Glory of Guru Nanak’s Path
Let me start by wishing all of you a Happy Guru Purab. This is the 551st birth anniversary of Guru Nanak and the glory of path shown by him is shining as bright.
This is an opportunity to revisit the messages of Guru Sahib and see how they apply in our day to day lives. When I started my journey on this path few years back , one wise man gave me an analogy to understand what I was about to embark. He said imagine that as a child you are visiting a big fair with your father. He said that if you hold finger of your father , you will never get lost and he will take you around the fair and also get you back home safely. On the other hand if you don’t hold your father’s finger , you may get lost in the fair. He encouraged me to always hold Guru Sahib’s finger so that I may always get direction and follow the path leading to a blissful life.
While I have taken only baby steps on the glorious path of Nanak , but the lessons I have learnt in the base camp are tremendously helpful to me. I made these notes for myself as a student but thought of sharing with Sikhnet sangat, in case it helps any co traveller. Here are pointers of lessons I have learnt ;
Oneness in everything- ੴ , One energy pervades everything in this Universe. Known as God, Allah, Ram, Jehovah in different traditions; Waheguru in Sikhi. It’s all the same. Guru Sahib encourages us to see this oneness in everything (all living beings and non living things) around us. Light of Waheguru permeates through everyone. This is known as Jot or Noor.
ਸਭ ਮਹਿ ਜੋਤਿ ਜੋਤਿ ਹੈ ਸੋਇ ॥ ਤਿਸ ਕੈ ਚਾਨਣਿ ਸਭ ਮਹਿ ਚਾਨਣੁ ਹੋਇ ॥
Amongst all is the Light-You are that Light. (Guru Nanak, Ang 13)
ਏਕ ਨੂਰ ਤੇ ਸਭੁ ਜਗੁ ਉੁਪਜਿਆ ਕਉੁਨ ਭਲੇ ਕੋ ਮੰਦੇ ॥
From the One Light, the entire universe welled up. So who is good, and who is bad? ||1|| (Bhagat Kabir, 1349)
If we are able to see this oneness , duality will dissolve and all fears , worries , jealousy, greed , lust will disappear.
This is most fundamental lesson of Sikhi, and was most difficult for me to learn and grasp.
Shabad is Guru - Guru Nanak has said that Waheguru’s word ( ਸ਼ਬਦ ) is our Guru and this lighthouse is accessible to everyone who seeks. Guru Nanak eliminated dependence on physical Guru, which will always have limitations in time and space.
ਸਬਦੁ ਗੁਰੂ ਸੁਰਤਿ ਧੁਨਿ ਚੇਲਾ ॥
The Shabad is the Guru, upon whom I lovingly focus my consciousness; I am the chaylaa, the disciple. (Guru Nanak, Ang 942)
Universal Order (Hukam) and Cosmic will (Bhana) - God is the doer (ਕਰਤਾ ਪੁਰਖ ) and everything is subject to one universal order.
ਹੁਕਮੈ ਅੰਦਰਿ ਸਭੁ ਕੋ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਹੁਕਮ ਨ ਕੋਇ ॥
All the activities are carried out in this world as per cosmic will, which is known as Bhana in Gurbani and best way for us is to accept this whole-heartedly. (Guru Nanak, Ang 1)
ਤੇਰਾ ਕੀਆ ਮੀਠਾ ਲਾਗੈ ॥ ਹਰਿਨਾਮੁ ਪਦਾਰਥੁ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਮਾਂਗੈ ॥
Your actions seem so sweet to me. Nanak begs for the treasure of the Naam, the Name of the Lord. (Guru Arjun, Ang 394)
ਜੋ ਸਰਨੀ ਆਵੈ ਸਰਬ ਸੁਖ ਪਾਵੈ ਤਿਲੁ ਨਹੀ ਭੰਨੈ ਘਾਲਿਆ ॥ (Guru Arjun, Ang 1122)
Sanctuary of Waheguru is the best refuge
Make your living through honest hard work and make some contributions to charity.
ਘਾਲਿ ਖਾਇ ਕਿਛੁ ਹਥਹੁ ਦੇਇ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਰਾਹੁ ਪਛਾਣਹਿ ਸੇਇ ॥੧॥
One who works for what he eats, and gives some of what he has. - O Nanak, he knows the Path. ||1|| (Guru Nanak, Ang 1245)
Naam is quintessence of Nanak’s way- Naam is fruit for which seed is Shabad , is cultivated by Loving immersion to Waheguru ( Liv, Prabhu prem ) and is obtained through Guru’s blessings . Naam is present within body and there is no need to undertake any pilgrimage for obtaining this, all that is required is complete devotion and surrender.
ਸਭ ਕਿਛੁ ਘਰ ਮਹਿ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਨਾਹੀ ॥ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਟੋਲੈ ਸੋ ਭਰਮਿ ਭੁਲਾਹੀ ॥
Everything is within the home of the self; there is nothing beyond. One who searches outside is deluded by doubt. (Guru Arjun, Ang 102)
Amrit is the key ingredient in our spiritual journey - Guru Nanak says that like we need to dig deep to get gold and diamonds, similar in the world of spiritualism.
ਹਰਿ ਕਾ ਬਿਲੋਵਨਾ ਬਿਲੋਵਹੁ ਮੇਰੇ ਭਾਈ ॥ ਸਹਜਿ ਬਿਲੋਵਹੁ ਜੈਸੇ ਤਤੁ ਨਜਾਈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉੁ ॥Churn the churn of the Lord, O my Siblings of Destiny. Churn it steadily, so that the essence, the butter, may not be lost. ||1||Pause|| (Bhagat Kabir, Ang 478
Alchemy of Kirtan - Guru Sahib says that singing glorious praises of Akal Purakh is the best meditation. The alchemy of kirtan is that if we keep singing praises of virtues of Akal Purakh with love and devotion, we will also keep acquiring those qualities in course of time. This secret sauce was revealed to our Gurus and Bhagats and that is how they became exalted being and led highly virtuous lives.
ਕਲਜੁਗ ਮਹਿ ਕੀਰਤਨੁ ਪਰਧਾਨਾ ॥ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਜਪੀਐ ਲਾਇ ਧਿਆਨਾ ॥
In this Dark Age of Kali Yuga, the Kirtan of the Lord's Praises are most sublime and exalted. Become Gurmukh, chant and focus your meditation. (Guru Arjun, 1075)
ਤਹਾ ਬੈਕੁੰਠੁ ਜਹ ਕੀਰਤਨੁ ਤੇਰਾ ਤੂੰ ਆਪੇ ਸਰਧਾ ਲਾਇਹਿ ॥
That place is heaven, where the Kirtan of the Lord's Praises are sung. You Yourself instill faith into us. ||2|| (Guru Arjun, Ang 749)
These are the initial lessons I have picked up in few years of trying to follow Guru Nanak’s path and I know more will be revealed to me at appropriate time. My quality of life has significantly improved living with these lessons. I will share an update on my journey on every anniversary of Guru Nanak’s birth and will pray to him for everyone’s good health and well being.
ਨਾਨਕ ਨਾਮ ਚੜ੍ਹਦੀ ਕਲਾ ॥ ਤੇਰੇ ਭਾਣੇ ਸਰਬੱਤ ਦਾ ਭਲਾ ॥
By Nanak be in rising spirits through the Naam. By Thy Will may all beings be well.
