Fake Gurus

| Opinion | Malaysia | 6 Sept 2017 | Asia Samachar |

Pakandi (fake) ਪਖੰਡੀ Gurus were there during Guru’s times too. As captured in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS), at page 476:

ਅੈਸੇ ਸੰਤ ਨ ਮੋ ਕੋ ਭਾਵੈ

Ayese Sant Na Mo Kau Bhawai.

Gurus preached Budh ਬੁਧ and Vivek ਬੀਬੇਕ, not forgetting Avastha ਅਵਸਥਾ. All these are needed as qualities of highly developed discriminating faculties in the eyes of the beholder, but, without slandering anyone out there. Nobody is a spiritually dead clergy.  We should never point a finger at anyone unless someone harm us directly in person in any form physically, mentally or financially.

In the case of Ram Rahim [SEE: Dera chief Ram Rahim gets 20 years jail for rape], it is a bitter lesson learnt because the intellect faculty was overshadowed by ignorance or the pseudo showmanship. Many fall trap to this. When there comes a time when hundreds  are attracted to a nucleus (as in the form of human) the weakly formed discriminative faculty in us tends to get distorted and subtly follow the herd. This supersedes the inner strength that is weak.

Guru Ji Says in Dehora:

ਬਲ (inner strength) ਛੁਟਕਿੳੁ ਬੰਦਨੁ ਪਰੇ ਕਛੂ ਨ ਹੋਤ ੳੁਪਾੲੇ…(SGGS, p1429)

When inner strength gets dim, the mind then gets indulged in various act that is unproductive and futile.

This is when one gets blinded. This huge following, is undeniably another natural phenomenon which you or me cannot control or even persuade to happen. Such huge followings cannot happen without any reason. The Creator knows best. If judgement has been on his head, then again nobody can do anything, as everything small or big  takes place in HIS PRESENCE:

ਸਭਨਾ ਗਲਾ ਸਮਰਥ ਸੁਅਮੀ ਸੋ ਕਿੳੁ ਮਨੋ ਵਿਸਾਰੇ

Sabna glaan Samrath Suami So Keyoon Manoh visare (Anand Sahib, SGGS p917)

Our beloved Guru’s aimed in compiling the Divine Wisdom into a form of a book. The human race can never cease thanking that endeavour of theirs which will stay as a gift to mankind for generations to come. But the entire divinity is not limited to 1,430 pages. It’s beyond the parameters of SGGS’s pages. The lessons like raise ourselves to an ultimate spiritual selfhood, to prove this, our Gurus even took the verses sung by ordinary people and bhagats as an example set in SGGS apart from their own compositions. All of them sang their respective rhythms from the state of their minds – “Avastha” and their thought processes were all uniform.

 

ANG, PAGES & LANGUAGE

Now someone might shoot a bullet by saying: “Respect the Guru and we should refer the SGGS’s pages as ‘Ang’?

Ang literally means organs. And does Guru Sahiban only understands a particular language? By uttering the word pages we become lesser or we downgrade SGGS? I don’t think so! Divine connections and spirituality has no language boundaries as proven by our Gurus as SGGS’s wisdom itself is narrated and expressed in many languages.

Language is only a tool of communication and correspondence. The essence is in the chemistry behind these spoken words. The elixir from the chemistry is what the real spiritual language is all about. This chemistry remains unspoken and  when spoken about, it cannot be comprehended by ordinary people.

ਸੁਤੇ ਕੋ ਜਾਗਤ ਕਹੈ ਜਾਹਤ ਕੋ ਸੁੂਤਾ

Sute ko jagat kahai jagat jo suta (SGGS, p229).

These lines are worth reading.

Wrong Guru or a right Guru is yet another twist of our mind. Foul play is in abundance and is becoming more apparent with the speed at which news travels these days. Messages travelled back in those days were through metaphysics frequencies when latest communication system were not yet invented. Today, apart from information through multimedia means, we, the manush ਮਾਨੁਸ਼, still ought to develop and enhance our inner compartment of metaphysic frequencies to constantly and consistently remain alert and transform into dewatas ਦੇਵਤਾ. This is the inevitable concept of Chaddi Kaala – Ever Tuned Mind. In this realm nothing would then pass our mind without the process of “contemplation” what our Gurus called it “Rahau” ਰਹਾੳੁ…

Bhagats will keep coming into this world so long as mankind prevails on this earth.

ਹਰ ਜੂਗਿ ਜੂਗਿ ਭਗਤ ਓੂਪਾੲਿਅਾ ਪੈਜ ਰਖਦਾ ਅੲਿਅਾ ਰਾਮ ਰਾਜੇ

Har jug jug bhagat upaya, Payej rakhda aaya ram raje (SGGS, p251)

It is not an easy process to be into this “realm”.

ਕੋਟਨ ਮੈ  ਨਾਨਕ ਕੋੳੂ ਨਾਰਾੲਿਨੁ  ਜਿਹ ਚੀਤਿ.

One have to pass through these stages. (SGGS, p 1427)

 

DEVOTION: Time taken out on a regular basis over a period of two to three years to serve a spiritually attained master. Look for yourself through vairag – longingness. Learn the skills of stillness calmness – Sehaj and early raising Amrit Wella (the meaning keeps changing during different “Awasthas”).

ਸੰਤ ਸੰਗਿ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਪ੍ਬੁ ਡੀਠਾ, ਨਾਮਿ ਪ੍ਬੂ ਕਾ ਲਾਗਾ ਮੀਠਾ

Sant Sang Antar Prabh Deettha Naam Prabhu Ka Laga Meettha. (SGGS, p 293)

Through the master this body is put through various tests to break the egocentric mind of ours. This practise aims at making us imperturbable. Many fail this first test simply because the mind is not set to bow to a purash, a being totally tuned to Shabads of SGGS.

ਸਾਧੂ ਬਿਨੁ  ਨਾਹੀ ਦਰਵਾਰ

Saadhu bin Nahi Dawar. (SGGS, p 872)

This “someone” can be anyone whom we feel comfortable with; with minimal rituals and acts, on which, we are not forced upon. Apart from SGGS it has to be another “pooran master” to guide.

A Saint, A Brahm Gyani….

(From Sukhmani Sahib)

ਭਗਤਿ ਬਿਨਾ ਬਹੁ ਡੂਬੇ ਸਿਅਾਨੇ..

Bhagat bina Boh Doobe Siana

ਸੰਤ ਕਾ ਦੋਖੀ ੳੁਠਿ ਚਲੈ ਨਿਰਾਸਾ….

Sant ka Dokhi Uth Chale Nirasa

ਬ੍ਹਹਮ ਗਿਅਾਨੀ ਕੈ ਨਾਹੀ ਧੰਧਾ…

Braham Gyani Ke Naahi Dhanda

ਬ੍ਹਹਮ ਗਿਅਾਨੀ ਅਾਪ ਨਿਰੰਕਾਰੁ….

Braham Gyani Aap Nirangkar

This is Prema Bhakti.

ਜਿਨੀ ਨਾਮੁ ਧਿਅਾੲਿਅਾ ਗੲੇ ਮਮਸ਼ਕਤਿ ਘਾਲ਼ ਨਾਨਕ ਤੇ ਮੁਖ ਓੁਜਲੇ ਕੇਤੀ ਛੁਨੀ ਨਾਲਿ.

Jini naam dyaya gae mushakat gaal..Nanak te mukh ujalle keti chooti naal (SGGS, p8)

ਪੇ੍ਮ ਭਗਤਿ ਜਿਸ ਕੇ ਮਨਿ ਲਾਗੀ, ਗੁਣ ਗਾਵੈ ਅਨਦਿਨੁ ਨਿਤ ਜਾਗੀ.

Prem Bhagat jis ke man laagi, Gun Gawe Andin Nit Jaagi (SGGS, p109)

If we say that any changes can come to us just without any personal guidance and just focusing only on SGGS alone, I would say it’s next to impossible. SGGS proves this:

ੲਿਹ ਕਨੇਹੀ ਦਾਤ ਅਾਪਸ ਤੇ ਜੋ ਪਾੲਿਅੈ..ਨਾਨਕ ਸਾ ਕਰਾਮਾਤ ਸਹਿਬ ਤਰੁਠੈ ਜੇ ਮਿਲੇ

Eh Kanehi DAAT Apas Te Jo Payiye, Nanak Sa Kramat Sahib Tuddhe Je Mile (SGGS p474)

Undoubtedly, a spiritual guide is needed to bow to a living entity to break our ego. To bow at SGGS is very easy but to bow and touch the feet of, the least, an elderly is very, very difficult. This act is a phenomenon not only an action or a physical move. Just like thirst is a physical phenomenon, touching feet of an elderly is a mental phenomenon.

To further simplify, let’s take, for instance, to become a professional we need masters and mentors inspite of guidance from textbooks alone. We not only need one but many mentors as we progress in our professional journey. Similarly this is how it is in the spiritual journey. It’s easy to dig into the books and make plenty of references, (like what I’ve done here), to explain aspects of SGGS but to put the wisdom into action, it’s a challenge.

There are many encounters in this journey of spirituality especially when we come face to face with situations that we are unable to handle. Here is where physical guidance and experiences comes to play. This can come from those who have trailed this pathways.

 

2. CONTROL OF SENSUAL PLEASURES

FOOD: Eat to just feed our hunger. “Eat to Live NOT Live to Eat”. Practise not to  over indulge in food. Stay away from blood and killings for food. Cleanse this body of ours to turn into a temple, not a graveyard. ONLY devils live in graveyard.

ਕਬੀਰ ਜਾ ਘਰ ਸਾਧਿ ਨਾ ਸੇਵਿਅਾਹਿ ਹਰ ਕੀ ਸੇਵਾ ਨਾਹਿ. ਤੇ ਘਰ ਮਰਹਟ ਸਾਰਖੇ ਭੂਤ ਬਸਹਿ ਤਿਨ ਮਾਹਿ.

Kabir Ja Ghar Saad Na Sawiye Har ki sewa nahi. Te Ghar Mrhath Saarkhe Bhoot Wase Tin Mahe (SGGS p1374)

We ought to cleanse our inner with right input only then the Lord’s bountiful virtue can find place in a temple. This is where OUR SATGURU ABIDES.

ਜਿਥੇ ਜਾੲੇ ਬਹੇ ਮੇਰਾ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੂ….

Jithe Jaye Bahai Mera Satguru so Thaan Suhava Ram Raje  

And Kabir Ji says:

ਕਬੀਰ ਖੂਬ ਖਾਨਾ ਖੀਚਰੀ ਜਾ ਮਹਿ ਅੰਮਿ੍ਤ ਲੋਨੁ ਹੇਰਾ ਰੋਟੀ ਕਾਰਨੇ ਗਲਾ ਕਟਾਵੈ ਕਓੁਨੁ..

Kabir Khoob Khanna Khichadee Ja Men Amrit Loon.. Hera (meat) Roti Karne Gala Katawe Kaun (SGGS, p 1374)

 

CLOTHINGS: Simplicity and neat. Choice of colours needs to be among those which are not radiantly striking. Pastel colours are very suitable to keep the mind calm.

ਬਸਤ੍ ਬਿਭੂਖਨ ਸੁਖ ਬਹੁਤ ਬਿਸੇਖੈ, ਓੲਿ ਭੀ ਜਾਨਓੁ ਕਿਤੈ ਨ ਲੇਖੈ.

(SGGS, p 373)

 

TRAVELS:  All travels ought to be minimised. This will allow us to become Antar Mukhi. The more we travel the more we tend to add on to our mind to get more disturbed and defocused. The window through our eyes can be deviant. Much of the inner evil-thoughts and scene needs washing away. For this we need to confine to a certain chosen area to be in silence. This practise should continue for two to three years. Except going to and fro for job.

ਵਸਤੂ ਅੰਦਰ ਵਸਤੁ ਸਮਾਵੈ ਦੁਜੀ ਹੋਵੈ ਪਾਸ pg 474.

(SGGS, p 474)

 

SPEAKING: Lessen talking to people. This does not mean we become unkind. Continue being compassionate. Listen more than talking. When you speak most of the time it’s about things that does not impacts our life. Minimize listening to news and to today’s heavy machine musical system that is far from bringing any peace to us. We should abstain from arguments and quarrel.

ਬਾਦੁ ਬਿਬਾਦ ਕਾਹੁੰ ਸਿੳੁ ਨ ਕੀਜੇ. ਰਸਨਾ ਰਾਮ ਰਸੲਿਨੁ ਪੀਜੈ

Baad Bibad Kahu Siun Na Kije (Bhagat Namdev, SGGS, p 1164)

 

AVOID CROWD: Today’s crowd is clubbed with heavy radio frequency of mobile system that adds on to the already sounds of people and vehicles. After being in a huge crowed, bringing the mind to a calm state this body is subjected to heavy energy consumption. So avoid partying, shopping malls, weddings while we begin the process of spirituality and meditating.

ਓੂਨੀ ਦੁਨਿਅਾ ਤੋੜੇ ਬੰਦਨਾ  ਅਨ ਪਾਣੀ  ਥੋੜਾ ਖਾੲਿਅਾ “

Oni Dunia tode bhandana aan pasni thira khaya (SGGS, p467)

CELIBACY: Practise celibacy for at least 2 to 3 years with the cooperation of the spouse. Please do not mix this practise with Gristi Jeevan. SSGS speaks much about Kaam ( ਕਾਮ ) like ਕਾਮ ਕਿਵਾਰੀ ਦੁਖ ਸੁਖ ਦਰਵਾਸੀ ਪਾਪ ਪੁੰਨੁ ਦਰਵਾਜਾ…pg 1162 Kaam Kiwari Dukh Sukh Darwasi Paap Pun Darwaja…. during this period Kaam should be taken as humdrum. This will deactivate the faculties that triggers sensual pleasures. Avoid aphrodisiac food. ਕਾਮੁ ਚਿਤੈ, ਕਾਮਿਣ ਹਿਤਕਾਰੀ pg 225.

 

3. LOVE 

Express love readily. Hugging is an important element of meeting and greeting. Elements of love are Gratitude, Aptitude, Passion, Compassion, Sharing and always Giving in nature. These are the elements of NAAM

ਪੇ੍ਮ  ਪਦਾਰਥ ਨਾਮ ਹੈ ਭਾੲੀ, ਮੁੲਿਅਾ ਮੋਹ ਬਿਨਾਸੁ

Prem Padarath NAAM hai Bhai Maya Moh Binas (SGGS, p640)

 

4. LIVE THE MOMENT

Most difficult practise indeed. Most of us tend to live in the past. old memories are never erased. Happiness cannot come to us if we continue this practise.

ਅਾਗਾਹਾ ਕੂ ਤਰਾਘਿੰ ਪਿਛਾ ਫੇਰ ਨ ਮੁਹਡੜਾ

Agahan’ Koo Trang Pisha Fer Na Mudada (SGGS, p1096)

 

Dato Dr Balwant Singh Bains says this article is written from my personal journey as I trailed my life. Dr Balwant runs Malaysia’s largest standalone physiotherapist centre and a physiotherapy college. He is a kirtan and Gurbani discourse enthusiast via Satsangi Malaysia. 

* This is the opinion of the writer, organisation or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Asia Samachar.

 

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