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GURU IS THE BOHITH-

"!"#$%&! "#$%&"

!"#$%&'()*+"(,-".&/)"01).23-"&4!0"&"0&5-5-"&6#-"&4!:

Satiguroo hai bohithaa viralai kinai veechaariaa: Kari kirapaa paari outaariaa:The Satiguroo is the Boat, but rare ones Realize this ("0!7".&/717(28!$9/:!;"7"$41?2"0&5-1-/...),He carries (those "rare" ones) across (sggs 470).

"*+"(,%" -Bohith- means boat. Some other terms used in the Gurbani (Sri Guru Granth Sahib, SGGS) for boainclude" *7@2, #%/(-, A(-A%, 1-., -Berree, Tulahaa,Jahaaj,Naav". A boat can only take people across aphysical body of water such as ocean, river etc. There is another "terrifying" ocean mentioned in the Gurban(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), Kaarmicactions, desires and fears, doubts, worldly consciousness or worldliness,ignorance,Haumeor 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 Gur(Divine Knowledge, Aatam-Giaan, !3?-"$41...) to cross this ocean.

Accordingly, the Gurbani says that the Guru is That Boat (Divine Knowledge, Aatam-Giaan, !3?-"$41..Also the Guru and God are one and the same. For a boat there has to be a boatman (i.e.,Malaahor Khevat)to steer it. For this subtle boat of the Guru-God, the Gurbani says He himself is the Boat and the Boatman.

!"#$%&'()*+"(,-".&/)"01).23-"&4!0"&"0&5-5-"&6#-"&4!: Satiguroo hai bohithaa viralai kinaiveechaariaa: Kari kirapaa paari outaariaa: The Satiguroo is the Boat, but rare ones Realize this ("0!7".&/717(28!$9/:!;"7"$41?2"0&5-1-/...), Hecarries (those "rare" ones) across (sggs 470).

!-$&/("&!B!-!B!-&%$%&%*+"(,%5-&$&-;1+!: Saagar lahar sansaa sansaar gur bohith paar garaamano: T

Guru is the boat to carry you across the world-ocean, through the waves of doubt (sggs 210).

$%&%*+"(,%C.A/#-&>(-&%!: Gur bohith bhavajal taaranahaar: The Guru is the boat, to carry across the

terrifying world-ocean (sgs 1270).

457!-$&%*+"(,-"54&-$%&%D7.E%4"53/-(%!: 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).

$%&%!&%!-$&%*+"(,+$%&%#2&,%?&246!: 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).

$%&%A(-A%D7.E%$%&'$%&"*1%#"&410+8!: Gur jahaaj khevat guroo gur bin tariaa na koi: The Guru is th

Boat, and the Guroo is the Boatman. Without the Gur, no one can cross over (sggs 1401).

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;(-=$-(=$"10-!-$&%!$%&%*+"(,%#-&7-$&%!: Mahaa agaah agan kaa saagar. Gur bohith taare

ratanaagar: The Guru is the boat to cross over the totally unfathomable ocean of fire; He is treasure ofjewels (sggs 377).

Where this Boat of the Guru-God will take us? To the "other shore", says the Gurbani. This leads to anotherquestion: What is this "other shore"? Simply put, it is a state of Infinite Wisdom; transcending of Maya,ignorance orHaumaietc.

Another question comes to the mind is that "why most of us (over 99.9 percent) are unable to cross this"Bhavsaagar" (4#;0;F#"/46>.-/-)? It's because we are too heavy like stones and iron loaded wthe crushing weight of "Bikh" (Haumai or egotism and its Bikaar)...

(;5-,&$%&%1-."*D%C.A/%#-&2G&-;!$%&?7.(%!*?%!%C-8;);'@ "1!#-&2G&-;!: Ham paathar gur

naav bikh bhavajal taareeai raam...: O Guru! (due to the weight of Bikaars, we have become heavylike) a stone, and You are the Boat. Take thou me across the Bhavjal. Bless me with the Gur-Shabad. am such a fool - please save me (from this "Bhavsaagar"). (sggs 1114).

(;5-,&/+(/+(*H5-,&$%&!B$"#1-.#&-.)$+!: 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-Sanga(Association of the Gur-Giaan...), we are carried across (sggs 1309).

"*1%!"#$%&C7E70B31%1-,2G;1;%D%/+(%*'H-*7@25-"!!: Bin satgur bhete kanchan naa theeai manmukh

lohu booddaa berree paas: Without meeting with the Satgur (!3?-"$41...), (the Manmukh) istransformed into gold (the Gurmukh). The Manmukh (self-willed...) sinks like iron, while the boat is

just close by (sggs 40).

/+C".0-&1-.H%*?2"10/2A-!"#$%"&1-;%"?@-I!: 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 theSatguru implanted the Naam (Giaan, Bibek-Budhi...) within me (sggs 443).

="$41%=BJ7&%;(-5B,%"*D@-=(B0-"&C-"&/"?/2A)!: Agian andher mahaa panth bikhraa ahankaar bhaalad leejai: The path of spiritual ignorance is utterly dark and treacherous; the mortal is loaded downwith the crushing load of egotism (sggs 1326).

;-&';(/-K!"*D%*+"(,-/-"?4?24!;%B?;B(-&%!"#,)5.>%15-.0+1-A/%1-40-&%!"#,)!3-!"31-8C.A/#-&>(-&%!O!$%&;%"D/BN7

5-"&5I!37"!6"/./-8!4.-$6>%"1.-"&4A+#2A+"#";/-8!$%&;#2!(A%P5A)!37&()!;-8!Q!:

Maaroo Mahalaa 1 || Bikh bohithaa laadiaa deeaa samund manjhaar ...: Maaroo Mahalaa 1. (Theworldly man's life-) boat is loaded with "Bikhu" (Maya...), and he has launched it into the sea (ofMaya, mirage like world-appearance...). The shore cannot be seen on this side, nor on the shorebeyond. There are no oars in his hands nor any boatmen (Gur-Giaan...), to cross over the terrifyingworld-ocean. ||1|| O Baabaa! The material world (Jagat) is caught in the great noose of Maya. Onlythose escape from this noose who, by the Gur-Grace (Grace of the Gur-Giaan), contemplate the TrueName (Aatam Giaan...). ||1||Pause|| The Sateguru is the boat; and His Shabad is capable of taking usacross. (At the "other shore" -Transcendental State, beyond Maya - 6!4#;0=.!,-".3... ) There isneither wind, nor fire, nor water, nor form (no mind, Maya, etc.). (Who reaches there) is absorbed inthe 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 consciousnesson the True One. Their light then merges into the Supreme Light (they link their Mool within), andtheir cominsg ang goings end (repeated suffering ends). Through Gurmat (Aatam Giaan, SpiritualWisdom, etc., of the Gurbani), Sahaj - Natural State of Being, =H+/4#;0=.!,-, etc. - arises withinthen one remains absorbed in Truth (sggs 1009).

Who is qualified 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, sincereself-efforts (Shabad-Vichaar) are required. As the proverbial expression goes "there is no free lunch"!NaamSimran, Shabad-Kamaaee(Understanding the Gurbani -Jap), and living it are essential.

!"#$%&%*+"(,%("&1-.()"0#%"*"J3"@4A-8!!"#$%&0)C->)A+3/)"."3*+"(,*)R-48!: Satgur bohith h

naav hai kit bidh charriaa jaai. Satgur kai bhaanai jo chalai vich bohith baithaa aai: The Boat of theSatguru is the Name of the Lord (Aatam Giaan...). How can we climb on board? One who actsaccording to the Satgur's Will (Upadesa, Hukam...) comes to sit in this Boat (sggs 40).

$%&%56@2*7@2$%&'$%&%#%/(-("&1-6!

: Nanak berree sach kee tareeai gur veechaar: O Nanak, the Boat Truth will ferry you across; contemplate the Gur (Giaan...) (sggs 20).

!"#$%&!3-()*+"(,-!*?7C.A/%#&>-!: Satgur sachaa hai bohithaa sabade bhavajal taranaa: The Satgu

is the Boat of Truth (Eternal...); By His Shabad (Shabad-Vichaar, Shabad-Giaan...), we cross over theBhavjal (sggs 70).

!"#$%&%*+"(,%4"?A%$-?2&-;1-";"1!#-&-(7!: Satgur bohith aadi jugaadee raam naam nisataaraa hay:

From Aadi and Jugaadee (very beginning of time...), the Satguru has been the Boat; through the LordName (Giaan...), He carries us across (sggs 1029).

$%&%*+"(,%$%&%*7@2#%/(-;1("&A"55-"&/BN-84!: Gur bohith gur berree tulahaa mann har jap paar

langhaaiaa: The Guru is the Boat and the raft; Reflecting on the Lord's Name or Naam (Giaan..) in yomind, you will be carried across to the other side (sggs 1040).

C6*)&-$%C84()*+"(,%$%&%D7.E%!*"?#&-.)$+!: Bhaou bairaag bhaiaa hai bohith gur khevat sabad

taraavaigo: Let the fear (Love, respect, "(&?7".35&;-#;-?-=?*=#7"54&, etc.) of God and thedetachment be the Boat, and the Guru is the Boatman; (the Guru) through His Shabad carries us acros( sggs 1308).

T. Singhwww.gurbani.org

Updated on Friday, February 10, 2012 12:13 PM (PST)

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