Inner dust: What it is

 

In the Sikh scriptures it is described as Eternal And Everlasting Naam or Word--the Sound Current.

Nanak prays for the Sadhus'dust,

It is the precious Naam of God.  *115

I would like to make my hair a tasseled fly-drive for the Saints,

And bow in adoration unto them at the Til (still point in the body wherehis Radiant Form appears) and adorn my face with their Dust (Light).  *116

                                                                                            GURU ARJAN

The dust of the Saints is in every one of us.  We live by the Light of God within, technically known as Charan Dhur or the Dust of the Feet.  It has in it the Sound Principle or Harmony--the actice life principle that grants life everlasting.

The dust of the Lord's feet is a peerless gift that one can pray for and seek.  The gods, goddesses, Rishis and Munis long for it.

I have adorned my forehead with the Dust of the Lord (Heaven's Light);

Even the Rishis, Munis and gods are far removed from it.  *117

                                                                                                               NAMDEV

In the Dust of the Sadhus lies the merit of myriads of pilgrimages, fasts and vigils, and countless yogic disciplines.

One can acquire the merit of myriads of pilgrimages and yogic practices if one is able to secure the gift of dust from a Sadhu (Inner Light).  *118

                                                                                                     GURU ARJAN

In addition to these reference to "the dust of the Saints' feet" there are also reference to "the dust of Gur-sikhs' feet;" that is, the dust of the true Sikhs or devoted disciples of the Master.

The lowly Nanak asks for the dust of the devoted disciples of the Master (Gur-sikh)

Who himself practices the Holy Word and instructs others to do the same.  *119

                                                                                   GURU RAM DAS

This dust (the Light and Sound of God) is an elixir of life that grants salvation--a life of bliss both here and hereafter.

 

Charan Dhur: Its merits

1. It rids one of all pains and sorrows, and the grief of separation.

They alone are rich, O Lord (complete and perfect as Thou art) who practice the Word under the guidance of a Master,

Poor Nanak asks for the Dust of a Sadhu, for it rids the mind of all pains, sorrows and grief.  *120

                                                                                   GURU RAM DAS

All ills vanish, pains and sorrows depart,

When one is purified by the dust of the Saints.  *121

All ills have taken leave, now that I have tasted the Dust of a Saint:

It sanctifies the sinner in no time by dispelling the darkness of ignorance.  *122

                                                                                                     GURU ARJAN

2.      It casts off lusts and egotism.

Take a daily dip in the dust of the Master,

I will wash off the egotism of ages on ages.  *123

Besmear your face and forehead with the dust of a Sadhu and rid yourself of the fifth of lust and fury,

See the Light of God even in the pariah and wish well to all.  *124

                                                                                                     GURU ARJAN

3.      it sanctifies the mind by destroying sins and removing the accumulated filth of ages.

My perfect Satguru, I have taken shelter with thee;

The mind gets rarefied with the dust of the Saints.  *125

The eyes are purified by Thy sight, and the hands when they are engaged inThy Service;

The heart is purified by Thy presence within and the forehead by the dust of the Saints.  *126

                                                                                                     GURU ARJAN

The sacred waters of the Ganges, Jumna, Godavari and Sarasati strive for the dust of the Sadhus (outer);

We, filled with all ills and egotism, can also be purified by the dusr of the Sadhus (inner).  *127

                                                                                            GURU RAM DAS

A dip in the dust of the devotee's feet washes down the ills of ages upon ages.  *128

Besmear the dust of Saints on your forehead,

And cleanse yourself of the ills of past ages.  *129

                                                                                            GURU ARJAN

4.      It fulfills all wihes and desires and even the innate latencies of the mind.

The contact with the feet of the Master awakens Reality and fulfills all desires;

The dust of the Saints is wish-yielding and brings about union with the Lord.  *130

                                                                                            GURU ARJAN

In his great mercy, God has brought me to a perfect Master,

All my heart's desires have now been fulfilled with the dust of the Master.  *131

                                                                                            GURU RAM DAS

5.      It is the harbinger of peace and bliss, grants freedom from the cycle of births and deaths, and saves one from the Angel of Death.

After long and ceaseless wanderings I have come unto Thee, Hari Rai, the Destroyer of all fear;

The devotees get bliss through the dust of a Sadh and Nanak too has been so blessed.  *132

Be incommunion with the Holy Word, for that is the true devotion;

The company of the Saints puts and end ot births and deaths, O Nanak! This is the virtue of their dust.  *133

Obeisance unto the Saviour, who got us absorbed in Him,

A bath in the dust of a Sadhu, O Nanak! bestows innumerable blessings.  *134

Their (Saints') very sight is the source of great bliss,

And their dust rescues one from death.  *135

Nanak says: He who secures the Saint's dust within,

Even the Angel of DEAth cannot come near him.  *136

                                                                                            GURU ARJAN

6.      It helps in saving millions of souls and one becomes Jivan Mukta or liberated in life.

Besmear the face and forehead with the dust of a Sadhu,

O Nanak! Thus saved, sing the praises of the Lord.  *137

Grant unto me the devotion of the Master, O Satguru, so that I may remain absorbed in the all-pervading Word;

Grant me the dust of a perfect Master, O Lord, so the sinners like me may also rest in Thee, freed from all bondage.  *138

                                                                                            GURU ARJAN

Dyed in the color of the Lord, my mind sings of the Lord,

Salvation comes from the dust (the Word) of a Sadhu.  *139

God be merciful to poor Nanak!

Grant unto him the dust of the Sadhus so that he may be saved.  *140

                                                                                            GURU ARJAN

7.      It opens the inner vision wherewith one sees and witnesses the all-pervading Power of God everywhere.

I crave the dust of Thy devotees;

By practiceof the Word, O Nanak! God Himself becomes visible.  *141

In the dust of the Sadhu, one witnesses the presence of God around him.  *142

                                                                                                     GURU ARJAN

8.      It gives bliss here and hereafter and one is honored at His Court.

Whoever dedicates his life to the service of the Lord (Hari)

And with full faith has besmeared his face with the dust of a Sadh Guru

Shines in the glory of the Lord both here and hereafter and is imbued with intoxication to the core of his heart.  *143

Those who adorn themselves with the dust of a Sadhu,

Turn their back on the world and turn to the Word,

They are honored in His Court and their faces shine with glory.  *144

In the Court of God they sit in honor and glory,

Lowly Nanak prays for the dust of such devotees of the Master.  *145

                                                                                            GURU RAM DAS

9.      It grants thebliss of Sehaj

O Nanak! In the dust of the devotee there is the bliss of Sehaj and extreme ecstasy;

All things get straightened by themselves by devotion to the perfect Master.  *146

                                                                                                     GURU ARJAN

10. It effects union with Truth.

Live in devotion to the feet of a Sadh,

Besmear your body with the dust of his feet,

Serve him with all your mind and soul,

Then shall you reach the True Homeland.  *147

                                                                                                     GURU ARJAN

It grants conquest over death and all the deadly sins drop off by themselves.  Nature, the handmaid of God, becomes a bound slave.  With the inner vision opened, one sees God everywhere and spends his days happily in His beneficent presence, a conscious co-worker with Him.