Question:

“Are we a mind equipped with a physical body ?

Or a complex organism that has gained consciousness over millions of years of evolution thanks to a bigger brain and more neurons than our distant ancestors?”

Bhai Manjeet’s response:

I can only answer from the Gurbani perspective.

That may not be acceptable to the scientists but I believe my Guru.

Firstly, there is One God. He came into existence as ” saibhung”. i.e. of His own volition. That is beyond our comprehension. That’s why the Gurus repeatedly say He is “agochar” ; beyond fathom.

So, we move from that premise. There is a Creator.

This Creator sets in motion the entire creation by One Primal Sound.

All major religions say this in different ways.

The Christians say ” In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with the Lord….”.

The Hindu Upanishads say creation began with a mystic sound “Om”.

The Muslims say the Word “kun” was used. The phrase “kun faya kun” is found in the Koran.

“Kun” is an Arabic word meaning “to manifest” while “faya kun” means, “So be it”.

This word is used by Guru Nanak Dev Ji at  SGGS Angg 721 where Guruji says “Kun Kartar” i.e. Creator Lord.

ਯਕ ਅਰਜ ਗੁਫਤਮ ਪੇਸਿ ਤੋ ਦਰ ਗੋਸ ਕੁਨ ਕਰਤਾਰ ॥

(I offer this one prayer to You; please listen to it, O Creator Lord).

In Japji Sahib we are told of “kita pasao eko kavaho” (pauri 16 SGGS Ang 3).

ਕੀਤਾ ਪਸਾਉ ਏਕੋ ਕਵਾਉ ॥

(The vast expanse of the Universe was created with One Word)

The body gets created in the mother’s womb. As the foetus forms the Lord infuses His Jote in the child. At which precise moment it happens is not told.

“Sahe ke furhmairhe ji dehi vich jio aaye peiya”(Ang 1007).

ਸਾਹੈ ਕੈ ਫੁਰਮਾਇਅੜੈ ਜੀ ਦੇਹੀ ਵਿਚਿ ਜੀਉ ਆਇ ਪਇਆ ॥੧॥

(At His Command the Divine Spark of life is infused into the body).

The brain starts developing thenceforth.

Thus the brain comes into existence only when there is the formation of a physical body.

We are therefore not “a mind equipped with a physical body”. Our bodies are created from 5 basic elements.( fire, water, earth, air and space).

That’s why the Gurus say

” eh man panch tatt ko jiyo”(Ang 342).

ਇਹੁ ਮਨੁ ਪੰਚ ਤਤ ਕੋ ਜੀਉ ॥

(This mind infuses life in the five elements)

The Divine Spark (Jote) is within us. That Jote is Infinite. Thus the development is amazing. From stone age cavemen to astronauts is really the development of the mind. There are no limits to this.

Gurfateh

Manjeet Singh

Malaysia

February 22, 2020