JUM(COURIER OF DEATH) LEKH 22
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Lekh 2”-COURIER OF DEATH
Darkness is said to be the absence of light. Darkness has no existence of its own. When light comes into being darkness disappears.
God is the ‘embodiment of light’ and ‘embodiment of love’. Wherever there is God’s light, there is God’s existence and God’s ‘knowledge-essence form’ is present. This is the play of the Divine Realm where the Divine ‘Will’ is in vogue (is operating).
In the darkness of ignorance when mortal (man) hides from the inherited spiritual light or forgets it, then he wonders in the doubt-fallacy circle of the materialistic realm. He becomes out of tune from the flow of the Divine Will and coming under the influence of the ‘five’, does what he likes and thus he goes against Divine Will or command and indulges in improper actions.
In Gurbani there is very strict warning to stop mortal (man) from going against Divine Command and acting arbitrarily (according to his own will). I by becoming obstinate we still arbitrarily indulge in illegitimate actions, then couriers of death have been created to administer punishment. This is all the ‘play’ of the materialistic realm of the ‘tri-gun’ (three qualities).
In this three quality materialistic realm there are unlimited galaxies or clusters of stars.
In every star there are many planets
Our earth is in fact one of the these planets.
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In our world there are numerous countries.
Every country has its separate government.
Every government has its own constitution.
Laws are made according to the constitution.
To enforce law there is government machinery.
To ensure these laws are not broken there is the police.
To administer punishment there are courts.
In the courts, for cases to be conducted
files
plaintiffs
the accused
witnesses
advocates
are produced.
The judge after conducting the cases announces the punishment according to the law. There are prisons to administer the punishment which is carried out by the prison staff on the offenders.
This worldly legal system of ours is the play of the visible world. In it
there can be justice
it is possible to escape from the police
recommendations can work
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corruption is possible
lawyers can be intellectually dishonest
witnesses can give false information
there can be a mistake or error in the judgment .
3.1 One may run away from the courts of other men, but where can one go to
escape the Lord’s Kingdom? 591M3
Besides the legal system of this visible world, there is a hidden legal system in the invisible realm where Divine Will is working. Here the system is distinct and different from the worldly one.
In the worldly system different countries have different laws and these laws have various sections but the Divine Will has one and only one law and it has only one section.
3.2 As she has planted, so does she harvest; such is the field of karma. 134M5
3.3 As we act, so are the rewards we receive; no one can take the place of another. 406M5
3.4 Whatever I did, for that I have suffered; I do not blame anyone else. 433M1
The worldly laws are always changing or undergoing amendments but the ‘Divine Command’ is infinite, truthful, infallible and eternal and therefore needs no amendments. This ‘Divine Command’ has always been taking place consistently from time immemorial and will continue to do so in future.
3.5 Everyone is subject to His Command; no one is beyond His Command. O
Nanak, one who understands His Command, does not speak in ego. 1M1
3.6 Your Command is infinite; no one can find its limit. One who meets with the Perfect Guru, walks in the Way of the Lord’s Will. 396 M5
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4.1 The Command of the One Lord is pervading throughout; duty to the One Lord is upon the heads of all. 425M3
The Divine ‘Law of Karma’ is all-seeing, all-engulfing, Eternal, unfailing, fundamental, which is so complete and perfect that it never needs any change or amendment.
This ‘Command ‘ is the secret and unwritten law of the Divine Realm and is beyond the understanding and comprehension of the common people. For this reason we automatically break this Divine Law without knowing.
4.2 He writes the inscription of His Hukam on the foreheads of all, without pen or ink. 1280M2
Spiritual teachers, devotees, pious men and saints have tried to explain this Divine Will to us through their lives and speeches. But even then we only read-hear-understand these hidden Divine Secrets intellectually with our superficial minds and we soon forget them.
In fact we are so absorbed and intoxicated in this visible world that we do not even feel the need to understand and comprehend the Divine hidden command- let alone accepting and professing.
If we can knowingly break these worldly laws, then the breaking of the hidden Divine Command will undoubtedly take place unknowingly.
This is why in Gurbani it is said-
4.2 Everyone, and all that has been created, is under the domination of Death.
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This hidden Divine Command is guarded in a hidden way, and the breaking of this command is punished in an invisible way too.
The hidden power of this Divine Law comes into force automatically by itself and the criminal undergoes the punishment according to the law of ‘I reap what I sow’ (what I get is the result of what I do).
In this hidden Divine Court there is no need for police witness, file of suit, lawyer, judge etc because this prosecution and legal procedure is happening in the Ethereal world by itself, secretly and spontaneously.
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The beauty is that in this Divine legal system there is no scope for any irregularity or mistake because in the Divine hidden court only the truthful righteous justice will take place.
The worldly laws are written in government books and their subtle implications are entrenched in our minds as a result of which we try to avoid breaking them.
But the Laws of Divine Will are not written in books. They are written within our inner souls and are complete.
5.1 Nanak, it is written that you shall obey the Hukam of His Command, and walk in the Way of His Will. 1
By His Command, bodies are created; His Command cannot be described.
By His Command, souls come into being; by His Command, glory and greatness are obtained.
By His Command, some are high and some are low; by His Written Command, pain and pleasure are obtained.
Some, by His Command, are blessed and forgiven; others, by His Command, wander aimlessly forever.
Everyone is subject to His Command; no one is beyond His Command. 1M1
5.2 He writes the inscription of His Hukam on the foreheads of all, without pen or ink. 1280M2
Just as the law abiding citizens obey the worldly laws to escape police arrest, in the same way we can be safe from the ‘invisible police’ as long as we listen to and obey our conscience and the law written in our souls. But we do not attend to the warning of the Inner Soul or the conscience: in fact we ignore it.
So long as we hear and obey the silent whisper of our Inner Soul, we will be out of reach of the clutches of the ‘Karamic Law’. This silent whisper, called conscience, warns us, within ourselves, against any digression of Divine Law, but we have become so obdurate that we fail to hear, catch or care for this sublime esoteric warning. Thus we so the seed of our sins, and reap the consequences of our depraved karmas. In fact our ‘conscience’ is the esoteric ‘police’ to deter us from doing wrong deeds against the ‘Divine Law of Karma’, but we ignore it to our detriment.
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We are under the worldly law as long as we are active but the Esoteric Karmic Law is in force on us or our souls even after our death. Even if we escape from the worldly laws through our cunningness, recommendations or bribery, we will surely suffer punishment for our actions or sins after death.
In Gurbani we have been warned thus:
6.1 O my mind, do not practice deception, even inadvertently. In the end, your
own soul shall have to answer for its account. 656Bh.Kab.
6.2 On that day when the body perishes—at that time, she becomes a ghost.
The Messenger of Death seizes and holds her, and does not tell anyone his
secret.
And her loved ones—in an instant, they move on, leaving her all alone.
She wrings her hands, her body writhes in pain, and she turns from black to
white.
As she has planted, so does she harvest; such is the field of karma. 134M5
6.3 The foolish, self-willed manmukh is engrossed in false attachment to
family.
Practicing egotism and self-conceit, he dies and departs, taking nothing along
with him.
He does not understand that the Messenger of Death is hovering over his head;
he is deluded by duality.
This opportunity will not come into his hands again; 787M3
6.4 Your time of service is at its end, and you will have to give your account.
The hard-hearted Messenger of Death has come to take you away.
What have you earned, and what have you lost? Come immediately! You are
summoned to His Court! 1
Get going! Come just as you are! You have been summoned to His Court.
The Order has come from the Court of the Lord. 792Bh.Kab.
6.5 O my mind, how can you forget the Lord’s Name? When the body
perishes, you shall have to deal with the Messenger of Death. 1186M9
To understand the abstract aspect of this subject further explanation is given -
Whatever deeds we do the real ‘doer of action’ is not our body. The ‘real doer of action’ in our body is our mind.
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In the mind good or bad company or temptations cause thoughts or concepts to arise.
These thoughts are also affected or coloured by our subconscious mind.
There is also the reflection of the 5 senses on these.
Our intellect analysis these thoughts and gives them a format.
In this way our thoughts, manifest themselves through our physical self, which are called ‘actions’.
From this it is clear that our ‘body’ is just an instrument of the mind which uses the body to fulfil the desires of its thoughts.
Our thoughts becoming ‘good’ or ‘bad’ depends on the causes listed below-
1. The external excitements
2. The influence of the 5 (passions)
3. The colouring to the thoughts
4. The whisper of the conscience.
5. The desires of the mind
6. The thinking power of the intellect
In this way, behind each and every action connected to our deed, our mind, body, intellect, attention, five evil passions and the subconscious mind, are participants and are responsible. These parts collectively form a totality called a ‘mortal’ and it is this mortal who has to suffer the consequences of total deed.
The spiritual light in us is pure and is filled with all virtues. But when this light is surrounded by the ‘bulb of ego’, then the hue or colour of low materialistic thoughts and deeds begin to surround it. This bulb of ego is called the ‘mortal’ in whom the brightness of ‘light’ is as complete as before but the light which has to pass through the dirty glass of the ‘bulb’ has become dim.
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In other words, as our minds are becoming polluted with the thoughts of base desires, the our darkness of doubt-fallacy increases proportionally and the expression of Divine Light and Divine Virtues steadily decreases.
In this way low desires originate from our polluted mind and becoming ‘action-bound’ we commit sins. As a result this we come under the control of couriers of death and suffers punishment for our actions.
All lower thoughts and actions, and the resultant evils are the reflection and attributes of ‘Maya’ - expressed and projected through our false egoistic conception of ‘I’, ‘Me’ and ‘Mine’. In this way we submit ourselves to the ‘Karmic Law’ - As you sow, so shall you reap’, and suffer the consequences of our depraved thoughts and deeds.
Contrary to this, if we turn towards the central Divine soul, keep the company of spiritually elevated souls and meditate on the existence of the Its ‘light’, the pollution of our mind will begin to decrease and the reflection of the inner soul or light or illumination will begin to increase. In place of the lower desires of the mind and body, divine virtues will take root. In this way the darkness of materialistic ignorance will begin to decrease and we will continue to be saved from the worldly couriers of death.
In the degree our thoughts are again purified and spiritualised with the reflection of the Divine light within ourselves - we become ‘channel’ for the outflow and expression of all noble virtues and attributes of Divine Bliss, Love and Grace of God; since all virtues and noble pursuits are the reflections of spirituality and have roots in Divinity.
The main cause of sensual desires or concepts is our mind which with its low desires is the real ‘criminal’ or culprit but the body too has to suffer punishment because by becoming an accomplice of the mind, it participates in the fulfillment of the mind’s desires. “Keeping the company of the baser mind and being used as a weapon, the body too has to bear suffering.
The real culprit or offender is the unseen mind, but the body has also to suffer the corporeal punishment-simply because the body was
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an abettor, accomplice and instrument of the depraved mind in the execution of the sin!
Even if we manage to evade the clutches of the ‘Law of the Land’ during our life-time, our ethereal body call ‘Jiv-a’, will nevertheless have to suffer the consequences of our evil thoughts and deeds, which are accurately and permanently recorded and stored in our consciousness- in obeisance of the Eternal All Engulfing, perfect, unfailing ‘Law of Karma’ i.e. ‘As you sow so shall you reap’.
It is important here to clarify that the angel or courier of death is not a physical entity. Physical entity can only affect our physical lives but the angles or couriers of death prosecute and deal with our actions even after our demise. This means that the angel or courier of death is some Ethereal element which deals with our Ethereal body in an Ethereal plane.
Gurbani describes the effect of the angle or courier of death on the Ethereal body thus-
9.1 O my mind, do not practice deception, even inadvertently. In the end, your own soul shall have to answer for its account. 656Bh.Kab
9.2 On that day when the body perishes—at that time, she becomes a ghost.
The Messenger of Death seizes and holds her, and does not tell anyone his secret.
And her loved ones—in an instant, they move on, leaving her all alone.
She wrings her hands, her body writhes in pain, and she turns from black to white.
As she has planted, so does she harvest; such is the field of karma. 134M5
9.3 O my mind, how can you forget the Lord’s Name? When the body
perishes, you shall have to deal with the Messenger of Death. 1186M9
9.4 Says Kabeer, the man wakes up, only when the Messenger of Death hits him over the head with his club. 870Bh.Kab.
In reality the angel or courier of death in this materialistic sphere is a hidden power which carries out the Divine command of the ethereal law i.e. ‘As you sow -so shall you reap,’
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In this invisible hidden system-
police
police station
F.I.R.
witness
file
court
advocate
cross-examination
judge
etc. are not needed. Nor is there any need for caboodle and technical plea. All this prosecution and action is taking place automatically by itself, hidden in the Ethereal sphere.
According to Gurbani this hidden power which is called ‘Ja-m’ or ‘Ya-m’ is taking its course in this materialistic world according to the Eternal law of the Divine command, ‘I reap what I sow’.
In the prosecution or judgment by this Divine command, there is no possibility of any error, carelessness or mistake because this whole system is the ‘play arena’ of the unerring Immortal Lord and is truly without any defect, fault and is infallible. In this system the Divine hidden powers-the couriers of death, angles, Dharamrai (the judge of righteousness) are the instruments of Divine command.
Just as the decision of the worldly supreme court can be changed by the president of the country, so also gurus, holy people, saints through their grace and mercy can intercede and obtain pardon from the hidden power or ‘Dharamrai’ thereby tearing the ‘writ’ of our deeds to set us free.
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But on condition that the mortal (man) feels truly sorry for his wrong doing, regrets deeply from within and prays before God thus-
11.1 As the seas and the oceans are overflowing with water, so vast are my own sins.
Please, shower me with Your Mercy, and take pity upon me. I am a sinking stone — please carry me across! 156M1
11.2 O God, please save me! 675M5
11.3 Poor Nanak has fallen at the Lord’s Door; please, O Lord, unite me with Yourself, by Your Glorious Greatness. 757M4
11.4 Raising my arms up, I complained to my Guru, and He has saved me.
793Bh.Kab.
11.5 O Lord, please forgive Your slave now, in this life, so that he may not have to return again to this terrifying world-ocean. 1104Bh. Kab.
11.6 Begging and pleading, I have come to Your Sanctuary; I am on fire — please shower me with Your Mercy! 1269M5
11.7 I make so many mistakes, there is no end or limit to them. O Lord, please bemerciful and forgive me; I am a sinner, a great offender. 1416M3
In the astral plane, our ethereal bodies called ‘Jiv-a’ are subject to invisible, all seeing, all engulfing and unfailing ‘KaramicLaws’, and have to suffer the consequences of evil deeds or our depraved mind, through the Invisible Esoteric corrective power-called ‘Ja-m’ or ‘Ya-m’.
Dispensation of worldly justice can be biased, faulty and inconsistent, but the ‘Divine Dispensation of Justice’ is accurate and perfect, for which No Judiciary paraphernalia of
police
case files
witness
prosecutor
lawyer
pleader
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cross-examination
judge
court
jail
are required as in case of worldly judiciary. Of course, even in the Astral Plane, ‘appeal for mercy’ can be made to the President of the Cosmos, God, through his Prophets for his magnanimous compassion and Grace, to condone our sins.
The only condition for such an Appeal is sincere inner repentance in our heart and soul, and complete and utter surrender of our ‘Ego’ at the feet of the Guru- with devotional prayers for pardoning our past sins, and solemn promise to abide by His Will in the future.
We are mortals with external thoughts. For this reason our understanding, knowledge, faith and desires are confined to the visible materialistic sphere and our knowledge and faith about the invisible hidden abstract sphere is the result of what we have heard or spoken, have read or have been taught thus making it superficial and divergent.
Despite the teachings and scriptures of saints and gurus through the ages, our thoughts and faith about ‘Ja-m’ and other aspects of life have become divergent, strange and ridiculous which are far removed from the reality or are just contradictory.
Our thinking and conception about various terms of religious dogmas and beliefs, such as - sin, ya-m, hell, heaven, God, guru, religion etc. are hypothetical or imaginary and different, based on ‘hear-say’ and are far from or contradictory to the reality.
Suddenly we have doubts about the ‘Jam’ and have fabricated frightening appearances of imaginary demons, devils and god-goddesses. On the other hand we believe that there must be an office in the God’s Court where our deeds are being written and after death the office is referred to and decisions are made.
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In reality the system of Divine Command is the ‘play arena’ of the invisible sphere which is being described below:
In our innermost consciousness through the power of the Divine Will, the influence of the good-bad thoughts or actions on the subconscious mind is constantly increasing every moment and every second.
If we put some clean water in a utensil and to it we keep on adding tiny amounts of differently combined things which are sweet, bitter, tasteless, the water will become a solution. Every particle added will change the colour, odour, fragrance taste etc. of the solution. If this solution is transferred into a new utensil, the solution remains the same old one, only the utensil is changed.
Exactly in the same manner, the reflection of our thoughts or deeds falls on the ‘utensil’ of our mind. This causes the hue, fragrance, stench, taste etc. of our mind to change continuously making the solution of the mind dense.
The pungency, bad odour, fragrance and taste which comes from the dense solution is called our behaviour, conduct or character.
The compound solution of the mind is our sub-consciousness according to which we indulge in actions and experience their consequences.
According to the hue of our sub-consciousness. our fate of destiny is made
13.1 Those actions you perform, day and night, are recorded upon
your forehead. 461M5
It is according to this fate or destiny and the Divine Law- ‘I reap what I sow’ (whatever I get is the result of what I do) that we have to experience suffering and comforts.
When we die, we get a ‘new body’ but the same ‘Divine Soul’ and the ‘old sub-consciousness’ enters it with this
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we begin to play the same old game again.
According to the Divine Command within the unseen ‘Divine World’,
1. Consciousness indeed is the invisible ‘court’.
2. The spiritual flashes or the ‘voice of the conscience’ in the mirror of consciousness is in fact the ‘invisible police’ which fore- warns us about our degenerative actions
3. We commit good or bad actions according to the heat or ‘odour’ coming our from the sub-conscious mind.
4. The Divine Law of ‘ What I do determines what I get’ and ‘As you sow, so shall you reap’ comes into play.
5. The power of the Divine Command in the form of Dharamraj (the Righteous Judge’ is the one that prosecutes and passes sentence.
6. The same Divine Power is the form of ‘Ja/m’ administers punishment on us.
7. The same Divine Power listens to our appeal or ardas.
8. The same Divine Power through the Grace of the Guru pardons us and ends the painful writ of our past deeds.
9. The same Divine Power through its grace takes us out of the three attributive dimension of worldliness and places us in the fourth dimension.
10. The same Divine Power through the grace of the ‘Gift of Naam’ bestows
upon us the life-style of gurmukhs or guru orientated beings.
It is clear from the above discussion that ‘ja/m’, ‘ajrail frista’, Dharamraj’ (the righteous judge) are not visible beings, nor are the Divine Court of Law, heaven-hell ‘territories’ with a visible form.
The one and only power in the form of Divine Will in a hidden form is performing different mysterious actions in our inner consciousness and according to the actions performed different names have been given to the Divine Powers.
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As a way of illustration, when a king-
1. sits on a throne he is a judge.
2. fights a war he is a general.
3. deals with his wife , he is called a husband.
4. loves his children, he becomes a father.
15.1 The Lord Himself is absolute; He is The One and Only; but He Himself is also manifested in many forms.
Whatever pleases Him, O Nanak, that alone is good. 726M4
15.2 He Himself is the Enjoyer, and He Himself is the Enjoyment. He Himself is the Ravisher of all.
He Himself is the Bride in her dress, He Himself is the Bridegroom on the bed. My Lord and Master is imbued with love; He is totally permeating and pervading all. He Himself is the fisherman and the fish; He Himself is the water and the net.
He Himself is the sinker, and He Himself is the bait. 2
He Himself loves in so many ways. O sister soul-brides, He is my Beloved.
He continually ravishes and enjoys the happy soul-brides; just look at the plight I am in without Him! 3
Prays Nanak, please hear my prayer: You are the pool, and You are the soul-swan. You are the lotus flower of the day and You are the water-lily of the night. You Yourself behold them, and blossom forth in bliss. 23M1
15.3 Somewhere, wakeful you are, O Lord, and preach wakefulness and
Somewhere, in slumber locked, you keep asleep beyond all care and thought.
Somewhere, you wonder beggar-like, to beg for alms,
Somewhere, you pose as Donor great, granting whatever boons they crave.
Somewhere, upon the monarchs you bestow vast lands, somewhere from the
monarchs you seize away the same.
Somewhere, you act just as the Vedas say, somewhere, their teachings you
would violate.
Somewhere you are above the gunnas three, somewhere, you show as if
possessed of them. Akal Ustat P Das 11
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16.1 He Himself is the Enjoyer, and He Himself is the Enjoyment.
He Himself is the Ravisher of all. He Himself is the Bride in her dress, He Himself is the Bridegroom on the bed. 1
My Lord and Master is imbued with love; He is totally permeating and pervading all. 1 Pause
He Himself is the fisherman and the fish; He Himself is the water and the net.
He Himself is the sinker, and He Himself is the bait. 2
He Himself loves in so many ways. O sister soul-brides, He is my Beloved.
He continually ravishes and enjoys the happy soul-brides; just look at the plight I am in without Him! 3
Prays Nanak, please hear my prayer: You are the pool, and You are the soul-swan. You are the lotus flower of the day and You are the water-lily of the night. You Yourself behold them, and blossom forth in bliss. 23M1
Therefore heaven and hell are no separate regions or islands.
This is the hue (or colouring) of the mind or the ‘stench’ (dirty smell) or ‘aroma’ (pleasant smell) of the subconscious. According to it we experience difficulties-comforts or go through hell - heaven.
In Gurbani some such words have been used which have been prevalent in India from ages and have now penetrated, permeated diffused into our subconscious.
The usage of analogies found in the current language, proverbs, songs, mystic poems of a country and the beliefs and habits ingrained in people over generations is extremely helpful in understanding or deciphering the subtle points or hidden secrets.
Among the people of India numerous words like ja/m (messenger of death). Ja/m kal (death),demons, monsters, Dharamrai (the righteous judge), angel Agrail, the court of Dharamrai, hell-heaven etc. have been commonly used since generations. For this reason, reference is made to and analogies given of these prevalent words to explain the subtle secrets of Gurbani. In this way, the sangat (gathering of people) can easily understand Gurbani’s subtle secrets.
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The reality is that the Divine Power in the Spiritual World is operating (working) everywhere. Our Divine Command is the one that is interwoven, omnipresent and the ‘play arena’. But only the rare gurmukh can discover this hidden secret.
17.1 By His Command, bodies are created; His Command cannot be described.
By His Command, souls come into being; by His Command, glory and greatness are obtained.
By His Command, some are high and some are low; by His Written
Command, pain and pleasure are obtained.
Some, by His Command, are blessed and forgiven; others, by His Command,
wander aimlessly forever.
Everyone is subject to His Command; no one is beyond His Command.
O Nanak, one who understands His Command, does not speak in ego. 1M1
17.2 Your Command is infinite; no one can find its limit.
One who meets with the Perfect Guru, walks in the Way of the Lord’s Will. 396M5
17.3 By His Command, one comes into the world, O Beloved, and by His Will, he goes. By His Will, some are bound and gagged and driven away, O Beloved; the self-willed manmukhs suffer their punishment. By His Command, the Word of the Shabad, is realized, O Beloved, and one goes to the Court of the Lord robed in honor. 5 By His Command, some accounts are accounted for, O Beloved; by His Command, some suffer in egotism and duality. By His Command, one wanders in reincarnation, O Beloved; deceived by sins and demerits, he cries out in his suffering. If he comes to realize the Command of the Lord’s Will, O Beloved, then he is blessed with Truth and Honor. 636M1
17.4 He writes the inscription of His Hukam on the foreheads of all, without pen or ink. 1280
17.5 The terrible time of death and annihilation hovers over the heads of the world.
By the Hukam of the Lord’s Command, the Messenger of Death smashes his club over their heads. 147M1
17.6 The wretched one does not understand His Command, and is
reincarnated into heaven and hell. 423M3
From the above discussion it is clear that our deeds are the ones that boomerang on to us.
17.7 Whatever I did, for that I have suffered; I do not blame anyone else. 433M1
17.8 As you plant, so shall you harvest; your destiny is recorded
on your forehead. 134M1
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18.1 To kill the sinner, the sin is the greatest warrior. 10sm Granth
and along side has also severely admonished :-
18.2 O my mind, do not practice deception, even inadvertently.
In the end, your own soul shall have to answer for its account.
656
18.3 O my mind, how can you forget the Lord’s Name?
When the body perishes, you shall have to deal with the Messenger of Death. 1186
18.4 Why do you do such evil deeds, that you shall have to suffer so? 474M3
In reality the ‘Secret Power’ of the Divine ‘Command’ is operating in various forms of ja/m (messengers of death).
Ja/m (messengers of death) have many forms :-
1. The silent whisper of conscience. When we commit a sin our
conscience inwardly rebukes (scolds) us and we experience mental torture and feel regret.
2. If we are caught doing base or outlawed deeds then at that time the police in the form of ja/m will take action against us.
3. If we escape from the police then the ja/m in the form of society rebukes us and we face social torture.
4. If we escape from society then our ‘latent feelings’ or vicious mental elements keep broiling within us. When these cumulative vicious elements gang up in the form of ja/m a volcanic eruption takes place causing much torment and anguish.
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5. If by some chance we escape from the consequences of our deeds in this life or have some debit balance to settle, then after death accordingly ‘your soul will have to settle the final account’, the subtle form of ja/m will carry out the sentence of our deeds
6. If our sins are numerous and serious, then we will have to ‘take birth’ again and the debit balance of the ‘latent feelings’ or hue, will be carried over in the form of sub consciousness and accompany the soul and these latent feelings of the previous sins in the form of ja/m subject us to the sentence of some terrifying form so that our outstanding balance can be settled. This is the reason why some honest and guru-orientated persons too have to face torment and anguish so that the balance of the debt of past deeds can be paid up.
7. In our life the husband, the wife, the bride, father-mother, children, friends relations etc. by way of numerous relationships or forms make us extremely miserable and become the cause of much torment and anguish, either to settle some unfinished account or to take revenge over some past deeds (committed in previous births).
8. In the spiritual path of some upcoming disciple :-
putting an obstacle
stopping the advancement
misleading
tormenting
are worldly powers who are ja/m in the guise of relations who prevent the disciple from moving or progressing in the divine world by putting obstacles as was the case with Harnaakish etc:-
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20.1 This Maya has made me forget Your feet, O Lord of the World, Master of the Universe. Not even a bit of love wells up in Your humble servant; what can Your poor servant do? 857
In this way it is our past deeds that take the form of ja/m to correct and cleanse us.
Nowadays electronic computers have been created. This is a mechanical/electronic brain. What ever data is entered into the computer, that data is analyzed or sifted and the result of some problem presents itself.
Our consciousness too is a ‘Divine Computer’ into which the hue or tint of our past births combines with the data of our present thoughts, and the resultant cumulative of the filed up thoughts and deeds simultaneously manifest themselves into our subconscious mind. This cumulative composition or result is not constant because every second our mind is subject to each or every one of our thoughts or actions and simultaneously the cumulative composition of our sub-conscious mind too automatically changes.
It is clear from the above discussion that if we desire that our sub-conscious mind becomes pure, and we remain protected from the ‘ja/m’, then every moment, every second we should put into our ‘Divine Computer’ in the sub-conscious mind, positive and sublime thoughts or through virtuous actions plant data that is filled with spiritual hue and virtues so that the tint of our sub-conscious mind transforms and continues to cleanse itself and become pure.
20.2 The mind is defiled through association with sin. It is cleaned with the love
of (God’s) Name. 4 M1
This tint of the sub-conscious mind is our character, our habit or our fate and no matter how tiny, how good or bad
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the thoughts or actions are, it (the tint of the sub-conscious mind) keeps changing without our knowledge and over a period of time we have to face the consequences.
Our current actions or deeds in the next moment become ‘past deeds’ which slowly become our fate or destiny.
21.1 What man does by day and night that is recorded on his forehead (becomes
his destiny) 461M5
This internal computer of Divine Laws according to the Divine Will is processing data spontaneously and unconsciously. We are unaware and ignorant of this.
It is possible to forget or make a mistake, when feeding a date into the electronic computer, thus getting the wrong results, but the ‘Divine Computer’ in the sub-conscious mind, cannot forget or make a mistake because this is the unerring Divine Play, which automatically takes place within our being.
In this way the ‘good or bad’ destiny is spontaneously being made according to our every thought or deed. We have no choice but to face the consequences of this writ.
This whole secret process is taking place according the ‘Will’ which is ‘perfect and just.’
That is why our pain / pleasure, torment, fate, destiny are (indeed the result of our) own doing.
21.2 I have reaped what I sowed I cannot blame anyone. 433
What ever the nature of the thoughts we put into our sub-conscious mind, we have to face their consequences.
21.3 What ever is put into a vessel only that is available. What can the
poor fellow do. 449
The discerning essence of the above discussion can be (stated) as follows:-
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1.Our subconscious mind is the ‘secret police’, court house, and the judge.
2. Whatever ‘odour’ or ‘stench’ that comes out of it that is its sentence.
3. According to this stench we have to face the sentence.
4. This ‘odour’ or ‘stench’ of the subconscious mind is the form the ja/m takes
5. The hue or tint of the subconscious mind is the one that becomes our habit,
character or our destiny.
6. Our destiny keeps changing according to our good - bad thoughts or deeds.
7. Through positive lofty thoughts we can help create for ourselves a positive destiny and be saved from the sentence of the ja/ms
8. This entire play of the Divine Will is operating intrinsically, unnoticed and secretly.
The police, courtrooms and jails have been made so that through their fear we can distance ourselves from negative deeds and in the event of a mistake being made our rehabilitation can take place after the sentence, so that in future we will hesitate before getting involved in negative deeds. In this way the whole arrangement of the ‘ja/ms’ intrinsically is for our benefit. It is for our own good because it keeps us away from bad deeds and protects us from the harassment of the ja/m.
The whole system of Police, judiciary and jail is meant to serve as:-
Preventive
Deterrent
Punitive
Corrective
Reformative
L22.22
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Measures to change and transform our depraved mind and to make us better and ideal citizens. However, the underlying esoteric principle, behind all these esoteric and secret process is Divine kindness, compassion, Love and Grace of God for His ‘prodigal sons’.
The father and mother love their children but when the child frees himself from the fear and faith of the parents and does what he or pleases, then the parents assume the form of ja/m impose a punitive sentence to correct him. Behind this harsh sentence, deep down in the heart of the parents they have intense- warm love for the child. To correct the child and prevent him/her from going astray, the parents have to use a certain measure of harshness.
It is clear from this that that our Spiritual Father-Mother too, has to use the power of His Will in the many forms of ja/ms, according to our deeds/actions, to correct and rehabilitate His prodigal children who have gone astray or lost. In this way behind the facade (mask) of ‘play arena’, secretly, the supreme love, the manifestation of love, the Eternal Lord’s profound and warm love is operating in many forms, hues and wondrous ways for the sake of our way-word beings, thus administering the dose of difficulties as the medicine, for our good.
You ( O Lord) do good, but I do not know this goodness. You are forever and ever benevolent. 613
But we only keep on complaining and showing our grievance.
These so called ja/ms or yamas are one of the numerous necessary principles in the vast Drama of the Divine Cosmos. They are our reformers and benefactors in disguise from
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the unseen world, created for the good, and should therefore be understood, appreciated and tolerated with grace, rather than blaming, hating and abhorring them.
Through base and bad deeds or actions we place ourselves at the mercy of the ja/m.
The base deeds or actions are the result of our degraded inclination.
The degraded inclinations have been created from the tint of our subconscious and the negative social connections.
The subconscious is created from our previous deeds and thoughts.
Degraded thoughts or deeds emerge and thrive from the darkness of egotism.(self-centredness).
Egotism (self-centredness) is the doubt ridden fallacy of the three attributes of worldliness (prevalent in man’s nature).
Maya or illusion of worldliness emerges from the non presence or non-remembrance of the Infinite Lord
That is why the non-remembrance of the Infinite Lord is the main cause of being at the mercy of ja/m.
It is in the doubt ridden fallacy of the darkness of egotism (self-centredness) that ja/ms flourish.
It is only with the illumination of the Naam that one can get rid of the doubt ridden fallacy of egotism.
Wherever there is egotism, the illumination of Naam cannot take place.
1 Egotism is against Naam. The two cannot exist in one place. 560
By forgetting or turning away form God is like placing oneself at the mercy of ja/m.
2 Forgetting the Transcendent Lord, all sorts of illnesses are contracted.
Those who turn their backs on the Lord shall be separated from Him and consigned to reincarnation, over and over again. 135M5
3 If I forget You, then everyone becomes my enemy. When You come to mind then they serve me. 383M5
4 Deluded by doubt, the world wanders around. It dies, and is born again, ruined by the Messenger of Death. 560M3
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1 The more they walk away, the deeper it pierces them, and the more they suffer in pain, until finally, the Messenger of Death smashes his club against their heads. 13M4
2 Emotional attachment to Maya, lust, anger and egotism are demons.
Because of them, mortals are subject to death; above their heads hangs the heavy club of the Messenger of Death.
The self-willed manmukhs, in love with duality, are led onto the path of Death.
In the City of Death, they are tied up and beaten, and no one hears their
cries. 513M3
Before understanding or internalising information, warning or the aim about ja/m as it appears in Gurbani, it is necessary to again recollect and re-emphasis the points made below.
1. The unalterable principle “What I sow is what is reap” is only applicable within the framework of the realm of the three worldly attributes because duality (as opposed to unity) can only operate in the realm of the three worldly attributes in which, in place of Divine unity, equipoise (balance), duality operates in every essence as pairs.
As in
light -darkness
virtue - sin
comforts - difficulty
heaven - hell
demi-Gods - ja/m
love - hatred
cold – hot
It is only by coming out of this duality that we can protect ourselves from ja/m.
2. In the subtle Divine World there is neither sin nor is there a need for ja/m
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In that place the one and only Primal Creator, God, is all engulfing and operating everywhere.
26.1 Unto whom should we speak, O Nanak, when He Himself is all-in-all?
475M2
26.2 He Himself is the Enjoyer, and He Himself is the Enjoyment. He Himself is the Ravisher of all.
He Himself is the Bride in her dress, He Himself is the Bridegroom on the
bed. 23M1
3. It is through the doubt ridden fallacy of egotism (self-centredness) that we get ‘edged out’ from the Divine World and land into the world of the three attributes
4. In the world of the three attributes we perform deeds according to the ‘society’ we keep and the ‘tint’ of our the mind and thereby bear the resultant consequences.
5. That is why our mind is the one who is the real culprit or criminal, not the body. But the body invariably has to face the sentence because the body is in the company of the depraved (negative) mind.
6. Through depraved deeds or sins we fall prey to the ja/m and bear the sentence.
7. Through our depraved worldly inclinations we get caught in the worldly attachment and through this we forget the Infinite Creator.
26.3 They forget the Lord, and they suffer in pain. Afflicted with hunger, they run around in all directions. 98M5
26.4 If I forget You, then everyone becomes my enemy. When You come to mind,
then they serve me. 383M5
26.5 O my mind, without the Naam, the Name of the Lord, and attached to duality, those faithless cynics are strangled by the Messenger of Death. 170M4
8. It is by forgetting the Lord Waheguru that we become prey (victim) of the ja/m.
26.6 One who does not remember his Lord and Master, is punished by the Messenger of Death. 964M5
26.7 Deluded by doubt, the world wanders around. It dies, and is born again, ruined by the Messenger of Death. 560M3
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27.1 Forgetting the Naam, you shall have to endure the pain of death. 226M1
27.2 Those who forget the Naam and do other things, O Nanak, will be bound and gagged and beaten in the City of Death, like the thief caught red-handed.
1247M3
27.3 O my mind, how can you forget the Lord’s Name? When the body perishes, you shall have to deal with the Messenger of Death. 1186M9
9. There is only one way to escape from the ja/m and that is, once again we come out of the state of ‘forgetfulness’ of the Infinite Creator get into the state of ‘remembrance’.
27.4 Remembering the Lord in meditation, the Messenger of Death will not touch you. 889M5
27.5 Repeating the Naam, the Messenger of Death does not draw near. 1142M5
27.6 If you chant the Naam, the Name of the Lord, Har, Har, the Messenger of Death will have nothing to say to you. 457M5
10 To come into (the state of) remembrance, our Guru Baba has given us a very simple method.
27.7 Meet the society of the holy sangat-congregation- and chant only the Naam.
12M5
27.8 Chant the Name of the Lord, Har, Har, O my mind; meditating on it, all sins and misdeeds shall be erased. 88M3
27.9 The Name of the Lord erases millions of sins. 264M5
27.10 Millions of sins are eradicated in an instant when, as Gurmukh, one contemplates the Naam, the Name of the Lord. 670M5
27.11 . Meditate on the One Lord in the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy. Sins are erased, through the love of the Naam, the Name of the Lord. 900M5
27.12 While standing up, sitting down and sleeping, the Naam, says Nanak, is forever the occupation of God’s humble servant. 286M5
27.13 Meditate, meditate, meditate in remembrance of Him, and find peace. Worry and anguish shall be dispelled from your body. 262M5
27.14 What blessed destiny will lead me to meet my God? Each and every moment and instant, I continually meditate on the Lord. 806M5
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In Gurbani we have been threatened and warned about ‘ja/ms’in the following way-
28.1 Being in love with Maya, they do not think of the Lord. Bound and gagged in the City of Death, they suffer in terrible pain. 111M3
28.2 On that day when the body perishes—at that time, she becomes a
ghost.
The Messenger of Death seizes and holds her, and does not tell anyone
his secret.
And her loved ones—in an instant, they move on, leaving her all alone.
She wrings her hands, her body writhes in pain, and she turns from
black to white.
As she has planted, so does she harvest; such is the field of karma. 134M5
28.3 Those who lack the Company of the Holy, remain all alone.
Their pain never departs, and they fall into the grip of the Messenger of death. 135M5
28.4 In this way, the temple is being demolished; the body is being
plundered, and the soul-bride, left all alone, is captured.
Death strikes her down with his rod, the shackles are placed around her neck, the five have now left. 155M1
28.5 One whose mind does not contemplate the Name of the Lord:
is bound like a thief, in the City of Death. 240M5
28.6 The path of Death is very arduous and painful; it is stained with the
darkness of emotional attachment. 443M4
28.7 In the City of Death, there is pitch darkness and huge clouds of dust;
neither sister nor brother is there. 584M3
28.8 O Nanak, forsaking the Name, he loses everything, in this world and the next. He is bound and gagged at the door of the Messenger of Death. 648M3
28.9 The Messenger of Death does not give up on those who practices hypocrisy; they are dragged away in disgrace. 910M3
28.10 You are distracted by thoughts of Maya and worldly attachment. In the City of Death, you will be caught by the noose of the Messenger of Death.993M1
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29.1 The faithless cynic is not rid of his fear of death. The Messenger of Death’s club is never taken away. 1030M1
29.2 The self-willed manmukh indulges in slander, and is ruined. The dog of greed barks within him. The Messenger of Death never leaves him, and in the end, he leaves, regretting and repenting. 1046M3
29.3 Man wanders through foreign lands, but does not look within himself. Attached to Maya, he is bound and gagged by the Messenger of Death. The noose of death around his neck will never be untied; in the love of duality, he wanders in reincarnation. 1060M3
29.4 The self-willed manmukhs wander around forever, acting blindly. Death has strung his noose around their necks. 1053M3
29.5 Acting egotistically, one loses his life. Even in the world hereafter, emotional attachment to Maya does not leave him. In the world hereafter, the Messenger of Death calls him to account, and crushes him like sesame seeds in the oil-press. 1063M3
29.6 The blind, self-willed manmukh acts blindly. He is in terrible trouble, and wanders in reincarnation. He can never snap the noose of Death, and in the end, he suffers in horrible pain. 1068M3
29.7 The blind and ignorant do not understand, that the sword of death is hanging over their heads. 1087M3
29.8 Without the Name, the self-willed manmukhs go to the City of Death. They suffer in pain and endure beatings. 1129M3
29.9 O my mind, how can you forget the Lord’s Name? When the body perishes, you shall have to deal with the Messenger of Death. 1186M9
29.10 He does not meditate in remembrance on the Lord, even for an instant, and so the Messenger of Death makes him suffer. 1223M5
29.11 Love and attachment to children and spouse is total misery and pain. He is gagged and bound at the door of the Messenger of Death; he dies, and wanders lost in reincarnation. 1238M1
L22.29
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30.1 Kabeer, Death’s club is terrible; it cannot be endured. I have met with the holy man; he has attached me to the hem of his robe. 1368Bh.Kabir
To escape from ja/m, Guru Baba Ji has given (some) very simple ways and advice:
30.2 By perfect destiny, one serves the Guru. If God grants His Grace, then one serves. The Messenger of Death cannot even approach him, and in the Mansion of the True Lord’s Presence, he finds peace. 1063M3
30.3 Join the Society of the Saints, and you shall not have to go down the path of Death. 132M5
30.4 Remembering Him in meditation, the home of sorrow is abolished. Remembering Him in meditation, the Messenger of Death shall not touch you.
182M5
30.5 I have obtained the reward of the Kirtan of the Lord’s Praises, in the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy.
I no longer have to gaze upon the way of death. 197M5
30.6 Serving God, the Messenger of Death will not even approach you. 197M5
30.7. One who is attuned to the Lord, shall not be burned in the fire. 201M5
30.8 The Messenger of Death does not come near him.
In the Lord’s Sanctuary, Nanak has found peace. 623M5
30.9 The Messenger of Death cannot touch those who meditate on You single-
mindedly. 248M5
30.10 Remembering God, the pain of death is dispelled.
In the remembrance of God, there is no fear of death. 263M5
30.11 The Messenger of Death does not even approach those who praise You, O True Lord. 302M4
30.12 Meeting with the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, you shall not have to go to the City of Death. 456M5
30.13 If you chant the Naam, the Name of the Lord, Har, Har, the Messenger of Death will have nothing to say to you. 457M5
30.14 O Nanak, one who chants Waaho! Waaho! with his heart and mind — the Messenger of Death does not approach him. 515M3
30.15 The Lord is always with me. The Messenger of Death does not approach me. 630M5
30.16 The Messenger of Death cannot touch Your devotees; death cannot even approach them. 637M3
30.17 Ravi Daas chants the Lord’s Name; he is not concerned with the Messenger of Death. 659Bh.Ravidas
30.18 Remembering, remembering God, his Lord and Master in meditation, the Messenger of Death does not approach him. 682M5
30.19 Master of the masterless, Patron of the forlorn, Eradicator of fear of His devotees. In the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, the Messenger of Death cannot even touch them. 760M5
30.20 Worshipping the Lord in adoration, the Path of Death is overcome, and no pain or suffering will afflict you. 780M5
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31.1 When God comes into my consciousness, what misfortune can strike me? The Lord’s servant does not suffer pain from the Messenger of Death. 802M5
31.2 Says Nanak, the humble devotees chant the Naam, the Name of the Lord. The Messenger of Death does not even approach them. 806M5
31.3 Chanting the Glorious Praises of the Lord of the Universe, the Messenger of Death runs far away. 817M5
31.4 With every breath and morsel of food, the Lord abides in their minds forever, and the Messenger of Death cannot even see them. 854M3
31.5 Remembering the Lord in meditation, the Messenger of Death will not touch you. 889M5
31.6 One who is conscious of You does not suffer at the hands of the Messenger of Death. 960M5
31.7 The Messenger of Death does not even approach that person who sings the Kirtan of the Lord’s Praises in the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy. 1079M5
31.8 Repeating the Naam, the Messenger of Death does not draw near.1142M5
31.9 In the Realm of the Saints, the Messenger of Death cannot touch the mortal. 1146M5
31.10 The Messenger of Death cannot even touch the humble Saints; it does not cause them even an iota of suffering or pain. 1155M3
31.11 Whoever chants and meditates in the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, shall undoubtedly escape being consumed by the Messenger of Death. 1323M5
31.12 Kabeer, the Messenger of Death shall not compromise my understanding. I have meditated on the Lord, the Cherisher, who created this Messenger of Death. 1372Bh.Kabir
31.13 Says Nanak, meditate, vibrate upon the Lord, and you shall not be caught in the noose of death. 1426M9
31.14 Vibrate with your tongue the Glorious Praises of the Lord of the Universe; with your ears, hear the Lord’s Name. Says Nanak, listen, man: you shall not have to go to the house of Death. 1427M9
Where there is darkness, dangerous life forms like mosquitoes, centipedes, snakes etc. tend to breed and flourish. By becoming a part of their ‘world of darkness’ it follows that we have no choice but to bear their poisonous bites.
In the same way when we leave the illumination of the Naam or the remembrance of God, and dwell in the ‘darkness of worldly materialism’ that is in the ‘forgetfulness of God’, then, we have to contend with jam’s materialistic form of darkness. In so doing we come under the influence of the government of Ja/m and have to live under the cruelty or writ of the ja/m. The noose of death of the Ja/m falls round our neck resulting in us having to bear the blows not only while living and also when dead.
31.15 Everyone, and all that has been created, is under the domination of Death. By the Hukam of the Lord’s Command, Death seizes the mortal; he alone is saved, whom the Creator Lord forgives.
L22.31
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32.1 Emotional attachment to Maya, sexual desire, anger and egotism are demons. Because of them, mortals are subject to death; above their heads hangs the heavy club of the Messenger of Death. The self-willed manmukhs, in love with duality, are led onto the path of Death. In the City of Death, they are tied up and beaten, and no one hears their cries. One who is blessed by the Lord’s Grace meets the Guru; as Gurmukh, he is emancipated. 513M3
Feeling compassion on our pitiable condition and wanting
1. To release us from the ‘slavery of the government’ of ja/ms,
2. To remove the noose of these ja/ms from our necks,
3. To protect us from rthe penalty of our worldly deeds,
our Guru has given us simple and firm advice as follows:-
32.2 They are liberated, they are liberated—those who meditate on the Lord. For
them, the noose of death is cut away. 11M4
32.3. One who places his hopes in the One Lord — the noose of Death is cut away
from his neck. 281M5
32.4 Millions of sins are erased, in the Company of the Holy. By the Grace of the
Saint, one escapes the Messenger of Death. 296m5
32.5 My mind is attached to the Lord’s Name. The Messenger of Death has run away in shame. 626M5
32.6 Those who chant the Name of the Lord, Har, Har, are passed over by the
Messenger of Death. 645M3
32.7 Meditating, vibrating upon You, the noose of death is cut away. To attain
devotional worship, Ravi Daas sings to You, Lord. 659Bh.Ravidas
32.8 In the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, meditate, and vibrate upon the
Lord of the Universe. Singing the Glorious Praises of the Lord, the noose of
death is cut away .807M5
32.8 Hearing Your Name, the Messenger of Death runs away.962M5
32.9 Those humble beings who serve the True Guru are true. He snaps the noose of death from around their necks. 1053M3
32.10 Listening to the Naam, the Messenger of Death runs far away. 1150M5
32.11 Servant Nanak sings the Kirtan of the Lord’s Praises; the sound and fury of Death has totally gone away. 1265M4
32.12 The invulnerable Messenger of Death cannot be killed. The Word of the Guru’s Shabad prevents him from approaching. When he hears the Word of the Shabad, he runs far away. He is afraid that the self-sufficient Dear Lord will kill him. 1054M3
Now it is up to us, whether we want to tread the ‘path of sin’ and suffer pain or we want to realise the joy of the Divine Path.
L22.32
3. In the subtle Divine World there is neither sin nor is there a need for ja/m
In that place the one and only Primal Creator, God, is all engulfing and operating everywhere.
4. It is through the doubt ridden fallacy of egotism (self-centredness) that we get ‘edged out’ from the Divine World and land into the world of the three attributes
6. In the world of the three attributes we perform deeds according to the ‘society’ we keep and the ‘tint’ of our the mind and thereby bear the resultant consequences.
7. That is why our mind is the one who is the real culprit or criminal, not the body. But the body invariably has to face the sentence because the body is in the company of the depraved (negative) mind.
7. Through depraved deeds or sins we fall prey to the ja/m and bear the sentence.
8. Through our depraved worldly inclinations we get caught in the worldly attachment and through this we forget the Infinite Creator.
9. It is by forgetting the Lord Waheguru that we become prey (victim) of the ja/m.
10. There is only one way to escape from the ja/m and that is, once again we come out of the state of ‘forgetfulness’ of the Infinite Creator get into the state of ‘remembrance’. 27
10 To come into (the state of) remembrance, our Guru Baba has given us a very simple method. pg 27
In Gurbani we have been threatened and warned about ‘ja/ms’in the following way- pg 28
To escape from ja/m, Guru Baba Ji has given (some) very simple ways and advice: pg30
posted by kulinder singh @ 12:52 AM
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