ਹਰਸਿਮਰਤ ਕੌਰ ਖਾਲਸਾ
ਗਉੜੀ ਮਹਲਾ ੫ ਮਾਝ।। (੨੧੮) Gauree, Fifth Mehl, Maajh:
By Harsimrat Kaur Khalsa “Nancy Tobesman”
President
Guru Granth Parchar of USA, Inc.
(510) 432-5827
What is sorrow or pain? Pain is what causes discomfort, the sensations that distract us from rest or enjoyment. It is a message that comes to the brain from our neuro-receptors to indicate the need for a change we must make to our body or environment to maintain harmony with our body, mind, and soul’s functions for success. ਦੁਖ is a natural reaction that can be triggered by a current event, a past experience, or fear of something in the future. ਦੁਖ is recognized as a very bad phenomenon in our lives. When we sense this ਦੁਖ, we tend to judge creation and God’s hukam as unfair. ਦੁਖ does not really exist (it’s just the interpretation of the mind); it is meant as an instinctive feeling to inspire us to look for a change in and around us for survival. Most people do not know how to channel it to their benefit. Guru Granth Sahib gives the best antidote for this ailment.
ਦੁਖ ਭੰਜਨੁ ਤੇਰਾ ਨਾਮੁ ਜੀ ਦੁਖ ਭੰਜਨੁ ਤੇਰਾ ਨਾਮੁ।।
“The Destroyer of sorrow is Your Name, Lord; the Destroyer of sorrow is Your Name.
“Pain” is the first word in this Shabad, and negativism is the first thing we sense in our everyday living. ਰਕਤੁ ਬਿੰਦੁ ਕਰਿ ਨਿੰਮਿਆ ਅਗਨਿ ਉਦਰ ਮਝਾਰਿ।। From egg and sperm, you were conceived, and placed in the fire of the womb. “ਉਰਧ ਮੁਖੁ ਕੁਚੀਲ ਬਿਕਲੁ ਨਰਕਿ ਘੋਰਿ ਗੁਬਾਰਿ।। “Head downwards, you abided restlessly in that dark, dismal, terrible hell. ਹਰਿ ਸਿਮਰਤ ਤੂ ਨਾ ਜਲਹਿ ਮਨਿ ਤਨਿ ਉਰ ਧਾਰਿ।। “Remembering the Lord in meditation, you were not burnt; enshrine Him in your heart, mind and body.” ਬਿਖਮ ਥਾਨਹੁ ਜਿਨਿ ਰਖਿਆ ਤਿਸੁ ਤਿਲੁ ਨ ਵਿਸਾਰਿ।। (੭੦੬, ਜੈਤਸਰੀ, ਮਹਲਾ ੫) “In that treacherous place, He protected and preserved you; do not forget Him, even for an instant.” We are born in pain and leave in pain, but we are not required to die in this sorrow. All of life is about adapting to a more comfortable state. The blind manmukh cannot function beyond his ਦੁਖ. The Gurmukh looks to the Name of God that destroys all suffering. Nanak dukhiya sabh sansaar. ਗਿਰੰਤ ਗਿਰਿ ਪਤਿਤ ਪਾਤਾਲੰ ਜਲੰਤ ਦੇਦੀਪ੍ਯ੍ਯ ਬੈਸ੍ਵਾਂਤਰਹ।। “You may drop down from the mountains, and fall into the nether regions of the underworld, or be burnt in the blazing fire,” ਬਹੰਤਿ ਅਗਾਹ ਤੋਯੰ ਤਰੰਗੰ ਦੁਖੰਤ ਗ੍ਰਹ ਚਿੰਤਾ ਜਨਮੰ ਤ ਮਰਣਹ।। (੧੩੫੫, ਸਹਸਕ੍ਰਿਤੀ, ਮਹਲਾ ੫) “or swept away by the unfathomable waves of water; but the worst pain of all is household anxiety, which is the source of the cycle of death and rebirth.” We start to categorize the severity of our pain not only from our personal experience but also by observing those in our domestic environment. We are conditioned (learned behavior) into the different degrees of suffering by watching how our relatives react or over-react to uncomfortable changes. The most and strongest reactions are those upon the death of a family member. Is pain truly bad? Without it, we will continue to hurt ourselves and never make the proper adjustments to improve our condition. It is important to know we have pain, and we must urgently seek and learn how the remedy our condition.
ਆਠ ਪਹਰ ਆਰਾਧੀਐ ਪੂਰਨ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਗਿਆਨੁ।। ੧।। ਰਹਾਉ।।
“Twenty-four hours a day, dwell upon the wisdom of the Perfect True Guru. ||1||Pause||”
We are given 24 hours per day to maintain our comfortable and balanced state. Our minds are constantly trying to stay in tune with our body throughout the transitional phases of our life. Just as we listen to what our body needs (sleep, food, water, warmth, coolness, hygiene), so must we listen, understand, and dwell upon the very information that our minds need to maintain our body to house God in. This is the wisdom of the Perfect Guru who has all the answers. ਆਠ ਪਹਰ ਆਰਾਧਹੁ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਪੂਰਨ ਘਾਲ ਹਮਾਰੀ।। ੧।। ਸੋਰਠਿ ਮਃ ੫।। (੬੧੯) “God has showered me with His Grace. Twenty-four hours a day, I worship and adore my Lord and Master; my efforts have come to fruition. ||1||” People try many ways to improve and keep their comfort zone, and many times have failed. Once they find a cure for an ailment, they are happy and are anxious to share it with others. The invention of vaccines and antibiotics brought a new wave of healing that can save many lives and deliver many people from suffering (but only for those who can afford it). The Department of Health spends billions of dollars to make innovations for health care and pain control. Once they find a cure, their efforts are into fruition and many are relieved. When the mind is pain free, full of Guru’s wisdom, one also shares it with others to enhance the human race. We are created to cooperate for the benefit of the collective. We then stop competing against each other and become peaceful and helpful.
ਜਿਤੁ ਘਟਿ ਵਸੈ ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਸੋਈ ਸੁਹਾਵਾ ਥਾਉ।।
“That heart, in which the Supreme Lord God abides, is the most beautiful place.”
How beautiful is the palace of the king which everyone enters to see. How rare are those who seek to explore deep down inside themselves to find that palace light of God within; yet they know not how to find the way (Guru Granth Sahib) and only praise the directions without taking time to understand them. ਘਟਿ ਘਟਿ ਮਾਲਕੁ ਦਿਲਾ ਕਾ ਸਚਾ ਪਰਵਦਗਾਰੁ।। ੨।। (੭੨੪, ਤਿਲੰਗ, ਮਹਲਾ ੫) “In each and every heart and mind, the Lord is the True Cherisher.” ||2|| Once we realize this wonderful phenomenon, we respect ourselves and others.
ਜਮ ਕੰਕਰੁ ਨੇੜਿ ਨ ਆਵਈ ਰਸਨਾ ਹਰਿ ਗੁਣ ਗਾਉ।। ੧।।
“The Messenger of Death does not even approach those who chant the Glorious
praises of the Lord with the tongue. ||1||”
When pain and suffering to others is caused by the tongue, it shortens one’s life due to shame and stress. This causes depression and discourages one from daily exercise, healthy habits, relaxation, and prevents fair treatment to others. The tongue is one of the most powerful weapons against the Sangat. Saying kind words can cure; and spitting out destructive criticism against others for popularity, power, riches, and favor only adds to the sufferings of the community. Praising the Lord with the tongue does not only means telling God how great He is, but it also means to control any negativism from sneaking out of the mouth. When you see something wonderful, the first words spoken are not some rude negative comment against somebody else. The first word would be something like, “wow” or ਵਾਹ. Likewise, when the mind focuses on Guru Ji’s wisdom or is seating in the Gurdwara Sahib, he would be enchanted with Guru’s wisdom, exclaiming ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ. It is unfortunate that there is competing, fighting, and complaining in Guru’s presence than there is in being absorbed in God’s glorious presence and Guru Ji’s divine wisdom.
ਸੇਵਾ ਸੁਰਤਿ ਨ ਜਾਣੀਆ ਨਾ ਜਾਪੈ ਆਰਾਧਿ।। (੨੧੮, ਗਉੜੀ ਮਾਂਝ, ਮਹਲਾ ੫)
“I have not understood the wisdom of serving Him, nor have I worshipped Him in meditation.”
People are enslaved by their negative habits because they lack understanding of Guru’s teachings. They were either deprived by political, pseudo-Sikh groups (Brahmanistic cults) or just never had time to learn. Once you get a taste of Guru’s wisdom, you automatically want to be in tune with Him and with others to help. For the Gurmukh there is no room for anger or greed.
ਓਟ ਤੇਰੀ ਜਗਜੀਵਨਾ ਮੇਰੇ ਠਾਕੁਰ ਅਗਮ ਅਗਾਧਿ।। ੨।।
“You are my Support, O Life of the World; O my Lord and Master, Inaccessible and
Incomprehensible. ||2||”
When we focus on this infinite, immeasurable treasure hiding inside of us, then we are able to receive God’s help to help ourselves, and then help others. ਜਿਨੀ ਨਾਮੁ ਧਿਆਇਆ ਗਏ ਮਸਕਤਿ ਘਾਲਿ।। “Those who have meditated on the Naam, the Name of the Lord, and departed after having worked by the sweat of their brows” ਨਾਨਕ ਤੇ ਮੁਖ ਉਜਲੇ ਕੇਤੀ ਛੁਟੀ ਨਾਲਿ।। ੧।। (ਜਪੁਜੀ ਸਾਹਿਬ) “O Nanak, their faces are radiant in the Court of the Lord, and many are saved along with them! ||1||”
ਭਏ ਕ੍ਰਿਪਾਲ ਗੁਸਾਈਆ ਨਠੇ ਸੋਗ ਸੰਤਾਪ।।
“When the Lord of the Universe became merciful, sorrow and suffering departed.”
When did God become merciful? He has been merciful 24 hours a day. When a wicked person gets transformed into a Gurmukh, he then realizes God was never avoiding him. It appears as if God just became merciful when in fact, He always was merciful. Experiencing His mercy is noticeable when the very spirit that causes sin and pain is expelled.
ਤਤੀ ਵਾਉ ਨ ਲਗਈ ਸਤਿਗੁਰਿ ਰਖੇ ਆਪਿ।। ੩।।
“The hot winds do not even touch those who are protected by the True Guru. ||3||”
Protecton is ensured to those who contemplate on God, are always on guard and mindful of the need to adapt to challenges in our lives to remain at peace and life truthfully. ਜੋ ਸਿਮਰੰਦੇ ਸਾਂਈਐ।। “Those who meditate on the Master” ਨਰਕਿ ਨ ਸੇਈ ਪਾਈਐ।। “shall not be thrown down into hell.” Of we forget God, then life become hot like Hell, full of suffering. ਤਤੀ ਵਾਉ ਨ ਲਗਈ ਜਿਨ ਮਨਿ ਵੁਠਾ ਆਇ ਜੀਉ।। ੨।। (੧੩੨, ਮਾਝ, ਮਹਲਾ ੫) “Even the hot winds shall not touch them. The Lord has come to dwell within their minds. ||2||” ਕਿਰਤਿ ਕਰਮ ਕੇ ਵੀਛੁੜੇ ਕਰਿ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਮੇਲਹੁ ਰਾਮ।। (੧੩੩, ਮਾਂਝ, ਮਹਲਾ ੫) “By the actions we have committed, we are separated from You. Please show Your Mercy, and unite us with Yourself, Lord.” Our conduct and attitude can deceive us into Hell, blaming God for our pains when we did it to ourselves by not walking according to Guru Ji’s teacings, getting caught up in our own egotsistic ways. ਚਾਰਿ ਕੁੰਟ ਦਹ ਦਿਸ ਭ੍ਰਮੇ ਥਕਿ ਆਏ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕੀ ਸਾਮ।। (੧੩੩, ਮਾਂਝ, ਮਹਲਾ ੫) “We have grown weary of wandering to the four corners of the earth and in the ten directions. We have come to Your Sanctuary, God.”
ਗੁਰੁ ਨਾਰਾਇਣੁ ਦਯੁ ਗੁਰੁ ਗੁਰੁ ਸਚਾ ਸਿਰਜਣਹਾਰੁ।।
“The Guru is the All-pervading Lord, the Guru is the Merciful Master; the Guru is the True Creator Lord.”
All we have to do is take the free teachings of Life, about the All-Pervading cure to our pain and sorrows. Why settle for second hand help when we can sail for free First Class on the Royal Cruise Liner of Satguru? All the sweet delicacies of God’s essence are offered to us 24 hours a day to expel our pain. There is no end to this wonderful journey of life where there is no fear or worry of birth, old aging, and death.
ਗੁਰਿ ਤੁਠੈ ਸਭ ਕਿਛੁ ਪਾਇਆ ਜਨ ਨਾਨਕ ਸਦ ਬਲਿਹਾਰ।। ੪।। ੨।। ੧੭੦।।
“When the Guru was totally satisfied, I obtained everything. Servant Nanak is forever a sacrifice to Him. ||4||2||170||”
Guru Ji is always satisfied and not depending on our actions. This satisfaction refers to when we grab and study the learning slate of Guru’s wisdom to live by it, then we heal ourselves, and then we start to heal our family and community. ਭਉ ਖੰਡਨੁ ਦੁਖ ਭੰਜਨੋ ਭਗਤਿ ਵਛਲ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਇਓ।। ੫।। (੨੪੧, ਗਉੜੀ, ਮਹਲਾ ੫) “The Destroyer of fear, the Dispeller of pain, the Lover of His Saints - these are the Names of the Lord. ||5||” We think of God mostly as Creator but now we should think of Him as our Teacher. Once we serious become His students through study of Guru Granth Sahib, then we begin to realize the secrets of life, of pain reduction, of healing. We begin to discover that hidden treasure revealed by Guru’s wisdom and grace and see God as the true Destroyer of fear and pain. He loves His saints. All people are loved equally by God, but most are unaware of this. When a wicked person discovers this treasure, he can be transformed into a saint and realize the infinite love of God. This new saint will then inspire others to reach it also.
In conclusion, pain is the main cause of disharmony in one’s marriage, family, community, and government. Many clever tricks that are contrary to God’s hukam may bring a temporary thrill to life, but in the end become the wide avenues to destruction. ਸਹਸ ਸਿਆਣਪਾ ਲਖ ਹੋਹਿ ਤ ਇੱਕ ਨ ਚਲੈ ਨਾਲਿ।। (ਜਪੁਜੀ ਸਾਹਿਬ) “Hundreds of thousands of clever tricks, but not even one of them will go along with you in the end.” I am thankful to Guru Ji and to God that no matter how unbearable pain can be, the Merciful Lord is still more powerful to save us. I have dedicated my life and established Guru Granth Parchar Mission of USA, Inc. to bring this wonderful message of Gurbani that the world at large for the past 300 years (since the compilation of the Guru Granth Sahib) is still waiting to hear about. It is time to remove the ramala off the Guru Granth Sahib for all eyes to gaze, for all to learn, for all to be fed Gurbani free of cost to be free from pain. ਜੇ ਕੋ ਖਾਵੈ ਜੇ ਕੋ ਭੁੰਚੈ ਤਿਸ ਕਾ ਹੋਇ ਉਧਾਰੋ।। (੧੪੨੯, ਮੁੰਦਾਵਣੀ, ਮਹਲਾ ੫) “One who eats it and enjoys it shall be saved.”
