r [ %e clouds have spread in the sky. There is a slight drizzle. A cool breeze is gently blowing. Even otherwise it is extreme winter but this rain and breeze has made it pinching cold and people are stuck in their homes due to extreme cold.
At a beautiful place is a beautiful garden that can be described as a marvel of nature and human skill but at this time we cannot call it blooming because the plants there are sad and in grief without the flowers.
Maybe in some corner there is some bloom but more or less it is the same as any other garden anywhere else in the northern states.
In the garden at some places there are water tanks, fountains and marble falls but these are not in use because of winter. These are generally activated in the summer season.
In this garden of fountains, golden domes and marble decorations, in a comer is a small hut. The outside of the hut is mud plastered but there are creeping plants on the walls and it appears that a mastermind has grown these plants. In this wintry season it looks as if it is spring. It is noon but since the sun is hiding in the clouds it appears as if it is just morning time. The doors of this hut are closed. What is inside? We do not know. But outside the hut is standing a very composed figure, tall and slim, whose forehead is shining with divine beauty and on her face has graciousness and she is knocking the door with the butt of her sword.
How strange! A mud hut, a home of poor people (like the nest of a sparrow) and knocking is a lady who is full of splendour and more than a queen.
Within moments the door opened and this queen went in. The door closed and the bone piercing cold breeze could not go in.
Inside, like the nest of a weaverbird, the hut is so clean that not a drop of dirt is visible anywhere. The walls are plastered in white and the flooring is good.
Sheets are spread on the floor and on one side is a carpet. On another side fire is burning.
On a chair near the fire sat an intelligent, sweet and simple woman, who had got up and had opened the door.
She now made her respected guest sit on the chair and she herself sat on the sheet on the ground.
She bowed her head to the respected guest and said: Ammiji, my mother, how good you are? You have taken trouble in this rain and cold. Why did you not send for me? I am your servant. I would have come.
Ammiji: Mohina! I had told you, "I will come".
Mohina: Then what? I am your servant. I was at your service.
Ammiji: All are my children. I do not consider anybody as a servant. I myself ask for the Lord's service from the Lord.
Mohina; My loving Ammi Ji! Food is ready, milk is hot. I have some honey also. Say what will you have?
Ammi Ji: I had my food before leaving home. But I am hungry for something that has brought me here.
Mohina said: Yes! She got up and brought her sitar that was hanging on a peg and sat down to play music. She sang one divine song (Kirtari) in Sarang rag, and one in Malaar rag. The hut became a heavenly place.
Ammiji, in respect for the divine song [Kirtari) got up from the chair and sat on the ground with eyes closed. She got immersed in the divine music (Kirtan).
Mohina now sang another divine song (Kirtan). The divine songs I were so rapturous that so much time went by unknowingly. It became afternoon.
Ammiji now wanted to leave but Mohina immediately brought some dry fruits and hot tea. Ammiji did not say no to the loving offer.
She said; 'Lord is great5 and had some dry fruits and tea.
When Ammiji was leaving Mohina had tears in her eyes. She felt somewhat giddy and slowly sat down and then lay down on the ground in a semiconscious state. Ammiji picked her up, blessed her and said: Mohina! Why are you worried? I have taken your worry on me. Everything will be all right. Blessing her again, Ammi Ji left.
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It was quite some time since Ammi Ji had left. The day declined. There was no sun but whatever light was coming through the clouds started becoming dim. Mohina came out and plucked some rapeseed and put on the fire to cook.
After sometime there was a knock at the door. Mohina had just finished Rehraas and was in prayer. When her prayer finished she opened the door. It was her loving husband who had gone to his hometown since a few days back. She bowed her head. He blessed her. He washed his hands and face and both of them sat near the fire.
Sohina: Well! Did you meet Ammi Ji in my absence?
Mohina: Yes! Twice, about eight days back I went to meet her and today she came. She went* just a few minutes ago.
Sohina: We are lucky! How good Ammi Ji is? She showers her bless on poor people like us.
Mohina: Not only she has put her sacred feet in our hut, she also gives so much respect to poor people like us. When I say I am your servant, she gets angry saying you are not my servant. I have made you my child. When I call her 'mother' then she feels happy. If I praise her, then she doesn't like.
Sohina: Yes! It is true. She bestows her love on us. But Mohina! You tell, 'Is there any solution to our predicament in sight'?
Mohina: No! Ammi Ji says, "Guru Ji has said, No55.
Sohina: Well! We have to accept his wishes. But I hope you are not nervous.
Mohina: I am not tizzy but the pull of separation and love is always there.
Sohina: Same here. This pull of separation and love does not leave me. If it were not the work entrusted to me by Ammi Ji then I would have come back from half way.
Mohina: We have to accept whatever Guru Ji wishes. Our benefit is in that only.
O Lord! Give us the strength that we accept what Guru Ji wishes but our longing and love for Guru Ji should become double-fold. We should carry the longing and love for Guru Ji in our heart for as much time as possible. And if it goes beyond our strength to carry out and our body falls down with its weight, then it will be the best thing for us. We cannot have a better end than this.
Sohina: We should do whatever our Master orders. Whether the master scolds us or insults us, we should still like him. Our love for him should go on ever increasing.
Mohina: Yes! His glimpse is a gift, a grace. Ammi Ji says that our efforts and practices are lifeless because we are lifeless. How can a cripp^ reach a mountain? He cannot reach. Only the Lord's benevolence can take him there in a moment
Glimpse is a grace. That is with Guru Ji. It is not in our hands. We are like beggars. We should remain in prayer, we should remain in hope and we should remain in longing. Giving is in the hands of the gracious Guru Ji. We can only live in hope as beggars. A beggar should not be in a hurry. He should not be in despair. He should not be in pride. He should not assert a right. He should not have ego. He should not think that he must get but he should not lose faith. He should hope that sometime or the other the grace will come, remain in hope, keep on expecting. This is what Ammi Ji said. O dear! We have already seen what we have got in our ego and pride. Now we should go by Ammi jfs advice. We should remain as servants and do away with snobbery. We should be thankful that we have got Ammi jfs love. See! Today it was so cold and raining even then she kept her promise and came to our hut. We are her servants. She herself came to our hut and blessed us.
Mohina said ail this with tears in her eyes and Sohina listened to all that with tears in his eyes. Both of them closed their eyes and got immersed in the recitation of the Lord's name.
Ah ha! What a wondrous scene? What a wonderful combination of husband and wife? What love in the house? Both have holy company of each other. What is the effect of Guru Nanak Dev Ji's blessings?
Guru Nanak Dev Ji said: There is holiness in the house and holiness outside when the
Guru Ji gives the recitation of the Lord's name in the heart.
It is true. The life spark from Guru Nanak Dev Ji gives life from lifeless-ness. It turns the mind. It reverses the mind and gives sublimity to the mind.
The real science is in the life spark of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. It removes the dirt of the mind. It removes the poison from the mind and Ms it with nectar of the Lord's name. It produces eternal gold. There is no death after that.
Both of them were sitting in the rapturous meditation of the Lord's name. The fire kept on burning and finally got extinguished by itself. The rapeseed boiled and boiled and became cold. The earthen lamp that was giving light got extinguished but their inner self was so much immersed in the love of the Lord that they were not aware of what was going on in the world outside. Their eyes opened only when there was a knock at the door. Their lovelorn eyes opened and they got up. Mohina opened the door.
One servant had come who said lovingly: I have come from Guru Ji's house. I have disturbed you in the morning's golden time of prayer. Ammi Ji has sent me. She has said that she did not get any flowers at night for Guru Ji's garland. Now time is short. If possible give flowers for one garland. Give quickly so that it is not late. She forgot to send a message at night.
Who can understand what happiness the message gave? Treading on the path of love, Mohina and Sohina got up. They went to the garden where they had saved plants and flowers for the winter season. The clouds are moving in the sky. The moon is behind the clouds but it is giving some light through the clouds. In this moonlight they are plucking marigolds. They are plucking flowers but their mind is in thankfulness. Ammi Ji is so good that she has remembered us for this job. At her door the entire world is in waiting. She makes us do service out of love for us. Ammi Ji you are noble.
Then they talk to the flowers: O Flowers! You are lucky. You are going to become a garland of Guru Ji. You are going to have a touch of Guru Ji.
In this way they sent the marigolds in a beautiful basket to Ammi Ji.
It was morning. It was no time to sleep. They had their bath and sat in the recitation of the Lord's name.
Ill
Who are Mohina and Sohina? Why in this humility? Why are they in so much love?
Who is Ammi Ji with so much love?
Sohina Ji belongs to a rich family of Raipur. His wife is Mohina. They were both proficient in music and poetry. They were both inclined towards spiritualism. One sadhu had initiated them into idol worship and meditation. Although, they were quite rich and had enough money but when they became lovers of idol worship, then they themselves used to go to the well, have bath and bring fresh water from the well for the bath of the idols, string the flowers into garlands, do all rituals and worshipped the idols. Both of them were good at music. Sohina was expert in violin and Mohina in sitar. They used to sing hymns in front of the idols for long hours.
One day -both of them were bringing fresh water from the well when a pious looking and turbaned gentleman came running. He had suffered a grievous injury, was crying for water and was restless. He fell near their feet and cried, "Water Water".
They both startled but their mind said: It is pure and fresh water for the idols. How can we make it impure when it is meant for the bath of the idols?
The gentleman was gasping for breath but they acted per their own mind and just walked past without paying any heed to him. The last wo\ is of the dying man that went into their ears were, "You have no love, no compassion and no kind-heartedness even to give two drops of water. He will not give you a glimpse".
Even after listening to these words they kept on walking. They reached home, gave bath to the idols and meditated but today they had throbs in their hearts and their mind did not settle in meditation. They thought they should go and give water to the gentleman so that no curse may come but when they reached the spot the man had already died. His body was lying and it appeared to them as if his lips are moving and saying: "He will not give you a glimpse5'. They both were stunned. The fear that they had come to allay became manifold.
In the meantime a few people reached there and recognized the dead man. It became known that he is a revered saint and a disciple of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the tenth guru. He used to keep a sword. Today there was some looting in his neighborhood and he fought the robbers valiantly to save innocent people. The innocent people were saved but he had to give his life in the process. People were searching for him and now they found him here.
"He will not give you a glimpse", the words echoed in their ears. Tears flowed from their eyes. They cursed themselves but what could they do now? They lost the time when Guru Ji's son was crying "Water Water". One drop of water given at that time would have pleased Guru Ji but now even a full well of water cannot help. Now it is just crying over spilt milk.
The queen of Raipur came to know that one beloved disciple of Guru Ji whom she was longing to meet, has sacrificed his life saving some people and she became sad.
Further, when she came to know that the people whom he saved were coming to meet Guru Ji, then she became sadder.
She said: O gracious Guru Ji! It is sad that I could not do anything for your disciple. He gave his life in my kingdom. We could not give him any medicine. W e could not do any service for him.
She was thus crying when her holy friend came and said: Please don't be sad. The man who died was a saint and immersed in the Lord's love. He had the life spark of the Lord in him. When such a person dies even the Lord feels the distress. Now you don't feel sad. You do whatever is possible. Now make arrangement for the cremation of his body with respect.
The queen then arranged for the cremation of the saint's body and got a tomb made at the site.
Mohina and Sohina are now in a strange situation. They worship the idols but in their heart is pain and distress. When they sit for meditation with folded hands, the same words echo in their ears, "He will not give you a glimpse". They get startled and open their eyes. Even when they play music these words come to their mind. In fact, in everything they do these words do not leave their mind. They tried many rituals such as giving alms etc. but these words refused to go out of their minds.
Shortly after, the blessed day arrived when Guru Ji visited Raipur. Guru Ji blessed the queen, all courtiers and many more people. Mohina and Sohina also heard that the revered Guru Ji of the saintly man who had given his life in saving people and to whom they had not given a few drops of water has come to Raipur. They had also heard that he is a real prophet. The sacrifice of the saint had also dented their mind and now they had a longing to meet Guru Ji. But whenever they went to have a glimpse of Guru Ji they did not succeed.
At last when Guru Ji was to leave, they went half a kilometer ahead and stood on the road from where Guru Ji had to pass. The cavalcade of Guru Ji passed but Guru Ji took a different route through the fields and went away.
Now disappointment made them sure that the words of the saint have to be true. They became very sad. The disappointment and sadness increased boundlessly and the longing to have a glimpse of Guru Ji increased.
Their mind said: The saint's asking for water and our not giving was known only to him and us and not a soul knew about it. Guru Ji did not give us a glimpse although everybody else in Raipur had a glimpse of him and was blessed by him. But we who are so religious and proficient in music have been kept out. The obvious reason is that the words of the saint have to be true and Guru Ji has respected the words of his disciple.
They were now sure that the Lord who is all intuitiveness has come to this earth or the Lord has sent Guru Ji from the heavens. Slowly, this belief became very strong and their longing to meet Guru Ji increased. In every house everybody talked about the goodness of Guru Ji, his Supernatural powers, his kindness and his blessing 'recitation of the Lord's name' to everybody. This made them absolutely sure that Guru Ji is a prophet from the heavens. On the one hand their love for Guru Ji increased. On the other hand they were ashamed of the sin of being unkind in not giving water to the saint. By and by their love for Guru Ji increased so much that they felt they had no charm left in life as it is. The mind wants to go to Guru Ji. Why
not go to Anandpur where Guru Ji lived and do some service for Guru Ji and meet him. They thought it is not easy to get this life again.
It also came to their mind: The saint had said, "He won't give you a glimpse".
Already we have seen. He met everybody when he came to Raipur but we were left out. Now if we go there, he will not go against the saint's words.
Then they decided that they should go and stay there as servants and not show that they are rich and do some service for Guru Ji. But then the mind said that when we are rich and pose ourselves as poor then our mind will not do service like poor persons. The richness will remain in our mind and it won't let us be humble. If we do some service with humility, only then it is a true repentance and atonement.
They finally took a decision and distributed their money for some good cause, for constructing wells, gave some to the poor people and themselves started for Anandpur in very simple clothes.
Mohina and Sohina were well educated and an accomplished couple. There was great respect for intellectuals in Guru Ji's Hall of audience. But Mohina and Sohina do not wish for respect. They wish to love Guru Ji and serve him.
They have not left their riches and become poor to get respect here. They want to love and serve. They are not bothered about being loved and respected. They were sure that they could love only when they have humility in them. So, service became their aim. They decided that if they can get the job of a gardener or helper in Guru Ji's garden they should be happy. Gardening was something they knew very well. What about food? They decided that they would make baskets in their spare time, sell and earn some money that should be enough for their food. They did not want to ask Guru Ji for wages nor wished to take money from Guru Ji for the service they wanted to do.
When they reached Anandpur, they went to Guru Ji's garden and met the Head-gardener and requested for a job. The Head-gardener put them on probation for a week and then appointed them. They were given a hut in the garden to stay and the garden work was distributed. They started working with love and enthusiasm. When there was somebody working with love and enthusiasm the beauty of the garden was bound to increase.
One day Guru Ji while walking in the garden came near a bed of flowers. He called Kesra Singh Ji (Head-gardener) and said: Well done!
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Kesra Singh Ji, then told Guru Ji: I have not planted this. A new gardener is now working here and for this the credit goes to him. For his food he earns by selling baskets and rest of his time, he is doing service here. It seems he has deep love for you.
When Guru Ji heard all this, he closed his eyes for a moment, then opened and said, "He will not give you a glimpse.55 Then he went away.
Kesra Singh Ji told Mohina and Sohina what had transpired. They listened to him and understood that this only is the intuitive Guru Ji.
They thought: All right! If not a glimpse, at least we have got service.
They were just talking when Kesra Singh Ji came again and said: It is Guru Ji's command that you do not try to have a glimpse of him. You can work, do service, come and go but do not try to have a glimpse of him at any time. If this is acceptable to you, then you may continue to work otherwise you can take a job somewhere else. You can decide whatever suits you.
Both of them listened, then with folded hands said: In service, there can be no prudery. We are happy in his orders. It is his pleasure. We are happy in his pleastflre. Orders are his. We are the servants. We have to accept his orders. And then he is the Lord himself. But O friend! One thing is not in our hands. The longing that we have in our hearts to have a glimpse of him cannot go. This is not in our hands.
On listening to this, Kesra Singh Ji had tears in his eyes. Guru Ji's orders and their love for Guru Ji and the intensity of the love, Kesra Singh Ji saw and was filled with emotion. Then he went away without saying anything.
For Mohina and Sohina a new life started. What a strange life?
They can do service but not a glimpse of Guru Ji. They have sacrificed and given away all their riches. They have sacrificed all their knowledge and have got service but without a glimpse. They are thankful even for this.
This is the narrative of Mohina and Sohina.
Our respected Jeeto Ji (wife of Guru Gobind Singh Ji) whom people lovingly called Ammi Ji, was so much enthused in the recitation of the Lord5s name that many people called her a saint. She used to get up very early in the morning and recited the Lord5s name. When Guru Ji became ready to go out, then she used to garland him and then sit in meditation in the love of Guru Ji till sunrise.
Kesra Singh Ji used to bring flowers to her for the garland. One day when Kesra Singh Ji brought the flowers, Ammi Ji told him: Kesra Singh Ji! Guru Ji was much pleased to see the flowers yesterday. The flowers were very good.
SRI KALG1DHARCHAMATKAR (VOL-I)
Kesra Singh Ji replied: These are not my plantings. One poor man is doing all this service but he is stopped from having a glimpse of Guru Ji. Ammi Ji: Why?
Kesra Singh Ji: These are the orders of Guru Ji.
Ammi Ji: Then why you bring the flowers that he has planted with his hands?
Kesra Singh Ji: Ammi Ji! Guru Ji has allowed him to do service but a glimpse is disallowed.
Ammi Ji: Then Guru Ji does love them but he is trying to rectify some mistake of theirs.
She asked Kesra Singh Ji to go. But at night when Guru Ji came to the palace, then Ammi Ji asked Guru Ji about Mohina and Sohina.
Guru Ji said: One disciple who had a life spark of the Lord in his heart has said: "Guru Ji will not give you a glimpse". If Guru Ji had said, then it could be condoned but when a true disciple has said, then it cannot be condoned. This is the Lord's wish. I love Mohina and Sohina but the words of the saint have to be true.
This can be condoned only when their Super consciousness becomes alive and tihey get above the feeling of life and death or if the saint was living he could have pardoned them.
Ammi Ji: If I meet Mohina and help her in making her Super consciousness strong, then what do you say about it?
Guru Ji: There can be no better goodness and kindness than this. I am delighted and my Lord who has sent me to this world is also delighted. Guru Nanak Dev Ji said, "I wish to touch the dust of the feet of the person who recites the Lord's name and makes others recite the Lord's name." The Lord loves most, "Giving a life-spark to someone." Giving life to a lifelessly living person is something that the Lord loves most. When the Lord's life-spark is there in the body, only then it is real life.
Guru Nanak Dev Ji says:
Those are living who are living in the Recitation of the Lord's name Those are living who have the Lord living in their heart None others are living.
Only those who are thus living are living. Otherwise the whole world is in lifelessness. Llie living souls are the branches of the tree that is the Lord. Their Super-consciousness is tied to the Lord's feet and what they say and do is in resonance with the Lord's command and it has the same strength as that of the Lord. That is why the words of the saint have to be true.
Ammi Ji: You axe the saviour and the redeemer of sinners. We were all lifeless. You have blessed us and awakened us up from a slumber. What to talk of our mistakes, we are a picture of mistakes. I do not wish that you should go against your saint's words. I only wish that you give your bless and strength that I help this couple to rise up to your door.
Guru Ji: Lord is with you. You solve the predicament of this couple.
In the scriptures, treading on the religious path is said to be as treading on the sharp edge of a sword. This does not mean the cutting edge but it indicates the thin-ness of the edge. Walking on such a thin edge is difficult. One may fall this side or that side. Some people on this path become so aloof that then nature becomes sulky and lost. Some people become depressed. On the other side, people who forget the Lord become selfish. Due to the selfishness they become a cause of pain to the world and for themselves they dig their own grave. And there are some who are beneficent to others. But their mind is scattered and they get lost with the people to whom they are beneficent. In reality they do not love others. They love their own ego that nurtures on the praise by the people. To save one's self from both these mistakes, Guru Ji has said: Lord is one. We are children of the one Lord. He is our saviour.
It means the Lord is our father, we are his children and others are our brothers. When we thus love the world, we do not love for our ego but for the love of the Lord and his command. Whatever goodness and kindness we do, we offer it to the Lord and in this way we do not get caught in our ego. We are doing goodness to people not by the force of ego but like a fountain automatically. This life is a continuous process. The spiritual life is also a continuous process. The spiritual living is like a fountain and automatically in exuberance, cool, peaceful and in kindness and goodness for others. Mohina and Sohina had not traversed on this living path. They were absorbed in empty rituals. TThey did not have the life-spark in them. The empty rituals had made them hard hearted. That is why their mind did not bother to allay the suffering of a Lord's child. Now at Guru Ji's door they are begging for mercy.
Ammi Ji was always immersed in the love of the Lord. Her soul was one with the Lord. The recitation of the Lord's name was incessant in her and she was always kind and doing goodness to others. That was her life. That is why everybody loved her.
Her love for Mohina was an example. When she came to know about Mohina, then sometimes she used to call Mohina, sometimes she herself went to her hut and bless her, gave her holy touch and made her Super consciousness strong.
Slowly, with blessings of Ammi Ji, the Lord's name went into Mohina' s heart and she got rapture and ecstasy of the Lord's name. In the same way it happened with her husband Sohina. They now recited the Lord's name in every breath.
Mohina and Sohina who thought them self to be a cursed couple, who did not find peace even after giving away all their riches in charity, who could not get peace from the ascetic rituals, came to the holy Guru Ji with humility and have got life from lifelessness. Both of them now have concentration of mind. They have a slight rapture all the time. They are in the recitation of the Lord's name with devotion.
Their longing to have a glimpse of Guru Ji has increased than before but they are not in despair. They are living in hope.
Time passed by. Their inner self became strong. They could feel the body and soul as separate. They felt that life and death are two banks of a river. The Lord is everywhere. It is for the Lord to place someone this side of the river and someone on the other side. Death is not sorrowful or painful. It is not a permanent separation. They felt that those who are immersed in the Lord's name are never separated from the Lord or from the people loved by the Lord. They are never separated from Guru Ji or his holy saints. Their fear of death vanished and life became sweet in the love of Guru Ji and the Lord. Without the Lord's love, it was combustion in the body but with recitation of the Lord's name life has become rapturous.
The Lord had not created man to suffer. It is we who have forgotten the Lord and have started loving the worldly people who are bound to die and make us sorrowful.
In this way, the suffering started.
Mohina and Sohina are now living in the recitation of the Lord's name and in ecstasy. Their soul is woken up now. Wherever they see, they see all wonder.
Previously they thought that the Lord gives punishment but now they feel that the Lord always loves. Their woken up soul sees the Lord as father, mother, brother, friend, all love, gracious, blissful, merciful, fountain of love, saviour, giver of nourishment to all, redeemer of sinners and bestowal of forgiveness.
Where knowledge and wisdom cannot take you One life-spark can take you there They are happy but still they have pang of love for the glimpse of Guru Ji in their heart. Since it was disallowed, they feel it is the Lord's will.
One day, one roaming sadhu came in Guru Ji's garden. He roamed around the garden and then came and stood at Mohina' s door and said: A sadhu has come. Give something. Mohina went inside and brought some wheat flour to give. But he refused and said: My name is Roda and I want something else.
Mohina: O Sadhu! You say what you want but we are poor people and we are ourselves beggars and not givers. Here, everything belongs to Guru Ji.
Roda: These flowers, these jasmines, these chrysanthemums, these marigolds, I have an eye on them. You give me.
Mohina listened and felt numbness. Her heart throbbed. She felt the earth and sky moving. She sat down where she was standing.
Roda saw all this and went away.
After sometime Sohina came and found Mohina lying unconscious. He sprinkled water on her face and she regained consciousness. Sohina asked her as to what was the matter. She narrated all what had happened.
She said: These flowers, you have specially planted for Ammi Ji. Ammi Ji plans to present a garland to Guru Ji on his birthday. With great effort these plants have borne flowers. Today, one sadhu came and wanted these Sowers. If I do not give, then already we are not allowed to have a glimpse of Guru Ji for not giving water to the saint. Now if I do not give these flowers to the sadhu, then where do I stand and if I give away these flowers, then what face shall we show to Ammi Ji, who has given us life from lifelessness? Even this small service for her will go haywire. In this double mindedness and quandary I thought I was dead but now I see that this predicament is there and you are my partner in it.
Listening to all this, even Sohina went into depression.
Being an expert in horticulture, he had grown four jasmine plants in glass cases. They were now full of flowers. Similarly he had grown chrysanthemums with a cloth covering on the top. He had planted marigolds also and they were blooming.
Both were in a predicament and they could not think of a solution. They felt that this sadhu is not like the saint but still they thought that it might not be good to refuse this sadhu. He is also a Lord's child. They could not sleep the whole night.
Next morning, Roda again came and asked for tljie flowers.
Sohina prayed to the Lord for strength and then] said: O Sadhu! This is Guru Ji's garden and we are servants only. We cannot give anything on our own. If you are very keen, you may talk to Kesra Singh Ji who is In-charge of the garden. He may be able to help you as per Guru Ji's advice.
Roda still insisted. ;
Sohina again told him: O sadhu! You can have anything that we own but all this belongs to Guru Ji and it is not in our power to give it away.
Roda became furious and cursed: You will be unrooted. Then he went away. i
Mohina and Sohina thought: This time the sadhu has not cursed us. He has blessed us. We do not want roots in this world. Uprooting is welcome.
Their fear was gone and they got into the recitatiop of the Lord's name as usual. ;
For the men of the Lord when they get depressed sometimes, the Lord's hymns are the support. So they sang the Lord's hymns and their mind revived its high spirits.
At night they went to sleep. In the morning they jjot up and as usual got busy in the recitation of the Lord's name.
It was at sunrise, when they came out in the garden.
Oh! What :....did they see? The glasses are broken. There is
not one jasmine flower. The cloth covering is tern. There is not one chrysanthemum. Oh! Where are the marigolds? They are all gone.
Oh! Mohina and Sohina! They felt ashamed. How shall we face Ammi Ji who has bestowed us with a life-spark? We could not guard the flowers. Oh! Sleep! You are the culprit. Their heart broke down. They saw Ammiji's face.
Then a sudden wave and they fell and lay down im-conscious in the bed of flowers with the plants that were now without flowers.
VII
It is the Hall of audience of Magnificent Guru Gobind Singh Ji. Guru Ji is sitting on his throne. The place is full with the holy congregation. Intellectuals, saints and disciples from places far and wide have come and are sitting. When the music stopped the disciples started presenting gift^ to Guru Ji.
Amongst these, a strange looking sadhu came apd brought a beautiful basket full of beautiful blooming flowers and put it 0^1 the throne in front of Guru Ji. Previously he used to move around bare headed but today he had a long cap on his head.
The true Guru Ji asked: O sadhu! Who are you? Sadhu: My name is Roda pam. Guru Ji: Roda sham. Sadhu: No sir! Roda pam.
Guru Ji: K you are not sham then why haven't you brought any costly thing?
Sadhu: I have no money. I live in poverty. My hands are empty. Guru Ji: Then you could have come empty handed. The empty hands of a sadhu are also good.
Sadhu: It is against custom to come to Guru Ji with empty hands. Guru Ji: What has custom to do with poverty? Sadhu: It is the wish of the sadhu. Guru Ji: It is not a wish. It is sham.
Guru Ji now asked a disciple to remove the cap of the sadhu. When the cap fell, then a number of gold coins fell on the ground. Everybody laughed and Roda's face turned pale.
Guru Ji: O Roda! Are you a lover of the Lord or a lover of gold? Tell me! Why have you plucked these blooming flowers from the plants?
Roda kept quiet.
Guru Ji: "Flowers that were tied with hearts" whom did you ask before plucking these?
Roda's head went down and kept quiet.
Guru Ji: Oh! There is no fragrance in the flowers. Oh! There is a sensation of anxiety in them. Oh! There is no beauty in the flowers. Oh! There is a voice of sadness in them. life-less! They are praying. Oh flowers! What are you praying?
Saying this, his eyes closed. The eyes opened after a few minutes. On his ever glowing forehead was a frown.
He said: O Roda! Flowers are not plucked. Two hearts have broken. Two loving children from the Lord's lap have fallen from the lap.
Guru Ji is thinking of the two children of the Lord falling unconscious.
Guru Ji: O Roda! You have interfered in the Lord's love of his children. You have plucked the branch of a tree that is the Lord. The tree is feeling the sensation.
Oh! How does a mother respond to children when they fall from her lap? He went on saying something. He had tears in his eyes. The lover of his disciples who always said: 'My disciples are my life5 became restless. His love, like a tidal wave swelled. He got up, walked and started running. Everybody followed.
An enlightened person thought that something has happened that is connected to these flowers. He carried the basket of flowers and followed Guru Ji.
See! How Guru Ji who is the lover of his discipljbs and has come from the heavens to bless the world, has left the throne to allay the suffering of the sufferers and is running. See! The prophet of love and the saviour has entered the garden. Some intuitiveness, some unseen pull of love is taking him to somewhere. He reached the end comer of the garden: i. O saviour Guru Ji! O merciful Guru Ji! Here two bodies are lying on the ground in this uprooted garden gasping for breath. I
Ammi Ji had just arrived and was looking at the jwo souls that she had prepared for the Lord's garden, lying desolated whn Guru Ji who was more restless than a mother also reached. I
He said: My love! My love! And put both the heads in his lap. He caressed their heads, wiped their eyes and placed his hand on tieir forehead and said, "I bless you my loving children. I bless you". !
What a wondrous scene? For whose glimpse they where waiting for another generation, their thankfulness and acceptance of the will of Guru Ji has borne fruit. Whose glimpse was stopped by a curse of a saint is giving his glimpse himself.
Mohina and Sohina please wake up! Come into consciousness! Open your eyes! The glimpse for which you have been longing has come. The glimpse has come to have your glimpse. Oh! Children of Guru Ji! See! "He will not give you a glimpse", from this the "not" has vanished.
But who should get up?
O Lord! Your ways are strange! When the glimpse has come, the hearts that want to have the glimpse are not present. | Strange are the ways of love!
Ammi Ji is holding Mohina's hand and saying: My| child! Open your eyes. Have a glimpse. '
In the centre is this divine glimpse. Around |is swarming the holy congregation. Everybody is looking at the splendid Guru Ji's love. Kesra Singh Ji has brought water.
Guru Ji himself put water in their mouth, sprinkled water on their forehead and face and said; My loving children! Opesn your eyes.
Slowly they opened their eyes. A glimpse! A godly glimpse went into their eyes but when, when the eyes have no strength in them, when there is no strength in the body to get up? The eyes could not bear the dazzle of the
glimpse and closed again but they took inside their body the rapture of the glimpse of Guru Ji.
A few moments later their eyes opened again and then closed. This happened several times. Slowly the strength came. The consciousness came.
Then Ammi Ji said: Children! The glimpse of Guru Ji has come.
Now they understood the happiness in these words but their mind was not prepared for this happiness. They felt the ecstasy but had no strength to move.
Guru Ji now with his inner strength supported their mind and their body got some strength. They got up and fell at Guru Ji's feet But Guru Ji again lifted their heads and touched their heads with love. When Guru Ji moved his hand on their backs, they got up and sat down.
Ammi Ji with love said: You have been blessed.
Their eyes are not satisfied seeing Guru Ji again and again. They are drinking the love nectar. Their eyes close and open and have a glimpse of Guru Ji again and again. This devotion and love of the 'Guru Ji and disciple* went on for some time.
Whoever saw this love got enlightenment.
Now Mohina and Sohina realized that Guru Ji is sitting on the ground and this is disrespect to him.
With tears in their eyes they said: It is disrespect from us that you are sitting on the ground. Please be merciful.
Now Guru Ji took both of them and went inside their hut and sat down. Ammi Ji also went inside. Rest of the people sat outside like a congregation.
What respect they could give to Guru Ji who has come to their hut? They took out the sitar and sang a divine song (Kirtari).
The basket full of flowers, Ammi Ji handed over to them to prepare the flowers as per the original program. They prepared the flowers and gave them to Ammi Ji.
Ammi Ji offered some to Guru Ji herself and asked Mohina and Sohina to offer some to Guru Ji themselves.
Guru Ji praised Mohina and Sohina in the durbar that was full to capacity.
He said to them: I am very happy on your service. You ask for anything. I shall give.
Sohina replied: O Guru Ji! Roda has been put under lock. Please forgive him. We axe all doing mistakes. Only your grace and the Lord's name that you give us is the remedy for all our mistakes.
Guru Ji called Roda and he was forgiven. The (jJuru told him to recite the Lord's name and live in the recitation of the Lord'$ name.
Roda became a Guru-disciple and his heart got injrmersed in the love of the Lord.
When everybody came to know how rich Mohinaj and Sohina were and how they distributed all their wealth and became gardeners and served Guru Ji with so much humility, everybody started respecting them with love. But they preferred to serve Guru Ji with their love and hjimility.
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Guru Ji's words are repeated once again: Those are living who are living in the 1 'Recitation of the Lord's name3
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Let us recite:
0 Lord, 0 Lord, 0 Lord, 0 Lord \ Waheguru, Waheguru, Waheguru, Waheguru j
starting with at least five minutes a day.
o o o o