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egarding intoxicants, what does our Guru Sahib Ji say? How can we find real Anand (bliss)? In this article, these questions will be answered and much more.
Our Body is Harmandir (Temple of God)
Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj (Great King) calls tobacco “Jagat Jhooth” (the falsehood of the world). This thing is the biggest lie in the world. 300 years ago, Maharaj told us that this thing is not good for us. We should never touch it. These days, Sikhs with turbans are sitting inside sheesha bars - puffing away on tobacco while saying, "It's alright, I'm not smoking". Sadh Sangat Ji, is this what our Guru expects from us? Leaving aside the Guru, is this what our body expects from us? Maharaj Ji is telling us that this body is a temple, here inside us. Inside of us here, we are going to find God. Gurbani tells us,
ਮਨੁ ਮੰਦਰੁ ਤਨੁ ਵੇਸ ਕਲੰਦਰੁ ਘਟ ਹੀ ਤੀਰਥਿ ਨਾਵਾ।।
Our minds are also going to get transformed through the love for Akaal Purakh Vaheguru (the Timeless Being, Wondrous Enlightener). How are we going to do that if we keep poisoning our body?
Puratan (Olden Days) Sikhs and Guru Ji’s Horse
By smoking, you don't get the strong Chardi-kala (high spirited) energy like the Singhs of the olden days have. They could walk around carrying 20 kg Khande (double-edged swords). If we're smoking, we can't even run. Have you seen a smoker run? They can't do it, Sadh Sangat Ji. Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj's horse refused to walk into a field of tobacco. Now Maharaj didn't say, “burn the tobacco down and ruin it”. But the horse knew that tobacco is wrong for us. That's the Kirpa (grace) of Guru Maharaj, that the horse knew not to touch the tobacco.
Get High on Naam and Experience Anand
Sikhs should not be smoking, touching sheesha, smoking spliffs or getting high from cannabis mixed with cigarettes. We shouldn't be getting high on drugs or cigarettes at all. If we don't know about Naam, then we need to go and learn about it. Maharaj Ji told us that day and night, they feel the high of Naam.
ਨਾਮ ਖੁਮਾਰੀ ਨਾਨਕਾ ਚੜੀ ਰਹੇ ਦਿਨ ਰਾਤ।
O Nanak, the high of Naam - this remains day and night.
(Janamsakhi)
We are meant to experience a high that is Anand (pure bliss), the high of Naam, by connecting to our Divine. When we find our Guru, we will receive bliss. We are going to get so much bliss inside of us. That's why we recite,
ਅਨੰਦੁ ਭਇਆ ਮੇਰੀ ਮਾਏ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੂ ਮੈ ਪਾਇਆ ॥
I am in bliss, O my mother, for I have found my True Guru.
When we find our Guru, we won't need the other stuff.
Respecting Your Body and Discovering Naam
If you are using any intoxicants, Bhai Jagraj Singh Ji advises you to leave it and find Sikhi. There is more Anand (bliss) in Naam (connection to the divine) than in consuming tobacco. It's bad for your health. You are poisoning your body. You're telling your body, “I don't respect you and I don't care about you”. Inherently, you're not treating it as a temple. We wouldn't take cigarettes into the Gurdwara. Inside us, there is Gurdwara as well. So let's leave this stuff and let's embrace Naam. If we are unaware of what Naam is, let's educate ourselves and learn about it. There are many sources, one of them is Basics of Sikhi Channel on YouTube. There are many more Sikhi videos on YouTube, many other Chardikala Gursikhs doing Kirtan. So watch their videos and learn something.
The Choice
At the end of the day, the question is: If you had Guru Gobind Singh Ji and Guru Nanak Dev Ji Maharaj on one side and on the other side you had cigarettes and your mates, whose advice are you going to listen to in your life?
Beyond Kes (uncut hair) or Kakaars, learn the meanings of Gurbani. They are the teachings of life, by our Guru Ji. All of the other intoxicants are only designed to get your money out of your pocket and into the manufacturer’s pocket. It kills us and yet we still buy it. But the thing that's going to save us, Naam from our Guru, we leave that alone. This is the crazy part of Kalyug (dark age). What we need, we don't take. Naam is the medicine. Maharaj Ji is saying it is medicine. Yet we leave it and we take poison instead.
ਹਮ ਅਵਗੁਣਿ ਭਰੇ ਏਕੁ ਗੁਣੁ ਨਾਹੀ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤੁ ਛਾਡਿ ਬਿਖੈ ਬਿਖੁ ਖਾਈ ॥
Bhai Jagraj Singh mentions that he himself used to engage in smoking, drugs and drinking. A life of poison. But with Guru Ji’s Naam and Sadh Sangat, life becomes Amrit.
Blessing of Sadh Sangat
We can be blessed if we meet the Sadh Sangat (holy congregation). Meet the Sangat of our Guru, whether it’s virtually or in person. Only then we will learn about Naam and the results will be life-changing!
