The following two Astpadies of Sri Guru Amar Das, in Rag Majh, pages 123 and 124 are MOST Important. I consider them the Gist of the Sikh Teachings.
Please note that these Compositions teach us -
1. The Divine Light abiding in all, is called SAT Guru or Sat Guru Poora or SABDA (Word uttered by God at the time of Creation, which turned into Light (Jot), became the Cause of all Creation and abides in all equally).
2. God's Light (Jot) created Matter of Three Qualities or Gunas, which creates the Body and its varied organs, which in turns create varied needs, desires, likings dislikings, thoughts and feelings, the accumulation of which is called our self or Mind. Although Mind like the Divine Light is a non-material entity in us, but it has the material base, which reduces us to the perishable state of limitations. The Basic Malady of the Mind in all creatures, created by God, is Egotism or to be self centered, whch creates a separate individuality in us all, and separates us from God in us and also from other fellow creatures. All possible evil traits in humans are created from this Basic Malady.
3. Humlity is Basic Virtue which leads one to attain union with God, as well as with our fellow beings. Egotism can be removed by living with God alone, Who abides in us. When one reflects his self or Mind on God abiding in him, he would feel himself insignificant worm like in Most August presence of the Infinite Creator, the Life Giver, Protector, Sustainer, and Destroyer of the Universe, the extant of expanse of which no one can estimate. Man's rigidity, arrogance, pride, etc. are humbled; he begins to consider himself as the dust of all in His staggeringly Vast Creation. Where there is Humlity, there is sweetness, virtuous life, the Source of All the Virtues.
4. The Creator Lord abiding in us, is alone the DOER (Karta Purkh),and the Cause of all causes, NOT the Man. So long as God's Light remains in the body, it is alive and acts; no sooner His Light leaves the body, it is reduced to dust. The Divine Light in us, is Man's Real Self, not the Mind. Our Mind is required to be totally effaced and merged in the Divine in us, to form one structure, to attain union with our Creator, our Source of existence.
5. Subduing egotism, the rigid doors are opened. The Priceless Naam is obtained by His Grace. Without loving SABDA, God abiding in us, the Naam is not obtained. By His Grace, it is implanted within the mind. The Guru God has applied the true ointment of spiritual wisdom to my eyes. Deep within, the Divine Light has dawned, and the darkness of ignorance has been dispelled. My light has merged into His Light; my mind has surrendered, and I am blessed with Glory in the Court of the Lord.
6. By God's Grace, the True Lord is found abiding in us. Within your mind and body, see the Lord, and the filth of egotism shall depart. Sitting in that place, sing the Glorious Praises of the Lord forever, and be absorbed in SABDA. 5 . Those who close off the nine gates of the body through which they are attached to the material world, and restrain the wandering mind, come to dwell in the Home of the Tenth Gate (Dasam Dwar, where the Lord abides). There, the Unstruck Melody of the SABDA, vibrates day and night. Through the Divine Teachings, the SABDA is heard. 6 . Without loving SABDA, there is only darkness within. The genuine article is not found, and the cycle of reincarnation does not end. The key is in the hands of God; no one else can open this door. By perfect destiny, He is met. 7 . The Lord is hidden and the revealed in all places. Receiving His Grace, this understanding is obtained.
Let us now read Sri Guru Amar Das' Compositions. It is suggested that the original text of the Guru's Bani should be read to attain full understanding.
"The Divine Light of the Supreme Lord shines forth from the Guru abiding in us. The filth stuck to the ego is removed through the SABDA, God abiding in us. One who is imbued with devotional worship to the Lord night and day becomes pure. Worshipping the Lord, He is obtained. 1 .
My self is a sacrifice, to those who themselves worship the Lord, and inspire others to worship Him as well. I humbly bow to those devotees who chant the Glorious Praises of the Lord, night and day. 1 . Pause .
The Creator Lord Himself is the DOER, and creates Causes. As He pleases, He makes us apply to our tasks. Through perfect destiny, we serve Him; thus peace is found. 2 .
Those who die, and remain dead while yet alive (efface themselves totally), obtain it. By His Grace, they enshrine the Lord within their minds. Enshrining the Lord within their minds, they are liberated forever. With intuitive ease, they merge into the Lord. 3 .
Those who perform all sorts of rituals, they do not obtain liberation through them. They wander around the countryside, and in love with duality, they are ruined. The deceitful lose their lives in vain; without loving SABDA, God abiding in us, they obtain only misery. 4 .
Those who restrain their wandering mind, keeping it steady and stable, obtain the supreme status, by His Grace. The Eternal Lord Himself, abiding in us, unites us Himself. Meeting the Beloved, peace is obtained. 5.
Some are stuck in falsehood, and false are the rewards they receive. In love with duality, they waste away their lives in vain. They drown themselves, and drown their entire family; speaking lies, they eat poison. 6 .
How rare are those who, as Gurmukh, look within their bodies, into their minds. Through loving devotion, their ego evaporates. The Siddhas, the seekers and the silent sages continually, lovingly focus their consciousness, but they have not seen the mind within the body. 7.
The Creator Himself inspires us to work; what can anyone else do? What can be done by our doing? O Nanak, the Lord only bestows His Name; and we receive it, and enshrine it within the mind. 8 . 23 . 24MAAJH M.3: Within this cave, there is an inexhaustible treasure. Within this cave, the Invisible and Infinite Lord abides. He Himself is hidden, and He Himself is revealed through the SABDA, abiding in us; selfishness and conceit are eliminated. 1 .
I am a sacrifice, to those who enshrine the Ambrosial Naam, the Name of the Lord, within their minds. The taste of the Ambrosial Naam is very sweet! Through the Guru's (God in us) Teachings, drink in this Ambrosial Nectar. 1 . Pause .
Subduing egotism, the rigid doors are opened. The Priceless Naam is obtained by His Grace. Without loving SABDA, God abiding in us, the Naam is not obtained. By His Grace, it is implanted within the mind. 2 .
The Guru God has applied the true ointment of spiritual wisdom to my eyes. Deep within, the Divine Light has dawned, and the darkness of ignorance has been dispelled. My light has merged into His Light; my mind has surrendered, and I am blessed with Glory in the Court of the Lord. 3 .
Those who look outside the body, searching for the Lord, shall not receive the Naam; they shall instead be forced to suffer the terrible pains of slavery. The blind, self-willed manmukhs do not understand; but when they return once again to their own home, then, as Gurmukh, they find the genuine article. 4 .
By God's Grace, the True Lord is found abiding in us. Within your mind and body, see the Lord, and the filth of egotism shall depart. Sitting in that place, sing the Glorious Praises of the Lord forever, and be absorbed in SABDA. 5 .
Those who close off the nine gates, and restrain the wandering mind, come to dwell in the Home of the Tenth Gate. There, the Unstruck Melody of the SABDA, vibrates day and night. Through the Divine Teachings, the Shabad is heard. 6 .
Without loving SABDA, there is only darkness within. The genuine article is not found, and the cycle of reincarnation does not end. The key is in the hands of Guru God; no one else can open this door. By perfect destiny, He is met. 7 .
O Lord, You are the hidden and the revealed in all places. Receiving His Grace, this understanding is obtained. O Nanak, praise the Naam forever; as Gurmukh, enshrine it within the mind. 8 . 24 . 25 "
(Majh M.3, Astpadian, p 123-24)