The nature of a human being can be described as dual- the higher and the lower. The higher instincts try to lift up and lead us to ethical values while the lower ones tend to pull down and lead us to unethical ones. Gurbani teaches us to conquer the lower nature called five robbers so that a personality with divine qualities and ethical values--purity, contentment, compassion, faith and truthfulness-- may be developed:
iesu dyhI AMdir pMc cor vsih kwmu k®oDu loBu mohu AhMkwrw ]
AMimRqu lUtih mnmuK nhI bUJih koie n suxY pUkwrw ](SGGS:600)
‘Within this body dwell the five thieves: sexual
desire, anger, greed,
emotional attachment and egotism. They plunder the Nectar, but
the self-willed human being does not realize it; no one hears his
complaint.
eyku mMdru pMc cor hih inq krih buirAweIAw ] (SGGS: 1096)
‘In the one temple of the body are the five thieves, who continually misbehave.’
pMc cor imil lwgy ngrIAw rwm nwm Dnu ihirAw ]
(SGGS:1178)
‘The five thieves join together and plunder the
body-village,
stealing the wealth of the Lord's Name.’
Lower Instincts
As stated in the quotes given above, these lower instincts - - lust, wrath, greed, attachment and ego-- lead us to unethical actions unless we sublimate them. Out of these five, lust, has been mentioned first. Really, it is very dangerous if left uncontrolled:
hy kwmM nrk ibsRwmM bhu jonI BRmwvx]
O lust, you lead the mortals to hell; you make them
wander in reincarnation through countless species
icqhrxM qRY lok gMm´M jp qp sIl ibdwrxh ]
You cheat the
consciousness, and pervade the three worlds.
You destroy meditation, penance
and virtue.
Alp suK Aivq cMcl aUc nIc smwvxh ]
But you give only
shallow pleasure, while you make the
mortals weak and unsteady; you pervade the
high and the low.
qv BY ibmuMicq swD sMgm Et nwnk nwrwiexh ] (SGGS:1358).
Your fear is
dispelled in the Company of the saints and
through the protection of the Lord,
says Nanak.
Wrath has beenmentioned next to lust. It leads human beings astray. It is the main cause of many fights and murders .When it takes control of its victim, he/she forgets mercy and plays in its hands:
hy kil mUl k®oDM kdMc kruxw nauprjqy ]
ibKXMqjIvM vs´M kroiq inrq´M kroiq jQw mrkth ]
Ainkswsn qwVMiq jmdUqh qv sMgy ADmM nrh ] (SGGS:1358)
O anger, you are the root of conflict; compassion
never rises up in you.
You take the
corrupt, sinful beings in your power, and make them dance like
monkeys. Associating with you, mortals are debased and punished
by the Messenger
of Death in so many ways.
Greed has been placedat 3rd place in the category of lower instincts. A greedy personforgets God and ethics, and runs after worldly gains like a mad dog. He cannot differentiate between good and bad:
hy loBw lµpt sMg isrmorh Aink lhrI klolqy ]
DwvMq jIAw bhu pRkwrM Aink BWiqbhu folqy ]
nc imqRM nc iestM nc bwDv ncmwq ipqw qv ljXw ]
AkrxM kroiq AKwid´ Kwd´MAswj´M swij smjXw ] (SGGS:1358)
O greed, you cling to even the
great, and they play many pranks under your waves.
You cause them to run around
wildly in all directions, wobbling and wavering unsteadily.
You have no respect for friends,
ideals, relations, mother or father.
You make them do what they should
not do.
You make them eat what they should not eat.
You make them accomplish
what they should not accomplish.
You do like this.’
Attachment: When it crosses its limit , it causes havoc. Most of us are attached to worldly gains and forget that they are short lived. We commit dishonest deeds for their sake and repent afterwards:
moh TgaulI hau mueI sw vrqY sMswir ] (SGGS:61)
The drug of emotional attachment has destroyed me,
as it has destroyed the whole world.
Ego: Is another destructive instinct which isthe cause of many evil practices. Most of us suffer from this malady of self-conceit and hate our fellow beings. It is the root cause of many problems in the world;
hy jnm mrx mUlµ AhMkwrM pwpwqmw ]
imqRM qjMiq sqRM idRVMiq AinkmwXw ibsœIrnh ] (SGGS:1358)
O egotism, yo are the root of birth and death. You
are the very soul of sin.
You forsake friends, and hold tight to enemies. You
spread out countless illusions.
Gurbani's Warning and Advice
Many sacred hymns warn us against unethical activitiesand advise to adopt ethical behavior. Gurbani lays great stress on ethical values, character and truthful living:
schu ErY sBu ko aupir scu Awcwr ] (SGGS:62)
'Truth is higher than everything; but higher still is truthful living.'
Gurbani warns us not to fall a prey to lust lest we regret when it controls us and leads us to many unethical activities:
inmK kwm suAwd kwrix koit idns duKu pwvih ] (SGGS:403)
For a moment of sexual pleasure, you shall suffer
in pain for millions of days.
Gurbani teaches us that the Lord punishes those who cannot control their anger:
grIbw aupir ij iKMjY dwVI ]pwrbRhim sw Agin mihswVI ] (SGGS: 199)
'The bearded (tyrant) who expresses his anger on the poor,
is
burnt in the fire by the Supreme Lord.'
Greed is the main cause of most of our immoral and unethical actions. Gurbani advises us not to be greedy and not to snatch anything that belongs to others:
hku prwieAw nwnkw ausu sUAr ausu gwie ]
guru pIru hwmw qw Bry jw
murdwru n Kwie ] (SGGS:141)
'To take what rightfully belongs
to another, is like a Muslim eating pork,
or a Hindu eating beef. Our Guru, our
Spiritual Guide, stands by us,
if we do not eat those carcasses (usurp others
rights.)'
Gurbani condemns emotional attachment as emotionally attached persons never succeed. When everything is to pass away, it is of no use to be emotionally attached to any thing:
pMkju moh pgu nhI cwlY hm dyKw qh fUbIAly] (SGGS:12)
'In the
swamp of emotional attachment, their feet cannot move.
I have seen them drowning there.'
jo dIsY so clsI kUVw mohu n vyKu ] (SGGS:61)
'Whatever is seen shall pass away.
So do not be attached to this false show.'
Arrogance is severely condemned by the Sikh Gurus. Gurbani advocates humility:
grbu n kIjY ryx hovIjY qw giq jIAry qyrI ] (SGGS:779)
'O soul, don't be so arrogant - become
the dust of all (humble),
and you shall be saved.'
Solution
Solution to this problem lies in controlling and sublimating these instincts and not killing them as ascetics do by running away from worldly responsibilities and living alone in forest or caves. If everyone follows them, civilization will stop. Guru Nanak advised an ascetic in these words:-
suixmwiCMdRw nwnku bolY ] vsgiq pMc kry nh folY ] ( SGGS:877)
'Listen Machhindra, to what Nanak
says. One who subdues the five passions does not waver.”
pMc mjmI jo pMcn rwKY ] (SGGS: 1151)
'One who harbors the five (wicked instincts), becomes the embodiment of these five.’
duAwdsI pMc vsgiq kir rwKY qau nwnk mnu mwnY ] (SGGS:1245)
'On the twelfth day, the five
thieves are subdued, and then,
O Nanak, the mind is pleased and appeased.'
Conclusion
Sacred hymns of SGGS teach us ethical values, but we are drifting away
from its teachings. Vanishing ethical values can be restored by acting upon the
teachings of SGGS. Thus we can enter ethical civilization. Gurbani visualizes a
society where there is no discrimination or ill-will towards anyone. Gurbani trains
us to overcome evils and to pursue the five virtues ---purity, contentment, compassion faith and
truthfulness.
kwm k®oD mwieAw md mqsr ey Kylq siB jUAY hwry ]
squ sMqoKu dieAw Drmu scu ieh ApunY igRhBIqir vwry ](SGGS:379)
'Lust,
anger, intoxication with Maya and jealousy - I have lost all of these in the
game of gamble.
Purity, contentment, compassion, faith and truthfulness - I
have ushered these into my home.'
