Baba— Youseem to feel that your doubts have been resolved but I know that these are still unresolved.
Traveller— How do you know that?
Baba— Because you seem to be literate but you do not seem to be educated. You are certainly not well versed in — Spiritual matters. You have not plunged into deep waters. If you had been truly educated then you must have been aware that before analysing br criticizing a thing you must try to ascertain the truth. You seem to be in the habit of studying everything from your own subjective point of view. The right way is to study the problem objectively and on merit. A person who is educated in the real sense can make such an i eel and a novice is bound to go astray.. :
Traveller— You seem to be rustic and an illiterate person but you are very profound.
Baba— Fniend, I have been enjoying the company of the wise. The company of the wise helps us in shedding vice and falsehood. I have polished the shoes of the wise masters. Such persons may not have academic degrees but they have tasted wisdom from the fountains of truth. They learn to Le humble and serve humanity with humility. Through humule actions they discover the truth. The aim of all knowledge and action is to seek the truth. Bliss is found where wisdom and actions shake hands. A wise man devoid of action but free from evil discovers only the tip of the truth. Such a man may experience peace of mind but action leads to a chemical change in him. Action coupled with wisdom leads the seeker to the abode of truth. The truth comes toreside in his mind and Columbus finds his destination. I had told you to find out the thought at the core of a problem before you try to study It.
Traveller— By central thought do you mean the theoretical or ideological basis?
Baba— Yes, yes, you have got my point. Now you see that our revered Gurus and the great Bhai Gurdas have urged us to refrain from slandering others. What generally happens is that the sight of something wrong automatically results in condemnation. Our religion urges us to overlook the defects. It does not mean that we should approve of defects or let the others revel in their ignorance. It simply means that instead of adopting the easy way of outright condemnation, we should try to help them to free themselves from the web of ignorance. Our whole effort is to restore their spiritual piousness. Now you tell me which remedy is better: condemnation or inspiration.
Traveller— You are night. I hate never seen the problem from this angle.
Baba— So, aS a first step one must oY ost rid of the habit of slandering or finding fault or highlighting drawbacks.
Traveller— That is night.
Baba— So, friend, I am not theorising with you. Nor am! fond of discussion for the sake of discussion. Whomsoever I come across, I try to seek truth from him. I talk, if at all 1am to talk, of only that truth which I have learnt through my personal experience. The worthy doctor used to say that aimless discussion or slandering conversation is nothing but a waste of time. He used to say that when time hangs heavy, the. worthless people indulge in meaningless activity to while away their time. If at all one is to converse one should make an attempt to discover truth by speaking and by careful listening. You have not read our holy books. The mostrevered Guru Nanak Dev has said that the seekers of truth first become worthy of the truth and prepare their minds to receive the gift. They listen to the holy Nam, which in turn transforms them and they undergo a metamorphosis. They become different beings. They do not listen for the mere sake of listening. They are soreceptive that the Nam goes deep down into the inner most depth-of their souls. Says Guru Nanak:
By listening to His Nam one rises to the highest level of experience.
By listening to His Nam even the most evil man 1s -transformed to sing His praise.
By listening to His Nam one breaks the shackles of body which hinders his flight to Him.
By listening to His Nam even the most secret meanings of the holy books
are revealed to the seeker.
By listening to His Nam the devotees live eternally in a State of bliss.
By listening to His Nam one frees oneself from
all sorrows, sits and sufferings.
So, my dear by the grace of the Almighty an illiterate person | like me has been able to find his way in the wilderness. With His grace even a blind man finds his way to salvation. An ignorant man like me has been able to see the light in the tunnel. [ talk in a simple and rustic language. There is no complexity in what 1 say. My only aim is to seek truth and help others in seeking truth. Kindly tell me if you disagree with any of my ideas.
Traveller— You were telling me that many of my doubts were still unresolved.
Baba— Oh, Yes, you must — a problem by first coming to grips with the central theme of an idea. In case you insist on studying from subjective point of view, you will often go astray and get lost. Always aim at finding the truth.
Traveller— How is that?
Baba— As you have done with me. The central force in our religion and culture is ‘love’. Our love is liberal and free of cynicism. We call God by the name of Brother, Father, Mother, Sister, Master, Husband and similar relationships. We consider Him one among ourselves and we love Him. In our love for Him lies our welfare and salvation. We do not expect salvation in return for our love; rather our love for Him is our salvation and in it lies our welfare. Before commenting on our religion it would have been better if you had understood this central point of
our religion. Had you followed this path you would not have gone astray and you would not have uttered the words which hurt and create differences. The intention of seeking the truth ennobles the mind and strengthens the resolve and one proceeds slowly but surely towards the destination. You had heard from the Muslims that idol - worship is a sin but you did not at all try to find out whether those who condemned idolworship might themselves be greatidol-worshippers. The only difference might be that their idols were different. Then, secondly, you did not try to understand whether those who were crusaders of the movement against idol worship were spreading a message of love or creating hatred among communities and religions. The western invaders devastated -the Hindu and Buddhist temples and proved the worst, mindless and ruthless iconoclasts. With their zeal to destroy the idols they destroyed the beautiful and magnificienttemples. They destroyed the idols but at the same time they devastated - the architectural monuments which were built with devoted hard labour through the centuries. I do not approve of idolworship. It signifies low intellect as it is an insult to the greatness of God. But look at the artisan who poured his heart and soul and created a piece of artwhich cannot be condemned. The iconoclasts destroyed a great art, a great tradition and a magnificient heritage. You must enlighten the people that idol worship is born out of ignorance but you must respect the idol as a piece of art as it signifies devotion and dedication. The invaders while destroying the idol, destroyed the artist and his art as well. This is the reason that in the field of art Punjab lags behind and it has neither any magnificent buildings, nor any traditions of art nor any great achievements in music and fine arts. All our grand buildings were pulled down. The great specimens of sculpture were condemned and destroyed as idols. In the iconoclastic madness, all great paintings, wall murals and specimens of the art of sculpture were destroyed what was left was a Punjab which was devoid and bereft of all art. Artandits devotees were decimated. The Punjabis indulged in gluttony and physical comforts. Punjab became a country of
the ignorant, rustic and insensitive people who lived a life devoid of all that was fine and beautiful. Punjab lost its sense of aesthetics. These days Japan is the talk of the world. Do you know how and why Japan is progressing by leaps and bounds in all fields of life? The doctor friend of mine has told me that Japan always fought to protect its cultural heritage and that every Japanese was well versed in the national arts. They learnt western art and acquired western knowledge that is why in the field of knowledge, as well as in the field of arts, they occupy a place of pride. So, my friend, those who destroyed the arts of Punjab were not actually fighting against idolworship, rather, in fact, they were destroying the artistic and cultural heritage of this great country. In the zeal for reforms _ they actually harmed and hurt us. They destroyed all that was beautiful and all that was the result of sustained labour, devotion and dedication. They actually destroyed the tradition of great art. Thus Punjab entered an era of desolation and hopelessness. It was an age of darkness. In their mad enthusiasm they did not care to understand the truth. Had they had any wisdom they could dissuade the people from idol-worship and thus achieved their aim. By adopting such a policy they could have preserved the cultural heritage of Punjab. When you talk of idol-worship you are also repeating like a parrot the language of the despot. You do not know what _ you are Saying because you do not have the capacity and ability to know the real truth. First understand the problem then try to analyse or solve it.
I am not an idol-worshipper. Idol-worship is not my religion. I try to persuade every idol-worshipper and try to dissaude him and try to enlighten him that worshipping the inanimate objects is just waste of time and energy and | urge him to love God who is eternal and is a source of all love. When Isucceed in persuading somebody to refrain from idol-worship, I feel happy. Suchis the way of my Guruwhohastoldmetofight — against idol-worship. I am not an iconoclast who is bent upon destroying idolatory and who destroyes idols unmindful of the cries and tears of the devotees. You tell me whether we by
destroying idols without changing the minds of the devotees are going forward or backwards. Are we achieving our aim or going astray? The devotees will remain devotees and your destruction will not bring about any change. You have not shown them light. By showing them no light and by destroying their idols we will succeed only in creating hatred in their minds. It is a sign of weakness that we have not been able to show them the light of truth. Itis also a sign of our restlessness and intolerance which are the signs of a weak person. Certainly I have not been able to show them the right path and that shows that I myself am wandering in the wilderness. If I try to win them over with love, sacrifice, devotion and dedication, | will certainly succeed in persuading them to leave idolworship. Then, I will show their idols to the connoisseurs of art, hardwork, love and devotion. If and when their artistic worth is proved!shalltake care to preserve them as specimens of art in art museums. You must not forget that when the art of a country is destroyed the country does not survive.
Traveller— Baba Ji, I cannot believe that you are an uliterate person because you argue so persuasively that the other person becomes defenceless. You touch the inner most chord of the heart. |
Baba— When havelsaidthatlam illiterate: lam notliterate in the academic sense of the word but I have served the wise with the sole aim of seeking the truth. So, now, you must make it your principle that when you are to study a problem....
Traveller— (Interrupting) By study do you mean finding faults?
Baba— Most of the people, under the garb of study, find faults, criticise and condemn but what I mean by study is that you should, instead of finding only faults, try to know the truth. Your approach should be positive and constructive. You should assimilate the good qualities and discard the defects. You must never try to belittle others or frighten or threaten them.
Traveller— Thatis fine, this is the real criticism, wonderful!
Baba— So when you study other people’s beliefs do not rush to condemn them outright buttry to understand their point
of view from their angle. Then try to find out if there is another point of view to understand that problem.
Traveller— Now | follow the importance and significance of this approach.
Baba— Now tell me whether we are idol-worshippers?
Traveller— No, you are not idol-worshippers rather you are in love with God. Godislovable and you love all His creation. You love Him and love the Gurus sent by Him. You respect and pay obeisance to the Guru Granth because the Gurus and the holy Granth Sahib stand for your beloved God.
Baba— Do you still consider us the worshipper of human beings?
Traveller— Now I understand the truth. You are not idolworshippers. You call His messengers your Gums and you love not only their teachings but also their physical beings. This is also your expression of love for Him. Because the Guru is the source of all knowledge and wisdom you treat them (Gurus) as your loved ones and develop an intimate relationship with them. The sacrifices and the sufferings they underwent for the common good of people and the blessings which they bestowed upon humanity compel and urge every one ‘to fall in love with them. Their qualities endear them. But I am still not’ clear on two points; the first is as to why one seeks the truth of God through the Guru and the second point is as to why do you respect the physical being more than the knowledge contained in the Holy Books. [really want to understand these two points. My questions should not mean any criticism or an aliomDphe at fault-finding.
Baba— Do you agree that all minds and intellects are not the same? The type, the level and the quality of knowledge depends on the type, the level and the quality of the mind of the giver. The knowledge will be crystal clear or enveloped in fog or ambiguous depending upon the training and achievement of the giver. Knowledge of God is very abstract, very high and very profound. Ordinary minds have neither the capacity nor the ability to comprehend Him. The receiver of knowledge will give his own interpretation to what he receives.
A dull mind cannot comprehend the full illumination or the dazzle of His grace. The bright light of the sun acquires red, blue or green colour as it passes through a refracting medium. Only a clear, unblemished, spotlessly clear glass will reflect the full glory of the sun's bright ight. The same is the case with the mind. The mind of the receiver gives own colour to the knowledge of God. An opaque mind will block all knowledge and a transparent mind will reflect all knowledge. When one gives expression to the spiritual knowledge, one colours it with one’s own interpretation. This way God's knowledge gets contaminated or adulterated. Such a knowledge is never pure. 50, the greatest need is that the mind of the receiver should be so pure and free from all blemishes that God’s knowledge is relayed or communicated in the same form as it was received by the medium. So, we need a clear, unblemished ., and transparent medium or mind which conveys the _ knowledge as it is received. This need is fulfilled only by a revealed mind of a spiritually great man whose heart is capable of receiving the supreme truth. We call that revealed mind our : Guru because he is the purest of the pure, he is the greatest among the great and the holiest among the holy. Moreover, he has been assigned by Him the task of revealing His knowledge. By Guru we mean a person who conveys His message without any contamination. Our Guru is the revealed ’ self of God and this honour we give to Guru Nanak Dev who personifies all the ten Gurus. The later Gurus represent the continuity of the form of Guru Nanak Dev. Traveller+~f: am‘also‘as on of God, you too are one and if we all His creation then why is it that His knowledge is not - revealed to all uniformally. When it rains it falls uniformally. We receive rain direct from above and not through any agency like Guru or prophet. Why do we not receive His knowledge directly and uniformally? How is that | am denied the knowledge whereas Guru Nanak Dev is blessed with it? Baba— (In a serious tone): Yes, it rains everywhere but the seed lying under sand produces nothing. Rain grows nothing out of sand; neither vegetable nor any plant. In the
sand sun burs hot and destroys all vegetation. When it rains on the barren land, it will wither away. It rains on the seas which are already full of water. But when it rains on the hills and mountains, every particle vibrates with life. Water percolates and flows in the form of water falls, springs streams and rivers on to the plains. This water makes vegetation possible. This water gives life to the human beings, animals, trees, fields, gardens and what not. The same is the case with God's knowledge. The rain of His knowledge: is falling all the time everywhere on all minds, on all places in all the corners of the universe. The rain of His knowledge and grace falls even on the evil minds but because an evil mind has become insensitive and ngid it remains unaffected. It fails to move such a mind which stands broken. His grace falls on the minds of the robbers, dacoits and highwaymen but since they have lost all sense of sympathy and love they know not that His grace 1s passing by them. The same rain falls on the minds of the lustful the misers, the selfcentred, the selfish and the sinners but since their minds are concentrated on evil they know not what riches they are wasting. The rain falls on the egoists and the ignorant alike but just as water flows down the dune, these persons know not their loss. This rain falls everywhere but it fructifies where the mind is ready to receive, where the mind is clear and honest and sincere and where the mind is capable to receive. Only they are blessed with His grace who stand and wait, crave and yearn, whose mind is clear and unpolluted, whose heart rises with the tide. Only that heart is blessed with His grace, which is ready and capable of receiving His benediction. The heart which is pure from birth and has remained pure inspite of all temptations, is the heart of Guru Nanak Dev. His heart and mind are pure, they receive the grace of God and in turn he blesses his devotees with the grace with which he himself is enriched, He makes God’s grace available to us. He tells us in the language which we can comprehend. He expands our mind and enriches our heart. That is why we crave for the Guru's grace. We need him because only he cares for our needs. We needhim because only he cares for our needs.
We need him because only he cares for our needs. We need him because of his pure and enriched mind and his benign nature. I hope you have got my idea that we need the enlightened souls and illuminated minds of those who are pure and pious from the beginning, who are free from all temptations, who have eared grace, who have worked hard to keep themselves above worldly temptations, desires and evil thoughts. The first category or type of such great souls are the incarnations, and the greatest among the great incarnations is Guru Nanak Dev. He is God incarnate. The prophets work in the reflected glory of the Guru. The second category of great souls consists of devotees. The devotees purify their minds, devote themselves to the service. of humanity. They meditate on the ultimate Truth, earn enlightenment, are blessed and granted salvation.
Traveller— Thatis right, but my mind guides me as to why should | follow others? | find that-what my minds says is right and which ever way it goes is good. I have faith in the great souls. [have all the respect for them. Earlier I used to consider them like myself but now I understand that they are far above me. I study the holy books written by them. ] listen to their discourses but I must say that I follow one’s own mind amounts to losing one’s freedom. I must have my own faith.
Baba— What do you call your faith?
Traveller— We call it Brahmo.
Baba— That is fine, wonderful. | am not concerned with the names of various faiths. My sole aim is to seek the Truth. Dear friend, mind has its limits. It is not free from limits. It is not capable of knowing all that is worth knowing and then it has the tendency to be interested in a few things and be indifferent to others. Anyone who follows his mind blindly reaches nowhere. We call such a person self-willed. We do not mean, as you Say, that such a person is a sinner. Rather by a self-willed person we mean a person who follows his mind. Ravana and Harnkashpa were learned and capable persons but as they were self-willed, they were always following the dictate of their minds. Itis the nature of mind that it follows the epneny
The intellect controls the mind, keeps it within limits and prevents it from going astray. Enquiring, analysing, calculating, thinking are the activities of the mind. So, whosoever follows his intellect, actually controls his mind. But even intellect needs direction and light. Often due to various reasons even intellect goes astray, it takes wrong decisions. It miscalculates and misjudges and fails to distinguish right from wrong. The result is that one faces a lot of suffering and suffers large scale setbacks. It happened in the case of Dhruva. Intellect is under the command of God. It is controlled and directed by the will of God. If the intellect obeys the dictates of Godit takes right, proper and judicious decisions and the mind proceeds on the right track. In order to keep our intellect subordinate to God we make all efforts to be in touch with God. We call such a process an adventure of the pious on the right path. We call such a person a pious one, a blessed one.
Traveller— Would you kindly explain it further?
Baba— Everyday in the morning we pray to God and ask God to make our mind humble, our intellect high and under the. control of God. This prayer means that we ask God to help us to resist the temptations of the mind. For this purpose we pray to God to make our mind humble and subordinate to the intellect which in turn is under the command of God. We do not pray for © the suppression of the mind. We do not want that it should be weakened. If mind is suppressed and depressed it affects the Vitality of the body. We want our mind to be humble, subordinate and obedient to the intellect. The intellect is the faculty which weighs, calculates and understands the pros and cons of desires of the mind and decides whatisnght and what is wrong. It distinguishes between good and evil, fruitful and wasteful, useful and harmful. So, when the mind accepts the leadership of the intellect, it gets rid of the animal and becomes humane. Aperson who follows his mind, leads an animal life. Ifthe mind obeys the dictates of the intellect, it enjoys and expands. This is possible if we effect this subordination of mind cheerfully and voluntarily and not under any fear or duress. Fret and coercion weaken the mind and body.
Now let us talk of the intellect. Intellect needs light, direction and leadership. We can cleanse our intellect by inculcating in us the knowledge of the sages throughout the ages. Devotion to God purifies the intellect and it advances on the road to salvation which is the way of truth. In other words, it means that if God directs the human intellect, it does not go astray and elevates the man or the seeker so that he becomes a pious person free from all impurities. A pious person is one who instead of following his mind, follows the Guru and the Almighty whom we call God. In other words, it can be said that such a person looks and advances not in the direction of his mind but in the direction of truth or the Guru or God.
This new direction can be achieved if one accepts the command of God, if one accepts the leadership of the Guru. since he is a human being, the seeker is yet not able to comprehend the grammar of spiritual bliss; so, he accepts the Guru's leadership and command, who guides him keeping in view his ability and level of understanding. The Guru tells him what he himself has earned through devotion, dedication and humility. Any seeker who accepts the leadership of the Guru, gets initiated in the pursuit of truth. Such a person, in our religion or faith is respectfully called Gurmukh or the pious one or one devoted and dedicated to the Guru. Gurmukh is a seeker whose mind is humble, who resists temptation of the mind and whose mind is under the control of his intellect which, in tum, is under the direction of the Guru. He is blessed by the Guru only if he ventures towards the path of spiritual purification and awakening. This he achieves by - subordinating his mind to his intellect and by putting his intellect in service to the Guru. This subordination of the mind and the intellect to the Guru earns him spiritual bliss. AGurmukh is also a person who has found the light and spiritual bliss and who is in tune with the Almighty. God shines on him like the sun which shines on the earth. He loses his temporal identity and gets merged with God, becomes one with God and ultimately becomes God himself. He becomes all light, all knowledge, all grace and all joy. Such asoulhasa directrapport
with God. He becomes free from all temptations. He is spiritually free. Now you decide yourself and tell me whether such a person will lose his freedom or will he gain eternal freedom, whether such a person will be free from all temptations or become a slave to temptations?
Dear friend, | do not know what your faith says but whatever I have heard from you I| have tried to interpret in terms of my own humble and limited understanding. In my view mind is weak, subject to temptations and is a slave to its own vicissitudes. The mind is helpless in the wilderness of temptations. Do not run after it. It can never lead you on to the right path. It revels in immoral actions. It is incapable of leading you on the path of spiritual peace. It does not admit the glory of God. Because most of all it is necessary that the mind is subordinated to intellect. The intellect must obey the dictates of the Guru and the Guru should be the reservoir of glory and resplendent with the knowledge of God, the source of all knowledge. When the mind and intellect are subordinated to the Guru peace pervades within us and the darkness of ignorance is replaced with the knowledge of the truth. When the seeker accepts the leadership of the Guru he will become humble, humane and illumined. All qualities of the Guru will enter his soul. He will be bathed in the Guru’s blessings. He will achieve the real, durable and lasting freedom. You are free to decide anyway you like. I have explained to you all the aspects of the problem.
Traveller— (As if awakened out of a trance}: Baba! It is wonderful. I have travelled the length and breadth of India and have come across great scholars, saints and meditators. I have met those who have renounced everything in search of truth but the knowledge which! have gained from you was not available anywhere. Your rustic and simple way of explaining the complex abstract issues is simply wonderful. I swear by God, who has created you, that you are a revealed soul. Please resolve another doubt of mine which still remains unresolved.
Baba— The Guru will resolve all your doubts, tell me what do you wish to know?
Traveller— The Guru, whom you call the personification of all the ten Gurus; received God’s knowledge in the purest form and conveyed it to us. As I understand it, the Guru experienced that knowledge and transformed it to bring it within our reach and comprehension and then recited it in the form of the holy scripture which you call the Granth Sahib. As per your elaboration the Guru conveyed the knowledge in as pure a form as he got it and did not give it his own colour. You consider this process the highest quality of the Guru and that is why you give all the respect to the Guru and consider him far above all the prophets and saints. So far so good ! I have also read the Guru's utterances and! am convinced that they are of the highest order. When one achieves the supreme knowledge ~ one lives as per the dictates of God. The Guru has given us the knowledge, shown us the way, prepared us for the journey but what I fail to grasp is the point as to why do you pay so much - respect and obeisance to the physical form of the Guru Granth Sahib. :
Baba— I have already answered this question partly but since you wish to probe deeper, I shall endeavour to make an effort for your sake. Our Guru is not like a teacher who teaches us how to add and substract and multiply or how to read and write way to avoid pain and seek pleasure. All this falls in the domain of education. But our Guru, whom we place above all is something else. He gives us something special which nobody else could give. Ishallnotbe able to tell you the full significance of that ‘something special’ because that is a matter of experience and not understanding. | shall try to take you as | near as is possible to such an experience. The special gift of | the Guru is called the power of revival or resuscitation of the . soul. When the soul is purified of all impurities, it is revived and becomes capable of rising to merge into the Almighty. The Guru resuscitates and revives the human soul to receive and live. - the splendour and glory of God. The Guru removes from our souls all that is base and purifies us. He acts as the mediator
between the human soul and God. That is why we love the » physical being of our Guru. The Guru says: ‘How will you, O Nanak, treat the person who brings the message of your beloved?’ All this show that one is in love with God. To love God is our aim. We are separated from Him. There is an unbridgeable gap between Him and us and our greatest wish is to see Him. This is what the educated people call the central point or the fundamental concern of all religions in the world. Now all of a sudden somebody comes and tells us about our beloved one from whom we are separated. The Guru says that if someone is gracious enough and tells us about our beloved one we should leave no stone unturned in serving him.
Here the Guru says that such a messenger should be offered the head seat and he should be served with the rest of the ‘body. It is the highest form of devotion and humility. All this means that whosoever takes us near God should be paid the highest respect. Just think how much the Guru respects the person who has simply brought a message, what about him who makes the meeting possible. This role of the Guru, bringing us His message and arranging our meeting with Him, endears him to us. Because of this person we love our Guru and love his person. Now you tell me whether this relationship is natural or not! We should be grateful to the one who educates us, tells us about God, sings His glory to us, arranges our meeting with Him, revives the dead and elevates. The awakened is bound to be loved. One just can not resist loving him. This is how we develop the bonds of personal love. How will you term this love?
Traveller— Personal love or love of the person.
Baba— It is not only personal love but is also being one with Him or merging with Him and losing one’s distinctidentity. Another point is that our Guru was born among us, he lived amidstus, he married as per our customs, he spoke our language, he talked to us about God in our rustic common everyday language which was different from the literary artificial language of the elite and he shared our sorrows and sufferings. He ignored, overlooked, forgave our ignorance, loved us and treated us like his fellowpenne
All the time, he was lost in meditation but even then he cared for us, consoled us and blessed us with his love. If some bereaved person sought his consoling hand, he rushed post - haste. He forgave us our indulgence. He had the highest knowledge but still he was kind and considerate with the totally ignorant. He did not neglect the down trodden and he did not ignore the ignorant. He treated us with love and affection in spite of the fact that we were ignorant, corrupted, sinful and careless. He was one with us in our sorrows and sufferings. Just look at his magnanimity, inspite of all our ' shortcomings he put us on the right path of spiritual salvation. Let me tell you a story. A poor blind old woman were to stitch a shirt for the Guru. She was sitting in Kashmir and craving that the Guru should wear the shirt prepared by her. She was unable to come herself. How would the Guru cover such a long and arduous journey for a mere shirt made of coarse cloth? Why should one suffer the discomforts of a journey of three hundred miles? The Guru did not think like a wordly wise person. The love of the old woman touched the inner-most chords of the Guru's heart and he left everything behind and rushed to Kashmir. He went himself to the old poor woman’s house and asked for the shirt, put it on and felt delighted. It was unbelievable for the old woman. She could not imagine that the coarse cloth woven by her and stitched into a shirt was being worn by the Guru. She is elated beyond words. The Guru looked resplendent in the shirt. This experience elevated the old poor blind woman. In spite of being blind she could see the glory of God. This revelation was the Guru's gift to her. How could she resist feeling close to the Guru? This story wells up my heart with love for my Guru. How can I resist the magnetic pull of the Guru's love and blessings? 7
Ill tell you another incident. The Moghul Emperor Aurangzeb issued an edict to the ninth Guru, Guru Teg Bahadur, to present himself in Delhi before him. The Guru knew that the order was an invitation to his death. He was ready to die. A-community was in despair because of Aurangzeb’s interference into their religious affairs. Aurangzeb wanted
to convert the Hindu priests (Brahmins) to Islam. The Hindu priests asked the ruler not to interfere with their religious affairs. This bold stand infuriated the Emperor. The Guru’s devotees living in Kashmir and Punjab resisted the Emperor’s efforts aimed at conversion. They told Aurangzeb that they were the followers of the Guru. Aurangzeb’s religious advisers advised the Emperor to first convert their leader, then his devotees would surely follow suite. The Guru was sent for. He was to go on his own but he did not take the direct route from Anandpur to Delhi. Instead of going straight to Delhi, he proceeded towards Agra. He was to go to Delhi via Agra. What was there in Agra? He had no relative there. What on earth was urging him to come to Agra? His son was not at Agra in whose favour he wanted to abdicate his spiritual authority. — The Guru's life was in danger but inspite of all this he was proceeding to Agra. There, an old woman, lying on her death bed, was craving to see the Guru. The Guru’s intuition took him there. He was bound to go and he did go. The place where the Guru met the old, poor, dying woman, has been converted into a Known as Mai Than.
After meeting and blessing the old woman the Guru proceeded to Delhi. Now you tell me if you have ever seen anywhere such a treatment of the common people. Whyshould this treatment not lead to overpowering personal love? You know why he was called to Delhi? Aurangzeb’s policy of proselytizing the Hindus was the greatest threat at the time and several methods were being used particularly in Kashmir. The Guru wanted to make the Emperor realize that his policy of forcible conversion was against all norms of religious behaviour. It was already known that the Emperor was adamant and he would not budge nor would he brook any opposition. It was _ well known nor would he brook any opposition. It was well known that the Emperor would ask the Guruto embrace Islam and on refusal the Guru was to be beheaded. The Guru was to offer his head to defend the principle of freedom of religion and to resist the terrorism perpetrated by the Moghul rulers. He was to make the supreme Sacrifice as a matter of natural reaction
to tyranny but his sacrifice would bring a movement of resistance in Punjab. Now you tell me whether one would or would not love such a Guru who went to the extent of making the supreme Sacrifice so that the common people could live With dignity? It is natural that one falls in love with such a great soul and body.
Once a devotee was taken into custody by a cruel ruler. There were many otherinnocent persons there but this devotee craved for the sight of the Guru. How could the Guru go there? The Guru got himself sold as a slave. Then he somehow got himself taken into custody and appeared before the devoted person. The devotee was overjoyed to see the loving Guru but at the same time he was grieved at the suffering which the Guru had to undergo to reach the prison. He was pained to see that the Guru had offered himself to be sold as a slave. He was sad to see that for his sake the Guru had made such a great | sacrifice. Strange are the ways of the Guru. Itthenso happened
that the kingdom of the cruel miler suffered from severe drought. The ponds, and wells and other sources of water dried up. The drought made the ruler restless. Due to restlessness he was awake at an unseembly hour at night. He found the Guru standing before him. He acted upon the Guru's advice and set all the prisoners free. _
This way the first Guru sought the release of his devotee from the prison and thereafter went on his way. Now you tell me whether you do not feel the magnetic love of the Guru who appeared on the earth in physical form. One automatically feels the love welling up from the innermost depths of the heart for such a considerate and kind Guru.
The traveller was weepig with joy and the Baba was in his true form. The Baba narrated another incident.
Baba— Guru Hari Rai used to have his meals at lunch time inside a particular room. One day when he went out everybody was eagerly awaiting his return but the Guru was delayed. Ina far away village lived an old woman, very simple and pious. She had heard from another pious woman the praise of the Guru. The Guru was living at a distant place and she was too
old to go there alone but at the same time could not muster enough courage to ask others to accompany her. She was craving to see the Guru. She thought that a sight of the Guru could give her a vision of life. All the ime she was burning with a desire to see the Guru. Whenever she prepared lunch, she used to prepare for the Guru too. She was always under the impression and illusion that the Guru was coming to lunch at her place. She repeated the process every day but the Guru never obliged. After serving lunch to everybody she used to take the food herself. She was helpless. She decided that the following day either she would not prepare lunch for the Guru or if she prepared, she would not take it herself. But when she sat for cooking, the food got cooked anyway. All the time she was reciting the Guru’s name. When she had prepared lunch for the Guru, she carried it on her head and came to the roadside to wait for the Guru but the Guru was nowhere to be seen. Days passed eventlessly but this process of cooking and bringing
- Junch to the roadside continued. Often she had to take lunch
herself and often she used to stand on the roadside waiting for the Guru. She continued waiting for the Guru with the confidence that her hopes would be fulfilled one day. On the fateful day she cooked lunch for the Guru as usual. It so happened that the fragrance of the cooked food somehow reached the Guru and he rushed post-haste towards the old woman's village. The old woman, with lunch in her hands, was eagerly waiting for the Guru. It was noon. Her eyes were shut and tears were flowing from both the eyes. All of asudden she felt a pull at her hands. Somebody was saying, “lam terribly hungry. Please give me something to eat.” The Guru had not washed his hands which had been pulling the reins of the horse. He had not taken the usual bath before lunch that day. He had not sat in his special room. He was standing on the roadside and was taking lunch from the frail hands of the old woman. When she opened her eyes, she was surprised and stunned to see that her wait had borne fruit and the Guru had come to taste the food prepared by her. It was the happiest day of her life. After taking lunch the Guru blessed the old woman
and said, “delighted, delighted, delighted.” These words had an electric effect. The old woman felt elevated and resuscitated. She had an exalting experience of her life. When all this was over the Guru returned to his abode.
Next day the servants prepared the tiffin. While he was strolling in the lush green forests, the followers asked the Guru to have lunch which they had brought. The Guru said, “don’t you see that because of pulling the leather reins, my hands have become duty. Howcan! have my lunch here? The devotee said, “Sire, yesterday you had your lunch with these very unclean hands. Thinking that you might like to have lunch the same way today, we have brought the tiffin with us.” The Guru said, You compare yesterday’s lunch with this lunch. That lunch one gets only once in a life-time. Yesterday it was a lunch of love, devotion and dedication.’ With these words the Guru closed his eyes and all those present saw the Guru's forehead was shining bniliantly. :
Now my friend, you see how the great Guru reached to assuage the cravings of a devotee. This is how the Guru pleased his devotees. Even the most lowly could crave his attention and the Guru blessed each and every seeker. He was always full of love and he was always a father to the orphans, mother to the forsaken, brother to the lonely and friend to the lost. When the Guru has all these qualities how can one resist loving him. How can one resist loving the physical being and memory of the Guru.
Let me tell you another incident. It was summer. The heat was unbearable. The sixth Guru was taking siesta at his sisterin-law’s place in village Daroli. His sister-in-law was his devotee and was dedicated to him. His brother-in-law was using the hand-fan on the Guru. The Guru saw in his mind that somebody had an acute desire to see him. In a far away forest a father and his son were chopping wood. When they were tired and thirsty they removed the pitcher from the tree where they had placed it in the morning. They were delighted to see that the water in the pitcher was very cool. Instead of drinking cold water themselves, they wished to offer this water from
the pitcher to the Guru. They thought that the water was worth
drinking only by the Guru. The very thought of the Guru could quench their thirst and satisfy their hunger. They both folded their hands and with tears in their eyes craved to see the Guru. Bent in a posture of prayer, they waited and waited. Although they themselves were feeling hungry and thirsty because a lot of time had passed, they did not have the heart to touch the food or the water. All of asudden they saw somebody riding a galloping horse and approaching them. It was a great sacrifice on the part of the Guru. He had renounced the comforts of a coolroom and rode inthe scorching heat to meet the two waiting devotees. It was not because of the need for water or food of the Guru but it was solely for the sake of satisfying the cravings of his devotees. The Guru could not ignore the pious desires of his devotees who were eagerly waiting for him. The Guru discarded and sacrificed all his comforts for the seekers of truth. The Guru had no real need for water. His sole aim was to rush to meet his devotees. The Guru blessed the father and son. He himself offered them food and water. After showering his. blessings on them he gave them the boon that thereafter for all times to come food would be served to the hungry and water would be offered to the thirsty. These facilities still continue uninterrupted.
Friend, I have numberless episodes to tell you. There is a legion of such episodes in our books. Every event proves that whosoever loved the Guru got many favours and unlimited love from the Guru. These stories are full of such moving incidents and fill our hearts with love for the Guru. The purpose of the Guru's stay on the earth was to bless the suffering people and to awaken their dormant energies so that these human beings could realise the eternal truth. The Gurussaw that there was ignorance, disease and suffering in the world and wanted people to devote their earthly lives to uplift the downtrodden and resuscitate the unconscious. The Guru blessed the world with his love, vision and wisdom. He gave hope to the hopeless and showed way to the lost.
Traveller (heaving a sigh of relief}— These incidents of love are simply astonishing and relate to the lives of the Guru's touch of the innermost chords of the heart. They inculcate a feeling of love. Besides helping the lowest among the low the Gurus made supreme sacrifices of themselves and their sons, upholding the rights of the down trodden. [have heard a number
- Of stories of supreme sacrifices which prove that they loved people and the people loved them. After hearing the strange incidents from you and by recalling what I had read about the Gurus, I myself am feeling, in my heart a similar pull of the Guru's love. Something is pulsating deep in my mind. Ishallbe | more thankful to you if you further elaborate the point of resuscitation or-revival of human soul.
Baba— With my extremely limited knowledge | cannot further elucidate this subject. By merely uttering the word ‘sugar’ we do not feel its life enervating taste. Similarly by merely uttering the word ‘revival’ we do not feel the upward swing of the spiritual experience. But by affectionate elaboration and attentive grasp of the term ‘revival’ in terms of religious experience, one does not feel the upward push and one prays for entering the world of spiritual bliss. You know that a diamond is a priceless object but it is also a fact that it is a dead matter. On the other hand grass is considered worthless but still it is alive with life-enervating effect. If somehow a diamond gets the life of grass, it will be called revival, a spiritual awakening. The grass is tied to a place through its roots and neither can it move about nor can it play. But if somebody,
“somehow, gives to the grass the eyes, ears, feet ad the agility of ahare, it will be its spiritual awakening. An ox can eat, move ‘about, see and hear but it does not understand the meaning of its life nor can it rationalize that two and two make four. He cannot follow the significance of sky, earth, wind and water. If somebody lights a fire the ox cannot keep it burning but if somebody enables it to think like human beings, this new ability will be its complete transformation and it will be called Spiritual upliftment. Similarly, human beings have certain faculties but in them something higher is missing and, if
somehow somebody enables human beings to experience something that we have termed ‘something higher’ this transformation or metamorphosis will be called an awakening or revival or elevation or enlightenment.
Traveller— What is that “something higher’.
Baba— How should I explain it to you? How can I show you a glimpse of it? But it is certain that ‘that something higher’ uncorks the fountains of spiritual energy. The mind discovers new horizons. One finds oneself clean and light. The darkness born out of ego and illusion disappears. One feels one is wandering in strange lands. It seems as if the mind is coming out of a crave or a shell. One awakens to new experiences. One feels as if one has been asleep for a very long period. One finds that all fatigue is gone and all fears have been removed. This is a new awakening in anew wolld, in a new atmosphere more congenial and more conducive. One finds oneself at home, at peace with oneself absorbed and blessed. The body becomes an abode of absorbed and blessed. The body becomes an abode of God. One undergoes a spiritual transformation which we call revival. One finds the centre of life and concentrates on it. This concentration awakens the seeker. This axle, the central theme of the experience, keeps one above everything and helps in focussing his attention on it. One is constantly in tune with the Almighty. Either one is in a state of prayer or elevation or concentration or the spiritual swing-rising upwards. All these conditions take one toa world of new experiences which is a matter of experience as it is indescribable.
Traveller— Have you yourself gone through all these . experiences which you have explained to me?
Baba: (withasmile) Dearfniend, all these are my personal experiences. For all these I use a common term the ‘spiritual revival’. I have not been able to tell you all as much of the experience is indescribable and beyond rational explanation. I have been telling you my personal experiences, or as it happened with me. It is possible a more pious person, a better person than myself many experience a still purer form
of spiritual bliss. But on the whole one passes through the various stages as I have explained to you.
An awakened person is good and sympathetic by habit and nature. He becomes a personification of goodness. He acts good, thinks good, as natural as a water-flow from the fountain. He does not plan good actions, prepares no time table, and makes no conscious efforts to do good. Goodness flows from him. Whatever he does, is good or whatever is good, is done by him. The Guru says that “an awakened person is capable of doing good only and therefore always does good.” He becomes a natural source of goodness and is not a pretender like us who are empty within but make as how as if we are the only pious persons in the world. We are always calculating, bargaining. The world is too much for us. An awakened person does good not for any gain, but he performs good as a matter of habit. The Guru says that a spiritually awakened person is always enthusiastic about doing good to others. He finds joy in doing good. There are many forms, types and kinds of good action but the goodness of a spiritually awakened person is a category apart. There is difference between what good an ordinary person does and goodness done by an awakened person.
Traveller— Is this awakening granted by the Guru?
Baba— Yes, the only criterion is your devotion and dedication to God. The level of your dedication makes all the difference.
Traveller— It means that the Guru blesses him for whom he has the inward spiritual concentration or introspection.
Baba— The Guru guides the seeker to participate in the congregation. Participation in the congregation starts the process of transformation of the seeker. The Guru revives the dead souls and awakens them to a new Spiritual experience. An awakened person helps in the revival of others and this process continues.
Traveller— Do you have the ceremony of baptism or the ceremony of initiation? This ceremony must have been performed by the Gurusthemselves when they were physically present in this world. Who performs this ceremony now?
Baba— Yes, we have one such ceremony. Itis the ceremony of initiation which we call Amrit Chhakna. This ceremony is performed by five such persons who themselves have undergone the initiation. The new entrant concentrates his mind on God. Meditation, good moral conduct and recitation of Gurbani become his three main religious duties.
Traveller— Does this ceremony establish any relation with the Guru?
Baba— Yes, of course, when the Guru discarded his body he did not disappear altogether. The Guru is spiritually alive. The Guru is immortal and eternal. He is always present in the congregation of his devotees. He blesses his devotees and guides them on to the path of spiritual salvation. To the Siks, the Guru is as much alive as he was to his contemporaries. Every seeker can see him but he is not visible to the pretender. A true seeker can feel the Guru. The Gurus says that God is | always in the company of the spiritually awakened persons.
Traveller— Does an initiated or baptised person live in the company of a spiritually awakened personality?
Baba— Ihave already told you that the company of a true seeker is always a blessing. Our Guru has urged the true Sikhs to seek and live in the company of those who have renounced all material interests and are seeking the blessings of the Almighty. The saints, the awakened, the devotees, the seeker are some of the many ideal personalities whom the Guruhimself has praised in his psalms. The Guru has unambigiously urged his followers to live in the company of the blessed.
Traveller— Is the spiritual transformation earned or granted? ,
Baba— Itis blessed by the Guru. Only that fellow undergoes spiritual awakening who is blessed by the Guru. It is granted. It is a benediction by the Guru but it can also be earned. It is both a gift as well as an earning. Itis wrong to say that it is only a blessing or it is only an earning. Itis a synthesis of both. It is an earning as well as a blessing. Without constant efforts nothing is possible. Getting up early in the morning is the first and foremost act of the seeker. After washing one’s body one
meditates and concentrates on the Almighty. One conducts the affairs of life in the name of truth. One always thinks for the common good. This process frees the seeker from all impurities and the same Nam which was a purifier earlier now becomes a source of joy. The Name finds its place in the innermost depths of the heart.
The Guru says that Nam means the mind and it becomes a fountain of spiritual bliss. Those who concentrate on the name are blessed by God. Name becomes the powerhouse of enervating energy. One enters and experiences all those stages which | have already explained to you. One feels light, as all burdens stand removed. One undergoes a transformation and tastes something strange. One is in a mood of thanksgiving. One feels spiritual peace. One is always in a state of elation and joy. The mind undergoes a chemical change and enters the world of spiritual bliss.
Traveller— Suppose an initiated or a baptised person finds some difficulty in en EES on Name, whose help should he seek?
Baba— I have already told you that in our religion there are many seekers who are spiritually awakened. We call all such persons Gurmukh. One should seek his help. Anewrecruit should live in his company. One should love a Gurmukh sincerely. One should love him for his spiritual superiority and seniority. One should get all his doubts resolved by him and should seek his guidance. [have just now told you the qualities of a spiritually awakened person whom I have termed as Gurmukh.
Traveller— Then what status do you accord to the Guru Granth’?
Baba— God is supreme id He is the source of all joy. God lives among the ten Gurus. We seek God through the Gurus. The Gurus embody all the spiritual knowledge which is free from time and space. We place God above our Gurus and Gurus’ knowledge is contained in the Guru Granth. So the Guru Granth is the physical embodiment of the Gurus. Guru is God’s knowledge. We say that knowledge is
God. Wherever we find the Guru Granth we find that it is being guarded by the holiest of the holy. You might have seen that wherever Guru Granth is placed the atmosphere there is different. That atmosphere is full of spiritual purity. That atmosphere is the blessing of all those spiritual forces which are always present in the presence of the Guru Granth.
Traveller— I have not been able to understand your concept of atmosphere around the Guru Granth.
Baba— Listen carefully, suppose you are sitting in a courtyard or on a porch. On the porch the atmosphere of your mind or the thoughts coming to your mind are different than what they are at any other place. Do you agree with me on this point?
Traveller— Yes, I agree with you. You are right in your observation.
Baba— Then somebody from your family comes over there. Certainly your mind will shift to another level. Suppose yet another person comes there. The state of your mind will © undergo another shift in the mood. Then suppose that they all leave you and once again you are left alone. This situation will change the complexion of your mind..Do you agree that the mind undergoes all these changes?
Traveller— Yes, it happens so. One can record these changes it one is sensitive enough.
‘ Baba— Exactly! if you go on observing the state-of your mind in the context of different persons, you will be able to determine who creates a congenial atmosphere and who hostile one. A jeweller slowly and steadily leas the art of evaluating various pearls and diamonds and when he is experienced enough he will take little time to assess a stone.
Traveller— Yes, that is night.
Baba— Thisis called the state of mind, the art ofinfluening, causing an effect or impression. The experts know that state of our mind undergoes a change. Every new visitor creates an effect or impression. The experts, the experienced or the wise know how different persons make different effects. They know that in the presence of the wise, spiritually
awakened and pious persons the mind experiences peace, harmony, love and it is elevated. So, wherever the Guru Granth is placed, the atmosphere is full of spiritual peace, concentration and harmony. This atmosphere helps the seekers in concentration and meditation. Recitation of Gurbani, meditation, listening to sermons, discussion and singing of the holy psalms, you very well know, have a soothing effect on the mind.
_ Traveller— Baba, in our faith we pay our respect to all the great men of all the faiths. We have all the respect for Guru Nanak Dev too. Baba, I find in you very deep spiritual knowledge.
Baba— Whatever I have told you, I have gained through my participation in the congregation and community singing. My position in the congregation is the lowest among the low.
Traveller— A thought of vacuity always corrodes me. I find that there is a vacuum in my mind. I find myself lacking in some thing. Though in the past I served the society, helped people in getting rid of bad habits and dedicated myself to the service of the needy, yet I find something lacking in me, something which gives me a feeling of spiritual emptiness. I am unable yet to rid of myself this feeling of emptiness. I find your words and treatment soothing. Can you help me inhealing myself of this feeling of emptiness?
Baba— The very fact that you have become conscious of a feeling of vacuity is a positive sign which can be of great help in healing. You must consider it a blessing that you are conscious of your emptiness. The realization of the feeling of emptiness makes the patient a seeker. He will think of ways and means to fill this emptiness. One can get rid of this feeling of emptiness by turning his attention and focusing it on God who is the source of all joy. As a dry pond is empty but when it is connected with a stream or a waterfall its emptiness is removed and it is filled up. If in the same way one tums and focuses one’s attention on God who is the source of all joys, the emptiness of the mind is filled up in no time. His benediction fills everything and removes all darkness.
_ Traveller— How should one prepare for that?
Baba— First of all you must discard the thought of your so called service to humanity. When you have overcome the feeling of vacuity only then you should devote yourself to the service of humanity. For the time being you must devote your whole attention towards God. You should recite Gurbani, meditate on His Name and sing the glory of God.
The Guru says that whosoever sings the glory of God, is blessed by Him and whosoever is blessed by Him becomes the king of kings. You must devote yourself to Him whole heartedly. Devotion will cleanse your heart and all impurities will stand removed from your mind. This process will help you in concentration and your mind will stop wandering. Then somehow and through the benediction of some pious person, you will find aray entering into your heart. This ray. will give you hope and you will come out of the sleep of ignorance. You.will be awakened to new experiences. You will be filled from within and goodness will start flowing from you. As the rose blooms, it becomes full of beauty and fragrance and then whosoever sees the rose gets elevated and rejuvenated.
Traveller— Does it mean that my service of free medical aid has no meaning? Is this service worthless?
Baba— I have not called your service worthless. What I have said is that an empty piece of land should first get filled with water to welcome the thirsty to quench their thirst. Only this way an empty place can play its role meaningfully.
Traveller— I have not been able to follow your point.
Baba— Itis like this. In the hills birds; animals and human beings get solace from the water falls and springs. These springs flow in the plains in the form of rivers. These rivers fill all lakes, ponds and tanks. All these watery places give everybody the gift of life. A well is a benefactor but first it gets dug up and water percolates into it from all directions. In other words a well first gets filled up and only thereafter it serves others. First you must fill yourself. You must rise above the feeling of cheap popularity. You must have the real feel of His blessings. You must fill your heart with genuine love for
humanity. Only then you think of serving humanity. First you must find your own place only then show the path to others. If all this is not there, your service will be another form of egomassaging, The Guru says that those who pretend to be serving humanity get lost and find no solace. They are plagued with restlessness. They think they are gaining but actually they are losing. 7
Traveller— I! stand convinced. hope you will fill me, as a river fills a pond.
Baba— Only God can fill. Friend, if you wish to stay among us for a while you are welcome. You will be provided simple and modest lodging and boarding. We hold a congregation everyday where everybody is welcome. Participate in the congregation, feel at home here and enjoy your life. Be happy yourself and make others happy. Itis the duty of every human being to sing the glory of God who has given us life. A seeker should help his companions in the search for truth. This village has many true seekers of truth, you are welcome, learn to say your prayers, find meaning and you will become a fountainhead of joy, do good actions, and be good for the whole humanity. You will find the secret of joy.
This is how their conversation ended. The Baba made arrangements for the visitor to stay in the village inn which was a part of the Gurdwara and also made arrangements for - his food. Lunch and dinner was served from the Baba’s own kitchen. The visitor packed his medicines and put'the box in a corner. He also put aside a couple of books which he had. He started getting up in the morning and helped the priest in sweeping and cleaning the temple. Then he would bathe and join the congregation for the morning prayers. After the prayers, the participants discussed their common problems and sought each other’s views on religious matters. In case anybody had any difficulty, all would sit together to resolve it. The visitor wondered at the wisdom of these common rustic people. The general impression of the villagers is that these people are very crude in their approach and they are always itching for litigation. The visitor was of the same view and he considered
this village no different but the Baba had changed everything. The Baba had the Guru Granth as the central point around which the whole village life revolved. This village was free from all the vices of rural life and it was a specimen of heavenly life. There was neither any enmity nor any jealousy. Everybody was overflowing with love. There was nor discrimination and everybody was treated as equal irrespective of his caste, creed and religion. The visitor was just wonderstruck to see that there was perfect harmony. Everyone was a benefactor and ready to help others. Everybody was free from ego. They all lived like the members of a large family. They considered every body else the creation of God and treated him with total love and affection. When all were the sons and daughters of one God there was no question of obliging or being obliged. In this village, everybody treated the others with love which was the guiding principle. Every where, all the time, everybody was doing something or the other in a way as if God had ordained everything. Everybody was considerate towards others. Everyone was of the opinion that soul is the abode of God. There was no question of anybody doing anything evil or harmful. Everybody knew that true religion is based on the principle of justice and true religion hurts none. The Guru had said that life is a gift from God and nobody should consciously or unconsciously hurt anybody else. Then the Guru has ordained that we should not only be judicious in our approach we should also be graceful and add love to our actions. The Guru advised us that love should form the basis of our conduct. This love, when it is transformed into action, becomes sympathy coupled with kindness. Kindness is to be considerate towards others. While helping others one has to undergo some hardship or one has to sacrifice one’s own comforts. Our Guru goes to the extent of urging his followers that they must sacrifice their comforts to make others comfortable and happy. The first edict was not to hurt anybody, and the next step was to treat everybody with love and compassion. One should always try to make others happy even at the cost of one’s own comforts. The Guru says that as the mythological bull carries
the burden of the earth on its homes a true Sikh should also show examplary patience towards others. The third important point is that one should be contented. A contented person does not lose his balance in weal or woe. He remains stable and steadfast. One should keep God in mind all the time. This practice kills all evil desires which produce restlessness. One gets rid of the ignorance produced by ego and one frees oneself from the chains of slavery, fear and the horrors of Death. The Guru says that “His Nam has purified my heart, and soul and has cured my soul of all diseases like greed, lust, ego, anger, desire for material comforts etc.’ If within us is God’s name and without, one has the satisfaction of good actions. As far as possible one should think and act for the common good. For achieving all this one need not go to the forests. Rather it is very much possible to achieve this while leading a normal social life. Instead of discarding the company of others, one should social life. Instead of discarding the company of others, one should seek their company because God is present in everyone. Whosoever is transformed thus from within and without finds himself in tune with God and lives in a state of bliss. One leaves behind all ego and enters the new world where God's glory shines brilliantly. One finds himself sitting at the feet of the Almighty. Often the recitation of Gurbani transports him to the abode of God. One automatically bows at - His feet. This stage breaks our ties with the material world and connectsus with the spiritual world. The material world creates enmity, prejudice, greed and lust but when the shackles of this material world are broken, one finds spiritual peace. One finds one’s body has become the abode of God whereas earlier it was submerged in marsh of lust and greed. One finds oneself elevated, a citizen of anew world. One sees strange fragrance spreads all around. This life which was earlier an arena of conflicts and prejudice becomes a source of joy and abode of all harmonies.
The visitor was delighted with this type of discourses and dialogues. He felt at home. He learnt many new things. He enjoyed life. The Baba had seen that though the visitor had
been trying to improve and educate himself but he had not been able to overcome his habit of wasting time in useless conversation and showing of his shallow knowledge gained from a couple of books. The Baba used to talk when necessary but he was not in the habit of wasting time in aimless conversation. The Baba was thinking of a strategy which could prove useful to the visitor and at the same time it was of use to others. So he hit upon a plan. He had a biography of Bhai Sain Dass. This book dealt with the spiritual problems and religious ' practices in the form of dialogues. The Baba arranged a daily discourse from this book with the aim that the visitor as well as others would be able to find answers to their religious problems. At the temple, the Baba used to read and elaborate upon the portions of books on religion like Gurpratap Suraj Granth and Gurbilas. Now, the Baba decided to read and explain some portion from the biography of Bhai Sain Dass also.