Why Listen, Recite, Sing, Read, Hear Gurbani At All?

[Genie Singh]

As Sikhs why do we have to or why should we Listen, recite, read, hear gurbani at all?

Isn't Sikhi more to do with the philosophical and metaphysical values expressed in the gurbani (it's arth) and sakhis of gurus and gursikhs more important so that we can learn good philosophies that we can apply into our own life so that we can redeem and reform our character. It seems Sikhi goes very parallel to human rights and shouldn't we then take those values to our heart instead of reciting and singing words which don't mean much to us on a daily basis?

Why should we like muslims recite our scripture in a way where we allow it's poetical meters to effect us? Isn't that lipservice? Isn't the lessons of Guru Nanak of good will to other more important then giving lipservice to japji everyday?

Some of the sakhis we see present aren't all authentic is the sakhi of the pot glazed with butter truly a direct reflection on how Guru Nanak can condemn muhammdens paying lipservice in muhammdenism to the book of muhammad. Yet our majestic, holy true revelation of god is exempt from lipservice?

If the philosophy of Sikhi is similar to many grand teachings such as the buddha's why do we need to sing shabad? Why can't peace come from the message rather then it being sung out? Are the meters of the poetry in gurbani really that important to us on a quantum physics level? Shouldn't the sentiment of the redemption of human character be valued much more? Have we by doing so put guru granth sahib on such a high level that it becomes unreachable- some view reading gurbani online as a form of blasphemy since the satkar is gone.

[Singh123456777]

If you are right why did Sri guru gobind Singh Ji make the next guru Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji?How would we know the philosophy of sikhi if we never read Gurbani?The whole philosophy of sikhi comes from gurbani!

[Singh123456777]

Also guru gobind Singh Ji commanded his sikhs(amritdhari Khalsa)to do nitnem every single day.Was he wrong?

[Genie Singh]

The philosophy can be taught through katha but let's say we do read it once and we get it why then carry on re-reading it with lip service?

The 10th gurus command is recorded in rehatnamas which do have other matters which are contradictory with other rehatnama maybe it's noit the gurus who were wrong but the writers of the rehatnama. We can't verify the authenticity of the acclaimed writers of them. If we read bhai nand lal's rehatnama we can't certainly say it was bhai nand lal who wrote them.

[Singh123456777]

So in your opinion we don't need to read bani?

[Genie Singh]

So in your opinion we don't need to read bani?

The original reason for my post is to do with Sher. On another platform I discussed the idea that Sikhs are distinct from Hindus. He disagreed and I asked him why he doesn't then read japji daily. His reason was there is no need, nor is it stated to at all.

[Singh123456777]

ਚੌਪਈ

Chaupai

ਠੰਡੇ ਪਾਣੀ ਜੋ ਨਹੀਂ ਨਹਾਵੈ

If he does not take bath in cold water,

ਬਿਨ ਜਪੁ ਪੜ੍ਹ੍ਹ੍ਹੇ ਪ੍ਰ੍ਰਸ਼ਾਦਿ ਜੋ ਪਾਵੈ ॥ (੨੫)

And without reading Jap Ji Sahib, takes his food,

ਬਿਨ ਰਹਿਰਾਸ ਸੰਧਿਆ ਜੋ ਖੋਵੈ

Without saying Rehras, passes the evening,

ਕੀਰਤਨ ਪੜ੍ਹ੍ਹ੍ਹੇ ਬਿਨ ਰੈਣ ਜੋ ਸੋਵੇ ॥ (੨੬)

Without reciting Kirtan (Sohila) goes to sleep,

ਚੁਗਲੀ ਕਰ ਜੋ ਕਰਜ ਬਿਗਾਰੈ ॥

Through slander he conducts his affairs,

ਧ੍ਰ੍ਰਿਗ ਤਸਿ ਜਨਮ ਜੋ ਧਰਮ ਬਸਿਾਰੈ ॥ (੨੭)

Cursed is his birth if he forgets the righteousness.

This might explain why we should read gurbani.

[Singh123456777]

ਕਛ ਸ੍ਵੇਤ ਔ ਨੀਲ ਪਟ ਜਪ ਅਰ ਜਾਪੁ ਉਚਾਰ White kachhera, blue clothes, he recites Jap Ji Sahib and Jaap Sahib.

ਸ੍ਰੀ ਅਕਾਲ ਉਸਤਤ ਕਰੇ ਚੰਡੀ ਕੰਠ ਸੁਧਾਰ | Recite Sri Akaal Ustat, memorise Chandi Di Vaar.

More examples of doing gurbani.

[Genie Singh]

Most of us don't take cold baths

Nor does the above make mention of 5 banis which we claim is gurus hukam.

What's up with the blue clothes, is colourism really essential? just because blue off puts mosquitoes and lessens stings doesn't mean it should forever be worn.

Edited January 19, 2014 by JatherdarSahib

[Lucky]

For a sikh, the DISCIPLINE is utmost.

This same discipline is what any lieutenant/Sargent expects from his army of soldiers.

The DAILY discipline and rehat becomes a major component of a sikh's everyday life.

Why do we have to read bani daily, you ask ?

I'm afraid, we have to REPEAT,REPEAT,REPEAT as part of discipline because this is the only way we can condition ourselves and mind towards the Truth of akaal purakh.

On a daily basis, we repeat our paaps and sins, even though they may be different mistakes from the previous day.

On a daily basis we get a coating of filth and dirt on our minds due to the exposure we give it in maya.

Japji sahib tells us to CLEANSE our minds daily starting at amrit vela. We wash our bodies, brush our teeth, eat and drink on a daily basis and this keeps repeating.

So, why shouldn't we repeat the internal cleansing by the help of a daily rehat of DISCIPLINE ?

Gurbani speaks to all of us at our own personal levels.

As my veerji N30singhji reminded me on another thread,..It is Agam agad bodh- a treasure of Unmeasurable depth that is Unreachable and Limitless.

When you start climbing up the spiritual ladder, then you may witness and acknowledge this. You may read a pangti that you have been reading daily for years, and all of a sudden it will speak to you in a completely different light that you never thought previously.

This can ONLY happen if we REPEATEDLY repeat our discipline of reading bani on a daily basis.

We are not like animals that can eat and stock up food sources and then go and hibernate !

Everyday can be a new battle for our mind.

Every soldier has to train, practice and abide by their discipline on order to be ready to proceed in battle at any given time.

A sikh is a student and we know that every student can only learn and perform to their maximum potential if they repeatedly learn, read and practice. A student cannot just read a text book once and then know it all inside out forever !