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Weal and Woe
Pain is a wide spread disease and no animated being has escaped from its blow.
Mind desires something, if it is not got, then suffering starts.
Because human being's desires are numerous, therefore, pains are also countless.
When one desire is fulfilled, then many more desires appear. The systematic river of desires flows in the space of human being's mind. Desire for even one thing gives birth to great pain.
In hope, there is very great pain;
the self-willed manmukh focuses his consciousness on it.
The Gurmukhs become desireless,
and attain supreme peace.
{SGGS, p 1249}
We are observing that a poor is woeful but even richman is also woeful. Whereas virtueless is in woe, virtuous is also passing a life full of suffering. It is natural for a sick person to be in pain, but a healthy person is also in pain. So how much should be explained, pain is a wide spread disease.
Each one's desire is different, and each one's suffering is of a different type.
In the village homes dried cakes of cow-dung are burnt out of which smoke comes out. Neighbour and traveller come to know that fire is burning in this house. In some houses wood and charcoal are burnt. Smoke is also produced by the wood and charcoal. Therefore it is know that hearth is burning. In some house stove is burning with kerosene. Although no smoke is coming out, but from the sound it is known that hearth is hot.
The modern man has started doing every work in a scientific way. There he has invented gas stoves wherein there is neither smoke nor sound. The neighbour and traveller do not know that fire is burning inside the house.
When we say there is a lot of weal in so and so house, all is bliss, at that time there is a misunderstanding in us. Indeed gas stoves are burning in that house. Since no smoke is coming out, so there is a misunderstanding.
The woes of which house come to light, neighbour and passer-by come to know. But many are wringing inside, but the onlookers consider them in comfort. If we see attentively, then weeping is hidden in happiness. Every delight is hiding grief. Insult with respect, loss with profit and death with life are interconnected. As Urdu poet says:
Fool khilta Hai Murjhanae kaa takhyal lai kar,
jisae Hanstaa Huaa paaoo ge voh pareshan hogaa.
Flower blooms with an idea of fading.
Whom you see laughing, he indeed is disturbed.
The following is the world famous Gur-wak of Guru Nanak Dev ji:
The young woman weeps because she has no husband.
O Nanak, the whole world is suffering.
{SGGS, p 954}
Indeed, the receipt of material things is not equivalent to the receipt of weal. To be in union with God is actually the receipt of happiness.
Gur-Wak:
There is no peace in earning lots of money.
There is no peace in watching dances and plays.
{SGGS, p 1147}
God is the centre of happiness. We cannot get the flavour of pleasure unless we unite with God. Therefore the glimpse of God is the receipt of happiness and to forget God is the greatest grief.
Gam Chae Bashid Gaflat Aj Yaade Khudaa.
cheesat Shadi-yaad Aan Ba Muntahaa.
{Diwane-Goaya}
Bhai Nand Lal ji, who is darling of Guru Ghar and is an experienced poet, says that when a person forgets God, then he is surrounded by grief, but with the meditation (remembrance) of God, all pleasures are obtained.
Guru Arjan Dev ji says that not one but all griefs cling around when one forgets God:
Forgetting the Transcendent Lord,
all sorts of illnesses are contracted.
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