Faith has its reasons
KHUSHWANT SINGH
Saturday, July 14, 2007 - THE TRIBUNE
MY grandmother used to say her morning prayer (Japji) while churning a large earthen pot to make butter and buttermilk (lassi). She often paused to examine its contents to see how it was turning out. I wondered if her mind was more in makkhan, lassi or in prayer.
My mother said her morning prayer while doing household chores, She often gave orders to servants or tell us to hurry up and get ready for school. I wondered if her mind was in her prayer or on
mundane affairs.
My father said his morning prayer while taking his bath. He was equally devoted to pouring water over his body, soaping and washing off the leather. I wondered what pre-occupied him more, cleaning his body or his soul.
A distant relative who was a keen golfer said his morning prayer while driving to the golf club. I wondered if his mind was on the road, on traffic signals or on what he was reciting. I felt that this was not the right way to pray and there was a point in Hindu tradition of sitting padmaasan (lotus posed) in complete silence with eyes closed and concentrating on the meanings of the verses one chants. Many Sikhs do the same: they take their prayers seriously and not treat it as a routine ritual.
This is more pertinent when it comes to congregational prayer. Islam emphasises the need for everyone to join Namaaz in mosques. Besides ignoring individual status, it creates a sense of brotherhood. So also are assemblages in temples
and gurdwaras.
The sangat becomes a fraternity of the like-minded. Sikh Gurus laid great emphasis on sangat and pangat — eating together in the Guru-ka-langar.
A popular form of prayer is to recite it in a loud sing-song manner. It has its own charm but the sound often smoothers the sense inherent in the words.
Guru Nanak, though supporting sangat prayers and kirtan (hymn singing) was very particular about understanding the meaning of the words of prayers. He wrote:
Aklee sahib seveeai aklee paayey maan
Aklee parh kay bujheeay
Aklee keechey daan
Nanak aakhai Raah eh
Hore gallan Shaitaan
(Use your brains while worshipping the Lord
Use your brains and earn merit
Use your brains while giving the charity
Thus says Nanak is the real way
The rest is all the devil’s sway.)
In another verse Guru Nanak was more downright in condemning those who recited prayers without trying to understand what its words meant. He called them fools:
Na sudh na budh, na akl Sar
Akkhar ka bheo na lahant
Nanak, say nar asl khar
Jo bin gun garab karant
(They have no awareness, no knowledge, no brains in their heads
They do not care not to find the inner secret of words they pray;
They are real donkeys, does Nanak say).
SOURCE: The Tribune - Magazine section - Saturday Extra
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KHUSHWANT SINGH
Saturday, July 14, 2007 - THE TRIBUNE
MY grandmother used to say her morning prayer (Japji) while churning a large earthen pot to make butter and buttermilk (lassi). She often paused to examine its contents to see how it was turning out. I wondered if her mind was more in makkhan, lassi or in prayer.
My mother said her morning prayer while doing household chores, She often gave orders to servants or tell us to hurry up and get ready for school. I wondered if her mind was in her prayer or on
mundane affairs.
My father said his morning prayer while taking his bath. He was equally devoted to pouring water over his body, soaping and washing off the leather. I wondered what pre-occupied him more, cleaning his body or his soul.
A distant relative who was a keen golfer said his morning prayer while driving to the golf club. I wondered if his mind was on the road, on traffic signals or on what he was reciting. I felt that this was not the right way to pray and there was a point in Hindu tradition of sitting padmaasan (lotus posed) in complete silence with eyes closed and concentrating on the meanings of the verses one chants. Many Sikhs do the same: they take their prayers seriously and not treat it as a routine ritual.
This is more pertinent when it comes to congregational prayer. Islam emphasises the need for everyone to join Namaaz in mosques. Besides ignoring individual status, it creates a sense of brotherhood. So also are assemblages in temples
and gurdwaras.
The sangat becomes a fraternity of the like-minded. Sikh Gurus laid great emphasis on sangat and pangat — eating together in the Guru-ka-langar.
A popular form of prayer is to recite it in a loud sing-song manner. It has its own charm but the sound often smoothers the sense inherent in the words.
Guru Nanak, though supporting sangat prayers and kirtan (hymn singing) was very particular about understanding the meaning of the words of prayers. He wrote:
Aklee sahib seveeai aklee paayey maan
Aklee parh kay bujheeay
Aklee keechey daan
Nanak aakhai Raah eh
Hore gallan Shaitaan
(Use your brains while worshipping the Lord
Use your brains and earn merit
Use your brains while giving the charity
Thus says Nanak is the real way
The rest is all the devil’s sway.)
In another verse Guru Nanak was more downright in condemning those who recited prayers without trying to understand what its words meant. He called them fools:
Na sudh na budh, na akl Sar
Akkhar ka bheo na lahant
Nanak, say nar asl khar
Jo bin gun garab karant
(They have no awareness, no knowledge, no brains in their heads
They do not care not to find the inner secret of words they pray;
They are real donkeys, does Nanak say).
SOURCE: The Tribune - Magazine section - Saturday Extra
More...