Awe

The word "Bhey" in Sanskrit and "Bhae" in Punjabi means to be 'in fear of' or 'in awe of'. The Gurus have used this word at several places. Everyone, whether a human being or not, has some fear. No one is entirely free from it. It is only the Lord who is not afraid of any one, as He is the creator of all. He has no co-sharer or companion.

That One has nothing to fear; He wills and makes us follow His will.

Belawal M1, 796

If one wishes to become fearless one should worship the Lord. As one thinks, so he becomes. The worship of the fearless One makes you fearless also. The Lord is immanent or dwelling within you.

There is no other of whom we should stand in awe.

Asa M5, 399

There is no need to be afraid of anybody other than the Lord. Except the Lord there is none other to be afraid of.

Gauri M, 184

Of whom can one stand in awe? Only of one about the existence of whom he is certain. There can be no fear of one whose existence is doubted. Therefore, whenever there is fear of the Lord, there is an ever present belief in His existence. When there is fear, the heart and mind are affected. The Lord pervades both land and sea.

You pervade the land and the sea, Your Light shines in every heart.

Belawal M1, 795-11

When man is afraid of the Lord, he constantly remembers Him and he cannot commit any sin. Awe and affection are thus born (See chapter on Affection). It is for remembering the Lord that all worship is performed. If, while performing actions, there is no remembrance or awe of the Lord, then these actions and duties lead nowhere.

Without awe of the Lord all actions are false and of no avail.

Asa M3, 427

Gurus place great emphasis on awe for spiritual development.

When there is awe, there is a strong desire to find means to remove it.

It serves as a reminder every moment that one should strive to achieve one's object. For this reason, one makes quick progress.

The number of breaths in the life of each one is fixed. Your breaths are mentioned in your account.

Asa M1, 354

Man’s days are numbered. It is not known when they will end. Every day, every hour, every minute brings us nearer to that great final change (which is called death). On its arrival the soul leaves the gross, astral and the ethereal bodies and goes to higher regions. This body is the field of actions. One can do actions in this body alone. In this body man can know himself and become indistinguishable from the Lord. The fear that the goal may not be realized before the end of this life, and that this human birth would therefore be in vain, compels a man to become spiritual. Not to know one's own self and to spend day and night in sin is to commit suicide. He who is afraid of not knowing his own self and of passing his days in sin and thus committing suicide and not knowing the Lord, stands in awe of Him and takes steps to free himself from his fear and to know the Lord through himself. In this way he escapes the fear of death. Those who are not in awe of the Lord always live in fear of death and rebirth.

Those who are in awe of the Lord have no fear; those without it have much to fear. Oh Nanak, this mystery is only solved when one enters His presence.

Suhi War M2, 788-3

Without awe no one can cross the ocean of the world; the fear of the Lord keeps a man straight.

Majh M1, 151-5

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