by Harnaak Singh      (170404)

Gur Sikh Jio. Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh.

MIND – INSTINCTS / SURVIVAL INSTINCT

We have covered the six faculties of the mind and started learning about traits.  We learnt about the INSTINCTIVE TRAITS and traits acquired through learning, LEARNED TRAITS.  This is reflected in Figure 1.

Figure 1: Inner-self showing learned and instinctive traits

Before we continue let us review intuition.  It is a very important faculty.

We stress that intuition, our link to the HIGHER CONSCIOUSNESS (GOD), is a very important faculty.  INTUITION can be developed and it is to our advantage to develop this faculty.  INTUITION and SHARDA are synonymous.  One must have SHARDA in the HIGHER CONSCIOUSNESS only then will the intuitive power flow.  The consequence of the scenario if we are void of both SHARDA and INTUITION is reflected in the next paragraph.

WE WILL BECOME SPIRITUALLY LAME AS WELL AS INTUITIVELY BLIND. Innovation by our children will be a THING OF THE PAST. They will become like ROBOTS operating solely in control of LOGIC/ REASONING and CRITICAL THINKING.

This is the reason why the INTUITIVE FACULTY IS SO VERY IMPORTANT.  We must not lose this faculty lest we become ROBOTS.  THE ONLY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ROBOTS AND HUMAN IS THE INTUITIVE FACULTY.  

We now continue.

We learnt that the five main traits or characteristics Lust ਕਾਮ, Anger ਕਰੋਧ, Greed ਲੋਭ, Attachment ਮੋਹ, Ego ਹੰਕਾਰ are instinctive and that, these instinctive traits (are vices if not controlled) are by far the most powerful and can wipe out any other traits.  WE MUST BE CONSTANTLY AWARE OF THE POWER OF THESE INSTINCTIVE TRAITS, WHICH CAN CAUSE MASSIVE DESTRUCTION IF NOT CHECKED.  Due to their DESTRUCTIVE NATURE it is important to have a good grasp of these instincts.

Let us delve a little into the INSTINCTIVE TRAITS.  These TRAITS are linked to maintain the continuation of the species.  What are the elements of survival?  These are

• • SURVIVAL INSTINCT – fight or flight response
• • PROCREATION INSTINCT
• • WORSHIP –yes this is a new finding (University of Oxford Study Research Study “The Cognition, Religion and Theology Project”) – Professor Trigg, one of the project supervisors, said “We have gathered a body of evidence that suggests that religion is a common fact of human nature across different societies”.

We will attempt to understand these instincts and the associated group traits.

Let us consider the SURVIVAL INSTINCT.  

SURVIVAL INSTINCT:  

Figure 2: Survival Instinct

The classical “fight or flight” is a survival instinct where one, when faced with a situation either fights the cause of the danger or flees the danger.  Other examples are the need to dominate and having power over others which increases one’s chances of survival; need for ownership provides a place to live and food and clothing, these being essential to maintaining one’s well-being.  Anger ਕਰੋਧ, Greed ਲੋਭ and Ego ਹੰਕਾਰ are vices related to this instinct. For example anger is the emotional energy generated for the fight against a perceived threat.  Ego is that characteristic that makes one dominate others.  “Greed” is related to the need of ownership, domination as well as needs of survival (e.g. food).  

Let’s see what our Scriptures have to say about this.  We quote one verse from SGGS 147 Line 14 

• ਹੰਸੁ ਹੇਤੁ ਲੋਭੁ ਕੋਪੁ ਚਾਰੇ ਨਦੀਆ ਅਗਿ ॥ Cruelty (ਹੰਸੁ), material attachment (ਹੇਤੁ), greed (ਲੋਭੁ)  and anger (ਕੋਪੁ) are the four rivers of fire.

AND one from Dasam Granth 1344 Line 7 (searchgurbani.com)

• ਕਾਮ ਕ੍ਰੋਧ ਹੰਕਾਰ ਲੋਭ ਹਠ ਮੋਹ ਨ ਮਨ ਸੋ ਲਯਾਵੈ ॥ Keep your mind unattached from lust (ਕਾਮ), anger (ਕ੍ਰੋਧ), ego (ਹੰਕਾਰ), greed (ਲੋਭ), insistence (ਹਠ) and infatuation (ਮੋਹ)

AND one from Vaaran Bhai Gurdas Vaar 31 Paurdi 13

• ਕਾਮੁ ਕਰੋਧੁ ਅਸਾਧ ਸੰਗਿ ਲੋਭੁ ਮੋਹੁ ਅਹੰਕਾਰ ਮਚਾਵੈ। Association with the wicked (ਅਸਾਧ ਸੰਗਿ) increases lust (ਕਾਮੁ), anger (ਕਰੋਧੁ), greed (ਲੋਭੁ), infatuation (ਮੋਹੁ) and ego (ਅਹੰਕਾਰ).  (Another interpretation: Lust, Anger, Bad company, Greed, Infatuation/Attachment and Ego will burn us)

Our scriptures, SGGS Ji, Dasam Granth and Vaaran Bhai Gurdas are very clear and explicit as to what will happen if we succumb to these evils.

Essentially we must keep these vices within control by “keeping to our needs for survival” and do not let these take control whence we end up going “well beyond our needs”.  This will eventually lead to our destruction.  SGGS Ji says letting these control us is like being in fire (metaphorically meant).  The metaphorical “fire” means our mind “is on fire”.  It will never be at ease; we could be continually distressed and in pain (imagine being in a fire – that is how the mind would be).  Dasam Granth advises us to keep these vices within control.  Vaaran Bhai Gurdas advises us these vices can burn (metaphorically meant – same as “fire”) us.

Thank You for listening and reading.  ਗਲਤੀਆਂ ਦੀ ਖਿਮਾ.

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh.

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170404 Logic Resasoning Gurbani Part 16