Hoshiarpur town lived one Guru-diseiple named Devu. He Was the Gardener in charge of the garden of a rich businessman. Many helpers of different castes like Arain, Kambo, Jaat and others worked under him whom he taught the art of gardening with love. His mind was enlightened. He was immersed in Guru-love and his mind was always in blossom-. His hands remained busy in planting. His mind remained in the incessant remembrance of the' Lord. He perceived the 'Guru with the Plume5 everywhere. He thought it was best to give comfort to others before the~ breath goes away and the body goes to dust. He was always eager for the same. He was married and his wife was just like him.
As the sun, moon, planeits and galaxy of stars make the sky bright, similarly, his wife's remembrance of the Lord, Guru-love, husband-love, love of the congregation and her extreme desire to give comfort to humanity showed ah ecstatic lustre on her forehead. When she recited the scripture, it appeared as if she? is a fountain of nectar. When she cooked food, then she wanted to serve to the needy also. - :-
This Lord's 'Name-immersed' couple had a daughter who was around ten or eleven years old. This daughter of such pious parents was treading on the path that was being automatically set by the piousness and truthfulness of the parents. She did not know how to tell a lie. Her mind could never think of speaking anything that was not factual. She would get up early in the morning when the parents got up, recite the Holy Scripture and then help her mother in the household chores. In the afternoon when mother went to the garden to serve food to her husband, then she went along and played with the 'more innocent than her' ilowers. She would sprinkle water on the * plants with
showering cans. She got pleasure in hoeing and putting manure in the plants. She would touch the plants and enjoy the fragrance but she never plucked any flower with her hand. Being the child of 'philosopher's stone5 parents with a deceit-less simple nature away from bad company, she always had the company of flowers that gave her delight and made her mind blossom. She would run in the garden, recite some stanza of the Holy Scripture and fondle the flowers and plants and loved them.
In the garden was grafted a pomelo tree that she loved much. In the spring season it sprouted richly. It appeared as if a white galaxy of stars has been embedded on a green body. This innocent girl was delighted that this tree will bear so many fruits. On seeing the happiness of the girl, her father gave the responsibility of this tree to her and told her that nurturing this tree is on her only. There was one tall tree nearby that stopped sunrays falling on - this tree. Her father cut that tree and made it short so that the sunrays are not obstructed. The girl spent so much time in sprinkling water, hoeing and putting fresh manure around the tree. In that over enthusiasm she forgot that water is not sprinkled on citrus trees for sometime till the fruits start growing. In ignorance she watered the plant. Even otherwise, the flowers of citrus trees keep falling down. The flowers kept falling down and only a few remained that could be counted. But if these had become fruits, then the girl's wish would have been fulfilled. But by the month of March by the benevolence of storms not one remained. Seeing this when the girl got disappointed, then father explained to her that all flowers do not become fruits. Also hoeing, watering and putting new manure was not advisable when new flowers come up. The storms also damage the fruits and they fall. But you keep up your effort. No wonder your endeavour might bring fruit.
Now the summer season arrived and instead of white flowers, green flowering plants sprouted. There were all citrus plants in this area where the pomelo tree stood. There were many varieties of citrus fruits as her father had grafted various types of plants of various varieties like thick skinned citron, lemon, orange, sweet lime, sweet orange, pomelo, large sour lime, Assamese orange, etc. One plant grew different types of fruits.
In this bed all plants bore fruit but the pomelo tree that was under the care of this girl stood without fruit. As per the wish of the father, this helpless girl did nurture the plant but no flower appeared. Now the heat of May and June came as if with ire and destroyed many plants. The dust storms covered the leaves with thin layers of dust. However it was only middle of June when the blue sky appeared a bit cloudy. Sometimes dark clouds appeared with thunder and lightning. Sometime it drizzled. Finally, one day there was a
downpour and everybody looked with apprehension that the clouds might not vanish but it rained in torrents and it became "water everywhere." For full two hours it outpoured, then the clouds moved and the rain stopped. The trees had a wash. It appeared as if the entire vegetation just had a bath. The bloom in the garden became lustrous. The rainy season's first downpour came early this year. Even after the first downpour it rained regularly. It became "It has rained. The Lord has sent. He gives comfort to humans and animals". The farmers sowed maize, sorghum, millet, sesame, paddy, rice and other crops. The seasonal flowers in the beds bloomed. The fruits on the fruit growing trees grew larger. Not only this, nature favoured and endeavour fructified, the fruitless pomelo sprouted a white flower-bud. It blossomed and became a flower. Not one but many more flowers grew. The tree sprouted a second time. On seeing the tree sprouted in off season the girl's mind felt wondrous. She held her scarf in both her hands, her eyes closed, her mind flew on the wings of prayer to Anandpur and prayed: O 4 Gum with the Plume',
O Guru! Please make this flower a fruit and ripen it quickly so that I am able to bring a gift for you and fall at your feet.
Only those who possess a true heart can understand, the feelings of a heart that has never known a lie and never known fear and doubt. The engrossment in prayer of such a guileless heart is extremely deep. The girl is standing. Her offer of love is falling on the 'Guru with the Plume's feet. Her eyes are shedding tears that are falling on the ground after dropping on the leaf of a newly grown flower.
Mom saw the daughter in prayer! From a distance she prayed: O beloved 'Guru with the Plume'! The child is engrossed in prayer. Please bless that she may ask for your love. She should not ask anything that might be against Lord's will.
The girl finished her prayer. She was cool and light as if she had come out after a dip in the sea of nectar. Mother took the child in her lap, kissed her forehead and hugged her again and again. She blessed her and said: My darling daughter! Never forget the Scripture. May your thought, inclination, utterance and actions go as per the teachings of the Scripture!
The girl who was now dyed in Mother's love said: O Mother! I have prayed today. Tell me. I hope it is not against the teaching of the Scripture. I do not understand the meanings of Scripture thoroughly. I have prayed to the cGuru with the Plume' that this new flower may grow and become a pbmelo and I should gift it to you.
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Sri kXLgiBViar'ChAmAtr ' (Voli)
^ O^ Mother starte'd thinking. Meanwhile,
feDeviicaAe^ \ T' /' 1 ' ' ' " " / '
" l] 1 Mbfer "naiiTateH'the ^rayer'of tMe daughter to him. Dad embraced the dUugherand saidi Our fehidre' generation : will getrSaIv&tion because of you! ITour 16v£ of the 'GtinXwflf give ' salvation to riiany; This flower 'will surely grow as a pomelo," although th^ rairiy-season flowers grow less or grow late biitlLbfd will surely fulfill your 'wish. Saying this/Bhai; Devu: himself became erHbtional Withlove of the Guru. His eyes 'filled with' tears of love. A few nibfndiite later, Bhai DehiJs wifeirecited the scripture "Bliss" [Anand Sahib) in a soft mfelodibtis trine. It became evening. It was time for the" evening prayer Rehf as. "Ttexi it became dark; The Guiru-devotee but poor family went to their hut. :
' ' ' ' ;' II 1
The rain continued: The rainy-seasbrial flower started becoming a fruit The other flowers fell off in the wind storm but this first flower became a fruit and within a few days grew up. Months passed. By the middle of December its colour changed from green to light yellow. The parrots generally do not griaw the citrus fruits but one day on seeing a flock of parrots in "the garden the child girl became apprehensive "a parrot might gnaw my pomelo." She got a piece of coarse cloth/ stitched it, made a bag and covered the pomelo with the' bag.
' One day, the owner of the garden, Raijaswant Rao while strolling came to the' field where the fruit trees stood. One servant accompanied him. This gentleman was well educated, wealthy and from a respectable ancestry. But intellect and wealth, instead of humility and service made him egoistic and fall of pride. This wealthy gentleman belonged to a family of Guru-devotees. Ilis father a Guru-devotee fell at the feet of Guru Tegh Bahadur and was blessed by him. This gentleman did have faith in religion but no devotion for the Holy Scripture .' He was so proud of his wisdom that he thought nobody in the country was wiser than him. The pride of his own wisdom made him obsessed when Guru Tegh Bahadur offered his head to be cut. Then he remarked that it* was wrong for the Guru to have offered his head. He said: The Guru should not have offered his head for the sake of truth. He should have outwardly embraced Islam and then slipped and come away from the captivity ojf Aiimngzeb. He did not relish the idea of Guru Gobind Singh creating an army. He considered hypocrisy ais wisdom. He considered truthful wisdom aiid valour a£ stupidity. Oh the : day when the Guru made nectar arid asked five men to drink nectar, then immediately twenty thousand more disciples drank the nectar.
That day one group of disciples went away saying: "This Guru is too young. He does not follow the path of his father-Guru. We shall not abide by what he says. We shall follow the old system." This Jaswant Rao was one amongst these. Since then he never went to have a glimpse of the Guru. Neither did any service to the Guru or to humanity. Thus with his back towards the Guru he had become hard-hearted and his anger had increased. When his father was living, then the congregations travelling to Anandpur rested here and were always welcome. The poor and needy were served food. All that almost stopped now, when the nature gets away from nobleness then the animal instincts in man rule the mind.
Devu was in the service of this egoistic gentleman. No doubt it was difficult to serve a gentleman who was without Guru-love but since the Guru did not approve of his quitting the job, so he carried on. Jaswant Rao knew that Bhai Devu is a Guru-devotee and wished that he should become like -minded as himself but who could break a true love-cord. Bhai Devu thought otherwise. He wished that Jaswant Rao should again imbibe Guru-love and get salvation. Bhai Devu was very keen to drink the Guru's nectar but Jaswant Rao created some hindrances indirectly. The natural circumstances also did not make way for that. But every day after recitation of scripture they prayed: O Lord! You bless us with the Spiritual nectar and make us your own. However, Bhai Devu was always eager to serve the congregation. Previously, the masters of the house did this service. Now the servant imbibed the spirit of service to the congregation. Whenever he came to know that some congregation is arriving, he would carry sacred sweet and go to meet them. Then he made them stay there. He constructed a temporary shelter next to his hut for the congregation to stay. He provided water and firewood. Whenever he had some extra money, then he provided groceries also. Whatever free time he got after the day's work, he served the congregation. Bhai Devu gave charity to the needy and poor. He became well known for his service to the congregation, for his engrossment in the Lord's name and for his Guru-love. All who went to Anandpur through this city praised Bhai Devu. The 'Guru with the Plume' heard about Bhai Devu's service to the congregation and his engrossment in the Lord's name. That endeared him in his heart. The Guru loved the Nameengrossed devotees more than himself. A person who loved the holy congregation, why would he not be dear to the Guru? The Guru perceived that my devotee has become a sandal tree. He gives his fragrance to other trees. My devotee is like a sandal tree that gives its fragrance even to the saw that cuts it. The devotee is a sandal tree who makes others fragrant and who does not detest even the sinners.
One day, Jaswant Rao strolled in the garden. When he saw a white fruit of the size of a water melon, then he came forward this side. On coming near, he found that it was a cloth bag put on a fully ripe pomelo. He ordered. The helper removed the bag. On seeing the beautiful pomelo and on making sure that it was fully ripe, he said, "Pluck it and bring it to the mansion".
At this time the child who. had been nurturing the pomelo saw from a distance and came running. She clamped the helper with both her hands and in a heart-rending voice beseeched: "Oh! Do not pluck". What magic was there in these four words from a truthful heart that a trembling sensation like an electric current went through the body of the owner and the helper? When the owner looked up, then pride and ego overtook his mind but the helper shuddered with fear. The innocent girl again said: O Brother! "Do not pluck".
The heart pain of the guileless girl whose labour of love of many months is going to be wasted is too deep.
Yes! The desire of her heart that she has been nurturing, the fulfillment of her longing that is only a few days away is going to be ruined by merciless hands. For her the moment of joy is saying good-bye even before coming. This moment of joy had gone deep into her soul. Non-fulfillment of a deep desire gives a deep injury.
The plucking of pomelo that she had nurtured with so much deep love made a deep dent on her mind. She felt darkness in her eyes. Her heart felt desperation. In that desperation her soul picked up all her strength and shrieked: "Oh! Do not pluck." She held the helpers hand and again said: O Brother! "Do not pluck." Her shriek made a profound impact on the helper's mind. His hands distanced from plucking the pomelo as if some unseen power has stopped his hands from cutting somebody's throat. The shriek of the girl did give a blow to the effigy of ego Jaswant Rao but being the Master, withdrawing his orders and bowing to the wish of the servant's daughter appeared to him as downgrading his authority. His mind agreed to the young but truthful heart's plea but his ego suppressed the pious concept.
Oh! World! How many times have you sinned out of fear of downgrading your authority! Today if Jaswant Rao had remained faithful to the Guru and the Lord, then he would have been in kindness and love. His heart would have said: "Why break the heart of the daughter of a faithful servant for a few pennies worth of something. Is it stealing? No. It is a child's wish. Let her be delighted". But the hard-heart disobeyed his soft heart and he thundered: "O girl! Get away. O helper, pluck".
"O girl! Get away". Probably, it was Ughtning? "O helper, pluck". Probably, it was thunderbolt of god Indra. In a moment, on one side the branch was plucked and on the second side the girl, with a thud fell flat on the ground.
Jaswat Rao did not expect that the girl will be shocked to that extent but even then he thought that softness shall downgrade his authority. In this thinking he ignored the incident and went away.
The helper is following him but his steps are feeling a weight of tons. He understands that it is oppression of the worst kind and I am instrumental in this. He understands that he has obeyed the orders of his Master but along with it he feels that he has harmed his senior who helped him out of poverty. His eyes are shedding tears. They are falling on the ground after dropping on the pomelo that is in his hands. His eyes see circling figures and in these circles he sees the figure of the merciful girl with shrieks of "Oh! Do not pluck".
Oh! This poor man had thought it was a playful wish of the girl but the girl failing unconscious broke his heart. This sudden incident was agony to his mind. Near the gate of the garden he met another helper. Pie took him aside and narrated the entire happening to him. Then he ran to his Master. When he reached the Master's house, he kept the pomelo in front of his Master and said: I forego my salary. I leave my job. I am not your servant any more.
Jaswant Rao (hard-heartedly): What has happened?
The helper was talking to his mind silently: It is shame to me that I did not resign my job when my sinful fingers while breaking the branch broke a living being from the Lord. I am sorry of the moment when I plucked. I regret my timidity! I betrayed my mentor. What face shall I show to the Guru-loving pious man? Even my soul feels ashamed. Me! Disgraced! I cannot face my senior who took me out of poverty and made me stand on my feet.
Jaswant Rao again said: Go and do your work, O Helper.
I am a sinner! I am a sinner! Saying this and without waiting for a reply, like a mad person saying, "Oh! Do not pluck! Oh! Do not pluck", ran away not only from the house but from the outskirts of the town. The entire room of the owner echoed with the sound of "Oh! Do not pluck! Oh! Do not Pluck" The helper has gone too far but the echo of "Oh! Do not pluck" is echoing in the ears of the owner.
On the other side when Bhai Devu got the news, then he had just finished eating food and was washing his hands. On listening to the news both of them uttered: O Lord, "Whatever is your will we should accept it as good". Saying this, in serenity, moral strength and praying to the Lord, they reached the bed
of plants where the fortunate pomelo grew. Truly, the pomelo was missing. The promising girl who watered the plant and nurtured it with love for the sake of the 'Guru with the Plume' is lying flat on the ground almost dead. She is unconscious. Her breath is so slow, eyes closed, body is cold and pulse negligible. Father thought she may not survive, so he said: It is Lord's will, "He gives life. He takes." "We should accept the Lord's will." Ke picked up the darling in his embrace and took her to their hut.
How could the news of Bhai Devu's 'daughter in danger' remain hidden? The news was already out and soon one doctor wno was a holy companion of Bhai Devu arrived. He did some treatment. The body became warm. Her pulse also became alright but the eyes did not open. In sleep she mumbled in a shrieking tone: "Oh! Do not pluck! O Brother! Do not pluck!" Was it a shriek or an unseen knife? The congregation that had assembled there and had already heard the happening became impulsively emotional and tears filled everybody's eyes. Everybody felt the deep love that this promising daughter imbibed in her heart for the true Guru. This small but sacred mind was like a stream that immersed fully in the river i.e. the true Guru. This small heart was butter than burnt itself as sacrificial fire in the "Fire-pit of allaying the sufferings of the world". She had put her love in the sacrificial fire of Guru-love.
The Guru-love in her small heart requires elaboration. But if one can feel the effect of true-love and longing even for a moment, then one can understand the meaning of true love as one can see the unseen stars through the small lens of a telescope.
The entire night, the girl remained in semi-conscious state. She got fever and after every hour or so she shrieked, "Ohl Do not pluck". Father and mother had great faith in the Lord. They were steadfast in their faith. They left no stone unturned in nursing the girl but when they heard her heartrending shrieks, then their hearts melted with emotion.
Ill
At the time when the helper ran away, Jaswant Rao sat alone in the verandah. The Pomelo lay on the shelf in front of him. In his mind, he saw the image of the girl falling flat on the ground and lying unconscious as also the rale face of the helper out of repentance. He deliberated and tried to prove himself right. But truly speaking the uneasiness in the mind of the sinner cannot go by reasoning. The uneasiness in the mind of the sinner never goes completely by his thinking that what he has done is good. Neither the doubt in the mind of
an atheist ever goes away. God is there. I am just saying the other way. The reasoning did not take his mind of uneasiness. The servant asked hia to have food. His wife came and asked him again and again to have food but the disheartened that he was, said "No5' and in that uneasiness dozed off to sleep.
How could the simple wife know what was the matter? She was the daughter of a Guru-devotee and the parents married her in a Guru-devotee family. Nobody could judge that he would become disregardful to the Guru who is the savior of the world. But this lady did not lose faith and always tried to make him understand justly. She was devoted to the scripture. After recitation of scripture every morning, she prayed to the Lord, "O Lord! Make my husband a Guru-devotee."
Really speaking, who understands what strength is there in prayer? When the awakened soul asks from the Lord something silently from the core of one's heart, then how, when and in what form the wish is fulfilled only the Lord knows. People keep their mind wandering in fear and despair. They do not concentrate the mind with devotion, remembrance and faith. The materialistic world in their desires and greed to grab makes the mind materialistic. The materialistic mind is always wandering in desires. It does not feel the sensation of the presence of the Lord. The worldly gains are perishable and the worldly pleasures are short lived. The unseen is eternal living. The pleasures of the unseen are for all times. They do not perish.
Jaswant Rao's wife used to pray with a pure heart at the lotus feet of the Lord,
"O redeemer of sinners! Make my husband a Guru-devotee. Up till today she could not see any visible sign of her prayer being answered. But she was not disappointed. She remained steadfast in her prayer. Tonight when her husband slept and she asked for keys from the maid, then the maid narrated to her all what had happened in the garden. How could the saintly lady endure the distress? She cried bitterly. Her serenity waned. She cried for mercy: O Lord! Give me peace of mind. Bless that whatever is your will I should accept it as good. Give me refuge at your feet. Bless me remembrance of your Name. O Merciful! You are gracious. Bless him your love. Prompt him towards Guru-love. Prompt him towards holy company. His mind has been covered with the dirt of ego and worldly desires and is in forgetfulness of your Name. Please make it free from ego and worldly desires so that it becomes light and clings to your feet. You honour you:* natural repute. Me! Nobody! Thankless! In your forgetfulness, I waver! I read, "Accept the Lord's will" but still I waver. Bless that I imbibe acceptance of your will in my mind.
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O Sea of benevolence! May be I have no qualities in me but I am yours. You keep me your own and rid my distress. I know I am not capable enough to make a prayer to you. I am not fit enough to be blessed but O Father! Since I am yours, I can call for help at your door. That CI am yours5 is the source of my comfort. That is the remedy of my problems. That is the liberation of my sufferings. At your door, I cry for mercy. Support me by holding my arm. Bless my husband. Pull him and take him out of mire. The true Guru had also prayed to you: O Lord! Have mercy. The world is in suffering. Be benevolent, allay their suffering. O Father! Please listen to the prayer of your beloved, the true Guru. For the sake of the true Guru please pull us out from this suffering of the world.
She got so much engrossed in prayer that peace of mind descended on her and imperceptibly she got faith that the Lord has listened to my prayer and said "Yes." She felt sleepy. Maybe she slept or went into a trance.
In the middle of the night she heard some voice, Oh! Oh! Oh! She woke up. There was dim light of the candle. She felt afraid. Again she heard, Oh! Oh! Oh! She got up and saw. It was her husband's voice. Startled, she went and pressed her husband's feet and said: I hope you are alright.
Husband: I am in great suffering.
Wife: What is the suffering? Your body is alright.
Husband: What should I tell? I feel ashamed.
Wife: What is the shame in telling me? Half the suffering goes away by telling.
Husband: Have you yourself heard something. Wife: From whom?
Husband: Some happening in the garden. Wife: Yes! I have heard. Husband: Is that girl dead or alive?
Wife: She is alive but unconscious. Deliriously she utters, "Oh! Do not pluck."
Husband: This "Oh! Do not pluck" has killed me. Wife: What has happened?
Husband: My mind is overawed. I cannot sleep. If I get sleep, then I startle and wake up.
Wife: What happens?
Husband: The moment I close my eyes I hear a voice, "Oh! Do not pluck". I startle and wake up.
Wife: Did you really force the helper to pluck the Pomelo while the girl entreated not to pluck?
Husband: Yes.
Wife: The pomelo is worth a few pennies for which you are no' 1 suffering so much.
Husband: The price of pomelo does not matter. It was my prestige. When I said, "Pluck", then who is she to order "No"?
Wife: But she is a child. Why you got angry? What does an innocent child know? It is better to love them.
Husband: Then all the helpers shall teach their children like that and I say, "All right Child." Then where shall my authority stay.
Wife: If you ask me truly, if all helpers can produce such children, then I shall say, "Give the entire garden to the children. like you will be benevolent to the children, Lord shall be benevolent on you."
Husband: (Startled) "Oh! Do not pluck." Again I hear the voice.
Wife (In continuation of the previous conversation): If all children say, "Do not pluck", then shall your mind shake like this?
Husband: This is what I really do not understand.
Wife: And this is really what has to be understood. The girl is simpleminded with a pure heart. She loves the scripture and has great faith and devotion. It was per her wish that this rainy-seasoned pomelo flower grew. She had nurtured it with great love. She did not wish that it be plucked.
Husband: This is a child's fancy.
Wife: Does a child's fancy make anyone suffer so much?
Husband: Then why it has influenced me so much. Is she a witch?
Wife: The girl is an angel. Yes Husband! The benevolent Guru whom you have shown your back, she loves him. This pomelo, she had nurtured for him.
Husband: This age and this devotion!
Wife: Yes! She has holy company of parents. Then a simple heart of a child and her extreme faith that became love. She was connected with the true Guru with a love-cord that has power in it. When you snapped the love-cord, then its power threw both of you down. One owner and one helper
The wife kept on talking. The husband dozed off to sleep. When he started snoring then she became quiet but kept sitting close by. After sometime the husband rolled over to one side, then again he uttered, "Oh! Do not pluck."
Jaswant Rao opened his eyes and said: Darling! Are you awake? Yes! You are sitting. I had a dream. Wife: What is it?
Husband: While listening to you, I dozed off. What I saw was that the entire India is assembled at one place. Kashmir, Punjab, Hills, East Bengal, Rajputana, Sindh, South can be seen all at once. It appears like a garden. Different states appear as if beds of different types in the garden. Men, women and children appear as grown up plants and stand as plants. Then I saw, it became dark and it thundered. From every plant was audible an awesome voice! "Oh! Do not pluck". After a moment the light spread. What I saw was that near each and every plant, one Mughal Pathan was standing. Someone cut the plant with an axe, someone cut with a saw, someone pulled it with a jerk and threw it and someone plucked the leaves and made the tree leafless. Some plucked the branches one by one. Whenever a plant was plucked a voice came out of it "Gh! Do not pluck". A stream of blood flowed out from each plant. The guards, helpers, gardeners, owners, jay walkers, all were busy in plucking. Mercilessly, they plucked. The same voice came from each branch and leaf, "Oh! Do not pluck". Those who plucked listened to the voice but still they went on plucking. Then it was dark. From the east, from the other side of the river came rays of light. From each ray of light came a voice, "Beware! Do not pluck." Then I saw that the plucking stopped. Some who plucked stopped plucking and joined the newly come guards as honest guards. Some became plants. Some ran away. Some died. The voice: "Oh! Do not pluck" became dim and dim and finally became inaudible. Then I heard, Yes! I saved! Yes! O dear! I saved! Now a flash of light appeared and I woke up. Now you tell what was all that?
Wife: In dreams, generally one sees the happenings of the day in different images and forms. Sometimes the dreams tell some true happenings and sometimes they reflect some likely to happen events. All dreams are not just untrue or mirages. For something that is evident, it does not make any difference whether it is dream or no dream. It does not make any difference for an evident truth. Your dream is an evident reality. See! Tyrants are ruling the country. It is also true that nobody is trying to save. It is also true that the 'Guru with the Plume' is fighting for the sake of the people and religion. He is telling the tyrants to stop tyranny. Our bad company has taught us to argue, "Why has he adopted a sword?" But O dear! The truth is that if he doesn't pick up the sword, then what good shall come out? There are thousands of saints living who have not adopted the sword. What good have they done? They have renounced the sword considering it piousness. In reality they do not know how to keep religiousness and sword together. You know the true Guru is not doing anything for himself. He is undergoing hardships for the
sake of allaying the suffering of the people. He is fighting for the sake of those who are being killed by the merciless hands of tyrants like pomelos. He is fighting for those who are humans but are being sold like sheep and for those who are humans but unable to safeguard themselves. For the sake of the suffering humanity, he has adopted the sword. Otherwise being a sea of peace, what is his need to fight? O dear! If you do not mind, may I say something? O my Master! Our duty was that we should have followed our brothers who obeyed him. We should have offered ourselves for his service with love and would have been honoured in the army of saviors. But who knows, I am a sinner. May be for my sake you showed your back to the true Guru. We did not join the saviour's army and instead became hostile. How big a blunder is it that we are going against the Guru's ideals? We shall have to answer in the Lord's court. You be merciful that we are saved when we go to the Lord's court.
Husband: I have not done anything against the true Guru. I have withdrawn myself only. Isn't it alright?
Wife: What I feel is that you are not igndble. The company of those who are against the Guru is bad. That is why for the sake of a few pennies worth of pomelo the girl has suffered so much. O dear! I don't blame you. But to be so narrowminded is the fault of bad company. If we had remained steadfast in Guru-love, then we would never mind giving a small thing as a pomelo to the only child of a faithful and so religious servant in the thought that our authority will diminish. Even now there is time to put ourselves on the right track.
Husband: How?
Wife: We should make up with the principal. Rest will become alright automatically.
Husband: I am feeling shy even talking to you. How shall I go there?
Wife: This shyness, you had even in childhood. Your mother used to tell. This shyness is good to some extent. But if company is not good, then it becomes a cause for suffering. See! This bad company has given bad fruits.
Husband: Speaking truly, I feel ashamed to meet the Guru. When it was time to offer my services and get praise, I did not offer. Now how can I go in disgrace?
Wife: See! The bad company has made our shyness as distance. You are feeling shy from me. I am your wife. You feel shy from the Guru to whom we have to narrate our piousness, vices and shortcomings like a child and take his blessings. You feel shy from the Guru who has love for us and is out to give us comforts.
Husband: Has the Guru no hatred for us?
Wife: Whoever showed his back at that time, whenever he has gone and asked refuge, the Guru has embraced him. He is not a judge of the court to give punishment. He is a shower of benevolence. He is redeemer of sins and bestowal of forgiveness. He is intuitive. He knows our inner feelings.
They kept on talking like this till morning.
On the other side, the girl spent the night in restlessness but early in the morning, the habit that she had of reciting the scripture helped her out of restlessness.
By force of habit she recited the scripture instead of murmuring "Oh, Do not pluck":
"By recitation of the Lord's name
One does not remain in the cycle of births and deaths, "
Then after a few moments she recited:
"Whoever recites the Lord's name, he gets salvation. "
Then again she. recited:
"One indulges in many types of vices but one is not satiated and dies in suffering. "
Then again a voice came:
"He gives life to the dead. He gives nourishment to the hungry. " Again she uttered: "He hides the vices of his beloveds. " Then she recited:
"One who is immersed in the un-deceivable, inaccessible and all pervading Lord
The worldly pleasures do not attract him." Then she uttered,
"One who is immersed in the Supreme soul,
that person I love deeply always, says Nanak. "
Then she uttered: "All sufferings, illnesses, fears and anxieties vanish. 33 On listening to these verses in sequence, Bhai Devu spoke: O daughter! You have got salvation in this life and after death.
Now her mother massaged her entire body with almond oil. By and by she regained consciousness and at dawn her eyes opened. Seeing herself in the lap of her mother she raised her arms and embraced mother softly. She did not have enough strength. Then she laughed and spoke: O Mother! I had such sound sleep. Where was I? I had deep sleep. Mother kissed her, then embraced her and said: Darling! You are strong. Then Father kissed her.
Suddenly she remembered the pomelo being plucked. Her face turned pale. Her body stiffened a little and she uttered: O Father! "Oh! Do not pluck".
It was a delicate moment. Father was sensible. He made her understand. The father's loving discourse had a healing touch. She had full faith that whatever father says is right. That made her mind detached from the sentimental love of pomelo. That saved her from going into depression again.
A few moments later, Jaswant Rao accompanied by his wife came to his gardener's hut and sat down on the ground. The wife rubbed the girl's head with love and said: O daughter! Get up. The garden is yours. This pomelo is yours. I am yours. My husband is like your father. Be strong.
Jaswant Rao said: O daughter! The Guru is bestowal of forgiveness. The Gurudisciples are bestowal of forgiveness.
The girl's father said: O Lord! O Master, she is your child. You are the master! You bless her.
Meanwhile, Jaswant Rao's wife took the girl in her lap, placed the tear soaked pomelo in front of her and said: Daughter! Take this pomelo that you loved.
But the serene girl (with folded hands) said: O respected lady! It was my mistake. That is why I could not get up early in the morning and my body ached. This pomelo belongs to the Master. We are his servants. I thought it mine when it was not mine and then I thought of presenting it to the true Guru. The true Guru wouldn't have accepted it That is why it is good that the Master got it plucked and took it. If I had understood earlier then I would have gone to our Master and given the price of this pomelo to him. Then the Guru himself would have guarded it. But even now it is good that I did not take it to the Guru's Hall of audience. Otherwise, I would have felt ashamed in the congregation. This is Guru's grace. Father said that Guru-disciples should give charity and not take charity. One should not desire anything of which one is not the rightful owner.
This was the discourse that father gave to die daughter and saved her from going into depression and made her understand the concept of rightful ownership.
The girl said all what she had listened from her father.
This ideal of religiousness made a dent on Jaswant Rao's mind. The ideal that one should give charity and not take charity made a deep dent on Jaswant Rao's mind. He also realized how the Guru-disciples consider sufferings as good and remain thankful in God's will.
Jaswant Rao spoke to Bhai Devu: I remained estranged from the Guru. The fault was mine. My coyness remained as a veil in my mind. What is the shame in telling the truth? The jerk that this happening has given to my mind and my wife's advice to me has awakened my true consciousness. Now you take me back as a member of the holy congregation.
Bhai Devu replied with respect: O Master! I am nothing but a beggar at your door. I am sinful having no good qualities in me. Your house is a house of Guru-devotees since many years. The true Guru is benevolent always. The true Guru is a fountain of forgiveness. It is your goodness and piousness that has brought you to a servant's house for the sake of this servant girl out of generosity. How can I accept your telling that you are devoid of the love of the congregation? May the Lord bless us! The moment we remember the Guru, we become Guru-disciples. It is the Guru's grace that you have imbibed Guru-love in you. There are no locks at the Guru's door. In fact The Guru's doors are always open. There are no guards at the Guru's door who would stop.
"The door where nobody says, Go away.
How can I leave such a door?". says Kabir.
Now both of them patted the girl with love and left. If a big stone falls in a stream running between two mounts, then the water stops flowing further and the stream dries up further side. But some day the collected water pushes and carries away the stone and the stream gushes and floods.
The same happened with Jaswant Rao. The coyness like the stone went out of his mind, then love swelled towards the Guru and his mind got detachment from worldly desires. The desire to fall at the feet of the embodiment of godly love and ask for forgiveness became strong. The wish to tread on the footsteps that the Guru has set an example became strong. So much so that his mind felt detached from the world and wished to sacrifice.
Anandpur, the town of bliss is all bliss today. The audience hall is full. Beloved Guru is sitting blessing the Lord's name to everyone. The congregation from Gurdaspur reached a little late but before the conclusion of the program.
When they reached the hall of audience, the girl walked ahead followed by Jaswant Rao and his wife, the congregation entered next and last of all entered Bhai Devu and his wife. The girl bowed her head to touch the Guru's feet and then presented the pomelo that she had nurtured with love, to the
true Guru. The appreciator of love and humility, the true Guru picked up the innocent girl in his lap and said: My daughter! The modest girl bent her head.
In the next moment Jaswant Rao took off his gold embroidered coat and. put it on the Guru's feet. With the simple clothes that he was wearing, he clamped the Guru's feet and presented all gold mohurs that he owned to the Guru. Everybody watched when the couple prayed with great emotion. What a prayer that everyone had tears in emotion. The couple said a prayer from the scripture:
"0 Lord! I am yours. Keep me whatever way you wish 0 Lord!
How much can I count? 0 Lord! My countless sins 0 Lord!
I am always doing mistakes and countless are my sins 0 Lord!
With your blessings only this horrible ego & desires can be overcome 0
Lord!
We hide our vices. 0 Lord! You are absolutely close 0 Lord!
Be merciful Give us salvation from the cycle of births and deaths 0 Lord!
...Says. Nanak
To live in luxuries, then come and offer one's all to the true Guru and fall at his feet in utter humility was a wondrous panorama. The offering of total sacrifice was making everybody shed tears in torrents. The true Guru blessed everyone.
Jaswant Rao's wife sang a divine song [Kirtan). The congregation also sang with her in chorus.
What a sacrifice for love's sake? It is total sacrifice. One luxuriously living gentleman having offered everything is sitting in humility. He has detached his mind from the worldly desires. Imagine the mind that has rid itself from all desires and now it is the Guru-love in it or waiting for orders of the true-Guru. Imagine! He has put all the accumulated wealth of Ms ancestors in front of the beloved Guru and his body also. So to say: He has given his body and wealth to the Guru along with it his head also. This is renunciation. This is called detachment of mind. What belonged to him is dedicated to the true Guru. Now there is no feeling of "This is mine" and "This is another's". Now there is no estrangement. Everything belongs to the Guru. This is the perception. The branch of the tree does not feel that the rest of the portion is separate from it. This is Spiritual knowledge. The veil of ego has all vanished. Why should he hide his wealth? Whom should he give? Whom should he not give? "Guru is the sea, disciples are rivers". Rivers come down from the mountains and immerse in the sea. Accordingly, Jaswant Rao has come down from the mountain of pride, crossed the plains of ego with endurance, then crossed the mirage of
sandy dunes or so to say won over the worldly desires and is offering himself and everything to the sea i.e. the beloved Guru. What does the sea i.e. the beloved Guru do with all that? He spends it for the comfort of the world. Ke is a 'comfort giving' sea. He is benevolent and charitable. Rivers immerse themselves into the sea. The sea is instrumental in forming clouds that go up in the sky so that they shower and give comfort to the world.
o o o o