KnowThySelf

The greatness of SatSangat - Advice by Guru Har Rai Ji   Guru Har Rai Ji was once asked by the sangat, 'Guru Sahib Ji, could you please explain the meaning of sangat?' Guru Sahib replied, 'There are three form of Akaal Purakh Vaheguru, Nirgun Saroop - the Formless Being Sargun Saroop - the Form of the Formless GurShabad - Shabad of the Guru- Guru Granth Sahib Ji.' If ever the mind cannot focus or connect to the Nirgun Saroop of Vaheguru, then connect with GurShabad. But if while reading Gurbani, the mind runs around and still can't focus then go into satsangat. If in the sangat the mind doesn't settle and keep quiet, then there is no other means. Being in satsangat, all problems will be solved. One asked, 'Guru Sahib, what is satsangat? How do you recognize satsangat?' Guru Sahib replied, sqsµgiq kYsI jwxIAY ] Sathasangath Kaisee Jaaneeai || How is the Society of the Saints to be known? ijQY eyko nwmu vKwxIAY ] Jithhai

Dhan Mata Sahib Kaur Ji-  Teachings from one wife to another.  I have wondered quite some time about my mother. Someone who becomes the wife of my Guru, Guru Gobind Singh Ji, cannot be just a normal woman, She must be of some caliber, possessing good qualities, aura and energy that blends and align with my Father's. What is in my mother? How great is my mother? I couldn't help but find out about her. Mata Sahib Kaur Ji- there is a long history of her existence, and how she came about to meet Guru Gobind Singh Ji. All had been pre-planned by Ik, the Supreme One. Mataji, a daughter, a wife, a mother, a devotee, a friend, a sister, a leader, an advocate, a warrior, a runner, a servant, a woman. Mataji were the emblem of a soul bride (Sohagan, Gunvanti, Suchaji) as mentioned in Gurbani, for them, the world was Guru Gobind Singh Ji (Akal Purakh). Mataji would never eat without having darshan of Pitaji. Even after separation, she continued her devot

Four types of Dukh (Suffering) mentioned by Guru Nanak Dev Ji in Guru Granth Sahib Ji. mlwr mhlw 1 ] Malaar, First Mehl : duKu vyCoVw ieku duKu BUK ] Dukh Veshora Ek Dukh Bhookh || ieku duKu skqvwr jmdUq ] Ek Dukh Sakatvaar Jamdoot || ieku duKu rogu lgY qin Dwie ] Ek Dhukh Rog Lagai Tan Dhaae || vYd n Boly dwrU lwie ]1] Vaid N Bhole Daaroo Laae ||1|| This Shabad tells us the four types of pain/sufferings.  The first -   Dukh Veshora Dukh = Suffering Veshora = Separation In this phrase, Guru Sahib tells us, the first suffering or pain is pain of separation. A mother is in pain when separated from her child. A wife is in pain when separated from her husband. A king is in pain when separated from his throne. What happens then? One feels lonely. One then cries, wails, sometimes goes into depression due to separation.  What kind of separation is the ultimate separation though? Separation from Vaheguru. When we are separated from th

SPIRITUAL ADVICE BY GURU ANGAD DEV JI 1. Read and listen to bani with faith. 2. Do keertan by yourself. 3. Not to waste time without Naam. Do SIMRAN with every breath. Do not spend time on fruitless activity. 4. Put one's consciousness at Guru's feet. Sense SANGAT with dedication. 5. Have a giving attitude and forsake the desire to take and seize. 6. Go to Gurdwara to listen to keertan and do SEVA. 7. Consider yourself the slave of Vaheguru. Everything is His and His gifts to you. 8. Know Vaheguru as your best friend. Friends will never hurt you. 9. Submit everything to Vaheguru, even yourself as sacrifice and have no attachment to anything. DHAN GURU ANGAD DEV JI MAHARAJ -END-

Part 3 - The concept of hell and heaven Gurbani has confirmed the reality of heaven and hell. But heaven and hell are not the ultimate places in Sikhi. Gurbani gives the perspective of heaven and hell in this world and also hereafter. Gurbani says, ‘Not anyone should think she/he would receive honor hereafter - because s/he thinks so; she/he will be treated according to deeds.’ ‘By mere talk, people do not earn passage to Heaven. Salvation comes only from the practice of Truth..’ Gurbani says that heaven is where the remembrance of God is. ‘Heaven is where the Naam is chanted. All bliss comes, when one obtains the Blessed Vision of the Lord.’ ‘Liberation and heaven are found in the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy; his humble servant finds the home of the Lord.' Gurbani then says that hell is when the soul is stuck in the reincarnation cycle of birth and death.   ‘One who turns away from God suffers the hell of 84 lakh life forms.’

Part 2- Reincarnation Sikhi believes there are 8.4 millions live forms, and scientists have also come close to this figure. Reincarnation is the transmigration of the soul from one body (after its death) into another body. The soul gets transmigrated from one body to another until ultimately, through the human life, it is able to commit good deeds and unite with God.  Gurbani says, ‘One who does not know the Lord who created him, comes and goes in reincarnation over and over again.’ The only escape from the cycle of reincarnation is through Godliness and remembrance of God, which is the source of bliss. Gurbani gives example of the life form we take due to our actions in this life in Guru Granth Sahib Ji. Thoughts/actions in this life Next life form Indulge in wealth Serpent Sexual desires Prostitute Attachment towards children

  Part 1 -  Understanding life and death Life is just one breath. We think that our whole existence would be life, but truly, it takes one breath at a time to live. Gurbani says, ‘We are human beings of the briefest moment; we do not know the appointed time of our departure.’ Life is there when we are living in the present moment. Each breath we take, is a new life, as we decide what to do with each breath we take. We can either make this life fruitful being compassionate (remembering God) in every breath, or we waste this life by indulging in falsehood (hatred) that won’t even go with us when we die. Gurbani says, ‘Fareed, if I had known that I had so few sesame seeds, I would have been more careful with them in my hands.’ The sesame seeds are our breaths. If we know that we have limited time in this world, then why not value each seed of breath and make it meaningful? We need to understand the purpose of life . We are given this life so the soul

Raja Janak Ji- Translated from Sri Gur Bhagat Mala Steek by Pandit Narain Ji Raja Janak was a king of Mithlapuri. He was a good hearted person. He always ensured justice in his kingdom and was always compassionate toward the poor. He worshipped Shiv Ji’s bow that he was given. One day, a saint came to Raja Janak and asked him a question, ‘Hey Raja, who is your Guru?’ Raja Janak started thinking and after some time replied, ‘Until today, I have not accepted anyone as my Guru. I only worship Shiv Ji’s bow.’ ‘Raja, adopt a Guru. Without a Guru, you cannot obtain liberation, and all your good deeds will go to waste. You are a good soul.’ Hearing this, Raja Janak agreed and called all his ministers to discuss this matter. He decided to call an assembly of saints, sadhus, pandits, Rishis and great scholars. From them, he would choose a Guru. The day came and all the saints and scholars came well prepared. They were discussing amongst themselves on who will be fit

Various Names of The Primal Being in Guru Granth Sahib Ji Name Origin Breakdown Meaning Parbrahm Sanskrit Par + Brahm The One who is beyond reach. Vaheguru Sanskrit Vah + Guru In awe of The One who brings us from the darkness of ignorance to light of self-realization. Narayan Sanskrit Nar + Aayan The One who is in every vein of the body. N + Ar + Aayan The One without any sins or faults - pure Bidhata Sanskrit The One who gives us gifts, who makes our fortune. Gobind/Govind Sanskrit Go + vind/bind The Protector of the whole universe. Gopal Sanskrit Go + pal The Sustainer of the whole universe Niranjan Sanskrit Nir + Anjan The One without any stain/ignorance of the truth/illusion. Pure Abhinasi/Avinasi Sanskrit A + vinash Cannot be destroyed