» ਕਰਮ ਧਰਮ ਇਹੁ ਤਤੁ ਗਿਆਨੁ ॥ ਸਾਧਸੰਗਿ ਜਪੀਐ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ॥: This is the essence of Karma, Dharma and spiritual wisdom: chant the Lord’s Name in the Holy Company (sggs 866).
Naam Japanaa (chanting God’s Name, meditating or contemplating on God’s Name, Naam-Simran, etc.) simply means to live in God consciousness as oppose to material consciousness.
That is – Naam Japanaa – is to constantly keeping the Divine or God’s Qualities in mind and live by them.
So, here the Gurbani tells us that constantly keeping the Divine or God’s Qualities in mind and live by them is the essence of Karma, Dharma and spiritual wisdom!
Rest is all empty Karamkaand or religious rituals derived by the Pujaaree Group (priest-class, Granthis, etc.) to mislead people and make money – the useless expanse of the Haumai or egotism.
In this context, here are more verses from the Gurbani:
» ਸਰਬ ਧਰਮ ਮਹਿ ਸ੍ਰੇਸਟ ਧਰਮੁ ॥ ਹਰਿ ਕੋ ਨਾਮੁ ਜਪਿ ਨਿਰਮਲ ਕਰਮੁ ॥: Sarab dhharam mehi sraesatt dhharam har ko naam jap niramal karam : Of all the Dharma, the best one is to repeat God’s name and do pious deeds (sggs 266).
» ਸਗਲ ਧਰਮ ਮਹਿ ਊਤਮ ਧਰਮ ॥ ਕਰਮ ਕਰਤੂਤਿ ਕੈ ਊਪਰਿ ਕਰਮ ॥: Sagal dharma mahi ootam dharma. Karma kartooti kai oopari karma: Among all Dharma, the best is meditation (Naam-Simran).:Among all rituals and conducts, this is above all (sggs 1182).
» ਤਜਿ ਸਭਿ ਭਰਮ ਭਜਿਓ ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ॥ ਕਹੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਅਟਲ ਇਹੁ ਧਰਮ ॥: Taji Sabhi bharam bhajio paarbrahm. Kahu Nanak attal ih dharma: Renounce all your doubts, and vibrate upon the Supreme Lord. Says Nanak, this path of Dharma is eternal and unchanging (sggs 196).
» ਬਲਿਓ ਚਰਾਗੁ ਅੰਧ੍ਯ੍ਯਾਰ ਮਹਿ ਸਭ ਕਲਿ ਉਧਰੀ ਇਕ ਨਾਮ ਧਰਮ ॥ Balio charaag andhaar mahi sabh kal udharee ik naam dharam: The lamp (Guru Nanak) is lit in the darkness (of ignorance of the world); (by engaging in) the Dharma of the One Naam, the Lord’s Name, (he has) saved all in this Dark Age of Kali Yuga (sggs 1387).
» ਨਾਨਕ ਹਰਿ ਕੀਰਤਨੁ ਕਰਿ ਅਟਲ ਏਹੁ ਧਰਮ ॥੧੧॥: Nanak har keeratan kar attal ehu dharam : O Nanak! Sing God’s praises, this alone is the eternal Dharma II11II(sggs 299).
» ਸਗਲ ਮਤਾਂਤ ਕੇਵਲ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮ ॥ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਭਗਤ ਕੈ ਮਨਿ ਬਿਸ੍ਰਾਮ ॥: Sagal mataant keval hari naam. Gobind bhagat kai manni bisaraam: The essence of all religion is God’s Name alone. It abides in the minds of God’s devotees (sggs 296).
» ਕਾਹੂ ਜੁਗਤਿ ਕਿਤੈ ਨ ਪਾਈਐ ਧਰਮਿ ॥: Kahoo jugati kitai n paaeeai Dharma: (Naam) cannot be obtained by any devices (cleverness, contrivance, ਹੋਰ ਕਿਸੇ ਢੰਗ ਨਾਲ, etc.), and any religious rituals (ਧਾਰਮਿਕ ਰਸਮ ਰਿਵਾਜ, etc.) (sggs 274).
» ਹਰਿ ਕੀਰਤਿ ਰਹਰਾਸਿ ਹਮਾਰੀ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਪੰਥੁ ਅਤੀਤੰ ॥੩॥: Hari kirtan rahraas hamaaree Gurmukh panth ateetam II3II: The God’ Kirtan is my occupation (vocation, ਮਰਯਾਦਾ…); and to live as the Gurmukh is my Panth (ਧਰਮ-ਰਸਤਾ, religious Way) that keeps me free (dead, separated, etc., from Maya – ਮਾਇਆ ਤੋਂ ਵਿਰਕਤ) II3II (sggs 360).
» ਭੇਖ ਅਨੇਕ ਅਗਨਿ ਨਹੀ ਬੁਝੈ ॥ ਕੋਟਿ ਉਪਾਵ ਦਰਗਹ ਨਹੀ ਸਿਝੈ ॥: Bhekh anek agani nahee boojhai. Koti upaav dargah nahee sijhai: Wearing various religious robes, the fire (of desire) is not extinguished; even making millions of efforts, one will not realize God (sggs 266).
» ਮੈ ਅਵਰੁ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਨ ਧਿਆਨੁ ਪੂਜਾ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਵਸਿ ਰਹੇ ॥ ਭੇਖੁ ਭਵਨੀ ਹਠੁ ਨ ਜਾਨਾ ਨਾਨਕਾ ਸਚੁ ਗਹਿ ਰਹੇ ॥੧॥: Mai avar giaan n dhiaan poojaa Hari Naam antari vasi rahe. Bhekh bhavnee hath n jaanaa Nanakaa sach gahi rahe II1II: God’s Name dwells deep within me, I know no other wisdom, meditation or worship. I know nothing about religious robes, pilgrimages or stubbornness; O Nanak, I only hold tight to the Truth II1II (sggs 843).
