DESTINY KAATHA
ਲਿਖਤ
Bibi Harsimrat Kaur Khalsa
Guru Granth Parchar Mission of USA, Inc.
510-432-5827
What is man’s destiny? Where, when, and how does it come into existence? Is our destiny preordained and can it be changed. Philosophers and theologians of all faiths have tackled the meanings to this mystery called our destiny.
A classical view of our destiny is something determined by a divine authority totally beyond our choice and efforts to guarantee that we will benefit in the end. Some believe that God preplanned to create people to love or despise Him, creating people that help others or betray them. Some people explain destiny away as luck or fate.
The easiest way to understand our destiny is to explore what Guru Granth Sahib shows us and to focus on the meaning of fulfilling our destiny. It is very helpful to consider some relevant verses from Gurbani to analyze usage of the word destiny. Guru Nanak used destiny (literally translated “written” or meaning “sealed as a royal order”) in Jap Ji Sahib: ਹੁਕਮਿ ਰਜਾਈ ਚਲਣਾ ਨਾਨਕ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਨਾਲਿ॥ 1॥ O Nanak, it is written that you shall obey the Hukam of His Command, and walk in the Way of His Will. ||1|| All of nature is designed in such a way that man must have has a destiny and therefore has a responsibility to fulfill it to the fullest of his potential, but not alone and not by his own merit. When man falls prey to his 5 vices, then he cuts himself off from fulfilling his destiny. Nature governed by God’s hukam of power and grace intended for everyone to fulfill his or her destiny to benefit in the end. The experience of the taste of the Amrit Shabbad- and I mean truly tasting it (God’s flavor, Himself) – will intoxicate anyone with the ambrosial reality of Guru’s wisdom. How can anyone with common sense reject the only solution to living a fulfilled life. God has given us the way and free choice to activate our God-given destiny or ignore it and suffer. It does not come by bribing God with rituals or showing off of good deeds. Only the grace of God, unconditional love for all people equally, free of cost. I have inserted some of my comments with the following passages in Gurbani dealing with destiny to help others understand this:
ਕਾਮਿ ਕਰੋਧਿ ਨਗਰੁ ਬਹੁ ਭਰਿਆ ਮਿਲਿ ਸਾਧੂ ਖੰਡਲ ਖੰਡਾ ਹੇ॥ (13 ਰਾਗੁ ਗਉੜੀ ਪੂਰਬੀ ਮਹਲਾ 4॥
The body-village is filled to overflowing with anger and sexual desire; these were broken into bits when I met with the Holy Saint. Kam and krod “lust & anger” are the most difficult vices to control. ਕਾਮ ਕਰੋਧੁ ਨਗਰ ਮਹਿ ਸਬਲਾ ਨਿਤ ਉਠਿ ਉਠਿ ਜੂਝੁ ਕਰੀਜੈ॥ (1325, ਕਲਿਆਨ, ਮਹਲਾ 4) Sexual desire and anger are very powerful in the body-village; I rise up to fight the battle against them. ਹਉ ਹੋਆ ਮਾਹਰੁ ਪਿੰਡ ਦਾ ਬੰਨਿ ਆਦੇ ਪੰਜਿ ਸਰੀਕ ਜੀਉ॥ 4॥ (73, ਸਿਰੀਰਾਗੁ, ਮਹਲਾ 5) I have become the Master of my body-village; I have taken the five rivals as prisoners. ||4|| ਪੂਰਬਿ ਲਿਖਤ ਲਿਖੇ ਗੁਰੁ ਪਾਇਆ ਮਨਿ ਹਰਿ ਲਿਵ ਮੰਡਲ ਮੰਡਾ ਹੇ॥ 1॥
By pre-ordained destiny, I have met with the Guru. I have entered into the realm of the
Lord's Love. ||1|| Man is not able to fight his weakness by himself, just as there is no victorious army that is a one man team and without rules, a leader, trainer, or mentor. Man must enter the mandar palace of God, the headquarters of the commander in chief of all creation. The Guru Granth Sahib’s divine wisdom teaches us how to do this and how to win our battles against ourselves.
ਫੁਲੁ ਭਾਉ ਫਲੁ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਪਾਇ॥ (25, ਸਿਰੀਰਾਗੁ, ਮਹਲਾ 3)
The Flower and the Fruit of the Lord's Love are obtained by pre-ordained destiny.
ਆਪਿ ਬੀਜਿ ਆਪੇ ਹੀ ਖਾਇ॥ 2॥
As we plant, so we harvest and eat. ||2||
ਜਿਨ ਕਉ ਪੂਰਬਿ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਤਿਨ ਸਤਗੁਰੁ ਮਿਲਿਆ ਆਇ॥ 4॥ (27, ਸਿਰੀਰਾਗੁ, ਮਹਲਾ 3)
Those who have such pre-ordained destiny come to meet the True Guru. ||4||
ਜਿਸ ਕਉ ਪੂਰਬਿ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਤਿਨਿ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਚਰਨ ਗਹੇ॥ 2॥ (44, ਸਿਰੀਰਾਗੁ, ਮਹਲਾ 5)
Those who have such pre-ordained destiny hold tight to the Feet of the True Guru. ||2||
ਮੁਹਲਤਿ ਕਰਿ ਦੀਨੀ ਕਰਮ ਕਮਾਣੇ ਜੈਸਾ ਲਿਖਤੁ ਧੁਰਿ ਪਾਇਆ॥ (77, ਸਿਰੀਰਾਗੁ, ਮਹਲਾ 5)
You were given this time to perform good deeds, according to your pre-ordained destiny.
ਕਰਮ ਸੁਕਰਮੁ ਕਰਾਏ ਆਪੇ ਇਸੁ ਜੰਤੈ ਵਸਿ ਕਿਛੁ ਨਾਹਿ॥
God Himself is the Cause of causes, good and bad-no one has control over these things.
ਪੂਰਬਿ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਸੁ ਕਰਮੁ ਕਮਾਇਆ॥ (118, ਮਾਝ, ਮਹਲਾ 3)
According to their pre-ordained destiny, they act out their karma.
ਮਿਲਿ ਸਾਧੂ ਮੁਖੁ ਊਜਲਾ ਪੂਰਬਿ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਪਾਇ॥ (46, ਸਿਰੀਰਾਗੁ, ਮਹਲਾ 5)
Meeting with the Holy Saint, my face is radiant; I have realized my pre-ordained destiny.
ਜਿਨ ਕਉ ਪੂਰਬਿ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਸੇਈ ਨਾਮੁ ਧਿਆਇ॥ (53, ਸਿਰੀਰਾਗੁ, ਮਹਲਾ 5)
Those who have such pre-ordained destiny, meditate on the Naam.
ਨਾਨਕ ਗੁਰ ਸਰਣਾਗਤੀ ਮਰੈ ਨ ਆਵੈ ਜਾਇ॥ 4॥ 30॥ 100॥
Nanak seeks the Sanctuary of the Guru, who does not die, or come and go in reincarnation.
ਹੁਕਮੈ ਬੂਝੈ ਸਦਾ ਸੁਖੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਪਾਇ॥ 31॥ (256, ਗਉੜੀ, ਮਹਲਾ 5)
Understanding the Hukam of the Lord's Command, he attains everlasting peace. O Nanak, such is his pre-ordained destiny. ||31||
ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮ ਜਪਿ ਹਿਰਦੇ ਮਾਹਿ॥ (283, ਗਉੜੀ, ਮਹਲਾ 5)
Dwell upon the Lord's Name in your heart.
ਨਾਨਕ ਪਤਿ ਸੇਤੀ ਘਰਿ ਜਾਹਿ॥ 4॥
O Nanak, thus you shall return to your home with honor. ||4||
(Destiny can be altered according to your understanding and choice- and only in God’s Hukam.)
ਚੰਗਿਆਈਆ ਬੁਰਿਆਈਆ ਵਾਚੈ ਧਰਮੁ ਹਦੂਰਿ॥ (8, ਜਪੁਜੀ ਸਾਹਿਬੁ)
Good deeds and bad deeds-the record is read out in the Presence of the Lord of Dharma.
ਕਰਮੀ ਆਪੋ ਆਪਣੀ ਕੇ ਨੇੜੈ ਕੇ ਦੂਰਿ॥
According to their own actions, some are drawn closer, and some are driven farther away.
ਕਿਰਤੁ ਪਇਆ ਪਰਵਾਣਾ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਬਾਹੁੜਿ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਨ ਹੋਈ॥ (359, ਆਸਾ, ਮਹਲਾ 1)
The deeds are done according to pre-ordained destiny; no one can turn back this Order.
ਜੈਸਾ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਤੈਸਾ ਪੜਿਆ ਮੇਟਿ ਨ ਸਕੈ ਕੋਈ॥ 2॥
As it is written, so it comes to pass; no one can erase it. ||2||
(You can’t harvest blessings from sinful garden.)
(How do you get this pre-ordained blessed destiny?)
ਪੂਰਨ ਗੁਰ ਪਾਏ ਪੁਰਬਿ ਲਿਖਾਏ ਸਭ ਨਿਧਿ ਦੀਨ ਦਇਆਲਾ॥ (454, ਆਸਾ, ਮਹਲਾ 5)
The Perfect Guru is obtained by perfect pre-ordained destiny; God is the Giver of all treasures - He is merciful to the meek.
(You have to want it, to want change in your life, to allow God to change for you to benefit in your destiny not suffer. You cannot change it by your own virtue.)
ਜੋ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਸਰਣਿ ਸੰਗਤਿ ਨਹੀ ਆਏ ਧ੍ਰਿਗੁ ਜੀਵੇ ਧ੍ਰਿਗੁ ਜੀਵਾਸਿ॥ 3॥ (492, ਗੂਜਰੀ, ਮਹਲਾ 4)
Those who have not sought the Sanctuary of the True Guru and the Company of the Holy - cursed are their lives, and cursed are their hopes of life. ||3||
ਜੇਹਾ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਤੇਹਾ ਪਾਇਆ ਜੇਹਾ ਪੁਰਬਿ ਕਮਾਇਆ॥ (579, ਵਡਹੰਸੁ, ਮਹਲਾ 1)
As is one's pre-ordained Destiny, so does one receive, according to one's past actions.
ਹਰਿ ਕਾ ਨਾਮੁ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਕਿਨੈ ਵਿਰਲੈ ਧਿਆਇਆ ਜਿਨ ਕੰਉ ਧੁਰਿ ਕਰਮਿ ਪਰਾਪਤਿ ਲਿਖਤੁ ਪਈ॥ 17॥ (593, ਵਡਹੰਸੁ, ਮਹਲਾ 3)
Only a few, as Gurmukh, meditate on the Lord's Name; they are blessed by the Lord, and receive their pre-ordained destiny. ||17||
ਪੂਰਬਿ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਪਾਈ॥ (614, ਸੋਰਠਿ, ਮਹਲਾ 5)
I have realized my pre-ordained destiny.
Have you realized yours?
ਸਹਸ ਸਿਆਣਪਾ ਲਖ ਹੋਹਿ ਤ ਇੱਕ ਨ ਚਲੈ ਨਾਲਿ॥ (1, ਜਪੁ, ਮਹਲਾ 1)
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॥
So how can you become truthful? And how can the veil of illusion be torn away?
ਪਰਾ ਪੂਰਬਲਾ ਲੀਖਿਆ ਮਿਲਿਆ ਅਬ ਆਇ॥ (813, ਬਿਲਾਵਲੁ, ਮਹਲਾ 5)
I have now received my pre-ordained destiny.
ਉਪਦੇਸੁ ਗੁਰੂ ਸੁਣਿ ਮੰਨਿਆ ਧੁਰਿ ਮਸਤਕਿ ਪੂਰਾ ਭਾਗੁ॥ (849, ਬਿਲਾਵਲੁ, ਮਹਲਾ 4)
Hearing the Guru's Teachings, I obey them; this is the pre-ordained destiny written upon my forehead.
ਆਇ ਬਨਿਓ ਪੂਰਬਲਾ ਭਾਗੁ॥ (892, ਰਾਮਕਲੀ, ਮਹਲਾ 5)
My pre-ordained destiny has been activated;
(You can activate your destiny.)
ਮਸਤਕਿ ਲਿਲਾਟਿ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਧੁਰਿ ਠਾਕੁਰਿ ਗੁਰ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਚਰਨ ਉਰ ਧਰਿਆ॥ (1294, ਕਾਨੜਾ, ਮਹਲਾ 4)
According to that pre-ordained destiny inscribed on my forehead by my Lord and Master, I have enshrined the Feet of the Guru, the True Guru, within my heart.
