- May 9, 2006
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The theme of serving the Guru is repeated many times throughout Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, but just what does that mean?
Does it mean waving the chaur sahib above the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, and dutifully doing prakash of it day after day? But the physical body of the scripture is not the Guru; the wisdom contained in the words is the true Guru.
So how does one serve wisdom? My guess is one does so by living what is instructed.
Just what does that look like in your life?
Do you have a different understanding?
Here's the shabad I was reading this morning that got me thinking about this, from Ang 569 of our beloved Granth Sahib:
ਵਡਹੰਸੁ ਮਹਲਾ ੩ ॥
vad▫hans mėhlā 3.
Wadahans, Third Mehl:
ਮਨ ਮੇਰਿਆ ਤੂ ਸਦਾ ਸਚੁ ਸਮਾਲਿ ਜੀਉ ॥
Man meri▫ā ṯū saḏā sacẖ samāl jī▫o.
O my mind, contemplate the True Lord forever.
ਆਪਣੈ ਘਰਿ ਤੂ ਸੁਖਿ ਵਸਹਿ ਪੋਹਿ ਨ ਸਕੈ ਜਮਕਾਲੁ ਜੀਉ ॥
Āpṇai gẖar ṯū sukẖ vasėh pohi na sakai jamkāl jī▫o.
Dwell in peace in the home of your own self, and the Messenger of Death shall not touch you.
ਕਾਲੁ ਜਾਲੁ ਜਮੁ ਜੋਹਿ ਨ ਸਾਕੈ ਸਾਚੈ ਸਬਦਿ ਲਿਵ ਲਾਏ ॥
Kāl jāl jam johi na sākai sācẖai sabaḏ liv lā▫e.
The noose of the Messenger of Death shall not touch you, when you embrace love for the True Word of the Shabad.
ਸਦਾ ਸਚਿ ਰਤਾ ਮਨੁ ਨਿਰਮਲੁ ਆਵਣੁ ਜਾਣੁ ਰਹਾਏ ॥
Saḏā sacẖ raṯā man nirmal āvaṇ jāṇ rahā▫e.
Ever imbued with the True Lord, the mind becomes immaculate, and its coming and going is ended.
ਦੂਜੈ ਭਾਇ ਭਰਮਿ ਵਿਗੁਤੀ ਮਨਮੁਖਿ ਮੋਹੀ ਜਮਕਾਲਿ ॥
Ḏūjai bẖā▫e bẖaram viguṯī manmukẖ mohī jamkāl.
The love of duality and doubt have ruined the self-willed manmukh, who is lured away by the Messenger of Death.
ਕਹੈ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਸੁਣਿ ਮਨ ਮੇਰੇ ਤੂ ਸਦਾ ਸਚੁ ਸਮਾਲਿ ॥੧॥
Kahai Nānak suṇ man mere ṯū saḏā sacẖ samāl. ||1||
Says Nanak, listen, O my mind: contemplate the True Lord forever. ||1||
ਮਨ ਮੇਰਿਆ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਤੇਰੈ ਨਿਧਾਨੁ ਹੈ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਵਸਤੁ ਨ ਭਾਲਿ ॥
Man meri▫ā anṯar ṯerai niḏẖān hai bāhar vasaṯ na bẖāl.
O my mind, the treasure is within you; do not search for it on the outside.
ਜੋ ਭਾਵੈ ਸੋ ਭੁੰਚਿ ਤੂ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਨਦਰਿ ਨਿਹਾਲਿ ॥
Jo bẖāvai so bẖuncẖ ṯū gurmukẖ naḏar nihāl.
Eat only that which is pleasing to the Lord, and as Gurmukh, receive the blessing of His Glance of Grace.
ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਨਦਰਿ ਨਿਹਾਲਿ ਮਨ ਮੇਰੇ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਸਖਾਈ ॥
Gurmukẖ naḏar nihāl man mere anṯar har nām sakẖā▫ī.
As Gurmukh, receive the blessing of His Glance of Grace, O my mind; the Name of the Lord, your help and support, is within you.
ਮਨਮੁਖ ਅੰਧੁਲੇ ਗਿਆਨ ਵਿਹੂਣੇ ਦੂਜੈ ਭਾਇ ਖੁਆਈ ॥
Manmukẖ anḏẖule gi▫ān vihūṇe ḏūjai bẖā▫e kẖu▫ā▫ī.
The self-willed manmukhs are blind, and devoid of wisdom; they are ruined by the love of duality.
ਬਿਨੁ ਨਾਵੈ ਕੋ ਛੂਟੈ ਨਾਹੀ ਸਭ ਬਾਧੀ ਜਮਕਾਲਿ ॥
Bin nāvai ko cẖẖūtai nāhī sabẖ bāḏẖī jamkāl.
Without the Name, no one is emancipated. All are bound by the Messenger of Death.
ਨਾਨਕ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਤੇਰੈ ਨਿਧਾਨੁ ਹੈ ਤੂ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਵਸਤੁ ਨ ਭਾਲਿ ॥੨॥
Nānak anṯar ṯerai niḏẖān hai ṯū bāhar vasaṯ na bẖāl. ||2||
O Nanak, the treasure is within you; do not search for it on the outside. ||2||
ਮਨ ਮੇਰਿਆ ਜਨਮੁ ਪਦਾਰਥੁ ਪਾਇ ਕੈ ਇਕਿ ਸਚਿ ਲਗੇ ਵਾਪਾਰਾ ॥
Man meri▫ā janam paḏārath pā▫e kai ik sacẖ lage vāpārā.
O my mind, obtaining the blessing of this human birth, some are engaged in the trade of Truth.
ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਸੇਵਨਿ ਆਪਣਾ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਸਬਦੁ ਅਪਾਰਾ ॥
Saṯgur sevan āpṇā anṯar sabaḏ apārā.
They serve their True Guru, and the Infinite Word of the Shabad resounds within them.
ਅੰਤਰਿ ਸਬਦੁ ਅਪਾਰਾ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਪਿਆਰਾ ਨਾਮੇ ਨਉ ਨਿਧਿ ਪਾਈ ॥
Anṯar sabaḏ apārā har nām pi▫ārā nāme na▫o niḏẖ pā▫ī.
Within them is the Infinite Shabad, and the Beloved Naam, the Name of the Lord; through the Naam, the nine treasures are obtained.
ਮਨਮੁਖ ਮਾਇਆ ਮੋਹ ਵਿਆਪੇ ਦੂਖਿ ਸੰਤਾਪੇ ਦੂਜੈ ਪਤਿ ਗਵਾਈ ॥
Manmukẖ mā▫i▫ā moh vi▫āpe ḏūkẖ sanṯāpe ḏūjai paṯ gavā▫ī.
The self-willed manmukhs are engrossed in emotional attachment to Maya; they suffer in pain, and through duality, they lose their honor.
ਹਉਮੈ ਮਾਰਿ ਸਚਿ ਸਬਦਿ ਸਮਾਣੇ ਸਚਿ ਰਤੇ ਅਧਿਕਾਈ ॥
Ha▫umai mār sacẖ sabaḏ samāṇe sacẖ raṯe aḏẖikā▫ī.
But those who conquer their ego, and merge in the True Shabad, are totally imbued with Truth.
ਨਾਨਕ ਮਾਣਸ ਜਨਮੁ ਦੁਲੰਭੁ ਹੈ ਸਤਿਗੁਰਿ ਬੂਝ ਬੁਝਾਈ ॥੩॥
Nānak māṇas janam ḏulambẖ hai saṯgur būjẖ bujẖā▫ī. ||3||
O Nanak, it is so difficult to obtain this human life; the True Guru imparts this understanding. ||3||
ਮਨ ਮੇਰੇ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਸੇਵਨਿ ਆਪਣਾ ਸੇ ਜਨ ਵਡਭਾਗੀ ਰਾਮ ॥
Man mere saṯgur sevan āpṇā se jan vadbẖāgī rām.
O my mind, those who serve their True Guru are the most fortunate beings.
ਜੋ ਮਨੁ ਮਾਰਹਿ ਆਪਣਾ ਸੇ ਪੁਰਖ ਬੈਰਾਗੀ ਰਾਮ ॥
Jo man mārėh āpṇā se purakẖ bairāgī rām.
Those who conquer their minds are beings of renunciation and detachment.
ਸੇ ਜਨ ਬੈਰਾਗੀ ਸਚਿ ਲਿਵ ਲਾਗੀ ਆਪਣਾ ਆਪੁ ਪਛਾਣਿਆ ॥
Se jan bairāgī sacẖ liv lāgī āpṇā āp pacẖẖāṇi▫ā.
They are beings of renunciation and detachment, who lovingly focus their consciousness on the True Lord; they realize and understand their own selves.
ਮਤਿ ਨਿਹਚਲ ਅਤਿ ਗੂੜੀ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਸਹਜੇ ਨਾਮੁ ਵਖਾਣਿਆ ॥
Maṯ nihcẖal aṯ gūṛī gurmukẖ sėhje nām vakẖāṇi▫ā.
Their intellect is steady, deep and profound; as Gurmukh, they naturally chant the Naam, the Name of the Lord.
ਇਕ ਕਾਮਣਿ ਹਿਤਕਾਰੀ ਮਾਇਆ ਮੋਹਿ ਪਿਆਰੀ ਮਨਮੁਖ ਸੋਇ ਰਹੇ ਅਭਾਗੇ ॥
Ik kāmaṇ hiṯkārī mā▫i▫ā mohi pi▫ārī manmukẖ so▫e rahe abẖāge.
Some are lovers of beautiful young women; emotional attachment to Maya is very dear to them. The unfortunate self-willed manmukhs remain asleep.
ਨਾਨਕ ਸਹਜੇ ਸੇਵਹਿ ਗੁਰੁ ਅਪਣਾ ਸੇ ਪੂਰੇ ਵਡਭਾਗੇ ॥੪॥੩॥
Nānak sėhje sevėh gur apṇā se pūre vadbẖāge. ||4||3||
O Nanak, those who intuitively serve their Guru, have perfect destiny. ||4||3||
Does it mean waving the chaur sahib above the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, and dutifully doing prakash of it day after day? But the physical body of the scripture is not the Guru; the wisdom contained in the words is the true Guru.
So how does one serve wisdom? My guess is one does so by living what is instructed.
Just what does that look like in your life?
Do you have a different understanding?
Here's the shabad I was reading this morning that got me thinking about this, from Ang 569 of our beloved Granth Sahib:
ਵਡਹੰਸੁ ਮਹਲਾ ੩ ॥
vad▫hans mėhlā 3.
Wadahans, Third Mehl:
ਮਨ ਮੇਰਿਆ ਤੂ ਸਦਾ ਸਚੁ ਸਮਾਲਿ ਜੀਉ ॥
Man meri▫ā ṯū saḏā sacẖ samāl jī▫o.
O my mind, contemplate the True Lord forever.
ਆਪਣੈ ਘਰਿ ਤੂ ਸੁਖਿ ਵਸਹਿ ਪੋਹਿ ਨ ਸਕੈ ਜਮਕਾਲੁ ਜੀਉ ॥
Āpṇai gẖar ṯū sukẖ vasėh pohi na sakai jamkāl jī▫o.
Dwell in peace in the home of your own self, and the Messenger of Death shall not touch you.
ਕਾਲੁ ਜਾਲੁ ਜਮੁ ਜੋਹਿ ਨ ਸਾਕੈ ਸਾਚੈ ਸਬਦਿ ਲਿਵ ਲਾਏ ॥
Kāl jāl jam johi na sākai sācẖai sabaḏ liv lā▫e.
The noose of the Messenger of Death shall not touch you, when you embrace love for the True Word of the Shabad.
ਸਦਾ ਸਚਿ ਰਤਾ ਮਨੁ ਨਿਰਮਲੁ ਆਵਣੁ ਜਾਣੁ ਰਹਾਏ ॥
Saḏā sacẖ raṯā man nirmal āvaṇ jāṇ rahā▫e.
Ever imbued with the True Lord, the mind becomes immaculate, and its coming and going is ended.
ਦੂਜੈ ਭਾਇ ਭਰਮਿ ਵਿਗੁਤੀ ਮਨਮੁਖਿ ਮੋਹੀ ਜਮਕਾਲਿ ॥
Ḏūjai bẖā▫e bẖaram viguṯī manmukẖ mohī jamkāl.
The love of duality and doubt have ruined the self-willed manmukh, who is lured away by the Messenger of Death.
ਕਹੈ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਸੁਣਿ ਮਨ ਮੇਰੇ ਤੂ ਸਦਾ ਸਚੁ ਸਮਾਲਿ ॥੧॥
Kahai Nānak suṇ man mere ṯū saḏā sacẖ samāl. ||1||
Says Nanak, listen, O my mind: contemplate the True Lord forever. ||1||
ਮਨ ਮੇਰਿਆ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਤੇਰੈ ਨਿਧਾਨੁ ਹੈ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਵਸਤੁ ਨ ਭਾਲਿ ॥
Man meri▫ā anṯar ṯerai niḏẖān hai bāhar vasaṯ na bẖāl.
O my mind, the treasure is within you; do not search for it on the outside.
ਜੋ ਭਾਵੈ ਸੋ ਭੁੰਚਿ ਤੂ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਨਦਰਿ ਨਿਹਾਲਿ ॥
Jo bẖāvai so bẖuncẖ ṯū gurmukẖ naḏar nihāl.
Eat only that which is pleasing to the Lord, and as Gurmukh, receive the blessing of His Glance of Grace.
ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਨਦਰਿ ਨਿਹਾਲਿ ਮਨ ਮੇਰੇ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਸਖਾਈ ॥
Gurmukẖ naḏar nihāl man mere anṯar har nām sakẖā▫ī.
As Gurmukh, receive the blessing of His Glance of Grace, O my mind; the Name of the Lord, your help and support, is within you.
ਮਨਮੁਖ ਅੰਧੁਲੇ ਗਿਆਨ ਵਿਹੂਣੇ ਦੂਜੈ ਭਾਇ ਖੁਆਈ ॥
Manmukẖ anḏẖule gi▫ān vihūṇe ḏūjai bẖā▫e kẖu▫ā▫ī.
The self-willed manmukhs are blind, and devoid of wisdom; they are ruined by the love of duality.
ਬਿਨੁ ਨਾਵੈ ਕੋ ਛੂਟੈ ਨਾਹੀ ਸਭ ਬਾਧੀ ਜਮਕਾਲਿ ॥
Bin nāvai ko cẖẖūtai nāhī sabẖ bāḏẖī jamkāl.
Without the Name, no one is emancipated. All are bound by the Messenger of Death.
ਨਾਨਕ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਤੇਰੈ ਨਿਧਾਨੁ ਹੈ ਤੂ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਵਸਤੁ ਨ ਭਾਲਿ ॥੨॥
Nānak anṯar ṯerai niḏẖān hai ṯū bāhar vasaṯ na bẖāl. ||2||
O Nanak, the treasure is within you; do not search for it on the outside. ||2||
ਮਨ ਮੇਰਿਆ ਜਨਮੁ ਪਦਾਰਥੁ ਪਾਇ ਕੈ ਇਕਿ ਸਚਿ ਲਗੇ ਵਾਪਾਰਾ ॥
Man meri▫ā janam paḏārath pā▫e kai ik sacẖ lage vāpārā.
O my mind, obtaining the blessing of this human birth, some are engaged in the trade of Truth.
ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਸੇਵਨਿ ਆਪਣਾ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਸਬਦੁ ਅਪਾਰਾ ॥
Saṯgur sevan āpṇā anṯar sabaḏ apārā.
They serve their True Guru, and the Infinite Word of the Shabad resounds within them.
ਅੰਤਰਿ ਸਬਦੁ ਅਪਾਰਾ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਪਿਆਰਾ ਨਾਮੇ ਨਉ ਨਿਧਿ ਪਾਈ ॥
Anṯar sabaḏ apārā har nām pi▫ārā nāme na▫o niḏẖ pā▫ī.
Within them is the Infinite Shabad, and the Beloved Naam, the Name of the Lord; through the Naam, the nine treasures are obtained.
ਮਨਮੁਖ ਮਾਇਆ ਮੋਹ ਵਿਆਪੇ ਦੂਖਿ ਸੰਤਾਪੇ ਦੂਜੈ ਪਤਿ ਗਵਾਈ ॥
Manmukẖ mā▫i▫ā moh vi▫āpe ḏūkẖ sanṯāpe ḏūjai paṯ gavā▫ī.
The self-willed manmukhs are engrossed in emotional attachment to Maya; they suffer in pain, and through duality, they lose their honor.
ਹਉਮੈ ਮਾਰਿ ਸਚਿ ਸਬਦਿ ਸਮਾਣੇ ਸਚਿ ਰਤੇ ਅਧਿਕਾਈ ॥
Ha▫umai mār sacẖ sabaḏ samāṇe sacẖ raṯe aḏẖikā▫ī.
But those who conquer their ego, and merge in the True Shabad, are totally imbued with Truth.
ਨਾਨਕ ਮਾਣਸ ਜਨਮੁ ਦੁਲੰਭੁ ਹੈ ਸਤਿਗੁਰਿ ਬੂਝ ਬੁਝਾਈ ॥੩॥
Nānak māṇas janam ḏulambẖ hai saṯgur būjẖ bujẖā▫ī. ||3||
O Nanak, it is so difficult to obtain this human life; the True Guru imparts this understanding. ||3||
ਮਨ ਮੇਰੇ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਸੇਵਨਿ ਆਪਣਾ ਸੇ ਜਨ ਵਡਭਾਗੀ ਰਾਮ ॥
Man mere saṯgur sevan āpṇā se jan vadbẖāgī rām.
O my mind, those who serve their True Guru are the most fortunate beings.
ਜੋ ਮਨੁ ਮਾਰਹਿ ਆਪਣਾ ਸੇ ਪੁਰਖ ਬੈਰਾਗੀ ਰਾਮ ॥
Jo man mārėh āpṇā se purakẖ bairāgī rām.
Those who conquer their minds are beings of renunciation and detachment.
ਸੇ ਜਨ ਬੈਰਾਗੀ ਸਚਿ ਲਿਵ ਲਾਗੀ ਆਪਣਾ ਆਪੁ ਪਛਾਣਿਆ ॥
Se jan bairāgī sacẖ liv lāgī āpṇā āp pacẖẖāṇi▫ā.
They are beings of renunciation and detachment, who lovingly focus their consciousness on the True Lord; they realize and understand their own selves.
ਮਤਿ ਨਿਹਚਲ ਅਤਿ ਗੂੜੀ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਸਹਜੇ ਨਾਮੁ ਵਖਾਣਿਆ ॥
Maṯ nihcẖal aṯ gūṛī gurmukẖ sėhje nām vakẖāṇi▫ā.
Their intellect is steady, deep and profound; as Gurmukh, they naturally chant the Naam, the Name of the Lord.
ਇਕ ਕਾਮਣਿ ਹਿਤਕਾਰੀ ਮਾਇਆ ਮੋਹਿ ਪਿਆਰੀ ਮਨਮੁਖ ਸੋਇ ਰਹੇ ਅਭਾਗੇ ॥
Ik kāmaṇ hiṯkārī mā▫i▫ā mohi pi▫ārī manmukẖ so▫e rahe abẖāge.
Some are lovers of beautiful young women; emotional attachment to Maya is very dear to them. The unfortunate self-willed manmukhs remain asleep.
ਨਾਨਕ ਸਹਜੇ ਸੇਵਹਿ ਗੁਰੁ ਅਪਣਾ ਸੇ ਪੂਰੇ ਵਡਭਾਗੇ ॥੪॥੩॥
Nānak sėhje sevėh gur apṇā se pūre vadbẖāge. ||4||3||
O Nanak, those who intuitively serve their Guru, have perfect destiny. ||4||3||
