Intellect Must Awaken to Wisdom Beyond Words

 

As is the intellect, so does one understands, thinks, acts, behaves, talks, and so on. Therefore, the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS) asserts that our intellect (Budhi) must Awaken to Sahaj (Natural state of Being, Giaan Avasthaa, State of Wisdom…), the Higher State of Knowledge (Bibek, Giaan, discernment…).

 

ਉਪਜੈ ਸਹਜੁ ਗਿਆਨ ਮਤਿ ਜਾਗੈ ॥: (With the elimination of doubt from within) Sahaj wells up within (Natural state of Being…), the Intellect awakens to Spiritual Wisdom. (sggs 92).

 

ਸਭ ਬੁਧੀ ਜਾਲੀਅਹਿ ਇਕੁ ਰਹੈ ਤਤੁ ਗਿਆਨੁ: All (Mayaic) intellect (ਸਾਰੀਆਂ ਹੀ ਸਿਆਣਪਾਂ) are unavailing (useless, futile…); only the Essence of Spiritual Wisdom lasts (remains…). ||4|| (sggs 1413).

 

 

For Sikhs (learners or student of the SGGS), this Higher State of Knowledge or Gurmat (Wisdom, Giaan, Upadesh or Way of the SGGS…) is available in the SGGS for those who are sincerely interested in taking it and then living it.

 

The Gurbani is given to us for this very purpose – churn it through Shabad-Vichaar, and get the butter of Wisdom (Gurmat) from it.

 

ਮਨੁ ਤਨੁ ਬੁਧਿ ਅਰਪੀ ਠਾਕੁਰ ਕਉ ਤਬ ਹਮ ਸਹਜਿ ਸੋਏ ॥: (With the Grace of the Gur-Giaan or Wisdom) I have dedicated my mind, body and intellect to the Divine (i.e., Wisdom, Virtues, Truth…), since then I enjoy the Sahaj (-Avasthaa, Natural state of Being, State of Wisdom…). (sggs 214).

 

The Gurbani tells us that the Treasure or Jewel of the Gur-Giaan or Wisdom (Virtues, Divine Knowledge, Aatam Giaan, Spiritual Wisdom, ਗਿਆਨ ਖੜਗੁ-ਗਿਆਨ ਦੀ ਤਲਵਾਰ…) is ever present within, which brings Liberation from Maya, duality, Haumai, Bikaar, doubt…

 

ਮਤਿ ਵਿਚਿ ਰਤਨ ਜਵਾਹਰ ਮਾਣਿਕ ਜੇ ਇਕ ਗੁਰ ਕੀ ਸਿਖ ਸੁਣੀ ॥: If one counsel (Upadesh) of the Guru is listened to, then the gems, jewels and rubies (i.e., Virtues, Wisdom…) awaken within the mind. (sggs 2).

Kubudh – corrupt intellect

 

The intellect, which is not awakened to the Gurmat is Kubudh (ਕੁਬੁੱਧ) or Durmat (“ਦੁਰਮਤਿ”) – evil intellect, corrupt nature, depraved, stupid, wicked, foolish, intellect fallen to the perpetual slumber of Maya, etc..

ਮਨ ਕੀ ਮਤਿ ਮਤਾਗਲੁ ਮਤਾ ॥: Mind’s intellect is like a drunk elephant. (sggs 351).

 

ਭੋਲਿਆ ਹਉਮੈ ਸੁਰਤਿ ਵਿਸਾਰਿ ॥: O ignorant mind! Forsake your egotistical intellect. (sggs).

 

ਤਤੁ ਨ ਚੀਨੈ ਮਨਮੁਖੁ ਜਲਿ ਜਾਇ ॥ ਦੁਰਮਤਿ ਵਿਛੁੜਿ ਚੋਟਾ ਖਾਇ ॥ ਮਾਨੈ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਸਭੇ ਗੁਣ ਗਿਆਨ ॥: The Manmukh does not understand the Essence (Essence of Reality or Divine Knowledge that is contained in the Gurbani), burns (in Maya, Bikaar…). (Because of his) evil-mindedness, (he remains) separated from (his Mool, Truth…) and suffers. (One who) accepts the Hukam, he is blessed with all Virtues and total Wisdom. (sggs 944).

 

And how can we eradicate the mind’s crookedness or corrupt intellect (Kubudh), and make it Awaken to the Gurbani’s Wisdom?

 

ਕੁਬੁਧਿ ਚਵਾਵੈ ਸੋ ਕਿਤੁ ਠਾਇ ॥: Where is that place, where corrupt intellect is destroyed? (sggs 944).

ਕੁਬੁਧਿ ਮਿਟੈ ਗੁਰ ਸਬਦੁ ਬੀਚਾਰਿ ॥: Corrupt intellect is wiped out by Reflecting the Gur-Shabad (Shabad-Vichaar). (sggs 944).

ਮਤਿ ਮਲੀਣ ਪਰਗਟੁ ਭਈ ਜਪਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਮੁਰਾਰਾ ॥: The polluted intellect becomes enlightened by understanding the Wisdom (Truth, Virtues…). (sggs 163).

The Gurbani asserts it’s the mind that needs to become the Sikh and solve the riddle posed by the SGGS!

ਸਾ ਮਤਿ ਪੂਰੀ ਜਿਤੁ ਹਰਿ ਗੁਣ ਗਾਵੈ ॥: That intellect is perfect which lives life by the Divine Virtues. (sggs 189)

 

Otherwise, what’s the use of reasoning and intellectualism, and reading Gurbani and listening to its recitations if it does not usher one in Viveka-Budhi, Total Spiritual Wisdom, Virtues or Dharma, etc.? What’s the use of talking about religion, spirituality, Gurmat, and Truth if not lived (ਅਮਲ)?

 

ਗਿਆਨ ਖੜਗ ਪੰਚ ਦੂਤ ਸੰਘਾਰੇ ਗੁਰਮਤਿ ਜਾਗੈ ਸੋਇ ॥: (The person who) With the sword of the Spiritual Wisdom kill the five demons (i.e., ego and all its faults – lust, anger,greed, etc.), (he) remains Awake and Aware because of the Gurmat. (sggs 1414).

 

 

The entire Gurbani is Naam (Truth, Wisdom…). Hence, the purpose of reading/listening the Gurbani is to understand it through diligent Shabad-Vichaar, and suck the Wisdom out of it by churning the Gurbani. This is the real Bhagti of the Gurbani.

 

ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਬਿਬੇਕ ਬੁਧਿ ਹੋਇ ॥: The Gurmukh is blessed with spiritual wisdom and discerning intellect (sggs 317).

ਸੋ ਧਨਵੰਤਾ ਜਿਸੁ ਬੁਧਿ ਬਿਬੇਕ ॥: Wealthy is that person who has Bibek Budh. (sggs 1150).

 

The ritualistic reading of the Gurbani is Useless. The ego-mind may not agree with the Gurbani’s bold assertion that reading and memorizing (religious texts, Granths…) is of no avail (Spiritual Gain, ਆਤਮਕ ਲਾਹਾ…) unless one gains Understanding (ਆਤਮਕ ਸੂਝ-ਬੂਝ) in his Heart. Here is the proof from the Gurbani:

 

ਪਢੇ ਗੁਨੇ ਨਾਹੀ ਕਛੁ ਬਉਰੇ ਜਉ ਦਿਲ ਮਹਿ ਖਬਰਿ ਨ ਹੋਈ ॥੨॥: O crazy man! (You) gain nothing by reading and studying if you do not gain the Understanding (ਆਤਮਕ ਸੂਝ-ਬੂਝ) in the Heart. ||2|| (sggs 483).

 

But unfortunately, the Gurbani has been confined to and made an object of worship like an idol – Karamkaand (rituals), keeping it wrapped in expensive clothes (Rumaalaas), reading it in ritualistic manners (Akhand Paaths, Nit-Nem, etc.), displaying it on expensive Palkis, traveling it in helicopters, empty bowing everywhere, performing Mayaic prayers in front of SGGS, filling Golak (with money) on its name, etc.

Bigger the foolishness or ego, bigger the ostentation (ਪਖੰਡ, ਅਡੰਬਰ)!

 

This is all business (ਧੰਧਾ) in the Name of SGGS – Brahmin-Matt (ਬ੍ਰਹਮਣੀ ਮਤ). The illiterate Pujaaree groups, Deraa-Vaad, the present Sikh Pujaaree system, etc., all follow and promote this Brahmin-Matt.

Thus, with the exception of “ਧੋਤੀ ਟਿਕਾ” (loin cloths and ritual frontal marks to foreheads, Janaeoo, etc.), the Pujaaree groups in Gurdwaras (including the so called Takhat) practice Brahmin-Matt in everything else they do.

The Pujaaree groups and the Deraa-Vaad have turned these places into the dens of mammon worshippers – Mayadhaaree, Manmukhs, Saakat, Thug, etc. This is what they teach to their followers who work as Bhais, Ragis, Kathaakaar, etc., in Gurdawaras!

 

ਗਲੀ ਜਿਨ੍ਹ੍ਹਾ ਜਪਮਾਲੀਆ ਲੋਟੇ ਹਥਿ ਨਿਬਗ ॥ ਓਇ ਹਰਿ ਕੇ ਸੰਤ ਨ ਆਖੀਅਹਿ ਬਾਨਾਰਸਿ ਕੇ ਠਗ ॥੧॥: Who have rosaries around their necks, and glittering jugs in their hands, (just because of such religious paraphernalia) they should not be called the Divine’s Sant — they are thugs of Banaras (sggs 476).

 

Like the Hindu Brahmins/Pandits, these Sikh Brahmins/Pandits spread Karamkaand and deceive people for bread (money, ਰੋਟੀਆਂ).

 

 

However, the Gurbani warns us that this sought after Giaan (Wisdom, Knowledge, Gurmat…) is not to be realized by mere words or talks (ਫੋਕੀਆਂ ਗੱਲਾਂ), or rituals (Karamkaand), etc.

 

ਗਿਆਨੁ ਨ ਗਲੀਈ ਢੂਢੀਐ ਕਥਨਾ ਕਰੜਾ ਸਾਰੁ ॥: Divine Wisdom / Divine Knowledge (Giaan) cannot be found through mere words; to explain it is as hard as iron (sggs 465).

ਗਲੀ ਜੋਗੁ ਨ ਹੋਈ ॥: Union (with the Divine Self within) is not realized by mere talks or words. (sggs 730).

 

Through useless talks, all one can obtain is falsehood (“ਕੂੜੋ”) and fraud, not Wisdom or Union with our Divine Self (the Jiva-Atman);within(Giaan). Also, through mere talks, mind’s hunger for Maya (“ਭੁਖ”)will only increase.