Monday 16 June 2008

5 Internal Enemies


There are 5 thieves (powerful warriors) which dwell in the human body and lead a being to commit negative actions. These are Kaam, Krodh, Lobh, Moh, Ahankaar, meaning- Lust, Anger, Greed, Attachment and Ego. These enemies lead to unrightous and creull behavouir such as, Selfishness, Jealousy, Hatred, unjustful voilence, murder and etc. But with the help of gurbani and naam the Sikh battles against these to put them under control.


I am worthless and without virtue; all virtues are yours. |Pause|
The five vicious thieves are assaulting my poor being; save me, O Savior Lord!
They are tormenting and torturing me. I have come, seeking Your Sanctuary.
Trying all sorts of things I have grown weary, but still, they will not leave me alone.
But I have heard that they can be rooted out, in the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy; and so I seek their Shelter.
In their Mercy, the Saints have met me, and from them, I have obtained satisfaction.
The Saints have given me the Mantra of the Fearless Lord, and now I practice the Word of the Guru's Shabad.

I have now conquered those terrible evil-doers, and my speech is now sweet and sublime.
Says Nanak, the Divine Light has dawned within my mind; I have obtained the state of Nirvaanaa ( total bliss)
(Ang 205, Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji)

One cannot be liberated until one has total control over the minds desires and the 5 thieves. One should not be a slave to the mind and one should guide the mind through the power of gurbani. As Guru Sahib says in Gurbaanee, if one forgets the Lord Vahiguroo for even a second ones mind will be filled with evil thoughts for that second which in turn causes evil actions, and destroys balance of Sehaj (peace and poise). One can live as Gurmukh for most of his/her life but in the space of a second one can mentally be stained through evil thoughts. This is the reason one should always be on guard with the support of something much superior, Naam.

Without the Lord, I cannot live for even a second.
(Ang 668, Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji)

In this dark age of Kal Jug, Guru Sahib talks about Kaam being the Mool Jar(d) (root problem) in reducing ones progression in Naam and the journey to salvation. There are two forms of Kaam that Guru Sahib talks about, one is sexual desire and the other is desire in general. The word Kaam comes from Kaamnaavaa(n) which means desires.
Just as the lustful man is enticed by lust,
so is the Lord's slave pleased with the Lord's Praise.
Just as the mother holds her baby close,
so does the spiritual person cherish the Naam, the Name of the Lord.
This is obtained from the Perfect Guru
Servant Nanak meditates on the Naam, the Name of the Lord.
(Ang 629, Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji)

Guru Sahib says one can only conquer Kaam through meditating on Naam, which in turn will cause an positive state of mind. When ones mind becomes positive, through Naam one will receive direct Gyaan from Guru Sahib known as divine-knowledge. Once one is blessed with this they become a gurmaukh-a person who lives according to Guru Ji’s hukam instead of a manmukh-a person controlled by the poisonouis mind.

 (You may act in secrecy, but God is still with you; you can only deceive other people.
Forgetting your Dear Lord, you enjoy corrupt pleasures, and so you shall have to embrace red-hot pillars.
O man, why do you go out to the households of others?
You filthy, heartless, lustful donkey! Haven't you heard of the Righteous Judge of Dharma?
The stone of corruption is tied around your neck, and the load of slander is on your head.
You must cross over the vast open ocean, but you cannot cross over to the other side.
You are engrossed in sexual desire, anger, greed and emotional attachment; you have turned your eyes away from the Truth.
You cannot even raise your head above the water of the vast, impassable sea of Maya.
The sun is liberated, and the moon is liberated; the God-realized being is pure and untouched.
His inner nature is like that of fire, untouched and forever immaculate.
When good karma dawns, the wall of doubt is torn down. He lovingly accepts the Guru's Will.
One who is blessed with the medicine of the GurMantra, the Name of the Lord, O servant Nanak, does not suffer the agonies of reincarnation.
O man, in this way, you shall cross over to the other side.Meditate on your Dear Lord, and be dead to the world; renounce your love of duality.

(Ang 1001 Sri Guru Granth Sahib JI)

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