Teachings on Importance of Prema Bhagti alongside Gyan

Teachings on Brahm Gyan & Prema Bhagti by Guru Har Rai Ji

Once, while Guru Har Rai Sahib ji was hunting with their Sikhs, a huge python came in front of Guru Ji's horse. It was suffering badly as its whole body was covered with worms feeding on it bit by bit. Looking at this suffering snake, Guru Mahraj liberated it by shooting it with an arrow. Guru Ji's Sikhs was surprised watching this incident and humbly requested Guru Ji to enlightened them. Guru Ji then explained that this snake was a egoistic Brahman Pandit in his previous life who regarded himself as everyone's Guru and gave Updesh to others. He was a great Vidhvaan with depth knowledge of scriptures. However, he did not perform Prema Bhagti (devotional worship) and was a hypocrite. He frequently egoistically uttered ਅਹੰ ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਅਸਮੀ but did not implement it in his own heart. He was also stuck in worldly attachments, made many followers and never bowed to sanggat as he had the ego of his vast knowledge. For all these reasons, he has been punished in a snake reincarnation while the worms biting and feeding on him are the reincarnation of his followers. This is because the Pandit as their Guru could not be liberate them and a person takes up the form of what he focus his consciousness on (which is why we put dhyan in Parmatma). 

All 6 shastars align with Gurbani but most is Vedant. Vedant core - dekhan vala (sach) and dikhan vala (jhuth) - Sant Gyani Inderjeet Singh ji Raqba in their Katha also emphasises an important teaching from this Sakhi. Which is that the concept of ਅਹੰ ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਅਸਮੀ (I am divine) as preached in Vedant is aligned with Gurmat as it urges one to be in oneness with Parmatma, but in the Guru Ghar the a Gursikh practices Hirday Gyan, Mukh Bhagti, Vartan Bairaag. 

Hirday Gyan - To internally have knowledge of one's true self as part of Brahm but not say it out egoistically. 

Mukh Bhagti - To live humbly and do bachan of Bhagti while being in this physical vessel.

Vartan Bairaag - To have neither Moh (attachment) nor enemity with anyone and interact neutrally with everyone. 

Bhatt Kalsahar Ji in Gurbani describes Guru Amar Das Ji as an example of one who despite being the form of Brahm itself, always did bachans of Bhagti in humility.

Sakhi from Adhyai 4, Ras 9, Sri Gurpratap Suraj Parkash Granth.

Importance of Bhagti Alongside Gyan by Guru Hargobind Ji

A Sikh asked Guru Hargobind Ji Mahraj, if gyan is attained and since it rises our bibek , then what is the purpose of bhagti ?

Guru Ji replied that they have imparted an auspicious technique in which without bhagti, gyan does not show shoba (elegance/grace). Guru Ji gives an example of butter (ghee) , if it is mixed in food then that becomes very tasty. If someone suffering from phlegm is given butter then this will cause congestion in their chest. If the person’s body is heaty, then that person will suffer from diarrhoea caused by the butter. If the butter is mixed with missri (sugar), then anyone can consume it safely. 

In the same way, gyan is such that if it is taken without bhagti, it will not put sobha on the person. A person claiming himself to have so much of gyan but without bhagti will appear as a fool. If a egoistic person adopts gyan in their heart then they will consider themselves very big, will not do any sewa and will not show nimarta to anyone. This kind of person will go to hell in a terrifying manner. 

If a lustful person listens to just gyan, then he will engage adultery and also develop other anti-social habits because they will start believing that this physical body is just a vessel separated from aatma. 

In the house of Guru Nanak Dev Ji Mahraj, Brahm-Gyan should be taken with bhagti. In that way Waheguru ji’s Gyan will take parkash (enlightenment) in the heart. That is why everybody needs to do Bhagti of Naam Simran, with love and adopt the the house of eternal happiness. That is why kushk (dry) gyan is not good. If bhagti is done along with it then the person will achieve liberation.

- Ras 05, Adhyai 45 Shri Suraj Parkash Granth