Sri Guru Granth Sahib is the most valuable gift to the
Sikhs by our Gurus, since Gurbani is the only ideal way to remember Akal
Purakh constantly and continuously. The Guru teaches us very beautifully how
to attach to Akal Purakh, how to keep that attachment intact and how to
detach from the world we are put in. Gurbani covers all the aspect of our
life that teaches us jeevan jaach.
Gurmat has rejected the concept of several rituals such
as shraadh, sutak-patak, days of the Moon phase such as Purnima, Amavas and
transition of the Sun (Sangrand) and all kind of superstitions belief
through gurbani hymns. Still most of our preachers indulge in this kind of
rituals. In gurbani Guru also warns us about so called pakhandi sadh-sant
including such anaaree preachers and teachers. Sri Guru Granth Sahib reveals
this on page 160 and 1396.
Guru Amardas said on page 160 of Sri Guru Granth as
under.
ਅਸੰਤੁ ਅਨਾੜੀ ਕਦੇ ਨ ਬੂਝੈ
॥
ਕਥਨੀ ਕਰੇ ਤੈ ਮਾਇਆ ਨਾਲਿ ਲੂਝੈ
॥
ਅੰਧੁ ਅਗਿਆਨੀ ਕਦੇ ਨ ਸੀਝੈ
॥੨॥
(160)
Asantu anaarree
kade n boojhai. Kathanee kare tai maya loojhai.
Andh agiaanee kade n seejhai
||2|| (GGS: 160).
Asant (ਅਸੰਤ)
is the
opposite of the Sant (ਸੰਤ),
means literally not a saint, a vicious person,
ਦੁਸ਼ਟ,
ਦੁਰਾਚਾਰੀ,
manmukh, greedy and un-religious, Mayaic mind (opposer of the Hukam, whose
thoughts-speech-actions counter the Hukam). Separated from its Mool (ਮੂਲ),
here gurbani further calles "Asant” as "Asant Anaarree" (Anaaree-ਅਨਾੜੀ
= blockhead,
illiterate, stupid, silly, (ਵਿਕਾਰੀ
-
ਮੂਰਖ).
We can say other way round as
Anaaree Sant. Asant (Akhoti Sadh-Sant) are nothing but Anaaree
(ignorant & illiterate) and never want to learn, but simply misguide the
sangat. They preach the words of wisdom but remain entangled in the world of
maya; such an utterly ignorant people can never succeed in overcoming vices
and attune or surrender to God, they remain engrossed in the material
pleasure of the world. (Guru Amardas; GGS: 160).
On page 1396 of GGS Gurbani says “I wandered around for
years, but no one touched my soul. I listened to preachers and teachers, but
I could not be happy with their lifestyles. They have abandoned the Lord's
Name, and become attached to duality - why should I speak in praise of
them?” So speaks Bhat Bhikhaa. (Savaiye – Mahalla-4)
Today there are lot many such preachers or teachers who just
project themselves as Sant, Sadh or Brahmgiaani but in reality they are all
anaaree as said in gurbani.
Gurdwaras are for Gurbani discourse (Veechaar) but majority of them function
like Deras on a business scale. They also indulge in celebrating birthdays
and barsi of some akhoti sadh and sants, this way teaching of our Gurus
totally ignored. Truly, Prabandhaks are hungry of vote, while Preachers
are hungry of note, and there is open loot, but no real preaching. Now in
most of gurdwaras around the world there are ritualistic functions like
Kirtan Darbar or Simran Samagam, some preachers speaks Saakhis only but the
essential preaching of Guru’s message and teaching is lost. Let us learn to
explore Sri Guru Granth Sahib on our own with the help of online
availability of guidelines on gurbani.
If a so-called Sant (Gurmukh or a preacher) does not
engage in earning honest living, he is simply a thief (a fake Sant).
Furthermore, if he does not truthfully work to earn his living then he is
not sharing with others! In other words, if he is devoid of "Kirat Kamaaee",
he will remain devoid of the practice of "Vand Shaknaa"! In the absence of
both, he cannot honestly practice "Naam Japnaa" or true preaching of gurbani.
Guru Nanak cleared this with the following declaration on page 1245 of Guru
Granth Sahib.
ਗਿਆਨ ਵਿਹੂਣਾ ਗਾਵੈ ਗੀਤ ॥ ਭੁਖੇ ਮੁਲਾਂ ਘਰੇ ਮਸੀਤਿ ॥ ਮਖਟੂ ਹੋਇ ਕੈ ਕੰਨ ਪੜਾਏ ॥ ਫਕਰੁ ਕਰੇ
ਹੋਰੁ ਜਾਤਿ ਗਵਾਏ ॥ਗੁਰੁ ਪੀਰੁ ਸਦਾਏ ਮੰਗਣ ਜਾਇ ॥ ਤਾ ਕੈ ਮੂਲਿ ਨ ਲਗੀਐ ਪਾਇ ॥ ਘਾਲਿ ਖਾਇ
ਕਿਛੁ ਹਥਹੁ ਦੇਇ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਰਾਹੁ ਪਛਾਣਹਿ ਸੇਇ ॥1॥ (1245)
“Gi-aan vihoonaa gaavai geet,
bhukhay mulaaN gharay maseet. Makhtoo
ho-ay kai kann parhaa-ay, fakar karay hor jaat gavaa-ay.
Gur peer sadaa-ay mangan jaa-ay,taa kai mool na
lagee-ai paa-ay. Ghaal khaa-ay kichh hathahu day-ay,
Nanak raahu pachhaaneh say-ay”. ||1|| (1245).
The one who lacks spiritual wisdom sings religious songs
(for the sake of earning bread). The hungry Mullah turns his home into a
mosque (or he also goes to mosque for the sake of bread!). The lazy bum has
his ears pierced to look like a Yogi. Someone else becomes a panhandler, and
thus loses his self-respect. Someone calls himself a guru or a spiritual
teacher, while he goes around begging for bread - don't ever touch their
feet. One who truthfully works for what he eats, and gives some of what he
has - O Nanak, he knows the path ||1|| (GGS: 1245).
Here the observation is that a Gurmukhs or a true Sant
will never talk nonsense; they will use their intuition and talk through
discerning intellect (Viveka Budhi). They abstain from excessive talk and
prevent wasting of their vital energies. This means that they are aware as
to when it is good to be silent, and when it is good to talk. They make the
effective use of the divine faculty of discriminating intellect (Viveka
Budhi). For example, the Gurbani's instruction is to abstain from talking to
Asant (spiritually fools). On the other hand, the Gurbani encourages us to
talk to the Sant (the Gurmukhs).
Thus, to be a Sant or a Holi person (a saint, for lack of
a better word in English) is to be living in a totally different dimension.
But as the Gurbani points out, it is rare to be a Sant in the true sense of
the word. A Sant has moved from the biological dimension (Manmukhtaa) to the
Spiritual dimension (Gurmukhtaa). In other words, he is the person who has
taken the quantum leap from Manmukhtaa to Gurmukhtaa, from materiality to
immateriality, from falsehood to Truth, from visible to Invisible, from ego
(Haume) to egolessness, and so on.
He is the Jeevanmukta (living liberated). He has cleansed
his heart of evil passions (Bikaars): and thus made his conduct Immaculate.
His every act is done with the right (Spiritual) attitude.
Here I am not trying to taint the meaning of Gurbani by
my own thinking, I believe in logical and scientific approach than believing
in myths or supernatural realms. With a great regard of our Guru Sahiban, I
am honestly trying to pass on Gurbani Message to Sikhs sangat so that they
can explore Sikhi through the minds of Sikh-Gurus. I am not a preacher, but
I must say that Gurbani itself is the huge ocean of precious gems, so let us
we all act as an honest and loyal to our Gurus, Gurbani and God (Akal Purakh),
for the Chardi Kalla of Panth.
