We humans are undisciplined people. So we let God discipline us with action and more action.
At present our body; mind and senses are very like untrained horses. It is for us to decide whether we should yield to every impulse of our physical organism or hold it back in check. This is the first step in giving discipline. It means that we must begin to act thoughtfully and teach our body and mind to be reasonable. The purpose of self-discipline is not to gain merit but to check greediness and slothfulness in mind and body. Excess in any direction is detrimental to our progress.
The restless mind does not know the way of devotion. The mind is a wild elephant, mad, and reprobate wandering in the illusion of Maya.
With out accepting the Will of God the mind does not poise until it discards the egoism, distinction, and maladies of doubt. It is avaricious and forgetful. At times it is meditating, performing austerities and at other times indulging in pleasures of life. It is gripped with desire and duality. Sometimes it is king or hero in the battle. It sheds fear and pride with the Grace of God and becomes devoted and thoughtful towards the love of fellows. As it is being purified with spiritual progress, it develops the divine vision.
To become disciplined one has to break the bondages: - Mother, father, son, daughter, wife, siblings and progeny.
ਨ ਕਿਸੀ ਕਾ ਮੀਤੁ ਨ ਕਿਸੀ ਕਾ ਭਾਈ ਨਾ ਕਿਸੈ ਬਾਪੁ ਨ ਮਾਈ ॥ (੮੭੬-੮, ਰਾਮਕਲੀ, ਮ: ੧)
No one has any friend, and no one has any brother; no one has any father or mother.ਪ੍ਰਣਵਤਿ ਨਾਨਕ ਜੇ ਤੂ ਦੇਵਹਿ ਅੰਤੇ ਹੋਇ ਸਖਾਈ ॥੪॥੧॥ (੮੭੬-੯, ਰਾਮਕਲੀ, ਮ: ੧)
Prays Nanak, if You bless me with Your Name, it shall be my help and support in the end. ||4||1||
Ritual piety being performed egotistically.
ਹਉਮੈ ਏਹਾ ਜਾਤਿ ਹੈ ਹਉਮੈ ਕਰਮ ਕਮਾਹਿ ॥ (੪੬੬-੧੬, ਆਸਾ, ਮ: ੨)
This is the nature of ego, that people perform their actions in ego.ਹਉਮੈ ਏਈ ਬੰਧਨਾ ਫਿਰਿ ਫਿਰਿ ਜੋਨੀ ਪਾਹਿ ॥ (੪੬੬-੧੭, ਆਸਾ, ਮ: ੨)
This is the bondage of ego, that time and time again, they are reborn.ਹਉਮੈ ਕਿਥਹੁ ਊਪਜੈ ਕਿਤੁ ਸੰਜਮਿ ਇਹ ਜਾਇ ॥ (੪੬੬-੧੭, ਆਸਾ, ਮ: ੨)
Where does ego come from? How can it be removed?ਹਉਮੈ ਏਹੋ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਹੈ ਪਇਐ ਕਿਰਤਿ ਫਿਰਾਹਿ ॥ (੪੬੬-੧੭, ਆਸਾ, ਮ: ੨)
This ego exists by the Lord's Order; people wander according to their past actions.ਹਉਮੈ ਦੀਰਘ ਰੋਗੁ ਹੈ ਦਾਰੂ ਭੀ ਇਸੁ ਮਾਹਿ ॥ (੪੬੬-੧੮, ਆਸਾ, ਮ: ੨)
Ego is a chronic disease, but it contains its own cure as well.ਕਿਰਪਾ ਕਰੇ ਜੇ ਆਪਣੀ ਤਾ ਗੁਰ ਕਾ ਸਬਦੁ ਕਮਾਹਿ ॥ (੪੬੬-੧੮, ਆਸਾ, ਮ: ੨)
If the Lord grants His Grace, one acts according to the Teachings of the Guru's Shabad.ਨਾਨਕੁ ਕਹੈ ਸੁਣਹੁ ਜਨਹੁ ਇਤੁ ਸੰਜਮਿ ਦੁਖ ਜਾਹਿ ॥੨॥ (੪੬੬-੧੯, ਆਸਾ, ਮ: ੨)
Nanak says, listen, people: in this way, troubles depart. ||2|| Guru Angad Dev Ji - Asa Di Vaar
Lower instincts carried with out thought of higher instincts or virtues.
ਕੀਚਹਿ ਰਸ ਭੋਗ ਖੁਸੀਆ ਮਨ ਕੇਰੀ ॥ (੮੩੨-੩, ਬਿਲਾਵਲੁ, ਮ: ੧)
He enjoys tastes, pleasures and joys in his mind.ਧਨੁ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਤਨੁ ਭਸਮੈ ਢੇਰੀ ॥ (੮੩੨-੪, ਬਿਲਾਵਲੁ, ਮ: ੧)
But his wealth will pass on to other people, and his body will be reduced to ashes.
Greed and attachment to Maya. Rahit
ਸਾਚੀ ਰਹਤ ਸਾਚਾ ਮਨਿ ਸੋਈ ॥ (੮੩੧-੧੨, ਬਿਲਾਵਲੁ, ਮ: ੧)
Through the lifestyle of Truth, the True Lord comes to dwell in the mind.ਮਨਮੁਖ ਕਥਨੀ ਹੈ ਪਰੁ ਰਹਤ ਨ ਹੋਈ ॥ (੮੩੧-੧੨, ਬਿਲਾਵਲੁ, ਮ: ੧)
The self-willed Manmukh talks about it, but does not practice it.
Until and unless these bondages, attachment and evil are destroyed, mind cannot become disciplined. The person who knows how to conquer, lust, wrath, avarice, boasting and pride can possess the sovereignty of the whole world.
Self discipline and self-control enables us to organize and unite all forces. This increases our power for both thought and action. Under the influence of ego a person may do some thing, he will always regret, the very thing he knows to be destructive. It is because he has allowed destructive thought to over power him. Endurance is one of the greatest assets in life. The Self is the friend of the self for him who has conquered himself, his lower self but one whose self is unconquered his self-acts as an enemy. We become our own enemy when we are thrown out of balance by anger, hatred, grief or any
intense emotion.
ਧੋਤੀ ਊਜਲ ਤਿਲਕੁ ਗਲਿ ਮਾਲਾ ॥ (੮੩੨-੬, ਬਿਲਾਵਲੁ, ਮ: ੧)
He may wear a clean loincloth, apply the ceremonial mark to his
forehead, and wear a mala around his neck;
(this can be compared to 5 K's)ਅੰਤਰਿ ਕ੍ਰੋਧੁ ਪੜਹਿ ਨਾਟ ਸਾਲਾ ॥ (੮੩੨-੬, ਬਿਲਾਵਲੁ, ਮ: ੧)
But if there is anger within him, he is merely reading his part, like an actor in a play.ਨਾਮੁ ਵਿਸਾਰਿ ਮਾਇਆ ਮਦੁ ਪੀਆ ॥ (੮੩੨-੭, ਬਿਲਾਵਲੁ, ਮ: ੧)
Forgetting the Naam, the Name of the Lord, he drinks in the wine of Maya.ਬਿਨੁ ਗੁਰ ਭਗਤਿ ਨਾਹੀ ਸੁਖੁ ਥੀਆ ॥੪॥ (੮੩੨-੭, ਬਿਲਾਵਲੁ, ਮ: ੧)
Without devotional worship to the Guru, there is no peace. ||4||
We pray, meditate, study, go through all practices and think it should give us spiritual impetus, yet we stand still. Or even take back a step. A person may use morality as a ground but lacks in patience, forbearance and forgiveness. When anger comes in all dogmas and theories will go for nothing.
There are two ways to approach self-discipline by self-exertion or self-abandonment. Those who have surrendered themselves wholly to the highest power that there is no room in their hearts for any darkness, anger or evil. It is a vital necessity in our lives if we could maintain social order and keep harmony. When our thought, mind and heart as a whole being is focused in the new way of life according to all the message engraved in AGGS, then we shall find high ideals arising with in us spontaneously and the lower instincts will touch us no more. With the right attitude of mind, with right control of ourselves, we work for our own well fare, but when our mind is distorted or clouded it becomes our enemy. Like wise when we are puffed up with vanity or full of egotism, we turn away from our divine nature. Ego works in both ways.
Spirituality is not a question of calculations or doctrines but it evolves in us and we are the first to benefit, because our lives have been transformed. We are the same and yet we are not the same. The only way we raise and lift our fellow beings is to find a higher level of consciousness. What we manifest in the body and mind is the result of what we are in our spiritual consciousness.
Unfeeling people are often self-centered and selfish due to their thinking and living. Seek not self, but seek the truth. Truth is above all and above truth is truthful conduct. Truth is something we should absorb and assimilate. Truth cleaves to no self. Self refers it self to ego. Self is the cause of selfishness and the source of evil. Self reveals itself to self. Truth is continuous, deathless, immortal, and does not get old.
_Such Purana Hovie Nahin_ ---Guru Nanak, page 956 SGGS
The self-adjustments and self-possessions are essential to our well being. One who has self-control is serene in the midst of all dual conditions. We need individual discipline. The mind may not enjoy
this, because it has formed the habit of lighter interests. The ordinary mind finds more pleasure in reading a novel/watching movie or TV, than in studying AGGS and Gurbani. Yet one who wishes to
sustain his spiritual nature has no other course than to cultivate such a habit to attend meetings and religious functions for spiritual growth and not for social enjoyment, until it becomes a second nature and he begins to love it. It is to be obtained through the silent practice of meditation as well as meditation in action. The conquest, which any human being seeks in the external world, is insignificant in comparison with that which lies with in his own-self; and until he has conquered his inner kingdom, all outer conquests must be fleeting and uncertain, for his own unwise actions may at any moment cause his
ruin.
If one has dirt out side, it can be removed with a shower, more so with soap and put on clean and business clothing to impress others. What about the dirt inside, which cannot be seen? I t can only be removed with spiritual progress and growth.
_Bharyia Hath Pair Tan Deh, Pani Dhote Utras Kheh,
Bharyia Mat Papan Ke Sang, Oh Dhope Navaan Ke Rang_
Japji. Pauri 20
A person is not a conqueror in the spiritual sense unless he is willing to give his soul life in exchange for any material advantage. Each one must bring out what is best in him. When our lower nature no longer exerts it self in us, what ever may be the provocation, then self-conquest is complete. One should be concerned about internal cleanliness and discipline rather external cleanliness.
_A spiritual man is calm and the vulgar are always fretting_
The discipline of life is very wonderful for mind and body.