THE DEBT


We may be rich and famous but mega debtors we are. It is not a financial or a monetary liability but a very subtle debt which is debited the moment we are born as human beings. The arrears need to be squared off during this life time through Dharma, the principle of righteousness as recorded in all religious scriptures.
Adi Granth mentions four types of debts (karza or rinn in Hindi) that a man must settle in life---
Pitri Rinn--- the debt that is due to parents. As small children we are weaklings—need attention and support all time. We are reared by our parents with love and affection. As we grow up and turn out to be stronger, parents age and become weak. We are therefore obliged to look after them in all possible ways and attend to their welfare in old age. Even if a person gives charities of million of dollars, but neglects old parents and fails to shower love and affection upon them---Pitri debt is not paid off.
Dev Rinn—the debt to be paid to gods. The gods mean the five elements of Nature; the life sustaining forces—water, air, fire, earth, ether and all that is edible—even ghee (concentrated butter) and salt. They are the energies of life in this world and it becomes obligatory upon all men that they contribute to the welfare of this material plane, including one’s family and society, by moral integrity and sense of discrimination. All the positive contribution that is made in this world by all of us means mitigation of debit of Dev Rinn.
Guru Rinn—the debt we owe to Master who leads us to the path of spirituality. In this life riddled with Maya and illusion, Master leads us from spiritual darkness to enlighenment. We have to pay off this debt by doing Bhajan and Simran and living a life as instructed by Him. Should we fail to do so we cannot escape cycle of transmigration. Till the cycle of birth and death does not terminate, the process of accumulation of parental debt and godly liabilities cannot end.
Says Sahjo Bai--- about greatness of Guru, the Master---
“Satguru is the only honor (credit balance) of the disciple. Never leave His door steps even if He reprimands hundred thousand times, says Sahjo. Let this be the fundamental principle enshrined in disciple’s life”.
Brham Rinn--- debt owed to Lord. At birth, life is purity personified and full of innocence. After childhood--- when we acquire worldly knowledge, power of reasoning and logic, manipulation of intellect and mind--- we get debased from the spiritual point of view. The life of spotlessness gets spotted. Debt to Lord is created. This can be reimbursed by being pure again. Unless one acquires the same state of nobility as existed from the primordial source, he cannot be allowed to enter the Divine Court. Commenting on life of Kabir Sahib, his disciple Dharm Das wrote---
“Kabir wore the body as a white sheet with extreme care and caution. Many men, Rishis(sages) and Munnis( who vowed silence for larger part of life for miraculous powers) also adorned the body as a white piece of cloth but smudged it badly. Kabir, the devotee, wore this white sheet and abandoned it in a way that it remained spotlessly clean”.
It is through the nam of Guru that spiritual sheet can be made spotless. Arrears to Lord can be repaid by nam Bhakti blessed by Guru. That is why all mystic recognize Guru higher than the Lord as through Him only the debt to Lord can be settled.