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Sikhism and Fasting
Taranjit Singh
 This
time of the year, when people across
India
come together and reject food, for a popular belief that this shall
make their lords bless them, it should be interesting for Sikhs to
recall what have the Sikhs Gurus to say about renunciation of
eating.
The first of the
ten Masters, Guru Nanak has clearly and unambiguously declared in
Raag Gond,
“Blessed is the
Lord of the World. Blessed is the Divine Guru.
Blessed is that
grain, by which the heart-lotus of the hungry blossoms forth.
Blessed are
those Saints, who know this.
Meeting with
them, one meets the Lord, the Sustainer of the World. ||1||
This grain comes
from the Primal Lord God.
One chants the
Naam, the Name of the Lord, only when he tastes this grain.
||1||Pause||
Meditate on the
Naam, and meditate on this grain.
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Bhookhey bhagat na keejey, yeh maala apni leejey: I can't
worship you if I don't have food for living, bless me oh lord
those trivialities that shall make me well for your everlasting
worship! |
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Mixed with
water, its taste becomes sublime.
One who abstains
from this grain,
loses his honor
in the three worlds. ||2||
One who discards
this grain, is practicing hypocrisy.
She is neither a
happy soul-bride, nor a widow.
Those who claim
in this world that they live on milk alone,
secretly eat
whole loads of food. ||3||
Without this
grain, time does not pass in peace.
Forsaking this
grain, one does not meet the Lord of the World.
Says Kabeer,
this I know:
blessed is that
grain, which brings faith in the Lord and Master to the mind.
||4||8||11||
"Bhookhey bhagat
na keejey, yeh maala apni leejey" : I can't worship you if I don't
have food for living, bless me oh lord those trivialities that shall
make me well for your everlasting worship!
Guru Sahib's
Sikhi doesn't tell us to adhere to anything but the call of
conscience. Neither do they (Gursikhs) go to any worldy person
(pandit, babas, tantrik gianis) for having their wishes granted, nor
do they practise hypocrisy by following superfluous superstitions.
The only 'adhaar' (support) of their lives, is their love for the
true lord. The paath, saadh-sangat, simran and truthful living
(prudence, humility, and humanitarianism) let them live the life of
the immortals because one who truly loves lord doesn't fear death,
so why shall they obey to worldly superstitions? Rather, worldly
wisdoms shall kneel in front of such Gursikhs.
"Nav nidhi,
Atharah sidhi piche lagiyan fireh; Jo har hirdey sadaa vasaay"
One who lets the
lord reside in their heart, becomes the master of all powers the
world would ever see.
Therefore, while
we fasting all around us, let us give up hypocrisy and follow one
truthful Guru Nanak Sahib jee, the rest will definitely be taken
care of.
"Chhodo kapat,
hoye nirvaira.. so prabh sang nihaare"
Leave hypocrisy
and all enemies shall befriend you.. there after you'll realize that
lord never deserted you... he always existed right next to our own
self!
Taranjit
Singh is a young activist-writer based in Mumbai.
He may be contacted at
taranjit_bullseye@yahoo.co.in
23
September 2009
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