Two people: Mahanand and Bidhi Chand came to Guru Ramdas ji and bowed to him. They stood in front of Guru ji, with their hands folded and made a request to the giver of happiness: “please remove our fear of birth and death. We are afraid of this cycle of travelling. We have had many births and deaths before because of attachment and jealousy. We have been through many species of animals as well. Now, we have come to you. Please bless us so we may achieve the high status.” Guru Ramdas ji was filled with love as he heard them. He gave them wisdom: “when you realize your true self, you will be released from your bond of births and deaths.” Mahanand and Bidhi Chand folded their hands and said: “we only know that: we have taken births as sons of Kshatriyas. That is all we know of who we are. Our body and mind are of a Kshatriya. We were kids before and now that we are adults, we are filled with a lot of strength. We don’t know anything beyond our bodies. This is who we believe we are.” Satguru ji then said to them: “your mother and father took on bodies and thought of your names and caste. They did their work according to their knowledge. You existed before this body and received your rewards or punishments according to your karma. Whatever good or bad deeds you did, this is how you are experiencing joy or sorrow. Leaving this body, you will get another one. Your experiences, joys and sorrows will be according to your karma. You existed before having this body and will exist after this body. What body did you see before this one? Consider this body as clothes. It is an illusion. When you grow old, your body will deteriorate and you will need to get a new one. The Aatma that wears these clothes, that is your real self. That real self never dies nor can it be ever killed. It cannot be drowned in water nor can it be burned by fire. Your body is false; your Aatma is your real form. Your body feels the pain but the real “you” is actually pure bliss. Your body is “jurr” (insentient), but your real self is “Chetna” (sentient/consciousness/awareness). Ingrain this beautiful fact in your hearts.” Listening to Guru ji’s words, the two men inquired: “how can we see our real selves? How can we destroy the ego of our body’s reality and realize our true self?” Guru Sahib ji then said to them: “come to the Satsangat with enthusiasm and listen to Katha and Keertan with your ears, everyday. Do the Seva of Gursikhs, considering their well-being. Learn the Santhya of Gurbani of the Satguru. Learn and understand its meanings/teachings with great love from wise Gursikhs. Measure your mind with the guideline of Gurbani and do not fall into the illusion of joy and sorrow. I have said these words, knowing your love. If you do this, you will see your true selves.” The two men listened to Guru ji’s words and implemented them into their lives. After a while, they had the Gyaan of their true selves and destroyed all of their bonds of karma. They became Gursikhs and immersed into Guru ji when they died.
There were seven Sikhs: Dharam Das Khosla, Dhoogardas Takiara, Deepa, Jetha, Sansaroo, Boola and Teeratha who came to Guru Ramdas ji. They bowed to Guru ji and sat down, folding their hands. They said to Guru ji: “we come to your court. Please bless us.” Satguru Ramdas ji said to them: “first of all, let go of your ego. Become humble and let go of your ego. Don’t be jealous and talk bad about people. Rid yourselves of your vices. If a Sikh comes to your home, serve them well. Having love in your heart, give them food and clothes. Listen to my words carefully and do not disobey. If a Sikh has a big task, which cannot be done without money, everyone should come together and do an Ardaas. Collect money from everyone and complete the Sikh’s task. You will be happy. Wherever Satsangat is gathered and Katha/Keertan is performed, go there day and evening to colour your mind. Whoever has the financial or physical ability, have a Dharamsala constructed so travellers can have food there. Have a Sikh live there to take care of the place. Take care of the Sikh and his/her family. Do Simran of the True Name and do Seva. The value of this cannot be determined, it is beyond anyone’s imagination. There is no reward or item equal to this. You will be really happy in this world and go to Guru ji when you die. Bathe in the late hours of the night and read the Gurbani with love in your heart.” The Sikhs listened to Guru ji and began to live by his words. These fortunate Sikhs became deserving of the Guru’s love. They went to Satguru ji in Sach Khand when they died. They received Bhrahmgyaan and were in bliss.
Bhai Jappa, Bhai Muyee, Bhai Nuyee Khullar Khatri and Bhai Tulsa Vohra came to Guru Ramdas ji’s court with devotion in their hearts. They met Guru ji and bowed to him. They sat down and folded their hands. They said to Guru ji: “Guru ji, please give us wisdom by considering us your servants. We want to know how we can make an effort while living in Ghristi (life of a householder). We wish to become Gursikhs while living at home. When we live at home, we are stuck in attachment and Maya (illusion of wealth and worldly commodities). We would like to stay in our homes and live above all of this.” Sri Guru Ramdas ji, the gracious one, spoke words of love to them: “you do your tasks, day and night, and do it with great focus and love. You are not able to let these go. In the same way you should love Gurbani. Read and listen to Gurbani with enthusiasm. Make the meanings of Gurbani reside in your heart. Consistently and constantly think of the Shabads of Gurbani. Think to yourselves: “what is Guru ji saying? What should we do that Gurbani tells us to do?” Slowly begin to turn your mind towards what Gurbani is saying. In your mind, think of the Satguru’s form and focus your attention on me. If you do this during Amritvela, you will receive great rewards. Recite my Gurbani. Meet other Gursikhs to learn and understand the meanings. Masala (powder composition of herbs and spices) is given to a horse (for vitality and digestion. It is difficult to give it to a horse as it is bitter) and the reins are fastened around its neck so it can’t spit it out. The masala makes the horse stronger and cures any illnesses it may have. The horse runs faster and with agility this way. The focus of the Guru’s form makes love form in the heart. Doing Simran of Vahiguru Satnam, the illness of ego is killed. The horse-like mind is cured in this way and its power increases. The mind will live in the will of the Guru and is able to live above joy and sorrow. The mind becomes still. Do Simran when walking or sitting as well. Do your work with your hands but while standing, sitting, waking, sleeping, listening and watching, have the focus of the Satguru inside your hearts. Do Simran of Vahiguru all the time. Do your work with your hands and feet. Just as women carry pots of water on their heads and do not hold it with their hands; they talk to their friends and keep their focus on the pots; the pots do not fall as their minds are focused on the pots; in the same way, keep your mind focused, but do all of your work. You will be happy when you are experienced. You will be deserving of emerging into the Guru at the end.” Sri Guru Ramdas ji thus gave them wisdom. All four Sikhs implemented the words in their lives. They served Guru ji for the rest of their lives and received “Sameep Mukti” (staying near Guru ji) in the end.