Gems of Gurbani

Guru Granth Sahib

Onkar  13

Wealth, wealth everyone cries for it but it does not go with to the other world. When man dies his soul swan rises and departs and crestfallen he lies dead and forsakes all his wealth. The false soul is harassed by the couriers of death and man dies with all his demerits and falsehood attached to him. If one is virtuous and turns his back to the worldly desires merges in mind itself. With all that I amness of ego many have perished. Without the Name they have found grief alone. Where are those forts, mansions, palaces? They are all short lived plays in His court. Nanak without His Name coming and going in this world is false. The Lord Himself is clever, wise and beauteous. Himself accomplished and Omniscient II 42 II

According to Hindu belief when man departs from this world, his soul wanders into 8.4 million forms of life that may be anything from animal, birds, fishes to microbes before it can come back into human life again. Only after this coming and going into life man can attain moksha when the soul becomes free to unite with the Lord. In the following passage of Onkar bani Guru Nanakji explains His point of view.

They who come to this world shall ultimately go. This cycle of coming and going continues so does the repenting. They pass through 8.4 million existences and the number decreases not nor does it soar. Only those persons are saved from this cycle, who loves their Lord. Their struggle ends because they overcame the illusions of worldly wealth. Whoever I see is merged in this worldly illusion. Whom shall I befriend then? I surrender my ego, my mind, my body and soul to you O Creator Lord and I seek only your support to lean. The ego is stilled when virtues develop and imbued with His Name the world is forgotten II 43 II

None of the Kings and nobles, none of the rich and pauper or any beggar is to stay here. No one is stable and everybody goes on their turn. The path is described pernicious, impressible, dreadful and full of seas, oceans and mountains. With all the collection of sins the body is suffering grief. Without virtues how shall I enter my home (home is the soul that unites with the Lord)? Those virtuous ones have left to meet the Lord. How can I have that love to meet the virtuous ones? Contemplating and remembering God within my mind the enemy of ego; May I ever become like them? The mortal is full of sins but virtues also abide there with him. Without the true Guru and without reflecting on Lord and His Name the virtues remain suppressed II 44 II

The virtuous ones are like soldiers in God’s army with pay fixed before they come into this world. They perform their duties fixed by the Lord and obtain the benefits. From their mind they forsake and forget covetousness, avarice and evil. In their body fortress they consolidate the victory of their Emperor and never return defeated. He, who calls himself the servant of the Lord and replies Him with defiance loses His benevolence and never gets to sit on throne. The Lord retains all glories in His hand and gives only to those with whom He is pleased. He, Himself does everything. Other than Him, whom shall I ask? No one else can do what He does II 45 II