Our Questions, Guru Sahib’s answers - from Siri Bavan Akhri

Siri Bavan Akhri is a rare jewel that Gursikhs cannot part from. This is a delicious and nutritious spiritual food that Gursikhs eat every day. In this baani, there are answers to many of our commonly asked questions. Presented below are our some of our questions and Guru Sahib’s answers.

1) How to be successful in this world and the next world?

ਰਣਿ ਦਰਗਹਿ ਤਉ ਸੀਝਹਿ ਭਾਈ॥
ਜਉ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਰਾਮਨਾਮ ਲਿਵ ਲਾਈ॥

O Brother, only then you my be successful in this battlefield (world) and in Dargah (next world), if you japp and get absorbed in Gurmukh-Naam i.e. the true Naam of Gurughar.


2) How to rid our mind of enmity and opposition?

ਵੈਰ ਵਿਰੋਧ ਮਿਟੇ ਤਿਹ ਮਨ ਤੇ॥
ਹਰਿ ਕੀਰਤਨੁ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਜੋ ਸੁਨਤੇ॥

Enmity and opposition gets washed away from their minds, who listen to Hari Kirtan, through the true Guru.


3) How will worldly wandering of the mind stop?

ਧਧਾ ਧਾਵਤ ਤਉ ਮਿਟੈ ਸੰਤ ਸੰਗਿ ਹੋਇ ਬਾਸੁ॥

Their wandering in doing the worldly tasks is stopped, who start residing in the company of devotees i.e. in Satsang.


4) How to not reside in Narak or how to not end up in Narak?

ਨੰਨਾ ਨਰਕਿ ਪਰਹਿ ਤੇ ਨਾਹੀ॥
ਜਾ ਕੈ ਮਨਿ ਤਨਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਬਸਾਹੀ॥

They never fall in Narak (hell); who have in their mind and body only Naam.


5) How to eliminate the fear of dreadful journey with jammdoots after death?

ਤ੍ਰਾਸ ਮਿਟੈ ਜਮ ਪੰਥ ਕੀ ਜਾਸੁ ਬਸੈ ਮਨਿ ਨਾਉ॥
The fear of JammPanth i.e. journey after death to Dharam Rai, when Naam resides in one’s mind.

6) What actions of the Jeev bind it into bonds?

ਰੇ ਮਨ ਬਿਨੁ ਹਰਿ ਜਹ ਰਚਹੁ ਤਹ ਤਹ ਬੰਧਨ ਪਾਹਿ ॥

The answer is clear. Other than getting indulged in Naam, all other actions or Karma result in binding the Jeeva. The whole world is Maya and the only exception is Naam and Gurbani. All good actions and bad actions are part of the Traigunni (3 Gunns) Maya, so even good actions result in binding the Jeev to this world. Only the divine Karma of Naam and Kirtan/Paath (of Gurbani) can free the Jeev.


7) How can the bonds of Maya be broken?

ਟੂਟੇ ਬੰਧਨ ਜਾਸੁ ਕੇ ਹੋਆ ਸਾਧੂ ਸੰਗੁ ॥

One who obtains the company of Sadhoo roop Guru, his bonds are broken. To have ਸਾਧੂ ਸੰਗੁ means to get initiated to Sikhi, i.e., obtain Naam from the true Guru. Now a days this is done by taking Khande Baatay dee Pahul (Amrit Chhakna).


8) Who's coming to this world is successful?

ਆਇਆ ਸਫਲ ਤਾਹੂ ਕੋ ਗਨੀਐ ॥
ਜਾਸੁ ਰਸਨ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਜਸੁ ਭਨੀਐ ॥
ਆਇ ਬਸਹਿ ਸਾਧੂ ਕੈ ਸੰਗੇ ॥
ਅਨਦਿਨੁ ਨਾਮੁ ਧਿਆਵਹਿ ਰੰਗੇ ॥

Such person who using his tongue chants the divine Naam, his coming to this world is successful. How is this divine karma done? This is explained in the 3rd pankiti above - By residing in the divine company of the Sadhoo roopi Guru (ਸਾਧੂ ਕੈ ਸੰਗੇ ॥) i.e. obtaining Naam from the Guru and then with love (ਰੰਗੇ) meditating on the true Naam.

9) How to get rid of quarrels and conflicts?

ਸਲੋਕੁ ॥ ਝਾਲਾਘੇ ਉਠਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਜਪਿ ਨਿਸਿ ਬਾਸੁਰ ਆਰਾਧਿ ॥ ਕਾਰ੍ਹਾ ਤੁਝੈ ਨ ਬਿਆਪਈ ਨਾਨਕ ਮਿਟੈ ਉਪਾਧਿ ॥੧॥

What a wonderful Salok! Guru Sahib is giving Hukam - get up early morning (ਝਾਲਾਘੇ ਉਠਿ ), chant Naam (ਨਾਮੁ ਜਪਿ ), and continue doing this worship day and night. What will be the result of doing so? You will never be hurt and all your quarrels and conflicts will be eliminated.

10) Who does not hurt anyone's feelings?

ਠਠਾ ਮਨੂਆ ਠਾਹਹਿ ਨਾਹੀ ॥ ਜੋ ਸਗਲ ਤਿਆਗਿ ਏਕਹਿ ਲਪਟਾਹੀ ॥

This is a very important Hukam of Guru Sahib. Ones who eschew i.e. renounce everything and grab One (Lord) i.e. indulge in one divine Karma of Naam Abhyaas, they become so pure and kind hearted that they never break anyone's heart.

Baani Agam Agaadh Bodh hai jee. Bhul Chuk dee Maafi jee.

Kulbir Singh

Inspired to write this post after reading a book of Talwara jee.