- Dharma is popularly translated as religion, but more specifically it could mean recommended conduct for proper living and other actions. Most religions have multiple sects and denominations with different practices for each sect or denomination. Many of the practices could be very different between sects and denominations, even within same religion.
- The sect, or denomination which recommends building faith and chanting Name of God is best and safest to follow. There are many sects within different religions which recommend building faith in Name of God.
- God referred in this article and all other essays in this blog is One God, Omnipotent, Omnipresent, who is the Creator of all there is, and has no equal.
- Any other actions or practices recommended by a particular sect may have its own purpose and may exist due to social, cultural or historical reasons. Such recommendations would have their own benefits or consequences, and evaluating them is beyond the scope of this article. Each person needs to decide for oneself. But developing belief in God's Name is minimum possible, necessary and effective recommendation. A note of caution, there are many systems built around many diverse concepts, with a lot of different practices mixed together for more effective proselytization and not for spiritual growth.
- Second part of recommendation is to do pure actions. The only measure of a pure action is whatever action is acceptable or liked by God. As per my understanding action performed under direction from one's ego is tainted and unlikely to be pure. Actions done without being under influence of ego are acceptable.
- Ego, or a very proud and personal mental posturing, could be killed if one accepts teachings of a True Guru. Under effects of ego a person would have difficulty in accepting teachings of a particular scripture.
- The reason for performing above religious practice is not only obedience to scripture or God, as is popularly described in culture. But another important reason is that without performing the above actions, the natural laws would bind a person (soul), and may result in an unpleasant experience for a person, sometimes extending till eternity.
For people who might think that above practice is very self-centered, they should realize that world continues with or without any person or thing. A view to the contrary may be misplaced pride or conceit, making people think that the world depends on them, or that they have an obligation to the world. A lot of great people have come, done great work, and gone, but life continues without them. World will continue to have more people, but you and me may have only one life.
It is true that proper functioning of society is based on different work being performed by different people, and reasonable responsible action performed by each of us is good for us and society. But beyond basic constructive involvement, beyond natural calling, which could involve social service and sacrifice for some people, it may just be pride or exploitation, if there is a feeling of conceit or obligation. And everybody contributes in their own way for growth of society, and comparisons are mostly futile. A lone researcher developing a medicine, a banker raising money to finance mass-production of the medicine, or a social-worker administering medicine to the impoverished, everybody contributes.
=1=======================================================================
Saraba dharama mahi srēsaṭa dharamu.-----------------
Hari kō nāmu japi niramala karamu.
Sagala kri'ā mahi ūtama kiri'ā.
Sādhasangi duramati malu hiri'ā.
Sagala udama mahi udamu bhalā.
Hari kā nāmu japahu jī'a sadā.
Sagala bānī mahi amrita bānī.
Hari kō jasu suni rasana bakhānī.
Sagala thāna tē ōhu ūtama thānu.
Nānaka jiha ghaṭi vasai hari nāmu.8.3.
Translation:
Of all religions the foremost religion,=======================================
Chant Name of God, and pure actions,
Of all rituals, the best ritual,
Remove false thinking in company of holy,
Of all efforts, the best effort,
Chant the Name of God in mind always,
Of all speech, the elixir speech,
Listen God's praise and chant with tongue,
Of all places the best place,
Nanak, the place where Name of God lives.||8||3||
[Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Page 266:40-49]
Commentary:
This verse gives details of few desirable endeavors. The foremost religious and spiritual practice is to chant the Name of God and perform pure actions. Pure actions are actions done without the influence of ego or sense of ownership, or in other words, actions are pure if they are not corrupted and directed by ego.
The verse tells that best ritual is to remove false thinking by interacting with holy people. Best efforts that a person can make in life is chanting the Name of God. Best speech is God's praise. Best place is where God's Name is chanted and remembered.
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=2=======================================================================
Prānī ka'unu upā'u karai.-----------------
Jā tē bhagati rāma kī pāvai jama kō trāsu harai.1. Rahā'u.
Ka'unu karama bidi'ā kahu kaisī dharamu ka'unu phuni kara'ī.
Ka'unu nāmu gura jā kai simarai bhava sāgara ka'u tara'ī.1.
Kala mai ēku nāmu kirapā nidhi jāhi japai gati pāvai.
A'ura dharama tā kai sama nāhani iha bidhi bēdu batāvai.2.
Translation:
What efforts should a mortal make,=======================================
To receive devotion for God, and remove fear of death.||1||Pause||
What actions, tell which knowledge, what religion to practice,
Which Name of which Guru to remember, to swim across the sea of life.||1||
In Kali yug One Name, is mercy and treasure, chanting which one gets salvation,
Other religion does not compare, this method Veda tells.||2||
[Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Page 632:16-21]
Commentary:
In this verse some important questions are asked and answered. Questions like, what efforts should one make, how can a person develop devotion to God, what is right religious practice, what Name to chant? The verse specifies that the Vedas answer above questions, and also tell the most effective way of achieving salvation. The answer is to chant the Name of God.
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=3=======================================================================
Kalijuga kā dharamu kahahu tuma bhā'ī kiva chūṭaha hama chuṭakākī.-----------------
Hari hari japu bēṛī hari tulahā hari japi'ō tarai tarākī.1.
Hari jī lāja rakhahu hari jana kī.
Hari hari japanu japāvahu apanā hama māgī bhagati ikākī. Rahā'u.
Translation:
Brother tell the dharma for kaliyug, how can we desiring of release be released,=======================================
Chant God, God, God is boat and raft, chanting God the swimmer swims across.||1||
Dear God save honour of your people,
Make me chant God, God, I beg for devotion to One God.||Pause||
[Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Page 668:13-16]
Commentary:
This verse begins with question regarding most effective conduct for present age, for a person who desires salvation. Again chanting the Name of God is recommended. The Name of God will act as a raft for the soul, which will preserve honor of a person. If a person lacks devotion or faith in Name of God, a person could pray for receiving the same.
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=4=======================================================================
Nāmu guri dī'ō hai apunai jā kai masataki karamā.-----------------
Nāmu driṛāvai nāmu japāvai tā kā juga mahi dharamā.1.
Jana ka'u nāmu vaḍā'ī sōbha.
Nāmō gati nāmō pati jana kī mānai jō jō hōga.1. Rahā'u.
Nāma dhanu jisu jana kai pālai sō'ī pūrā sāhā.
Nāmu bi'uhārā nānaka ādhārā nāmu parāpati lāhā.2.6.37.
Translation:
Guru gives Name, one who has such destiny written on forehead,=======================================
Implants Name, makes us chant his Name, the dharma for this age.||1||
Name is greatness and beauty for people,
Name is salvation, Name is honor for people, who accept whatever happens.||1||Pause||
Person who has God's Name is perfect king,
Nanak deals in Name, Name is support, obtain profit of Name.||2||6||37||
[Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Page 680:13-18]
Commentary:
This verse reiterates importance of Name of God, and also introduces an important concept of accepting things as they are. Another article would cover the details of accepting things as they happen. Accepting things that are fortunate or unfortunate for us personally, or for others, or for larger society and civilization. Last statement is a view point easily misunderstood, and sometimes can be abused in arguments. But the fact is that there is no choice in things that have already occurred, as past events cannot change, but can ruin our present and future if people carry a grudge. People can act to change things for present or in future, but for past there is no choice except mentally accepting them.
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=5=======================================================================
Hari hari karata miṭē sabhi bharamā.-----------------
Hari kō nāmu lai ūtama dharamā.
Translation:
Chanting God, God, removes all ignorance,=======================================
Taking Name of God is noble religion.
[Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Page 874:16-17]
Commentary:
This verse introduces another concept of one of the benefits of chanting the Name of God, which helps mind get rid of ignorance, and would be covered in detail in another article. It is important to note that not all chanting and meditation is equal, and the object or words of meditation and chanting make all the difference.
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=6=======================================================================
Ihu nidhānu japai mani kō'i.-----------------
Sabha juga mahi tā kī gati hō'i.
Guṇa gōbida nāma dhuni bāṇī.
Simriti sāsatra bēda bakhāṇī.
Sagala matānta kēvala hari nāma.
Gōbinda bhagata kai mani bisrāma.
Kōṭi aprādha sādhasangi miṭai.
Santa kripā tē jama tē chuṭai.
Jā kai masataki karama prabhi pā'ē.
Sādha saraṇi nānaka tē ā'ē.7.
Translation:
One whose mind chants this treasure,=======================================
In every age he finds salvation,
Names of God's qualities, tune and speech,
Smritees, Shashtras, and Vedas speak,
Complete doctrine is only the Name of God,
It resides in the mind of devotees,
Crores of sins are erased in holy company,
By saint's blessing one escapes messengers of death,
On whose forehead God puts blessing,
Nanak, such people come in saint's refuge.||7||
[Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Page 296:8-17]
Commentary:
Some of the different Names of God actually describe different qualities of God, and all are good. Any Name of God can bring salvation to a person in any age or time. Ancient Indian scriptures describe that the complete essence of dharma is contained in the Name of God. I understand it as respecting Name of God, building faith in God's Name, and chanting the Names in praise of God. Why this would work would be covered in some other articles.
It is true that religion and spirituality teaching today has become much more complicated than the essence, and it is up to individual person to decide what path to follow. A person is free to decide and choose for oneself, and the consequences of personal choice are also for the person alone, to enjoy or to suffer.
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=7=======================================================================
Sādhasangami hari arādhē sagala kalamala dukha jalē.-----------------
Mahā dharama sudāna kiri'ā sangi tērai sē calē.
Rasanā arādhai ēku su'āmī hari nāmi manu tanu bhīnā.
Nānaka jisa nō hari milā'ē sō saraba guṇa parabīnā.4.6.9.
Translation:
Remembering God in company of holy, all distress and affliction are burnt,=======================================
This is great religion, good charity, actions which will go with you,
Tongue remembers one Master, mind, body are enraptured by God's Name,
O Nanak, whom God unites, they have all qualities and wisdom.||4||6||9||
[Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Page 548:15-18]
Commentary:
Remembering God in company of other believers helps people to sail through grief and sorrows. This is considered good conduct, great dharma. It is also an act of charity as people spend some moments of their limited lifetime in holy company, collectively remembering the Name of God for mutual benefit.
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=8=======================================================================
Gura kī sēvā sabadu vīcāru.-----------------
Ha'umai mārē karaṇī sāru.7.
Translation:
The service to a Guru is pondering over His word,=======================================
Kill your ego, essence of action.||7||
[Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Page 223:40-41]
Commentary:
This and the next verse cover the second part of the recommendation. What is a pure action? The verse recommends killing one's ego, the sense of doership for performing pure actions. The point that I have understood about action is that many actions are inevitable, and are needed for proper functioning of body, and society. For voluntary actions also creating a list of actions that are good or bad is not possible, because use and purpose of action changes with situations.
What one thing could we change about action, that would be applicable to all actions, is changing our perspective. Some of the most important functions of body we do involuntarily without actual control, like digesting food, beating heart, and others. The spiritual perspective is to extend that concept to all actions, because soul and body are two different things. We, the person or the soul, are responsible and in control of our thoughts and mind, but a lot of actions of the body are out of our control, much like a lot of actions of a vehicle are out of our control, even if we are riding the vehicle. More details in next verse.
Another important concept is discussed in the above verse. True service of a spiritual teacher and mentor, is to ponder over the teachings of the teacher and learn from them. Many people would give external respect to a mentor, but few make efforts to understand the teachings. Specially if a teacher has passed on, while words of the teacher remain with us, if such is the case then respectfully pondering and learning from the teaching and words of the mentor is an important service to the teacher.
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=9=======================================================================
Jaba lagu jānai mujha tē kachu hō'i.-----------------
Taba isa ka'u sukhu nāhī kō'i.
Jaba iha jānai mai kichu karatā.
Taba lagu garabha jōni mahi phiratā.
Jaba dhārai kō'ū bairī mītu.
Taba lagu nihacalu nāhī cītu.
Jaba lagu mōha magana sangi mā'i.
Taba lagu dharama rā'i dē'i sajā'i.
Prabha kirapā tē bandhana tūṭai.
Gura prasādi nānaka ha'u chūṭai.4.
Translation:
Till one thinks "I cause something to happen",=======================================
Then one has no peace,
Till one thinks "I do something",
Till then one wanders in womb,
When one believes some are friend and foe,
Till then consciousness is not stable,
Till one is attached and intoxicated by maya,
Till then righteous judge gives punishment,
By God's grace these fetters break,
O Nanak, by Guru's grace, ego ends.||4||
[Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Page 278:49-58]
Commentary:
My understanding of the concept of actions presented in above verse is different from few popular concepts of performing actions. The basic point is that soul being a intangible entity, soul's actions are also intangible, which are thoughts, words, feelings, prayers, ambitions, and other mental activities. A person, or intangible soul, is only responsible for its intangible actions, unless it takes ownership of the actions performed by its body, becomes attached with them.
Physical actions performed by physical body only count in the physical realm. A soul is responsible and suffers due to actions of the body only if the soul is attached to the actions performed by the body, else the physical actions are just part and parcel of the natural bodily existence. A soul which binds itself to things of this world will face transmigration, and also suffer when things do not go as desired. Till a person thinks that a person does something, till then a person would be unstable, vacillating between joy and suffering
A person is as responsible for actions of own body, as the activities of a vehicle or a cab that it is riding. Person is only inside a cab until the end of a ride, and as long as the person does not cause any laws to be broken during the ride it is all OK at the end of the ride to leave the vehicle. But a soul is responsible for everything that goes on in the mind. If we think about it, the relationship between a rider and driver is very complicated to that of a vehicle that it is riding/driving, with multiple choices at multiple levels. Question of free will and achievement become very complicated if we consider the above analogy.
Soul is on a very mortal ride with its body,
The body will last for a single lifetime.
When a trip is over, or the life is at an end,
The body leaves the cab, and soul leaves the body.
That is all there is to it,
Unless a soul ties itself,
With mindless attachments,
To the body or the cab.
When a person becomes over-ambitious and uses the body for non-essential activities, as an expression of unreasonable personal ambitions, sometimes unnatural, then the actions and their consequences, called karma, eventually bind the person (soul).
To stab someone is a crime of the body,
An unkind word is a crime of the soul,
To kill someone is a crime of the body,
Breaking a heart is a crime of the soul.
Discipline of the body will not fix the soul,=========================================================================
Nor will flight of soul be hindered by a body,
Unless the soul seeks to bind itself,
To the limits and actions of the body.
Thoughts, words, attachments, feelings,
Bind the mind and the soul.
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