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DARSHAN DEKH Katha
by Harsimrat Kaur Khalsa
Guru Granth Parchar Mission of USA, Inc.
510-432-5827
ਸੂਹੀ ਮਹਲਾ 5॥ (742) Soohee, Fifth
Mehl:
ਦਰਸਨੁ ਦੇਖਿ ਜੀਵਾ ਗੁਰ ਤੇਰਾ॥ ਪੂਰਨ ਕਰਮੁ ਹੋਇ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਮੇਰਾ॥ 1॥
Gazing upon the Blessed Vision of Your Darshan, I live. My
karma is perfect, O my God. ||1||
I have asked many of Sikhs scholars how they translate
ਦਰਸਨੁ,
and they explain it as making a pilgrimage to see or be in
the presence of God or Guru Ji for a blessing. There are different reasons why
people chose to perform the
ਦਰਸਨੁ
action.
There is the blessing of appreciation on seeing His
Majesty. There is also a curiosity or pride to be in the presence of any
dignitary face to face, or just ignorant entertainment. The Muslims take their
ਦਰਸਨੁ
Hajis visit Mecca and frequently attend the Mosque.
Christians congregate in their churches. Jews are orded by Torah to visit their
Beith Hamiqdash Holy Temple in Jerusalem during the Hagim festivals (Passover,
Shavuoth, and Succoth). They attend the synagogue also called Beith Hamidrash,
which is also the religious center for prayer and learning. The Sikh Rehat
Maryada also instructs Sikhs to visit the Gurdwara Sahib as much as possible,
and Sikhs also visit at least one time each of the 5 Takhts and a number of
other Sikh holy sites. The meaning first word of this shabad
ਦਰਸਨੁ
composed by the 5th Guru (Argan Dev Ji) needs to be expounded
upon to benefit from the full meaning of Guru Ji’s teaching.
ਦ੍ਰਿਸ਼ਟ and
ਦਰਸਨਹ share the same root and
are
Sanskrit and Seheskriti words meaning “to see”
ਦ੍ਰਿਸਟ ਤੁਯੰ ਅਮੋਘ ਦਰਸਨੰ ਬਸੰਤ ਸਾਧ
ਰਸਨਾ॥” So obtain the Blessed Vision of His Darshan; He
dwells upon the tongues of the Holy.
(1354, ਸਹਸਕ੍ਰਿਤੀ, ਮਹਲਾ 5)
ਜਨਮ ਮਰਣ ਰਹੰਤ ਸ੍ਰੋਤਾ ਸੁਖ ਸਮੂਹ ਅਮੋਘ ਦਰਸਨਹ॥
The cycle of coming and going in reincarnation is ended,
absolute peace is obtained, and the Fruitful Vision of the Lord's Darshan.
(1355, ਸਹਸਕ੍ਰਿਤੀ, ਮਹਲਾ 5)
ਦਰਸਨੁ “darshan”
is an ancient Hebrew word root drsh that has many
meanings. Somehow the Semitic and Indian cultures share similar vocabulary
words, and I am not sure which culture has the earliest usage. Here are the many
meanings of drsh in the Lashon Haqodesh Hebrew language:
1. to resort to, seek,
seek with care, enquire, require
a. (Qal root word constructive)
1. to resort to, frequent (a place),
(tread a place)
2. to consult, enquire of, seek 1a
b. of God 1a
c. of heathen gods, necromancers
(communicators with the dead)
3. to seek deity in prayer and
worship 1a
d. God 1a
e. heathen deities
4. to seek (with a demand), demand,
require
5. to investigate, enquire
6. to ask for, require, demand
7. to practice, study, follow, seek
with application
8. to seek with care, care for
f. (Niphal root word constructive)
9. to allow oneself to be enquired
of, consulted (only of God)
10. to be sought, be sought out
11. to be required (of blood)
http://www.biblestudytools.com/Lexicons/Hebrew/heb.cgi?number=01875&version=kjv
כִּי כֹה אָמַר יְהוָה לְבֵית יִשְׂרָאֵל
דִּרְשׁוּנִי
וִחְיוּ
“Thus saith the Lord unto the house of Israel,
seek me that
you might live.” (Amos 5:4)
ਜੀਵਾ ਗੁਰ ਤੇਰਾ This is a wonderful
discovery of how Guru Arjan Dev Ji received the same prophetic revelation as the
Ancient Hebrew prophet Amos. Both teach to take advantage of
ਦਰਸਨੁ
to benefit from life. I am sure that they did not intend for
it to mean just to look, but, according to the various Hebrew connotations of
drsh, it means to have an open mind, to be ready to accept change in perspective
of the reality we live in, to have the blessed God and man encounter. That
aspect of the Jewish or Sikh religious experience in which man’s mind is in
direct encounter with God. To approach with the fear of God, not afraid of God,
but we should be ashamed to do so with a disrespectful manner, meaning while we
are suckered and engrossed in our 5 vices, purposefully unwilling to accept any
tips from God or Guru Ji for self improvement. The most evil person in the world
should no reason to feel ashamed if his intent is to want change in his life, to
give Guru Ji’s wisdom the opportunity to heal him of his wickedness. Likewise,
when we come and bow to Guru Ji, we should do so with the intent on being
flexible with the golden advice from Guru Ji’s hukam wisdom for self
improvement.
ਪੂਰਨ ਕਰਮੁ ਹੋਇ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਮੇਰਾ “My karam
is complete, Oh my God.”
Noone’s karma can even begin to be complete without first
experiencing the true darshan of Guru Ji. It cannot be accomplished from one’s
own merits, but by the grace of God.
ਇਹ ਬੇਨੰਤੀ ਸੁਣਿ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਮੇਰੇ॥
Please, listen to this prayer, O my God.
Guru Ji’s purpose for making the darshan is to communicate to
God that he is ready to listen to Him. God is always listening, but the wicked
assume God turns away, like someone who is emotionally too upset to hear. God
can hear all the time, but it is up to us to come to the realization that He is
ready to help us help ourselves via His way, hukam.
ਦੇਹਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਕਰਿ ਅਪਣੇ ਚੇਰੇ॥ 1॥ ਰਹਾਉ॥
Please bless me with Your Name, and make me Your chaylaa
servant, Your disciple. ||1||Pause||
When we negate the ego in us, then we become absorbed in His
Naam, His merits in us, if we activate Naam, then we begin to improve. Instead
of being enslaved by our selfish 5 vices, we should tell God that we are ready
to learn and yield to God’s wishes by promising to follow His hukam. Christians
and Jews teach that a major part of their salvation depends upon willingness to
change, admitting they made mistakes, mentally and emotionally acknowledging the
kingship of God, asking for forgiveness, and His help, then they promise to
follow His Hukam (malchut) study Bible and help the needy. How are Sikhs taught
to follow God’s hukam? Study Guru Granth Sahib which is overflowing with all the
great tips for starters and advanced Sikhs .
ਅਪਣੀ ਸਰਣਿ ਰਾਖੁ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਦਾਤੇ॥
Please keep me under Your Protection, O God, O Great Giver.
Our efforts alone will not keep us from losing faith. 99.9%
of it is by the mercy and promises of God that He will never leave us or forsake
us. Anyone that does fall against God is because of not doing the very minimal
that would help him stay in the fold of His care. Without God and His mercy, we
are lost. Without Gur Prasad we would have no way of knowing how to stay in
tuned with His grace. Why do so many people chose to wander aimlessly,thinking
they are better off being their own gurus to themselves or like blind people
being led by the blind, suckered into pakandi kachi bani philosophy against what
Guru Granth Sahib teaches.
ਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ਕਿਨੈ ਵਿਰਲੈ ਜਾਤੇ॥ 2॥
By Guru's Grace, a few people understand this. ||2||
How ironic, but true, that accessibility to the Guru’s
salvation experience is so simple, free of charge, and God is always there the
help out along the way, but only very few people take it. Many of us are so
close to this salvation, but being close is not enough. You have to have it,
too, not just look.
ਸੁਨਹੁ ਬਿਨਉ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਮੇਰੇ ਮੀਤਾ॥
Please hear my prayer, O God, my Friend.
We should never forget that God is always ready to hear us
and they we should stay in communication with Him throughout the day. Sikh study
of Guru Granth Sahib and simran is a major this communication. God truly is our
friend 24 hours a day.
ਚਰਣ ਕਮਲ ਵਸਹਿ ਮੇਰੈ ਚੀਤਾ॥ 3॥
May Your Lotus Feet abide within my consciousness. ||3||
http://www.vai.com/realillusions/07lotusfeet_sublime.html
The lotus flower is an aquatic
perennial and are amazing and have strong symbolic ties to many Asian religions
especially throughout India. The lotus flower starts as a small flower down at
the bottom of a pond in the mud and muck. It slowly grows up towards the waters
surface continually moving towards the light. Once it come to the surface of the
water the lotus flower begins to blossom and turn into a beautiful flower.
Within Hinduism and Buddhism the lotus flower has become a
symbol for awakening to the spiritual reality of life. The meaning varies
slightly between the two religions of course but essentially both religious
traditions place importance on the lotus flower.
In modern times the meaning of a lotus flower tattoo ties
into it's religious symbolism and meaning. Most tattoo enthusiast feel that the
a lotus tattoo represent life in general. As the lotus flower grows up from the
mud into a object of great beauty people also grow and change into something
more beautiful (hopefully!). So the symbol represent the struggle of life at its
most basic form. (Chris Ryerson, The Meaning and Symbolism Behind the Lotus
Flower Tattoo),
http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Meaning-and-Symbolism-Behind-the-Lotus-Flower-Tattoo&id=95396
The lotus has a wide variety of uses. Many parts of the lotus
are eaten. The young soft seeds are eaten raw, the old ones are hard and
roasted, ground and cooked, the leaves are made for soups or wrapping foods for
steaming, the stems are eaten, and the roots are cooked. The seeds can survive
indefinitely. Dried lotus seeds were discovered 5,000 years ago in Chinese
graves and were grown by the modern man.
The Lotus plant is an aquatic perennial, native to southern
Asia and Australia, and most commonly cultivated in water gardens. The plant has
its roots firmly in the mud and sends out long stems to which their leaves are
attached. The leaves are sometimes, and Lotus flowers always, raised above the
water surface. The beautiful and fragrant Lotus flower opens in the morning and
petals fall in the afternoon.
The Lotus flowers, seeds, young leaves and rhizomes are all
edible. The seeds are eaten raw or when dried, popped like popcorn. In Asia, the
petals are sometimes used for garnish, while the large leaves are used as a wrap
for food. The stems are pickled. The stamens inside the blossom is used for tea,
baking mooncakes, or pudding. Lotus roots have been found to be rich in dietary
fiber, vitamin C, potassium, thiamin, riboflavin, vitamin B6, phosphorus,
copper, and manganese, while very low in saturated fat.
Various parts of the sacred Lotus are also used in
traditional Asian herbal medicine as an aphrodisiac or sedative.
Hindu idols are often depicted seated on a lotus flower,
symbolic of beauty, enlightenment, sexual purity, virtue, royalty,
In Buddhism, the lotus represents tranquility, peace of mind,
purity.
In Sanskrit the word lotus padma has many synonyms, like
ambuja, niraj, pankaj, pankaja, kamal, kamala, kunala, aravind, arvind, nalini
and saroja[4] and names derived from the lotus, like padmavati (possessing
lotuses) or padmini (full of lotuses).
http://www.theflowerexpert.com/content/aboutflowers/exoticflowers/lotus
ਨਾਨਕੁ ਏਕ ਕਰੈ ਅਰਦਾਸਿ॥
Nanak makes one prayer:
How is it that there is only one prayer? His entire life on
earth was a prayer to God. He kept himself tuned in with God. So should we. He
makes one prayer to the only One God. Instead of learning from Guru Nanak, why
do so many Sikhs ignore him and follow kachi bani preachers and false saints?
ਵਿਸਰੁ ਨਾਹੀ ਪੂਰਨ ਗੁਣਤਾਸਿ॥ 4॥ 18॥ 24॥
may I never forget You, O perfect treasure of virtue.
||4||18||24||
The moment we forget God is the beginning of the foretaste of
Hell. If we are caught off guard by tensions and challenges in life that we are
not accustomed to, we become angry, greedy, lustful, etc, then hurt ourselves or
others. Perfect treasure is never to be forgotten.
I conclusion, we must daily self examine ourselves deeply
using the Gurbani study and prayer darshan method, not be afraid of discovering
and acknowledging our faults and weaknesses. Noone can truly live successfully
without using his body and brains properly as Guru Ji teaches. Darshan does not
mean to just come and look at a guru, but to come open heartedly in God and Guru
Ji’s presence 24 hours a day. One should not assume that a physical presence in
front of Guru Granth Sahib will bribe God (Brahmanwat) into the blessing like
some kind of superstitious push the magical miracle plastic button quick results
modern technology. It is wonderful that Sikhs come to the gurdwara sahib and
they should continue. Pakandi committees and pakandi religious leaders are
brainwashing blind followers to come so that they suck out their money. It’s
good people contribute in the gurdwara so for, langar costs, payroll, electrical
bills, mortgage, scholarships, the poor, etc. The gurdwara is not a dollar
diner. It is sad to see so many coming to the gurdwara sahib hungry to get
spiritually fed, but the gurdwara lacks the trained people to facilitate them to
help them understand what Guru Granth Sahib banis say. We need to find a way to
help the gurdwaras get equipped with trained Gurmat gianis instead of ignoring
the problems of the greedy corrupt politics and the pseudo-Sikh intruding cults
and uneducated or greedy brahmanized pujaris or Brahman agents controlling with
political pressure and deceit and who masquerade as Amritdhari Sikhs threatening
Gurmat Sikhs with terroristic mind controlling tactics and imposing scrupulous
restrictions on visitors like, not allowing them to open Guru Granth Sahib to
read. They only allow them to read hukamnama from a chalk board hanging on the
wall.
The Sikh’s mind and heart are to be tuned in with the darshan
presence at all times- this attitude while asleep, awake, sitting, and standing.
The mind filled with Guru Ji’s wisdom will help one to experience the presence
of God everywhere at all times. The famous Sikh martyrs were able to endure
their torture without giving up their faith and keeping their happiness by
implementing darshan at every moment.
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