But others (majority) look at it as saying something else. That physical ritual is useless to find that which lies beyond the physical, since bowing to an idol (as an example) is only worshipping part of the illusion / part of the physical. The only way to find the divine is go within ourselves to where it is not physical reality. To me it's not dismissing the mystical (which is not the best word - metaphysical is better) but instead is dismissing the physical!
Take the below shabad...
You could argue that by interpreting it what you call 'mystically' (What I call metaphysically) you won't be purely 'pragmatic' but since our Guru had first hand experience, and his writing was based on his own subjective experience which is not theory to him but reality, then we would be dismissing subjective evidence to NOT look at the obvious metaphysical meaning. And this is of course assuming there is some written rule that Gurbani must be interpreted in a purely pragmatic way anyway... which I can't find any such instruction at all.
ਸਿਰੀਰਾਗੁ ਮਹਲਾ ੧ ॥
सिरीरागु महला १ ॥
Sirīrāg mėhlā 1.
Siree Raag, First Mehl:
ਰੇ ਮਨ ਐਸੀ ਹਰਿ ਸਿਉ ਪ੍ਰੀਤਿ ਕਰਿ ਜੈਸੀ ਜਲ ਕਮਲੇਹਿ ॥
रे मन ऐसी हरि सिउ प्रीति करि जैसी जल कमलेहि ॥
Re man aisī har si▫o parīṯ kar jaisī jal kamlehi.
O mind, love the Lord, as the lotus loves the water.
ਲਹਰੀ ਨਾਲਿ ਪਛਾੜੀਐ ਭੀ ਵਿਗਸੈ ਅਸਨੇਹਿ ॥
लहरी नालि पछाड़ीऐ भी विगसै असनेहि ॥
Lahrī nāl pacẖẖāṛī▫ai bẖī vigsai asnehi.
Tossed about by the waves, it still blossoms with love.
ਜਲ ਮਹਿ ਜੀਅ ਉਪਾਇ ਕੈ ਬਿਨੁ ਜਲ ਮਰਣੁ ਤਿਨੇਹਿ ॥੧॥
जल महि जीअ उपाइ कै बिनु जल मरणु तिनेहि ॥१॥
Jal mėh jī▫a upā▫e kai bin jal maraṇ ṯinehi. ||1||
In the water, the creatures are created; outside of the water they die. ||1||
ਮਨ ਰੇ ਕਿਉ ਛੂਟਹਿ ਬਿਨੁ ਪਿਆਰ ॥
मन रे किउ छूटहि बिनु पिआर ॥
Man re ki▫o cẖẖūtėh bin pi▫ār.
O mind, how can you be saved without love?
ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਰਵਿ ਰਹਿਆ ਬਖਸੇ ਭਗਤਿ ਭੰਡਾਰ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
गुरमुखि अंतरि रवि रहिआ बखसे भगति भंडार ॥१॥ रहाउ ॥
Gurmukẖ anṯar rav rahi▫ā bakẖse bẖagaṯ bẖandār. ||1|| rahā▫o.
God permeates the inner beings of the Gurmukhs. They are blessed with the treasure of devotion. ||1||Pause||
(the rahao line tells us God PERMEATES our inner being)
ਰੇ ਮਨ ਐਸੀ ਹਰਿ ਸਿਉ ਪ੍ਰੀਤਿ ਕਰਿ ਜੈਸੀ ਮਛੁਲੀ ਨੀਰ ॥
रे मन ऐसी हरि सिउ प्रीति करि जैसी मछुली नीर ॥
Re man aisī har si▫o parīṯ kar jaisī macẖẖulī nīr.
O mind, love the Lord, as the fish loves the water.
ਜਿਉ ਅਧਿਕਉ ਤਿਉ ਸੁਖੁ ਘਣੋ ਮਨਿ ਤਨਿ ਸਾਂਤਿ ਸਰੀਰ ॥
जिउ अधिकउ तिउ सुखु घणो मनि तनि सांति सरीर ॥
Ji▫o aḏẖika▫o ṯi▫o sukẖ gẖaṇo man ṯan sāʼnṯ sarīr.
The more the water, the more the happiness, and the greater the peace of mind and body.
ਬਿਨੁ ਜਲ ਘੜੀ ਨ ਜੀਵਈ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਜਾਣੈ ਅਭ ਪੀਰ ॥੨॥
बिनु जल घड़ी न जीवई प्रभु जाणै अभ पीर ॥२॥
Bin jal gẖaṛī na jīv▫ī parabẖ jāṇai abẖ pīr. ||2||
Without water, she cannot live, even for an instant. God knows the suffering of her mind. ||2||
ਰੇ ਮਨ ਐਸੀ ਹਰਿ ਸਿਉ ਪ੍ਰੀਤਿ ਕਰਿ ਜੈਸੀ ਚਾਤ੍ਰਿਕ ਮੇਹ ॥
रे मन ऐसी हरि सिउ प्रीति करि जैसी चात्रिक मेह ॥
Re man aisī har si▫o parīṯ kar jaisī cẖāṯrik meh.
O mind, love the Lord, as the song-bird loves the rain.
ਸਰ ਭਰਿ ਥਲ ਹਰੀਆਵਲੇ ਇਕ ਬੂੰਦ ਨ ਪਵਈ ਕੇਹ ॥
सर भरि थल हरीआवले इक बूंद न पवई केह ॥
Sar bẖar thal harī▫āvle ik būnḏ na pav▫ī keh.
The pools are overflowing with water, and the land is luxuriantly green, but what are they to her, if that single drop of rain does not fall into her mouth?
ਕਰਮਿ ਮਿਲੈ ਸੋ ਪਾਈਐ ਕਿਰਤੁ ਪਇਆ ਸਿਰਿ ਦੇਹ ॥੩॥
करमि मिलै सो पाईऐ किरतु पइआ सिरि देह ॥३॥
Karam milai so pā▫ī▫ai kiraṯ pa▫i▫ā sir ḏeh. ||3||
By His Grace, she receives it; otherwise, because of her past actions, she gives her head. ||3||
ਰੇ ਮਨ ਐਸੀ ਹਰਿ ਸਿਉ ਪ੍ਰੀਤਿ ਕਰਿ ਜੈਸੀ ਜਲ ਦੁਧ ਹੋਇ ॥
रे मन ऐसी हरि सिउ प्रीति करि जैसी जल दुध होइ ॥
Re man aisī har si▫o parīṯ kar jaisī jal ḏuḏẖ ho▫e.
O mind, love the Lord, as the water loves the milk.
ਆਵਟਣੁ ਆਪੇ ਖਵੈ ਦੁਧ ਕਉ ਖਪਣਿ ਨ ਦੇਇ ॥
आवटणु आपे खवै दुध कउ खपणि न देइ ॥
Āvtaṇ āpe kẖavai ḏuḏẖ ka▫o kẖapaṇ na ḏe▫e.
The water, added to the milk, itself bears the heat, and prevents the milk from burning.
ਆਪੇ ਮੇਲਿ ਵਿਛੁੰਨਿਆ ਸਚਿ ਵਡਿਆਈ ਦੇਇ ॥੪॥
आपे मेलि विछुंनिआ सचि वडिआई देइ ॥४॥
Āpe mel vicẖẖunni▫ā sacẖ vadi▫ā▫ī ḏe▫e. ||4||
God unites the separated ones with Himself again, and blesses them with true greatness. ||4||
(unites meaning they have come to realize they were never separate to begin with, separation is the illusion. We have forgotten we are all collectively, the Creator. The same one consciousness pervades us all - this will be revealed further down)
ਰੇ ਮਨ ਐਸੀ ਹਰਿ ਸਿਉ ਪ੍ਰੀਤਿ ਕਰਿ ਜੈਸੀ ਚਕਵੀ ਸੂਰ ॥
रे मन ऐसी हरि सिउ प्रीति करि जैसी चकवी सूर ॥
Re man aisī har si▫o parīṯ kar jaisī cẖakvī sūr.
O mind, love the Lord, as the chakvee duck loves the sun.
ਖਿਨੁ ਪਲੁ ਨੀਦ ਨ ਸੋਵਈ ਜਾਣੈ ਦੂਰਿ ਹਜੂਰਿ ॥
खिनु पलु नीद न सोवई जाणै दूरि हजूरि ॥
Kẖin pal nīḏ na sov▫ī jāṇai ḏūr hajūr.
She does not sleep, for an instant or a moment; the sun is so far away, but she thinks that it is near.
ਮਨਮੁਖਿ ਸੋਝੀ ਨਾ ਪਵੈ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਸਦਾ ਹਜੂਰਿ ॥੫॥
मनमुखि सोझी ना पवै गुरमुखि सदा हजूरि ॥५॥
Manmukẖ sojẖī nā pavai gurmukẖ saḏā hajūr. ||5||
Understanding does not come to the self-willed manmukh. But to the Gurmukh, the Lord is always close. ||5||
(being self willed - clinging to this false ego identity- this character we are playing)
ਮਨਮੁਖਿ ਗਣਤ ਗਣਾਵਣੀ ਕਰਤਾ ਕਰੇ ਸੁ ਹੋਇ ॥
मनमुखि गणत गणावणी करता करे सु होइ ॥
Manmukẖ gaṇaṯ gaṇāvaṇī karṯā kare so ho▫e.
The self-willed manmukhs make their calculations and plans, but only the actions of the Creator come to pass.
ਤਾ ਕੀ ਕੀਮਤਿ ਨਾ ਪਵੈ ਜੇ ਲੋਚੈ ਸਭੁ ਕੋਇ ॥
ता की कीमति ना पवै जे लोचै सभु कोइ ॥
Ŧā kī kīmaṯ nā pavai je locẖai sabẖ ko▫e.
His Value cannot be estimated, even though everyone may wish to do so.
ਗੁਰਮਤਿ ਹੋਇ ਤ ਪਾਈਐ ਸਚਿ ਮਿਲੈ ਸੁਖੁ ਹੋਇ ॥੬॥
गुरमति होइ त पाईऐ सचि मिलै सुखु होइ ॥६॥
Gurmaṯ ho▫e ṯa pā▫ī▫ai sacẖ milai sukẖ ho▫e. ||6||
Through the Guru's Teachings, it is revealed. Meeting with the True One, peace is found. ||6||
(What is revealed? It can't simply be states of mind. There were already plenty of good psychology books at the time)
ਸਚਾ ਨੇਹੁ ਨ ਤੁਟਈ ਜੇ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਭੇਟੈ ਸੋਇ ॥
सचा नेहु न तुटई जे सतिगुरु भेटै सोइ ॥
Sacẖā nehu na ṯut▫ī je saṯgur bẖetai so▫e.
True love shall not be broken, if the True Guru is met.
ਗਿਆਨ ਪਦਾਰਥੁ ਪਾਈਐ ਤ੍ਰਿਭਵਣ ਸੋਝੀ ਹੋਇ ॥
गिआन पदारथु पाईऐ त्रिभवण सोझी होइ ॥
Gi▫ān paḏārath pā▫ī▫ai ṯaribẖavaṇ sojẖī ho▫e.
Obtaining the wealth of spiritual wisdom, the understanding of the three worlds is acquired.
(teribhavan - from Sk Tri + Bhavanam. Understood as meaning heaven, earth, nether world (metaphorically) or Physical/Etheric, Astral, Causal.)
ਨਿਰਮਲੁ ਨਾਮੁ ਨ ਵੀਸਰੈ ਜੇ ਗੁਣ ਕਾ ਗਾਹਕੁ ਹੋਇ ॥੭॥
निरमलु नामु न वीसरै जे गुण का गाहकु होइ ॥७॥
Nirmal nām na vīsrai je guṇ kā gāhak ho▫e. ||7||
So become a customer of merit, and do not forget the Immaculate Naam, the Name of the Lord. ||7||
ਖੇਲਿ ਗਏ ਸੇ ਪੰਖਣੂੰ ਜੋ ਚੁਗਦੇ ਸਰ ਤਲਿ ॥
खेलि गए से पंखणूं जो चुगदे सर तलि ॥
Kẖel ga▫e se paʼnkẖ▫ṇūʼn jo cẖugḏe sar ṯal.
Those birds which peck at the shore of the pool have played and have departed.
(Metaphor for playing at the 'shore' of reality that being the limited Physical and never jumping in to realize what really lies in the pool... which is nonphysical unlimited reality)
ਘੜੀ ਕਿ ਮੁਹਤਿ ਕਿ ਚਲਣਾ ਖੇਲਣੁ ਅਜੁ ਕਿ ਕਲਿ ॥
घड़ी कि मुहति कि चलणा खेलणु अजु कि कलि ॥
Gẖaṛī kė muhaṯ kė cẖalṇā kẖelaṇ aj kė kal.
In a moment, in an instant, we too must depart. Our play is only for today or tomorrow.
(Its a warning to not simply waste this physical life. We are here for a reason... don't revel in the physical world at the 'shore' of the 'pool' of reality which is much more)
ਜਿਸੁ ਤੂੰ ਮੇਲਹਿ ਸੋ ਮਿਲੈ ਜਾਇ ਸਚਾ ਪਿੜੁ ਮਲਿ ॥੮॥
जिसु तूं मेलहि सो मिलै जाइ सचा पिड़ु मलि ॥८॥
Jis ṯūʼn melėh so milai jā▫e sacẖā piṛ mal. ||8||
But those whom You unite, Lord, are united with You; they obtain a seat in the Arena of Truth. ||8||
ਬਿਨੁ ਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰੀਤਿ ਨ ਊਪਜੈ ਹਉਮੈ ਮੈਲੁ ਨ ਜਾਇ ॥
बिनु गुर प्रीति न ऊपजै हउमै मैलु न जाइ ॥
Bin gur parīṯ na ūpjai ha▫umai mail na jā▫e.
Without the Guru, love does not well up, and the filth of egotism does not depart.
ਸੋਹੰ ਆਪੁ ਪਛਾਣੀਐ ਸਬਦਿ ਭੇਦਿ ਪਤੀਆਇ ॥
सोहं आपु पछाणीऐ सबदि भेदि पतीआइ ॥
Sohaʼn āp pacẖẖāṇī▫ai sabaḏ bẖeḏ paṯī▫ā▫e.
One who recognizes within himself that, "He is me", and who is pierced through by the Shabad, is satisfied.
(He IS Me - meaning there is no difference between us and Creator)
ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਆਪੁ ਪਛਾਣੀਐ ਅਵਰ ਕਿ ਕਰੇ ਕਰਾਇ ॥੯॥
गुरमुखि आपु पछाणीऐ अवर कि करे कराइ ॥९॥
Gurmukẖ āp pacẖẖāṇī▫ai avar kė kare karā▫e. ||9||
When one becomes Gurmukh and realizes his own self, what more is there left to do or have done? ||9||
(Recognize our own self asbeing HIM. To me it's pretty straight forward what it's saying with no need to apply far fetched metaphorical meanings on states of mind)
ਮਿਲਿਆ ਕਾ ਕਿਆ ਮੇਲੀਐ ਸਬਦਿ ਮਿਲੇ ਪਤੀਆਇ ॥
मिलिआ का किआ मेलीऐ सबदि मिले पतीआइ ॥
Mili▫ā kā ki▫ā melī▫ai sabaḏ mile paṯī▫ā▫e.
Why speak of union to those who are already united with the Lord? Receiving the Shabad, they are satisfied.
(Why speak of union when you already know there is no separation... if you KNOW there is no difference between you and Creator, then there is no idea of union or separation, because you understand that separation WAS the illusion)
ਮਨਮੁਖਿ ਸੋਝੀ ਨਾ ਪਵੈ ਵੀਛੁੜਿ ਚੋਟਾ ਖਾਇ ॥
मनमुखि सोझी ना पवै वीछुड़ि चोटा खाइ ॥
Manmukẖ sojẖī nā pavai vīcẖẖuṛ cẖotā kẖā▫e.
The self-willed manmukhs do not understand; separated from Him, they endure beatings.
(Because they are so wrapped up in this physical ego identity they can not see past their physical identity and realize their true identity... the 'I AM' behind the 'I')
ਨਾਨਕ ਦਰੁ ਘਰੁ ਏਕੁ ਹੈ ਅਵਰੁ ਨ ਦੂਜੀ ਜਾਇ ॥੧੦॥੧੧॥
नानक दरु घरु एकु है अवरु न दूजी जाइ ॥१०॥११॥
Nānak ḏar gẖar ek hai avar na ḏūjī jā▫e. ||10||11||
O Nanak, there is only the one door to His Home; there is no other place at all. ||10||11||
(That door is found within yourself... remember the rahao line, God permeates ALL beings)
