There's a good discussion going on in this thread.
I personally agree with Singh_One. His thoughts are more logically based. It seems that people have made the reading of Gurbani into a ritual, applying certain times of day to certain shabads.
Gurbani asks us to just to chant Gurbani, day and night.
ha-o vaaree jee-o vaaree gobind gun gaavani-aa.
I am a sacrifice, my soul is a sacrifice, to those who sing the Glorious Praises of the Lord of the Universe.
gobid gobid kahai din raatee gobid gun sabad sunaavni-aa. ||1|| rahaa-o.
So chant Gobind, Gobind, the Lord of the Universe, day and night; sing the Glorious Praises of the Lord Gobind, through the Word of His Shabad. ||1||Pause|| (SGGS, 121)
However, it is a maryada to read Nitnem, there are times when I do not read Japji Sahib in the morning, rather, I may sing a few shabads in Raags. As long as I chant the Name of that one Lord, by contemplating Gurbani, I believe I am still following instructions of Gurbani.
You must also understand. No maryada is above Guru Granth Sahib ji. The reason why a set maryada for ALL sikhs was implemented was to keep everyone on the same page. However, I am not aware of any certain Banis were read as a maryada, before the SGPC maryada was created. Having a certain set of Banis sets a standard between all Sikhs. The maryada itself forms a unity between all Sikhs. I was having trouble in expressing my thoughts in this paragraph, so please pardon me for my mistakes.
Then comes reading. Merely reading Rehras Sahib or Japji Sahib has no use. By understanding and applying the teachings of the Guru in our lives, then there is a use.
I would like you to read the small statement made by the Guru Granth Sahib Academy:
"Guru Granth Sahib Ji contains the universal message. Spreading that message globally and making everyone understand that 'God is one', will assist in creating a better tolerant and peaceful society, whereby every person can enjoy his/her rights.
Today reading, singing and listening to Gurbani has become a mere source of musical enjoyment. Continuous series of Akhand paths' and numerous Kirtan darbars being held in and outside our Gurudwara's have become more like rituals. The life of a Sikh is not changing at all. Even those Gursikh's who have been doing Nitnem daily and paying obeisance daily at Gurudwara’s for years are seen doing things in their life contrary to Gurmat philosophy. The message of Guru Granth Sahib Ji on this is very clear.
kiaa parreeai kiaa guneeai ||
What use is it to read, and what use is it to study?
kiaa baedh puraanaa(n) suneeai ||
What use is it to listen to the Vedas and the Puraanas?
parrae sunae kiaa hoee ||
What use is reading and listening,
jo sehaj n miliou soee ||1||
if celestial peace is not attained? ||1||
har kaa naam n japas gavaaraa ||
The fool does not chant the Name of the Lord.
kiaa sochehi baara(n) baaraa ||1|| rehaao ||
So what does he think of, over and over again? ||1||Pause||
a(n)dhhiaarae dheepak cheheeai ||
In the darkness, we need a lamp
eik basath agochar leheeai ||
to find the incomprehensible thing.
basath agochar paaee ||
I have found this incomprehensible thing;
ghatt dheepak rehiaa samaaee ||2||
my mind is illuminated and enlightened. ||2|| (SGGS, 655)
So Gurbani is not a subject of listening and reading only. Gurbani is our Guru and to understand the message of Guru and then to implement that message in real life is the responsibility of every Sikh."
From:
http://www.ggsacademy.com/
So again, doing my nitnem, I may not read all the Bani's that I have to, I may read a few but I will understand what each line means, to understand what the message of my Guru is.