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Summary of Question:	Meaning Of The Sentance From Sggs?
Category:	Meditation
Date Posted:	Monday, 2/11/2002 2:05 PM MST

Whaheguru ji ka khalsa

Waheguru ji ki fateh
I have been told by someone that dancing is not allowed in sikhism as according to the meaning of this sentance from SGGS on page 159

NACH NACH TAPEH BAHUT DUKH PAVEH,
NACH TAPEIAH BAHGATI NA HOYE.

What is the meaning to this sentance.
thankfully

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REPLY
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Sat Sri Akal,

In these lines, Guru Amar Das Ji is not necessarily saying that dancing in and of itself is bad. What Guruji is saying is that dancing will not bring you any closer to Waheguru. In India, many Hindu sects use dancing as a form of worship. They claim to get into a trance and get closer to god. Guruji was saying that this type of maya (illusion) will not bring you closer to Waheguru, only meditating on his name, Satnam, will. Guruji says:

BHAGAT KUREH MOORUKH AAP JUNAVEH
NACH NACH TAPEH BAHUT DUKH PAVEH,
NACH TAPEIAH BAHGATI NA HOYE.

The fools perform devotional worship by showing off;
They dance and dance and jump all around, but they only suffer in terrible pain.
By dancing and jumping, devotional worship is not performed.
--

Guruji says quite bluntly that dancing, jumping, and other forms of showing off is not the way to get to Waheguru. Only by doing paath is Waheguru obtained.

So is dancing allowed in Sikhism? Well, it is now clear that dancing does not bring you any closer to Waheguru. What, then, is the point of dancing? You can counter by saying that eating does not bring you closer to Waheguru either, but, if you don't eat you will not survive and if you do not survive, they you can not do paath. The question you should ask yourself is will you dancing bring you closer to Waheguru? What is the point of you dancing? I think if you think about that you can come up with a good decision.

Gur Fateh,
HSD