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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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Uphill Climb
by T. Singh

It’s relatively easy to walk downhill. But not so easy to climb uphill!

The Way of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (Gurmati, Shabad-Upadesh, spiritual Wisdom of the Gurbani, Brahm-
Giaan…) is an uphill climb! Which demands sincere efforts, willingness, earnestness, commitments, struggle,
sacrifice, Gurmukh Lifestyle (Divine Life)…

ਰਾਹ ਬਰਾ ਭੀਹਾਵਲਾ ਸਰ ਡਗਰ ਅਸਗਾਹ : . The path is difficult and scary; (this is a journey of) impasable lake and
mountains (sggs 936).
ਮਾਨ ਮਹ ਮਰ ਤਰ ਿਬਬਰਿਜਤ ਏਹ ਮਾਰਗ ਖਡ ਧਾਰ : To forsake pride, attachment, and the sense of “mine and yours”,
is the path of the double-edged sword (sggs 534).

Climb of the mind to the Realm of Truth – Sach Khand.

In nutshell, the Way of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS) is the mind’s ascend to the realm of Truth.

According to the Gurbani, however, a very “rare” one dares to tread this path of Truth or Divine Life (Gurmukh
Lifestyle)! The Gurbani compares the spiritual path (i.e., uphill climb of the mind to the Realm of Truth – Sach
Khand) to chewing iron with the teeth of wax!

ਜਨ ਨਾਨਕ ਇਹ ਖਲ ਕਠਨ ਹ ਿਕਨਹ ਗਰਮਿਖ ਜਾਨਾ ॥੨॥੧॥: O “Jan” Nanak! This is such a difficult game; only a rare
Gurmukh understands it! ||2||1|| (sggs 219).

Since it’s easy to go downhill, the Gurbani indicates crowds and crowds of people are attracted to the path of false
pretense or hypocrisy (Pakhandvaad – ਪਖਡਵਾਦ) in the world — the path of hypocrisy, the path of fraud or
falsehood, the path of desiring name and fame and want to be worshiped by others, the path of Pandit / Brahmins,
the path of Karamkaand, the path of pilgrimage, and so on.

Since the path of Pakhandvaad is easy to follow, it attracts many. Consequently, the crowds of people follow this
path, as sheep follow sheep (ਦਖਾ ਦਖੀ, ਹਰਨ ਕਰਿਦਆਂ ਦਖ ਕ, ਿਦਖਾਵ ਦੀ ਖਾਤਰ, ਲਕ ਲਾਜ ਦੀ ਖਾਤਰ, ਲਕ ਿਵਚ ਚਗਾ ਅਖਵਾਣ
ਲਈ…). Consider this Sloak of Bhagat Kabeer Sahib:

ਕਬੀਰ ਿਜਹ ਮਾਰਿਗ ਪਿਡਤ ਗਏ ਪਾਛ ਪਰੀ ਬਹੀਰ ਇਕ ਅਵਘਟ ਘਾਟੀ ਰਾਮ ਕੀ ਿਤਹ ਚਿੜ ਰਿਹਓ ਕਬੀਰ ॥੧੬੫॥: O Kabeer! The
crowds follow the path which the Pandits have taken (the path of falsehood, Pakhand, Karamkaand…). (But)
There is a rugged or precipitous cliff on the way to “Raam” (Mool, Source, Truth…); Kabeer is climbing that cliff
(alone!). ||165|| (sggs 1373).

To the contrary, Bhagat Kabeer Sahib says that the Way of the Truth (the Way of SGGS…) is difficult to tread. It’s
like uphill climb or like walking on the razor’s edge! Therefore, it is not that attractive!

As a result, the true Bhagats are always alone on the Way of Truth (i.e., the crowds of people don’t follow them).
Because, not too many want to follow this Way – uphill climb!

ਚਾਲਾ ਿਨਰਾਲੀ ਭਗਤਾਹ ਕਰੀ ਿਬਖਮ ਮਾਰਿਗ ਚਲਣਾ ਲਬ ਲਭ ਅਹਕਾਰ ਤਿਜ ਿ ਸਨਾ ਬਹਤ ਨਾਹੀ ਬਲਣਾ ਖਿਨਅਹ ਿਤਖੀ ਵਾਲਹ ਿਨਕੀ
ਏਤ ਮਾਰਿਗ ਜਾਣਾ॥: The devotees’ lifestyle is unique and distinct; they follow the most difficult path. They
renounce greed, avarice, pride and desire; they do not talk too much. The path they take is sharper than a two-
edged sword, and finer than a hair (sggs 918).

The Gurbani further explains to us as to why the true Bhagats are always alone (i.e., why the crowds of people
don’t follow them or the Truth they practice). The nature of Sansaar or a Sansaaree (world or a worldly person…) is

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contrary to that of the Bhagti or a Bhagat. Accordingly, the Gurbani reminds us that there can never be a
connection between a worldly person and a Bhagat!

ਭਗਤਾ ਤ ਸਸਾਰੀਆ ਜੜ ਕਦ ਨ ਆਇਆ : There can never be any alliance (ਜੜ) between Bhagat (Gurmukh, Daas,
Jan…) and the worldly people (ਦਨੀਆਦਾਰ). (sggs 145).
ਗਰਮਿਤ ਭਗਿਤ ਪਾਵ ਜਨ ਕਈ ॥੧॥: A rare “Janu” (Gurmukh, Bhagat, Daas…) obtains the “Gurmati Bhagti”
(understanding of the Gur-Shabad, Naam, Hukam…) ||1|| (sggs 879).

This is why the Gurbni asserts that the true Bhagat are very “rare”. Bhagat Ravi Daas Sahib further clarifies it:

ਮ ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮ ਧਨ ਲਾਿਦਆ ਿਬਖ ਲਾਦੀ ਸਸਾਿਰ ॥੨॥: I have loaded the Wealth of Raam Naam; the world has loaded
poison (of Maya which kills worldly people’s spiritual life). ||2|| (sggs 346).

All know the way of entrapment — “Phaasan Kee Bidhi”

As the Gurbani further eloborates, Bhagats/Gurmukhs are “rare”, because everybody in the world knows how to
get trapped (in doubt, Maya, etc.) — “Phaasan Kee Bidhi” (“ਫਾਸਨ ਕੀ ਿਬਿਧ” – How to get caught, trapped; snared;
subjugated by trick or fraud; entangled; ਫਧ ਿਵਚ ਪਣ , ਫਸਣ ਦਾ ਢਗ, ਫਸਣ ਦਾ ਤਰੀਕਾ, ਫਸਣ ਦਾ ਰਸਤਾ, ਫਸਣ ਦੀਆਂ ਕਰਤਤ ,
ਫਸਣ ਦ ਕਰਮਕ ਡ…).

However, the Gurbani says that a very rare one knows the way of Liberation — “Chhootan Kee” Bidhi (“ਛਟਨ ਕੀ” –
how to escape Maya; how to be a living liberated, Mukati; ਛਟ ਜ ਣ ਦਾ ਰਸਤਾ, ਮਕਤੀ ਦਾ ਰਸਤਾ…).

ਫਾਸਨ ਕੀ ਿਬਿਧ ਸਭ ਕਊ ਜਾਨ ਛਟਨ ਕੀ ਇਕ ਕਈ : Everyone knows how to be caught, but rarely anyone knows how
to escape (sggs 331).

Pakhandvaad is the “Phaasan Kee Bidhi” (“ਫਾਸਨ ਕੀ ਿਬਿਧ”) — akin to downhill walk!

ਪਾਖਿਡ ਭਗਿਤ ਨ ਹਵਈ ਪਾਰਬਹਮ ਨ ਪਾਇਆ ਜਾਇ : Through hypocrisy, Bhagti cannot be done, and Paarbrahm is not
Realized (sggs 849).

Now, for whom the path of Truth is uphill climb — difficult, treacherous, and impassable? According to the
Gurbani, without the Naam, the path to Hri (Mool, Source, Jot…) becomes impassable.

ਿਵਣ ਨਾਵ ਕਿੜਆਰ ਅਉਖਾ ਤਗੀਐ ਅਉਘਟ ਰਧ ਰਾਹ ਗਲੀਆਂ ਰਕੀਆਂ : Without the Naam, (even the learned person is)
false. (Because of falsehood, his) path becomes blocked and difficult (for him to pass through). (sggs 1288).

Gurmati is the Way of Liberation — “Chhootan Kee” Bidhi

The Gurbani — brimming with the divine Wisdom and laden with the deep insight — is the “Chhootan Kee” Bidhi
(“ਛਟਨ ਕੀ”), a process, order, or formula of becoming living liberated — akin to uphill climb!

However, to travel along the Way of the Gurmati (Gur-Shabad, Divine Wisdom of the Gurbani), we need guidance
of the Gurbani for the Gurbani knows the destination, knows all twists and turns and pitfalls along the Way. In Sri
Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS), we have the supreme guide to shine Light (spiritual Knowledge) on the spiritual path.
With help and guidance of the Satigur (SGGS), we all can tread this path with relative ease, and ultimate realize the
Mool (Source, Jot…).

ਗਰ ਿਗਆਨ ਦੀਪਕ ਉਿਜਆਰੀਆ ॥੧॥: The Gur-Wisdom is the Lamp that Enlightens (the mind). ||1|| (sggs 210).

In nutshell, the Gurbani’s divine Wisdom teaches us the basics of the delicate art of balancing spirituality and
worldly life. It teaches people in this modern society how to cross the ocean of sense pleasures and material
desires (i.e, Bhav Saggar), and how to gain liberation from the outer domination and experience Inner Peace and
Joy (i.e. Sukh Saagar) while fully living in the midst of Maya.

By living the Gurbani’s Wisdom in daily life, one become a Gurmukh and can easily climb uphill. It’s easy for him to
climb uphill because he has thrown off his load (of Haumai or egotism, attachment, doubt, fear)…

ਅਧਲ ਭਾਰ ਉਠਾਇਆ ਡਗਰ ਵਾਟ ਬਹਤ : The (spiritually) blind man is carrying such a load, and his (onward life-)
journey is very mountainous (i.e., very difficult…). (sggs 729).
ਗਰਮਿਖ ਨਾਮ ਿਨਰਜਨ ਪਾਈਐ ਅਫਿਰਓ ਭਾਰ ਅਫਾਰ ਟਰ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ : The Immaculate (free of Maya) Naam is obtained by
becoming the Gurmukh; (as a result, his) unbearable load (of Haumai, etc.) is removed ||1||Pause|| (sggs 1013).

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Filed Under: Bhagti, Devotion, Worship, fraud, deception, cheating, Gurbani, Rituals, Karamkaand
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COMMENTS LEAVE A COMMENT

G Gupt

Think one of the best/quickest/effective ways to get an uplift if you’re feeling really down about something when
you are on a spiritual path is to do more Sangat/company of the Holy People…

That’s one of the ways where this Path becomes a lot easier, and you get an insight into how to make better
spiritual progression from then on wards.

Reply

G T. Singh Post author

Thank you for taking the time to respond to this post.

Reply

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