Sweet and cool dew has spread itself. The night is drenched and pleasant.lt is not yet morning. The moon in combination with the stars is shedding a nice cool moonlight. All around it is peaceful. Everybody in the town is still sleeping. Even the forest is quiet as if in meditation. And quiet flew the rivulet water also.
The clock struck five. The sound of somebody having a bath and a swim in the rivulet could be heard. One could hear the words also:
'Only he has got salvation
In whose heart the Lord resides
Everything happens as the Lord wishes'
At this time, who is having a bath in this blessed rivulet? Yes, calling this time as the golden time and teaching people to get up and say prayers in this early morning time, is great Guru Nanak having a bath.
The second Guru has said: 'Saint's super consciousness is attuned to the Lord. He is in eagerness to get up early in the morning. He has friendship with rivers'.
The godly soul came out of the rivulet after his bath, wiped and dressed and then sat down on a nearby platform in meditation. He got immersed in the love of the Lord. It is quiet. He is sitting in solitude. It is so peaceful and delightful. His soul is merged with the Supreme soul.
In this soft moonlight his godly face has an aura that is spreading love rays all around. It appears as if the stars are the eyes of the saints living in the heavens and are in ecstasy by having a glance of him.
The air has become serene by his touch. The sweet moonlight is calm like a pond of mercury. There is an aesthetic charm and it seems beauty itself has merged in it. Here, is sitting our handsome Guru Nanak in love intoxication of the Lord. Time is passing softly and stealthily. Every moment of time and every part of the moment is having a touch of the gracious Guru and in that sensation is feeling an achievement. Time is passing but as if it is not passing and is in meditation at the sacred feet of the Guru.
All praise to the miraculous Guru who is at present working as a Stores Manager to the Chief of Sultanpur.
His gracious life-giving sensation is falling like a drizzle since then, there, here, everywhere. Wherever and whenever you remember him from the core of your heart, there he is, to give you his gracious life-giving sensation.
At a little distance, say about two kilometers from Sultanpur is another town named Malsihan. Look, the town Head whose name is Bhagirath is sitting in concentration in front of a fearful looking black idol.
Is he sitting only today? No, he sits like this since long.
One Tannic came to him and said: That is a science.
He suggested to Bhagirath to sit and concentrate in front of the goddess Kali.
Since then, he has been sitting in front of the idol every day for hours together. But now he feels disappointed sometimes.
Why? The mind does concentrate but it hasn't felt the lightness. He hasn't got peace of mind. Sometimes he feels some heaviness in the mind and sometimes a feeling of emptiness.
Concentration: One can get concentration in many ways.
If you concentrate your eyes on something or you concentrate your mind on something, the mind will get concentration. But without love what good the concentration can do? Maybe the concentration gives some strength to the mind but the aim of life is lost.
The aim of life is to meet the Lord who has given us this life. The Lord is a living Supreme power, a living omnipresence, a living graciousness and an ocean of goodness. He is the Supreme soul. We are also a living soul. The soul has to meet the soul. Our small soul has to meet the Universal soul. Our soul rusted with the entanglements and sufferings of the world has to meet the Supreme soul.
'Love is the cement that can bind a soul with soul. It is only love that can make a soul meet soul'.
To do concentration to get some supernatural powers may be helpful for attaining more worldly gains but it cannot allay your sufferings or make you meet the omnipresent Lord or give you eternal happiness. The mind being tuned to concentration to attain more worldly gains remains in worldly entanglements. The tantric's suggestion to Bhagirath was to do concentration and attain some supernatural powers and a strong body.
But Bhagirath wished to have inner happiness of the mind and for that the requirement was to meet the Lord. That is why Bhagirath hadn't got happiness even after all the practice of concentration. He hadn't got peace of mind. He was puzzled and quite often he felt mental restlessness. He kept on sitting in front of the idol of Kali and tried to concentrate but got no happiness in his mind.
For a seeker of spiritual knowledge it becomes an agony when one practices concentration but still does not get peace of mind.
It is one's nature that when a person is in agony, he tries to find out the way to be happy. Bhagirath talks to all the saints who come there about his predicament and asks them for a remedy.
Although from these meetings he came to know that this worship of goddess Kali might not give him peace of mind, still he prayed to the idol of goddess Kali for peace of mind but to no effect. Even Saint Namdev had the same problem. He prayed to the idols for peace of mind. Similar was the case with Bhagirath. He wanted peace of mind and eternal happiness but the practice that he was doing could not give him the peace of mind that he sought.
Poet Santokh Singh writes that once Bhagirath spent the entire day and night singing the hymns in praise of the idol. That night, in the middle of the night, the goddess Kali appeared in human form and told him that Guru Nanak is the savior and is staying at Sultanpur as the Chiefs Store Manager.
But Bhai Mani singh writes that once Guru Nanak came to Malsihan and Bhagirath met Guru Nanak. Guru Nanak stayed there for the night. Bhagirath fell at his feet and stayed for the night there where the Guru was staying.
The Guru got up early in the morning. Bhagirath brought fresh water. The Guru had his bath and sat in meditation. He got immersed in the love of the Lord as usual. At that time Bhagirath noticed a lady scrubbing the floor.
Bhagirath asked her: Who are you?
The lady replied: I am a goddess.
Bhagirath, then, astonishingly said: People respect you as mother goddess. Why are you scrubbing the floor here?
She said: Guru is the prophet I get my strength by serving him.
After listening to all that, Bhagirath realized that he was on the wrong path and that the Guru only could put him on the right path.
Ill
Now, Bhagirath started living at Sultanpur. He became a disciple of Guru Nanak. Guru Nanak blessed him with the Lord's name.
Early morning, he accompanied the Guru to the rivulet carrying the Guru's clothes and after having a bath sat at a distance reciting the Lord's name. In the day, he was at the service of the holy congregation.
Bhagirath was now happy. His mind got detached from worldly passions.
The worldly passions bind us to the world. The mind has a natural attraction for the worldly passions. The mind wishes to acquire everything and enjoy what he has acquired. The worldly merriments do give pleasure temporarily but they have a negative effect on the mind and the body strength and with too much merriment the body becomes ill. One does get pleasure from worldly passions but on the other hand it affects the body strength. Like, the firework does give a glitter but simultaneously it burns itself. Besides, the passions leave dirt on the mind. The more one goes after passions, the more dirt is accumulated on the mind and the mind becomes subservient to worldly passions and pleasures.
To get out of this subservience one has to make an effort.
The first thing towards this effort is 'service'. When we inculcate in ourselves the habit of service to the people, then, the mind gets deviated from selfishness that had got embedded in our mind earlier.
Secondly, the scriptures give us a thought of what is really good and what is really bad. Again, the reading of scriptures turns the mind from aimless wandering to the right track towards the Lord.
Thirdly, since the scripture is from the Guru's heart and from the divine world, so automatically the mind is attracted towards the Lord.
The Guru has said: This scripture is from the Lord. It goes into one's heart. The scripture prompts us to recite the Lord's name. Recitation of the Lord's name takes us towards the direction of the Lord. Recitation of the Lord's name gives us a feeling of love for the Lord. The name that we recite is of our beloved. By recitation the Lord remains in our heart. To keep the
remembrance of the Lord in our heart we do recitation. Recitation i.e. remembrance is our love for the Lord. This love is the way to reach the Lord. This devotion is the way for the devotee to meet the beloved 'The One Supreme Lord'.
So, the way of love that the Guru gave, Bhagirath started treading on this path. He started reading the divine scripture and listening to and singing the divine hymns and his mind turned towards the Lord. His mind got deviated from the idols and the miraculous powers that they are supposed to give and got a direction towards the 'Supreme Lord'. His remembrance and recitation of the Lord's name directed him towards love of the Lord. His mind got cleansed of the worldly dirt. His mind became crystal and he felt the presence of the Lord in his mind. His mind stopped aimless wandering outwardly after worldly passions and now saw inwardly and while remembering and reciting the Lord's name, he felt the presence of the Lord. His crystal mind gave ecstasy and felt rapture. This is the feeling of the presence of the Lord or in other words it is a feeling of meeting the 'All Supreme soul'. In this way, Bhagirath was in the service of the gracious Guru. He read the Holy Scripture, recited the Lord's name and felt ecstasy in his mind that one gets while feeling the presence of the Lord within.
The Guru is in young age and in high spirits, but the buoyancy of his mind is not outwardly. The buoyancy is inwardly that keeps in touch with the Lord. There is a sacred graciousness in him flowing out like a spring. It is like the fragrance automatically coming out from a flower.
He is managing the stores of the chief of Sultanpur. He has to distribute the groceries for the palace and also for the troops.
Then, there is the other busy schedule that teaches you to see inwardly. The needy come and ask for groceries, which he gives but that goes to his personal account. The seekers come to him. Some for religiousness, some for their needs, some seek relief from their woes and ask for happiness that the Guru blessed with pleasure. He is busy the whole day but even in his busy time he gives charity.
The moment he gets free from work, the singing of divine hymns starts and people from far and wide come to listen to the divine hymns.
At night is a little rest. Early morning, he gets up and after a bath, he sits in meditation. In the day, he does the worldly chores but his mind is attached
to the Lord all the time. In this way both the things, the worldly chores and the remembrance of the Lord are being done simultaneously.
All this is an example for us to follow his footsteps. In the day, we have to do the worldly chores but the mind should remain attached to the Lord. While doing the worldly chores, we should do goodness to other people with an unselfish motive to serve others. At night, we should not be in the forgetfulness of the Lord. We should keep our mind immersed in the love and remembrance of the Lord. Early morning, we should sit in recitation of the Lord's name.
The Guru is setting standards for us to follow. The Guru is immersed in the Lord's love all the time. The Guru is planting the seedling of the Lord's name in everyone's heart. This is the utmost graciousness.
Living with him, Bhagirath has become an exemplary disciple.
In this time, one Khatri used to come to the Guru. He was quite humble and respected the Guru very much. His daughter was already engaged and he had no money for her marriage. In case the engagement broke, there was no hope of getting another match. In this utmost difficulty, he explained his problem to the Guru. He told him that his relatives had arranged the engagement and fixed the marriage but he had no money for the marriage. He prayed to the Guru for help.
The gracious Guru looked towards Bhagirath and said: Bhagirath, write down whatever things he wants for the marriage of his daughter and here is the money. Go to Lahore and buy everything but do not stay at Lahore for more than one night.
Bhagirath put the money in his pocket, bowed in respect to the Guru and with mind immersed in the recitation of the Lord's name started towards Lahore. He spent two nights on the way and then he reached Lahore and met a rich merchant He showed him the paper detailing the items required and said: Gentleman, Please buy all these goods. Everything should be of good quality and reasonably priced. Be true. You will feel good and so will I.
The merchant whose name was Mansukh replied: As you say, will be done. Now it is evening. You rest at night. All the items will be purchased in a couple of days and whatever items have to be got prepared shall be got prepared.
Bhagirath: Gentleman, I cannot stay here for more than one night.
Mansukh (with curiosity): Why? Please don't be formal. This is your own house. You won't have any problem staying here for two or three days. You will feel at home.
Bhagirath: That is not the point. The thing is that I can stay here for only one night.
Mansukh: You do like this. Stay here for one extra night. I will do the purchases quickly. You can then make up for the extra time stayed by hiring fast transport. I shall arrange that fast transport for you.
Mansukh: But gentleman, I have orders to stay at Lahore for one night only.
Bhagirath: But why? Are you an employee of Daulat Khan Lodhi and is it a government order? Is it so? I was suggesting this because the ivory bangles set has to be got prepared and maybe some other item also has to be made.
Bhagirath: If it were the order of the state, then I could have made hundreds of excuses to the boss, but from whom I have got the orders is bigger and by not obeying his orders I feel my whole life wasted.
Mansukh (with curiosity): Above King Daulat Khan is the emperor of Delhi only, but you have come from Sultanpur. A little disobedience to the king can bring some trouble, but how is it that you feel the whole life wasted?
Bhagirath: My Guru is bigger than the emperor of Delhi and my whole life wasted is due to the reason that I have got true life from his blessings only. Whatever ecstasy I have is the result of falling at his feet and obeying him. I could not get happiness even after years of meditation on the idol. I have got detachment from self-pride and have got peace in my mind by the Guru's blessings. My Guru's command is that I have to stay at Lahore for one night only and disobeying his order is my whole life wasted.
Mansukh: Guru's blessings? In this Un-enlightened era (Kalyug), who is born to give Guru blessing? All over is degradation. All are hypocrites laying traps. Everywhere traps are being laid. O friend, you appear to be quite intelligent but you talk of something unbelievable.
Bhagirath: You are right. In this world it is like that only. But my dear Mansukh, my Guru is a true guru. In this Un-enlightened era (Kalyug) is born a prophet, a true Guru.
Mansukh: I am also a seeker. I have searched enough and realized that all are sham. I have lost all hope. If the Lord is gracious, he will call me and bestow his blessings. There is not even one true Guru in this world.
Bhagirath: About whom I am talking, he has come to this world as a prophet. He is living in simplicity but he is a real prophet. If you have faith and devotion in him, you will get real peace and tranquility of mind.
Mansukh: Suppose, I don't put faith in him and try to examine him? If I am satisfied I shall believe. Is it O.K. like this? Is he a real prophet?
Bhagirath: Surely. Whatever way you wish is all right.
Mansukh: You must be speaking truly. Yes, you are telling the truth. But I have had nasty experiences. I want to tread slowly. I shall be satisfied if he shows some miracle.
Bhagirath: The Guru considers miracles as low. The real miracle is the ecstasy of mind that comes by his blessings. But if you must wish to see a miracle, you may come and try.
Mansukh: O.K. We do like this. Now you have dinner and rest for the night. Tomorrow, everything will be ready. One ivory bangles set, I have got ready with me. I shall take that as a gift. We can leave tomorrow in the afternoon. In this way, you will keep up the Guru's command and for me, if something is written on my forehead, I will get.
Early next morning, Bhagirath woke up. He recited the Lord's name. He had a bath and then sat in meditation immersed in the Lord's name.
Mansukh saw all this. He had already listened to Bhagirath the previous night and was quite impressed with Bhagirath's true speaking and sincerity. He really became eager to go to Sultanpur and meet the Guru. He purchased everything in the morning and picked up the ivory bangles set that he had in the house and after leaving the shop to his deputies, he along with Bhagirath left for Sultanpur and reached half way by night.
Here, after dinner when they were about to sleep they started talking. Mansukh was eager to understand everything about Bhagirath's experiences and his becoming a disciple of the Guru.
Mansukh: I fully understand your experiences. Even to me, somebody had suggested idol worship. But I did not agree because I was against idol worship from my heart and excepting the Almighty God I have no faith in anything else. I have also witnessed different types of hath yoga. They can be practiced only if one does not want to live in the family. Even if you practice hath yoga, what is the result? The yogis get into the habit of drinking. They are full of passions and they have more of anger. They say, they have some supernatural powers. One true yogi told me that hath yoga is meant to control the passions of the body only. The real thing is Raj yoga. But you can't find a true Raj yogi. They only tell you to do some worship for concentration of
mind. Even those are for one's pleasures. I want to meet someone who has control over passions, who should be of good character and who should have control over 'worldly desires' but so far I have not come across such a saint.
Bhagirath: Your wish and want is fine. Guru Nanak is himself working. He is managing the Chief of Sultanpur's grocery store. He works the whole day but his mind is attached with the Lord the whole day. As it is, he has two persons to do the weighing but sometimes he leaves his seat and comes to weigh. I have noticed, while weighing when he comes to thirteen he starts singing yours, yours and the weighing process stops. Again if by chance he touches the quarter weight he starts praying Bless O Lord, Bless O Lord. The moment he is free from work, the singing of the divine hymns begins. Early morning, he leaves the house and goes and sits at the bank of the rivulet in meditation. I cannot really tell you. He has an absolutely different type of life. He is a householder but he has no attachments. He does earn enough but all that goes to the needy and the disciples. Many times, there have been complaints that he is giving away groceries to whosoever wants. But every time a checking is done there is never any shortage in the store. Instead there is a surplus. There is some godly grace.
His forehead shines like a diamond. His hands have a godly touch.
Whomsoever he touches with his hands is blessed with the Lord's name. He has done yoga also but he says it is not required for reaching the Lord.
One day, I heard him talking to a yogi. He told him that everybody might not do yoga. Everybody cannot sit and meditate. Everybody cannot renounce the world and become a recluse. Those who renounce the world go to the forests. The society is thus deprived of the good people. Religious practice should be such that everybody should be able to do it while living in the family.
One cannot reach the Lord by doing concentration and possessing miraculous powers. Eternal happiness comes from reaching the Lord. The soul should be cleansed and one should desire to reach the Lord. The love of the Lord will take you to the Lord. The Lord is also a living soul. All the goodness in humans is His. To love and be loved is also His grace. Love begets love. By loving the Lord, the Lord will bestow His love on you. It is the love from both sides that is the meeting ground. Everybody has the experience in loving one's mother, one's wife and one's children. Everybody knows what is love. Not only knows but has the real experience and knowledge of love. This love has to be extended towards the Lord.
Mansukh: I love listening to you and I am sorry to interrupt you. One tbing, I wish to know is that one can love somebody seen but how can one love somebody not seen.
Bhagirath: Seen and unseen are said for the objects of this world. But the Lord cannot be seen. Only He can see us. He sees us but we do not see Him. He cannot become an object for us to see because whatever we see has to die, but He is above death. The fact remains that He sees us and He is not far from us. He is close to us. He is inside our body and outside our body. We are His children. He is not at a distance from His children.
The Guru says: He dwells in nature. He is omnipresent. He is inside our body and outside in nature.
Mansukh: Then, why are we in despair? Why are we in suffering and lost?
Bhagirath: The water is there everywhere in the earth but everybody is thirsty for water and in despair. The thirst can go only by going to the well. I am giving an example only. Similarly, the Lord is present in everyone's body but still everyone is in despair. The reason is that everyone has forgotten that the Lord is present in one's self. The Lord is present inside everyone but this fact is not in anyone's remembrance. If one remembers the existence of the Lord in one's self, then, it will be just like digging a well. One will not remain in despair. One will be in hope and that will give tranquility to the mind.
You see our mind is always looking outwardly. Our senses look outwardly only. Our outwardly mind remains absorbed in the charm of the senses and remains in the forgetfulness of the Lord. This forgetfulness keeps us at a distance from the omnipresent Lord. The reverse of forgetfulness is remembrance. When we inculcate the habit of remembrance in our mind, then, the mind that is always looking outwardly gets a diversion to see inwardly. Whenever we recite the Lord's name, the mind that is generally looking after the body and the passions of the body is diverted to see inwardly. This seeing inwardly is remembering the Lord.
Mansukh: Yes, I understand. The mind will get into the habit of looking inwardly and the mind will be in the remembrance of the Lord.
Bhagirath: Yes, the mind will get concentrated on an inner center in the body and the mind will be in remembrance of the Lord. Now, the mind is not remembering anybody from outside but only the Lord inside our body who can see us. Slowly, the mind will merge with the Lord and the mind will get the qualities of the Lord in it. It will be able to see.
The mind that was in the world and contained the world in it now has the Lord in it.
It is in the love of the Lord. It has merged with the Lord and has got tranquility. Our mind has slowly become crystal and has merged with the omnipresent Lord.
The Guru has said that in this way, our soul meets the Supreme soul. This is eternal happiness.
You see, how easy it is to understand all this and then, practice also. Isn't it?
Mansukh: It is heartening to listen and easy to understand and appears easy to practice. But let us practice. Then only, we will know if we can reach the goal.
Bhagirath: Yes. There is one more thing. The Guru says, keep reciting the Lord's name. You will be happy in this world and then you can expect to be happy in the next world too. He does not like those practices that one may do in this world and expect to get fruits in the next world. Nor he likes those practices that may give some supernatural powers but is devoid of love of the Lord. He suggests something that will give comfort in this world and the next world too. Then, the best thing is that he does not speak ill against anyone. He does not condemn anyone. He has knowledge of all practices and when he speaks, he speaks of his personal experiences of everything.
Many times, he says that the society is suffering. The good people become recluses and leave the families. But how can everybody become a recluse? If everybody becomes a recluse, then, from whom will they get food and clothes to wear? So the best thing is to have a detached mind. They should remain in the society. They should be a help to the needy and poor and for themselves keep a detached mind. The society will benefit from their crystal mind. One or two persons cannot correct the shortcomings of the society. They can be corrected only by the society improving itself. He does not like those practices wherein a person gets away from the society. He wants every individual to improve himself so that the society may also improve along with the individuals. Then, the practice should be such that anyone who has no worry to earn, or anyone who has worry to earn like a farmer who ploughs the field, both should be able to do.
Mansukh: How?
Bhagirath: It is by remembrance of the Lord. The Guru says, one should get up early in the morning and recite the Lord's name. Maybe for two hours,
one hour, half an hour, quarter of an hour or even five minutes. See, this much time anybody can take out in the morning. Then, he says, you keep the recitation of the Lord's name on your tongue while sitting, standing, sleeping and walking. From the tongue it will go to your subconscious mind. There is an example. It is a humor but it is good to make somebody understand better. Like when you put food in your mouth and chew, it goes down the body automatically. You don't have to push it down with a stick or a finger. Similarly, when your tongue recites the Lord's name, it automatically goes down to your subconscious mind. Now, the food that has gone into the body is digested and absorbed in the body by the subconscious mind. Similarly, the Name will become a remembrance of the Lord. Say, love of the Lord in our body. This love will keep us in the touch of the Lord. Now you see, does it make any difference to the grocer or the farmer or an employee in their work if they keep the remembrance of the Lord in their mind?
Mansukh: Well, for a farmer it may not matter but for a person who has to apply his brain it might be a bit difficult.
Bhagirath: Yes. You are right. But in every occupation there are gaps of time when a person can be free to recite the Lord's name. Like a shopkeeper will surely get some spare time when one customer goes away and another comes. If he recites the Lord's name in that spare time, see how much time he can get in this way.
By this recitation of the Lord's name by the tongue, the Name gets into the subconscious mind in the body. Then, it gets into the breath and becomes automatic. When the Name gets into the breath, then one is out of the cycle of births and deaths.
Mansukh: I do understand. But one thing you make me understand once again. What do you mean by subconscious mind?
Bhagirath: See, we eat food. While eating we know we are eating, but after it enters the stomach we do not know what is happening. By itself, it gets digested and converted into blood, meat, eyes, hands, feet and other organs of the body. There is the subconscious mind that is doing all the work without our knowing.
Similarly, when we go on reciting the Lord's name, it gets into the subconscious mind and then to the breath, heart and body cells and we feel that our mind and heart is in ecstasy. The Name keeps our mind dyed in the Lord's love and we feel the sensation of the Lord's name in our entire body. That is a feeling of the presence of the Lord in our body. Is it all right?
Mansukh: Your talk is very attractive to the mind but the feeling of ecstasy may come only after practice. One thing, you tell me. You have been reciting the Lord's name for many years. What happiness you feel in yourself.
Bhagirath: Well, whatever anybody has in one's mind, only that person knows. No other person can peep into another person's mind. One can only explain one's mind to another person and the other person can draw his own impressions of the same. So, I can tell you the status of my mind. Then, you can draw your own impressions from that. Now it is like this, that my mind does not wander aimlessly as before and my passions are all controlled. Bless me! I shouldn't feel proud, but by the grace of the Guru my mind never goes after worldly pleasures any more. It remains absorbed in the recitation of the Lord's name.
The Guru has said: 'Name is everything'. The Name that the Guru has given is settled in my mind. There is a sensation and a feeling of the presence of the Lord within and a feeling of ecstasy. I feel my body as light as a flower. It appears as if the mind has become crystal and is shining with some light. What else should I say? I cannot explain in words. Don't think there is some light inside. The Guru knows what it is. But I am in ecstasy and I wish that this ecstasy and rapture should ever remain. In this purity of mind, the worldly pleasures look like dirt to me.
What else should I say? By the grace of the Guru, I am living in ecstasy and rapture.
Mansukh: I really feel pleasure in listening to your talk. I am sure your Guru is from the heavens. But I am tired of the sadhus. There are some who say that they can do miracles and have a following in thousands and people donate millions of rupees to them. But I have gone near them and found them all bogus. So, I have thought in my mind that your Guru must show a miracle. Then only I shall be sure that he is a true Guru.
I have something in my mind that I won't tell. If he does something that I have wished, then, I shall be satisfied.
Bhagirath: This thinking of yours is not much important. For the Guru, to perform miracles is not a big thing. He is a prophet. From him, miracles happen leisurely. He does not have to make an effort to perform miracles. You have asked a drop from the ocean. His mind is full of pearls and gems. One drop is nothing for him. It is not good to put him to test but you may do what your mind says.
Mansukh: O.K. But I will do what my mind says to me.
Yes. The prophet of the prophets, ambassador of peace, angel of love, bestowal of kindness, the savior is sitting at Sultanpur distributing groceries. It is afternoon and the work is over. He is relaxing. People are coming to meet him. A few more are expected. The divine hymns are being sung. Mardana is playing the rebeck.
Just now, Bhagirath and Mansukh have arrived. Both of them bowed their heads. The singing has almost finished. They had hardly lifted their heads when the gracious Guru looked towards them, smiled and said: Come Bhagirath, you are an apostle of kindness, a spring of fragrance. You have brought the things for the marriage and also a seeker of the Lord. Then he looked towards Mansukh and said: Come Mansukh, welcome. Bhagirath has put you on the spiritual path of 'Recitation of the Lord's name with love'.
Bhagirath: Your Holiness, these are the things for the marriage and this is the ivory bangles set that Mansukh has brought as a gift. It is your graciousness that you call me an aposde of kindness. I am only a servant who had wasted his entire life in lifeless practices and you have bestowed life to me. I have not done anything intentionally. You had said that I should stay at Lahore for one night only. When I told this to Mansukh, he was curious to know the reason for the same and then, we talked about you. Your name and your discourses impressed him.
His mind that was tired like a deer running after musk was impressed by your name and your gospel. He is falling at your feet to get tranquility of mind. He had wished that you must show some miracle to satisfy his mind of your greatness. Now, you are the savior. He wants your blessings and eternal bliss.
The Guru smiled, looked towards Mansukh and said: Mansukh, it is 'Forget fulness of Lord' all around. Love has vanished. There is no devotion for the Lord. In this ocean of fire, the Lord's name is the ship that can carry you to the Lord's palace.
Then, he looked towards the person who had to marry his daughter and said: Here, take all the things and do your duty of solemnizing the marriage of your daughter. Give that much that you can really afford. You have realized the Lord. Don't over spend for the sake of 'What the people will say' or for false 'show off.
VII
The needy person took the things, thanked the Guru for his kindness and went away.
As for Mansukh, his wish was already fulfilled. He had wished that the Guru should address him by his name on meeting, and this, the Guru had already done. The Guru had addressed him by his name when he came. His wish having been fulfilled, Mansukh was so much impressed that he decided to stay on with Bhagirath.
Everyday, he had the blessings of the Guru. The Guru was living like a lotus in mud (the lotus grows and lives in mud but is not affected by the mud). He was living like a duck in a lake (The duck swims in water but it does not get wet, it remains un-affected by water). Similarly, the Guru was living in this world but with mind detached. His mind remained attached to the Lord all the time. Mansukh saw all this and his respect and devotion for the Guru increased very much.
One day, the Guru was sitting alone. Mansukh came and fell at his feet and prayed with humility: O, Gracious Guru! Bless me. The worldly passions and desires are a horrible ocean. Please save me from drowning.
The Guru said: Mansukh, there are three things to remember and do.
1 . Recitation of the Lord's name incessantly.
2. Win over Ego
3. Whatever the Lord does, accept it as good.
You have already heard a lot about the Lord's name. Without the Lord's name there is no salvation. This is the only easiest way in which no hindrances will come. Recite the Lord's name. This will go into the heart in the form of love of the Lord. Then, it will go into the breath and the body cells. The worldly attachments will go and it will give a love sensation of the Lord. The mind will be turned towards the Lord. The wandering of the mind outwardly will be controlled. The passions will remain under the control of the mind. The desires will diminish. There will be an awakening and the mind will become sublime. The outer mind will then be in unison with the sublime mind. The sublime mind will have a touch of the Lord. It will get strength from the Lord. Then the sublime mind will have control over the outer mind.
But also read the scripture, understand the meanings, sing the hymns. You will have peace of mind and ecstasy. The reading of the scripture turns the mind towards the Lord. Sometimes, when your mind gets distracted, the reading of the scripture helps and saves you from distraction.
The Scripture is from the Lord. It has come from the heavens. It will take you to the heavens. So to say, the Scripture is the circle and Name is the center point. This is the practice for the Lord's name.
Secondly, you must understand that it is the 'Ego' in us that is separating us from the Lord. We have to analyze and see the ego as a distinct and a separate entity. Firstly, reading the scripture and reciting the Name will make us look inwardly. Secondly, we must understand that ego is the prime cause of all our attachments and our analyzing and visualizing this ego and sensing it as a separate entity will lead us towards the Lord.
1. Ego manifests in us as 'I am' or 'me' as a pride and forms a veil between the Lord and us.
2. It shapes the mind to look outwardly and spreads as T and 'mine'
3. When we feel proud, it is the ego that is living in our mind in the form of pride.
4. When we acquire something we are happy. We enjoy and ravish the T and 'me'.
5. When we require or acquire something, it becomes a desire in the form of passion or greed or attachment to worldly things or relationships.
6. When this ego gets a beating, it comes out in the form of anger.
7. If this anger is not able to resolve, then this ego comes in the form of sulkiness, jealousy or envy.
It is the ego in its different forms the bondage that manifests itself the moment we come into this world and till we go from this world. All our actions in this world are within this bondage.
To remove the veil between the Lord and ourselves, we have to analyze and see this ego as a distinct and separate entity. Thus, this ego is like an illness. This illness can go by loving the Lord. Loving the Lord is remembering the Lord. Remembering the Lord is reciting His name and singing His hymns.
But even while reciting His name and singing His hymns, we have to be cautious about this ego.
Even on the spiritual path, it shows its face in the form of 'I have a deep knowledge of religion' or 'I have become a saint' or 'I have attained the Lord'. This ego again becomes a hamper. So, we have to keep this ego at a distance always.
Lord created ego as a servant for us so that we can have some identity in this world and we are able to do our worldly chores like earning and looking after the family etc. in a proper way. But this ego has overpowered our mind and we have become servants of this ego and this has created a veil between the Lord and ourselves. We must understand this ego and win it over.
Thirdly, whatever the Lord does, we have to accept it as good.
While living in this world, we get sorrows and sufferings. They strike deep into the mind and heart. Really speaking, they give a blow to the ego that manifests in us as T and 'mine'. When there is a hindrance in getting something that I desire or something that I feel is mine goes away or is lost, then, the T feels the pain.
When something bad happens or we lose something that was ours, at that moment if we think that this was the Lord's wish, then, one does not feel the shock and wins over the ego.
The things or the sentimental relationships have to go one day. We never possessed them. We only got them later. They have to be separated from us, one day. So, why should we have sentimental attachments and desires?
They came by the Lord's command and they go by the Lord's command.
We belong to the Lord and the Lord belongs to us.
In His love we are immersed, by the remembrance and recitation of His name. Why should we have any attachment with the outside worldly things and relationships? Whatever happens is according to the deeds that we have already done and the will of the Lord. We have love for the Lord and the Lord has love for us. Whatever he does is for our good. We have love for the Lord and not for what He gives. He is the giver and He is the taker.
For us 'the recitation of the Lord's name is everything'.
If we remain in this thinking, then whenever any sorrow or pain occurs and our ego comes up in the form of pride or anger, or whenever we are depressed because of worry or sadness, this thinking will not let us waver from the recitation of the Lord's name.
The above three things will make you happy and satisfied.
VIII
Mansukh did not go home. He got so much attracted to the Guru that he stayed at Sultanpur for a long time. He attended the singing of the hymns everyday. He learnt the divine hymns by heart and he wrote down a lot of them. Getting up early in the morning, he got into the habit of meditation of
the Lord's name. He became immune to the worldly ocean of fire.
After a long stay at Sultanpur he went back to Lahore. Again, he would come sometimes, stay for a month or two, listen to the divine hymns and get the blessings of the Guru. Then he would go back to attend to his worldly chores.
He became an example of a man living in the world and in the family with mind detached but attached to the Lord. He became a true disciple of Guru Nanak.
Bhagirath, through whose prompting, Mansukh became a disciple, remained with the Guru at Sultanpur. Bhagirath had so much attraction for the Guru that he could not bear the separation from him.
Bhagirath had initially meditated in front of the idol for a long time but to no avail. Now, when he got the true path, he got so much immersed in the Guru's love that he forgot to go back home.
One day, the Guru asked Bhagirath to go back to his native town Malsihan. Live there. The Guru told him not to waver.
The Guru said: You may come sometime to meet.
Bhagirath had attained eternal happiness and was living in ecstasy but he had so much love for the Guru that it was difficult for him to separate. But considering it a Guru's wish he went back to his native town. He used to come quite often to meet the Guru and have his blessings.
The Guru's words are repeated once again:
For us 'the recitation of the Lord's name is everything'. The Guru 's command to Mansukh is repeated once again: Recite the Lord's name incessantly. Win over Ego.
Whatever the Lord does, accept it as good. Again the Guru said :
The Scripture is from the Lord. It has come from the heavens. It will take you to the heavens. So to say, Scripture is the circle and Name the center point.
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