Liberation

[Admin]

LIBERATION

That Yogi does not know the true way; whose heart is filled with greed,
emotional attachment, Maya and egotism. One who does not slader
who is or praise others, who looks upon gold and iron alike, free
from pleasure and pain - he alone is called a true Yogi. The
restless mind wanders in the ten directions - it needs to be
pacified and restrained. Says Nanak, whoever knows
this technique is judged to be liberated (sggs 685)
​

The Spiritual philosophy expounded by the Gurbani (Sri Guru Granth Sahib) is monistic. It's primary goal is realizing one's complete identity with the Unconditioned Consciousness (Akaal Purakh or Supreme Reality), in perfect union and non-differentiation. This is termed realization of the Self, Turiya Avasthaa, Sunn Samaadhi, Nirvikalap Samaadhi, Sahaj Samaadhi, Divine Vision, Dasam Duaar, Nirvaana, and so on. This Spiritual experience of free and blissful state of our True Being can be attained in this very life, "here" and "now", granting the so-called liberation — permanent release from unenlightened existence or transmigration; final or eternal emancipation (Moksha or Mokh, Mukti, etc.).

• ijqw jnmu Apwru Awpu pCwinAw: Jitaa janam apaar aap pashaaniaa: I have obtained Eternal Life, Realizing the Self (sggs 522).
• so baurw jo Awpu n pCwnY]Awpu pCwnY q eykY jwnY: So bayuraa jo aap na pachaanai. Aap pacchaanai ta eko jaanai: Man is crazy wihtout Self-realization. When he knows the Self, only then he comes to know the One Reality (sggs 855).
• min qin riv rihAw jgdIsur pyKq sdw hjUry]nwnk riv rihE sB AMqir srb rihAw BrpUry: Mani tani ravi rahiaa jagadeesur pekhat sdaa hajoore. Nanak ravi rahio sabh antari sarab rahiaa bharapoore: God is permeating and pervading my mind and body; I see Him ever-present, "here" and "now". O Nanak, He is permeating the inner being of all; He is all-pervading everywhere (sggs 1269-70).
• mn qUM joiq srUpu hY Apxw mUlu pCwxu: Mann toon joti saroop hai apnaa mool pashaan: O my mind, you are That — the true image of the Divine Light — know your Reality (sggs 441).

It is sensuality, craving for prolonging the material existence, craving for wealth and power, fears, ignorance, selfishness, evil doings, having a *******ed view of the reality of the world and passions — lust, greed, anger, emotional attachment, pride, enviousness and stubbornness (and their numerous variations) — that yearn for intense physical pleasures of the world is the origin of bondage and suffering (Dukha). The cycle of life, birth and death continues indefinitely until it is broken through proper living, and correct vision guided by the inner Light of True Knowledge. In other words, the evolution continues after the earthly births until the Jeeva (individual being) links back to its inherent perfection, uniting in prefect Oneness with his Unconditioned Being, as does river water when returning to the ocean.

• lwgI BUK mwieAw mgu johY mukiq pdwrQu moih Kry: Laagee bhookh maya magu johai mukti padaarauth mohi khare: Driven by hunger (of craving and passions), man sees the path of Maya's riches; this emotional attachment takes away the treasure of liberation (sggs 1014).
• haumY myrw BrmY sMswru: Hayumai meraa bharmai sansaar: The world wanders in ego and selfhood (sggs 841).
• mwieAw moih sBo jgu bwDw: Maya mohi sabho jagu baadhaa: Attached to Maya, the whole world is in bondage (sggs 394).
• ibnu bYrwg n CUtis mwieAw: Bin bairaag na shootas maya: Without developing detachment to mundane objects, one can not escape from worldliness or illusion — Maya (sggs 329).
• mnmuK mYly mlu Bry haumY iqRsnw ivkwru: The materialists (Manmukhs) are polluted. They are filled with the pollution of egotism, cravings and evil passions (sggs 29).
• nwnk duKIAw sBu sMswr: Nanak dukheeaa sabh sansaar: O Nanak, the whole world is suffering (sggs 954).
• moh imQn durMq Awsw bwsnw ibkwr: Moh mithan durant aasaa baasanaa bikaar: Emotional attachment is false, desire is filthy, and longing is corrupt (sggs 508).
• imiQAw qnu swco kir mwinE ieh ibiD Awpu bMDwvY: Mithiaa tann saacho kar maanio ih bidh aap bandhaavai: O man, you see this false body as true; in this way, you have placed yourself in bondage (sggs 1231).
• gurmuiK hovih sy bMDn qoVih mukqI kY Gir pwiedw: Gurmukh hovahi se bandhan torrahi muktee kai ghari paaidaa: One who becomes Spiritual Being (Gurmukh) breaks his bonds, and attains the home of liberation (sggs 1062).

As indicated in the Gurbani, liberation does not mean death. It simply means total liberation from rebirth before and after death. Hence, if liberation is to be achieved, it has to be realized while living in the body. It has no value after death; for what happens after death is immaterial. The Gurbani embraces the state of Jeevanmukti, liberated while alive, in which the evolved soul unfolds its inherent perfection while alive. This state of Jeevanmukta — living dead or one who "died before he died" — indicates the total demise of the false ego. This is the state in which one is not affected by the objective conditions, good or bad. Presently, the majority of us in this world are asleep in unenlightened existence, bonded to objective conditions. What distinguishes the Jeevanmukta from the unenlightened or the non-liberated is his total freedom from all attachments, selfishness, lust and passions; his undivided abidance in the all-pervading Divine Presence within; his lucid witnessing consciousness; and his effortless Spiritual wisdom, revealed in his spontaneous speech. In other words, the process of becoming Jeevanmukta involves separating one's consciousness from the material bondage.

• jIvq pwvhu moK duAwr: Jeevat paavahu mokh duaar: Attain the Gate of Liberation while yet alive (sggs 343).
• jIvn mukiq so AwKIAY mir jIvY mrIAw: Jivanmukata so aakheeye mar jeevai mariya: He who effaces his ownself and is dead in life, is said to have been liberated while alive (sggs 449).
• igAwn hIxM AigAwn pUjw]AMD vrqwvw Bwau dUjw: Giaan heenan agiaan poojaa. Andh vrtaavaa bhaayu doojaa: Without Spiritual wisdom, the people worship ignorance. They thus grope in the darkness, in the love of duality (sggs 1412).
• mwieAw moih sBo jgu soieAw iehu Brmu khhu ikau jweI: Maya moh sabho jagu soiaa ih bharam kahu kiyu jaaee: In emotional attachment to Maya, the whole world is asleep. Tell me, how can this doubt be dispelled? (sggs 205).
• If here one is able to realize the Reality before the death of the body, he will be liberated from the bondage of the world (Veda).

The Jeevanmukta is also often referred to as the Awakened one: awakened to all illusions of Maya and liberated from them. He knows everything in life is impermanent; including life itself, money, fame, health, power, good things and bad things. At the present we are unable to experience this state of enlightened awareness, because it is masked by the sleep of ignorance, selfishness, passions, hatred, and so on — like a diamond covered with mud. In other words, when the inner Light or Self-knowledge is overpowered by ignorance, the delusion of bondage or Maya arises in the mind. On the other hand, when one is firmly established in the Self-knowledge, the Maya's delusion comes to an end. Hence, when one awakens to the fact that all is part of the illusion of egocentricity, one is free from that ego-illusion and all that goes with it. For the Realized being, Jeevanmukta, all illusions have vanished even as he lives out his life in the physical body. If the sun becomes a ball of ice or the moon a disc of fire, he will remain balanced. Free of all attachments and feelings of "likes and dislikes", nothing effects his state of Being. To put it otherwise, he lives in the world, but not of it. His purified intuition or transcendental bliss enables him to see the Reality as his own Self.

• imil mwieAw suriq gvweI: Mil Maya surti gavaayee: By associating with the Maya (illusion), the mortal loses Divine Understanding (sggs 989).
• mwDvy ikAw khIAY BRmu AYsw]jYsw mwnIAY hoie n qYsw: Maadhve kiya kaheeyai bhram aisaa. Jaisaa maaneeyai hoe na taisaa: O Lord, what can I say about this illusion; what we deem a thing to be, in reality, it is not like that (sggs 657).
• haumY vfw gubwru hY haumY ivic buiJ n skY koie: Hayumai vadaa gubaar hai hayumai vichi bujhi na sakai koi: Egoism is utter darkness; in egoism, no one can understand anything (sggs 560).
• suKu duKu dono sm kir jwnY Aauru mwnu Apmwnw]hrK sog qy rhY AqIqw iqin jig qqu pCwnw] ausqiq inMdw doaU iqAwgY KojY pdu inrbwnw]jn nwnk iehu Kylu kTnu hY iknhUM gurmuiK jwnw: Sukh dukh dono sam kari jaanai aour maanu apamaanaa. Harakh sog te rahai ateetaa tini jagi tatu pashaanaa. Usatat nindaa do-oo tiaagai khojai padu nirabaanaa. Jan Nanak ihu khel kathan hai kinahoon gurmukhi jaanaa: One who knows that pain and pleasure are both the same, and honor and dishonor as well; who remains detached from joy and sorrow, realizes the true essence in the world. Renounce both praise and blame; seek instead the state of Nirvaanaa. O servant Nanak, this is such a difficult game; only a few Gurmukhs (who have become Spiritual Beings) understand it! (sggs 218).

As indicated in the Gurbani (SGGS), the indescribable state of complete liberation is not be found outside, other places or in other objects. It's ever present within, "here" and "now"; but veiled by our suffering arising from our intense attachment to the body. In other words, attachment to the body is bondage, and detachment from it is liberation; subjugation of the Jeeva (individual being) to pleasure and pain is bondage, and absence of such subjugation is liberation. In other words, bondage is the conditioned mind attached to craving for enjoying the sense objects, and its abandonment is liberation. In essence, liberation is the total abandonment of all Vaasnaas or mental conditionings, without the least reserve. To put it otherwise, it's the dropping of limited identification, dissolution of individuality (false "I-ness"), eradication of duality or separateness, removal of false boundaries, surrendering of illusions, or freedom from the falsehood that each one of us has created. It's the realization that "Sabh Gobind Hai, Sabh Gobind Hai"; simply meaning, It's all One Pure Consciousness (sggs 485). A liberated man sees the Self in him the Self in All.

• sB ikCu Gr mih bwhir nwhI]bwhir tolY so Brim BulwhI: Sabh kish ghar mahi baahari naahee. Baahari tolai so bharam bhulaahee: Everything is within the home of the Self; there is nothing beyond. One who searches outside is deluded by doubts (sggs 102).
• iehu Dnu srb rihAw BrpUir]mnmuK iPrih is jwxih dUir: Ihu dhanu sarab rahiaa bharapoori. Manmukh firahi si jaanahi door: This True Wealth is all-pervading, permeating all within. The materialist wanders around, thinking that it is far away (sggs 991).
• qb lgu mhlu n pweIAY jb lgu swcu n cIiq: Tam lag mahal na paayeeyai jabalag saach na cheeti: As long as the Truth does not enter into the consciousness, the Divine Presence is not realized (sggs 58).
• mn kI bwsnw mn qy trY]ieMdRI ijq pMc doK qy rhq]nwnk koit mDy ko AYsw Aprs: Mann kee baasanaa mann te tarai. Indree jit panch dokh te rahat. Nanak koti madhe ko aiasaa apras: One who banishes the mind's Vaasnaa from his mind, who conquers his sexual instincts and is free of the five sinful passions - O Nanak, among millions, there is scarcely one such 'touch-nothing Spiritual Being' (sggs 274).
• shj Anµd bsY bYrwgI: Sahaj anand basai bairaagee: Detached ones dwell in peaceful ease and bliss (sggs 389).

True Knowledge, Intuitive Wisdom or Self-knowledge liberates man from bondage. As the pure Self (Spirit, Aatmaan, Truth, God or Unconditioned Consciousness) is always present within, we are ever liberated, but not aware of it; just as a person who walks over a heap of gold buried underneath his feet without knowing it. Thus, liberation is not something afresh to be gained or found and then bring home. It's a state of mind or attitude. In other words, liberation is when all the inherent Divine virtues are awakened within and manifest in our day-to-day living, and when all the veils which prevent our experience of them fall away. As we can see, it is not a goal we can strive for. Because, the very act of striving will keep us trapped within the cycle of thinking. Which is why the Gurbani asserts that there is nothing to be accomplished by merely thinking. Liberation, Enlightenment or Self-realization is already here within — we are what we are looking for. This is why the Gurbani urges us to train ourselves for meditation on the formless Divine, or the Name, knowing that we have nothing afresh to strive for, nowhere to go or wander around, nothing new to create or attain. It's all "here" and "now". The teaching, instruction and the training the Gurbani offers us is simply for systematically removing the body-consciousness, so that we can awaken our Spiritual Being within and liberate ourselves from the poison of the mind by striking down the snake of every craving with the rod of Self-knowledge. Thus both the cultivation of Self-knowledge and cessation of craving must proceed together, simultaneously.

• kbIr jo mY icqvau nw krY ikAw myry icqvy hoie: Kabeer jo mai chitavau naa karai kiaa mere chitave hoi: Kabeer, whatever I wish for does not happen. What can I accomplish by merely thinking? (sggs 1376).
• ibnu siqgur iknY n pwieAw kir kir Qky vIcwr: Bin satigur kinai na paaiaa kar kar thake veechaar: Without realizaing the True Guru within (Self-realization), no one finds the Divine. People have grown weary of thinking about it (sggs 1420).
• ijin Awqm qqu n cIin@Aw]sB Pokt Drm AbIinAw: Jin aatam tat na cheeniyaa. Sabh fokat dharma abeeniyaa: Whoever does not gain the knowledge of the Self, all his religious acts are vain and blind (sggs 1351).
• bRhm igAwnI ly Dwvqu bMDw: Brahm giaanee le dhaavat bandhaa: Brahm Giani keeps his wandering mind in check (sggs 273).
• kyqy bMDn jIA ky gurmuiK moK duAwr: Keteae bandhan jeea ke gurmukh mokh duaar: There are so many entanglements for the soul. Only by becoming Spiritual Beings (Gurmukhs) do we find the Gate of Liberation (sggs 62).
• khu nwnk min BieAw prgwsw pwieAw pdu inrbwxI: Kahu Nanak mani bhaiaa pirigaasaa paaiaa pada nirabaanee: Says Nanak, the Divine Light has dawned within my mind; I have obtained the state of Nirvaana (sggs 206).
• ibnu ismrn mukiq kq nwih: Bin simaran mukti kat naahi: Without the meditation, liberation will never be found (sggs 971).
• dsn ibhUn BuXMgM mMqRM gwruVI invwrM]b´wiD aupwVx sMqM]nwnk lbD krmxh: Dasan bihoon bhuyangam mantram gaarurree nivaaram.Buaadhi upaarran santam. Nanak labadh karmanah: The snake-charmer, by his spell, neutralizes the poison and leaves the snake without fangs. Just so, Spiritual Beings remove suffering. O Nanak, they do good Karma (sggs 1361).
• gux AMqir nwhI ikau suKu pwvY mnmuK Awvx jwxw: Gun antari naahee kiu sukhu paavai manmukh aavan jaanaa: With no virtue within, how can you find peace? The materialist is caught in birth-death cycle (sggs 76).

Therefore, to be liberated means to dwell deeply in the present moment, to be aware of what is going on within and around us "now". Practicing to live in the "now" cultivates mental purification, true understanding, intuitive knowledge and wisdom, truthful or righteous living, love, compassion, contentment, and bliss. Simply put: going beyond all contact-sensation-craving phenomenon is the culmination of enlightened liberation — detachment from causative Karma, Maya, duality, and ignorance or non-knowledge. Hence, freedom from all types of attachments or slavery to the false self and the desires of the materials world is liberation. Simply put: it is the renunciation of everything selfish.

• jn nwnk hir jip hwjrw hjUir: Jan Nanak hari japi haajaraa hujoori: Servant Nanak meditates on the Divine ever-present "here" and "mow" (sggs 1134).
• ibnu krqUqI mukiq n pweIAY: Bin karatootee mukti na paaeeai: Without good deeds, liberation is not obtained (sggs 201).
• ijih ibiKAw sglI qjI lIE ByK bYrwg]khu nwnk sunu ry mnw iqh nr mwQY Bwgu: Jihi bikhiaa sagalee tajee leeo bhekh bairaagu. Kahu Nanak sun re manaa tih nar maathai bhaagu: One who has forsaken all sin and corruption, who wears the robes of neutral detachment - says Nanak, listen, mind: good destiny is written on his forehead (sggs 1427).
• ibnu bYrwg khw bYrwgI: Bin bairaag kahaa bairaagee: Without detachment, how can one be a detached hermit? (sggs 1140).

In misunderstanding, many teach and believe if you were to give up your life, commit suicide or kill others in the name of your religion or God, you will attain liberation or heaven. Not so; for such foolishness is not the escape, it only prolongs the suffering. Nobody can hand over liberation to somebody else, or made it to order. It does not come from martyrdom, unmeaning rituals, dogmas, mechanical recitation of scriptures, sacrificial and lip worship, hundreds of fasts, pilgrimage or wandering to shrines and tombs, austerities of yogis, etc. One must experience it himself to extricate the roots of suffering through Spiritual Wisdom gained from the diligent study of the scriptures and the self-reflection that our true identity is not body-mind-intellect personality, but the Unconditioned Reality. Hence, liberation depends on self-purification, which leads to Spiritual insight. In other words, true detachment that leads to liberation follows from observation and analysis of one's own life. If someone claims, "I can grant you liberation", he is a cheat. If we are willing to shed our undue emotional attachment to the body, ultimately we are destined to realize liberation — whatever be one's religion, creed, faith, philosophy or conviction.

• n BIjY ByiV mrih iBiV sUr: Na bheejai bherri marahi bhirri soor: Pure Being is not won over by fighting and dying as a warrior — martyr or Shaheed (sggs 1237).
• pwKMif kIn@Y mukiq n hoie: Paakhandi keenai mukti na hoi: Practicing hypocrisy, no one finds liberation (sggs 839).
• i|AwnI qqu gurmuiK bIcwrI: Giaanee tatu gurmukh beechaaree: The true people of Spiritual wisdom are who have become Spiritual Beings (Gurmukhs), who contemplate the essence of Reality (sggs 251).
• gurmuiK nwmu dwnu iesnwn: Gurmukh naam daan isanaan: Becoming a Spiritual Being, be blessed with Divine Name, charity and inner purification (sggs 942).

The Gurbani affirms the law of Karma. But it does not affirm fatalistic belief or defeatism. Accordingly, it recognizes the possibility of the modification of one's Karma in this life by awakening the Divine grace within. Since the undivided Divine Presence is equally present in all of us, His Divine grace is also ever present within everybody as the one omniscient Self or Unconditioned Consciousness. In reality, That's our essential status — ("Joti Svaroop"). But, due to the wrong mentality we have cultivated for ourselves, we do not know it. Therefore, grace is not to be found outside in the worldly objects. It is within, "here" and "now". It is none other than the perfect freedom from Maya and ego-mind. In other words, knowing ourselves as "Joti Savroop" is itself Divine grace. When we liquidate all our egoism, selfishness or attachments through inner surrender, we unfurl within ourselves the Divine grace (Gur-Prasaad) — Spiritual Perfection or absorbing of all the power of the Spiritual Force within — which is necessary to fathom glory of the Spirit. The enlightened ones say that the Divine grace always flows like the breeze. But we sit inside our dinghies without unfurling the sails; disabling ourselves to reach the other shore of the ocean of Sansaara. This present human life was determined by the past Karma. The present Karma will determine the next. By focusing on the Truth within, and practicing right vision, prayer, love, devotion, dispassion, introspection, discrimination between real and ephemeral, earnestness, selflessness and compassion we reach liberation from where there is no return to birth-death cycle.

• eyk ndir kir vyKY sB aUpir jyhw Bwau qyhw Plu pweIAY: Ek nadar kar vekhai sabh oopar jehaa bhaayu tehaa phal paayeeyai: God looks alike upon all with His Glance of grace, but people receive the fruits of their rewards according to their mentality (sggs 602).
• jyhI suriq qyhw iqn rwhu: Jehee surit tehaa tin raah: As is your awareness, so is your way (sggs 25).
• jyhI mnsw kir lwgY qyhw Plu pwey: Jehee mansaa kar laagai tehaa phal paae: As is the mentality, so is the meed (sggs 116)
• caurwsIh nrk swkqu BogweIAY]jYsw kIcY qYso pweIAY: The faithless cynic suffers the ignominy of having to undergo the "hell" of 8.4 million reincarnations — the viscious cycle of death and rebirth. As he acts, so does he suffer (sggs 1028).
• gur kw sbdu kwtY koit krm: Gur ka Shabad kaatai koti karam: The Gur-Shabad eradicates Karma of millions of past actions (sggs 1159).
• cauQy suMnY jo nru jwxY qw kau pwpu n puMnµ]Git Git suMn kw jwxY Byau]Awid purKu inrMjn dyau: Chayuthai sunnai jo nar jaanai taa kayu paap na punnam. Ghatt ghat sunn kaa jaanai bheyu. Aadi purakh niranjan deyu: One who has realized the Fourth State (Sunn or the state of unconditioned Absolute Realty), is not subject to vice or virtue (Paap or Punn). One who knows the mystery of the Absolute Reality, who pervades each and every heart, he himself is the manifestation of the Primal Being, the Immaculate Divine (sggs 943).
• Awid jugwid dieAwpiq dwqw quDu ivxu mukiq n pweI: Aadi jugaadi daiaapati daataa tudhi vini mukti ni paaee: Since the very beginning of time, and throughout the ages, You have been the merciful and generous. Without You, liberation cannot be attained (sggs 991).

In conclusion, the ultimate purpose of human life is realization of the Unconditioned Reality within, the liberation from rebirth and death is the byproduct of this Spiritual Perfection. This is why a true seeker cares less for either liberation (Mukti) or materiality (Bhugti). For he is after the real thing: Realization of his Pure Being or Unconditioned Consciousness within — the unfoldment of the Spiritual Perfection that already exists in each one of us. All other things such as liberation, etc., are added unto him.

• rwju n cwhau mukiq n cwhau min pRIiq crn kmlwry: Raaj na chaahayu mukti na chaahayu man preet charan kamlaare: O Lord, I neither desire for empire (Bhugti or material realm) nor liberation (Mukti or celestial realm); my soul only longs for the love of your lotus feet (sggs 534).
• mukiq bpuVI BI igAwnI iqAwgy: Mukti bapurree bhee giaanee tiaage: The Spiritually wise forsake mere liberation (sggs 1078).
• Awpu pCwxY bUJY soie: Aap pachhanai boojhai soi: He who recognizes his Self comprehends God (sggs 25).
• ibnu rs rwqy mukiq n hoeI: Bin rs raate mukti na hoee: Without being imbued with the subtle essence within, there is no liberation (sggs 831).

Thus, liberation, freedom, deliverance or Nirvaana has to be discovered within. Also, liberation does not mean an end to intelligence, duty and responsibility. Neither it means running away from the world. It simply calls an end to the enslavement of the false ego-sense and the physical birth-death cycle. The Spiritual practices are all meant to develop control over one's mind; for only a meditative or unconditioned mind can intuit the bliss of his Pure Being within. A man of Self-realization continues to engage in all activities of the world at the level of the body-mind-intellect, but he is always poised in his True Being within. Thoughts continue to arise in the mind of a Self-realized person as they do in the minds of others, but the real difference is that with his unconditioned mind he ceases to be a slave to them and hence remains unaffected by them. To the contrary, the rest of us become slave of our thoughts. Therefore, though it is not possible to dismiss thoughts from the mind but one could with practice stop converting them from taking root as desires and fears. This is the reason realization of the Self, liberation or Nirvaana cannot be gifted to another like sharing some gross object or an empirical knowledge. It has to be realized by each individual for himself. Thus, liberation does not come without right understanding. As the Buddha says, "right views, right decision, right speech, right action, right living, right struggling, right thoughts, and right meditation", is the key.

• mukiq nhI ibidAw ibigAwin: Mukti nahee bidiaa bigiaani: Liberation does not come from learning without understanding (sggs 903).
• joiq inrMqir jwxIAY nwnk shij suBwie: Joti nirantar jaaneeyai Nanak sahaj subhaai: The Divine Light within is revealed, O Nanak, through Intuitive Understanding (sggs 55).
• igAwn ivhUxI BvY sbweI: Giaan vihoonee bhavai sabaaee: Without the Divine Knowlege, the entire world wanders about (sggs 1034).
• kuit kuit mnu ksvtI lwvY]kUtnu mukiq bhu mukiq bhu pwvY: Kutti kutti manu kasavattee laavai. Koottanu mukti bahu mukti bahu paavai: Pounding and struggling his mind, put it to the test. such a pimp attains total liberation (sggs 872).
• hir kw gwhku hovY so ley pwey rqnu vIcwrw]AMdru KolY idb idsit dyKY mukiq BMfwrw: Hari kaa gaahak hovai so lae paae ratanu veechaaraa. Andaru kholai dib disati dekhai mukti bhandaaraa: One who is a buyer of the Divine (Unconditioned Reality), finds it, and obtains the jewel of contemplation. He opens the doors deep within, and through the Eyes of Divine Vision, beholds the treasure of liberation (sggs 425).
• bUJY bUJnhwru ibbyk: Bujai bujjanhar bibek: Only one with discriminating intellect understands it (sggs 285).
• bUiJ bYrwgu kry jy koie]jnm mrx iPir sogu n hoie: Boojh bairaagu kare je koi. janam maran fir sog na hoi: Only if someone becomes detached through understanding, he will not have to suffer in birth and death again (sggs 1145).
• sB kY mDy Ailpq inrbwxy: Sabh kai madhe alipat nirabaane: In the midst of the happenings of the world, remain detached and balanced in Nirvaana (sggs 102).
• igRhsq mih soeI inrbwnu: Grihasat mahi soee nirabaan: In the midst of your household, remain in Nirvana (sggs 281).

To realize the Unconditioned Reality, Baabaa Nanak explains the five stages of Spiritual journey, and eight-fold practice for freeing the intelligence from the cloud of false ego-sense and from the thunderstorm of intense cravings. The five stages or realms of Spiritual journey are: the realm of Moral Duty or Dharma Khand, the realm of Spiritual Knowledge or Giyan Khand, the realm of Spiritual efforts or Saram Khand, the realm of Grace or Karam khand, the realm of Truth or Sach Khand (sggs 7-8). And the eight-fold practice to realize this journey is: continence or self-discipline (Jata pahaaraa); patience or Self-mastery (Dheeraj suniyar); proper Understanding or Intuitive Wisdom (Aihran mata); Self-knowledge or Realization (Ved hathiyar); Fear of God (Bhaou khallaa); Tapa (Agan Tapa taaou); devotion or Divine Love (Bhaanda bhaaou); Meditation on Divine Name and Prayer, leading to Purity or Immortality (Amrit tita dhaal) (sggs 8).

• jYsy jl mih kmlu inrwlmu murgweI nY swxy]suriq sbid Bv swgru qrIAY nwnk nwmu vKwxy]rhih iekWiq eyko min visAw Awsw mwih inrwso]Agmu Agocru dyiK idKwey nwnku qw kw dwso: Jaise jal mahi kamal niraalam muragaaee nai saane. Surti sabadi bhav saagar tareeai Nanak naam vakhaane. Rahahi ekaanti eko mani vasiaa aasaa maahi niraaso. Agam agochar dekhi dikhaae Nanak taa kaa daaso: The lotus flower floats untouched upon the surface of the water, and the duck swims through the stream; with one's consciousness focused on the Shabad-Surti (Unconditioned Reality), one crosses over the terrifying world-ocean (birth-death cycle). O Nanak, chant the Divine Name. One who lives alone, as a hermit, enshrining the One Reality in his mind, remaining unaffected by hope in the midst of hope, sees and inspires others to see the inaccessible, unfathomable Being. Nanak is his slave (sggs 938).
• mwrgu mukqw haumY mwir: Maaragu muktaa houmai maar: The path of liberation is found by subduing the ego (sggs 1274).
• AMjn mwih inrMjin rhIAY jog jugiq iev pweIAY: Anjan maahi niranjan rahaeeai jyog jugati iv paaeeai: Remaining pure in the midst of the worldly filth — this is the way to attain Yoga (sggs 730).
• min inrml nwmu iDAweIAY qw pwey moK duAwru: Man niramal naam dhiaaeeai taa paae mokh duaaru: Meditating on the Divine Name with a pure mind, the Door of Liberation is found (sggs 33).
• nwm ivhUxw mukiq ikv hoeI: Naam vihoonaa mukti kiv hoee: Without meditation on the Divine Name, how can anyone find liberation? (sggs 931).
• qoVy bMDn hovY mukqu sbdu mMin vswey: Torre bandhan hovai mukti sabad manni vasaae: Break your bonds, and attain liberation; enshrine the Shabad (Divine Name) within your mind (sggs 920).
• hir kI Bgiq mukiq Awnµdu: Har kee bhagati mukti aanandu: Through devotional worship of the Divine, liberation and bliss are obtained (sggs 154).
• mukiq bYkuMT swD kI sMgiq jn pwieE hir kw Dwm: Mukti baikunth saadh kee sangati jan paaio hari kaa dhaam: Liberation and heaven are found in the Holy Company within; his humble servant finds there the home of the Divine (sggs 682).
• sMqhu gurmuiK mukiq giq pweI: Santahu gurmukhi mukti gati paaee: O (so-called) saints, by becoming Spiritual Beings (Gurmukhs), attain the state of liberation (sggs 911).

— T. Singh


More...