3-56 Bhai Moola, Bhai Sooja and others

Bhai Moola, Bhai Sooja Dhaavnay, Bhai Chandoo Chaujar, Bhai Ramdas Bhandari, Bhai Bala and Bhai Saeendas came to Guru Arjan Dev ji.  They bowed to his feet and made a plea: “Guru ji, you are the saviour of the poor and weak.  The life forms do two types of Karma.  When a person goes to Dharmaraja, their Karma is weighed.  How is the karma seen?  Does the karma cancel each other out or do you have to endure the result of all your karma?”  Sri Guru Arjan Dev ji said: “there are 4 types of Sikhs.  One type of Sikhs do karma with desire.  One do karma without desires.  The third type are the Bhagti ones.  The fourth are the Brahmgyaanis.  Out of the 4, who are you asking for?”  The Sikhs said: “please tell us about all 4.”  Guru ji said: “just as a big king has 4 types of citizens: the farmers who farm.  Soldiers stand on top of them and separate the crops.  They don’t cheat anyone.  If they do cheat, the soldiers punish the farmers.  The second type are the ones who rent land and pay a portion out of their crops every six months.  The king’s men come to collect it.  These tenants pay half and have no other worries.  The third type is the one who give gifts to the King.  They live close to the borders of the king and give gifts when they want to make the King happy.  They rule over other villages and live in joy.  The fourth type of citizens are the exempted ones from everything.  They are independent and can do whatever they went.  They rule wherever they want.  If the king needs an army, they go and help the king.  They take food from the King.  Parmeshwar has four types of citizens as well: the ones with desire and work.  They are in desire and anger all the time.  They do not do the Bhagti of Hari.  If they go to a Teerath or give donations, they do it for rewards.  Dharmaraja is always on top of their heads.  Their good karma is taken away and go to Hell.  Their karma is not cancelled out.  They get the rewards of good deeds and punished for their bad deeds.  The ones who do Karma without desires, they enjoy the Dharma and do Bhagti.  They are like the tenants.  If they do a bad deed, their deeds are collected and cancelled by their good karma.  If the sins are more, then they are pain.  If the good deeds are more, then they only get rewards.  Their sins become weak.  The third are the ones that do Bhagti.  They never sin.  If they do sin by accident, because they live in Dharam with joy, their sins are cancelled.  They are taken out of the cycle of birth and death.  If they have to take another birth because of their fate, they still have Gyan in their mind and they continue their Bhagti.  They achieve Nirvana then.  There are two types of Bhagats: the ones that desire heaven.  They go to heaven and then they are born in the home of a rich person.  They are rich but they go to the Satsangat.  They receive Mukti and break their bonds.  The ones who do Bhagti without desire, they are born in the homes of saints by the order of Prabhoo.  They do Bhagti and receive Mukti through Aatam Gyan.  They are like the ones that rule and give gifts to the King.  They do Bhagti and keep the king happy.  The Gyanis the exempted ones.  They are always happy.  They see the world as false.  They see the body and karma as false.  They never get attached to anything.  Just as darkness can never go close to the sun, karma does not affect the Bhagats.  They are Mukat from life.  They are never in pain.”  The Sikhs asked: “how are the Karmas of the Brahmgyaanis washed away?”  Guru ji said: “the Brahmgyaanis give their good karma to their servants.  The slanderers take their bad karma away.  They are always in a “net-zero” state of karma.  They are above karma and not affected by good or bad deeds.”  The Sikhs heard this and were in a serene state.  Their minds were calm. 

Bhai Bishan Beethra and Bhai Sundar Maachi came to Guru Arjan Dev ji’s sanctuary.  They were humble and grabbed Guru ji’s feet.  They said: “please save us.  We have heard of your glory, everywhere we have travelled.”  Guru ji said: “do Seva with humility.”  Both Sikhs began to do Seva.  Bhai Sundar would bring firewood and water for the Langar.  Bhai Bishan ji would wake up at Amritvela and do Seva of the Sangat.  He would warm water for the Sangat’s baths.  He would remove their dirt.  The two Sikhs would listen to Guru ji’s words and do Seva.  When they died, they reached Moksha and broke their bonds.

Bhai Jatoo, Bhai Bhanoo ji, Bhai Nihaloo ji and Bhai Teeratha ji came to Guru ji’s court.  They were of the Chadha caste.  They folded their hands and said to Guru ji: “Sri Satguru ji, your words are great which we translate in different ways amongst us:

You are the doer.  There is nothing in the hands of the human.

Whatever one plants, that is what one must endure..

The ungrateful one forgets the grace of Hari, they go through many species..4..

(SGGS 706)

If Parmeshwar is the one that does everything, then we only do what Parmeshwar wants us to do.  Why do humans have to suffer the fate then?  We do good deeds and let go of bad deeds.  Your Bani gives this wisdom: which are good and which are bad deeds?  Please clarify this.”  Guru ji said: “Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji’s Bani is of the Guru’s.  This Bani saves people.  The wise people read and live by the Bani.  The Shabads are according to different states.  The ones who need wisdom, they get wisdom.  The Gursikhs are deserving of everything.  They use their wisdom to understand Bani.  The ones who don’t come to Sangat, are stuck in worldly matters or enjoying the pleasures of kingdoms; this Shabad is for them:

What you plant is what you will get, this body is the field of karma..

(SGGS 134)

There are some who are connected to Bhagti by Simran of Satnam.  They see Parmeshwar in all of life.  This line is for them:

You are the doer.  There is nothing in the hands of the human.

They see Akaal Purakh everywhere.  The third type of Sikhs are deserving of Gyaan.  They always discuss truth and false in their minds.  They see Brahm in their mind.  For them, this Shabad is for them: “

Bilawal Mahalla 5.

Brahm is seen, Brahm is heard, only the One is known everywhere..

The ultimate Aatma is the doer.  There is none other than Prabhoo that is known..

(SGGS 846)

There are other people in other stages but there are three major ones that I have explained: Karam, Upasana and Gyan.  Just as a wise doctor has an ill person come to him, the doctor examines the patient.  The doctor checks the nerve and urine to see what the illness is.  Then he prescribes a medicine; that is how the Guru is.  The Guru knows by observing the Sikh’s words and actions.  The Guru then determines what state the Sikh is in.  The wisdom is given accordingly.  If the doctor is not wise, the illness cannot be found.  He gives the wrong medicine.  The patient dies by the disease.  The weak Guru cannot see the correct state of the Sikh.  That Guru will give the wrong wisdom.  Instead of Mukti, the disciple goes to Hell.  For this reason, think about it and make Guru Granth Sahib ji your Guru.  The Gurbani gives wisdom according to your state.  Do Bhagti.  Do Simran of Satnam, day and night.  Do the Seva of the Satsangat.  Serve the Gursikhs and let go of your pride.”  The Sikhs heard the wisdom of Guru ji and started to do Seva.  They did Simran of the Name and achieved the Mukti status.  They did the Seva of the Satguru.  The Satguru saved them at their end time.

3-57 Bhai Naoo, Bhai Moola and others

Bhai Naoo Bhooloo ji, Bhai Sekhar ji, Bhai Jatoo Bheeva ji and Bhai Moola ji were all wise people.  The four came to Guru Arjan Dev ji and bowed with love.  They folded their hands to the saviour of the weak and said: “your Bani gives wisdom of many sorts.  When a person knows of their states, they understand the meaning of the Shabad.  We don’t know what our state is.  How should we know if we should do actions or Upasana?  Are we in the state of Gyan Khand?”  Guru ji heard this and said: “if you want to know what state you are in and want to know if you should do Karma, Upasana or Gyaan, then listen to the Bani of the Guru.  Figure out what is the difference between good and bad.  If you wish to do good Karma but your mind runs towards bad things and you actually do the bad deeds, you will need to do Karma then.  Do the Seva of Gursikhs and listen to Gurbani with love.  Slowly, get rid of the filth in your mind.  You will wish to meet Parmeshwar then.  If you hear the Guru’s words, the wish to do bad karma will go away.  If one listens to the words of the Guru and doesn’t let the bad things come to reality, one should go towards Upasana.  Listen to Gurbani and understand its meanings.  Get rid of the wishes to do bad things.  If listening to the Guru’s word, the vices die out, the mind does not wish to do anything bad, one sees the world as pain, that person deserves Gyaan.  They will think about good and bad.  In this way you can figure out where you stand.  Gurbani has been written with everyone in mind.  The Sikhs are of various states.  Use your wisdom to see where you stand: Karam, Upasana or Gyaan.  They will fall in love with Gurbani.”  The four heard Guru ji’s words and knew where they stood. 

Bhai Chaturdas ji and Bhai Moola ji were of the Kapoor caste; Bhai Haaroo ji and Bhai Gaaroo ji were of the Vij caste; they all came to Guru Arjan Dev ji.  They folded their hands and said: “you have given a lot of wisdom to “wake up,” do good deeds, and do Simran of the Satnam.  All of the saints say this too.  They all say “wake up.”  There is a Salok in Sri Raag ki Vaar that has caused questions in our mind:

Salok M:1

The giver gives, what is in the hand of the person?

The awakened do not get, the sleeping are awaken and given..1..

(SGGS 83)

What we have understood as that: some were awaken from the sleep and given.  The awaken didn’t get anything.  Isn’t it better to stay sleeping then?”  The head of the Sodhis then spoke: “this line of Gurbani has a different meaning.  Some are called Pandits who are well-educated scholars.  They are proud of their education.  There is ego intermingled in their mind.  They do not serve saints and think they are higher.  They are only caught up in debates and do not have faith.  They do not listen to the wisdom.  On the other hand, some are uneducated without ego.  They serve the Guru and saints.  The educated remained empty but the uneducated was filled with treasures.  In this way, the awaken who had the knowledge were not given anything.  The asleep were given everything.  There is another translation for this.  Listen to this: just as a person goes to the Satsang and listens to katha and Keertan; when they listen to Gurbani, they fall asleep.  Then during the distribution of the Karah Prashaad, they are awakened and given the Prashaad.  There is an example for this: there were 2 Saudagars who wished to do business.  Their ship was to leave the next morning and so they prepared the night before.  They came close to the ship the evening before.  One took his merchandise and boarded the ship to sleep on the ship.  The other did not board the ship and decided to board the ship in the morning after waking up.  He stayed awake all night.  In the morning, the Nagara played and the ship left.  The Saudagar on the dock was lost in some other thought and didn’t hear the Nagara.  He did not know when the ship left.  When he checked, the ship was long gone.  The one that was sleeping on the ship with his merchandise, he was awoken by another person.  He reached his destination and then sold his stuff to make a lot of money.  The one that didn’t board the ship, was alone near the dock.  Robbers came and looted his merchandise.  He came home with nothing.  In the same way, the Satsangat is the ship.  The ones who make the effort to come, they are like the ones sleeping on the ship.  Even if they fall asleep, the saints will wake him up.  Some Gurbani will be heard.  If the Prashaad is being given, the people are awakened and given.  If a person stays awake in their home, they do not receive the Prashaad or listen to the word of the Guru.  The uneducated person who comes to the Satsangat; they do Seva with humility; their sleep of avidya (illiteracy) is taken away by the Guru.  Gyaan is given to them.  They benefit from knowing their Aatma like the Saudagar on the ship.  The literate ones who call themselves awakened, they do not come to the Sangat.  They are fearless and do bad deeds.  They stay empty from Gyaan.”  The Sikhs became humble and did the Sangat of the Guru.  The four achieved the highest status when they died.  Guru Arjan Dev ji was with them.

Bhai Firna Bail ji, Bhai Chunga ji and Bhai Jetha ji came to see Guru ji.  They folded their hands, bowed and said to Guru ji: “Guru ji, saviour of the weak and poor, please remove our doubts.  Some do Simran of Ram and some do Simran of Hari Ghanshyam, Krishna.  Some say Om and some say Sohang.  They all achieve the highest status.  Please tell us which name should we do Simran of?”  Guru ji heard this and commanded: “do the Simran of Vahiguru.  This name is the destroyer of pain.  The work of ferries is to cross rivers.  All of the names of Parmeshwar are the ferries.  One will cross the river on the ferry they have boarded, think about this.  All of the names of Parmeshwar have the power to cross.  Do the Simran.  The name that the Satguru gives, that is what will take the Sikhs across.  The Sikh should only do Simran of that name.  There was fog for 36 Yugas and one time.  There was no population and no king.  The One, Ikankaar, Akaal Purakh did not create anything.  It was all “Sunn,” nothingness.  There was only darkness.  There was nothing solid.  Akaal Purakh, Guru Nanak Dev ji, then made a wish and uttered one letter “Vava” for 9 yugas.  Then Akaal Purakh uttered “Haha” for 9 Yugas.  Similary, 9 Yugas were taken by “Gugga” and “Rara.”  The four letters were joined to make the Name: Vahiguru.  This was pleasing to the saints.  This Gurmantra was given to the Sikhs.  Whoever did this Simran, their pains were gone.  If one does Simran of this Mantra, their wishes will be fulfilled, their bonds of rebirth will be broken, and they will receive Mukti.  Do the Simran of Vahiguru, day and night with your mind and body.  The Satguru will be with you to protect you and destroy your doubts.  At the end, you will be One with the Sat, Chetan, Anand form.”  The Sikhs heard this and did the Simran of Kartar.  They did Simran of Vahiguru.  They did Seva of Guru Arjan Dev ji.  They achieved the highest status.  They preached Sikhi and others achieve the same status. 

3-58 Bhai Vissaa, Bhai Gopi and others

Bhai Vissaa ji, Bhai Gopi ji  and Bhai Tulsiya ji, who were Bharadwaj Brahmins, Bhai Goind Ghaee ji all came to Guru Arjan Dev ji.  They bowed and sat next to Guru ji.  They folded their hands and did an Ardaas: “Guru ji, the saviour of the weak, we have read 2 Shabads and we are in doubt.  Please remove our doubts.  The Shabads of Bhagat Namdev ji in two Raags, we see a contradiction in the two Shabads. 

Paanday, your Ram Chand has been seen..

Raavan came to beg and Ram Chand ji lost his wife..3..

(SGGS 875)

The son of King Jasrath (Dashrath), he was for the protection of the Bhagats.  He is my master, Raja Ram Chand.  Namdev bows to him and drinks the Amrit of his name..4..4..

(SGGS 937)

In the first Shabad, it seems like Bhagat ji is opposed to the Avatar.  In the second Shabad, he praises Ram Chander ji.  The translations of these Shabads are not understood by us.  Please tell us what it is in actuality.”  Guru ji heard this and said: “the two Shabads have talked about the Sargun and Nirgun form of Akaal Purakh.  Both types of Upasana are different.  There are many waves in the ocean.  The river has waves as well.  They are all water.  All of Akaal Purakh’s Avatar are like this.  The Sat Chit Anand form of Akaal Purakh is in all and inspiring everything.  Some Pandits study a lot and lose the essence.  They worship only the Sargun form and talk bad about the saints.  They argue with the saints who worship the Nirgun form.  Bhagat ji has spoken about both.  He spoke to the Pandays who only worship the Sargun in the first Shabad and in the second Shabad, he spoke to the worshippers of the Nirgun and showed them a different perspective of Sargun Bhagti.  When one takes on a body, there definitely will be pain and joy.  The wise ones see the body as false.  They see pain and joy as false as well.  There are two types of Upashiks: Lakh and Vaach.  The Lakh Upashiks see Parmeshwar in all.  They know that Akaal Purakh resides in all.  They never hate anyone.  The Vaach Upashiks say that Krishna was bigger than Ram, and vice versa.  They worship different Avatars.  They keep fighting and don’t see that all the Avatars are the same.  One should worship the Lakh form of Parmeshwar that lives in all.  Do the Upasana of Parmeshwar and not the Upasana of the Avatars.  You will be without hate and your vices will be destroyed.”  The Sikhs doubts were all destroyed.  They saw their real form and achieved Mukti.

Bhai Chaoo and Bhai Kaaloo Bumeeaa, Bhai Goind Ghaee, Bhai Moola ji, Bhai Hem Kapaahiya and Bhai Taro ji came to Guru ji.  Bhai Chajoo, Bhai Nihaloo, Bhai Ramoo Kohli ji, Bhai Tulsa Vohra ji, Bhai Sai Ditta ji, Bhai Akul ji, Bhai Damodhar ji, Bhai Vighayman ji, Bhai Aaval Bhana ji, Bhai Buddhu Cheemba ji, Bhai Bhikha ji, Bhai Toda ji, all came to Guru ji.  They were from Sultanpur, the area of Guru Nanak Dev ji.  They bowed to the feet of Guru Arjan Dev ji.  They brought gifts and money for Guru ji.  They folded their hands and said: “we are all Sikhs of Guru Amardas ji.  Satguru ji told us to make a make an honest living and serve the Sikhs.  We were told to do Simran of Akaal Purakh, speak sweet words, stay humble, bathe during Amritvela; recite Gurbani when the sun rises.  We were told to then do our daily work.  We have been doing what we have been told but our minds are not at peace.  Please give us wisdom which will make our mind calm.”  Sri Guru Arjan Dev ji heard this and said: “let go of Rajogun and Tamogun.  You won’t be calm till then.”  The Sikhs said to Guru ji: “how would we know which is Rajogun and Tamogun?”  Guru ji said: “listen to me with your mind.  Violence and anger are Tamogun.  Greed and pride are Rajogun.  Speaking sweetly and having humility is Satogun.  This will give you peace and joy.  The food that creates this virtue, listen to me by giving your mind.  The food from the night before; sour and spicy foods are Tamogun.  To sleep a lot and to talk bad about people; not being clean; lying; keeping the company of fools; all this creates Tamogun.  To eat sweet and salty foods; seeking the pleasures of being in the company of women; seeking praises; this is the Rajogun.  The Rajas (kings) like to live like this.  They are greedy.  To wear clean clothes; bathing; eating rice and lentils in small amounts; this is the Satogun.  You can use this to analyse yourself.  Keep the Shabads on your tongue.  Whoever comes to you, talk about the Shabad.  See Akaal Purakh in all.  Understand the intentional meanings of the Shabads.  Your mind will not wander.  It will be still.  This is Satogun.  If your mind is calm sometimes and sometimes not, then it is Rajogun.  If the mind is not still and you don’t understand what is going on, that is Tamogun.  The Satguru can help you calm your mind and have the illumination of Aatam Gyaan come through.  Adhere to the warrior spirit and kill the vices.  The Taadis sing about such people for many years.  Conquer this demon, the mind.  The Vedas and the saints praise such a person.  Listen Sai Ditta, listen to who the Sadhoos are: it is the ones who won their minds and bodies.  Tulsa, those servants are Bhagats that understand that any breath without saying Ram, is a waste.  Increase the Satogun inside your heart.  You will then receive peace and Gyaan.  The Sikh awakens during the last watch of the night and does the Simran of the Name.  When they see a person without food or clothes, they provide for them what they need.  If one Sikh can’t complete their needs, then many should get together to feed and clothe the needy.  Satsangat is like the cloud that comes down to shower over all.  Go to the Dharamsala, twice a day.  Go to see the Guru on special days, especially on Diwali and Vaisakhi.  Go and bathe in the Amritsar Sarovar on those days.” 

There were many Sikhs in Sultanpur because Guru Nanak Dev ji stayed with his sister, Bebe Nanaki ji, there.  Guru Nanak Dev ji gave treasures of Bhagti there.  He opened it for all.  A Sikh named Deepa Kasara ji stayed with Guru Arjan Dev ji and did Seva.  He did many types of Seva.  The Sikhs that came to Guru ji’s court, Bhai Deepa ji made excellent tasting food and fed them.  He would take and eat the leftovers of the Sikhs.  He would wash the feet of the Sikhs and do their massages.  He would give clothes to the ones who needed them.  He would discuss the Shabads of the Guru.  Guru Arjan Dev ji was happy with him and said: “Deepa, you are like a Diva that illuminates all.  You light other Divas.  This destroys darkness.  Deepa, you are the illumination of the Gyaan.  I have made you into a Diva.  Whoever meets you, will also receive Mukti.”  The ones who did Seva like this, they came to the Guru and receive Mukti.

3-59 Bhai Kapoor Deo and others

In this way Sri Satguru ji lived in Amritsar.  The Sangat came to him with their questions.  There was a great Sikh named Bhai Kapoor Deo ji.  His wife and children all became Sikhs.  He did the Seva of the Sikhs.  He would be happy to see other Sikhs.  One day, Bhai Kapoor Deo ji asked Guru ji: “in your clean heart, who is your most beloved Sikh?  I would like to meet him.  Does he live here or somewhere else?”  Guru ji said to him: “his name is Bhai Saman who lives in Shahbaajpur.”  Bhai Kapoor Deo heard this and went to Shahbaajpur to meet Bhai Saman ji. 

Bhai Saman ji met Bhai Kapoor Deo ji’s Seva and had him stay in his home.  He did his Seva and served him with food.  Bhai Saman collected firewood from the market and tarps used for mourning.  He gathered other materials for a cremation with joy.  He prepared everything in his home and did Simran of Vahiguru from his mouth.  Bhai Kapoor Deo saw all this as Bhai Saman was preparing for a funeral.  When Bhai Saman finished his work, he came to meet Bhai Kapoor Deo at night time.  Bhai Kapoor Deo was surprised to see what he was doing.  Bhai Saman said; “welcome to my home.”  Bhai Kapoor Deo said: “it is nice to meet you.”  Bhai Saman said: “what can I do for you?”  Bhai Kapoor Deo said: “I wanted to ask what you are doing?  Guru ji sent me to you but you have been busy all day.”  Bhai Saman said: “this was a very important task for me to do today.  I am sorry about that.  I will stay with you all night.  I have finished my work.”  Bhai Saman’s son came and the two did Keertan to make Bhai Kapoor Deo happy. 

In the morning, some thieves came and the people of the village chased them.  Bhai Saman’s son was in the crowd chasing the thieves.  A bullet was shot and Bhai Saman’s son was hit.  He died instantly.  Bhai Saman then took the firewood and prepared a pyre.  As his son’s funeral carried on, Bhai Saman walked with the dead body and did Keertan with great enthusiasm.  He cremated his son’s body and came home.  When the people came to his home to offer their condolences, Bhai Saman laid out the tarps for mourning.  Bhai Kapoor Deo was surprised to see this.  He said to him: “if you know this was going to happen, you should have gone to Guru ji to make your son’s age greater.  Your son would have been alive and served you in your old age.”  Bhai Saman ji said: “this body will not last forever.  It will die one day anyway.  Mourning for the body is foolish.  They are the biggest fools who cry after the body is dead.  You shouldn’t ask for these things from the Guru.  You should beg for the Name of Akaal Purakh.  That will go with you.  The relationship of father and son is only for a few days.  The 5 elements are in opposition but in the body, they live in harmony.  When all the rewards and punishments have been experienced, all the elements separate.  Nobody dies, nobody is born.  One forgets his/her own Aatma and is in pain.  Listening to the Guru’s words give joy and peace.  No one is born, no one is dead.  Akaal Purakh is the one doing everything- this is the great wisdom of the Guru.  Think about this.  If a clay pot is made, the space inside the pot is still indestructible.  The space does not break when the pot breaks.  The Aatma does not die when the body dies.  In this way, the body is born and dies but the Aatma remains separate.”  Bhai Kapoor Deo ji said: “great is the Sikh of the Guru, that has destroyed his/her attachments.”

Bhai Goind ji, Bhai Gola ji, and Bhai Mohan ji were of the Kuk caste.  They came to the home of Guru Arjan Dev ji.  They bowed to Guru ji and said: “please give us wisdom so that we may be saved.”  Sri Guru ji said: “do the Simran of the Name of Ram.  Remember the fact that you will die one day.  Think about this all the time.  Don’t let the idea of sin come into your mind.  When your mind does not wish to sin anymore, the Name of Ram will destroy your previous sins.  Be pure in this way and you will be happy.  Make your mind pure.  Gyaan will sprout within your mind and the pain of being born again will go away.”  The three Sikhs heard Guru ji’s wisdom and started to do Simran, all the time.  They stayed with Guru ji and did his Seva.  All three of them received Mukti. 

3-60 Bhai Mohan and other Sikhs

Form Ganjpur Bazaar, Lahore, 2 Sikhs Bhai Mohan ji, Bhai Aalam Chand ji; from Tulaspur, Bhai Jodha ji and Bhai Jalo ji; these 4 were the Masands of the Guru.  They did Seva of Guru Arjan Dev ji.  They collected money from their areas and brought it to Guru ji.  They did not take any money from the collection.  They saw the money as a sin to take for themselves.  They saw this money as: a fly falling into the corn.  One would throw up eating such a food.  Whoever took money from the Guru’s collection, their wealth would go away.  It destroys the body.  These 4 Masands did not hide any of the money collected as Dasvand.  One day, the four of them mounted a chariot and came to Guru ji’s home.  As they travelled, they saw a cobra who inflated his hood.  It came in front of the chariot and stood up in attention.  The Sikhs swerved their chariot but the cobra turned around again.  Bhai Mohan ji noticed that the cobra did not go away.  He got off the chariot and put a pot in front of the cobra.  He said to the cobra: “if you wish to see the Guru, then climb into the pot.”  The cobra climbed in to the pot right away.  Bhai Mohan covered the pot and placed it into the chariot.  The Sikhs camped along the way.  The next day, they came to Guru Arjan Dev ji.  They folded their hands and bowed.  Guru ji said: “how many have you come?”  The Sikhs said: “there are 4 of us today, oh saviour of the weak.”  Guru ji said: “there are 5 Sikhs here.  Bring food for 5.  The snake in the pot is a Masand from his last birth.  He had ego in his heart.  He did not bow before other Sikhs.  He now has a hood because he hid money from the Guru.  He became a snake in this life.  He had poison in his heart.  Bring him to me.”  The Masands heard Guru ji and presented the pot to Guru ji.  They placed the pot in the Divaan and lifted the cover.  The cobra came out at once.  Everyone saw the snake.  Guru ji said: “sprinkle this snake’s body with the Amrit from the Sarovar.”  When the Sikhs sprinkled Amrit onto the body of the snake, it died right away.  His soul came out and illuminated in the sky in front of everyone.  He visited Amritsar and his poison was gone from his soul.  Whoever bathes in the Amritsar Sarovar with faith, why wouldn’t they be saved? 

Bhai Dehsi ji and Bhai Jodh ji were Brahmin Sikhs who came to the sanctuary of Guru Arjan Dev ji.  They knew that peace can only be achieved from Guru ji.  They bowed to Guru ji and said: “the Pandits who call themselves high, they do not let us sit with them to eat.  The proud Pandits say to us: you are the Gurus of the world because you are Brahmins.  Why are you the Sikhs of a Kshatriya?  Ganga and Kanshi are the places of Vishnu and Mahadev.  You have left these places and don’t worship them.  You see Amritsar as the real Teerath and worship it.  We have seen this.   You have renounced the Vedas and connect to the Bani of the Guru, which is in the vernacular language.  You don’t celebrate Janam Ashtami or Shivratri, nor do you fast on Ekadashi.  You don’t recite the Gayatri, or do the actions of the 3 Sandyas; give water to the sun; or pind patal.  You do Karah Prashaad after someone dies and eat that.  You are therefore, impure.  You are no longer Pandits.  You can’t sit with us and eat with us.”  Guru ji, we come to your sanctuary.  Take us out of this world.  This pride of the castes is a chain.  We like to eat your Prashaad.  It gives us peace and joy.  We have received the Satnam and we will not be trapped by the Jumms.  The Pandits who are proud and insult us, what should we say to them?”  Guru Arjan Dev ji heard them and said; “the Amritsar Teerath is the greatest.  All of the Teeraths live here.  This is the city of Ikankaar.  This place is higher than the dimensions of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.  The other Teeraths come here to be purified.  First of all, the water of this Teerath is great.  Secondly the Naam is always sounding here.  Brahmgyaani Saints live here. 

Sri Mukhvaak. Malaar Mahalla 4..

Ganga, Jamuna, Godavari and Sarasvati; they make an effort to find the dust from the feet of the Sadhoo..

They say: people full of sin come and bathe in us to get rid of their sin.  We become pure again by the dust from the feet of the Sadhoo..1..

(SGGS 1263)

The sinners that bathe in the rivers, they leave their sins there.  Because of the sins, the rivers become agitated and seek the feet of the Sadhoos.  The Amritsar Sarovar is always pure because of Katha and Keertan.  The Teeraths come here to become pure again.”  The Sikhs asked: “water is pure and washes everything away.  How does the dust of the feet purify things?”  Satguru ji gave them an example: “the soap is made of dirt as well which cleans the dirt off of the clothes.  The dirt from the feet of sadhoos is pure.  It washes sins away.  When the Shabad of the Guru is heard via katha or Keertan, it will create faith in your heart resulting in Prema Bhagti.  The Teeraths of rivers are many, but Amritsar is not only a water Teerath, it has the Name of Akaal Purakh sounding, all the time.  The Harmandhir is the ship, the Name inside sounds inside it all the time.  The Ganga came from the dreadlocks of Shiva which meets the ocean eventually.  The Gurbani came from the mouth of the Guru.  Whoever recites it and ponders on it, they reach Brahm.  Both of the Teeraths; water and the Name, are here.  Whoever comes here is blessed.  Vishnu is the form of Akaal Purakh who gave birth to the Vedas from his breaths.  12 Mahavaaks were made and Brahma explained it all in the Vedas.  Vyaas wrote other Shrutis to define them further.  Akaal Purakh then came as Guru Nanak Dev ji to save the people of Kaliyuga.  He composed the Gurbani as the Veda of Kaliyuga.  Everyone can understand the Gurbani.  Even the ones who are not so wise can understand Gurbani.  Millions are being blessed because of this.  The Sikhs eat food as much as they need.  They do not over indulge.  This is the fast of Ekadashi for them.  Ekadashi comes after 15 days but the Sikhs live in contentment everyday and do not over indulge. 

Sri Namdev Vaak..

Namdev says: the servant has faith in the Name of Ram..

The fast of Ekadashi has been left alone, what point is there to go to a Teerath..1..

(SGGS 718)

The ones who have pride to be Brahmins, they are proud of their bodies.  The Gursikh is the Aatam Gyani.  Pride turns a person into a Chandaal (one who works with leather) because they only love their body (made of flesh and fat). 

The Brahmin is the one who: has identified the Brahm and sees Akaal Purakh residing in all.

So says Kabeer: the one that ponders on the Brahm, that is who I call a Brahmin..38..

(SGGS 324)

Loving the bones, skin, fat and blood is what the Chandaal does.  You are true Brahmins because you have understood the Brahm.  You are drenched in the colour of your real form, your Aatma.  The action Karma for the ancestors will make you go to the dimension of your ancestors.  You should recite the Satnam which is the treasure of joy.  You will go to the feet of Vahiguru.  The Sikh does not seek the dimension of the ancestors.  Your Aatma is the indestructible form.  Just as a Chakravarty King rules the world, he is not happy with just one village.  A poor person is happy with one village.  The people who are happy with the dimension of the ancestors are poor.  The ones going to Hell would love to go to the dimension of the Ancestors.  The Sikhs of the Guru do not wish for heaven.  They want to be one with the Brahm.”  The Brahmins heard the words of Sri Guru Arjan Dev ji and were happy.  They achieved Brahmgyaan as they renounced the pride of their castes.  The chain of the castes makes one in pain.  Without the love and blessing of the Guru, one cannot cut these chains, as they are caught in the maze of their relatives.