Hukam 1 – Earn A Righteous Living

The 1st Hukam of Sahib Sri Guru Gobind Singh Sahib Ji is ‘kirat dharam ki karni’ translating to earning an righteous living. One of Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s key teachings is also ‘kirat karo’ which translates to earning an honest living. Whether it be Guru Nanak Dev Ji or Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the message is one and the same. That is because it is a message delivered directly by the Creator of all realms, universes and life forms as Maharaj Ji says in Gurbani:

 

(Guru Arjan Dev Ji, Ang 627)

 

The question is, why has this message been so significantly highlighted by all 10 Gurus? The answer is simple, its a message of truth.

ਸਚਹੁਂ ਓਰੈ ਸਭ ਕਿਛੁ ਉਪਰਿ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਸਚੁ ਆਚਾਰਾ॥
Everything is below truth but, for the gurmukhs truthful conduct is higher than the truth.
(Bhai Gurdas Ji, Vaar 39, Pauri 6)

As Bhai Gurdas Ji says: ‘Above all is truthful living.’ The manner in which Waheguru has created this planet with its various complexities means that earning a living is a reality the majority of us will have to face. If truthful living is the highest form of living then earning a righteous living falls under this. But what does it mean to earn a living? Earning a living in a western context is to earn an income sufficient to live off. So this should be simple, Sikhs should just find a suitable job that enables them to live comfortably with the necessary essentials, without being deceitful. However, life wasn’t made this simple. Demons such as Greed, Ego and Attachment always play their part. 

ਏਹੁ ਮਨੁ ਮੂਰਖੁ ਲੋਭੀਆ ਲੋਭੇ ਲਗਾ ਲੁੋਭਾਨੁ ॥ 

This foolish mind is greedy; through greed, it becomes even more attached to greed.
(Guru Nanak Dev Ji, Ang 21)

 

This leads people to live a life of selfishness and deceit fuelled by falsehood. The temptations to make money that may not come under the banner of earning an honest living then takes over. For example, selling drugs/alcohol and ruining someones life in the process is not exactly what Maharaj Ji meant by earning an honest living. To earn money by way of scam or fraudulent activity is also something that does not fit the bill. To make money through deceitful actions or corruption (something which plagues the Sikh/Punjabi community) is another. Anything that involves falsehood can not be accepted as an honest or righteous means to make money. 

 

ਸੋ ਝੂਠਾ ਜੋ ਝੂਠੇ ਲਾਗੈ ਝੂਠੇ ਕਰਮ ਕਮਾਈ ॥ 
One who is attached to falsehood is false; false are the deeds he does. 
(Guru Amar Daas Ji, Ang 490)

While it is true that the world works off of money, it is something that has to be treated in the right manner. Essentially, when we die nothing that we had done on this planet will mean anything other than our righteous acts. Maharaj Ji says in Gurbani: 

 

ਧਨੁ ਜੋਬਨੁ ਅਰੁ ਫੁਲੜਾ ਨਾਠੀਅੜੇ ਦਿਨ ਚਾਰਿ ॥
Wealth, the beauty of youth and flowers are guests for only a few days.

Like the leaves of the water-lily, they wither and fade and finally die. ||1||
(Guru Nanak Dev Ji, Ang 23)

 

If money isn’t treated in the right way, it can quite easily take over an individuals life. This is more prevalent in western society where life seems to be centred around earning as much money as possible in the quickest amount of time. The problem with living life in this manner is that an individual tends to become a slave to money and will do whatever it takes to get it. Maharaj Ji uses a beautiful analogy in Gurbani:

 

The love of Maya is enticing; without teeth, it has eaten up the world.

Ideally, a living is something that you can work on for the rest of your life. However, the idea of ‘quick money’ is being adopted by the youth within our communities who seem to not care or understand the consequences of their actions. We will all have a karmic debt to pay when we die if we do not wake up and realise who we are and how we need to live this gift of life. The Guru’s message of ‘recognise yourself’ seems more poignant now than ever.

Earning a living also goes beyond something that is ‘part-time’ or ‘in between’, its something that you envisage yourself doing for life. Sometimes we may have to get part-time jobs to make ends meet which still needs to fit the criteria of righteous living.

A righteous living in a western context is one that provides happiness without sacrificing righteousness. This could include jobs that have positive externalities which go beyond materialistic pleasure and pleases your soul and others (such as social care, teaching, entrepreneurship, medicine etc). This doesn’t necessarily translate to having the biggest houses or the flashiest cars as no matter how much money you have, the desire for these things never goes away. 

ਬਿਨਾ ਸੰਤੋਖ ਨਹੀ ਕੋਊ ਰਾਜੈ ॥
Without contentment, no one is satisfied.

ਸੁਪਨ ਮਨੋਰਥ ਬ੍ਰਿਥੇ ਸਭ ਕਾਜੈ ॥
Like the objects in a dream, all his efforts are in vain.
(Guru Arjan Dev Ji, 278)

 

In reality, the ‘Raaj’ or empire given to The Sikhs was one of Santokh (contentment); making the best of life with whatever fruits it presents you. Without this virtue, your fire of desire within will never appease hence its importance in the first Hukam.