Ubare Khan: Welcome Sheikh, it seems you are going to give some heartpleasing news. The appearance of your face has changed. It is shining and lustrous.
Sheikh Malo: Yes, then won't you congratulate me? Won't you put a garland round my neck? Won't you smear my forehead with saffron? Won't you give me a gift in my lap, now, that I have become a beloved?
Ubare Khan: Thanks to the Lord. You have become a beloved. Lord is great Then you give some heart-pleasing news.
Sheikh Malo: The heart does not have a tongue that it would speak and the tongue does not have a heart that would feel and tell.
Ubare Khan: Your mind has felt elevation. Your mind has felt ecstasy. The elevation and ecstasy are visible on your face as lustre. Thanks to the Lord that I have got a glimpse of that lustre. Lord is great Thanks to the Lord.
Sheikh Malo: O friend, except saying thanks to the Lord, there is nothing better to do. The tongue should say thanks, the body cells should say thanks, the heart should he immersed in thanks and the body should all become a body of thanks like a sugar stick.
Ubare Khan: But even saying thanks is not in one's hand. This mind is like a deer with musk that keeps running around in search of the smell of musk that is inside his body. It does not have time to say thanks. O friend, you give some share of the gifts that you have got so that someone who is in longing to become a beloved may taste and for that sake may become fit for becoming a beloved.
Sheikh Malo: How can a dumb person describe the taste of sweets. He can only eat and enjoy but how can he tell?
Ubare Khan: Well you cannot tell but, O handsome friend, you give some little speck with your own hands of what you have got as grace.
Sheikh Malo: (heaving a sigh) A beggar, what can he give from the grace he has got by begging. Yes, the benevolent (with tears in eyes), the living benevolent the merciful benevolent, can give if he wishes. One who has spread his lap at the door, what can he give?
Ubare Khan: Well, he may not give, but he should not become dumb for telling the door of the auspicious handsome benevolent. Your tongue has become without sentiments, with friends it does not speak. Is it fair to keep silence with old friends?
Sheikh Malo: Who can hide the sun and the moon? Who can lock the breeze in a box? Who can hold the showering clouds in his palm? Who can hold the galaxy of stars in his lap? Who can hide a godly soul, an image of the Lord behind a curtain?
Ubare Khan: Then if you have got a glimpse, you get me his glimpse too.
Sheikh Malo: If somebody gets a glimpse and ignores, then what is the remedy? If somebody does not open his eyes when the glimpse is in front of him, then who can help?
Ubare Khan: Well. Is friendship, well wishing, love, sentiment, emotion, affection, sincerity only this much that one may give indications to friends who have eyes but do not see and not take him to the door by leading with a club?
Sheikh Malo: O friend, the road to love is mountainous. To tread on the path of devotion is difficult. It requires total sacrifice of one's self. It requires extreme loyalty, like the humility of a dry broken tree leaf to the breeze. You are a handsome Muslim chief. Your head is full with pride. Then you are a Muslim but in ignorance of the Lord and you have ego that you are a Pathan. But on this path one has to tread on the edge of a sword and hop on thorns.
Ubare Khan: Now, you don't put more riddles. You have already hopped. You have already treaded on the thin edge of a sword. I have seen the lustre on your face. Won't you show me this thin edge of the sword? Rest, what you said of my being a Pathan chief. The Moghuls have already shattered the pride of Pathans. The pride of Pathans has come down like the trunk of the elephant You make it longer. Spread it under the feet of the beloved. (Nodding his head) O yes, O friend, you are no less. I am uneducated but you are a learned scholar and could beat anyone in debate. Even you have bowed down your egoistic head to somebody and made your face handsome and lustrous.
Sheikh Malo: Will you bow down to a Non-Muslim?
Ubare Khan (after a thought): I will bow down to a Hindu.
Sheikh Malo: Will you bow down to a Non-Hindu?
Ubare Khan: I will bow down to a Non-everything if somebody is a real saint who can make me meet the Lord, who can make me a married beloved, me an 'unmarried abandoned'.
Sheikh Malo: Then O friend, you can gain. When the fences fall, the swelling rivers fill the gaps.
Ubare Khan: But the swelling rivers even down the fences also.
Sheikh Malo: You are right, you understand the door.
Ubare Khan: If I understand, then you take me. If I do not understand even then you take me. If it is a true door, then to make me understand is in the graciousness of the master of the door.
Sheikh Malo (with tears in eyes): Yes, you are right. The master of the true door has straightened my egoistic mind from the mistaken beliefs and given shelter at his feet.
Ubare Khan: God is great. Then you tell something. Put me on the road.
Sheikh Malo: Then O friend, listen to my plain telling. If you like it then I will consider that you have become fortunate. Your stars that were not giving light have become shining. Some fortune has come to you.
It is nearly half a century or more or less since the image of the Lord, the godly soul has come from the unseen heavens to this seen world. The master of radiance and grandeur has come to this earth in human form that can be seen with these eyes by people like us. Yes, in this fortunate India and in this land of five rivers, Punjab. Now it is quite sometime that he has made the bank of river Ravi fortunate by putting his sacred feet on it. He has been blessing the Lord's Name to the people for quite some time.
At present he is visiting our Saurian town and it is more than a week since he has been staying here and singing the divine songs. He has made the town fortunate.
O fortunate man, have you not gone for his glimpse? Ubare Khan: Do you mean the same Hindu saint?
Sheikh Malo: Same, the never coming down of my fever (ego) and the fever (ego) of every Muslim.
Ubare Khan: No, it is not. I just asked.
Sheikh Malo: If you have just asked, then why didn't you go? Ubare Khan: You have said truly. I do have a false ego of being a Muslim.
Sheikh Malo: Even I had the same. But the sickness (longing to meet the Lord) took me to the Hindu doctor and instead of asking for the medicine I, stupid sick person, first put him a question: O Lord-sent, tell me whether a Hindu is acceptable to the Lord or a Muslim? Then the benevolent and merciful said: The person who puts this question is a narrow-minded person, the most narrow-minded. Rest, you talk of Hindus or Muslims. Nobody is a Hindu and nobody is a Muslim. On listening to this, I got enraged. O, me, narrow-minded. First, I am a Muslim, second, I am a chief and thirdly, I am a learned scholar. I can win in a debate. Am I narrow-minded?
But there was so much shower of radiance of love coming from his face that I could not speak in anger but still in a dim voice I said: If no one is Hindu and no one is Muslim, then why the Lord has created the two?
Then the master of magnificence said in relaxed tone: All human bodies are made of one earth. One Lord has created all. One soul is in everybody. Neither the soul nor the body is Hindu or Muslim. If two mothers, one Hindu and one Muslim, leave their children in a forest, then who will you say is a Hindu and who a Muslim? When, there is actually no difference, then "Who is better?" The question doesn't arise. The nose, face, eyes, ears of both are the same. Only, when you find out who the parents are, then you may say a Hindu or a Muslim. It is your naming. So, who is big or small in name?
Then one is named a Muslim but is full of pride, stone-hearted, tyrant, cruel liar and deceiver. One who has named him a Muslim, will he say he is a Muslim. Will any Hindu say that this person is Hindu if he is a deceiver, hypocrite, selfish and cruel? Will you say that?
I said: No. I will not.
Then he said: Then the need to say big or small doesn't arise. Then he said: Will you recommended a Muslim who is not pious? I said: No.
Then he said: A Hindu, if he is pious and kind. Will you say he is a sinner?
I said: No. Never.
Then he said: What have you asked me about?
When he put this question, then I got awaken-ness, I was dazed. What mistaken beliefs I had? The ego of being a Muslim has weakened my mind, neither there is any difference in essence nor in deeds. The difference is in the interpretation of the mind, and the ego of being big. I was feeling ashamed in my mind and my ego was fading when he looked at me with a miraculous charm in his eyes. I felt a sensation. I trembled and I could see the human
figure as a master of radiance and an image of the Lord. Some love arrows came from him like rays and through my eyes pierced my heart. I fell at his feet and spread the ego of being a Muslim, a Sheikh and a learned scholar on the sacred earth under his feet.
handsome friend, see what happened. The moment my forehead touched his sacred feet my tongue uttered O Lord, O Lord, my body cells got the sensation of the presence of the Lord. My mind got elevation and sensation of the presence of the Lord. My inner self felt ecstasy. My head got filled with rapture. My inner self said: This is meeting the Lord. I felt an awaken-ness of my mind. My inner mind said: You have got life from lifelessness. My body soul got immersed in the Supreme soul. I lifted my head. I looked at his face. His face showered radiance. My eyes could not bear the dazzle. I thought he is a saint. My mind said: No, O fool.
1 thought he is a prophet. My mind said: No, he is bigger than a prophet. I thought He is an image of the Lord. My mind said: He is more than that. Then I said: O who is he? Who is he? Who is he? A heavenly voice said
in my ears: He is Himself. O friend, I had a glimpse of the Lord. I got a sensation of the presence of the Lord in my mind, heart and body cells. I got life.
You are a Muslim. You will call me a non-believer. You are free to say so. I will listen. I will feel happy.
Ubare Khan was listening to all that with eyes closed. Love tears coming from some fountain of love, were slipping down the eyes, like pearls.
Who would reply?
Sheikh Malo: You are like a damsel wishing to be admitted in the Lord's palace. I want to tell you that although my mind that was earlier estranged but is now reformed and it is in the remembrance of the Lord but still a frivolous argument came to my mind that how does one get respect in the Lord's court? How will I get respect there?
Then the handsome godly throat opened and said: To remain in the forgetfulness of the Lord even for one moment is the greatest suffering of the mind. How can one get respect in the Lord's court when one is in the forgetfulness of the Lord?
When we meet the Guru our ego goes that was the veil between our self and the Lord. Rare are those in this world who do not forget the Lord even for one moment. Make the true Guru your friend. Then you will get respect in the Lord's court.
Ubare Khan: Wonderful! You have made my mind cool.
Sheikh Malo (with tears of love in eyes): O great Guru Nanak, O Lord, O Lord, O Lord.
Ubare Khan: It is impertinence to ask something at this moment but I am sure you will not mind if I ask you to explain fully what you said. I have not understood its interpretation fully well.
Then Malo explained everything to Ubare Khan.
Ubare Khan: O wonderful, you have given me a glimpse of the icy peaks. It is all coolness.
Malo: Coolness is godliness. The Lord is 'All coolness'.
Ubare Khan: Then you take me to those icy peaks.
Malo: By searching one finds the way. But one has to walk on one's own feet One has to reach one's self. One gets satiated and coolness with one's own eyes. One's own mind feels the ecstasy. In friendship and love we meet each other but everybody's mind in this discriminatory world, wherever one lives is in comfort or distress in his own way. Goodness and high thinking bestows love and tries to give comfort to one whom he loves even at his own discomfort. He tells the way, prompts him but the walking one has to do on one's own feet. O friend, see, one who has pain, only he feels the pinch. Friends do help in giving medicines etc but nobody can reach where the pain is. There, one's self only suffers in pain. Similarly, it is one's own mind that feels the ecstasy, only one's own mind.
Ubare Khan: Ah ha, you have said right. Then you come with me. Take me to that door and with your own hands put my egoistic head on the Guru's feet.
Malo: O friend, listen to one secret. Man has come alone from the Lord's court and will go alone to the Lord's court Isn't it true?
So, one should go to the Lord's beloved alone. One should not take anybody along when going to meet a Lord's beloved.
Ubare Khan: It is all right. But I am a bit hesitant.
Malo: We have many shortcomings in us. But, O simple friend, does one hesitate to go to a doctor. When one is in pain then all hesitations go. Yes, you go but go alone and go as a patient A sensible patient meets the doctor when he is alone because he has to explain all his pain and problems to the doctor.
Ubare Khan: All right friend.
Ubare Khan heaved a sigh and a thought came to his mind: It is a strange despair. It is a strange lonesomeness. This world is all lonesomeness.
All are sitting together, mother and son, brother and sister, husband and wife, friend and friend. All consider that they are together but everybody is
alone. Everybody is locked in self like an egg in the shell. It is like ten eggs apparently lying together but all are in fact separate, one and one. No one belongs to anyone.
Everybody says that we are together but nobody can break the veil and perceive the centre of friendly feeling.
Oh ho! What is this world? It is despair, Ionesomeness and sadness but one never realizes this.
Malo: That is true.
Some days passed. Then one day Malo and Ubare Khan met at the well. The well was not running at that time and it was quiet and solitude. Both the old friends sat on the platform near the trough.
Malo: O friend, today your countenance is splendid. Have you got a glimpse of the Guru?
Ubare Khan: It is because of your graciousness.
Malo: My graciousness was up to telling the way, prompting and good wishes to you. The graciousness that reaches the inner mind, the inner self is with the Guru only.
Ubare Khan: One who has a craving to meet the Lord, only he can perceive that graciousness.
Malo: Tell me, when did you go? How did you go? What happened?
Ubare Khan: I went by myself as you had suggested. All the time I was walking I was thinking that I do not know anybody there. Who will give me respect? Then I thought: My whole life I have been waiting to get respect or fame but my mind is not satiated. Now, I should not bother about getting respect. Then I thought: Even this is dirt on my mind. I have to go for a glimpse of the Guru and even for that I want respect and reverence. This is dirt on my mind. Again a thought came: If nobody cares for me then what will I do? The mind said: This is also dirt. Am I going for getting his blessings or am I going just to visit? My ego does not go. O mind if you are not allowed to enter then you bow down your head on the doorsill and beg for blessings.
Again, a thought came: I am a Muslim. That place is for sacred people. If somebody stops me and does not let me go near, then how bad it will be? Then I thought this is also dirt on my mind.
my lifelong friend, I tell you. Saying dirt, dirt, I reached there.
1 had a glimpse (saying this his eyes closed). Yes, I had a glimpse. It was all sweetness and love. The glimpse was sweet. Then a thought came to mind that I should go near and sit and talk but only when there is none else nearby.
Then I thought: What if others are sitting near? They will be better human beings than the stupid that I am. I have got a glimpse. This is enough grace to me. Then my mind said: You still have ego and pride. Be humble. Make your eyes as cups and drink the nectar of the glimpse and be in gratitude.
In this way, I had tears in my eyes and my eyes closed. Then I do not know what happened, when I opened my eyes I was sitting close to him and we were just two of us and none else. I opened my eyes so that I should have his glimpse to my full but I had tears in my eyes and a love sensation went through my entire body cells and my mind said: I wish I could see his feet that were wrapped in his shawl, then I would clamp his feet. How good it will be? I wish my forehead got a touch of his sacred feet. Then my mind recalled your advice to remain happy in the Lord's wish. If his wish is like that, I should be happy as it is. But my mind said: No, I must clamp his sacred feet, whatever way it happens. Like the tune from the throat clamps the tune from the musical instrument, in the same way I should clamp the sacred and sweet feet hidden in the beautiful shawl. I do not know what happened? When did the lotus feet come out from the shawl or my un-mannered head went under the shawl, I do not know but when I became conscious my head was touching his sacred feet. That touch was giving the love sensation, a wavy love sensation throughout my body cells. It was like a live current coming to my mind heart and body and love tears were flowing from my eyes and kissing his feet. After this consciousness I went into a trance. I do not know how much time went by like that. When I became conscious again, his loving sacred hand was on my egoistic and vices-filled head. It was giving coolness and a voice was audible, 'O Lord', 'O Lord', 'O Lord' and my body cells were blossoming and saying 'O Lord', 'O Lord', 'O Lord'. Some coolness was rising from my heart and making my head cool. My eyes were getting some pull inwardly and my inner self was getting immersed in the Supreme soul. The eyes did not open. The tongue did not move. The teeth were closed, the lips were closed but some sweet love sensation was going deep into the inner self and keeping it immersed.
Malo went into ecstasy on listening to all that. Now even Ubare Khan's talking stopped and he went into trance. After a long interval both opened their eyes. Malo embraced his friend. Again both of them went into ecstasy with heads touching each other. Then their eyes opened. Malo heaved sighs of ecstasy and said: Gratitude to the saviour Lord who has given His lifegiving sensation.
Now, O friend, you tell how much worthless is the ego and the mistaken beliefs that are set in our mind? The Lord is one. He is the sacred and holy
Lord. He is for everyone. He sends prophets to all countries as He wishes. This Guru is a prophet sent by the Lord in this country that is ours. He is a godly soul and has come from the heavens. He has come from the Lord.
Ubare Khan: Don't ask me anything? You go on speaking. I am now only a moth hovering around the lamp. I have no other sense left in my self.
Malo: Thanks, O Lord. But you tell how did you rid your mind from the ego of being a Muslim?
Ubare Khan: Suddenly a thought did come that I am a Muslim and Muslims are superior and Hindus are inferior and idol-worshippers but then the saviour Guru looked towards me with a smile and said: No one is Hindu and no one is Muslim. If they say, then they are rowdy children riding on the horse of ego staring at each other. If somebody wishes to be a Hindu or a Muslim, then good deeds are the criterion. Piousness is accepted in the Lord's court, no matter whether one is a Muslim or a Hindu. Those are respected in the Lord's court whose ego has gone by remembrance and recitation of His name here. The person whose mind has risen above Muslim mind or Hindumind and is in the incessant remembrance of the Lord, those who are in the incessant remembrance of the Lord may say they are Muslims or Hindus. Without being in the incessant remembrance of the Lord both are wives of the same master but are divorced.
Without being clamped to the Lord's feet with love, whosoever boasts of being religious is an irreligious act, like throwing ash mixed with the name of religion on the people's heads.
Then to be religious is to love everybody. One who is in the remembrance of the Lord has love for everybody.
Those who have hatred in them are not religious. They are not of the Lord. They are irreligious.
The Lord is a centre of love. Hatred is another centre just opposite to that. You can name that centre as irreligious. Where there is hatred, tyranny, force, the Lord is not there. Where there is no Lord there is no religiousness. Hatred is being irreligious. Hatred is a devil.
Be watchful, don't ruin yourself, nor ruin your neighbour, nor ruin the country. Wake up in the remembrance of the Lord. Love everybody. Remain in the love and remembrance of the Lord. Have love and kindness for all humanity. All are Lord's children.
Don't deceive your self by having a mistaken belief that hatred is from the Lord. Think the Lord as your father and all humans as His children and your brothers.
Malo: Then are you satisfied?
Ubare Khan: I am so much satisfied that I have met the Lord. I am all in gratitude and my entire body cells are in gratitude. I feel I have met the saviour Lord.
Malo: Ah ha.
Ubare Khan: I made one big mistake. One does not go to meet a saint with empty hands. But in a hurry I went empty-handed. When I was blessed, then the Guru asked me to have food.
Then I realized how unfortunate am I to have come empty-handed. But then I thought why should I call myself unfortunate. The godly soul has given me ecstasy. I am really fortunate.
Then it came to my mind that I have got a gold embroidered silk sheet lying at home that I had got made with fondness. I should bring and spread it under the sacred feet of the Guru who is happily sitting even on a sandy ground. I should see it spread under his sacred feet and feel happy. So, I took leave from him. Now, I will go again.
Malo: O friend Ubare Khan, you have been blessed by the Guru. It is a very precious thing. Hold it as a miser keeps jewels. Your nature is happy-golucky. Now, you are no longer a gossiping man. Now, you are a fortunate beloved of the Lord. Now, to remain in the incessant remembrance of the Lord is remaining a beloved of the Lord. Be watchful, stop wasting time in unnecessary gossip and don't open your secret of being blessed to unscrupulous people. They become a hindrance in the remembrance of Name. Be strong and keep your mind reined. This mind is a deceiver and also the world is merciless.
Ubare Khan: I will do whatever you say. It is because of you that I have got the blessings of Name from the Guru. With your company only I shall remain steadfast in the endeavour of Name.
Ill
Voice: O Ubare Khan, are you in? Ubare Khan: Who is that? Voice: Please, come out.
Ubare Khan (after recognizing): O yes, my priest. I wondered who would be calling from that distance.
Muslim Priest I have heard something from people. You tell.
Ubare Khan: It is nice you have heard. Only on hearing one understands.
Muslim Priest: Well, I have heard from other people only. Now, you tell.
Ubare Khan: They say, the people's voice is the God's voice. When you have heard the God's voice, then what is the need to listen to my humble voice?
Muslim Priest All right. But the voice that goes from mouth to mouth gets away from truth.
Ubare Khan: Then such a voice should he ignored even if one listens.
Muslim Priest: But to know the truth one requires movement of the tongue sitting behind the smiling lips.
Ubare Khan: One should trouble the lips and the tongue if the other person is able to bear the truth. But if the other person only wants to satiate his mind in listening, then not listening is better than listening.
Muslim priest: You are putting riddles only. How can one know the truth without listening?
Ubare Khan: With the eyes.
Muslim priest: Whatever has happened in the past, how can one see in the present with the eyes?
Ubare Khan: One can see. Like, the seed sown in the past can be seen in the present in the form of its fruit.
Muslim priest: You are putting off. Are you going to tell straight forwardly or not?
Ubare Khan: The sun doesn't need a veil. The moon does not hide. Truth needs no hiding.
Muslim priest: Then why don't you tell?
Ubare Khan: To see the dazzle one requires to wear sunglasses or the eyes should be such that are able to bear. The truth has a dazzle like a thunder. Muslim Priest: You have become disrespectful.
Ubare Khan: I am sorry. I thought you have come in search of truth.
Muslim Priest: But you are not telling the truth. You are hiding.
Ubare Khan: What are you asking? I have only truth in me. Truth i.e. the Lord's name is the medicine that cures the mind, washes the dirt of vices on the mind.
Muslim Priest: You are a joker, poet singer all in one. Now tell straightforwardly. Have you got baptism from any saint as the Hindus say initiated?
Ubare Khan: I haven't got initiation into discipleship by any saint. What you have listened is untrue. It is for you to judge.
Muslim Priest: Maybe not from any saint. It might be from some prophet
Ubare Khan: I have nothing to do with saints and prophets.
Muslim Priest Then are the people telling lies?
Ubare Khan: You only said that the people's voice is God's voice.
Muslim priest: I had already said that it could not be true. Ubare Khan is a Muslim, a follower of Islam.. He would never get initiation from any idolworshipper Hindu who is a non-believer of Islam.
Ubare Khan: What you have said is true. I will not bow to a Hindu idolworshipper or a Muslim God believer or an infidel but otherwise I am a humble servant of all.
Muslim priest: Are you indifferent even to a Muslim God believer.
Ubare Khan: Like, when somebody offers a gold coin to you, then you are indifferent to pennies.
Muslim priest Why are you putting riddles? Say straight that you have got initiation.
Ubare Khan: I haven't got initiation by any lifeless person uttering the Name of the living Lord.
Muslim priest: Then you tell what have you got and from whom you have got? If not, then are you still in despair?
Ubare khan: In despair and empty are the drums that shiver the membranes of the ear. False are the dazzles that come from strong lights. The earthen lamp giving a small flicker of light is full. It is not empty. Ubare Khan is not in despair whose mind is awakened by the touch of a life spark from the godly soul. Why should I be in despair, now, that I have filled my inner self with the glimpse of the godly soul?
Saying this Ubare Khan's eyes closed. His lips closed. His countenance showed glamour on his face and it appeared as if he was in love and gratitude.
Muslim priest (in astonishment): Good. At least something you have said even that in riddles. At least I know now that you have got something. Now you tell have you got it from Nanak?
Ubare Khan: This name that you said is just another name of the Lord.
Muslim priest Oh! You have become an infidel.
Ubare Khan: Your words are welcome. You live long.
Muslim priest: Why don't you say that you have become a disciple of Nanak?
Ubare Khan: Whatever name you have mentioned you explain what do you mean by that?
Muslim priest: A meditative, Hindu idol-worshipper. Ubare Khan: No.
Muslim priest; What have you got?
Ubare Khan: Glimpse, a glimpse of the godly soul.
Muslim priest What is his name?
Ubare Khan: Godly soul.
Muslim priest: That is not his name.
Ubare Khan: That is the Name that has permeated in the body and is coming out as flowing from a fountain. The names that we utter by the tongue
without love are empty rituals. The Name that comes as a grace from the Lord gives life.
Muslim priest: Go away, O disciple of the infidel.
On listening to this, Ubare Khan's hand went on his sword and said: Listen priest, I am a Pathan and not a coward. I am a disciple of the godly soul. Beware if you insult the godly soul.
Muslim priest: Today, I will give you punishment of hanging under the Islamic law if you have become a follower of that Hindu idol-worshipper. I will also ban your Nanak's staying here.
Ubare Khan: (taking his hand away from the sword): You said people tell wrong and you wanted to know the truth and you could bear the truth. I have not said anything. But still you are in fury. O priest, one may become jealous with equals but one should be humble to somebody who is godly.
Muslim priest: When I will send him away then I will tell you who is big whether a Muslim Priest or a Hindu idol-worshipper?
Ubare Khan: All right. Then I put my sword back because you are going to turn him out from here and hang me also. I won't say anything to you. You are going to turn him out. You are going to a Sandal tree as a saw. When you will get the fragrance, after all you are a human, then your head will bow down and kiss his sacred feet.
Talking nonsense and saying 'I will turn him out of the town' the egoist Muslim priest Sheikh Abdul Rehman rode on his horse and went away.
Umra Khan whom people called Ubare Khan who was immersed in the love of the godly soul and was always in obeisance to him in his mind went to his house. There, standing at the door and waiting was Zabida Khanam wife of Ubare Khan wearing a red scarf and a light-gray top and white pants.
On seeing her handsome husband's lustrous face she said: O Khan, do not talk to people who do not have love in them. They have poison in their minds. They teach you hatred only.
Ubare Khan: God bless you. Your mind has blossomed to see that I have been blessed by the godly soul. Nobody can take me away from the endeavour of Name.
Zabida: I can see your blossoming mind. I do not like your talking to people who cannot see the blossom of your mind.
Ubare Khan: What you say is true. Today, there was almost going to be a scuffle with the Muslim priest, Abdul Rehman. He said some insulting words for the godly soul.
Zabida Khanam: Then why did you not cut his tongue with your sword?
Ubare Khan: My hand did go towards the sword but then came the godly soul in my eyes who said: I have always taken the hatred, anger and harsh words of the people on the shield of forgiveness and then awakened their sleeping minds with the balm of the Lord's name. So I took my hand away from the sword in forgiveness so that he may live and take blessings from the godly soul if it is in his destiny.
Zabida Khanam: How did the talk start?
Ubare Khan: While going at the crossing he called me and started putting questions to me in a rude manner. In the beginning I ignored him. Then he named the godly soul as an ascetic and idol worshipper. How could I tolerate these names when I have seen saints and prophets bowing down at his feet? Then he said some silly insulting words for the godly soul. First, a sense of honour came to my mind. Then I foresaw the priest falling at the feet of the benevolent Guru. My mind said: Some moths come to the lamp for fun's sake but whoever comes burns his feather of wisdom and cleverness and sacrifices itself on the lamp. Maybe he has to become a beloved of the godly soul and this feeling of disregard is pushing him to fall at the feet of the godly soul.
Zabida Khanam: Oh! Please don't mention this talk. I cannot bear to listen to any words that are not golden words for the image of the Lord. I wish to hear only some good and beautiful praise of the beloved and benevolent godly soul.
Ubare Khan: In a sweet and loving voice. O great Guru Nanak, O great Guru Nanak, O great Guru Nanak, O great Guru Nanak, O Great Guru Nanak.
Zabida Khanam (with eyes closed and shedding love tears): O great image of the Lord, Nanak, O great image of the Lord, Nanak, O Great, you are the Lord, O Great, you are the Lord. She opened her eyes and said: Yes, go and spread the gold embroidered silk sheet under the golden feet of the beloved. In fact find somebody who should make an embroidered silk while uttering 'O Lord', 'O Lord'. He should weave the length with the love thread of your eyes and breadth with the love thread of my eyes and he should keep uttering O great Guru Nanak, you are great. Then you offer it and spread it under the sacred feet that make the sand golden.
Saying this she went into trance. Ubare Khan supported her head on his shoulders, gave support of his hand and he himself also went into trance.
After sometime Zabida Khanam's eyes opened. In a merciful tone she said: O my loving husband, please do not talk anything unsavory regarding
the godly soul. Come, let us go and settle somewhere far away where the fountains flow in rhythm and our ears listen to the praise of the Lord. Why the eyes of the worldly people are closed? Why don't they realize him as the image of the Lord in human body? Why can't the people see the magnificence in the magnificent?
Ubare Khan: O dear. The eyes open only when he opens our eyes. My eyes were closed. Were your eyes open? Were Malo's eyes open? He only opened Malo's eyes. He only has blessed me and opened my eyes. Don't feel bad. Many times handsome are born with pain. Sufferings have many times brought comfort. Enviousness has many times brought love.
The Muslim priest's mind will be turned once he has a glimpse of the godly soul. What is hatred? It is the other side of love. The magnificent can reverse the side in moments.
Zabida Khanam: O my handsome husband, see, how we are in ecstasy? How much rapture we have got? The one end of our super consciousness that is tied to the Lords feet is sending waves of the divine music. The resonance of the same at the other end produces waves of joy, sometimes in the eyes, sometimes in the head, sometimes in the heart, sometimes in the body cells and sometimes all over. See how it is a shower of joy? 'O Lord', 'O Lord'.
O my master, why don't you go and spread the embroidered silk sheet under his feet and don't forget to bring the sacred and fortunate dust from the ground under his feet for me. Oh! This lifeless embroidered silk sheet will get a touch of the always living godly soul's feet. When you spread this embroidered silk under his feet, then you also spread your and mine inner self under his feet. The silk sheet should be as a token but yours and mine inner self should actually be spread under his sacred feet.
The godly soul who was named Nanak by the parents was sitting immersed in the love of the Lord on a sandy platform when Ubare 1 Khan came and presented the gold embroidered silk sheet to the Guru. He kept the silk sheet near his feet. He fell at the Guru's feet and then sat down. His eyes drank the nectar of the Guru's glimpse, like the partridge looks at the moon and the moonlight
Beloved Guru: O Ubare Khan, you have brought this embroidered silk sheet with love. I appreciate your love. The Lord may bless you His incessant remembrance and you live in ecstasy always. But O friend, such cosdy things, I do not need. My need is to cover the body and not such expensive embroidered silk. I wish that I be immersed in the love of the Lord and in His incessant touch. That is my embroidered silk. Saints are in the love of the
Lord and His remembrance is the embroidered silk that they always wear.
Ubare Khan (with tears in eyes): O Lord's Beloved, This is not for wearing. This, I have brought to spread under your sacred feet. Zabida cried and said: This silk is dirty. Your feet are handsome. By the touch of your feet the sand particles have become diamonds. Our inner self should somehow spread under your sacred feet. Our minds are dirty. Our love is not pure. We cannot see inwardly. We show our love by gifting worldly things. We consider it a way of expressing love. This is just a token of our love. You do not call yourself an ascetic. My ears cannot bear this word. Even if I call you a king, it is not sufficient. I do not know how I should address you? To address you by a name is being disregardful. You are the Supreme power. This earth is yours. The gold in the earth is yours. When you walk on this earth, you lift your feet from gold and put it on diamonds. You are that carefree and unparalleled. In the same way you put your sacred feet on this humble embroidered silk. Our dirty minds full of ego will be elevated and become exuberant. What can I say?
Then Ubare Khan had tears in his eyes and looked down.
Buddha ji (who was sitting in the congregation): O Lord's Beloved, you are without desires. You are free from wants. O master, you are always satiated even without food and happy in sitting on sand. You live in the heavens and you are above sleep, hunger and other needs. For you gold and earth is equivalent. You do not require any service. You are immersed in the love of the Lord. You are a giver and not a taker. To take is to extend our lap and to give are your benevolent hands. This is not somebody giving and you taking. This is a love of earthly people. This is a play of earthly people.
At your door you accept this love when it comes with roasted grams or coarse cloth. Similarly, by mistake this love has come with gold embroidered silk. This is from a humble mind. You are benevolent. Please accept this.
O embodiment of love, O shower of love, O bestowal of love, you love everybody. You have showed us how to love everyone. You please accept this mad love. Ubare Khan's love is stuck in this service to you. You please accept and fulfill his wish. His mind will become exuberant. If you disappoint him, his heart will sink.
Ubare Khan's mind was full of prayers. Along with Ubare Khan's mind Zabida's mind was swaying in love and prayers.
So, to return this gift was not returning the golden silk but it would have been a shock that their minds are so dirty that even this humble gift is not worthy of the sacred feet of the Guru.
The lover of love, the knower of the innermost feelings, a godly love appeared on the Guru's face. The godly soul, who renounced gold and silver, became gracious. Overwhelmed with the love with which it was brought the godly soul wrapped the golden embroidered silk sheet around his body instead of spreading under his feet.
Ubare Khan's mind blossomed to see. He became exuberant that his love was accepted. The mind full with love on seeing that his small prayer of love has been accepted went into ecstasy.
Ah! Ha! O benevolent and gracious, you are great.
On seeing this bestowal of love and regard for his disciples the holy congregation felt wondrousness in the Guru.
The recluses have always accepted gifts of love from poor and humble people and the hypocrite ascetics have always accepted gifts from the rich.
But for the Guru pleasure and sorrow is equal. For him to live in the family or as a recluse is equal.
In Guru Nanak this bestowal of love and regard for his disciples is unique. Some ascetics when they were offered something expensive with love, they did not accept it out of fear in their minds that people will consider them greedy if they accept.
The ascetics were in renouncement but they had ego in their mind.
But the Guru is living in the world but with mind detached. He has no attachment to the gold embroidered silk but also he has no pride that he has a detached mind. His acceptance of the gold embroidered silk that has come with love is not attachment to the silk. It is actually detachment from silk but accepted for the sake of love. It is bestowal of love and regard for his disciples.
From whose dust of the sacred feet kingdoms can be born, the true king of love is looking so handsome, loving and sweet wearing the gold embroidered silk. His face is emitting radiance and his forehead is shining with lustre. See, how tranquil he is sitting who considers gold and earth as equal. Obeisance to this glimpse that elevates the mind of the disciples who have love for you in their marble caved minds. The Guru wore the gold embroidered silk for sometime. Then slowly it slipped down to the ground. The Guru remained sitting immersed in the love of the Lord.
True Guru Nanak: O Ubare Khan, say what encounter you had with Abdul Rerun an?
Ubare Khan felt amazed as to how the news of my encounter with Abdul Rehman has reached here? Then he realized that the Guru is intuitive and he knows everything.
Ubare Khan: O master, you know everything and then the words that he uttered, my tongue cannot utter.
Guru: No harm will come to you. You tell something.
Ubare Khan: Hindus are in ego about their touchiness, their philosophy and their knowledge. Similarly, Mohammedans have ego that they are not idol-worshippers. Idol-worshippers are stupid. They do not realize that this ego is equivalent to idol-worship. It is strange that those who are in ego and pride say that they are God worshippers. Nobody says anything to them when they worship wealth, wine, women, greed and selfishness. No Muslim priest says anything to them although all the egoistic things are equivalent to idolworship but still they have ego and pride that they do not worship the idol. Then when they bow to God, they do not have love in their mind they have not seen Him. They do not have any sensation of the Lord. I do not know for whom they bow down. Their mind is wandering in desires while their tongue is uttering the prayers. Nobody bothers about the absence of love in the mind.
In the same way Abdul Rehman's mind is full of jealousy. He cannot bear your magnificence. So, he keeps talking nonsense all the time but you are gracious.
Here, there is no idol-worship, no greed, and no selfishness. Here, there is no place for ego. It is His palace. Only the Lord is there.
Guru: Well. Ubare Khan, religion is love only. Why should the torchbearers of love become horse riders of hatred? The priests and saints should have more of love in them. But doesn't matter, let us go and rid Abdul Rehman of his ego and fill his mind with love. His mind is wandering in the forgetfulness of the Lord. O Ubare Khan, You go ahead we will follow.
Ubare Khan went ahead. The Guru accompanied by two of his companions followed.
As per the Lord's will it so happened that the Muslim Priest accompanied by his followers was coming this side. His followers saw from distance and told him that Guru Nanak is coming.
On listening to that he got down from his palanquin and came forward to greet the Guru. When he came near then he bowed and shook hands with the Guru and said: O saint, Is all well with you?
Guru: All is well but all is not well.
Muslim priest Why, isn't all well?
Guru: All is well but all is not well.
Muslim priest: How is it that all is well and how is it that all is not well? Guru: All is well but all is not well.
Muslim Priest: I do not understand. When all is well, then why all is not
well.
Guru: All is well. From the Lord all is well but from man all is not well. From the men who consider themselves of the Lord all is not well. Muslim Priest: How is that?
Guru: I perceive the Lord here, there, everywhere. I am immersed in the love of the Lord. This is the prime 'all is well'. But you who are said to be worshippers and lovers of God have said that you will throw this saint out from here. So, your message prompts me to say, all is not well. You will throw me out from where, from this town or from Kartarpur or from Punjab state or from India or from the earthly ground or from the lap of the Lord? Will you please tell this?
The Muslim priest started sweating in shame. Then with a weak mind he thought of getting help from lies and said: Who has told you all this? I never said it. How can I have disregard for saints? Whoever has told you has said a lie.
Ubare Khan who was standing near and listening burst in anger: Good Lord, O priest, you are the torch-bearer of truthfulness and Islam. I thought you were just jealous only. But here I see even truth has vanished from your mind. O respected priest, you did say these words in my humble presence and some more words also you said, come out. Tell the truth. It won't eat you up.
Guru: Ubare Khan, please.
Muslim priest: O Ubare Khan, you are a disciple. You are not equal to me. You stand aloof and keep shut. It is between us two. We are saints and religious heads. We shall discuss ourselves. You are a disciple. You keep your mouth shut.
Ubare Khan: O priest, now that you have shunned truth, do not utter any insulting words. He is the image of the Lord. I am a servant at his feet.
Guru: O Ubare Khan, do not talk harshly. One should not leave politeness.
Muslim priest (with his back towards Ubare Khan and looking towards the Guru): Yes, dear Guru Nanak, you tell whether you are a Hindu or a Mohammedan. Who is better between the two?
Guru: No one is a Hindu and no one is a Muslim. If they are, they are both ignorant. Religion is love of the Lord. Whoever has love of the Lord in him, he is better, whether he is a Hindu or he is a Muslim. Without the love of the Lord both are ignorant in the dark.
Guru (after remaining quiet for some time). Love of the Lord is remembrance of the Lord, recitation of the Lord's Name by the tongue. The
mind should blossom with Name. The Lord's Name should settle in the mind, heart and body. One should remain in the incessant remembrance of the Lord. The endeavour is recitation of the Lord's Name with love by the tongue. Name is the soap that washes the dirt of vices on the mind. The Lord is the creator and saviour and gives nourishment to all. The Lord was, the Lord is and He will always be the Lord.
Turning the mind towards love of the Lord, meeting the Lord, immersing the body soul in the Supreme soul is religion. This is to be religious, whether one is a Hindu or a Mohammedan. If this is not religion, then what else remains? It is all hypocrisy, show off, deceiving one's self or say cutting one's own feet with axe.
Muslim priest (in shame and a thoughtful mood): In your eyes no one is there. But they are standing here. One is a strong thread and one is a fake thread.
Guru: These are ideas of fanatics. These are mistaken beliefs. The foundation of any religion has to be love. To be religious is to imbibe love in the mind. Jealousy is evil thinking. Hatred is a devilish characteristic.
Both are not acceptable in the Lord's palace. They are not permitted in the Lord's court.
Muslim Priest: Is idol-worship not undesirable?
Guru: It is undesirable but selfishness, greed and vices are worst. The prime worship is love of the Lord.
Muslim priest: Then you mean to say, nobody should remain as a Hindu or a Mohammedan.
Guru: Why not stay? Only they should imbibe love of the Lord. If both of them do not wish to do that, then it might be better if they leave this world. The earth might become lighter.
Muslim priest: Who are you?
Guru: You can see. I am standing in front of you.
Muslim priest (changing the topic): All right. You tell. When the idolworshippers are disregardful of the Lord, should we not have hatred for them?
Guru: One should not hate any sick person. O Muslim priest, the world is in suffering without the Lord's Name. Everybody's mind is dirty and in darkness in the forgetfulness of the Lord. The medicine is love and mercy. Whatever turns the mind away from the Lord, may be idol-worship or may be ego or hatred or selfishness or vices or passions all are bad, all are undesirable but whoever is in suffering, one should not have hatred for anyone. One should have mercy on them.
We have to imbibe virtuous habits in us. To be merciful is a virtue. Sin is bad. But we have to be virtuous and have mercy on the sinful. So, the saints must have mercy on everybody. Saints, like a doctor, give the medicine of mercy to the sinful. To have hatred for the patients is not befitting for doctors. The doctor does not have hatred for his patients. He has kindness and mercy on them and gives them medicine with love and pleasure. Win over hatred with love. Win over idol-worship and ego with love of the Lord. The wands and sticks have no place in a doctor's house.
Muslim priest (in a soft tone): Now I have realized that you are not an idol-worshipper. You are in love of the Lord. I have no disagreement with you.
Guru: I have no separateness with anyone. The Lord has sent me to join the separated with the Lord. His command is to join and not separate.
Muslim priest: Why does one have enviousness? What is the cure for jealousy?
Guru: For a seeker of the Lord when there is shortcoming in meditation or when he has followed a false spiritual guide, then the jealousy remains in the mind. Like an inexperienced doctor would stitch the wound on the top but it remains inside. Then it creates pus that keeps coming out and gives trouble.
The right cure for jealousy or hatred is the Lord's Name and singing the praises of the Lord. The endeavour is 'recitation of the Lord's name with love'. Imbibe the love of the Lord in your self. With recitation of Name, the dirt of ego and desires on the mind goes away. When one is in the incessant remembrance of the Lord in the mind, heart and body, then all vices and passions go away.
Muslim priest: When one sees the truth and realizes that this is the true path even then the mind remains stubborn. What is the reason?
Guru: Everybody's foundation of the mind is on false show off. For show off, deception and lies become a habit. That erodes the mind.
But when one makes a determined endeavour to cleanse the mind and take shelter of the Lord's name, then the Lord who is a saviour supports.
Saying this, the Guru looked at the Muslim priest with merciful eyes. The Muslim priest's eyes half closed. He felt something like a cracking sound in his mind. The veil of forgetfulness of the Lord broke. He felt elevation of mind.
Unknowingly he fell at the Guru's feet and said: Please forgive my sins. You are not a Hindu. You are not an idol-worshipper. You are not just a saint. You are not just a prophet. You are the image of the Lord. What Ubare Khan said was true. My false ego deceived me. Please save me from this ego. I am at your feet.
Ubare Khan: Lord is great. O priest you wanted to throw out the prophet of the prophets, the image of the Lord. Now see aren't you being thrown out from the house of falsehood? (Looking towards the Guru) Ah ha. You are great. It is your grace. Guru (looking towards Ubare Khan): O dear Ubare Khan, one should not utter sarcastic words.
Then the Guru looked towards the Muslim priest and said: O priest, remember the Name with a hard knot. The Name slips away unknowingly. This is the prime cause of all sufferings. Do not forget the Lord's Name even for one moment. Remember the Name always. Keep yourself in the incessant recitation of Name with love. Never forget the Lord's name. Do not forget even for a moment. This Name only will wash the dirt of the mind. This Name only will make the mind crystal. This only will be the balm of love. This Name only will make you a beloved of the Lord. Then you will be living in the presence of the Lord always.
Muslim priest: What you have said is true. What is this world with all the deceptions? Without the love of the Lord and the Lord's Name everything is worthless.
When the followers of the Muslim priest Abdul Rehman saw him falling at the feet of the Guru and the Guru's graciousness, then all of them fell at the Guru's feet. The Guru blessed the Lord's Name to everyone.
In this way, delighted, blessed, getting removed his shortcomings and mistaken beliefs and in obeisance to the Guru, Abdul Rehman along with his followers bade goodbye to the Guru.
This Muslim priest was in meditation but in ego and pride. The Guru rid him of his ego and blessed him. Everybody who met the Guru was blessed and put on the true path of 'recitation of the Lord's Name with love'.
Now, it was evening. Ubare Khan got a profuse desire in his mind. He prayed to the Lord in his mind. His love and desire sprang forth from his mind and he prayed to the Guru: O beloved of the Lord, O master of the world, this humble servant's house is just near. It is your house. It will be your benevolence if you put your sacred feet and spend the night there. O God of love, it will be your graciousness.
The Guru smiled, laughed and looked towards the heavens and said: Lord is great. O Lord, your marvels are great. I imitate you only, what are the saints? What are the prophets? It is all your creation. You are the one Lord, the only one Lord. Saying this, he kept walking and reached Ubare Khan's house.
Here, Zabida Khanam was waiting immersed in love that her saint husband dyed in Name and swaying in ecstasy will come and give the auspicious news that the gold embroidered silk that she had sent with love has been accepted by the Guru and has touched the sacred feet of the Guru.
In this waiting, what she saw was that the master of her master, the handsome saviour of her handsome husband, the image of the Lord is coming wearing the silk, that was to be kept under his feet, on his body and is entering their humble dwelling.
She felt that the Super-moon has seen the darkness of millions of moons and has come to light our house as a Super-moon. Yes, the Super-moon has come inside my house.
The lady who had got awaken-ness of soul from the love touch of her saint husband, the lady immersed in Name, the lady in the incessant recitation of Name on her lips, the lady who was now immersed in the love of the Lord, the lady who was in exuberance in the love of the Lord, her eyes got a glimpse of the Guru and without asking she fell at the feet of the Guru. The hands that had not gone beyond saluting went and touched the Guru's feet
The moment her hands touched the Guru's feet, she got the sensation of the presence of the Lord in her mind, heart and body cells. She felt ecstasy and rapture. She went into trance. It was not unconsciousness or semiconsciousness. She got an inner vision of the Lord and the rapturous touch of the Lord. The Guru lifted her head. She had a glimpse of the Guru. But her inner self became crystal. The sun and the moon look dirty. It is the effect of the inner vision that has become crystal.
What did Zabida know that she is going to be blessed like that? She was waiting for good news regarding her small gift. If at all any other thought came to her mind that was only about Abdul Rehman's rudeness.
She wished she had not heard any insulting words against the Guru.
But she is fortunate. She has got the news that the Guru has blessed the Muslim priest. The Guru has rid him of his ego and mistaken beliefs and blessed him the Lord's name. Now, the priest will guide his followers truly. She was extremely delighted and her mind was all in adoration for the Guru. Like, the snowy soft balls falling slowly, she moves her feet softly on the ground. She is doing everything as a service for the comfort of the godly soul.
She considers: We are fortunate that the godly soul, the image of the Lord is a guest in our humble house. The saviour of the world has come to our house to give us the privilege of serving him. He is above the desire that somebody be at his service. It is his grace that he has come to give us the privilege to be at his service.
The Guru had come to their house for one night's stay but for their love they made him stay for two days.
See, today he is the guest of Mohammedan bom Muslim, yes born Pathan.
The Guru says: All are Lord's children, maybe of any religion or faith or country. He believes in what he says and gives a practical proof of what he says, believes and does. He has love for everyone irrespective of his caste, creed, birth, religion, faith and country. He is himself immersed in the love of the Lord and is propagating love of the Lord to everyone without any discrimination. He is joining the separated with the Lord. He is putting everybody in the remembrance of the loving Lord. Whoever came to him was blessed with the Lord's name. He blessed them elevation of mind. The Guru joined them to the tree i.e. the Lord and they became green and fresh branches of the tree and swayed in blossom and ecstasy.
Yes, the Guru stayed at the fortunate couple's house for two days. He blessed them with the Lord's Name.
Malo came to his friend's house. He only had given the knowledge of the Guru to Ubare Khan. Malo had directed and advised his friend to meet the Guru. The delight he got on seeing the Guru at his friend Ubare Khan's house had no bounds. His mind went into ecstasy. He felt rapture. This is spiritual love. This is love of the soul, to be delighted in loving and getting love. It is sharing the love and sharing the rapture. The godly soul stayed at Ubare Khan's house for two days. The gold embroidered silk became sacred.
Now, the Guru presented the gold embroidered silk to the fortunate couple as a souvenir.
Then the Guru departed for Kartarpur like a sweet breeze.
o o o o