Lekh 79 Sangat Part 2
In the previous part of this Lekh it has been stated that the Timeless Being brought this creation into being in order —
to put a ‘share’
to incorporate ‘co-operation’
to have an ‘interaction’
to create a ‘play of love’
to string the ‘cord of love’
to tighten the cord of the ‘yearning of love’
to bear (the pangs of) the ‘separation of love’
to (experience) the wondrous joy
to lose the presence of the self in the communion
to (bring about the) completion of the ’play of love’
of His Divine ’Self Love’ - in which He, the ‘Being of Love’ through His ‘Shabad’ (Word) or ‘Hukam’ (Command), participates and witnesses on both sides – this astonishing, unspeakable, limitless ‘gigantic play of the Wondrous’ or the ‘drama of love’.
1 Having created the creation, He watches over it Himself, by His Greatness. 6
2 He Himself is the Enjoyer, and He Himself is the Enjoyment. He Himself is the Ravisher of all.
He Himself is the Bride in her dress, He Himself is the Bridegroom on the bed. 23
Playful is my Lord of the Universe; playful is my Beloved. My Lord God is
wondrous and playful.
The Lord Himself created Krishna, O my Lord of the Universe; the Lord Himself is the milkmaids who seek Him.
The Lord Himself enjoys every heart, O my Lord of the Universe; He Himself is the Ravisher and the Enjoyer. ......
He Himself created the world, O my Lord of the Universe; (cont. next page)
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the Lord Himself plays in so many ways! 174
1 Wherever I look, there You are. Save me, O Savior Lord!
You are the Giver, and You are the Enjoyer; You are the Support of the breath of life. 228
2 Secondly, He fashioned the creation; seated within the creation, He beholds it with delight. 463
3 He Himself creates and fashions the world, and He Himself keeps it in order.
Having created the beings within it, He oversees their birth and death.
Unto whom should we speak, O Nanak, when He Himself is all-in-all? 475
4 The rays of Divine Light have spread out their brilliant radiance.
Having created the creation, the Merciful Lord Himself gazes upon it. 1033
5 By the Hukam of His Command, He effortlessly created the Universe.
Creating the creation, He gazes upon His own greatness.
He Himself acts, and inspires all to act; in His Will, He pervades and permeates all. 1043
6 The Lord Himself plays, and He Himself watches; the Lord Himself created the creation.
O servant Nanak, that person who plays this game as Gurmukh, wins the game of life, and returns to his true home. 1185
7 The Lord Himself enjoys all pleasures; the Lord Himself is the Husband of Maya.
The Lord Himself gives in charity to the whole world, and all the beings and creatures which He created. 1315
In this divine ‘Play of Love’, on one side, the ‘Being of Love’ or the Timeless being is operating His ‘wondrous play’, and on the other side, among His own created beings He is bringing about or initiating
acquaintances
dealings
interactions
‘union’ or ‘group consciousness’
communications
partnerships
interactions
transactions.
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But ‘man’ engrossed in the doubt fallacy of materialism
has forgotten
has turned away
has become unaware
of his Creator, the ‘fountain-head’, his Divine ‘mother-father’.
1 Maya has spread out her net, and in it, she has placed the bait.
The bird of desire is caught, and cannot find any escape, O my mother.
One who does not know the Lord who created him, comes and goes in rein carnation over and over again. 50
2 Being in love with Maya, they do not think of the Lord. 111
3 This world is asleep in emotional attachment to Maya.
Forgetting the Naam, the Name of the Lord, it ultimately comes to ruin. 112
4 The love of Maya has displaced all their understanding....... 116
5 In power, youth and Maya, the Lord is forgotten; this is the greatest tragedy - so say the spiritual sages. 683
6 This Maya has made me forget Your feet, O Lord of the World, Master of the Universe.
Not even a bit of love wells up in Your humble servant; what can Your poor servant do? 857
7 This is Maya, by which the Lord is forgotten; emotional attachment and love of duality well up. 921
8 He works for the sake of Maya, but he never places his feet on the right path. He never even remembers the One who created him. 1151
9 The mortal is entangled in Maya; he has forgotten the Name of the Lord of the Universe. 1427
But even then, the Timeless Being or the ‘Love Being’, steadfast in His disposition or nature, ever continues to—
nurture
care and protect
cuddle
play
seek comfort of
seek the well being
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advise
counsel
admonish
trash
punish
bless
tie and pull the love cord
be mindful of
seek well being-ness
of even those who by virtue of being ‘His off-springs’ have turned away from Him.
1 So many endure distress, deprivation and constant abuse.
Even these are Your Gifts, O Great Giver! 5
2 Even the ungrateful ones are cherished by God. O Nanak, He is forever the Forgiver. 47
3 He ever cherishes and cares for all beings, but the fool does not appreciate any of His virtues 612
4 He cherishes us, and gives us sustenance; He does not lack anything. 677
5 He has cut away my bonds, and overlooked my shortcomings, and so He has confirmed His nature.
Becoming merciful to me, like a mother or a father, he has come to cherish me as His own child. 382
6 Like the child, innocently making thousands of mistakes
- his father teaches him, and scolds him so many times, but still, he hugs him close in his embrace.
Please forgive my past actions, God, and place me on Your path for the future. 624
7 You destroy millions of my sins, and teach me in so many ways.
I am so ignorant - I understand nothing at all. Please honor Your innate
nature, and save me! 674
8 He saves even the ungrateful; my God is forever merciful. 898
9 God lifts him up and pulls him out of the deep, dark pit, and attaches him to the hem of His robe. 966
10 That mortal, whom no one can protect - You bless him with Your Support, O Lord. 1202
11 The compassionate one is merciful to the hapless; He looks at our flaws, but fails not to give. Akal Ustaat 243
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This means that the Timeless Being is such a ‘pinnacle of Belovedness’ that (despite) our
‘mistakes’
‘ignorance’
‘foolishness’
‘self-orientatedness’
‘fallacies’
‘shortcomings’
‘sins’
filthiness
‘apostasy’
that are in us, He with His divine innate nature of
being the ‘purifier of the sinners’
being ‘unmindful of our shortcomings’
being the ‘endurer of our ignorance’
being ‘forever benevolent’
is
always present
at hand
in communion
ever caring
nurturing
the provider of our daily bread
concerned about our well being
loving
pulling
(even those of) us who have turned their backs towards Him and in the
innate self within He keeps nudging us with tugs of love.
In other words — in the creation —
On one side the ‘play of love’
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is being played and despite the presence of innumerable human beings only some rare being is capable of taking this divine ‘play of love’ to its successful conclusion.
For this reason rare indeed are the ‘guru-orientated beloveds’ who are the players of this divine ‘play of love’.
1 O servant Nanak, this is such a difficult game; only a few Gurmukhs under stand it! 219
2 The Natural Speech of God is so very sweet.
How rare is that person, who sees it with his eyes. 739
3 The Unspoken Speech, the state of Nirvaanaa - how rare is the Gurmukh who understands this. 844
4 One whom the Lord Himself blesses with loving devotional worship,
is very rare in this world. 867
5 Joining with God's companions, I have begun to play. 1180
6 Only a rare gurmukh (Guru orientated being) can bear the unbearable power of even one drop of the cup of love.
The Guru himself sees the imperceptible Lord who is not visible to others. VBG 26/13
7 Rare are (the Sikhs) in the world who being filled with love swim like fish...
(Thus becoming gurmukhs) they taste the fruit of joy. VBG 28/17
The Timeless Being’s ‘cord of love’ or ‘life-current’ is infused and brimful within the beings and through this ‘life-current’ or ‘shabad’ (word) those beings
take birth
keep alive
keep living
keep thinking
keep seeing
keep talking
keep doing things
keep facing the consequences.
Despite this, about this internal divine ‘presence’, man -
is uninformed
has no awareness
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has no realisation
has no knowledge
1 You are present everywhere. I had thought that You were far away.
Whatever I do, I do in Your Presence.
You see all my actions, and yet I deny them.
I have not worked for You, or Your Name. 25
2 The Lord is pervading within and beyond, and yet people think that He is far away. 47
3 Kakka: You wander around in sexual desire and anger, you fool; attached to possessiveness, you have forgotten the Lord. 435
4 One bed is spread out for the bride and her Husband Lord.
The bride is asleep, while her Husband Lord is always awake. 737
5 The fool does not understand the Creator Lord; instead, he thinks that he him self is the doer. 813
6 Forgetting the Lord who formed, fashioned and embellished me, I have be come attached to another. 856
7 He is with all, but he cannot be found; the fool does not know His taste.
Intoxicated with the wine of Maya, the mortal babbles on about trivial affairs; giving in to the illusion, he cannot meet the Lord. 924
8 Forgetting the Naam, the Name of the Fearless Lord, he becomes attached to Maya. He comes and goes, and wanders, dancing in countless incarnations.1099
The ability of things to sense the power of electricity depends on their
conductivity. This receptivity depends on the composition and the sensitivity of different things.
‘Wood’ or ‘rubber’ have very low or almost no conductivity.
Some things have medium conductivity.
Some things have high conductivity.
In the same way ‘divine electric current’ or ‘Shabad’ is infused and brimful within every ‘being’..... but our mind, under the influence of materialistic hue
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it has become so rusted or corroded that it has lost the capacity to—
feel
know
discover
be aware
acquire
associate
experience
share
interact
benefit
enjoy
the ‘infused-brimful’ divine electric current of ‘life current’ or ‘shabad’ within itself.
What this means is that we, by virtue of our mental
forgetfulness
doubtfulness
ignorance
mind-orientatedness
despite
having within
operating within
being the life support
being infused and brimful
in the innate self day and night with the divine ‘light’, ‘shabad’ or ’naam’,
yet we cannot
communicate
keep company
relate
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cooperate
interact
carry out transactions
with it — thereby causing us to be divorced from divine virtues and rendering us incapable of deriving benefit from our spiritual ‘heritage.
1 Your Beloved Husband is now manifest before you in your own home, but you are separated from Him, and you suffer such pain! 234
2 The Lord is Ever-present; one who deems Him to be far away, dies again and again, repenting. 395
3 He rests in the bed of my mind, but I cannot see Him with my eyes. Unto whom should I tell my sufferings? 482
4 The bride and the Groom dwell together.
They lie upon the one bed, but their union is difficult. 483
5 She who does not know her Husband Lord, the Architect of karma, is deluded by falsehood - she herself is false. 583
6 O foolish and ignorant soul-bride, why are you so proud?
Within the home of your own self, why do you not enjoy the Love of your Lord? 722
7 She may be very clever, but this does not please her Husband Lord.
Attached to Maya, she is deluded by doubt. 750
8 Abandoning her Husband Lord, she sleeps, and does not appreciate His Worth.
Leaving her Husband Lord, she sleeps, and is plundered by her faults and de merits. The night is so painful for this bride. 1111
9 The soul-bride and the Husband Lord live together as one, but the hard wall of egotism has come between them. 1263
Between both conditions of life or -
forgetfulfulness or remembrance
bad company or good company
mind-orientated or guru-orientated
distress or happiness
hell or heaven
the crucial point is our consciousness.
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If our consciousness ‘connects’ with materialism or ‘’doubt-fallacy’ then we become ‘manmukh’ or mind-orientated and we forget the divine ‘realm’ - but if our consciousness connects with spirituality then divine consciousness begins to get ingrained with us.
The divine consciousness acquired through the company of the holy or the ‘discerning-intellect’ is the one that is going to carry out the
discerning
giving of direction
contemplating
meditating
taking of action
of mental or spiritual ‘life’ or ‘good’ or ‘bad’ company.
Joining the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, my understanding is
refined. 377
2 It is the most sublime contemplation, to speak of the Lord of the Universe in the pure Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy. 459
3 Joining the Sat Sangat, the True Congregation, discriminating understanding is attained. 481
4 In the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, Nanak has obtained under standing; singing the Kirtan of the Lord's Praises is his only support. 498
5 The filth of evil-mindedness is totally washed away; joining the Sat Sangat, the True Congregation, one is blessed with understanding. 881
6 By the kindness of the devotee, the intellect is enlightened, and pain and evil- mindedness are eradicated. 1081
7 Wisdom, understanding and awareness are found in the Name of the Lord. In the Sat Sangat, the True Congregation, embrace love for the Guru. 1256
The spiritual knowledge accumulated through the consciousness of the ‘light’ or ‘shabad’ of the innate self within is call intuition.
Intuition introduce us to the realisation and knowledge of the bounteous spiritual realm.
Intellectual knowledge can only give us the realisation or knowledge of the limited materialistic realm.
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Between both these types of ‘knowledge’ - (namely)
intuitional spiritual knowledge (and)
intellectual materialistic knowledge
lies the cord of ‘consciousness’.
If the cord of our consciousness or ‘attention’ is connected with the divine sangat, the holy gathering, (that is it) is ‘soul enlightened’, then that (gathering) is called the ‘sat sangat’ (the company of truth) and our consciousness begins to acquire the ‘hue’ of spirituality and we become sadh-sant-bhagat gurmukh.
On the other hand if the cord of our consciousness or attention is entangled in materialistic doubt-fallacy then that (state) is referred to as ‘negative company’ or corrupt company. In this state we get detached from the spiritual realm and become mind-orientated-worldly-materialistic.
Between these two levels or stages, man’s
‘consciousness’ or ‘attention’
and
(his) interaction or ‘company’
predominates and prevails.
(The presence of) ‘consciousness’ or attention is vital to achieve complete success in any action.
When the mortal is of one mind - whatever he dedicates it to, in that he is
successful. 303
In the same way, to reap the full benefit of a ‘communion’ or ‘company’, for ‘cooperation’ or ‘interaction’ to take place, ‘consciousness’ or ‘attention is absolutely needed.
Without attention or consciousness ‘cooperation’ or ‘interaction’ is not possible.
This point is elaborated upon with a few examples.
Through radio and tape recorder kirtan and recitation of spiritual text is going on, but every person in the household or
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member is absorbed in his or her household matters or is engaged in conversation. The intention was to enable the paath and kirtan to reach via loud-speakers and other means to as many listeners as possible at homes but because our mind is engrossed in some other matter, ‘our attention’ is not on the kirtan or gurbani.
In the same way when we are reading Gurbani or doing simran our ‘consciousness’ is involved in so many other ‘thought’ and this is the reason why our attention does not dwell in Gurbani.
The general sangat too has this complaint that their mind does not get absorbed in Gurbani.
When our consciousness or ‘attention’ is not focused in Gurbani or simran then we are not in ‘communion’ with Gurbani. This is the reason why we cannot get linked or connected with the innate spiritual messages of Gurbani and there is no ‘association’ or ‘interaction’ between us and Gurbani. In this way the lofty and pure ‘communion’ does not take place with Gurbani and we remain divorced from the ‘touch-stone power’ of Gurbani.
In other words without ‘consciousness’ or attention, whatever we do, is done in a state of ‘inattention’ — in a state of ‘absenteeism’. That is why we cannot derive the full benefit from the ‘sadh sangat’ or ‘sat sangat, the company of the holy and we remain divorced from the benefit of reading, singing, and contemplating Gurbani.
This is the reason why when compared with the earlier times, nowadays despite the enormous increase in—
religion
religious texts
religious temples
religious propagation
holy religious gatherings
reading of Gurbani
worship
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kirtan (singing of Gurbani verses)
meditation
stringent discipline
rites and rituals
no change has come in our mental and spiritual state, infact our mental personality continues to decline.
1 The Pandits, the religious scholars read, but they do not taste the essence.
In love with duality and Maya, their minds wander, unfocused. 116
They do not listen to the Lord's Praises, and they do not sing the Lord's
Glories, but they try to bring down the sky with their talk. 332
3 He says one thing, and does something else.
There is no love in his heart, and yet with his mouth he talks tall. 269
4 Journeying to sacred shrines of pilgrimage, I see the mortals acting in ego.
If I ask the Pandits, I find them tainted by Maya. 385
5 You may stand and recite the Shaastras and the Vedas, O Siblings of Destiny, but these are just worldly actions.
Filth cannot be washed away by hypocrisy, O Siblings of Destiny; the filth of corruption and sin is within you.
This is how the spider is destroyed, O Siblings of Destiny, by falling head-long in its own web. 635
6 He may remain devoted to worship and adoration, bowing his forehead to the floor, practicing the six religious rituals.
He indulges in egotism and pride, and falls into entanglements, but he does not meet the Lord by these devices. 642
7 In his heart there is deception, and yet in his mouth are words of wisdom.
You are false - why are you churning water? 656
8 Some people try to deceive the world by closing their eyes and holding their nostrils closed. 662
9 He wears religious robes, but he does not practice Truth.
He says that he has found the Mansion of the Lord's Presence, but he cannot even get near it. 738
10 The one who lacks spiritual wisdom sings religious songs.
The hungry Mullah turns his home into a mosque.
The lazy unemployed has his ears pierced to look like a Yogi.
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Someone else becomes a pan-handler, and loses his social status. 1245
1 But not joining the Sangat, and committing actions in egotistical pride, is like drawing out clean water, and throwing it in the mud. 1309
Without ‘consciousness’ our life is like dead matter. For this reason the subtle mental and spiritual presence and getting together - ‘communion - sharing - ‘interaction’ between beings cannot take place.
Between human beings and animals the ‘difference’ lies in this consciousness. In human beings the consciousness is extremely sharp, intense, made up of subtle feelings — that is why it (the consciousness) can absorb spiritual feelings of love and experience them — but in animals the consciousness being coarse, cannot ‘experience’ the subtle spiritual vibes.
The extent to which our mind’s attention gets pulled (directly) depends on the (degree of ) interest we show. Over numerous births our mind is
‘divorced’ from the spiritual realm and being engrossed in the materialistic realm it is incapable of experiencing the subtle spiritual feelings of love.
In other words our consciousness has now become similar to that of animals.
2 Those who do not listen to the Praises of the Lord of supreme bliss,
are worse off than beasts, birds or creeping creatures. 188
3 They belong to the human species, but they act like animals. 267
4 Without the Sangat, the Company of the Holy, all remain like beasts and
animals. 427
5 You are lured by the tastes of the tongue and sex organs.
You have become a beast; this sign cannot be erased. 903
6 Past actions cannot be erased; without understanding the Hukam of the Lord's Command, they become beasts. 1013
7 You never joined the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy. You are en grossed in false pursuits. 1105
8 You wander like a dog, a pig, a crow; soon, you shall have to get up and leave.
He acts like a beast, and does not understand anything. Practicing falsehood, he becomes false. 1123
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1 The manmukh is blind; he does not like the Guru's Teachings.
He has become a beast; he cannot get rid of his egotistical pride. 1190
2 The self-willed manmukhs are false; without the Name, they wander around like demons.
They are nothing more than beasts, wrapped up in human skin; they are black-hearted within. 1284
To change our ‘animalistic tendency’ or low ‘consciousness’, that is to make it lofty, better and ‘dedicated to the soul’ - there is one and only one ‘way’ or methodology indicated in Gurbani, that is—
‘Sadh sangat’ or ‘sat sangat’, the company of the holy.
3 Whoever chants it, is emancipated.
And yet, rare are those who attain it, in the Company of the Holy.
By His Grace, He enshrines it within.
Even beasts, ghosts and the stone-hearted are saved. 274
4 So, when standing up and sitting down, vibrate upon the Lord, and cherish the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy.
O Nanak, evil-mindedness is eradicated, when the Supreme Lord God comes to dwell in the mind. 297
5 Trying all sorts of things, I have grown weary, but still, they will not leave me alone.
But I have heard that they can be rooted out, in the Saadh Sangat, the
Company of the Holy; and so I seek their Shelter. 206
6 It is the most sublime contemplation, to speak of the Lord of the Universe in the pure Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy. 522
7 I cannot see any other way out. I seek the Sanctuary of the Lord's slaves.1203
8 The pleasure fruit of gurmukhs is the company of holy persons through which animals, ghosts, and the fallen ones are salvaged and liberated. VBG 16/7
To focus the mind on any one thought is called ‘attention’ or ‘contemplation’.
To achieve success and perfection in any kind of work ‘attention’ is essential. Without attention no work can be
done correctly
completed
accomplished
beneficial.
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In this way without attention—the reading of religious texts-worship, rites-rituals too become
hollow
devoid of faith
devoid of benefits
dead (fruitless) methods.
The non presence of the kajis (Muslim preachers) in the inattentive ‘nimaaz’ or prayer in Sultanpur is Guru Nanak’s indicator of this very point that , the reading religious texts, worship, contemplation, rites-rituals without attention, are useless-will bear no fruit. But despite this the masses continue to read religious texts, worship, contemplate, do simran, engage in rites-rituals, and religious preaching (in a state where they ) —
are inattentive
try to be officially correct
try to ape others
do it as an enforced duty
do it to get social approval
do it to as a means displaying their talents
do it to attain selfish interests
do it to boost mind’s confidence
do it to attain materialistic.
1 Those who do not have love for the Lord within their hearts, harbor only false intentions and goals. 171
2 Deception does not work with our Lord and Master; through their greed and emotional attachment, people are ruined.
They do their evil deeds, and sleep in the intoxication of Maya. 321
3 People try to deceive others, but the Inner-knower, the Searcher of hearts, knows everything.
They commit sins, and then deny them, while they pretend to be in Nirvaanaa. 680
4 The faithless cynics in their love of duality and sensual desires, harbor foul- smelling urges. They are totally useless and ignorant. 734
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1 Some come for their own purposes, and sit before the Guru; they pretend to be in Samaadhi, like storks with their eyes closed. 881
2 Some shave their heads, some keep their hair in matted tangles; some keep it in braids, while some keep silent, filled with egotistical pride.
Their minds waver and wander in ten directions, without loving devotion and enlightenment of the soul. 1013
3 And what good are your purifications? Why do you bother to wash your face? And why do you bother to bow your head in the mosque?
Your heart is full of hypocrisy; what good are your prayers or your pilgrimage to Mecca? 1350
The mind that is engrossed in attachment-materialism, or the
sub-consciousness which participates in actions, religion, reading of religious, (and) worship, all that, in fact is done inattentively in egotism with a superficial involvement of the mind. This is the reason why the divine vibes of subtle spiritual love of Self within have no effect on our minds and no pure and lofty change occurs in our life.
Gurbani guides (or motivates) us as follows to bring about mental and spiritual change in our life:-
4 Join the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy; vibrate and meditate on the Jewel of the Naam. 12
5 I have obtained the reward of the Kirtan of the Lord's Praises, in the Saadh
Sangat, the Company of the Holy.
I no longer have to gaze upon the way of death. 197
6 Hatred is gone, and I have become the dust of all.
I have received the Ambrosial Naam in the Company of the Holy. 295
7 He has united me with the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy.
He has rescued me from the five demons. 331
8 The ocean of fire becomes cool, when one grasps the hem of the robe of the Holy Saint. 458
9 Join the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, and meditate in remem brance on the Lord; even a sinner like yourself will become pure. 631
10 In the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, my aversion is gone.
My mind and body are imbued with love for the Lord. 892
11 Worship and adoration of God is the pure way of life.
In the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, the love of duality vanishes. 1137
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Opposed to this Gurbani has this to say about the condition of the being who is devoid of the sadh sangat, the company of the holy :-
1 Those who have not sought the Sanctuary of the True Guru and the Sangat, the Holy Congregation-cursed are their lives, and cursed are their hopes of life. 10
2 He does not join the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, and he suffers in terrible pain through countless incarnations. 77
3 Those who lack the Company of the Holy, remain all alone.
Their pain never departs, and they fall into the grip of the Messenger of Death. 135
4 He wavers and falters, and suffers such great pain, without the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy. 405
One who does not obtain the Association of the True Guru, is a most
unfortunate sinner; he is consumed by the Messenger of Death. 494
6 He finds no place of rest without the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy; to whom should he go and cry? 532
7 That life, which has no contact with the Holy, is useless. 810
Therefore Gurbani guides and motivates us to make ‘supplications in the following way:-
8 I offer my prayer to the Lord,
that I might dwell in the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy. 415
9 O Lord, Har, Har, please unite me with the Holy; compared to these Holy peo ple, I am just a worm. 698
10 Says Nanak, please forgive me, God.
Have Mercy upon me, and bless me with the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy. 738
11 Have Mercy upon me, and place me upon the Path;
let me be attached to the hem of the robe of the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy. 801
12 I beg for the Sangat, the Congregation; O God, please bless me with them. I am a fool, and an idiot - please save me! 975
13 Please be kind to me, and unite me with the Sat Sangat, the True Congrega tion of the Holy; I seek the Sanctuary of the Holy. 1179
14 If only some Saint, some humble Saint of the Lord, my Holy Beloved, would come, to show me the way. 1201
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1 Beg for such blessings from the Lord of the Universe:
to work for the Saints, and the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy. Chanting the Name of the Lord, the supreme status is obtained. 1298
To speak on the telephone, to make a connection, it is necessary to ‘connect’ to a particular number—if that number is not available or the receiver is not lifted then between the two parties—
no conversation takes place,
‘communion’ or the ‘get-together’ does not take place,
sharing does not take place,
interaction does not take place,
business-transaction does not take place.
Exactly in the same way, when doing paath-worship, meditation-contemplation, if our mind is not in ’one-pointed state of consciousness’, then we remain divorced from the innate, profound, infinitely subtle vibes of Gurbani and the ‘touch-stone power’ of Gurbani cannot operate on us.
That is why in Gurbani there is encouragement and binding command
2 With one-pointed mind, meditate on the One Lord, and the doubts of your mind will be dispelled. 47
3 Sing the Praises of God, O Saints, O friends,
with total concentration and one-pointedness of mind. 295
4 O mind, meditate on the Dear Lord, with single-minded conscious concentra tion. 653
5 I have met the Beloved Saints, and they have blessed me with their kindness; I contemplate the Unspoken Speech of the Lord.
With my consciousness centered, and my mind one-pointed, I meditate on my Lord and Master, with love and affection. 845
One who adores the Creator in thought, word and deed, shall never be pun ished. 1071
Those who meditate and contemplate on the wisdom of the Guru, in a state of one pointedness, they shed their egotism or me-mineness and enjoy
tranquility. VBG 5/6
I am a sacrifice unto those who remember the Lord with single minded devo tion, VBG12/2
For achieving this single mindedness, Gurbani has warned as follows about the condition of the mind
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1 He says one thing, and does something else.
There is no love in his heart, and yet with his mouth he talks tall. 269
2 This mind does not hold still, even for an instant. Distracted by all sorts of distractions, it wanders around aimlessly in the ten directions. 171
3 Those who have one thing in their heart, and something else in their mouth, are judged to be false. 488
4 I have one thing in my mind, and another thing on my lips; I am such a poor, unfortunate liar! 528
In fact the most distinctive and practical example pertaining to this subject indeed is our own materialistic life.
Man under the influence of the doubt-fallacy of egotism having ‘forgotten’ or having ‘separated’ over numerous births from his fountain head, the Timeless Being , is stuck in the quicksand of materialistic attachment or is entangled in the second love (that is worldly love).
5 By the actions we have committed, we are separated from You. Please show Your Mercy, and unite us with Yourself, Lord. 133
6 She has forgotten the Lord, her Life-companion, her Master; she has become attached to Maya, the deceitful one.
Neither son, nor spouse, nor wealth shall go along with you-only the Eternal Lord.
Entangled and enmeshed in the love of false occupations, the whole world is perishing. 133
7 The Actor has staged the drama of emotional attachment to Maya.
The self-willed manmukhs cling blindly to it. 230
8 The five vices have corrupted my mind.
Moment by moment, they lead me further away from the Lord. 710
9 Countless lifetimes have passed away, wandering aimlessly.
The terrible, treacherous Maya does not even allow them to dwell in their own home.
Day and night, they receive the rewards of their own actions.
Don't blame anyone else; your own actions lead you astray.
Over numerous births we have become so entangled in this false
materialism that our ‘life’ has become the embodiment of materialism,
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for this reason our
thoughts
imagination
thinking
desires
needs
love
feelings
inclinations
faith
company
interaction
actions
religion
deeds
effort
in fact our whole life is bathed in the ‘dark hue’ of materialistic attachment. For this reason our
awareness
attention
consciousness
concentration
contemplation
is unconsciously, spontaneously, unknowingly so engrossed in this false materialism that it is impossible for our ‘attention’ to move elsewhere.
This false materialism’s
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awareness
thinking
attention
hue or colour
faith
concentration
contemplation
within us arose during the previous lives through
the company
paying attention
remembering
contemplating
meditating
on materialism and it has become so ingrained that through ‘materialistic consciousness’ materialism has become our ‘life-form’ and in this ‘materialistic life’, we
take birth
live our life
abide
take actions
face consequences
die
become the victims of jam (the
couriers of death)
take birth again.
1 The thirteenth day of the lunar cycle: The world is in the fever of the three qualities.
It comes and goes, and is reincarnated in hell. .........
This body is the embodiment of pleasure and pain.
It suffers from the chronic and incurable disease of Maya........... 299
2 Forgetting the Lord, how can you be satisfied? Your mind cannot be pleased.
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One who forsakes God, and attaches himself to another, shall be immersed in hell. 708
You shall be born and born again, and die and die again, only to be
reincarnated again.
You shall suffer terrible punishment, on your way to the land beyond.
The mortal does not know the One who created him; he is blind, and so he shall suffer. 1020
2 He wanders in attachment to Maya.
He acts in accordance with the karma of his past actions. 1193
If a human being needs the company of or the exposure to the practice of materialism over numerous birth to ‘imbibe’ or ingrain the ‘materialistic hue or colour’- then exactly opposed to this, wanting to take materialistic life’ and change, remould or ingrain the spiritual life in its place— the need for even more time is absolutely essential and mandatory to enable the lofty-pure spiritual ‘company of the holy’ to take place.
The ‘reverse play’ or spiritual ‘transformation’ is extremely lengthy and arduous ‘play of love’ which can be attained quickly through the continuous company and service-orientatedness of evolved and beloved guru-orientated beings.
This is why there is obligatory advice in Gurbani to maintain the ‘company of the holy’ or the ‘company of truth’.
4 In the Saadh Sangat, He dwells within the mind, and one's works are brought to perfect fruition. 52
5 Listen, O my beloved friends and companions:
in the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, you shall be saved in an in stant. 103
6 Millions of obstacles are removed in an instant,
for those who listen to the Sermon of the Lord, Har, Har, in the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy. 195
7 Trying all sorts of things, I have grown weary, but still, they will not leave me alone.
But I have heard that they can be rooted out, in the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy; and so I seek their Shelter. 206
8 Be victorious, and win the priceless jewel of this human life, by meditating on Him in the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, even for an instant. 210
9 In the Company of the Holy, there is no suffering.
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1 The Blessed Vision of their Darshan brings a sublime, happy peace. 272
2 The Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, is so very pure and sacred.
Meeting with them, love for God is embraced. 393
3 One moment, O Nanak, the Lord bestows His Mercy and blesses him with His Love, in the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy. 409
4 From forest to forest, I wandered searching; I am so tired of taking baths at sacred shrines of pilgrimage.
O Nanak, when I met the Holy Saint, I found the Lord within my mind. 455
5 O Nanak, the sinners become pure, joining the Company of the Holy; following the Guru, the True Guru, they are emancipated. 528
6 Joining the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, meditate on the Naam, the Name of the Lord; your efforts shall be rewarded. 617
7 Please attach me to the hem of the robe of the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy; help me to cross over the terrible river. 702
8 The five thieves run away, when one joins the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy.
His investment is intact, and he earns great profits; his household is blessed with honor. 810
9 I have broken away from the others, and I have been released from the Mes senger of Death.
O mind, drink in the subtle essence of the Lord; join the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, and turn away from the world. 830
10 One who enjoys peace in the Company of the Holy, even for an instant, obtains millions of heavenly paradises. 1208
11 The Sat Sangat, the True Congregation of the True Guru, is the school of the soul, where the Glorious Virtues of the Lord are studied. 1316
cont/......Lekh 80 Sangat Part 3
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