Fold your both hands, close your eyes, shunt out all thoughts from your mind for one moment, draw all your attention towards the sacred feet of the True King Guru Nanak Dev and with extreme love say:
Great Guru Nanak Dev Again, say: Great Guru Nanak Dev And again say: Great Guru Nanak Dev Till the time the tongue is relishing the name,
Great Guru Nanak Dev Keep on saying and feeling the ecstasy of your mind touching his sacred
feet.
When your mind gets up, then you think that you have gone back approximately 500 years back.
See, the Great Guru Nanak Dev is sitting on a throne in Kartarpur, as an image of the Lord. The musicians have finished singing Asa-di-Var. The holy congregation is dispersing and going to their respective homes.
Those who had come only yesterday are paying respects by falling at his feet. They are praying to him for their wishes and are being blessed by him. Most of the people have left.
At this time, two handsome, budding, young men of Khatri caste, who are first cousins from paternal side, have come. See, they have fallen at his feet and are not lifting their heads.
Guru Nanak with his handsome charming eyes, full of godly love, looks towards them with graciousness and in sweet words says (yes, you also listen, listen with love what the Guru says): God bless you.
Both the heads are still on his feet, listening and getting ecstasy. When they have not lifted their heads for some time, then the benevolent hands,
handsome like lotus hands, fragrant with the perfume of grace, go and give their sacred touch on both the heads. The comforting hands have lifted their heads and he has said: God Bless you. You get up.
Both the heads are lifted. They are having a glimpse of the benevolent Guru. They bow their heads again.
The saviour Guru asks: Gentlemen, say who are you and what do you want?
The elder one of the two, with folded hands, speaks: O Merciful Guru, we are both cousins from paternal side. We were longing to have your glimpse. Today, we have been blessed. O benevolent Guru, we have come to ask for charity. We are beggars at your door. Bestow your mercy. O Guru, my name is Sheehan and his name is Gajjan. We are both Khatri by caste and Uppal by sub-caste. But what caste and what name, we are greedy and beggars.
The Guru smiles and asks: You tell your greed and what you want.
Then Sheehan speaks: O Beloved Guru, give us all four things and make us rise above the cycle of births and deaths. Put us on the true path, give us prosperity, fulfill our desires and give us salvation.
The ocean of peace but appreciator of humour, the Guru smiles and says: Gentlemen, you are really greedy. You have asked for four things in one go. Good. Lord will bless you. Now listen. Whatever one gets is according to the deeds done. Whatever deeds are done, one gets according to that. But the deeds are not everlasting. We are doing the deeds and we are getting its fruit. What we have done already, we can reverse it also. But it is a bit difficult. The knots tied with hands do open but with the teeth. As it is, the deeds are the deciding factor. Everybody is bound by the deeds done.
Sheehan: We beg your graciousness. The lines have been drawn as the deeds are already done. The pandits say that they cannot be changed. You are the only one who has shown a ray of hope for the hopeless. You have said that the bad deeds can be washed but it is a bit difficult.
O Guru from the heavens, we have no strength in us. You only perform some miracle that our past deeds are washed and we may now get what we wish.
Guru: Listen. If by my performing a miracle the past deeds are washed away then by force of habit you will again do the same deeds. If you get what you want, then your habits will again take you in those worldly desires. If the elephant's feet are free and he gets plentiful water, then he will have a bath and clean himself, but soon again he will spread dirt on himself. Listen, one story on this: Once a sadhu who lived in solitude came to a town. He took mercy on a poor destitute and cured him by his supernatural powers and by
his blessings the man became rich also. But you see, he again got into vices, the same passions of the body due to which he had earlier suffered and become a destitute. The sadhu was perplexed and said to his mind, "See, I cured him and made him rich again. He should have been thankful and not indulged in the same passions for which he knew that the fruits would be suffering again".
What is the reason that even after experience, he indulged in the same bodily passions? Gentlemen, Sheehan and Gajjan, you tell, what mistake the sadhu made?
Both said: You only can tell. According to us he was benevolent and not at fault.
Guru: Gendemen, his habits had become like that. What else could he do after getting well. He had to do what his nature was. What was required was that the sadhu should have first told him the way to improve his nature and habits. Then after becoming rich again, he would not have indulged in those bad habits.
You know, how habits are formed? When one does the same thing again and again, then it becomes a habit. Then the habits or so to say the deeds done are responsible for the fruits. If the deeds done are good, you get good fruits. If the deeds done are bad then you get the suffering. When the suffering comes, then one is somewhat improved, but when somehow the suffering goes away, and the habit is not changed, then again one gets into doing the same deeds by force of habit.
If the habit is changed and one becomes pious, then when the suffering goes, one does not indulge in the earlier done bad deeds. One is saved from doing bad deeds again and one feels happy. I want to give you something by which your habits may change and then you get all other good things. When your habits are changed then you will use the riches in a proper way and you will not indulge in the passions that may again put you in the net of suffering.
Sheehan: O Benevolent Guru, we have neither knowledge nor any strength in us. You only tell us something.
Then the Guru said: That is Name. Gentlemen, you keep company of holy people and recite the name 'O Lord'. This Name will become a remembrance. This remembrance will give you a feeling of the presence of the Lord, whose name it is, in your mind. With this your nature or so to say, your habits will change. The dirty inclinations in your mind will get reduced because when your mind is in the remembrance of the Lord all the time, then the bad thoughts and inclinations will automatically, slowly, go away. The
Lord is all goodness. Remembrance of 'All Goodness' will fill goodness in your mind and the dirt of the mind will vanish. Then you will get a feeling of the Lord in your mind. You will feel that 'He is with us' and 'He sees our deeds'. Like this, you will start feeling that 'we are living in His presence'. Like now, in my presence you will not do anything bad. Similarly, when you have a feeling of living in the presence of the Lord, you will not do any bad deeds. Your mind will tell you, "The Lord is watching you. You are living in His presence. You are not to do any bad deed". In this way your nature will change. You know, Lord is the ocean of all goodness. His remembrance will influence your mind and your mind will become crystal.
Sheehan, Gajjan, what man thinks, he becomes. Whatever you will think and feel, you will become that. A thief thinks of stealing day and night and steals. He becomes a thief. In the same way, somebody who will remain in the remembrance of the 'all goodness', great, sacred, true, embodiment of love, he will get the qualities of the Lord in him.
Somebody, who is in the remembrance of the Lord for twenty-four hours, would become an ocean of goodness like the Lord.
In this way, slowly, your entire nature will change. When the nature is changed, then automatically your deeds change. When by the remembrance of the Lord your nature and deeds are changed, then automatically you become religious. To turn away from bad habits and bad deeds is religion only. In this way you get salvation also. One who remembers the fearless becomes fearless. When one remembers the Lord and gets immersed in the love of the Lord, then automatically you have met the Lord and got salvation.
Then when one becomes religious and sees the salvation, then his greed vanishes. When the greed is gone then the desires do not bother you and the need for riches do not make you restless. Then one is happy in what the Lord gives. Contentment is his wealth and he is never short of money.
To be away from greed, means your desires are fulfilled and to be contented is, that you have become rich.
Again, when one is away from greed, then the riches are at his feet Those who are reciting the Lord's Name, the riches are at their feet. Be sure, leave aside being rich or being poor, a man of God is never short of money. The Lord Himself looks after his gain or loss. If the Lord wishes, he gives riches. If He wishes, He gives in moderation but he never lets him be short of money. What to say of riches, even supernatural powers are there in the man of God.
Sheehan: O Master, you have told us to recite 'O Lord'. Do we have to understand something or just recite?
Guru: The Lord, whose name it is, we should think of Him and His goodness and feel His presence that 'He is there'. One is Name and one is aim.
Recite the Name with the aim to feel 'He is there' and we have to reach Him.
Like, 'O Lord' is the name of the Supreme God. When we recite the Name we will think like that. Because the Name is not being recited by an inanimate object. When a living person recites the Name, then the love of the Name goes inside. Inside is the living intuitive mind that understands.
This Name is the Lord's form.
So, when we recite the Name we think of Him, whose name it is. One cannot visualize the Lord because He is beyond the five senses of the body. But when we remember Him, we go near Him, we feel delighted and when we get His sensation, even if it is for short moments it gives ecstasy, and we feel as if our mind is not conscious and is engrossed in the ecstasy. Now, when the mind starts working again, it does not know what had happened, because the mind was engrossed in the ecstasy. It had not gone further. But when the mind starts working again, the ecstasy that he was in leaves a wavy sensation on the mind. It is a wondrous feeling and the tongue recites Ah ha! This is the meeting of our body soul with the Supreme soul. Our soul meets the Supreme soul. This is a momentary touch.
When the mind comes back from this touch, it feels an awakened consciousness. That is the sixth sense in the body. One feels rapture and automatically says Ah ha!
Where, our mind and senses had not gone, that was the Ah ha!
This Ah ha! is the creator of this entire world. He knows and sees everyone but no one knows and sees Him.
That is the wondrousness. But we cannot apprehend this wondrousness with our five senses. He is the living spiritual power. He is the Ah ha! 'Lord' means all ignorance, all darkness gone. 'The Lord' is all wondrousness.
When we remember the Lord, think of His good qualities that He is above birth, He is above time, He is the true Lord, He is here, there, everywhere, He is all kindness, He is the treasure house of all goodness, He is all pervading, His name is His form, then His name 'O Lord' will take us to Him.
The moment we recite His Name, we feel elevation. We become exuberant This Name takes us to the Lord.
Recitation of the Name gives ecstasy, blossom and a wavy sensation to the mind and body.
This Name leans our mind towards the Lord.
Recitation of the Name awakens our sleeping soul in the body and we get a wondrous sensation of the presence of the Lord in our mind and body. This is the super consciousness or the sixth sense.
So, gentlemen, recite the Lord's Name so that your mind rises above the earth and you get the sensation of the presence of the Lord, who is giving nourishment to all, is the saviour and the Supreme power.
When you recite the Lord's Name, this will become an incessant remembrance. Whose remembrance will it be? It will be of the Lord.
What will be the fruit of this remembrance? The Lord, who is beyond the five senses of our body, who is wondrous beyond wonder, who is ecstasy, who is the ocean of all goodness will fill your mind with His goodness and ecstasy.
By remembering Him you will become an image of His goodness. It will not be imaginary. It will be real. In this way, you will get dyed in divine love and you will get salvation. Now, the Lord will be your friend and He will never let you be in want. In this way you will get the riches and fulfillment of desires. For those who have fallen at the Lord's feet, the world and the worldly riches follow them.
Sheehan and Gajjan realized: What we had asked for was a folly. We had asked for all four things. But what would we have done with all that? The riches and fulfilment of desires would have put us, by force of habit, into such bad deeds that we could never have become religious and we could never get salvation. The gracious Guru has put us on a path that our nature and habits that are the cause of all suffering may change. Not that only the habits may change, also he has put us on a path where we will be getting nearer and nearer to the Lord and our animal instincts will go and our manly habits will become saintly habits. Then our desire for riches and passions will vanish. When we are without desires, then we are true kings. Then he has not left us here. He has also given us a faith that the Lord is the saviour and giver of nourishment and He looks after those who love Him. He fulfills their needs and never makes them short of money. He listens to those who love Him and maintains His natural repute that He is the giver of nourishment.
Gajjan spoke: O brother, when one gets too much riches, then one automatically becomes proud. Who is there who hasn't been influenced by pride and ego? Who knows what will a man do when he is full of pride and
ego? The saviour Guru has put us on such a beautiful path, that we should be near the Lord, we should get into recitation of his Name. With recitation we will realize His presence. Living in His presence, His presence will give ecstasy.
Sheehan said: Yes brother. If we go near the fire we get the warmth. If we are away, then we feel the cold. When we will live in the presence of the Lord, then automatically we will be religious. Because when we are living in His presence, we shall not think of any bad thing or do any bad deeds.
In this way, when we are living in His presence we shall be religious and on the path of salvation. Next is the peace of mind you get by salvation. When we are living in the presence of the Lord, then this will give us peace of mind. What more peace of mind there can be than to live with the Lord all the time?
When we recite His name and live in His presence, then He being the saviour will attract us and keep us in His presence.
The forgetfulness of the Lord is the distance between our self and the Lord. When the forgetfulness goes, then the distance goes. Removing the distance is salvation and when the distance has gone then we have met the Lord. That is the salvation. That is the ecstasy. That is the aim of life. The Guru is great. The Guru is great.
After blessing them this discourse the Guru has left but see they are delighted and are saying: The great Guru, the great Guru.
They are trying to assimilate the discourse in their mind and in extreme happiness are saying: We had asked for gold and we have got a gold mine. We had asked for a bowl of water but we have got a fountain of water.
They are saying, O great Guru Nanak and bowing down towards him. They rub their hands where Guru Nanak sat and apply the dust of his feet to their forehead. Again they are saying:
O great Guru Nanak Dev.
Dear reader: You have also had a glimpse of the true Guru and the holy congregation.
Say, O Guru Nanak, you are great
The gold mine that the saviour Guru has blessed to Sheehan and Gajjan, he is blessing you also. Grab it fast.
All four things follow the Name. Recite the Name. All sufferings will go.
Both the brothers stayed at Kartarpur for a few days and practised recitation of Name. Then they went back to their home. Now, they made their daily routine as follows: Getting up early in the morning, they would sing the divine
songs with music. The scripture was not in the form of the Holy Book as yet but both of them while at Kartarpur had copied a lot of hymns. So, they would sing four or five songs and then sit in recitation of the Name. At daytime again they would read the scripture. They sang the hymns themselves because till then there was no proper arrangement for singing Asa-di-Var in their town.
With music, the mind gets concentrated quicker. That is why they started singing the hymns with music.
When they would get concentration of mind with singing the hymns, then they would recite the Lord's Name. At the beginning of the day when they felt the sensation to be weak then they would again read the scripture and try to understand the meanings so that their sensation becomes strong for the day's chores and they feel their mind elevated and delighted. When one does the worldly chores while feeling the elevation, then there is less dirt coming on the mind. In this way they would get ready, have food and go for their work.
At the shop, when a customer came they would attend to him and when he left they would recite the Name. Again, when a customer came they would attend to him and when he left they would recite the Name. In this way, they got into the recitation of Name while sitting and standing, in every moment, incessantly. But it was all in a relaxed way, there was no stubbom-ness.
Now, this practice started giving results. First of all, the business became clean. The habit of bargaining with customers was gone. They felt it was a waste of time in bargaining with customers. The Lord has to provide us food. So why tell lies and waste time and energy in bargaining? They fixed prices for everything and reduced the margin of profit. They would just quote one price, and no bargaining. Initially, the sale went down. People doubted the new system but slowly they realized that this system is better. Nobody has to waste time and energy in bargaining and more so, at their shop the goods are cheaper. So, the sale went up. The profit margin was less but the sale was more. In this way, they made up their earlier loss also.
On the other hand, on the spiritual side they crossed one bridge. Their habit of telling lies was gone. They became truthful. Now, their sensation of the presence of the Lord became stronger and their inner mind became crystal.
They felt an ecstasy and were in gratitude. Now, when telling lies vanished, the habit of deceiving also vanished.
Really speaking, while practicing Name, first it develops the character of the man. When the character is developed, the bad influences in the mind
that prompt you to do evil vanish. It is most important that a seeker of the Lord must first develop his character. All moral codes are of lesser importance. Character development is the top moral code.
How to develop one's character? The way is: Recitation of Name, reading of scriptures and holy company. Those who say we recite the Name and keep a string of beads hanging on the neck but they indulge in lies, then you think that either they are not in recitation or the Name has not gone into their mind. Their mind is still full of dirt.
Many sages say: First you develop your character, then you recite the Name. They are right. In a way, it is not appreciable that a person keeps on doing evil stubbornly and also keeps on uttering the Name from his mouth.
But it is also essential to understand one thing that Guru Nanak has told: Name is a dye and also soap.
Again, one is our outer mind and one is our intellectual mind. If the outer mind is dirty, then it is washed by the intellectual mind. But when the outer mind is so dirty that even the intellectual mind is directed towards evil, then it becomes difficult. Because the intellectual mind was supposed to give advice and put the outer mind on the correct path, but if the intellectual mind itself has become dirty, then what should be done?
Then the benevolent Guru said: Like, a little dirt on clothes is washed away by water only but when the clothes are too dirty, then rubbing of soap becomes necessary. Similarly, the dirt of vices on the intellectual mind is washed with Name. A little dirt the water cleans and too much dirt the soap cleans. Similarly, a little dirt on the mind can go by reasoning but too much dirt goes by Name only. After cleaning the outer mind and the intellectual mind of the dirt, it dyes both the minds with the Lord's love.
When the dirt of the mind goes by recitation, then only one's character is developed. It is the Name that develops the character. With good moral character the mind becomes clean.
Then with recitation of Name one reaches the Lord and with further recitation of Name our soul merges with the Supreme soul. So, Name washes the dirt and Name dyes the mind with love of the Lord and becomes Name nectar. When the dirt has gone and one has got the sensation of the presence of the Lord in the mind and body, then one has met the Lord and got salvation. Then one is the master of the mind that senses the Lord or so to say one has got insight. In this way, the Name does everything.
But the seeker of the Lord in the first stage, when he is washing the intellectual mind, then he recites with a dirty mind only, but the Name keeps washing the dirt.
The difference between him and the person who is stubborn in vices is, that the person who is stubborn in vices does evil and feels happy and does more evil and says 'no fear'. The seeker of the Lord goes after what the scripture tells and what the example the holy people have set. If by chance, being prompted by the dirty mind, he does some evil, then he feels sorry and immediately makes a promise 'I shall never do it again'. Also, he prays: O Lord, give me the strength that I should not do evil again. Also, he has regards for the holy people and the ideal persons. He thinks: What face shall I show to them if I do such evil?
Moreover the Name that he is reciting is washing the dirt of the mind side by side. For this reason, the inclinations for the evil deeds are being reduced day by day and instead of inclinations to lie or deceive, the inclinations towards the Lord and towards goodness are being filled in the mind. The inclinations of goodness that get filled in the mind by recitation of Name show itself first, in not telling lies. The mind hesitates to tell a lie. Then one gets into speaking the truth. Then one goes beyond speaking the truth. The mind of the seeker of Lord becomes pure. When the mind becomes pure, one starts loving the Lord. Then one gets a sensation.
How? The recitation will give a feeling of 'The Lord is there' so to say the presence of the Lord inside the body. The name will settle in the mind and it will give a sensation of the presence of the Lord in the mind and body. This is meeting the Lord and one gets ecstasy.
What will be its practical outwardly appearance? The mind will feel elevated. The inclinations of the mind will be all good. One will do all good deeds. The effect of Name will be that it will make the mind pure and tranquil and will imbibe kindness in it. Last of all, the effect of Name is merging the body soul with the Supreme soul.
The Guru has said: The Lord reveals Himself in His name. The Name first washes the dirt of the bad deeds from the inner mind and it becomes crystal. Then it makes you meet the Lord. The practice of recitation has been explained above.
Some ignorant people talk about Name: What is the use of repeating the Name? They consider it repetition only. From repetition up to reaching the Lord, the entire practice is Name. Inside the body, is the elevation of the mind and sensation of the presence of the Lord in the mind and body, outside is showing kindness and doing goodness to everyone.
Initially, it is repetition only. All educatecTpeople have gained knowledge through repetition only. By repetition or so to say recitation, the mind gets the influence of the words that are being repeated and that settles in the mind,
because the person who is doing repetition is human. He is not a dead machine that will not be influenced. When a person repeats, then the meanings of the words automatically influence the mind.
He first listens to the sermon, as to whose name it is and why it has to be repeated. After having understood the path of Name and with the aim of reaching the Lord, he starts recitation. He is advised by the holy company that the mind should be stopped from wandering and turned again and again towards the Lord whose Name is being recited. In this way, the mind turns itself from wandering and concentrates on the recitation. Then the Name settles down in the inner mind and becomes incessant. Then we get a sensation of the presence of the Lord in our mind and body.
Recitation means: To remember with love.
Remembrance and love are co-related. The love of the Lord remains in our body in the form of remembrance. He, who loves the Lord, remembers the Lord day-in and day-out. In this way, when we remember Him with respect, with adoration, as a saviour, as a fountain of goodness, that also is love. With remembrance one gets into loving. With recitation, first we feel the presence of the Lord, then we get to love Him.
See, everybody says, the Lord is there, but the saying is just talking. But in the case of the man of God the remembrance has settled in his mind. He has an incessant sensation of the presence of the Lord in his mind and body. This makes him love the Lord. Getting immersed in the love of the Lord is meeting the Lord. In this way, the recitation of the Name reaches you to the Lord.
Then some people say: Remembering the Lord in every moment is tying a rope round one's neck. So, why tie this rope? But you see minutely. The rope of remembrance is tied around everybody's neck all the time. Who is the one who is not remembering something or the other all the time? Even in sleep there is no peace. That is why, the benevolent Guru Nanak Dev said: Everybody is remembering something, and everybody is in suffering because everybody is remembering something.
What is the remembrance of everybody? That is, remembering a hundred things and that remembrance influences your mind towards happiness, sadness, comforts, sorrows, jealousy, envy, fights, selfishness, enmity, fear etc. The mind gets more of bad influences and that is the reason for his suffering. That is why the Guru said: If you remember 'One', then you will be in peace.
Because the 'One' who is the Lord is all goodness, all ecstasy, all love, giver of nourishment to all, always living, above the cycle of births and deaths and joy incarnate.
When you remember the 'One' who has all the qualities in Him, then your mind will be influenced towards all the goodness of the Lord. By remembering the 'One' Lord one gets the sacred touch of the Lord and gets all happiness. This all happiness will take you to realization of the Lord.
Then the Guru says: How this one remembrance of the 'One' sacred Lord will get into our mind?
Then he tells: If you ask this, then I tell you that by recitation of the Lord's name this one remembrance will settle in your mind. You will get all happiness. You will get realization of the Lord and you will get a respectful place in the Lord's palace.
So, this is Name. Its praise, its learning is there in the Holy Scripture in each and every line.
Ill
This is the Name that Sheehan and Gajjan recited.
Firstly, their business became clean and good. Then their mind became crystal. Then they got sensation of the presence of the Lord in their body. Then they got confidence, faith and love. They are living in this happiness now. They recite the hymns, understand the meanings and sing the hymns with music. Sometimes, they go and have a glimpse of the benevolent Guru.
Now, the sensation of the presence of the Lord and the love they have inside is showing outside in their nature. They have imbibed forgiveness and charity in them. They give to the poor and needy. On occasions they distribute the sacramental food. They respect holy persons and offer and serve food to them. They love this practical living.
But now, a time came when there was a test for their inner awakened mind.
It happened like this: It was time for the marriage of Sheehan's daughter.
Every type of sweets, snacks and other foods were being readied. Next day the bridegroom and the party had to come.
Meanwhile a party of holy people came. These people were going to Kartarpur to meet the Guru. It was a large party. Sheehan was a known figure now and everybody knew that he is always at service to the holy people. So, they thought his house as the best place to stay and they came. Sheehan was pleased to meet the holy people. He thought it is the Lord's grace that there will be a religious congregation in the evening and again Asa-di-Var in the morning. He made them stay at his house with great affection. He made all arrangements for their stay for the night. When it was time for dinner, then he served them food from what was ready for the bridegroom's party.
What better pleasure Sheehan could get than to serve food in his house to the holy Guru-disciples, whom the Guru loved and who are immersed in the love of the Lord and His Name.
What will happen tomorrow? How shall we prepare sweets for the marriage party in such a short time? Will our honour remain or shall we be disgraced?
These thoughts are not troubling Sheehan. He is tranquil. He is immersed in the love of the Lord. He has incessant sensation of the presence of the Lord in his mind. This is a living strength and it is not weakening. He has a strong feeling that the Lord is there and loving and we are His loving children. Our mind is dirty and full of fear and worry. His mind is crystal now and all fears and worries are gone. He has full faith in the Lord.
Sensation of the Lord and faith stay together. Faith is the strength of the sensation. When one has faith one has the sensation.
Sheehan served food to the holy people with love. He felt that by serving the holy people, he was serving the Guru. He was exuberant and delighted all the time.
When he became free, he went inside and met his wife. Then she said: You have served food, meant for the marriage party, to the holy people. Well and good. But tomorrow the marriage party is arriving. What shall we do then?
At that moment Sheehan felt a little anxiety but it was just slight and it soon vanished.
With mind full of love of the Lord and full of faith of the presence of the Lord, he prayed: O Lord you are the giver of nourishment. You are everything. You are everything.
He said this twice or thrice and went to sleep reassured. He got up early in the morning. He listened to the divine songs and sat in meditation till daybreak. Then he got busy with the arrangements for the marriage party.
His wife again said: O beloved, how shall we manage today?
Sheehan smiled and said: Have faith in the true Guru. Don't have any fears. He is the benefactor of his servants. He will keep our honour. Again once, she apprehended fear.
Sheehan said: The Guru will keep our honour.
When the marriage party arrived, Sheehan went and stood in front of the pantry door and prayed: O benevolent Guru, you are our Guru and we are your disciples. You are all in all. The marriage party has arrived. Please save the honour of your disciple. O gracious Guru, the honour of your disciple is your own honour. Please keep your own honour. We do mistakes. You are merciful. Please save our honour.
In this way he prayed to the Guru, then opened the door and said to Gajjan: O Guru-disciple, sit there and go on giving from the Guru's pantry.
The marriage party sat in rows. The servers started laying and serving the food. Everybody from the marriage party ate to his fill and was all in praise.
No shortage happened in Sheehan's food. According to the custom in those days, the marriage party stayed there for five days. All five days, they had food to their fill. Sheehan gave many gifts to his daughter. With happiness, the bride went with the bridegroom.
Those who knew how Sheehan managed were astonished, but when they relaxed, sat together and congratulated Sheehan, then everybody spontaneously said: The true Guru, the handsome Guru himself, has saved the honour of his disciple.
Sheehan kept treading on the true path diligently.
This mind is in the forgetfulness of the Lord since many births. It is all, full of dirt. That takes time to go away. But if we talk of this birth only, even then all what we do, is for selfishness. The inclination of the mind is towards selfishness. The direction of the mind remains outwardly. It thinks of self, only. That is why sometimes, it takes long to make it pious thinking. If you try to kill the instincts through stubborn ness, then that makes the mind and body dejected and sometimes ill. If you give it a loose rope, then at that moment the mind feels playful, the body jumps but after a short time only, negative results emerge, and many types of illnesses inflict the body and sufferings come. The body becomes weak in no time. Then one gets short of riches also. Sometimes, the evil mind acts in a way that one gets punishment from the court. So, by giving a loose rope to the mind, one cannot be at peace. In fact this is the main cause of sufferings.
Now we have to find out means by which the mind should become pure and should remain in blossom.
For this, the true Guru's path is: Reading the scripture and understanding its meanings, reciting the Lord's name, service to holy people and company of holy people.
Service makes the mind virtuous and enthusiastic. And one gets into the habit of giving comfort to others, instead of looking after one's own comfort. One feels happy in giving comfort to others. In this way, selfishness that was the cause of evil habits is gone and the mind remains enthusiastic in giving comfort to others. So, the mind remains in blossom, away from vices and turns towards the Lord. The mind will not feel depressed by anxiety. When the mind is happy, the body is healthy.
In this way, by reading and understanding the scripture Sheehan's mind got turned towards the Lord more and more.
Whenever the mind went towards evil, the scripture warned: O mind, you are not an animal. This body has forced this animal instinct on you. Your origin is pure soul. It has been covered with the dirt of the animal instincts. These animal instincts are not the real thing. These are the dreams of your outer mind. Behind this is your pure self. Your pure self is the imperishable soul.
Then if the animal instincts still persist, the scripture tells us:
Eating, drinking, laughing, sleeping
Forgotten is the passing away,
Forgetting the Lord, the evil we do
This shameful life will not stay,
man, recite the true 'One' name
Go to the Lord's palace with name and fame. The mind will realize that the aim of life was not to go after body passions. I had come to this world for some higher work. Why should I indulge in these passions?
Simultaneously, one will see that those who are already in holy company ahead of me are happy.
'Saints live in incessant rapture', says Nanak.
Then the mind will be reassured that: Diligence in reciting the Name will finally take us to the Lord.
When the holy people are living in ecstasy and the scripture also tells us that recitation of Name will lead us to ecstasy, then I should keep away from vices and remain in the remembrance of the Lord so that I get ecstasy.
In this way, the hope of getting ecstasy does not let the mind go in melancholy and depression.
Then the recitation is of Name. Name is of the Lord. There is exuberance in 'O Lord'. There is intense joy in praising. It is a wondrous delight.
The recitation of the Name gives buoyancy to the mind.
It does not give gloominess.
In this way, with service, reading of Holy Scripture, holy company and recitation of Name one gets saintly habits. The animal instincts go and the body, in restraint remains healthy.
Sheehan Uppal kept up 'recitation of Name'. The dirt of his mind got washed. He got more and more peace of mind.
Guru Nanak blessed the world with the Lord's Name and went to the heavens.
Sheehan saw the same light in Guru Angad Dev and had the same adoration for him. He goes to Khadur for his glimpse and gets his blessings.
At this time he got a son. In his community the custom was to celebrate the birth of a son by sacrificing goats and serving meat and other merriments. His wife made all arrangements, but Sheehan had the Guru's wish at the top of his mind.
Guru Angad Dev ordered that instead of sacrificing goats and other 'mistaken belief practices you bring your son here. We shall make him a Guru-disciple. Sheehan discarded all the customary practices and took his son to the Guru and made him a Guru-disciple. In Mahima Prakash is written; He made his son bow at the feet of the Guru and got him blessed.
This was the second time when his good name was at stake but he won over it and kept on treading on the path shown by the Guru.
It appears that now Sheehan came and settled in Goindwal. The third Guru founded the Goindwal town on the instructions of the second Guru. On the Guru's advice many people came and settled here. Sheehan's wife, it is written, was of a blunt nature but otherwise she attended the holy congregations with her husband and did service and did recitation also.
God's will, the second Guru also left for the heavens. Sheehan's faith in the third Guru remained firm. He saw the same Guru Nanak in the third Guru and kept up recitation of the Lord's Name.
Now, again a time came to gauge his inner strength developed by recitation of Name. The third Guru blessed the Lord's Name so profusely to people that it looked as if the entire world is being blessed. He appointed twenty-two Preaching dioceses to the 'Ideal men' and sent them out in the country and abroad.
Besides this, he blessed many men and women and asked them to practice themselves and further preach and guide the people towards the path of 'recitation of the Lord's Name with love.'
In these days only, the Guru blessed Prema. This person was suffering from a malady and was in acute distress. But he was immersed in the love of the Guru. This person crossed the worldly ocean by sitting in the boat of 'Guru-love' and applying the oars of the Lord's Name. He got salvation. He was cured of the body malady as well.
Today is the day that Prema has come and is sitting in the hall of audience of Guru Amar Das. The true Guru himself has called him. With the Guru's blessings, his intense recitation of Name and the Guru's graciousness he is
free from his malady and has become 'Ideal man'.
The Guru now appointed him a Preacher and said: You have now got salvation. You give salvation to the world. The Guru now, addressed the holy congregation:
I have made him free from his malady, blessed him the Lord's name and made him a saint. I have named him Murari. He is now as handsome as Lord Krishna (Murari). He will bless the world. But I want to send him to the world after making him full. Some Guru's beloved should offer his daughter, so that I can send the couple, to allay the suffering of the world.
At this time, Sheehan Uppal was sitting there. He listened to the Guru's words. His mind, that was now enlightened, also understood the suffering of the world, and that the Guru has come to this world to allay the suffering of the people. The second thing that struck his mind was that the Guru has blessed this person and cured him of his malady and made him healthy.
Who can be more fortunate? The Guru has made him a giver of salvation to the world. Whoever gives his daughter to him in marriage, her life will become 'a life well lived' who will get salvation from his saintly company and give salvation to the world.
Sheehan now, got up and with folded hands said: O Benevolent Guru, one gifted daughter of marriageable age, I have. I will just bring her.
After saying this, Sheehan went home. He knew the nature of his wife. He made her busy in the kitchen and brought his daughter along to the Guru's hall of audience. The Guru performed the marriage ceremony of the girl according to the 'Anand marriage rites' to Murari and blessed both of them. Somebody went to the kitchen and scared Sheehan's wife saying: What are you doing? The Guru has married your daughter to Prema who was suffering from a malady.
Sheehan's wife knew Prema, who was always sitting at the Guru's door and singing praises of the Guru. She got worried, afraid and angry.
She ran to the Guru's hall of audience, screamed and said: merciful lord, what have you done? An orphan, in malady, of low caste My daughter, have you married to this one?
The true Guru looked towards her, laughed and said: O gentle lady, you look at him at least.
When she saw that side, then she noticed that Prema was sitting free from any malady. He was healthy. O how has he become all right? Then she had a fear. O how much powerful the Guru is? He can make a sick person healthy.
She was still wondering how it has happened, when the Guru started giving blessings:
You think my son is this Murari
Whom your daughter is given to marry
Matho is your daughter's name
Murari is this boy 's name
'Matho Murari' who recites the name
Will have fulfilled his wishes and aim
Matho comes the very first name
Murari comes the very second name
Whoever recites the name Murari Matho
All their anxieties and sufferings will go
Both of them are blessed together
In my love they are immersed together. On listening this, the lady was satisfied. She could see with her own eyes that Prema was free from any malady, is healthy and has become like Lord Krishna. She listened with her own ears that the Guru has blessed him and his mind is elevated now. She got peace of mind and in happiness went to her house accompanying her husband and welcomed her daughter and son-inlaw.
Then she listened to the blessings that the Guru showered on them when he sent them off:
Matho Murari now you travel
Spread the true name as the gospel
Spread the Guru-discipleship to the world
Live in happiness in this world
Your words will have the bless
You may curse or you may bless
Fruit you have got of meditation
Attained now you have salvation
Whoever has 'to meet the Lord' his aim
Bless him with the Lord's name
There is nothing beyond Name Sheehan's faith remained constant with the true Guru. For three incarnations it went on becoming stronger and stronger. His mind got immersed in the love of the Lord and he got salvation while living. For the outside world his goodness prevailed.
His daughter's life became fruitful in philanthropy. She spent her entire life in allaying the suffering of the people.
Further, it appears that Sheehan Uppal lived up to the time of the fourth Guru. Guru Ram Das, under instructions from the third Guru, founded the city of Amritsar, made dwellings for his stay and got a market constructed next to the Guru market and Passian crossing. This market has merged with the present Saburian market and has become bigger. On the wish of the Guru, Sheehan also came and settled here. He constructed a house near this market in a particular street. His brother Gajjan and other Uppal relatives also came and settled here. On their settling here, the street was named Uppal Street. And it is still named the same. In a nearby street Duggal families came and settled and the street was named Duggal Street and it is still named the same. Similarly, in another street Nayyar families settled and the street was named Nayyar Street.
Mother Gujri came from one of these Nayyar families.
So, you and I have had a glimpse with love in eyes, with devotion in eyes, of the gracious Guru Nanak Dev and the second, third and fourth Gurus and 'Guru-blessed Sheehan Uppal', his constant faith in the four Gurus and how he got salvation through Name.
Yes, Sheehan Uppal, O dear, as you crossed the worldly ocean, as you reined the wandering mind, as you did not kill your mind with stubborn-ness but cultivated your mind with the Lord's Name and you reached the Lord and got bliss, in the same way you bless us and recommend to the Guru that we be blessed. These blessings should be for all of us who are on the path of Name so that we also cross the worldly ocean and get salvation. O Great GURU NANAK DEV
The Guru's command to Sri Sheehan Uppal is repeated once again:
So, gentlemen, recite the Lord's Name so that your mind rises above the earth and you feel the sensation of the presence of the Lord who is the giver of nourishment to all, the saviour and the Supreme power.
Let us recite:
"Waheguru, Waheguru, Waheguru.'
'O Lord, O Lord, O Lord*
Starting with at least five minutes a day.
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