From raag Maagh, Ang 116, Guru Amar Das Dev ji speaks about purity, the Guru's seva, God's presence and His forgiveness, the attainment of higher consciousness, and mukhti.
A little background for Guru Amar Das
...[FONT=Verdana,Arial,comic sans ms]His brother Manak Chand lived nearby his house, Manak Chand's wife Bibi Amro use to sing Guru Nanak's hymns. Bhai Amar Das (Later Guru) must have heard her singing many times before. He engquired whose hymns she was singing and immediately made up his mind to call on Guru Angad. It was in 1541, when Amardas was 62 years old. Guru Amardas ji were on Guruship from 1552 to 1574, he moved to Goindwal from Khadur to avoid conflict with Guru Angad's son's., elder of whom named Datu had declared himself as a Guru.[/FONT]
...
[FONT=Verdana,Arial,comic sans ms]As an anti-caste and anti-pollution measure, he made it incumbent that no one, irrespective of his status or caste, could see him unless he had first partaken, along with others, of the food cooked at the common kitchen. Emperor Akbar had also to dine at the langar before he met the Guru.[/FONT]
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[FONT=Verdana,Arial,comic sans ms] In his time, ascetics and recluses again made an attempt to enter the Guru's flock. But the Guru issued a final injunction that no recluse or ascetic could be a Sikh. He also denounced the system of sati and of purdah among women.[/FONT]
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[FONT=Verdana,Arial,comic sans ms] According to the Guru, the human body was the temple of God. He, therefore, laid emphasis on keeping it healthy and sound to the end. For the same reason, he denounced the ascetic practices of torturing the body. The Guru felt that the health of the body could not be divorced from moral and spiritual well-being.
Source [/FONT]Guru Amardas ji
ਮਾਝ ਮਹਲਾ ੩ ॥
maajh mehalaa 3 ||
Maajh, Third Mehl:
ਤੇਰੀਆ ਖਾਣੀ ਤੇਰੀਆ ਬਾਣੀ ॥
thaereeaa khaanee thaereeaa baanee ||
The four sources of creation are Yours; the spoken word is Yours.
ਬਿਨੁ ਨਾਵੈ ਸਭ ਭਰਮਿ ਭੁਲਾਣੀ ॥
bin naavai sabh bharam bhulaanee ||
Without the Name, all are deluded by doubt.
ਗੁਰ ਸੇਵਾ ਤੇ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਪਾਇਆ ਬਿਨੁ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਕੋਇ ਨ ਪਾਵਣਿਆ ॥੧॥
gur saevaa thae har naam paaeiaa bin sathigur koe n paavaniaa ||1||
I am a sacrifice, my soul is a sacrifice, to those who focus their consciousness on the Lord.
ਹਉ ਵਾਰੀ ਜੀਉ ਵਾਰੀ ਹਰਿ ਸੇਤੀ ਚਿਤੁ ਲਾਵਣਿਆ ॥
ho vaaree jeeo vaaree har saethee chith laavaniaa ||
I am a sacrifice, my soul is a sacrifice, to those who focus their consciousness on the Lord.
ਹਰਿ ਸਚਾ ਗੁਰ ਭਗਤੀ ਪਾਈਐ ਸਹਜੇ ਮੰਨਿ ਵਸਾਵਣਿਆ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
har sachaa gur bhagathee paaeeai sehajae mann vasaavaniaa ||1|| rehaao ||
Through devotion to the Guru, the True One is found; He comes to abide in the mind, with intuitive ease. ||1||Pause||
ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਸੇਵੇ ਤਾ ਸਭ ਕਿਛੁ ਪਾਏ ॥
sathigur saevae thaa sabh kishh paaeae ||
Serving the True Guru, all things are obtained.
ਜੇਹੀ ਮਨਸਾ ਕਰਿ ਲਾਗੈ ਤੇਹਾ ਫਲੁ ਪਾਏ ॥
jaehee manasaa kar laagai thaehaa fal paaeae ||
As are the desires one harbors, so are the rewards one receives.
ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਦਾਤਾ ਸਭਨਾ ਵਥੂ ਕਾ ਪੂਰੈ ਭਾਗਿ ਮਿਲਾਵਣਿਆ ॥੨॥
sathigur dhaathaa sabhanaa vathhoo kaa poorai bhaag milaavaniaa ||2||
The True Guru is the Giver of all things; through perfect destiny, He is met. ||2||
ਇਹੁ ਮਨੁ ਮੈਲਾ ਇਕੁ ਨ ਧਿਆਏ ॥
eihu man mailaa eik n dhhiaaeae ||
This mind is filthy and polluted; it does not meditate on the One.
ਅੰਤਰਿ ਮੈਲੁ ਲਾਗੀ ਬਹੁ ਦੂਜੈ ਭਾਏ ॥
anthar mail laagee bahu dhoojai bhaaeae ||
Deep within, it is soiled and stained by the love of duality.
ਤਟਿ ਤੀਰਥਿ ਦਿਸੰਤਰਿ ਭਵੈ ਅਹੰਕਾਰੀ ਹੋਰੁ ਵਧੇਰੈ ਹਉਮੈ ਮਲੁ ਲਾਵਣਿਆ ॥੩॥
thatt theerathh dhisanthar bhavai ahankaaree hor vadhhaerai houmai mal laavaniaa ||3||
The egotists may go on pilgrimages to holy rivers, sacred shrines and foreign lands, but they only gather more of the dirt of egotism. ||3||
ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਸੇਵੇ ਤਾ ਮਲੁ ਜਾਏ ॥
sathigur saevae thaa mal jaaeae ||
Serving the True Guru, filth and pollution are removed.
ਜੀਵਤੁ ਮਰੈ ਹਰਿ ਸਿਉ ਚਿਤੁ ਲਾਏ ॥
jeevath marai har sio chith laaeae ||
Those who focus their consciousness on the Lord remain dead while yet alive.
ਹਰਿ ਨਿਰਮਲੁ ਸਚੁ ਮੈਲੁ ਨ ਲਾਗੈ ਸਚਿ ਲਾਗੈ ਮੈਲੁ ਗਵਾਵਣਿਆ ॥੪॥
har niramal sach mail n laagai sach laagai mail gavaavaniaa ||4||
The True Lord is Pure; no filth sticks to Him. Those who are attached to the True One have their filth washed away. ||4||
ਬਾਝੁ ਗੁਰੂ ਹੈ ਅੰਧ ਗੁਬਾਰਾ ॥
baajh guroo hai andhh gubaaraa ||
Without the Guru, there is only pitch darkness.
ਅਗਿਆਨੀ ਅੰਧਾ ਅੰਧੁ ਅੰਧਾਰਾ ॥
agiaanee andhhaa andhh andhhaaraa ||
The ignorant ones are blind-there is only utter darkness for them.
ਬਿਸਟਾ ਕੇ ਕੀੜੇ ਬਿਸਟਾ ਕਮਾਵਹਿ ਫਿਰਿ ਬਿਸਟਾ ਮਾਹਿ ਪਚਾਵਣਿਆ ॥੫॥
bisattaa kae keerrae bisattaa kamaavehi fir bisattaa maahi pachaavaniaa ||5||
The maggots in manure do filthy deeds, and in filth they rot and putrefy. ||5||
ਮੁਕਤੇ ਸੇਵੇ ਮੁਕਤਾ ਹੋਵੈ ॥
mukathae saevae mukathaa hovai ||
Serving the Lord of Liberation, liberation is achieved.
ਹਉਮੈ ਮਮਤਾ ਸਬਦੇ ਖੋਵੈ ॥
houmai mamathaa sabadhae khovai ||
The Word of the Shabad eradicates egotism and possessiveness.
ਅਨਦਿਨੁ ਹਰਿ ਜੀਉ ਸਚਾ ਸੇਵੀ ਪੂਰੈ ਭਾਗਿ ਗੁਰੁ ਪਾਵਣਿਆ ॥੬॥
anadhin har jeeo sachaa saevee poorai bhaag gur paavaniaa ||6||
So serve the Dear True Lord, night and day. By perfect good destiny, the Guru is found. ||6||
ਆਪੇ ਬਖਸੇ ਮੇਲਿ ਮਿਲਾਏ ॥
aapae bakhasae mael milaaeae ||
He Himself forgives and unites in His Union.
ਪੂਰੇ ਗੁਰ ਤੇ ਨਾਮੁ ਨਿਧਿ ਪਾਏ ॥
poorae gur thae naam nidhh paaeae ||
From the Perfect Guru, the Treasure of the Naam is obtained.
ਸਚੈ ਨਾਮਿ ਸਦਾ ਮਨੁ ਸਚਾ ਸਚੁ ਸੇਵੇ ਦੁਖੁ ਗਵਾਵਣਿਆ ॥੭॥
sachai naam sadhaa man sachaa sach saevae dhukh gavaavaniaa ||7||
By the True Name, the mind is made true forever. Serving the True Lord, sorrow is driven out. ||7||
ਸਦਾ ਹਜੂਰਿ ਦੂਰਿ ਨ ਜਾਣਹੁ ॥
sadhaa hajoor dhoor n jaanahu ||
He is always close at hand-do not think that He is far away.
ਗੁਰ ਸਬਦੀ ਹਰਿ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਪਛਾਣਹੁ ॥
gur sabadhee har anthar pashhaanahu ||
Through the Word of the Guru's Shabad, recognize the Lord deep within your own being.
ਨਾਨਕ ਨਾਮਿ ਮਿਲੈ ਵਡਿਆਈ ਪੂਰੇ ਗੁਰ ਤੇ ਪਾਵਣਿਆ ॥੮॥੧੧॥੧੨॥
naanak naam milai vaddiaaee poorae gur thae paavaniaa ||8||11||12||
O Nanak, through the Naam, glorious greatness is received. Through the Perfect Guru, the Naam is obtained. ||8||11||12||
maajh mehalaa 3 ||
Maajh, Third Mehl:
ਤੇਰੀਆ ਖਾਣੀ ਤੇਰੀਆ ਬਾਣੀ ॥
thaereeaa khaanee thaereeaa baanee ||
The four sources of creation are Yours; the spoken word is Yours.
ਬਿਨੁ ਨਾਵੈ ਸਭ ਭਰਮਿ ਭੁਲਾਣੀ ॥
bin naavai sabh bharam bhulaanee ||
Without the Name, all are deluded by doubt.
ਗੁਰ ਸੇਵਾ ਤੇ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਪਾਇਆ ਬਿਨੁ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਕੋਇ ਨ ਪਾਵਣਿਆ ॥੧॥
gur saevaa thae har naam paaeiaa bin sathigur koe n paavaniaa ||1||
I am a sacrifice, my soul is a sacrifice, to those who focus their consciousness on the Lord.
ਹਉ ਵਾਰੀ ਜੀਉ ਵਾਰੀ ਹਰਿ ਸੇਤੀ ਚਿਤੁ ਲਾਵਣਿਆ ॥
ho vaaree jeeo vaaree har saethee chith laavaniaa ||
I am a sacrifice, my soul is a sacrifice, to those who focus their consciousness on the Lord.
ਹਰਿ ਸਚਾ ਗੁਰ ਭਗਤੀ ਪਾਈਐ ਸਹਜੇ ਮੰਨਿ ਵਸਾਵਣਿਆ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
har sachaa gur bhagathee paaeeai sehajae mann vasaavaniaa ||1|| rehaao ||
Through devotion to the Guru, the True One is found; He comes to abide in the mind, with intuitive ease. ||1||Pause||
ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਸੇਵੇ ਤਾ ਸਭ ਕਿਛੁ ਪਾਏ ॥
sathigur saevae thaa sabh kishh paaeae ||
Serving the True Guru, all things are obtained.
ਜੇਹੀ ਮਨਸਾ ਕਰਿ ਲਾਗੈ ਤੇਹਾ ਫਲੁ ਪਾਏ ॥
jaehee manasaa kar laagai thaehaa fal paaeae ||
As are the desires one harbors, so are the rewards one receives.
ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਦਾਤਾ ਸਭਨਾ ਵਥੂ ਕਾ ਪੂਰੈ ਭਾਗਿ ਮਿਲਾਵਣਿਆ ॥੨॥
sathigur dhaathaa sabhanaa vathhoo kaa poorai bhaag milaavaniaa ||2||
The True Guru is the Giver of all things; through perfect destiny, He is met. ||2||
ਇਹੁ ਮਨੁ ਮੈਲਾ ਇਕੁ ਨ ਧਿਆਏ ॥
eihu man mailaa eik n dhhiaaeae ||
This mind is filthy and polluted; it does not meditate on the One.
ਅੰਤਰਿ ਮੈਲੁ ਲਾਗੀ ਬਹੁ ਦੂਜੈ ਭਾਏ ॥
anthar mail laagee bahu dhoojai bhaaeae ||
Deep within, it is soiled and stained by the love of duality.
ਤਟਿ ਤੀਰਥਿ ਦਿਸੰਤਰਿ ਭਵੈ ਅਹੰਕਾਰੀ ਹੋਰੁ ਵਧੇਰੈ ਹਉਮੈ ਮਲੁ ਲਾਵਣਿਆ ॥੩॥
thatt theerathh dhisanthar bhavai ahankaaree hor vadhhaerai houmai mal laavaniaa ||3||
The egotists may go on pilgrimages to holy rivers, sacred shrines and foreign lands, but they only gather more of the dirt of egotism. ||3||
ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਸੇਵੇ ਤਾ ਮਲੁ ਜਾਏ ॥
sathigur saevae thaa mal jaaeae ||
Serving the True Guru, filth and pollution are removed.
ਜੀਵਤੁ ਮਰੈ ਹਰਿ ਸਿਉ ਚਿਤੁ ਲਾਏ ॥
jeevath marai har sio chith laaeae ||
Those who focus their consciousness on the Lord remain dead while yet alive.
ਹਰਿ ਨਿਰਮਲੁ ਸਚੁ ਮੈਲੁ ਨ ਲਾਗੈ ਸਚਿ ਲਾਗੈ ਮੈਲੁ ਗਵਾਵਣਿਆ ॥੪॥
har niramal sach mail n laagai sach laagai mail gavaavaniaa ||4||
The True Lord is Pure; no filth sticks to Him. Those who are attached to the True One have their filth washed away. ||4||
ਬਾਝੁ ਗੁਰੂ ਹੈ ਅੰਧ ਗੁਬਾਰਾ ॥
baajh guroo hai andhh gubaaraa ||
Without the Guru, there is only pitch darkness.
ਅਗਿਆਨੀ ਅੰਧਾ ਅੰਧੁ ਅੰਧਾਰਾ ॥
agiaanee andhhaa andhh andhhaaraa ||
The ignorant ones are blind-there is only utter darkness for them.
ਬਿਸਟਾ ਕੇ ਕੀੜੇ ਬਿਸਟਾ ਕਮਾਵਹਿ ਫਿਰਿ ਬਿਸਟਾ ਮਾਹਿ ਪਚਾਵਣਿਆ ॥੫॥
bisattaa kae keerrae bisattaa kamaavehi fir bisattaa maahi pachaavaniaa ||5||
The maggots in manure do filthy deeds, and in filth they rot and putrefy. ||5||
ਮੁਕਤੇ ਸੇਵੇ ਮੁਕਤਾ ਹੋਵੈ ॥
mukathae saevae mukathaa hovai ||
Serving the Lord of Liberation, liberation is achieved.
ਹਉਮੈ ਮਮਤਾ ਸਬਦੇ ਖੋਵੈ ॥
houmai mamathaa sabadhae khovai ||
The Word of the Shabad eradicates egotism and possessiveness.
ਅਨਦਿਨੁ ਹਰਿ ਜੀਉ ਸਚਾ ਸੇਵੀ ਪੂਰੈ ਭਾਗਿ ਗੁਰੁ ਪਾਵਣਿਆ ॥੬॥
anadhin har jeeo sachaa saevee poorai bhaag gur paavaniaa ||6||
So serve the Dear True Lord, night and day. By perfect good destiny, the Guru is found. ||6||
ਆਪੇ ਬਖਸੇ ਮੇਲਿ ਮਿਲਾਏ ॥
aapae bakhasae mael milaaeae ||
He Himself forgives and unites in His Union.
ਪੂਰੇ ਗੁਰ ਤੇ ਨਾਮੁ ਨਿਧਿ ਪਾਏ ॥
poorae gur thae naam nidhh paaeae ||
From the Perfect Guru, the Treasure of the Naam is obtained.
ਸਚੈ ਨਾਮਿ ਸਦਾ ਮਨੁ ਸਚਾ ਸਚੁ ਸੇਵੇ ਦੁਖੁ ਗਵਾਵਣਿਆ ॥੭॥
sachai naam sadhaa man sachaa sach saevae dhukh gavaavaniaa ||7||
By the True Name, the mind is made true forever. Serving the True Lord, sorrow is driven out. ||7||
ਸਦਾ ਹਜੂਰਿ ਦੂਰਿ ਨ ਜਾਣਹੁ ॥
sadhaa hajoor dhoor n jaanahu ||
He is always close at hand-do not think that He is far away.
ਗੁਰ ਸਬਦੀ ਹਰਿ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਪਛਾਣਹੁ ॥
gur sabadhee har anthar pashhaanahu ||
Through the Word of the Guru's Shabad, recognize the Lord deep within your own being.
ਨਾਨਕ ਨਾਮਿ ਮਿਲੈ ਵਡਿਆਈ ਪੂਰੇ ਗੁਰ ਤੇ ਪਾਵਣਿਆ ॥੮॥੧੧॥੧੨॥
naanak naam milai vaddiaaee poorae gur thae paavaniaa ||8||11||12||
O Nanak, through the Naam, glorious greatness is received. Through the Perfect Guru, the Naam is obtained. ||8||11||12||
A little background for Guru Amar Das
...[FONT=Verdana,Arial,comic sans ms]His brother Manak Chand lived nearby his house, Manak Chand's wife Bibi Amro use to sing Guru Nanak's hymns. Bhai Amar Das (Later Guru) must have heard her singing many times before. He engquired whose hymns she was singing and immediately made up his mind to call on Guru Angad. It was in 1541, when Amardas was 62 years old. Guru Amardas ji were on Guruship from 1552 to 1574, he moved to Goindwal from Khadur to avoid conflict with Guru Angad's son's., elder of whom named Datu had declared himself as a Guru.[/FONT]
...
[FONT=Verdana,Arial,comic sans ms]As an anti-caste and anti-pollution measure, he made it incumbent that no one, irrespective of his status or caste, could see him unless he had first partaken, along with others, of the food cooked at the common kitchen. Emperor Akbar had also to dine at the langar before he met the Guru.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana,Arial,comic sans ms]
[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana,Arial,comic sans ms] In his time, ascetics and recluses again made an attempt to enter the Guru's flock. But the Guru issued a final injunction that no recluse or ascetic could be a Sikh. He also denounced the system of sati and of purdah among women.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana,Arial,comic sans ms]
[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana,Arial,comic sans ms] According to the Guru, the human body was the temple of God. He, therefore, laid emphasis on keeping it healthy and sound to the end. For the same reason, he denounced the ascetic practices of torturing the body. The Guru felt that the health of the body could not be divorced from moral and spiritual well-being.
Source [/FONT]Guru Amardas ji