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GURU IS THE BOHITH -
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l-J J HlJ l=J l~ =lHlJ~ ! ~lJ l~J lJ _lJ~ !:
Satiguroo hai bohithaa viralai kinai veechaariaa: Kari kirapaa paari outaariaa:
The Satiguroo is the Boat, but rare ones Realize this (l~ l=J Jl l - l-~ J).
By His Grace (Grace of His Giaan, ~< l-~ l l~J ...),
He carries (those "rare" ones) across (sggs 470).
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"HlJ " - Bohith - means boat. Some other terms used in the Gurbani (Sri Guru Granth Sahib, SGGS) for boat
include" H=l, J, PJP, =, - Berree, Tulahaa, Jahaaj, Naav". A boat can only take people across a
physical body of water such as ocean, river etc. There is another "terrifying" ocean mentioned in the Gurbani
(and other Indian scriptures) this "dreadful" ocean is not the physical ocean.
It is the ocean of "Bhavsaagar" (or "Bhavajal") of Maya, Jagat (material world), Sansaar (the place of
repeated suffering), Kaarmic actions, desires and fears, doubts, worldly consciousness or worldliness,
ignorance, Haume or ego (I-ness; mine, mine) and so on.
Clearly, the water of the ocean of "Bhavsaagar", as well as its waves and shores cannot be physical.
Therefore, the means needed to cross it over cannot be physical as well. We need the subtle boat of the Guru
(Divine Knowledge, Aatam-Giaan, H l-~...) to cross this ocean.
Accordingly, the Gurbani says that the Guru is That Boat (Divine Knowledge, Aatam-Giaan, H l-~...).
Also the Guru and God are one and the same. For a boat there has to be a boatman (i.e., Malaah or Khevat)
to steer it. For this subtle boat of the Guru-God, the Gurbani says He himself is the Boat and the Boatman.
l-J J HlJ l=J l~ =lHlJ~ ! ~lJ l~J lJ _lJ~ !: Satiguroo hai bohithaa viralai kinai
veechaariaa: Kari kirapaa paari outaariaa: The Satiguroo is the Boat, but rare ones Realize this (l~
l=J Jl l - l-~ J). By His Grace (Grace of His Giaan, ~< l-~ l l~J ...), He
carries (those "rare" ones) across (sggs 470).
-J JlJ J -J HlJ J -J !: Saagar lahar sansaa sansaar gur bohith paar garaamano: The
Guru is the boat to carry you across the world-ocean, through the waves of doubt (sggs 210).
-J HlJ =P J<JJ !: Gur bohith bhavajal taaranahaar: The Guru is the boat, to carry across the
terrifying world-ocean (sgs 1270).
~ -J HlJ l~J -J =J ~l HJ !: Aape saagar bohithaa piaaraa gur khevat aap chalaahu:
The Beloved Himself is the ocean, and the boat; He Himself is the Guru, the boatman who steers it
(sggs 604).
-J J -J HlJ -J lJ Jl~_ !: Gur sar saagar bohitho gur teerath dareeaaou: The Guru is the
Boat to carry across the world-ocean; the Guru is the Sacred Shrine of Pilgrimage (sggs 17).
-J PJP =J -J -J lH lJ~ ~l !: Gur jahaaj khevat guroo gur bin tariaa na koi: The Guru is the
Boat, and the Guroo is the Boatman. Without the Gur, no one can cross over (sggs 1401).
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J ~-J ~-l ~ -J ! -J HlJ J J-J !: Mahaa agaah agan kaa saagar. Gur bohith taare
ratanaagar: The Guru is the boat to cross over the totally unfathomable ocean of re; He is treasure of
jewels (sggs 377).
Where this Boat of the Guru-God will take us? To the "other shore", says the Gurbani. This leads to another
question: What is this "other shore"? Simply put, it is a state of Innite Wisdom; transcending of Maya,
ignorance or Haumai etc.
Another question comes to the mind is that "why most of us (over 99.9 percent) are unable to cross this
"Bhavsaagar" (~~ l~_< =)? It's because we are too heavy like stones and iron loaded with
the crushing weight of "Bikh" (Haumai or egotism and its Bikaar)...
J J -J = lH =P Jl~ J ! -J =J H l = lJl~ J !: Ham paathar gur
naav bikh bhavajal taareeai raam...: O Guru! (due to the weight of Bikaars, we have become heavy
like) a stone, and You are the Boat. Take thou me across the Bhavjal. Bless me with the Gur-Shabad. I
am such a fool - please save me (from this "Bhavsaagar"). (sggs 1114).
J J J J HJ J -J -l = J=- !: Ham paathar loh loh badd paathar gur sangati naav
taraavaigo: We are heavy like a stone, like a piece of iron; but embaring on the Boat of the Gur-Sangat
(Association of the Gur-Giaan...), we are carried across (sggs 1309).
lH l-J J ~H l~ J HJ H=l l !: Bin satgur bhete kanchan naa theeai manmukh
lohu booddaa berree paas: Without meeting with the Satgur (H l-~...), (the Manmukh) is
transformed into gold (the Gurmukh). The Manmukh (self-willed...) sinks like iron, while the boat is
just close by (sggs 40).
l=~J = JHl l~l P l-lJ l=J !: Lobh vikaar naav dubbadee nikalee jaa satgur naam
dirraaye: My boat was sinking under the weight of greed and Bikaar, but it was uplifted when the
Satguru implanted the Naam (Giaan, Bibek-Budhi...) within me (sggs 443).
~l-~ ~J J lH= ~J~lJ lJ l lP !: Agian andher mahaa panth bikhraa ahankaar bhaar
lad leejai: The path of spiritual ignorance is utterly dark and treacherous; the mortal is loaded down
with the crushing load of egotism (sggs 1326).
J J ! lH HlJ l~ l~ -lJ ! ~l ll ~= _J=J J ! =-l Jl =J P
-J ~J !! HH P- J J Pl ! -J Jl _HJ H l !! JJ_ ! l-J J HlJ
Hl w=<JJ ! l =< =~ P ~~J ! l H lH l =P J<JJ !~! -Jl w
lJ J H l_ l= l ! ~= -_< l=lJ~ Pl Pl ll ! -Jl JP _P H JJ l !!:
Maaroo Mahalaa 1 || Bikh bohithaa laadiaa deeaa samund manjhaar ...: Maaroo Mahalaa 1. (The
worldly man's life-) boat is loaded with "Bikhu" (Maya...), and he has launched it into the sea (of
Maya, mirage like world-appearance...). The shore cannot be seen on this side, nor on the shore
beyond. There are no oars in his hands nor any boatmen (Gur-Giaan...), to cross over the terrifying
world-ocean. ||1|| O Baabaa! The material world (Jagat) is caught in the great noose of Maya. Only
those escape from this noose who, by the Gur-Grace (Grace of the Gur-Giaan), contemplate the True
Name (Aatam Giaan...). ||1||Pause|| The Sateguru is the boat; and His Shabad is capable of taking us
across. (At the "other shore" -Transcendental State, beyond Maya - _ ~~ ~= l=H... ) There is
neither wind, nor re, nor water, nor form (no mind, Maya, etc.). (Who reaches there) is absorbed in
the Truth and the True Name, for the True Name is capable of carrying one across the Bhabjal. ||2||
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(Those Who become the Gurmukhs) reach the shore beyond by lovingly focusing their consciousness
on the True One. Their light then merges into the Supreme Light (they link their Mool within), and
their cominsg ang goings end (repeated suffering ends). Through Gurmat (Aatam Giaan, Spiritual
Wisdom, etc., of the Gurbani), Sahaj - Natural State of Being, ~J ~~ ~=, etc. - arises within,
then one remains absorbed in Truth (sggs 1009).
Who is qualied to board this subtle Boat? Can anyone board it? No.
As indicated in the Gurbani, only those will be ferried across by this Boat who live by the Divine Hukam
(Will...). Doing His Will includes following His Upadesa (Teachings, Gurmat, etc.). In other words, sincere
self-efforts (Shabad-Vichaar) are required. As the proverbial expression goes "there is no free lunch"! Naam-
Simran, Shabad-Kamaaee (Understanding the Gurbani -Jap), and living it are essential.
l-J HlJ JlJ = J l~ lHl Hl=~ Pl ! l-J ~ < P H l=lH HlJ HJ ~l !: Satgur bohith har
naav hai kit bidh charriaa jaai. Satgur kai bhaanai jo chalai vich bohith baithaa aai: The Boat of the
Satguru is the Name of the Lord (Aatam Giaan...). How can we climb on board? One who acts
according to the Satgur's Will (Upadesa, Hukam...) comes to sit in this Boat (sggs 40).
-J _=l H=l -J -J J JlJ _ !: Nanak berree sach kee tareeai gur veechaar: O Nanak, the Boat of
Truth will ferry you across; contemplate the Gur (Giaan...) (sggs 20).
l-J H J HlJ H =P J< !: Satgur sachaa hai bohithaa sabade bhavajal taranaa: The Satgur
is the Boat of Truth (Eternal...); By His Shabad (Shabad-Vichaar, Shabad-Giaan...), we cross over the
Bhavjal (sggs 70).
l-J HlJ ~l P-l J l lJ J !: Satgur bohith aadi jugaadee raam naam nisataaraa hay:
From Aadi and Jugaadee (very beginning of time...), the Satguru has been the Boat; through the Lord's
Name (Giaan...), He carries us across (sggs 1029).
-J HlJ -J H=l J JlJ Pl lJ wl~ !: Gur bohith gur berree tulahaa mann har jap paar
langhaaiaa: The Guru is the Boat and the raft; Reecting on the Lord's Name or Naam (Giaan..) in your
mind, you will be carried across to the other side (sggs 1040).
_ HJ- l~ J HlJ -J =J Hl J=- !: Bhaou bairaag bhaiaa hai bohith gur khevat sabad
taraavaigo: Let the fear (Love, respect, lJJ l=H J ~H ~ l~J, etc.) of God and the
detachment be the Boat, and the Guru is the Boatman; (the Guru) through His Shabad carries us across
( sggs 1308).
T. Singh
www.gurbani.org
Updated on Friday, February 10, 2012 12:13 PM (PST)
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