One side was battles and valour, second side was religious preaching. The foundation of both was laid on character and virtuous conduct. Guru Ji's ideal men were to imbibe true virtuous conduct and keep away from falsehood, deception, bad company, tyranny or anything that was not virtuous.
Following is a specimen that depicts the true Guru Ji's strictness on character. It was the month of August and at night nice cool breeze blew. Magnificent Guru Ji sat on the roof when he heard some sort of quarrel from the roof of the adjoining house. Here lived one Guru-disciple named Lahora Singh Ji. He used to supervise while Guru Ji's sons played.
Mala Singh's house was next to his house. Mala Singh was a trader and a financier also. Once when Lahora Singh Ji was in need of money, he borrowed it from Mala Singh. But he did not return the same.
Mala Singh was kind hearted and virtuous. He did not harass Lahora Singh Ji to return the money.
Sometime passed, Mala Singh suffered losses and was short of money. Some more time passed. Mala Singh became too short of money even to buy proper daily food.
Then he asked Lahora Singh Ji to pay back the money that he owed to him. But he put him off with witticism.
Tonight Mala Singh went to his house and demanded the money. But Lahora Singh Ji, in no mood to return ridiculed, "Guru-disciple takes money from Guru-disciple and forgets the worry to return". Again he said: "Eating, drinking and laughing is our job, rest Guru Ji will look after".
When Mala Singh told him about his urgent necessity, then Lahora Singh Ji said, "It is everyone's destiny, it is for you to bear".
Mala Singh said: Those who tell lies, they have to reply in the Lord's court. When the messengers of hell will beat you then you will repent.
On listening to this Lahora Singh Ji said: "When Guru Ji is gracious, messengers of death do not ask anything".
The true Guru Ji overheard their conversation. When Lahora Singh Ji quoted the sacred scripture to assert his characterless and sinful behaviour, then the true Guru Ji, the Master of virtuousness recited a line in a loud voice that Lahora Singh Ji could hear, "Right of others is pig to Muslims and cow to Hindus, Guru Ji will redeem only if the sinful repents, "
The first line that Lahora Singh Ji had said, "Guru-disciple takes money from Guru-disciple and forgets."
To counter this, the true Guru Ji recited another line loudly, "One who himself eats and does not let others eat and deceives is banned from Guru Ji's house. "
Then the second line that he had said, "Eating, drinking, laughing is our job. Rest, Guru Ji will look after."
To counter this, the true Guru Ji said loudly in an admonishing tone, "Guru Ji will bless or punish as per the deeds done. "
On listening to Guru Ji's words Lahora Singh Ji trembled and in humility said to Mala Singh: O Brother! Please excuse me. I shall return the money to you tomorrow. I was just joking with you.
, Next morning, Lahora Singh Ji went to Mala Singh's house and with folded hands, returned the borrowed money. Then he got ready and went to Guru Ji's hall of audience. He fell at Guru Ji's feet and prayed: "Without Guru Ji's support we are in greed, forgive us and give us refuge. Do not be angry on us. We are attached to family and worldly desires. We have not realized the world as perishable."
Then Guru Ji said, "Stay away from sex, anger, greed and pride. Stay away from deception. Remain in piousness in the community."
Then Guru Ji looked towards the congregation and gave a short discourse.
Poet Santokh Singh writes as follows:
Guru-disciples should not borrow money. If someone takes, then he should return respectfully. He should not listen to lies nor speak a lie. He should stay away from lies. Keep holy company and earn honestly. Always be truthful. One should be without hypocrisy. In this way he made the disciples determined and asked them to recite the Lord's name incessantly.
When the congregation came to know that Lahora Singh Ji refused to return the money borrowed from Mala Singh and recited a line from the scripture to assert his viciousness and was admonished by the true Guru Ji, then everybody realized the greatness of Guru Ji and said: Great is the true Guru Ji. How much busy he remains in gigantic tasks. Still even in small personal problems of his disciples, he corrects the wrongs done.
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