19/02/2018 Two Types of Living And Dying | Gurbani Blog | ਗਰਬਾਣੀ ਬਲਗ

ਪਿੜਐ ਨਾਹੀ ਭਦ ਬਿਝਐ ਪਾਵਣਾ : Not by reading (religious books), but through Understanding, is the Mystery Realized. - sggs, 148

GURBANI BLOG |
Understanding the Gurbani Through the Gurbani
ਗਰਬਾਣੀ ਬਲਗ

Gurbani Blog » Two Types of Living And Dying

Two Types of Living And Dying

by T. Singh

The Wisdom of the Gurbani indicates two kinds of living — life, existence, state, “ਜੀਵਨਾ-Jeevanaa“:

1. Living at the body-level (i.e., Maya)

2. Living at the Aatmaa or soul-level (i.e., the Gurmukh Lifestyle or Divine Life)

Corresponding to the two kinds of living, death (Maran) is also of two kinds.

Living at the body-level

This is essentially Mayaic lifestyle, living with the consciousness of I-am-the-body-idea which is denoted in the
Gurbani as Manmukh lifestyle, Saakat lifestyle, Mayadhaaree lifestyle, or a state of “Rol Ghacholaa“. Such lifestyle
is oblivious of the Shabad, Naam, Hukam, Divinity (Divine Virtues, Wisdom, Goodness, etc.) within and without, etc
— Shreerak-Jeevanaa, ਸਰੀਰ ਦ ਤਲ ਤ ਜੀਵਨ…

ਮਾਇਆਧਾਰੀ ਅਿਤ ਅਨਾ ਬਲਾ : One who is attached to Maya is (spiritually) very much blind and deaf (to the Gur-
Shabad…). (sggs 313).
ਮਨਮਖ ਮੜ ਮਾਇਆ ਿਚਤ ਵਾਸ : Residence of the consciousness of the foolish Manmukh is Maya (sggs 222).
ਸਾਕਤ ਮਾਇਆ ਕਉ ਬਹ ਧਾਵਿਹ : Saakat very much chase after Maya (sggs 1029).

Thus, according to the Gurbani, those who live at the body level are Mayadhaaree or mammon worshipers — the
world of Maya or senses, doubts, body-consciousness, Haumai, etc. The Gurbani considers such lifestyle to be
“Dhrigu-ਿਧਗ” (cursed, disdainful, etc.), thus disapproved.

ਿਧਗ ਖਾਣਾ ਿਧਗ ਪਨ੍ਹਣਾ ਿਜਨ੍ਹਾ ਦਜ ਭਾਇ ਿਪਆਰ : Cursed is eating and wearing (ਖਾਣਾ ਹਢਾਣਾ) of those who are
attached to the love of duality (Maya). (sggs 1347).

Living at the Aatmaa or soul level

This is Spiritual Lifestyle — Divine Life, Gurmukh Lifestyle, Bhagat Lifestyle, Daas Lifestyle, Jan Lifestyle, the
Lifestyle of Divine Virtues or Wisdom, etc. (Gurmukht Avasthaa or Aatmic Jeevanaa-ਆਤਮਕ ਤਲ ਤ ਜੀਵਨ.).

This Lifestyle is guided by the Shabad-Consciousness, Naam-Consciousness, Hukam-Consciousness, Virtues,

Mool-abidance (abidance in the Source, Raam, Hari, Gobind, Allah…), Pure Nature (Jot Saroop), subtle Inner Way
of life (“ਸਰਤੀ ਕ ਮਾਰਿਗ”), etc.

ਸਰਤੀ ਕ ਮਾਰਿਗ ਚਿਲ ਕ ਉਲਟੀ ਨਦਿਰ ਗਾਸੀ : Following the Way of Intuitive Awareness (subtle Inner Way, Divine
comprehension, ਅਦਰ ਦਾ ਰਸਤਾ…), one’s (Inner) Vision becomes Enlightened and one turns away from Mayaic
lifestyle (sggs 1329).

The Gurbani approves ONLY this Lifestyle. In fact, the Gurbani speaks at this level!

ਗਰਮਿਖ ਜੀਵ ਮਰ ਪਰਵਾਣ ਆਰਜਾ ਨ ਛੀਜ ਸਬਦ ਪਛਾਣ : (Who ) becomes the Gurmukh, (his) life and death is of avail
(ਸਫਲ, ਕਬਲ). (His) life does not waste away; (because he) realizes the Shabad (sggs 125).
ਸਬਿਦ ਮਰ ਸਿਹਲਾ ਜੀਵ ਸਇ : (Who) dies through the Shabad, that (person) lives in Peace. (sggs 1344).

Hence, according to the Gurbani, they alone live (“ਸ ਜੀਵਤ”), who, while alive, constantly remains engaged in
obtaining Spiritual understanding through the Shbaad-Vichaar and remain linked to their Mool.

http://www.gurbani.org/gurblog/two-types-of-living-and-dying/ 1/3
19/02/2018 Two Types of Living And Dying | Gurbani Blog | ਗਰਬਾਣੀ ਬਲਗ
ਸ ਜੀਵਤ ਿਜਹ ਜੀਵਤ ਜਿਪਆ ਗਟ ਭਏ ਨਾਨਕ ਨਹ ਛਿਪਆ ॥੨੧॥ : He alone lives, who, while alive, understands. O
Nanak! (One who understans) becomes distinguished, and does not remain hidden. ॥੨੧॥ (sggs 254).

Upon dying in the Sahbad, the old being (Manmukh, Saakat, Mayadhaaree) “dies”, and gets “reborn” as a new
Spiritual Being called Gurmukh in the Gurbani. Then, as a living dead or living liberated (“ਜੀਵਤ ਮਰਣਾ”), he sees
without eyes; he hears without ears; he walks without feet; he works without hands; he speaks without tongue…!
Only a Gurmukh’s mind is fearless to leave the “Trikutee-ਿ ਕਟੀ” and come to rest into the Heart (“Hirdaa-ਿਹਰਦਾ” or
“Ghat-ਘਟ” or “Dasavaa Duaaru-ਦਸਵਾ ਦਆਰ”). The Gurbani confirms this Spiritual State, which is beyond senses:

ਅਖੀ ਬਾਝਹ ਵਖਣਾ ਿਵਣ ਕਨਾ ਸਨਣਾ …: Akhee baajhahu vekhanaa vinu kannaa sunanaa… (sggs 139).

Understandably, the Gurbani proclaims he alone is truly alive, who has realized the “One”.

ਨਾਨਕ ਸਈ ਜੀਿਵਆ ਿਜਿਨ ਇਕ ਪਛਾਤਾ ॥੬॥: O Nanak! That person alone lives who recognizes (or realizes) the One
(Mool, Prabh…). ||6|| (sggs 319).

Two types of death

As there are two types of living, accordingly, there are two types of dying (Maranaa, death).

The Gurbani’s edict (ਫਸਲਾ) is that unless one is spiritually Awakened, he is not yet alive — he is as dead (Aatmac
Maut-ਆਤਮਕ ਮਤ ਮਿਰਆ)!

ਸਿਤਗਰ ਿਜਨੀ ਨ ਸਿਵਓ ਸਬਿਦ ਨ ਕੀਤ ਵੀਚਾਰ ਅਤਿਰ ਿਗਆਨ ਨ ਆਇਓ ਿਮਰਤਕ ਹ ਸਸਾਿਰ : (Those Jeev) who have not
served the “Satiguru” – have not engaged in Shabad-Vichaar – (in this way) no Divine Wisdom has dawned in
their Heart, (they may appear as alive but they) are as dead in the world (spiritually dead-ਆਤਮਕ ਮਤ). (sggs 88).

The worldly people (Mamukhs, Saakat, Mayadhaaree…) consider demise of the physical body-frame a real death.
Therefore, the worldly people only know dying at the level of the gross body (ਸਰੀਰ ਦ ਤਲ ਤ ਮਰਨਾ). Consequently,
they are scared of death of the body. However, the Gurbani does not consider it real death (Maran):

ਹਿਰ ਿਬਸਰਤ ਸ ਮਆ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ : One who forgets “Hari” (Mool, Jot, Source…) is dead (spiritually). ||1||Pause||
(sggs 407).

But, there is an another type of death nobody (except the Gurbani) talks about — dying at the level of the
mind (ਮਨ ਦ ਤਲ ਤ ਮਰਨਾ).

Hence, for the Gurbani, dying is of two types:

1. dying at the level of the gross body, and

2. dying at the level of the mind.

The Gurmukhs (Bhagat, Daas, Jan…) die at the level of the mind while still living in the body.

ਸ ਜੀਿਵਆ ਿਜਸ ਮਿਨ ਵਿਸਆ ਸਇ ਨਾਨਕ ਅਵਰ ਨ ਜੀਵ ਕਇ : (In reality) Only that person is truly alive within whose
mind That (i.e., Mool, Prabh…) abides. O Nanak! No one else is truly alive (sggs 142).

The Gurbani defines the real death

According to the Gurbani, the real death is to die while still alive: To become liberated-in-life, to become living
dead, to become Jeevanmukta, to become liberated from bondage of worldly life while living in the midst of Maya,
to become free of false ego-sense (Haumai)…

ਜੀਵਨ ਮਕਤ ਸ ਆਖੀਐ ਿਜਸ ਿਵਚਹ ਹਉਮ ਜਾਇ : He alone is called liberated-in-life, from within whom ego is
eradicated (sggs 1009).

So, by becoming the Gurmukh, the Gurbani asks us to die in the Shabad, while alive. Since the Gurmukh abides in
the Divine Hukam instead of self-will (ਅਪਣੀ ਮਰਜੀ), the real death is to give up self-will (Manmukhataa, ਅਪਣੀ
ਮਰਜੀ…) — total abandonment of all mental conditioning, without the least reserve.

ਗਰਮਿਖ ਬਢ ਕਦ ਨਾਹੀ ਿਜਨ੍ਹਾ ਅਤਿਰ ਸਰਿਤ ਿਗਆਨ : The Gurmukhs never grow old; within them is Intuitive
Understanding and Spiritual Wisdom (sggs 1418).

Such stable (unconditioned…) mind is possible through the Divine Wisdom of the Gurbani (Gurmati).

http://www.gurbani.org/gurblog/two-types-of-living-and-dying/ 2/3
19/02/2018 Two Types of Living And Dying | Gurbani Blog | ਗਰਬਾਣੀ ਬਲਗ
ਗਰਮਿਤ ਮਨ ਠਹਰਾਈਐ ਮਰੀ ਿਜਦੜੀਏ ਅਨਤ ਨ ਕਾਹ ਡਲ ਰਾਮ : O my Soul! By the “Gurmati” (the Divine Wisdom of the
Gurbani), hold the mind steady; (on account of this Divine Wisdom, the mind) does not wander anywhere (sggs
538).

The complete annihilation of the Mayaic mind comes about by dying in the Shabad. This is the Gurbani’s edict.

ਸਬਿਦ ਮਰ ਮਨ ਮਾਰ ਅਪਨਾ ਮਕਤੀ ਕਾ ਦਰ ਪਾਵਿਣਆ ॥੩॥: (Who) dies in the Shabad, annihilates his own mind, and
obtains the Door of Liberation. ||3|| (sggs 117).

Clearly, according to the Gurbani, to be born is one thing but to be truly alive quite another!

Share This Post:

f t G+ in

Filed Under: Body Consciousness, Giaan, Wisdom, Ignorance, Gurbani, Gurmukh, Manmukh, liberation, Mukti, bondage, Life,
Death, Mortality, Mind, Body, Intellect, Shabad Surt
Tagged With: body, death, life, living dead, living liberated, mind, Mukti, Shabad

COMMENTS LEAVE A COMMENT

G Roop

Love and Gratitude to T Singh Ji. Such an enlightening post ! Deluded by imaginations all the time so far I lived in
time ! Living as life itself I do not imagine and I am right here right now ! Akaaal ! Love Love and only Love to you!

Reply

G T. Singh Post author

Thank you Veer Roop Ji for taking the time respond to this post.

Reply

POWERED BY REFLECTIONS ON GURBANI

© 1993 - 2018 GURBANI.ORG   |   TERMS OF USE

http://www.gurbani.org/gurblog/two-types-of-living-and-dying/ 3/3