3-51 Wisdom to the Sikhs/ Bhai Tiloka and Bhai Kataroo

One day, Guru Arjan Dev ji was sitting and the Sangat came to meet him.  Bhai Tiloka, a Sikh, came and bowed to Guru ji’s feet.  He folded his hands and said: “I have come to your sanctuary, Prabhoo ji.  I wish to be blessed so that I am in bliss in both worlds.  Please give me the wisdom which would make my troubles go away.  Guru ji was compassionate and said to Bhai Tiloka: “adhere to the Satnam all the time.  Keep your attention focused on the Name.  Standing or sitting; coming or going; do not let go of the Simran, day or night.  Accept the will of Parmeshwar.  Be happy with what happens because Akaal Purakh is doing everything.  Akaal Purakh always does good.  Don’t blame anything on Akaal Purakh.  Akaal Purakh is present everywhere.  Don’t see your body as you.  This is a body on top of your Aatma.  The Aatma is separate from your body.  Slowly, the illumination of Akaal Purakh’s form will illuminate.  Don’t give anyone harm.  Remain compassionate to all.  Don’t hurt anyone’s heart.  Whatever profit you make, be content with it.  Let go of your anger, jealousy, greed, ego and desire.”  After taking the wisdom from Guru ji, Bhai Tiloka went to his home in Ghazni.  He used to work for the Mughals in the army.  He was always mounted on the horse who travelled with his boss.  He got 50 Rajitpuns from his job.  He always had weapons with him. 

One day, Bhai Tiloka’s boss went hunting and Bhai Tiloka went with him.  The Mughal boss chased a doe.  When Bhai Tiloka got close to the doe with his horse, he pulled his sword out.  He sliced the doe in two.  It was a pregnant doe.  Two baby deer fell out of the womb and died after suffering.  Bhai Tiloka was really upset seeing this.  He was cursing himself for doing such an act.  He had killed three by killing one.  He started thinking about Guru ji’s wisdom about not hurting anyone.  He was to be compassionate.  “I didn’t follow my Guru’s words.  I am a sinner.  I am not going to keep my weapons anymore.  They make me do sins.  I will let them go from now on.”  He wanted to let go of his weapon but he still had to work.  Instead of the real sword, he kept a wooden sword from that day on.  Many days passed and nobody noticed.  A person, who was not a well-wisher, found out and told the Mughal boss.  He found out that it really was a wooden sword.  He told on Bhai Tiloka to his boss: “your soldier, Tiloka, your bodyguard, keeps a wooden sword with him.  Only the hilt is metal.  He is taking his pay in this sneaky way.”  The Mughal heard this and didn’t believe the other person.  He said: “the brave Tiloka is a warrior.  I have kept him as the best person in my army.  He is a great warrior and fights with courage on the battlefield.”  The tattle-tailer said again: “hold a court and tell everyone to show you their swords.  Ask them all of a sudden.  Don’t let anyone know of your plan.  You will know for sure then.  If his sword is wooden, fire him.  If his sword is metal, you can punish me for it.”  The Mughal was in doubt now.  He ordered for a court to be in session.  All of the soldiers were present.  Bhai Tiloka was sitting in the court as well.  The Mughal thought to himself: “I will ask everyone to see their swords.”  The Mughal took his own sword out first.  He showed everyone his sword and asked the others to show theirs.  Everyone was told to take their swords out too: “everyone, take your swords out.  I want to see how good they are.”  Bhai Tiloka was worried about this as his was a wooden one: “he will see my sword and punish me.”  Bhai Tiloka started to do the Simran of Guru Arjan Dev ji: “I have been living by your teachings and for this reason I wear a wooden sword so I don’t kill anyone.  I will be humiliated and fired today.  Please protect me Guru ji, just as Draupati was saved in the court.  Keep my truth hidden from the court.  Draupati was saved and Duryodhana’s wish was not fulfilled.  Make my sword into metal.  If he sees my wooden sword, the Mughal will fire me.  He will kill me and my family.  I am worried.”  He thought about Guru ji.  Guru ji heard his call.  Satguru ji came to his rescue.  When everyone showed their swords, Tiloka was asked to show his sword as well.  They wanted to see the stamps on his sword, of how many battles it had won.  Tiloka said: “the Guru is the strength of my sword.  It has his stamp on it.  I will show it to you.”  He said “Vahiguru” and pulled his sword out from its sheath.  It shined like lightening in the court.  It was the most beautiful sword with the sharpest edge.  It was a strong sword.  The Mughal was amazed and happy.  He thought to himself: “I will pay him double and promote him.  The tattle-tailer was wrong.”  The person who told on him was punished and kicked out.  Bhai Tiloka’s faith grew.

Bhai Tiloka came to Amritsar after a few days.  He bowed to Guru ji’s feet and said: “Dhan, you are great!”  He told the whole Sangat of what happened to him.  Satguru ji heard his story and said: “you lived up to your promise of being compassionate.  Why wouldn’t have the Guru protected you?  You lived up to the word of Gurbani.”  The Sikhs heard the whole story and said; “Dhan Guru Arjan Dev ji.”  Their faith for Guru ji grew even more.  After a few days Bhai Tiloka ji went to his home. 

A Sikh named Kataroo came to visit Guru Arjan Dev ji.  He came and bowed to Guru ji’s feet with respect.  He stood up, folded his hands and said: “please protect me oh master.  You support the Sikhs and make their troubles go away.  Give me wisdom that will make my troubles go away.  I live in the Kabul Sooba.  I work there as a scaler.  I weigh things for a living.”  Guru ji said: “if you are a scaler, don’t weigh things falsely.  Do the Simran of Satnam and give your Dasvand to the Guru.  You won’t have any shortages.”  Bhai Kataroo came back to his home.  He came back to Kabul and made an honest living.  He did the Simran of “Guru” as he worked. 

There was a time when a merchant gave Bhai Kataroo a weighing stone.  The merchant’s stone was 5 Paisas less.  Bhai Kataroo didn’t know that.  He used that stone to weigh everything.  Whoever came to buy things from him, got less for what they paid for.  One customer who bought things from Bhai Kataroo, went to another scaler and found out that he got less.  That customer told the Soobaydaar: “your scaler is cheating people.”  The Soobaydaar called for the scaler and told him to bring his scale and stones with him.  When Bhai Kataroo came to the Soobaydaar’s court, the Soobaydaar said to him: “weigh your stones against the others.  I want to investigate this.”  Bhai Kataroo got scared and thought of the Satguru.  He recalled the Guru’s praises and thought: “no one can help me now but you.  Please help me.  I did not know that I have been scaling less.  I made an honest mistake.  I only rely on your support.  I don’t have faith on anyone else.”  Guru ji was sitting in his court.  One Sikh came and offered 5 Paisas for the Ardaas.  Guru ji picked up the 5 Paisas and began to check its weight in his right hand.  He then checked the weight of the 5 Paisas in his left hand.  A Sikh standing behind Guru ji asked Guru ji: “Guru ji, many gold and silver coins have been offered in your court but you have never touched them.  The Masands take them.  Why have you picked up these 5 Paisas today and are checking its weight?  What is the reason for this?  Please tell us oh master.  We are unwise to your ways.”  Guru ji said: “one Sikh’s weighing stone is 5 Paisas less.  I am completing his stone.  The stone is being moved from one side of the scale to the other.  I am moving it in my hands to complete the side that needs it to be even.  His name is Bhai Kataroo of Kabul.  He has called for me from there.  He didn’t know that his stone was less in weight by 5 Paisas.”  Satguru ji said this for all the Sikhs to hear.  In Kabul, the stone was complete in its weight.  The Sooba was happy with Bhai Kataroo, seeing him as an honest person.  He said to the tattle-tailer: “you are a liar!”  the Sooba promoted the scaler Bhai Kataroo to his personal treasurer.  He was now in charge of the Sooba’s treasury. 

After a few months, Bhai Kataroo ji came to Amritsar to see Guru Arjan Dev ji.  He met Guru Arjan Dev ji and bowed to his feet.  He said to Guru ji: “Guru ji, you protect your Sikhs in the hardest places, where one’s mother nor father can come to help.”  The Sikhs asked Bhai Kataroo about his story.  Bhai Kataroo told them what happened and then the Sikhs told Bhai Kataroo of how Guru ji was checking the weight of the 5 Paisas in his right and left hand.  The praises of Guru ji spread everywhere and people came in the thousands to become the Sikhs of the Guru.

3-52 Bhai Puriya, Bhai Choohar, Bhai Paira and Bhai Durga

Bhai Puriya and Bhai Choohar were the Chaudharys of a village who had heard about the glories of Guru Arjan Dev ji.  They wanted to meet him and receive Mukti.  They had devotion in their heart and came to Guru ji.  They folded their hands and bowed to Guru ji’s feet.  They presented money as a gift for Guru ji.  They sat down after getting Guru ji’s permission.  They said to Guru ji: “listen, oh saviour of the poor, a lot of time has passed since we heard your glories.  We wanted to come to you for a while but we got tied up in our Chaudhary duties of our village.  It was with your compassion that we have finally come to you.  Both of us have come to you with faith.  We are Chaudharys of our village and we need to lie a lot for political reasons.  Sri Guru ji, how can we be saved?  We wish to hear the wisdom from you.”  Guru Arjan Dev ji heard the plea of the Sikhs and said from his glorious mouth: “stop lying; let go of anger and ego.  There is no bigger sin than lying.  You can’t achieve Mukti by lying.  The charioteer of Kaliyuga is “the lie.”  The lie is the capital of all the vices.  The ones who make it a point to reject lying; and in turn, connect with the truth, they receive Mukti.  The Sikh should not lie.  The Sikh will have to face obstacles by lying.”  Bhai Puriya ji said: “we can’t be Chaudharys without lying.  We can’t make a living without lying.  Many types of conflicts we have to face and have to keep secrets.”  Guru Arjan Dev ji heard this and said: “in your village, make a Dharamsala (Gurduara).  Have Katha and Keertan there, morning and evening.  Listen to and sing the Gurbani of the Guru.  Go morning and evening to the Dharamsala.  For 2 hours in the morning and 2 hours in the evening, listen to Katha and Keertan.  Keep your mind focused and still; have love in your heart when you listen to Keertan and Katha.  All the lies that you say in the whole day, come to the Dharamsala in the evening and write them down with the Granthi.  After a month, collect them.  Re-write them and come to me every New Moon.  Tell me all the lies that you have said in the month.  Also write the good deeds that you do and bring them to me.”  The two heard this and bowed to Guru ji.

Bhai Puriya and Bhai Choohar went back to their village.  They constructed a Dharamsala and started the tradition of Katha and Keertan there.  They would tell the Sangat in the evening of all the lies they had said.  This would make them feel embarrassed.  Eventually what happened was, they started to think about every lie they were about to say.  They started to say less lies after some time.  After the month, they would feel embarrassed when they would tell them to Guru ji in front of thousands of other Sikhs.  They followed Guru ji’s command.  They would say all the lies they had said and feel bad about it.  After 6 months, they stopped lying all together.  People began to respect them a lot as they were now only speaking the truth.  People started to like them more.  Sikhs praised them as well.  They didn’t like the feeling of being embarrassed so they stopped lying.  They started to like doing good deeds.  They connected to the Simran of the Name.  They started following the righteous path by the fear of the Guru.  Meeting the Satsangat, their lives improved.  They listened to Gurbani and fell in love with doing Seva of Guru ji. They received Mukti when they eventually died.

Two Sikhs named Bhai Paira and Bhai Durga came to Guru Arjan Dev ji with love and respect.  They bowed to Guru ji and sat down.  They said to Guru ji: “please bless us Prabhoo!  Thousands have done your Seva and received Mukti.  Give us wisdom that will destroy our pain and conflicts.”  Guru ji saw their devotion and said: “the ones who have given donations and done good deeds in their last birth, they get a new body and many material things.  Good health, good wife and good children; good animals, money and food; this is all because of your deeds from your previous births.  The Gurmukhs on the other hand, when they get rewards, they make their life and rewards successful.  Wherever the Sangat gets together, the Gurmukhs go there and taste the Amrit from Katha and Keertan.  There are four types of foods: crunching, biting, sucking and drinking.  The Gurmukhs get all the tastes in the Sangat.  They give these foods to the Sangat in the form of Langar.  They speak sweet words to the Sangat and make them satiated.  They wash the hands and feet of the Sangat.  If it is hot, they waive fans to the Sangat.  One should always feed Langar, as much as their money allows.  The Langar that is left over after feeding the Sangat, that is Amrit.  One should eat that.  It washes the sins away.  The good deeds grow after that.  If one can’t do this everyday, then do it on a special days like full moon, Shangrand or new moon.  Feed Langar to Gursikhs.  The Gursikhs will think of Guru ji and do Ardaas before eating.  The one serving, should think of Guru ji and say: “Guru ji, this is your Prashaad and I am feeding you.”  Bow to the Sikhs and keep faith that: it is the Guru that is eating the food.  If one can’t do this after a month, then choose a good day to feed the Gursikhs.  Make new clothes and give it to the Sikhs and Saints.  During the winter, give them blankets and make them happy.  Give them to the poor as well.  These are the two types of donations: food and clothes.  Do this with love.  Do it with the best of your abilities.  This is for the ones who follow Ghrist Dharam.  The great Guru Nanak Dev ji has said: “the one who donates with his/her body, that person is pure like the waters of Ganga.”  The Dharma of the Ghrist Dharam is to give donations.  As much as you can, if you see a person without clothes or food, give them what they need.  There are other good deeds, but none are greater than these two.  This donation is the Satoguni donation which gives you peace and Bhagti in your heart.  It destroys your problems and pains.”  Bhai Paira ji and Bhai Durga ji heard this and bowed to Guru ji.

They both went back to their villages and started to live by the Guru’s words.  They started to give Langar to the Sangat with respect.  They would call travellers and other saints as well.  Many days passed like this.  They would go to Guru Arjan Dev ji on special days.  Their spending had grown but their income was less.  They had to take loans to keep the Langar going.  One day, a lot of Sangat came and there was nothing to make Langar with.  The two went to the Shahukaar for more money.  They were rejected.  They then sold the gold of their wives.  They bought food and made Langar with the money they received.  The money finished in one day.  They did not lose faith.  Both of them went outside and started to dig in the ground for some unknown reason.  As they dug, they found a dish filled with golden coins.  They rejoiced and paid off their loans, bought their gold back and made more Langar.  They realised that the new treasure they found was given to them by Parmeshwar.  They made a lot of clothes and donated them.  They made food for Langar.  They recited Gurbani and did Bhagti.  They came to Guru Arjan Dev ji and told him what had happened.  Guru ji said to them: “the ones who share and eat, Vahiguru does not let any shortages come their way.  Their homes are filled with all the goods they need.”  Bhai Paira and Bhai Durga did Simran of Satnam.  When they died, Guru ji was with them. 

3-53 Bhai Bala, Bhai Kishna and others

Two brothers of the Jhingran Brahmin family: Bhai Bala and Bhai Kishna were scholars of Sanskrit.  They would do Katha in public and everyone would listen to them and be happy.  They would do katha in a very good way that garnered them a lot of praises.  They noticed that a lot of Sikhs went to Guru Sahib and received what they asked for.  They saw that the Sikhs would listen to Guru ji’s wisdom and let go of their greed and anger.  They would be filled with the true contentment.  When the brothers thought about this, they decided to go see Guru ji.  They came to Guru Arjan Dev ji’s home.  They bowed to Guru ji’s feet and sat down in front of him.  They said to Guru ji: “you are the Satguru.  You give wisdom to the Sikhs and give virtues that dwell in their hearts.  We know the wisdom of the 6 Shastras and Puranas.  We make the listeners happy and capture their attention.  They praise our wisdom.  We are still not at peace.  We do not have the illuminated wisdom.  Your Sikhs are at peace.  They are filled with the miraculous powers.  Please tell us why this is.  Give us peace.”  Guru ji heard this and said: “the mind is the reason of vices and virtues.  Since the time you have been learning Vidya, Trishna (desires) have been living inside of you.  You wanted to be educated and wanted to earn a lot of money.  You learned the Vidya for the purpose of earning money.  That is why you did Katha.  You didn’t think of the Vidya you learned.  As you did Katha, your mind was towards making money.  How could you have been at peace?  Do this from now on: as you give your wisdom to others in Katha and try to win them over; do that with your mind.  Try to win your mind over with the Vidya that you have.  Read Vedanta and understand it.  When you start doing this with your own mind, start doing the Simran of Satnam.  Come to me every month and tell me what is going on with your mind.  Joy and sorrow that come in the after life, that is the result of your actions.  Tell your mind that.  It will be discouraged from bad actions.  The Parmeshwar that lives in your mind, knows everything.  Parmeshwar is omniscient.”  The brothers heard the wisdom of Guru Arjan Dev ji and began to ponder on it.  They started to teach their minds to let go of their desires.  They started to go to the Sangat of Guru ji and did the Simran of Satnam.   They fell in love with doing Simran and became blessed.  Their mind was won.  They became the Sikhs of the Guru.

One day, a person named Samunda came to Guru Arjan Dev ji and bowed his head.  He sat near Guru ji and said: “oh Guru, the savior of the poor, who is the Sunmukh and who is the Bemukh?  Tell me the characteristics of both.  I would like to know this.  How does one become a Sunmukh and avoid being a Bemukh?”  Guru ji said: “imagine a big Shahukaar who sends a servant for a task.  The servant uses his wisdom, attention and love to do the work.  If he is successful, he comes and stands “Sunmukh” (in front of) of his boss.  If he fails, he does not face his boss/ or does not lift his head.  That is a Bemukh.  That is how Vahiguru sent all of us in the world.  Akaal Purakh sent us for Naam (Simran), Daan (donations), and Ishnaan (purification).  Let go of your sleep in the last watch of the night (3-6 am) and take a bath.  At Amritvela do the Simran of Satnam without any desires.  Recite Gurbani and ponder on the meanings.  When the sun comes up, go to work to earn your living.  Always have the Simran going in your heart or on your lips.  Do this while doing your work.  The ones who do not forget the Prabhoo, like to meet the Satsangat, give donations to the best of their abilities, give clothes and food to the poor, those people do not waste their life in desires and vices.  Those persons are the Sunmukh, in front of Vahiguru.  They happily leave their bodies and meet Vahiguru.  They receive the Anand-filled Mukti.  Those who do not succeed in the tasks of life, they are Bemukhs and live a life of pain.”  Bhai Samunda folded his hands and said to Guru ji: “please have mercy on me.  Make me into a Sunmukh.  Bless me with Naam, Daan and Ishnaan.”  Guru ji said: “when the Sikh is a Sunmukh, the Guru has mercy on them.”  Bhai Samunda did what Guru ji said.  He woke up early and did Simran.  He became an Aatam Gyani in just a few days.  He did exactly what Guru Arjan Dev ji said.

Bhai Kulla and Bhai Bhulla, who were from the Jhanjhoo caste; another named Bagheerath from the Soini caste; the three of them came to Guru ji and bowed to him.  They said to Guru ji: “Guru ji, the saviour of the poor, omniscient one, listen to us: we are in pain.   Please bless us.  We have had many births through many species.  Dying and being born again is a big problem.  When the Puranas leave the body, it is the most painful thing.  We have come to your sanctuary to ask for Mukti.  Please take us out of the cycle of birth and death.  You are compassionate.  Have mercy on us and protect us from this pain.  We don’t want to be born again.”  Sri Guru ji said: “become Gurmukhs.  Let go of actions that Manmukhs do.”  The three asked: “please tell us the difference.  Tell us who is a Gurmukh and who is a Manmukh.  How are they?  When we see their characteristics, we will then listen to you and adhere to the characteristics of the Gurmukh.”  Sri Guru ji said from his holy mouth: “there are 3 types of Gurmukhs and 3 types of Manmukhs.  There is a Gurmukh, Gurmukh Tar and Gurmukh Tam.  There is Manmukh, Manmukh Tar, and Manmukh Tam.  The ones who show their backs to bad deeds, keep their face towards the words of the Guru (Sunmukh), if one does good to such Gurmukhs, the Gurmukhs remember all that was done good for them.  They don’t forget the favours and want to return the favour.  They are altruistic towards all.  This is the Gurmukh.  Listen to what a Gurmukh Tar is.  They let go of bad deeds and do good deeds.  If they can do good for others, they do not think of whether a person is good or bad.  If someone does bad to them, they still do good to the others.  They don’t hold grudges.  They only think of good virtues of others.  They casually do good their whole life.  The third is Gurmukh Tam.  They are Aatam Gyanis.  They are Brahmgyaanis.  They know their Aatma and Parmatma.  They understand their Aatma.  They follow the wisdom of the Satguru, Guru Nanak Dev ji, to the letter.  They know that the world is false.  They only see One in the universe. 

Now I will tell you about the 3 Manmukhs.  If someone does good to them, they forget about it and do bad to the one that did a favor for them.   A Manmukh does not do good for anyone.  They only listen to their mind.  They are unwise, who only listen to their minds.  They don’t keep the Dharma.  They slander the Dharma.  They lie, cheat and fall into the accompany of other women.  Now I will tell you the characteristics of Manmukh Tar.  They are jealous of others being well.  It gives them pain to see others happy.  They try to spoil others’ tasks.  They place obstacles in others’ paths.  Their chest burns to see others happy.  They think about how the person can be destroyed.  They don’t like seeing others successful.  Not even their own friends or loved ones.  They speak sweet words from their mouths but they can’t tolerate it in their minds.  It burns them to see the success of others.  They think bad for all.  They want to see everyone unhappy.  They see everyone as their enemies and are jealous of them.  Listen to who a Manmukh Tam is.  The Manmukh Tam wants bad for all and never listens to the word of the Satguru.  They are only happy if everyone is in pain.  They do not listen to the Katha of the Puranas.  They are without Daan, good deeds or Ishnaan.  They talk bad about the good deeds that the Kathas speak about.  They slander the holy places and holy people.  They speak as such to other people: “I don’t like Daan, good deeds, temples or religions.  These good deeds do not give me any benefits.  I only find joy in bad things.”  These people go to Hell after dying.  They go into the fiercest Hell and are punished.  They have to be born again and again.”  The three heard Guru ji’s wisdom and were happy.  They became Gurmukhs and started following the Guru’s wisdom.  They did the Seva of Satguru ji and saw their real self, they connected to their Aatma. 

3-54 Bhai Lalloo Bhai Balloo and others

Bhai Lalloo Bij, Bhai Balloo Bij and Bhai Hari Das ji came to meet Guru Arjan Dev ji.  They folded their hands and bowed to Guru ji.  They sat down and said to Guru ji: “please give us wisdom and have us included with the other Sikhs.  Please give us wisdom by which we may receive Mukti.”  Guru ji heard them and said: “first of all, kill your ego, attachment and jealousy.  Don’t think or want bad for others; no pain will come to you then.  Meet with love when you see a Sikh of the Guru.  Fold your hands and bow to the other Sikh, with love.  Speak sweetly and stay humble; share what you eat; meet others with love; do the work of Dharma and earn your subsistence.  These 5 things will give you peace and joy.  Don’t forget these things.  Stay in Ghrist and you will receive Mukti.”  The three heard Guru ji’s wisdom and lived by it.  Their pain was all gone. 

Bhai Dheer Nihaloo, Bhai Tulsiya, and Bhai Bhoola Chandiya came to Guru ji, seeing him as the giver of peace.  They bowed to Guru ji and sat in the court.  Keertan was in progress when they came.  They all listened to the praises of Guru Nanak Dev ji and started to think about it.  Many people were in doubt when the Sikhs began their discussion.  They all began to argue in the discussion.  They folded their hands and asked Guru ji with love and devotion: “Guru ji, many people argue during their discussions.  They lose their wisdom during the discussion.  We were in doubt when the people were arguing.  You are omnipotent, Guru ji.  A lot of people say that Guru Nanak Dev ji was the Avatar of Raja Janaka.  Some say is the form of Vishnu; that’s why he did many tasks.  Other things were said too.  We couldn’t come to a conclusion.  Please bless us and tell us what are the facts.  Tell us who Guru Nanak Dev ji’s Avatar was.  We will listen to your words and our minds will be calm.  Our faith will grow and we will follow Sikhi and be happy in many ways.  We have been in doubt for a long time about Guru Nanak Dev ji’s Avatar.  Many others are thinking the same thing.”  Guru Arjan Dev ji said: “Sri Satguru Nanak Dev ji is the treasure of virtues.  He is who the Vedas have said “nayt, nayt; not quantified, not quantified.”  They can not measure him.  Brahma, Shiva, Sanak and others used their wisdom and power; they could not find the end of Guru Nanak Dev ji.  Shaishnaag says thousands of new names of Parmeshwar, but he couldn’t find the end of Parmeshwar as well.  The Dharti (Earth) prayed to Akaal Purakh: “jog, yagna, tapp, and good deeds do not exist in Kaliyuga.  I am burdened with the weight of the sinners.  I cannot stay stable on one foot.  Please support me.”  Parbraham, who is amazing, the sustainer of the world, the washer of sins, came as Guru Nanak Dev ji and established the beautiful path of Sikhi.  People were without power, jog, yagna, and tapp.  Guru Nanak Dev ji wanted to save the people.  That is why Gursikhi was established, which is growing on a daily basis.  He came and gave the wisdom of doing Simran of Satnam, giving Daan (donations) and Ishnaan (purification).  Guru Nanak Dev ji took the wisdom of the 4 Vedas and stated it in vernacular language for all to understand.  Sanskrit was not available for all to learn.  Guru Nanak Dev ji made the wisdom accessible to all.  The tradition within the Sikhs was as such, the wisdom was readily available to them.  They did Simran of Satnam and began to ponder and did Bhagti of the form of Brahm.  Their hearts became pure and pain did not come near them.  The Vedas were stated in the vernacular, Guru Nanak Dev ji was gracious and gave us the Gurbani, filled with nectar.  You should ponder on Gurbani.  Make your mind still and your doubts will be gone.  Be faithful and follow Sikhi.  You will not go to the Jumms and be in pain.”  The three heard Guru Arjan Dev ji and their doubts were gone.  They were very happy to hear about Guru Nanak Dev ji.  They now knew that he was the Avtar of Akaal Purakh, who would give power to other Avatars.  They began to think about Gurbani.  This was the root of Bhagti and Gyan.  They all achieved Mukti as they served Guru ji.

Bhai Tota and Bhai Mudhoo; Bhai Ghokha and Bhai Toda Mehta; these four came to Guru Arjan Dev ji’s home.  They bowed to Guru ji’s feet and sat down.  They folded their hands and saw an opportunity to speak.  They said: “Guru ji, you are the saviour of the poor and weak.  Please take us out of the cycle of birth and death.  We have heard your glories and saw you as the one who can help us.”  Guru ji said: “recite, listen and sing Gurbani.  Ponder the meanings of Gurbani amongst yourselves.  Try to see what Guru ji wants.  Let go of what is noted to be discarded by Gurbani.  Gain the virtues which are mentioned by Gurbani.”  The Sikhs then said: “reading or discussing Gurbani, how much reward is given for this?  We want to hear this from you and be at peace.”  Guru ji responded: “know the reward as this: listen to Gurbani and have devotion.  Those who recite Gurbani, their sins are washed away.  The fiercest ones.  Their mind, wisdom and consciousness becomes pure.  The ones who recite Gurbani everyday with love, memorize it and recite it at Amritvela, with a still mind; they will receive a lot of great rewards.  They will be in joy.  The ones who recite, speak and have others listen to Gurbani; their wishes will be fulfilled.  The ones who read Gurbani without wishes, their minds will become pure.  Those who always think about the meanings of Gurbani, don’t have the wants of worldly praises in their mind; only want to reach Mukti; they will achieve Brahmgyaan.  Just as there is fire inside the wood but cannot come out without effort, the people who succeed at this, the wood becomes the form of fire; in the same way, Gurbani has Gyaan.  The people are able to get rid of their ego with Gurbani.  They begin to look for their real from.  The fortunate ones find it and achieve Brahmgyaan and become one with Akaal Purakh.  They are no longer in doubt and duality.  When one forgets the ego of the body, they become Brahmgyaanis.  Go to the Satsangat and recite Gurbani.  Ponder on the meanings of Gurbani.  You will be blessed and will receive Mukti.  The bonds will be broken.”  The four began to listen to Gurbani and went to the Satsangat. 

Bhai Jhanjh, Bhai Mukanda and Bhai Kidara came to Guru Arjan Dev ji for salvation.  They folded their hands and sat beside Guru ji.  They said to Guru ji: “how can we be saved?  You are omnipotent.  Please tell us.”  Guru Arjan Dev ji said to them: “you are musicians and know the Raags.  Sing Gurbani in Raags and have the glories of Akaal Purakh dwell into your heart.  As you gain the joy from singing the Raags, your love for Parmeshwar will grow.  There is nothing compared to Keertan in Kaliyuga.  If someone does a strict Tapasya and claims to have done a Tapasya equal to Keertan, that would be false.  The other karma that people do, that are done with money or the body, they do not compare to Keertan as well.  Keertan is the greatest.  For this reason, do Keertan of Gurbani.  Make others listen and let the effects of Keertan change you.  As you go deeper into Keertan, the others who listen to you will be affected as well.”  The three heard this and asked Guru ji: “you have stated that the glory of Keertan is great.  What is the reward of reciting Gurbani and doing Katha?  Please tell us.”  Guru ji spoke: “One who recites Gurbani, this makes the mind pure.  It is like watering your fields with the well.  It makes the vegetation green.  When the vegetables are ripe, one brings it to their home and they are then happy.  The water of the well will go to other fields as well.  This water, however, does not reach fields that are far away from the well.  This is what reciting Bani does.  Only the ones who hear it, will benefit from it.  Keertan is like a heavy downpour of rain.  Everyone is happy with rain.  All of the fields in the area become green and lush with vegetation.  Rain, however, cannot reach the high places as water goes downwards.  Listen to the rewards of the Katha.  After the rain, the droplets that fall, they get absorbed right away.  They do not run off like rain.  The misty droplets, sprinkling is good for all.  The higher hills absorb that water as well.  Katha is easily understood be all.  There can be wastage of water in rain, via the runoff, but not in spitting rain.  Katha reaches everyone of every state.  Everyone can ponder on the Katha and reach Aatam Gyan.  Katha and Keertan are both great.  When they are done together, it has a great effect on the mind.  The Katha explains the glory of Akaal Purakh.  The Keertan makes the mind pure.  When one does Keertan, it brings joy into the heart.  Just as a mother is glorified because of the children, the Katha is glorified because of the Keertan.  Just as a mother nurtures her children, Katha makes Keertan happy.”  The Sikhs said: “why is the Katha the mother and why is Keertan the child?  Who is the husband of Katha, the father of Keertan?  Please tell us.”  Guru ji said: “understand Love.  Love is the husband of Katha and the father of Keertan.  They are glorified by Love.  If there is Love, then Katha and Keertan will be glorified.  It will give great rewards.”  The Sikhs listened to this wisdom and did Keertan with love.  They were free of their desires after this.  They were happy with what they had and received.  They lived off of what they received with contentment.  The Sangat gave them money when they heard Keertan, Bhai Jhanjh, Bhai Mukanda and Bhai Kidara made their living in this way.  They had no desires when they did Keertan.  They did Seva of Satguru ji and reached the Mukti state. 

3-55 Gangoo Naoo and other Sikhs are given Wisdom

Bhai Gangoo Naoo, Bhai Sehgala, Bhai Rama, Bhai Dharma and Bhai Udho ji all come to the feet of Guru Arjan Dev ji.  They stayed with Guru ji and became his Sikhs.  One day they said to Guru ji: “There are Vedas, Munis and Avatars.  Thousands of scholars.  All say that Brahm is without an end.  They tried to find the end but they couldn’t.  It is said that Brahm is Sat, Chit and Anand.  It is also said that Guru Nanak Dev ji was the Avatar of that Brahm.  He was the Avatar of Akaal Purakh, the form of Brahm.  Since he was Brahm, wouldn’t he know his own ending?  He must know of his own boundary.”  Guru Arjan Dev ji heard their words and said to them: “if there was a beginning to Akaal Purakh, only then there would have been an end.  If there was a beginning or end to Akaal Purakh, Guru Nanak Dev ji would have stated it.  Just as the Vedas are the breaths of Narayan; Brahm has been discussed in the Vedas.  Madhusudan is the form of Brahm.  It was from the Nirgun (formless) that the Sargun was born.  Nirgun has no end and therefore neither does the Sargun; who is Guru Nanak Dev ji.  The Vedas describe Akaal Purakh as without end.  If there was an end, it would have been spoken or written about.  Don’t doubt this.  See the Brahm residing in all of creation.  It is like space being everywhere.  Love other Sikhs and chant the name Vahiguru.  Don’t hate anyone as Brahm is in everyone.  You will be saved in this way.  You will break the cycle of birth and death.”  The five heard Guru ji’s words and started to do Simran from that day onwards.  They served Guru ji, the Bhagwant.  They received the highest status when they died.

Bhai Phirna, Bhai Soodar, Bhai Bholoo, Bhai Jatoo and Bhai Bhatoo; all were from the Brahmin caste of Tiwari.  They came to Guru Arjan Dev ji.  They bowed to Guru ji and came to his sanctuary.  They said to Guru ji: “Guru ji, you are the saviour of the weak and poor; we went to the Ganga to bathe.  We met our Brahmin people there who started a discussion: “there are many Avatars.  Devatas, Siddhas and other Sadhoos have had thousands of Avatars.  They can’t be counted.  Parmeshwar had countless Avatars.  All of the Avatars had a Guru.  Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji was a big Avatar who started a new Panth.  Who was his Guru?  Who gave him his wisdom?  All of the Avatars had a Guru.”  When they said this to us, we said to them: “we don’t know who was Guru Nanak Dev ji’s Guru.  We will ask Guru Arjan Dev ji, who made Sikhi grow.  We will tell you after asking him.”  Guru Arjan Dev ji responded: “Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji’s Guru was the Ikankaar, Akaal Purakh.  Devatas, humans and others cannot understand Akaal Purakh.  That was his Guru.  If you consider the body, though, then the Guru of Guru Nanak Dev ji in body form was Guru Angad Dev ji.  He bowed to Guru Angad Dev ji by placing a coconut and 5 Paisas in front of him.  He is his body-Guru.”  The Brahmins heard this and were in doubt.  They said: “a Guru gives wisdom.  What wisdom did he give to Guru Nanak Dev ji?  “Gu” means darkness and “Ru” means illumination = one who eliminates darkness.  Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji was the light that came from his own will.  He was the light since birth who gave wisdom in his younger years.  He broke many people’s ego as he was born with powers.  If someone asks us “who was Guru ji’s Guru before he bowed to Guru Angad Dev ji, what should we say?”  Guru Arjan Dev ji said: “I will tell you about Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.  The One Oankaar that created Maya and then used Maya to create the world by saying “I am One, I wish to be many,” three Devatas were born from Maya.  Vishnu (Satogun), Brahma (Rajogun) and Shiva (Tamogun).  Who was the Guru of these three?”  The Tiwaris said: “Brahma and Shiva made Vishnu their Guru.  Then Vishnu thought about who should be his Guru.  Vishnu made Shiva his Guru.  Shivji meditates on Vishnu and Vishnu meditates on Shiva.  This caused Satogun and Tamogun to mix.  The colour of Satogun is white and the colour of Tamogun is black.  But because they meditate on each other, Vishnu is black and Shiva is white.  All three are mixed with each other because of this.  They have their Guru’s colour in them.”  Guru ji heard this and said: “when Vishnu made Shivji his Guru, Shivji became the form of Gyaan and so did Vishnu.  Did they receive Gyaan before or after that?”  The Tiwaris said: “Prabhoo Bhagavan is already the treasure of Gyaan.  To start the tradition of the world, they started the tradition of taking on a Guru.”  Guru ji said: “it is the same thing.  Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji is the Guru of Gurus.  He is made out of his own will.  When he came into a body, he took on Guru Angad Dev ji as his Guru.  He lit his light inside of him.  Don’t be in doubt.  Have faith in Guru Nanak Dev ji.  He is complete.  Live the Dharma of Sikhi.  You will be in joy in both worlds and win your vices.”  The Tiwaris heard Guru ji’s words and their doubts were gone.  The Brahmins did Seva in Guru ji’s feet.  They become Gyanis and reached Mukti.

Bhai Dhalla, Bhai Bagheerath ji, Bhai Japoo ji, and Bhai Nivla ji came to the feet of Guru Arjan Dev ji.  They folded their hands and bowed to them.  They said to Guru ji: “please remove our doubts.  Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji is the complete Avatar of Akaal Purakh ji.  He was the Bhagat form of Kartar.  What is his highest form of Upasana (Bhagti)?  Is it Nirgun or Sargun that he sung of?  What was he devoted to?  Where was his faith?  What did he tell his Sikhs?”  Guru Arjan Dev ji heard this and gave them the good wisdom: “this is a fruitless doubt.  Nirgun and Sargun would be two if there was a difference. 

Sri Mukhvaak. Salok..

The formless (Nirgun) Lord is in the primordial trance and is himself the one with form..

Nanak says: through his own creation, he again, sees/knows/meditates on himself..1..

(SGGS 290)

Parbraham had a wish to develop a form and make many of himself.  He then started the laws and traditions of nature.  All of life was born then.  Akaal Purakh comes as an Avatar and destroys the sinners in his creation.  The saints are saved and are in joy.  After the traditions are established, the saints are protected, Akaal Purakh has no more wishes and goes back into the formless form.  Just as a king wishes to wear nice clothes and weapons; comes and sits in his court (Sargun form); after the wish is no longer there, the court is adjourned and the clothes and weapons are removed.  The King then sleeps on his bed and nobody is allowed to see him (Nirgun form).  If someone is in pain, the person comes to the palace of the king and says the king’s name out loud.  They sing the king’s glories.  The king listens to the person needing help, whether sleeping or in his court.  Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji has started this path of doing Simran.  Akaal Purakh comes to the rescue, hearing his name.  The troubles are all taken away.  The ones who do Simran of Satnam, they achieve Mukti.  There is something bigger than the Upasana of Nirgun and Sargun.  Do the Simran of Satnam day and night.  Just as Ram Chander ji was omnipotent, he could have made everyone cross the ocean to go to Lanka.  He could have dried the ocean with his words.  He thought about how long we was going to be on Earth: “a few people will be saved, meeting me.  If they do Simran of the Name, others will be saved too.  He threw rocks into the ocean after writing the name of Ram on them.  The rocks floated because Parmeshwar’s name was on the rocks.  It was the name of the Nirgun form.  Nirgun is in all life.  There is nothing other than the Sat, Chit and Anand.  Parmeshwar is everywhere.  Those people who do not do Simran of the Nirgun form, they go to Hell.  Whoever does Simran of Satnam with love, their minds, wisdom and consciousness become pure.  They achieve Mukti.  They receive Aatam Gyan and break the bond of reincarnation.  For this reason, the Name is greater than the Nirgun Parmeshwar.  The Name is greater.  Do Simran of it all the time.”  When the Sikhs heard this, they said: “Hanuman flew over the ocean to go to Lanka.  He crossed it with one jump.  The rest of the Army took the support of the Name, on top of the rocks.  Hanuman crossed the ocean with his own strength which made Ram Chander ji happy.”  Guru ji said: “no, Hanuman did not use his own power.  He did Simran of Ram.  He took Ram Chander ji ‘s ring to Seeta ji.  It had the name of Ram on the ring which helped him jump the ocean.  It was the glory of the Name which did not cause any troubles for him.   One can cross the ocean with the name of Ram (the one who resides in all).  Brahmgyaanis cross this world in this way but there are only a few like these.  The bridge of the Name is how one can cross this world.  The ill and weak can use this bridge.  They will all succeed.  The strong will succeed.  Slowly, the world can be crossed, easily.  Bliss will come to them spontaneously.  The person will no longer wish to experience the pleasures of the world.  They will become Brahmgyaanis.  They will conquer their desires.  Do the Simran of Akaal Purakh.  It is the easiest thing to do.  The sinners, good, fool or wise, they will all cross if they do Bhagti.  Do the Simran of Satnam and come to the sanctuary of the Sangat.”  The Sikhs heard this and stayed with Guru ji.  They were in bliss.  They listened to Katha and Kirtan with a focused mind.  They would do Simran of Hari in solitude.  They did the Seva of Guru Arjan Dev ji and achieved Mukti when they died.  The Seva of the Satguru is the root of joy and bliss.  Only the fortunate ones can come across it.