1-11 Giving Wisdom to the Sikhs

Bhai Ram Koer ji, Kavi Santokh Singh ji mention some of the Sikhs that came to Guru Angad Dev ji.  Guru ji gave them great wisdom.  Bhai Mani Singh ji Shaheed also mentions these Sikhs in the Bhagat Mala.

These people were close to Guru ji and became his Sikhs.  Listen, oh Saints, to the history of these great Sikhs.  Let these Sikhs be your guide in understanding how Sikhi can be achieved.

A Sikh named Bhai Jeeva used to live with Guru Angad Dev ji and would serve him with great love and devotion.  He used to prepare Khichdee (traditional dish made with rice, lentils and yoghurt) for Guru ji along with yoghurt.  He would bring the food for Guru ji everyday.  His Khichdee would be delicious.  He would bring it from his home and give it to Guru ji first.

One day, at around 5 pm, Bhai Jeeva came to Guru Sahib.  He folded his hands and said: “Guru ji, the wind is very strong today and the dust is flying.  It seems as though the storm won’t die down any time soon.  It will stay till midnight.  Guru ji, there is a lot of dust flying.  I need to prepare food for you.  If this storm keeps up, how will I prepare food for you?  Please calm the storm down for an hour.  Just long enough so I may prepare the food for you.  I will be quick.  I will bring the food for you and you can eat it.  After that, I am not concerned about the storm.”  Guru Angad Dev ji heard Bhai Jeeva’s request and said: “you shouldn’t think of these kinds of things.  This is a sin.  The wind is blowing by the command of Parmeshwar.  There are a lot of other things that are dependant upon this blowing mind.  There are many benefits that will happen with this.  There are a lot of ships in the sea that have thousands of people travelling in them.  They have many thousands of Rupees worth of merchandise and goods in those ships, that are being exported and imported, in and out of the country.  The people are doing business between countries for their living.  There have been a few days that there was no wind.  Because of that, the ships were standing still in the seas.  Now that the wind is blowing, this will be to their benefit.  They are trying to make a living like this.  This is how Akaal Purakh is helping them earn their living.  There are places on this earth where there is copper.  There are only snakes that live there.  Those snakes eat dirt.  Parmeshwar is blowing dirt to them so that they can eat.  The snakes store the dirt for a few weeks and rely on that storage of dirt.  They collect as much dirt as they need, individually.  There are millions of snakes there.  Akaal Purakh gives them food in this way.  There are many other tasks that rely on the strong winds.  Akaal Purakh completes the tasks with the wind.  If I were to stop the wind, many tasks would go bad and a lot of people and animals would not get their food.  Parmeshwar is supreme and whatever Parmeshwar does is good.  Human beings are incomplete and should not doubt the doings of Akaal Purakh.  Millions would suffer without the wind.  Doubting is the ideology of manmukhs (people who follow their mind’s desires) and is sinful.  The manmukhs doubt the doings of Akaal Purakh.  One should accept the will of Akaal Purakh and not doubt what Akaal Purakh does.  That person is a Gurmukh and Sunmukh.  They live in peace and happiness, who accept Akaal Purakh’s will.  The are happy in this world and in the next.  They do not face any troubles.  Bhai Jeeva, you want to make food, right?  Just wait a few hours.  When Akaal Purakh stops the wind, you can go ahead.  You will get your turn, Akaal Purakh knows.  If the storm continues all night, so be it.  We will eat tomorrow.  Live in the will of Akaal Purakh and Guru.  Stay happy in the will of the Guru and Akaal Purakh.  That person is a true Sikh and a Bhagat.  This is the foundational wisdom and teaching of Sikhi.  Whoever accepts the will is a true Sikh.  Just as a Pathbrutha woman (a chaste women who does not think, desire or look at any other man but her husband), she is the happiest woman, that is how our master Akaal Purakh is for us: we are his servants.  The Sikh is to be devoted to the will of Akaal Purakh.  Learn to live in the will and become a Gurmukh, Jeeva.  You will be blessed with meditation, penance, charity and chastity.  Do the Simran of Satnam and let go of your attachment of your body.  Move your focus away from your body and you will achieve Brahmgyaan.  To take your attention away from the body and towards your soul, you will come out of the cycle of birth and death.”  Bhai Jeeva heard the holy words and bowed to Guru ji.  He accepted the teachings of the Guru and became a Brahmgyaani in a few days.  He saw the light of Akaal Purakh in all beings.  He served Guru Angad Dev ji for the rest of his days.  After he left his body, he immersed into the light of Akaal Purakh. 

There was another Sikh named Bhai Gujjar, who was born into the caste of Lohaars (blacksmith).  He came to the court of Guru Angad Dev ji after hearing his praises.  He bowed to Guru ji and sat down.  He looked at Guru ji and did an Ardaas: “Guru ji, please listen to my plea.  In order to feed myself and my children, I work hard, all day long.  I am a householder and I need to work all day long.  I would like to stay with you and do your seva but I cannot stay because of my work.  How can I be saved?  How may I be blessed?  How can I break the bonds of birth and death?”  Guru ji heard his plea and said: “collect the focus of your mind and recite the Japji Sahib Gurbani, all the time.  Even when you do your work, recite Japji Sahib.  Do as many recitations of Japji Sahib as you can in a day.  Keep reciting, and you will receive the fruits of your recitations.  If you see another poor person, do their tasks for them and do not charge them for your work.  Ponder on the meanings of Japji Sahib and recite it with every breath.  Whatever seva and charity work you do, have the love of the Guru in your heart and dedicate your work to the Guru’s service.  Help the poor.  Whatever you earn, take out your dasvand and offer it to the Guru’s Langars.  The saint Sikhs that come to your home, serve them with great love.”  Bhai Gujjar heard Guru ji’s words and engrained them in his heart.  He began to do exactly as Guru ji said. 

Bhai Gujjar’s village had some householder Sikhs that were great bhagats.  Some bad person told on them with a false accusation and the police came and arrested them.  They were thrown in jail for things they hadn’t done.  Some months passed by and the Prabhoo (Akaal Purakh) helped them.  They were able to escape from the jail.  They came to Bhai Gujjar’s home in the middle of the night.  They had chains around their feet and wanted Bhai Gujjar to cut them.  They asked Bhai Gujjar: “Bhai Gujjar, for the love of the Guru, please cut our chains.  If you help us, you will not be visited by the messengers of the death, jumms.”  Bhai Gujjar heard their plea and got scared. He began to think: “if anyone finds out that I cut their chains, I will get caught and my whole family will be jailed.  The tyrants will kill my whole family.”  He got scared, but then, started to think about what Guru ji said: “if someone comes to your home, help them.  Do not think twice about helping others.”  He then thought: “I shouldn’t go against the Guru’s teachings.  I’ll deal with whatever happens later.  If I die after listening to a Saint’s words, I will be saved in both worlds.”  He decided to help the Sikhs.  He got up and cut the chains of the Sikhs.  The Saints blessed Bhai Gujjar and left.  By the blessing of the Saints, Bhai Gujjar received Brahmgyaan immediately.

One day, a Naaee (hygienist) named Dhinga came to the court of Guru Angad Dev ji.  He came and bowed to Guru ji.  He sat amongst the Sikhs.  All the Sikhs were doing seva of each other.  He joined them and began to do seva and made it his life’s purpose.  He would warm up water for the bathing of the Sikhs.  He would wash their clothes.  He would massage other Sikhs and fan the Sangat during Divan.  He would wash the dishes as well.  Sometimes, he would get the chance to do Guru ji’s seva.  One day, as he was serving Guru ji, he folded his hands and asked Guru ji: “Guru ji please give me wisdom by which I am relieved of all the pains of the world.” Guru ji heard his pleas and said: “the Guru is a crypt, if you want to immerse into the Guru, you need to be dead.  Only the dead are kept in a crypt.  You need to be a mureed (dedicated disciple), dead from the inside.  Just as a dead person’s body does not move, so should the mind not move in the Guru’s presence.  The mureed kills its ego, “I do not exist,” the body and its pleasures are all rejected.  That mureed immerses into the Guru.  The mureed serves the Guru just as a dead person.  Look at the bhagat from your caste Bhagat Sain Naaee.  He would serve Saints, day and night.  He did not leave the service of saints and to go to the king’s service.  Seeing the love of Sain, Bhagavan (Akaal Purakh) took on the form of Sain and served the king.  Akaal Purakh massaged the king and the king was really happy.  In the morning, the King gave Sain his own chola.  So, serve the saints like Sain did.  By doing seva, the Guru is happy.”  Dhinga heard the words of Guru ji and began to live by the Guru’s teachings.  He became a devout Sikh and his whole family also reached salvation.  Just as metal, attached to wood, floats across water, so did his family, float along with Dhinga at reached Brahmgyaan.

Another Sikh named Paro Jhulka came to Guru ji.  He heard the glories of Guru Angad Dev ji and came to Khadoor.  He bowed to Guru ji and sat near him.  He folded his hands and did an Ardaas to Guru ji: “Guru ji, who are the Parmhans?  Please explain to me the Parmhans Brahmgyaanis.  Please tell me what are they like.  I have heard their names and seen them as well, but I don’t know what their virtues are or which are the real ones.  I would like to hear this from you.  What are their virtues which make them special and great?”  Guru Angad ji noticed that this person is worthy of answers.  Guru ji began to tell him what a Parmhans is: “I will tell you the virtues and characteristics of a Parmhans.  If you listen to the virtues of the Parmhans and make them a part of your life, you will become a Brahmgyaani too.  A hans (swan) lives at the mansarovar (lake on a high elevation plateau between the Kailash Mountains) and eats pearls.  Another thing that hanses do is that, if you place milk in front of them, they are able to separate the milk from the water.  They consume the milk and leave the water.  In the similar manner, a saint is able to distinguish the real (soul) and leave the false (body).  The hans can fly very far and at very high altitudes.  They can swim on water as well.  The Parmhans is greater than the hans.  The hans eats pearls, the Parmhans consumes mukti.  A Parmhans Gursikh lives in the words of the Guru (Gurbani).  The Parmhans takes the mukti from Gurbani by using the word of the Guru to separate the soul from the body.  Without the pondering of Gurbani, one is not able to distinguish the soul from the body.  This is the first thought that Parmhans’ have: I am not the body.  The body is not in one state, the soul stays in one state.  The Parmhans understands that: there was a time the body did not exist and that there will be a time when the body will not exist.  Whatever did not exist at one time or that will not exist in the future, that is not true.  The soul always existed and will exist, therefore it is true.  The body is unconscious and does not know itself.  What understands the body or senses, is the observer, the soul, the Chetna (the conscience).  The body is the source of pain.  The Parmhans understands that the soul, the aatma is real.  They understand that they have taken on many bodies in the past.  The aatma will live forever and truly exists.  The Gursikh understands the truth.  The Gursikh understands that the soul is the Chetna and knows itself, and the outer.  It is the soul that causes the body to move; the eyes to see.  Without the soul, nothing happens.  The soul is the Aatma and is pure bliss.  It is never in duality or in pain.  The senses are just an illusion.  The senses are experienced by the aatma.  The ignorant thinks it is the body experiencing the senses.  The Parmhans believes that: Sat, Chetan, Anand is the aatma.  The body is the source of pain.  Realise the body as separate from the self.  The body is like a house, where the soul resides.  The fool will say: “I am the house.”  The Gyani (knowledgeable one) sees the body as the house and sees the soul as different; and that they will leave the body one day.  The body and soul are like milk and water.  This is how the Parmhans thinks and reaches the Brahmgyaan.  When a person sees the soul as different from the body, that person no longer indulges in vices or pleasures of the bodily senses.  That person does not sin for pleasure.  Just as a lotus floats above the water, that is how the Parmhans does not get indulged in the world, after living in the world.  If the level of the water rises, the lotus rises above the water.  If the affairs of the world grow intense, the Gyani rises above the ways of the world, while still being in them.  The lotus always faces the sun, the Parmhans faces Akaal Purakh.  The Parmhans lives in the world and focuses on the aatma and rejects the pains and pleasures of the body.  The Parmhans does not feel happy or sad, due to the effects of the body.  The Gyani person lives in the world just as the ignorant people do, but the Parmhans sees the world as a dream.  The Parmhans is not bound by anything, anymore, and remains engrossed into the Brahm (the Supreme).”  When Paro Jhulka heard the wisdom and teachings of the Guru, he became very happy.  He began to ponder on the words of the Guru and became very peaceful.  He served Guru Angad Dev ji for a long time and became the Sikh of Guru Amardas ji.  He achieved the Brahmgyaan while in the service of Guru Amardas ji.  There have only been two people given the title “Parmhans” in Sikhi.  One was Bhai Paro and the other was Mai Bhaago.  Bhai Paro requested Guru Amardas ji to start celebrating Vaisakhi.  He was also given the seat of Masand by Guru Amardas Ji.  Bhai Paro’s great grand-daughter was Mata Damodri ji, who was married to Guru Hargobind Sahib ji.  His story will come again, ahead. 

1-12 Giving Wisdom to the Sikhs Part 2

A Sikh named Muloo Shahi came to Guru Angad Dev ji.  He bowed and sat down near ji and spoke to Guru ji: “Sri Guru ji, I have come to your feet for mukti.  I have heard your glory and came to meet you.  Please give me wisdom by which my sins and pains can be washed away.  I am a soldier of the Mughals’ army and earn a good living from that job.  Please give my wisdom by which I am saved in this world and in the next.  I would like to be respected in this world and in the court of Akaal Purakh.”  Guru ji heard Muloo Shahi’s request.  He saw his faith and spoke to him: “Bhai Muloo, if you wish to be saved then think about this in your heart: this body that you have, consider it temporary.  Consider this as good as dead.  Do not worry about your body.  Your aatma is true and does not die by any means.  It cannot be burned by fire; it cannot drown by water; it cannot by cut by any weapon; it cannot be blown away by wind; kaal, that kills everything, the aatma can overpower it.  Observe the world as a dream.  The tasks that you need to do at work, consider them as a duty and carry on.  Practice the Brahmgyaan everyday by letting go of your body’s attachment.  Understand that your body will die one day.  Bhagavan Krishan gave this same wisdom to Arjan.  He told him that you are not the body, “you” are the aatma.  Arjan engraved that wisdom into his heart.  To fight on the battlefield is your caste’s duty.  Be determined in your duty.  See your body as false and your aatma as real.  Give donations to the needy but perform your duties on the battlefield.  Do not be attached to your body.  Do not be afraid of your body’s death.  Your body’s death will only come when three specific criteria come together: the location, time and means of death.  These three criteria are predetermined; when they all come together, your pranas (life energy force) will leave your body.  When your time will come, where your body will fall, by the means by which you will die: this will all happen when these three criteria are satisfied, as they have been predetermined by your destiny.  Without these 3 coming together, death cannot happen.  Instead, Kaal protects you.  When they do come together, Kaal takes your pranas.  If you need to fight the war, do not think of anything else.  Fight with your full attention and do not show your back.  Do not think about the quantity of soldiers on your side or the enemy’s side.  Be fearless and fight the war.  You will receive many gifts if you win and will rule on Earth.  Come to the Satsangat and donate a portion of your earnings.  If you die on the battlefield, you will go to heaven without a doubt.  Your glory will be sung in both worlds.  This is how you can be saved, Bhai Muloo.”  Bhai Muloo heard the Guru’s teachings and changed his ways.  He did Simran, and performed his duties.  He shared his earnings and saw his body as false.  He saw his aatma soul as the truth.

Another Sikh named Kidhari came to Guru Angad Dev ji and asked Satguru ji: “Guru ji, the world burns in desire and anger, please make me your bhagat and save me.  I am afraid of the pains of the world and have come to you.”  Guru Angad Dev ji heard him and said: “the whole world is burning with these vices:  anger, desire, jealousy, greed, ego, attachment and others.  Just as the forest catches fire and the deer run away fast and go into the river to escape the heat; the world is the jungle being burned by vices.  The intelligent ones run to the river of the Sangat.  They go to the Sangat of the Guru and perform seva to escape the heat of the vices.  The heat of the vices is cooled down in the Sangat.  The Gurbani is cooling to the mind.  The Sikhs ponder on the meanings of Gurbani.  They receive wisdom and knowledge on how to combat their attachment.”  Kidhari heard Guru ji’s words and implemented them into his life. 

Two Sikhs named Deepa and Narayan Das came to Guru ji along with a Sikh named Boola.  They bowed and performed an Ardaas to Guru ji: “Guru ji, please take us out of the cycle of birth and death.”  Guru Angad Dev ji gave them wisdom: “do Bhagti of Parmeshwar to achieve mukti.”  The Sikhs responded; “we do not know what Bhagti is.  How is it done?”  Guru Angad Dev ji then told them what Bhagti is: “when Akaal Purakh wishes to replicate, Akaal Purakh does this with the help of Maya (the ultimate illusion by which the entire universe and all its dimensions are under).  When Maya was commanded by Akaal Purakh to create the universe, Maya first created 3 powers: Rajogun-the power that creates; Satogun-the power that sustains or nurtures; and Tamogun- the power that destroys.  These powers created an illusion in the universe which made the universe seem like reality.  Parameshver then created four ways to dispel the delusion of Maya: Bairaag (renunciation), Jog (practice of yoga), gyaan (knowledge) and Bhagti.  Gyaan, Bairaag and Jog are great but they are masculine forms.  Maya is a feminine power and is able to overcome these three.  It requires great effort to defeat Maya.  Bhagti is a feminine power of the most chaste kind.  Maya is not strong enough to overcome Bhagti.  The person in which the Bhagti resides, she takes them to Akaal Purakh.  Maya is clever and deceitful, like an acting performer.  It can work its magic on all with its strength.”  The Sikhs then asked: “Guru ji, please explain these four ways.”  Guru Angad Dev ji then answered their request: “There are two types of Bairaag: one is of the mind and the other is of the body.  The fortunate ones can achieve Bairaag in their hearts.  For the body, one renounces all the worldly materials.  Wealth, wife, children all are rejected.  One needs to be stubborn to let go of all the worldly things.  After letting go all these, the desires in the heart still do not go away.  One renounces desires of the world, but still desires the kingdom of heaven.  The second type of Bairaag is to reject all the pleasures of the heavens and worlds above that.  The pleasures of the heavens should be seen as the excretion of crows.  All the desires of the hearts should be rejected.  Observe the pleasures of all the heavens as a dream.  Be happy with what you receive by your karma.  That person will experience the world but will not be attached to the worldly objects.  They keep their attention focused on their aatma away from the pleasures of their senses.  Jog is in two ways as well: one is Kasht Jog.  It has parts: Yam, Neeyam etc. (this is described in Sri Nanak Prakash Granth during the conversation with Raja Shivnaab, also known as Praan Sangli Granth).  The other kind of jog is Sahij jog.  Sahij jog is to stop your mind from the desires of sensory pleasures.  Ponder on the teachings of Gurbani.  Meditate on the True Name.  The soul and the Parmatma become one.  Jog means to attach.  The Aatma and Parmatma become attached by Sahij Jog.  The focus should stay in the Aatma.  The Guru’s wisdom is this kind of Jog: to ponder the Guru’s word and reciting it.  To know the real self, the aatma, this is what Gyanis describe as Gyaan.  Listen to the fourth way.  The fourth way is Bhagti.  In Kaliyuga, Bhagti is the supreme.  Vahiguru is the master, serve the master as the master is all-powerful and all-knowing.  Become the master’s servant.  Learn from the Pathbruthas (the chaste) and surrender your body, mind, and wealth to Akaal Purakh.  Love the master with full devotion.  Live in the acceptance of the will of Akaal Purakh.  The desire to be one with Akaal Purakh should be the only desire.  This is the Love Bhagti: Finding every breath without the master as painful; Tears shedding from the eyes, because of the separation; Whoever talks about the master, they serve that person with love;  Serve the people who do Kirtan or Katha;  The master knows the love in the bhagat servants heart and comes and unites with the aatma.  After the meeting, the servant is in bliss.  The master is then in the control of the bhagat.  This is the way to do Bhagti.”  Listening to the words of the Guru, all three of the Sikhs were in bliss.  They served the Satsangat with faith and devotion.  The love of Akaal Purakh came into their hearts.  Muloo Shahi and all of the Sikhs stayed with Guru Angad Dev ji and served the Guru.  They then stayed with Guru Amardas ji after.  They achieved Sikhi and received mukti.  Many other people met these Sikhs and became Sikhs themselves.  The glory of the Satguru resided in their hearts.  They were fortunate to meet Guru Angad Dev ji.  They were drenched in the Guru’s love and Bhagti. 

1-13 The Chaudhary of Harike, The Drunk Chaudhary, The Thief

Guru Angad Dev ji visited his hometown of Harike one day.  This place was close to Nange di Saran, Mukatsar.  He knew many people in that village and they came to see him when they heard of his arrival.  Guru ji set up his living area, along with the Sikhs that were with him.  Many Sikhs came along with Guru ji.  The people of the village heard of the glories of Guru ji and were amazed that the boy from their village was now seated on the throne of Guru Nanak Dev ji.  Guru ji’s friends came to see him.  They bowed and sat down.  The leader of the village, the Sardar, the Chaudhary heard that Guru Angad Dev ji used to live in the village nearby and that he had become the Guru.  The Chaudhary said: “he used to live here and now he has many powers.”  When Guru ji was about 14 years old, his village was raided by the Balochis (people from Baluchistan).  Guru ji and his family then moved to Khadoor after that.  The Chaudhary wanted to come and see Guru ji, so he sent a servant to inform Guru ji that the Chaudhary was coming.  Guru Angad Dev ji was all-knowing and thought to himself: “the Chaudhary has a lot of wealth and is proud of his assets.”  Guru ji asked the Sikhs to bring a stool for the Chaudhary’s sitting.  The Sikhs went and brought a stool and placed it next to Guru ji’s bed.  They placed a sheet on top of the stool for respect.  The Chaudhary then came along with his men, walking proudly, wearing his plumed Dastaar and golden jewellery.  Everyone came and bowed to Guru ji.  The Chaudhary saw the stool and realised it was for him.  He didn’t go towards the stool, but instead, he sat on the same bed that Guru ji was sitting on.  He was full of pride being the Chaudhary.  He was a fool and didn’t know the greatness of the Guru.  He thought he was higher, being the Sardar.  Guru ji saw him but didn’t say anything.  He was speaking to his friends that had come to see him.  The Chaudhary sat for a little while and then went back home.  He didn’t understand the greatness of the Guru.  He didn’t even bow.  After he left, the Sikhs said to Guru ji: “this person was quite the fool.  It was not right for him to sit on the same bed that you were sitting on.  He didn’t even look towards the stool.  After signalling him, he still went and sat on to your bed.  He did not know what respect is.”  Guru Angad Dev ji heard the Sikhs and made a comment in passing: “his beds and stools won’t survive; he won’t have anything left soon.  He disrespected the throne of Guru Nanak Dev ji.  The greatest kings wouldn’t even survive after disrespecting the throne of Guru Nanak Dev ji.  People who respect the great saints, they become great as well.”  The Chaudhary’s wealth, assets and his glory began to diminish day by day to the point where they had nothing left.  Guru ji then returned to Khadoor.

Guru ji’s personality was very calm.  He was never stressed.  Just as the water does not drench the lotus; Guru ji lives in the world and does not indulge in it.  He remains unaffected by all the huff and puff of the world.  He does not say good or bad about anything.  He would stay focused on the bliss of his soul, Akaal Purakh.  People who follow the “Baran reet” (the traditions of the castes: Brahmins: reading, and teaching Vedas; encouraging and receiving donations; encouraging and performing yagnas.  Kshatriyas: learning the Vedas, giving donations, holding yagnas, protecting the public.  Vaishyas: learning the Vedas, giving donations, holding yagnas.  Shoodras: to serve the other 3 castes.  The 4 Ashrams- Brahamachaari- to remain chaste and learn the education from a Guru; Ghrist – to marry, have kids and earn a living; Baanprast- living in the forest and then Sanyaas- renunciation), they did not come to see Guru ji in the Sangat.  Guru ji treated all castes the same.  Everyone ate out of the same dishes, there weren’t any different type of dishes for the higher castes.  There were only clay dishes.  Guru ji was unaffected by castes and did not care for their traditions.  They used clay dishes for Langer and the Brahmins did not like that.  The Brahmins and Kshatriyas that held a fanatical view did not come eat in the Langar.  They had bad karma; it was their loss.  Guru ji did not care for their preferences.  Guru ji did the Bhagti of Prem Bhagti (love).  He did the Prem Bhagti of the Parmeshwar.  He preached the Prem Bhagti as the highest.  Guru ji was fearless and didn’t care what others said.  For this reason, that Guru ji didn’t follow the Baran Reet, the fanatics did not come close to the court.  They only bowed from a distance.  They did not listen to the teachings and the wisdom of the Guru.  The Sangat of Guru Nanak Dev ji would come from far and wide and have their wishes fulfilled. 

There was a Chaudhary that lived in Khadoor.  He had never heard of Prem Bhagti.  He would drink alcohol and say bad things to everyone.  The Chaudhary came down with epilepsy.  He would get really worried when he had a seizure.  He heard about the glory of Guru Angad Dev ji and came to see him.  He told Guru ji about his illness: “I have heard that you are very gracious and everyone sings your glories.  I have an illness which I ask for you to cure.  I will then have faith in the glories that people say about you.”  Guru ji heard the Chaudhary and said: “if you were to stop drinking alcohol, your seizures would go away and you will be cured.  If you were to begin drinking again after I tell you not to, the next seizure will take your life.”  The Chaudhary bowed to Guru ji and went back home.  He let go of alcohol and was cured.  He stayed happy after that.  Till the time he didn’t drink, he was happy and peaceful.  After a while, he lost his faith due to a vile mind and forgot the Guru’s words.  Even though he witnessed the miracle of his cure, he lost faith.  One day, a dust storm came and it began to rain.  The weather got cold due to the rain.  The wind was pleasant though.  It was evening and rain and smell created a pleasant ambiance with pleasurable temperatures.  He had the wish to drink alcohol and called for it.  The alcohol affected him as soon as he drank it.  He was drunk.  He went to his balcony to admire the rain and the weather.  He looked towards the house of Guru Angad Dev ji and shouted out from his own home: “Oh Tappa (Saint)!  Look!  I have not followed your command.  I am drinking and the rain is beautiful.  How could I resist alcohol in such beautiful weather?  I am happy like this.”  Guru ji heard the Chaudhary’s words and smiled.  Guru ji said: “I had told you what to do.  You will need to be prepared for the seizures to return.  I had tied the seizures with my command.  Now that the command is not there, there is noting stopping it.”  In a matter of seconds, the Chaudhary was hit with a seizure and fell from his balcony.  His head hit the ground hard and it split open.  He died right away.  His relatives then came and cremated his body.  The Chaudhary was a fool and filled with ego.  He was making fun of Guru ji and died right away.  He was shameless and went to hell for doing so.

There was a servant in the Sangat that would live there and not do any seva.  He wouldn’t even do seva after someone would tell him to.  He would do things that Guru ji would tell him though, but not if anyone else told him to.  One day, Baba Bhudda ji said to him: “it is best to stay in the Sangat of the Guru.  Spend your time doing seva and Simran.  This lazy body of yours is of no use.  When you die, nobody will touch your body.”  The person responded: “I will only do things that Guru ji asks me to do.  I do not listen to anyone else.  This is my determination.”  A long time passed since the time Baba Bhudda ji talked to him.  One day, he was sitting with Guru ji and said: “Guru ji, it has many days that you haven’t asked me to do anything.”  Guru ji responded: “go and burn in fire.  This is your seva.”  The servant heard the Guru’s command and headed towards the jungle to collect firewood.  He gathered the firewood and lit a fire.  As the fire began to roar, he got scared.  There then, came a thief running with his loot from somewhere.  The thief asked the servant: “what are you doing?”  The servant answered: “I have been commanded by Guru ji to burn in the fire, but I cannot do it.”  The thief momentarily destroyed his ego and said: “I am a sinner.  If I burn in this fire, my sins would be washed away.  I will pay you with my loot in return for following the command of the Guru.”  The servant got greedy seeing the loot and agreed to the transaction.  The servant took the loot and money; the thief jumped into the fire and burned to death.  A vessel came from heaven to take the thief’s soul.  He was seated in the vessel with great respect for following the Guru’s command.  He resided in heaven with happiness.  By following the Guru’s command, his sins were washed away.  The servant began to walk towards his home but the people who were chasing the thief came and saw the Sikh with the loot.  They took him to the police.  The people demanded that the loot be returned to them and that the Servant be hung for his crime.  The police hung the servant right away as he was caught red-handed with the loot.  The fool died without earning the words of the Guru.  Those who have faith in the Guru and listen to his commands, they achieve a very high status.  Those who fall prey to their greed and forego the command of the Guru, die and go to Hell.  The Gurmukh achieves a lot of blessings while following the Guru’s words, with faith and devotion.  The Manmukhs follow Sikhi but it gives the opposite result when they follow their greed.  Look at the glory of the Guru’s words: the unfaithful Sikh was hung and the thief went to heaven.

1-14 The History of Sri Guru Amardas ji

Guru Angad Dev ji would spend a lot of time with the kids, teaching them the Gurmukhi script and getting them to wrestle.  Guru ji would remain in a still state, free of pleasure and pain, joy or sorrow.  He would preach the message of Sikhi.  Many came to him for mukti.  Such a person would be fortunate if they got the chance to serve the feet of Guru Angad Dev ji. 

The history will now turn to the gem of the Bhalla clan, Guru Amardas ji.  His history will now be written as how he came to meet Guru Angad Dev ji and did his seva.  In the village of Baasarke, lived a person named Baba Tej Bhaan ji.  Born in the house of Bhallas (the descendants of Bharat, the brother of Ram Chander ji), he was religious and very spiritual.  Baba Tej Bhaan was without faults.  He had four sons, of which Guru Amardas ji was the eldest.  All of the sons would farm their land and Tej Bhaan ji would meditate and do the Simran of Akaal Purakh.  He had all his sons marry into good families and was living a peaceful life.  All of the sons were busy in their own households, soon enough.  After a long time, Tej Bhaan ji had grandkids from all his sons.  Guru Amardas ji stayed in his household for most of his life.  One day he began to ponder about how fast life was going by.  He figured he should start a business by travelling around and to visit holy places to wash his vices.  He wanted to start getting involved in religious activity so his afterlife would be successful.  Otherwise, he would have been caught up in worldly attachments and would have to face the pains of the world.  Otherwise, it won’t be long when the Jumms would come to take the soul and then the dying person can only regret the time he/she wasted on futile things.  He thought to himself: “it is the right time to go to holy places and do Tapasya.  It is better to go in my youth.  My body will be weak once I am old.”  He made a plan to go to the Ganga, where sins can be washed away.  He set a goal for himself to go to the Ganga by foot every six months.  It was a distance of 400 km.

 He would go to the Ganga and bathe in the river with great devotion.  He would do it with great faith and not speak to anyone as he went.  He would perform pooja and offer flowers at the shores of the Ganga.  He would come in a state of humility and light incense and pour pataasay (sugar clumps) in water and keep fasts.  He would have great love in his heart and say Jaikaras.  He was without desire and totally selfless.  He made many trips to the Ganga in his lifetime.  He would make the purifying trip and wash his vices away.  He would destroy all his vices as he travelled.  He would destroy his desire, anger and greed.  He would go with a clean heart.  He would go every 6 months.  He would think of the Ganga while in his home.  When he went for his 19^th trip, his body had become old.  He would do Simran on the way to Ganga and call jaikaras out loud.  On his twentieth trip, he took the path of Mihrda village.  There, lived a famous Saarsut Brahmin from the Bhumbi subcaste, named Durga.  The travellers would stay at his home to rest on the way to Ganga, or on their way back home.  Guru Amardas ji stopped at Durga’s house.  Durga would serve travellers with water and give them a place to rest.  In Guru ji’s 20^th trip, he stopped at Durga’s house and rested on one of the beds that Durga had laid out.  Guru Amardas ji rested during the high heat of noon.  Durga Pandit was a very educated Brahmin.  He was educated in the six angas of the Vedas: of Kalp (rituals), Sikhya (phonology/pronunciation), Chands (prosody/poetic measures), Nirukt (etymology/explanation of words), Jyotish (astrology) and Vyakarana (grammar).  He was knowledgeable of Samudrika Vidya (face/palm/aura reading) which is the highest form of Jyotish.  He caught sight of Guru ji’s feet and being an expert in Jyotish, he saw the lines on the bottom of Guru ji’s feet.  He saw the design of a lotus flower formed in the foot of Guru ji.  He saw it from far away and then came close to Sri Amardas ji.  He sat towards Guru ji’s feet and began to read his lines.  Guru ji had lines that formed a lotus in his right hand and in his feet.  Durga thought very deeply and noticed that this person was a very high level of an Avatar.  This symbol is only in the feel of the Avatar of Vishnu or a very powerful King.  “He is definitely an Avatar of Vishnu or a great king.  No one else has this formation in their feet,” thought Durga.  As Guru Amardas ji lay their sleeping, the Brahmin kept thinking that: “this was a great Avatar or a King that will win the world.”  These were the most unique type of lines that he had ever seen.  Sri Amardas ji woke up and got ready to leave.  The Brahman came and sat down in front of him.  He started looking at Guru ji’s face.  Guru Amardas ji figured that the Brahman was looking for a donation.  Guru ji took out some money from his pocket.  “Here you go Pandit ji.  This is a great place you have.  You do a great service for travellers for letting them rest here.  Keep up the seva that you do.  The travellers to Ganga rest here.  This is great karma you are doing.  Saints come to your home and make it pure.”  As Guru ji offered money, the Brahmin Said: “I will not take this money from you.  When you become great, I will take it from you then.  Please promise me: when you achieve a great status you will give me this money.  I will come see you.”  Guru ji asked him: “Pandit ji, I only have a few acres of land and I farm it for a living.  How can I become big?  I’m a simple man that raises his kids with farming.  I don’t have much.  Why are you asking me to give you money later?”  The Brahmin said: “I have read your lines and have determined that you will be a great being.  You have not blossomed yet.  Your time will come.  The light of Akaal Purakh will come on to you.  You are an Avaysha Avatar in which the light of Akaal Purakh will come to you, later in life.  It is either that, or you will become an Emperor.  I am 100% sure of this.  My calculations have never been wrong.  When you achieve this high status, I want you to give me whatever I ask for.”  Guru Amardas ji laughed and said: “if your words are true, I will give you what you ask for, for sure.  What you say: of being an Avatar or a King, I don’t know about that.  I am a simple man.   I come to the Ganga every 6 months and raise my family.  But I will give you what you ask for.”  Guru ji left Mihrda and travelled home.

On the way home, Guru ji stopped at another place where the Naths of Gorakh Nath lived.  There was a Brahamachaari (celibate) that joined Guru ji along his travels.  He was very educated and very religious.  They talked about religious text and had great company.  They talked about spirituality and Akaal Purakh.  They travelled together the whole time and rested the nights.  They ate together the whole time and rested at the same time.  The Brahmin wanted to go to Lahore.  They soon reached Baasarke and Guru ji kept him at his house.  The Brahamachaari rested there and was served well.  During night time, they laid their beds on the roof.  They had very deep conversations about Bhagti.  The Brahamachaari then asked: “who is your Guru and from where did you receive such great knowledge?”  Guru ji responded: “I don’t have any Guru.  I’ve been looking for a Guru for a long time but haven’t come across anyone.  I haven’t received Dikhsha (initiation by a Guru, usually by a mantra given to the disciple) or served any Guru.  I have a great wish to have a Guru one day.”  The Brahamachaari was very upset and said: “you have destroyed my Tapasya and good karma.  I have done a lot of Bhagti and visited holy sites, but my being in your company, all my good karma is gone.  You are without a Guru and it is not good to be in such a person’s company or eat at their house who has no Guru.  My Tapasya is all gone because of you.  You are a senior and you have not a Guru?  Why have you not found a Guru yet?  This is a very bad thing you have done; that you do not have a Guru.  Did anyone not tell you to have a Guru?”  The Brahamachaari got up right away and left Guru ji’s home.  Sri Amardas ji felt very bad after.

He couldn’t think of anything else; he would only think about getting a Guru.  He was determined to find a Guru.  He prayed to Akaal Purakh all the time that Akaal Purakh would take pity on him.  “You are the giver of the poor.  From your feet came the holy Ganga.  I served the Ganga for many years without any desire.  I have full faith in the Ganga.  If I can receive something in return for serving the Ganga, I would like to receive this fruit, this reward: having a Guru.  Akaal Purakh, you know the desires of every heart.  Who else can I ask this boon from?”  This wish would worry Guru ji all day long.  He would wonder when he would receive a Guru.  He would pray to Ganga: “oh mother of Bheesham Pitamah, you are the holiest of all holy sites and fulfill everyone’s wishes.  You were brought from Brahamlok by the Bagheerath King.  Bagheerath did Tapasya.  Ganga saved 60,000 people in Bagheerath’s family.  The Devatas bathe in your waters and you wash everyone’s sins.  You give everyone peace and are the queen of the world.  Your flow cannot be stopped by anyone.  Please fulfill my wish and help me meet a Guru.”  Sri Amardas ji would sing the glories of the Ganga and do his Ardaas everyday.  Night fell and Guru ji went to sleep.  The next day, he had no hunger to eat food.  He was depressed and did not want to eat or drink anything.  The next night, he stayed awake all night and kept thinking.  He only had one wish and prayed to Akaal Purakh and Ganga all the time.  He would keep singing their praises and shedding tears.  He didn’t know where the Guru was, nor who he was, nor what his name was, but he was remembering the Satguru.  He prayed to the Satguru ji: “Guru ji, wherever you are, please come meet me.  You are omnipresent and exist above time.  Satguru ji, you are everywhere.  Please listen to my plea and come see me yourself.  I don’t know who and where you are.  I don’t know how to see if a Guru is complete or fake.  I do not have that wisdom.  Please come see me and hold my hand so that I may have a Guru.”  Sri Amardas ji would pray to the Satguru, constantly.  He had no will to eat, drink or sleep.  He would take deep breaths.  He was now old but still went to the Ganga.  He was filled with love but worry as well.  He thought: “either I want to die or either I want the complete Satguru.  My life is useless without the Satguru.  Nothing of mine is done or complete unless I meet the True Guru.  Even if I receive the kingdom of the world or the kingdom of heaven, without the Guru, it is all useless.  The tapp, fast or visitation of holy sites is useless without the Satguru.  The pleasures of the heavens are useless.  If the Satguru gives me wisdom, all my Tapasyas will be fruitful and my pain will be gone.  I will attain to the Satguru for sure, otherwise, I will not eat or drink.”

1-15 Sri Amardas ji meets Guru Angad Dev ji

Satguru Angad Dev ji had a daughter named Bibi Amaro ji.  Bibi Amaro ji would always remain engrossed in her Bhagti.  She was considered the Avatar of Bhagti itself.  Sri Amardas ji had a younger brother named Bhai Manik Chand ji.  Bhai Manik Chand ji had a son named Bhai Jasoo ji, who was a very intelligent and knowledgeable person.  Bibi Amaro was married to Bhai Jasoo ji.  Bibi Amaro would do the housework all day long and would listen to everyone in the house.  She would wake up before the last watch of the night (around 2 am) and take a bath to read the Gurbani of Guru Nanak Dev ji.  That same night that Sri Amardas ji was up, Bibi Amaro did her Simran and got to her household chores.  She was churning butter and singing the Bani of Guru Nanak Dev ji and enjoying herself as she sang it.  Her focus was one with the Bani and every word she sung would give her joy.  As Sri Amardas ji was up all night, praying for the Satguru to find him, he heard the sweet singing of his nephew’s wife.  He stopped his mind’s thoughts, and his breath, to listen to the Gurbani being sung.  The sweet tune got stuck in his heart.  His heart blossomed as it heard the Gurbani.  He got up and walked close to the wall to hear the singing.  He didn’t want to be seen by her, so that she doesn’t stop singing by feeling shy.  He hid and heard her singing for a long time.  As the sun rose, Sri Amardas ji went to Bibi Amaro and asked her: “what were these words that you were singing?  Oh daughter, please sing those words again.  Those words resurrected my dead spirit.  Listening to those words was like Amrit (nectar of eternal life) in my mouth.  I am alive again!  You have done a great service to me and you shall be rewarded with great Karma.”  Bibi Amaro was shy, as it was not polite to speak in front of the elders in that time period.  She timidly said the words of the Gurbani again:

Sri Mukhvaak (from the holy mouth of the Guru) Maaroo Mahalla 1 Ghar 1 (Raag Maaroo, Nanak I, sung in the first house)

The actions of the person are like paper, the mind is the inkpot.  Good and bad are the writings.  As the past karmas inspire, the pen flows in that manner.  Your virtues have no end, Akaal Purakh, nobody can figure out your ways.  Oh, foolish person, why do you not remember Hari.  By forgetting Hari, your good karma will rot away. Pause.

The small net of the night and the big net of the day, the watches of the day are the ropes around your neck.  The person is engrossed in the pleasures of life and stuck in these nets.  By which actions can you be free, oh foolish one?  Your body is the furnace and your mind is the iron, burning in the fire of the vices (lust, anger, greed, attachment and ego).  The coal of sins added on top.  The mind is being burned by the tong of worries, holding on to the mind.  The mind is burnt and turned into slag (metallic waste) but can turn into gold if it meets the Guru.  The name of Akaal Purakh, which is the ambrosial nectar, is given by the Guru, Says Nanak, then the body is saved. (SGGS 990)

Listening to these words, Sri Amardas ji was very happy.  He said: “oh daughter, whatever you have said, this is exactly the state my mind is in right now.  My youth is gone, I didn’t think of doing Bhagti or Seva then.  Now I am old and my mind is turned to slag, all burnt.  The words that you have said, it states that the slag can turn to gold with the philosopher’s stone if I meet the Guru.  It seems as though this Gurbani is for me.  This is how I am.  I need the philosopher’s stone, the Guru.”  Sri Amardas ji asked her again: “who wrote these words and how do you know them?  The person who wrote this, is that saint still living in this word?  Listening to this Shabad, I am filled with love and I am now happy.  This Shabad was written for me.”  Bibi Amaro heard his words and said: “this Gurbani is written by Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji.  He has written these words in beautiful writings.  He has written a lot of Gurbani for the salvation of Humankind.  By reading it, one is filled with love and he/she is saved in this world and in the world beyond.  My father sings and listens to this Gurbani with love.  At my father’s house, the Rababis sing this Gurbani day and night.  The whole Sangat listens to this Gurbani.  Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji has left for Vaikunt (Sach Khand) and gave his light, his throne, to my father, Guru Angad Dev ji.  I heard this Gurbani and memorized it from my father.  The Bani of Guru Nanak destroys sins.  There are many Sikh servants that sing this Gurbani, who live in far off lands as well as close by.  The Sikhs let go of their vices and meditate on the name of Akaal Purakh.”  Sri Amardas ji said: “listen, do this favor for me: take me to your father.  I wish to meet him.  I wish to meet the Guru as I cannot continue living like this.  I am old and have no wisdom.  I need to go right away.  My daughter, please make me alive again.”  Bibi Amaro said: “Pitha ji, you are my elder, I will obey your command without doubt.  You are elder than my father-in-law, I cannot say no to you.  I am afraid of one thing though: when I was married off, I was told that my house is now my husband’s home.  I am not allowed to go to my father’s home unless I am called to.  I cannot go without being summoned.  I can go if there are functions at my father’s home, but not otherwise.  I need to obey my father’s command and cannot come with you.  I cannot come without his command and cannot leave his home without his command either.  I am afraid of his words as anything that comes from his mouth turns into reality.”  Sri Amardas responded: “don’t worry about this.  Your father is the true Guru, he will not be mad if you do this work for me.  He will see me as his servant and keep me there.”  Bibi Amaro agreed and then got ready to go. 

Bibi Amaro ji called the jheevars (fishermen or water carriers.  They would also travel along, carrying palanquins) to pick up her palanquin.  Sri Amardas ji followed her.  He saw many great signs as he left his home.  He thought to himself: “I feel Akaal Purakh and nature are on my side.”  They walked towards Khadoor slowly.  Bibi Amaro ji said to Sri Amardas ji: “Thayaji, as we come close to my father’s home, would you kindly wait just outside the village as I go and meet my father first, please?  My father may be in Samadhi and then I will ask him when he opens his eyes.  When he agrees to seeing you, I will come get you.  You can meet him and stay with him.  I will need to do this though.”  Sri Amardas ji agreed and Bibi Amaro ji went to her father’s house.  She met her father with love and sat beside him.  The True Guru spoke to his daughter: “what brings you here today?  You were not called to come.  You came without being called upon, my daughter.  On top of that, why did you leave the person you brought along with you outside of the village?  Bring the person inside.”  Bibi Amaro folded her hands and said: “yes Father, I will bring him.  I wasn’t sure if I had your permission to bring him.  I will bring him right away.  My father-in-law has a deep desire to meet you.”  Bibi Amaro went to Sri Amardas ji and brought him to her father.  As soon as he met the Guru, he has extremely happy.  He saw that the Guru was above pain and pleasure, joy and sorrow.  He was exactly how the Shasters described such a being.  Guru Angad Dev ji got up to meet Sri Amardas, as he was the father-in-law of his daughter.  He took out his hands to hug Sri Amardas ji but Sri Amardas ji fell to Guru Angad Dev ji’s feet and said: “oh Satguru, I am not worthy of hugging you.  Please make me the servant of your feet.”  Guru Angad Dev ji lifted him and hugged my forcefully.  They both sat down and asked how the family was doing. 

After a while of sitting and chatting the Langri came to announce the Langar.  Guru Angad Dev ji and other Sikhs such as Baba Bhudda ji came to the Pangat.  Guru Angad Dev ji came and sat down.  Sri Amardas ji sat down in the Pangat as well.  First the rice and dhaal (lentils) came.  After that, the meat came.  Sri Amardas ji saw the meat and got concerned.  He thought to himself: “I have never eaten meat in my life before.  I consider it a sin.  How can I get up from here?  If I knew this was going to happen, I would not have sat down.  If I say no, the Langris may get mad.  I came to be initiated as a Sikh.  If I say no to the food, the Guru may be mad.  I hope I am not rejected from being his Sikh.  If the Guru is not happy, he may not accept me.  I have no other way out now.  If the Guru is complete and can see inside my heart, I wish for the Guru to stop the Langri from giving me the meat.  If this happens, firstly, my Dharam will not break, secondly my faith in the Guru will increase.  If the Guru fulfills my heart’s wishes, I can see that he his complete and will surely save my soul.”  Guru Angad Dev ji heard the heart of Sri Amardas ji.  Guru ji stopped the Langri with the bucket of meat and said: “the new person that has come, bring rice and dhaal for him.  He does not eat meat, as he follows a vegetarian tradition.”  The Langri skipped Sri Amardas ji and distributed the meat to the rest of the Sangat.  Sri Amardas ji received rice and Dhaal.  Everyone ate and were satisfied.  They drank water and got up.  Sri Amardas ji was very happy and thought to himself: “the Guru is complete.  My sins will now be washed away.  My good karma has come to fruition.  There is no other Guru more powerful than Guru Angad Dev ji.  I would be fortunate if this Guru would keep me in his service.  The Ganga has heard my cry, this Guru is a complete Avatar.  He is the greatest form.”  Sri Amardas ji sat down and was thinking how the miracle had just occurred, just as he wanted it.  The night passed and the day came.  The next day the Langar was ready again.  Guru Angad Dev ji would sit amongst the Sangat to eat Langar.  Sri Amardas ji sat down again and thought: “Guru ji, I have full faith in you and don’t wish to test you again.  I have another wish: I wish that you give me the food from your plate, without me asking for it.  When I get the food from the Guru’s plate, I will be purified.  My heart will be pure.”  Guru Angad Dev ji heard Sri Amardas ji’s plea.  He ate his food and drank his water but left a little food behind.  He called a sevadaar and said to him: “take my plate to the new person that is here.  He wishes to have my food.”  The servant took Guru ji’s plate and gave it to Sri Amardas.  Sri Amardas ji took the plate and ate it.  He was now in bliss and his whole body was reciting “Dhan Guru Angad Dev ji.”  As soon as he took the first bite, his mind stopped wandering.  He became still.  He was in peace.  All his doubts were cleared.  He drank water and finished every last bit of food.  He came outside and didn’t know the Sikhs, as he was new.  He was sitting alone.  He would come when the Langar would be called and would eat whatever was given.  He would stay in the same place and instill his mind in Simran.

Sri Amardas ji spent many days like this.  Guru Angad Dev ji hadn’t called him for this whole time.  He didn’t say any words.  This is how the Guru was testing the Sikh.  Sri Amardas ji was shy to meet or talk to anyone.  He would eat in the Langar and then spend time alone and recite the name of Akaal Purakh.  He wouldn’t talk to anyone and nobody else would talk to him.  Sri Amardas ji was determined to stay here for the rest of his life.