IT’S OK TO BE VERY JUDGMENTAL
One morning, I vowed to myself that I will not judge anyone or anything for the entire day. Unfortunately, having left the house I had passed judgment on around 4-5 separate people/situations in the first 30 minutes.
I complained about the weather as soon as I stepped out, I complained about the man smoking on the railway platform etc etc.
I very quickly realised how challenging this is. Essentially the ego-mind runs the show here. The ego is constantly fighting to be in control of us and our thoughts and actions. As a result, we all struggle with the basic concept of acceptance or living in Hukam (the divine order).
Guru Nanak Dev Jee makes this clear very early in Sri Jap jee Sahib (the first composition of the Sikh scripture). Guru sahib explains that, that person who understands the Hukam will not speak in ego again.
So, how do we get to this state? My challenge that I set myself made it clear that I need to spend a lot of time being judgemental, but not of anyone else but only myself.
We need to dive deep into the depths of our minds and understand our own egos (the disease of the mind) and judge every thought & action of our own. Only then will we start the journey to acceptance and a state of non-judgment of others.
The 2nd Guru Sahib, Guru Agand Dev Jee conveys the above beautifully in the following 2 lines.
Naanak Parakhay Aap Ko Thaa Paarakh Jaan ||
O Nanak, if someone judges himself, only then is he known as a real judge.
Rog Dhaaroo Dhovai Bujhai Thaa Vaidh Sujaan ||
If someone understands both the disease and the medicine, only then is he a wise physician.
Vaheguroo!
