Gems of Gurbani

Art of living – 3

Guru Nanak’s travels consolidated his faith in Almighty and his realization of the truth and the fact that the world has divided the Creator for their own beliefs and ideologies and these powerful people were imposing them on others. People were forgetting the Art of Living and there was darkness all around and only the way of powerful was working. This was not the way the Creator wanted His creation to be. Guru Nanak observed that the world has become place for struggling like the arena of wrestlers with two kinds of wrestlers the ones who listened to their own heart and mind and followed the negative forces of lust, wrath, greed, money and ego. He called them Manmukh and the others who followed the guidance of Guru (Creator) and remained in harmony with Creator and His creation were able to beat the negative forces. He called these wrestlers as Gurmukh. In one of his verse which is documented in Granth Sahib as Waar an art of poetry popular in Punjab that is usually sung to enhance the spirit of listeners to make them feel brave and depict the bravery of the person in whose praise it is sung. “Chhinj’ is very popular in Punjab till to date where wrestlers compete in tournaments. Guruji say:

                  Aappe Chhinj pawai, mallakhada rachiya I

                  Lathhe bhadhthu paye, Gurmukh machiya                                                                    Manmukh mare pachad, murakh kachiya I

                  Aaap bhide mare aap, aap karaj rachiya I4I              Waar Malhar, mahala 1,                                        

                                                                                                                   Page 1280

      By suggesting us that this world has become a struggling place like an arena of wrestlers Guru says, what we have to learn is that He has pervaded in us and given us part of his divinity and we have to recognize that and proceed to better our art of living. Though he says Lord Himself has created these discrepancies by making two personalities of opposing nature and caused strife by spreading the gospel of Vedas. Manmukh who only listens to his heart and mind is a worthless egocentric and looses in the court of Lord whereas Gurumukh who follows the instruction of Guru win over the lust and wrath like a warrior. Attachment and detachment are the two sides the Creator has created and it is the righteousness or dharma that will make the decision as to who is right. Guru says a Pauri in the same verse on page 1280    :

              Dove tarphe upaiy ek wartaiya  II                  

              Bed bani wartayi andar waad ghatiya II 

              Parvirat, nirvirat hathha dove wich dharma phire rebariya II

              Manmukh kache kudiyar tinni nischau dargah hariya  II

              Gurumukh sabad soor hai kaam krodh jinni mariya    II

The world is like a drama for the Creator and maybe He enjoys seeing the struggle of people but knows that whoever follows His instruction and create an atmosphere of harmony with all concerned will win over in His court.

To continue……