Continued From:
http://tdsinghharjidamarg.blogspot.in/2017/02/1715-end-death-in-light-of-dhan-shri.html
10.
Hypocrisy and Rituals: Hypocrisy is not new to world;
double standards, duping, cheating and still presenting one self as clean. And
the worst happens when cheating is done to hurt seeker’s cause, his spiritual
journey. A seeker is innocent else he will not pursue, has any one seen a ‘Con’
pursuing the path of ‘Truth’? Truth does not matter to
'fraud' he is just busy in build ‘false reputation’ for him self. And
thinking he will escape it. Well, the people can be fooled but how can Death,
which follows the will of ‘The One’ WHO drives the world and
nothing is hidden from HIM. Before we understand hypocrisy
and plight of hypocrites in light of Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, it
is important to understand how old the roots of hypocrisy are.
Kabir ji has
made reference to hypocrisy in His Baani in following words:
ਓਇ ਹਰਿ ਕੇ
ਸੰਤ ਨ ਆਖੀਅਹਿ ਬਾਨਾਰਸਿ ਕੇ ਠਗ ॥੧॥[1]
ओइ हरि के संत न आखीअहि बानारसि
के ठग ॥१॥
(They
are not called Saints
of the Lord - they are thugs of Benares.)
Please
note Kabir
Ji was considered as ‘Mystic Saint’ of 15th
Century. So it is quite obvious tendency to commit fraud on name of religion
and ‘The
God’ was surely present during 15th Century. And the way
it has been referred, reference to a city, suggests it was on peak in those
times. Can we also deduce the roots of such malpractices were even older since
it would have taken centuries for their evolution at peak at such a large
scale? Such practices were even conspired against ‘Guru Ghar’. Please
remember Prithi Chand, how he conspired against Dhan Shri Guru Arjan Dev Ji
and declared him self ‘The Guru’, a self pro-claimed Guru.
And how the whole Bakala tried to hide ‘True Guru – Dhan Shri Guru Teg Bhadur Ji’?
Well, truth cannot be hidden for a long and Guruji appeared. ‘Gur
Ladho Re – Guru has been found’ when whole Bakala echoed with ecstatic
cries of Bhai Makhan Shah Lubhana. And unfortunately efforts are still
in place to hide ‘The True Guru – Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji’ from masses and
evil practice still continues even today. So the peak achieved during 15th
Century still exists today perhaps higher than that.
So
the question is what is hypocrisy? Dhan Shri Guru Amar Das Ji
and Kabir
Ji explain in following words:
ਬਾਹਰਿ ਪਾਖੰਡ
ਸਭ ਕਰਮ ਕਰਹਿ ਮਨਿ ਹਿਰਦੈ ਕਪਟੁ ਕਮਾਇ ॥[2]
बाहरि पाखंड सभ करम करहि मनि
हिरदै कपटु कमाइ ॥
(Outwardly,
they do all the proper deeds, but they are hypocrites; in their minds and hearts, they
practice deception
and fraud.)
छोडहि अंनु करहि पाखंड ॥
(One
who discards this grain, is practicing hypocrisy.)
So,
the hypocrisy
resides in mind. ‘Intent’ to deceive people while carrying out rituals is sheer hypocrisy.
No matter how perfectly the actions are carried out, with deceit in mind rituals
have no meaning, they all sound like ‘ਪਾਖੰਡ - पाखंड - Cheap Show Off’. Kabir Ji has even raised
a point, what good is giving up grain? Will that help? Will it bring ‘Naam’
to mind or thoughts like yes ‘I did it’ and now time to cash on?
What was the purpose of such practice, to achieve higher goal? But did it
happen or just ended up with thoughts of selfishness? Gurbaani describes it as
hypocrisy. And what happens to hypocrites is answered by Dhan Shri Guru Raam Das Ji,
Dhan
Shri Guru Amar Das Ji and Dhan Shri Guru Arjan Dev Ji in
following words:
पाखंडि लोभी मारीऐ जम डंडु देइ सजाइ ॥६॥
(The
hypocritical
and the greedy are struck down; the Messenger of Death punishes them with his club.)
पाखंडि जमकालु न छोडई लै जासी पति गवाइ ॥
(The
Messenger of
Death does not leave the hypocrite; he is led away in dishonor.)
करम धरम पाखंड जो दीसहि तिन जमु जागाती लूटै ॥
(The
religious rites,
rituals and hypocrisies which are seen, are plundered by the Messenger of Death,
the ultimate tax collector.)
पाखंडि कीनै जमु नही छोडै लै जासी पति गवाई ॥१४॥
(The
Messenger of
Death does not give up on those who practices hypocrisy; they are dragged away in
disgrace.)
It
raises concern, all the rituals being done are they really required? Who knows if
such rituals are just propaganda or only designed to mislead the masses with
the purpose minting their hard earn money. Who will question rituals? Any
mortal who will raise voice will be induced with fear of blasphemy. But Dhan
Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji and Dhan Shri Guru Amar Das Ji can and They
say following about such rituals in following words:
नाना करत न छूटीऐ विणु गुण जम पुरि जाहि ॥
(Through various rituals, one does not find release.
Without virtue, one is sent to the City of Death.)
भेखी हाथ न लधीआ सभ बधी जमकालि ॥
(Nothing is obtained by wearing religious robes; all will be seized
by the Messenger
of Death.)
करम वधहि कै लोअ खपि मरीजई ॥
(Some
are tied down by rituals; they hassle themselves to death.)
Guruji has made very clear
that rituals don’t help in salvation; they don’t do the job for which they are
followed. They just keep an individual bonded; individual is tied down by them.
And unfortunately an individual ends up in City Of Death.
TO BE CONTINUED!
[1] Aasa
- Ang 476 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji (Kabir Ji)
[2] Salok
Mehla 3 - Ang 1417 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
[3] Gond
- Ang 873 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji (Kabir Ji)
[4]
Raag Gauree Poorbe Mehla 4 Karhalae – Ang 234 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
[5]
Mehla 3 – Ang 587 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
[6]
Sohee Mehla 5 – Ang Ang 747 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
[7]
Raamkali Mehla 3 – Ang 910 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
[8]
Raamkali Mehla 1 Dhaknee Ongkar – Ang 934 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
[9]
Maroo Mehla 3 – Ang 1089 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
[10]
Malar Mehla 3 - Ang 1285 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
