D
dhillon
Guest
BONDAGE
You see this false body as true; thus you have placed yourself in bondage
(sggs 1231). Egoism binds people in bondage, and causes them to wander
around lost (sggs 227). Attached to Maya, the whole world is in
bondage (sggs 394). Intoxicated with the wine of attachment, love of
worldly possessions and deceit, and bound in bondage, man is wild
and hideous (sggs 806). Everyone speaks of wisdom and meditation;
but bound in bondage, the whole world is wandering around in
confusion (sggs 728). O Nanak, contemplate the Divine Name,
and it will release you from bondage (sggs 729).
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Bondage results due to man's mistaken self-identity. And this mistaken identity results due to ignorance of one's True Nature as Unconditioned Consciousness. Man is constituted of Spirit (Self or Aatmaan) and matter (non-self or Maya). The Spirit is eternal, whilst the matter is constantly in flux. Although the Pure Spirit is man's Essential Nature, but in ignorance he generally continues to identify himself with the matter — body, mind and intellect personality (false ego) — in all his experiences in which there is the underlying "I" consciousness. This ignorance and superimposition of the non-self on the real Self is the root of man's so-called bondage. In other words, man's not understanding this consciousness itself is the bondage. The Gurbani (SGGS) explains it in very simple words as follows:
You see this false body as true; thus you have placed yourself in bondage
(sggs 1231). Egoism binds people in bondage, and causes them to wander
around lost (sggs 227). Attached to Maya, the whole world is in
bondage (sggs 394). Intoxicated with the wine of attachment, love of
worldly possessions and deceit, and bound in bondage, man is wild
and hideous (sggs 806). Everyone speaks of wisdom and meditation;
but bound in bondage, the whole world is wandering around in
confusion (sggs 728). O Nanak, contemplate the Divine Name,
and it will release you from bondage (sggs 729).
<><><><>
Bondage results due to man's mistaken self-identity. And this mistaken identity results due to ignorance of one's True Nature as Unconditioned Consciousness. Man is constituted of Spirit (Self or Aatmaan) and matter (non-self or Maya). The Spirit is eternal, whilst the matter is constantly in flux. Although the Pure Spirit is man's Essential Nature, but in ignorance he generally continues to identify himself with the matter — body, mind and intellect personality (false ego) — in all his experiences in which there is the underlying "I" consciousness. This ignorance and superimposition of the non-self on the real Self is the root of man's so-called bondage. In other words, man's not understanding this consciousness itself is the bondage. The Gurbani (SGGS) explains it in very simple words as follows:
- ਮਿਥਿਆ ਤਨੁ ਸਾਚੋ ਕਰਿ ਮਾਨਿਓ ਇਹ ਬਿਧਿ ਆਪੁ ਬੰਧਾਵੈ ॥: Mithiaa tann saacho kar maanio ih bidh aap bandhaavai: O man, you see this false body as true; in this way, you have placed yourself in bondage (sggs 1231).
- ਤ੍ਰਿਹੁ ਗੁਣ ਬੰਧੀ ਦੇਹੁਰੀ ਜੋ ਆਇਆ ਜਗਿ ਸੋ ਖੇਲੁ ॥: Trihu gun banddhee dehuree jo aaiaa jagi so khel: The three qualities of Maya hold the body in bondage; whoever comes into the world is subject to their play (sggs 21).
- ਹਉਮੈ ਬੰਧਨ ਬੰਧਿ ਭਵਾਵੈ ॥: Houmai bandhan bandh bhavaavai: Egoism binds people in bondage, and causes them to wander around lost (sggs 227).
- ਮਾਇਆ ਮੋਹਿ ਸਭੋ ਜਗੁ ਬਾਧਾ ॥: Maya mohi sabho jagu baadhaa: Attached to Maya, the whole world is in bondage (sggs 394).
- ਨਾਨਕ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਹੋਵਹਿ ਤਾ ਉਬਰਹਿ ਨਾਹਿ ਤ ਬਧੇ ਦੁਖ ਸਹਾਹਿ ॥੧॥: Nanak gurmukh hovahi taa ubarahi naahi ta badhe dukh sahaahi ||1||: O Nanak! If (the Msnmukh person - mind-willed...) becomes the Gurmukh, then he is emancipated; otherwise, he remains in bondage, and suffers in pain ||1|| (sggs 591).
- ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਹੋਵੈ ਸੋ ਮੁਕਤੁ ਕਹੀਐ ਮਨਮੁਖ ਬੰਧ ਵਿਚਾਰੇ ॥: Gurmukh hovai so mukat kaheeai manmukh bandh vichaare: One who becomes Spiritual being (Gurmukh) is said to be liberated, while the poor materialists (Manmukhs) are in bondage (sggs 796).
- ਮਾਇਆ ਮੋਹਿ ਵਿਸਾਰਿਆ ਸਚੁ ਮਰਣਾ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ॥ ਧੰਧਾ ਕਰਤਿਆ ਜਨਮੁ ਗਇਆ ਅੰਦਰਿ ਦੁਖੁ ਸਹਾਮੁ ॥: Maya moh visaariaa sach marnaa Harinaam. Dhandaa kartiyaa janam gayiaa andar dukh sahaam: Emotionally attached to Maya, the mortal forgets Truth, death and God's Name. Engaged in worldly affairs (Maya), his life wastes away; and deep within himself, he suffers in pain (sggs 1248).
- ਹੋਂਦਾ ਫੜੀਅਗੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਜਾਣੁ ॥: Hodaa farreeyag Nanak jaan: O Nanak, know this: egoism leads to bondage (sggs 1289).
- ਮਨਮੁਖ ਮੈਲੇ ਮਲੁ ਭਰੇ ਹਉਮੈ ਤ੍ਰਿਸਨਾ ਵਿਕਾਰੁ ॥: Manmukh maile mal bhare haumai trisanaa vikaar: The Manmukhs are polluted. They are filled with the pollution of egotism, cravings and evil passions (sggs 29).
- ਨਾਨਕ ਮਨਮੁਖਿ ਬੰਧੁ ਹੈ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਕਰਾਏ ॥੪॥੩॥: Nanak manmukh bandh hai gurmukh mukati karaae ||4||3||: O Nanak, the Manmukhs remain in bondage (with hopes, desires, etc. They become hurdles on his Way); the Gurmukhs are liberated (From these) ||4||3|| (sggs 559).
- ਅੰਧ ਕੂਪ ਮਹਿ ਪਰਿਓ ਪਰਾਨੀ ਭਰਮ ਗੁਬਾਰ ਮੋਹ ਬੰਧਿ ਪਰੇ ॥: Andh koop mahi pario paraanee bharam gubaar moh bandh pare: The mortal has fallen into the deep, dark pit, and is entangled in the darkness of doubt, and the bondage of emotional attachment (sggs 823).
- ਪਾਪ ਬੰਧਨ ਨਿਤ ਪਉਤ ਜਾਹਿ ॥: Paap bandhan nit paut jaahi: The bondage of sin continues to hold man (sggs 1192).
- ਮੇਰਾ ਤੇਰਾ ਜਾਨਤਾ ਤਬ ਹੀ ਤੇ ਬੰਧਾ ॥: Meraa teraa jaanataa tabb hee te bandhaa: He is concerned with "mine and yours", and so he is held in bondage (sggs 400).
- ਮੇਰੀ ਮੇਰੀ ਧਾਰਿ ਬੰਧਨਿ ਬੰਧਿਆ ॥: Meree meree dhaar bandhan bandhiaa: Crying out, "Mine, Mine!", man is bound in bondage (sggs 761).
- ਮਮਤਾ ਮੋਹ ਧ੍ਰੋਹ ਮਦਿ ਮਾਤਾ ਬੰਧਨਿ ਬਾਧਿਆ ਅਤਿ ਬਿਕਰਾਲ ॥: Mamataa moh dharoh madi maataa bandhan baadhiaa ati bikaraal: Intoxicated with the wine of attachment, love of worldly possessions and deceit, and so bound in bondage, man is wild and hideous (sggs 806).
- ਬੰਧਨ ਮਾਤ ਪਿਤਾ ਸੁਤ ਬਨਿਤਾ॥ਬੰਧਨ ਕਰਮ ਧਰਮ ਹਉ ਕਰਤਾ ॥: Bandhan maat pitaa sut banitaa. Bandhan karam dharma hau karataa: Mother, father, children and spouse - all place the mortal in bondage. Religious rituals and actions done in ego place the mortal in bondage (sggs 1147).
- ਬਿਨੁ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਸੇਵੇ ਜੀਅ ਕੇ ਬੰਧਨਾ ਵਿਚਿ ਹਉਮੈ ਕਰਮ ਕਮਾਹਿ ॥: Bin satgur seve jeea ke banndhanaa vich houmai karam kamaahi: Without serving the True Guru (Self, Truth, Spirit, etc.), the soul is in the bondage of deeds done in ego(sggs 589).
- ਪੰਡਿਤੁ ਪੜੈ ਬੰਧਨ ਮੋਹ ਬਾਧਾ ਨਹ ਬੂਝੈ ਬਿਖਿਆ ਪਿਆਰਿ ॥: Pandit parrai bbandhan moh baadhaa nah boojhai bikhiaa piaar: The Pandits read the scriptures, but they are trapped in the bondage of emotional attachment. In love with evil, they do not understand (sggs 33).
- ਗਤਿ ਅਵਿਗਤਿ ਕਛੁ ਨਦਰਿ ਨ ਆਇਆ ॥: Gati avigati kashu nadari na aaiaa: One is not concerned with deliverance or bondage (sggs 51).
- ਬਲੁ ਛੁਟਕਿਓ ਬੰਧਨ ਪਰੇ ਕਛੂ ਨ ਹੋਤ ਉਪਾਇ ॥: Bal shuttakio bandhan pre kashhoo na hot upaai: My strength is exhausted, and I am in bondage; I cannot do anything at all (sggs 1429).
- ਬੰਧਨਿ ਬੰਧਿ ਭਵਾਈਅਨੁ ਕਰਣਾ ਕਛੂ ਨ ਜਾਇ ॥: Bandhan bandhi bhavaaeean karanaa kashhoo na jaai: Bound in bondage, people are made to wander, and they cannot do anything about it (sggs 1414).
- ਬੰਧਨ ਮੁਕਤਾ ਜਾਤੁ ਨ ਦੀਸੈ ॥: Bandhan mukataa jaat na deesai: One liberated from bondage does not recognize Jaat-Paat (sggs 1318).
- ਇਕਨਾ ਗਲੀਂ ਜੰਜੀਰ ਬੰਦਿ ਰਬਾਣੀਐ ॥ ਬਧੇ ਛੁਟਹਿ ਸਚਿ ਸਚੁ ਪਛਾਣੀਐ ॥: Ikanaa galleen janjeer bandh rabaaneeai. Badhe shuttahi sachi sachu pashhaaneeai: Some have chains around their necks, in bondage to the Lord. They are released from bondage, realizing the True Lord as True (sggs 1287).
- ਮਨਮੁਖ ਸੇਵਾ ਜੋ ਕਰੇ ਦੂਜੈ ਭਾਇ ਚਿਤੁ ਲਾਇ ॥ ਪੁਤੁ ਕਲਤੁ ਕੁਟੰਬੁ ਹੈ ਮਾਇਆ ਮੋਹੁ ਵਧਾਇ ॥: Manmukh sevaa jo karae doojai bhaai chit laai. Putt kalat kattamb hai Maya mohu vadhaai: The Manmukh may perform service (ਸੇਵਾ), (but while doing so, he) keeps his consciousness attached to the love of duality (not One God). Through Maya, his attachment to children, spouse and relatives increases (sggs 1422).
- ਮਨ ਕਾ ਅੰਧੁਲਾ ਮਾਇਆ ਕਾ ਬੰਧੁ ॥: Mann kaa andhulaa maya kaa bandhu: Mentally blind is in Maya's bondage (sggs 354).
- ਅਨਿਕ ਕਰਮ ਕਰਿ ਥਾਕਿਆ ਭਾਈ ਫਿਰਿ ਫਿਰਿ ਬੰਧਨ ਪਾਇ ॥: Anik karam kar thaakiaa bhaaee fir fir bandhun paai: People are so tired of performing their many causative Karma, O brother, but they fall into bondage again and again (sggs 608).
- ਜੋ ਦੂਜੈ ਭਾਇ ਸਾਕਤ ਕਾਮਨਾ ਅਰਥਿ ਦੁਰਗੰਧ ਸਰੇਵਦੇ ਸੋ ਨਿਹਫਲ ਸਭੁ ਅਗਿਆਨੁ ॥੨॥: Jo doojai bhaai saakat kaamanaa arath duragandh sarevade so nihafal sabh agiaan ||2||: The faithless cynics (Maya stricken - ਮਾਇਆ-ਵੇੜ੍ਹੇ) in their love of duality (or Maya) and sensual desires, harbor foul-smelling urges (ਵਿਸ਼ੇ ਵਿਕਾਰਾਂ ਵਿਚ ਲੱਗਣਾਂ - to be engrossed in passions). They are totally useless and ignorant (ਆਤਮਕ ਜੀਵਨ ਵਲੋਂ ਬੇ-ਸਮਝ) ||2|| (sggs 734).
- ਹਉਮੈ ਏਈ ਬੰਧਨਾ ਫਿਰਿ ਫਿਰਿ ਜੋਨੀ ਪਾਹਿ ॥: Houmai eaeee bandhanaa fir fir jonee paahi: This is the bondage of ego, that time and time again, they are reborn (sggs 466).
- ਜੰਮਣੁ ਮਰਣਾ ਆਇ ਗਇਆ ਬਧਿਕੁ ਜੀਉ ਬਿਕਾਰੋ ॥: Janmman maranaa aai gaiaa badhik jeeo bikaaro: In birth and death, in coming and going, this soul is held in bondage by passions (sggs 580)
- ਬੰਧਨਿ ਬਾਧਿਆ ਆਈਐ ਜਾਈਐ ॥: Bandhan baadhiaa aaeeai jaaeeai: Bound in bondage, one comes and goes (sggs 832).
- ਹੇਤ ਕੇ ਬੰਧਨ ਤੋੜਿ ਨ ਸਾਕਹਿ ਤਾ ਜਮੁ ਕਰੇ ਖੁਆਰੀ ਜੀਉ ॥: Het ke bandhan torr na saakahi taa jamm kare khuaaree jeeo: You cannot break free from the bondage of emotional attachment, and so the fear of Death will torture you (sggs 993).
- ਧਰਣੀਧਰੁ ਤਿਆਗਿ ਨੀਚ ਕੁਲ ਸੇਵਹਿ ਹਉ ਹਉ ਕਰਤ ਬਿਹਾਵਥ ॥: Dharneedhar tiaag neech kul sevahi hayu hayu karat bihaavat: Abandoning the Divine, man serves lowly Maya, and thus he passes his life acting egotistically (sggs 1001).