Company we keep: Difference between revisions

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'''What influence does the company that we keep have on us?''' According to the [[Guru Granth Sahib]], the company that we keep has a marked influence on us resulting in disastrous consequences if we are not careful. {{sggs3|1369|58442|Kabeer, I have been ruined and destroyed by bad company}}. [[Bhagat Kabir]] tells us  frankly how his life was destroyed due to the companionship of bad [[sangat]].  
'''What influence does the company that we keep have on us?''' According to the [[Guru Granth Sahib]], the company that we keep has a marked influence on us, resulting in disastrous consequences if we are not careful. {{sggs3|1369|58442|Kabeer, I have been ruined and destroyed by bad company}}. [[Bhagat Kabir]] tells us  frankly how his life was destroyed due to the companionship of bad [[sangat]].  


[[Gurbani]] warns us that through our relationship with others around us we ourselves change. We all know the saying ''"A person is the product of his or her environment."'' The [[Sri Guru Granth Sahib]] reveals to us that our friendships and the [[sangat]] (company) that we keep has a profound influence on our outlook, the way we act, the way we behave and our future development.  
[[Gurbani]] warns us that through our relationship with others around us we ourselves change. We all know the saying''"A person is the product of his or her environment."'' The [[Sri Guru Granth Sahib]] reveals to us that our friendships and the [[sangat]] (company) that we keep has a profound influence on our outlook, the way we act, the way we behave and our future development.  


The [[Guru]] says: {{sggs3|1412|59919|False is friendship with the false and greedy. False is its foundation}}. The message again is clear; friendship with a fool, a untruthful person, a corrupt being, a [[Manmukh]] (self-centred, self-willed, a person in worldly consciousness, etc.), person who is wicked, pompous (proud or arrogant), unrighteous, greedy, unfaithful and so on — is founded on false foundation, therefore, will lasts "for only a few short days" and will "never works out right". This sort of friendship will lead to ruins a person who wishes to embrace the path of righteousness ([[Dharam]]).
The [[Guru]] says: {{sggs3|1412|59919|False is friendship with the false and greedy. False is its foundation}}. The message again is clear; friendship with a fool, a untruthful person, a corrupt being, a [[Manmukh]] (self-centred, self-willed, a person in worldly consciousness, etc.), person who is wicked, pompous (proud or arrogant), unrighteous, greedy, unfaithful and so on — is founded on a false foundation, therefore, it will last "for only a few short days" and will "never work out right". Such  friendships will lead a person who wishes to embrace the path of righteousness, to ruin. ([[Dharam]]).


The implication is that if we associate and have friends with good qualities or virtues, our nature will change accordingly. However, on the other hand, if we make friends with someone who has bad qualities, he (or she) will be a bad influence on us for such "friendship leads to corruption". The more deeper the friendship the more wide spread the negative or positive influence.
The implication is that if we associate and have friends with good qualities or virtues, our nature will change accordingly. However, on the other hand, if we make friends with someone who has bad qualities, he (or she) will be a bad influence on us for such "friendship leads to corruption". The more deeper the friendship the more wide spread the negative or positive influence.

Revision as of 19:35, 24 October 2010

This article is part of the series on the "Message of Gurbani"

What influence does the company that we keep have on us? According to the Guru Granth Sahib, the company that we keep has a marked influence on us, resulting in disastrous consequences if we are not careful. "Kabeer, I have been ruined and destroyed by bad company" (SGGS p 1369). Bhagat Kabir tells us frankly how his life was destroyed due to the companionship of bad sangat.

Gurbani warns us that through our relationship with others around us we ourselves change. We all know the saying, "A person is the product of his or her environment." The Sri Guru Granth Sahib reveals to us that our friendships and the sangat (company) that we keep has a profound influence on our outlook, the way we act, the way we behave and our future development.

The Guru says: "False is friendship with the false and greedy. False is its foundation" (SGGS p 1412). The message again is clear; friendship with a fool, a untruthful person, a corrupt being, a Manmukh (self-centred, self-willed, a person in worldly consciousness, etc.), person who is wicked, pompous (proud or arrogant), unrighteous, greedy, unfaithful and so on — is founded on a false foundation, therefore, it will last "for only a few short days" and will "never work out right". Such friendships will lead a person who wishes to embrace the path of righteousness, to ruin. (Dharam).

The implication is that if we associate and have friends with good qualities or virtues, our nature will change accordingly. However, on the other hand, if we make friends with someone who has bad qualities, he (or she) will be a bad influence on us for such "friendship leads to corruption". The more deeper the friendship the more wide spread the negative or positive influence.

Accordingly, the Great Souls tell us that one can tell - "who you are by the company you keep!" - Thus goes the proverbial expression "you are the company you keep".

The following lines or tuks from the Guru Granth Sahib explain the dangers of associating with the "wrong" type of company and how the company that we keep influences us:

Ruined by bad company

ਕਬੀਰ ਮਾਰੀ ਮਰਉ ਕ੝ਸੰਗ ਕੀ ਕੇਲੇ ਨਿਕਟਿ ਜ੝ ਬੇਰਿ ॥ ਉਹ ਝੂਲੈ ਉਹ ਚੀਰੀਝ ਸਾਕਤ ਸੰਗ੝ ਨ ਹੇਰਿ ॥੮੮॥
Kabīr mĝrī mara▫o kusang kī kele nikat jo ber. Uh jẖūlai uh cẖīrī▫ai sĝkaṯ sang na her. ((88))
Kabeer, I have been ruined and destroyed by bad company, like the banana plant near the thorn bush.
The thorn bush waves in the wind, and pierces the banana plant; see this, and do not associate with the faithless cynics. ((88))

Run away from company of evil people

ਸਾਧੋ ਮਨ ਕਾ ਮਾਨ੝ ਤਿਆਗਉ ॥ ਕਾਮ੝ ਕ੝ਰੋਧ੝ ਸੰਗਤਿ ਦ੝ਰਜਨ ਕੀ ਤਾ ਤੇ ਅਹਿਨਿਸਿ ਭਾਗਉ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
Sĝḝẖo man kĝ mĝn ṯi▫ĝga▫o. Kĝm kroḝẖ sangaṯ ḝurjan kī ṯĝ ṯe ahinis bẖĝga▫o. ((1)) rahĝ▫o.
: Holy Saadhus: forsake the pride of your mind.

Sexual desire, anger and the company of evil people - run away from them, day and night. ((1)(Pause))


If you don't keep good company

ਅੰਤਰਿ ਲਹਰਿ ਲੋਭਾਨ੝ ਪਰਾਨੀ ਸੋ ਪ੝ਰਭ੝ ਚਿਤਿ ਨ ਆਵੈ ॥
ਸਾਧਸੰਗਤਿ ਸਿਉ ਸੰਗ੝ ਨ ਕੀਆ ਬਹ੝ ਜੋਨੀ ਦ੝ਖ੝ ਪਾਵੈ ॥
Anṯar lahar lobẖĝn parĝnī so parabẖ cẖiṯ na ĝvai.
Sĝḝẖsangaṯ si▫o sang na kī▫ĝ baho jonī ḝukẖ pĝvai.
The waves of greed are rising up within him, and he does not remember God.
He does not join the Company of the Holy, and he suffers in terrible pain through countless incarnations.


Company of the good and wise

Always seek and keep the compnay of the good, wise and holy people:

ਜਿਨੀ ਗ੝ਰਮ੝ਖਿ ਨਾਮ੝ ਸਲਾਹਿਆ ਤਿਨਾ ਸਭ ਕੋ ਕਹੈ ਸਾਬਾਸਿ ॥ ਤਿਨ ਕੀ ਸੰਗਤਿ ਦੇਹਿ ਪ੝ਰਭ ਮੈ ਜਾਚਿਕ ਕੀ ਅਰਦਾਸਿ ॥
Jinī gurmukẖ nĝm sahĝli▫ĝ ṯinĝ sabẖ ko kahai sĝbĝs. Ŧin kī sangaṯ ḝėh parabẖ mai jĝcẖik kī arḝĝs.
Those Gurmukhs who praise the Naam are applauded by everyone.

Grant me their company, God - I am a beggar; this is my prayer.


ਮੇਰੇ ਮਨ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮ੝ ਧਿਆਇ ॥ ਕਰਿ ਸੰਗਤਿ ਨਿਤ ਸਾਧ ਕੀ ਗ੝ਰ ਚਰਣੀ ਚਿਤ੝ ਲਾਇ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
Mere man har har nĝm ḝẖi▫ĝ▫e. Kar sangaṯ niṯ sĝḝẖ kī gur cẖarṇī cẖiṯ lĝ▫e. ((1))rahĝ▫o.
O my mind, meditate on the Name of the Lord, Har, Har.
Always keep the Company of the Holy, and focus your consciousness on the Feet of the Guru. ((1)(Pause))


Other related tuks