ''displays'' of worship that are not gurmat. ..and this means any kind of display, not just dancing.
Check my post again,, it's about your Mind-atma connection and what you have it focused on.
You have to realise what 'worship' really means.
A gurmukh is meant to get to stage of 24/7 saas saas and rom rom..........If you get there, then that means that any thing you do during that 24/7 can become acts of worship..because your mind will be tied like a knot with satguru.
 

That's good.............but Sat, it's actually a little more than that.
You see the mantra itself helps to wake up and manifest the powers of the MIND.
Our limited buddhi doesn't even realise the powers that are hidden and tucked away in this Jyot Saroop Mann.
Thus, Mantra is a 'tool' that is specific in knocking and waking that mind.
NOTE ...man-tra is man=Mind and tra= Tool.