Education

Why do we further our Education?

Most of the time we further our studies is due to the fact, we want our Children to be happy in the near future, we don’t want them to struggle in any way, we have large Houses we need good income to help pay the mortgage. We always think about the future, we want to stay content and happy through Money, this will resolve all our worldly affairs. Some study so that people do not call them illiterate. Some study thinking life will become easier through a high position. Some study because; they are forced to by their worldly Parents. Some study for praise and a name. Some spend their entire life in education. Some study to support their Parents, because they have seen a hard life.

SOME STUDY FOR THE WELFARE AND BETTERMENT OF THE UNIVERSE AND PANTH. IS THIS TRUE? There are many more reasons we further our education.

For all the reasons of studying Daas has mentioned above, one will never find contentment and liberation. One has not learnt how to live in the great will of the Lord Vahiguroo. One becomes wise (SiaaNaa) and tries to predict the future. One has lost many breaths and years of the profit of Naam.

After furthering our education we expect life to become much easier and less stressful, but in reality life becomes more difficult and stressful, this is due to the fact with power comes great responsibility. With high flying jobs comes much more commitment and most of the time we physically and mentally have to take work home with us, in which causes us to spend less time with our Family and Kids furthering their education on Gurmat, and most of all loosing profit of Naam. Life in general can become an uphill battle.

What does Bhagat Kabeer Jee say about Bhagat Prehalaad Jee when, he was sent to School by his Parents?

(Ang 1194)

ਪ੍ਰਹਲਾਦ ਪਠਾਏ ਪੜਨ ਸਾਲ ॥
prehulaadh puthaaeae purrun saal
Prahlaad was sent to school.

ਸੰਗਿ ਸਖਾ ਬਹੁ ਲੀਏ ਬਾਲ ॥
sung sukhaa buhu leeeae baal
He took many of his friends along with him.

ਮੋ ਕਉ ਕਹਾ ਪੜ੍ਹ੍ਹਾਵਸਿ ਆਲ ਜਾਲ ॥
mo ko kehaa purruaavas aal jaal
He asked his teacher, ""Why do you teach me about worldly affairs?
ਮੇਰੀ ਪਟੀਆ ਲਿਿਖ ਦੇਹੁ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਗਪਾਲ ॥੧॥
maeree putteeaa likh dhaehu sree guopaal
Write the Name of the Dear Lord on my tablet.""1

ਨਹੀ ਛੋਡਉ ਰੇ ਬਾਬਾ ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮ ॥
nehee shoddo rae baabaa raam naam
O Baba, I will not forsake the Name of the Lord.

ਮੇਰੋ ਅਉਰ ਪੜ੍ਹ੍ਹਨ ਸਿਉ ਨਹੀ ਕਾਮੁ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
maero aour purruun sio nehee kaam
I will not bother with any other lessons. 1Pause

ਸੰਡੈ ਮਰਕੈ ਕਹਿਓ ਜਾਇ ॥
sunddai murukai kehiou jaae
Sanda and Marka went to the king to complain.

ਪ੍ਰਹਲਾਦ ਬੁਲਾਏ ਬੇਗਿ ਧਾਇ ॥
prehulaadh bulaaeae baeg dhaae
He sent for Prahlaad to come at once.

ਤੂ ਰਾਮ ਕਹਨ ਕੀ ਛੋਡੁ ਬਾਨਿ ॥
thoo raam kehun kee shodd baan
He said to him, ""Stop uttering the Lord's Name.

ਤੁਝੁ ਤੁਰਤੁ ਛਡਾਊ ਮੇਰੋ ਕਹਿਓ ਮਾਿਨ ॥੨॥
thujh thuruth shuddaaoo maero kehiou maan
I shall release you at once, if you obey my words.""2

ਮੋ ਕਉ ਕਹਾ ਸਤਾਵਹੁ ਬਾਰ ਬਾਰ ॥
mo ko kehaa suthaavuhu baar baar
Prahlaad answered, ""Why do you annoy me, over and over again?

ਪ੍ਰਭਿ ਜਲ ਥਲ ਿਗਿਰ ਕੀਏ ਪਹਾਰ ॥
prabh jul thul gir keeeae pehaar
God created the water, land, hills and mountains.

ਇਕੁ ਰਾਮੁ ਨ ਛੋਡਉ ਗੁਰਹਿ ਗਾਿਰ ॥
eik raam n shoddo gurehi gaar
I shall not forsake the One Lord; if I did, I would be going against my Guru.

ਮੋ ਕਉ ਘਾਲਿ ਜਾਿਰ ਭਾਵੈ ਮਾਿਰ ਡਾਿਰ ॥੩॥
mo ko ghaal jaar bhaavai maar ddaar
You might as well throw me into the fire and kill me.""3

ਕਾਢਿ ਖੜਗੁ ਕੋਿਪਓ ਿਰਸਾਇ ॥
kaat khurrug kopiou risaae
The king became angry and drew his sword.

ਤੁਝ ਰਾਖਨਹਾਰੋ ਮੋਹਿ ਬਤਾਇ ॥
thujh raakhunehaaro mohi buthaae
"Show me your protector now!"
ਪ੍ਰਭ ਥੰਭ ਤੇ ਨਿਕਸੇ ਕੈ ਿਬਸਥਾਰ ॥
prubh thunbh thae nikusae kai bisuthaar
So God emerged out of the pillar, and assumed a mighty form.
ਹਰਨਾਖਸੁ ਛੇਦਿਓ ਨਖ ਿਬਦਾਰ ॥੪॥
hurunaakhus shaedhiou nukh bidhaar
He killed Harnaakhash, tearing him apart with his nails. 4

ਓਇ ਪਰਮ ਪੁਰਖ ਦੇਵਾਧਿ ਦੇਵ ॥
oue purum purukh dhaevaadh dhaev
The Supreme Lord God, the Divinity of the divine,
ਭਗਤਿ ਹੇਿਤ ਨਰਿਸੰਘ ਭੇਵ ॥
bhugath haeth nurasingh bhaev
for the sake of His devotee, assumed the form of the man-lion.

ਕਹਿ ਕਬੀਰ ਕੋ ਲਖੈ ਨ ਪਾਰ ॥
kehi kubeer ko lukhai n paar
Says Kabeer, no one can know the Lord's limits.

ਪ੍ਰਹਲਾਦ ਉਧਾਰੇ ਅਨਿਕ ਬਾਰ ॥੫॥੪॥
prehulaadh oudhaarae anik baar
He saves His devotees like Prahlaad over and over again. 54

Vahiguroo, only if Guru Sahib blesses us with the Preetee (love) in which he blessed Prehalaad. Prehalaad was not interested in School, as he realised through studying he would loose the profit of Naam. Prehalaad had realized he could not let go of the Lords name, Vahiguroo, for a second, as this would cause suffering to his Soul, so he decided not to study, he was not interested in any worldly affairs, and he feared nobody apart from the great Lord. The great Lord came to his rescue through Nar-Singh (half lion, half man) and rescued his loving devotee Prehalaad, as his Father wanted him to meditate on his Name not the Lords Name, Prehalaad disagreed and left the rest in the will of God.

Don’t we want to become Saints like Bhagat Prehalaad Jee and numerous more mentioned in Gurbaanee? Don’t we want to spread the teachings of the Great Lord like these great Saints did? Lets ask ourselves what is the reason we are here? Why are we loosing the profit of Naam? Why are we spending most our time in worldly affairs? Why do we even let go of Naam for a second? This is not Guru Sahibs Hukum.

(Ang 524)

ਮੁਸਿ ਮੁਿਸ ਰੋਵੈ ਕਬੀਰ ਕੀ ਮਾਈ ॥
mus mus rovai kubeer kee maaee
Kabeer's mother sobs, cries and bewails

ਏ ਬਾਰਿਕ ਕੈਸੇ ਜੀਵਿਹ ਰਘੁਰਾਈ ॥੧॥
eae baarik kaisae jeevehi rughuraaee
- O Lord, how will my grandchildren live? 1

ਤਨਨਾ ਬੁਨਨਾ ਸਭੁ ਤਜਿਓ ਹੈ ਕਬੀਰ ॥
thununaa bununaa subh thajiou hai kubeer
Kabeer has given up all his spinning and weaving,

ਹਰਿ ਕਾ ਨਾਮੁ ਿਲਿਖ ਲੀਓ ਸਰੀਰ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
har kaa naam likh leeou sureer
and written the Name of the Lord on his body. 1Pause

ਜਬ ਲਗੁ ਤਾਗਾ ਬਾਹਉ ਬੇਹੀ ॥
jub lug thaagaa baaho baehee
As long as I pass the thread through the bobbin,

ਤਬ ਲਗੁ ਬਿਸਰੈ ਰਾਮੁ ਸਨੇਹੀ ॥੨॥
thub lug bisurai raam sunaehee
I forget the Lord, my Beloved. 2

ਓਛੀ ਮਤਿ ਮੇਰੀ ਜਾਿਤ ਜੁਲਾਹਾ ॥
oushee math maeree jaath julaahaa
My intellect is lowly - I am a weaver by birth,

ਹਰਿ ਕਾ ਨਾਮੁ ਲਿਹਓ ਮੈ ਲਾਹਾ ॥੩॥
har kaa naam lehiou mai laahaa
but I have earned the profit of the Name of the Lord. 3

ਕਹਤ ਕਬੀਰ ਸੁਨਹੁ ਮੇਰੀ ਮਾਈ ॥
kehuth kubeer sunuhu maeree maaee
Says Kabeer, listen, O my mother

humuraa ein kaa dhaathaa eaek rughuraaee
- the Lord alone is the Provider, for me and my children. 42

Bhagat Kabeer Jee was a weaver by trade, weaving takes very little concentration and thinking. The occupation of a Doctor, Solicitor, Director and so on takes a lot more thought and concentration. Even living the life of a simple weaver Bhagat Kabeer Jee was still upset saying, when I pass the thread through the bobbin I forget the Lords name for a second. Bhagat Kabeer Jees Mother was also worried about the future, but Kabeer Jee lived in the Lords command, and had realized only having faith in the great Lord will resolve all my worldly affairs, and God will provide for my Children. Why do we worry after reading the pure Bachan (words) of great Saints like Kabeer Jee? Sorry to say we have very little faith in God, faith only increases and gets stronger through the profit of Naam.

(Ang 467 Asa Di Vaar)

ਪੜਿ ਪਿੜ ਗਡੀ ਲਦੀਅਿਹ ਪਿੜ ਪਿੜ ਭਰੀਅਿਹ ਸਾਥ ॥
parr parr guddee ludheeahi parr parr bhureeahi saath
You may read and read loads of books; you may read and study vast multitudes of books.
ਪੜਿ ਪਿੜ ਬੇੜੀ ਪਾਈਐ ਪਿੜ ਪਿੜ ਗਡੀਅਿਹ ਖਾਤ ॥
parr parr baerree paaeeai parr parr guddeeahi khaath
You may read and read boat-loads of books; you may read and read and fill pits with them.

ਪੜੀਅਹਿ ਜੇਤੇ ਬਰਸ ਬਰਸ ਪੜੀਅਿਹ ਜੇਤੇ ਮਾਸ ॥
purreeahi jaethae burus burus purreeahi jaethae maas
You may read them year after year; you may read them as many months are there are.

ਪੜੀਐ ਜੇਤੀ ਆਰਜਾ ਪੜੀਅਹਿ ਜੇਤੇ ਸਾਸ ॥
purreeai jaethee aarujaa purreeahi jaethae saas
You may read them all your life; you may read them with every breath.
naanuk laekhai eik gul hor houmai jhukhunaa jhaakh
O Nanak, only one thing is of any account: everything else is useless babbling and idle talk in ego. 1

In this Shabad Guru Nanak Dev Jee has made it quite clear through education one will not be liberated, this can be the root cause of Ego and looking down on others. One has to realize the root cause of this rebirth in to human incarnation, the root cause is liberating our Soul through the pure substance of Naam Abhiyaas, so the noose of life and death is cut.

A few Gursikhs will argue that we need educated Gursikhs to fight political battles, Daas agrees, but this Sevaa given to these particular Gursikhs by Guru Sahib will not be Parvaan in the Lords court until every breath is full with the loving devotion of Guru Sahibs name, only then this political Sevaa gifted by Guru Sahib will be fulfilled in Chardee Kallaa (high spirits).

Athai Pehar (24,7) Naam Abhiyaas is Guru Sahibs Hukum, if we do not meditate Athai Pehar we are turning our back on Guru Sahib Physically and Spiritually. We spend more time in Asool (rules) and discipline and forget the only substance, which will purify the mind and please Guru Sahib, which is Athai Pehar Naam Abhiyaas. This is mandatory in a Gursikhs life without this Guru Sahib says, one does not show enough interest in the love of the Lord, and Guru Sahib goes on to say Sikhee was only created by the Lords name, Shabad.

If one has Asool (rules) it is amazing for ones personal Jeevan, but one has to remember Vahiguroo. Guru Sahib says through and through in Baanee, any Karam or Asool in which the Lords Name does not abide are worthless to ones Jeevan and Guru Sahib.

SO THEREFORE THE FIRST ASOOL AFTER AMMRIT IS ATHAI PEHAR NAAM ABHIYAAS, PLEASE DO NOT LOOK ON NAAM LIGHTLY, SIKHEE IS WORTHLESS WITHOUT THE KAMAEE (PROFIT) OF NAAM.

Next Weeks article will be on Yoga.