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THE MOST DIFFICULT THING TO DO
ਭਗਤਾ ਕੀ ਚਾਲ ਿਨਰਾਲੀ ... (sggs 918).
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The faults of false egosense (Haume) include lust (desire etc.), anger, greed, attachment to worldly objects due to delusion,
and pride; and their numerous variations such as enviousness, stubborn mindedness, selfishness, shooting nonsense or
excessive talking, and so on. The SGGS says that the lifestyle of a true devotee includes eradication of these Bikaars
(negativity) from one's mind. Eradication of these Bikaars means eradication of one's Haume (false egosense). The lifestyle
of true devotees is mentioned here by the SGGS to be "the most difficult", because it's very difficult to eradicate Haume and
its faults (Bikaars). Which simply implies that — for most of us — "the most difficult thing" to do in life is to get rid of the
Haume (falseego sense)!
Therefore, renunciation or annihilation of one's ego is the true meditation — the real Jap, Tap and Sanjam. In other words,
removal of one's ego is the true prayer (Ardaas), or NaamSimran. Simply put, the ultimate victory is the disappearance of
one's ego. The Gurbani indicates this to be "the most difficult thing" for us humans to accomplish.
ਿਸਮਰਹ ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮ ਅਿਤ ਿਨਰਮਲ ਅਵਰ ਿਤਆਗਹ ਹਉਮ ਕਉਰਾ : Simarahu raam naam ath niramal avar thiaagahu houmai kouraa:
Renouncing your ego, remember in meditation the most pure and sublime Lord's Name (sggs 415).
ਜਪ ਤਪ ਸਜਮ ਹਉਮ ਮਾਿਰ : Jap Tap Sanjam houmai maar: Jap, Tap and Sanjam come by subduing the ego (sggs 1343).
ਆਪ ਛਿਡ ਬਨਤੀ ਕਰਹ : Aap shod benatee karahu: Offer your prayers renouncing your false self: ego or Haume (sggs 295).
Thus, according to the SGGS, it is essential but very difficult for us humans to transcend identification with the bodymind
intellect personality (Haume). However, the infinite benefit one gains by this ultimate victory over ego (Haume) is Self
realization — the realization of one's True Nature as the Universal Self ("JotiSvaroopa),or to experience that one's True Self
and God, or simply Truth, are one and the same.
ਮਾਰਗ ਮਕਤਾ ਹਉਮ ਮਾਿਰ : Maaragu muktaa houmai maar: The path of liberation is found by killing ego (sggs 1274).
ਜਪ ਤਪ ਸਜਮ ਹਉਮ ਮਾਿਰ : Nanak houmai maari milaaiaa: O Nanak, conquering egoism, we are absorbed into the Divine
(sggs 153).
ਹਉਮ ਮਾਰ ਤਾ ਦਰ ਸਝ : Haumai maare taa dar soojhai: Kill your ego, then you will find God's Door (sggs 842).
ਸ ਜਨ ਸਾਚਾ ਿਜ ਹਉਮ ਮਾਰ : So jan saachaa ji haumai maarai: That humble being is true, who kills his ego (sggs 230).
ਹਉਮ ਜਾਈ ਤਾ ਕਤ ਸਮਾਈ : Hayumai jaaee taa kant samaee: Only by eliminating ego, you link with God (sggs 750).
ਨਾਉ ਮਿਨਐ ਹਉਮ ਗਈ ਸਿਭ ਰਗ ਗਵਾਇਆ : Naaou maniai haumai gaee sabh rog gavaaiaa: With faith in the Divine Name,
egoism is eradicated, and all sickness is cured (sggs 1242).
ਇਹ ਮਨ ਿਨਰਮਲ ਹਉਮ ਮਾਰੀ : Ih mann nirmal hayumai maaree: The mind becomes pure when ego is killed (sggs 1049).
Accordingly, although it's the most difficult thing to do, still the SGGS time and again urges to to do it and be successful at it
while still alive. For, as indicated in the SGGS, this is the only purpose of human life. The SGGS gives us clear vision of the
ultimate Goal of human life, and the means to achieve that Goal. Therefore, it becomes essential for us, especially for a
spiritual seeker, to gain true basic knowledge and understanding of the Gurbani. Such basic knowledge and understanding, in
turn, will also help one understand Gurmukhs (Mahaatamaans, saintly beings etc.) to some extent.
Removal of this Haume — which is said to be the source of all human problems — is not an automatic process like digesting
food. The SGGS never says it's an easy thing to do. Even with high education or material success in life, it is an extremely
difficult feat. What is required as per the SGGS is a total inner transformation of our vision of life and its purpose.
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16/02/2018 THE MOST DIFFICULT THING TO DO
ਗਰਮਿਖ ਆਪਣਾ ਮਨ ਮਾਿਰਆ ਸਬਿਦ ਕਸਵਟੀ ਲਾਇ ਮਨ ਹੀ ਨਾਿਲ ਝਗੜਾ ਮਨ ਹੀ ਨਾਿਲ ਸਥ ਮਨ ਹੀ ਮਿਝ ਸਮਾਇ : Guramukh aapanaa manu
maariaa sabad kasavatee laai. Mann hee naal jhagarraa mann hee naal sath mann hee manjh samaai: Applying the
Touchstone of the Shabad, by becoming the Gurmukh, the Gurmukh conqueres his mind (prevents it from falling in love
with Maya, etc.). He fights with his mind (its evil inclinations: ਿਬਕਾਰਿਬਰਤੀ), he settles with his mind (make his mind
understand), and he becomes immersed (in the auspicious nature) his mind (sggs 87).
ਛਿਡ ਸਗਲ ਿਸਆਣਪਾ ਿਮਿਲ ਸਾਧ ਿਤਆਿਗ ਗਮਾਨ : Shod sagal siaanapaa mil saadh tiaag gumaan: Abandon all your clever tricks;
meet with the Holy (SaadhSangat), and renounce your false pride (sggs 1006).
Not an easy path to tread! According to the SGGS, the path " is sharper than a twoedged sword, and finer than a hair".
However, nevertheless, as indicated in the SGGS, it's a treadable path. But it's up to us to do our part. For example, if we
want light in our room, we have to make the effort to at least turn the switch on in that room. Similarly, to tread this path,
the SGGS urges us to put forward our best effort (Uddam) to advance along the spiritual path {moving from Manmukhtaa or
materiality (Haumeconsciousness} to Gurmukhtaa (Divine Lifestyle), sincerely loving the Guru by following His words (Gur
Shabad), sincerely performing our spiritual practices (NaamSimran, keeping SaadhSangat etc.); trying to cultivate divine
qualities like truthfulness, contentment, Knowledge (AatamGiaan), compassion, humility, detachment, patience, acceptance,
love, and so on. But, as indicated in the SGGS, very "rare" one embarks on this path! Rest of us just remain entangled in the
enchanting worldly objects and waste away.
ਗਣ ਸਜਿਮ ਜਾਵ ਚਟ ਨ ਖਾਵ ਨਾ ਿਤਸ ਜਮਣ ਮਰਣਾ : Gun sanjam jaavai chot n khaavai naa tis jamman maranaa: One who departs
with Sanjam of virtues is not struck down, and is not consigned to the cycle of birth and death (sggs76).
ਗਣ ਅਤਿਰ ਨਾਹੀ ਿਕਉ ਸਖ ਪਾਵ ਮਨਮਖ ਆਵਣ ਜਾਣਾ : Gun antar naahee kiou sukh paavai Manmukh aavan jaanaa: With no virtues
within, how can you find Sukha? The selfwilled Manmukh comes and goes in reincarnation (sggs 76).
— T. Singh
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