In this Hukam, Sahib Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji gives us a way in which to control the thoughts of the mind. The minds nature is to run in 10 different directions at the same time, always thinking about what’s to come next. Bad thoughts come into the mind without warning and it almost feels like the minds natural state is to have these bad thoughts. After all, it would make sense. Our brains have developed in a sinful environment so it’s only natural that this would have an effect on the thoughts within. ਕਹਉ ਕਹਾ ਅਪਨੀ ਅਧਮਾਈ ॥ What can I say about my base nature? ਉਰਝਿਓ ਕਨਕ ਕਾਮਨੀ ਕੇ ਰਸ ਨਹ ਕੀਰਤਿ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਗਾਈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ I am entangled in the love of gold and women, and I have not sung the Kirtan of God's Praises. ||1||Pause|| (Guru Teg Bahadur Ji, Ang 718) Anytime bad thoughts come into the mind (which they will) one must remember what to focus their consciousness on. Whether we are at work, school or generally in life, SatGuru Sahib instructs us to maintain our consciousness/thoughts on the ‘SatGuru’ (True Guru). Any action we take should be taken with the ‘SatGuru’ in mind. The concept of ‘SatGuru’ is interesting because if Guru means teacher then our greatest Guru is probably our mother. Therefore, a SatGuru, the True Guru, is the one who teaches the message of Truth unknown to the vast majority. For Sikhs, the true form of this SatGuru is Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Maharaj (which is affirmed in Hukam #10), and its teachings are what we should focus our thoughts on. This was affirmed by Guru Gobind Singh Ji who gave all Sikhs the command to follow Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji as the eternal SatGuru. ਸਭ ਸਿਖਨ ਕੋ ਹੁਕਮ ਹੈ ਗੁਰੂ ਮਾਨਿਯੋ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ॥ All Sikhs are ordained to follow Granth Sahib as the Guru. ਗੁਰੂ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ਜੀ ਮਾਨਿਯੋ ਪ੍ਰਗਟ ਗੁਰਾਂ ਕੀ ਦੇਹ ॥ Follow Guru Granth Sahib, revealed as the light of the ten Gurus. ਜੋ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕੋ ਮਿਲਬੋ ਚਹੈ ਖੋਜ ਸ਼ਬਦ ਮੈ ਲੇਹ ॥ Whoever wants to meet the Creator, search for him in the Guru's word. (Giani Gian Singh Ji) We have probably said these lines hundreds of times in the Ardaas but we needto appreciate just how deep they are. Maharaj is telling us the secrets to the mysteries of life. They are speaking of the unknown, the unseen & unheard. If we wish to meet the Creator of the 14 Realms, then we will find Him by placing our concentration on the Guru’s word/teachings.
For us as human beings, what do we know of these things? We are only aware of what we see, hear, think, touch or smell. Other than that, we are limited in what we know. This is why a Sikh trusts in the SatGuru because when they concentrate on the teachings and put them into practice, they work. Experience is ultimately subjective but when you experience the Creator (through his Name), we are told by the Guru, it is of the most sublime essence. Attaining the spiritual powers spoken about by Satguru ji is when the subjective experience becomes objective, but yet this is a small achievement in focussing on Satguru’s bani. In addition to that, we can look at the lives of the 10 SatGurus that blessed this Earth between 1469-1708. The only conclusion you can draw from their lives is that they were the embodiment of Sach (Truth).
ਭਨਤਿ ਨਾਮਦੇਉ ਸੁਕ੍ਰ ਤ ਸੁਮਤਿ ਭਏ ॥ Prays Naam Dayv, I have become a man of good deeds and good thoughts. ਗੁਰਮਤਿ ਰਾਮੁ ਕਹਿ ਕੋ ਕੋ ਨ ਬੈਕੁੰਠਿ ਗਏ ॥੨॥੨॥ Chanting the Lord's Name, under Guru's Instructions, who has not gone to heaven? ||2||2|| (Bhagat Namdev Ji, Ang 718) The essence of the teachings that the Guru gives us is to attach our consciousness to the Name of the Lord. This concept of the Name of the Lord is not restricted to just Sikhi. Even if we look at the Christian faith for example, the ‘Lord’s prayer’ (which Jesus Christ is said to have written himself) states ‘Hallowed be thy Name.’ The truth has no boundaries. It is eternal and inclusive. This is the mission we have all been sent here for. To beat the mind through concentrating on the teachings of the SatGuru who joins you with your Lord. ਇਕਨਾ ਨਾਦ ਨ ਬੇਦ ਨ ਗੀਅ ਰਸੁ ਰਸ ਕਸ ਨ ਜਾਣੰਤਿ ॥ Some do not understand about the Sound-current of the Naad or the Vedas, music, virtue or vice. ਇਕਨਾ ਸੁਧਿ ਨ ਬੁਧਿ ਨ ਅਕਲਿ ਸਰ ਅਖਰ ਕਾ ਭੇਉ ਨ ਲਹੰਤਿ ॥ Some are not blessed with understanding, intelligence, or sublime intellect; they do not grasp the mystery of God's Word. ਨਾਨਕ ਸੇ ਨਰ ਅਸਲਿ ਖਰ ਜਿ ਬਿਨੁ ਗੁਣ ਗਰਬੁ ਕਰੰਤਿ ॥੨॥ O Nanak, they are donkeys; they are very proud of themselves, but they have no virtues at all. ||2 (Guru Nanak Dev Ji, Ang 1246) For those that do not trust in SatGurus word, they miss out on the sublime essence of the Creator - this is shown in the 8th pauri of Asa Di Vaar when Satguru Nanak Ji question why such people were even born into the world. It is almost like somebody offering us the needle in the haystack only for us to refuse to accept it. We can not afford to lose the game of life through being hard-minded; accept the truth and renounce the falsehood. This is what our SatGuru teaches us and this is how they join us with our Lord. Trust in the Gurus teachings & apply them to your life; what have you got to lose? Who knows, you might just stumble across an ocean of sublime knowledge. ਪਉੜੀ ॥ Pauree: ਸੋ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਧਨੁ ਧੰਨੁ ਜਿਨਿ ਭਰਮ ਗੜੁ ਤੋੜਿਆ ॥ Blessed, blessed is the True Guru, who has demolished the fortress of doubt. ਸੋ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਵਾਹੁ ਵਾਹੁ ਜਿਨਿ ਹਰਿ ਸਿਉ ਜੋੜਿਆ ॥ Waaho! Waaho! - Hail! Hail! to the True Guru, who has united me with the Lord. ਨਾਮੁ ਨਿਧਾਨੁ ਅਖੁਟੁ ਗੁਰੁ ਦੇਇ ਦਾਰੂਓ ॥ The Guru has given me the medicine of the inexhaustible treasure of the Naam. ਮਹਾ ਰੋਗੁ ਬਿਕਰਾਲ ਤਿਨੈ ਬਿਦਾਰੂਓ ॥ He has banished the great and terrible disease. ਪਾਇਆ ਨਾਮੁ ਨਿਧਾਨੁ ਬਹੁਤੁ ਖਜਾਨਿਆ ॥ I have obtained the great treasure of the wealth of the Naam. ਜਿਤਾ ਜਨਮੁ ਅਪਾਰੁ ਆਪੁ ਪਛਾਨਿਆ ॥ I have obtained eternal life, recognizing my own self. ਮਹਿਮਾ ਕਹੀ ਨ ਜਾਇ ਗੁਰ ਸਮਰਥ ਦੇਵ ॥ The Glory of the all-powerful Divine Guru cannot be described. ਗੁਰ ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਪਰਮੇਸੁਰ ਅਪਰੰਪਰ ਅਲਖ ਅਭੇਵ ॥੧੬॥ The Guru is the Supreme Lord God, the Transcendent Lord, infinite, unseen and unknowable. ||16 (Guru Arjan Dev Ji, Ang 522)
