This is a very important question and a very relevant as well. The aim of human life is to meet Vaheguru and to meet Vaheguru one requires Gurmat Bhagti. Gurmat Bhagti in turn can be done if the seeker adopts certain virtues or Gunns. What are these Gunns? These Gunns are not listed at one place, in Gurbani but are spread out. In order to get these Gunns, we have to delve deep in Gurbani.
Vaheguru's own Virtues are needed to do BhagtiThe first Pankiti that has come to mind is the common Hukamnama Shabad that goes as follows:
ਹਰਿ ਕੇ ਗੁਣ ਹਰਿ ਭਾਵਦੇ ਸੇ ਗੁਰੂ ਤੇ ਪਾਏ ॥(Vaheguru loves his own virtues and these virtues can be obtained from Guru Sahib)
From the above pankiti it is clear that Vaheguru loves His virtues and one who possesses these virtues too gets loved by Him. We get very important information from this Pankiti - The virtues of Vaheguru can be obtained from Guru Sahib. Our Guru is Gurbani. Therefore, it is concluded that these Gurmat Virtues can be obtained from Gurbani - by reciting Gurbani and by doing Vichaar on Gurbani.
The above pankiti also opens the riddle of what virtues are required for Bhagti. These virtues are such that at first we ought to struggle to possess these virtues. This will aid our Naam Abhyaas and then when Naam Abhyaas starts giving fruit, these virtues will become part of our natural nature.
The Greatest Virtue or QualityAs per Gurbani the greatest virtue to possess is to consider Vaheguru Husband always near or close:
ਸਗਲ ਗੁਣਾ ਗੁਣ ਊਤਮੋ ਭਰਤਾ ਦੂਰਿ ਨ ਪਿਖੁ ਰੀ ॥1॥(The greatest of all qualities is to not see your Husband (Vaheguru) far away.)
Let's have a look at this whole Shabad that contains some very important lessons for Seekers of Vaheguru:
ਆਸਾ ਮਹਲਾ 5 ॥ ਸੰਤਾ ਕੀ ਹੋਇ ਦਾਸਰੀ ਏਹੁ ਅਚਾਰਾ ਸਿਖੁ ਰੀ ॥
ਸਗਲ ਗੁਣਾ ਗੁਣ ਊਤਮੋ ਭਰਤਾ ਦੂਰਿ ਨ ਪਿਖੁ ਰੀ ॥1॥
ਇਹੁ ਮਨੁ ਸੁੰਦਰਿ ਆਪਣਾ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮਿ ਮਜੀਠੈ ਰੰਗਿ ਰੀ ॥
ਤਿਆਗਿ ਸਿਆਣਪ ਚਾਤੁਰੀ ਤੂੰ ਜਾਣੁ ਗੁਪਾਲਹਿ ਸੰਗਿ ਰੀ ॥1॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
ਭਰਤਾ ਕਹੈ ਸੁ ਮਾਨੀਐ ਏਹੁ ਸੀਗਾਰੁ ਬਣਾਇ ਰੀ ॥
ਦੂਜਾ ਭਾਉ ਵਿਸਾਰੀਐ ਏਹੁ ਤੰਬੋਲਾ ਖਾਇ ਰੀ ॥2॥
ਗੁਰ ਕਾ ਸਬਦੁ ਕਰਿ ਦੀਪਕੋ ਇਹ ਸਤ ਕੀ ਸੇਜ ਬਿਛਾਇ ਰੀ ॥
ਆਠ ਪਹਰ ਕਰ ਜੋੜਿ ਰਹੁ ਤਉ ਭੇਟੈ ਹਰਿ ਰਾਇ ਰੀ ॥3॥
ਤਿਸ ਹੀ ਚਜੁ ਸੀਗਾਰੁ ਸਭੁ ਸਾਈ ਰੂਪਿ ਅਪਾਰਿ ਰੀ ॥
ਸਾਈ ਸੁੋਹਾਗਣਿ ਨਾਨਕਾ ਜੋ ਭਾਣੀ ਕਰਤਾਰਿ ਰੀ ॥4॥16॥118॥The above Shabads tells us some of the Gursikhi virtues needed to do Bhagti:
1) Become servant of Gurmukhs; learn this good characteristic.
2) Don't consider Vaheguru to be far from you.
3) Colour your mind in the permanent colour of Naam i.e. Japp Naam.
4) Give up the cleverness of your mind and consider Vaheguru to be with you (near you).
5) Do what you are told to do by Vaheguru i.e. obey Gurbani; let this be your Shingaar.
6) Give up love for anything other than Vaheguru (ਦੂਜਾ ਭਾਉ).
7) Lighten your inside with Guru's teaching (Shabad) and make your moral character high.
8) All 8 Pehars of the day, keep your hands folded i.e. chant Naam all day; then you will meet Vaheguru.
Keeping Khalsa RehitSiri Guru Gobind Singh jee has made it clear that keeping Rehit is of utmost importance:
ਰਹਿਣੀ ਰਹੈ ਸੋਈ ਸਿਖ ਮੇਰਾ ॥
ਓੁਹ ਠਾਕੁਰੁ ਮੈ ਉਸ ਕਾ ਚੇਰਾ ॥
ਰਹਿਤ ਬਿਨਾਂ ਨਹਿ ਸਿਖ ਕਹਾਵੈ ॥
ਰਹਿਤ ਬਿਨਾਂ ਦਰ ਚੋਟਾਂ ਖਾਵੈ ॥
ਰਹਿਤ ਬਿਨਾਂ ਸੁਖ ਕਬਹੁੰ ਨ ਲਹੇ ॥
ਤਾਂ ਤੇ ਰਹਿਤ ਸੁ ਦ੍ਰਿੜ ਕਰ ਰਹੈ ॥(A Sikh who keeps Rehit is my Sikh. He is my Master and I am his disciple. Without Rehit no one can be called a Sikh. Without Rehit, a Sikh would wander around getting hurt. Without Rehit a Sikh can never get happiness. Therefore, a Sikh must keep Rehit.)
Other Gurmat Virtues1) Truthful living, contentedness and Gurmat Vichaar are important Virtues for a Sikh -
...ਸਤੁ ਸੰਤੋਖੁ ਵੀਚਾਰੋ ॥2) Nirvairta and Nirbhaita - No-enmity and Fearlessness -
ਨਿਰਭਉ ਨਿਰਵੈਰੁ.3) Don't give Fear nor take anyone's Fear -
ਭੈ ਕਾਹੂ ਕਉ ਦੇਤ ਨਹਿ ਨਹਿ ਭੈ ਮਾਨਤ ਆਨ ॥4) Don't fear anyone other than Vaheguru -
ਬਿਨੁ ਹਰਿ ਭਉ ਕਾਹੇ ਕਾ ਮਾਨਹਿ ॥5) Don't do Ninda and Chugli -
ਨਿੰਦਾ ਭਲੀ ਕਿਸੈ ਕੀ ਨਾਹੀ ਮਨਮੁਖ ਮੁਗਧ ਕਰੰਨਿ॥There are many such virtues listed in Gurbani and a detailed article will be written on this subject in the coming future.
Daas,
Kulbir Singh
ਸਤਿਗੁਰਬਚਨਕਮਾਵਣੇਸਚਾਏਹੁਵੀਚਾਰੁ॥