Gurbani and commerce
In a highly commercial world, we sometimes get carried away and make business gain our primary aim in life. As with many moral and spiritual issues, the message in Gurbani can at times be a "bitter pill to swallow"; the message appears too strict or highly difficult to achieve. However, if one wants to elevate their life to a upper spiritual plane, then the bitter medicine of Gurbani has to be taken!
Some of the topics relating to Gurbani and commerce are very sensitive, and they are not meant to hurt anybody's feelings, but to make moral progress in life, it very important to bring this truth out to the masses and help them benefit from it. However, as already narrated, sometimes it is real difficult to digest the truth and accept it; the truth is bitter and hard to digest and follow it is much easier to follow an easier path of acceptance and submission to the fashion or the "norm" of the day. However, those who are able to understand the true path in its pure state, will benefit greatly from it.
The Guru tells us "Cursed are the lives of those who read and write the Lord's Name to sell. Their crop is devastated - what harvest will they have? " (SGGS p 1245). So, here we see the first hint in Gurbani where a line needs to be drawn in our business and commercial affairs. When dealing with the "Lord's Name", one has to be careful not to engage in business to gain from the sale of any writing or reading of the Lord's Name.
Relevant Gurbani shabads
Do not sell Naam to make a living
| ਇਹ ਧਨ ਮੇਰੇ ਹਰਿ ਕੋ ਨਾਉ ॥ ਗਾਂਠਿ ਨ ਬਾਧਉ ਬੇਚਿ ਨ ਖਾਉ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ |
| Ih ḝẖan mere har ko nĝ▫o. Gĝʼnṯẖ na bĝḝẖa▫o becẖ na kẖĝ▫o. (1) rahĝ▫o. |
| The Name of the Lord alone is my wealth.
I do not tie it up to hide it, nor do I sell it to make my living. (1)(Pause) |
You sell knowledge; your life is totally worthless!
The operative word here is "bideya" (sdd|ਬਿਦਿਆ} which can be translated as 'knowledge', but can also refer to 'learning', 'education' especially of a spiritual kind.
| ਮਨ ਕੇ ਅੰਧੇ ਆਪਿ ਨ ਬੂਝਹ ਕਾਹਿ ਬਝਾਵਹ ਭਾਈ ॥ ਮਾਇਆ ਕਾਰਨ ਬਿਦਿਆ ਬੇਚਹ ਜਨਮ ਅਬਿਰਥਾ ਜਾਈ ॥੩॥ |
| Man ke anḝẖe ĝp na būjẖhu kĝhi bujẖĝvahu bẖĝ▫ī.
Mĝ▫i▫ĝ kĝran biḝi▫ĝ becẖahu janam abirathĝ jĝ▫ī. (3) |
| You are blind in your mind, and do not understand your own self; how can you make others understand, O brother?
For the sake of Maya and money, you sell knowledge; your life is totally worthless. (3) |
Cursed are the lives who sell
| ਧਰਿਗ ਤਿਨਾ ਕਾ ਜੀਵਿਆ ਜਿ ਲਿਖਿ ਲਿਖਿ ਵੇਚਹਿ ਨਾਉ ॥ ਖੇਤੀ ਜਿਨ ਕੀ ਉਜੜੈ ਖਲਵਾੜੇ ਕਿਆ ਥਾਉ ॥ ਸਚੈ ਸਰਮੈ ਬਾਹਰੇ ਅਗੈ ਲਹਹਿ ਨ ਦਾਦਿ ॥ |
| Ḏẖarig ṯinĝ kĝ jīvi▫ĝ jė likẖ likẖ vecẖėh nĝ▫o. Kẖeṯī jin kī ujṛai kẖalvĝṛe ki▫ĝ thĝ▫o. Sacẖai sarmai bĝhre agai lahėh na ḝĝḝ. |
| Cursed are the lives of those who read and write the Lord's Name to sell.
Their crop is devastated - what harvest will they have? Lacking truth and humility, they shall not be appreciated in the world hereafter. |
