17.18.3 Overcoming Death - Gur Shabad: In Light of Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

Continued From:
http://tdsinghharjidamarg.blogspot.in/2017/04/17182-overcoming-death-meeting-lordthe.html

 Overcoming Death - Gur Shabad:
There is always an altercation between ‘Real Us’ and ‘Virtual/Mythical Us’. The reason is conflict and conflict arises since ‘mythical us’ does not want to listen ‘real us’. ‘Real Us’ is the ‘true’ aspect of an individual which attunes an individual to ‘The One’. The ‘Mythical Us’ is illusion, The Duality, The Maya. And please remember Duality means Death. Duality no way can sustain over the ‘real us’ we let the ‘mythical us’ take control of mind and mind under its influence just wither away in sufferings, sufferings of Death. So what should be done? The need of hour is to ‘Listen’. But listen to what? Listen to songs, listen to others, listen to thoughts and the answer is ‘NO’. Dhan Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji says in following listen to what ‘Formless – The One’ has to say since only then Death cannot touch that individual:

ਸੁਣਿਐ ਪੋਹਿ ਨ ਸਕੈ ਕਾਲੁ ॥[1]

सुणिऐ पोहि न सकै कालु ॥

(Listening-Death cannot even touch you.)

But the biggest question, how can we listen to ‘The One’? HE does not have any form and how could we believe HE speaks. I would just to say one thing, how can we ever challenge the veracity of Dhan Baba Nanak’s words. If He says, ‘Formless – The One’ speaks, HE does speak. We could not hear HIM since we are victim of our own weakness. So how could we ever hear HIM? And the answer lies with ‘Gur Shabad – The Words of Guru’. ‘Gur Shabad’ makes mind to accept that ‘Real Us’ is the true aspect and ‘Mythical Us’ is just a lie. The Greatness of ‘Gur Shabad’ has also been highlighted in one of the posts earlier. But we will continue to understand, what ‘Gur Shabad’ does to an individual that he manages to escape the grip of Death, in divine light of Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.

Dhan Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji and Dhan Shri Guru Amar Das Ji describe the significance of dying in the ‘Gur Shabad’ in following words:

ਸਬਦਿ ਮਰੈ ਸੋ ਮਰਿ ਰਹੈ ਫਿਰਿ ਮਰੈ ਨ ਦੂਜੀ ਵਾਰ ॥[2]

सबदि मरै सो मरि रहै फिरि मरै न दूजी वार ॥

(One who dies in the Shabad is beyond death, and shall never die again.)

ਸਬਦਿ ਮਰੈ ਸੁ ਮੁਆ ਜਾਪੈ ॥ ਕਾਲੁ ਨ ਚਾਪੈ ਦੁਖੁ ਨ ਸੰਤਾਪੈ ॥[3]

सबदि मरै सु मुआ जापै ॥ कालु न चापै दुखु न संतापै ॥

(One who dies in the Word of the Shabad is truly dead. Death does not crush him, and pain does not afflict him.)

ਸਬਦਿ ਮਰੈ ਫਿਰਿ ਮਰਣੁ ਨ ਹੋਇ ॥[4]

सबदि मरै फिरि मरणु न होइ ॥

(One who dies in the Word of the Shabad, shall never again have to die.)

ਮਰੁ ਮੁਇਆ ਸਬਦੇ ਮਰਿ ਜਾਇ ॥[5]

मरु मुइआ सबदे मरि जाइ ॥

(He alone dies a real death, who dies in the Word of the Shabad.)

ਸਬਦਿ ਮਰੈ ਤਾ ਮਾਰਿ ਮਰੁ ਭਾਗੋ ਕਿਸੁ ਪਹਿ ਜਾਉ ॥[6]

सबदि मरै ता मारि मरु भागो किसु पहि जाउ ॥

(One who dies in the Word of the Shabad conquers death; otherwise, where can you run?)

ਸਬਦਿ ਮਰਹਿ ਸੇ ਮਰਣੁ ਸਵਾਰਹਿ ॥[7]

सबदि मरहि से मरणु सवारहि ॥

(Those who die in the Shabad - their death is exalted and glorified.)

Once mind attaches to ‘Gur Shabad’ it does not worry about anything. It is virtually ‘Dead’ since it does not respond to any temptation which ‘Duality’ has to offer. It only responds to ‘Gur Shabad’ and ‘Gur Shabad’ makes the mind to listen to ‘The One’. This all leads him away from ‘Death – The End of Physical Manifestation’, an end a life free from sufferings and fear. Dhan Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji and Dhan Shri Guru Angad Dev Ji further say following:

ਸਬਦੁ ਪਛਾਣੈ ਰਵਿ ਰਹੈ ਨਾ ਤਿਸੁ ਕਾਲੁ ਸੰਤਾਇ ॥[8]

सबदु पछाणै रवि रहै ना तिसु कालु संताइ ॥

(One who recognizes the Shabad merges into it, and is not afflicted by death.)

ਸਚਾ ਸਬਦੁ ਬੀਚਾਰਿ ਕਾਲੁ ਵਿਧਉਸਿਆ ॥[9]

सचा सबदु बीचारि कालु विधउसिआ ॥

(Reflecting on the True Word of the Shabad, death is overcome.)

‘Gur Shabad’ makes mind to merge into it. But to recognize ‘Gur Shabad’ it is important to reflect upon it. What does it signify? It signifies, ‘Gur Shabad’makes mind to know ‘Real Us’. Once ‘Real Us’, ‘The Part of Supreme Consciousness – The Formless – The One’ is discovered Death does not touch such individual. And that’s why Dhan Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji is instructing mind to remain attached to ‘Gur Shabad’ in following words:

ਏ ਮਨ ਮਿਰਤ ਸੁਭ ਚਿੰਤੰ ਗੁਰ ਸਬਦਿ ਹਰਿ ਰਮਣੰ ॥[10]

ए मन मिरत सुभ चिंतं गुर सबदि हरि रमणं ॥

(O mind, even death wishes you well, when you remember the Lord through the Word of the Guru's Shabad.)

Is it not fascinating that ‘Death’ is wishing is well? How a beast can ever do that? So what ever we have scary we have heard about ‘Death’ is only valid when we don’t attune to ‘Gur Shabad’. Wishing Well! Such nature of Death is only revealed through ‘Gur Shabad’ as said by Kabir Ji in following words:

ਜਿਹ ਮਰਨੈ ਸਭੁ ਜਗਤੁ ਤਰਾਸਿਆ ॥ਸੋ ਮਰਨਾ ਗੁਰ ਸਬਦਿ ਪ੍ਰਗਾਸਿਆ ॥੧॥[11]

जिह मरनै सभु जगतु तरासिआ ॥सो मरना गुर सबदि प्रगासिआ ॥१॥

(That death which terrifies the entire world - the nature of that death has been revealed to me, through the Word of the Guru's Shabad.)

Dhan Shri Guru Arjan Dev Ji is asking everyone to be infused with ‘Gur Shabad’ in following words to escape Death:

ਸੋ ਛੂਟੈ ਮਹਾ ਜਾਲ ਤੇ ਜਿਸੁ ਗੁਰ ਸਬਦੁ ਨਿਰੰਤਰਿ ॥੨॥[12]

सो छूटै महा जाल ते जिसु गुर सबदु निरंतरि ॥२॥

(They escape from the great noose of death; they are permeated with the Word of the Guru's Shabad.)

Unfortunately, we have decided to ignore ‘words’ of Guruji. We are filling ourselves up with noises, noises which we will not take us any where. If we are asked to sit in silence, what we will hear? Just noises and their echoes! And they will never let us live in peace. So, the need is to contemplate ‘Gur Shabad’ in meditation not only to over the noise but to loosen the grip of Death, as said by Dhan Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji in following words:

ਤਾ ਕਉ ਕਾਲੁ ਨਾਹੀ ਜਮੁ ਜੋਹੈ ਬੂਝਹਿ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਸਬਦੁ ਬੀਚਾਰ ॥੭॥[13]

ता कउ कालु नाही जमु जोहै बूझहि अंतरि सबदु बीचार ॥७॥

(The Messenger of Death cannot see those who come to realize within their minds the contemplative meditation of the Word of the Shabad.)

If I say ‘Love’, what is the first thought that has come to mind. I am sure it is not ‘Gur Shabad’. It would be family, social status or self but never selflessness. How lucky are those, who’s first thought is ‘Gur Shabad’? The only reason ‘Gur Shabad’ struck their mind on hearing ‘Love’ since they have embraced ‘Gur Shabad’ and such individuals are away from Death’s touch as said by Dhan Shri Guru Amar Das Ji in following words:

ਕਾਲੁ ਜਾਲੁ ਜਮੁ ਜੋਹਿ ਨ ਸਾਕੈ ਸਾਚੈ ਸਬਦਿ ਲਿਵ ਲਾਏ ॥[14]

कालु जालु जमु जोहि न साकै साचै सबदि लिव लाए ॥

(The noose of the Messenger of Death shall not touch you, when you embrace love for the True Word of the Shabad.)

The journey of life has to end, that is fact in light of ‘Gurbaani’. Being a journey it is supposed to multiple paths. But every one will go through one common path and that is path of ‘End’. Now it is our choice whether we choose of path of ‘Death – End of Physical Manifestation’ or ‘Death – End of Sufferings’. Dhan Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji,  Dhan Shri Guru Amar Das Ji, is asking every one to remain merge in ‘Gur Shabad – The Truth throughout The Ages’ so that the one need not to born and die again, so that path of ‘Death – End of Physical Manifestation’ is painful. Why? Because making choices again and again in every life is painful.

ਜਮ ਮਾਰਗਿ ਨਹੀ ਜਾਣਾ ਸਬਦਿ ਸਮਾਣਾ ਜੁਗਿ ਜੁਗਿ ਸਾਚੈ ਵੇਸੇ ॥[15]

जम मारगि नही जाणा सबदि समाणा जुगि जुगि साचै वेसे ॥

(Do not go on Death's path; remain merged in the Word of the Shabad, the true form throughout the ages.)

ਸਬਦੇ ਕਾਲੁ ਮਾਰਿ ਸਚੁ ਉਰਿ ਧਾਰਿ ਫਿਰਿ ਆਵਣ ਜਾਣੁ ਨ ਹੋਇਆ ॥[16]

सबदे कालु मारि सचु उरि धारि फिरि आवण जाणु न होइआ ॥

(Through the Shabad, they kill death, and enshrine the True Lord within their hearts; they shall not have to come and go again.)

ਕਾਲ ਬਿਕਾਲ ਸਬਦਿ ਭਏ ਨਾਸੁ ॥੭॥[17]

काल बिकाल सबदि भए नासु ॥७॥

(Through the Shabad, death and birth are ended.)

ਕਾਲੁ ਮਾਰਿ ਗੁਰ ਸਬਦਿ ਨਿਵਾਰੇ ॥[18]

कालु मारि गुर सबदि निवारे ॥

(Through the Word of the Guru's Shabad, death is conquered and killed.)

ਆਵੈ ਜਾਇ ਜੰਮੈ ਮਰੈ ਗੁਰ ਸਬਦਿ ਛੁਟਾਹੀ ॥[19]

आवै जाइ जमै मरै गुर सबदि छुटाही ॥

(Coming and going in reincarnation, and birth and death are ended, through the Word of the Guru's Shabad.)

ਜਨਮ ਮਰਨ ਕਾ ਦੁਖੁ ਗਇਆ ਜਨ ਨਾਨਕ ਸਬਦੁ ਬੀਚਾਰਿ ॥੪੯॥[20]

जनम मरन का दुखु गइआ जन नानक सबदु बीचारि ॥४९॥

(The pains of death and birth are taken away; servant Nanak reflects upon the Word of the Shabad.)

ਕਾਲੁ ਬਿਕਾਲੁ ਭਏ ਦੇਵਾਨੇ ॥ਸਬਦੁ ਸਹਜ ਰਸੁ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਮਾਨੇ ॥[21]

कालु बिकालु भए देवाने ॥सबदु सहज रसु अंतरि माने ॥

(Birth and death are meaningless, for those Who enjoy the sublime celestial essence of the Shabad within their minds.)

What causes fear? Only terrifying things or events which can result in pain are responsible for seeding fear. And Death is such an event. But ‘Gur Shabad’ ensures that ‘Fear of Death’ is removed as said by Dhan Shri Guru Ram Das Ji and Dhan Shri Guru Arjan Dev Ji in following words:

ਭਉ ਜਨਮ ਮਰਣਾ ਮੇਟਿਓ ਗੁਰ ਸਬਦੀ ਹਰਿ ਅਸਥਿਰੁ ਸੇਵਿ ਸੁਖਿ ਸਮਘਾ ॥੧॥[22]

भउ जनम मरणा मेटिओ गुर सबदी हरि असथिरु सेवि सुखि समघा ॥१॥

(The fear of birth and death has been erased, through the Word of the Guru's Shabad; serving the Unmoving, Unchanging Lord, I am absorbed in peace.)

ਅੰਧ ਕੂਪ ਬਿਖਿਆ ਤੇ ਕਾਢਿਓ ਸਾਚ ਸਬਦਿ ਬਣਿ ਆਈ ॥੬॥ਜਨਮ ਮਰਣ ਕਾ ਸਹਸਾ ਚੂਕਾ ਬਾਹੁੜਿ ਕਤਹੁ ਨ ਧਾਈ ॥੭॥[23]

अंध कूप बिखिआ ते काढिओ साच सबदि बणि आई ॥६॥जनम मरण का सहसा चूका बाहुड़ि कतहु न धाई ॥७॥

(He has lifted me up, and pulled me out of the deep, dark pit of sin; I am attuned to the True Shabad. The fear of birth and death is taken away; I shall never wander again.)

The world is considered as ‘The Bhav Sagar – The Great Ocean’. And only ‘Gur Shabad’ can carry an individual across without being troubled by Death as said by Dhan Shri Guru Ram Das Ji and Dhan Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji in following words:

ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਪੋਤੁ ਬੋਹਿਥਾ ਖੇਵਟੁ ਸਬਦੁ ਗੁਰੁ ਪਾਰਿ ਲੰਘਈਆ ॥ਜਮੁ ਜਾਗਾਤੀ ਨੇੜਿ ਨ ਆਵੈ ਨਾ ਕੋ ਤਸਕਰੁ ਚੋਰੁ ਲਗਈਆ ॥੪॥[24]

हरि हरि नामु पोतु बोहिथा खेवटु सबदु गुरु पारि लंघईआ ॥जमु जागाती नेड़ि न आवै ना को तसकरु चोरु लगईआ ॥४॥

(The Name of the Lord, Har, Har, is the boat, and the Word of the Guru's Shabad is the boatman, to carry us across. The Messenger of Death, the tax collector, does not even come close, and no thieves or robbers can plunder you.)

ਇਹੁ ਭਵਜਲੁ ਜਗਤੁ ਸਬਦਿ ਗੁਰ ਤਰੀਐ ॥ਅੰਤਰ ਕੀ ਦੁਬਿਧਾ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਜਰੀਐ ॥ਪੰਚ ਬਾਣ ਲੇ ਜਮ ਕਉ ਮਾਰੈ ਗਗਨੰਤਰਿ ਧਣਖੁ ਚੜਾਇਆ ॥੯॥[25]

इहु भवजलु जगतु सबदि गुर तरीऐ ॥अंतर की दुबिधा अंतरि जरीऐ ॥पंच बाण ले जम कउ मारै गगनंतरि धणखु चड़ाइआ ॥९॥

(Through the Shabad, one crosses over this terrifying world-ocean. The duality within is burnt away from within. Taking up the five arrows of virtue, Death is killed, drawing the Bow of the Tenth Gate in the Mind's Sky.)

‘Gur Shabad’ attunes the mind to Lord, WHO is All Mighty and HE is Destroyer of Death as said by Dhan Shri Guru Amar Das Ji in following words:

ਸਬਦਿ ਭਉ ਭੰਜਨੁ ਜਮਕਾਲ ਨਿਖੰਜਨੁ ਹਰਿ ਸੇਤੀ ਲਿਵ ਲਾਈ ॥[26]

सबदि भउ भंजनु जमकाल निखंजनु हरि सेती लिव लाई ॥

(Through the Word of the Shabad, I am lovingly attuned to the Lord, the Destroyer of fear, the Destroyer of the Messenger of Death.)

Death can reach anywhere that is no living form is save from it, any where in universe. That is common perception but it is not correct. As per Dhan Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji in following words, Death is incapable of accessing the place where ‘Gur Shabad’ resounds:

ਤਿਥੈ ਕਾਲੁ ਨ ਅਪੜੈ ਜਿਥੈ ਗੁਰ ਕਾ ਸਬਦੁ ਅਪਾਰੁ ॥੭॥[27]

तिथै कालु न अपड़ै जिथै गुर का सबदु अपारु ॥७॥

(Death does not reach that place, where the Infinite Word of the Guru's Shabad resounds.)

By Grace of Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, in this section we get to know what ‘Gur Shabad’ does to Death but also gets more insight into nature of Death. Death which is considered:

·         Invincible can be conquered by ‘Gur Shabad’.

·         Hard nut to crack can be shattered by Love for ‘Gur Shabad’.

·         Not having any End can be killed by ‘Gur Shabad’.

·         Fearless is tamed by Lord when the minds attune to HIM via ‘Gur Shabad’.

·         Omnipresent is incapable to go place which is infused with ‘Gur Shabad’.

·         Making an individual miserable is hapless in presence of ‘Gur Shabad’.

This is Greatness and Beauty of attaching oneself to ‘Gur Shabad’. That’s the only reason Dhan Shri Guru Arjan Dev Ji blesses His Sikhs with His ‘Shabads – Words’, where He asks every Sikh to be in love with ‘Gur Shabad’ and nothing else:

ਸਿਖਹੁ ਸਬਦੁ ਪਿਆਰਿਹੋ ਜਨਮ ਮਰਨ ਕੀ ਟੇਕ ॥[28]

सिखहु सबदु पिआरिहो जनम मरन की टेक ॥

(O Sikhs, love the Word of the Shabad; in life and death, it is our only support.)

Once again, ‘Who’ holds all the treasure of ‘Gur Shabad’, none other than Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji! Attune yourself to Him not to others if you want to sail through the world without suffering misery in hands of Death.

TO BE CONTINUED!

---

[1] Japji Sahib – Ang 2 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
[2] Sireeraag Mehla 1 – Ang 57 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

[3] Maajh Mehla 3 - Ang 111 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
[4] Gauree Mehla 1 – Ang 153 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
[5] Aasa Mehla 3 - Ang 362 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
[6] Maroo Mehla 1 – Ang 1010 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
[7] Maroo Mehla 3 – Ang 1067 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
[8] Sireeraag Mehla 1 – Ang 58 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
[9] Pauree - Ang 149 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji (Dhan Shri Guru Angad Dev Ji)
[10] Goojre Mehla 1 - Ang 505 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
[11] Gauree Kabir Ji - Ang 327 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
[12] Aasa Mehla 5 - Ang 397 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
[13] Goojre Mehla 1 - Ang 504 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
[14] Vadhans Mehla 3 – Ang 569 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
[15] Vadhans Mehla 1 – Ang 582 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
[16] Vadhans Mehla 3 – Ang 584 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
[17] Bilaval Mehla 1 - Ang 832 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
[18] Maroo Mehla 3 – Ang 1047 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
[19] Pauree - Ang 1092 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji (Dhan Shri Guru Amar Das Ji)
[20] Salok Mehla 3 - Ang 1419 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
[21] Maroo Solhe Mehla 1 - Ang 1021 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
[22] Soohee Mehla 4 - Ang 731 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
[23] Raamkali Mehla 5 - Ang 915 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
[24] Bilaval Mehla 4 Ashtpadiyan Ghar 11 - Ang 833 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
[25] Maroo Mehla 1 – Ang 1042 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
[26] Saarang Mehla 3 Ashtpadiyan Ghar 1 - Ang 1233 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
[27] Sireeraag Mehla 1 – Ang 55 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
[28] Mehla 5 - Ang 320 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji