MIND,BODY,SOUL
Question : What is Soul?
Answer : Wondrous and beautiful is the description
of the beauty of the Supreme Soul, the Supreme Lord God. || 1 || Pause || He is
not old; He is not young. He is not in pain; He is not caught in Death's noose.
He does not die; He does not go away. In the beginning, and throughout the ages,
He is permeating everywhere. || 1 || He is not hot; He is not cold. He has no
enemy; He has no friend. He is not happy; He is not sad. Everything belongs to
Him; He can do anything. || 2 || He has no father; He has no mother. He is
beyond the beyond, and has always been so. He is not affected by virtue or vice.
Deep within each and every heart, He is always awake and aware. || 3 || From the
three qualities, the one mechanism of Maya was produced. The great Maya is only
His shadow. He is un deceivable, impenetrable, unfathomable and merciful. He is
merciful to the meek, forever compassionate. His state and limits cannot ever be
known. Nanak is a sacrifice, a sacrifice to Him. || [ SGGS Page 868 ]
The soul is divine; divine is the soul. [SGGS Page 1325 ]
Question : What is Mind?
Answer : The mind is Maya, the mind is a chaser;
the mind is a bird flying across the sky. The thieves are overpowered by the Shabad, and then the body-village prospers and celebrates. Lord, when You save
someone, he is saved; his capital is safe and sound. || 1 || Such is my
Treasure, the Jewel of the Naam; please bless me with the Guru's Teachings, so
that I may fall at Your Feet. || 1 || Pause || The mind is a Yogi, the mind is a
pleasure-seeker; the mind is foolish and ignorant. The mind is the giver, the
mind is the beggar; the mind is the Great Guru, the Creator. The five thieves
are conquered, and peace is attained; such is the contemplative wisdom of God.
|| 2 || The One Lord is said to be in each and every heart, but no one can see
Him. The false are cast upside-down into the womb of reincarnation; without the
Name, they lose their honour. Those whom You unite, remain united, if it is Your
Will. || 3 || God does not ask about social class or birth; you must find your
true home. That is your social class and that is your status - the karma of what
you have done. [ SGGS Page 1330 ]
Question : Body?
Answer : The union of air, water and fire - the
body is the play-thing of the fickle and unsteady intellect. It has nine doors,
and then there is the Tenth Gate. Reflect upon this and understand it, O wise
one. || 1 || The Lord is the One who speaks, teaches and listens. One who
contemplates his own self is truly wise. || 1 || Pause || The body is dust; the
wind speaks through it. Understand, O wise one, who has died. Awareness,
conflict and ego have died, but the One who sees does not die. || 2 || For the
sake of it, you journey to sacred shrines and holy rivers; but this priceless
jewel is within your own heart. The Pandits, the religious scholars, read and
read endlessly; they stir up
arguments and controversies, but they do not know the secret deep within. || 3
|| I have not died - that evil nature within me has died. The One who is
pervading everywhere does not die. Says Nanak, the Guru has revealed God to me,
and now I see that there is no such thing as birth or death. [ SGGS Page 152 ]
O my body, the Lord infused His Light into you, and then you came into the
world. The Lord infused His Light into you, and then you came into the world.
The Lord Himself is your mother, and He Himself is your father; He created the
created beings, and revealed the world to them. By Guru's Grace, some
understand, and then it's a show; it seems like just a show. Says Nanak, He laid
the foundation of the Universe, and infused His Light, and then you came into
the world. [ SGGS Page 921 ]
Question: What was before this universe?
Answer : He created Himself - at that time, there
was no other. He consulted Himself for advice, and what He did came to pass. At
that time, there were no Akaashic Ethers, no nether regions, nor the three
worlds. At that time, only the Formless Lord Himself existed - there was no
creation. As it pleased Him, so did He act; without Him, there was no other. [SGGS
Page 509 ]
We can only express a sense of wonder about the beginning. The absolute abided
endlessly deep within Himself then. [ SGGS Page 940]
For endless aeons, there was only utter darkness. There was no earth or sky;
there was only the infinite Command of His Hukam. There was no day or night, no
moon or sun; God sat in primal, profound Samaadhi. || 1 || There were no sources
of creation or powers of speech, no air or water. There was no creation or
destruction, no coming or going. There were no continents, nether regions, seven
seas, rivers or flowing water. || 2 || There were no heavenly realms, earth or
nether regions of the underworld. There was no heaven or hell, no death or time.
[ SGGS Page 1035 ]
Question : How this universe was created ?
Answer : He created the creation, and watches over
it; the Hukam of His Command is over all. He formed the planets, solar systems
and nether regions, and brought what was hidden to manifestation. No one knows
His limits. [SGGS Page 1036 ]
From the True Lord came the air, and from the air came water. From water, He
created the three worlds; in each and every heart He has infused His Light. [
SGGS Page 19 ]
Question : What is Waheguru ( God )?
Answer : God is only one. His name is true. He is
the creator. He is without fear. He is inimical to none. He never dies. He is
beyond birth and death. He is self illuminated. He is realised by the kindness
of the true Guru. [ SGGS Page 1 ]
The Lord is said to be the Greatest of the Great; His Kingdom is the Highest of
the High. He has no colour or mark; His Value cannot be estimated. Please show
Mercy to Nanak, God, and bless him with Your True Name. [ SGGS Page 44 ]
Wherever I look, there I see God's Presence. [ SGGS Page 84 ]
He is unknowable, infinite, unapproachable and imperceptible. He is not subject
to death or karma. His caste is casteless; He is unborn, self-illumined, and
free of doubt and desire. || 1 || I am a sacrifice to the Truest of the True. He
has no form, no color and no features; through the True Word of the Shabad, He
reveals Himself. || Pause || He has no mother, father, sons or relatives; He is
free of sexual desire; He has no wife. He has no ancestry; He is immaculate. He
is infinite and endless; O Lord, Your Light is pervading all. || 2 || Deep
within each and every heart, God is hidden; His Light is in each and every
heart. The heavy doors are opened by Guru's Instructions; one becomes fearless,
in the trance of deep meditation. || 3 || The Lord created all beings, and
placed death over the heads of all; all the world is under His Power. [SGGS Page
597 ]
You have no form or shape, no social class or race. These humans believe that
You are far away; but You are quite obviously apparent. You enjoy Yourself in
every heart, and no filth sticks to You. You are the blissful and infinite
Primal Lord God; Your Light is all-pervading. Among all divine beings, You are
the most divine, O Creator-architect, Rejuvenator of all. How can my single
tongue worship and adore You? You are the eternal, imperishable, infinite Lord
God. [ SGGS Page 1096 ]
Question : What is Religion?
Answer : Of all religions, the best religion is to
chant the Name of the Lord and maintain pure conduct. Of all religious rituals,
the most sublime ritual is to erase the filth of the dirty mind in the Company
of the Holy. Of all efforts, the best effort is to chant the Name of the Lord in
the heart,
forever. Of all speech, the most ambrosial speech is to hear the Lord's Praise
and chant it with the tongue. Of all places, the most sublime place, O Nanak, is
that heart in which the Name of the Lord abides. [ SGGS Page 266 ]
Question : What is a Miracle?
Answer : If I were to become a Siddha, and work
miracles, summon wealth and become invisible and visible at will, so that people
would hold me in awe - seeing these, I might go astray and forget You, and Your
Name would not enter into my mind. || 3 || If I were to become an emperor and
raise a huge army, and sit on a throne, issuing commands and collecting taxes -
O Nanak, all of this could pass away like a puff of wind. Seeing these, I might
go astray and forget You, and Your Name would not enter into my mind. || 4 || 1
|| SIREE RAAG, FIRST MEHL: If I could live for millions and millions of years,
and if the air was my food and drink, and if I lived in a cave and never saw
either the sun or the moon, and if I never slept, even in dreams - even so, I
could not estimate Your Value. How can I describe the Greatness of Your Name? [
SGGS Page 14]
If I dressed myself in fire, and built my house of snow, and made iron my food;
and if I were to drink in all pain like water, and drive the entire earth before
me; and if I were to place the earth upon a scale and balance it with a single
copper coin; and if I were to become so great that I could not be contained, and
if I were to control and lead all; and if I were to possess so much power within
my mind that I could cause others to do my bidding - so what? As Great as our
Lord and Master is, so great are His gifts. He bestows them according to His
Will. O Nanak, those upon whom the Lord casts His Glance of Grace, obtain the
glorious greatness of the True Name. [ SGGS Page 147 ]
O Nanak, that is the most wonderful gift (miracle), which is received from the
Lord, when He is totally pleased. [ SGGS Page 474 ]
All the Siddhas, spiritual masters and seekers search for the Name; they have
grown weary of concentrating and focusing their attention. Without the True
Guru, no one finds the Name; the Gurmukhs unite in Union with the Lord. Without
the Name, all food and clothes are worthless; cursed is such spirituality, and
cursed are such miraculous powers. That alone is spirituality, and that alone is
miraculous power, which the Carefree Lord spontaneously bestows. O Nanak, the
Lord's Name abides in the mind of the Gurmukh; this is spirituality, and this is
miraculous power. [ SGGS Page 650 ]
Question: Who are saints?
Answer: Those who do not forget the Lord, with
each breath and morsel of food, whose minds are filled with the Mantra of the
Lord's Name - they alone are blessed; O Nanak, they are the perfect Saints. [ SGGS Page319 ]
Twenty-four hours a day, he knows the Lord to be near at hand; he surrenders to
the Sweet Will of God. The One Name is the Support of the Saints; they remain
the dust of the feet of all. || 1 || Listen, to the way of life of the Saints, O
my Siblings of Destiny; their praises cannot be described. || 1 || Pause ||
Their occupation is the Naam, the Name of the Lord. The Kirtan, the Praise of
the Lord, the
embodiment of bliss, is their rest. Friends and enemies are one and the same to
them. They know of no other than God. || 2 || They erase millions upon millions
of sins. They dispel suffering; they are givers of the life of the soul. They
are so brave; they are men of their word. The Saints have enticed Maya herself.
|| 3 || Their company is cherished even by the gods and the angels. Blessed is
their Darshan, and fruitful is their service. With his palms pressed together,
Nanak offers his prayer: O Lord, Treasure of Excellence, please bless me with
the service of the Saints. [ SGGS Page 392 ]
The Saints are tolerant and good-natured; friends and enemies are the same to
them. O Nanak, it is all the same to them, whether someone offers them all sorts
of foods, or slanders them, or draws weapons to kill them. || 27 || They pay no
attention to dishonour or disrespect. They are not bothered by gossip; the
miseries of the world do not touch them. [SGGS Page 1356 ]
Question : What is pilgrimage ?
Answer : In spite of the many places of pilgrimage
for people to bathe in, their minds are still stained by their stubborn ego; the
Lord Master is not pleased by this at all. When will I find the Saadh Sangat,
the Company of the Holy? There, I shall be always in the ecstasy of the Lord,
Har, Har, and my mind shall take its cleansing bath in the healing ointment of
spiritual wisdom. [ SGGS Page 687 ]
Bathing at sacred shrines of pilgrimage, filth is not washed off. Religious
rituals are all just egotistical displays. By pleasing and appeasing people, no
one is saved. Without the Naam, they shall depart weeping. || 2 || Without the
Lord's Name, the screen is not torn away. I have studied all the Shaastras and
Simritees. He alone chants the Naam, whom the Lord Himself inspires to chant. He
obtains all fruits and rewards, and merges in peace. || 3 || O Savior Lord,
please save me! All peace and comforts are in Your Hand, God. Whatever you
attach me to, to that I am attached, O my Lord and Master. O Nanak, the Lord is
the Inner-knower, the Searcher of hearts. [ SGGS Page 890 ]
Repeating the Naam, the Name of the Lord, the mortal is exalted and glorified.
Repeating the Naam, sin is banished from the body. Repeating the Naam, all
festivals are celebrated. Repeating the Naam, one is cleansed at the sixty-eight
sacred shrines. My sacred shrine of pilgrimage is the Name of the Lord. The Guru
has instructed me in the true essence of spiritual wisdom. [ SGGS Page 1142 ]
Question : What are 5 thieves or immoral deed
?
Answer : Within this body dwell the five thieves:
sexual desire, anger, greed, emotional attachment and egotism. They plunder the
Nectar, but the self-willed manmukh does not realise it; no one hears his
complaint. The world is blind, and its dealings are blind as well; without the
Guru, there is only pitch darkness. [ SGGS Page 600 ]
There are five of them, but I am all alone. How can I protect my hearth and
home, O my mind? They are beating and plundering me over and over again; unto
whom can I complain? [ SGGS Page 155 ]
The four castes and social classes, and the preachers with the six Shaastras on
their finger-tips, the beautiful, the refined, the shapely and the wise - the
five passions have enticed and beguiled them all. || 1 || Who has seized and
conquered the five powerful fighters? Is there anyone strong enough? He alone,
who conquers and defeats the five demons, is perfect in this Dark Age of Kali
Yuga. || Pause || They are so awesome and great; they cannot be controlled, and
they do not run away. Their army is mighty and unyielding. Says Nanak, that
humble being who is under the protection of the Saadh Sangat, crushes those
terrible demons. [ SGGS Page 404 ]
The deer, the fish, the bumble bee, the moth and the elephant are destroyed,
each for a single defect. So the one who is filled with the five incurable vices
- what hope is there for him? [ SGGS Page 486 ]
Question : What is about household and
housewife ( Marriage, family life ) ?
Answer : People wear all sorts of costumes and
wander all around, but in their hearts and minds, they practice deception. They
do not attain the Mansion of the Lord's Presence, and after death, they sink
into manure. || 1 || O mind, remain detached in the midst of your household.
Practicing truth, self-discipline and good deeds, the Gurmukh is enlightened. ||
1 || Pause || Through the Word of the Guru's Shabad, the mind is conquered, and
one attains the State of Liberation in one's own home. So meditate on the Name
of the Lord; join and merge with the Sat Sangat, the True Congregation. [ SGGS
Page 26 ]
Why do the Yogis, the revellers, and the beggars wander in foreign lands? They do
not understand the Word of the Guru's Shabad, and the essence of excellence
within them. || 3 || The Pandits, the religious scholars, the teachers and
astrologers, and those who endlessly read the Puraanas, do not know what is
within; God is hidden deep within them. || 4 || Some penitents perform penance
in the forests, and some dwell forever at sacred shrines. The unenlightened
people do not understand themselves - why have they become denunciates? || 5 ||
Some control their sexual energy, and are known as celibates. But without the
Guru's Word, they are not saved, and they wander in reincarnation. || 6 || Some
are householders, servants, and seekers, attached to the Guru's Teachings. They
hold fast to the Naam, to charity, to cleansing and purification; they remain
awake in devotion to the Lord. [ SGGS Page 419 ]
O Nanak, meeting the True Guru, one comes to know the Perfect Way. While
laughing, playing, dressing and eating, he is liberated. [ SGGS Page 522 ]
A good wife to care for my home - Your humble servant Dhanna begs for these
things, Lord. [ SGGS Page 695 ]
Question : Are the women inferior or bad?
Answer : From woman, man is born; within woman,
man is conceived; to woman he is engaged and married. Woman becomes his friend;
through woman, the future generations come. When his woman dies, he seeks
another woman; to woman he is bound. So why call her bad? From her, kings are
born. From woman, woman is born; without woman, there would be no one at all. O
Nanak, only the True Lord is without a woman. [SGGS Page 473 ]
Question : What is about adultery ?
Answer : Like the companionship of a poisonous
snake, so is the desire for another's spouse. [SGGS Page 403 ]
Those men who go out to enjoy other men's women shall suffer in shame. Those who
steal the wealth of others - how can their guilt be concealed? Those who chant
the Sacred
Praises of the Lord save and redeem all their generations. O Lord! Those who
listen and
contemplate the Supreme Lord God become pure and holy. [ SGGS Page 1362 ]
