The landscape of life is rife with numerous experiences–some memorable, some painful; some test our tenacity and forbearance; some challenge our intellect and devotion.

 

Our life, our individuality, our relations, our well-being–all are outcomes of our choices and experiences. But we encounter so many demanding situations every day that making the right choices and decisions becomes challenging and draining. I have often been in situations where the chosen option seemed the best at that time, given all the parameters, but afterwards, I started doubting myself and my decision, and wished I could travel back in time and alter my decision. But it is what it is! Life doesn’t allow us such luxury. We have to bear the repercussions of our choices and decisions, each one of which contributes to our repertoire of experience.

 

Sometimes, it feels like a dream or a virtual reality where following a different path leads to a different destination, and the decision is irreversible. We are always choosing between the left, the right and the middle path, unaware of which one leads where, and further, each direction has its own set of choices, again leading to varied results. It’s quite an intriguing interplay of factors and choices that make up our lives.

 

I wonder if this human form that we’ve been blessed with is a mere pit stop in the voyage of our souls? Is it a reality that my soul is experiencing, or is it just a dream where I am the protagonist? Is this human life of mine being manipulated by some higher power, or was I sent here with a clear predestined plan to achieve some specific purpose? If each of my decisions is pre-ordained, then am I a mere puppet? What is the role of my mind in that case?

 

I have been searching for answers to these and numerous other questions of mine. Some answers seem true at one point, but confuse and leave me clueless at another point in time. This verse from Gurbani, however, speaks volumes.

 

ਮਾਟੀ ਕੋ ਪੁਤਰਾ ਕੈਸੇ ਨਚਤੁ ਹੈ ॥

ਦੇਖੈ ਦੇਖੈ ਸੁਨੈ ਬੋਲੈ ਦਉਰਿਓ ਫਿਰਤੁ ਹੈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

 

ਜਬ ਕਛੁ ਪਾਵੈ ਤਬ ਗਰਬੁ ਕਰਤੁ ਹੈ ॥

ਮਾਇਆ ਗਈ ਤਬ ਰੋਵਨੁ ਲਗਤੁ ਹੈ ॥੧॥

 

ਮਨ ਬਚ ਕ੍ਰਮ ਰਸ ਕਸਹਿ ਲੁਭਾਨਾ ॥

ਬਿਨਸਿ ਗਇਆ ਜਾਇ ਕਹੂੰ ਸਮਾਨਾ ॥੨॥

 

ਕਹਿ ਰਵਿਦਾਸ ਬਾਜੀ ਜਗੁ ਭਾਈ ॥

ਬਾਜੀਗਰ ਸਉ ਮੋੁਹਿ ਪ੍ਰੀਤਿ ਬਨਿ ਆਈ ॥੩॥੬॥

 

Hindi: Maati Ko Putra Kaisae Nachat Hai,

Dekhae dekhae sunne bole dauriyo firat hai

 

Jab kachh pave tab garab karat hai

Maya gayi tab rovan lagat hai

 

Mann bachh karm ras kasseh lubhana

Binas gaia jaye kahun samaana

 

Keh Ravidas baaji jag bhai

Baajigar sau mohe preet ban aayi

 

 

English Meaning: How does the puppet of clay dance? He looks, listens, argues, and runs around for material gains.

 

When he acquires wealth or a position, he gets inflated with ego. But when his wealth is gone, then he cries and bewails.

 

In thought, word and deed, he is attached to the sweet and tangy flavours. When he dies, no one knows where he has gone.

 

Says Ravi Daas, the world is just a play of sorts, and I have developed love for the star of the show (God).

 

 

Gurbani comes as a saviour and a compendium of solutions for me. It answers and pacifies a lot of my qualms, but I think it is human nature to get engrossed in the materialistic world and try to uncover pearls of solutions from the ocean of worldly chaos. But a chaos it is, and it keeps us entangled in the web of vices and virtues. Everyone is in the race to attain something, but nobody knows what they’re searching for.

 

ਜਗਿ ਜੀਵਨੁ ਐਸਾ ਸੁਪਨੇ ਜੈਸਾ, ਜੀਵਨੁ ਸੁਪਨ ਸਮਾਨੰ ॥

ਸਾਚੁ ਕਰਿ ਹਮ ਗਾਠਿ ਦੀਨੀ, ਛੋਡਿ ਪਰਮ ਨਿਧਾਨੰ ॥੧॥

ਆਸਾ (ਭ. ਕਬੀਰ) (੨੭) ੧:੧ – ਗੁਰੂ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ਸਾਹਿਬ : ਅੰਗ ੪੮੨ ਪੰ. ੧੫

 

Hindi: Jag Jeevan Aisa Supnae Jaisa Jeevan Supan Samaanan ||

Saach Kar Ham Gaath Deenee Chhodd Param Nidhhaanan ||1||

 

English Meaning: The life of the world is only a dream; life is just a dream.

Believing it to be true, I grasped it and abandoned the supreme treasure (Divine).

 

 

We were blessed with a body, mind, heart and soul in the lap of Earth, and we transformed this world into a place of materialistic possessions. The emotions that humans were bestowed with were tested on various parameters. We entrapped ourselves in love, angst, fear, desire, pain, lust, ego, beliefs, illusions, perceptions, regret, guilt, revenge, success, failure, and whatnot. How can we even think of walking the path or finding the way if we have burdened ourselves so much!

 

Like a spark in the endless night, Gurbani is our beacon of light, showing us the right path towards the eternal Guru. This shabad (verse) highlights the Guru’s wisdom on living a divine life and attaining enlightenment.

 

 

ਜੋ ਨਰੁ ਦੁਖ ਮੈ ਦੁਖੁ ਨਹੀ ਮਾਨੈ ॥ 

ਸੁਖੁ ਸਨੇਹੁ ਅਰੁ ਭੈ ਨਹੀ ਜਾ ਕੈ ॥ ਕਨਚਨ ਮਾਟੀ ਮਾਨੈ ॥੧॥ 

 

ਨਹੀ ਨਿੰਦਾ ਨਹੀ ਉਸਤਤਿ ਜਾ ਕੈ ॥ ਲੋਭ ਮੋਹ ਅਹੰਮਾਨਾ ॥ 

ਹਰਖ ਸੋਗ ਤੇ ਰਹੈ ਨਿਆਰੋ ॥ ਨਾਹਿ ਮਾਨੁ ਅਪਮਾਨਾ ॥੨॥ 

 

ਆਸਾ ਮਨਸਾ ਸਕਲ ਤਿਆਗੈ ॥ ਜਗ ਤੇ ਰਹੈ ਨਿਰਾਸਾ ॥ 

ਕਾਮ ਕ੍ਰੋਧ ਜਿਹ ਪ੍ਰਸੇ ਨਾਹੀ ॥ ਤਿਹ ਘਟ ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਨਿਵਾਸਾ ॥੩॥ 

 

ਗੁਰੂ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਜਿਹ ਨਰੁ ਪੈ ਕੀਨੀ ॥ ਤਿਨ੍ਹ ਇਹ ਜੁਗਤਿ ਪਛਾਨੀ ॥ 

ਨਾਨਕ ਲੀਨ ਭਇਆ ਗੋਵਿੰਦ ਸਿਉ ॥ ਜਿਵ ਪਾਣੀ ਸੰਗਿ ਪਾਣੀ ॥੪॥ 

ਸੋਰਠਿ (ਮਃ ੯) (੧੧) ੩:੨ – ਗੁਰੂ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ਸਾਹਿਬ : ਅੰਗ ੬੩੩ ਪੰ. ੧੯

 

Hindi: Jo nar dukh mai dukh nahi maane,

Sukh sanehu ar bhae nahi ja ke. Kanchan maati maane.

 

Nahi ninda nahi ustat ja kai. Lobh moh ahmaanaa.

Harkh sog te rahae niaro. Nahin maan apmaanaa.

 

Aasaa mansaa sakal tiyaagae. Jag te rahae niraasaa.

Kaam krodh jeh prase naahi. Tih ghat Brahm nivaasaa.

 

Guru kirpa jeh nar pai keeni. Tin ih jugat pachani.

Nanak leen bhayaa Govind siu. Jiv paani sang paani.

 

English Meaning: That person, who, in the midst of pain, does not consider it pain (or feels no pain), who is not attached to pleasure, affection, or fear, and considers gold and dust the same in value. (Verse 1)

 

Who is not swayed by criticism or praise, and is free from greed, attachment, and ego,

Who remains separate from joy and sorrow, and is untouched by respect or disrespect. (Verse 2)

 

Who has renounced all desires and aspirations, and is desireless in the world,

Who is not affected by lust (Kaam) or anger (Krodh), in that person’s heart, the Divine (Brahm) resides. (Verse 3)

 

By the Guru’s grace, on whom that grace is bestowed, that person understands this technique (of living),

O Nanak, they become absorbed in the Divine (Govind), like water merging with water. (Verse 4) 

 

©Vandana Bhasin

10.12.2025