Pain is a universal disease, and no living being has escaped its blow.
The mind desires something; if it is not obtained, suffering begins. Since human desires are countless, so too are human pains.
When one desire is fulfilled, many more arise. The river of desires flows systematically in the mind of a human being. Even desire for one thing can give rise to great pain.
ਆਸਾ ਵਿਚਿ ਅਤਿ ਦੁਖੁ ਘਣਾ ਮਨਮੁਖਿ ਚਿਤੁ ਲਾਇਆ ॥
aasaa vich att dukh ghanaa, manmukh chit laaelaa.
“In hope, there is very great pain;
the self-willed manmukh focuses his consciousness on it.”
ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਭਏ ਨਿਰਾਸ ਪਰਮ ਸੁਖੁ ਪਾਇਆ ॥ (ਅੰਗ ੧੨੪੯)
gurmukh bheae niraas, param sukh paaeiaa.
“The Gurmukhs become desireless and attain supreme peace.”
We observe that the poor are in woe, but even the rich are not free from suffering. The virtueless live in sorrow, but so do the virtuous. While it is natural for a sick person to experience pain, even the healthy are not free from it. Indeed, pain is a widespread disease.
Each person’s desires are different, and each person’s suffering is unique.
Consider village homes: dried cakes of cow-dung are burned, producing smoke. Neighbors and travelers can tell that a fire is burning. Some homes burn wood or charcoal, producing smoke as well. In other houses, stoves burn kerosene, producing no smoke, yet the sound reveals the fire inside.
Modern man has adopted scientific methods for every task. Gas stoves, for example, burn without smoke or sound, so neighbors cannot know that fire is burning inside.
Similarly, when we say a household is wealthy and everything is blissful, we may be misunderstanding. Though the household may be comfortable externally, inner suffering may be hidden. Many may be wringing their hands in pain, yet outsiders perceive them as happy. If we observe carefully, we realize that every joy often hides grief. Insult is mixed with respect, loss with profit, and death with life. As an Urdu poet says:
ਫੂਲ ਖਿਲਤਾ ਹੈ ਮੁਰਝਾਨੇ ਕਾ ਤਖੱਈਅਲ ਲੇ ਕਰ। ਜਿਸੇ ਹਸਤਾ ਹੂਆ ਪਾਓਗੇ ਵੋਹ ਪਰੇਸ਼ਾਂ ਹੋਗਾ।
Fool khilta hai murjhanae ka takhyal lai kar, jisae hanstaa huā paooge, voh pareshan hogaa.
“A flower blooms with the thought of fading;
the one you see laughing may indeed be in distress.”
The following is the world-famous Gur-Wak of Guru Nanak Dev Ji:
ਬਾਲੀ ਰੋਵੈ ਨਾਹਿ ਭਤਾਰੁ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਦੁਖੀਆ ਸਭੁ ਸੰਸਾਰੁ ॥ (ਅੰਗ ੯੫੪)
baalee rovai naahi bhataar; nanak dukheeaa subh sansaar.
“The young woman weeps because she has no husband.
O Nanak, the whole world is suffering.”
Indeed, receiving material things does not equate to receiving true weal. True happiness lies in union with God.
ਸੁਖ ਨਾਹੀ ਬਹੁਤੈ ਧਨਿ ਖਾਟੇ ॥ ਸੁਖ ਨਾਹੀ ਪੇਖੇ ਨਿਰਤਿ ਨਾਟੇ ॥ (ਅੰਗ ੧੧੪੭)
sukh nahee bahutai dhan khattae; sukh nahee paekhae nirat nattae.
“There is no peace in acquiring great wealth.
There is no peace in watching dances and plays.”
God is the center of happiness. We cannot taste true pleasure without union with God. Therefore, the glimpse of God is the receipt of happiness, and forgetting God is the greatest grief.
ਗ਼ਮ ਚੇ ਬਾਸ਼ਦ ਗ਼ਫ਼ਲਤ ਅਜ਼ ਯਾਦੇ ਖ਼ੁਦਾ। ਚੀਸ਼ਤ ਸ਼ਾਦੀ-ਯਾਦ ਆਂ ਬ ਮੁੰਤਹਾ।
Gam Chae Bashid Gaflat Aj Yaade Khudaa; Cheesat Shadi-yaad Aan Ba Muntahaa. (Diwane-Goya)
Bhai Nand Lal Ji, the beloved of Guru’s household and an accomplished poet, says: when a person forgets God, grief surrounds them; with remembrance of God, all pleasures are attained.
Guru Arjan Dev Ji adds:
ਪਰਮੇਸਰ ਤੇ ਭੁਲਿਆਂ ਵਿਆਪਨਿ ਸਭੇ ਰੋਗ ॥ (ਅੰਗ ੧੩੫)
parmaesur tae bhuliaan viaapan sabhae rog.
“Forgetting the Transcendent Lord, all sorts of illnesses and sufferings cling to the soul.”
Giani Sant Singh Ji Maskeen
