Balbir ji
I wanted to be finished discussing Bhai Gurdas with you since you lost the argument badly in another thread. But you want to know the key to Bhai Gurdas ji?
You quote this line in Vaar 36 Pauree 3 line 1
ਚੋਰੁ ਕਰੈ ਨਿਤ ਚੋਰੀਆਂ ਓੜਕਿ ਦੁਖ ਭਾਰੀ ।
"choru karai nit choreeaan aorhaki dukh bhaaree."
A thief commits thefts daily but ultimately has to suffer heavily.
And in line 2
ਨਕੁ ਕੰਨੁ ਫੜਿ ਵਢੀਐ ਰਾਵੈ ਪਰ ਨਾਰੀ ।
"naku kannu pharhi vaddheeai raavai par naaree."
Holding the ears and nose, we chop of the person who ravishes another woman.
Then you ask…
May I ask if they should chop off ears and nose of the Sikh who ravishes another woman? Should Sikhs learn something more from Bhai Gurdas Jee?
But all of this is misleading, and you know it.
The message of Vaar 36 is entirely about self-deception – how we create an illusory world and then give ourselves an important part to play in this drama that we have created and that we believe. Bhai Gurdas was a studious man. He traveled to various cities to learn from religious scholars. He never married but he was respectful of women. He never had children yet he doted on his nieces. He was a friend, advisor and associate of 6 guru’s and lived during the lifetime of 7 gurus. He was entrusted with the compilation of the Adi Graanth. His life after all these many centuries is a story of a somewhat contemplative and learned man. Why do/did Sikhs of the Shabd Guru trust him?
Here is a hint
Also Vaar 36 Pauri 21
ਹਉ ਅਪਰਾਧੀ ਗੁਨਹਗਾਰ ਹਉ ਬੇਮੁਖ ਮੰਦਾ ।
hau aparaadhee gunahagaar hau baymukh mandaa|
I am a criminal, a sinner, evil and apostate.
ਚੋਰੁ ਯਾਰੁ ਜੂਆਰਿ ਹਉ ਪਰ ਘਰਿ ਜੋਹੰਦਾ ।
choru yaaru jooaari hau par ghari johandaa|
I am a thief, adulterer; gambler who always keeps his eye upon other's
ਨਿਦਕੁ ਦੁਸਟੁ ਹਰਾਮਖੋਰ ਠਗੁ ਦੇਸ ਠਗੰਦਾ ।
nidaku dusatu haraamakhor tdagu days tdagandaa|
I am a slanderer, knave, venal and a swindler who goes on cheating the whole world.
ਕਾਮ ਕ੍ਰੋਧ ਮਦੁ ਲੋਭੁ ਮੋਹੁ ਅਹੰਕਾਰੁ ਕਰੰਦਾ ।
kaam krodh madu|obhu mohu ahankaaru karandaa|
I feel proud of my sexual urges, anger, greed, infatuations and other intoxications.
ਬਿਸਵਾਸਘਾਤੀ ਅਕਿਰਤਘਣ ਮੈ ਕੋ ਨ ਰਖੰਦਾ ।
bisavaasaghaatee akirataghan mai ko n rakhandaa|
I am treacherous and ungrateful; none likes to keep me with him. Remember,
ਸਿਮਰਿ ਮੁਰੀਦਾ ਢਾਢੀਆ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਬਖਸੰਦਾ ॥੨੧॥੩੬॥ਛੱਤੀ॥
simari mureedaa ddhaaddheeaa satigur bakhasandaa ॥21॥36॥chhatee॥
0 singing disciple! that the true Guru, alone is competent to grant pardon (for your sins).
Understand Bhai Gurdas’s humanity and humility. He confesses that he is weak and that he is a sinner. We can identify with him. He gives us permission to admit that we are imperfect, that we sin. He tells us that there is only One who can/will pardon us. No need to pretend any longer. So we trust what he says because he isn’t lying to himself, and therefore isn’t lying to us. And if we want the Truth, then we must turn to the only
One who never lies.
Here is the key
Vaar 37, Pauri 20, line 8
ਗੁਰ ਪਰਚੈ ਗੁਰੁ ਆਖੀਐ ਸਚਿ ਸਚੁ ਸਿਾਣੈ ॥੨੦॥
gur parachai guru aakheeai sachi sachu siaanai ॥20॥
Knowledge of the Guru is called the Guru; only the truth identifies the truth.
Not you, not me, not Bhai Gurdas, not anyone else.