Joyfully I
surrender All Great souls who have come to this world
told mankind, “You have great potential within you, and you are therefore
exceedingly blessed to have been given human birth.” But what is the purpose of
this human life? Why is it highly praised, and what is this great potential it
holds? The value of human life lies in the fact
that only in the human form can God be realized. But we must remember that it
is the soul which can experience knowledge of the Lord – not the mind, not the
senses, not the intellect nor vital airs. Through every age this subject has
been explained by sages: that to establish clear understanding the intellect is
made to work; but as those sages have proved, realization is different matter.
Intellectual understanding at the level of mind and senses is useful and in
nearly all cases, necessary but man must gain knowledge of what he is - what is the soul – then only does it
become possible for Him to realize what God is. So, on the spiritual path to God
–realization, one must first take steps towards self-realization. And what does
it mean to know oneself? It is not enough to merely say, “I am a conscious
entity, I am soul.” This is just a verbal expression of feeling, or is the sum
total of inference gained by reaching a conclusion through the intellect.
Realization is something separate from all this. In the Upanishads, it says, when the senses
are controlled, the mind is stilled, the intellect is also stilled, then the
soul is united. So it can be understood from this that as long as the soul does
not gain freedom from mind, senses, and intellect, it cannot experience or know
itself, and therefore cannot experience God also. If this highest knowledge is
not gained in life, then man has not derived the full benefit or potential that
lies within the grasp as the human being. We must create conditions wherein we can
see the Lord, if we want to realize Him. As long as I do not see with my own
eyes, I cannot believe even Guru’s words. All Master say that there is a God,
that he is everywhere, that there is no place without him. They say also that
He resides in this body that we are carrying, in which we also reside, and so
the body is truly the temple of God.. but in what form is the Lord experienced by
the soul? He is experienced in the form of light. To praise Him without having
seen Him is like a description of the sun by a blind man. One Master advises to see him and then sing
His praises; such praises will bear forth fruit. But to be able to see Him, He
mast be revealed by one who has this spiritual sight already – one who can make
others see also. Who can reveal such knowledge? God has no father, mother,
brothers or other relative, so we must accept that he himself will reveal such
knowledge? God has no father, mother brother or other relatives, so we must
accept that He himself will reveal Himself, when and as He so wills, by his own
mercy and through His own methods. Electricity is everywhere, but we control it
at a definite point called powerhouse, electricity can be made to do our work.
Just like this, God is everywhere – there is no place without him but the soul
can only get a direct connection to Him through that powerhouse or pole where
he is manifested. The true temple of God is the body wherein the light of truth
is aflame. When he gives His darshan, He gives it in the form of the Light. So without the Guru – the powerhouse in the
world – one cannot have this light. The very meaning of the word Guru is
“dispeller of the darkness.” He who gives his life-impulse through the light is
the word made flesh and is also called a Guru. He manifested Himself in the
Guru and distributed the shabd. It is most necessary that the seeking soul find
someone in whom God has manifested Himself, for only such a complete
personality is competent to rejoin the soul back to Him. God is everywhere, but
He is not manifested everywhere. Why? Because our soul – that spark of the
all-consciousness – is under control of mind and senses, and through its
sojourn in creation has become the image of the world, thereby forgetting its
true self. It must just know itself, then it can have the experience of the
overself; if it does not rise above body consciousness – how can God be
manifested? Do you understand this? All Masters have advised man, know thyself
in their various languages. What is it in the Guru that does this delicate
work? It is God manifested in the guru who performs the operation – it is the
type of work that God alone can do. Maulana Rumi says that God pointed out that
he cannot contain himself in all the heavens, the earth, or the skies he
created, for none of these are sufficient to contain him: O my loved one,
believe in me, all these things are incapable of containing me – I am so big.
And yet I can dwell in the heart of a true devotee – if you want me, go to him.
Such a true devotee is called sadhu, sant, mahatma, Master, etc.
different outer garbs cannot make a Masadhu, sant, mahatma, Master, etc.
different outer garbs cannot make a Mahatma. Many are accepted as great men
in this world who can give very powerful lectures, but have they realized God?
How can anyone truly say he has experienced that which he has never seen?
Furthermore, this holds no meaning for others unless they can be made to see
also. It is a delicate point; but it is most necessary for the true seeker to
meet a competent person who can reveal the Lord within. God is most merciful; he continues to send
these competent persons to the world to help suffering humanity. Even the
company of such a person is highly beneficial to a soul; and what is infinitely
important, one may do the whole world’s work through the intellect and senses,
but one cannot realize the lord without the company of such a saint. Even the
very best actions will not enable you to realize God. It is only through
seeking him and knowing that he is the doer and not I, that the rounds of
births and deaths can be stopped. A true guru or saint must have the knowledge himself and be able to give same
experience to others so that they may increase it steadily. The sant gave the
capital to me. A little capital to start with is worth something. Even in
business, if a man gives a very fine
lecture on how to succeed in business, and yet the poor people listening have
not a penny of their own to start with, what is the use of the lecture, there
would be some ground foe success. Competent masters have come in every age,
and will continue in every age, and will continue to come. But how many know
them? When Christ asked his disciples, “whom do men say that I am ?” they
answered, “some say John the Baptist; some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one
of the prophets.” But when he asked them, “whom say ye that I am?” Simon
answered, “thou art the Christ.” All good actions bear the fruit of reward,
but unless one sees for one’s own self, the I hood remains, and so we remain
chained to the wheel of births and deaths.
How can the ego be killed? Shabd burns the ego and attachment when
the Gurumukh sees the Jyoti within. It is then that one begins to see that
the Lord is doing everything. What can the poor wooden puppet do? The
Puppeteer knows. I will now related to you a hymn by one such great soul
who had this realization: The true facts and stories of the Lord are
told by the guru, who is the true friend; Unto him I
joyfully surrender myself in sacrifice. This is a hymn of guru Ramdas, who saw his
Guru as he truly was: one who spoke to them of his experience with God. There
are those who give statements about God from the level of the intellect; but
there are the rare few also who speak from actual experience. Many are just lecturers – we should be grateful to
anyone who has taught us even little. Every saint has his past and every sinner
a future. Guru Amar Das says, from the lowest I became pure, ever since I
sat at God’s feet, in the guru. I was like a stone sinking in water; he lifted
me up, praise be to the lord. When one is pulled up above the level of the
senses, one realizes how low one was. Great is the guru, who not only pulls us
up and gives an experience of the Lord, but remains our true friend always. What is a true friend? A true friend is one
who is always with you, and never leaves you; he appears even when one is
called upon to account for one’s actions. Worldly friendship is plentiful
enough – children, relatives, acquaintances – but last only as long as selfish
desires are fulfilled. Without this, who remains faithful? The very same person
who may appear to be a beneficent friend at one moment can turn into a thief at
the next. A true friend is one who will remain with you always – even when you
have to pay up your accounts. This is true Guru. What is more: he gives new life, and through devotion
connects you with the lord. He bestows a new life upon us; and what is that
new life? It is light, it is sound. Out of his mercy, he gives his own
life-impulse; and nothing could be a greater gift. You can find many who will
give gifts of money, clothing, articles, etc.; but how many can give their very
life? With this life impulse he enthuses new life into others, and if the
account are to be rendered, he will do that also. And for whom will he do all
this? For a gurusikh only – a true disciple of the guru. He says that one would give oneself in
complete surrender or sacrifice unto such a guru. Brothers, would you not also
joyfully surrender at the feet of a complete guru, if you were fortunate enough
to meet one? But make sure you surrender only to him in whom the truth is
awakened. Guru Ramdas is telling us about his guru. Only a true Master can how
he has found a true Master, and how abounding and unlimited is his guru’s love.
Only those with full faith can ever come to know of it; but how many have the
inner conviction of their Guru being a Guru? He who really knows what the Guru
is becomes a Gurumukh. Come, my gurusikh, come; You are the beloved of my guru. Who is actually beloved of the guru? He who
becomes a true disciple – who lives up to the teachings of the guru – who obeys
the Guru’s every command. Such a follower is a gurusikh. Otherwise he is a
mansikh or disciple of the mind. Who loves a true disciple? Whoever has true
love for his guru. Would anyone who truly loved his Guru stand and fight in the
court, or tell lies and cheat, as some people do? How could anyone do this type
of thing if he truly loved his Guru? Try to understand these things fully, for
they are an integral part of the Masters teachings. A person who declares love
for his Guru and sits at his feet should have love for each and every other
person coming to his feet – especially those who are on the same path. And he
who has this true love for everyone is a gurusikh. He says, O Gurusikh, let
me embrace you. Why? Out of love for his Guru. In the story about the between Laila and
Majnu, it is said that one day Majnu was seen kissing the feet of a dog, and
when he was asked why he was doing this, he replied, “I have seen this dog on
occasion going along the street where my Laila lives.” This is an example of
the extent of event the worldly kind of love, so if people say they love their
guru and do not love one another, this is nothing but a lie. It is also a lie
if anyone claims love for God and yet does not love him in whom he is
manifested. One’s whole life can be changed with meditation and love for the guru.
The guru will then appear within. This is why Christ advised his disciples, if
ye love me, keep my commandments. The dear ones often ask, “How can we
develop love for you?” you have all been given the proof of this path, so
remain linked with it; for the more you are joined to that, the more will the
love flow out of that union. This is the only thing lacking. God likes God’s own attributes – Which can be realized through the Guru. Here he is telling us that God loves anyone
who tries to adopt his own attributes; so we should find out what they are, and
also inculcate them into our being. If there is a vacancy in a certain office,
and the man in charge has good talent in handwriting, he will naturally be more
attracted to those applications which have been written in a good hand. So if
we desire the Lord’s pleasure, we should adopt His attributes. But how can we
know what they are, when no one has seen Him? We can only observe his
attributes as they are demonstrated in the Guru, who is the Word made flesh –
God manifested in human form. Whatever God’s attributes are, the Guru will have
them. By loving the Guru, and placing all our attention on him, we can imbibe
all virtues, and those very virtues will then manifest in us. As a man thinks,
so he becomes. If one goes on thinking of some depraved person who has broken
away from God and all things God-like, one will become like that in a short
space of time. The Lord’s love is innate in whomsoever He has manifested
Himself. God’s attributes can be seen when you see the Guru. When my Guru, Hazur Baba Sawan Singh, was
stationed in the Murree Hills while in service, he returned to his residence
one day, and as he entered the courtyard a man passed him on his way out. when
the Master inquired from a servant what was the nature of the man’s visit, he
was told that the man was a tuberculosis patient who was looking for
accommodation, but no one was giving him a place. The Master then asked why he
was told that not only was the man suffering from tuberculosis, but worse than
that, he was an atheist. Hazur said, “Even if the poor fellow does not know
there is a God, at least we know; and what is more, God is in Him also.” The
man was at once called back and given a room in Hazur’s house. This is a simple
example of God’s attributes being expressed His own qualities? If you have not
yet seen the Lord, then you will find His qualities manifested in whosoever He
has manifested, who sees him and can give you an experience of Him. Even though
you may try and leave Him, such a friend will never leave you. As Christ said,
Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Our Hazur also used to say, the Guru will never leave
Him who has been given the Naam. In 1962 a certain man wrote to me for the
first time since his initiation nine years earlier. He complained of many
things and at the end of the letter said, “I am leaving you.” I replied to him,
“No matter what you do, the Power will never leave you.” The Guru does allow a
long rope, in order to test the disciplines depth in the water, but he never
leaves Him. When Pakistan was formed, many trainloads
of Muslims left India to take up residence in Pakistan. Hazur gathered a number
of discipline together and took baskets upon baskets of bread to distribute to
the weary traveling people. Whoever truly loves God, truly loves each and every
being, regardless of religion, caste, or nationality. We are enraptured by those who obeyed the
Guru. He explains that he could even sacrifice
himself for anyone who lives completely according to the Guru’s wishes. The
Guru may give happiness or misery, for he has to make a beautiful form from a
rough piece of stone and therefore has to wind up all the karmas; but a true
follower will never complain, no matter what condition he has to face in life –
no matter what hardship the Guru allows. The stages of discipleship are many. Using
a worldly example to explain a spiritual matter, we can take a married woman
whose heart is not with her husband. In the world’s eye, she is respectably married
to one man; but in fact she is not a faithful wife. On the other hand, there is
the type of wife who, although she remains faithful, yet is constantly
demanding something from the husband. Her demands never cease; though her
neighbors may be starving she will have concern only for her own selfish
desires. There is yet a third kind of wife, who does request her husband to
supply various needs, but if he does not comply she accepts the facts and drops
the subject. The fourth and last type of wife is one who loves her husband,
what more is required? This is the highest kind of love. Guru Ramdas goes on to tell of the
greatness of the gurusikh: I will sacrifice for him who has seen the
beloved Satguru. There is so much love in the statement .
One glance from such an imbued person is enough to change one for life. It
never wears off. Hazrat Junaid Sahib once went to the house of the Prophet
Mohammed, but the Prophet was not at home at the time, so Junaid Sahib left.
When the Prophet Mohammed arrived, his servant told him if Junaid had spoken to
him. The servant said that he had not. “Then did you have his darshan at
least?” asked the Prophet. The servant explained that he had arrived on the
scene just as Junaid Sahib was leaving, and only caught glimpse of his back.
The Prophet told him, “You are indeed blessed with good fortune to see the back
of such a great soul.” Just consider this story carefully. You
want parshad, but with what kind of mouth will you eat it? Guru Ramdas is
saying that he is willing to sacrifice himself for that fortunate person who
received even a brief glimpse of his Guru. People usually have a very critical
attitude toward each other: one is not initiated, another has no Guru
whatsoever, another belongs to a different religion, and so on. But Guru Ramdas
says he would sacrifice himself for anyone who had seen his Guru. Only a
realized person who sees the Truth can sincerely make such a statement, for he
sees the Lord in everyone, and has love for each and every individual because of
this – whether they call Him Paramatma, Khuda, God, Shabd, Naam or any other
name. God is in all men, even in those who do not realize or believe it. In the
first epistle of John, he tells us, if
a man says “I love God” and hateth his brother, he is a liar; for he
that loveth not his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has
not seen? John also says, and this commandment have we from him [Christ], that
he who loveth God loveth his brother also. I will not sacrifice myself for those who serve
the Guru, Hari, Hari, is Your Name; In the depth of our misery You appear; By serving the Guru, the Gurumuk gains his
freedom. There are four kinds of people who journey
towards God. One is a gurusikh – the beloved of the Guru. Another is he who lives
according to the Guru’s wishes. Yet another is he who is fortunate enough to
have seen the Guru. Fourth is the still more fortunate one who has the
opportunity to serve the Guru. And who can truly love all these disciples? Only
he who loves the Guru truly, who, in the Guru’s company, has had the love of
the Lord awakened in him. How is this kind of love developed? It can
only develop through contact with Naam, whereby the love which is innate will
break forth, manifest and overflow. If you sit beside a fire, all your chills
will leave. Similarly, to sit beside something cool, such as ice, all heat in
body fades away. Many, many blessings can be yours when connected to the Naam,
for it is the most powerful force. Hari, Hari, is the pure Naam which created
all creation. The supreme Lord is nameless, but He came into expression; and
that expression is called Naam. Naam is controlling Kahnd and Brahmand. We can
go as far as to say, “Oh Lord, this Naam of yours is the dispeller of all
unhappiness” – and where can we get it? Through the grace of the Guru – and
then by serving him. Merely bowing down before him does not make a disciple;
one must obey him, and then bow before him in devotion. This is what is meant
by serving him. In the Gurbani it is written, Satguru’s words – words are the
Satguru. Whoever bows down to his words and obeys them is a true gurusikh.
Otherwise, the whole world sees the Satguru, but by just seeing there is no
salvation; as long as love for the satguru’s shabd is not developed. What is the Naam? There is the word Naam –
just as there is the word “Water,” or pani, aqua, aab, etc. but by merely
repeating the word “Water,” or pani, aqua, aab etc. but by merely repeating the
Word “Water” ones thirst is not quenched, until the liquid which is denoted by
the word “Water” is drunk. When Christ met the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well,
she was surprised when he asked her to give him water, knowing that the Jews
did not mix up with Samaritans. But Jesus explained that if she really knew who
it was that was asking her for water, she would have asked him for the Living
Water, by drinking which all thirst is quenched forever. So that water of life
is also know as Naam. It is the God - in - expression Power , which came into
Being, and which has two phases – Light and Sound. A connection with this
awakens the soul and makes it aware of the God within. It is no good saying,
“dollar, dollar,” if one wishes to have
money; it must be earned in some way. By uttering the name of the Lord, one may
gain some small interest in Him, or get some direction toward Him, which will
certainly earn good karma; but it does not give a connection with Him, which
will certainly earn good karma; but it does not give a connection with Him. It
is something quite different to see that Power working in reality, and to
thereby know that oneself is not the doer of anything. Naam can be given through the Guru only,
who is the Naam or the word made flesh. Only the Lord himself can give His own
gift, and He is working through the form of the Guru. Though he resides in
every form, it is only the Guru who can give the way up by bringing the soul
above the senses. So there are two indications by which the seeker can know
that he has got the connection: the Naam’s two phases must be experienced
within – the light and the sound, or the music of the spheres. God comes in the
form of light. And that personality where He is manifested will give that new
life of Light to the true seeker. Many will give happiness or worldly
achievement, but how often can you find someone to give his own life-impulse?
Through his life impulse you get the bhakti and the connection with God. It is
the Satguru’s work. And, with the Gurumukh’s bhakti, the sound is easily heard.
A Gurumukh is he who has become the mouthpiece of his Guru, one who truly takes
the Guru as the ever-present Lord and keeps his head low before all his Guru’s
commands. Thereby he has become the mouthpiece of God. It is a constant law
which never changes. God –realized souls are always present in
the world, but in the past they were few, and even now they are very rare. Who
then are the privileged ones who get to meet them? Those whose hearts are true.
Those without deceit in the heart not only have the privilege of the Lord’s own
arrangements for meeting the Guru; with a clean heart they are able to absorb
the full benefit of that meeting. The best attitude of mind is to sincerely
serve in humility, and in more and more humility. Then the Guru will come by
himself. God himself makes the soul hungry – then he feeds it. There is really
no need to worry about anything: simply be sincere and true to your own self.
He has sent you to the right place; and He is the giver. It is a very subtle
and exacting subject; what can I say about it? If a person thinks of him as a
Guru outwardly, tremendous change will take place; and if that person gets the
higher contact – then? Hafiz sahib once wrote a poem in Arabic
saying that if once wrote a poem in Arabic saying that if one should leave
one’s home and go to the wild places. Bhai Nandlal was great gurubhakta (of
Guru Gobind Singh) and when he read this, he said, “God? Who was nearby. He
then added, “Where will you go? What is here.” Who can say this sort of things
with any accuracy? Only he whose eyes is developed – he who has seen, and then
speaks of what he has seen. Those who boast of their Guru without truly seeing
what he is speak without real knowledge; their words are empty. For such people
the Guru is the Guru when conditions are favorable, but when the conditions
become difficult they turn their back on him. Those who do the dhyan of the Naam are
accepted at God’s court; For them, O Nanak, will forever sacrifice
myself. Those who meditate on Naam not only succeed
spiritually but in worldly attainment also. They are the lighthouses which give
Light to the whole world – as long as they are in the world. Christ also said,
as long as I am in the world I am the light of the world [John 9:5]. When they
leave, another Light replaces them, in an unbroken chain. So there is always
food for the hungry and water for the thirsty. The Master gives the Light, and
when he leaves, whoever has become attuned to him continues the work, when the
Master hands over that precious gift to him. One bulb fuses, but another is put
in its place; and when that fuses another is placed, and so on. But the light
remains the same; the light is the Guru, not the body , although the physical
form is respected because of the Light working in it and shining forth from it. We find
throughout history that whatever land has been touched by the holy feet
of the Master is worshipped and their names are praised, but while they are
living in the world very few value them or recognize them. Guru Nanak was
termed an atheist, but when he left the world many places he frequented became
places of pilgrimage. But if one gains faith and knowledge in what the Guru is
while he is in the world, what more is needed? For he is the one who will give.
And whoever loves the Guru, and loves all who go to him, is truly a gurusikh. Whatever pleases Thee, O Lord, That is the real worship; The Gurumukh is one who truly serves the
Guru – he sees and enjoys God. What can cause the Guru’s pleasure? There
is no criterion for that. Whatever may appeal to him may entice his pleasure;
for instance, the way a true Gurumukh lives by serving the Lord in humility,
having love for everyone, and whose meditation is fruitful. This kind of
service is true, and is likely to appeal to the Guru; so first become a
Gurumukh, then only one can truly serve the Lord. Satguru Paul said, I live,
yet not I, but Christ liveth in me. There is also, father and son are drenched
in the same color. It is a condition which comes when the inner knowledge is
really awakened. God’s attributes are in the Guru, and Guru Ramdas is saying
that if even the slightest reflection of that is seen in the disciple, then he
would sacrifice himself for such a follower. Guru Nanak sahib had one such
follower, who later became Guru Angad. Guru Angad had one disciple who was a
Gurumukh and he became Guru Amar Das, the Master of Guru Ramdas who has written
this hymn. So, first and the last lesson on the path of spirituality. Those who
do not obey, who show one thing on the face and feel something different in the
heart, will never gain the Guru’s pleasure. God never leaves those who have true love
for Him. God is with those who love Him each and
every moment; they are aware of Him. If only truly loves someone, does not that
person reside in one’s heart? In that case, no one can love any other? This
constant loving remembrance of a loved one comes after getting to know them,
living together in harmony; but what real love can one have for someone has
never seen, known, or lived with? We cannot develop love by just saying we
love. Whenever the beloved is remembered by such,
new life surges within. So the Gurumukh’s life is lived in constant
remembrance. The new life starts from initiation, and then he lives on
remembrance, remembrance, remembrance which increases that new life – it begins
to surge within. As a person thinks, so does he become. It starts as a
remembrance, but eventually the remembrance occurs by itself – that means he
has become that very remembrance. Only a person who has given his heart to
another can know what it means to give the heart. It is a practical matter, for
in true love there is no incessant remembrance of the loved one – perpetual.
Gurumukh’s remembrance is only one- continuous. It continues without pause of
end, unlike us who remember many times with breaks in between. What kind love
is here today and gone tomorrow – with this person one day and another the
next? Love is only one. That is not love which changes. And the truest love is
that which the soul receives through experience; that never changes. I am a sacrifice to those who serve the
Gurumukh with love; He is free himself, he frees his family,
and the whole world. Here he is not speaking of the Guru but the
Gurumukh; and those who serve the Gurumukh sincerely with love not only will receive
salvation for themselves, but also for their relatives and friends, for the
Gurumukh comes to give salvation to the whole world. Gurumukh frees millions
with a spark of Naam. His resources are everlasting, but those people who have
gained a little and start distributing it everywhere only end up with regret.
They are doomed themselves and so are those who follow them. Guru serves the Lord with love – hail to
the Guru’s name; Guru showed the way to God – O sacred
endeavor! Now he speaks of the Guru with praise, for
he truly serves the Lord. He shows the way to those seeking the Lord by
connecting them to the Naam; there can be no higher service, no more sacred
service. Many take payment for what they do in God’s name, but he gives freely
– just as God is free. It is the blessing of the Guru. Gurusikh who serves the Guru are fortunate;
Again and again, O Nanak, do I sacrifice
myself on them. There can be no higher destiny than this;
for human birth comes with past good actions, and after receiving the human
birth, those who become true disciples of a true Master have great virtue
awakened within them. people who have the darshan of such a soul, or who serve
them, also receive the Guru’s blessing: All Gurumukh are beloved sisters in God,
who are accepted by Him. To gain the Guru’s pleasure is to gain the
Lord’s pleasure, for the Lord is manifested in him. Though we have all respect
for the physical form wherein He resides, yet the Guru is not the physical
form; he is the Shabd in the physical form. Guru Gobind Singh explains it in
this way: from beginning to end, there is only One – and that is our Guru. That
Power has ever been One, and always will be. The true Master never says, “I am
the Guru,” but rather “God is the
Guru.” Guru Gobind Singh sys, think of me as the servant – but there is no
difference between us. He also says I have come to see the world’s play. He
tells us that he was ordered by the Lord to go into the world and work, and
also that those who say they are the Guru are not Gurus. How can the one who
sees the God Power working say that he is the Guru doing everything? The true
God cannot say it. They shine in the Lord’s court, and He
embraces them. Those who becomes gurusikh are the Lord’s
soul, but he also has love for the others who go to the Guru’s court; he has
love for all mankind, for those who love the Lord, love everyone. He suffers
with the sufferer – and the result? O Nanak, the Naam is ever-ascending; may
peace be to all the world over, under thy will, O Lord. A Muslim Prophet
explains that if one part of the body has pain, the rest feels it in sympathy.
He is likening this to those who have love for the Lord. Excuse me, but where
are those with love? Today it is like a business in the Lords name. One Master
says, think of the lowly as great, if in his heart the Lord dwells. There is no
heart greater than that in which the Lord resides. That physical form is
beautiful in which the Lord resides. The eyes become astounded to see this
sight – that form in which the beloved is manifested. Give us darshan of those Gurumukhs absorbed
in Naam; We would wash their feet and drink that
water. There is a Sikh daily prayer which says,
give us association with a Gurumukh, company of a sadhu, color of the Naam; O
beloved, through such true connection, Naam awakens within one. The saint’s
darshan is invaluable. Washing the feet is an expression of love. Majnu wanted
to kiss the dogs feet because it had walked along the street where his beloved
Laila lived. Surely lovers of the Lord should respect that form in which He
resides. We are lacking in love. Our love is not true love; it is driven by
selfish motives. The heart is the rightful abode of the Lord – do not let
anyone or anything else live there. Chewing betel-nut and betel leaf, a cigarette
in his mouth – God is never remembered by such people, and the Lord of death
will take them. He has been speaking about the Gurumukh,
and now he refers to the typical manmukh who even by mistakes never thinks of
the Lord at all, and lives only for worldly enjoyments. This type of person
ends up in the hands of Yama, the Lord of Death. the continuous cycle of births
and deaths that they revolve on cannot be broken. If you appropriate anything
from another, you will have to return it in some way or other. If you hurt
someone, you will have to bear the reaction of that also. As ye sow, so shall
ye reap. Enlightened are the hearts of those who
remember the Lord; Yama cannot approach these gurusikhs, the
Guru’s beloved. The Lord of death has no power over those
who have received the Naam and who have true love for the Lord. He rules only
over that which is governed by the law of debt and payment. He who oppresses no
one and hurts no one, who sees the Lord above, and in all things is filled with
a serene tranquility – how can such a person be under any law? If he in whom
the Lord is manifested places his hand upon someone’s head, the Lord of death
will not be able to come near that person either. What power has the Lord of
Death in the face of such light? He cannot enter the place where a true
gurusikh is sitting, not to speak of anything else. To become a gurusikh is a
great thing. God’s name is a priceless treasure, known
only by the gurusikh; O Nanak, those who see the Satguru, they
dwell in bliss. Naam can only be properly valued by those
who now what it is, those who then live in the Lord’s color instead of the worlds color. Outside there is light and
music, inside there is Light and sound. Worldly people are in a state of
intoxication through the worldly atmosphere, and those who have met the True
form and live their lives according to the Guru’s behests hear the inner Sound
twenty-four hours a day. This inner Light is infinitely more attractive than
any outer light or sight, and gives a vastly different intoxication of Naam, O
Nanak, inebriates day and night. Guru Nanak met the famous King Babar and
boldly told him, “The intoxication you enjoy in the evening wears off in the
morning, but the intoxications I enjoy remains night and day.” it is the soul’s
color – or you can call it the color or Ram. He who meets the Satguru and
follows his word, gets this color. Satguru is the giver of this blessing,
which he gives out of compassion. It is not an ordinary gift, and it can only
be got from a Satguru. He gives you the gift from the Lord, Who has manifested
Himself in him. He sees the child’s misery and in compassion saves him from
wretchedness. The Father has great love for His children, and the more unhappy
they are, the greater is his compassion – especially in this dense Kali yuga.
Through his compassion, at least those who have their faces turned to Him can
be saved, if not all. I sacrifice myself on the guru who gave me
Naam; Praise be to him who brought us this message of God. He is full of praise for such a Guru – at
least we should value this gift, and take full advantage of it. Kabir says, we
are the knower of the secret of that faraway Home, bringing the Lord’s orders.
It is give free, out of the Lords orders. It is given free, out of the Lord’s
compassion; but, excuse me, there is hardly anyone to take it, and from those,
very few receivers value it. Most of them are like the women who marries for
outer appearance of respectability only, and then lives in an outrageous and
immoral manner. Listen to the complete Guru’s advice, and
see Par Brahm brought nearer. The purpose of Naam is that
one should be aware of the Lord always. But what is the use of advice from
those who are not exemplars of it? This is why people cannot escape from the
law of birth and death. man must be sincere to his own self. I always advise,
“Be true to yourself, God is within you and Guru is within you.” Could a person
go on sinning if he was constantly aware of the Lord within him? We first
deceive ourselves and then others. Many
people forge wills, cheat, lie, give false evidence – the courts are
full of such liars – forgive me. But no one can deceive God who is within each
and every man. When gazing upon the Guru, I blossom forth;
This is the condition of one of those who
beloved has come: he cannot take his eyes from his beloved, and the more he
gazes, the more he blooms. Guru Ramdas greatly loved his Master, Guru Amar Das
Ji, who lived for more than one hundred years. His love was so strong that he
would attend all his Master’s needs in constant service. If one has true love
for someone, that love extends to the body also. Maulana Rumi Sahib explains in
this way: that this love is the love of the soul, and yet, when one sees even
the physical form of the loved one, great happiness and joy sprouts forth
within. The Guru’s tongue speaks out the words
drenched with ambrosial beatitude of Naam; For those who obey his words, the inner
hunger will be satisfied. The Guru’s tongue is drenched with the
Lord’s Nectar, and when it speaks a charged intoxication radiates forth; so
wherever the Guru goes, he intoxicates others. No matter how sweet may be the
words of a lecture, if the person delivering it is not imbued with the love of God, there will be no spiritual
effect. When the Guru’s words are heard and put into practice, all hunger
leaves, and that charging gives a tranquil and perfect peace. How can I travel the path of the Lord? He asks this question, and then he himself
answer it: Naam is Thy Naam, O Lord, which helps here
and hereafter. To return to the spiritual home, Naam is
the means; and it lies within each being. When the connection to Naam is made,
it then must be increased. It is the treasure of the two worlds: physical and
spiritual. When you meet the Sant, brothers, value the true Naam; This treasure
of life remains here and hereafter. It is potent in both phases of life. Those who love the Lord, love everyone; but
this can only happen in one who has seen the Lord within. Guru Arjan Sahib, the
fifth Guru of the Sikhs, had the foundation stone of the holy city of Amritsar
laid by the Muslim, Hazrat mian Mir, Chaju Bhagat, and Guru Arjan were great
friends. When they get that higher degree, all are one: there is no
consideration of religion or different outer society. When the illusion lifts,
who is a Hindu, who is a Turk? This is the Truth. Gurumukh who have worshiped the Lord have
the wealth of the Emperor. Master are often called Emperors, for they
have an abundance of the true wealth, and the Gurumukh is the one who receive
liberally from the Guru’s treasure house. I sacrifice myself on that Satguru, who is
one with his Guru’s words; You are the Lord, the Master, the Saviour; Your virtues are intrinsic, Your pleasure
is the true bhakti, You are one color, yet all colors; O Nanak, Your pleasure is the best things. This is a hymn of Guru Ramdas, but all Master come for all mankind. They are the light of the world – as long as they remain in the world. One bulb fuses and another is placed there to continue the supply. We are all the Lord’s children, and He has concern and compassion for us all. There is, therefore bread for the hungry and water for the thirsty. |