One day, Satguru Amardas ji, the giver of peace, called Bhai Paro ji to him. Bhai Paro ji was the top Brahmgyaani who had the “Param Hans” status. It was he, who asked Guru ji to start a Jor mela once a year, namely the “Vaisakhi” mela. Bhai Paro ji’s state could not be described. The Param Hans can separate the conscious and unconscious. If milk and water are together, the hans (swan) can separate the milk and water. This is how the Param Hans separates the body and the Aatma. He stayed in the Turiya state all the time, also known as the fourth state. The three states are Jaagrat (awake- 42 Indriyas are active), Swapna (dream) and Sakopat (deep sleep). There are 14 actions with physical components (i.e. Eyes, hands, ears). There are 14 energies behind these physical components that perceive the experience and the 14 perceptive states that are experienced. The Turiya is above all 42.
Guru ji called Bhai Paro ji to the Chabarra and said: “I have had a thought in my mind: I wish to give you the throne of Guru Nanak Dev ji and make you the next Guru. You are the Param Hans and are one with me. This is the highest state, which cannot be described by the Vedas or Shaasters. I want to give you the throne of the Guru. Go and bless the world. Make them do Simran and preach the way of Sikhi. Spread Bhagti, as this is the blessing of Guru Nanak Dev ji.” Bhai Paro ji folded his hands and bowed his head to Guru ji’s feet. His head was on Guru ji’s feet. He spoke with fear and humility: “Guru ji, I would like Sikhi. I am in love with Sikhi. Only the Satguru can sit on the Guru’s throne. I would like your divine sight and stay a Gursikh.” Bhai Paro ji grabbed Guru ji’s feet and continued: “please forgive me as I am returning your command.” Guru ji heard Bhai Paro ji’s request and said: “if you wish to earn Sikhi then renounce your body without delay. Go to your home and leave your body. Your love will be accepted in the Guru’s feet. Your soul will immerge into me. We will be one form. Your soul will live in my body and we will both go into a new body as the new Guru. We have a lot of tasks to do for the wellness of the Sikhs. We need to save the saints and destroy the sinners.” Bhai Paro ji heard Guru ji’s command and bowed to Guru ji. He was happy in his heart. He went back to his village of Dhulla. He gathered the Brahmgyaanis of his village and told them what his plans were. He went to his home and gave away all his items in his home to people who needed them. He kept three things: his horse, some clothing material and money. He told the Sangat to send these three things to Guru ji. In this way, Bhai Paro ji left his body; just as an elephant wearing a garland of flowers can easily take if off by breaking it, Bhai Paro ji left his body without any difficulty. The people of the village cremated his body and made a place in his remembrance. (Bhai Paro ji’s grandson was Baba Narayan Das ji, whose daughter was Mata Damodri ji, the wife of Guru Hargobind Sahib ji) Bhai Paro ji’s soul immerged into Guru Amardas ji.
One person from the village Dhulla came to Guru Amardas ji and told him about Bhai Paro ji departing to Sach Khand: “he loved all the other Sikhs and everyone loved him. They all remember his qualities. He was gentle and pure. There was no one else like him. He was a warrior who won all the enemies. He was giving like a great tree and had a lot of patience.” Satguru ji said to the Sikh from Dhulla: “he has become one with the ocean of bliss. Don’t mourn for people like him, as he was connected to the Brahm Gyaan. The people who waste their life in fulfilling their worldly desires and lose money in gambling; never listened to the Guru’s word; did not do Simran of Satnam in the Satsang; are not engaged in the worship of the Guru, they deserved to be mourned.” Guru ji consoled the Sikh.
Guru ji, the remover of obstacles, called for his younger son, Baba Mohri ji. Guru ji’s son came and bowed to his father, whom he worshipped and wanted to impress. Guru ji saw his son standing. He had 6 other Sikhs go with Baba Mohri ji and instructed them: “My beloved Bhai Paro “Param Hans” has left his body. He was very patient and left his body with ease. Go to Dhulla village and make sure everyone is cheered up.” Baba Mohri ji got ready and mounted his horse, right away. 6 other Sikhs, along with some servants, all headed towards Dhulla. They soon reached the village and went to Bhai Paro ji’s house. Everyone met Baba ji and the Sikhs with great respect. They all bowed to them. Baba Mohri ji sat down and asked how everyone was doing. Everyone praised Bhai Paro ji: “there was none other like him. He was the gem of his family and made them immortal. He left his body and went to Sach Khand.” Everyone was happy to see Baba Mohri ji. The people of the village folded their hands and said: “oh son of Satguru ji, listen to what he did: he gave away all his belongings but kept 3 of them to give to Satguru ji. He himself has immerged into the Guru. Even when he was in his body, he only thought of the Guru and nothing else. His beautiful, clever and strong horse, which was the best one in the area and none can compare, he left this for Guru Sahib. He also left expensive cloth for Guru Sahib ji to make a chola with. Some money in a bag was left as well. He recited Japji Sahib and left his body in an instant.” Baba Mohri ji spent the night there. The next day, the Sangat came to visit Baba ji and thought of Bhai Paro ji. People came and bowed to Baba Mohri ji, just as they would have to Guru Amardas ji. They brought gifts for him and walked a far distance as he headed back to Goindwal.
Baba Mohri ji came back to Goindwal and went straight to Guru Amardas ji. He bowed to him with great humility and presented the three gifts to Guru ji, that Bhai Paro ji had left for him. Baba Mohri ji told Guru Amardas ji of how he had left earth. Guru ji looked at the gifts and thought in his mind: “this horse belonged to a Brahmgyaani. This should all go to Sri Ramdas ji.” The three things were given to Guru Ramdas ji. Guru ji spoke to Sri Ramdas ji with great love: “these gifts are from Bhai Paro ji that he has given to me. I would like you to have them. Accept them. This horse is smart, beautiful and strong. It has many virtues. Don’t give this horse to anyone else. This is for only you to ride. This chola and money is for you as well. You can spend the money as you wish, but do so where it will be used for the Dharma. Nobody else has any right over it besides you.” Sri Ramdas ji accepted the items and bowed with humility. He was in bliss to know Guru ji was happy with him. Sri Ramdas ji was blessed by Guru ji. Sri Ramdas ji was drenched in love and was able to tolerate the most difficult thing. He was able to harness the great power and responsibility of the Guru’s throne. He did Seva with great humility. Guru ji would bless him with great blessings and the Sangat would surround him all the time. He was able to fulfill the Sangat’s wishes. The ones who met Sri Ramdas ji and did Simran, their wishes were fulfilled. There was always a crowd at Goindwal. They came to ask for Mukti and release from the web of the world’s ways. Whoever Guru Amardas ji would bless, they would get all 4 gifts (Dharam, Arth, Kaam and Moksha).
One day, within the family, Baba Mohri ji was speaking casually: “since I have been born, I have not seen 1 Lakh Taka gathered in one place. How much is a Lakh Taka? Pitha ji does not like money. If someone gives him money, he gives it back to them or spends it on the Langar. The thing that Pitha ji does not like, how would we see it? If money would come, we would be able to do more.” The omniscient Guru knew what was being said as he was sitting at the Chabarra Sahib. Guru ji lives in every heart and so, he hears everything. Guru ji thought to himself: “my son is in doubt. I will make his doubt go away. He sees the pros of money but not the cons.”
The next day, Guru Amardas ji spoke in Sangat: “whichever Sikhs comes to the Sangat, they should bring 5 Paisas when they come to bow.” Everyone obeyed and began to bring 5 Paisas as they bowed. It was morning and the Sikhs came with money and presented it when they bowed. They met Guru ji with love. After 3 hours of Divaan, the money piled up high. Guru ji then called for Baba Mohri ji. He had him sit next to him and said: “here you go son. Count this and gather the money. Spend it where you wish.” Baba Mohri ji obeyed and counted the money. He was happy to see the pile of money. As he was counting, the oxidation from the silver and metal coins made his hands black. There was blackness all over hands. He washed his hands thoroughly but the blackness did not go away. Guru ji asked him what happened and Baba Mohri ji showed him what had happened to his hands. Guru ji then spoke: “did you understand how money works now? Think about this: just touching it made your hands black. If you counted it everyday, your mind will become black as well. If you gather it and keep it in your home, then the soul becomes black. Even thinking about this makes your mind black. The biggest problem is: it doesn’t go with you when you die. It stays here. To collect a lot of money, the hands commit sin. After a lot of effort, one collects money. Then, keeping it is dangerous. You have to guard it from robbers and royal tax collectors. When money goes away, a person’s life goes away too. A person becomes really sad. Money is the enemy of Bhagti, as it causes many obstacles in its way. Renouncing it gives one peace. The true money is the Simran of Hari. Collect that money. This is the best wealth. Collecting it is no danger. It cannot be stolen or burned. Money gives pain. Listen son, money kills many other strong people. Simran gives peace. Simran destroys the cycle of birth and death.” Baba Mohri ji heard his father and thought about it: “Pitha ji is right.” For the rest of his life, he did not think about collecting money or spending it. He became one with Simran. He listened to his father and achieved the level of pure wisdom. He was in bliss.