GEMS OF GURBANI

National Character – 20

Awareness of an evil character

Ahankar or hanker (Punjabi) is a greater evil then all other negative propensities in human beings. It originates as pride of beauty, wealth, possession, caste, class and knowledge. Don’t be surprised as I have added knowledge as a cause of pride. Knowledge is the genesis of pride and has changed the histories and destinies of many countries. The worst thing that knowledge has created is the racial discrimination, caste discrimination and this comes from the people who obtained knowledge and then divided the humanity. This has happened all over the world and its combination with greed to possess, over power and rule has given rise to worst kind of situation like apartheid. It also forces the victims to develop sub human feelings. In Indian context it has created caste system and the perpetrator was Brahmin who had obtained knowledge of Vedas and other scriptures but for his greed to retain this knowledge for self and his progeny he not only divided the society but created inhuman rules and regulations so that a large humanity remains under his thumb. On the other hand Jogis, rishi- munies who also obtained knowledge but escaped away from society and wandered alone to seek the union with God. Abandoning the humanity in their desolate condition was their selfishness. Guru Nanak had only reprimands for all these learned, knowledgeable people who could abandon the society to fall prey to invader  tyrants. To Brahmin Guru Nanak says: “jati dai kiya hath sachhuh parkhiye II mahura hove hath mariye chakhiye II GG pg 142 – what merit is in the caste? It is like poison in hand by tasting which one will die. One must recognize the righteousness and not the power of the caste.

Guru Nanak saw the discriminations being created by religious symbols, art of worshipping, new religion and newer philosophies and even the addresses of the Almighty and conflicts that only their address of HIM is right. Having all this strife in mind and then calling oneself Dharmi or righteous was the conditions or state of affairs that mankind was reduced to in his time. For all the existing religions and religious practices that took mankind away from belief in the Creator alone he had to say;

Manas khane kareh niwaz II

Chhuri vagayan tin gall taag II

Tin ghar Brahman pure naad II

Unah vi aveh oui saad II

Kuri raas kura vyopar II

Kur bole kareh aahar II

Saram dharma ka dera duur II

Nanak kur rahiya bharpur II  GG Pg 471

Meaning; The man eaters say the prayer, they who wield the knife wear the thread around their neck, in their homes the Brahmin sounds the conch, they too have the same taste, false is their trade and false is their capital, by telling falsehood they take their food, the abode of modesty and piety is far from them. Nanak falsehood is fully filling them all.

He further adds to these knowledgeable men: ‘Sabuh ko pura appe hove ghatt no koi akheh’ meaning; everyone deems himself perfect and none call himself imperfect. GG Pg 469.  The pride of knowledge is used only to wield power and earn a living. The pride or ahankar has been treated as haumai (ego)in Sikhism because that is the ultimate result of all possessions if one forgets the presence of Almighty. To continue…..