Servant ideas in Sikhism

"NO ONE IS MY ENEMY"

No one is my enemy, and no one is a stranger to me. I get along with everyone (sggs 1299).

These words of the Gurbani (Sri Guru Granth sahib, SGGS) are not meant in-one-ear-and-out-the-other. Hearing (also including reading) is attentive listening to the Truth expounded in the divine words, then contemplating the idea contained in them, and lastly living them. However, to absorb the great ideas contained in the divine words, to assimilate them and put those values in practice is the problem of the majority of us. Consequently, owing to the consciousness of duality (Doojaa Bhaav), we consider some as our friends so long they are able to gratify our selfishness ("I-ness"), and others our enemies and bomb them.

The Gurbani declares that the man's real enemies are within his own body. These are the faults of his own false ego-sense (Haume) ? lust, anger, greed, attachment, pride with their numerous variations such as enviousness, stubborn mindedness, selfishness, untruthfulness, unrighteousness, corruption, slander, arrogance and so on. These are real enemies born of the passionate nature of the Haume, all devouring, tormenting and evil.

Not only on the personal level, even some religions consider other religions their enemies! Because these religions do not want to recognize their own shortcomings, ills, errors etc. Instead, they find it easy and convenient to blame others for their own problems. Religion is supposed to be the key meant to open our minds and hearts that are locked shut by our chaotic outlook created by our false ego or Haume.

Unless we know about our real enemies (their location, weaknesses etc.) how can we hope to destroy them? Hence, the Gurbani advises all mankind to recognize the real enemies within and then destroy them. Unfortunately, however, this is the man's exact problem. ? he does not recognize his real enemies. As a result, he barks at the wrong tree per se. The Gurbani gives us pointers as to how we can destroy our real enemies (inner foes). The Gurbani urges us to become Gurmukhs (true spiritual beings), detached, and then shoot the inner enemies using the arrow of the Lord (the Lord's Name, Praise, Shabad etc.).

Thus, unless we recognize our real enemies and then conquer them, we cannot get along with everyone. Be kind even to your enemies, teaches the Gurbani. People consumed with conflict, resentment, hatred etc. are called Manmukh (material or unenlightened beings) in the Gurbani. The Gurbani tells us that the One God is the Support of the entire Universe. It simply means there is no difference between God and the creation. But our deluded mind (false ego-sense, Haume, corrupt consciousness etc.) create the barrier, the cause of apparent differences. When this barrier is transcended, the notion of differences disappear. In other words, if we are one with the Pure Consciousness (Gurmukh Lifestyle), there is the sense of Oneness ("Sabh gobind hai sabh gobind hai"), and we see the whole Universe as our own Self. Simply put, the Gurbani urges us that the anger and hatred in our hearts be transformed into repentance, forgiveness, understanding, love, peace and harmony for all the peoples of the world.

Published with the kind permission of :

http://www.gurbani.org/webart238.htm accessed on 3rd Feb. 2007