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THE SIKH DOCTRINE OF LIBERATION
189
Sikh canon.
According to Sikhism, the basis of our conditioned existence is the notion of 'I-ness' or 'my-ness' (haumai) which is due to māyā and ignorance. If a man works in accordance with the will of God, fully ignoring his own personal ego, the notion of 'I-ness' ceases and the path opens towards realization of God. Suffering and bondage can be eliminated from one's life if one cuts the knot of ignorance and destroys haumai because it is the prime cause of human bondage
Impelled by egoism a man does sinful activities and these sinful activities lead to birth in samsára. According to Guru Nānak, it is haumai, egoism, self-centredness, the notion of I-ness, that causes separation of the individual being from the Supreme Being. The underlying concept of haumai epitomizes the condition of worldly existence. According to the Sikh Gurus, the man under the influence of haumai, 'comes and goes' that is, transmigrates. It is haumai that inspires a man in chain of birth and death, in giving and taking, in receiving and spending. A man speaks truth and tells lies, he pays regard to virtue and evil both, it is all due to haumai.12 The fetters of ego or false pride cause man to wander in the world again and again because the ultimate truth cannot be known by the practice of egoism. It has been said.
“As an iron rod is thrown into a furnace, melted and recast, so is he who fastens his affections on māyā incarnated again and again. Without understanding (the divine word), all he gathers is suffering upon suffering. (Through the influence of) haumai he transmigrates and wanders in doubt."13
The Guru further points out that desire increases day and night and the greedy persons are diseased by egoism.14
Allied to haumai in nature and function is avid yā or agian. The notion of avidyā or ignorance includes all worldly concerns and attachment to wealth, honour, comfort, power, women and sons etc. and draws a self-willed person (manmukh) into the region of fourfold passions known as lust, greed, anger and pride. Thus the man engulfed by avidyā forgets God and accepts unreal as real in which he transmigrates in the world continuously. W.H. McLeod points out the
13.
A di Granth, vol. II, p. 466. Adi Granth, vol. II, p. 752. Tr. by W.H, McLeod, Guru Nanak and the Sikh Religion, p. 181. A di Granth, vol. I, p. 20.
14.
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