HOW TO LIVE IN GOD’ S WILL/ਭਾਣਾ

ABSTRACT

Willingness, honesty, open mind, and humility are indispensable principles to accept God’s Will as Guru oriented person (ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ). Faith is necessary but alone it can avail nothing. We can have faith and can keep God out of our lives. We have to turn our will and lives to the care of God. Thy Will be done.
                                          ਕਾਰ ਕਮਾਵਹਿ ਸਚ ਕੀ ਲਾਹਾ ਮਿਲੈ ਰਜਾਇ ॥

ਪੂੰਜੀ ਸਾਚੀ ਗੁਰੁ ਮਿਲੈ ਨਾ ਤਿਸੁ ਤਿਲੁ ਨ ਤਮਾਇ ॥
Kaar Kamaaveh Sach Kee Laahaa Milai Rajaa-ay. Pūnjī sācẖī gur milai nā ṯis ṯil na ṯamā▫e.

Practice Truth by abiding in God’s Will, and reap the profits. With the Merchandise of Truth, meet the Guru, who does not have a trace of greed. -----Guru Nanak, Siri Raag, AGGS, Page, 59

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The important key to live under the Will of God is willingness with acceptance. It unlocks the door, which then opens itself.  Looking through this door, one shall see a pathway with an inscription. This is the way to dwell under God’s Will. This needs acceptance, which does not mean liking a situation; it is just an acknowledgement of reality in the present and hope that it shall pass says Nanak in Raag Bilawal:

ਜਿਸੁ ਮਨਿ ਵਸਿਆ ਤਰਿਆ ਸੋਇ ॥

ਨਾਨਕ ਜੋ ਭਾਵੈ ਸੋ ਹੋਇ ॥

Jis Man Vasiya Taria Soey, Nanak Jo Bhavai So Hoey.

He alone is carried across, within whose mind the God abides. O Nanak, that alone happens, which is pleasing to God's Will.            -----Guru Nanak, Raag Bilawal, AGGS, Page, 854-3

This pathway needs affirmative action, that we can cut away the self-will blocking the entry of God in our lives. We must turn our will and lives to the care of God. Thy Will be done as the God wants us what to be and not what we want to be.

By ourselves, we cannot do anything at all. As it pleases the God, It preserves us. O my Dear God, everything is in Your power. I have no power to do anything at all.  As it pleases you, forgive us. You Yourself bless us with conscience, body and everything. You Yourself cause us to act. As You issue Your commands, so do we act, according to pre-ordained destiny and by virtuous good deeds as stressed by Guru Nanak in Raag Tilang:

ਕਰਣ ਪਲਾਹ ਕਰੇ ਬਹੁਤੇਰੇ ਸਾ ਧਨ ਮਹਲੁ ਨ ਪਾਵੈ ॥

ਵਿਣੁ ਕਰਮਾ ਕਿਛੁ ਪਾਈਐ ਨਾਹੀ ਜੇ ਬਹੁਤੇਰਾ ਧਾਵੈ ॥

Karaṇ palāh kare bahuṯere sā ḏẖan mahal na pāvai. Vin Karma (Grace) Kich Paaee-ai Naahee, Jay Bhou Tayra Dhavai.

She may plead and implore so many times, but still, such a bride shall not obtain the Mansion of the God's Presence. Without virtuous deeds one cannot gain anything useful in spite of running around. -----Guru Nanak, Raag Tilang, AGGS, Page, 722-9

ਸੋ ਝੂਠਾ ਜੋ ਝੂਠੇ ਲਾਗੈ ਝੂਠੇ ਕਰਮ ਕਮਾਈ ॥

ਕਹੈ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਹਰਿ ਕਾ ਭਾਣਾ ਹੋਆ ਕਹਣਾ ਕਛੂ ਨ ਜਾਈ ॥

So jẖūṯẖā jo jẖūṯẖe lāgai jẖūṯẖe karam kamā▫ī. Kahai Nānak har kā bẖāṇā ho▫ā kahṇā kacẖẖū na jā▫ī.

One who is attached to falsehood is false; false are the deeds one does. Says Nanak, everything happens according to the Will of the God; no one has any say in this at all. -----Guru Amar Das, Raag Gujri, AGGS, Page, 490-14

ਜੋ ਤੁਮ੍ਹ੍ਹ ਕਰਹੁ ਸੋਈ ਭਲ ਮਾਨਉ ਮਨ ਤੇ ਛੂਟੈ ਸਗਲ ਗੁਮਾਨੁ ॥

ਕਹੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਤਾ ਕੀ ਸਰਣਾਈ ਜਾ ਕਾ ਕੀਆ ਸਗਲ ਜਹਾਨੁ ॥

Jo Tumh Karho Soyee Bhal Manou Man Te Chootai Sagal Gumaan. Kaho Nānak ṯā kī sarṇā▫ī jā kā kī▫ā sagal jahān.

Whatever You do, I accept as good. I have eradicated all egotistical pride from my mind. Says Nanak, I am under the protection of God; Creator of the entire Universe. -----Guru Arjun, Raag Bilawal, AGGS, Page, 824-5

Affirm to God that I offer myself to you, to build me, relieve me the bondage of self, that I may better do Thy Will. Try to meet God in yourself, one to one and voicing the affirmation without reservation.

To every worldly and practical minded, it looks hard and even impossible.  It just needs a little beginning with the key of willingness. This all sounds mysterious and remote. But this very thing bolsters our lower instincts with egotism and frustrating our spiritual progress. The moment our mental and emotional independence is in question, how differently we behave. We think that nobody can meddle with our personal independence. We are certain that our intelligence backed by will power can rightly control over the inner lives and guarantee its success in the world we live in. But think, how well does it work? Everywhere people seem to suffer from anger, resentments, and ego, and fear, unnecessary arguments that, I am right and you are wrong. When we are disturbed about something or someone, it is because we do not understand on a higher level but view it through our personality, which is attached to our need to control things and see ourselves in a positive light. No one can change the other person except him/her self. We cannot find serenity when we are at war with someone or with our selves, as our emotional state does not allow us to think straight and pertinent. Nor do we need to beat up others with blame words. We need to concentrate on our part of the situation, what needs to be changed in our way of thinking and having done so, mental peace will follow and doubt will be dispelled. This will be an in-conflicted state where emotional response and rational assessment speak with the same voice. The moral law dictates that we need strength from our faith to fulfill our imperfect duties.

ਆਪੁ ਮੇਟਿ ਪਏ ਸਰਣਾਈ ਇਹ ਮਤਿ ਸਾਧੂ ਕਹੀ ॥

ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕੀ ਆਗਿਆ ਮਾਨਿ ਸੁਖੁ ਪਾਇਆ ਭਰਮੁ ਅਧੇਰਾ ਲਹੀ ॥

Āp met pa▫e sarṇā▫ī ih maṯ sāḏẖū kahī.Parabh Kee Aagiaa Maan Sukh Paa-eaa Bharam Adayhraa Lahee.

Erasing my self-conceit, I have entered the Sanctuary of Immortal God; these are the Teachings spoken by the Holy Guru. Accepting the Will of God, I attain peace, and the darkness of doubt is dispelled.  -----Guru Arjun, Raag Devgandhari, AGGS, Page, 529-16

Nothing short of right action can bring the desired result. Our whole trouble has been misuse of the self-will power. We have tried to bombard our problems with it instead of attempting to bring it in to agreement with God’s intentions for us. God’s Will, will help us conquering the three qualities of Maya (ignorance, pride and intellect).  

You unite someone with one’s Higher Power, and cause them to understand, while others, the self-willed, do their deeds and cry out in pain. I cannot describe the glorious greatness of God; I am foolish, thoughtless, lowly, and needs your forgiveness. I am ignorant, but I have entered Your Sanctuary.

This is not a fatalistic or passive approach to life. We may very well be given seemingly insurmountable obstacles in life in order to learn what we can, by overcoming them. But if we face these obstacles with a basic acceptance, we are much more likely to possess the calmness of mind necessary to see with some clarity the most skillful means of overcoming them. What keeps us constantly struggling with life is the attitude of non-acceptance, of not trusting the basic process of life unfolding. We suffer under the false assumption that the goal of life is to always avoid what we find unpleasant and to try to dwell in constant comfort. We don't really understand that life is nothing personal. It is much bigger than that. We need to learn to trust in and surrender to this impersonal process we tend to think of as "my life.”

Question arises, what is the need to do anything when things work only according to the "Will of God". If God wants us to do well, we will do well and good, if God wants us to do badly and evil, we will do bad and evil. So once we surrender to God's will, it is God's responsibility,"

Answer is, Big No.

                           We have the responsibility to make choices-right/good or wrong/bad.

Whereas, certain things are beyond our control-those are the laws of nature, which cannot be broken by anyone and are laid according to God's will. These laws are blind but their justice id even handed. So that's what is all about accepting and "surrendering to the Will of God and "let  go". God has given us the knowledge of right and wrong.

Making the right choice:

In making a right choice one must get rid of the ego (ਹਉਮੈ) and be humble to accept God’s Will. The ultimate goal of life of an individual is to grow, learn, and discover things about him/her self and God.

ਖੁਦੀ ਮਿਟੀ ਤਬ ਸੁਖ ਭਏ ਮਨ ਤਨ ਭਏ ਅਰੋਗ ॥
ਨਾਨਕ ਦ੍ਰਿਸਟੀ ਆਇਆ ਉਸਤਤਿ ਕਰਨੈ ਜੋਗੁ ॥

Khudee Mitee Tab Sukh Bha-ey Man Tan Bha-ey Aroag, Nanak Dristtee Aa-eaa Ustat Karnai Joag.

Letting go the ego erases selfishness and conceit, peace comes, and the mind and body are healed. O, Nanak, then It comes to be seen - the One who is worthy of praise. -----Guru Arjun, Gauri Bawan Akhri, AGGS, Page, 260-9

ਮੈ ਨਾਹੀ ਕਛੁ ਹਉ ਨਹੀ ਕਿਛੁ ਆਹਿ ਨ ਮੋਰਾ ॥

ਮੈ ਨਾਹੀ ਕਛੁ ਹਉ ਨਹੀ ਕਿਛੁ ਆਹਿ ਨ ਮੋਰਾ ॥

Mai Naahee Kach Haou Naahee Kich Aah Na Moraa, Aousar Ljaa Raakh Lehu Sadhna Janu Toraa.

I am nothing, I have nothing, and nothing belongs to me. Now, protect my honor; Sadhna is Your humble servant. -----Bhagat Sadhna, Raag Bilawal, AGGS, Page, 858-17, 18

Enlightened Gurus have the power to interfere in God’s Will but they do not want to interfere in it. Namdev in Raag Sarang alludes to it in Raag Sarang:

ਮੇਰੀ ਬਾਂਧੀ ਭਗਤੁ ਛਡਾਵੈ ਬਾਂਧੈ ਭਗਤੁ ਨ ਛੂਟੈ ਮੋਹਿ ॥

ਏਕ ਸਮੈ ਮੋ ਕਉ ਗਹਿ ਬਾਂਧੈ ਤਉ ਫੁਨਿ ਮੋ ਪੈ ਜਬਾਬੁ ਨ ਹੋਇ ॥

Meri Bandhi Bhagat Chadave Baandeh Bhagat Na Chooteh Moeh, Ek Samea Mo Kaou Geh Bandeh Taou Foun Mo Pea Jabab Na Hoey.

God says; my worldly system can be upset by enlightened persons, but once the Saints say something, I have no power to upset their wish. Leaving aside all other things, even if they wish to bind me in some sort of bondage, I have no power to undo the effect of their doings. -----Bhagat Namdev, Raag Sarang, AGGS, Page, 1252 and 1253

Making a wrong Choice:

Those who are self-willed usually make a bad choice and knowing fully well come to wrong decisions in life, made by negative thought process and thus block the entry of God in the life of the individual. It is the use of free will, which is the source of all the trouble in the world. Guru Nanak in Raag Sorath, Guru Amar Das in Raag Maru, and Kabir in his Slokes refer to this choice;

ਨਾਨਕ ਅਉਗੁਣ ਜੇਤੜੇ ਤੇਤੇ ਗਲੀ ਜੰਜੀਰ ॥

ਜੇ ਗੁਣ ਹੋਨਿ ਤ ਕਟੀਅਨਿ ਸੇ ਭਾਈ ਸੇ ਵੀਰ ॥
Nānak a­oguṇ jėṯ­ṛė ṯėṯė galī janjīr, Jė guṇ hon ṯa katī­an sė bẖā­ī sė vīr.

O Nanak, as many as are the sins one commits, so many are the chains around his neck. If he possesses virtues, then the chains are cut away; these virtues are his brothers, his true brothers. -----Guru Nanak, Raag Sorath, AGGS, Page, 595-8, 9

ਲੋਕੁ ਅਵਗਣਾ ਕੀ ਬੰਨ੍ਹ੍ਹੈ ਗੰਠੜੀ ਗੁਣ ਨ ਵਿਹਾਝੈ ਕੋਇ॥

ਗੁਣ ਕਾ ਗਾਹਕੁ ਨਾਨਕਾ ਵਿਰਲਾ ਕੋਈ ਹੋਇ ॥

ਗੁਰ ਪਰਸਾਦੀ ਗੁਣ ਪਾਈਅਨ੍ਹ੍ਹਿ ਜਿਸ ਨੋ ਨਦਰਿ ਕਰੇਇ ॥

Loak AvguNa Ki Baneh Ganthrhi GouN Na Vihajhai Koey, GouN Ka Gahak Nanaka Virla Koyee Hoey, Gurparsadi GouN Paa-ee-anh Jis No Nadar Karey.

People tie up bundles of demerits; no one deals in virtue. Rare is that person, O Nanak, who purchases virtue. By Guru's Grace, one is blessed with virtue, when God bestows Its Glance of Grace.-----Guru Amar Das, Raag Maru, AGGS, Page, 1092-15

ਕਬੀਰ ਮਨੁ ਜਾਨੈ ਸਭ ਬਾਤ ਜਾਨਤ ਹੀ ਅਉਗਨੁ ਕਰੈ ॥

ਕਾਹੇ ਕੀ ਕੁਸਲਾਤ ਹਾਥਿ ਦੀਪੁ ਕੂਏ ਪਰੈ ॥

Kabir Man Jan Subh Baat Janat Hee Aougan Karai, Kaahay Kee Kuslaat Haath Deep Kooey Parai.

Kabir, the mortal knows everything, and knowing, he still makes mistakes. What good is a lamp in one's hand, if he falls into the well? ----Sloke Kabir 216, AGGS, Page, 1376-4

Conclusion:

The Divine Will created all forms:

What that Will is no one can say. That Will form all life, and that Will exalt all. The Will determines what is high what is low, The Will grants all joys and suffering, The Will blesses some; others migrate from birth to birth.  All are within the Will none stands apart. Says Nanak, by recognizing the Will, we silence our ego.

ਸਭੁ ਕਛੁ ਤਿਸ ਦੈ ਵਸਿ ਦੂਜੀ ਨਾਹਿ ਜਾਇ ॥

ਨਾਨਕ ਸੁਖ ਅਨਦ ਭਏ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕੀ ਮੰਨਿ ਰਜਾਇ ॥

Sabh Kachh Tis Dai Vas Doojee Naahi Jaa-ay, Nanak Sukh Anad bha-ay Parabh Kee Man Rajaey.

Everything is under God’s control and there is none other. Nanak is in peace and bliss by accepting the Will of God. -----Guru Arjan Slokes, AGGS, Page, 1425-11