1. So What Does A Day Of A Gursikh Following Gurmat Bibek Look Like?

The daily routine of a Gursikh is laid out eloquently by Satguru Ramdass Jee in Siree Guru Granth Sahib Jee on Ang 305. The day starts with practice of Naam Simran. To do this, the Gursikh first takes the initiative to bathe in “Amritsar”. Then the Gursikh recites Paath of Nitnem as prescribed by Satguru. Doing this all sins and faults get erased. As the sun rises, the Gursikh goes to the Darbar of Siree Guru Granth Sahib Jee and immerses into the deep and soothing melody of Gurbanee Keertan. Later in the day, the Gursikh keeps doing Naam Simran with each breath while performing the worldly duties.

2. Getting into specifics, what time should one get up in the morning?

The hukam is to get up when there is still 1.25 Pehars of night remaining (This translates to around 2am). Satguru equates the one who sleeps through Amritvela with a dead body. So, those who do endeavour to wake at this heavenly hour are not being ਸਿਰੜੀ (as some like to label). They are just being Gursikh.

3. What about bathing in Amritsar? How can a person half way across the globe manage to accomplish that?

Very fortunate are those who are able to physically go to Siree Darbar Sahib, Amritsar, every morning for Amritvela dip in the Sarovar. However, a Sikh anywhere in the world enjoys the same bliss by following Gurmat Bibek procedure of ‘ishnaan’. For one, the time of Amritvela is very conducive: second, the mind of the Sikh is attuned to Amrit Naam & Gurbanee while doing Ishnaan: thirdly, due to the effect of this Amrit tuned mind the filth & duality due to Maya gets blown away & then the Sikh feels the shower of Amrit that is forever pouring.

4.So, this would be an Ishnaan of both body & mind.

Completely! Ishnaan of mind is to cleanse it of all bad thoughts and attune it to Amrit Naam. One caution is that sometimes when the mind becomes still, a dulling bliss descends that actually hampers further spiritual progress. The best cure this is to, from the very beginning, engage the mind in doing Naam & Gurbanee Abhyass (Practice) together. The Paath of Sukhmanee Sahib is especially beneficial with Naam Simran. Gurbanee evokes love for Naam and it is this love that takes the Surtee (Mind) to greater heights.

5. Regarding Ishnaan of Body, Does that have to include Kes?

Why Not? Are Kes not part of the body? Infact they are the principal member. Hukam is on every Sikh to do full Ishnaan everyday. It is defiance to exclude Kes from the Ishnaan.

6. Isn’t That Hard?

It is so enjoyable! Gursikhs who are practioners of this Rehat know this & just cannot have an Ishnaan without including the Kes. There are some things to keep in mind regarding care for Kes to keep them clean & soft. Every third or fourth day, pure oil should be applied. Never let them get smelly. The discipline for this is to not tie Dastar while Kes are still damp. Also, a Sikh is ordained to comb the Kes twice a day.


7. Bhai Sahib, sometimes one just doesn’t have enough time to aerate the Kes.

Those who enjoy the discipline of getting up while 1.25 pehar of night are still remaining don’t face this problem. Sitting in open air they meditate of Naam & Banee & aerify the Kes. We can sit with loose hair while doing Naam Abhyass or Banee recitation without a Pothee. Those who have heavy hair & still have dampness after 3hr Abhyass, should tie a Dastar of ‘Kuddar’. This Dumala will soak up the remaining dampness in short while. (Solutions can be found for problems that come in the way of following such Hukams.) Gursikhs living in severe cold terrains continue to maintain their discipline of Bibek Ishnaan. (We can learn tips from each other rather than give up such Bibek.)



8. So, this is Ishnaan Bibek. People usually talk about Daan alongside Ishnaan. How does the Bibek of Daan help in Naam Simran?

Gurmat Daan is to put everything of your self – Physically, Materially into the service of Satguru, service of Panth, Service of Dannee Gursikhs, with sincere realization that everything belongs to Satguru, do not entertain even a iota of Ego while sacrificing their whole for Satguru. They do so in Humble service. They get a unique Spiritual Bliss in doing this service of giving up their selves. As this spirit of Seva (service) increases so does Spiritual Bliss. This way, Daan just like Ishnaan takes the spirit into ever rising Naam-Ecstasy. Infact, such Bibek of Gurmat-Daan is even more important than the Bibek of Gurmat Ishnaan.


9. Sounds like giving away in charity is an easier way to grow spiritually.

(Hardly) To become magnanimous as per Gurmat is an Ultimate Stage of a Danee Gursikh. To get there one must 1) Get rid of the 5 evils, 2) Shed self formed beliefs & 3) Do Seva in complete Humility. Only Gursikhs seeped in such Humble Service are truly magnanimous. Giving Dasvandh 10% is mandatory for every Gursikh. Some go beyond that & give much more in charity, but it is never with a feeling of being a ‘giver’.


10. What about the Daan of time to preach & spread the Guru’s Word?

The person who has sacrificed his/her whole or in other words lives after dying is the Gurmukh ParUpkaree (Magnanimous Gurmukh). One who hasn’t done so, one who hasn’t fixed their own mind, whose mind is not attuned fully to Guru’s Word, what can he/she preach to others about Guru’s Word?. Gurmukh Par-UpKaarees do not have to lecture anyone. Their mere sight is enough to incite love for Gursikhee in others. Their exemplary life becomes an aura that spreads it sweet fragrance to all that come in touch.

11. Tell us more about the life style of a Gurmat Bibekee

To help with earning the Naam Profit, Gurbanee tells us about several essential Bibek-acts. From one Shabad on Ang 36, we learn the Hukam of living a social, domestic (Grehast) life while not getting attached, It further advised that living should be based on Truth & be of restraint. The Shabad reiterates that the battle is to win the mind through regular occupation in Naam Simran. This occupation is to be in the company of Gursikhs for gaining the Special Bliss. This is the path to Raaj-Jog.

12. But the stresses & strains of domestic life make it difficult to engage in Naam

Following the Guru- Hukams, Gurmat Bibekees get naturally endowed with such qualities as being humble, not have animosity or bickering with anyone, not keeping accounts of other’s doings, that domestic life becomes an ideal nurturer of True Love.

Translated By Sikh Digest Sevadaars