mistaken exegesis of gurbani

This will be an ongoing note.

[Before continuing, I have to make it clear that I am not singling out a person or exegete. Instead, I am only pointing out the mistakes our maya-clouded vision makes when reading Gurbani.]

ਉਪਦੇਸਿ ਗੁਰੂ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਜਪੁ ਜਾਪੈ ਸਭਿ ਕਿਲਵਿਖ ਪਾਪ ਦੋਖ ਲਹਿ ਜਾਵੈ ॥

We overly focus on the second half of this panktee (because we really just want to get away from pain). The focus of the panktee is the first half, which tells us how we can get to the gift that is the second part.

ਕਾਮ ਕ੍ਰੋਧ ਅਰੁ ਲੋਭ ਮੋਹ ਵਸਿ ਕਰੈ ਸਭੈ ਬਲ ॥

We make a big stink about fighting against the vices, but that’s not our job nor is it within our power. It is the job of the Guru. So, instead of making the futile effort of fighting such a powerful foe, just seek the protection of the Guru.

ਜੋ ਤਿਸੁ ਭਾਵੈ ਸੋਈ ਕਰਸੀ ਫਿਰਿ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਨ ਕਰਣਾ ਜਾਈ ॥

if you are That, then you cannot be forced either, by yourself or anyone else.

ਕੁੰਭੇ ਬਧਾ ਜਲੁ ਰਹੈ ਜਲ ਬਿਨੁ ਕੁੰਭੁ ਨ ਹੋਇ ॥ ਗਿਆਨ ਕਾ ਬਧਾ ਮਨੁ ਰਹੈ ਗੁਰ ਬਿਨੁ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਨ ਹੋਇ ॥੫॥

The water is the same, but it comes from a larger source to first create the container, and then is stored in a smaller form once the container is created.

In the same way, the Guru and the Mind are one and the same (in their true essence), but the Guru is the larger stream, the source, which creates wisdom. And wisdom restrains the smaller form, the Mind.

test

[ Note: This idea is also explored in this fascinating substack. You may not agree with all of its claims.]

Dhan Guru Nanak!

ਦੁਖੁਦਾਰੂਸੁਖੁਰੋਗੁਭਇਆਜਾਸੁਖੁਤਾਮਿਨਹੋਈ॥

The exploration of this panktee ended up being longer than I imagined, so I have separated it into this note: dukh daroo & you have to start.

ਸਿਮਰਉ ਸਿਮਰਿ ਸਿਮਰਿ ਸੁਖੁ ਪਾਵਉ ॥ ਕਲਿ ਕਲੇਸ ਤਨ ਮਾਹਿ ਮਿਟਾਵਉ ॥

I don’t think we ever think about why this is: why does remembrance specifically remove time and death and pain/fighting/suffering from the body?

This is because mind is primary. It is by the mind we see and by the mind that we move. So, the body is really just a window to the mind (2026-09-26). In our normal worldly actions, we are often tense, we take shallow breaths, and are constantly tired and in poor posture. It is really the state of our mind that is being shown.

In remembrance, we remember that this is merely an illusion, that there is only one True One. And we remember that time itself is an illusion; time has no meaning for Him. Thus, we also go beyond time (the amount we go beyond depends on our avastha). And so, time and anguish are removed from our mind, which is in turn reflected in the body.