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Tuesday, November 29, 2016

15.8. A Moment: In Light Of Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

 
Moments have beginning. Do they have end? Well, this question was asked initially. For realized soul moments to end, that’s why they manage to go beyond time. For mortal moments do not seem to have end. If that is the case what are last moments? Does it mean moments are ending? Well, it means that ‘Moments associated with Mortal’, in other words his life/physical manifestation is coming to an end. So what happens at ‘Last Moment’ that it finds a special place in Gurbaani? We will try understanding it light of ‘Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji’.
Kabir Ji confirms in following words that ‘Last Moment’ of an individual signifies an end to his life, his physical manifestation:
ਕਹਿ ਕਬੀਰ ਅੰਤ ਕੀ ਬੇਰ ਆਇ ਲਾਗੋ ਕਾਲੁ ਨਿਦਾਨਿ ॥੨॥੫॥[1]
कहि कबीर अंत की बेर आइ लागो कालु निदानि ॥२॥५॥
(Says Kabeer, at the very last moment, death will come and seize you, you fool!)
What else happens during ‘Last Moments’? As per Dhan Shri Guru Amar Das Ji and Dhan Shri Guru Arjan Dev Ji:
ਐਥੈ ਕਮਾਣਾ ਸੁ ਅਗੈ ਆਇਆ ਅੰਤਕਾਲਿ ਕਿਆ ਕੀਜੈ ਹੇ ॥੫॥[2]
ऐथै कमाणा सु अगै आइआ अंतकालि किआ कीजै हे ॥५॥
(Whatever one does in this world, will come to face him in the hereafter; what can he do at that very last moment?)
ਜਿਤੁ ਲਾਗੋ ਮਨੁ ਬਾਸਨਾ ਅੰਤਿ ਸਾਈ ਪ੍ਰਗਟਾਨੀ ॥੬॥[3]
जितु लागो मनु बासना अंति साई प्रगटानी ॥६॥
(That desire, to which the mind is attached, at the last moment, becomes manifest.)
The above words clearly suggest that ‘Last Moments’ are precious. What ever an individual does in his life comes back to him. His attachment to desire manifests. So efforts should be done in making the last moments fruitful since a man is helpless and weak and only death awaits him.
If a mortal thinks during in ‘Last Moments’ he can escape his destiny or fruit of his actions then he is at fault. An individual cannot do anything. He cannot outsmart the ‘Inevitable Law of The One’ and that is in ‘Last Moments’ what ever has been done and accumulated, he has to face it. If he thinks at last moment any other human or any other worldly relationship can rescue him, then his conception is false. If he thinks anyone or anything will go with him then he is deluded. As per Dhan Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, Dhan Shri Guru Arjan Dev Ji, Dhan Shri Guru Teg Bhadur Ji, Dhan Shri Guru Amar Das Ji and Kabir Ji say following:
ਅੰਤ ਕਾਲਿ ਕੋ ਬੇਲੀ ਨਾਹੀ ॥[4]
अंत कालि को बेली नाही ॥
(No one is anyone's companion or helper at the very last moment)
ਜਬ ਅੰਤੀ ਅਉਸਰੁ ਆਇ ਬਨਿਓ ਹੈ ਉਨ੍ਹ੍ਹ ਪੇਖਤ ਹੀ ਕਾਲਿ ਗ੍ਰਸਿਆ ॥੨॥[5]
जब अंती अउसरु आइ बनिओ है उन्ह पेखत ही कालि ग्रसिआ ॥२॥
(But when the very last moment arrives, Death seizes him, while they merely look on.)
ਅੰਤ ਕੀ ਬਾਰ ਕੋ ਖਰਾ ਨ ਹੋਸੀ ਸਭ ਮਿਥਿਆ ਅਸਨੇਹੀ ॥੧॥[6]
अंत की बार को खरा न होसी सभ मिथिआ असनेही ॥१॥
(At the very last moment, none of them shall stand by you; their love is totally false.)
ਅੰਤ ਬਾਰ ਨਾਨਕ ਬਿਨੁ ਹਰਿ ਜੀ ਕੋਊ ਕਾਮਿ ਨ ਆਇਓ ॥੩॥੧੨॥੧੩੯॥[7]
अंत बार नानक बिनु हरि जी कोऊ कामि न आइओ ॥३॥१२॥१३९॥
(At the very last moment, O Nanak, no one is any use at all, except the Dear Lord.)
ਅੰਤਿ ਕਾਲਿ ਸੰਗੀ ਨਹ ਕੋਊ ਇਹ ਅਚਰਜ ਹੈ ਰੀਤਿ ॥੧॥[8]
अंति कालि संगी नह कोऊ इह अचरज है रीति ॥१॥
(But at the very last moment, none shall go along with you. How strange are the ways of the world!)
ਅੰਤਿ ਕਾਲਿ ਤਿਥੈ ਧੁਹੈ ਜਿਥੈ ਹਥੁ ਨ ਪਾਇ ॥[9]
अंति कालि तिथै धुहै जिथै हथु न पाइ ॥
(At the very last moment, they will deceive you there, where no one will be able to lend a helping hand.)
ਅੰਤ ਕੀ ਬਾਰ ਨਹੀ ਕਛੁ ਤੇਰਾ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥[10]
अंत की बार नही कछु तेरा ॥१॥ रहाउ ॥
(At the very last moment, nothing is yours.)
Now, if a desire manifests at last moment, then what kind of desire one should have? Dhan Guru Arjan Dev Ji answers in following words:
ਸਰਬ ਪਾਖ ਰਾਖੁ ਮੁਰਾਰੇ ॥ ਆਗੈ ਪਾਛੈ ਅੰਤੀ ਵਾਰੇ ॥੧॥[11]
सरब पाख राखु मुरारे ॥ आगै पाछै अंती वारे ॥१॥
(Protect me on all sides, O Lord; protect me in the future, in the past, and at the very last moment.)
Having such a desire every moment signifies surrender to and remembrance of ‘The One – The Formless’. Why one should have such desire, that is one should remember ‘The Lord’? As per Dhan Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, Dhan Shri Guru Raam Das Ji, Dhan Shri Guru Arjan Dev Ji, Dhan Shri Guru Teg Bhadur Ji and Dhan Shri Guru Amar Das Ji:
ਅੰਤ ਕਾਲਿ ਤੇਰੈ ਆਵੈ ਕਾਮ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥[12]
अंत कालि तेरै आवै काम ॥१॥ रहाउ ॥
(At the very last moment, it and it alone shall be of any use to you.)
ਜਹ ਅੰਤੀ ਅਉਸਰੁ ਆਇ ਬਨਤੁ ਹੈ ਤਹ ਰਾਖੈ ਨਾਮੁ ਸਾਥਈ ॥੩॥[13]
जह अंती अउसरु आइ बनतु है तह राखै नामु साथई ॥३॥
(And when that very last moment comes, then the Naam is our Best Friend and Protector.)
ਸੋ ਐਸਾ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਜਪੀਐ ਮਨ ਮੇਰੇ ਜੋ ਅੰਤੀ ਅਉਸਰਿ ਲਏ ਛਡਾਏ ॥[14]
सो ऐसा हरि नामु जपीऐ मन मेरे जो अंती अउसरि लए छडाए ॥
(Chant that Name of the Lord, O my mind, which will save you at the very last moment.)
ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਸਮਾਲਿ ਤੂੰ ਹਰਿ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਕਰੇ ਅੰਤ ਕਾਲਿ ॥੬॥[15]
हरि हरि नामु समालि तूं हरि मुकति करे अंत कालि ॥६॥
(Dwell upon the Name of the Lord, Har, Har; at the very last moment, the Lord shall liberate you.)
ਅੰਤਿ ਕਾਲ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਭਏ ਸਹਾਈ ਇਤ ਉਤ ਰਾਖਨਹਾਰੇ ॥[16]
अंति काल प्रभ भए सहाई इत उत राखनहारे ॥
(At the very last moment, God becomes the mortal's Help and Support; here and hereafter, He is the Savior Lord.)
ਅੰਤ ਕੀ ਬੇਲਾ ਲਏ ਛਡਾਈ ॥੧॥[17]
अंत की बेला लए छडाई ॥१॥
(At the very last moment, He will save you.)
ਜਹ ਅੰਤੀ ਅਉਸਰੁ ਆਇ ਬਨਤੁ ਹੈ ਤਹ ਰਾਖੈ ਨਾਮੁ ਸਾਥਈ ॥੩॥[18]
जह अंती अउसरु आइ बनतु है तह राखै नामु साथई ॥३॥
(And when that very last moment comes, then the Naam is our Best Friend and Protector.)
ਅੰਤ ਕਾਲਿ ਤੇਰਾ ਬੇਲੀ ਹੋਵੈ ਸਦਾ ਨਿਬਹੈ ਤੇਰੈ ਨਾਲਿ ॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥[19]
अंत कालि तेरा बेली होवै सदा निबहै तेरै नालि ॥ रहाउ ॥
(At the very last moment, He alone shall be your best friend; He shall always stand by you.)
‘Gurbaani’ does emphasize that in the ‘Last Moments’ only ‘HE’ is the savior, support, best friend and protector. Only he can liberate a mortal. ‘HE’ is the only hope to achieve salvation. Every relation, every worldly means will become meaningless, even if they want to help they cannot. They are limited but ‘HE’ is not and even if an individual attunes himself to ‘HIM’ at ‘Last Moment’ he is saved. Even the individuals who have committed only sins in their lives are saved if they remember ‘The Lord’ in their last moment in an instant. Dhan Shri Guru Teg Bhadur Ji confirms it in following words:
ਅਜਾਮਲ  ਕਉ  ਅੰਤ  ਕਾਲ  ਮਹਿ  ਨਾਰਾਇਨ  ਸੁਧਿ  ਆਈ  ॥
ਜਾਂ  ਗਤਿ  ਕਉ  ਜੋਗੀਸੁਰ  ਬਾਛਤ  ਸੋ  ਗਤਿ  ਛਿਨ  ਮਹਿ  ਪਾਈ  ॥੨॥[20]
अजामल कउ अंत काल महि नाराइन सुधि आई ॥
जां गति कउ जोगीसुर बाछत सो गति छिन महि पाई ॥२॥
(At the very last moment, Ajaamal became aware of the Lord;
that state which even the supreme Yogis desire - he attained that state in an instant.)
What happens at ‘Last Moment’ when such desires are kept in heart and mind? As per Dhan Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, Dhan Shri Guru Arjan Dev Ji,
ਅੰਤ ਕਾਲਿ ਜਮੁ ਜੋਹਿ ਨ ਸਾਕੈ ਹਰਿ ਬੋਲਹੁ ਰਾਮੁ ਪਿਆਰਾ ਹੇ ॥੫॥[21]
अंत कालि जमु जोहि न साकै हरि बोलहु रामु पिआरा हे ॥५॥
(At the very last moment, the Messenger of Death will not be able to touch you, if you chant the Name of the Beloved Lord.)
ਮੋਹਨ ਜਮੁ ਨੇੜਿ ਨ ਆਵੈ ਤੁਧੁ ਜਪਹਿ ਨਿਦਾਨਾ ॥[22]
मोहन जमु नेड़ि न आवै तुधु जपहि निदाना ॥
(O Mohan, the Messenger of Death does not even approach those who meditate on You, at the last moment.)
ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਜਪਹੁ ਦਿਨੁ ਰਾਤੀ ਅੰਤ ਕਾਲਿ ਨਹ ਲਾਗੈ ਪੀਰ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥[23]
गुरमुखि नामु जपहु दिनु राती अंत कालि नह लागै पीर ॥१॥ रहाउ ॥
(As Gurmukh, chant the Naam, the Name of the Lord, day and night. At the very last moment, you shall not have to suffer in pain.)
Messenger of Death, who is unstoppable, cannot be defeated just cannot touch an individual. Such individual does not suffer any pains. But, if an individual has not spent his life in contemplating the ‘Shabad of Guru’ then his ‘Last Moments’ are painful. He lives ‘Last Moments’ in regret and repents.
Dhan Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji confirms in following words that last moments can be painful. These are not warnings or cautions but assertions from Guruji. He wants every mortal to understand that if life is not lived the way it should be, ‘Last Moments’ will be spent in repent. In fact Guruji has said mortals will be beaten up.
ਅੰਤ ਕਾਲਿ ਮੂੜੇ ਚੋਟ ਖਾਹਿ ॥੭॥[24]
अंत कालि मूड़े चोट खाहि ॥७॥
(At that very last moment, you fool, you shall be beaten.)
ਅੰਤਿ ਕਾਲਿ ਪਛੁਤਾਸੀ ਅੰਧੁਲੇ ਜਾ ਜਮਿ ਪਕੜਿ ਚਲਾਇਆ ॥[25]
अंति कालि पछुतासी अंधुले जा जमि पकड़ि चलाइआ ॥
(At the last moment, you repent-you are so blind!-when the Messenger of Death seizes you and carries you away.)
ਨਾਮੁ ਵਿਸਾਰਿ ਚਲਹਿ ਅਨ ਮਾਰਗਿ ਅੰਤ ਕਾਲਿ ਪਛੁਤਾਹੀ ॥੭॥[26]
नामु विसारि चलहि अन मारगि अंत कालि पछुताही ॥७॥
(Forgetting the Naam, the Name of the Lord, they walk on other paths, and at the very last moment, they regret and repent.)
So, Dhan Shri Guru Arjan Dev Ji just reminds mortals following:
ਜਨ ਨਾਨਕ ਅੰਤਿ ਵਾਰ ਨਾਮੁ ਗਹਣਾ ॥੪॥੧੮॥[27]
जन नानक अंति वार नामु गहणा ॥४॥१८॥
(O servant Nanak, at that very last moment, the Naam shall be your only decoration.)
Well, life is made up of moments. And no one knows when ‘Last Moment’ will arrive. That is uncertainty of human life. So every moment is precious. Very few lucky get ample moments to spend in remembrance though the moments are never enough to show gratitude to ‘The Lord’. ‘Lord’ comes only to their mind in ‘Last Moments’ who spend entire life in ‘HIS’ thoughts. But still Gurbaani keeps the hope alive for those who have just lived a sinful life. Our sins are more than moments we live. And we are fortunate to have Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji to guide us. So, we just require an effort to attune ourselves to Guruji, utilize our moments in such a way to ensure we reach ‘The Goal’ in ‘Last Moments’.

[1] Raag Kedaraa Baani Kabir Ji Ki – Ang 1124 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
[2] Maaroo Mehla 3 – Ang 1049 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
[3] Gauree Mehla 5 – Ang 242 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
[4] Maaru Mehla 1 – Ang 1023 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
[5] Goojree Mehla 5 Panchpada Ghar 2 – Ang 497 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
[6] Sorath Mehla 5 – Ang 609 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
[7] Sorath Mehla 9 – Ang 634 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
[8] Devghandhari Mehla 9 – Ang 536 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
[9] Salok Mehla 3 – Ang 1417 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
[10] Gauree Kabir Ji – Ang 325 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
[11] Devghandhari Mehla 5 – Ang 533 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
[12] Basant Mehla 1 Ik Tukiya – Ang 1189 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
[13] Kalyaan Mehla 4 – Ang 1320 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
[14] Pauree – Ang 89 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
[15] Gauree Mehla 4 – Ang 235 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
[16] Aasaa Mehla 5 – Ang 382 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
[17] Raamkali Mehla 5 – Ang 895 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
[18] Raag Jaijavantee Mehla 9 – Ang 1352 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
[19] Sorath Mehla 3 – Ang 601 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
[20] Raag Raamkali Mehla 9 Tipade – Ang 902 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
[21] Maaru Mehla 1 – Ang 1030 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
[22] Gauree Mehla 5 – Ang 248 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
[23] Basant Mehla 5 Ghar 2 Hindol – Ang 1185 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
[24] Basant Mehla 1 Ik Tukiya – Ang 1189 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
[25] Sireerag Mehla 1 – Ang 76 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
[26] Bhairo Ashtpadeeyaan Mehal 1 Ghar 2 – Ang 1153 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
[27] Aasaa Mehla 5 – Ang 375 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
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