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Sikhism | Share This Page | ||||||||||||
Countless Paths: Which One to Choose? |
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by Rajender Krishan |
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Continued from “The Prominent Five and the Force – Japji Sahib – VII” Guru Nanak’s Japji Sahib – VIII Pauri – 17
Asankh Jap Asankh Bhau
Countless paths to realize truth that have developed over centuries of man’s evolution under different environments and in different times. Each path has its own set of rigorous rules and intricacies. Also, each path seems to be trying to refute the other paths. Then which path is right and which one is wrong? (Pauri # 18 explicitly talks of wrong paths that make one go astray from the search of truth!) The question is not of choosing one from the options of many right paths; the question is how does one discriminate? What is the yardstick? What to choose and how? Now this is a serious problem for the Sikh – the student – who is in search of the truth. Pauri 17 through Pauri 19 deal with this issue.
Guru Nanak says, “Thy will be done”. Whatever pleases you, O Lord, is best for me. I cannot choose for myself. I have no yardstick with which to determine as to what is right or what is wrong for me. The only way I know is that I surrender myself at thy feet with absolute conviction that in “Thy Will” whatever comes to pass is good for me and whatever does not come to pass is not good for me. In your will is my salvation. You are my protector; you are eternal, the formless, and the almighty. Pauri - 18
Asankh Moorakh Andh Ghor
Having expressed in the previous Pauri, the countless paths of various philosophies developed over many centuries under several schools of thought, now Guru Nanak lists the crowd of the wicked, sinners, murderers, liars, and perverts who have their own countless paths to dodge truth. Reading both together the corollary becomes clear: one can easily go astray by following the path of untruth and also by being unsure of which “good” path to move on.
Guru Nanak says, “Thy will be done”. Whatever pleases you, O Lord, is best for me. I cannot choose for myself. I have no yardstick with which to determine as to what is right or what is wrong for me. The only way I know is that I surrender myself at thy feet with absolute conviction that in “Thy Will” whatever comes to pass is good for me and whatever does not come to pass is not good for me. In your will is my salvation. You are my protector; you are eternal, the formless, and the almighty. Pauri - 19
Asankh Nav Asankh Thanv
In this Pauri, Guru Nanak says that there are innumerable names for innumerable places; while beyond our comprehension are countless realms – and God pervades in all. Even to say, “countless” is to simply burden the mind and create confusion. Thus Guru Nanak says:
From “Akshara” alone came the Naam and praise to the Lord is also through it. All knowledge is attained from the Word and all songs of His virtue are sung through the words. All writings and speech, all destinies are expression of “Akshara”.
Guru Nanak says that God is beyond destiny. As He ordains we receive. Whatever is in the creation is in His name – there is no place without His name. The expanse and magnitude of the entire creation has His signatures – His Naam. Isn’t this realization enough for one to be awestruck and amazed? How should then we praise Him?
Guru Nanak says, “Thy will be done”. Whatever pleases you, O Lord, is best for me. I cannot choose for myself. I have no yardstick with which to determine as to what is right or what is wrong for me. The only way I know is that I surrender myself at thy feet with absolute conviction that in “Thy Will” whatever comes to pass is good for me and whatever does not come to pass is not good for me. In your will is my salvation. You are my protector; you are eternal, the formless, and the almighty. Continued to “Washing with the Color of His Name” Japji Sahib Links
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06-Oct-2013 | |||||||||||||
More by : Rajender Krishan | |||||||||||||
Top | Sikhism | |||||||||||||
Views: 6279 Comments: 4 | |||||||||||||
Comments on this Article
pooja 10/13/2013 11:04 AM
Dr. Sunder Srinivasan 10/07/2013 20:07 PM
Dr. Sunder Srinivasan 10/07/2013 08:22 AM
Ananta Sinha Ray 10/07/2013 08:21 AM |
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