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Sunday, March 5, 2017

17.17(b). The End - Death (Emotional Attachement/Wordly Entanglements): In Light of Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji


Continued From:
http://tdsinghharjidamarg.blogspot.in/2017/03/1717a-end-death-passion-and-ego-in.html


Next we move on to emotional attachment. There is thin line between affection and attachment. It is important to understand the same and we will look at example shown by Dhan Shri Guru Raam Das Ji. I am choosing this historical story since it is first time in Sikh History ‘Gur Gaddi – Throne of Baba Nanak’ was passed to One Son while the opposition came from Other Son. Same path was shown by Dhan Shri Guru Har Rai Ji when He established Dhan Shri Guru Har Kishan Ji as ‘Eighth Nanak’.

Dhan Shri Guru Raam Das Ji had three sons. But the most spoken about in history are the youngest, Dhan Shri Guru Arjan Dev Ji and the eldest, Prithi Chand. For Guruji both are sons but who is He attached to? He is attached to ‘None’. What does it mean? When Dhan Shri Guru Arjan Dev Ji fulfilled His destiny to become ‘The Guru – To Sit on Baba Nanak’s Throne’, did Dhan Shri Guru Raam Das Ji give HimThe Throne of Baba Nanak’ since He was His Son? Nope, no way! Dhan Shri Guru Arjan Dev Ji deserved it since He was merged with Dhan Shri Guru Raam Das Ji. Baba Arjan Dev Ji lived only in remembrance of His Guru. For Him a moment without His Guru was like a ‘Kal Yug – Black Age’. Without obtaining ‘Blessed Vision’ of His Guru He could not find peace of mind. And He and His Soul was sacrifice to His Guru. That kind of dedication, remembrance and affection for Guru made Him to rightly own ‘The Throne of Dhan Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji’. So it was not attachment of Paatshahi 4 to handover ‘Gur Gaadi’ to Paatshahi 5 but it was ‘Ghaalna – True Efforts to unite with Guru’ of Paatshahi 5. Moreover, it was a tradition in those times to handover the ‘Throne’ to elder son but world saw the opposite. This hurt Prithi Chand and he rebelled against Paatshahi 4 refuting His decision. Eventually Guruji shut down Prithi Chand by asking him never to speak with Him on this. Now he was son of Guruji, elder son – first son and first son is pampered loved by everyone but his actions were wrong. So if Guruji was attached to him He would have never criticized his actions. So being a father Guruji criticized elder son actions and handed over ‘Gur Gaddi’ to the deserving son. This is balance, not emotionally attached to any of His Son which Guruji led by example. Why Guruji showed this since attachment leads to pains as per following words by Him:
ਇਹੁ ਜਗੁ ਮੋਹ ਹੇਤ ਬਿਆਪਿਤੰ ਦੁਖੁ ਅਧਿਕ ਜਨਮ ਮਰਣੰ [1]
इहु जगु मोह हेत बिआपितं दुखु अधिक जनम मरणं
(This world is engrossed in attachment and transitory love; it suffers the terrible pains of birth and death.)
Dhan Shri Guru Arjan Dev Ji, Dhan Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, Dhan Shri Guru Amar Das Ji and Kabeer Ji say following about emotional attachment and worldly entanglements:
ਜਨਮ ਮਰਨ ਮਨ ਮੋਹੁ ਬਢਾਇਓ [2]
जनम मरन मन मोहु बढाइओ
(The attachment of the mind has led to birth and death.)
ਮੋਹੇ ਲਾਗਾ ਜਮ ਪੁਰਿ ਜਾਹਿ [3]
मोहे लागा जम पुरि जाहि ॥४॥
(Attached to emotional attachment, they go to the city of Death.)
ਮੋਹਿ ਪਚੇ ਪਚਿ ਅੰਧਾ ਮੂਆ [4]
मोहि पचे पचि अंधा मूआ ॥३॥
(But, engrossed in attachment, the blind fool wastes away to death.)
ਮਮਤਾ ਕਾਲਿ ਸਭਿ ਰੋਗਿ ਵਿਆਪੇ ਤਿਨ ਜਮ ਕੀ ਹੈ ਸਿਰਿ ਕਾਰਾ [5]
ममता कालि सभि रोगि विआपे तिन जम की है सिरि कारा
(Death takes all those who are afflicted with the disease of possessiveness. They are subject to the Messenger of Death.)
ਮਨੁ ਜੰਜਾਲੁ ਛੋਡਈ ਜਮ ਦੀਆ ਦਮਾਮਾ ਆਇ ੨੨੭[6]
मनु जंजालु छोडई जम दीआ दमामा आइ ॥२२७॥
(The mortal does not give up his worldly entanglements; the Messenger of Death walks in and beats the drum.)

Possessiveness is feeling of ‘Mera - Mine’. ‘Feeling of Mine’ seems to have strong bond which keeps people together like ‘My Kids – My Family’. And yes it is difficult for any mortal to overcome this emotion since only family members seems to stick together to overcome hard times. The Battle of Chamkaur is such example where Elder Sons and Khalsa’ s of Dhan Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji came forward willingly to fight a battle where Physical Death was inevitable. They were like a family, which came together in hard times to overcome the circumstances. Such is an example of ‘Ideal Family’. A family where bond existed and that bond took every one to next level of consciousness. They were attached, defending each other, watching each other’s back. Were they not emotionally attached? Yes they were else how could a mortal be inspired to sacrifice for his family. But this attachment was different since they were doing their duties, being attuned to Guru’s Feet.
Guruji ensured that they don’t attach to worldly things. The bond among them was spiritual rather than just worldly. Guru is convergence point of all emotions. So no worldly emotion can rot an individual to hell as it will be surrendered to Guru. And where Guru is involved He takes an individual to a mental state where he begins to say following:
ਕਬੀਰ ਮੇਰਾ ਮੁਝ ਮਹਿ ਕਿਛੁ ਨਹੀ ਜੋ ਕਿਛੁ ਹੈ ਸੋ ਤੇਰਾ [7]
कबीर मेरा मुझ महि किछु नही जो किछु है सो तेरा
(Kabeer, nothing is mine within myself. Whatever there is, is Yours, O Lord.)

So ‘Mine’ may  be important to bring people together but if it is overdone, like defending even wrong actions of someone since he is mine, is an attachment bound to end in pains. As mortal we need to watch out for that. If something is wrong; it is wrong no matter who does it. Also, we need to understand that once Death is upon us all the things, relations we considered as ‘mine’ will no longer to ours as said by Dhan Shri Guru Teg Bhadur Ji and Dhan Shri Guru Arjan Dev Ji in following words. They are asking us to give up emotional attachment to worldly objects.
ਕਾਲ ਫਾਸ ਜਬ ਗਲਿ ਪਰੀ ਸਭ ਭਇਓ ਪਰਾਇਓ [8]
काल फास जब गलि परी सभ भइओ पराइओ ॥१॥
(When the noose of death tightens around your neck, they will all belong to others.)
ਤਿਆਗਿ ਚਲਨਾ ਸਗਲ ਸੰਪਤ ਕਾਲੁ ਸਿਰ ਪਰਿ ਜਾਨੁ [9]
तिआगि चलना सगल स्मपत कालु सिर परि जानु
(You shall have to leave behind all your riches when you depart. Death is hanging over your head - know this well!)

TO BE CONTINUED!


[1] Goojree Mehla 1 Ghar 4 –Ang 505  Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
[2] Pauree – Ang 250 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji (Dhan Shri Guru Arjan Dev Ji)
[3] Aasa Mehla 1 Panchpade – Ang 356 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
[4] Aasa Mehla 5 - Ang 392 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
[5] Raag Bhairao Mehla 3 – Ang 1130 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
[6] Salok Kabeer Ji Ke - Ang 1376 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
[7] Salok Bhagat Kabir Ji Ke – Ang 1375 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
[8] Tilang Mehla 9 – Ang 727 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
[9] Kaydaraa Mehla 5 – Ang 1121 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

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