- May 9, 2006
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Hi everyone, Please take a moment to read the this part of Hukamnama 22/11/10: BIHAAGRAA, FIFTH MEHL: Grant Your Grace, O Guru, O Perfect Supreme Lord God, that I might chant the Naam, the Name of the Lord, night and day. I speak the Ambrosial Words of the Guru’s Bani, praising the Lord. Your Will seems so sweet to me, Lord. Show kindness and compassion, O Lord of the Word, Lord of the Universe; without You, I have no other at all. Almighty, sublime, infinite and perfect Lord, my soul, body, wealth and mind are Yours. I am foolish, stupid, masterless, fickle, powerless, lowly and ignorant. Prays Nanak, I seek Your Sanctuary — please save me from coming and going in reincarnation. || 1 ||
I have underlined the sentence which is an example of debasing oneself in Gurbani. Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji has many such phrases. I’m curious as to the frame of mind and self-perception the Guru is trying to instil in us.
It brings peace to feel foolish, stupid and masterless, as if instead of trying to swim upstream one ceases the struggle and goes along with the flow (Hukam).
Feeling ignorant, lowly and fickle brings humility to the reader, so the reader is not full of pride and arrogance.
But where does a sense of self-esteem fit into one’s psyche? Speaking as a Westerner, we are raised to believe in ourselves, be confident, develop and use our skills, and aim to do our best. We’re told not to let other’s debase us, to be strong and stand our ground. Is it wrong to feel this way?
If one lacks self-esteem, isn’t one at risk of being abused? If I am so lowly and worthless, why should my neighbour not steal from me and my husband not beat me? If I am so stupid, is it not better for me to bow to the directions of others? Obviously not, or else Sikhs wouldn’t be here today!
I’m interested to hear the sangat’s views on this.
Thank you in advance
Ishna
I have underlined the sentence which is an example of debasing oneself in Gurbani. Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji has many such phrases. I’m curious as to the frame of mind and self-perception the Guru is trying to instil in us.
It brings peace to feel foolish, stupid and masterless, as if instead of trying to swim upstream one ceases the struggle and goes along with the flow (Hukam).
Feeling ignorant, lowly and fickle brings humility to the reader, so the reader is not full of pride and arrogance.
But where does a sense of self-esteem fit into one’s psyche? Speaking as a Westerner, we are raised to believe in ourselves, be confident, develop and use our skills, and aim to do our best. We’re told not to let other’s debase us, to be strong and stand our ground. Is it wrong to feel this way?
If one lacks self-esteem, isn’t one at risk of being abused? If I am so lowly and worthless, why should my neighbour not steal from me and my husband not beat me? If I am so stupid, is it not better for me to bow to the directions of others? Obviously not, or else Sikhs wouldn’t be here today!
I’m interested to hear the sangat’s views on this.
Thank you in advance
Ishna
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