Complete (puran) And Incomplete Human Being

[gupt faujaan]

extracted from

Divine Mystic Reflections on Gurmat (www.sikhnation.com)

COMPLETE AND INCOMPLETE HUMAN BEING

There are two distinct types of human beings : the incomplete, and the complete (puran). The majority fall in the first group. The Puranpurush (complete being) are very few and can sometimes, be counted on the fingers of one's hand. The aim of Gurmat is to make us puran, and the way to achieve this aim is known as Panth.

Panth is not a name given to a clan or religion. There are already many religions in the world. By reading Gurbani with understanding, you will come to know that Guru Nanak Dev Ji did not start a new religion. The same is true in the case of the tenth Master, Guru Gobind Singh Ji. While he was meditating at Hem Kunt Sahib in his previous birth, he was summoned by the Almighty Lord to His presence and was ordered to start a new way of life and to call it Khalsa Panth. Khalsa Panth is a way of achieving Brahm Gyan or the way to become puran or complete.

Gurbani gives us the formula to be complete. It has been seen that we offer due respect to Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji outwardly, but we do not follow its teachings. To give due respect to Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is of the utmost necessity. Whatever respect we give to Guru Ji is yet not enough; even more important is to follow the teachings of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji and to bring them into our daily life.

Gurbani tells us 'Truth is high, but still higher is truthful living.' Just as one can churn butter from milk by following a certain procedure, likewise, by reading Gurbani with jugat, one can obtain Brahm Gyan or become

a Brahmgiani. Reading and listening to Gurbani should be done in such a way that it becomes a meditation. By regular Abhiyas, the surat or super thought should travel inward (antar dhian) wherein the creation and the Creator become one. An ardas done in this state never goes in vain and is alway successful.

ibrQI kdy n hoveI jn kI Ardwis ]

The prayer of God's slave goes not in vain ever.

(Sri Guru Granth Sahib Jee 819)

The ardas, which is done on reaching such a state of mind, is always successful as such a person has broken away from all ties with the material world and is united with the Lord. This is the path of happiness; the journey towards completeness, or to become puran (complete).

To join with something and to break away from something - this is the mystery of life. A person who learns this jugat, to join whenever he likes and to break away when he desires, has learned the secret of life.

When Bhulah Shah, a Pir, asked his spiritual Master, the way to God, the Master replied: pull from this side and plant that side, that is break away from this world and join with the Lord.

Gurbani teaches us the jugat or method of doing Simran. What is Simran? Simran is taking away the mind from worldly matters and keeping it in remembrance of the Lord, twenty-four hours of the day. It is breaking away from creation and joining with the Creator. Who is this Creator? This is the human being's inner-self or his centre. One who breaks away from one's centre will get into difficulties.

All ailments cling to that person who forgets the supreme Lord.

The non-believers of the Omnipresent Lord suffer separation from Him, birth after birth.

iKn mih kauVy hoie gey ijqVy mwieAw Bog ]

In an instant, all the pleasures of wealth become bitter.

(Sri Guru Granth Sahib Jee 135)

A flower, on breaking away from its branch, dies off. Why is

coal black ? The simple reason is that it has been separated from its centre - the fire. This is the law of nature: that anything separated from its centre withers away.

kwlI koiel qU ikq gun kwlI ]

O' black cuckoo, what qualities have rendered thee black?

(Sri Guru Granth Sahib Jee 794)

Baba Farid asks, "Why are you black O' bird."

Meaning: why is a human being always in difficulty.

The answer given by him is:

Apny pRIqm ky hau ibrhY jwlI ]

I have been burnt by separation from my beloved.

(Sri Guru Granth Sahib Jee 794)

Meaning: separation from the Lord has made me black, i.e.

landed me into all kinds of difficulties.

A person who wants to free himself from difficulties and wants to become puran (complete) should, by way of Naam Simran, channel his super thought inwards, towards his centre. One can only direct one's super-thought inwards to one's centre if one lives a disciplined life.

What is disciplined life?

Gurbani tells us in the following words:

Alp Ahwr sulp sI inMdRw dXw iCmw qn pRIiq ]

Eat little and sleep little and love the practice of compassion and forgiveness.

sIl sMqoK sdw inrbwihbo hêYbo iqRgux AqIiq ]2]

Be calm and contented and thus you will gain freedom from the 3 states. (Rajas, Tamas, Satva)

kwm kRoD hMkwr loB hT moh n mn isau lXwvY ]

Lust, anger, pride, greed, stubbornness and worldly love - stay away from these things.

qb hI Awqm qq ko drsy prm purK kh pwvY ]3]1]

Thus you will see the essence of your own soul and also realise the Supreme Lord.

(Shabad Hazare, Guru Gobind Singh Ji)