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Friday, February 10, 2017

17.16. The End - Death: In Light of Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

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 OneWHO 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.)
ਛੋਡਹਿ ਅੰਨੁ ਕਰਹਿ ਪਾਖੰਡ [3]
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:

ਪਾਖੰਡਿ ਲੋਭੀ ਮਾਰੀਐ ਜਮ ਡੰਡੁ ਦੇਇ ਸਜਾਇ [4]
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.)
ਪਾਖੰਡਿ ਜਮਕਾਲੁ ਛੋਡਈ ਲੈ ਜਾਸੀ ਪਤਿ ਗਵਾਇ [5]
पाखंडि जमकालु छोडई लै जासी पति गवाइ
(The Messenger of Death does not leave the hypocrite; he is led away in dishonor.)
ਕਰਮ ਧਰਮ ਪਾਖੰਡ ਜੋ ਦੀਸਹਿ ਤਿਨ ਜਮੁ ਜਾਗਾਤੀ ਲੂਟੈ [6]
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.)
ਪਾਖੰਡਿ ਕੀਨੈ ਜਮੁ ਨਹੀ ਛੋਡੈ ਲੈ ਜਾਸੀ ਪਤਿ ਗਵਾਈ ੧੪[7]
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:
ਨਾਨਾ ਕਰਤ ਛੂਟੀਐ ਵਿਣੁ ਗੁਣ ਜਮ ਪੁਰਿ ਜਾਹਿ [8]
नाना करत छूटीऐ विणु गुण जम पुरि जाहि
(Through various rituals, one does not find release. Without virtue, one is sent to the City of Death.)
ਭੇਖੀ ਹਾਥ ਲਧੀਆ ਸਭ ਬਧੀ ਜਮਕਾਲਿ [9]
भेखी हाथ लधीआ सभ बधी जमकालि
(Nothing is obtained by wearing religious robes; all will be seized by the Messenger of Death.)
ਕਰਮ ਵਧਹਿ ਕੈ ਲੋਅ ਖਪਿ ਮਰੀਜਈ [10]
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

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