GEMS OF GURBANI

National Character - 22

Awareness of an evil Character

Lobh (Covetousness)

Guru Arjun ji says : ‘O’ Lobh you have swayed the best of men with your waves. Men’s mind wavers and wobbles in all possible directions, to gather more and more; thou has respect neither for friendship, nor ideal nor father nor mother nor kindreds. Thou makes one do what one must not do and to eat what is eaten not, and build what cannot be built. GG.Pg 1358 “ he lobh lampat sang sir morhe anik lehri kalol te………….” Lobh is defined as desire to posses but it is not simply that definition in Sikhism it is stressed more to an evil propensity. Guru Nanak says: “ the greedy mind is never at peace and outgoes in all directions.” GG.Pg.876 Ramkali M 1 Chaupadas. Guru Arjun ji  again reveal that :” for the greedy, riches become the mainstay of life.” GG.pg. 914 Ramkali M5. Guru Amar Dasji delve on social relationship of a greedy person who loses trust and is not trustworthy. He says;” The greedy is not loyal to anything else except his own riches, for he would deceive everyone else in the end.” GG. Pg.1417 M3 “ lobhi ka visah na kije………….. We can thus see the power of Lobh and condition of Lobhi who is under its sway. The attitude and behavior of a person changes under its sway and so its evil effect has to be analyzed. Again this activity lobh develops only if a man has tendencies to attract it and if the value system provides the ground to attract it. It can override the value system because its attraction creates awe not only in the individual but the society around him. That is when the evil nature may originate. It can create a feeling of unsatiation that in turn changes the subject under its sway and he starts exploitation. And the subject or self becomes continuously restless under its sway and he loses the percept of viewing its value properly. Another evil nature that the lobh brings out in a person is egoistic, individualist and selfish. The subject under its sway pays no attention to social relations, family obligations. The humanitarian aspect of an individual may get totally destroyed as Guru Amardas says the Lobhi becomes untrustworthy and devoid of social loyalties. Here lies the reason for this propensity to become evil because the actions of lobhi do not remain under his control. Guru Arjun ji tells about the psyche of a greedy person that; whenever he hears about a greed he runs after it instaneously because that gives him pleasure. GG.pg. 531 M5( lobh sune man such kar mane beg tah uth dhayeo II ) This lobh is an evil propensity and if one recognizes the evil The Almighty helps to emancipate from it. Guru Arjun ji’s following verse explains this; lobh vicar nav dubdi nikli ja satgur naam dridaye II GG.Pg 443 M5.