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ਪਿੜਐ ਨਾਹੀ ਭਦ ਬਿਝਐ ਪਾਵਣਾ : Not by reading (religious books), but through Understanding, is the Mystery Realized. - sggs, 148

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Oblivious To The Passage Of Time

by T. Singh

Time is merciless, inexorable, and cruel. Full of destructive tricks, time is the greatest magician! All the hopes and
enjoyment of man in this world are consistently destroyed by the time (or death). Time alone wears everything out
and devours all and everything in this world. There is nothing in creations that is beyond its reach!

The Gurbani repeatedly reminds us not to be oblivious of the time — careless, negligent, forgetful, inattentive of
the time (ਗਾਿਫਲ), unaware, unconscious, ignorant, blind; unconcerned, unmindful, etc.

For example, we never seem to forget or ignore to cherish our body, all day along, everyday. Not only that, we all
take care of our body without anybody reminding us!

ਭਲਕ ਉਿਠ ਪਪਲੀਐ ਿਵਣ ਬਝ ਮਗਧ ਅਜਾਿਣ ਸ ਭ ਿਚਿਤ ਨ ਆਇਓ ਛਟਗੀ ਬਬਾਿਣ : Arising each day, this body is
cherished, but without (Divine) understanding, (it) remains foolish and ignorant. (It) does not remember Prabhu
(Mool, Source…), and in the end (it) will be cast into wilderness (cremation ground, graveyard…). (sggs 43).

Similarly, the Gurbani time and again impinges us to be Alert and Aware, not to be oblivious of the time, and use
this human life to realize the Divine within and without, here and now.

ਭਜਹ ਗੁਿਬਦ ਭਿਲ ਮਤ ਜਾਹ ਮਾਨਸ ਜਨਮ ਕਾ ਏਹੀ ਲਾਹ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ : Unite with Gobind (Mool, Source…) and don’t
forget this. This is the profit of this human birth (ਮਨਖਾ-ਜਨਮ ਦੀ ਖਟੀ ਕਮਾਈ). ||1||Pause|| (sggs 1159).

In fact, Baabaa Nanak says ONLY that person deserves to be called “Bandaa” (Man, human being, humble self…)
who, adhering to the Wisdom of the Gurbani, reflects upon his allotted life-span; who reflects on the purpose of
life; who reflects on who am I  or why I am here in this world; who reflects upon the Divine Hukam (the Law of
Kudrat…), etc. Otherwise, this life-span will become a heavy burden!

ਵਖਤ ਵੀਚਾਰ ਸ ਬਦਾ ਹਇ : One who reflects upon time (opportunity, circumstance…), is alone “Bandaa” (Man,
humble self…). (sggs 83).
ਹਕਮ ਪਛਾਨ ਸ ਏਕ ਜਾਨ ਬਦਾ ਕਹੀਐ ਸਈ ॥੩॥: Whoever realizes the Hukam, knows the One (Divine). He alone is said
to be “Bandaa” (Man, humble self…). ||3|| (sggs 1350).

What’s so special about this human form? For one thing, the human birth is indicated to be “Dulambhu-ਦਲਭ” (rare,
unique, excellent, difficult, etc.). Because the Spiritual Knowledge (Aatam-Giaan) is meant for human beings, not
for animals. In other words, Bhagti is most possible in this human body.

ਕਬੀਰ ਮਾਨਸ ਜਨਮ ਦਲਭ ਹ ਹਇ ਨ ਬਾਰ ਬਾਰ ਿਜਉ ਬਨ ਫਲ ਪਾਕ ਭਇ ਿਗਰਿਹ ਬਹਿਰ ਨ ਲਾਗਿਹ ਡਾਰ ॥੩੦॥: O Kabeer!It is
“Dulambhu” (rare, difficult, etc.) to obtain this human body; it does not just come over and over again. It is like
the ripe fruit on the tree; when it falls to the ground, it cannot be re-attached to the branch ||30|| (sggs 1366).

This leads to questions such as: Are we really living and using this human life any better than animals? Is our
conduct any better than animals? Or, are we wasting it away, in a state of sleep paralysis?

ਮਲ ਨ ਬਝਿਹ ਆਪਣਾ ਸ ਪਸਆ ਸ ਢਰ ਜੀਉ : Those who do not understand their own Mool (Source, Origin, Jot…);
they are beasts and they are cattle (i.e., great fools of animal intellect)! (sggs 751).

The Gurbani has vivid descriptions of how mortals pass their life.  If we divide human life in ten stages (mental
realm of Mayaic consciousness), these ten stages are summarized in a Shabad of Baabaa Nanak as follows (sggs
137):

1.  ਪਿਹਲ ਿਪਆਿਰ ਲਗਾ ਥਣ ਦਿਧ : In the first stage, the baby loves mother’s milk.
2.  ਦਜ ਮਾਇ ਬਾਪ ਕੀ ਸਿਧ : In the second stage (when one grows up a little), he learns of his mother and father.
3. ਤੀਜ ਭਯਾ ਭਾਭੀ ਬਬ : In the third stage (he learns about), his brothers, sisters-in-law and sisters.

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4. ਚਉਥ ਿਪਆਿਰ ਉਪਨੀ ਖਡ : In the fourth stage, the love of play (to play with worldly objects) awakens.
5. ਪਜਵ ਖਾਣ ਪੀਅਣ ਕੀ ਧਾਤ : In the fifth stage, he runs after food and drink.
6. ਿਛਵ ਕਾਮ ਨ ਪਛ ਜਾਿਤ : In the sixth stage, he does not even inquires a woman’s caste in his urge for lust.
7. ਸਤਵ ਸਿਜ ਕੀਆ ਘਰ ਵਾਸ : In the seventh stage, he gathers (wealth and possessions) and dwells in a house.
8. ਅਠਵ ਧ ਹਆ ਤਨ ਨਾਸ : In the eighth stage, he becomes angry which consumes (destroys, wastes…) his body.
9. ਨਾਵ ਧਉਲ ਉਭ ਸਾਹ : In the ninth stage, he turns gray, and his breathing becomes labored.
10. ਦਸਵ ਦਧਾ ਹਆ ਸਆਹ : In the tenth stage, he is cremated, and turns to ashes.

The Gurbani further explains from a different angle as follows. As the night has beginning and end, so does the
human life. Both are born; both go through childhood and youth before becoming old and weary; and ultimate,
both vanish. The Gurbani divides a mortal’s life-night in four parts (or watches) as follows:

ਕਹ ਨਾਨਕ ਾਣੀ ਪਿਹਲ ਪਹਰ ਹਕਿਮ ਪਇਆ ਗਰਭਾਿਸ ॥੧॥: Says Nanak, in the first watch of the (life-) night, by the
Hukam (the Law of Nature), you enter into the womb (sggs 74).
ਕਹ ਨਾਨਕ ਾਣੀ ਦਜ ਪਹਰ ਿਵਸਿਰ ਗਇਆ ਿਧਆਨ ॥੨॥: Says Nanak, in the second watch of the (life-) night, mortal
forgets to meditate (sggs 75).
ਕਹ ਨਾਨਕ ਤੀਜ ਪਹਰ ਾਣੀ ਧਨ ਜਬਨ ਿਸਉ ਿਚਤ ॥੩॥: Says Nanak, in the third watch of the (life-) night, mortal’s mind
remains attached to wealth and youth. ||3|| (sggs 75).
ਕਹ ਨਾਨਕ ਾਣੀ ਚਉਥ ਪਹਰ ਲਾਵੀ ਲਿਣਆ ਖਤ ॥੪॥੧॥: Says Nanak, in the fourth watch of the (life-) night, the reaper
(death) reaped the mortal’s (body-) field ||4||1|| (sggs 75).

The Gurbani says we are born Original (Joti Saroop) – Unconditioned Consciousness. But, as we come in contact
with the material world (Maya), our consciousness becomes conditioned and we turn duplicate or false (Asat). So
we die as duplicate; even though we were born Original!

The Gurbani teaches us not to wait to take to Bhagti or to the Divine Life. The Gurbani’s edict (ਫਸਲਾ) is: It will not
work. We will have new problems in the way then!

ਤਰਨਾਪ ਇਉ ਹੀ ਗਇਓ ਲੀਓ ਜਰਾ ਤਨ ਜੀਿਤ ਕਹ ਨਾਨਕ ਭਜ ਹਿਰ ਮਨਾ ਅਉਧ ਜਾਤ ਹ ਬੀਿਤ : (Your) youth passes away
uselessly, (now) the old age has overtaken the body. Says Nanak – O mind! Unite with Hari (Mool, Source…),
life is fleeting away. (sggs 1426).

The Gurbani tells us that the realization of the purpose of life — realization of  Timelessness (Mool-realization) in
which no death can enter — is possible in the midst of Maya, here and now. No need to abandon family and
society, taking refuge in jungles or mountain-caves. In fact, there is nowhere to go: It’s all within!

ਰਿਣ ਅਧਾਰੀ ਕਾਰੀਆ ਕਵਨ ਜਗਿਤ ਿਜਤ ਭਰ ॥੧॥: The (life-) night (of the mind attached to Maya) is dark and gloomy;
what is the way by which morning (i.e., the sun of spiritual Knowledge) may dawn for him? ||1||

According to the Gurbani, what’s needed is becoming the Gurmukh through Shabad-Vichaar — complete
annihilation of the relativist consciousness (which is the product of the Mayaic or doubt-ridden mind) that comes
about when one dies in the Shabad, and the shell or egg of doubt is bursted. 

ਗਰ ਕ ਸਬਿਦ ਜੀਵਤ ਮਰ ਗਰਮਿਖ ਭਵਜਲ ਤਰਣਾ ॥੨॥: Through the Gur-Shabad, the Gurmukh remains dead while yet
alive, and swims across the world-ocean (of Maya…). ||2|| (sggs 69).

Established in his Mool within (Source, Jot, Raam, Hari, Gobind...), only a Gurmukh’s mind is fearless to leave the
“Trikutee-ਿ ਕਟੀ” and come to rest into the Heart (“Hirdaa-ਿਹਰਦਾ” or “Ghat-ਘਟ” or “Dasavaa Duaaru-ਦਸਵਾ ਦਆਰ”).

ਗਰਮਿਖ ਜਨਮ ਸਕਾਰਥਾ ਿਨਰਮਲ ਮਲ ਖਈ : The birth of the Gurmukh is approved; his life becomes Pure, he
removes his filth (i.e., inner filth of demerits or Bikaar). (sggs 1247).

The Gurbani says NOW is the time!

ਕਬੀਰ ਕਾਿਲ ਕਰਤਾ ਅਬਿਹ ਕਰ ਅਬ ਕਰਤਾ ਸਇ ਤਾਲ ਪਾਛ ਕਛ ਨ ਹਇਗਾ ਜਉ ਿਸਰ ਪਿਰ ਆਵ ਕਾਲ ॥੧੩੮॥: O Kabeer! That
which you have to do tomorrow, do it now; and that which you have to do now, do it immediately (without any
delay, same moment, ਹਣ ਹੀ). (Because) later on (you) will not be able to do anything, when death hangs over
(your) head. ||138|| (sggs 1371).

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Filed Under: Awake-Aware-sleep, Body Consciousness, Gurbani, human-birth, Life, Death, Mortality, Purpose-Aim-Goal-of-life
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COMMENTS LEAVE A COMMENT

G A kaur

And it’s only at the right time we meet Mahraaj.

Reply

G T. Singh Post author

Gurbani says NOW is the right time :)

• ਜ ਿਕਛ ਕਰਿਹ ਸਈ ਅਬ ਸਾਰ : Whatever you have to do – now is the best time to do it (sggs 1159).
• ਸਿਣ ਮਨ ਿਮ ਿਪਆਿਰਆ ਿਮਲ ਵਲਾ ਹ ਏਹ : Listen, O my mind, my friend and darling: now is the time to meet
(your Mool). (sggs 20).

Thank you sister A Kaur Ji for taking the time to respond to this post. Welcome to the Gurbani Blog!

Reply

G A kaur

I always thought time was actually a beautiful thing, especially for a Gursikh. It’s only through time that we grow
and develop and become ready for things and the next stages in our life. Even just before death, Mahraaj says we
still have time to japp Naam.

Reply

G T. Singh Post author

“Even just before death, Mahraaj says we still have time to japp Naam.”

Hence, not to be Oblivious To The Passage Of Time :)

• ਹਿਣ ਵਤ ਹਿਰ ਨਾਮ ਨ ਬੀਿਜਓ ਅਗ ਭਖਾ ਿਕਆ ਖਾਏ : NOW, in this most fortunate season (human life), man does
not plant the seed of Hari Naam; what will the hungry soul (hungry of the Naam) eat, hereafter? (sggs 450).
• ਜਬ ਲਗ ਜਰਾ ਰਗ ਨਹੀ ਆਇਆ ਜਬ ਲਗ ਕਾਿਲ ਗਸੀ ਨਹੀ ਕਾਇਆ ਜਬ ਲਗ ਿਬਕਲ ਭਈ ਨਹੀ ਬਾਨੀ ਭਿਜ ਲਿਹ ਰ ਮਨ
ਸਾਿਰਗਪਾਨੀ ॥੨॥ ਅਬ ਨ ਭਜਿਸ ਭਜਿਸ ਕਬ ਭਾਈ ਆਵ ਅਤ ਨ ਭਿਜਆ ਜਾਈ ਜ ਿਕਛ ਕਰਿਹ ਸਈ ਅਬ ਸਾਰ ਿਫਿਰ ਪਛਤਾਹ
ਨ ਪਾਵਹ ਪਾਰ ॥੩॥: As long as the disease of old age has not come, and as long as Kaal has not seized
Aatmaa, as long as your voice has not become weak (perplexed, etc.), O mind, unite (ਜੜ, link with your
Mool) just as Saarig and water (as Babeehaa or rainbird chirps constantly for water). ||2|| O brother! If you
don’t unite now, when will you? When the end comes, you will not be able to unite. Whatever you have to
do – now is the best (time) to do it. Otherwise, (you) will regret afterwards, and (you) will not see the other
side ||3|| (sggs 1159).

Reply

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