What to talk about Siri Oankaar Sahib (also known as Dakhni Oankaar). This Baani is so concentrated as far as divine Gurmat knowledge is concerned that one goes into Vismaad if one does even a little bit of Vichaar of this Baani. Each and every Pankiti is a Mahavaak. The Chaal of this Baani is so smooth that with little practice, one can do Paath of this Baani with great fluency. Great mystical secrets are hidden in this Baani and this is the reason why serious seekers of Vaheguru do Nitnem of this Baani. It hardly takes 12-15 minutes to do Paath of this Baani but the benefits of doing Nitnem of this Baani are countless. Just try doing Paath of this Baani along with Siri Baavan Akhri and Siri Sidh Gosht, and then see how much Anand it brings.
An attempt has been undertaken to highlight the great Mahavaaks of this Baani. Below are some of our questions that are answered by Siri Oankaar Sahib. Bhul Chuk dee Muaafi jee.
1. How can we recognize our permanent abode?ਅੰਤਰਿ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਏਕੁ ਪਛਾਣੈ ਇਉ ਘਰੁ ਮਹਲੁ ਸਿਞਾਪੈ ॥Humble Vichaar: Guru Sahib in this Mahavaak is saying that if through intensive Naam Abhyaas, the seeker realizes and has full faith that within and without, there is only one power - Vaheguru - then one can find one's permanent abode. While living in this world, the permanent abode is that place within the body where the mind can rest. Gurmukhs of high Avastha, find the Dasam Duaar within this body and enjoy the divine bliss there and after leaving this body, the Jeev-Aatma gets place in Sachkhand which is the permanent abode of Bhagats and where Bhagats stay immersed in the Amrit Roopi Vaheguru.
2. Why did the Jeev (creature) come to this world?ਲਾਹੇ ਕਾਰਣਿ ਆਇਆ ਜਗਿ ॥Humble Vichaar: The Jeev has come to this world to attain Laaha (the divine profit). This Laaha comes when the Jeev engages in serious Gurmat Prema Bhagti while stopping sinful actions. Sinful actions according to Gurmat are such actions that are against Gurmat. Before one can do Gurmat Prema Bhagti, one has to first offer his or her head to Guru Sahib and in return get Gurmat Naam. This occurs at the time of Amrit Sinchaar. Then after getting Amrit and keeping Rehit, one can engage in Gurmat Prema Bhagti that involves lovingly chanting the Gurmat Naam and singing or just uttering the Gurbani roopi Harguns.
3. How do the foolish worldly people treat rich people?ਆਥਿ ਸੈਲ ਨੀਚ ਘਰਿ ਹੋਇ ॥
ਆਥਿ ਦੇਖਿ ਨਿਵੈ ਜਿਸੁ ਦੋਇ ॥
ਆਥਿ ਹੋਇ ਤਾ ਮੁਗਧੁ ਸਿਆਨਾ ॥
ਭਗਤਿ ਬਿਹੂਨਾ ਜਗ ਬਉਰਾਨਾ ॥Humble Vichaar: The translation of the above Pankitis is - (the foolish worldly people consider the worldly wealth as real and for this reason) even if wealth is in the house of a sinful (neech) person, still both poor and rich people bow before such person. Such is the way of this world that even a foolish person is considered wise if he is rich. Without Bhagati (Bhagat-Bihoona) the whole world has gone crazy.
It would be fine if worldly ignorant people were to engage in exhibition of false worldy wealth but when we see Amritdhari people, displaying their wealth by spending lavishly on weddings and parties, it really gets surprising. Why on the Earth would a Gursikh, who knows that the worldy wealth is Kaacha Dhan, display their wealth on weddings and parties? If Gursikhs wear simple Gurmukhi Libaas (Baana), then even ignorant Amritdharis look down on them and think that they are wasting their life. They look down on simple Gursikhs who don't have too much wealth or who don't exhibit their wealth.
This is a sure sign of Chardi Kala of a Gursikh that a Gursikh never feels proud nor cares of possessing worldly wealth. If an Amritdhari gets excited by a sports car, expensive worldy clothes etc. then it is safe to assume that Gurbani has not yet touched such Amritdhari person. While Mayadhari Amritdharis look down on poor Gurmukhs, the Gurmukhs on the other hand feel sorry for such astray-led people and wish for Gurbani to touch their hearts.
4. Why do diseases occur in the body and how to eliminate the pain?ਵਿਣੁ ਨਾਵੈ ਵੇਰੋਧੁ ਸਰੀਰ ॥
ਕਿਉ ਨ ਮਿਲਹਿ ਕਾਟਹਿ ਮਨ ਪੀਰ ॥Humble Vichaar: Without Naam, contradictions start occuring in the body. The body gets diseased and the way to eliminate the pain caused by diseases and other problems of the body is to meet Vaheguru through Naam Abhyaas. A Gursikh knows that the only way to eliminate the disease is through Naam and Gurbani. There is no other permanent way.
5. Who is a Giani (wise)?ਗੁਣ ਵੀਚਾਰੇ ਗਿਆਨੀ ਸੋਇ ॥Humble Vichaar: One who does Vichaar of Gunns is a Giani. How do you do Vichaar of Gunns (qualities) of Vaheguru? The answer is by determining the Gunns of Vaheguru and then engraving these Gunns in our heart. How do you know the qualities of Vaheguru? There is only one place where qualities of Vaheguru are listed - Siri Guru Granth Sahib jee. So the meaning of this Pankiti is that one who does Vichaar of Gurbani is a Giani. Rest of the world is foolish. Only that person who engages in Gurbani Paath, Gurbani Kirtan and Gurbani Vichaar is Giani. Rest is all darkness. Where else would you find Gunns of Vaheguru but in Gurbani. No wonder Guru Sahib has called Gurbani the light of this world - Gurbani iss Jagg meh Chaanan...
6. Where from can divine knowledge be gained?ਗੁਣ ਮਹਿ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਪਰਾਪਤਿ ਹੋਇ ॥Humble Vichaar: The divine knowledge or Gyaan comes from the Gunns of Vaheguru i.e. Gurbani. Gurbani is the list of Vaheguru jee's Gunns and one who utters Gurbani, sings Gurbani and does Vichaar of Gurbani gets divine Gyaan. Rest of the educations are false because these are studies of matter which is false.
7. How do Kaam (lust) and Krodh (anger) affect the body?ਕਾਮੁ ਕ੍ਰੋਧੁ ਕਾਇਆ ਕਉ ਗਾਲੈ ॥
ਜਿਉ ਕੰਚਨ ਸੋਹਾਗਾ ਢਾਲੈ ॥Humble Vichaar: Kaam and Krodh destroy the body as Borax dissolves gold. In these Western countries, they teach in schools that engaging in Kaam is perfectly natural and even self-gratification is fine and has no side-effects but Gurbani is clearly saying that Kaam and Krodh destroy the body. Gursikhs are going to believe what Gurbani is saying and for this reason try as much as possible to stay away from Kaam and Krodh.
A Gursikh is that who does not even look at someone with a lustful eye, let alone indulging in full fledged Kaam but we see that the youth now a days has little regard for what Guru Sahib is saying. Even the Sujaan (knowledgeable) young Gursikhs don't hesitate in forming girlfriend-boyfriend relationships which is pure Manmat according to Gurbani. They brag about their wish to meet Vaheguru but are engaged in making boyfriends or girlfriends. Then they complain that their mind does not get focussed when doing Paath. How will the mind focus on Gurbani when we don't stop our sinful activities and thoughts?
Similarly, getting swayed by anger and resolving to violence is a common thing in youth today but a Gursikh is supposed to stay humble and peaceful. Guru Sahib took up the sword only after all other means to maintain peace were exhausted and then too we see that Guru Sahib was always prepared to settle things peacefully, even after incurring so much worldly loss.
8. How to get rid of stress (worries)?ਚਿੰਤਤ ਹੀ ਦੀਸੈ ਸਭੁ ਕੋਇ ॥
ਚੇਤਹਿ ਏਕੁ ਤਹੀ ਸੁਖੁ ਹੋਇ ॥Humble Vichaar: The whole world is diseased by the disease of anxiety or stress. Only by remembering the One, does one get Sukh (happiness, comfort). Naam brings Shanti (peace) to the mind. Otherwise one gets drowned in the ocean of worries and anxiety.
9. How to be saved from Kaal or continuous death?ਕਾਲੁ ਨ ਚਾਂਪੈ ਹਰਿ ਗੁਣ ਗਾਇ ॥Humble Vichaar: Kaal or Jammdoots do not destroy, if one is engaged in singing the Hargun i.e. doing Gurbani Kirtan. Dharam Rai has given orders to his Jammdoots to not go near such place where Gursikhs are doing Kirtan.
10. How to get all the treasures of the world?ਪਾਈ ਨਵ ਨਿਧਿ ਹਰਿ ਕੈ ਨਾਇ ॥Humble Vichaar: All treasures are attained through the HarNaam i.e. Gurmat Naam.
11. Should a Sikh imitate Guru Sahib?ਗੁਰਿ ਕਹਿਆ ਸਾ ਕਾਰ ਕਮਾਵਹੁ ॥
ਗੁਰ ਕੀ ਕਰਣੀ ਕਾਹੇ ਧਾਵਹੁ ॥
ਨਾਨਕ ਗੁਰਮਤਿ ਸਾਚਿ ਸਮਾਵਹੁ ॥27॥Humble Vichaar:Do what Guru Sahib has ordered; why do you try to do what Guru Sahib has done? Through Gurmat, merge in Saach Vaheguru.
This Hukam seems to be for such Gursikhs who after getting little advancement in spirituality start considering themselves as similar to Guru Sahib. They let people do Matha-tek to them and they also start giving Naam.
There are two kinds of pseudo gurus out there. The first kind are blatant violators who openly declare themselves as gurus and saviours e.g. Radhasoami and Naamdhari gurus. It is obvious that we are to stay away from such pseudo gurus but more danger is from the second kind of pseudo spiritual leaders.
The second kind are those who call themselves sants and maintain the garb of Sikhi. These sants don't openly declare themselves as gurus but do all the actions that are the rights of only Guru Sahib. These sants give Naam, let Mathatek etc. These kinds of sants too should be avoided and all faith should be kept on Guru Sahib and Sadh-Sangat. Such person is worthy of great respect and honour, who stays within the contraints of Gurmat, stays a Gursikh, despite getting all the spiritual powers and being close to Vaheguru.
12. How does a loving relationship come to an end?ਟੂਟਿ ਪਰੀਤਿ ਗਈ ਬੁਰ ਬੋਲਿ ॥Humble Vichaar: By speaking rudely, loving relationship comes to an end. So if we want to keep loving relationship with our loved ones, we should not speak rude words.
Gurbani is Agam Agaadh Bodh.
Kulbir Singh
ਸਤਿਗੁਰਬਚਨਕਮਾਵਣੇਸਚਾਏਹੁਵੀਚਾਰੁ॥
