DUALITY/ਦਵੈਤ

ABSTRACT

In Sikhism duality/suspense/doubt implies the attitude and indifference of the materialist (ਸਾਕਤ), towards the love of God and devotion. One who kills duality and doubt lives a pure lifestyle, is spiritually wise, and meditates intuitively. Dualism (from the Latin word duo meaning "two") denotes the state of two parts. The term dualism was originally coined to denote co-eternal binary opposition, a meaning that is preserved in metaphysical and philosophical duality discours. Living in doubt and duality, one is not acceptable, even though one may perform millions of rituals, chants and austerities say Nanak:

ਤੀਰਥ ਵਰਤ ਸੁਚਿ ਸੰਜਮੁ ਨਾਹੀ ਕਰਮੁ ਧਰਮੁ ਨਹੀ ਪੂਜਾ ॥

ਨਾਨਕ ਭਾਇ ਭਗਤਿ ਨਿਸਤਾਰਾ ਦੁਬਿਧਾ ਵਿਆਪੈ ਦੂਜਾ ॥
Ŧirath varaṯ sucẖ sanjam nāhī karam ḏẖaram nahī pūjā, Nānak bẖā­ė bẖagaṯ nisṯārā ḏubiḏẖā vi­āpai ḏūjā.

People are engrossed in duality by performing pilgrimages, purification fasts, self-discipline, rituals, and religious ceremonies or empty worship. O Nanak, emancipation comes only through loving devotional worship.-----Guru Nanak, Siri Raag, AGGS, Page, 75- 17 & 18

ਛਛੈ ਛਾਇਆ ਵਰਤੀ ਸਭ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਤੇਰਾ ਕੀਆ ਭਰਮੁ ਹੋਆ ॥

ਭਰਮੁ ਉਪਾਇ ਭੁਲਾਈਅਨੁ ਆਪੇ ਤੇਰਾ ਕਰਮੁ ਹੋਆ ਤਿਨ੍ਹ੍ਹ ਗੁਰੂ ਮਿਲਿਆ ॥

Cẖẖacẖẖai cẖẖā¬i¬ā varṯī sabẖ anṯar ṯėrā kī¬ā bẖaram ho¬ā. Bẖaram upā¬ė bẖulā¬ī¬an āpė ṯėrā karam ho¬ā ṯinĥ gurū mili¬ā.

Chhachha: Ignorance exists within everyone; doubt is Your doing, O God. Having created doubt, You Yourself causes them to wander in delusion; those whom You bless with Your Mercy meet with the Guru.-----Guru Nanak, Raag Asa, AGGS, Page, 433-1

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The original Sanskrit word for dualism is Dvaita, and for non-dualism Advaita. They represent the doctrine that man has two natures, spiritual and physical. According to Advaita, only the innermost part of a person is aware or conscious. No other part can feel or see or know anything. In all of us Conscience is the same, underlying absolute reality of the whole universe, which is called Brahman. Brahman corresponds to the Western idea of God, which cannot be anthropomorphized. It's impersonal; It's the source of everything; It's what the universe really is. It is the doctrine of distinct and separate existence of Braham and Maya. According to this Maya is not an illusion but a real existence contrary to the view in Hinduism where it is considered an illusion and unreal.

Though there is no difference between Sikh Gurus and God but they are just human beings and servants of God to deliver God’s message to the humanity. It is the God who has to be worshiped and Gurus are just spiritual teachers who should be respected by following their teachings. But still duality and idolatry continue in doubt of reality.

ਦੂਜੈ ਸਭੁ ਕੋ ਲਗਿ ਵਿਗੁਤਾ ਬਿਨੁ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਬੂਝ ਨ ਪਾਈ ॥ 

ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਸੇਵੇ ਸੋ ਸੁਖੁ ਪਾਏ ਜਿਸ ਨੋ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਕਰੇ ਰਜਾਈ ॥੨੦॥

Ḏūjai sabẖ ko lag viguṯā bin saṯgur būjẖ na pā­ī. Saṯgur seve so sukẖ pā▫e jis no kirpā kare rajā▫ī. 

Attached to duality, all are ruined; without the True Guru, there is no understanding. Those who serve the True Guru find peace; they are blessed with Grace by the Will of the God. -----Guru Nanak, Raag Parbhati, AGGS, Page, 1287-10

ਭੈ ਬਿਨੁ ਭਰਮੁ ਨ ਕਟੀਐ ਨਾਮਿ ਨ ਲਗੈ ਪਿਆਰੁ ॥

ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਤੇ ਭਉ ਊਪਜੈ ਪਾਈਐ ਮੋਖ ਦੁਆਰ ॥

ਭੈ ਤੇ ਸਹਜੁ ਪਾਈਐ ਮਿਲਿ ਜੋਤੀ ਜੋਤਿ ਅਪਾਰ ॥

Bẖai bin bẖaram na katī­ai nām na lagai pi­ār. Saṯgur ṯe bẖa▫o ūpjai pā▫ī▫ai mokẖ ḏu▫ār. Bẖai ṯe sahj pā▫ī▫ai mil joṯī joṯ apār.

Without the Fear of God, doubt is not dispelled, and love for the Name is not embraced. Through the True Guru, the Fear of God wells up, and the Door of Salvation is found. Through the Fear of God, intuitive ease is obtained, and one's light merges into the Light of the Infinite.-----Guru Nanak, Raag Parbhati, AGGS, Page, 1288-9

 ਦੁਬਿਧਾ ਬਉਰੀ ਮਨੁ ਬਉਰਾਇਆ ॥
ਝੂਠੈ ਲਾਲਚਿ ਜਨਮੁ ਗਵਾਇਆ ॥
ਲਪਟਿ ਰਹੀ ਫੁਨਿ ਬੰਧੁ ਨ ਪਾਇਆ ॥

ਸਤਿਗੁਰਿ ਰਾਖੇ ਨਾਮੁ ਦ੍ਰਿੜਾਇਆ ॥
ਨਾ ਮਨੁ ਮਰੈ ਨ ਮਾਇਆ ਮਰੈ ॥
ਜਿਨਿ ਕਿਛੁ ਕੀਆ ਸੋਈ ਜਾਣੈ ਸਬਦੁ ਵੀਚਾਰਿ ਭਉ ਸਾਗਰੁ ਤਰੈ ॥

Ḏubiḏẖā ba­urī man ba­urā­i­ā. Jẖūṯẖai lālacẖ janam gavā­i­ā. Lapat rahī fun banḏẖ na pā­i­ā. Saṯgur rākẖė nām driṛ­ā­i­ā. Nā man marai na mā­i­ā marai. Jin kicẖẖ kī­ā so­ī jāṇai sabḏ vīcẖār bẖa­o sāgar ṯarai.

The insanity of duality has driven the mind insane. In false greed, life is wasting away. Duality clings to the mind; it cannot be restrained. The True Guru saves us, implanting the Naam, the Name of God within. Without subduing the mind, Maya cannot be subdued. The One, who created this, alone understands. Contemplating the Word of the Sabd, one is carried across the terrifying world-ocean.-----Guru Nanak, Raag Parbhati, AGGS, Page, 1342

In Sikhism duality implies the attitude of the materialist.  It implies attachment to Maya (ਸਾਕਤ) and indifference to God and to devotion.

ਕਰਮੁ ਹੋਵੈ ਗੁਰੁ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਕਰੈ ॥

ਇਹੁ ਮਨੁ ਜਾਗੈ ਇਸੁ ਮਨ ਕੀ ਦੁਬਿਧਾ ਮਰੈ ॥

Karam hovai gur kirpā karai. Ih man jāgai is man kī ḏubiḏẖā marai.

Who so ever is fortunate and pre-destined will be blessed with the Guru’s Grace, thus over-powering his dual-mindedness; he awakes to the reality of this life.-----Guru Amar Das, Raag Bhario, AGGS, Page, 1129-1

ਅਭਿਆਗਤ ਏਹਿ ਨ ਆਖੀਅਨਿ ਜਿਨ ਕੇ ਚਿਤ ਮਹਿ ਭਰਮੁ ॥

ਤਿਸ ਦੈ ਦਿਤੈ ਨਾਨਕਾ ਤੇਹੋ ਜੇਹਾ ਧਰਮੁ ॥

Abẖi­āgaṯ ėhi na ākẖī­an jin kė cẖiṯ meh bẖaram. Ŧis ḏai ḏiṯai nānkā ṯeho jehā ḏẖaram.

Do not call the wandering beggars holy men, if their minds are filled with doubt. Charity to them do not bring proportionate rewards, O, Nanak.-----Guru Amar Das, Sloke Varan To Vadheek, AGGS, Page, 949-3

Thus even the soul or spirit leaves the physical or material body after death.

ਕਾਇਆ ਹੰਸ ਕਿਆ ਪ੍ਰੀਤਿ ਹੈ ਜਿ ਪਇਆ ਹੀ ਛਡਿ ਜਾਇ ॥

ਏਸ ਨੋ ਕੂੜੁ ਬੋਲਿ ਕਿ ਖਵਾਲੀਐ ਜਿ ਚਲਦਿਆ ਨਾਲਿ ਨ ਜਾਇ ॥
Kā­i­ā hans ki­ā parīṯ hai je pa­i­ā hī cẖẖad jā­ė. Ės no kūṛ bol ke kẖavālī­ai je cẖalḏi­ā nāl na jā­ė.

What love is this between the body and soul, which ends when the body falls? Why feed the body by telling lies? When you leave, it does not go with you.-----Guru Amar Das, Raag Gauri, AGGS, Page, 510-19 

ਏ ਮਨ ਮੂਲਹੁ ਭੁਲਿਆ ਜਾਸਹਿ ਪਤਿ ਗਵਾਇ ॥

ਇਹੁ ਜਗਤੁ ਮੋਹਿ ਦੂਜੈ ਵਿਆਪਿਆ ਗੁਰਮਤੀ ਸਚੁ ਧਿਆਇ ॥

Ė man mūlhu bẖuli▫ā jāsėh paṯ gavā▫e. Ih jagaṯ mohi ḏūjai vi­āpi­ā gurmaṯī sacẖ ḏẖi­ā­ė.

O mind, if you forget the Primal God, you shall depart, having lost your honor.  This world is engrossed in the love of duality; follow the Guru's Teachings, and meditate on the True God.-----Guru Amar Das, Raag Suhi, AGGS, Page, 756-12

ਗੁਰਿ ਪੂਰੈ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਦਿੜਾਇਆ ਤਿਨਿ ਵਿਚਹੁ ਭਰਮੁ ਚੁਕਾਇਆ ॥

ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮੁ ਹਰਿ ਕੀਰਤਿ ਗਾਈ ਕਰਿ ਚਾਨਣੁ ਮਗੁ ਦਿਖਾਇਆ  ॥

ਹਉਮੈ ਮਾਰਿ ਏਕ ਲਿਵ ਲਾਗੀ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਵਸਾਇਆ  ॥

Gur pūrai har nām ḏiṛā­i­ā ṯin vicẖahu bẖaram cẖukā­i­ā. Rām nām har kīraṯ gā▫ī kar cẖānaṇ mag ḏikẖā▫i▫ā.Ha▫umai mār ek liv lāgī anṯar nām vasā▫i▫ā.

The Perfect Guru has implanted God's Name within me; it has dispelled my doubts from within. I sing the God's Name and the Kirtan of the God's Praises; the Divine Light shines, and now I see the Way. Conquering my ego, I am lovingly focused on the One God; the Naam has come to dwell within me.-----Guru Ram Das, Sloke Varan To Vadheek, AGGS, Page, 1424-11

 ਮਨਮੁਖਿ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਨ ਬੁਝੇ ਬਪੁੜੀ ਨਿਤ ਹਉਮੈ ਕਰਮ ਕਮਾਇ ॥
ਵਰਤ ਨੇਮੁ ਸੁਚ ਸੰਜਮੁ ਪੂਜਾ ਪਾਖੰਡਿ ਭਰਮੁ ਨ ਜਾਇ ॥
ਅੰਤਰਹੁ ਕੁਸੁਧੁ ਮਾਇਆ ਮੋਹਿ ਬੇਧੇ ਜਿਉ ਹਸਤੀ ਛਾਰੁ ਉਡਾਏ  ॥
ਜਿਨਿ ਉਪਾਏ ਤਿਸੈ ਨ ਚੇਤਹਿ ਬਿਨੁ ਚੇਤੇ ਕਿਉ ਸੁਖੁ ਪਾਏ  ॥
ਨਾਨਕ ਪਰਪੰਚੁ ਕੀਆ ਧੁਰਿ ਕਰਤੈ ਪੂਰਬਿ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਕਮਾਏ  ॥੧੯॥
Manmukẖ hukam na bujẖe bapuṛī niṯ ha▫umai karam kamā▫e. varaṯ nėm sucẖ sanjam pūjā pakẖand bẖaram na jā­ Anṯrahu kusuḏẖ mā▫i▫ā mohi beḏẖe ji▫o hasṯī cẖẖār udā▫e.Jin upā▫e ṯisai na cẖīṯėh bin cẖeṯe ki▫o sukẖ pā▫e.Nānak parpancẖ kī▫ā ḏẖur karṯai pūrab likẖi▫ā kamā▫e. 

The wretched, self-willed do not realize God’s Will; they continually act in ego. By ritualistic fasts, vows, purities, self-disciplines and worship ceremonies, they still cannot get rid of their hypocrisy and doubt. Inwardly, they are impure, pierced through by attachment to Maya; they are like elephants, who throw dirt all over themselves right after their bath. They do not even think of the One who created them. Without thinking of God, they cannot find peace. O Nanak, the Primal Creator has made the drama of the Universe; all act as they are pre-ordained. -----Guru Ram Das, Sloke Varan To Vadheek, AGGS, Page, 1423-5

There is perfection, but we realize it not by embracing the duality but ultimately recognizing “that we exist beyond it.” When we do not recognize that duality is the defining characteristic of our relative existence, we deny half our mind, which creates an internal conflict. We separate qualities of mind that we want to project to the world from those qualities that we feel that our minds should not possess (i.e., our shadow side). There is nothing more dreadful than the habit of doubt. Doubt separates people. It is a poison that disintegrates friendship and breaks up pleasant relations. It is a thorn that irritates and hurts and it is a sword that kills.

In simple terms of Sikh Faith, an individual can only get out of duality by suspending attachment to Maya, Matter or Materialism but loving the spirit, which is the innate nature of God.  In other words what we cannot carry it with us after death. What ever dies is matter or Maya and the real thing does not die.

Guru Arjun comments on duality in Raag Gauri:

ਜੋ ਇਸੁ ਮਾਰੇ ਸੋਈ ਸੂਰਾ ॥ 

                                                   ਜੋ ਇਸੁ ਮਾਰੇ ਸੋਈ ਪੂਰਾ ॥                                                              ---ਗੁਰਿ ਦੁਬਿਧਾ ਜਾ ਕੀ ਹੈ ਮਾਰੀ ॥

ਕਹੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਸੋ ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਬੀਚਾਰੀ ॥

Jo is mārė so­ī sūrā. Jo is mārė so­ī pūrā. ---- Gur ḏubiḏẖā jā kī hai mārī. Kaho Nānak so barahm bīcẖārī.

One who kills duality is a spiritual hero, is perfect, obtains glorious greatness, and is freed of suffering. How rare is such a person, who kills and casts off duality. Killing it, he attains Raja Yoga, the Yoga of meditation and success, has no fear, and is absorbed in the Naam. One who kills this has his desires quenched, approved in the Court of God, is wealthy and prosperous, is honorable, is truly a celibate, and attains salvation. One who kills this - his coming is auspicious, is steady and wealthy, is very fortunate, remains awake and aware, night and day, and is Jivan Mukta (Liberated) while yet alive. One, who kills this, lives a pure lifestyle, is spiritually wise, and meditates intuitively. Without killing this, one is not acceptable, even though one may perform millions of rituals, chants and austerities, does not escape the cycle of reincarnation, one does not escape death, one does not obtain spiritual wisdom, one's impurity is not washed off, everything is filthy, and everything is a losing game. When God, the Treasure of Mercy, bestows Its Mercy, one obtains release, and attains total perfection. One whose duality has been killed by the Guru, says Nanak, contemplates God.-----Guru Arjun, Raag Gauri, AGGS, Page, 237

ਕਰਿ ਪੰਜੀਰੁ ਖਵਾਇਓ ਚੋਰ ॥

ਓਹੁ ਜਨਮਿ ਨ ਮਰੈ ਰੇ ਸਾਕਤ ਢੋਰ ॥

Kar panjīr kẖavā▫i▫o cẖor. Oh janam na marai rė sākaṯ dẖor.

You prepare sweet treats and feed them to your stone god. God is not born, and does not die, you foolish, materialist! (Like AGGS considering it God).-----Guru Arjun, Raag Bhairo, AGGS, Page, 1136-3

ਥਾਕੇ ਬਹੁ ਬਿਧਿ ਘਾਲਤੇ ਤ੍ਰਿਪਤਿ ਨ ਤ੍ਰਿਸਨਾ ਲਾਥ ॥

ਸੰਚਿ ਸੰਚਿ ਸਾਕਤ ਮੂਏ ਨਾਨਕ ਮਾਇਆ ਨ ਸਾਥ ॥

Thākė baho biḏẖ gẖālṯė ṯaripaṯ na ṯarisnā lāth. Sancẖ sancẖ sākaṯ mū­ė Nānak mā­i­ā na sāth.

Materialist have grown weary, struggling in all sorts of ways; but they are not satisfied, and their thirst is not quenched. Gathering in and hoarding what they can, the materialist die, O Nanak, but the wealth of Maya does not go with them in the end.-----Guru Arjun, Raag Gauri, AGGS, Page, 257-4

ਤਜਿ ਭਰਮ ਕਰਮ ਬਿਧਿ ਨਿਖੇਧ ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮੁ ਲੇਹੀ ॥

ਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ਜਨ ਕਬੀਰ ਰਾਮੁ ਕਰਿ ਸਨੇਹੀ ॥

Ŧaj bẖaram karam biḏẖ nikẖėḏẖ rām nām lėhī. Gur parsāḏ jan Kabīr rām kar sanėhī.

Abandon your doubts about do's and don’ts, and take to God's Name. By Guru's Grace, O servant Kabir, love It.----- Kabir, Raag Dhanasari, AGGS, Page, 692-16

ਲੋਗਾ ਭਰਮਿ ਨ ਭੂਲਹੁ ਭਾਈ ॥

ਖਾਲਿਕੁ ਖਲਕ ਖਲਕ ਮਹਿ ਖਾਲਿਕੁ ਪੂਰਿ ਰਹਿਓ ਸ੍ਰਬ ਠਾਂਈ ॥

Logā bẖaram na bẖūlahu bẖā­ī. Kẖālik kẖalak kẖalak meh kẖālik pūr rahi­o sarab ṯẖāʼn­ī.

O people, O Siblings of Destiny, do not wander deluded by doubt. The Creation is in the Creator, and the Creator is in the Creation, totally pervading and permeating all places.-----Kabir, Raag Parbhati Bhibhas, AGGS, Page, 1350

Conclusion:

Inherent to creation is the existence of opposites. Everything exists in contrast: there can be no good without evil, no right without wrong, no pleasure without pain, no security without insecurity, no happiness without unhappiness, no teacher without a student, no parent without a child, no enlightenment without delusion, and so forth. Life moves in cycles going from one extreme to the other. Non-dualism assumes that these dichotomies are illusionary at worst or inaccurate conveniences at best and similarly the pictures and idols of Gurus/God/Akal Purkh, as the later is formless (ਨਿਰੰਕਾਰ). Similarly is different religions or good and bad.

The Primary Good is good, pure and simple, not by virtue of connection with some thing else, because there is nothing else above it. All things are below It, and receive good from It. It is further more an agent, whose action is intellect (The Higher Self), life, and every thing in which there is life and intelligence. It should not be supposed that evil/bad is opposite to the Primary Good, because there is no intermediary between them. The Primary Good has no opposite. Good either does not exist, or if it does exist, it has no opposite what so ever. But it is impossible for the Good not to exist, because it is the cause of causes. One will judge others as long as one is in duality say Guru Amar Das in Raag Suhi:

ਬੁਰਾ ਭਲਾ ਤਿਚਰੁ ਆਖਦਾ ਜਿਚਰੁ ਹੈ ਦੁਹੁ ਮਾਹਿ ॥

ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਏਕੋ ਬੁਝਿਆ ਏਕਸੁ ਮਾਹਿ ਸਮਾਇ ॥੭॥

Burā bẖalā ṯicẖar ākẖ¬ḏā jicẖar hai ḏuhu māhi. Gurmukẖ eko bujẖi▫ā ekas māhi samā▫e. 

One calls others bad and good, as long as he is in duality. The Guru oriented understands the One and Only God; & is absorbed in It. -----Guru Amar Das, Raag Suhi, AGGS, Page 757-6

The only thing for emancipation or union with God is through love of devotion and living under Its Will/Fear; thus one should make an honest attempt to become a candidate for It’s Grace with complete removal of duality from the mind. It is the Grace of God, which is necessary to cross this worldly ocean (ਭਵਜਲ) by following the teachings incorporated in the Sabd Guru.