Spiritual Significance Of External Rehit

[Mehtab Singh]

http://www.tapoban.org/phorum/read.php?f=1...44&t=111244

Author: Manvir Singh Khalsa

Date: 09-28-06 15:25

Vaheguru Jee Ka Khalsa,

Vaheguru Jee Kee Fateh.

Someone asked, "What is the spiritual significance of the external Rehit (5 Ks) and how does it help us in our relationship with Vaheguru."

The Five Evils & the Spiritual Significance of the 5Ks

Desires/ Lust (Kaam)

Wearing the Kachhera, a Sikh is reminded to control his desire and only look at his own wife or husband. The Kachhera reminds us to self-control and to control the urges of Kaam.

Greed (Lobh)

Wearing the Kara in our hand we are reminded not to commit crime or theft with our hands. The Kara constantly reminds us of Guru Ji and the hands which can be used to misdeeds fuelled by greed are reminded "you are bound to the Guru, remember Vaheguru is always watching you". Therefore, the Kara is a continual reminder of “Think of the Guru, before yourself”.

Anger (Krodh)

Wearing the Kirpaan, you have the power to kill someone and therefore you to have control your anger more than the other person. The Kirpaan represents the Grace, Truth and Justice, which a Sikh represents which can only happen if a Sikh has no anger.

Attachment (Moh)

Combing the hair twice a day with the Kangha, when we see dead hair being combed out, we are reminded that just as our hair are not permanent, so is everything around us. One should comb one's mind with Gurbaani (the Divine Wisdom), just as one comb's their hair with a Kangha.

Ego (Haumai)

Wearing a Keski (Dastaar) to cover the Kesh on the head one commits him or herself to higher consciousness, saving them from vanity. Crowning oneself with a Dastaar one reminds themselves that their head belongs to Guru Sahib and that they should not have ego. With a Dastaar covering the hair-knot on top of Dasam Duaar, all worldly fashion stops dead. The Dastaar guards the Sikh man and woman from drowning in vanity and society-led fashions. A man or woman wearing a Keski well be self-conscious of living up to their principles, living up to the image they are portraying and the Guru they are representing, therefore subduing their ego and Manmukh (self-centred) mind.

Bhul Chuk Maaf.

Daas,

Manvir Singh

[Sarbloh Warrior]

great post

[Revolutionary]

Use the example of a cup.

If the cup was clean form inside but filthy from outside, would u drink from it?

Same applies if the cup is dirty inside and clean outside

[Guest s133k_s1kh]

FATEH!!!

Very nicely said. One of my friends emailed something on the similar lines. I found that really inspiring. I am going to share it with the SANGAT.

Here,

Waheguroo jee ka khalsa waheguroo jee kee fateh!!

Panj, Five.

Guru sahib tells us, this is how many chors are here to steal our

bhagti, to waste away our avastha, to leave us nothing more than

empty shells.

Kaam (lust), Krodh (anger), Lobh (greed), Moh (attachment), Ahankar

(ego)

All other evils in the world are a function of these five. They

overtake us like a disease, spreading their filth until they control

us.

What can we do to stop

them?

Guru Sahib gives us five strategies and five weapons to fight them.

The Five Strategies

The five strategies or steps guru sahib gives us are spelled out in

the names of the Panj Pyare (the five beloved ones) and are

qualities in every Sikh that are therefore beloved to the Guru: Daya

(Compassion), Dharam (Religion/Faith), Himmat (Courageous or brave

effort to do something), Mukham (Discipline/Judgement/Bibek), Sahib

(The Guru)

Compassion towards all living things. This helps us fight the five

theives, especially krodh, lobh etc. Having compassion is the number

one sign of a religious and spiritual person no matter what their

background. Daya is the hallmark of a gursikh truly blessed by god.

Regarding Dharam, Guru sahib says in Japji

Sahib:

Shri Guru Granth Sahib Jee (SikhiToTheMax)

DOlu Drmu dieAw kw pUqu ]

dhhaol dhharam dhaeiaa kaa pooth

The mythical bull is Dharma, the son of compassion;

sMqoKu Qwip riKAw ijin sUiq ]

sa(n)thokh thhaap rakhiaa jin sooth

this is what patiently holds the earth in its place.

This basically means that Dharma, faith and religion is a product of

compassion. Faith and religion can only come from compassion and

love. And it is this Dharam or faith that holds the world in its

place and holds it together.

Dharam is what guides us a shows us how to live our life and it is

through dharam that we recognize the five evils and give up ahankar,

kaam etc..

Himmat is what drives us. It is effort and courage in our

Dharam

(faith) that will lead us away from the evils and help us to rise

above this world. Himmat is what gives us strength and it is with

this himmat that we attain Mokham.

Mukham is our judgement and strong will against the five evils that

will drive our himmat, effort in dharam which is all caused by daya.

Our strong will, our love of naam, and our deep spiritual need and

thirst to be with our guru, will liberate us.

Sahib, our Guru. In this case, our inner guru. We all have the light

of god inside of us and it is this light, like a drop in an ocean

that serves as our conscience also know as bibek budhi which serves

our mukham. It is Guru Sahib that tells us to refrain from these

evils in order to attain liberation through effort in faith with

compassion. Sahib guides

us and holds our hand, shelters us when we

are in need and lifts our spirits when we are down.

The Five Weapons

The five weapons Guru Sahib has given us are our five kakkars:

Kashera, Kara, Kirpan, Kanga, Keski (or kes if you prefer). These

five weapons are not only provided to us to fight the panj chor but

to also aide the five strategies listed above in this plight.

Guru Sahib gave us the Kashera to fight kaam. It is a simple and

practical tool to keep chastity (a requirement of our dharam). The

kashera will always be our last resort step in reminding us that

kaam is an evil to fight.

The KaRa on the other hand is a first step reminder to do no evil.

The Kara is our reminder of gods power and will over everything as

well as our physical link to him, much

like a wedding band. To do

something evil would be to do something against our beloved god.

Kirpan is a practical tool in fighting evil in others. Literally

meaning to give kirpa (grace), it represents our duty, or himmat, to

fight evil and stand for justice in this world.

Kanga, represents our cleanliness. I am sure everyone has heard the

phrase, "Cleanliness is next to godliness." Kanga reminds us of our

duty to keep not only our body clean but also our mind clean.

Keski, is our crown and keeps us distinct and seperate as well as

above the rest of the world. Like a lotus floating on water, we

float above the evils of the world and meet with our

Sahib.

Hope SANGAT finds its helpful.

GURU RAKHA!!!

[Fauja]

WaheGuru, i have nothing left to say.. I've heard so many analogies about how the 5K's help us in fighting the five evils, but never like this... This post needs a sticky... A MUST READ... ALL SANGAT MUST SEE THIS THREAD.. waheguru

thanks for sharing.. Dhan Dhan Dhan Guru Pyaare

WaheGuru Ji Ka Khalsa WaheGuru Ji Ki Fateh

[Sarbloh]

This topic needs BUMPing.