The other day I was at work and I came across this Western quote
""We were put on this earth not to see through each other, but to see each other through" ~Author Unknown
The original quote is ""God has not called us to see through each other, but to see each other through."~Author Unknown
I believe the meaning of this quote is we shouldnt treat each other as they are invisible and non-existent, but instead try to help people.
I think this is a great quote but in many ways lacking the full force that Gurbani has. This quote reminds of the pangti
"naa ko bairee nehee bigaanaa sagal sa(n)g ham ko ban aaee"
No one is my enemy, and no one is a stranger. I feel connected to everyone.
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meaning by doing Bhagti with the Bhagat Sangat ( company of exalted souls) one becomes one with WaaheGuru. The feeling of self (ego) is completlely decimated in the comapany of Sadh Sangat. One only sees God in oneself and in others.
This sense of inter-connectivenss is only to be found in the Gurus Sangat because Gurus Sangat is based on true/sincere and principled love thus making it the most distinct.
The Abrahamic understanding of God is that God is very revengeful and unforgivable. This is why many of them believe bad people suffer in hell for all eternity without a second chance of redemption.
The Hindus also have an indifferent, unattached and emotionless God. Its why many " religious sadhus" wanting to be one with God detach them self from society and look down upon society. Those "religious people" like the Brahmins who dont renounce society decide to rule and exploit society instead.
But in Sikhi , God is seen as an interpersonal being who always loves his creation. Thats why its extremely difficult for a Gurmukh to have hate in his heart for anyone. Even if people do bad things they still have no room for hate in the heart .They try to help people through instead of trying to see through people. Because their God is a kind and and loving God whom helps and protects those in need this God of a principled love has been neglected through most of history.
For example, the Hindus did not worship Raam ( God). They did not see Raam in everyone. They would not help those in need since their principles teach them some are high and others are low. Thus how can such people feel a connection to anyone. Muslims did not worship Allah . Their understanding of God was dualistic. They saw themselves as true believers while the rest were kafirs ( apostates) They had no love for anybody thus they would feel no remorse in killing innocent people due to difference of beliefs. Their principles were based on hate and anger.
Baba Sri Guru Nanak Sahib Ji Maharaj was the roop of Akal Purakh. The love of Akal Purakh was manifested in Baba Sri Guru Nanak Sahib Ji Maharaj. Akal Purakh loves everyone. He helped everybody in need, and showed no discrimination nor did he show indifference to suffering. THe compassion of Baba Nanak was truly the compassion of God. Akal Purakh does not feel indifferent to the world. Guru Sahib did not renounce the world instead he embraced it and saved it from drowning.
Because Akal Purakh is interpersonal the Gurmukhs always feel close to God. They are able to experience this love because they follow the principles of Guru Sahib. The love they received from GOd they showed to others, and because this quality of love was exchanged others people began to realize how real and interpersonal God really is. The love earned in Sadh Sangat destroys all hate and discirimination one has.One lose these vices and regards everyone as a friend.
gee gilaan saadhh kai sa(n)g ||man than raatho har kai ra(n)g
In the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, my ahate/jealousy is gone.My mind and body are imbued with love for the Lord.
This is the beauty of Sadh Sangat in Sikhi. Through Sadh Sangat one gets a change to practice the greatest deed ( Nam Japna) and one gets to practice the greatest ethic which is seeing God in others. In Sikhi one can still live as a Sadhu and be part of the Sadh Sangat as a family man.
All the Great Gurmukhs always regarded their spouse as a spiritual friend to help one another experience and attain WaaheGuru. Some of these Gurmukhs include Baba Waryam Singh Ji, Bhai Randhir Singh Ji, and Bhagat Kabir Ji.
For example in the following Shabad Bhagat Kabir Jis wife Loi warns Kabir Ji how the pakhandi sadhus are robbing Kabir Ji . Guru Sahib mentions to Loi how Bhagat Kabir Ji is being fooled by these freeloaders, and fake Godless ( beypeer) sadhus. [
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Mata Loi Jee was able to help Bhagat Kabir Ji to renounce these fake babey and come into the company of the True GUru. If Bhagat Kabir Ji did not have the great company of his wise Gurmukh wife who knows where he would have been?
In Sikhi, the Husband and Wife relationship is based on this principle of earning his love through Sangat in which Husband and wife experience union with God while doing Bhagti. The individual selves become decimated and one gets that sense of interconnection to the light that exist in everything. One is able to recognize God in others. Guru Sahib states
dhhan pir eaehi n aakheean behan eikat(h)ae hoe ||
They are not said to be husband and wife, who merely sit together.
eaek joth dhue moorathee dhhan pir keheeai soe ||3||
They alone are called husband and wife, who have one light in two bodies.
This is how husband and wife learn to love one another . Because they experience WaaheGuru first hand . His love becomes interpersonal and they begin to exhange this love with one another. Its not a false sense of love where they get attached to one another. Instead its a principled love which one commits to on the day of Anand Karaj. THe principle being each spouse will be committed in helping the other spouse experience and reach WaaheGuru. THus this principled love- practice in the sangat of Husband and wife becomes part of the daily rehat.
ਆਪਨਿ ਇਸਤ੍ਰੀ ਸੋਂ ਰਤਿ ਹੋਈ l ਰਹਤਵੱਤ ਸਿੱਘ ਹੈ ਸੋਈ
Principled Sikhs love their spouse.
Bhai Desa Singh Ji
Unfortunately many Sikhs do not expand this love outside of marriage, and then love becomes an attachment to ones spouse. Whatever love earned from God should be expanded. Because the love is interpersonal it that does discriminate it feels connected to everyone and tries to help everyone experience God. Personally I believe Husband and Wife should not be so attached to each other that they begin to view themselves as something more than spiritual friends. Because the sole purpose of getting Married is for sangat to gain Gods love, not through physical contact but through Bhagti and devotion to WaaheGuru. There is no difference between Gods love and Guru Jis loves. One can only gain Guru Jis love through rehat.
Rehat Pyaarey Mujh Ko Sikh Pyaarey Nahi
The principled Sikh is more dear to me then that person who just calls themselves as a Sikh.
Bhai Desa Singh JI
By following the principles of Guru Ji Gods love is gained ,and this interpersonal love is stronger then Iron. By accepting Panj Kakkars and following GUru jis rehat. We will always be in the Gurus Sangat.
The Gurus Sangat is a school of love; hate and animosity do not exist in such a place. In such a place God is close and interpersonal. In such a place a Gursikh learns that he should not see through people instead he should see people through. Meaning he/she should help others connect to Guru Jis sharan so we can earn and learn the love of God. The Gurus sangat is all about learning and gaining his love. If a fellow Gursikh makes mistakes the goal is to help and guide such Gursikhs back on to the principled path of love. Even if a Gursikh is still stuck in their ways and does not want to take any advice we should still view them as a fellow Sikhs whose goal is to experience and connect to the all pervading light through the Guidance of the True Guru. As the following quote indicates
ਜੇ ਕੋਈ ਗੁਰੂ ਨਾਲਹੁਂ ਭੁਲਦਾ ਹੋਵੈ ਤਾਂ ਸਮਝਾਵਣਾ, ਆਪਣੀਅਹੁੰ ਧਿਰਹੁੰ ਆਖਣਾ I ਜੇ ਮੰਨੇ ਨਾਹੀ ਤਾਂ ਓਹ ਜਾਣੇ ਏਹੁ ਆਖਣਾ ਗੁਰੂ ਕਾ ਹੈ I