17.18.7.4 Overcoming Death - Saadh Sangat: Company of Holy: In Light of Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

Continued From

http://tdsinghharjidamarg.blogspot.in/2017/06/171873-overcoming-death-saadh-sangat.html

Overcoming Death - Saadh Sangat - Company of Holy

 

HE is One as per Gurbaani but HIS forms are countless, infinite. HE has dyed every creation of HIS in HIS colours. The world is HIS play. And HE inspires infinite living forms to understand HIS ways. And the best way to comprehend HIS ways is to be with ‘Saadh Sangat’ as per following words of Dhan Shri Guru Arjan Dev Ji:

ਸੰਤ ਕੈ ਸੰਗਿ ਰਾਮ ਰੰਗ ਕੇਲ ॥ਆਗੈ ਜਮ ਸਿਉ ਹੋਇ ਨ ਮੇਲ ॥[1]

संत कै संगि राम रंग केल ॥आगै जम सिउ होइ न मेल ॥

(In the Saint’s Congregation play joyfully with the Lord and you will not have to meet the Messenger of Death hereafter.)

As per Guruji ‘Saadh Sangat’ is joy. It helps an individual to know HIM in playful mode. It is joy since an individual being part of ‘Saadh Sangat’ never looses. It is always a win for him. There is no one who can compete with HIM. There is no one who can win over HIM. But still HE lets individual to win in ‘Saadh Sangat’. And a winner is happy, joyful how pain or sufferings can touch him. And that’s what Paatshahi 5 says in following words about ‘Saadh Sangat’:

ਹਤੇ ਦੂਖ ਜਨਮਹ ਮਰਨ ਸੰਤਸੰਗ ਪਰਤਾਪ ॥[2]

हते दूख जनमह मरन संतसंग परताप ॥

(The pain of birth and death is removed, by the power of the Society of the Saints.)

ਜਨਮ ਮਰਣ ਮੋਹੁ ਦੁਖੁ ਸਾਧੂ ਸੰਗਿ ਨਸੈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥[3]

जनम मरण मोहु दुखु साधू संगि नसै ॥१॥ रहाउ ॥

(Birth and death, attachment and suffering, are erased in the Saadh Sangat.)

ਸੰਤ ਜਨਾ ਕਉ ਜਮੁ ਜੋਹਿ ਨ ਸਾਕੈ ਰਤੀ ਅੰਚ ਦੂਖ ਨ ਲਾਈ ॥[4]

संत जना कउ जमु जोहि न साकै रती अंच दूख न लाई ॥

(The Messenger of Death cannot even touch the humble Saints; it does not cause them even an iota of suffering or pain.)

ਮਿਲਿ ਸਾਧਸੰਗਤਿ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਸਿਮਰੇ ਨਾਠਿਆ ਦੁਖ ਕਾਲ ॥੧॥[5]

मिलि साधसंगति प्रभू सिमरे नाठिआ दुख काल ॥१॥

(Joining the Saadh Sangat, I dwell upon God, and the pain of death is taken away.)

‘Saadh Sangat’ makes an individual humble and how a humble soul can be troubled. Humble soul has risen over every expectation so it cannot be pained with anything. Also, humbleness is the key to reside with Oneself. Once inner is discovered Lord is found and death is defeated. An individual who is carrying load of birth and death for many lives becomes free from them; he becomes pure in ‘Saadh Sangat’ as per the following words of Dhan Shri Guru Arjan Dev Ji: 

ਜਨਮ ਮਰਨ ਚੂਕੇ ਸਭਿ ਭਾਰੇ ॥ਮਿਲਤ ਸੰਗਿ ਭਇਓ ਮਨੁ ਨਿਰਮਲੁ ਗੁਰਿ ਪੂਰੈ ਲੈ ਖਿਨ ਮਹਿ ਤਾਰੇ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥[6]

जनम मरन चूके सभि भारे ॥मिलत संगि भइओ मनु निरमलु गुरि पूरै लै खिन महि तारे ॥१॥ रहाउ ॥

(All the loads of birth and death have been removed. Joining the Saints' Society, my mind has become pure; the Perfect Guru has saved me in an instant.)

It is generally said that faith can move mountains. And once faith gets established on God every peak of human consciousness can be achieved. An individual finds Lord around him every moment and thus death is vanquished. And as per following words of Dhan Shri Guru Arjan Dev Ji such faith can only be found in ‘Saadh Sangat’:

ਸਤਸੰਗਤਿ ਮਹਿ ਬਿਸਾਸੁ ਹੋਇ ਹਰਿ ਜੀਵਤ ਮਰਤ ਸੰਗਾਰੀ ॥੩॥[7]

सतसंगति महि बिसासु होइ हरि जीवत मरत संगारी ॥३॥

(In the Saadh Sangat, this faith is established, that the Lord is with us, in life and in death.)

Faith can bring back all the sanity an individual can loose in the journey called life. Insanity makes an individual roam for undesirable entities. But with sanity restored by faith in ‘Saadh Sangat’ wandering comes to an end and so does cycles of birth and death as per following words of Dhan Shri Guru Arjan Dev Ji:

ਸਾਧਸੰਗਿ ਜਨਮ ਮਰਨ ਨਿਵਾਰੇ ਬਹੁਰਿ ਨ ਕਤਹੂ ਧਾਇਆ ॥੧॥[8]

साधसंगि जनम मरन निवारे बहुरि न कतहू धाइआ ॥१॥

(In the Saadh Sangat, death and birth come to an end, and the mortal does not wander anywhere, ever again.)

Wandering ends when bonds are broken. Worldly Bonds keep an individual entangled and death troubles him. Bonds with senses sure lead to painful and regretful end. But these all are left behing and are shaken in ‘Saadh Sangat’ as per following words of Dhan Shri Guru Arjan Dev Ji:

ਅਨ ਤੇ ਟੂਟੀਐ ਰਿਖ ਤੇ ਛੂਟੀਐ ॥ਮਨ ਹਰਿ ਰਸ ਘੂਟੀਐ ਸੰਗਿ ਸਾਧੂ ਉਲਟੀਐ ॥[9]

अन ते टूटीऐ रिख ते छूटीऐ ॥मन हरि रस घूटीऐ संगि साधू उलटीऐ ॥

(I have broken away from the others, and I have been released from the Messenger of Death.

O mind, drink in the subtle essence of the Lord; join the Saadh Sangat, and turn away from the world.)

ਜਬ ਤੇ ਸਾਧੂ ਸੰਗੁ ਭਇਆ ਤਉ ਛੋਡਿ ਗਏ ਨਿਗਹਾਰ ॥ਜਿਸ ਕੀ ਅਟਕ ਤਿਸ ਤੇ ਛੁਟੀ ਤਉ ਕਹਾ ਕਰੈ ਕੋਟਵਾਰ ॥੨॥[10]

जब ते साधू संगु भइआ तउ छोडि गए निगहार ॥जिस की अटक तिस ते छुटी तउ कहा करै कोटवार ॥२॥

(Since I joined the Saadh Sangat, those who were eyeing me have left. The one who tied me up, has released me; what can the Watchman of Death do to me now?)

TO BE CONTINUED!

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[1] Raamkali Mehla 5 - Ang 891 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

[2] Pauree - Ang 260 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji (Dhan Shri Guru Arjan Dev Ji)

[3] Raag Sohee Mehla 5 Ghar 3 - Ang 761 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

[4] Bhairao Mehla 5 - Ang 1155 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

[5] Kalyaan Mehla 5 - Ang 1322 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

[6] Aasa Mehla 5 – Ang 379 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

[7] Aasa Mehla 5 – Ang 401 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

[8] Malaar Mehla 5 - Ang 1268 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

[9] Bilaaval Mehla 5 – Ang 830 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

[10] Maroo Mehla 5 - Ang 1002 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji