Gurbani on Impurity-Sin
[Brahmins] deeply believe in Soothak-Paathak, so much that even while you are in foreign countries you must practice this, as per:
After a relative dies or receive news of a son being born, immediately dive into water while your clothes are still on
(Laghoo Athr[i] Sa[n]hithaa, Adhiyaye 5)
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However, Guru Sahib have removed this ghost of doubt from the minds of Sikhs. Look! Guru Sahib’s Bachans as proof:
ਜੇਕਰਿ ਸੂਤਕੁ ਮੰਨੀਐ ਸਭ ਤੈ ਸੂਤਕੁ ਹੋਇ ॥
Jaekar[i] Soothak[u] Ma[n]neeai Sabh Thai Soothak[u] Ho-i
If we follow [Brahmin] impurity laws then everything would be impure...
ਗੋਹੇ ਅਤੈ ਲਕੜੀ ਅੰਦਰਿ ਕੀੜਾ ਹੋਇ ॥
Gohae Athai Lakarree A[n]dhar[i] Keeraa Ho-i
Within both cow dung and firewood, there are bugs...
ਜੇਤੇ ਦਾਣੇ ਅੰਨ ਕੇ ਜੀਆ ਬਾਝੁ ਨ ਕੋਇ ॥
Jaethae DhaaNae A[n]n Kae Jeeaa Baajh[u] na Ko-i
All grains of food, none of them exist without living beings...
ਪਹਿਲਾ ਪਾਣੀ ਜੀਉ ਹੈ ਜਿਤੁ ਹਰਿਆ ਸਭੁ ਕੋਇ ॥
Pahilaa PaaNee Jee-o[u] Hai, Jith[u] Hariaa Sabh[u] Ko-i
The first life form is water, which causes everything to flourish
ਸੂਤਕੁ ਕਿਉ ਕਰਿ ਰਖੀਐ ਸੂਤਕੁ ਪਵੈ ਰਸੋਇ ॥
Soothak Kio[u] Kar[i] Rakheeai Soothak[u] Pavai Raso-i
Why are there impurity laws? The kitchen has impurities
ਨਾਨਕ ਸੂਤਕੁ ਏਵ ਨ ਉਤਰੈ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਉਤਾਰੇ ਧੋਇ ॥੧॥
naanak Soothak Aev na Uthrai, Giaan[u] Uthaarae Dhho-i
Guru Sahib teach: impurity doesn’t come off like this, it comes off by washing the mind with spiritual realization...
ਮੋ: ੧॥ ਮਨ ਕਾ ਸੂਤਕੁ ਲੋਭੁ ਹੈ ਜਿਹਵਾ ਸੂਤਕੁ ਕੂੜੁ ॥
Mahalla Pehlaa: Man Kaa Soothak[u] Lobh Hai Jihvaa Soothak[u] Koorr[u]
Dhan Sri Guru Nanak Dev Sahib Ji: The impurity of the mind are greed,The impurity of the tongue is garbage
ਅਖੀ ਸੂਤਕੁ ਵੇਖਣਾ ਪਰ ਤ੍ਰਿਅ ਪਰ ਧਨ ਰੂਪੁ ॥
Akhee Soothak[u] VaekhNaa Par Thria Par Dhhan Roop[u]
It is impure for the eyes if they look at the woman or the wealth of another
ਕੰਨੀ ਸੂਤਕੁ ਕੰਨਿ ਪੈ ਲਾਇਤਬਾਰੀ ਖਾਹਿ ॥
Ka[n]nee Soothak[u] Ka[n]n[i] Pai Laa-ithbaaree Khaah[i]
The impurity of the ear is listening to slander/gossip
ਨਾਨਕ ਹੰਸਾ ਆਦਮੀ ਬਧੇ ਜਮਪੁਰਿ ਜਾਹਿ ॥੨॥
naanak Ha[n]saa Aadhmee Badhhae Jampur[i] Jaah[i]
Guru Sahib: the swan soul of the man gets tied up and sent to Jampur (city of death)
ਸਭੋ ਸੂਤਕੁ ਭਰਮੁ ਹੈ ਦੂਜੈ ਲਗੈ ਜਾਇ ॥
Sabho Soothak[u] Bharam Hai, Dhoojai Lagai Jaa-i
All impurities are a delusion, they still are attached to duality
ਜੰਮਣੁ ਮਰਣਾ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਹੈ ਭਾਣੈ ਆਵੈ ਜਾਇ ॥
Ja[n]maN[u] MaraNaa Hukam[u] Hai BhaaNai Aavai Jaa-i
Birth and death are within Vaheguru’s Hukam/Command, We come and go through Vaheguru Ji’s Will...
ਖਾਣਾ ਪੀਣਾ ਪਵਿਤ੍ਰ ਹੈ ਦਿਤੋਨੁ ਰਿਜਕੁ ਸੰਬਾਹਿ ॥
KhaaNaa PeeNaa Pavithr[u] Hai Dhithon[u] Rijak[u] Sa[n]baah[i]
The food and drinks are pure, since the Giver-Vaheguru ji gives nourishment to everyone
ਨਾਨਕ ਜਿਨ੍ਹੀ ਗੁਰਮਖਿ ਬੁਝਿਆ ਤਿਨਾ ਸੂਤਕੁ ਨਾਹਿ ॥
naanak Jinhee Gur-mukh[i] Bujhiaa Thinaa Soothak[u] naah[i]
Guru Sahib: the Gurmukh who has spiritual realization, they do not see any impurity...
(Dhan Dhan Sri Guru Nanak Dev Sahib Ji in Aasaa Ki Vaar, Ang 472)
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ਮਨ ਕਾ ਸੂਤਕੁ ਦੂਜਾ ਭਾਉ ॥ ਭਰਮੇ ਭੂਲੇ ਆਵਉ ਜਾਉ ॥੧॥
Man Kaa Soothak[u] Dhoojaa Bhaa-o[u]; Bharmae Bhoolae Aavo[u] Jaa-o[u]
The impurity of the mind comes from love for others [meaning they see existence separate from Vaheguru]; In delusion, they come and go...
ਮਨਮੁਖਿ ਸੂਤਕੁ ਕਬਹਿ ਨ ਜਾਇ ॥
Man-mukh[i] Soothak[u] Kabah[i] na Jaa-i
The selfish man-mukh will never be rid of impurities...
ਜਿਚਰੁ ਸਬਦਿ ਨ ਭੀਜੈ ਹਰਿ ਕੈ ਨਾਇ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
Jichar[u] Sabadh[i] na Bheejai Har[i] Kai naa-i; Rahaa-o[u]
Until they are not drenched in the Shabad and the Name of Vaheguru
ਸਭੋ ਸੂਤਕੁ ਜੇਤਾ ਮੋਹੁ ਆਕਾਰੁ ॥
Sabho Soothak[u] Jaethaa Moh[u] Aakaar[u]
All is impure as long as emotional attachment takes form...
ਮਰਿ ਮਰਿ ਜੰਮੈ ਵਾਰੋ ਵਾਰ ॥੨॥
Mar[i] Mar[i] Ja[n]mai Vaaro Vaar
After dying many times, they take birth over and over again...
ਸੂਤਕੁ ਅਗਨਿ ਪਉਣੈ ਪਾਣੀ ਮਾਹਿ ॥
Soothak[u] Agan[i] PouNai PaaNee Maah[i]
There is impurity within fire, air, water...
ਸੂਤਕੁ ਭੋਜਨੁ ਜੇਤਾ ਕਿਛੁ ਖਾਹਿ ॥੩॥
Soothak[u] Bhojan[u] Jaethaa Kichh[u] Khaah[i]
The food we eat is impure
ਸੂਤਕਿ ਕਰਮ ਨ ਪੂਜਾ ਹੋਇ॥
Soothak[u] Karam na Poojaa Ho-i
Through the ritual of considering things impure/pure,
Worship is not conducted
ਨਾਮਿ ਰਤੇ ਮਨੁ ਨਿਰਮਲੁ ਹੋਇ ॥੪॥
naam[i] Rathae Man[u] nirmal[u] Ho-i
When they are drenched in the love of the Naam, their mind becomes spotless/pure...
ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਸੇਵਿਐ ਸੂਤਕੁ ਜਾਇ ॥
Sathigur[u] Saevi-ai Soothak[u] Jaa-i
By serving Guru Sahib, impurities go away
ਮਰੈ ਨ ਜਨਮੈ ਕਾਲੁ ਨ ਖਾਇ ॥੫।
Marai na Janmai Kaal[u] na Khaa-i
And will not die nor take birth again, they don’t have to face death...
(Dhan Dhan Sri Guru Arjan Dev Sahib Ji in Raag Gourree, Ang 229)
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ਜਲਿ ਹੈ ਸੂਤਕੁ ਥਲਿ ਹੈ ਸੂਤਕੁ, ਸੂਤਕ ਓਪਤਿ ਹੋਈ ॥
Jal[i] Hai Soothak[u] Thhal[i] Hai Soothak[u], Soothak[u] Opath[i] Hoee
The water is impure, the ground is impure, the creation/manifestation is impure
ਜਨਮੇ ਸੂਤਕੁ ਮੂਏ ਫੁਨਿ ਸੂਤਕੁ ਸੂਤਕ ਪਰਜ ਬਿਗੋਈ ॥੧॥
Janmae Soothak[u] Moo-ae Phun[i] Soothak[u] Soothak Paraj Bigoee
Being born is impure, then dying is impure, the entire humanity is ruined by impurity
ਕਹੁ ਰੇ ਪੰਡੀਆ ਕਉਨ ਪਵੀਤਾ ॥
Kah[u] Rae Pa[n]deeaa Koun Paveethaa
Do tell me Pandit, who is pure?
ਐਸਾ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਜਪਹੁ ਮੇਰੇ ਮੀਤਾ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
Aisaa Giaan[u] Japah[u] Maerae Meethaa; Rahaa-o[u]
Reflect upon this wisdom, my friend
ਨੈਨਹੁ ਸੂਤਕੁ ਬੈਨਹੁ ਸੂਤਕੁ ਸੂਤਕੁ ਸ੍ਰਵਨੀ ਹੋਈ ॥
Nainah[u] Soothak[u] Bainah[u] Soothak[u] Soothak[u] Sravnee Hoee
The eyes are impure, our speech is impure, our ears are impure
ਊਠਤ ਬੈਠਤ ਸੂਤਕੁ ਲਾਗੈ ਸੂਤਕੁ ਪਰੈ ਰਸੋਈ ॥੨॥
Oottath Baittath Soothak[u] Laagai Soothak[u] Par Rasoee
Standing and sitting down are impure,Whoever is in the kitchen is impure...
ਫਾਸਨ ਕੀ ਬਿਧਿ ਸਭੁ ਕੋਊ ਜਾਨੈ, ਛੂਟਨ ਕੀ ਇਕੁ ਕੋਈ ॥
Phaasan Kee Bidhh[i] Sabh[u] Ko-oo Jaanai, Chhootan Kee Ik[u] Koee
Everyone knows how to get caught up in these things but there is a rare person who looks to escape it...
ਕਹਿ ਕਬੀਰ ਰਾਮੁ ਰਿਦੈ ਬਿਚਾਰੈ ਸੂਤਕੁ ਤਿਨੈ ਨ ਹੋਈ ॥੩॥੪੧॥
Kah[i] Kabeer Raam Ridhai Bichaarai Soothak[u] Thinai na Hoee
Bhagat Kabeer Ji says: Know that the Immersive Vaheguru Ji within your Heart is not subject to impurity...
(Dhan Bhagat Kabeer Ji in Raag Gourree, Ang 331)
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