Your mind as the Enemy - it will drag you down if you let it be.

Listened to this lecture this morning posted on Sikhnet and thought was very uplifting and decided to share. It had been a very bumpy ride for the last two years and train had been just off the track. Still trying to get it back on the track eventhough at times see no light at the end of this long tunnel of darkness and bumps. At times, it feels like I am walking on such a lose rope and could fall any time with the slighest mistake or unbalance. Trying to read Gurbani doesn't seem to be helping since mind is so unbalanced with events and thoughts of uncertainity and unhappiness that focus on Gurbani even seems farfetched.

But somehow since yesterday morning, there is this feeling that there is light at the end of this tunnel and things would get better. And, they seem to be getting better. They are not perfect or at the level where I would like them to be. But just better. I know I am being vague and not specific and don't want to share all of the agony, painful things from the last two years, some of which were of my own making. And, it is not even money or job or too much work or lack of work. It just seems my mind had been controlled and someone had just sucked all of the peace, happiness, brightness out of my body and mind. Thank Waheguru for bringing me out from this pit of darkness, yuk, and this downtrodden stage of mind, keeping me spiritually, financially, physically intact and healthy to cope with these dark times. Sadly, the family suffers along with me too. I just hope there are better times ahead and this train hopefully will get back and stay on track with right speed for a long time to come.

Anyways, this is probably one of best weekends for the past two years I am having

Satnam and God Bless All! Thank you for visiting.

http://www.sikhnet.com/news/your-mind-enemy

And, here is one of my favourite shabad in Gurbani that always helps me and tells me to "Keep Up and Keep Going!". This is on page 441 of Guru Granth Sahib:


ਮਨ ਤੂੰ ਜੋਤਿ ਸਰੂਪੁ ਹੈ ਆਪਣਾ ਮੂਲੁ ਪਛਾਣੁ ॥
मन तूं जोति सरूपु है आपणा मूलु पछाणु ॥
Man ṯūʼn joṯ sarūp hai āpṇā mūl pacẖẖāṇ.
O my mind, you are the embodiment of the Divine Light - recognize your own origin.


ਮਨ ਹਰਿ ਜੀ ਤੇਰੈ ਨਾਲਿ ਹੈ ਗੁਰਮਤੀ ਰੰਗੁ ਮਾਣੁ ॥
मन हरि जी तेरै नालि है गुरमती रंगु माणु ॥
Man har jī ṯerai nāl hai gurmaṯī rang māṇ.
O my mind, the Dear Lord is with you; through the Guru's Teachings, enjoy His Love.


ਮੂਲੁ ਪਛਾਣਹਿ ਤਾਂ ਸਹੁ ਜਾਣਹਿ ਮਰਣ ਜੀਵਣ ਕੀ ਸੋਝੀ ਹੋਈ ॥
मूलु पछाणहि तां सहु जाणहि मरण जीवण की सोझी होई ॥
Mūl pacẖẖāṇėh ṯāʼn saho jāṇėh maraṇ jīvaṇ kī sojẖī ho▫ī.
Acknowledge your origin, and then you shall know your Husband Lord, and so understand death and birth.


ਗੁਰ ਪਰਸਾਦੀ ਏਕੋ ਜਾਣਹਿ ਤਾਂ ਦੂਜਾ ਭਾਉ ਨ ਹੋਈ ॥
गुर परसादी एको जाणहि तां दूजा भाउ न होई ॥
Gur parsādī eko jāṇėh ṯāʼn ḏūjā bẖā▫o na ho▫ī.
By Guru's Grace, know the One; then, you shall not love any other.


ਮਨਿ ਸਾਂਤਿ ਆਈ ਵਜੀ ਵਧਾਈ ਤਾ ਹੋਆ ਪਰਵਾਣੁ ॥
मनि सांति आई वजी वधाई ता होआ परवाणु ॥
Man sāʼnṯ ā▫ī vajī vaḏẖā▫ī ṯā ho▫ā parvāṇ.
Peace comes to the mind, and gladness resounds; then, you shall be acclaimed.


ਇਉ ਕਹੈ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਮਨ ਤੂੰ ਜੋਤਿ ਸਰੂਪੁ ਹੈ ਅਪਣਾ ਮੂਲੁ ਪਛਾਣੁ ॥੫॥
इउ कहै नानकु मन तूं जोति सरूपु है अपणा मूलु पछाणु ॥५॥
I▫o kahai Nānak man ṯūʼn joṯ sarūp hai apṇā mūl pacẖẖāṇ. ||5||
Thus says Nanak: O my mind, you are the very image of the Luminous Lord; recognize the true origin of your self. ||5||

http://www.srigranth.org/servlet/gurbani.gurbani?Action=Page&Param=441&english=t&id=20141

Oh! Gurbani has so many references to the mind, it is just amazing. Here is another one:




ਸਿਰੀਰਾਗੁ ਮਹਲਾ ੧ ॥
सिरीरागु महला १ ॥
Sirīrāg mėhlā 1.
Siree Raag, First Mehl:


ਚਿਤੇ ਦਿਸਹਿ ਧਉਲਹਰ ਬਗੇ ਬੰਕ ਦੁਆਰ ॥
चिते दिसहि धउलहर बगे बंक दुआर ॥
Cẖiṯe ḏisėh ḏẖa▫ulhar bage bank ḏu▫ār.
There are painted mansions to behold, white-washed, with beautiful doors;


ਕਰਿ ਮਨ ਖੁਸੀ ਉਸਾਰਿਆ ਦੂਜੈ ਹੇਤਿ ਪਿਆਰਿ ॥
करि मन खुसी उसारिआ दूजै हेति पिआरि ॥
Kar man kẖusī usāri▫ā ḏūjai heṯ pi▫ār.
they were constructed to give pleasure to the mind, but this is only for the sake of the love of duality.


ਅੰਦਰੁ ਖਾਲੀ ਪ੍ਰੇਮ ਬਿਨੁ ਢਹਿ ਢੇਰੀ ਤਨੁ ਛਾਰੁ ॥੧॥
अंदरु खाली प्रेम बिनु ढहि ढेरी तनु छारु ॥१॥
Anḏar kẖālī parem bin dẖėh dẖerī ṯan cẖẖār. ||1||
The inner being is empty without love. The body shall crumble into a heap of ashes. ||1||


ਭਾਈ ਰੇ ਤਨੁ ਧਨੁ ਸਾਥਿ ਨ ਹੋਇ ॥
भाई रे तनु धनु साथि न होइ ॥
Bẖā▫ī re ṯan ḏẖan sāth na ho▫e.
O Siblings of Destiny, this body and wealth shall not go along with you.


ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮੁ ਧਨੁ ਨਿਰਮਲੋ ਗੁਰੁ ਦਾਤਿ ਕਰੇ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਸੋਇ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
राम नामु धनु निरमलो गुरु दाति करे प्रभु सोइ ॥१॥ रहाउ ॥
Rām nām ḏẖan nirmalo gur ḏāṯ kare parabẖ so▫e. ||1|| rahā▫o.
The Lord's Name is the pure wealth; through the Guru, God bestows this gift. ||1||Pause||


ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮੁ ਧਨੁ ਨਿਰਮਲੋ ਜੇ ਦੇਵੈ ਦੇਵਣਹਾਰੁ ॥
राम नामु धनु निरमलो जे देवै देवणहारु ॥
Rām nām ḏẖan nirmalo je ḏevai ḏevaṇhār.
The Lord's Name is the pure wealth; it is given only by the Giver.


ਆਗੈ ਪੂਛ ਨ ਹੋਵਈ ਜਿਸੁ ਬੇਲੀ ਗੁਰੁ ਕਰਤਾਰੁ ॥
आगै पूछ न होवई जिसु बेली गुरु करतारु ॥
Āgai pūcẖẖ na hova▫ī jis belī gur karṯār.
One who has the Guru, the Creator, as his Friend, shall not be questioned hereafter.


ਆਪਿ ਛਡਾਏ ਛੁਟੀਐ ਆਪੇ ਬਖਸਣਹਾਰੁ ॥੨॥
आपि छडाए छुटीऐ आपे बखसणहारु ॥२॥
Āp cẖẖadā▫e cẖẖutī▫ai āpe bakẖsaṇhār. ||2||
He Himself delivers those who are delivered. He Himself is the Forgiver. ||2||

ਮਨਮੁਖੁ ਜਾਣੈ ਆਪਣੇ ਧੀਆ ਪੂਤ ਸੰਜੋਗੁ ॥
मनमुखु जाणै आपणे धीआ पूत संजोगु ॥
Manmukẖ jāṇai āpṇe ḏẖī▫ā pūṯ sanjog.
The self-willed manmukh looks upon his daughters, sons and relatives as his own.


ਨਾਰੀ ਦੇਖਿ ਵਿਗਾਸੀਅਹਿ ਨਾਲੇ ਹਰਖੁ ਸੁ ਸੋਗੁ ॥
नारी देखि विगासीअहि नाले हरखु सु सोगु ॥
Nārī ḏekẖ vigāsī▫ah nāle harakẖ so sog.
Gazing upon his wife, he is pleased. But along with happiness, they bring grief.


ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਸਬਦਿ ਰੰਗਾਵਲੇ ਅਹਿਨਿਸਿ ਹਰਿ ਰਸੁ ਭੋਗੁ ॥੩॥
गुरमुखि सबदि रंगावले अहिनिसि हरि रसु भोगु ॥३॥
Gurmukẖ sabaḏ rangāvle ahinis har ras bẖog. ||3||
The Gurmukhs are attuned to the Word of the Shabad. Day and night, they enjoy the Sublime Essence of the Lord. ||3||


ਚਿਤੁ ਚਲੈ ਵਿਤੁ ਜਾਵਣੋ ਸਾਕਤ ਡੋਲਿ ਡੋਲਾਇ ॥
चितु चलै वितु जावणो साकत डोलि डोलाइ ॥
Cẖiṯ cẖalai viṯ jāvṇo sākaṯ dol dolā▫e.
The consciousness of the wicked, faithless cynics wanders around in search of transitory wealth, unstable and distracted.


ਬਾਹਰਿ ਢੂੰਢਿ ਵਿਗੁਚੀਐ ਘਰ ਮਹਿ ਵਸਤੁ ਸੁਥਾਇ ॥
बाहरि ढूंढि विगुचीऐ घर महि वसतु सुथाइ ॥
Bāhar dẖūndẖ vigucẖī▫ai gẖar mėh vasaṯ suthā▫e.
Searching outside of themselves, they are ruined; the object of their search is in that sacred place within the home of the heart.


ਮਨਮੁਖਿ ਹਉਮੈ ਕਰਿ ਮੁਸੀ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਪਲੈ ਪਾਇ ॥੪॥
मनमुखि हउमै करि मुसी गुरमुखि पलै पाइ ॥४॥
Manmukẖ ha▫umai kar musī gurmukẖ palai pā▫e. ||4||
The self-willed manmukhs, in their ego, miss it; the Gurmukhs receive it in their laps. ||4||


ਸਾਕਤ ਨਿਰਗੁਣਿਆਰਿਆ ਆਪਣਾ ਮੂਲੁ ਪਛਾਣੁ ॥
साकत निरगुणिआरिआ आपणा मूलु पछाणु ॥
Sākaṯ nirguṇi▫āri▫ā āpṇā mūl pacẖẖāṇ.
You worthless, faithless cynic-recognize your own origin!


ਰਕਤੁ ਬਿੰਦੁ ਕਾ ਇਹੁ ਤਨੋ ਅਗਨੀ ਪਾਸਿ ਪਿਰਾਣੁ ॥
रकतु बिंदु का इहु तनो अगनी पासि पिराणु ॥
Rakaṯ binḏ kā ih ṯano agnī pās pirāṇ.
This body is made of blood and semen. It shall be consigned to the fire in the end.


ਪਵਣੈ ਕੈ ਵਸਿ ਦੇਹੁਰੀ ਮਸਤਕਿ ਸਚੁ ਨੀਸਾਣੁ ॥੫॥
पवणै कै वसि देहुरी मसतकि सचु नीसाणु ॥५॥
Pavṇai kai vas ḏehurī masṯak sacẖ nīsāṇ. ||5||
The body is under the power of the breath, according to the True Sign inscribed upon your forehead. ||5||


ਬਹੁਤਾ ਜੀਵਣੁ ਮੰਗੀਐ ਮੁਆ ਨ ਲੋੜੈ ਕੋਇ ॥
बहुता जीवणु मंगीऐ मुआ न लोड़ै कोइ ॥
Bahuṯā jīvaṇ mangī▫ai mu▫ā na loṛai ko▫e.
Everyone begs for a long life-no one wishes to die.


ਸੁਖ ਜੀਵਣੁ ਤਿਸੁ ਆਖੀਐ ਜਿਸੁ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਵਸਿਆ ਸੋਇ ॥
सुख जीवणु तिसु आखीऐ जिसु गुरमुखि वसिआ सोइ ॥
Sukẖ jīvaṇ ṯis ākẖī▫ai jis gurmukẖ vasi▫ā so▫e.
A life of peace and comfort comes to that Gurmukh, within whom God dwells.


ਨਾਮ ਵਿਹੂਣੇ ਕਿਆ ਗਣੀ ਜਿਸੁ ਹਰਿ ਗੁਰ ਦਰਸੁ ਨ ਹੋਇ ॥੬॥
नाम विहूणे किआ गणी जिसु हरि गुर दरसु न होइ ॥६॥
Nām vihūṇe ki▫ā gaṇī jis har gur ḏaras na ho▫e. ||6||
Without the Naam, what good those who do not have the Blessed Vision, the Darshan of the Lord and Guru? ||6||


ਜਿਉ ਸੁਪਨੈ ਨਿਸਿ ਭੁਲੀਐ ਜਬ ਲਗਿ ਨਿਦ੍ਰਾ ਹੋਇ ॥
जिउ सुपनै निसि भुलीऐ जब लगि निद्रा होइ ॥
Ji▫o supnai nis bẖulī▫ai jab lag niḏrā ho▫e.
In their dreams at night, people wander around as long as they sleep;


ਇਉ ਸਰਪਨਿ ਕੈ ਵਸਿ ਜੀਅੜਾ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਹਉਮੈ ਦੋਇ ॥
इउ सरपनि कै वसि जीअड़ा अंतरि हउमै दोइ ॥
I▫o sarpan kai vas jī▫aṛā anṯar ha▫umai ḏo▫e.
just so, they are under the power of the snake Maya, as long as their hearts are filled with ego and duality.


ਗੁਰਮਤਿ ਹੋਇ ਵੀਚਾਰੀਐ ਸੁਪਨਾ ਇਹੁ ਜਗੁ ਲੋਇ ॥੭॥
गुरमति होइ वीचारीऐ सुपना इहु जगु लोइ ॥७॥
Gurmaṯ ho▫e vīcẖārī▫ai supnā ih jag lo▫e. ||7||
Through the Guru's Teachings, they come to understand and see that this world is just a dream. ||7||


ਅਗਨਿ ਮਰੈ ਜਲੁ ਪਾਈਐ ਜਿਉ ਬਾਰਿਕ ਦੂਧੈ ਮਾਇ ॥
अगनि मरै जलु पाईऐ जिउ बारिक दूधै माइ ॥
Agan marai jal pā▫ī▫ai ji▫o bārik ḏūḏẖai mā▫e.
As thirst is quenched with water, and the baby is satisfied with mother's milk,


ਬਿਨੁ ਜਲ ਕਮਲ ਸੁ ਨਾ ਥੀਐ ਬਿਨੁ ਜਲ ਮੀਨੁ ਮਰਾਇ ॥
बिनु जल कमल सु ना थीऐ बिनु जल मीनु मराइ ॥
Bin jal kamal so nā thī▫ai bin jal mīn marā▫e.
and as the lotus does not exist without water, and as the fish dies without water -


ਨਾਨਕ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਹਰਿ ਰਸਿ ਮਿਲੈ ਜੀਵਾ ਹਰਿ ਗੁਣ ਗਾਇ ॥੮॥੧੫॥
नानक गुरमुखि हरि रसि मिलै जीवा हरि गुण गाइ ॥८॥१५॥
Nānak gurmukẖ har ras milai jīvā har guṇ gā▫e. ||8||15||
O Nanak, so does the Gurmukh live, receiving the Sublime Essence of the Lord, and singing the Glorious Praises of the Lord. ||8||15||