Introduction:
The two most fundamental factors in any human decision are the heart and the mind. The heart, as the primary engine pumping essential blood through our body, is situated in the thorax or the chest cavity. Given its sensitivity to our emotions, it correspondingly increases its diastole and/or systole as per our needs. An universal example of this is the fight-or-flight response in which the heart dictates blood flow accordingly as per our decision. Given its instrumentality in the most vital of human responses, the heart has naturally become a symbol of passion and usually epitomizes excitement and spontaneity.
The mind, contrastingly, is the brain’s processor. While the brain collates experientially, the mind processes this experiential information to formulate opinions and thoughts. These cognitions allow us to function on a higher level of intelligence than other species inhabiting the planet. Our mind is that instrument of enlightenment which empowers our limitlessness as humans. It is for this reason it is associated with cool-headedness and rationale.
The Conquest of the Mind:
Guru Nanak emphasizes in the Japji that the conquest of one’s own mind is the highest form of triumph.
ਆਈ ਪੰਥੀ ਸਗਲ ਜਮਾਤੀ ਮਨਿ ਜੀਤੈ ਜਗੁ ਜੀਤੁ ॥
“The pursuit of one single path unites the seekers: triumphing over the mind entails triumphing over existence.”
-Guru Granth, 6.
The fundamental meaning of this verse is that humanity is united by the need for triumphing over the mind. The human mind, an unparalleled intellectual powerhouse, is also a subliminal archive of evolutionary memory. It contains the bestial reactions/responses which allowed humanity to survive during its early steps on the planet. An unrestrained mind i.e. a mind unaware of its potential-an unenlightened mind-is a zoic mind. Such a mind is still inveigled by the animalistic traits of anger, avarice, fear, hubris and obsession. Guru Nanak’s emphasis is not on achieving utopia but orienting humanity towards transforming its mindset on an individualistic level. Only when an individual conquers their mind can they triumph over the world. A fraternity of such individuals, in the Nanakian equation, is the Khalsa.
What of the Heart?
Sikhi identifies the mind as the foremost tool of human interaction. It is what leads us into situations and out of situations among multiple other functions. As such, its psychological attributes intimate physical signals to human physicality among which the heart is the foremost element. Extrapolating upon classical metaphors, Gurbani demarcates the realm of emotion and the realm of thought between the heart and the mind. The thought arises in the mind and manifests a corresponding emotion in the heart as the precursor to that thought being put into practicality. How to enlighten the mind to its true potential then?
ਕੁੰਭੇ ਬਧਾ ਜਲੁ ਰਹੈ ਜਲ ਬਿਨੁ ਕੁੰਭੁ ਨ ਹੋਇ ॥ ਗਿਆਨ ਕਾ ਬਧਾ ਮਨੁ ਰਹੈ ਗੁਰ ਬਿਨੁ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਨ ਹੋਇ ॥੫॥
“Within the pitcher is contained water, yet without water the pitcher cannot come into being. The mind is contained by wisdom alone. But wisdom cannot be acquired without truth.”
-Guru Granth, 469.
In this instance, the term ਗੁਰ or Guru denotes the truth. Similar to the symbiotic relationship between a pitcher and water (water is used to form a pitcher which is then used to contain water), the mind too shares a symbiotic relationship with the truth. Through the truth, a primitive mind is shaped into a conduit of potential. The mind then grasps the truth and retains the wisdom it imparts within itself emulating a pitcher retaining water. Once the mind is mastered, Gurbani advises that the heart be cleansed of all residual base emotions.
ਬੇਦ ਕਤੇਬ ਇਫਤਰਾ ਭਾਈ ਦਿਲ ਕਾ ਫਿਕਰੁ ਨ ਜਾਇ ॥
ਟੁਕੁ ਦਮੁ ਕਰਾਰੀ ਜਉ ਕਰਹੁ ਹਾਜਿਰ ਹਜੂਰਿ ਖੁਦਾਇ ॥੧॥
ਬੰਦੇ ਖੋਜੁ ਦਿਲ ਹਰ ਰੋਜ ਨਾ ਫਿਰੁ ਪਰੇਸਾਨੀ ਮਾਹਿ ॥
ਇਹ ਜੁ ਦੁਨੀਆ ਸਿਹਰੁ ਮੇਲਾ ਦਸਤਗੀਰੀ ਨਾਹਿ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
“The Abrahamic and Dharmic scriptures know nothing of relieving the heart’s anxieties. Center yourself and then you will realize that your Maker is already present within and without you. Each and every moment search within your heart; do not allow yourself to be led astray by worldly ways. No one will step forward to ameliorate your concerns. It is only an illusory show.”
-Guru Granth, 724.
This elucidation is misappropriated by Pujaris to justify their Sants’ renunciation. The truth, though, is far removed from such charades. The verse advises against following both scriptures and worldly ways born out of primitive psyches. There is no need for renunciation as the Creator is present in each and every microcosm of Creation. At such a level of existence, an enlightened individual must routinely analyze their heart to cleanse it of any obstructive emotionalism. More profoundly, they must not allow their heart to dictate what their mind should adhere to. Rather, the mind should be separate from the heart and must be trained to impartially analyze itself and restrain the heart’s passions.
Equilibrium:
A balanced heart and mind is defined as a perfect Hirda, ਹਿਰਦਾ , in Sikhi. The term translates into Being. An individual possessing such an equilibrium is a true Being in the sense that they know how to live in lieu of solely existing.
ਹਿਰਦੈ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਧੁਨਿ ਉਪਜੀ ਹਰਿ ਜਪੀਐ ਮਸਤਕਿ ਭਾਗੁ ਜੀਉ ॥
“Within their Being sounds the tune of their Maker’s virtues, reflecting on this they change their fate for the better.”
-Guru Granth, 774.
ਸੋ ਜੀਵਿਆ ਜਿਸੁ ਮਨਿ ਵਸਿਆ ਸੋਇ ॥
ਨਾਨਕ ਅਵਰੁ ਨ ਜੀਵੈ ਕੋਇ ॥
ਜੇ ਜੀਵੈ ਪਤਿ ਲਥੀ ਜਾਇ ॥
ਸਭੁ ਹਰਾਮੁ ਜੇਤਾ ਕਿਛੁ ਖਾਇ ॥
ਰਾਜਿ ਰੰਗੁ ਮਾਲਿ ਰੰਗੁ ॥
ਰੰਗਿ ਰਤਾ ਨਚੈ ਨੰਗੁ ॥
ਨਾਨਕ ਠਗਿਆ ਮੁਠਾ ਜਾਇ ॥
ਵਿਣੁ ਨਾਵੈ ਪਤਿ ਗਇਆ ਗਵਾਇ ॥੧॥
“Consider those individuals to be alive who imbibe the truth within themselves. Nanak advises that do not consider anyone else alive. If you only live to exist then you forfeit all dignity and honor and whatever you consume is consumed in sin. You may cavort in power wealth and pleasure, but in reality you are shamelessly prancing about. Deluding yourself thus you depart obsoletely. Refusing to pursue the truth, you lose your worth.”
-Guru Granth, 142.
Achieving ਹਿਰਦਾ :
How to achieve the state of Being after only existing for so long? The first step is to grasp the wisdom arising from the truth i.e. unsullied reality and not the polluted purviews shaped by animalistic experiences.
ਗੁਰ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਪਦਾਰਥੁ ਨਾਮੁ ਹੈ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੋ ਦੇਇ ਦ੍ਰਿੜਾਇ ॥
“The Guru’s wisdom is the true Naam. Acquiring it, live life by it.”
-Guru Granth, 759.
Having acquired this wisdom, the mind’s dynamic is radically altered in the cognitive-psychological process known as Saramkhand.
ਕਹਿ ਕਬੀਰ ਬੁਧਿ ਹਰਿ ਲਈ ਮੇਰੀ ਬੁਧਿ ਬਦਲੀ ਸਿਧਿ ਪਾਈ ॥੨॥੨੧॥੭੨॥
“Kabir describes what happened with him. His (base) intelligence was snatched away and supplanted with a higher form of true wisdom.”
-Guru Granth, 339.
ਮਨ ਤੂੰ ਜੋਤਿ ਸਰੂਪੁ ਹੈ ਆਪਣਾ ਮੂਲੁ ਪਛਾਣੁ ॥
ਮਨ ਹਰਿ ਜੀ ਤੇਰੈ ਨਾਲਿ ਹੈ ਗੁਰਮਤੀ ਰੰਗੁ ਮਾਣੁ ॥
ਮੂਲੁ ਪਛਾਣਹਿ ਤਾਂ ਸਹੁ ਜਾਣਹਿ ਮਰਣ ਜੀਵਣ ਕੀ ਸੋਝੀ ਹੋਈ ॥
ਗੁਰ ਪਰਸਾਦੀ ਏਕੋ ਜਾਣਹਿ ਤਾਂ ਦੂਜਾ ਭਾਉ ਨ ਹੋਈ ॥
ਮਨਿ ਸਾਂਤਿ ਆਈ ਵਜੀ ਵਧਾਈ ਤਾ ਹੋਆ ਪਰਵਾਣੁ ॥
ਇਉ ਕਹੈ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਮਨ ਤੂੰ ਜੋਤਿ ਸਰੂਪੁ ਹੈ ਅਪਣਾ ਮੂਲੁ ਪਛਾਣੁ ॥੫॥
“Mind, you are an extension of the Divine intelligence. Recognize your true worth as such. Mind, your Maker is besides you. Enjoy the implications of this revelation while adhering to the truth. Realizing your true worth you will acknowledge your Maker, then you will also comprehend the necessity of living and dying. Through the beneficence of the truth, know that there is only one reality and discard all concerns of another. Mind, you will then achieve equilibrium and be famed far and wide. Nanak reveals this to you, mind recognize your true worth for you are an extension of Divine intelligence.”
-Guru Granth, 443.
It is only when the mind is made to recognize its true worth is the individual considered enlightened and capable of altering their heart.
A Constant Battle:
The journey towards attaining a perfect sense of Being is fraught with peril. It involves countless maneuvers against one’s own heart and mind. Failure is the rule of thumb; success an exception. The ultimate result depends on comprehension, persistence and self-discipline. Those with an imperfect ਹਿਰਦਾ are often at the forefront of claiming they are perfect.
Summary:
The state of Being is essentially knowing how to live life. It can only be achieved through rigorous self-discipline and profound introspection. Both the heart and mind play critical roles in its achievement. It is only when the individual masters both that they are truly considered as being alive.
ਸ੍ਰਮੁ ਥਾਕਾ ਪਾਏ ਬਿਸ੍ਰਾਮਾ ਮਿਟਿ ਗਈ ਸਗਲੀ ਧਾਈ ॥੧॥
ਅਬ ਮੋਹਿ ਜੀਵਨ ਪਦਵੀ ਪਾਈ ॥
“All internal conflict and mental wandering ceases when equipoise is obtained. It is only then that we learn how to live life.”
-Guru Granth, 999.