Mental health is something that often goes amiss in many communities. While everyone addresses physical health problems such as fevers or broken bones, many people don’t focus on its mental counterpart. As we grow up, our responsibilities increase; we have the pressure of doing well at school, work, and in our communities. This pressure can build up in our brains if we don’t have any proper release it can have detrimental effects--like anxiety, depression, panic attacks, etc.--later on in life. In short, if we don’t talk about these feelings, they can eat us alive. But with this gurbani analysis, we are trying to remind those looking for someone to talk or vent to that we have Waheguru from the beginning to the end. Instead of trying to confide in people who may leave our lives at a later time, we can turn to Gurbani. For many of us Gurbani seems like an otherworldly tool, one devoid of understanding and modern, worldly applications, but the truth is quite the opposite. Many ideas presented in the Guru Granth Sahib focus around depression and chinta. Sometimes it may be easier to speak to the Guru than it is to speak to those around us.
ਸਲੋਕ ਮਃ ੫ ॥
salok mahalaa panjavaa ||
Shalok, Fifth Mehla:
ਮਨ (mind) ਮਹਿ (in) ਚਿਤਵਉ (thought which originated) ਚਿਤਵਨੀ (concept of thought) ਉਦਮੁ (effort) ਕਰਉ (do) ਉਠਿ (wake up) ਨੀਤ (everyday) ॥
man meh chitavau chitavanee udham karau uTh neet ||
Within my mind, I think thoughts of always rising early, and making the effort.
In the header before the shabad, Guru Arjan Dev Ji begins by talking about waking up every morning with the thoughts of naam and stressing how important it is to wake up with this mindset as it can allow you to have a better rest of your day. If you actively think about and meditate on the virtues, you will unconsciously make them a part of life and be happier as an individual. Guru ji acknowledges the fact that it does require effort as it is not something that will happen overnight, more so a process that takes time and practice to develop.
ਹਰਿ ਕੀਰਤਨ ਕਾ ਆਹਰੋ ਹਰਿ ਦੇਹੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਕੇ ਮੀਤ ॥੧॥
har keeratan kaa aaharo har dheh naanak ke meet ||1||
O Lord, my Friend, please bless Nanak with the habit of singing the Kirtan of the Lord's Praises. ||1||
It is one thing of its own to make that effort, but it is even more significant to understand where that effort is going towards. What do we do with that effort? In this line, Guru Ji is telling us that one way to use that effort is to do Keertan, the Keertan of the Har. That effort is also thought of an Ardaas, as we are doing the Keertan of Waheguru. We are requesting that as a blessing, to do Keertan first thing in the morning. But, what exactly is Keertan? Keertan are the words of the Baani in a poetic and rhythmic form. This is what helps us develop a deep connection with Waheguru, because by doing keertan, we are remembering Him with every word we speak and breath we take while singing. It is the mechanism of whatever is being sung to engrave it in our mind. We are singing and repeating those lines in a melody, exciting our minds. As our minds are focused on what we are singing, we get entertained by the music, the raags, and whatever we are singing is getting etched in our minds permanently. This is why the concept of the melody, the raags, are so important. It is like a plate in which the Gurbani is put on top, being served to us as a package. Guru Ji is acknowledging the power of music, saying that by doing keertan, we are absorbing not only the raag, but as well as the words of the Guru. It is even more beneficial if we understand the meaning of the shabad sung, the message that Guru Ji is trying to convey to us. And when we get to the point that we are remembering the melody and the lines the next day, that is a different sort of bliss and enjoyment that we would be blessed with.
ਪਉੜੀ ॥
pauRee ||Pauree:
ਜੀਅ ਕੀ ਬਿਰਥਾ ਹੋਇ ਸੁ ਗੁਰ ਪਹਿ ਅਰਦਾਸਿ ਕਰਿ ॥
jeea kee birathaa hoi su gur peh aradhaas kar ||
When your soul is feeling sad, offer your prayers to the Guru.
In this line, Guru ji is saying to put our faith in Waheguru, even through our toughest moments. Waheguru is our only true support in life- everything else comes and goes. We can count on the teachings of the Guru, and everything will turn out okay because it all happens for a reason. The Guru will console us when we are sad, through the scripture and knowledge of those who have written in the Guru Granth Sahib Ji. It can be hard to focus on the light when everything around you is dark, but Guru ji is saying that the Guru is the light and is pure. We should remind ourselves of His greatness all the time as well, not only when we are sad.
ਛੋਡਿ ਸਿਆਣਪ ਸਗਲ ਮਨੁ ਤਨੁ ਅਰਪਿ ਧਰਿ ॥
chhodd siaanap sagal man tan arap dhar ||
Renounce all your cleverness, and dedicate your mind and body to Him.
In this line, Guru Arjan Dev Ji gives the first steps on what to do when your soul is feeling sad. Chodd in this line means to give up or renounce. Syaanap is cleverness, or wisdom. And sagal just means ‘all of it’. ‘Man’ means mind, ‘tan’ means body. Essentially, this line is saying that in order to get out of the dark hole you may be in, give up all the wisdom you think you have. Your wisdom is insignificant compared to the wisdom of the Waheguru, so give up your mind. He says to also give up your body. Sometimes, this can be taken too literally and can be thought of as physically sacrificing yourself to the Guru. In this case, that is not what Guru Arjan Dev Ji is saying. In this line he is saying to give up the ideology of “I” that you have, otherwise known as Haumai. Dedicate every part of yourself to Waheguru, reciting his name and doing seva.
ਪੂਜਹੁ ਗੁਰ ਕੇ ਪੈਰ ਦੁਰਮਤਿ ਜਾਇ ਜਰਿ ॥
poojahu gur ke pair dhuramat jai jar ||
Worship the Feet of the Guru, and your evil-mindedness shall be burnt away.
If we pray to Waheguru and believe in the messages of the Gurus in the Guru Granth Sahib Ji, our bad deeds, Maya, and Kalyug will be eradicated. He is our only friend and we need only Him to survive through the worldly evils and pressures of daily life. The evil-mindedness that is being mentioned here includes the 5 vices and all actions and feelings that are associated with them. They are our enemy and make up the wall of Koor. Again, if we follow the path of the True Guru, this wall will be broken down and the path to Anand will be the next journey.
ਸਾਧ ਜਨਾ ਕੈ ਸੰਗਿ ਭਵਜਲੁ ਬਿਖਮੁ ਤਰਿ ॥
saadh janaa kai sa(n)g bhavajal bikham tar ||
Joining the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, you shall cross over the terrifying and difficult world-ocean.
Our path to Waheguru need not be done by ourselves. Very often we are told why we are not reclusive, why we don’t live up in the mountains -- our goal is to carry both ourselves and others on our journey to Waheguru, not just keep it to ourselves. We aim and love to interact with the world and people around us. If we surround ourselves with people who can push us to learn and grow, we can find peace with the things in our lives that can be deemed scary, unrelenting, confusing, or unknown.
ਸੇਵਹੁ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਦੇਵ ਅਗੈ ਨ ਮਰਹੁ ਡਰਿ ॥
sevahu satigur dhev agai na marahu ddar ||
Serve the True Guru, and in the world hereafter, you shall not fear death?
If this seva has been given to you as a blessing from Waheguru, then at the end, you will get rid of the fear of death. At the time of death, you will die peacefully, not surrounded by anxiety and worries. Death will not be fearful to you. All of this is through the blessing of Waheguru, if you have been given the chance to do seva for Him. When you know you are almost about to end your last breath, it is the most terrifying moment. Of course, there will be pain and other things as well, depending on how the death is approaching you. However, it has to come, one day, or another. As soon as we are born, we are also going to die. It is not a negative concept, it is just life. There are millions of people out there, living their life miserably during the time they are alive, just because they are fearing the time they will leave the world. However, if they understand that death is a hukam from Waheguru, then they can enjoy the journey of life with Seva, Keertan, Sangat and more. The fear of death will vanish instantly by following the path the Gurus have paved for us.
ਖਿਨ ਮਹਿ ਕਰੇ ਨਿਹਾਲੁ ਊਣੇ ਸੁਭਰ ਭਰਿ ॥
khin meh kare nihaal uoone subhar bhar ||
In an instant, he shall make you happy, and the empty vessel shall be filled to overflowing.
If your Ardas is pure and wholehearted then you can overcome many problems. The guru can easily take away your pain in an instant. The solution to the pain may not be apparent; it may be a chemical change in our brain or presented to us in a different way, but this is all the result of the Gurus kirpa. Our empty minds can instantly be filled with happiness because of Waheguru’s mehar. This mehar works in many different ways, it might not always be obvious to us and it might not be something that happens to all of us. By putting our efforts towards Waheguru, the stress from our mind can be lifted. By taking all the teachings of the Guru and Gurbani and implementing it in our daily lives, our attitudes may change suddenly or overtime. Our mental wounds can be healed through the way we live our lives.
ਮਨ ਕਉ ਹੋਇ ਸੰਤੋਖੁ ਧਿਆਈਐ ਸਦਾ ਹਰਿ ॥
man kau hoi sa(n)tokh dhiaaieeaai sadhaa har ||
The mind becomes content, meditating forever on the Lord.
Once we are content with what we have and receive in this life, all the burdens that we had previously are there no more. All we worry about, after achieving that level of contentment, is to keep meditating, or acting, on naam and bettering yourself on your journey to become one with waheguru. Guru ji explains to us the notion that we should learn to be content with the basic necessities of life rather than longing for luxuries beyond our basic needs. We always complain that we do not have this thing or that thing, but in reality, we would be much happier if we just were content with the things that we already have. Like Guru Gobind Singh Ji, who could still remain in chardi kala and that state of contentment even after his whole family was killed in the battles and moughal oppression, we must also rise above ourselves and try to have that same mindset.
ਸੋ ਲਗਾ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਸੇਵ ਜਾ ਕਉ ਕਰਮੁ ਧੁਰਿ ॥੬॥
so lagaa satigur sev jaa kau karam dhur ||6||
He alone dedicates himself to the Guru's service, unto whom the Lord has granted His Grace. ||6||
Finally, Guru Arjan Dev Ji ends this shabad by encouraging self reflection. While difficult, it’s necessary to recognize the beauty of our position in this creation, or ਕੁਦਰਤਿ. Somehow, we are given the opportunity to serve, or embody the teachings of, the guru in this world, and it’s up to us to realize that opportunity makes our experience in this world beautiful, as long as we choose to take this opportunity and put trust in the Guru’s shabad.
Sometimes, we are faced with these mentally traumatizing issues, and we feel like there is no solution to them. Considering this shabad, it’s clear that the solution is always there but we aren’t looking at it! These are the instructions to rid your ego and mental issues, so why don’t we take advantage of this priceless resource? We hold on to our material wealth and emotional attachments, and immediately long for small, unrewarding, and ultimately damaging recompense. The Guru ji is right here, and we have the opportunity to spread and live his message. Only once we find our own path can we start to help others on it - it's like the analogy on an airplane: put your own mask on so that you can help others put theirs. It is counter productive to spread yourself thin, and not give yourself the time to seek out the guru and reflect on your own choices. Take time to do your ardaas, you on your own journey and the guru will be there for you every step of the way.