Monday, May 19, 2008

                                 Duality

The numeral 2 indicates duality. Duality or dualism is the existence of two opposite and mutually exclusive entities or states, which are given equal or nearly equal status. It refers to the quality of being twofold, or dichotomy. In the spiritual context it is seen in three ways. Firstly it refers to a state wherein man (or woman) is conscious of God, but also looks up to deities or other persons. Secondly is the belief that creation is distinct from the Creator i.e. the person concerned does not experience God’s presence in or around him. Thirdly it shows up in the form of a gap between precept and practice whereby a person professes one thing but practices something different or opposite. The Sikh scripture, Sri Guru Granth Sahib also called Gurbani or Guru’s word addresses all these three conditions.

In the first case a man having faith in God remembers the virtues of the Creator and tries to emulate them as far as humanly possible. But the world offers plenty of temptations that tend to take him away from this path. If he resists them he stays on course. This takes effort and discipline. But many of us are impatient and must reach the spiritual goal in quick time.. This weakness of man is used by self-appointed gurus or pastors whomake promises and tell him what to do which generally means to have faith in him or her. Man’s longing persuades him to follow this path. But only a perfect Guru can take man to God. One can be helped on the spiritual path only by one who expects nothing from the devotee. Unfortunately in most cases it is to get followers for fame and money.

Another aspect of this is when living by God’s word is replaced by rituals. This is mostly a result of Dekhaa-dekhi i.e. doing what others are doing. When man sees some others offering flowers, burning incense, lighting candles or making offerings to a deity or performing other rituals, he seems to feel some thing tangible being done. He is therefore tempted to do follow. He initially feels he is worshipping God but this develops into devotion to the deity and is considered an end in itself. He therefore prays to the deity who, he believes will grant him benedictions. The deity is thus equated to God. There are plenty of gods and goddesses and he tries to propitiate as many as he can. Those caught up in duality seek benedictions; in fact they indulge in duality mainly with a hope to have their material wishes fulfilled quickly.
This is what ultimately happens:
ਮਨਮੁਖ ਆਸਾ ਨਹੀ ਉਤਰੈ ਦੂਜੈ ਭਾਇ ਖੁਆਏ ॥ ਉਦਰੁ ਨੈ ਸਾਣੁ ਨ ਭਰੀਐ ਕਬਹੂ ਤ੍ਰਿਸਨਾ ਅਗਨਿ ਪਚਾਏ ॥੧॥
Being misled, the self oriented man praciices duality but his wishes are never fulfilled; Like a stream is never satisfied with the amount of water it receives, such a man for ever burns in the fire of cravings and is never satisfied (SGGS, p 1331).
ਸੁਖ ਕੈ ਹੇਤਿ ਬਹੁਤੁ ਦੁਖੁ ਪਾਵਤ ਸੇਵ ਕਰਤ ਜਨ ਜਨ ਕੀ ॥ ਦੁਆਰਹਿ ਦੁਆਰਿ ਸੁਆਨ ਜਿਉ ਡੋਲਤ ਨਹ ਸੁਧ ਰਾਮ ਭਜਨ ਕੀ ॥੧॥ ੯ ੪੧੧Chasing comfort, man suffers great pain serving one man after another; he runs from door to door like a stray dog, remaining unconscious of the need to remember the virtues of the ultimate Master (SGGS, p 411).

What then is the solution? Gurbani asks man to follow the example of the other dog which sticks to one master:
ਸੁਆਮੀ ਕੋ ਗ੍ਰਿਹੁ ਜਿਉ ਸਦਾ ਸੁਆਨ ਤਜਤ ਨਹੀ ਨਿਤ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਇਹ ਬਿਧਿ ਹਰਿ ਭਜਉ ਇਕ ਮਨਿ ਹੁਇ ਇਕ ਚਿਤਿ ॥੪੫॥੯੧੪੨੮Focus your heart and soul single-mindedly on God, the way a dog never leaves the house of his master (SGGS, p 1428).

The second category of people believe that God created the universe but has now nothing to do with it. The basic reason for this is man thinking everything that happens can be explained by science or logic and God has no role to to play. Another reason is man’s ego which makes him believe that it his capability that that produces results and not Divine grace. In his heart he feels that if he accepts God as the doer, his own importance wil be reduced. This is called the quality of Haumai which means ego or self importance. Gurbani describes such a man initially boasting but ultimately realizing his folly:
ਹਮ ਕੀਆ ਹਮ ਕਰਹਗੇ ਹਮ ਮੂਰਖ ਗਾਵਾਰ ॥ ਕਰਣੈ ਵਾਲਾ ਵਿਸਰਿਆ ਦੂਜੈ ਭਾਇ ਪਿਆਰੁ ॥ ੩ ੩੯I did that, I will do this; oh no I am stupid; caught in duality I forgot the Creator (SGGS, p 39).

He then realizes that God did not only create, He also watches and looks after:
ਕਰਿ ਕਰਿ ਵੇਖੈ ਸਿਰਜਣਹਾਰੁ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਸਚੇ ਕੀ ਸਾਚੀ ਕਾਰ ॥ ੧ ੭
The Creator having created is still the doer; He for ever watches and looks after; the Lord is eternal and so are His actions (SGGS, p 7).

ਕੀਤਾ ਕਰਣਾ ਸਰਬ ਰਜਾਈ ਕਿਛੁ ਕੀਚੈ ਜੇ ਕਰਿ ਸਕੀਐ ॥ ਆਪਣਾ ਕੀਤਾ ਕਿਛੂ ਨ ਹੋਵੈ ਜਿਉ ਹਰਿ ਭਾਵੈ ਤਿਉ ਰਖੀਐ ॥੧॥ ਮੇਰੇ ਹਰਿ ਜੀਉ ਸਭੁ ਕੋ ਤੇਰੈ ਵਸਿ ॥ ਅਸਾ ਜੋਰੁ ਨਾਹੀ ਜੇ ਕਿਛੁ ਕਰਿ ਹਮ ਸਾਕਹ ਜਿਉ ਭਾਵੈ ਤਿਵੈ ਬਖਸਿ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ ੪ ੭੩੬All that has been created or is now done is all subject to Divine will; we could do if we had the power; No, we can do nothing on our own, we remain as He keeps. My Lord, every thing is in Your control; we do not have the power to do anything; please make us do what pleases You (SGGS, p 736).

The third quality i.e. of difference between precept and practice is unfortunately not very rare. Guru Nanak describes such people as having forgotten God and become Manmukh or self oriented:
ਮਨਮੁਖ ਕਥਨੀ ਹੈ ਪਰੁ ਰਹਤ ਨ ਹੋਈ ॥ ਨਾਵਹੁ ਭੂਲੇ ਥਾਉ ਨ ਕੋਈ ॥੩॥ ੧ ੮੩੧

The self oriented man says something but does not practice it; one who forgets Naam, will find no refuge (SGGS, p 831).
ਕਰਮ ਧਰਮ ਜੁਗਤਿ ਬਹੁ ਕਰਤਾ ਕਰਣੈਹਾਰੁ ਨ ਜਾਨੈ ॥ ਉਪਦੇਸੁ ਕਰੈ ਆਪਿ ਨ ਕਮਾਵੈ ਤਤੁ ਸਬਦੁ ਨ ਪਛਾਨੈ ॥ ੫ ੩੮੦

Such a man forgetting the Creator, indulges in rituals; he preaches to others but neither practices nor understands the teachings (SGGS, p 380).

Such a person cannot attain success in life and keeps suffering reincarnations:

ਅਵਰ ਉਪਦੇਸੈ ਆਪਿ ਨ ਕਰੈ ॥ ਆਵਤ ਜਾਵਤ ਜਨਮੈ ਮਰੈ ॥ ੫ ੨੬੯

A person who preaches but does not practice keeps going through cycles of death and rebirth (SGGS, p 296).

The perfect Guru’s advice therefore is:

ਪ੍ਰਥਮੇ ਮਨੁ ਪਰਬੋਧੈ ਅਪਨਾ ਪਾਛੈ ਅਵਰ ਰੀਝਾਵੈ ॥ ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮ ਜਪੁ ਹਿਰਦੈ ਜਾਪੈ ਮੁਖ ਤੇ ਸਗਲ ਸੁਨਾਵੈ ॥੨॥ ੫ 3੮੧

A person should first be convinced in his own mind and then try to motivate others; he can do this by remembering and dwelling on Naam in his mind and then reciting to others (SGGS, p 381).

ਦੁਤੀਆ ਦੁਰਮਤਿ ਦੂਰਿ ਕਰਿ ਗੁਰ ਸੇਵਾ ਕਰਿ ਨੀਤ ॥ ਰਾਮ ਰਤਨੁ ਮਨਿ ਤਨਿ ਬਸੈ ਤਜਿ ਕਾਮੁ ਕ੍ਰੋਧੁ ਲੋਭੁ ਮੀਤ ॥ ੫ ੨੯੬

Dualism is evil, shed it from your mind, and follow the Guru’s instructions; shed lust, anger and greed so that the jewel of Naam abides in the mind (SGGS, p 296).

One who believes in God, practices the pure love of the Creator, through Naam i.e. remembering Divine virtues, and finds satisfaction in doing that. He says:

ਦੁਬਿਧਾ ਨ ਪੜਉ ਹਰਿ ਬਿਨੁ ਹੋਰੁ ਨ ਪੂਜਉ ਮੜੈ ਮਸਾਣਿ ਨ ਜਾਈ ॥ ਤ੍ਰਿਸਨਾ ਰਾਚਿ ਨ ਪਰ ਘਰਿ ਜਾਵਾ ਤ੍ਰਿਸਨਾ ਨਾਮਿ ਬੁਝਾਈ ॥ਤ੍ਰਿਸਨਾ ਰਾਚਿ ਨ ਪਰ ਘਰਿ ਜਾਵਾ ਤ੍ਰਿਸਨਾ ਨਾਮਿ ਬੁਝਾਈ ॥ ਘਰ ਭੀਤਰਿ ਘਰੁ ਗੁਰੂ ਦਿਖਾਇਆ ਸਹਜਿ ਰਤੇ ਮਨ ਭਾਈ ॥ ਤੂ ਆਪੇ ਦਾਨਾ ਆਪੇ ਬੀਨਾ ਤੂ ਦੇਵਹਿ ਮਤਿ ਸਾਈ ॥੧॥੧ ੬੩੪

I will not read anything that teaches duality, not worship any one except the Creator, and visit neither mausoleums nor crematoriums. Not being possessed by craving, I look to none else; my craving is extinguished by Naam. The Guru has shown that Lord’s abode is in my mind and I remain thus imbued with it naturally; My Lord, You know and understand my mind and give suitable understanding (SGGS, p 634).

Scriptures of all religions advocate avoidance of duality. The Hindu scripture the Bhagvad Gita says:Dualities arise from delusion, desire and hatred, and lead to bewilderment of the mind (Gita 7:27).

The Judo- Christian scripture, the Bible quotes God saying:
I am the Lord, and there is no one else, there is no God besides me; I girded thee though thou hast not known me (Isaiah 45:5).

In the Muslim scripture the Quran God says:Give not any one status equal to God (Quran: 2:22).

A man of God, irrespective of the faith he belongs to, therefore prays:

ਜੇ ਤੂ ਤੁਠਾ ਕ੍ਰਿਪਾ ਨਿਧਾਨ ਨਾ ਦੂਜਾ ਵੇਖਾਲਿ ॥ ਏਹਾ ਪਾਈ ਮੂ ਦਾਤੜੀ ਨਿਤ ਹਿਰਦੈ ਰਖਾ ਸਮਾਲਿ ॥੩॥੫੭੬੧

Should You be pleased with me O benevolent Lord, do not make me look to any one else; please grant me the benediction of ever remembering You (SGGS, p 761).