14.1. Baani Shri Guru Raam Daas Ji Ki: Ang 757

Ang 757: Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Maharaj
Baani Dhan Shri Guru Raam Daas Ji Ki

(Summary of one section of 'Shabad' is provided to keep the post small, the summary of next sections of 'Shabad' will be provided in subsequent posts.

Apologies for same!)

ਰਾਗੁ  ਸੂਹੀ  ਅਸਟਪਦੀਆ  ਮਹਲਾ  ੪  ਘਰੁ  ੨

ੴ  ਸਤਿਗੁਰ  ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ  ॥

ਕੋਈ  ਆਣਿ  ਮਿਲਾਵੈ  ਮੇਰਾ  ਪ੍ਰੀਤਮੁ  ਪਿਆਰਾ  ਹਉ  ਤਿਸੁ  ਪਹਿ  ਆਪੁ  ਵੇਚਾਈ  ॥੧॥

ਦਰਸਨੁ  ਹਰਿ  ਦੇਖਣ  ਕੈ  ਤਾਈ  ॥

ਕ੍ਰਿਪਾ  ਕਰਹਿ  ਤਾ  ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ  ਮੇਲਹਿ  ਹਰਿ  ਹਰਿ  ਨਾਮੁ  ਧਿਆਈ  ॥੧॥  ਰਹਾਉ  ॥

ਜੇ  ਸੁਖੁ  ਦੇਹਿ  ਤ  ਤੁਝਹਿ  ਅਰਾਧੀ  ਦੁਖਿ  ਭੀ  ਤੁਝੈ  ਧਿਆਈ  ॥੨॥

ਜੇ  ਭੁਖ  ਦੇਹਿ  ਤ  ਇਤ  ਹੀ  ਰਾਜਾ  ਦੁਖ  ਵਿਚਿ  ਸੂਖ  ਮਨਾਈ  ॥੩॥

ਤਨੁ  ਮਨੁ  ਕਾਟਿ  ਕਾਟਿ  ਸਭੁ  ਅਰਪੀ  ਵਿਚਿ  ਅਗਨੀ  ਆਪੁ  ਜਲਾਈ  ॥੪॥

ਪਖਾ  ਫੇਰੀ  ਪਾਣੀ  ਢੋਵਾ  ਜੋ  ਦੇਵਹਿ  ਸੋ  ਖਾਈ  ॥੫॥

ਨਾਨਕੁ  ਗਰੀਬੁ  ਢਹਿ  ਪਇਆ  ਦੁਆਰੈ  ਹਰਿ  ਮੇਲਿ  ਲੈਹੁ  ਵਡਿਆਈ  ॥੬॥

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रागु सूही असटपदीआ महला ४ घरु २

ੴ सतिगुर प्रसादि ॥

कोई आणि मिलावै मेरा प्रीतमु पिआरा हउ तिसु पहि आपु वेचाई ॥१॥

दरसनु हरि देखण कै ताई ॥

क्रिपा करहि ता सतिगुरु मेलहि हरि हरि नामु धिआई ॥१॥ रहाउ ॥

जे सुखु देहि त तुझहि अराधी दुखि भी तुझै धिआई ॥२॥

जे भुख देहि त इत ही राजा दुख विचि सूख मनाई ॥३॥

तनु मनु काटि काटि सभु अरपी विचि अगनी आपु जलाई ॥४॥

पखा फेरी पाणी ढोवा जो देवहि सो खाई ॥५॥

नानकु गरीबु ढहि पइआ दुआरै हरि मेलि लैहु वडिआई ॥६॥

Summary

When Dhan Shri Guru Amar Das Ji asked His wife, what kind of bridegroom she is looking for Bibi Bhani, Their Daughter, she said pointing at Bhai Jetha Ji (Dhan Shri Guru Raam Das Ji) like Him. Then Guruji said following for Bhai Jetha Ji (Dhan Shri Guru Raam Das Ji):

“There is none like Him.”

• Dhan Shri Guru Raam Das Ji:

ਅਟਲੁ ਅਥਾਹੁ ਅਤੋਲੁ ਤੂ ਤੇਰਾ ਅੰਤੁ ਨ ਪਾਰਾਵਾਰਿਆ ॥[1]

अटलु अथाहु अतोलु तू तेरा अंतु न पारावारिआ ॥

(You are unchanging, unfathomable and immeasurable; You have no end or limitation.)

In this Shabad, Dhan Shri Guru Raam Das Ji is inspiring everyone to have faith in ‘The Guru’, no matter what happens. One should always remember ‘The Guru’ and always wish for ‘Him’ irrespective of the cost one has to pay for it.

Guruji begins with saying; if someone leads you to ‘Beloved One’, even selling oneself to such person should not be an issue. What matters is ‘Blessed Vision of Lord’. Selling signifies subduing the ego to such level that no difference exists between you and HIM. It is sign of humbleness as such individual will eventually overcome all the social barriers which keeps him bounded to lower level of consciousness. But again one has to careful that one does not end up in selling oneself to a ‘Cheat’ to be tormented forever. So, a Sikh should sell himself for services of Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. Guruji asks for ‘God’s Grace’ since only by ‘HIS Grace’ one can meet the ‘True Guru’ and in only in ‘True Guru’s’ company the actual meditation on ‘The Naam’ can be done.

Next, Guruji urges everyone to stay firm on ‘Faith and Dedication’ towards ‘The Guru’. Faith and Dedication are so precious they anyone should not give them up in happiness, pains or hunger. When an individual is happy, he tends to forget to ‘The Bestower of Happiness, The Guru’. So Guruji say if Guru blesses an individual with happiness he should worship and adore Him. In pains individual tends to question Guru why he has been subjected to pains. But Guruji say, one should not give-up on meditating ‘The Naam – The One – The Guru’. Hunger can break anyone as that is worse kind of suffering a living being can be subjected to. The entire basic struggle in this world is meant to pacify hunger. But Guruji say, if Guru gives hunger an individual should be satisfied as this is will of Guru. And one should be joyful in the midst of sorrows.

The pain of separation from Guru is so intense for true seeker that no bodily pain matches it. Such a seeker will not mind to cut himself in pieces, not body even mind (suggesting willing to give-up his cleverness and ego) to meet ‘The Guru’. Even the pain caused by burning of fire does not deter him for seeking his Guru. Such seeker will do everything and will accept anything just to get glimpse and affection of his Guru. Seeker will wave fan over and carry water overcoming all the temptations, criticism and appreciations.

Then Guruji say, a true seeker should fall (surrender everything) at ‘Lord’s Door’, should pray to ‘Lord’ that HIS Glorious Greatness makes him to unite with HIMSELF.

The eyes brows will be raised, why Guru would throw adversities? Why Guru will ask seeker to do trivial things? If Guru does that is He worthy of being worshipped? Well, these are absurd questions. Guru does not give any hard times. It is fruit of actions which an individual reaps. How ‘The Bestower of Bliss’ can give any troubles? Also, to achieve worldly success an individual goes thru cycles of hardships and does not complain. But when it comes to Bliss or Faith much better than worldly success since worldly success can be achieved by many but to Bliss, Faith or Supreme State can only be achieved by 1 in billions in centuries, why ask such question. One is bound to be tested if he is worthy of serving Guru and attain the bliss from Him. So a true seeker does not bother to ask such question since his aim is crystal clear in his mind.

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[1] Raamkali Ki Vaar Satta And Balwand The Drummer- Ang 968 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

13. Baani Shri Guru Arjan Dev Ji Ki: Ang 102

Ang 102: Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Maharaj
Baani Dhan Shri Guru Arjan Dev Ji Ki

ਮਾਝ ਮਹਲਾ ੫ ॥

ਸਭ  ਕਿਛੁ  ਘਰ  ਮਹਿ  ਬਾਹਰਿ  ਨਾਹੀ  ॥ ਬਾਹਰਿ  ਟੋਲੈ  ਸੋ  ਭਰਮਿ  ਭੁਲਾਹੀ  ॥

ਗੁਰ  ਪਰਸਾਦੀ  ਜਿਨੀ  ਅੰਤਰਿ  ਪਾਇਆ  ਸੋ  ਅੰਤਰਿ  ਬਾਹਰਿ  ਸੁਹੇਲਾ  ਜੀਉ  ॥੧॥

ਝਿਮਿ  ਝਿਮਿ  ਵਰਸੈ  ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤ  ਧਾਰਾ  ॥ ਮਨੁ  ਪੀਵੈ  ਸੁਨਿ  ਸਬਦੁ  ਬੀਚਾਰਾ  ॥

ਅਨਦ  ਬਿਨੋਦ  ਕਰੇ  ਦਿਨ  ਰਾਤੀ  ਸਦਾ  ਸਦਾ  ਹਰਿ  ਕੇਲਾ  ਜੀਉ  ॥੨॥

ਜਨਮ  ਜਨਮ  ਕਾ  ਵਿਛੁੜਿਆ  ਮਿਲਿਆ  ॥ ਸਾਧ  ਕ੍ਰਿਪਾ  ਤੇ  ਸੂਕਾ  ਹਰਿਆ  ॥

ਸੁਮਤਿ ਪਾਏ ਨਾਮੁ ਧਿਆਏ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਹੋਏ ਮੇਲਾ ਜੀਉ ॥੩॥

ਜਲ  ਤਰੰਗੁ  ਜਿਉ  ਜਲਹਿ  ਸਮਾਇਆ  ॥ ਤਿਉ  ਜੋਤੀ  ਸੰਗਿ  ਜੋਤਿ  ਮਿਲਾਇਆ  ॥

ਕਹੁ  ਨਾਨਕ  ਭ੍ਰਮ  ਕਟੇ  ਕਿਵਾੜਾ  ਬਹੁੜਿ  ਨ  ਹੋਈਐ  ਜਉਲਾ  ਜੀਉ  ॥੪॥੧੯॥੨੬॥

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माझ महला ५ ॥

सभ किछु घर महि बाहरि नाही ॥ बाहरि टोलै सो भरमि भुलाही ॥

गुर परसादी जिनी अंतरि पाइआ सो अंतरि बाहरि सुहेला जीउ ॥१॥

झिमि झिमि वरसै अम्रित धारा ॥ मनु पीवै सुनि सबदु बीचारा ॥

अनद बिनोद करे दिन राती सदा सदा हरि केला जीउ ॥२॥

जनम जनम का विछुड़िआ मिलिआ ॥ साध क्रिपा ते सूका हरिआ ॥

सुमति पाए नामु धिआए गुरमुखि होए मेला जीउ ॥३॥

जल तरंगु जिउ जलहि समाइआ ॥ तिउ जोती संगि जोति मिलाइआ ॥

कहु नानक भ्रम कटे किवाड़ा बहुड़ि न होईऐ जउला जीउ ॥४॥१९॥२६॥

Summary

It has been a very old practice, to become ‘Renunciate’ in search of ‘Truth’ in India. But Dhan Shri Guru Arjan Dev Ji says that everything is with in the ‘home’. What is ‘Home’? Well, word ‘home’ can imply many things, after all which mortal can comprehend all the depths of ‘Gurbaani’.

ਆਪੁ ਆਪੁਨੀ ਬੁਧਿ ਹੈ ਜੇਤੀ ॥ ਬਰਨਤ ਭਿੰਨ ਭਿੰਨ ਤੁਹਿ ਤੇਤੀ ॥[1]

आपु आपुनी बुधि है जेती ॥ बरनत भिंन भिंन तुहि तेती ॥

(According to one’s own intellect, one describes ‘Thee’ differently.)

For many ‘Home – The Place’ where we take shelter, is hindrance to path of ‘Truth’. But again, they could not see beyond ‘Physical’ and unfortunately roam around the globe without the discovery for ‘Which’ they left. The question here is if ‘The One – Lord’ could only be found in renunciation, how come Dhan Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, led life of ‘Gristh – The Family Man’. How all Sikh Guru’s had families? As per, Dhan Shri Guru Teg Bhadur Ji:

ਕਾਹੇ  ਰੇ  ਬਨ  ਖੋਜਨ  ਜਾਈ  ॥ ਸਰਬ  ਨਿਵਾਸੀ  ਸਦਾ  ਅਲੇਪਾ  ਤੋਹੀ  ਸੰਗਿ  ਸਮਾਈ  ॥੧॥  ਰਹਾਉ  ॥[2]

काहे रे बन खोजन जाई ॥ सरब निवासी सदा अलेपा तोही संगि समाई ॥१॥ रहाउ ॥

(Why do you go looking for Him in the forest? Although HE is unattached, HE dwells everywhere. HE is always with you as your companion.)

There is one more home, ‘The Home of The One – The Human Body’. Dhan Shri Guru Arjan Dev Ji refers to human body as ‘Home’ in this Shabad.

Guruji further says, outside is just delusion and delusion leads to doubts. It is of utmost importance that we should introspect to search for ‘Truth’. The ‘Inner Consciousness’ can only be found by Guru’s Grace and once it is found the outlook of life changes. Such an individual becomes happy inwardly and outwardly and he sees ‘One All Prevailing God Everywhere and Nothing Else’.

ਸਭੁ  ਗੋਬਿੰਦੁ  ਹੈ  ਸਭੁ  ਗੋਬਿੰਦੁ  ਹੈ  ਗੋਬਿੰਦ  ਬਿਨੁ  ਨਹੀ  ਕੋਈ  ॥[3]

सभु गोबिंदु है सभु गोबिंदु है गोबिंद बिनु नही कोई ॥

(God is everything, God is everything. Without God, there is nothing at all.)

Then Guruji says, ‘The Amrit – Nectar’ is tricking down drop by drop. The key word here is ‘Slowly’. The fruit ripens slowly, the rain falling slowly is good for harvest else floods and destruction. We need to remember, Bhai Lehna Ji, Bhai Amar Das Ji, Bhai Jhetha Ji served ‘True Guru’ for years but  'Fruit Ripen Slowly’. ‘Ghalna – Serving with all devotion’ is slow process and if some one claim that he could take an individual to ‘Truth’ in one go is a ‘Cheat’. Unfortunately people in modern times are becoming victim of such claims. Just a question, can anyone doubt the credentials of Bhai Lehna Ji, Bhai Amar Das Ji or Bhai Jetha Ji from day one? But 'They' showed us path of 'Gurshabad', slowly and steadily 'It' takes an individual to 'Spiritual 'Greatness'. Else one big jump just lands an individual in 'abyss'. 

Where is the ‘Amrit’ originating from? Guruji says, the ‘Word of the Shabad’ is the source of such Amrit and mind drinks after hearing and contemplating on ‘Shabad’. ‘The Amrit’ takes individual to bliss. It is feeling of ecstasy. The mind becomes so much absorbed in the ‘Shabad’ that it plays with ‘Lord’ forever. We need to understand why ‘Play’. Play is an activity and generally kids like to do with who they like, feel secure and enjoy. Also, kids are innocent. So, contemplation on ‘Shabad’ makes an individual innocent. Then he realizes that he is secure in the company of ‘Shabad’, he begins to like the ‘Source of Shabad – The Lord – The One’ and then engage in act which feels like ‘playing’. Ask a kid to stop playing and he will retaliate. Similarly ask an individual absorbed in ‘Shabad’, he will just ignore everything.

Guruji tells us the ‘Greatness of Holy Saint’. An Individual is separated from ‘The Lord’ for many lives. He does not have any remembrance of ‘HIM’ and is completely cut off from ‘HIM’. He has been dried out. How? If a tree is cut off from ‘The Roots’ how will it get nourishment. Such tree will be just ‘Dry Wood’ and eventually will be doomed for its tragic end. Similarly a human without ‘contemplation of Shabad’ fails to harvest crop of virtues, emotions required to keep his mind healthy. But by ‘Grace of Holy Saint’ such an individual can come back to life, with the nourishment of ‘Shabad’ in 'Their Company'. This will make him blossom again. 

Guruji is asking to become ‘Gurumukh – One who listens to his Guru’. Because only ‘Gurmukh’ can be blessed with understanding to meditate on ‘Naam – Shabad’ and can eventually meet ‘The Lord’.

Guruji further says that such individual merges with ‘The Lord’ as waves of water merge again with the water and rays of light merge again into the source of Light. Then all the illusions evaporate, cut away and such an individual will never go out wandering any more.

Dhan Shri Guru Arjan Dev Ji, with His own experience is blessing us. He is asking everyone to contemplate on ‘Shabad’, do the company of holy saints (not impostors) to find Amrit in inner consciousness and there is no need to wither away in outside world being engulfed in doubts.

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[1] Kabyo Baach Benti Chaupai – Dhan Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji

[2] Dhanasaree Mehala 9 – Ang 684 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

[3] Aasaa Baani Naam Dev Ji Ki – Ang 485 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji