Mind Cleaning as per Jap ji Sahib
The Man should try to become Sachiara so that he can meet HIM and remain at HIS lotus feet. Nanak dev ji Maharaaj has said that there is one curtain between us and the lord and this curtain is of Kurh of Haume. And if one has to be with Him one shall have to answer the question as to how to get rid of the filth. Many have tried to cleanse the mind by the traditional methods prevailing at the time of Guru Nanak dev ji maharaja i.e. like going to pilgrimages and performing rituals. But many could not clean the mind. Some people adopt to undertake pilgrimages and some become Moni and some want more wealth and some wants wisdom and intellect.These methods may not be wrong but will not lead to Sachiara.
socY soic n hoveI jy socI lK vwr ] (1-5, jpu, mÚ 1)
Infact, the entire Jap ji Sahib states as to how to become Sachiara.[katha]
This Haume has separated us from the lord. Satguru Nanak dev ji has stated that by the methods adopted by us no one has been able to get purified. If one remembers the single Truth one shall become ‘sucha’. If one has Naam one is ‘sucha’ else one is not so. One gets blessed with as per His grace.
[Some experts think Sochai as to think[sochna].
Others feel that its meaning is to take bath for cleaning. It means that even if one washes the body externally as many times as one likes the body made up of soil cannot be cleaned. [The word ‘soch’ has appeared in Sukhmani sahib as well. Our Body is like a wall of soil but it cannot be cleaned.]
Nanak dev ji says that one should look into one’s life and then find out as to how the mind keeps on accumulating the Dirt. It is by this self-analysis and introspection that one can avoid getting the dirt. By dealing with those who have Kurh one gets some part of Kurh. The company of such people should be avoided. Gurbani deals with such people by addressing them as faithless cynics.
One gets Kurh because of ‘haume’ and Panj Chor.
Kar Ishnaaan ; Simar Prabh apna
[the former half line suggests the bodily wash and the later is the wash of the mind.]
Naam is the soap and the mind’s kurh is filth. Naam washes of the filth and helps keep mind under control.
mn cUry Ktu drsn jwxu ] (352-1, Awsw, mÚ 1)
Conquering the mind is like conquering this world. The entire universe is reflected in this mind. However, the negative thoughts in the mind makes it useless and it acts as a barrier to self- realization. In bani lot of stress is paid to the control of the mind that is also made of the five elements.
It is by constant simran that one sheds the kurh/dirt and may achieve the status of sachiara. By constant and considered practice of this one may become Truthful in real sense.
One should also be in praise of the Lord and it should be heart felt. His praise is like remembering HIM. Bani is meant for this. By constant practice of bani with love one is trying to cleanse the mind. Bani is the feed of mind and soul. The spiritual wisdom attained through the religious scriptures is also pleasing to the mind. It helps mind reach the elevated status. The most essential ingredient is the ‘Bhao’ i.e the feeling of love, faith and devotion to the Lord, the Almighty.
ਗਾਵੀਐ ਸੁਣੀਐ ਮਨਿ ਰਖੀਐ ਭਾਉ ॥
One should pay heed to the teachings of the guru. These teachings are well documented in the Granth sahib ji maharaja. Developing a feeling of love for the guru is part of the service to HIM. Sikhs are lucky that they get the option of serving the Lord while being in their homes and one need not perform many rituals for being in HIS service. Constant practice and simran leads to the control of the mind that helps in becoming equ-ipoise. It is the first stage of the spiritual cleanliness. One should not only sing but also listen and then practice the teachings by keeping them in mind. It is by repeated actions and mental repetitions that one can achieve the purpose of cleaning of the mind.
ਮਤਿ ਵਿਚਿ ਰਤਨ ਜਵਾਹਰ ਮਾਣਿਕ ਜੇ ਇਕ ਗੁਰ ਕੀ ਸਿਖ ਸੁਣੀ ॥
Within the mind are gems, jewels and rubies, if you listen to the Guru's teachings. Guru’s teachings help us recognize the Hukum of the Lord. One who remains in HIS ‘Bhana’ is not likely to have a tormented mind.The feeling of pain and pleasure and happiness and sadness disappears.
Mind cleansing is affected by the control of mind that results in the control of the senses. The constant practice of this also helps the seekers.Listening to Naam and accepting as a truth with full faith and love has a cleansing effect of the mind.
ਸੁਣਿਆ ਮੰਨਿਆ ਮਨਿ ਕੀਤਾ ਭਾਉ ॥
ਅੰਤਰਗਤਿ ਤੀਰਥਿ ਮਲਿ ਨਾਉ ॥
At many places In Gurbani it is stated that devotional worship Of the lord is also an essential ingredient of becoming eligible for His grace. One should attain all the spiritual qualities to attaining HIS blessings. One should attain the qualities like forgiveness, compassion and kindness. It is only by gaining virtues that one can do devotional worship of the lord.
ਵਿਣੁ ਗੁਣ ਕੀਤੇ ਭਗਤਿ ਨ ਹੋਇ ॥
One should acquire as many virtues as possible so that one can engage fruitfully in the devotional worship of the Lord that is the pen-ultimate of the service of the Lord.
Bhul Chuk Mauf