Gurbani Word Of The Day: lohaṭ

ਲੋਹਟੁ (lohaṭ)
Meaning: noun: Iron, hardened like iron.

Quote:
ਹਰਿ ਮੰਦਰ ਮਹਿ ਮਨੁ ਲੋਹਟੁ ਹੈ   ਮੋਹਿਆ ਦੂਜੈ ਭਾਇ॥
har maňdar mahi man lohaṭ hai   mohiaa doojai bhaai
In the temple of God (human body) is the mind hardened like an iron slag, which is lured by the love of duality. – Guru Amar Das, Guru Granth Sahib, 1346

Message: Self-realization is dependent upon curing the stubborn, iron-like mind, by relinquishing the false and self-created reactionary self and love of duality that we have used so effectively to get our way in life.

It is often feared that the renunciation of our false self is the renunciation of life itself. But the reality is quite the opposite. By relinquishing our false selves, with all of the illusory and made-up rules as to how the world is, we re-inherit our true self and begin to live our lives fully in the divine reality. In the realm of the Divine, everything is real, and a reflection of that which is indeed eternal.

One’s own self is well hidden from one’s own self; of all mines of treasure, one’s own is the last to be dug up. – Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche

Etymology: Modified from lohaa, from Sanskrit loh (red, copper – coloured; iron) → Pali loh (metal, especially copper or bronze) → Prakrit loh (iron) → Sindhi lohu (iron), Lahndi/Punjabi lohaa (iron).

Summary of the Week:
The Sikh is a spiritual traveller with a mission to reach the temple of God, a final destination where one’s soul merges with the Divine upon breaking the false wall of egoism that lies between the individual and the divine Soul. This is self-realization, the last destination of the individual human existence. The traveller departs from the station of limited knowledge and understanding and takes the journey towards the destination of greater understanding. This is an inner journey to attain the knowledge of Self: a knowledge that leads towards understanding the Divine.

A journey towards understanding such a Truth will only be possible through the Guru’s guidance and adopting the way of life as suggested by the Guru; an expedition carried out in accordance with Gurbani. By imbibing true knowledge enshrined in the Guru Granth Sahib, one begins to practise virtues like truth, contentment, and compassion, etc. which propels the soul towards the temple of God, where one attains real knowledge of the ultimate Truth. A realized mind begins to see the creation in the Creator and the Creator in the creation, totally permeating and pervading the entire existence of the universe; the Divine cannot be limited to a particular place, label, or group of people. In the Sikh faith, the Divine is equally accessible to every human being, regardless of culture, religion, ethnicity, language, gender, or sexual orientation.

True self-realization is the key to the whole-hearted joy of life. When we realize the inherent divine qualities of our true nature, our lives become an increasing experience of ‘heaven on earth’. Only through awakening to who we really are will we see the world of our dreams come into being, individually and collectively.

ਹਰਿ ਮੰਦਰ ਮਹਿ ਹਰਿ ਵਸੈ   ਸਰਬ ਨਿਰੰਤਰਿ ਸੋਇ॥
 (O my mind) the Divine, who dwells in the human body (hari-mandar), pervades the whole creation uninterruptedly. – Guru Amar Das, Guru Granth Sahib, 1346