As per a Mahavaak from Gurbani if one stays in the Sangat of Gursikhs, only then one falls in love with Vaheguru
ਸੰਤਾ ਸੰਗਤਿ ਮਿਲਿ ਰਹੈ ਤਾ ਸਚਿ ਲਗੈ ਪਿਆਰੁ ॥On the other hand, friendship with such persons who don't have love for Naam and Vaheguru results in problems:
ਮਨਮੁਖ ਸੇਤੀ ਦੋਸਤੀ ਥੋੜੜਿਆ ਦਿਨ ਚਾਰਿ ॥
ਇਸੁ ਪਰੀਤੀ ਤੁਟਦੀ ਵਿਲਮੁ ਨ ਹੋਵਈ ਇਤੁ ਦੋਸਤੀ ਚਲਨਿ ਵਿਕਾਰ ॥
ਜਿਨਾ ਅੰਦਰਿ ਸਚੇ ਕਾ ਭਉ ਨਾਹੀ ਨਾਮਿ ਨ ਕਰਹਿ ਪਿਆਰੁ ॥
ਨਾਨਕ ਤਿਨ ਸਿਉ ਕਿਆ ਕੀਚੈ ਦੋਸਤੀ ਜਿ ਆਪਿ ਭੁਲਾਏ ਕਰਤਾਰਿ ॥1॥(Friendship with Manmukhs is for four days only (shortlived). It does not take time in breaking of such friendship and this friendship results in evil tendencies (Vikaar). Ones who don't have fear of the True One (Vaheguru) and ones who don't have love for Naam; why have friendship with such people who have been led astray by Kartaar).
The above Gurbani Pankitis are very deep and lesson-giving. First Guru Sahib instructs us to not have associations with such people who don't have fear of Vaheguru and who don't have love for Naam because such association results in flow of sinful thoughts (Vikaars) in us but in the end Guru Sahib also informs us that Manmukhs are led astray by Kartaar Himself. The last Hukam is given to us so that we don't develop ego on our part and hatred for Manmukhs. Since they are led astray by Vaheguru, then this too must be true that if we are walking on the Path of Gursikhi, it is so because of grace of Vaheguru. So we should not become proud of being Gursikhs and should not have hatred for Manmukhs. We should avoid friendship with Manmukhs not because not out of hatred or pride but because it is the Hukam of Kartaar to do so.
Many a times, it has been noticed that when someone looks down on someone or mocks someone for committing a mistake, one finds oneself in a similar position, having committed a similar offense. So the stupidist thing to do is to mock someone or make fun of someone or look down on someone who has committed a mistake. All is happening as per the Divine Hukam of Vaheguru jee.
Presented below is a very pertinent Kabit from Bhai Gurdaas jee's Baani, that talks about different kinds of Sangat:
ਕਾਹੂ ਦਸਾਕੇ ਪਵਨ ਗਵਨ ਕੈ ਬਰਖਾ ਹੈ, ਕਾਹੂ ਦਸਾਕੇ ਪਵਨ ਬਾਦਰ ਬਿਲਾਤ ਹੈ ॥
ਕਾਹੂ ਜਲ ਪਾਨ ਕੀਏ ਰਹਤ ਅਰੋਗ ਦੋਹੀ, ਕਾਹੂ ਜਲ ਪਾਨ ਬਿਆਪੇ ਬ੍ਰਿਥਾ ਬਿਲਲਾਤ ਹੈ ॥
ਕਾਹੂ ਗ੍ਰਿਹ ਕੀ ਅਗਨਿ ਪਾਕ ਸਾਕ ਸਿਧਿ ਕਰੈ, ਕਾਹੂ ਗ੍ਰਿਹ ਕੀ ਅਗਨਿ ਭਵਨੁ ਜਗਤ ਹੈ ॥
ਕਾਹੂ ਕੀ ਸੰਗਤ ਮਿਲਿ ਜੀਵਨ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਹੁਇ, ਕਾਹੂ ਕੀ ਸੰਗਤਿ ਮਿਲਿ ਜਮੁਪੁਰਿ ਜਾਤ ਹੈ ॥549॥1. Air of some direction is such that results in rainfall and air of some direction is such that disburses the clouds.
2. Some kind of water results in making the body healthy but drinking some kind of water results in the person crying in pain.
3. Fire in some houses helps in cooking food and fire in some houses burns the whole house down.
4. Company of some (people) results in making one Jeevan Mukat and company (Sangat) of some (people) takes one to Jampur (hell).
The last Pankiti shows that bad Sangat takes one to hell and good Sangat results in Jeevan-Mukti spiritual state. Under the influence of the modern civilization, many Gursikhs ignore this very important Hukam of Guru Sahib and make friendships with non-devotees without any qualms. Then they are found asking questions like why can't I get up at Amritvela or why can't I concentrate on Naam etc. How would one get up at Amritvela when one goes to Manmukhi gatherings that end late night? Even late gatherings of Gursikhs result in sometimes missing Amritvela, then how on Earth would attending late Manmukhi gatherings enable one to get up at Amritvela too?
May Guru Sahib always bless us with such Sangat that prompts us to engage in Naam Abhyaas alone.
Bhul Chuk dee Maafi jee.
Kulbir Singh
ਸਤਿਗੁਰਬਚਨਕਮਾਵਣੇਸਚਾਏਹੁਵੀਚਾਰੁ॥
