ਸਾਚਾ ਸਾਹਿਬੁ ਸਾਚੁ ਨਾਇ ਭਾਖਿਆ ਭਾਉ ਅਪਾਰੁ ॥
Sācẖā sāhib sācẖ nā▫e bẖākẖi▫ā bẖā▫o apār.
ਆਖਹਿ ਮੰਗਹਿ ਦੇਹਿ ਦੇਹਿ ਦਾਤਿ ਕਰੇ ਦਾਤਾਰੁ ॥
Ākẖahi mangahi ḏehi ḏehi ḏāṯ kare ḏāṯār.
ਫੇਰਿ ਕਿ ਅਗੈ ਰਖੀਐ ਜਿਤੁ ਦਿਸੈ ਦਰਬਾਰੁ ॥
Fer kė agai rakẖī▫ai jiṯ ḏisai ḏarbār.
ਮੁਹੌ ਕਿ ਬੋਲਣੁ ਬੋਲੀਐ ਜਿਤੁ ਸੁਣਿ ਧਰੇ ਪਿਆਰੁ ॥
Muhou kė bolaṇ bolī▫ai jiṯ suṇ ḏẖare pi▫ār.
ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਵੇਲਾ ਸਚੁ ਨਾਉ ਵਡਿਆਈ ਵੀਚਾਰੁ ॥
Amriṯ velā sacẖ nā▫o vadi▫ā▫ī vīcẖār.
ਕਰਮੀ ਆਵੈ ਕਪੜਾ ਨਦਰੀ ਮੋਖੁ ਦੁਆਰੁ ॥
Karmī āvai kapṛā naḏrī mokẖ ḏu▫ār.
ਨਾਨਕ ਏਵੈ ਜਾਣੀਐ ਸਭੁ ਆਪੇ ਸਚਿਆਰੁ ॥੪॥
Nānak evai jāṇī▫ai sabẖ āpe sacẖiār. ||4||
Nanak says that he (god/nature/lord/parmatma) is the real lord and his name is the only truth. Nanak means that in this world of uncertainities and doubts, the only certain thing is him, the true being. Nanak suggests to meditate upon this name with infinite love and conviction!!
nanak then describes the inherent nature of humans where all that we have is needs, needs and then some more. We always keep asking for more and more and what does the great giver do, he keeps on giving. But this is a never ending cycle, cause we never stop asking. Once fulfilled wish is just the beginning of another higher demand. Then Nanak says that when everything that we have has been provided to us by the supreme, what scope is there for us to offer something back to him. Nanak thereby discards the tradition of offering materialistic things as a gift to the supreme lord as an attempt to please him and in the process to attain salvation. Salvation, Nanak says is not going to come in this way!!
Then Nanak asks how can we evoke love of the lord? What words can we speak that he is pleased? Well, one thing Nanak says how that can be done is by waking up in the early hours of morning and meditating on his name and contemplating his greatness!!
Why does one need to evoke his love? why does one need to meditate on his name? Nanak says that it is the action of our deeds that we attain this physical existence on earth, and it would only be through his grace that we can find the door to salvation and be saved from birth and rebirth!!
Because the one thing worth knowing, Nanak says, is that he (the supreme) is everything!! Nothing is beyond him!!
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Japuji: Pauree 3
ਗਾਵੈ ਕੋ ਤਾਣੁ ਹੋਵੈ ਕਿਸੈ ਤਾਣੁ ॥
Gāvai ko ṯāṇ hovai kisai ṯāṇ.
ਗਾਵੈ ਕੋ ਦਾਤਿ ਜਾਣੈ ਨੀਸਾਣੁ ॥
Gāvai ko ḏāṯ jāṇai nīsāṇ.
ਗਾਵੈ ਕੋ ਗੁਣ ਵਡਿਆਈਆ ਚਾਰ ॥
Gāvai ko guṇ vaḏi▫ā▫ī▫ā cẖār.
ਗਾਵੈ ਕੋ ਵਿਦਿਆ ਵਿਖਮੁ ਵੀਚਾਰੁ ॥
Gāvai ko viḏi▫ā vikẖam vīcẖār.
ਗਾਵੈ ਕੋ ਸਾਜਿ ਕਰੇ ਤਨੁ ਖੇਹ ॥
Gāvai ko sāj kare ṯan kẖeh.
ਗਾਵੈ ਕੋ ਜੀਅ ਲੈ ਫਿਰਿ ਦੇਹ ॥
Gāvai ko jī▫a lai fir ḏeh.
ਗਾਵੈ ਕੋ ਜਾਪੈ ਦਿਸੈ ਦੂਰਿ ॥
Gāvai ko jāpai ḏisai ḏūr.
ਗਾਵੈ ਕੋ ਵੇਖੈ ਹਾਦਰਾ ਹਦੂਰਿ ॥
Gāvai ko vekẖai hāḏrā haḏūr.
ਕਥਨਾ ਕਥੀ ਨ ਆਵੈ ਤੋਟਿ ॥
Kathnā kathī na āvai ṯot.
ਕਥਿ ਕਥਿ ਕਥੀ ਕੋਟੀ ਕੋਟਿ ਕੋਟਿ ॥
Kath kath kathī kotī kot kot.
ਦੇਦਾ ਦੇ ਲੈਦੇ ਥਕਿ ਪਾਹਿ ॥
Ḏeḏā ḏe laiḏe thak pāhi.
ਜੁਗਾ ਜੁਗੰਤਰਿ ਖਾਹੀ ਖਾਹਿ ॥
Jugā juganṯar kẖāhī kẖāhi.
ਹੁਕਮੀ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਚਲਾਏ ਰਾਹੁ ॥
Hukmī hukam cẖalā▫e rāhu.
ਨਾਨਕ ਵਿਗਸੈ ਵੇਪਰਵਾਹੁ ॥੩॥
Nānak vigsai veparvāhu. ||3||
Nanak says that there are many who sing about the manifestations of the supreme power all around us reaffirming the fact that there is some higher power around. There are many who sing about the gifts one receives all ones life and how these gifts are signs of his presence.
Many sing of his virtues and his greatnesses and beauty while many sing of his wisdom and knowledge about him through serious discourses and debates.
many sing of him being the designer of things (living or otherwise) and then the ultimate reducer of it all to dust while some sing of him being the one who wills the destruction of life and then its restoration in one form or another.
Some sing of him seeming and appearing to be far away while some sing that he is ever present and watching over us all the time.
There is no dearth of such discourses and teachings as there is no shortage of preachers and teachers. Millions upon millions deliver such sermons and tell such tales. And what does the great giver do all this time, he keeps on giving. He keeps on giving tirelessly while the receiver may grow weary of receiving.
Ages upon ages the consumers have kept on enjoying these gifts which the tireless gives has been bestowing upon us all.He makes us to walk on the path described by him and the ones who follow his path unconditionally, O Nanak, is the one who blossoms in life and is free from all troubles!
Thus there is no dearth of people who do realize the presence of some supreme force governing us all. Also, there is no dearth of people who talk about his power and his gifts. But Nanak says that the fact remains that the great giver has been and will keep on bestowing his gifts on us even when seemingly all wishes have been fulfilled. He will never tire of giving but the reciever may become tired. The really happy, carefree and successful person is, says Nanak, one who unconditionally and happily accepts the fact that the path we travel on through out our lives has been laid out by this overarching power. Everything we have done, everything we are doing and everything we are going to do is all planned for us and the only thing we can do is: do justice to the cause and do the best we can while travelling on this predestined path!
Gāvai ko ṯāṇ hovai kisai ṯāṇ.
ਗਾਵੈ ਕੋ ਦਾਤਿ ਜਾਣੈ ਨੀਸਾਣੁ ॥
Gāvai ko ḏāṯ jāṇai nīsāṇ.
ਗਾਵੈ ਕੋ ਗੁਣ ਵਡਿਆਈਆ ਚਾਰ ॥
Gāvai ko guṇ vaḏi▫ā▫ī▫ā cẖār.
ਗਾਵੈ ਕੋ ਵਿਦਿਆ ਵਿਖਮੁ ਵੀਚਾਰੁ ॥
Gāvai ko viḏi▫ā vikẖam vīcẖār.
ਗਾਵੈ ਕੋ ਸਾਜਿ ਕਰੇ ਤਨੁ ਖੇਹ ॥
Gāvai ko sāj kare ṯan kẖeh.
ਗਾਵੈ ਕੋ ਜੀਅ ਲੈ ਫਿਰਿ ਦੇਹ ॥
Gāvai ko jī▫a lai fir ḏeh.
ਗਾਵੈ ਕੋ ਜਾਪੈ ਦਿਸੈ ਦੂਰਿ ॥
Gāvai ko jāpai ḏisai ḏūr.
ਗਾਵੈ ਕੋ ਵੇਖੈ ਹਾਦਰਾ ਹਦੂਰਿ ॥
Gāvai ko vekẖai hāḏrā haḏūr.
ਕਥਨਾ ਕਥੀ ਨ ਆਵੈ ਤੋਟਿ ॥
Kathnā kathī na āvai ṯot.
ਕਥਿ ਕਥਿ ਕਥੀ ਕੋਟੀ ਕੋਟਿ ਕੋਟਿ ॥
Kath kath kathī kotī kot kot.
ਦੇਦਾ ਦੇ ਲੈਦੇ ਥਕਿ ਪਾਹਿ ॥
Ḏeḏā ḏe laiḏe thak pāhi.
ਜੁਗਾ ਜੁਗੰਤਰਿ ਖਾਹੀ ਖਾਹਿ ॥
Jugā juganṯar kẖāhī kẖāhi.
ਹੁਕਮੀ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਚਲਾਏ ਰਾਹੁ ॥
Hukmī hukam cẖalā▫e rāhu.
ਨਾਨਕ ਵਿਗਸੈ ਵੇਪਰਵਾਹੁ ॥੩॥
Nānak vigsai veparvāhu. ||3||
Nanak says that there are many who sing about the manifestations of the supreme power all around us reaffirming the fact that there is some higher power around. There are many who sing about the gifts one receives all ones life and how these gifts are signs of his presence.
Many sing of his virtues and his greatnesses and beauty while many sing of his wisdom and knowledge about him through serious discourses and debates.
many sing of him being the designer of things (living or otherwise) and then the ultimate reducer of it all to dust while some sing of him being the one who wills the destruction of life and then its restoration in one form or another.
Some sing of him seeming and appearing to be far away while some sing that he is ever present and watching over us all the time.
There is no dearth of such discourses and teachings as there is no shortage of preachers and teachers. Millions upon millions deliver such sermons and tell such tales. And what does the great giver do all this time, he keeps on giving. He keeps on giving tirelessly while the receiver may grow weary of receiving.
Ages upon ages the consumers have kept on enjoying these gifts which the tireless gives has been bestowing upon us all.He makes us to walk on the path described by him and the ones who follow his path unconditionally, O Nanak, is the one who blossoms in life and is free from all troubles!
Thus there is no dearth of people who do realize the presence of some supreme force governing us all. Also, there is no dearth of people who talk about his power and his gifts. But Nanak says that the fact remains that the great giver has been and will keep on bestowing his gifts on us even when seemingly all wishes have been fulfilled. He will never tire of giving but the reciever may become tired. The really happy, carefree and successful person is, says Nanak, one who unconditionally and happily accepts the fact that the path we travel on through out our lives has been laid out by this overarching power. Everything we have done, everything we are doing and everything we are going to do is all planned for us and the only thing we can do is: do justice to the cause and do the best we can while travelling on this predestined path!
Monday, June 21, 2010
Japuji: Pauree 2
ਹੁਕਮੀ ਹੋਵਨਿ ਆਕਾਰ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਨ ਕਹਿਆ ਜਾਈ ॥
Hukmī hovan ākār hukam na kahi▫ā jā▫ī.
ਹੁਕਮੀ ਹੋਵਨਿ ਜੀਅ ਹੁਕਮਿ ਮਿਲੈ ਵਡਿਆਈ ॥
Hukmī hovan jī▫a hukam milai vadi▫ā▫ī.
ਹੁਕਮੀ ਉਤਮੁ ਨੀਚੁ ਹੁਕਮਿ ਲਿਖਿ ਦੁਖ ਸੁਖ ਪਾਈਅਹਿ ॥
Hukmī uṯam nīcẖ hukam likẖ ḏukẖ sukẖ pā▫ī▫ah.
ਇਕਨਾ ਹੁਕਮੀ ਬਖਸੀਸ ਇਕਿ ਹੁਕਮੀ ਸਦਾ ਭਵਾਈਅਹਿ ॥
Iknā hukmī bakẖsīs ik hukmī saḏā bẖavā▫ī▫ah.
ਹੁਕਮੈ ਅੰਦਰਿ ਸਭੁ ਕੋ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਹੁਕਮ ਨ ਕੋਇ ॥
Hukmai anḏar sabẖ ko bāhar hukam na ko▫e.
ਨਾਨਕ ਹੁਕਮੈ ਜੇ ਬੁਝੈ ਤ ਹਉਮੈ ਕਹੈ ਨ ਕੋਇ ॥੨॥
Nānak hukmai je bujẖai ṯa ha▫umai kahai na ko▫e. ||2||
Things take shape in response to his command. Be it celestial bodies or terrestrial objects, be it living beings or non living things, be it humans or other animals or even plans, everything is created because he has willed them to be. Having said that, Nanak has further said that everything having taken shape on his command, the command in itself is indescribable. The existence of the command is quite evident because we and everything else around us does exist, but the exact nature of the command is not describable because maybe it is one with both the creator and creation. This means that the creator cannot be described separately from his creations. The creator and creation are one and hence god is in everything and everyone!
All the living beings ever born are born out of this command. The command controls the creation and the destruction of living beings and none of these actions can ever be truly controlled by us, the wise humans. Everything from conception of a fetus to decomposition of a corpse is an amazingly complex cycle which Nanak says is a result of gods command. Then he goes on to say that it is the command that decides the fate of the one who is born. It is the one responsible for thrusting greatness on someone. It decides who is to achieve what greatness and glory. If that is the case then how can we be responsible for our success and hence feel proud. Pride needs to be in a job well done and nothing more!
Just as it commands the glorification of an individual, it also controls the depths to which one has to sink in this life. Happiness and sadness, success and failure, are both a result of his command. So we cannot control the outcomes of our actions but we can as thinking beings try to act according to the best of our mental and emotional abilities and then not worry about the end results because they are beyond any humans will!
Some be his will are forgiven their sins and are blessed while others as a result of his command are made to wander aimlessly forever. One thing to note is that the command is a rule and not an exception. Everybody and everything is controlled by his will and nobody is ever exempted from it or beyond the command!
The one who thus realizes the universality of the command and believes in the ever present nature of gods will everywhere and in everything, says Nanak, never believes in egoism. Such an individual is very down to earth and is never egoistical. He never gets bloated by his successes and disheartened by his failures. He is never ecstatic in happiness and disappointed in sadness!
Thus Nanak suggests giving up fake egoisms because both our successes and failures, both our sadnesses and happinesses, pains and pleasure, births and deaths are always subject to his command and hence a result of his will!
Hukmī hovan ākār hukam na kahi▫ā jā▫ī.
ਹੁਕਮੀ ਹੋਵਨਿ ਜੀਅ ਹੁਕਮਿ ਮਿਲੈ ਵਡਿਆਈ ॥
Hukmī hovan jī▫a hukam milai vadi▫ā▫ī.
ਹੁਕਮੀ ਉਤਮੁ ਨੀਚੁ ਹੁਕਮਿ ਲਿਖਿ ਦੁਖ ਸੁਖ ਪਾਈਅਹਿ ॥
Hukmī uṯam nīcẖ hukam likẖ ḏukẖ sukẖ pā▫ī▫ah.
ਇਕਨਾ ਹੁਕਮੀ ਬਖਸੀਸ ਇਕਿ ਹੁਕਮੀ ਸਦਾ ਭਵਾਈਅਹਿ ॥
Iknā hukmī bakẖsīs ik hukmī saḏā bẖavā▫ī▫ah.
ਹੁਕਮੈ ਅੰਦਰਿ ਸਭੁ ਕੋ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਹੁਕਮ ਨ ਕੋਇ ॥
Hukmai anḏar sabẖ ko bāhar hukam na ko▫e.
ਨਾਨਕ ਹੁਕਮੈ ਜੇ ਬੁਝੈ ਤ ਹਉਮੈ ਕਹੈ ਨ ਕੋਇ ॥੨॥
Nānak hukmai je bujẖai ṯa ha▫umai kahai na ko▫e. ||2||
Things take shape in response to his command. Be it celestial bodies or terrestrial objects, be it living beings or non living things, be it humans or other animals or even plans, everything is created because he has willed them to be. Having said that, Nanak has further said that everything having taken shape on his command, the command in itself is indescribable. The existence of the command is quite evident because we and everything else around us does exist, but the exact nature of the command is not describable because maybe it is one with both the creator and creation. This means that the creator cannot be described separately from his creations. The creator and creation are one and hence god is in everything and everyone!
All the living beings ever born are born out of this command. The command controls the creation and the destruction of living beings and none of these actions can ever be truly controlled by us, the wise humans. Everything from conception of a fetus to decomposition of a corpse is an amazingly complex cycle which Nanak says is a result of gods command. Then he goes on to say that it is the command that decides the fate of the one who is born. It is the one responsible for thrusting greatness on someone. It decides who is to achieve what greatness and glory. If that is the case then how can we be responsible for our success and hence feel proud. Pride needs to be in a job well done and nothing more!
Just as it commands the glorification of an individual, it also controls the depths to which one has to sink in this life. Happiness and sadness, success and failure, are both a result of his command. So we cannot control the outcomes of our actions but we can as thinking beings try to act according to the best of our mental and emotional abilities and then not worry about the end results because they are beyond any humans will!
Some be his will are forgiven their sins and are blessed while others as a result of his command are made to wander aimlessly forever. One thing to note is that the command is a rule and not an exception. Everybody and everything is controlled by his will and nobody is ever exempted from it or beyond the command!
The one who thus realizes the universality of the command and believes in the ever present nature of gods will everywhere and in everything, says Nanak, never believes in egoism. Such an individual is very down to earth and is never egoistical. He never gets bloated by his successes and disheartened by his failures. He is never ecstatic in happiness and disappointed in sadness!
Thus Nanak suggests giving up fake egoisms because both our successes and failures, both our sadnesses and happinesses, pains and pleasure, births and deaths are always subject to his command and hence a result of his will!
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Japuji: Pauree1
ਸੋਚੈ ਸੋਚਿ ਨ ਹੋਵਈ ਜੇ ਸੋਚੀ ਲਖ ਵਾਰ ॥
Socẖai socẖ na hova▫ī je socẖī lakẖ vār.
ਚੁਪੈ ਚੁਪ ਨ ਹੋਵਈ ਜੇ ਲਾਇ ਰਹਾ ਲਿਵ ਤਾਰ ॥
Cẖupai cẖup na hova▫ī je lā▫e rahā liv ṯār.
ਭੁਖਿਆ ਭੁਖ ਨ ਉਤਰੀ ਜੇ ਬੰਨਾ ਪੁਰੀਆ ਭਾਰ ॥
Bẖukẖi▫ā bẖukẖ na uṯrī je bannā purī▫ā bẖār.
ਸਹਸ ਸਿਆਣਪਾ ਲਖ ਹੋਹਿ ਤ ਇਕ ਨ ਚਲੈ ਨਾਲਿ ॥
Sahas si▫āṇpā lakẖ hohi ṯa ik na cẖalai nāl.
ਕਿਵ ਸਚਿਆਰਾ ਹੋਈਐ ਕਿਵ ਕੂੜੈ ਤੁਟੈ ਪਾਲਿ ॥
Kiv sacẖi▫ārā ho▫ī▫ai kiv kūrhai ṯutai pāl.
ਹੁਕਮਿ ਰਜਾਈ ਚਲਣਾ ਨਾਨਕ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਨਾਲਿ ॥੧॥
Hukam rajā▫ī cẖalṇā Nānak likẖi▫ā nāl. ||1||
Here Nanak talks about what humans do to try to attain the divine. How humans struggle with things and then feel that those actions of theirs would lead to the real truth.
He says that bathing in rivers is not going to make one pure. If it was so, then the purest thing would have to be toads, turtles, etc which spend most of their lives in water. He emphasizes that holy sarovars and rivers are never a way to salvation. Isn't it common sense that a bad deed can never be redeemed by just a dip in water, or by fasting or even by bowing in front of someone. No, says Nanak. these (holy dips) are not the ways to become pious!
Same is the case with meditation. You may chant a million prayers a day but that is not going to make you come closer to god. The same can be said of silence. Maun vratas are not the way to the truth. Having that that, meditation may be a good thing for physical or mental well being of an individual, but that is it. If it gives you happiness to meditate, then do it, but don't start projecting it as a way to God. As different humans have different moods, different ambitions, different physical capabilities, in the same way different things might be working to make different people happy. You may derive happiness from meditation, while another may be getting it from physical exercises, from music or someone from eating. So, Nanak has disregarded meditation as the means to achieve truth!
Then he highlights the foolishness of peoples thoughts that the fulfillment of a desire would be an end in itself. The fact is that fulfillment of a desire leads to another desire fulfillment of which is the beginning of the next one and the process is never ending. Greed can never be satiated by materialistic achievements. It can just lead to further greed and it is even higher at each successive step. Nanak spoke that greed can never be removed by worldly riches!
Then comes wisdom. We might have overestimated the power of wisdom as a tool to set us free. If that was so, then the happiest people should have been the greatest scientists. But the fact is that more wisdom one attains, more complex the things become for him and although he is working at a much higher mental level than an ordinary person, but this knowledge has not made him contented and truly happy. In fact it has further enslaved him in the complexities of nature, life, etc. So, Nanak says that achieving heights of wisdom cannot set a person free!
Nanak then questions how can the real truth be achieved? how can the veil of illusions be shattered and the light beyond, the real truth beyond the obvious, the real happiness and the real goal of existence be realized?
The answer, says Nanak, is submission to gods will. He says that gods will is the real truth and everything is predestined in a way. Things happen to us and Nanak says that they happen because they were so destined to. We didn't decide to take birth nor do we know when we are going to die. We can worry all we can about our problems, but they are going to be solved only when they have to. The best approach is to go on doing what you feel is going to make you happy. This way you -1. become happy 2. take a step towards a preordained goal, which may or may not be the solution to the problem. So, Nanak spoke that submitting yourself happily, willingly, and totally to gods' will is how true happiness can be achieved.
It is not materialistic riches, or religious rituals or scientific knowledge which can make us truly happy. True happiness is achieved only by a willing submission to god's will!!
Socẖai socẖ na hova▫ī je socẖī lakẖ vār.
ਚੁਪੈ ਚੁਪ ਨ ਹੋਵਈ ਜੇ ਲਾਇ ਰਹਾ ਲਿਵ ਤਾਰ ॥
Cẖupai cẖup na hova▫ī je lā▫e rahā liv ṯār.
ਭੁਖਿਆ ਭੁਖ ਨ ਉਤਰੀ ਜੇ ਬੰਨਾ ਪੁਰੀਆ ਭਾਰ ॥
Bẖukẖi▫ā bẖukẖ na uṯrī je bannā purī▫ā bẖār.
ਸਹਸ ਸਿਆਣਪਾ ਲਖ ਹੋਹਿ ਤ ਇਕ ਨ ਚਲੈ ਨਾਲਿ ॥
Sahas si▫āṇpā lakẖ hohi ṯa ik na cẖalai nāl.
ਕਿਵ ਸਚਿਆਰਾ ਹੋਈਐ ਕਿਵ ਕੂੜੈ ਤੁਟੈ ਪਾਲਿ ॥
Kiv sacẖi▫ārā ho▫ī▫ai kiv kūrhai ṯutai pāl.
ਹੁਕਮਿ ਰਜਾਈ ਚਲਣਾ ਨਾਨਕ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਨਾਲਿ ॥੧॥
Hukam rajā▫ī cẖalṇā Nānak likẖi▫ā nāl. ||1||
Here Nanak talks about what humans do to try to attain the divine. How humans struggle with things and then feel that those actions of theirs would lead to the real truth.
He says that bathing in rivers is not going to make one pure. If it was so, then the purest thing would have to be toads, turtles, etc which spend most of their lives in water. He emphasizes that holy sarovars and rivers are never a way to salvation. Isn't it common sense that a bad deed can never be redeemed by just a dip in water, or by fasting or even by bowing in front of someone. No, says Nanak. these (holy dips) are not the ways to become pious!
Same is the case with meditation. You may chant a million prayers a day but that is not going to make you come closer to god. The same can be said of silence. Maun vratas are not the way to the truth. Having that that, meditation may be a good thing for physical or mental well being of an individual, but that is it. If it gives you happiness to meditate, then do it, but don't start projecting it as a way to God. As different humans have different moods, different ambitions, different physical capabilities, in the same way different things might be working to make different people happy. You may derive happiness from meditation, while another may be getting it from physical exercises, from music or someone from eating. So, Nanak has disregarded meditation as the means to achieve truth!
Then he highlights the foolishness of peoples thoughts that the fulfillment of a desire would be an end in itself. The fact is that fulfillment of a desire leads to another desire fulfillment of which is the beginning of the next one and the process is never ending. Greed can never be satiated by materialistic achievements. It can just lead to further greed and it is even higher at each successive step. Nanak spoke that greed can never be removed by worldly riches!
Then comes wisdom. We might have overestimated the power of wisdom as a tool to set us free. If that was so, then the happiest people should have been the greatest scientists. But the fact is that more wisdom one attains, more complex the things become for him and although he is working at a much higher mental level than an ordinary person, but this knowledge has not made him contented and truly happy. In fact it has further enslaved him in the complexities of nature, life, etc. So, Nanak says that achieving heights of wisdom cannot set a person free!
Nanak then questions how can the real truth be achieved? how can the veil of illusions be shattered and the light beyond, the real truth beyond the obvious, the real happiness and the real goal of existence be realized?
The answer, says Nanak, is submission to gods will. He says that gods will is the real truth and everything is predestined in a way. Things happen to us and Nanak says that they happen because they were so destined to. We didn't decide to take birth nor do we know when we are going to die. We can worry all we can about our problems, but they are going to be solved only when they have to. The best approach is to go on doing what you feel is going to make you happy. This way you -1. become happy 2. take a step towards a preordained goal, which may or may not be the solution to the problem. So, Nanak spoke that submitting yourself happily, willingly, and totally to gods' will is how true happiness can be achieved.
It is not materialistic riches, or religious rituals or scientific knowledge which can make us truly happy. True happiness is achieved only by a willing submission to god's will!!
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