There is “One GOD” is a misconception. There is “Only God” is truth.
ਅਲਾਹ ਪਾਕੰ ਪਾਕ ਹੈ ਸਕ ਕਰਉ ਜੇ ਦੂਸਰ ਹੋਇ ॥
Our religious institutes have failed to connect people with the wisdom of scriptures. Instead turned all focus on external rituals, attire, appearance and God being somewhere else other than where you are. This has lead to a many misconceptions about God.
For someone who calls themselves a Sikh, there needs to be a personal effort to connect with wisdom of Guru Granth Sahib. This article is a humble effort in the same direction.
The purpose of this article is to ask Guru (Wisdom of Guru Granth Sahib) for answers for a seeker of absolute happiness that is unflustered through adversities. This article is not really about GOD, it is about you – the seeker of absolute happiness that Gurbani refers to an Anand.
- What is GOD and where is GOD?
ਆਪੀਨ੍ਹ੍ਹੈ ਆਪੁ ਸਾਜਿਓ ਆਪੀਨ੍ਹ੍ਹੈ ਰਚਿਓ ਨਾਉ ॥
ਦੁਯੀ ਕੁਦਰਤਿ ਸਾਜੀਐ ਕਰਿ ਆਸਣੁ ਡਿਠੋ ਚਾਉ ॥
GOD is from itself (ਆਪੀਨ੍ਹ੍ਹੈ ਆਪੁ ਸਾਜਿਓ). GOD manifested itself as Naam (ਆਪੀਨ੍ਹ੍ਹੈ ਰਚਿਓ ਨਾਉ). This manifestation is similar to an ocean manifesting itself as waves. The Key point is the existence of GOD (limitless ocean), with and without the physical world / matter / Brahm / ਕੁਦਰਤਿ _ waves. Notice the non-separation between God and its creation here. Most of the value of Gurbani comes from using metaphors in the first person. In the ocean and wave metaphor, GOD is the ocean, you, me and everything else is the wave.
The biggest misconception can happen at this point and it does, whereby God and creation are imagined to be separate. To assume wave is there, but no ocean is birth of a non-believer. In reality the two are inseparable. Unless someone can raise their hand and confirm that they have seen a wave running on a freeway.
Before moving to next paktis, let us briefly elaborate Naam. GOD as Naam manifested itself as waves within the ocean.
ਨਾਮ ਕੇ ਧਾਰੇ ਸਗਲੇ ਜੰਤ ॥ ਨਾਮ ਕੇ ਧਾਰੇ ਸਿਮ੍ਰਿਤਿ ਬੇਦ ਪੁਰਾਨ ॥ ਨਾਮ ਕੇ ਧਾਰੇ ਸੁਨਨ ਗਿਆਨ ਧਿਆਨ ॥ ਨਾਮ ਕੇ ਧਾਰੇ ਆਗਾਸ ਪਾਤਾਲ ॥ ਨਾਮ ਕੇ ਧਾਰੇ ਸਗਲ ਆਕਾਰ ॥ ਨਾਮ ਕੇ ਧਾਰੇ ਪੁਰੀਆ ਸਭ ਭਵਨ ॥
From Naam, is the physical world / matter / Brahm / ਕੁਦਰਤਿ . Please note Kudrat is limited to vegetation, flora and fauna. Kudrat herein refers to all that is within Kaal (dimesion of time and space).
After GOD maifested itself as Kudrat, through Naam, GOD seated itself in its manifestation. (ਆਸਣੁ ਡਿਠੋ). Does this mean GOD is Kudrat? No. In fact, GOD is Kudrat is a misconception.
Let us circle back to the metaphor of Ocean and Waves to clear the misconception. When ocean manifested itself as waves, the ocean is in the waves. A seeker shall raise the question, “How is the ocean in waves. Ocean is one and waves as many?
This can by ansewered by comprehending the essence (ਤਤੁ). The essence of the ocean is water. The essence of all waves is also water.
ਤਤੁ ਨਿਰੰਜਨੁ ਜੋਤਿ ਸਬਾਈ ਸੋਹੰ ਭੇਦੁ ਨ ਕੋਈ ਜੀਉ ॥
There is no difference between the waves and the ocean (ਸੋਹੰ). If there is difference or seperation, it is an illusion (Maya) and the one who bears this Maya, considers its own existence independent of GOD. A separate existence is called Haume (Ego).
It is clear, no matter what school of thought a person subscribes to, what religion or spiritual practice one might follow, the truth remains the same, “GOD and its manifestations” are one. Religions and spiritual practices of the world might change or one day cease to exist, the truth shall always remain.
The truth is Ik Onkar. There is one GOD that has manifested itself as all these Kars (All forms as physical world / matter / Brahm / ਕੁਦਰਤਿ). There is one GOD is a misconception. One GOD implies there is GOD and then, there is me and others. The misconception of God and separate me is an illusion /Maya/Ignorance/Ego.
Comprehending Gurbani, is bound to rattle Ego that has assumed seperation between self and God, believes in identities formulated as a result. Identities based on outward appearance, attire, practices, beliefs, rituals, duality as me versus you, as good vs bad, happiness or pain, hell or heaven, believer or non believer, and many such dualities. The list is endless.
- God and Me: When I am, then God is not. When God is, I am not.
This is made clear from these verses :
ਜਬ ਹਮ ਹੋਤੇ ਤਬ ਤੁਮ ਨਾਹੀ ਅਬ ਤੁਮ ਹਹੁ ਹਮ ਨਾਹੀ ॥
ਅਬ ਹਮ ਤੁਮ ਏਕ ਭਏ ਹਹਿ ਏਕੈ ਦੇਖਤ ਮਨੁ ਪਤੀਆਹੀ ॥੧॥
If there is anything or anyone other than God, it must be illusionary self / Maya/ that arises from ignorance. This ignorance is basis of Haume /Ego. Haume is chronice disease that is cured by Naam – by wisdom of Guru.
If a person is born, the cause is ignorance in form of Haume. Unless one is free of birth and death, one is haume. Being free of birth and death does not mean end of life, rather the realization that I exist with and without physical body, breath and thoughts. Just like the ocean exists with and without waves.
The disease of haume is cause of numerous ailments and sufferings. All dualities in form of birth/death, giver/receiver, profit/loss, truthful/false, Sin/virtue, Hell/Heaven, and many more dualities mentioned in continuation of these verses that you should check on your own.
ਹਉ ਵਿਚਿ ਆਇਆ ਹਉ ਵਿਚਿ ਗਇਆ ॥ਹਉ ਵਿਚਿ ਜੰਮਿਆ ਹਉ ਵਿਚਿ ਮੁਆ ॥ਹਉ ਵਿਚਿ ਦਿਤਾ ਹਉ ਵਿਚਿ ਲਇਆ ॥
ਹਉ ਵਿਚਿ ਖਟਿਆ ਹਉ ਵਿਚਿ ਗਇਆ ॥ਹਉ ਵਿਚਿ ਸਚਿਆਰੁ ਕੂੜਿਆਰੁ ॥ ਹਉ ਵਿਚਿ ਪਾਪ ਪੁੰਨ ਵੀਚਾਰੁ ॥
ਹਉ ਵਿਚਿ ਨਰਕਿ ਸੁਰਗਿ ਅਵਤਾਰੁ ॥
When there is “Only God”, there is no me, no haume. Therefore no dualities as mentioned above. Such an existence is that of a Gurmukh, who is no different than God. The essence of God and Gurmukh is one mentioned in mool (essence) mantra.
ੴ ਸਤਿਨਾਮੁ ਕਰਤਾ ਪੁਰਖੁ ਨਿਰਭਉ ਨਿਰਵੈਰੁ ਅਕਾਲ ਮੂਰਤਿ ਅਜੂਨੀ ਸੈਭੰ ਗੁਰਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥
Call for action: If Gurbani recitation and singing is the end of all efforts, one has fallen prey to misconceptions as a Guru less person without Vichars from Guru that are put into practice. Take the vichars and from Guru, to free yourself of ignorance by dropping all dualities to realize Ek Onkar.
