The short answer
Gurbani names five vices — kaam (lust), krodh (anger), lobh (greed), moh (attachment) and ahankar (pride or ego) — often called the 'five thieves' because they rob us of peace and virtue. Beneath them lies haumai, the self-centred ego. Gurbani teaches that these are overcome not by force alone but through Naam, the Guru's Word, good company and cultivating their opposite virtues.
In detail
Gurbani speaks of five powerful inner forces that pull the mind away from the Divine and from goodness: kaam (lust or uncontrolled desire), krodh (anger), lobh (greed), moh (possessive attachment) and ahankar (pride or arrogance). Sikhs often call them the panj chor, the five thieves, because they quietly steal our peace, our relationships and our spiritual wealth.
Underlying all of them is haumai — the ego that makes 'I, me and mine' the centre of everything. Gurbani describes haumai as a chronic disease, yet also says that its cure lies within it. When ego is recognised and turned towards the Divine, the same energy that fed pride can become commitment and devotion. Ahankar, pride, is the most visible face of haumai, but haumai also drives the other four.
Gurbani is honest about how destructive these forces can be. Lust and anger are said to dissolve a person as borax melts gold. Greed is linked to spiritual death, while forgiveness is linked to the Divine itself. Attachment makes us cling to what must pass, bringing fear and grief. These descriptions are not meant to shame us, but to help us see clearly what is happening inside.
Sikh teaching pairs each vice with a virtue to cultivate. A widely taught pairing is: jat (self-control) against lust, daya (compassion) and khima (forgiveness) against anger, santokh (contentment) against greed, vairag (detachment) against attachment, and nimrata (humility) against pride. These pairings are traditional teaching aids rather than a fixed list from a single verse. The Gurus did not teach that we can defeat the vices through willpower alone. The main remedy is Naam, supported by Gurbani, sangat and seva. As the mind fills with remembrance of the Divine, the thieves find less room to operate.
What Gurbani says
ਹਉਮੈ ਦੀਰਘ ਰੋਗੁ ਹੈ ਦਾਰੂ ਭੀ ਇਸੁ ਮਾਹਿ ॥
Haumai deeragh rog hai daaroo bhee is maahi.
Ego is a chronic disease — yet its cure also lies within it.
ਹਉਮੈ ਇੱਕ ਪੁਰਾਣਾ ਰੋਗ ਹੈ — ਪਰ ਇਸ ਦਾ ਇਲਾਜ ਵੀ ਇਸ ਦੇ ਅੰਦਰ ਹੀ ਹੈ।
Guru Angad Dev Ji: ego is a chronic disease, yet its cure lies within it.
ਕਾਮੁ ਕ੍ਰੋਧੁ ਕਾਇਆ ਕਉ ਗਾਲੈ ॥ ਜਿਉ ਕੰਚਨ ਸੋਹਾਗਾ ਢਾਲੈ ॥
Kaam krodh kaaiaa kau gaalai. Jiu kanchan sohaagaa dhaalai.
Lust and anger dissolve the body, just as borax melts gold.
ਕਾਮ ਅਤੇ ਕ੍ਰੋਧ ਸਰੀਰ ਨੂੰ ਇਉਂ ਗਾਲ ਦਿੰਦੇ ਹਨ, ਜਿਵੇਂ ਸੁਹਾਗਾ ਸੋਨੇ ਨੂੰ ਪਿਘਲਾ ਦਿੰਦਾ ਹੈ।
Guru Nanak Dev Ji: lust and anger dissolve the body as borax melts gold.
ਕਬੀਰਾ ਜਹਾ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਤਹ ਧਰਮੁ ਹੈ ਜਹਾ ਝੂਠੁ ਤਹ ਪਾਪੁ ॥ ਜਹਾ ਲੋਭੁ ਤਹ ਕਾਲੁ ਹੈ ਜਹਾ ਖਿਮਾ ਤਹ ਆਪਿ ॥੧੫੫॥
Kabeeraa jahaa giaan tah dharam hai jahaa jhooth tah paap. Jahaa lobh tah kaal hai jahaa khimaa tah aap.
Where there is wisdom, there is righteousness; where there is falsehood, there is wrongdoing. Where there is greed, there is death; where there is forgiveness, there is the Divine itself.
ਜਿੱਥੇ ਗਿਆਨ ਹੈ, ਉੱਥੇ ਧਰਮ ਹੈ; ਜਿੱਥੇ ਝੂਠ ਹੈ, ਉੱਥੇ ਪਾਪ ਹੈ। ਜਿੱਥੇ ਲੋਭ ਹੈ, ਉੱਥੇ ਮੌਤ ਹੈ; ਜਿੱਥੇ ਖਿਮਾ ਹੈ, ਉੱਥੇ ਰੱਬ ਆਪ ਹੈ।
Bhagat Kabir Ji: where there is greed there is death; where there is forgiveness, there is the Divine.
What it means
These lines give an honest diagnosis and a hopeful cure. Ego is a deep illness, but not an incurable one. Lust and anger slowly destroy what is precious in us, just as borax melts gold. Greed deadens the spirit, while forgiveness brings us close to the Divine. Recognising the vices is the first step; turning to the Guru and cultivating their opposite virtues is the path out.
Living it today
- Keep an honest weekly check-in: which of the five was strongest this week, and when did it appear?
- When anger rises, pause for three silent repetitions of 'Waheguru' before speaking.
- Practise contentment by naming three things you are grateful for before you buy something new.
- Counter pride with quiet seva, such as cleaning or serving without mentioning it.
- Guard your inputs — media and company that constantly feed desire, anger or envy make the thieves stronger.
A real-life example
The group chat
Taranjit, a university student, noticed that a family WhatsApp group made her furious. Every political argument pulled her in, and she would type long angry replies late at night. She began to see her pride (needing to win), her anger (at relatives) and her attachment (to being right) all working together. She decided to try a small experiment: before replying to anything that made her angry, she would read one line of Gurbani and wait an hour. Most of the time she no longer wanted to reply. Her relationships improved, and so did her sleep. 'The thieves didn't disappear,' she said, 'but I stopped leaving the door open.'
Common misunderstandings
All desire, emotion and attachment are sinful in Sikhi.
Sikhi embraces family life, love and healthy desire. The vices are desire, anger and attachment when they become uncontrolled and pull us from truth and the Divine.
Anger is always wrong.
Gurbani warns against destructive anger. Standing firmly against injustice, with a clear and controlled mind, is different from being ruled by rage.
Willpower alone can defeat the five vices.
Effort matters, but Gurbani points to Naam, the Guru's Word, sangat and the Divine's grace as the real strength against the vices.
Sources
- Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Ang 466
- Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Ang 932
- Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Ang 1372