Refrain arguments with fools

| Opinion | Malaysia | 20 Sept 2017 | Asia Samachar |

By Balwant Singh Bains

Refrain arguments with fools. A very strong message of Guru Nanak Sahib Ji is:

ਮੂਰਖੈ ਨਾਲਿ ਨ ਲੁਝੀਐ

moorkhe naal na lugeeye

(Asa Di Waar, Paudi 19, SGGS page 473)

What always invariably belittles us, is our own MIND. Guru ji addresses our very own mind by saying that “When Everyone is Linked with One Another – (Sab Ko Akhe Aapna Kis Naahi So Chunn Kadeye…..in the opening lines of this shabad),then we should isolate none.”

Only two things can happen here. WE either follow or ignore this wisdom. For those who bow before the Guru and yet question it, Guru ji says that they are committing an error right from the beginning.

ਸਲਾਮੁ ਜਬਾਬੁ ਦੋਵੈ ਕਰੇ ਮੁੰਢਹੁ ਘੁਥਾ ਜਾਇ ॥

Salam Jawaab Dowe Kare, Mundhoon Ghuttha Jaaye. (SGGS, Page 474)

On the other hand, Guruji also mentions that this body keeps barking and barking. Eh Tan Bhounkana Nit Nit Dukhye Kaun? (SGGS Page 1382). Why do we need to conform and be affected by it?

Adding to this hardcore mind of ours, we have some peripheral decoratives like influence of friends, society, education, parenting, peers, politics, positions, titles, attires, ornaments, wealth, etc. All these are eagerly waiting, to be used by this mind, as tools or weapons to create an ugly environment.

And the mind acts up invariably by sending signals to create barricades to any wisdom and even of that fromSri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS). Ironically, these same minds also use the SGGS in its physical form, for their personal endeavours like carry our “akhand paath” Housewarming, birthday etc etc. Do we really follow what is conveyed by Guru ji?

Deep inside us, though we recognise the err that is being brought into action, but yet the voices of the Mind using peripheral decoratives, turns the instincts down.

Instincts of our inner speaks a universal language and most of the time we turn those voices off and act to wake our “five evils” in another mind with whom we interact. This act, in itself, is spiritually non-rewarding especially when our minds become the cause of igniting any of these evils in someone.

(Kaam – Sensual Pleasures,
Krodh – anger,
Lobh – greed,
Moh – attachments  and
Hangkar – Pride)

Ultimately the act of the mind manifests, picking up any issues within the parameters and creates chaos. Thoughts turns into action. The reaction yet becomes another perspective.

When Guru Ji sang these lines he was addressing our own minds, not someone else’s mind. These mind of ours cause the chain reaction and brings an ugly environment.

SUNGAI PETANI INCIDENT

This is what exactly took place in Sungai Patani Gurdwara, a small town in the northern province of the Peninsular Malaysia. A group of Sikhs refused to allow parcharaks (preachers) to conduct their program. Police were brought in. This group held the gurdwara management committee (GMC) responsible for bringing these parcharaks.

The preachers were there for Gurmat vichar (discourse of Gurmat). However, a handful youth did not allow the semagam (programme) to take place. Is there a political motive behind all these?

This act definitely would become detrimental in many ways:

1. It will discourage educated people to come forward to hold positions to run community gurdwaras.

2. Encourage bad apples in the Sangat (congregation) to become vocal, abusive and create obstructions to the smooth flow of programs.

3. Discourage good pracharaks to step up to share their knowledge.

4. Discourage youth in general to get involved in gurdwaras.

5. Disintegrate sewa bhawna (the spirit of selfless seva).

6. Gurdwaras will endorse politics rather than gurmat.

7. Division of Sangat and disrupting the harmony.

8. Exposing our weakness and putting a  much respected and looked-up community to shame and critics.

9. Depriving the Sangat of peace and solace for temporal and ecclesiastical development.

10. Last but not the least a “Sangat Driven Gurdwaras” become “Goonda Driven Gurdwaras” in times to come.

The Sangat as a whole need to react to these sorts of behaviour and call for striking off their membership and circulate their names so that they are not allowed to hold any ceremonies or functions in any Gurdwara in Malaysia. Gurudwara council should have certain powers to act on this via a special disciplinary committee.

A wise thing to do is to allow anyone to speak. If it is not palatable it is advisable to then just excuse yourself and go out of the darbar sahib (prayer hall) or the venue. We can, in private, question them and put your views.

But do not disrupt any body to share their knowledge. One never know what shabad could strike to bring inner changes in some one. By stopping pracharaks, you may become someone committing an err and deprive someone of a spiritual journey.

Can we now imagine this grave sin that one may be carrying life after life?

[For the record, the writer’s brother is the Sungai Petani gurdwara committee president]

Dr Balwant Singh Bains runs Malaysia’s largest standalone physiotherapist centre and a physiotherapy college. He is a kirtan and Gurbani discourse enthusiast via Satsangi Malaysia. 

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