OCCULT POWERS - SIDHIS

A person may remain devoted to worship and adoration, bowing hisforehead to the floor, practicing the six religious rituals. He indulges

in egoism and pride, and falls into entanglements, but he does notmeet God by these devices. He practices the eighty-four posturesof Yoga, and acquires the supernatural powers of the Siddhas, buthe gets tired of practicing these. He lives a long life, but is born

again and again; for he has not realized God  (sggs 642). <><><><>

All miracles are illusion, the dictum of senses confined to time and space. Many bogus among the so called Baabaas, Pandits, saints, priest, astrologers, Saadhus, Yogis, Swamis, or Sidhaas consciously display such powers for insignificant things like impressing upon unsuspecting people for making new disciples and followers, amassing money, gaining fame and honor, securing material welfare and comforts of life, gaining recognition, seeking people's appreciation and attention, etc. As indicated by a Great Soul, the life of such mean and deluded Moodha or rascals is no different than a prostitute: They sell their body, mind and soul just as a whore does! As it will become more clear in the following pages, so long one consciously and selfishly exercises supernatural powers to produce miracles, that person cannot and will not transcend Maya (illusion, duality etc.).

Ridhi sidhi sabh moh hai Naam na basai mann aaye: Riches and the supernatural spiritual powers are all emotional attachments (egoism); through them, Naam - the Lord's Name - does not come to dwell in the mind (sggs 593).

The Mother showed me that Occult powers are as abominable as the filth of that prostitute (The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa, 745).

Paramaano parajant aakaasah deep loa sikhandanah. Gashhen nain bhaaren Nanak binaa saadhoo na sidhyate ||2||: Even if the mortal could reduce himself to the size of an atom, and shoot through the ethers, continents, worlds and their regions in the blink of an eye, even then, O Nanak, without the Holy (Guru), his life will not be fruitfull - Safal ||2|| (sggs 1360).

The religion or Spirituality is not meant to perform weird tricks or miracles. The only purpose of religion or Spirituality is to kill the false ego-sense (Hayume) and stay clear from the rule of the senses. The true spirit of religion, thus, urges man to raise his Spiritual, moral, and ethical standard so that he can practice Truthfulness and Righteousness (Dharma), and selfless love in day-to-day living. As we can see, the intention of religion is not to make us sorcerer, magicians or Madaaree! The Gurbani (Sri Guru Granth Sahib, SGGS) thunders:

Bin Naavai painan khaan sabh baad hai dhigu sidhi dhigu karamaati: Without the Name, all food and clothes are worthless; (without the Naam) accursed are all Sidhee and miracles (sggs 650).

What is occult power? Also known as Sidhis, Ashvarayas, Tant Mant (tantar mantar or tantra mantra), miraculous powers, spiritual powers, supernatural powers, magical powers, psychic powers, super human powers, super sensory phenomena, extrasensory perceptions, and so on, are in fact divine powers which can be manifested by any living being who has obtained mastery over the forces of the creation or nature through special training and practice of certain substance or Mantraas.

Sidhis or Siddhis - supernatural powers - are mentioned to be eighteen in number. Of them, the eight are known as major and the remaining are considered minor. The eight principle Sidhis are as follows: the power to assume form as small as atom (Anima), as large as mountain (Mahimaa), as light in weight as air (Laghimaa), and as heavy in weight as the Earth (Grimaa); the power to attain anything desired (Praapati), to bring all senses under one's control (Vasitva), to have unhampered will (Prakaamaya), and the lordliness (Isha). The minor Sidhis are namely the power to be immune from hunger and thirst (Anooram), to hear from afar (Door Sharavan), to see from afar (Door Darshan), to travel fast like thought (Manoveg), to assume any desired form (Kaamroop), to enter into another's body (Parkaayi Parvesh), to die at one's own will (Sai Maritayaa), to enjoy meeting with gods (Surkareeraa), the fulfillment of desires (Sankalap Sidhi), and to go anywhere unobstructed (Apratihat Gat).

Sagal padaarath ashtsidhi Naam mahaa ras maahi: All wealth, and the eight miraculous spiritual powers are in the supremely sublime essence of the Naam (sggs 203).

Sabh nidhaan das ashat sidhaan thaakur kar tal dhariyaa: All treasures and the eighteen supernatural powers of the Siddhas are held by the Supreme Being in the palm of His hand (sggs 495).

In reality, occultists act only out of deeply deluded egocentric false convictions and self-serving ambitions for material enjoyment. So long one consciously practices occult powers, he cannot conquer Maya and unite with God Consciousness. It is Maya that begets egoism. Thus, all psychic Sidhis are of great danger to Spiritual aspirants. They are empty of Spiritual vibrations and have nothing to do with God-realization. Consequently, their practice is in direct contradiction with God's Will (Hukam or Eternal Law).

Therefore, before Self-realization, the practice or development of occult powers is among the greatest obstacles on the path to linking with one's Pure Being. The reason being is that it further cultivates or inflates egoity, and rebels against unconditional surrender of all our falsehood to God's Hukam (Will) or God-consciousness within. To make us aware of this grave danger, in the very outset of the SGGS, Baabaa Nanak in Japuji Sahib calls Ridhi and Sidhi (prosperity or good fortune and miraculous powers or accomplishments...) to be "Avaraa Saad" (external-inferior, hindrance, misleading extraneous tastes, etc.), opposing to the God's Way.

Aap naath naathee sabh jaake ridhi sidhi avraa saad: (O Yogi!) God Himself is Naath (the Supreme Master), who (whose Hukam) controlls all; these Ridhi and Sidhi are all external tastes (sggs 6).

Nothing can exist by itself. Supreme Self is the sustainer and giver of all powers since they all exist in Him. Since all powers emanate from the Divine, they are also divine. However, when these powers fall in the hands of occultist or selfish and greedy people, they bring nothing but miseries to all involved. Such people have been around since time immemorial. For example, the ancient epics like Mahabharta and Ramayana, etc., exhibit numerous stories relating to occult practices. Many Biblical and Arabian stories relate to supernatural powers. Also, there are Saakhees or stories of Baabaa Nanak indicating his encounters with occultists.

Even today, occultism in India is widely practiced, particularly in villages. Many people of deluded intellect practice some Spirituality for the sole purpose of gaining witchcraft, sorcery or occult powers - evil magic, black magic, tantar mantar etc. - to earn wealth, win lawsuits in courts, acquire property, bring downfall of others, inflict misery on innocent people, kill living beings, destroy which is virtuous and holy, promise children (particularly son!) to women, walk on water, fly objects in the air, predicts future events, to be-witch to whom we love, gain objects of desire, cure sickness, and other petty exhibitions of selfishness, foolishness, and delusion.

Kinhee sidh bahu chetak laaye. Kinhee bhekh bahu thaat banaaye. Kinhee tant mant bahu khevaa. Mohi deen har har aadhaaraa ||4||: Some work spells using the miraculous spiritual powers of the Siddhas. Some wear various religious robes and establish their authority. Some perform Tantric spells, and chant various mantras. (But) I meek have support of the Lord's Name (i.e., I only do His Bhagti)||4|| (sggs 913).

Although the aspects may be somewhat different, however, the practice of occult powers is no less prevalent in the West. In fact people in the West desire a conscious display of powers as well as training and instructions for their attainment. For example, Vatican (Catholic headquarters) does not recognize, beatify or declare any of its missionary as a "saint" unless a miracle can be attributed to him or her; and then that miracle must be approved by the members of the saint-making department known as the Congregation for the Causes of Saints! How strange! The Bible indicates that, whenever there was an astonishing event in his presence, Jesus did not want anyone to know about it. For example, he gave a stern warning to a leper after he was healed: "See that you don't tell anyone..." (Mat 8:3 and Mar1:44). Thus Jesus was apparently not only very reluctant to making any astonishing event, but he was also impatient with anyone awed by it.

In the view of Spiritual hypocrisy, it is of no surprise to see so many cheaters in the garb of so called Indian and Eastern Yogis, Taantric and mystics pullulating all over India as well the West. They have made the mockery of the sacred science of Yoga. The word "Yoga" comes from the root "Yuj", meaning "Join". So, Yoga means the joining of the false ego (I-ness and my-ness) to the Supreme Self. Today's so called Yoga practice —

which involves various sense pleasures, make-show practice of gymnastic like feats, indulging in sex and intoxication — are contradictory to the Yoga's principles. Since many of the so called Yogis are simply attracted to the occult powers (byproducts of Yoga or devotion), they or their disciples will not and cannot attain the stage of Spiritual Perfection.

Realized Men and the true scriptural texts boldly declare that the conscious practice to display miraculous powers is mean, foolish, poisonous, dangerous, wicked, miserable, spiritual blindness, mental delusion, material slavery, and spiritual imperfection. For this reason, they all tell us that by acquiring one of the Sidhis one may add a little to his power, but he will not be able to realize God. In this context, the scriptures thunder forth the following declarations:

Sidh hovaa sidhi laayee ridhi aakhaa aayu. Gupat pargat hoyi besaalok raakhai bhaayu. Mat dekh bhoolaa veesrai teraa chit na aavai naayu ||3|| : If I were to become a Siddha, and work miracles, summon wealth and become invisible and visible at will, so that people would hold me in awe—seeing these, I might go astray and forget You, and Your Name would not enter into my mind ||3|| (sggs 14).

Riddhi siddhi prerai bahu bhayee. Buddhihi lobha dikhavahim ayee. Kal bal chhal kari jaahin sameepaa. Anchal baat bujhaavahi deepaa.....Kahiya taata so parama viragee. Trina sama siddhi teeni guna tyagee: O Brother, Ridhis and Sidhis entice man by showing greed to his mind. They use their cleverness, strength, and deception to make friend with him; and then destroy his wisdom. He is the greatest Vairaagee, or detached, who has renounced them (Tulsi Ramayan).

The most wise ones say that those who are engaged in the cultivation of the sublime path of Bhakti (Devotion) or Giaan (Self-knowledge), and who are trying to link with Me (i.e., God), for them all these Sidhis are obstacle; because of these Sidhis, they end up uselessly wasting there time (Bhaagvata 11.15.33).

These powers are obstacles to the highest spiritual realization (Patanjali, Yoga Sutra 3-37).

There should be entire rejection of all allurements from all forms of being, even the celestial, for the recurrence of evil contacts remains possible (Patanjali, Yoga Sutra 3-51).

If however a man consciously attempts to display Sidhis he will receive only kicks (Sri Raman Maharshi).

I forbid you, O bhikkhus, to employ any spells or supplications, for they are useless, since the law of Karma governs all things. He who attempts to perform miracles has not understood the doctrine of the Tathagata (Buddha).

Thus, even though the practice of occult powers is disapproved by the scriptures and the men of Light, still in the fit of rage many Sikhs, Hindus and others alike indulge in it either directly or indirectly by paying an outside occultist or sorcerer. How foolish!

The seekers can be divided into two types: (1) the Spiritual aspirants, and (2) the seekers of occult powers. To attain Spiritual Perfection or true success, the genuine seeker uplifts

himself from sensory consciousness to Cosmic Consciousness. By his true love and devotion, the full spectrum of spiritual powers over mind and matter in time become manifest as he gradually sheds his coverings of delusion. However, the true Yogi or Spiritual aspirant (Gurmukh) disregards all inferior powers for the Supreme Power — God. On the other hand, the seeker of occult powers (Manmukh) discards the Supreme Power for the inferior occult powers and thus loses his way. Hence, the attainment of mastery over phenomenal creation bound in the framework of time and space is not a goal of the Spiritually Wise.

Sidh samaadhi antar jaachih ridhi sidhi jaach i kare jaikaar. Jaisee piyas hoyi mann antar tiaso jal devahi parkaar ||6||: The Siddhas in Samaadhi beg for wealth and miracles, and proclaim His victory. As is the thirst within their minds, so is the water which You give to them ||6|| (sggs 504).

Gurmukh ashat sidhee sabh budhee....: To become the Gurmukh is obtaining the eight miraculous spiritual powers, and all wisdom. By becoming the Gurmukh, (one) crosses over the terrifying world-ocean, and obtains true understanding. By becoming the Gurmukh, (one) knows the ways of truth and untruth. By becoimg the Gurmukh, (one) knows Paravirti and Niravirti .By becoming the Gurmukh, (one) crosses over, and carries others across (the world-ocean) as well. O Nanak! By becoimg the Gurmukh (one) is emancipated through the Shabad. ||31|| (sggs 941).

The rise of false ego-sense is the birth of man and his limited mind. Since occult powers are the functions of the wandering mind, they are limited to the realm of the mental delusion only. On the other hand, the Supreme Self is beyond the reach of the body, fickle mind and intellect. Seen thusly, the miraculous powers are not natural to man's True Nature (Joti Svaroop) at all. Anything that is not natural is impermanent and has no Being. Since the occult powers are acquired, and as they depend upon the mind for their existence, they cannot be permanent, hence not worth striving for. Accordingly, the Gurbani teaches us to only strive for that which is most intimate and eternal Being — Waheguru, the Unconditioned Consciousness.

Sidh kahaavayu ridhi sidhi bulaavayu. Taaj kulah sir chhattar banaavayu. Bin Jagdees kahaa sukh paavayu ||6||: He may be called a Siddha, a man of spiritual perfection, and he may summon riches and supernatural powers; he may place a crown upon his head, and carry a royal umbrella; but without the Supreme Being, where can Truth be found? ||6|| (sggs 225).

Impermanent things cannot give permanent happiness. However, due to mental concoctions, man thinks that by increasing his powers he may be more happy. No, say the scriptures. On the contrary, with the expansion of one's powers, his misery increases proportionately and thus becomes more wretched in the process! A wise knows that the body and wealth are impermanent. Therefore, he does not go such troubles as acquiring occult powers for their sake.

The mind of an occultist is like a shameless, wandering street-dog. Occult powers are gained only by those who are full of worldly desires and fear. Those who are tainted with

ignorance, acquire these powers for the sole purpose of sense-gratification. Thus, occult powers come to those who specifically seek them. These powers are in no way indication of one's Spiritual Progress; because supernatural faculties can be developed even by those who are devoid of any wisdom. It is like a person who never enjoyed power and riches become impatient for them!

Pooj lagai pir aakheeyai sabh milai sansaar. Naayu sadaye aapnaa hovai sidh sumaar. Jaa pat lekhai na pavai sbhaa poojaa khuyaar ||2||: You may be worshipped and adored as a Pir (a spiritual teacher); you may be welcomed by all the world; you may adopt a lofty name, and be known to have supernatural spiritual powers—even so, if you are not accepted in the Divine Realm, then all this adoration is false ||2|| (sggs 17).

Death of the conditioned mind is the birth of the Spiritual Wisdom. Since the psychic powers are limited to and consciously displayed by the imperfect or untrained mind, the Spiritual Beings and the sacred texts teach sincere aspirants to avoid their temptations; for they are hindrance to one's Spiritual Unfoldment. Therefore, all inferior powers do not interest the man of Self-knowledge for he is perfectly content in himself. As Wisdom is the greatest gain, the man of such Wisdom is free from the least desire for anything.

Chaar padaarath ashat dasaa sidhi sabh oopar saadh bhale. Nanak daas dhoor jan baanchhai udhrahi laag palle ||2||97||120||: The four great blessings, and the eighteen supernatural spiritual powers — above all these are the Holy Saints. Slave Nanak longs for the dust of the feet of the humble; attached to the hem of His robe, he is saved ||2||97||120|| (sggs 1227).

In fact, there is nothing so wonderful or extraordinary about the attainment of occult powers. To make the point, here is a parable. Once, a Self-realized Man was standing at the river-shore; waiting for the boat to go across the river. Meanwhile, a Yogi approached him and asked: "Why are you standing here, Sir?" The Holy Man humbly replied: "I am waiting for the boat to take me across the river". The Yogi sarcastically laughed at him and said: "Don't you know how to walk on the water?" "No, Sir", said the Holy Man. "You don't even know how to walk on the water, what kind of Holy Man are you?", inquired the Yogi. Before the Holy Man said anything, the Yogi jumped into the river and started walking on the water. To make a big show of his inflated ego, he traversed the river in every direction. Meantime the boat showed up. Before embarking on the boat, the Holy Man asked Yogi as to how long it took him to master this supernatural feat. "Twenty years", pompously replied the Yogi. The Holy Man asked: "Dear Yogi, tell me how much the boat costs to go cross the river". "Five pennies", replied the Yogi. "That means you earned only five pennies in twenty years!" Saying this the Holy Man left!

Jehee surit tehaa tin raah: As is (beings') awareness, so is (their) way (sggs 25). Jaisaa sevai taiso hoi ||4||: one becomes just like the One he serves (as one thinks,

so he becomes). ||4|| (sggs 223). Jehee mansaa kar laagai tehaa phal paaye: As are the desires one harbors (when

he serves the Satguru), so are the rewards one receives (as is the aspiration, so is the reward) (sggs 116).

Ek nadar kar vekhai sabh oopar jehaa bhaaou tehaa phal paaeeai: (The Satguru lovingly) looks alike upon all, but we receive the fruits according to our own motives (sggs 602).

Jala ke trayeeaa ko gangeree see kahit jaga aag ke bhachhayeeaa so chakor sama janeeyai: One, who swims on water is called water-fly (Jala-Julaahaa) by the world; one, who eats fire, may be considered like the bird Chakor: redlegged partridge (Sri Guru Gobind Singh Jee, Akaal Ustat).

"One day a man approached a Sufi Man of Light, Abu Said (1049 AD), and expressed his sense of amazement and bewilderment at having seen someone walking on water, flying in the air and moving about from one place to another in an instant. Abu Said said that in this was nothing marvelous since ducks also swim on the water, birds fly in the air and Satan is able to move from the east to the west in an instant. He paused and said: "The things which really matter are not those things. Such things are of no value and consequence. The man who should deserve your honor and respect is the man who, in spite of everything, is in the sunshine of society, having social dealings with others, partaking in their joys and sorrows, marrying and giving in marriage and never thinking of withdrawing from the world but still not unmindful of the remembrance of God even for a single moment.""

The person of Self-knowledge is indifferent to psychic powers, while the deluded person considers them desirable! Therefore, it is when there is a partial awakening or partial spiritual immaturity that one enjoys occult powers. However, the one who is intent on the cultivation of Self-knowledge is always keen to avoid their temptation. He knows that the person who attains various occult powers through certain practices or boons is subject to ignorance and bondage.

The nature of the spiritually ignorant is the absence of equanimity. Equanimity is seeing unity in diversity. In the absence of equanimity, the universe is seen to be diverse. When the common factor, the All-pervading Presence, is seen in all objects, the duality departs and the equality in the pairs of "likes and dislikes" spontaneously follows. The true devotee (Gurmukh) possesses such equanimity. Such enlightened one has purity of mind and absence of craving. He is devoid of confusion, doubt, fear, delusion and sensual desires. The evil qualities such as lust, anger, greed, emotional attachment, self-conceit, stubborn mindedness and enviousness are greatly weakened in him. After maintaining a pure Sahaj Samaadhi, when he comes back into the mind, he may realize that he has had some extrasensory perceptions, but he does not use them consciously. He does not dwell on such powers as anything special.

Braham bindai tis daa braham mat rahe ek Shabad liv laaye. Nav nidhee athaarah sidhee pishai laggeyaa phirahi jo Hari hirdai sadaa vasaaye: One who knows God, and who lovingly focuses his attention on the One Shabad, keeps his spirituality intact. The nine treasures and the eighteen spiritual powers of the Siddhas follow him, who keeps the Pure Being enshrined in his Heart (sggs 649).

Thus, occultism is intriguing to ignorance, therefore, only people of small intellect seek them. All these powers are mechanism of the mind which is restless like a ghost. When one gets fascinated with the phenomena of occultism of the mind, then he loses the power to bring others along the path into Pure Spirituality. For a trifle of money, honor and fame, such people ruin themselves and others.

Yoga sidh aasan chauraasee ye bhee kar kar rahiyaa. Vadee aarjaa phir phir janmai Hari siyu sang na gahiyaa ||6||: Man practices the eighty-four postures of Yoga, and acquires the supernatural powers of the Siddhas, but he gets tired of practicing these. He lives a long life, but is reincarnated again and again; he has not met with God  ||6|| (sggs 642).

Occult powers unfailingly increase the fire of pride; especially of those who are not Self-realized. And pride makes one forget his True Nature. The scriptures teach us not to want occultism; for it leads us away from the mental purity, which is of paramount importance for Self-realization. All sorts of psychic phenomena result in lowering of the consciousness. Consequently, the seeker is led away from the goal, and next thing he knows he has lost the way. We cannot afford that. God cannot be realized if we possess even one of the occult powers. Since supernatural powers are fetters, a genuine devotee never prays to God for them.

The mind exists as long as there is curiosity of mundane objects. Occult powers, for example, is the result of this material curiosity of the mind (i.e., "filth"). It is said that this curiosity of worldly things is the last thing to leave the mind, which it does after Self-realization. Upon Self-realization, the curiosity of things goes away, leaving the mind free from all contamination.

Aap pachhanai man nirmal hoye. Jivanmukta har paavai soye: The mind of a Self-realized person becomes pure. He is liberated in this life and attains God (sggs 161).

Man maile bhagti na hovayee Nam na paya jaye: Devotional service can not be performed with a filthy mind, and the Name can not be obtained (sggs 39).

Actually, a person can have psychic powers just with the concentration of the mind without any mental purity. However, without mental purity, he cannot have God-realization! Accordingly, the Enlightened Men and the religious texts teach us to shun them ruthlessly as they try to manifest in the mind. They are absolutely useless; for they only mislead seekers and cause their downfall.

Once the devotee becomes firmly established in Self-knowledge (Aatama-Giaan), then all spiritual powers wait for him with outstretched hands. He cannot lose his way or have a downfall then; because he never misuses these powers. Since actions of true Sidhaas or godly Beings are devoid of false ego-sense or selfishness, their Spiritual energies or powers and actions spontaneously (Sahaj) work for the betterment of the mankind — to take people closer to God. They never use them for their selfish ends, display or exhibitionism.

Satgur miliyai ultee bhayee nav nidh kharchiyu khaayi ..: Meeting the True Guru, I am totally transformed; I have obtained the nine treasures to use and consume. The Siddhis—the eighteen supernatural spiritual powers—follow in my footsteps; I dwell in my own home, within my own self (sggs 91).

Sidhaa purshaa keeyaa vadiyaiyaa ..: All the great miraculous spiritual powers of the Siddhas—without You, no one has attained such powers. They are received only by Your Grace. No one can block them or stop their flow ||3|| (sggs 9).

How can one avoid the spell of occult powers? The superior power of the Shabad or Divine Name is the antidote to all inferior or negative powers. An Illumined Soul is above and beyond the influence of Sidhis or Ridhis, thus immune from their effects, temptation or spell. For example, once a witch tried to put spell on Baabaa Nanak, but failed. Because nothing affects or sticks on an Enlightened Mind! On the contrary, everything affects or sticks on a contaminated mind. The antidote to a venom from a snakebite is the venom that comes from the same snake! Similarly, as declared by the scriptures, the occult powers (snakebite) as well as the power of Shabad or Naam (antidote) also come from the same Original Source. As such, the magic spell of the Shabad or Naam is said to be the antidote to the magic spell of super sensory phenomena or omens. For it to be truly effective, however, the scriptures advise us for an early preparation — build raft before flood, or dig out well before fire!

Sagun apsagun tis kayu lagahi jis chit na aavai: Good omens and bad omens affect those who do not keep God in mind (sggs 401).

Raam Naam jo jan japai andin sad jaagai. Tant mant nah johayee tit chaakh na laagai ||!||Rahaaou||: That humble being who chants God's Name, remains always awake and aware, night and day. He is not affected by charms and spells, nor is he harmed by the evil eye ||1||Pause|| (sggs 717-818).

Tant mant paakhand na jaanaa Raam ridai mann maaniaa: I know nothing of Tantric spells, magical mantras and hypocritical rituals; enshrining the Lord within my heart, my mind is satisfied (sggs 766).

Raam kavach daas kaa sannah. Doot dust tis pohat naahi: God's protective spell (Naam) is the armor of His slave. The wicked, evil demons cannot even touch him (sggs 868).

The greater Enlightenment and Peace is possible without the Sidhis than with them. However, as repeatedly pointed out in the Gurbani, the ways of Spirituality are very subtle, hence most difficult and melancholic. To lure the devotee into darkness, away from the spiritual path, the mind's curiosity as well as temptations of Ridhis and Sidhis are there every step of the way.

Chaalaa niraalee bhgtaah keree bikham maarg chalnaa. Lab lobh ahankaar taj trishnaa bahut naahee bolnaa. Khanniahu tikhee valahu nikkee et maarag jaanaa: The devotees' lifestyle is unique and distinct; they follow the most difficult path. They renounce greed, avarice, pride and desire; they do not talk too much. The path they take is sharper than a two-edged sword, and finer than a hair (sggs 918).

Vaat hammaree kharee udeenee....Sekh Fareed panth samaar saveraa ||4||1||: The path on which I must walk is very depressing.....O Shekh Fareed, think of that path early on ||4||1|| (sggs 794).

A thread that has the smallest fiber sticking out cannot pass through the eye of a needle! Similarly, one cannot fully realize the Self within if he has even a least trace of egoism, bondage, material craving, fear, and sensual desires to enjoy Ridhis and Sidhis. Therefore, a true devotee says: "O God, be merciful and grant me only pure devotion, which is inaccessible to the greatest Yogis and ascetics."

Raaj na chaahayu mukti na chaahayu man preet charan kamlaare: O God, I neither desire for empire (material realm) nor liberation (celestial realm); my soul only longs for the love of your Lotus Feet: Naam (sggs 534).

Nav nidhi Naam nidhaan ridh sidh taa kee daasee: The Naam is the wealth of the nine treasures; prosperity and supernatural spiritual powers are (Ridhi-Sidhi) are its (Naam) the slave (sggs 1397).

— T. Singhwww.gurbani.org