“Kudrat” – Manifesting Creativity
Conscious Creative Flow
“Gurmat” considers the “Creator”, which is also the preserver and destroyer (“Sat Kartar”),and its energy aspect (“Kudrat”) as one, not two separable entities. The energy aspect of the One Consciousness involves itself in the affairs of the universe through the agents of creation, preservation, destruction and re-creation; Consciousness is the ground of being within all creation.
kudrat kar kai vasi-aa so-ay.
He created the Creative Power of the Universe, within which He dwells (Ang 83 SGGS).
Another important area that needs consideration is the term “Lila” or manifested creation as a “play” within “Gurmat”. The creative evolution is the manifestation of the Creator, or its “Lila”, an act of self expression of the One. Therefore, Existence is not an “illusion”, but impermanent and transient, unlike Consciousness itself. The energy aspect of the One is a principle of manifestation, involution and evolution of the universe.
khin meh thaap uthaapanhaaray kudrat keem na pahee. ||2||7||
In an instant, You establish and disestablish; the value of Your Almighty Creative Power cannot be estimated Ang 529 SGGS
The Mind is easily conditioned to attach itself to the manifesting creation, or”Maya”. “Maya” is a Sanskrit word which literally means “that which is not”; “Ma” means “not” and “Ya” means “that”. The Mind attaches itself to that which never ends yet never exists. Gurbani defines “Maya” as follows:
raag sorat(h) baanee bhagath ravidhaas jee kee
ik oa(n)kaar sathigur prasaadh ||
jab ham hothae thab thoo naahee ab thoohee mai naahee ||
anal agam jaisae lehar mae oudhadhh jal kaeval jal maa(n)hee ||1||
maadhhavae kiaa keheeai bhram aisaa ||
jaisaa maaneeai hoe n thaisaa ||1|| rehaao ||
Raag Sorat’h, The Word Of Devotee Ravi Daas Jee:
One Ongkaar. By The Grace Of The True Guru:
When I am in my Ego, then You are not with me. Now that You are with me, there is no Egotism within me.
The wind may raise up huge waves in the vast ocean, but they are just water in water. ||1||
O Lord, what can I say about such an illusion?
Things are not as they seem. ||1||Pause|| Ang 657 SGGS
“Paramesar” (Oneness) is the limitless”Shakti” or energy that can be divided into two groups: spiritual energy and material energy or “Maya”. “Maya” is not separate or different from the Supreme Oneness, but its inherent power, responsible for the rising of the mirage-like phenomenal world of names, forms, time and space.
“Gurmat” considers “Maya” as self-deception in terms of one’s psychological relationship through emotional attachment to existence/creation, which arises due to “Haumai” (ego-complex).
Haumai maar sadaa Sukh paa-i-aa maa-i-aa moh chukaavani-aa. ||1||
Subduing your ego, you shall find a lasting peace, and your emotional attachment to Maya will be dispelled. (p110)
mohi mohi-aa jaanai door hai.
Infatuated with emotional attachment, they think the One is far away (p 210)
“Maya”is the semi-hypnotic mental state that makes one forget one’s own essence, giving rise to emotional attachment and creating duality where there is none. “Maya”, the ever-changing creation from thoughts to the universes, is composed of three qualities, known as the “Gunas”. The three qualities or “Gunas”are”Saatva” (Essence), “Raajas” (activity/motion), and “Taamas” (inertia), They are intertwined like threads in a rope, giving rise to the world of phenomenon.
“Gurmat” experiences the One as Absolute “Purusa” or Consciousness, the matrix of Creation. The Creator is manifest in all its creation. This Creation is not separate and independent of “Purusa”, but rather an emanation of this “Purusa” called “Kudrat” (that which is under the power and authority of its Creator).
khaalik khalak khalak meh khaalik poor rahi-o sarab thaaN-ee. ||1|| rahaa-o.
The Creation is in the Creator, and the Creator is in the Creation, totally pervading and permeating all places. Ang 1350 SGGS
Such understanding presents far reaching implications in terms of the relationship the between humanity and the creation it exists within. It is within this context a follower of the “Gurmat” path undergoes transpersonal psychological changes,shifting from being attached to the content and structure of his or her Mind to being identified with awareness or “Gur”. An evolution takes one from being a “Manmukh” (Mind facing) to “Gurmukh” or “Gur” or awareness-facing.