ÿþ<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>GURMUKH (gur = Gur&#363; mukh = face)</TITLE> <style type="text/css"> .BODY { background-color: #EAF1F7; background-image: url('images/gtbh.jpg'); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-attachment: fixed; background-position: center; color: #0066CC;} .C1{text-align: justify;color: #0066CC;FONT-size: SMALL;FONT-family: Tahoma;} .BIB{text-align: center;color: #000099;FONT-size: SMALL;FONT-family: Tahoma;} .CONT{text-align: right;color: #FF0000;FONT-size: SMALL;FONT-family: Tahoma;} </style><META NAME="keywords" CONTENT="GURMUKH"> <META http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"></HEAD> <BODY class="BODY" oncontextmenu="return false" ondragstart="return false" onselectstart="return false"> <FONT ALIGN="JUSTIFY" FACE="Tahoma"> <p class="C1">&#65279GURMUKH (<i>gur</i> = Gur&#363; <i>mukh</i> = face), a word employed in Sikh Scripture, the Gur&#363 Granth S&#257hib, in several distinct shades of signification. The <i>gurmukh</i> is, for instance, the Primordial Gur&#363 (God) who created all forms; it is He, too, who strings them into one thread --- <i>oa&#7749 gurmukhi k&#299o ak&#257r&#257 ekahi s&#363ti provanh&#257r&#257</i> (GG, 250). <i>Gurmukh</i> is also the Gur&#363 who instils the awe of the Fearless One, and through the Word shapes the mis-shapen (minds). In another sense, <i>gurmukh</i> is the God ---conscious or the God-inspired man who, imbued with the Word, is crowned with glory at the Lord's portal --- <i>gurmukhi hari dari sobh&#257 p&#257e</i> (GG, 125). In <i>M&#257r&#363 Solahe</i> by Gur&#363 Amar D&#257s, Gurmukh is the mystic sound (<i>n&#257d</i>), spiritual knowledge (<i>Ved</i>), and the contemplation thereof (GG, 1058). At a few places in the Gur&#363 Granth S&#257hib the word <i>gurmukh</i> is used in its literal sense of the face of the Gur&#363. "Beholding the Gur&#363's countenance one attains the highest bliss <i>gur&#363 mukhu dekhi gar&#363 sukhu p&#257yau</i>" (GG, 1400). Varyingly, it signifies "by the Master's Word" (adv.). "By the Master's Word is attained the Name that is like cool water, whereby elixir of the Name divine is quaffed in long draughts -- <i>gurmukhi n&#257mu s&#299tal jalu p&#257i&#257 hari hari n&#257mu p&#299&#257 rasu jh&#299k"</i> (GG, 1336).</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; However, the principal sense in which the word most frequently occurs in the Gur&#363 Granth S&#257hib is that of the God-inspired or theocentric man -- one who follows the way of life prescribed by the Gur&#363 and acts on his precepts. In this sense, he has his "face turned towards the Gur&#363." <i>Gurmukh</i> is a Siddha or the perfect being. Gur&#363 N&#257nak, according to <i>Sidha Gos&#7789i</i>, had as a pilgrim been searching for such a one all over -- <i>gurmukhi khojat bhae ud&#257s&#299</i> (GG, 939). <i>Gurmukh</i> stands in contradistinction to <i>manmukh</i>, the ego-centred one, who has turned his face away from the Gur&#363 : the ego-centred one. turns his back (upon him) -- <i>gurmukhi sanmukhu manmukhi vemukh&#299&#257</i> (GG, 131). The <i>gurmukh</i> thus embodies the acme of the personality typology postulated in Sikh thought. The God-facing man (<i>gurmukh</i>) is inspired by the Gur&#363's spirit. He scrupulously follows the Gur&#363's teaching and lives as the Master bids, for he is "merged in the Gur&#363's Word" (GG, 1054-55). <i>Gurmukh</i> lives for truth and reighteousness. Having bathed in the pool of truth the soul of the <i>gurmukh</i> is purified. Truth pervades his speech, Truth bedecks his vision, Truth fills his actions, too. To a <i>gurmukh</i> alone is Truth revealed, for he is rid of doubt, delusion and pride -- <i>gurmukhi hovai su sojh&#299 p&#257e haumai m&#257i&#257 bharamu gav&#257e</i> (GG, 1058-59). His is an illumined mind-free from ignorance and dubiety. While a <i>manmukh</i> even at his best practises but deception, the <i>gurmukh</i> is a serene follower of truth. Discrimination (<i>vivek</i>) is his hallmark and he burns his ego through concentration on the <i>Sabad (&#347abda ) -- gurmukhi haumai sabadi jal&#257e</i> (GG, 942).</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The <i>gurmukh</i> dwells upon the Name of God. He constantly meditates through <i>simran</i> and gains stability of mind. Mind not attuned to the true self becomes limited. The <i>gurmukh</i> dispels all dubiety of the mind -- <i>gurmukhi sagal&#299 ga&#7751at mi&#7789&#257vai</i> (GG, 942). Freedom from attachment characterizes his conduct. The <i>gurmukh</i> carries out actions, but himself he transcends them. His deeds are good spontaneously. He is above pleasure and pain. The Lord Himself has apportioned woe and weal to man... but the <i>gurmukh</i> is untouched by these. He is a renouncer in spirit even while carrying out duties of the householder. The <i>gurmukh</i> indulges in the actions dictated by his destiny and yet is not lost in them because spiritual discipline and divine enlightenment qualify him to distinguish truly between desired action (<i>prav&#7771tti</i>) and renunciation (<i>niv&#7771tti</i>) -- <i>gurmukhi parvirati narvirati pachh&#257&#7751i</i> (GG, 941). <i>Jñ&#257n&#299, sant, brahmgi&#257n&#299</i> are some other terms which are used in Gurb&#257&#7751&#299 synonymously with <i>gurmukh</i>. In Sikhism the connotation of <i>gurmukh</i> is wide and comprehensive and the term has been applied to a whole continuum of the enlightened ones from the self-searching <i>Jigy&#257su</i> through one who has attained <i>sahaj</i> (equipoise), mental and spiritual.</p> </font> <p class="BIB"> BIBLIOGRAPHY<p class="C1"><ol class="C1"><li class="C1"><i>&#346abad&#257rth Sr&#299 Gur&#363 Granth S&#257hib</i>. Amritsar, 1964<BR> <li class="C1"> Santokh Si&#7749gh, Bh&#257&#299, <i>Sr&#299 Gur Prat&#257p S&#363raj Granth</i>. Amritsar, 1927-33<BR> <li class="C1"> Jodh Si&#7749gh, Bh&#257&#299, <i>Gurmati Nir&#7751aya</i>. Lahore, 1932<BR> <li class="C1"> Avtar Singh, <i>Ethics of the Sikhs</i>. Patiala, 1970<BR> <li class="C1"> Nripinder Singh, <i>The Sikh Moral Tradition</i>. Delhi, 1990<BR> <li class="C1"> Wazir Singh, <i>Philosophy of Sikh Religion</i>. Delhi, 1981<BR> <li class="C1"> Sher Singh, <i>The Philosophy of Sikhism</i>. Lahore, 1944<BR> </ol><p class="CONT">Jaswant Si&#7749gh Nek&#299<br></p><BR> </font> <img src="counter.aspx" width="1px" height="1px" alt=""> </HTML></BODY>