Gurbani Teaches Us To Be Humble

[Balwinder Kaur]

Gurbani teaches us to be the humble servants of the Lord. Furthermore

it urges us to be the humblest of all. A common misunderstanding is

observed amongst the Sikhs that we ought not to bow in front of

anyone. The purpose of this article is to analyze it with the wisdom

of Gurbani and seek for the direction. Here is what Sri Guru Granth

Sahib Ji (SGGS) quotes –

"ho-ay rahay sabh kee pag chhaar" (page 392, Guru Arjun Dev)

they remain the dust of the feet of all.

What a great wisdom the Gurbani has given us here. We have to be

very humble before everyone not only before Gursikhs and Saints. The

very purpose of doing so is to shatter one's ego. According to SGGS,

ego is the worst of the sicknesses (or doots).

ha-umai deeragh rog hai daaroo bhee is maahi. (page 466, Guru Angad

Dev)

Ego is a chronic disease, but it contains its own cure as well.

So, it becomes important for an individual to start from the worst of

the doots. How do we start with it? One can do so in numerous ways.

Come to the company and service of others who are already doing so

and who has already done it. SGGS ji quotes -

"jo deesai gursikh-rhaa tis niv niv laaga-o paa-ay jee-o" (page

763, Guru Arjun Dev)

When I see a Sikh of the Guru, I humbly bow and fall at his feet.

"tis jan kay pag nit poojee-ah mayree jindurhee-ay jo maarag Dharam

chalayseh raam" (page 540, Guru Ram Daas)

I worship continually the feet of that humble being, O my soul, who

walks on the Path of Dharma - the path of righteousness.

Clearly, The Gurbani urges us to bow in front of the Gursikhs. The

sole purpose is to be the lowest or daas and seek for wisdom of the

Lord from whoever is on this path of bliss. The water flows to the

lower side and so is the spiritual holy nectar. A stronger magnet

attracts the weaker one. Imagine all seekers of the truth are magnets

of various intensities. When you go near a stronger one, you will

find the effect of it. With numerous magnets sitting next to each

others will have nothing but a magnetic field (spiritual bliss)

around them. That is the very reason Gurbani urges us to go to the

company of Gursikhs.

There are numerous other deeds we can pursue to improve the

humbleness. We can start being at service to the others. This can be

started very much from your own home or family and then extend it to

the Gurdwaras and other community services. Wash dishes and do

cleaning especially that you normally would not want to enagage in.

This typically can be cleaning bathrooms and dusting of the shoes.

Clean up the bottom of the shoes and put that very dust on your

forehead (mastak). At Gurdwaras, do Langer seva before you start

eating. Do all this and say that – Hey Parmatma (Lord), this is all

done by your grace and your humble servant is unable to do anything

on ownself. One has to make sure that he or she does not get trapped

with this ego that he (she) has done it. The same is true when you

do `Nitnem' path or `Naam-Simran'. These actions will help you

tremendously to be humble and staying away from the dangerous of all

vices - `ego'.

Gurbani further says to seek for the company of the Saints or

Brahmgyanis. This is a great blessing if one happens to come to the

company of the Saints. Brahmgyanis or Saints have been through the

spiritual journey and they can help you tremendously. Gurbani says

naanak mangai daan parabh rayn pag saaDhaa. (page 678, Guru Arjun Dev)

Nanak begs God for the gift of the dust of the feet of the Saints.

ha-o paanee pakhaa peesa-o sant aagai pag mal mal Dhoor mukh laa-ee-

ai. (page 881, Guru Ram Daas)

I carry water, wave the fan and grind the corn for Saints; I massage

and wash their feet. I apply the dust of their feet to my forehead.

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"jin saaDhoo charan saadh pag sayvay tin safli-o janam sanaathaa"

(page 696, Guru Ram Daas)

Those who serve at the feet of the Saadhu, their lives are made

fruitful, and they belong to the Lord.

"jih ghat raam rahi-aa bharpoor. tin kee pag pankaj ham Dhoor"

(page 328, Bhagat Kabeer)

I am the dust of the lotus feet of those whose hearts are filled with

the All-pervading Lord.

Let us further ask SGGS ji - our Gyan-Guru why should we seek the

dust of the feet of the Saints and serve them? (This question may

often come across our mind) The fifth Guru quotes –

"mayray raam har santaa jayvad na ko-ee" (page 748, Guru Arjun Dev)

O my Lord, no one is as great as the Lord`s Saints.

"jan naanak pareet lagee pag saaDh gur mil saaDhoo paakhaan hari-o

man moorhaa" (page 698, Guru Ram Daas)

Servant Nanak has enshrined love for the feet of the Holy Guru;

meeting with this Holy One, my foolish, stone-like mind has blossomed

forth in lush profusion.

"ko-ee aiso ray bhaytai sant mayree laahai sagal chint thaakur si-o

mayraa rang laavai" (page 687, Guru Arjun Dev)

Is there any such Saint, who would meet with me, take away my

anxiety, and lead me to enshrine love for my Lord and Master.

"athsath tirath jah saaDh pag Dhareh". (page 890, Guru Arjun Dev)

That is the sixty-eight sacred shrines of pilgrimage, where the

Saints place their feet,

"ko-ee aisaa sant sahj sukh-daata mohi maarag day-ay bataa-ee"

(page 204, Guru Arjun Dev)

Is there any Saint, who can bestow such celestial peace, and show me

the Way to Him?

This is what SGGS quotes about Saints. When we bow in front of SGGS,

it means we surrender to the Gyan-Guru (Dhur ki Bani). We commit to

follow what Gurbani says and leave our inferior thinking or man-mat.

We have to read, understand and the most important of all follow the

SGGS's brahmgyan in our everyday life. We always have to seek for

the dust of the Gursikhs, Saints and Brahmgyanis, because that is

where He is as a `Pargatyo Jyote'. He is beyond the cycle of life

and death. He has no eyes or tongue yet He appears through His

Saints. SGGS quotes:

"paarbarahm saaDh rid basai"

The Supreme Lord God dwells in the hearts of the Holy. (page 272,

Guru Arjun Dev)

This write-up is made possible by the blessings of Guru. Daas is a very humble servant of you all and is unable to

do anything

A Humble Servant

[navdeep kaur]

Daasi desires to be a humble being..........

"Mere Raam eh neech karam har mere...Gunvanta har har daya, kar kirpa bakhsh avgun sabh mere ll"

[Gupt daasan daas]

bhenjee where did u gett this

bhula chuka maf