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Gurmukhs

A Gurmukh is a virtuous type of person whom the Gurbani calls Divine. They are Spiritually positioned, naturally (Sahaj). Throughout the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, the Gurbani defines Gurmukhs as Spiritual Beings who live by Gurmat (the Wisdom of the Shabad-Guru).

The Gurmukh is linked to their Mool within (ਮੂਲ, Source, Origin Truth...), and ever remains so; they are contented in all situations (Sach Santokhee); they are the followers of the Truth; their mind is linked to Antar-Aatmaa; their Akal (ਅਕਲ , wisdom, intellect, reason, etc., follows Gurbani; they restrain their mind instead of following their mind; their state is that of "ਇਕ ਮਨਿ ਇਕ ਚਿਤਿ " - Ik Mani Ik Chiti; they are detached in the midst of Maya - ਮਾਇਆ ਵਿਚ ਉਦਾਸੀ; they are established in Viveka-budhi - ਜਿਸ ਨੂੰ ਗੁਰਮਤ ਦੀ ਪੂਰੀ ਸੋਝੀ ਹੈ; he knows all the "Way of the soul" ("ਜਾਨੈ ਆਤਮ ਕੀ ਰਹਤ", ਆਤਮਕ ਜੀਵਨ, ਅਮਲੀ ਜੀਵਨ, ਹੁਕਮੀ ਜੀਵਨ); they are Jivan Mukat (living Liberated or Enlightened); they are Aatam or Brahm Giaanee; they are established in Chauthaa Pada or Turiyaa Avasthaa (Tenth Gate, Sahaj Avasthaa - Natural State of Being; Sunn Samaadhi, ਆਤਮਕ ਅਡੋਲਤਾ, Shabad-Surti, etc.), saintly nature even though they may deal with countless unsaintly people...

A Gurmukh is a Self-Realized person, completely free of the false ego-sense (Haume) and its menacing faults (Bikaars: lust, anger, greed,attachment, pride and their countless variations). Since the Gurmukh has killed their false ego-sense (Haume), Their mind is Pure (unconditioned; devoid of any "filth" of Bikaars, Maya, ignorance, etc.).

ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਵਿਚਹੁ ਹਉਮੈ ਜਾਇ ॥ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਮੈਲੁ ਨ ਲਾਗੈ ਆਇ ॥: Gurmukh vichahu houmai jaai || Gurmukh mail n laagai aai ||: By becoming the Gurmukh, egotism (Haume) departs from within. By becoming the Gurmukh, filth (of Haume or egotism) does not come and stick (Sri Guru Granth Sahib, Ang 230).

ਨਾਨਕ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਪਰਾਪਤਿ ਹੋਵੈ ਤਿਮਰ ਅਗਿਆਨੁ ਅਧੇਰੁ ਚੁਕਾਇਆ ॥: Nanak Gurmukh giaan praapat hovai timar agiaan andher chukaaiaa: O Nanak, the spiritual wisdom (ਉੱਚੀ ਸਮਝ, etc.) is attained by becoming the Gurmukh, and the pitch-black darkness of ignorance is dispelled (Sri Guru Granth Sahib, Ang 512).

A Gurmukh is a person situated at the platform of Transcendental Consciousness. Hence, he is the Divine Soul, established in his Pure Being (Joti-Svaroopa) within. Internally he has surrendered his false ego-sense to his Mool (Source, Origin...) with one hundred percent involvement of his body, mind and intellect. He has all the Divine Virtues which are found in a godly or a Holy person.

ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਆਪਣਾ ਮਨੁ ਮਾਰਿਆ ਸਬਦਿ ਕਸਵਟੀ ਲਾਇ ॥ ਮਨ ਹੀ ਨਾਲਿ ਝਗੜਾ ਮਨ ਹੀ ਨਾਲਿ ਸਥ ਮਨ ਹੀ ਮੰਝਿ ਸਮਾਇ ॥: Guramukh aapanaa manu maariaa sabad kasavatee laai. Mann hee naal jhagarraa mann hee naal sath mann hee manjh samaai: Applying the Touchstone of the Shabad, by becoming the Gurmukh, the Gurmukh conqueres his mind (prevents it from falling in love with Maya, etc.). He fights with his mind (its evil inclinations: ਬਿਕਾਰ-ਬਿਰਤੀ), he settles with his mind (make his mind understand), and he becomes immersed (in the auspicious nature of: ਸ਼ੁਭ-ਬਿਰਤੀ) his mind (Sri Guru Granth Sahib, Ang 87).

ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਸਹਜੁ ਹੈ ਮਨੁ ਚੜਿਆ ਦਸਵੈ ਆਕਾਸਿ ॥ ਤਿਥੈ ਊਂਘ ਨ ਭੁਖ ਹੈ ਹਰਿ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਨਾਮੁ ਸੁਖ ਵਾਸੁ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਦੁਖੁ ਸੁਖੁ ਵਿਆਪਤ ਨਹੀ ਜਿਥੈ ਆਤਮ ਰਾਮ ਪ੍ਰਗਾਸੁ ॥੧੬॥: Gurmukhi antar sahaj hai manu charriaa dasavai aakaas ...: Upon becoming the Gurmukh, Intuitive Poise (Sahaj, ਆਤਮਕ ਅਡੋਲਤਾ) awakens within; then his mind ascends to the Tenth Plane - Dasam Duaar (where nine holes of body have no effect). (In this State) there is no sleep or hunger (of the love of Maya); they dwell in the Peace (ਆਤਮਕ ਅਨੰਦ) of the Amrit Name of God. O Nanak, pain and pleasure do not afflict anyone, (in those hearts) where the Light of the Lord, the Supreme Soul, illuminates ||16|| (Sri Guru Granth Sahib, Ang 1414). Call him a Self-realized person, God-realized, Shabad-realized or Naam-realized, Spiritual Being, Wise Man, a householder, a Holy person, or any other name you like. He may externally appear to be irreligious, not well cultured, or not learned. However, he is one hundred percent established in Truth. As indicated in the Gurbani, such Pure Beings are very rare — one out of millions.

ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਸਬਦਿ ਰੰਗਾਵਲੇ ਅਹਿਨਿਸਿ ਹਰਿ ਰਸੁ ਭੋਗੁ ॥੩॥: Gurmukh Sabad rangaavale ahinis Hari ras bhog ||3||: Who become the Gurmukhs are imbued with God's Name; day and night, they enjoy elixir (of the Naam; for them the Naam becomes the spiritual food) ||3|| (Sri Guru Granth Sahib, Ang 63).

ਇਹੁ ਮਨੁ ਆਰਸੀ ਕੋਈ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਵੇਖੈ ॥ ਮੋਰਚਾ ਨ ਲਾਗੈ ਜਾ ਹਉਮੈ ਸੋਖੈ ॥ ਅਨਹਤ ਬਾਣੀ ਨਿਰਮਲ ਸਬਦੁ ਵਜਾਏ ਗੁਰ ਸਬਦੀ ਸਚਿ ਸਮਾਵਣਿਆ ॥੪॥: Ihu manu aarsee koee Gurmukhi vekhai ...: This mind is like a mirror (or looking-glass, through which one can see his Mool, Source, Originality, Authentic Nature, Jot-Svaroop, ਆਤਮਕ ਜੀਵਨ, etc., but); hardly any by becoming the Gurmukh (Spiritual Being...) sees himself in it. The rust (of ego or Haume, Maya...) does not stick to (the mind of him who becomes the Gurmukh and) burns his ego (and, with ego burnt, he can see himself through this mind-mirror). The Unstruck Melody of the Bani, the Pure Shabad resounds (within the Gurmukh); through the Gur-Shabad, (the Gurmukh) remains absorbed in the Truth ||4|| (Sri Guru Granth Sahib, Ang 115).

ਕੋਟਨ ਮੈ ਨਾਨਕ ਕੋਊ ਨਾਰਾਇਨੁ ਜਿਹ ਚੀਤਿ ॥੨੪॥: Kotan mai Nanak kou narain jih cheet ||24||: Rare is the one amongst millions, who enshrines Divine in his mind, O Nanak ||24|| (Sri Guru Granth Sahib, Ang 1427).

The Gurmukhs lead Spiritual Life (also called Divine or Eternal Life) of non-attachment, purity and true contentment (Sat Santokh). They understand that only by knowing one's True Nature ("Joti-svaroopa") one can overcome material afflictions, and become eternally blissful. Hence, the Gurmukhs with Spiritual outlook spend their time and energy on the Spiritual path (Aatam-Giaan) eradicating "I-am-ness", Shabad-Vichaar (Aatam-Giaan...), associating with Sat (Truth) within and without; without sacrificing the household duties and responsibilities.

ਬੰਧਨਿ ਬਾਧਿਆ ਇਨ ਬਿਧਿ ਛੂਟੈ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਸੇਵੈ ਨਰਹਰੇ ॥੧॥: Bandhan baadhiaa in bidh shootai gurmukhi sevai narahare ||1||: Bound in bondage, the man is released only by this method: by becoming a Gurmukh, serve God ||1|| (Sri Guru Granth Sahib, Ang 1112).

ਸੰਤਹੁ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਗਤਿ ਪਾਈ ॥: Santahu gurmukhi mukti gati paaee: O saints! (One) who become the Gurmukh, attains the state of Liberation (ਉੱਚੀ/ਗਿਆਨ ਵਾਲੀ ਆਤਮਕ ਅਵਸਥਾ...). (Sri Guru Granth Sahib, Ang 911).

ਕਉਣੁ ਸੁ ਮੁਕਤਾ ਕਉਣੁ ਸੁ ਜੁਗਤਾ ॥ ਕਉਣੁ ਸੁ ਗਿਆਨੀ ਕਉਣੁ ਸੁ ਬਕਤਾ ॥ ਕਉਣੁ ਸੁ ਗਿਰਹੀ ਕਉਣੁ ਉਦਾਸੀ ਕਉਣੁ ਸੁ ਕੀਮਤਿ ਪਾਏ ਜੀਉ ॥੧॥ ਕਿਨਿ ਬਿਧਿ ਬਾਧਾ ਕਿਨਿ ਬਿਧਿ ਛੂਟਾ ॥ ਕਿਨਿ ਬਿਧਿ ਆਵਣੁ ਜਾਵਣੁ ਤੂਟਾ ॥ ਕਉਣ ਕਰਮ ਕਉਣ ਨਿਹਕਰਮਾ ਕਉਣੁ ਸੁ ਕਹੈ ਕਹਾਏ ਜੀਉ ॥੨॥ ... ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਮੁਕਤਾ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਜੁਗਤਾ ॥ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਗਿਆਨੀ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਬਕਤਾ ॥ ਧੰਨੁ ਗਿਰਹੀ ਉਦਾਸੀ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਕੀਮਤਿ ਪਾਏ ਜੀਉ ॥੫॥ ਹਉਮੈ ਬਾਧਾ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਛੂਟਾ ॥ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਆਵਣੁ ਜਾਵਣੁ ਤੂਟਾ ॥ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਕਰਮ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਨਿਹਕਰਮਾ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਕਰੇ ਸੁ ਸੁਭਾਏ ਜੀਉ ॥੬॥: Kaounu su muktaa kaounu su jugataa...: Who is liberated, and who is united? Who is a spiritual teacher, and who is a preacher? Who is a house-holder, and who is a renunciate? Who can estimate the Lord's Value? ||1|| How is one bound, and how is one freed of his bonds? How can one escape from the cycle of coming and going? Who is subject to Karma, and who is beyond Karma? Who chants the Name, and inspires others to chant it? ||2|| Who is happy, and who is sad? Who, as Sanmukh (turns toward the Guru), and who, as Vaymukh (turns away from the Guru)? How can one meet the Lord? How is one separated from Him? Who can reveal this? ||3|| What is that Word, by which the wandering mind can be restrained? What are those teachings, by which we may endure pain and pleasure alike? What is that lifestyle, by which we may come to meditate on the Supreme Lord? How may we sing the Kirtan of His Praises? ||4|| The Gurmukh is liberated, and the Gurmukh is linked (to Mool within). The Gurmukh is the spiritual teacher, and the Gurmukh is the preacher. Blessed is the Gurmukh, the householder and the renunciate. The Gurmukh knows the Lord's Value. ||5|| Egotism is bondage; as Gurmukh, one is emancipated. The Gurmukh escapes the cycle of coming and going in reincarnation. The Gurmukh performs Karma (ਮਾਇਆ-ਰਹਿਤ), and the Gurmukh is beyond Karma (i.e., he does not get involve in Mayaic efforts...). Whatever the Gurmukh does, is done in good faith (ਆਤਮ-ਗਿਆਨ ਵਿਚ ਟਿਕ ਕੇ). ||6|| (Sri Guru Granth Sahib, Ang 131).

A person with such divine qualities is free from doubts, superstitions, material bondage, falsehood, corruption, evil-mindedness, demoniac actions, jealousy and enviousness, false ego, passions, demerits, sinful reactions, lamentation and hankering for material objects, desire and fear, hatred, conflicts, fanaticism, differences, and so on. In essence, he is a living-liberated (Jivan Mukta). Such pure devotee helps recover other conditioned Jiva (individual beings) from their delusion as well. Accordingly, the Gurbani declares that there is no difference in God and a Gurmukh.

ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਬਾਣੀ ਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਹੈ ਸਬਦਿ ਮਿਲਾਵਾ ਹੋਇ ॥: Gurmukh bani Brahm hai Sabad milaavaa hoi: The Word of the Gurmukh is God Himself (ਬ੍ਰਹਮ). Through (his) Shabad, we meet (God) (Sri Guru Granth Sahib, Ang 39).

ਅਪੁਨੇ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਕਉ ਸਦਾ ਬਲਿ ਜਾਈ ॥ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਜੋਤੀ ਜੋਤਿ ਮਿਲਾਈ ॥: Apune satgur kaou bali jaaee. Gumukh jotee joti milaaee: I am forever a sacrifice to my Satgur. Who becomes the Gurmukh, (the Satguru) blends his light (consciousness, ਸੁਰਤਿ, etc.) with the Divine Light (Sri Guru Granth Sahib, Ang 362).

ਤ੍ਰੈ ਗੁਣ ਮਾਇਆ ਮੋਹੁ ਹੈ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਚਉਥਾ ਪਦੁ ਪਾਇ ॥: Trai gun maya moh hai Gurmukh chauthaa pad paai: The three qualitied Maya's Moh (worldly attachment) is (prevalent). Who becomes the Gurmukh attains the Fourth State (the state that transcends Maya) (Sri Guru Granth Sahib, Ang 30).

ਨਾਨਕ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਦੁਆਰੁ ॥੨੮॥: Nanak gurmukhi mukati duaar ||28||: O Nanak! By becoming the Gurmukh, find the door of liberation (from the false ego-sense - ਹਉਮੈ - bondage, Maya, etc.). ||28|| (Sri Guru Granth Sahib, Ang 941).

Hence, according to the Gurbani, a Gurmukh is not a question of heredity, family of birth, ancestry, race, region, social status, caste, creed, education, titles, religion, or any peculiar external appearance of a person; it is a question of Self-realization (linking with the Mool within...)! Undoubtedly, to be Gurmukh is like standing in a fire without getting burnt!

ਇਹੁ ਮਨੁ ਨਿਹਚਲੁ ਹਿਰਦੈ ਵਸੀਅਲੇ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਮੂਲੁ ਪਛਾਣਿ ਰਹੈ ॥: Ihu manu nihachalu hiradai vaseeale gurmukhi moolu pachhaani rahai (Sri Guru Granth Sahib, Ang 945).

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