NinduP ji thanks for the article.
As it is required at spn I will not quote any "sentences" (tuks) as these can be taken out of context. Quoting full shabads is going to be very long post.
As the author summarizes,
In sum, we need a new framework of understanding that can help us appreciate how psychological and spiritual work might be mutually supportive allies in the liberation and complete embodiment of the human spirit.
The control is necessary of either extremes in,
- Spiritual Bypassing
- Spiritual Superego
Unfortunately Sikhism has its fair share of bad preachers which have pushed "Spiritual Bypassing" while stroking/exploiting "Spiritual Superego" or development of the same. However Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji properly studied helps you avoid these traps.
Sikhism through Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji addresses it as,
_ Understanding and be in consonance with everything around including people
_ Protecting or speaking against false practices of Hinduism, Heretics, Sants, etc.
_ Speaking or explaining about sanctity of living a practical life.
The very easy to use tool for self study can be the following,
http://www.srigranth.org/servlet/gurbani.gurbani?Action=Advanced&Param=english
You can enter any word in English and it will flag possible shabads which may touch on the subject. Then you will need to study the full Shabads with the reference flag by the "hit"
For example I tried the following,
- False ... to look for comments on false practices or beliefs
- You can also try other words like work, life, salvation, children, marriage, etc.
Note: Major part of the citations of cases in Author's work appear to be returning "Spiritual Refugees" who were promised all and on coming back found a whole part of their self missing to live in peace and happiness with self and others.
Hope above helps,
Sat Sri Akal.
PS: Could not hold back on a nice Shabad below,
Shabad/Paurhi/Salok (
Guru Granth Sahib Page 143)
ਕੈਹਾ ਕੰਚਨੁ ਤੁਟੈ ਸਾਰੁ ॥
ਮਃ ੧ ॥
मः १ ॥
Mėhlā 1.
First Mehl:
ਕੈਹਾ ਕੰਚਨੁ ਤੁਟੈ ਸਾਰੁ ॥
कैहा कंचनु तुटै सारु ॥
Kaihā kancẖan ṯutai sār.
When pieces of bronze or gold or iron break,
ਅਗਨੀ ਗੰਢੁ ਪਾਏ ਲੋਹਾਰੁ ॥
अगनी गंढु पाए लोहारु ॥
Agnī gandẖ pā▫e lohār.
the metal-smith welds them together again in the fire, and the bond is established.
ਗੋਰੀ ਸੇਤੀ ਤੁਟੈ ਭਤਾਰੁ ॥
गोरी सेती तुटै भतारु ॥
Gorī seṯī ṯutai bẖaṯār.
If a husband leaves his wife,
ਪੁਤੀ ਗੰਢੁ ਪਵੈ ਸੰਸਾਰਿ ॥
पुतीं गंढु पवै संसारि ॥
Puṯīʼn gandẖ pavai sansār.
their children may bring them back together in the world, and the bond is established.
ਰਾਜਾ ਮੰਗੈ ਦਿਤੈ ਗੰਢੁ ਪਾਇ ॥
राजा मंगै दितै गंढु पाइ ॥
Rājā mangai ḏiṯai gandẖ pā▫e.
When the king makes a demand, and it is met, the bond is established.
ਭੁਖਿਆ ਗੰਢੁ ਪਵੈ ਜਾ ਖਾਇ ॥
भुखिआ गंढु पवै जा खाइ ॥
Bẖukẖi▫ā gandẖ pavai jā kẖā▫e.
When the hungry man eats, he is satisfied, and the bond is established.
ਕਾਲਾ ਗੰਢੁ ਨਦੀਆ ਮੀਹ ਝੋਲ ॥
काला गंढु नदीआ मीह झोल ॥
Kālā gandẖ naḏī▫ā mīh jẖol.
In the famine, the rain fills the streams to overflowing, and the bond is established.
ਗੰਢੁ ਪਰੀਤੀ ਮਿਠੇ ਬੋਲ ॥
गंढु परीती मिठे बोल ॥
Gandẖ parīṯī miṯẖe bol.
There is a bond between love and words of sweetness.
ਬੇਦਾ ਗੰਢੁ ਬੋਲੇ ਸਚੁ ਕੋਇ ॥
बेदा गंढु बोले सचु कोइ ॥
Beḏā gandẖ bole sacẖ ko▫e.
When one speaks the Truth, a bond is established with the Holy Scriptures.
ਮੁਇਆ ਗੰਢੁ ਨੇਕੀ ਸਤੁ ਹੋਇ ॥
मुइआ गंढु नेकी सतु होइ ॥
Mu▫i▫ā gandẖ nekī saṯ ho▫e.
Through goodness and truth, the dead establish a bond with the living.
ਏਤੁ ਗੰਢਿ ਵਰਤੈ ਸੰਸਾਰੁ ॥
एतु गंढि वरतै संसारु ॥
Ėṯ gandẖ varṯai sansār.
Such are the bonds which prevail in the world.
ਮੂਰਖ ਗੰਢੁ ਪਵੈ ਮੁਹਿ ਮਾਰ ॥
मूरख गंढु पवै मुहि मार ॥
Mūrakẖ gandẖ pavai muhi mār.
The fool establishes his bonds only when he is slapped in the face.
ਨਾਨਕੁ ਆਖੈ ਏਹੁ ਬੀਚਾਰੁ ॥
नानकु आखै एहु बीचारु ॥
Nānak ākẖai ehu bīcẖār.
Nanak says this after deep reflection:
ਸਿਫਤੀ ਗੰਢੁ ਪਵੈ ਦਰਬਾਰਿ ॥੨॥
सिफती गंढु पवै दरबारि ॥२॥
Sifṯī gandẖ pavai ḏarbār. ||2||
through the Lord's Praise, we establish a bond with His Court. ||2||
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Essence:
So as good examples of human and family interactions are given so is the spiritual angle flagged. Since spirituality is massively neglected or was mis-construed, in almost all shabads there is reference to such. However the message should not be taken as renunciation of family/people life in favor of spiritual but continuous recognition of both and the balance.
Again guard to be kept up in whatever to be understood,
- Spiritual Bypassing
- Spiritual Superego
Great concepts.
