Japji Sahib Vichaar Pauri 1 (part 1) - Sahib Sant Singh Ji Maskeen, A Translation

[amardeep]

By a sewadaar on sikhsangar:

Wjkk Wjkf Jeo,

Firstly, many many apologies for all the mistakes and errors I may have made during the translation of this vichaar. With Waheguru Ji's hukam, I hope one day He will make do the translation of rest of the tapes in this vichaar series. Anyhow, for the moment, here is Sahib Sant Singh Ji Maskeen's vichaars on Japji Sahib Ji's first pauri. Hope it is an interesting read, and as usual, i'll say listen to the original audio if you find a lot has been lost in the translation.

Gurfateh Jeo

-- ------------------------------------------ JAPJI SAHIB VICHAAR PAURI 1 ------------------------------------------------

ੴ ਸਤਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਕਰਤਾ ਪੁਰਖੁ ਨਿਰਭਉ ਨਿਰਵੈਰੁ ਅਕਾਲ ਮੂਰਤਿ ਅਜੂਨੀ ਸੈਭੰ ਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥

ikoankaar sathnaam karathaa purakh nirabho niravair akaal moorath ajoonee saibhan gurprasaadh||

One Universal Creator God.TheName Is Truth.CreativeBeingPersonified.NoFear.NoHatred.ImageOfTheUndying, BeyondBirth, Self-Existent. By Guru's Grace~

ਜਪੁ ॥

|| jap ||

Chant And Meditate:

ਆਦਿ ਸਚੁ ਜੁਗਾਦਿ ਸਚੁ ॥

aadh sach jugaadh sach ||

True In The Primal Beginning. True Throughout The Ages.

ਹੈ ਭੀ ਸਚੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਹੋਸੀ ਭੀ ਸਚੁ ॥੧॥

hai bhee sach naanak hosee bhee sach ||1||

True Here And Now. O Nanak, Forever And Ever True. ||1||

ਸੋਚੈ ਸੋਚਿ ਨ ਹੋਵਈ ਜੇ ਸੋਚੀ ਲਖ ਵਾਰ ॥

sochai soch n hovee jae sochee lakh vaar ||

By thinking, He cannot be reduced to thought, even by thinking hundreds of thousands of times.

ਚੁਪੈ ਚੁਪ ਨ ਹੋਵਈ ਜੇ ਲਾਇ ਰਹਾ ਲਿਵ ਤਾਰ ॥

chupai chup n hovee jae laae rehaa liv thaar ||

By remaining silent, inner silence is not obtained, even by remaining lovingly absorbed deep within.

ਭੁਖਿਆ ਭੁਖ ਨ ਉਤਰੀ ਜੇ ਬੰਨਾ ਪੁਰੀਆ ਭਾਰ ॥

bhukhiaa bhukh n outharee jae bannaa pureeaa bhaar ||

The hunger of the hungry is not appeased, even by piling up loads of worldly goods.

ਸਹਸ ਸਿਆਣਪਾ ਲਖ ਹੋਹਿ ਤ ਇਕ ਨ ਚਲੈ ਨਾਲਿ ॥

sehas siaanapaa lakh hohi th eik n chalai naal ||

Hundreds of thousands of clever tricks, but not even one of them will go along with you in the end.

ਕਿਵ ਸਚਿਆਰਾ ਹੋਈਐ ਕਿਵ ਕੂੜੈ ਤੁਟੈ ਪਾਲਿ ॥

kiv sachiaaraa hoeeai kiv koorrai thuttai paal ||

So how can you become truthful? And how can the veil of illusion be torn away?

ਹੁਕਮਿ ਰਜਾਈ ਚਲਣਾ ਨਾਨਕ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਨਾਲਿ ॥੧॥[/color]

hukam rajaaee chalanaa naanak likhiaa naal ||1||

O Nanak, it is written that you shall obey the Hukam of His Command, and walk in the Way of His Will. ||1||

The eternal 'Jap' is the bani of Dhan Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji. The entire philosophy and thought of Guru Nanak Dev Ji circumambulates around the bani 'Jap'. He has explained that 'Jap' is the only way of attaining God.

ਜਪਹੁ ਤ ਏਕੋ ਨਾਮਾ ॥

japahu th eaeko naamaa ||

Chant the Name of the One Lord.

ਅਵਰਿ ਨਿਰਾਫਲ ਕਾਮਾ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

avar niraafal kaamaa ||1|| rehaao ||

All other actions are fruitless. ||1||Pause|| (Ang 728, SGGS Ji)

'Jap' is the starting bani of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. Just before 'Jap', there is a Manglacharan, it is both the Manglacharan of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji and 'Jap'. Right from ancient times, whenever Rishis used to write any sacred texts, they would write a Manglacharan before writing rest of text. Singing the Mangal became a principle ritual in the world of the writers of religious texts. Often, Saraswati and Ganesh were the primal entities featured in the Manglacharans. There was a school of thought that provider of Siddhi is the Ganesh, while Saraswati is the giver of the knowledge (Buddhi). These two are the also the principle needs of human beings - Siddh and Buddh. Siddhi covers all the material objects of this world and Buddhi refers to the entire knowledge of this universe and beyond. Attainment of materials is the want of the body, while knowledge is the thirst of the soul. There is a strong desire within the human to know the whys and hows of all the events around him. So, human beings not only want to gain all the material objects, but also wants to attain the knowledge of everything. When the thirst of the attainment of knowledge is not quenched, then the state is like that of a hungry person, the desperation grows and the satisfactions comes only when answers to all of his questions are received.

The belief that Ganesh and Saraswati are the givers of Siddhi and Buddhi respectively was despelled by the arrival of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji. He sang the Mangals in the praise of the Creator, not his creations. Guru Nanak Dev Ji declared that Siddh and Buddh cannot be achieved by singing the praises of anyone else but Akal Purakh alone. If Siddh and Buddh could be attained from anyone else, there would be no need left to worship Akal Purakh. The Mangal that Guru Nanak Dev Ji sang, which is also the Mool Mantar of the Sikh faith, starts with the 'One'. Everything comes from that One, from Him one receives Siddh and Buddh, the processes of life and death all come from that One. The very existence of this entire universe revolves around the One, all the diversity starts and controlled by the One.

When Guru Nanak Dev Ji gained enlightenment and became one with the One, the first word that he uttered from his mouth is ੴ (Ikoankaar). He is One, one who creates, nurtures and destroys all elements of the universe. Oankaar is the amalgamation of three words , Akaar, Ukaar and Makaar, He is the Creator, Nurturer and the Destoryer. That ੴ (Ikoankaar) is ਸਤਿ, the Truth - He is eternal, and that Eternal One has got ਨਾਮੁ , a name as well. That ONE is the ਕਰਤਾ ਪੁਰਖੁ , the Creator and not a creation. A painter makes a painting in his house, but hangs on the wall of some other house (when sold). Akal Purakh is not such that his creations would be separated from Him, whether it is a grain of sand, the thundering clouds or the vast oceans, He is omnipresent in His each and every creation.

That ਕਰਤਾ ਪੁਰਖੁ , the Creator, is ਨਿਰਭਉ and ਨਿਰਵੈਰੁ , He is without any fear and has got no rivals. This is natural, because often our fears come from someone who is bigger than us, but as there is no one else greater and bigger than Him, He has no fear.

ਤਿਸ ਕਾ ਸਰੀਕੁ ਕੋ ਨਹੀ ਨਾ ਕੋ ਕੰਟਕੁ ਵੈਰਾਈ ॥

this kaa sareek ko nehee naa ko kanttak vairaaee ||

He has no rival, no attacker, no enemy. (Ang 592, SGGS Ji)

That Creator is ਅਕਾਲ , He is beyond the hands of time, one cannot attach the concepts of past and future with Him. The only time that we can associate with Him is the Present - God IS. He is not within the confines of time, because time itself comes from Him. One can see from own experiences that the sense of time varies with the mood. If one is in a joyous state, time seems to go really fast, while time slows down when one is in a sad mood. Sadness, whether it is worldly, or spiritual, stretches the dimensions of time and make it appear to last much longer than normal. Guru Arjan Dev Ji says:

ਚਾਰਿ ਪਹਰ ਚਹੁ ਜੁਗਹ ਸਮਾਨੇ ॥

chaar pehar chahu jugeh samaanae ||

The four watches of the day are like the four ages.

ਰੈਣਿ ਭਈ ਤਬ ਅੰਤੁ ਨ ਜਾਨੇ ॥੨॥

rain bhee thab anth n jaanae ||2||

And when night comes, I think that it shall never end. ||2|| (Ang 375, SGGS Ji)

Hey Parmatma, a day spent in your seperation seems like four ages, while the night never seems to end.

With Creator, the concept of time does not exist. Bhagat Kabir Ji says:

ਦਿਨਸੁ ਨ ਰੈਨਿ ਬੇਦੁ ਨਹੀ ਸਾਸਤ੍ਰ ਤਹਾ ਬਸੈ ਨਿਰੰਕਾਰਾ ॥

dhinas n rain baedh nehee saasathr thehaa basai nirankaaraa ||

Where there is neither day nor night, and neither Vedas nor Shaastras, there, the Formless Lord abides.

ਕਹਿ ਕਬੀਰ ਨਰ ਤਿਸਹਿ ਧਿਆਵਹੁ ਬਾਵਰਿਆ ਸੰਸਾਰਾ ॥੪॥੪॥੩੭॥

kehi kabeer nar thisehi dhhiaavahu baavariaa sansaaraa ||4||4||37||

Says Kabeer, meditate on Him, O mad-men of the world. ||4||4||37||

He is ਅਕਾਲ , and to clear any misunderstanding that Creator is just a fragment of imagination, Guru Nanak Dev Ji says he has ਮੂਰਤਿ , he exists. He exists but He is ਅਜੂਨੀ, nobody has created Him, he is not a creation. How does He exist then? Guru Nanak Dev Ji says He is ਸੈਭੰ , He self-exists.

ਆਪੀਨ੍ਹ੍ਹੈ ਆਪੁ ਸਾਜਿਓ ਆਪੀਨ੍ਹ੍ਹੈ ਰਚਿਓ ਨਾਉ ॥

aapeenhai aap saajiou aapeenhai rachiou naao ||

He Himself created Himself; He Himself assumed His Name.

ਦੁਯੀ ਕੁਦਰਤਿ ਸਾਜੀਐ ਕਰਿ ਆਸਣੁ ਡਿਠੋ ਚਾਉ ॥

dhuyee kudharath saajeeai kar aasan dditho chaao ||

Secondly, He fashioned the creation; seated within the creation, He beholds it with delight. (Ang 463, SGGS Ji)

Such Creator is the giver of knowledge, He is the light , he is the ਗੁਰ , the Supreme Guru.

ਆਦਿ ਅੰਤਿ ਏਕੈ ਅਵਤਾਰਾ ॥ ਸੋਈ ਗੁਰੂ ਸਮਝਿਯਹੁ ਹਮਾਰਾ ॥੩੮੫॥

aadh ant(i) ekai avtaaraa|| Soiguroo samjhiyauh hamaaraa||385||

He is the only one form the beginning to the end; I consider Him only my Guru.385. (Panna 1466, Sri Dasam Granth Ji)

The Supreme Guru has even taught the birds how to feed themselves and their children, how to take care of them, such knowledge has been given to even the rudimentary beings by that Guru. Sometimes, one can see extremely beautiful nests created by some species of birds, thus we can say the knowledge is embedded in them by the Creator, and since because he imparts the knowledge, He is the Guru. That Guru is the endless resource of compassion, the ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ.

This is the Manglacharan of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, and also the Manglacharan of the bani, ਜਪੁ . Japji Sahib has 2 Saloks and 38 Pauris. The first Salok is the Upkaram and the last Salok is the Upsanghar. The first Salok is ਆਦਿ ਸਚੁ ਜੁਗਾਦਿ ਸਚੁ ॥ ਹੈ ਭੀ ਸਚੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਹੋਸੀ ਭੀ ਸਚੁ ॥੧॥ and the last Salok is ਪਵਣੁ ਗੁਰੂ ਪਾਣੀ ਪਿਤਾ ਮਾਤਾ ਧਰਤਿ ਮਹਤੁ ॥ and there are 38 Pauris within these two Saloks, which form the path to God shown by Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji.

In the first Salok, Guru Nanak Dev Ji tells us who to meditate:

ਆਦਿ ਸਚੁ ਜੁਗਾਦਿ ਸਚੁ ॥ ਹੈ ਭੀ ਸਚੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਹੋਸੀ ਭੀ ਸਚੁ ॥੧॥

The Creator, that Truth, was present even before this whole universe was created, He IS the Truth now, and will forever remain the absolute Truth. It is this Truth, this Creator, this Akal Purakh that we have to remember and meditate. To achieve this eternal Truth, various ways were developed - Just like there are different ways to earn money, similarly there are different ways to earn Dharam as well. In india, different types and varieties of food are eaten - Some eat Maize, others rice and some people eat wheat for their survival. The foods may be of different types but basic need is the same - to satisfy hunger. Similarly, there can be different ways and philosophies of reciting God's name, but the desire and longing to meet God is same in all. However, it can so happen that one has to resort to eating unhealthy and impure food if pure and nutritious food is not available. Similarly, Guru Nanak Dev Ji debated against those methods and techniques that were prevalent at the time that were incapable of satisfying the hunger of the soul.

What is God? He is the Truth, and what becomes the hurdle? Lies. Mankind has break the wall of the falsehood, it will automatically reach God. Mankind has to drop all the stones and rocks held in hands, and all the treasures will automatically become available to it. One has to have the courage of dropping these rocks and stones, however. So, Guru Nanak Dev Ji discusses the various methods that were being tried to break that wall. One method that was adopted by people of our country was to do pilgrimages and bathe in the holy waters. The belief was that the wall of lies and falsehood will break that way. Guru Nanak Dev Ji does not agree with this method.

ਸੋਚੈ ਸੋਚਿ ਨ ਹੋਵਈ ਜੇ ਸੋਚੀ ਲਖ ਵਾਰ ॥

The word ਸੋਚਿ is a Sanskrit word meaning Purity, to bathe. Guru Arjan Dev Ji says:

ਸੋਚ ਕਰੈ ਦਿਨਸੁ ਅਰੁ ਰਾਤਿ ॥

soch karai dhinas ar raath ||

You may practice cleansing day and night,

ਮਨ ਕੀ ਮੈਲੁ ਨ ਤਨ ਤੇ ਜਾਤਿ ॥

man kee mail n than thae jaath ||

but the filth of your mind shall not leave your body. (Ang 265, SGGS Ji)

Guru Nanak Dev Ji says the mind cannot be purified by taking baths and cleansing the body, the dirt of falsehood does not get removed that way. Kabir Ji says:

ਜਲ ਕੈ ਮਜਨਿ ਜੇ ਗਤਿ ਹੋਵੈ ਨਿਤ ਨਿਤ ਮੇਂਡੁਕ ਨਾਵਹਿ ॥

jal kai majan jae gath hovai nith nith maenadduk naavehi ||

If salvation can be obtained by bathing in water, then what about the frog, which is always bathing in water?

ਜੈਸੇ ਮੇਂਡੁਕ ਤੈਸੇ ਓਇ ਨਰ ਫਿਰਿ ਫਿਰਿ ਜੋਨੀ ਆਵਹਿ ॥੨॥

jaisae maenadduk thaisae oue nar fir fir jonee aavehi ||2||

As is the frog, so is that mortal; he is reincarnated, over and over again. ||2|| (Ang 484, SGGS Ji)

Also:

ਕਬੀਰ ਗੰਗਾ ਤੀਰ ਜੁ ਘਰੁ ਕਰਹਿ ਪੀਵਹਿ ਨਿਰਮਲ ਨੀਰੁ ॥

kabeer gangaa theer j ghar karehi peevehi niramal neer ||

Kabeer, some make their homes on the banks of the Ganges, and drink pure water.

ਬਿਨੁ ਹਰਿ ਭਗਤਿ ਨ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਹੋਇ ਇਉ ਕਹਿ ਰਮੇ ਕਬੀਰ ॥੫੪॥

bin har bhagath n mukath hoe eio kehi ramae kabeer ||54||

Without devotional worship of the Lord, they are not liberated. Kabeer proclaims this. (Ang 1367, SGGS Ji)

The seekers of the truth have never followed the baseless rituals, and this has been the cause of major friction between the two. The seekers of truth fall into two different categories - Those, who have found out the Truth but would not disclose it because they know if they tell it, the world will stand up in opposition. Then there are the second type - those who have found the Truth, AND have the courage to say it as well, so that rest of the world can benefit from it. Such people have found the Truth, and have given the knowledge of how to achieve that Truth.

Guru Nanak Dev Ji says the dirt of lies will not be ashed away even if one does millions of holy baths. In fact, the biggest frauds and cheats can be found around such holy places. Benares is considered to the holiest of the holy places in india but it is suprising that the biggest frauds are said to be from benares. Even Kabir Ji had to say:

ਓਇ ਹਰਿ ਕੇ ਸੰਤ ਨ ਆਖੀਅਹਿ ਬਾਨਾਰਸਿ ਕੇ ਠਗ ॥੧॥

oue har kae santh n aakheeahi baanaaras kae thag ||1||

They are not called Saints of the Lord - they are thugs of Benares. ||1|| (Ang 476, SGGS Ji)

So, it is a fact that one cannot purify the mind by dipping in holy waters. Although water from certain places can have medicinal properties, in that respect it is the gift of God, but if one starts interpreting one can cleanse the mind with such water, Guru Nanak Dev ji does not agree with this concept. That is why, wherever there are holy places of Sikhism, water and bani can be found alongside each other. The stress is one the fact that not only one has to take bath with the water, but also with the bani as well. In fact, only that water is pure that is connected with bani and jap. Such a water can give temporary relief to the body and mind, but cannot give the eternal peace to the body and mind.

The second method adopted by the rishis of India was to speak less, as they believed excessive talking results in the wastage of bodily energy. That, the more one talks, the more mind starts drifting away and inadvertently some lies creep in the speech. In order to avoid that, the idea of keeping silent was adopted. Every physical sense that is given to the human being is a gift of God, we just have to use them for the right purposes. One has to use the senses of sight, speech for constructive and positive purpose. But there were some cowards that had no faith on their tongues, these people decided to keep silence forever because of the above beliefs. It is true that excessive and senseless talking distracts the mind, but that does not imply that the mind gets in tune with God and becomes pure just by being silent. Sheikh Sadi says:

Jave Mushk Behtar-az yak toudeh gil

kam awaaz hargiz na beeni khajal

He says, the person who speaks less and the one who thinks before speaking does not get distracted. That, instead of spitting out tons of grains of dirt from the mouth, its better to say someone as tiny as a grain of maize, just as long as it is tasty and sweet like the maize. At another instance, he says that it would be a waste of speech if I see a person with perfect eyesight walking and I start telling him the path he should walk on. But it would be a sin if I see a blind man walking towards the open well and don't stop him. Therefore, it is a sin to stop speaking altogether. Guru Nanak Dev Ji says:

ਚੁਪੈ ਚੁਪ ਨ ਹੋਵਈ ਜੇ ਲਾਇ ਰਹਾ ਲਿਵ ਤਾਰ ॥

The mind will keep on talking inspite of external silence that one may adopt. Guru Arjan Dev Ji says:

ਬੋਲੈ ਨਾਹੀ ਹੋਇ ਬੈਠਾ ਮੋਨੀ ॥

bolai naahee hoe baithaa monee ||

He does not speak; he is on silence.

ਅੰਤਰਿ ਕਲਪ ਭਵਾਈਐ ਜੋਨੀ ॥

anthar kalap bhavaaeeai jonee ||

But he is filled with desire; he is made to wander in reincarnation. (Ang 1348, SGGS Ji)

The third philosophy developed in India was given birth by the Vaam Maargis. Their philosophy was to provide everything that the mind desires. That, one should provide everything that all the senses desire so much so the mind becomes satisfied, and only then it will turn its sights towards God. In reply to such people, Guru Nanak Dev Ji says:

ਭੁਖਿਆ ਭੁਖ ਨ ਉਤਰੀ ਜੇ ਬੰਨਾ ਪੁਰੀਆ ਭਾਰ ॥

He says that the hunger of the mind does not get satisfied even if all the materials of all the puris are given to human being. There is nothing in this world with which the mind can satisfy its hunger. The philosophy of the Vaam Maargis was flawed right from the start, thus their temples became the home of all the immoral practices. The worship of the private parts of men and women started at these places, the reminisces of which are present in various temples across India. With the backing of such a philosophy, man became a bhogi but becoming a yogi remained a dream. It is unfortunate that such a philosophy was prevalent at one point of time, that nobody could tell them that mind never becomes satisfied. Guru Nanak Dev ji says:

ਨਾਨਕ ਸਚੇ ਨਾਮ ਬਿਨੁ ਕਿਸੈ ਨ ਲਥੀ ਭੁਖ ॥੩॥

naanak sachae naam bin kisai n lathhee bhukh ||3||

O Nanak, without the True Name, no one's hunger is appeased. ||3|| (Ang 1091, SGGS Ji)

One can see that human beings have the desire for beauty and greed for wealth, both of them do not ever get satisfied. The human body is alive because of the food and water both. If only water and no food is given to someone who is both thirsty and hungry, then his need will remain incomplete. If someone is thirsty, but we give him all sorts of exotic foods, he will not feel satisfied as all he needs is a glass of cold water. Similarly, if we put plenty of glasses of cold water in front of a really hungry person, it will mean nothing to him. Therefore, body's need is the need of food and water, while the mind has a thirst for beauty and hunger for wealth. But this hunger and thirst never gets satisfied. Guru Arjan Dev Ji says:

ਸਹਸ ਖਟੇ ਲਖ ਕਉ ਉਠਿ ਧਾਵੈ ॥

sehas khattae lakh ko outh dhhaavai ||

Earning a thousand, he runs after a hundred thousand.

ਤ੍ਰਿਪਤਿ ਨ ਆਵੈ ਮਾਇਆ ਪਾਛੈ ਪਾਵੈ ॥

thripath n aavai maaeiaa paashhai paavai ||

Satisfaction is not obtained by chasing after Maya. (Ang 278-279, SGGS Ji)

One can observe that body's need for food and water can be satisfied very easily, 4 rotis instead of 2 or 2 glasses of water instead of 1 is enough to satisfy the body. But there is no end to the hunger and thirst of the mind. Right from the birth to death, the mind of human beings remain unsatisfied. The more beauty and wealth is attained, the more profound the hunger becomes. That is why, Guru Nanak Dev Ji negates the very root of the theory of Vaam Maargis.

Some people gave birth a new method of attaining God and getting rid of the impurities of the mind: The idea was to get high levels of education, that one should become a philosopher and a thinker. The thought was that the more one will think, one's mind will start becoming more pure. Guru Nanak Dev Ji does not agree with this concept either, because there is a difference between 'learning' and 'achieving'. A wise person will realise that there is nothing that one knows, there is infinite things to learn still. Ustaad Zok says:

Hum Jaante The Ilam Se Kuch Jaanege

Par Jaana To Yeh Jaana Ke Naa Jaana Kuch Bhi

The great greek philosopher Socrates writes in one of his writings: When I was a child, I used to claim I know everything. When I became an adult, I had to say there are a few things that I do not know, and now that I have become old, I can honestly claim I know nothing whatsoever.

Where all the knowledge of the world ends, the knowledge of God starts from there. One can observe that within the last century or so, mankind has gained more knowledge than ever before. Today, the kind of schools, colleges and universities were not available in the past. But it is also true that the kind of grip of ignorance that the mankind is now was not there before. Or we can say put it this way: There were a lot of uneducated wise people a couple of centuries back. Nowadays, there is an abundance of educated fools. Guru Nanak Dev Ji says:

ਪੜਿਆ ਮੂਰਖੁ ਆਖੀਐ ਜਿਸੁ ਲਬੁ ਲੋਭੁ ਅਹੰਕਾਰਾ ॥

parriaa moorakh aakheeai jis lab lobh ahankaaraa ||

That scholar who is full of greed, arrogant pride and egotism, is known to be a fool. (Ang 140, SGGS Ji)

The education with which greed, arrogance and ego has increased is like a lamp lighted by someone to burn his own house. In fact, the biggest centres of corruption and indecency are being run by highly educated people. This is because one needs the education and knowledge to do misdeeds otherwise it is not possible. So, today's worldly education has made man a proper fool.

This was the biggest mistake made by intelligent people of India – so what if one can recite the entire four vedas orally, the demons like Ravana are still around. Sheikh Sadi says in relation to this:

Ilam Chandaan Ke Behshatar Khaani

Ghar Amal Dast Oneh Naadani

Na Mohaqawak Na Danishmand

Char Paye Beroye Kitaabeh Chand

He says if one is not able to get rid of ego with higher education, then such knowledge is nothing but few books that my donkey is carrying on it. So what if one has read and crammed religious texts? Such a person carries the burden of the weight on him just like Sheikh Sadi's donkey. Too many philosophers and educated men have carried the burden of education on their heads. Education is important, it is the lamp that is going to illuminate the path. But it is observed that people have made great efforts to collect the oil, the wick and the lamp itself, but when the time came to light the lamp, they close their eyes. It may have taken ten to fifteen years to attain the knowledge, but never implemented what was learned in their lives. Guru Nanak Dev Ji says:

ਵਿਦਿਆ ਵੀਚਾਰੀ ਤਾਂ ਪਰਉਪਕਾਰੀ ॥

vidhiaa veechaaree thaan paroupakaaree ||

Contemplate and reflect upon knowledge, and you will become a benefactor to others (Ang 356, SGGS Ji)

So, just by achieving high levels of knowledge does not purify the mind. That is why, Guru Nanak Dev Ji says:

ਸਹਸ ਸਿਆਣਪਾ ਲਖ ਹੋਹਿ ਤ ਇਕ ਨ ਚਲੈ ਨਾਲਿ ॥

Even if one attains the knowledge of thousands of things, it is impossible to go a step forward towards the truth by mere attainment of such knowledge. In fact, it is often observed that a highly educated man has got much more dirty mind than an illiterate person. Two uneducated people can quite easily agree with each other on some issue, but educated people find it incredibly difficult to agree to each other and often result in a lot of debates and criticisms. If one could achieve God just by intellect, then that would mean God is smaller than the intellect. That is why, Guru Nanak Dev Ji says it is good that one should gain more knowledge to help illuminate the path, but the lamp needs to lighted so that one can walk on the path easily and reach God. Sadly, present day knowledge has made mankind atheist, greedy, arrogant instead of bringing peace, compassion and contentment. That is why, Gurbani says:

ਪੜੀਐ ਗੁਨੀਐ ਨਾਮੁ ਸਭੁ ਸੁਨੀਐ ਅਨਭਉ ਭਾਉ ਨ ਦਰਸੈ ॥

parreeai guneeai naam sabh suneeai anabho bhaao n dharasai ||

They read and reflect upon all the Names of God; they listen, but they do not see the Lord, the embodiment of love and intuition.

ਲੋਹਾ ਕੰਚਨੁ ਹਿਰਨ ਹੋਇ ਕੈਸੇ ਜਉ ਪਾਰਸਹਿ ਨ ਪਰਸੈ ॥੧॥

lohaa kanchan hiran hoe kaisae jo paarasehi n parasai ||1||

How can iron be transformed into gold, unless it touches the Philosopher's Stone? ||1|| (Ang 973, SGGS Ji)

and,

ਕਿਆ ਪੜੀਐ ਕਿਆ ਗੁਨੀਐ ॥

kiaa parreeai kiaa guneeai ||

What use is it to read, and what use is it to study?

ਕਿਆ ਬੇਦ ਪੁਰਾਨਾਂ ਸੁਨੀਐ ॥

kiaa baedh puraanaan suneeai ||

What use is it to listen to the Vedas and the Puraanas?

ਪੜੇ ਸੁਨੇ ਕਿਆ ਹੋਈ ॥

parrae sunae kiaa hoee ||

What use is reading and listening,

ਜਉ ਸਹਜ ਨ ਮਿਲਿਓ ਸੋਈ ॥੧॥

jo sehaj n miliou soee ||1||

if celestial peace is not attained? ||1|| (Ang 655, SGGS Ji)

and,

ਹਰਿ ਕਾ ਨਾਮੁ ਨ ਜਪਸਿ ਗਵਾਰਾ ॥

har kaa naam n japas gavaaraa ||

The fool does not chant the Name of the Lord.

ਕਿਆ ਸੋਚਹਿ ਬਾਰੰ ਬਾਰਾ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

kiaa sochehi baaran baaraa ||1|| rehaao ||

So what does he think of, over and over again? ||1||Pause||

ਹਰਿ ਜਸੁ ਸੁਨਹਿ ਨ ਹਰਿ ਗੁਨ ਗਾਵਹਿ ॥

har jas sunehi n har gun gaavehi ||

They do not listen to the Lord's Praises and they do not sing the Lord's Glories

ਬਾਤਨ ਹੀ ਅਸਮਾਨੁ ਗਿਰਾਵਹਿ ॥੧॥

baathan hee asamaan giraavehi ||1||

but they try to bring down the sky with their talk. ||1||

ਐਸੇ ਲੋਗਨ ਸਿਉ ਕਿਆ ਕਹੀਐ ॥

aisae logan sio kiaa keheeai ||

What can anyone say to such people?

ਜੋ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕੀਏ ਭਗਤਿ ਤੇ ਬਾਹਜ ਤਿਨ ਤੇ ਸਦਾ ਡਰਾਨੇ ਰਹੀਐ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

jo prabh keeeae bhagath thae baahaj thin thae sadhaa ddaraanae reheeai ||1|| rehaao ||

You should always be careful around those whom God has excluded from His devotional worship. (Ang 332, SGGS Ji)

So, Guru Nanak Dev Ji rejected the futile methods of attaining God. Now, the question arises how do one purifies the mind so that God can be realised?

ਕਿਵ ਸਚਿਆਰਾ ਹੋਈਐ ਕਿਵ ਕੂੜੈ ਤੁਟੈ ਪਾਲਿ ॥

Guru Nanak Dev Ji gives the answer to this question in the following line:

ਹੁਕਮਿ ਰਜਾਈ ਚਲਣਾ ਨਾਨਕ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਨਾਲਿ ॥੧॥

To agree wholeheartedly and remain in the Hukam is the only way to break the walls of lies and wash the dirt accumulated on one's mind. What is that Hukam then? ਨਾਨਕ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਨਾਲਿ - that Hukam is already written with one's self. If one speaks ill, sight gathers immorality, then mind will fall sick. One should learn to accept this Hukam and recite God's name with all the love and passion, this is also a Hukam for mankind. Guru Nanak Dev Ji elaborate the importance of this Hukam in the next pauri. (Cont....)

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Link to original katha: http://katha.gurmatchanan.com/katha/Giani%...%20part%201.mp3

[SinghMunda]

Excellent. Thank you.

[Batra]

You have borne so much criticism. Let me say, you are doing a great service by transcribing in English the spoken word of Maskeen Sahib. This is a gift to folks who are not very versatile in Punjabi language. Let not the criticism be a barrier. Please continue the noble work of transcribing other Pauris. If you are not allowed to post, please forward it to me separately as PDF. I am eager to read more. God bless you-Batra