17.18.12 Overcoming Death - Surrender to Guru: In Light of Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

Continued From
http://tdsinghharjidamarg.blogspot.in/2017/10/1718103-overcoming-death-meditate.html

Overcoming Death - Surrender to Guru
An individual can only become Devotee or Gurmukh if by Grace of Guru he has realized the art of surrender. We will try understanding what surrender is under Divine Light of Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. Dhan Shri Guru Arjan Dev Ji says following:

ਸੀਲ ਸੰਜਮਿ ਪ੍ਰਿਅ ਆਗਿਆ ਮਾਨੈ ॥ ਤਿਸੁ ਨਾਰੀ ਕਉ ਦੁਖੁ ਨ ਜਮਾਨੈ ॥੩॥[1]

सील संजमि प्रिअ आगिआ मानै ॥ तिसु नारी कउ दुखु न जमानै ॥३॥

(With pure conduct and self restraint, she surrenders to her husband lord's will; that woman shall not suffer pain at the hands of the Messenger of Death.)

 

As per above words of Guruji, an individual has to surrender to God like a wife does to her husband. She entrust her husband in faith for her security, welfare and affection. These Shabads brings out the traits of women with which The Creator has blessed her; the patience, faith and surrender. And if an individual’s soul exhibits surrender like that to Lord, then Guruji ensures death cannot touch him. What is the biggest hindrance in surrender; well it is mind of an individual. Mind makes him wander and mind has such an imagination backed by logics, beliefs whose complete veracity can never be established. Why? Since the perception of humans is limited; limiting his knowledge and impacting the truth of his beliefs and logics, which are outcome of knowledge being processed. Thus surrendering to Guru majorly signifies giving up ‘Manmat – Live according to one’s mind’. But Dhan Shri Guru Arjan Dev Ji says to conquer the mind to overcome the wandering and to cut away noose of death in following words:

ਫਾਹੇ ਕਾਟੇ ਮਿਟੇ ਗਵਨ ਫਤਿਹ ਭਈ ਮਨਿ ਜੀਤ ॥[2]

फाहे काटे मिटे गवन फतिह भई मनि जीत ॥

(The noose of Death is cut and one's wanderings cease; victory is obtained when one conquers his own mind.)

Gurbaani is experience and Paatshahi 5 further blesses us with His experience in following words that only by sacrificing and giving mind to Lord, He has shaken off the fear of death:

ਇਹੁ ਤਨੁ ਮਨੁ ਦਿਤੜਾ ਵਾਰੋ ਵਾਰਾ ਰਾਮ ॥ਤਨੁ ਮਨੁ ਦਿਤਾ ਭਵਜਲੁ ਜਿਤਾ ਚੂਕੀ ਕਾਂਣਿ ਜਮਾਣੀ ॥[3]

इहु तनु मनु दितड़ा वारो वारा राम ॥तनु मनु दिता भवजलु जिता चूकी कांणि जमाणी ॥

(I have made this body and mind a sacrifice, a sacrificial offering to my Lord. Dedicating my body and mind, I have crossed over the terrifying world-ocean, and shaken off the fear of death.)

Mind is so wicked and strong willed that it has to be defeated. Without Guru’s Grace it is not possible but one thing is sure, a strong willed entity has to be battered to bring it control. Mind is rebel and a rebel has to be vanquished. And as per Kabeer Ji in following words mind has to be pounded hard, that will make it to surrender and only then an individual can escape death:

ਮਨ ਕੂਟੈ ਤਉ ਜਮ ਤੇ ਛੂਟੈ ॥[4]

मन कूटै तउ जम ते छूटै ॥

(Pounding down his mind, he escapes from the Messenger of Death.)

As per Dhan Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji in following words if mind surrenders then game of life is won:

ਜਨਮੁ ਜੀਤਿ ਮਰਣਿ ਮਨੁ ਮਾਨਿਆ ॥[5]

जनमु जीति मरणि मनु मानिआ ॥

(So win the game of life; let your mind surrender and accept death.)

Surrender is sign of humbleness. How one can expect an egoist person to surrender? And the common expression of surrender is bowing down head or lying flat in front of The One an individual surrenders. Dhan Shri Guru Arjan Dev Ji used same expression in following words to convey every one that surrender to The True Guru, The Lord will ensure that death will not touch an individual:

ਊਚਾ ਚੜੈ ਸੁ ਪਵੈ ਪਇਆਲਾ ॥ਧਰਨਿ ਪੜੈ ਤਿਸੁ ਲਗੈ ਨ ਕਾਲਾ ॥੩॥[6]

ऊचा चड़ै सु पवै पइआला ॥धरनि पड़ै तिसु लगै न काला ॥३॥

(One who climbs high, shall fall into the nether regions of the underworld. One who lies upon the ground, shall not be touched by death.)

As mentioned earlier living as per ‘Manmat’ will lead an individual to no where. It will just make an individual burn in the fire of Ego. But if same individual start living as ‘Gurmat – As per will and teaching of Guru’ he will be saved from death. And that will be surrender to the Guru. Thus Dhan Shri Guru Amar Das Ji is asking every one to ‘dance’ and live in harmony as per Guru’s Will to escape death in following words:

ਗੁਰ ਕੈ ਭਾਣੈ ਨਾਚਹਿ ਤਾ ਸੁਖੁ ਪਾਵਹਿ ਅੰਤੇ ਜਮ ਭਉ ਭਾਗੈ ॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥[7]

गुर कै भाणै नाचहि ता सुखु पावहि अंते जम भउ भागै ॥ रहाउ ॥

(If you dance according to the Guru's Will, you shall obtain peace, and in the end, the fear of death shall leave you.)

ਜੋ ਤਿਸੁ ਭਾਣਾ ਸੋ ਸਤਿ ਕਰਿ ਮਾਨਿਆ ਕਾਟੀ ਜਮ ਕੀ ਫਾਸੀ ॥੪॥[8]

जो तिसु भाणा सो सति करि मानिआ काटी जम की फासी ॥४॥

(Whatever is in harmony with His Will, he accepts as True; the noose of Death is loosened from around his neck.)

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[1] Gouree Guaaraeree Mehalaa 5 – Ang 185 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

[2] Salok - Ang 258 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji (Dhan Shri Guru Arjan Dev Ji)

[3] Vadhans Mehla 5 Chant Ghar 4 - Ang 576 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

[4] Gond - Ang 872 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji (Kabir Ji)

[5] Gauree Mehla 1 – Ang 153 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

[6] Aasa Mehla 5 Iktuke 2 – Ang 374 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

[7] Goojre Mehla 3 Ghar 1 - Ang 506 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

[8] Maaro Mehla 3 Ghar 1 - Ang 993 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji