The Witness Does Not Die
The following is an excerpt from Guru Granth Sahib Ang. 152-153 (Raag Dakhni Gauri):
पउणै पाणी अगनी का मेलु
Air, water and fire come together.
चंचल चपल बुधि का खेलु
A play of restless child-like intellect.
नउ दरवाजे दसवा दुआरु
Nine doors (of the body) and the tenth gate (through which the Light shines).
बुझु रे गिआनी एहु बीचारु
O wise one, reflect on this thought.
कथता बकता सुनता सोई
The speaker and the listener are all the same One.
आपु बीचारे सु गिआनी होई
Whoever examines the Self, becomes wise.
देही माटी बोलै पउणु
Body is clay that (walks and) talks.
बुझु रे गिआनी मूआ है कउणु
O wise one, understand what really dies.
मूई सुरति बादु अहंकारु
What dies is the individual - the divided ego.
ओहु न मूआ जो देखणहारु
The witness of all, does not die.
जै कारणि तटि तीरथ जाही
रतन पदारथ घट ही माही
Why do you go on pilgrimage for, when the jewel is right here?
पड़ि पड़ि पंडितु बादु वखाणै
भीतरि होदी वसतु न जाणै
Reading again and again scholars debate and argue, while not knowing the thing within.
हउ न मूआ मेरी मुई बलाइ
(After knowing this) I did not die, my misfortune died.
ओहु न मूआ जो रहिआ समाइ
That which pervades all does not die.
कहु नानक गुरि ब्रहमु दिखाइआ
Nanak says, the Guru shows that Brahman -
मरता जाता नदरि न आइआ
- (after seeing which) you don’t see any death or departure.
Body is elements. Mind is movement. Ego is mistaken identity. The witness is undying. Real pilgrimage is the inward turn.
ओहु न मूआ जो देखणहारु
The witness does not die. Know that to be the real Self. Not the temporary clump of matter and preferences.
Gu-ru literally means the dispeller of darkness; shining light on the Name of the all-pervasive Reality.
Showing the Gold, not just the ornaments formed out of Gold. Showing the water, not just the waves that come and go on the water.
सुणि सुणि बूझै मानै नाउ
Listening (to that Guru) again and again, I understand and accept the Name.
ता कै सद बलिहारै जाउ
To you, I forever surrender myself in devotion.
आपि भुलाए ठउर न ठाउ
Forgetting the Self, there was no refuge or stablity.
तूं समझावहि मेलि मिलाउ
You revealed and reconciled.
नामु मिलै चलै मै नालि
Once I got it, the Name walks alongside me.
बिनु नावै बाधी सभ कालि
Without it, everything seemed bound by Time.
खेती वणजु नावै की ओट
Farming and trade (worldly action) take the Name’s support.
पापु पुंनु बीज की पोट
Sin and merit are a bundle of seeds (what you sow, you shall reap).
कामु क्रोधु जीअ महि चोट
Desire and anger wound the being.
नामु विसारि चले मनि खोट
Forgetting the Name, the mind becomes selfish and weak.
साचे गुर की साची सीख
True teaching of the true Guru.
तनु मनु सीतलु साचु परीख
When assayed and realized makes the body-mind calm.
जल पुराइनि रस कमल परीख
Like the leaf protects the Lotus (from testy waters).
सबदि रते मीठे रस ईख
The nectar of the (divine) Word, dyes you sweet.
हुकमि संजोगी गड़ि दस दुआर
The (divine) Will constructs this ten-doored fort.
पंच वसहि मिलि जोति अपार
Where the five (elements) dwell, united in the boundless Light.
आपि तुलै आपे वणजार
The Self is measuring and trading with The Self.
नानक नामि सवारणहार
Nanak says, Naam is the one adorning it.
Hear, understand and stabilize. Once you get it, it stays. How to assess if you got it? If doubts are vanishing. If you see water rather than waves. If your body, mind and speech become calm, pure and sweet.
आपि तुलै आपे वणजार
Ultimately, there is only one trading with itself. There is no independent individual. One reality, both experiencer and experienced.
जातो जाइ कहा ते आवै
Where does one go? Where does one come from?
कह उपजै कह जाइ समावै
Out of what is one born? In what is one dissolved?
किउ बाधिओ किउ मुकती पावै
How is one bound? How is one freed?
किउ अबिनासी सहजि समावै
How does one effortlessly merge in the imperishable?
नामु रिदै अम्रितु मुखि नामु
Keep the elixir of the Name in your heart and in your speech.
नरहर नामु नरहर निहकामु
The Name takes away troubles and selfish desires.
सहजे आवै सहजे जाइ
Comes effortlessly, goes effortlessly.
मन ते उपजै मन माहि समाइ
Arises out of mind, dissolves back in mind.
गुरमुखि मुकतो बंधु न पाइ
Guru-orientation frees, you find no bondage.
सबदु बीचारि छुटै हरि नाइ
Contemplating on the Word and the divine Name, releases you.
तरवर पंखी बहु निसि बासु
Like birds rest on a tree for a night.
सुख दुखीआ मनि मोह विणासु
(Such is) happiness and suffering, attachment and loss.
साझ बिहाग तकहि आगासु
At the first light of dawn, they look skyward.
दह दिसि धावहि करमि लिखिआसु
Scattering away in ten directions, as Karma dictates.
नाम संजोगी गोइलि थाटु
Uniting with the Name gives a pure structure.
काम क्रोध फूटै बिखु माटु
The poisonous mud of desire and anger is blown apart.
बिनु वखर सूनो घरु हाटु
Without true merchandise the home shop is locked and desolate.
गुर मिलि खोले बजर कपाट
The Guru, on meeting, opens the heavy gate.
साधु मिलै पूरब संजोग
सचि रहसे पूरे हरि लोग
Past connections reunite you with Holiness, with Saints who live immersed in the Truth.
मनु तनु दे लै सहजि सुभाइ
Surrendering their mind and body, in natural ease.
नानक तिन कै लागउ पाइ
Nanak says, I fall at their feet.
Holiness is in effortless and natural ease. Not in a forceful trance.
सहजे आवै सहजे जाइ
It comes naturally, goes naturally.
Sahaj implies abidance with what one already is. The Name is a pointer. Like hearing someone’s name you instantly recognise who is being talked about.
।। ੴ सति नामु श्री वाहेगुरु ।।