Sikhism - Culture - Gurmat Veechar

m) tpary Khand' :
As per Gurbani doctrine, there are five stages, in the growth of
righteous, religious, or divine life. Guru Nanak Sahib has dealt at
length in Japji Sahib about these different stages. He explains in a most
simple and lucid way as to how a person with His grace and blessings
passes through these stages and ultimately merges oneselfin Him. The
five stages are listed below.
1. Dharam Khand
2. Gyan Khand
3. Saram Khand
4. Karam Khand
5. Sach Khand
At the first stage one develops some awareness about religious or
divine life. He reflects upon the purpose ofhis life. One realizes that all
the 'Moh- Maya' or worldly relations and attachments are false and are
not going to stand with one, at the 'crucial hour'. With His grace one
comes to know that one is rewarded by the Akaal Purakh as per one's
performance in this world. The worldly honours or dishonours h~ve no
value over there.
At the second stage 'gyan' or knowledge about the vast creations
ofthe Creator is developed and one tries to find and explore more and
more about Him. With this knowledge, one feels a sense ofhappiness,
spiritual enjoyment and satisfaction in one self. One's knot of
'selfishness' is broken. One starts looking beyond one self, one's
family and other near and dears. With the 'knowledge' so attained he
understands and appreciates the vast creation of the 'Timeless and
Limitless' Creator. One enjoys a sense of happiness contentment and
satisfaction that one was hither to fore missing while running after
worldly pursuits. In the course ofspiritual flights this stage is known as
'Gyan Khand'.
Then one enters the performance stage or the 'Saram Khand'.
Mere understanding or the knowledge is not sufficient for attaining
eternal happiness. One has to do a continuous and sustained labour to
attain the goal. One acts as per Guru's teachings. He wakes up in the
wee hours i.e. early in the morning, contemplates upon 'Baani and
Naam' while sitting in a contemplative and meditative mood and does
Panj Khand I 77