Is Dukh Unavoidable?
ਫਰੀਦਾ ਮੈ ਜਾਨਿਆ ਦੁਖੁ ਮੁਝ ਕੂ ਦੁਖੁ ਸਬਾਇਐ ਜਗਿ ॥
ਊਚੇ ਚੜਿ ਕੈ ਦੇਖਿਆ ਤਾਂ ਘਰਿ ਘਰਿ ਏਹਾ ਅਗਿ ॥81॥
Reading the above Salok of Baba Farid jee, kind of puts the mind to rest in fighting against sorrows. It say that Dukh or sorrow is an eternal reality that no one can escape. Each house in the world is suffering from the fire of sorrow. In order to give hope to Gursikhs, to prompt them to fight sorrow and to avoid misunderstanding the above Salok, Siri Guru Arjun Dev jee Maharaj has blessed us with a Salok, related to the above Salok, as follows:
ਮਹਲਾ 5 ॥ ਫਰੀਦਾ ਭੂਮਿ ਰੰਗਾਵਲੀ ਮੰਝਿ ਵਿਸੂਲਾ ਬਾਗ ॥
ਜੋ ਜਨ ਪੀਰਿ ਨਿਵਾਜਿਆ ਤਿੰਨ੍ਾ ਅੰਚ ਨ ਲਾਗ ॥82॥
Guru Sahib says that, it is true that within this colourful world, this poisonous garden (the cause of sorrows) exists but ones who are blessed by Pir Satguru, they are not touched by this poisonous Baagh or garden. In other words, ones who meet Satguru jee in Kaljug, escape the effects of sorrow.
To make things even more clear, Guru Sahib has blessed us with another Salok as follows:
ਮਹਲਾ 5 ॥ ਫਰੀਦਾ ਉਮਰ ਸੁਹਾਵੜੀ ਸੰਗਿ ਸੁਵੰਨੜੀ ਦੇਹ ॥
ਵਿਰਲੇ ਕੇਈ ਪਾਈਅਨਿ ਜਿੰਨ੍ਾ ਪਿਆਰੇ ਨੇਹ ॥83॥
Ones who get Pir Satguru, their life is pleasant and their body is of pleasant hue but this spiritual fruit is attained by blessed few, who have Love with Pyara Vaheguru.
So, true that we live in such a world where Sukh and Dukh cannot be avoided and for the most part, Dukh is omni-presant but if we receive the sanctuary or refuge of Pir Satguru, we can avoid the effects of Dukh. Guru Sahib apna Sahaara Bakshan.
The ones who attain sacha prem pyaar with Guru jee can avoid effects of Dukh completely? OR Do these Gurmukhs just perceive all as Bhana, so even if they receive the Dukh that their previous karams have brought upon them (loved one dies etc., personal illnesses etc.), they do the following "ਸੋਈ ਭਗਤੁ ਦੁਖੁ ਸੁਖੁ ਸਮਤੁ ਕਰਿ ਜਾਣੈ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮਿ ਹਰਿ ਰਾਤਾ ॥"
This depends on the Avastha of the Bhagat. A Gurmukh of high Avastha stays stable in both Dukh and Sukh. On the other hand, a Gursikh who has not yet reached the Gyaan Avastha, but has full faith in Guru Sahib's Naam and Gurbani, may use the chanting of Naam to eliminate his or her Dukhs. There is nothing wrong in it. There are numerous Pankitis that allude to this principle:
ਹਰਿ ਕਾ ਨਾਮੁ ਜਪਤ ਦੁਖੁ ਜਾਇ ॥
ਨਾਨਕ ਬੋਲੈ ਸਹਜਿ ਸੁਭਾਇ ॥4॥
ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਪਵਿਤੁ ਹੈ ਨਾਮੁ ਜਪਤ ਦੁਖੁ ਜਾਇ ॥
There is nothing wrong in asking Vaheguru for unfulfilled Gurmat related wishes and for elimination of Dukh. What is not allowed is to leave the door of Guru Sahib and go to some other deity for fulfilment of wishes and elimination of sorrow. If we are not going to ask our Mata-Pita Vaheguru jee for help during hard times, who else are we going to ask?
Vaheguru Naam is Dukhbhanjan (breaker of sorrow). So chanting Naam definitely brings Anand and eliminates sorrow.
Question: why do Gyani Gurmukhs not do Ardaas when they face worldly Dukh?
Answer: Because they don't feel the Dukh. Outwardly, they may be seen suffering from Dukh but inwardly they have no Dukh. Bhai Mati Daas did not feel Dukh when he was cut in half. Bhai Dyala jee sat motionless when he was boiled alive. Bhai Sati Daas sat in Samadhi when he was burned alive.
Question: why do normal Gurmukhs do Ardaas when they feel Dukh?
Answer: Because they feel Dukh and it is Gurbani Hukam that ਜਾ ਦੁਖੁ ਲਾਗੈ ਤਾ ਤੁਝੈ ਸਮਾਲੀ ॥1॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ (When I feel sorrow, I chant Naam). When they feel Dukh, they chant the Dukhbhanjan Naam to eliminate their Dukh.
Gyani Gurmukhs are always chanting Naam and as such don't feel worldly Dukhs and normal Gurmukhs, until they reach the state of Gyani Gurmukhs, definitely chant Naam when they feel Dukh. This way Dukh becomes Daaroo (medicine) for them.
Kulbir Singh