Duality In Sikh Scripture

[dalsingh101]

Dear Sangat

Our Gurus frequently mentioned duality as one of the core causes for man's spiritual failings.

I'm wondering what exactly is the nature of this duality?

Please provide some support for any conceptualisations you post.

[dalsingh101]

How do I destroy my duality? What is it and what is its nature? Do we not have any indepth explanation of the nature of duality in any Sikh texts? It seems like a key obstacle to spiritual progress.

ਗਉੜੀ ਮਹਲਾ ੫ ॥

Ga▫oṛī mėhlā 5.

Gauree, Fifth Mehl:

ਜੋ ਇਸੁ ਮਾਰੇ ਸੋਈ ਸੂਰਾ ॥

Jo is māre so▫ī sūrā.

One who kills this is a spiritual hero.

ਜੋ ਇਸੁ ਮਾਰੇ ਸੋਈ ਪੂਰਾ ॥

Jo is māre so▫ī pūrā.

One who kills this is perfect.

ਜੋ ਇਸੁ ਮਾਰੇ ਤਿਸਹਿ ਵਡਿਆਈ ॥

Jo is māre ṯisėh vadi▫ā▫ī.

One who kills this obtains glorious greatness.

ਜੋ ਇਸੁ ਮਾਰੇ ਤਿਸ ਕਾ ਦੁਖੁ ਜਾਈ ॥੧॥

Jo is māre ṯis kā ḏukẖ jā▫ī. ||1||

One who kills this is freed of suffering. ||1||

ਐਸਾ ਕੋਇ ਜਿ ਦੁਬਿਧਾ ਮਾਰਿ ਗਵਾਵੈ ॥

Aisā ko▫e jė ḏubiḏẖā mār gavāvai.

How rare is such a person, who kills and casts off duality.

ਇਸਹਿ ਮਾਰਿ ਰਾਜ ਜੋਗੁ ਕਮਾਵੈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

Isėh mār rāj jog kamāvai. ||1|| rahā▫o.

Killing it, he attains Raja Yoga, the Yoga of meditation and success. ||1||Pause||

ਜੋ ਇਸੁ ਮਾਰੇ ਤਿਸ ਕਉ ਭਉ ਨਾਹਿ ॥

Jo is māre ṯis ka▫o bẖa▫o nāhi.

One who kills this has no fear.

ਜੋ ਇਸੁ ਮਾਰੇ ਸੁ ਨਾਮਿ ਸਮਾਹਿ ॥

Jo is māre so nām samāhi.

One who kills this is absorbed in the Naam.

ਜੋ ਇਸੁ ਮਾਰੇ ਤਿਸ ਕੀ ਤ੍ਰਿਸਨਾ ਬੁਝੈ ॥

Jo is māre ṯis kī ṯarisnā bujẖai.

One who kills this has his desires quenched.

ਜੋ ਇਸੁ ਮਾਰੇ ਸੁ ਦਰਗਹ ਸਿਝੈ ॥੨॥

Jo is māre so ḏargėh sijẖai. ||2||

One who kills this is approved in the Court of the Lord. ||2||

ਜੋ ਇਸੁ ਮਾਰੇ ਸੋ ਧਨਵੰਤਾ ॥

Jo is māre so ḏẖanvanṯā.

One who kills this is wealthy and prosperous.

ਜੋ ਇਸੁ ਮਾਰੇ ਸੋ ਪਤਿਵੰਤਾ ॥

Jo is māre so paṯivanṯā.

One who kills this is honorable.

ਜੋ ਇਸੁ ਮਾਰੇ ਸੋਈ ਜਤੀ ॥

Jo is māre so▫ī jaṯī.

One who kills this is truly a celibate.

ਜੋ ਇਸੁ ਮਾਰੇ ਤਿਸੁ ਹੋਵੈ ਗਤੀ ॥੩॥

Jo is māre ṯis hovai gaṯī. ||3||

One who kills this attains salvation. ||3||

ਜੋ ਇਸੁ ਮਾਰੇ ਤਿਸ ਕਾ ਆਇਆ ਗਨੀ ॥

Jo is māre ṯis kā ā▫i▫ā ganī.

One who kills this - his coming is auspicious.

ਜੋ ਇਸੁ ਮਾਰੇ ਸੁ ਨਿਹਚਲੁ ਧਨੀ ॥

Jo is māre so nihcẖal ḏẖanī.

One who kills this is steady and wealthy.

ਜੋ ਇਸੁ ਮਾਰੇ ਸੋ ਵਡਭਾਗਾ ॥

Jo is māre so vadbẖāgā.

One who kills this is very fortunate.

ਜੋ ਇਸੁ ਮਾਰੇ ਸੁ ਅਨਦਿਨੁ ਜਾਗਾ ॥੪॥

Jo is māre so an▫ḏin jāgā. ||4||

One who kills this remains awake and aware, night and day. ||4||

ਜੋ ਇਸੁ ਮਾਰੇ ਸੁ ਜੀਵਨ ਮੁਕਤਾ ॥

Jo is māre so jīvan mukṯā.

One who kills this is Jivan Mukta, liberated while yet alive.

ਜੋ ਇਸੁ ਮਾਰੇ ਤਿਸ ਕੀ ਨਿਰਮਲ ਜੁਗਤਾ ॥

Jo is māre ṯis kī nirmal jugṯā.

One who kills this lives a pure lifestyle.

ਜੋ ਇਸੁ ਮਾਰੇ ਸੋਈ ਸੁਗਿਆਨੀ ॥

Jo is māre so▫ī sugi▫ānī.

One who kills this is spiritually wise.

ਜੋ ਇਸੁ ਮਾਰੇ ਸੁ ਸਹਜ ਧਿਆਨੀ ॥੫॥

Jo is māre so sahj ḏẖi▫ānī. ||5||

One who kills this meditates intuitively. ||5||

ਇਸੁ ਮਾਰੀ ਬਿਨੁ ਥਾਇ ਨ ਪਰੈ ॥

Is mārī bin thā▫e na parai.

Without killing this, one is not acceptable,

ਕੋਟਿ ਕਰਮ ਜਾਪ ਤਪ ਕਰੈ ॥

Kot karam jāp ṯap karai.

even though one may perform millions of rituals, chants and austerities.

ਇਸੁ ਮਾਰੀ ਬਿਨੁ ਜਨਮੁ ਨ ਮਿਟੈ ॥

Is mārī bin janam na mitai.

Without killing this, one does not escape the cycle of reincarnation.

ਇਸੁ ਮਾਰੀ ਬਿਨੁ ਜਮ ਤੇ ਨਹੀ ਛੁਟੈ ॥੬॥

Is mārī bin jam ṯe nahī cẖẖutai. ||6||

Without killing this, one does not escape death. ||6||

ਇਸੁ ਮਾਰੀ ਬਿਨੁ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਨ ਹੋਈ ॥

Is mārī bin gi▫ān na ho▫ī.

Without killing this, one does not obtain spiritual wisdom.

ਇਸੁ ਮਾਰੀ ਬਿਨੁ ਜੂਠਿ ਨ ਧੋਈ ॥

Is mārī bin jūṯẖ na ḏẖo▫ī.

Without killing this, one's impurity is not washed off.

ਇਸੁ ਮਾਰੀ ਬਿਨੁ ਸਭੁ ਕਿਛੁ ਮੈਲਾ ॥

Is mārī bin sabẖ kicẖẖ mailā.

Without killing this, everything is filthy.

ਇਸੁ ਮਾਰੀ ਬਿਨੁ ਸਭੁ ਕਿਛੁ ਜਉਲਾ ॥੭॥

Is mārī bin sabẖ kicẖẖ ja▫ulā. ||7||

Without killing this, everything is a losing game. ||7||

ਜਾ ਕਉ ਭਏ ਕ੍ਰਿਪਾਲ ਕ੍ਰਿਪਾ ਨਿਧਿ ॥

Jā ka▫o bẖa▫e kirpāl kirpā niḏẖ.

When the Lord, the Treasure of Mercy, bestows His Mercy,

ਤਿਸੁ ਭਈ ਖਲਾਸੀ ਹੋਈ ਸਗਲ ਸਿਧਿ ॥

Ŧis bẖa▫ī kẖalāsī ho▫ī sagal siḏẖ.

one obtains release, and attains total perfection.

ਗੁਰਿ ਦੁਬਿਧਾ ਜਾ ਕੀ ਹੈ ਮਾਰੀ ॥

Gur ḏubiḏẖā jā kī hai mārī.

One whose duality has been killed by the Guru,

ਕਹੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਸੋ ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਬੀਚਾਰੀ ॥੮॥੫॥

Kaho Nānak so barahm bīcẖārī. ||8||5||

says Nanak, contemplates God. ||8||5||

Edited September 11, 2010 by dalsingh101

[Mystical]

I would guess this means being two minds about things. Outwardly you seem like a saint but within yourself you may have a contradicting element. Being of one mind would in this case mean your one and the same inside out.

Edited September 11, 2010 by Mystical

[dalsingh101]

I would guess this means being two minds about things. Outwardly you seem like a saint but within yourself you may have a contradicting element. Being of one mind would in this case mean your one and the same inside out.

I was thinking along the same lines.

This duality seems to charactise human existence. I was wondering if any has trodden the path to its destruction and could give us guidance with with some signposts. Hasn't any nirmala text covered this?

According to bani (as I posted above), all spiritual efforts are worth naught if we don't nail this. So I think it is very important to grasp and understand in a deep way?

[Mystical]

I think Guru ji is saying to get in touch with your feelings and thought process. And to find out what is it that causes the duality and then uproot it within yourself.

Edited September 11, 2010 by Mystical

[amardeep]

Is'nt it about stop seeing two, and realize everything is one? That God is everything. the An al haqq of mansour - I am the Truth.

[Mystical]

There is duality in life too. Good Bad, Hot cold, Male Female, Light Dark. If you ignore one side of the coin does that mean it does not exist? But yes everything is one and the same, its true because something exists and its been validated.

Also simply reading texts doesnt mean its true, it needs to be tested with contemplation. The writer may know exactly what he/she is written but would the reader know what it means?

Edited September 11, 2010 by Mystical

[dalsingh101]

This is exactly what I am talking about.

We need authoritative and unambiguous information, instead of individually groping around in the dark.

What kills it is that I'm sure that there are Hindu texts which go into depth on the matter.

Where is Tsingh when u need him? lol

It's true that we can guess and try to fathom out what this duality is. It would be nice, however, if we can get a more solid definition. Or at least a solid kick in the right direction.

[SURYADEV]

Probs showing my ignorance....but I thought 'Dubida' meant 'doubt'.

MAybe it is what you guys are saying ie. "I believe God is everywhere, but I doubt he is here when I need him" type of thing.

[dalsingh101]

Here are some definitions taht may help, including Mahan Kosh's:

SGGS Gurmukhi-Gurmukhi Dictionary

ਦ੍ਵੈਤ ਭਾਵ ਮਨ ਦੀ ਡਾਵਾਂ ਡੋਲ ਹਾਲਤ, ਦੁਚਿਤੀ ਦੋ ਬਿਧਾਂ ਵਿਚ ਹੋਣਾ, ਦੁਪਾਸੀ ਬਿਰਤੀ। ਉਦਾਹਰਣ: ਦੁਬਿਧਾ ਲਾਗੇ ਪਚਿ ਮੁਏ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਤ੍ਰਿਸਨਾ ਅਗਿ॥ {ਸਿਰੀ ੧, ੧੪, ੨:੨ (19)}। ਬਿਨੁ ਗੁਰ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਨ ਪਾਈਐ ਨਾ ਦੁਬਿਧਾ ਮਾਇਆ ਜਾਇ॥ {ਸਿਰੀ ੩, ਅਸ ੨੧, ੫:੩ (67)}।

SGGS Gurmukhi-English Dictionary

Sk. n. Duality

English Translation

Suspense, doubt, dilemma, awkward state, critical juncture, uncertainty hesitation.

Mahan Kosh Encyclopedia

ਵਿ- ਦੋ ਪ੍ਰਕਾਰ ਦਾ ਦ੍ਵਿਵਿਧ। (2) {ਸੰਗ੍ਯਾ}. ਦ੍ਵੈਵਿਧ੍ਯ. ਦੋ ਪ੍ਰਕਾਰ ਭਾਵ. ਦੁਭਾਂਤੀਪਨ. ਦ੍ਵੈਤਭਾਵ. "ਦੁਬਿਧਾ ਦੂਰਿ ਕਰੇ ਲਿਵ ਲਾਇ". (ਬਸੰ ਮਃ ੫) "ਗੁਰਿ ਦੁਬਿਧਾ ਜਾਕੀ ਹੈ ਮਾਰੀ". (ਗਉ ਅਃ ਮਃ ੫).

[dalsingh101]

More definitions: double-mindedness, dilemma, quandary, diffidence, doubt, uncertainty, incertitude, indecision, perplexity.

I think we can also add ambivalence to those.

[dalsingh101]

The words of Baba Nanak:

ਗਉੜੀ ਮਹਲਾ ੧ ॥

Ga▫oṛī mėhlā 1.

Gauree, First Mehl:

ਦੂਜੀ ਮਾਇਆ ਜਗਤ ਚਿਤ ਵਾਸੁ ॥

Ḏūjī mā▫i▫ā jagaṯ cẖiṯ vās.

The duality of Maya dwells in the consciousness of the people of the world.

ਕਾਮ ਕ੍ਰੋਧ ਅਹੰਕਾਰ ਬਿਨਾਸੁ ॥੧॥

Kām kroḏẖ ahaʼnkār binās. ||1||

They are destroyed by sexual desire, anger and egotism. ||1||

ਦੂਜਾ ਕਉਣੁ ਕਹਾ ਨਹੀ ਕੋਈ ॥

Ḏūjā ka▫uṇ kahā nahī ko▫ī.

Whom should I call the second, when there is only the One?

ਸਭ ਮਹਿ ਏਕੁ ਨਿਰੰਜਨੁ ਸੋਈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

Sabẖ mėh ek niranjan so▫ī. ||1|| rahā▫o.

The One Immaculate Lord is pervading among all. ||1||Pause||

ਦੂਜੀ ਦੁਰਮਤਿ ਆਖੈ ਦੋਇ ॥

Ḏūjī ḏurmaṯ ākẖai ḏo▫e.

The dual-minded evil intellect speaks of a second.

ਆਵੈ ਜਾਇ ਮਰਿ ਦੂਜਾ ਹੋਇ ॥੨॥

Āvai jā▫e mar ḏūjā ho▫e. ||2||

One who harbors duality comes and goes and dies. ||2||

ਧਰਣਿ ਗਗਨ ਨਹ ਦੇਖਉ ਦੋਇ ॥

Ḏẖaraṇ gagan nah ḏekẖ▫a▫u ḏo▫e.

In the earth and in the sky, I do not see any second.

ਨਾਰੀ ਪੁਰਖ ਸਬਾਈ ਲੋਇ ॥੩॥

Nārī purakẖ sabā▫ī lo▫e. ||3||

Among all the women and the men, His Light is shining. ||3||

ਰਵਿ ਸਸਿ ਦੇਖਉ ਦੀਪਕ ਉਜਿਆਲਾ ॥

Rav sas ḏekẖ▫a▫u ḏīpak uji▫ālā.

In the lamps of the sun and the moon, I see His Light.

ਸਰਬ ਨਿਰੰਤਰਿ ਪ੍ਰੀਤਮੁ ਬਾਲਾ ॥੪॥

Sarab niranṯar parīṯam bālā. ||4||

Dwelling among all is my ever-youthful Beloved. ||4||

ਕਰਿ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਮੇਰਾ ਚਿਤੁ ਲਾਇਆ ॥

Kar kirpā merā cẖiṯ lā▫i▫ā.

In His Mercy, He attuned my consciousness to the Lord.

ਸਤਿਗੁਰਿ ਮੋ ਕਉ ਏਕੁ ਬੁਝਾਇਆ ॥੫॥

Saṯgur mo ka▫o ek bujẖā▫i▫ā. ||5||

The True Guru has led me to understand the One Lord. ||5||

ਏਕੁ ਨਿਰੰਜਨੁ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਜਾਤਾ ॥

Ėk niranjan gurmukẖ jāṯā.

The Gurmukh knows the One Immaculate Lord.

ਦੂਜਾ ਮਾਰਿ ਸਬਦਿ ਪਛਾਤਾ ॥੬॥

Ḏūjā mār sabaḏ pacẖẖāṯā. ||6||

Subduing duality, one comes to realize the Word of the Shabad. ||6||

ਏਕੋ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਵਰਤੈ ਸਭ ਲੋਈ ॥

Ėko hukam varṯai sabẖ lo▫ī.

The Command of the One Lord prevails throughout all the worlds.

ਏਕਸੁ ਤੇ ਸਭ ਓਪਤਿ ਹੋਈ ॥੭॥

Ėkas ṯe sabẖ opaṯ ho▫ī. ||7||

From the One, all have arisen. ||7||

ਰਾਹ ਦੋਵੈ ਖਸਮੁ ਏਕੋ ਜਾਣੁ ॥

Rāh ḏovai kẖasam eko jāṇ.

There are two routes, but remember that their Lord and Master is only One.

ਗੁਰ ਕੈ ਸਬਦਿ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਪਛਾਣੁ ॥੮॥

Gur kai sabaḏ hukam pacẖẖāṇ. ||8||

Through the Word of the Guru's Shabad, recognize the Hukam of the Lord's Command. ||8||

ਸਗਲ ਰੂਪ ਵਰਨ ਮਨ ਮਾਹੀ ॥

Sagal rūp varan man māhī.

He is contained in all forms, colors and minds.

ਕਹੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਏਕੋ ਸਾਲਾਹੀ ॥੯॥੫॥

Kaho Nānak eko sālāhī. ||9||5||

Says Nanak, praise the One Lord. ||9||5||

Edited September 11, 2010 by dalsingh101

[dalsingh101]

Is this a perception thing? That we are to cognise ourselves and everything as part of the one?

[amardeep]

Tirath Singh spends some 50 pages in Bhavrasamrit grath in defining various concepts in Gurbani such as tirath ishnaan, tapasya, Ras, Bhav, Niyam, Yam, Samadhi, Vidiya, Vidyaguru etc. etc.

[dalsingh101]

Does he specifically cover duality? If so under what names is this done?

I have (possibly) one of the worst translations of Rig Veda (by R T H Griffiths) which has a brief section on 'Mahabhedh: Illusion', which reads like complete gibberish and is no help at all.

[amardeep]

I just checked and it does'nt unfortunately

[dalsingh101]

What about under bharam - ਭਰਮ? I think this may be a synonym or closely related?

Edited September 12, 2010 by dalsingh101

[laalsingh]

Satguru says in the shabad you quoted

ਦੂਜਾ ਕਉਣੁ ਕਹਾ ਨਹੀ ਕੋਈ ॥

Ḏūjā ka▫uṇ kahā nahī ko▫ī.

Whom should I call the second, when there is only the One?

Or

tu hi tu. tu hi tu.

Forgetting this is duality.

[amardeep]

No bharam either

[Mekhane'ch Jannat]

It may be useful to consider gradations of duality. The Ego or the 'I' is what creates duality as this 'I' considers itself seperate from the large I called Akaal Purakh. A rock has a sense of I but this sense is of pure duality it is totally seperate and has no hope of becoming part of the one. A Human Ego has the possibility of reaching higher gradations of unity, to see the interconnectedness of everything. There is always duality on the path of knowledge, but the duality varies in quality, only at the end of all knowledge is duality finished. There is always duality because there is always an I and a Thou, but what becomes important is the relation between the I and Thou, is it a relation of a stone to its surroundings or an Angel. A stone is pure duality because it does not interact with a soul with its environment, you have to kick it to interact with it. An Angel is in duality because it is an Angel and not God, but an Angel is sensitive and has knowledge of the environment and is related more intimately with its environment - through smells etc.

[tonyhp32]

I've always understood it to mean the perception of the self as being seperate from God as well as from the surroundings. When you think of yourself as seperate then that is when the ego comes into play and with it the self becomes prey to the five thiefs of Lobh, Moh, Kaam, Krodh, Ahankaar.

[amardeep]

There is a beautiful shabad by Baba Kabeer in hindi

ਜਬ ਹਮ ਹੋਤੇ ਤਬ ਤੁਮ ਨਾਹੀ ਅਬ ਤੁਮ ਹਹੁ ਹਮ ਨਾਹੀ ॥

जब हम होते तब तुम नाही अब तुम हहु हम नाही ॥

Jab ham hoṯe ṯab ṯum nāhī ab ṯum hahu ham nāhī.

When I was, then You were not; now that You are, I am not.

ਅਬ ਹਮ ਤੁਮ ਏਕ ਭਏ ਹਹਿ ਏਕੈ ਦੇਖਤ ਮਨੁ ਪਤੀਆਹੀ ॥੧॥

अब हम तुम एक भए हहि एकै देखत मनु पतीआही ॥१॥

Ab ham ṯum ek bẖa▫e hėh ekai ḏekẖaṯ man paṯī▫āhī. ||1||

Now, You and I have become one; seeing this, my mind is content. ||1||

[laalsingh]

Time and space are two (of infinite) aspects of 'maya'. Feeling of space gives us illusion of being separated from others.

There are moments where this whole 'thing' looks like one single incident. Illusion of time makes us believe otherwise.

[laalsingh]

It may be useful to consider gradations of duality. The Ego or the 'I' is what creates duality as this 'I' considers itself seperate from the large I called Akaal Purakh. A rock has a sense of I but this sense is of pure duality it is totally seperate and has no hope of becoming part of the one. A Human Ego has the possibility of reaching higher gradations of unity, to see the interconnectedness of everything. There is always duality on the path of knowledge, but the duality varies in quality, only at the end of all knowledge is duality finished. There is always duality because there is always an I and a Thou, but what becomes important is the relation between the I and Thou, is it a relation of a stone to its surroundings or an Angel. A stone is pure duality because it does not interact with a soul with its environment, you have to kick it to interact with it. An Angel is in duality because it is an Angel and not God, but an Angel is sensitive and has knowledge of the environment and is related more intimately with its environment - through smells etc.

And to experience it. Let the ego reach a point where mass holding it becomes irrelevant.

[paapiman]

On 11/2/2009 at 1:23 PM, dalsingh101 said:

 

 

Below is an extract from Gurbani Path Darpan (written by Sant Gyani Gurbachan Singh jee Khalsa Bhindranwale):

 

 

Bhul chuk maaf