Word Of The Day: Nindak

ਨਿੰਦਕ (niňdak)
Meaning: noun: slanderer, blamer; scoffer.

Quote:
ਨਿੰਦਕ ਕੀ ਗਤਿ ਕਤਹੂ ਨਾਹਿ॥ ਆਪਿ ਬੀਜਿ ਆਪੇ ਹੀ ਖਾਹਿ॥
niňdak kee gat kat-hoo naahi. aap beej aape hee khaahi.
The slanderers never find peace. They eat what they themselves plant. – Guru Arjan Sahib, Guru Granth Sahib, Page 1145

Message: Guru Arjan, our fifth Guru, remarks that in slandering a saintly, devout or good person, man suffers in misery, pain and anguish. By his actions he pollutes his own mind and body. He places an unbearable burden upon his head and eventually reaps what he has sown. Habits die hard. The satisfaction, the feeling of importance, the righteousness continues without him realizing that he has scorched his own inner self.

Devotees need to be beyond hate and vengeance. Emulate good habits, and thus emancipate yourself from habits of slander or gossip.

Keen to Explore Further?
Etymology: From Sanskrit nindak.

Summary of the Week:

Speaking ill of others pollutes the mind. No religious or ritual practices can wash this off. “One slanders others, and thus pollutes his own mind. Outwardly, he washes off his bodily filth, but the impurity of the mind does not go away.” (GGS, Page 88)

Listening to slander is equally harmful to a person. “The impurity of the tongue is falsehood…the impurity of the ears is to listen to the slander of others.” (GGS, Page 472). In other words, both the slanderer and the listener are equal partners in this false trade.

The instinct for slander exists because of inflated egoism. Once the egoism loses its grip, slander and its related urges slowly diminish. A spiritually guided person will attach himself to the wisdom of the Guru.

What will you do the next time you are tempted to gossip; or if you hear slander in your presence?

Let nobody speak mischief of anybody. –Plato

ਨਿੰਦਾ ਭਲੀ ਕਿਸੈ ਕੀ ਨਾਹੀ ਮਨਮੁਖ ਮੁਗਧ ਕਰੰਨਿ॥
It is not good to slander anyone; only self-centered foolish people do it.
– Guru Amar Das, Guru Granth Sahib, Page 775