- The core philosophy of Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji on this topic, as per my understanding, is that wherever God is remembered, there works are accomplished, problems are resolved, and misery/sorrow is removed. The reason is that remembrance of God manifests order, smooth functioning, and creates an ideal environment, while chaos and resulting failure reigns wherever God is forgotten.
- Some of the ways to remember God are chanting the Name of God, talking about qualities of God (praising God), which could be considered similar actions, as most Names refer to one or the other quality of God.
- The God to be remembered is the One All Powerful Creator of the World, and not a deity or a demigod.
- This is actionable advice which can be applied in one's life, and one needs to try for oneself sincerely, as anyone else's experience would seem like a lucky coincidence. I do not have any details of how things will work out, or how much time it will take, but all I can say is that this method will work.
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Reference verses with commentary:
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ਜਾ ਕਉ ਮੁਸਕਲੁ ਅਤਿ ਬਣੈ ਢੋਈ ਕੋਇ ਨ ਦੇਇ ॥
ਲਾਗੂ ਹੋਏ ਦੁਸਮਨਾ ਸਾਕ ਭਿ ਭਜਿ ਖਲੇ ॥
ਸਭੋ ਭਜੈ ਆਸਰਾ ਚੁਕੈ ਸਭੁ ਅਸਰਾਉ ॥
ਚਿਤਿ ਆਵੈ ਓਸੁ ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਲਗੈ ਨ ਤਤੀ ਵਾਉ ॥੧॥
ਸਾਹਿਬੁ ਨਿਤਾਣਿਆ ਕਾ ਤਾਣੁ ॥
ਆਇ ਨ ਜਾਈ ਥਿਰੁ ਸਦਾ ਗੁਰ ਸਬਦੀ ਸਚੁ ਜਾਣੁ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
ਜੇ ਕੋ ਹੋਵੈ ਦੁਬਲਾ ਨੰਗ ਭੁਖ ਕੀ ਪੀਰ ॥
ਦਮੜਾ ਪਲੈ ਨਾ ਪਵੈ ਨਾ ਕੋ ਦੇਵੈ ਧੀਰ ॥
ਸੁਆਰਥੁ ਸੁਆਉ ਨ ਕੋ ਕਰੇ ਨਾ ਕਿਛੁ ਹੋਵੈ ਕਾਜੁ ॥
ਚਿਤਿ ਆਵੈ ਓਸੁ ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਤਾ ਨਿਹਚਲੁ ਹੋਵੈ ਰਾਜੁ ॥੨॥
ਜਾ ਕਉ ਚਿੰਤਾ ਬਹੁਤੁ ਬਹੁਤੁ ਦੇਹੀ ਵਿਆਪੈ ਰੋਗੁ ॥
ਗ੍ਰਿਸਤਿ ਕੁਟੰਬਿ ਪਲੇਟਿਆ ਕਦੇ ਹਰਖੁ ਕਦੇ ਸੋਗੁ ॥
ਗਉਣੁ ਕਰੇ ਚਹੁ ਕੁੰਟ ਕਾ ਘੜੀ ਨ ਬੈਸਣੁ ਸੋਇ ॥
ਚਿਤਿ ਆਵੈ ਓਸੁ ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਤਨੁ ਮਨੁ ਸੀਤਲੁ ਹੋਇ ॥੩॥
ਕਾਮਿ ਕਰੋਧਿ ਮੋਹਿ ਵਸਿ ਕੀਆ ਕਿਰਪਨ ਲੋਭਿ ਪਿਆਰੁ ॥
ਚਾਰੇ ਕਿਲਵਿਖ ਉਨਿ ਅਘ ਕੀਏ ਹੋਆ ਅਸੁਰ ਸੰਘਾਰੁ ॥
ਪੋਥੀ ਗੀਤ ਕਵਿਤ ਕਿਛੁ ਕਦੇ ਨ ਕਰਨਿ ਧਰਿਆ ॥
ਚਿਤਿ ਆਵੈ ਓਸੁ ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਤਾ ਨਿਮਖ ਸਿਮਰਤ ਤਰਿਆ ॥੪॥
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Translation:
When confronted with extreme difficulty, and no one gives shelter,
When enemies turn fatal, and relatives also run away,
When all support runs away, all protection ends,
Then if you remember That God, even scorching wind will not touch you.1.
Lord is the power of the powerless,
Neither comes nor goes, always steady, by Guru's word, know Him as True.1.Pause.
If you are thin, naked, have pain of hunger,
With no money, nor anyone to give support,
No one fulfils your desires, objectives, no work is accomplished,
If then you remember the Transcendent Lord, then you will achieve a stable kingdom.2.
If you are very very anxious, body has disease,
Surrounded by home, family, sometimes pleasure, sometimes remorse,
Wandering in four directions, no time to sit or sleep,
If then you remember the Transcendent Lord, then body, mind will be cooled.3.
Under control of lust, anger, worldly love, afflicted by love of greed,
If you have committed four great sins, a demon deserving to die,
If you never listened to religious text, song, poetry,
If still you remember the Transcendent Lord, even a moment's remembrance will ferry you across.4.
[Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Page 70:11-28]
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Commentary:
This verse is self-explanatory and the main message is that if a person feels alone, defeated, or helpless at any time in life, then if the person sincerely remembers God the person would find peace and help, even in most unlikely of situations. This verse is a very big promise from God that help will come if a person does not forget God in times of need, a promise that God will not leave a person alone. I encourage the reader to remember and apply this knowledge.
Now the clever among us might ask why then do people suffer or die, or what about ignorant children or people who are unaware of this promise. I do not know. If you think about it, there are many situations of when this might happen, specifically in a complex world of free-will, choice, destiny and natural laws. Scriptures share knowledge freely, few read and understand it, and fewer still accept and apply the knowledge.
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ਦੂਖੁ ਤਦੇ ਜਦਿ ਵੀਸਰੈ ਸੁਖੁ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਚਿਤਿ ਆਏ ॥
ਸੰਤਨ ਕੈ ਆਨੰਦੁ ਏਹੁ ਨਿਤ ਹਰਿ ਗੁਣ ਗਾਏ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
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Translation:
Misery then when you forget, comfort when God comes to mind,
Such is the joy of saints, they ever sing the qualities of God.1.pause.
[Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Page 813:20-21]
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Commentary:
This verse reiterates the point that remembrance of God brings peace, joy and comfort. While forgetting God will cause sorrow and misery. This is also the secret of how saints remain in bliss, i.e. by remembering God at all times (as a result of singing praise of God).
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ਨਾਇ ਸੁਣਿਐ ਮਨੁ ਤ੍ਰਿਪਤੀਐ ਸਭ ਦੁਖ ਗਵਾਈ ॥-----------------
Translation:
Hearing Name, mind is satisfied, all misery is gone.
[Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Page 1240:4]
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Commentary:
This blog post has been short. All three verses in this post state the same point, that by remembering God, misery of a person is taken away. The person may still have to do some actions, but it will all happen naturally. Wishing the reader all the best in life!!
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When others are believed to be bad, Then it feels that all lay traps.
[Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Page 235:22-23]
Do not keep ill-intentions against others in mind, and brother, friend you will not face misery.
[Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Page 386:37-38]
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