Spot on Narayanjot Kaur ji. I couldn’t have put it better.
In the article that follows this one ‘moh’ I have said that in simple terms we may define moh as an attachment to materialistic values and worldly relations. In fact all five evils are interconnected - one feeds the other but they do affect each person differently. For example greed feeds ego and often the ego drives one towards greed, krodh or moh.
In one of his lectures, Maskeen ji observed that Lobh is considered to be the dominant of the five thieves of Kalyug (Ego ruled Treta and Kaam Duapar). When I tried to analyse what he said it made me think and I realized what he said made a lot of sense. I drew the following conclusions.
In Satyug (or Sat Yuga) dharma stood on all four feet an all embraced contentment and meditation (SGGS 445). Treta (three parts Truth) lost one – i.e. humility was lost as ego entered. Duapar (two parts Truth) only stood on two feet – humility had already vanished and now people became kaami – lost control over their senses. Kalyug (the Dark Age), the current era stands on just one foot having also lost contentment. In the current age we have little humility, obsessed with lust we run after materialistic pursuits. We taste life with the mind looking outwards (some refer to this as the 'objective' mind) , i.e. with our outward orientated sensory system and not with our soul (may be referred to as the 'subjective' mind). That is why we continually argue about what is right to wear and eat. As we start looking inwards, these issues will automatically resolve. I, for one, do not wish to engage in these issues, as at my stage of life time is limited and I still have a long journey ahead of me. Engaging in matters of food and clothes whilst important must not dominate our spiritual pursuit. Perhaps, Guru willing, I will be able to talk more about these issues in time to come.
Why do we need more? We are living in a ‘grab and consume culture’ i.e. we go beyond what we need for a balanced life (householder’s and spiritual). This preoccupation drives us away from spiritual development. Our quest for more often leads us to obtain wealth at any cost, resorting to cheating, stealing and forceful grabbing of another’s estate. Guru Arjan Dev JI observed that in the process we hurt others. Driven by greed we even steal and grab from others to appease our immoral leanings.
Sikhism does not deny us our normal comforts of life but we need to distinguish between comforts for a normal life and pure greed for wealth and possessions
Moh is a tendency to remain attached to people we love and the wealth we have created. Moh can drive people to kill, maim and rob to obtain wealth - all for what – to squander over wife, children and others (Kabir – SGGS 656). This is why Guru Amar Das Ji warns us not let ourselves be drawn into emotional attachment, e.g. to our family as none will go with us in the end. Engrossed in maya (greed, attachment}. the mind will stray from the True Path, Tour acts in the pursuit of greed will only served to bind you down further (in the world of greed and attachment) – SGGS 702).
Humbly
Rajinder Singh ‘Arshi’
