Astpadi 5: Maya Continued

Salok.
Daynhaar prabh chhod kai laageh aan su-aa-ay.
Nanak kahoo na seejh-ee bin naavai pat jaa-ay.  1.

Guru Pancham Patshah Ji is continuing to give us the divine wisdom about the operation of Maya in daily life.  He is very kindly explaining to us as to how daily life is effected by the influence of Maya.  If you understand the three aspects of Maya and then analyze everything you do in your daily life, then you will find that everything you perform is some how connected to at least one aspect of Maya – Rajo, Tamo or Sato. 

Once you understand the game of Maya you only work towards salvation of your soul.  This game of Maya has been created by the Almighty.  Battling with Maya gives us the chance to:-

·         see and measure how much we love our Creator. 
·         see how much we love the only Doer, Karta Purakh. 
·         see how much we care about the only Giver. 
·         measure our level of commitment, belief, faith, trust, devotion and love for Him. 

The entire world operates under the influence of Maya.  The only one who is beyond the control of Maya is a Puran Sant, a Sant SatGur, a Puran Braham Gyani.  Everything else in the world works for Maya.  Only a Puran Sant, a Sant SatGur, a Pargateyo Jyot Puran Braham Gyani, a Puran Khalsa is always absorbed in the Almighty.  That one is served by Maya.  Maya lives under the Charans of a Puran Sant, a Puran SatGur, a Puran Braham Gyani.  Only they find a place in the Dargah of Akal Purakh.  Everyone else keeps on going through the cycle of birth and death.  Everyone else is drenched under a forty foot thick scum of Maya. 

Only those who perform and operate under the Sato Birti eventually get the GurParsaad of Naam, Puran Bandgi and Seva.  Then after working through their Puran Bandgi process become a Puran Sant and win over Maya.  Where do you stand?  Almost everyone has left the One who is the only Giver.  Left the One who gives us all of the amenities for living a comfortable life based on our Karni.  Left that One and absorbed themself in the deep scum of Maya.  By doing so they will never succeed in achieving their spiritual goal of reaching salvation in this human life.  Therefore, once we understand this game of Maya we need to perform good deeds under the Sato Birti.  We need to dedicate our life to Naam, Puran Bandgi and Seva  in order to attain salvation.

Astpadi.

Das bastoo lay paachhai paavai.
Ayk basat kaaran bikhot gavaavai.
Ayk bhee na day-ay das bhee hir lay-ay.
Ta-o moorhaa kaho kahaa karay-i.
Jis thaakur si-o naahee chaaraa.
Taa ka-o keejai sad namaskaaraa.
Jaa kai man laagaa prabh meethaa.
Sarabh sookh taahoo man voothaa.
Jis junn apnaa hukam manaa-i-aa.
Sarabh thok nanak tin paa-i-aa.  1.

Guru Patshah Ji is very kindly telling us how people think and act when under the influence of the Rajo aspect of Maya.  Their desires never end.  Even when one desire is fulfilled then a few more pop up, making a never ending stream of desires.  Please look inside and notice that you are always working under the Rajo aspect which comprises of  Asa, Trishna and Mansha.

When some desires remain unfulfilled people forget to thank the Almighty for the ones that were fulfilled.  They start complaining to God about this.  This has become the way of their life.  People take credit for whatever good happens in their life, but blame God for whatever happens for the worse.  They rarely thank the Almighty for all of the good things, but never hesitate to complain when things go against their wishes.  But, guess who is to be blamed for the bad things happening in their life?  It is not God who is to be blamed, it is the person who is responsible.  The finger should be pointing inwards towards our bad deeds in the past and previous lives.  The law of Karma comes into the picture.  Whatever we have sown in the past and previous lives we now have to reap.  It is our own Karni that matters and decides our future under the divine laws.  Guru Patshah Ji is very kind on us by telling us about this divine law of Karni.  So instead of complaining be thankful to the Almighty every moment of our life for all He has given us and all He continues to give us.  Stop complaining to Him about the bad things happening in your life.  Instead,  you just need to criticize your own self and learn the lesson of how to improve yourself to avoid this happening again.  Constant complaining never does anyone any good.  Complaining only drenches people further under the scum of Maya and ruins their future.  Complaining doesn’t help.  Only changing your ways helps. 

The basic reason behind all of your sorrows is desire.  When desires remain continuously unfulfilled it can lead to mental depression.  Mental ailments can then lead to physical ailments.  The best thing to do is to remain contented with whatever we have.  Focus on truthful Karni without any desires.  Thank the Almighty for whatever He has given us.  Don’t complain about sorrows and try to amend your own self.  Most importantly pray for the GurParsaad of Naam, Puran Bandgi and Seva. 

Once we start doing good deeds under the Sato Birti and stop doing bad deeds including complaining about unfulfilled desires, then eventually our Sat Karams outweigh our Asat Karams.  Our Sat Karams accumulate and peak to the point where they are recognized by God.  At that time we are blessed by God in a Sant Hirda, with the GurParsaad of Naam, Puran Bandgi and Seva.  The door to the Dargah opens for us and we are able to find a permanent place in there.

When we find a permanent place in Dargah, then all of the divine qualities become carved in our Hirda.  Naam is carved in our Hirda.  We remain absorbed in the Almighty forever and enjoy the highest level of divine bliss – Chad Di Klaa.  This is the state of everlasting happiness when there are no sorrows at all.  We get blessed with all of the eternal treasures.  Naam is the highest Hukam.  Puran Bandgi and Seva follow the GurParsaad of Naam.  When we earn Naam we find a permanent place at the Charans of Akal Purakh.

Agnat saahu apnee day raas.
Khaat peet bartai anad ulaas.
Apunee amaan kachh bahur saahu lay-ay.
Agi-aanee man ros karay-i.
Apnee parteet aap hee khovai.
Bahur us ka bisvaas na hovai.
Jis kee basat tis aagai raakhai.
Prabh kee aagi-aa maanai maathai.
Us tay cha-ugun karai nihaal.
Nanak saahib sada da-i-aal.  2.

When God sent us into this world He gave us the most priceless jewel of human life.  He gave us the wealth of the Swaas (breath) to keep this life element going.  He tasked us to spend this wealth of Swaas in order to collect the wealth of eternal treasures.  We were tasked to spend this wealth of breaths in dealing with the GurParsaad of Naam, Puran Bandgi and Seva.  In this way we were to make the best use of this human life.  We would unite with the Almighty and earn the respect from the court of God. 

But, look what most people have done instead?  They have been wastefully spending this priceless wealth of life, the Swaas, in just the pleasures of eating, drinking and worldly comforts.  They have so far been spending this priceless wealth of life just for the accumulation of worldly possessions, buying properties, collecting and saving money, raising our families and spending all of their time in taking care of them and so on.  They have been spending all of the wealth of life in serving Maya and have totally forgotten the One who has given them this priceless wealth of life – Swaas. 
While serving Maya in this way, whenever they lose something in terms of money, property, relationships and other worldly possessions, they get angry and blame God.   They never remember and thank the One who gives us all these comforts of life.  The One who gives us the priceless wealth of life in order to collect Naam Ki Kamai – eternal treasures.  They also forget that whatever happens in their life is due to their own Karams.  So instead of taking responsibility for what happened, they blame the One who gives them everything. 

When you blame God and ignore your own Karni then what happens to you?  Imagine if you were to blame your friends or family then bad things happen, what would the result be?  Would your relationship with them remain normal?  Would you still think good of them?  Would their feelings towards you remain good?  Would they still trust you, love you and be compassionate towards you?  The answer to all of these questions is negative.  By blaming others you spoil your relationship. 

The divine law operates in a similar way.  Criticising, blaming and complaining about God is also punishable by the divine law.  We lose our integrity.  God will let us lose our trust in Him.  We  are pushed away from the Almighty  Which means that the preordained time we were to receive the GurParsaad of Naam, Puran Bandgi and Seva is pushed drastically into the future.

Our ability to realize the objective of human life is greatly reduced.  Our trust and faith in God will be diminished.  Our devotion and love for God will vanish.  But, if we are thankful to Him with every breath of ours, if we dedicate ourselves and operate under the Sato Birti then gradually we keep on advancing in spirituality.  Eventually we receive the GurParsaad of Naam, Puran Bandgi and Seva in order to reach salvation.  We are able to do this even whilst living in this world of  family and other responsibilities. 

If we dedicate just even ten percent of our time to Naam, Bandgi and Seva then we are still able to bring in all of Divinity inside us.  When we donate just ten percent of our earnings to the Guru then we are still able to detach ourselves from greed and Maya.  The Guru is very kind upon us.  He takes only ten percent from us and puts the remaining ninety percent from His own pocket.  Keeping in view the need to meet the family and other responsibilities Guru Patshahs have very kindly amended the rule of giving everything.  They have made it the Rule of Dasvandh.  Just by giving one tenth of what we have to the Guru, the Guru will take care of us. 

But, those who do dedicate themselves one hundred percent are very rare souls, one in tens of millions.  They give one hundred percent to the Gur and Guru.  They completely surrender themselves to the Gur and Guru.  By doing so, they go on the fast track and reach salvation rapidly.  The Guru is advising us to give everything back to the original Giver – Akal Purakh.  Return whatever we have to the Giver.  If we cannot do that then at least give Dasvandh to the Giver.  This is the Gur and Guru’s Hukam.  Anybody who abides by this divine law becomes Dhan Dhan (supremely blessed).  The Gur and Guru is very kind and when they are happy about our love, compassion, devotion, faith, trust and belief then they give us all of the eternal treasures.  They will fill us with all of the priceless diamonds and jewels of Naam, Puran Bandgi and Seva and we reach the heights of the spiritual world.

Anik bhaat maa-i-aa kay hayt. 
Sarpar hovat jaan anayt.
Birakh kee chhaa-i-aa si-o rang laavai.
Oh binsai uho man pachhutaavai.
Jo deesai so chaalanhaar.
Lapat rahi-o tah andh andhaar.
Bataa-oo si-o jo laavai nayh.
Taa ka-o haath na aavai kayh.
Man har kay naam kee pareet sukh-daa-ee.
Kar kirpa nanak aap la-ay laa-ee.  3.

Guru Patshah Ji is continuing to give us the divine wisdom about Maya.  Maya is nothing but an illusion.  Maya is nothing but a sweet poison.  Maya is nothing but a commodity which has been given to us for meeting our daily physical needs. 

We encounter Maya in our daily life in various forms.  Let us try to understand this aspect of Maya in a little more detail.  We need to understand that everything except the Nirgun Saroop of Akal Purakh is Maya.  Anything that exists and operates under the influence of Maya is also Maya.  Anything that exists and performs under the three aspects Rajo, Tamo and Sato is Maya.  Everything that is visible with the normal human eye is Maya.

First of all, of our physical body is Maya.  Secondly, our family is Maya – parents, brothers, sisters, siblings are all Maya.  All of our worldly relationships are Maya.  The house we live in is Maya.  All of our belongings and possessions are Maya.  Kaam, Krodh, Lobh, Moh and Ahankaar are Maya.  Desires are Maya.  Asa, Trishna and Mansha are Maya.  Raj (worldly positions), Joban (human beauty), Dhann (Money), Maal (our personal belongings), Roop (human beauty), Ras (Tastes of tongue), Gandh (smell – fragrance), Sparash (lustful touch) and Shabad (bad language) are all Maya too.  They lead our attention away from salvation.  They cause us to to do deeds under the influence of Panj Doots and desires.  They are the weapons of Maya.

Everything that is prone to change is Maya.  Everything that changes is Maya.  The only thing that doesn’t change is the Eternal Truth, the Nirgun Saroop of Akal Purakh Paar Braham Parmeshwar.  The only thing that doesn’t change, has never changed, and will never change is the Param Tat (Supreme Divine Essence) – Dhan Dhan Paar Braham Pita Parmeshwar. 

Maya allures us in various forms and ways in our daily life, but it never becomes ours permanently.  It is like the shadow of a tree, which comes and goes and is always in darkness.  What stays with us is the One who never changes – Param Jyot Puran Parkash Dhan Dhan Paar Braham Parmeshwar. 

Our soul is a part of this divine entity called Param Tat and has to go back and unite with Him.  Our soul returns and not the physical body as it is part of Maya.  Whatever is visible is Maya.  Whatever changes to the extent that it vanishes, it diminishes completely is Maya.

Maya doesn’t go with our soul when it leaves the physical body, but even knowing this people are still absorbed in Maya.  Maya is just a commodity.  Learn to use it and let it go.  Just like we drink a cup of coffee or tea in a paper cup, then throw the cup away.  Do the same with Maya.  Just use it and let it go.  Don’t attach the mind to Maya.  Just treat it like a commodity and don’t get absorbed in it.  Don’t live for Maya.  Life is not provided to us for living for Maya.  Maya should not be ruling over us.  We have to learn how to rule over Maya. 

Maya is like the shadow of a tree which people are trying to catch and hold forever.  But, they will never be able to catch it and make it their own.  They will only be disappointed when they try to catch it, collect it, save it and live for it because in the end nothing will remain in their hands.  When the time comes to leave this world they go empty handed.  The only thing that will go with us, the only thing that will always remain with us and help us after leaving this world is Naam Ki Kamai, Puran Bandgi and Seva.  These bring us eternal happiness forever.  People only want Maya because they think it will make them happy.  But, that is why Maya is called an illusion.  It doesn’t bring the happiness they thought it would.  It may do at first, but in the end it always results in disappointment.

The GurParsaad of Naam, Naam Ki Kamai, Puran Bandgi, Seva, Parupkaar and Maha Parupkaar can only be granted by the Almighty.  We need to focus ourselves in praying for this GurParsaad.  The real Bandgi starts when the person goes into Samadhi and this happens in Karam Khand with GurParsaad only.  Only Gur and Guru can give us this GurParsaad.  God is very kind to us.  If we pray to him for the gift of GurPrasaad with full and complete belief, faith, trust, devotion and love then He will give it to us.  Then we we can relieve our self from the fire of Maya, from the scum of Maya and find a place at the Charans of Akal Purakh.

Mithi-aa tunn dhan kutamb sabaa-i-aa.
Mithi-aa ha-umai mamtaa maa-i-aa.
Mithi-aa raaj joban dhan maal.
Mithi-aa kaam krodh bikraal.
Mithi-aa rath hastee asav bastaraa.
Mithi-aa rang sang maa-i-aa paykh hastaa.
Mithi-aa dharoh moh abhimaan.
Mithi-aa aapas oopar karat gumaan.
Asthir bhagat sadh kee sharan.
Nanak jap jap jeevai har kay charan.  4.

Guru Patshah Ji is continuing to reinforce the divine wisdom, the Braham Gyan, about the falsehood of Maya.  He is very kindly telling us that this physical body of ours is Mithya.  This means false; that it will vanish; it will die; it is prone to change and that it changes with time. 

Look at  how our own body has changed.  How we looked when we were born and drank only milk.  Then we started to sit, walk and talk and eat other foods.  We grew into a bigger child, became a healthy youth.  Then got married, had children and became middle-aged.  But, then physical problems set in and only get worse in old age.  We become old, weak and sick and finally leave the world.  We are all aware of the changes that happen in our physical body.  We are aware our body will not last forever.  That is why it has been called Maya. 

Similarly Dhann, meaning wealth, money, gold, jewellery, diamonds and so on are all false too.  For some time we may possess them, but then they leave us.  Our wealth never stays the same.  It is prone to change.  Grows and diminishes. 

All of the family and family relations are false too.  They are a part of Maya.  Anything that changes or diminishes and doesn’t go with us, means doesn’t go with our soul at the time of death is false.  The only Truth is Sat – Akal Purakh – “Ik Oankaar Sat Naam”. 

Other forms of Maya are Mithya too, such as Haumai.  This means thinking and believing that we are the doer rather than God.  Forgetting that Sat is the only Doer – Karta Purakh. 

Selfish love for our own family, sons, daughters and siblings is false too if we work only for their benefit and don’t care about others and God.  This is also called attachment – Moh, of the family.  This selfish affection for the family is Moh.  It converts to love when it expands to encompass others.  Everybody takes care of the self and family, but Dhan Dhan are those who care of others and help others too.  This is called Parupkaar and helping others achieve Jivan Mukti is Maha Parupkaar. 

All of the worldly positions earned by way of educational qualifications and so on are all false, because they diminish too with the changes in our physical body with time and age.  False too is Joban, the youthful time of our life.  In young age we have a lot of energy and force to make things happen.  We can work harder physically and so on, but youth doesn’t last forever.

One thing we would like to bring to the attention of the Sangat Ji is that the young time of our life is a better time to dedicate our self to Naam, Bandgi and Seva.  Many wait until old age before dedicating themselves to achieve the real eternal goal of their human life which is achieving salvation.  This is not good.  It is very difficult to do so in old age.  By the time old age comes, the Panj Doots have a very strong hold over us.  Old age is full of ailments and physical impairments which make it harder to meditate.  The best thing is to dedicate our self in childhood.  Children are more innocent and not influenced as much by the Panj Doots.  As we grow, the Panj Doots keep strengthening their hold over us.  It becomes more and more difficult to win over Maya.  Children can go into Samadhi very easily, whereas older people never go into Samadhi or very rarely go into Samadhi.  So the best age for Naam Japna is childhood and in the early age and not in the old age. 

Kaam means the feeling of lust for the opposite sex and is considered to be a mental sickness.  It is one of the Panj Doots that influence our daily life.  However, within our marriage it considered a boon to be enjoyed.  But, outside our marriage it is called Kaam.  It destroys us from the inside.  Guru Patshah Ji is telling us that Kaam is Mithya too.  That it gives a false sense of pleasure and destroys our character and integrity. 

Krodh – anger and rage, also destroy us.  Anger and ego complement each other.  Anger is generated due to our ego and ego causes us to be angry.  Anger is considered to be the worst enemy of ours.  We lose control of our senses when we are anger and are liable to cause destruction to our own self and others.  That is why anger has also been called false by the Guru Sahib Ji. 

All of the worldly possessions, such as horses and elephants, or nowadays cars and other modes of transport we own, expensive clothes, savings and expensive items are all false too if they bring a feeling of ego and attachment inside us.  This is against the laws of Divinity.  These things will keep us burning in the fire of desires and absorb us further into the web of Maya. 

Deception, emotional attachment and egoistical pride are all Doots and part of Maya so they are also false.  Our own ego and pride are a serious mental sickness.  GurBani calls ego, Haumai a deep mental sickness – “Haumai Deeragh Rog Hai.”  It is the most dangerous part of Maya and so it is false too.  Only devotional worship, Naam Ki Kamai, and the sanctuary of the Holy Saints is permanent.  Only Naam, Puran Bandgi an Seva, Parupkaar and Maha Parupkaar prevails.  Everything else is false.  Our life will remain the life forever only with the GurParsaad of Naam, Puran Bandgi and Seva.  Only God’s Naam and its service  transforms us into an eternal divine entity forever.

Mithi-aa sarvan par nindaa suneh.
Mithi-aa hasat par darab ka-o hireh.
Mithi-aa naytar paykhat par tari-a roopaad.
Mithi-aa rasnaa bhojan an savaad.
Mithi-aa charan par bikaar ka-o dhaaveh.
Mithi-aa man par lobh lubhaaveh.
Mithi-aa tunn nahee par-upkaaraa.
Mithi-aa baas layt bikaaraa.
Bin boojhay mithi-aa sabh bha-ay.
Safal dayh nanak har har naam la-ay.  5.

Guru Pancham Patshah Ji is continuing to give us the Braham Gyan about what else in our life is Mithya.  Nindya, meaning negative criticism and slandering of others, is a very dangerous thing to do.  It is a deep mental sickness.  By slandering others people become more sinful.  When people do somebody’s Nindya they are washing their target’s sins and getting those sins transferred into their own account – Lekha.   The Nindak (slanderer) gets penalized and the person who is being criticized gets rewarded. 

God has given us the sense of hearing through our ears.  The divine purpose of this sense is to hear only the Truth and nothing else.  By Truth we mean Naam, Mahima and Jas (praises) of Akal Purakh, the praises of God, in order to make our life sublime.  But, we keep on using our ears for hearing all sorts of negative things and untrue things and by doing so this gift of hearing has become false.  Our ears and the sense of hearing will remain divine only as long as we keep on hearing the Truth, praise of God, GurBani and Kirtan.  However, if we use our ears to hear the slander of others, then this divine gift of hearing sense becomes false. 

Similarly, our hands were given to us for doing good to others, to engage ourselves in helping others, But, if we use our hands for stealing the wealth of others then these hands become false too.  If we use our eyes to look lustfully at others then the sense of  sight becomes a curse.  Except for our spouse, see all others as sisters, daughters, mothers, brothers, fathers and sons.  If we deviate from this divine law and look lustfully at others, then our eyes are also false.  Sight is probably the most important sense, a divine gift that have been given to us to see the Truth only. 

The tongue is another very important sense organ provided to us by the Almighty.  We should use our tongue for speaking the Truth.  For singing the praises of Naam, Akal Purakh and Sants and Bhagats.  For doing Naam Jaap and so on.  However, if we are only using it for enjoying the taste of various foods then it also becomes false. 

God has also given us two feet.  This is an outstanding feature of our physical body.  It would be hard to get around without our feet.  God gave us these two feet to use them for taking us in the right direction.  To step towards doing truthful acts and deeds and to step away from doing bad deeds.  Once we use them for bad purposes, for doing harm to others, then they also become false. 

Our mind directs all of our actions and reactions.  The mind interprets all of the signals from our senses and responds to these external signals in the form of our actions and reactions.  If our mind operates under the influence of Maya, then its responses will also be under the influence of Maya.  If our mind operates under the influence of Naam and divine wisdom, then its responses will be according to Naam and divine wisdom.  The mind should operate under the influence of Naam and divine wisdom, rather than worldly wisdom, self wisdom and bad wisdom to accumulate the Sat Karams. 

If our mind operates under the influence of Maya, Panj Doots, then it will be characterized as false.  If it operates under the influence of Naam and divine wisdom then it will help us to operate under the divine Hukam.  This will eventually unite us with the Param Jyot Puran Parkash Nirgun Saroop Dhan Dhan Paar Braham Parmeshwar. 

Similarly, each limb in our body is a gift to us so we could have the form of a human life to unite with Akal Purakh.  The human body is a gift for us to use for doing good to others.  For helping others unite with Naam and to do Puran Bandgi and Seva Parupkaar and Maha Parupkaar.  If this physical body is not used in this way, then it becomes false. 

Our physical body is false if we are operating under the influence of various distracting elements such as – Nindya, Chugli, Bakhili, Raj, Joban, Dhan, Maal, Roop, Ras, Gandh, Sparash, Shabad.  Shabad here means using bad language.
Without divine enlightenment and earning this divine wisdom after understanding how the use of our senses and body become false, you will not be able to turn yourself towards the Eternal Truth.  You will not be able to do Naam, Naam Ki Kamai and Puran Bandgi, Seva, Parupkaar, Maha Parupkaar and complete the objective of this human life to attain salvation – Jivan Mukti.  The only path to success is the path to Sach Khand.  The path of Naam, Puran Bandgi and Seva, Parupkaar and Maha Parupkaar.  This is the only path that brings us divine enlightenment and divine wisdom uniting us with the Almighty.

Birthee saakat kee aarjaa.
Saach binaa kah hovat soochaa.
Birthaa naam binaa tunn andh.
Mukh aavat taa kai durgandh.
Bin simran din rain baritha bihaa-ay.
Maygh binaa ji-o khaytee jaa-ay.
Gobind bhajan bin barithay sabh kaam.
Ji-o kirpan kay niraarath daam.
Dhan dhan tay junn jih ghat basi-o har naa-o.
Nanak taa kai bal bal jaa-o.  6.

A Sakat is a person who is totally ignorant about his responsibility towards the Creator.  His ignorance is not innocent, it is intentional.  It is not that they never had a chance to know about God, it is they just don’t want to know about God.   A Sakat will make no effort to do any of the Sato Karams.  A Sakat is always absorbed in the Rajo and Tamo aspects of Maya.  He will never remember God.  He has no belief, faith and trust in God.  He has no devotion and love for God.  A Sakat believes that there is no God. 

Guru Patshah Ji is explaining to us in His divine words, that a Sakat’s life is a complete waste.  He is not at all interested in knowing even the basic objective of his human life.  The Sakat will continue going through the cycle of birth and death until he does enough Sato Karams to get a human life again.  Then he may realize the real goal of human life is to achieve salvation. 

The Sakat’s life is composed of untruthful deeds.  He is a dedicated slave of Maya.  Without  truthful living, a person cannot become truthful.  Without GurParsaad of  “Ik Oankaar Sat  Naam” (One God named “Sat”), which is the only Eternal Truth as explained in the Mool Manter, and without meditation on Sat Naam, a person cannot become truthful. 
Ik Oankaar Sat Naam tells us that the One God is named “Sat.”  That Sat is the Naam – Sat Naam.  This is the GurParsaadi Naam.  Without this GurParsaad and Naam Ki Kamai, Puran Bandgi and Seva, we cannot become Sat Saroop.  Only Sat can make us Sat Saroop, which means make us completely truthful inside and out.  Only when we become completely truthful can we see, speak, hear, serve and deliver the Eternal Truth.  That is what is called a Puran Sachyara, a Puran Khalsa.  But, without a Puran Jyot Parkash in the Hirda, one cannot become a Puran Sachyara.  And remember God lives only in a Puran Sachyara Hirda. 

When we become Puran Sachyara, a Puran Khalsa then our Suksham Dehi (astral body), becomes pure like 24 carat gold.  This means our Suksham Dehi is purified of all of the Doots and desires.  Nothing can distract us.  Maya has no effect on us.  But, without the GurParsaad of Naam in our body, our body becomes useless.  The Doots live in different parts of our body.  Kaam lives in the lower part around the sex organs.  Krodh lives in the stomach area.  Lobh and Moh live in the chest area and Ahankaar/Haumai, the most dangerous, lives in the head.  With these Doots living in our body we become spiritually blind.  These Doots don’t allow our body to become pure. 

How can we purify our body and get released from the grip of these Doots?  The answer is very simple – we get released from the Doots by the GurParsaad of Naam, Puran Bandgi and Seva.  When Naam goes inside us, all of the Doots run away and our Dehi becomes filled with Amrit.  All seven centers (chakras) of spiritual energy are activated.  In GurBani these are called Sat Sarovars.  Amrit is felt in these seven areas of the body – top of the head (Dassam Duaar), middle of the forehead (third eye), throat, centre of the chest (Hirda), navel, sex organ and base of spine (Kundalini).  When Naam goes inside us, all of our Bajjar Kapaats, divine doors are also opened and we are connected to the spiritual realms.  These are in the forehead (third eye), the back of the head, above each ear and the top of the head (Dassam Duaar).  When Naam Amrit overflows from these Sat Sarovars it flows into and each and every cell, Rom Rom.  In GurBani this is called “Gurmukh rom rom har dhiayaa.” 

But, none of this can happen when you are drenched in the scum of Doots.  None of this can happen when your mouth spits out foul language instead of praises, when your body is involved in wrong deeds, instead of Seva.  This means your mouth and body are useless, they are false.  Without Naam Simran and collecting Naam Ki Kamai, your days and nights are wasted.  In this way your whole life is wasted just as without rain the crops are destroyed.  Naam Amrit serves as the spiritual food for your soul, mind and body.  Naam Amrit takes us to the heights of complete silence – which is the Absolute state of God.   

The wealth of a miser doesn’t go with him.  He spends his whole life collecting wealth, but hardly spends it.  When the end comes all of the wealth stays here, nothing goes with him.  In the same way without the GurParsaad of Naam, Puran Bandgi and Seva all other actions and deeds are false and useless.  When we are absorbed in Naam we become Dhan Dhan.  This means we become super great, supremely blessed, because we have reached the heights of the spiritual world.  We become so important and honorable, that Nirankaar Roop Dhan Dhan Guru Nanak Patshah Ji is a sacrifice to us.  It means the souls who are absorbed in Naam Amrit are in Chad Di Klaa and even the Guru is a sacrifice to such souls.

Rehat avar kachh avar kamaavat.
Man nahee pareet mukhahu gandh laavat.
Jaananhaar parabhoo parbeen.
Baahar bhaykh na kaahoo bheen.
Avar updaysai aap na karai.
Aavat jaavat janmai marai.
Jis kai antar basai nirankaar.
Tis kee seekh tarai sansaar.
Jo tum bhaanay tin prabh jaataa.
Nanak un junn charan paraataa.  7.

Guru Pancham Patshah Ji is very kindly giving us the Braham Gyan – divine wisdom about the importance of the inside compliance (Anderli Rehat).  Guru Ji is condemning the external compliance (Baharli Rehat).  Inside compliance is everything.  Only that will elevate our spiritual level and take us to ONE KHAND – SACH KHAND.  Whereas keeping only external compliance and totally ignoring the inside compliance is hypocrisy.  This makes us a Pakhandi (hypocrite).
It is the internal compliance which leads us on the internal pilgrimage and makes a real eternal difference by taking us closer to the Almighty.  The outer pilgrimages and external compliance is of hardly any use in uplifting our spiritual levels.  Internal compliance means:-

·         complete internal purification,
·         winning over our mind,
·         winning over Panj Doots,
·         becoming desire free,
·         coming under the Hukam, and
·         filling our Hirda with all of the divine qualities.

Divine qualities such as:-

·         utmost humbleness,
·         Sat Santokh – contentment,
·         forgiveness,
·         fearlessness,
·         Ik Drisht – single vision,
·         Nirvair – no animosity with anybody,
·         love and compassion,
·         devotion and trust, and
·         faith and belief in Gur, Guru and GurBani.

Internal compliance further means:-

·         becoming what GurBani says,
·         becoming a Sant Hirda,
·         Naam in Rom Rom,
·         Naam in Hirda,
·         enjoying the Atam Ras Amrit (inner bliss) continuously,
·         opening all of the divine doors, Trikuti and Dassam Duaar,
·         making a permanent direct connection with God, and
·         hearing Anhad Shabad Naad Kirtan continuously.

When we achieve this internal compliance, we become a Dhan Dhan Pargateyo Jyot Puran Braham Gyani, a Puran Sant, a Puran SatGur with a Puran Jyot Param Jyot Parkash in our Hirda.  When we become like this, God Himself lives within us.  God Himself within us is known as the Puran Sant.  God Himself within us is known as the Puran Braham Gyani and gives GurParsaad of divine wisdom, Braham Gyan, to everybody who comes in contact with us.  Whoever listens and practices these divine words with faith and trust, devotion and love, reaches salvation.  External compliance doesn’t take us anywhere.

The external compliance, Baharli Rehat is:-

·         wearing religious robes,
·         conducting rituals and customs,
·         “Munn Hore Mukh Hore,” meaning showing others one thing, but doing something else,
·         advising others, but not practicing it our self,
·         outside pilgrimage, which is called Atsath Teerath in GurBani.

If we are engaged in the external compliance, we will continue to get reincarnated in the cycle of birth and death.    
All of our actions, reactions, deeds and performances are being constantly watched by the Almighty at every single moment.  This is one of the superpowers of the Sarabh Klaa Bharpoor Dhan Dhan Paar Braham Parmeshwar.  The One who is, “Gat gat anter ki janat.”  The One who is Anter Jaami.  When God knows our every thought, then do we really believe that we will be able to attain salvation just by performing external compliance acts?  The answer is obviously no.  It is better that we start working towards earning the inside compliance as explained above. 

Unless we dedicate ourselves and commit ourselves to earning the internal compliance we will not get the GurParsaad of Naam, Puran Bandgi and Seva, Parupkaar and Maha Parupkaar.  Only when we get GurParsaad will we be able to discover God within our self.  Only then will the Jyot inside us become the Param Jyot.  Only when we do Naam Ki Kamai will we achieve all of the internal compliances.  Only then will we complete our internal pilgrimage and be united with God. 

Internal pilgrimage is the travelling of our soul through the various realms of the Eternal Truth to ultimately find its place in Sach Khand.  When we dedicate our self to Puran Bandgi and go into Samadhi and Sunn Samadhi, we see the Divine Light, the Puran Jyot Parkash, have the Nirgun Saroop Darshan and Guru Darshans.  Only then do we have very surprising and Alokik (out of this world) experiences.  Physically, we hear Naam in our Rom Rom.  We see our golden Suksham Sareer.  We hear the Panch Shabad Anhad Naad in the Dassam Duaar.  We feel Amrit flowing through our entire body continuously.  We hear Naam vibrating in our entire body.  Whatever GurBani says happens to us physically.  When we reach this stage, the Gurus come to bless us.  Paar Braham Parmeshwar Himself comes to bless us.  We become very highly respected in the Dargah.

External compliance brings no spiritual gain.  Whereas internal compliance brings salvation, eternal treasures and takes us to the heights of the spiritual world, to Sach Khand.

Kara-o bayntee Paar Braham sabh jaanai.
Apnaa kee-aa aapeh maanai.
Aapeh aap aap karat nibayraa.
Kisai door janaavat kisai bujhaavat nayraa.
Upaav si-aanap sagal tay rahat.
Sabh kachh jaanai aatam kee rahat.
Jis bhaavai tis la-ay larh laa-ay.
Thaan thanantar rahi-aa samaa-ay.
So sayvak jis kirpa karee.
Nimakh nimakh jap nanak haree.  8.5.

Guru Pancham Patshah Ji is very kindly giving us the Braham Gyan, divine wisdom, about how we can become Akal Purakh inspired beings.  How can we attract Him to our soul, mind and body?  How can we get the eternal blessings, the GurParsaad, from Dhan Dhan Paar Braham Parmeshwar?  How can we get a drop of Amrit from the unlimited sea of Amrit, the Mansarovar, the Gur Sagar and make our life sublime? 

Guru Ji is also giving us the divine wisdom, Braham Gyan, about the unlimited super powers such as Antar Jaamta.  This power keeps a record of all of our performances in our daily life.  This power  keeps a record of our internal story continuously. 

So what should we do to get the eternal blessings and the GurParsaad of Naam, Puran Bandgi and Seva?  This is what Guru Ji is explaining to us here.  We should pray to Akal Purakh for His GurKirpa, His GurParsaad.  Only He can give it, we cannot give it to our self by our own means and methods.  Only He can keep us close to Him or push us away from Him.  Everything happens under His Hukam.  God’s Will is Supreme.  Nothing happens outside His Hukam. 

There is one and only one way to realize our spiritual dreams and that is by getting His GurKirpa and GurParsaad.  Our own wisdom, worldly wisdom and any other wisdom except the divine wisdom does not work at all.  Divine wisdom is telling us to pray for GurParsaad. 

What is the way to do a Benti, a prayer request?  Do it with:-

·         utmost humbleness,
·         complete belief in the existence of the Creator and Doer, Karta Purakh,
·         full faith and trust in Gur, Guru and GurBani,
·         full devotion,
·         love and enter into the Charan Sharan (Shelter of the Holy Feet) of Dhan Dhan Paar Braham Parmeshwar,
·         keep on asking for His GurKirpa, the GurParsaad of Naam, Puran Bandgi and Seva.

If He is moved by our love and devotion, our trust and faith, then He will listen to our prayer and will accept it and will give us the GurParsaad of Naam, Puran Bandgi and Seva.  He will take us under His direct shelter.  Then we will become a Sevak (God’s servant).  We will be accepted as a Sevak and He will keep us under His Eternal Blessings forever. 

If we then stay dedicated to Him and do Puran Bandgi, we reach the Param Padvi.  Our Rom Rom –  each and every cell, becomes drenched in Amrit.  He continuously showers us with Atam Ras Amrit.  Our physical body is filled with Amrit at all times.  We achieve all of the eternal treasures and become a Puran Sant Hirda.