LIFE LIGHT DAY – Diwali Kee Raat

November 1, 2016: Every Year on occasion of Diwali, we listen this shabad. We make it mean that Guru is asking to light Diyas on this Diwali night. There is no mention of ‘Patakas’-crackers but we have added them liberally. We never read lines correctly lest message understood. Presently almost everyone has Guru Granth Sahib Shabads with English/ Gurmukhi/ Hindi translation in their mobile phones. Please utilize to understand the meaning or message.

When I heard this Vaar today by Bhai Gurdas, my hunch said that Gurbani has Great Wisdom and there is a deep advice & message in these lines. I thought to explore and understand. Below is the True the message.

The lamps of the night of Diwali eventually burn out.
The stars of the night sky stop sparkling when dawn comes.
 The beauty of the orchard disappears as the flowers are picked.
The gaiety of the place of pilgrimage dies when the crowds leave.
Life- even as bestowed by God- is temporary; settled and then destructed.
Yet, the Gurmukh is blessed with the fruit of permanent joy through his
Immersion in the Shabad.
The meaning therefore is:
A Gurmukh seeks bliss from the Shabad. The joy that comes from the Shabad is not temporary as the lamps that burn on Divali night, the star-lit night skies, and the beautiful sights of the blooming orchard, the joyous atmosphere of the places of pilgrimages or of human life itself.
There is no Sikh spiritual activity that resolves around the Diva (lamp) other than for physical light. Gurbani discounts any and all Diva related rituals. In fact Gurbani discards physical diva-related ritual and instead gives inner spiritual context to the lamp. (Ramkali Raag Ang 878)
Shape your lamp on the wheel of good actions.
In this world and in the next, this lamp shall be with you.
Within the heart, this lamp is permanently lit.
It is not extinguished by water or wind.
Such a lamp will carry you across the water.
Wind does not shake it, or put it out. Its light reveals the Divine Throne.
The Khatrees, Brahmins, Soodras and Vaishyas cannot find its value,
even by thousands of calculations.
If any of them lights such a lamp, O Nanak, he is emancipated.
Gurbani accords similar treatment to another practice involving the Diva namely the aarti. Physical aarti as a ritual is discouraged and Gurbanee provides inner spiritual context to aarti in the shabad Gagan Mei Thaal Rav Chand Deepak Baney (Dhanasree First Guru).
Upon that cosmic plate of the sky, the sun and the moon are the lamps.
The stars and their orbs are the studded pearls.
The fragrance of sandalwood in the air is the temple incense, and the wind is the fan.
All the plants of the world are the altar flowers in offering to You, O Luminous Lord.
What a beautiful Aarti, lamp-lit worship service this is!
O Destroyer of Fear, this is Your Ceremony of Light.
On this day, (today) In the spirit of Light dispels Darkness.
We don’t have to light candles, diyas or use strings of electric bulb light to celebrate this day!
This is a thing of past. Our places are already lighted.

Let us Declare now as A LIFE Light Day.

• Let us dispel our own ignorance = darkness and be FREE. (Bandi Chorr of wrong doings) Do good and take away evil actions.
• Do not burn crackers: Many lives are lost making crackers, several children loose eyes and get face burns every year. Money wasted. Pollution Created.
• SPEND for LIFE – Feed more hungry on this day.
• GIFT EDUCATIONAL MATERIAL to Poor CHILDREN.
• SAVE ENERGY TO LIGHT – Where THERE IS NO POWER.

Credits: Jasbir Singh, Architect.  Link to the article.