8th Paurree: "SuNi-ai Sidhh Peer Sur[i] naathh..."
For previous sections, please see here
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TN = Translator's Note
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Now returning to the central goal [of spiritual realization]. Now that the 4 prerequisites for spiritual realization have been discussed, there are 4 types/phases of spiritual realization to understand. One type/step is Sravan/Listening:
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ਸੁਣਿਐ ਸਿਧ ਪੀਰ ਸੁਰਿ ਨਾਥ ॥
SuNi-ai Sidhh Peer Sur[i] naathh
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Padh Arthh (Word-by-Word):
ਸੁਣਿਐ (SuNi-ai) = by listening, through listening
ਸਿਧ (Sidhh) = those yogi’s which have reached the highest yogic state after long hardship, known as the Sidhha’s
ਪੀਰ (Peer) = Islamic Spiritual teachers/saints [TN: like Peer Buddhu Shah]
ਸੁਰਿ (Sur[i]) = Angels/Devtay(naathh) = Yogic Masters / Nath Samparda (TN: Based on the Original Yogi - Shiv Ji; Gorakh-Nath and Machindhar-Nath are some examples)
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Now the greatness of ‘SravaN/Listening’ is being discussed. It is through the practice of listening that the Sidhhas have attained their Siddhiyan (spiritual powers) and how the Muslim Saints (Peers) became spiritually knowledgeable. It is through listening that the Devte/Angels were able to attain the heavens and it is how the courageous actions of the brave warriors was able to be attained. The source of all of this is to listen to instruction.
Another interpretation: Sidhh Peer is a name for those who have 18 Sidhhiyan (Spiritual powers including: 1. Anima: power to become really small in size, 2. Mahima: power to become quite large in size, 3. Lagma: power to change density of body and become lighter, 4. Garima: power to change density of body and become heavier, 5. Prapthee: to attain material pleasure, 6. Prakamiaa: to read the minds of others, 7. Isithavam: power of convincing others, 8. Vasithavam: Ability to control someone else’s mind and body. 9. Anooram: transcend hunger/thirst of body. 10. Dhoorsarvan: Being able to hear things from a long distance. 11. Dhoor Dharshan: Being able to see things from a long distance. 12. Manovaeg: Teleportation. 13. Kaamroop: Shapeshifting, 14. Parkayee Parvaesh: Enter into another person’s body. 15: Saveechith Mrithyoo: Being able to die at will, like taking your breaths into you brahm-randhir naadee, 16. Surkareeraa: Being able to meet angels/devte at own will, 17. Sankalp Sidhhee: to be able to get desires fulfilled, 18. Apratihath Gath: ability to go anywhere without any obstacles.) Sidhh Peer = here peer means big... these are the greatest of Sidhha’s, they are capable of all miracles but they do not get carried away by these miracles but they enjoy the enjoyment of Yogic meditation. So this highest state of Sidhh Peer is attained through listening. Sur[i] naathh = is the name of Indra (the king of angels), this position is attained by listening. Someone has to do 100 horse fire-sacrifices in order to attain such a state. In order to carry out this fire-sacrifice, someone would have to listen to the instructions.
A third interpretation: Another meaning of Sidhh is ancient. Peer Sur[i] is the name of Brihas-pathi (the Guru of the Angels). In Farsi, Guru = Peer (TN: as in Peer-Murshid = Guru-Sikh) and because Brihas-pathi was the Guru of all the Angels then Peer Sur[i] can be interpreted in this way. It was due to Brihas-pathi being able to listen to instruction that he attained such a position. Naath can also refer to a king. Any of the earth’s kings ended up listening to someone’s instructions or advice in order to get into that position. Even if they went through any hard work... militarily or politically, they would have had to listen to some sort of instruction to be able carry out such a feat.
A fourth interpretation: When you listen to instruction, you can understand what the words: Sidhh, Peer, Sur[i], and naathh even mean. [TN: Readers read [listened] to the meanings of these words and thus, now know what they mean] A fifth interpretation: By listening to Paramaatmaa-Vaheguru, one attains such a spiritual state which people often compare to Siddh, Peer, Sur[i], and naathh. These states require lots of hard work and they can only be reached if someone begins to listen.
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ਸੁਣਿਐ ਧਰਤਿ ਧਵਲ ਆਕਾਸ ॥
SuNi-ai Dhharath[i] Dhhaval Aakaas
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Padh Arthh (Word-by-Word):
ਸੁਣਿਐ (SuNi-ai) = by listening, through listening
ਧਰਤਿ ਧਵਲ (Dhharath[i] Dhhaval) = The ox which is said to be the one which holds the world in place [will be discussed further in later paurrees]
ਆਕਾਸ (Aakaas) = Sky
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You won’t have an understanding about the ox holding up the earth and the sky without listening. **have omitted the 2nd interpretation due to similarity to this one**
Another interpretation: The Earth has been bestowed the power to carry the weight of everyone... the ox holds up the earth and the sky has the power of being a vacuum. To grasp this knowledge, one needs to listen.
Third interpretation [4th in the granth]: Dhhaval means ancient... Dhharthee and Akaas, and the five elements can be interpreted in many ways.
‘Dahee Kaag Jin Khaa-i’ (lit. The crow, etc. which eat the yogurt). We have examples like this where just referring to one or two things may open up a possibility of including multiple other subjects. So, where a crow can eat yogurt... other animals can come and eat the yogurt as well. (TN: In English, imagine we say someone got into a car accident. Automatically, we imagine that there are street signs, curbs, painted lines... although, we didn’t mention them directly... it is implied that they are present there) In the same way, if someone refers to the land or sky... it also welcomes the inclusion of the five elements into the interpretation of a line. So, it is due to the five elements of fire, air, water, earth, ether/space... that the world that exists. One can only get this understanding through listening.
Fourth Interpretation [5th in the granth]: As part of the nature of the earth is to withstand and endure: people dig holes into and people splash sandalwood paste onto it... (meaning no matter what it still does its job to withstand and endure). Learning about this trait, allows for the spiritual seeker to learn and apply equality of perception in their lives (Seeing everything as Vaheguru). Such a lesson can only be learned through listening.
Fifth Interpretation [6th in the granth]: Those who were born between the earth and sky, those who have listened to Brahm-Vaheguru, they become Dhhaval (meaning ‘Ujjal’ which in this case can mean clean/immaculate). How do they become ‘Ujjal’? They no longer have (Raag/Dwaish) likes or dislikes which make them separated from the detached Vaheguru? [TN: Raag, Dwaish refer to the spiritual obstacles of the mind. why do we like some people and dislike others? Remove this distinction between enemy and friend to be able to just see Vaheguru]
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ਸੁਣਿਐ ਦੀਪ ਲੋਅ ਪਾਤਾਲ ॥
SuNi-ai Dheep Loa Paathaal
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Padh Arthh (Word-by-Word):
ਸੁਣਿਐ (SuNi-ai) = by listening, through listening
ਦੀਪ (Dheep) = 7 traditional continents as per Indian Knowledge Systems (Jamboo, Palakh, Shaalmalee, Kush, Kroch, Saakh, Pushkar)
ਲੋਅ (Loa) = 7 Heavenly Realms: Bhoo-lok, Bhav-lok, Swar-Lok, Mahar-Lok, Jan-Lok, Thap-Lok, Sath[i]-Lok
ਪਾਤਾਲ (Paathaal) = 7 Hells/Underworld Realms: A-thal, Vi-thal, Su-thal, Rasaa-thal, Mahaa-Thal, Thalaa-Thal, Paathaal
[TN: Total of 14 Realms]
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You can never know the differences about these 21 different divisions unless you listen to the information about them.
Another interpretation: Among these 21 different places, some people reach their through carrying out good actions (good karma) and others have reached based on carrying out bad actions (bad karma). How they got there and whether they will be happy or not there... this can only be understood once someone listens.
Third interpretation: Among these 21 regions, there are the angels/devte who have pride in belonging to one of the highest of regions. They didn’t get there without listening on how to get there.
Fourth interpretation: By listening to Brahm-Vaheguru, the Light (Dheep) of Naam becomes radiant. Where does it radiate? Among these 7 heavens, 7 hells... Naam shines brightly!
Fifth Interpretation: Dheep literally refers to a lamp/light, Loaa means the radiance. The ‘Paa’ in Paathaal can refer to parae (away from/far from/beyond), ‘Thaal’ can refer to the Dasvaa Dhuaar (Tenth Gate/Hidden Spiritual Door)... The Lamp which radiates within through Yogic methods. When someone listens to the Yogic methods [ie from a master then] and only then can they receive that radiance inside.
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ਸੁਣਿਐ ਪੋਹਿ ਨ ਸਕੈ ਕਾਲੁ ॥
SuNi-ai Poh[i] na Sakai Kaal[u]
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Padh Arthh (Word-by-Word):
ਸੁਣਿਐ (SuNi-ai) = by listening, through listening
ਪੋਹਿ ਨ ਸਕੈ (Poh[i] na Sakai) = cannot be touched, cannot be frightened [by]
ਕਾਲੁ (Kaal[u]) = Death, death’s messengers
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If you listen to the Praises of Paramaatmaa-Vaheguru then ‘Kaal’ cannot even touch you. ‘Kaal’ can mean ‘Jam’ - the messengers of death will not come near you but rather, Paramaatma’s Slaves (Devte/Angels) will respectfully escort you.
Second Interpretation: Who are those that are not even touched by death and what do they do? Those who are immersed in deep meditation (samadhi) and are able to hold their breaths in their Dasam Dwaar... they never face the forces of death. In order to bring your breaths into the Dasam Dwaar, one must be able to listen before being able to perform this feat.
Third Interpretation: ‘Kaal’ also refers to ‘Time’. That state where time no longer exists and merges into Vaheguru... one can reach such a state only by listening.
Fourth Interpretation: ‘Kaal’ also can refer to darkness as in spiritual darkness/ignorance. If someone listens, they can avoid the darkness of spiritual ignorance and therefore, never be touched by this darkness. When spiritual realization occurs, it starts off through listening and once, someone reach this state... they can never go back to spiritual ignorance/darkness.
**Alankaar Information omitted**
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ਨਾਨਕ ਭਗਤਾ ਸਦਾ ਵਿਗਾਸੁ ॥
Naanak Bhagathaa Sadhaa Vigaas[u]
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Padh Arthh (Word-by-Word):
ਭਗਤਾ (Bhagathaa) = Plural of Bhagat = those who listen to the Name of Vaheguru
ਸਦਾ (Sadhaa) = Forever, Always, Constantly
ਵਿਗਾਸੁ (Vigaas[u]) = Bliss, Delighted, Bahagia
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Dhan Dhan Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji Maharaj are teaching us: Those Bhagats/Devotees who listen to the Praises of Parameshwar-Vaheguru, they are always in a state of delight (-internally). The more they listen, the more they receive pleasure. Just like someone who enjoys hearing about their beloved/lover... this is the same way.
Second Interpretation: Bigaas refers to shining light/radiance, whoever listens to Brahm-Vaheguru... they will have an internal shine of spiritual realization which permanently ends the darkness of spiritual ignorance.
Third Interpretation: The ‘dh’ sound in Sadhaa can also be interpreted as ‘th’ so can interpret is as ‘Sath’. Therefore, those Bhagats always have the Radiance of Truth within them and they renounce the false.
Fourth Interpretation: **similar to other interpretations, so has been omitted**
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ਸੁਣਿਐ ਦੂਖ ਪਾਪ ਕਾ ਨਾਸੁ ॥੮॥
SuNi-ai Dhookh Paap Kaa naas[u]
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Padh Arthh (Word-by-Word):
ਸੁਣਿਐ (SuNi-ai) = by listening, through listening
ਦੂਖ (Dhookh) = Dhukh = Suffering, Pain
ਪਾਪ (Paap) = Bad deeds, sins
ਨਾਸੁ (naas[u]) = destroyed, erased
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There are two reasons why someone may not blossom or radiate (bigaas).
1) It’s due to suffering... including the 3 types of Thaap (often referred to as fevers):
i) Adhhiaathmik/Spiritual: the sufferings of the mind
ii) Adhhibhoothak/Bodily: the sufferings of the body
iii) Adhhidhaivak/Curses: the sufferings which are given by angels/devte.
There are 3 types of Thaap and then, 2) there is the suffering of our Paap (sins). They are both removed by listening to the correct instruction.
Question: Those who realize the Truth/Reality, they don’t receive any bodily pains. Is this also true for the spiritual scholars?
Answer: The person who has reached the complete goal of spirituality is free from any pains but the scholar is still a Saadhhik (someone still on the path) so they are still subject to those sufferings.
Alankaar information omitted
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Please forgive any mistakes. Proofreading is heavily required.
Suggest changes where needed.
Guru Panth da Daas,
Aaeenaa
