Is There A Way Out?

[Mehtab Singh]

A lot of times when one or more or all of the 5 vikaars launch their onslaught on our weak minds and senses, we are caught off guard, we feel defenseless, and keep wondering over and over again as to how to combat these dark forces. We try to devise ways on how to fight every single one of them. Gurbani repeatedly warns us against every single one of them, as they are all equally deadly. Gurujee called kaam as nrk ibsRwm, it takes us straight to hell, qRY lok gMm, it pervades all the 3 worlds, aUc nIc smwvxh, it doesn't spare anyone, high or low. About anger, inrq´M kroiq jQw mrkth, it makes us dance like monkeys. Moh can destroy the most powerful and invincible ones, Aiq blnw bhu mrdnh. Lobh makes us lose respect for our near and dear ones like parents, siblings and friends too, nc imqRM nc iestM nc bwDv nc mwq ipqw qv ljXw. The worst one is hankaar, and its called as the soul of sin, AhMkwrM pwpwqmw. The questions remains, is there a way out? Yes we are asked to do Ardas, again and again and again, repeatedly, without stopping. And then what? What exactly is the source of all these 5 demons? Maya? Where does Maya come from? God made Maya, but why would God make Maya if it is so harmful for our spirituality? These things can keep running in one's head (like in mine, if they find any place in there thanks to the overcrowding caused by vikaars).

We ask "Why do we keep doing things we are not supposed to do?"

Gurbani says

krm sukrm krwey Awpy kImiq kaux AByvey ]

karam sukaram karaaeae aapae keemath koun abhaeveae ||

He Himself causes us to do good and bad deeds; who can know the value of the Mysterious Lord?

We ask again, and Gurujee says

krm sukrm krwey Awpy Awpy Bgiq idRVwmM ]

karam sukaram karaaeae aapae aapae bhagath dhrirraama(n) ||

The Lord Himself causes them to do good and bad deeds; He Himself makes them steadfast in devotional worship.

We wonder why, and how long will this go on for?

He says

Awip BulwvY Awip mwrig pwey ]

aap bhulaavai aap maarag paaeae ||

He Himself misleads us, and He Himself puts us back on the Path.

We still don't get it, and He says

ieik Awpy Awip KuAwieAnu dUjY CifAnu lwie ]

eik aapae aap khuaaeian dhoojai shhaddian laae ||

He Himself has deceived some, and attached them to duality.

Finally when we've had it, Gurujee smiles and says

dosu nhI kwhU kau mIqw ]

dhos nehee kaahoo ko meethaa ||

No one is at fault, my friend.

mwieAw moh bMDu pRiB kIqw ]

maaeiaa moh ba(n)dhh prabh keethaa ||

God created the bondage of emotional attachment to Maya.

drd invwrih jw ky Awpy ] nwnk qy qy gurmuiK DRwpy ]34]

dharadh nivaarehi jaa kae aapae || naanak thae thae guramukh dhhraapae ||34||

He Himself removes the pains of the Gurmukh; O Nanak, he is fulfilled. ||34||

We are powerless, powerless to the exponent of infinity. We are powerless before Maya, powerless before the vikaars, powerless before our minds, powerless before our senses, powerless before false tastes, and its so bad, that the one typing all this (myself) is the most powerless person ever!

So what do I do? What can we do?

This is ALL we can do, just beg, and keep begging.

pMc ibKwdI eyku grIbw rwKhu rwKnhwry ]

pa(n)ch bikhaadhee eaek gareebaa raakhahu raakhanehaarae ||

The five vicious thieves are assaulting my poor being; save me, O Savior Lord!

Once again, I am just blabbing whatever is coming into this filthy head. Please let me know if anything said is incorrect or inappropriate. What a weird battle this is. We can't even call it a battle. What a strange fight is this, where you CANNOT fight. Your only defense mechanism is NOT fighting, rather surrendering to Him.

Do you have a better way out?

~ Mehtab Singh

[Bored]

i enjoyed that. thanks you

[Harsimrat Singh]

that was quite good ji!!!!!!!! ::

[valli singh]

Maya comes from Kal and not Akal,

This notion comes from Kabir Sahib's Anurag Sagar which explains quite clearly the mythological origins of Maya, and it's affinity to Kal or 'the Devil' for lack of a better word.

[Dhanasaree]

wicked posting mehtab bhajee, keep it coming! :happy:

[xHarinder_singh]

Maya comes from Kal and not Akal,

This notion comes from Kabir Sahib's Anurag Sagar which explains quite clearly the mythological origins of Maya, and it's affinity to Kal or 'the Devil' for lack of a better word.

I feel Maya is not from Kal. Maya only fears Waheguru or Waheguru jee's roop like Sat-naam(which we get from Punj singhs),sarbloh shastars (bhagauti or khanda). Even Vishnu, Brahma are defeated by Maya and are then caught and BEATEN by Kaal.(read sri kaal je ke ustatt in Sri Dasam Granth). Krishan is also beaten by Kaal.

Maya is VERY VERY POWERFUL. ONLY Waheguru, Satguru can save us from Maya.

[Mehtab Singh]

Vaheguru!

[Jag_Singh]

Talking about the vikaars....when ever we watch TV, the panj doot are there.....does this mean we should completely forget TV, forget our favorite eposides, movies, etc? I mean all it is, is a kalyug da daba, yet there I am watching it, finding the jokes funny....but when the same jokes hit me in life, it's not funny anymore.

krm sukrm krwey Awpy kImiq kaux AByvey ]

karam sukaram karaaeae aapae keemath koun abhaeveae ||

He Himself causes us to do good and bad deeds; who can know the value of the Mysterious Lord?

I like this pangti. Would it mean we are always prone to the 5 doot though, that we always fall right into the well straight away when we helped back out?

[K. SINGH DEEP]

ਮ: ੩ ॥

Third Mehla:

ਮਾਇਆ ਹੋਈ ਨਾਗਨੀ ਜਗਤਿ ਰਹੀ ਲਪਟਾਇ ॥

Maya hoee naganee jagath rehee lapatae ||

Maya is a serpent, clinging to the world.

ਇਸ ਕੀ ਸੇਵਾ ਜੋ ਕਰੇ ਤਿਸ ਹੀ ਕਉ ਫਿਰਿ ਖਾਇ ॥

Eis kee saeva jo karae this hee ko fir khae ||

Whoever serves her, she ultimately devours.

ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਕੋਈ ਗਾਰੜੂ ਤਿਨਿ ਮਲਿ ਦਲਿ ਲਾਈ ਪਾਇ ॥

Guramukh koee gararroo thin mal dhal laee pae ||

The Gurmukh is a snake-charmer; he has trampled her and

thrown her down, and crushed her underfoot.

ਨਾਨਕ ਸੇਈ ਉਬਰੇ ਜਿ ਸਚਿ ਰਹੇ ਲਿਵ ਲਾਇ ॥੨॥

Naanak saeee oubarae je sach rehae liv lae ||2||

O Nanak, they alone are saved, who remain lovingly absorbed in the True Lord. ||2||

(Goojree Guru Amar Das )

ਆਸਾ ॥

Aasaa:

(Aasaa Bhagat Kabir Shabad )

ਇਕਤੁ ਪਤਰਿ ਭਰਿ ਉਰਕਟ ਕੁਰਕਟ ਇਕਤੁ ਪਤਰਿ ਭਰਿ ਪਾਨੀ ॥

Eikath pathar bhar ourakatt kurakatt eikath pathar bhar panee ||

In one pot, they put a boiled chicken, and in the other pot, they put wine.

ਆਸਿ ਪਾਸਿ ਪੰਚ ਜੋਗੀਆ ਬੈਠੇ ਬੀਚਿ ਨਕਟ ਦੇ ਰਾਨੀ ॥੧॥

Aase pase panch jogeea baithae beech nakatt dhae ranee ||1||

The five Yogis of the Tantric ritual sit there, and in their midst sits

the noseless one, the shameless queen. ||1||

ਨਕਟੀ ਕੋ ਠਨਗਨੁ ਬਾਡਾ ਡੂੰ ॥

Nakattee ko thanagan badda ddoon ||

The bell of the shameless queen, Maya, rings in both worlds.

ਕਿਨਹਿ ਬਿਬੇਕੀ ਕਾਟੀ ਤੂੰ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

Kinehi bibaekee kattee thoon ||1|| rehao ||

Some rare person of discriminating wisdom has cut off your nose. ||1||Pause||

ਸਗਲ ਮਾਹਿ ਨਕਟੀ ਕਾ ਵਾਸਾ ਸਗਲ ਮਾਰਿ ਅਉਹੇਰੀ ॥

Sagal mahi nakattee ka vasa sagal mar aouhaeree ||

Within all dwells the noseless Maya, who kills all, and destroys them.

ਸਗਲਿਆ ਕੀ ਹਉ ਬਹਿਨ ਭਾਨਜੀ ਜਿਨਹਿ ਬਰੀ ਤਿਸੁ ਚੇਰੀ ॥੨॥

Sagalia kee ho behin bhanajee jinehi baree this chaeree ||2||

She says, ""I am the sister, and the daughter of the sister of everyone;

I am the hand-maiden of one who marries me.""||2||

ਹਮਰੋ ਭਰਤਾ ਬਡੋ ਬਿਬੇਕੀ ਆਪੇ ਸੰਤੁ ਕਹਾਵੈ ॥

Hamaro bharatha baddo bibaekee apae santh kehavai ||

My Husband(SATGURU) is the Great One of discriminating wisdom;

He alone is called a Saint.

ਓਹੁ ਹਮਾਰੈ ਮਾਥੈ ਕਾਇਮੁ ਅਉਰੁ ਹਮਰੈ ਨਿਕਟਿ ਨ ਆਵੈ ॥੩॥

Ohu hamarai mathhai kaeim aour hamarai nikatt n avai ||3||

He stands by me, and no one else comes near me. ||3||

ਨਾਕਹੁ ਕਾਟੀ ਕਾਨਹੁ ਕਾਟੀ ਕਾਟਿ ਕੂਟਿ ਕੈ ਡਾਰੀ ॥

Nakahu kattee kanahu kattee katt koott kai ddaree ||

I have cut off her nose, and cut off her ears, and cutting her into bits,

I have expelled her.

ਕਹੁ ਕਬੀਰ ਸੰਤਨ ਕੀ ਬੈਰਨਿ ਤੀਨਿ ਲੋਕ ਕੀ ਪਿਆਰੀ ॥੪॥੪॥

Kahu kabeer santan kee bairan teen lok kee piaree ||4||4||

Says Kabeer, she is the darling of the three worlds, but the enemy of the Saints. ||4||4||

ਆਸਾ ਮਹਲਾ ੫ ॥

Asa mehala 5 ||

ਮਾਥੈ ਤ੍ਰਿਕੁਟੀ ਦ੍ਰਿਸਟਿ ਕਰੂਰਿ ॥

Mathhai thrikuttee dhrisatt karoor ||

A frown creases her forehead, and her look is evil.

ਬੋਲੈ ਕਉੜਾ ਜਿਹਬਾ ਕੀ ਫੂੜਿ ॥

Bole kourra jihaba kee foorr ||

Her speech is bitter, and her tongue is rude.

ਸਦਾ ਭੂਖੀ ਪਿਰੁ ਜਾਨੈ ਦੂਰਿ ॥੧॥

Sadha bhookhee pir janai dhoor ||1||

She is always hungry, and she believes her Husband to be far away. ||1||

ਐਸੀ ਇਸਤ੍ਰੀ ਇਕ ਰਾਮਿ ਉਪਾਈ ॥

Aisee eisataree eik ram oupaee ||

Such is Maya, the woman, which the One Lord has created.

ਉਨਿ ਸਭੁ ਜਗੁ ਖਾਇਆ ਹਮ ਗੁਰਿ ਰਾਖੇ ਮੇਰੇ ਭਾਈ ॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

Une sabh jag khaeia ham gur rakhae maerae bhaee || rehao ||

She is devouring the whole world, but the Guru has saved me,

O my Siblings of Destiny. ||Pause||

ਪਾਇ ਠਗਉਲੀ ਸਭੁ ਜਗੁ ਜੋਹਿਆ ॥

Pae thagoulee sabh jag johia ||

Administering her poisons, she has overcome the whole world.

ਬ੍ਰਹਮਾ ਬਿਸਨੁ ਮਹਾਦੇਉ ਮੋਹਿਆ ॥

Brehama bisan mehadhaeo mohia ||

She has bewitched Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.

ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਨਾਮਿ ਲਗੇ ਸੇ ਸੋਹਿਆ ॥੨॥

Guramukh nam lagae sae sohia ||2||

Only those Gurmukhs who are attuned to the Naam are blessed. ||2||

ਵਰਤ ਨੇਮ ਕਰਿ ਥਾਕੇ ਪੁਨਹਚਰਨਾ ॥

Varath naem kar thhakae punehacharana ||

Performing fasts, religious observances and atonements, the mortals have grown weary.

ਤਟ ਤੀਰਥ ਭਵੇ ਸਭ ਧਰਨਾ ॥

Tatt teerathh bhavae sabh dhharana ||

They wander over the entire planet, on pilgrimages to the banks of sacred rivers.

ਸੇ ਉਬਰੇ ਜਿ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਕੀ ਸਰਨਾ ॥੩॥

Sae oubarae j sathigur kee sarana ||3||

But they alone are saved, who seek the Sanctuary of the True Guru. ||3||

ਮਾਇਆ ਮੋਹਿ ਸਭੋ ਜਗੁ ਬਾਧਾ ॥

Maeya mohi sabho jag badhha ||

Attached to Maya, the whole world is in bondage.

ਹਉਮੈ ਪਚੈ ਮਨਮੁਖ ਮੂਰਾਖਾ ॥

Houmai pachai manamukh moorakha ||

The foolish self-willed manmukhs are consumed by their egotism.

ਗੁਰ ਨਾਨਕ ਬਾਹ ਪਕਰਿ ਹਮ ਰਾਖਾ ॥੪॥੨॥੯੬॥

Gur naanak bah pakar ham rakha ||4||2||96||

Taking me by the arm, Guru Nanak has saved me. ||4||2||96||

[MokhamSingh]

WAHEGURUJIKAKHALSAWAHEGURUJIKEFATEH.

ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਸਿਖ ਕੇ ਬੰਧਨ ਕਾਟੈ ॥

सतिगुरु सिख के बंधन काटै ॥

Saṯgur sikẖ ke banḏẖan kātai.

The True Guru cuts away the bonds of His Sikh.

ਗੁਰ ਕਾ ਸਿਖੁ ਬਿਕਾਰ ਤੇ ਹਾਟੈ ॥

गुर का सिखु बिकार ते हाटै ॥

Gur kā sikẖ bikār ṯe hātai.

The Sikh of the Guru abstains from evil deeds.

When one abstains from evil doings (through reading & reflecting on Gurbani),Guru Ji cuts our bandan (gives liberation).