5-41 The Kathas of the Sikhs – 4 Types of Discussions

Bhai Dargaha ji and Bhai Bhandaria ji were wise and patient Sikhs.  They would live with Guru Hargobind Sahib ji and serve him.  They folded their hands and said to Guru ji: “Sikhs have discussions on Gurbani with each other and some get into fights.  They all claim to be right.”  Guru ji heard this and said: “there are 4 ways to have a discussion.  Sikhs should only do 2 types out of the 4.  The other 2 should not be done.  The 1^st type of discussion is called the Vaadh Charcha.  If someone does not understand something, they should go to another person and listen with love.  The 2^nd type is “Hayt Charcha.”  One speaks their opinion and listens to others as well.  One does not claim to be the right one.  One should praise everyone’s opinion and say: “I loved to hear you opinion.”  Even if one is wise, they should not reject another’s opinion.  One takes the others opinion and takes the good ideas and adopts them.  Speaking and listening with love; whatever is the conclusion, one let’s go of thier bias and accepts the good opinion.  In this discussion, everyone is praised by each other.  If one does not understand, they do not claim to know.  They ask another person.  When two minds get together, they come together with love just as one Diva is lit, there is darkness under the Diva; but a second Diva would get rid of darkness under both.  The ignorance is destroyed in this way.  If a person claims to be wise and translates on his own, the ego is not destroyed.  Two should come together and enjoy the translations of Gurbani.  The 3^rd type of discussion is “Jalap Charcha.”  Whatever comes out of one’s mouth, they do not back down.  They don’t listen to anyone else.  This is the stubborn way.  They call the bad things as good.  This causes conflict.  Everyone places their opinions and then argue to support it.  They try to prove their opinion with many examples.  Both don’t agree or reside it in their heart.  They get angrier while trying to prove the other wrong.  Anger leads to fighting.  Jealousy and hatred grow.  They see the other’s progress and get jealous.  This is not the good type of charcha.  This one destroys humility and gives rise to hatred.  The 4^th type is “Vitanda Charcha.”  One person always tries to prove the other wrong.  They are not wise themselves but argue against another’s opinion.  The scholars who come close to that person, they become upset.  The Sikh of the Satguru should not do this type of discussion either.  One should only take the good things and not hurt anyone else’s feelings.  One should make everyone feel good.  Be happy with everyone else’s progress.”  The Sikhs heard Guru ji and had devotion grow in their hearts. 

A Sikh named Bhai Jamaal ji came to Guru ji with devotion.  He took the Prashaad and got inspired by the radiance of the Satguru.  He saw the moon-like beauty of the Guru and spoke with his hands folded: “I have come to your sanctuary.  Make me your Sikh.  Give me the wisdom that will give me bliss.  I have heard of your praises and came to your presence.  I will stay with you and do what you say.”  Guru ji heard this and said: “read and listen to the Shabad of the Guru.  Ponder on its meanings.  Have faith in your heart and live by the meaning of the Shabad.  Understand the deeper meaning of Gurbani.  Whatever bodies have been created in the world are made up of the 5 prime elements (water, wind, fire, space and earth).  There is no more or less from person-to-person.  The Antiskaran was made along with the Indriyas.  The consciousness in every body is exactly the same.  It is the same as Akaal Purakh.  There is not difference in the “Chetan.”  Whoever understands the Aatma, that is the true Gursikh.  Their bonds of being born and dying are broken.”  Bhai Jamaal ji heard this and further questioned: “if the consciousness is the same everywhere, then why does everyone have to eat?  Only one should eat and the others should feel full.  If one gains Gyaan, others should be Gyanis too.  Why does ignorance still exist?  Only the one who eats feels full.  Only the Gyani becomes Mukat.”  Guru ji responded: “there are many pots and houses in this world.  There is the same space in all.  The emptiness is the same everywhere.  There is no difference.  Whatever you place in one pot, only that one contains the object placed in it.  The house that has a light, only that house has light.  That is the same thing with people.  The one who eats is the one that is satiated.  The Puranas are the things that feel hungry and thirsty.  They are the ones that are satiated after eating.  They are not part of the Aatma.  The mind is the same thing.  It exists because of the Aatma.  It is not the Aatma.  Since the mind exists as a product of the reflection of the Aatma, it is not the Aatma and is different in every body.  There are 3 types of differences: Sujaat (difference between similar objects i.e., 2 apples), Vijaat (difference between 2 types i.e., one apple and one orange) and Svaigat (difference within the same object i.e., hands and feet of the same person).  The Brahm consciousness is separate from all these things but does not have any difference.  It does not have the Sujaat difference.  There is no difference from one Aatma to another.  It is the same Aatma everywhere.  Aatma does not have Vijaat difference.  Everything else other than the Aatma is unconscious.  The Brahm is always existing.  The world is a myth.  There is nothing else like the Aatma.  The Aatma is the same in every time and state.  Whoever doesn’t understand this, that person is in doubt.  Svaigat difference would be the difference between the branches and the leaves of a tree.  Brahm does not have any difference within it.  The Aatma is the Brahm.  A person has different body parts but Akaal Purakh does not.  The body is actually unconscious.  It moves by the energy of the Aatma.  The Aatma does not move.  It is the witness.  It only exists.  It only is the conscious energy.  The Aatma is not guilty of anything.  Just as stars can be seen in the water, the stars are not one with the water.  The Aatma is in every body but not one with it.  If the moon can be seen in a pot of water, the water is the mind; the pot is the body.  The reflection of the moon is the Aatma.  The moon can be seen in every pot full of water.  The moon is separate from everything.  If one understands this, the Sikh of the Guru becomes wise.”  Bhai Jamaal ji heard this and became the Guru’s Sikh.  He understood the difference between unconscious and Chetan. 

Bhai Kuko Vadhavan ji and Bhai Ananta ji came to Guru ji.  They came to the sanctuary of Guru Hargobind Sahib ji.  They bowed to his feet and folded their hands.  They said to Guru ji: “Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji was the Avatar of Nirankaar Akaal Purakh.  He loved the Karah Prashaad.  He didn’t like any other type of Prashaad.  What is the reason for this?  He didn’t accept any other type of sweet.”  Guru ji said to them: “The Guru Avatar is the supreme Avatar.  Guru Nanak Dev ji is the supreme Avatar.  In the same way, the Karah is the supreme Prashaad.  The whole Sangat has been given this.  Also, the supreme wisdom and instruction is to do Simran of Satnam.  This is written in Gurbani as well.  Till the Gurta Ghaddi stays in this world, Guru ji will give his Sikhs the best things in the world.  The fortunate ones will become the Gurmukhs.  They will become the Sikhs.  Guru ji took the cream of the world and gave it to his Sikhs.  Guru ji also gave the Sikhs the cream from the Shrutis, Shastras and Vedas.  He gave the Sikhs the Shabads that give Mukti.  The best things are in the Guru’s home.  The Sikhs who acquire them, they are never in pain.”  The Sikhs heard this and were blessed.

Bhai Nivla ji and Bhai Nihaloo ji came to Guru ji’s feet and bowed to his feet.  They sat down and said: “how can we be saved?”  Guru ji heard this and said: “there is fire in all wood but does not come out till you rub it.  It does not illuminate otherwise nor does it make the cold go away.  Just as ghee exists in milk and has to be churned to be taken out; that is how the Shabad of the Satguru is.  The Aatam Gyaan is in the Shabad.  Reading Gurbani gives a lot of rewards but does not give you Brahmgyaan.  One needs to ponder on it and make the meanings reside in their heart.  Whatever you do in your daily life, live by the teachings of Gurbani.  Gyaan will then come.  Bliss is achieved and the bond of being born and dying is broken.”  Both heard the wisdom of the Guru and began to read Gurbani while thinking about the meanings.  They talked about the meanings.  They started to do Katha of Gurbani in the Sangat.  People heard these Sikhs do Katha and were happy.  They achieved Gurmat by letting go of their vices.  Many came to these Sikhs to listen to their Katha.  Many became Brahmgyaanis.  The listeners and speakers all received Mukti.  Many were blessed.  They said: “the Satguru is great!”

5-42 The Kathas of the Sikhs – 14 Virtues of the Speaker and Listener

Bhai Tulsiya ji, Bhai Dargah ji, Bhai Teerath Dheer ji and Bhai Teerath Uppal ji came to Guru ji with a desire in their hearts.  They bowed and sat down near Guru ji.  They folded their hands and said: “oh Ture Paatshaah ji, we have heard Sikhs do many types of translations of Gurbani.  We listen to them but we are not at peace.  Our minds wander too much.  The mind does not stay in one place.  When Bhai Nivla ji and Bhai Nihaloo ji do Katha though, our minds are at peace.  When we hear their Katha, we feel scared of indulging into the vices.  We are afraid of doing bad deeds.  The bad intellect runs away from our minds.  We wish to achieve Gurmat at that time.  Our hearts become clean.”  Guru Hargobind Sahib ji heard this and said: “The Satguru’s words are the supreme Amrit.  The speaker should have 14 virtues in order for Gyaan to be transferred.  The listener also should have 14 virtues by which Gyaan is achieved.  If both have the 14 virtues each, Brahmgyaan is illuminated.  If both don’t have it, Gyaan is not achieved.  If only the speaker has the virtues, the listener can still get Gyaan.”  When Guru ji said this, the Sikhs made a request to Guru ji: “please tell us the virtues.  Bless us.  We are your servants.  Tell us about each virtue.”  Guru ji said: “listen Sikhs, make these virtues dwell in your hearts.  The 1^st virtue “Vaagmi”: the speaker should be a good one.  They should have a good vocabulary and be able to define words.  They should speak as loud as needed.  If there are a lot of listeners, they should speak louder.  They should understand the beat of the Chands.  The second and third virtue is “Vyaas” and “Samaas.”  The speaker should notice how the listeners are feeling.  If the listeners are listening with attention, the speaker should speak in detail.  If the listeners are not paying attention or are tired, the speaker should wrap up quickly the difficult thoughts.  This is also “Briti Udaas.”  The fourth is “Briti Priya” – to give flavour to the words.  The words should be sweet, not rough.  Everyone should like to hear the words.  The 5^th is “Saach Bachan.”  They speaker should speak the truth.  They should be related to Karma, Upasana or Gyaan.  The meaning of the Shabad should be said.  The heart of the matter should be said.  The 6^th is “Sandeh Chedno.”  The speaker should be able to answer questions.  The speaker should give examples related to the Shabad.  The speaker should understand the ideology of the listener and answer accordingly.  The 7^th virtue should be: the speaker should have “Shastra Granth Gyaan.”  The person should be knowledgeable.  The 8^th virtue is “Nakhyaat Vikhshayp krit”- that the speaker should not wander from the subject and contradict him or herself.  The ideology of the examples should be understood.  The 9^th is “Aving.”  The speaker should sit upright without slouching.  The 10^th is “Ranjak.”  Be entertaining and grab the attention of the listeners.  The love will increase in this way.  The 11^th is “Jit Sabho” – that the speaker should be able to get everyone’s attention.  The listeners should be listening to and viewing the speaker, with their full attention.  They should be eager to listen to the next statements.  The 12^th is “Na Hankrit” – without ego.  They should let go of the pride of being knowledgeable.  The mind should be humble in front of everyone.  The 13^th is “Dhaarmik.”  The person should follow what they say.  The 14^th is “Santokhi” – be content.  Whatever is in their destiny, they will receive.  Whatever is given, receive it with bliss.  What is given without asking for, that is Amrit.  The speaker should not wish for many commodities.  They should be happy with what they have.  These are the 14 virtues of the speaker.  Now I will tell you the 14 virtues of the listener.  The 1^st is to trust the speaker.  They mind should be clean of mind, word and karma.  The 2^nd is to be void of ego.  Don’t see yourself as a big Sevadaar.  The 3^rd is to listen with faith.  Don’t be skeptical.  The 4^th is to let go of cleverness and not apply it to the speaker.  The 5^th is to understand with context.  The 6^th is to know how to ask questions.  The 7^th is to listen to the Granths.  Listen to many Kathas of different Granths.  The 8^th is to not by lazy.  The 9^th is to conquer sleep.  The 10^th is to make what you heard, dwell in your heart and bring into practise.  The 11th is to share what you heard.  The 12^th is to make your mind calm by understanding the Guru’s ideology.  If what you heard is not according to the Guru’s ideology, discard what you heard.  The 13^th is to be clean (physically) when you listen.  The 14^th is to not be a hypocrite.  Take the Shabad of the Prabhoo and make your mind still; so you hear the Anhad Naad- the eternal sound.  The listener will receive Brahmgyaan in this way.  Nobody can stop the Gyaan.  Both listener and speaker will become Gyaanis.  Bhai Nivala and Bhai Nihaloo have all 14 virtues.  Always listen to their Katha and do their Sangat.  You will get those virtues as well.  If you listen to their Katha, why wouldn’t you receive Mukti?”  The Sikhs heard this from Guru ji and made the words dwell in their heart.  They were happy. 

Bhai Krishna Jhanjhoo ji and Bhai Pummu Puri ji came to Guru ji.  They folded their hands and said: “please bless us poor people, Gareeb Nivaaj.”  Guru ji gave them wisdom: “the ship of the Naam is the best in Kaliyuga.  Read the Shabad and practise it.  Board the ship of the Naam and be happy.”  The two heard this and said: “one Sikhs listens and reads Gurbani.  They let go of bad deeds.  Another also listens to and recites Gurbani but does bad deeds and fights with everyone.  They can’t get rid of their anger like a line on a rock.  They are filled with ego and think they are the smartest.  They are stuck in the mud of lust and greed.  What will happen to these people who listen to Bani?  Please be compassionate and tell us.”  Guru ji responded: “listen, the Shabad of the Guru saves all.  In time, they will be saved if they keep listening to the Guru’s word.  They should listen to and read Gurbani with determination.  Some people are tied to their own knowledge and do not learn from anyone.  They can never receive Mukti.  If the one without Gyaan comes and listens to the Shabad, their sins will be washed away.  They learn and practise what they hear.  The Bhagats become deeper Bhagats.  The Gyani’s Gyaan becomes deeper.  The one who reads for the reason of praises and does sins while hiding; they call themselves Gyaanis, they don’t have faith on the Gyaan; they are egotistical and don’t go to Satsang; they wish to obtain wealth; they never receive Gyaan (Brahmgyaan).  How can they be respected in the court of Akaal Purakh?  The one who knows about Sri Amritsar and doesn’t know the way, they can ask and reach there.  The one without Gyaan can bathe in the Sarovar, do Satsangat and receive Gyaan.  Someone who wanted to go and didn’t know the way; they followed others and arrived; they bathed in the Sarovar and achieved bliss.  The Gyaanis already know where Amritsar is.  They come when they wish to.  There are some who know how to get there but they get confused about the directions.  They go the wrong way and don’t listen to anyone telling them the right way.  They think they know better.  They are in doubt and go the wrong way.  There are people who never asks saints and say: “I already know everything.”  They never come to Sangat nor do they ever receive Brahmgyaan.”  Guru ji spoke and the Sikhs listened.  They had faith and become humble. 

Two Tarkhaans: Bhai Dhigan ji and Bhai Mudhoo ji; they were both very wise in their work.  They stayed with Guru Hargobind Sahib ji.  They did the Seva of cutting firewood for the Langar.  They would make beds and stools for Sikhs.  They would make them and keep them in the Satguru’s home.  They would do other work for Sikhs that needed some carpentry work.  They would go to their homes and fix their things.  They would do the work with love and not take any money for their work.  They would listen to Keertan and Katha after doing their work.  They would wake up at Amritvela and bathe.  They would then get water from the well for other Sikhs to take a bath.  They were connected to the “Satnam” all day long.  They did continuous Simran.  When their end time came, they took a bath at the Amritsar Sarovar.  Whatever items they owned, they gave to the poor.  They did Simran of “Vahiguru” and let go of their bodies.  There was no other in their mind besides the Guru.  The Sikhs prepared their pyres.  Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib ji came to their cremation.  Guru ji lit the pyres with his own hands.  Guru ji then told everyone about the two Sikhs: “they were the Avatars of Nall and Neel.  They made a request to me once: “please give us Bhagti and Brahmgyaan.  We wish to immerge into the Great bliss.”  I said to them at that time: “come to the world.  The Satguru will fulfil your wish.”  They were born in the house of Tarkhaans and earned the Shabad of the Satguru.  They achieved Brahmgyaan but didn’t show it to anyone.  They were complete Brahmgyaanis but didn’t tell anyone.  They received the status of “Abachal Padhvi,” the omnipotent and permanent status.  Their Karma is all finished.”  The Sikhs were amazed to hear this.  They said: “nobody knows of your ways, Satguru ji.  Nobody understands your glory.  Your glory is illuminated in the 3 Loks.”

5-43 The Kathas of the Sikhs – Banvalli and Prasram

Two doctors: Bhai Banvalli ji and Bhai Prasram ji, they made the ill Sikhs well again.  They wouldn’t take money for the medicine.  They were without desires.  They would use their own money to make medicine.  They would give the medicine to the Sikhs.  If a person would by dying, they would be able to cure them.  They were great doctors.  They would sing the Shabads of the Guru, with love.  They would think of the meanings and follow it.  One day, they came to Guru ji and said to Guru ji with their hands folded: “Sachay Paatshaah, we have understood that the Mukti is achieved from the Guru’s Shabad.  The glory of the Sadhsangat is also stated.  Why is the Sadhsangat praised in Gurbani?”  Guru ji said: “Sadhsangat is the cure for all illnesses.  You have prepared all of the medicines already and kept them in your home.  The ill come to your home to be cured.  You check their nerves and see if their heat or water is out of balance.  When you examine the sick, you then give them the correct medicine.  You also tell them what to do and what to avoid.  You make their pain go away.  They are at ease after.  The medicine that you have in your home, the sick come to your home but without the doctor, the illness does not go away.  Understand this in your heart: if medicine is there and the sick is there, the illness won’t go away till the doctor is there.  The Guru’s Shabad is the medicine.  You need a doctor as well.  The beloved Gursikhs determine who is deserving of Sikhi.  They determine if the new person requires Karma, Upasana or Gyaan to be cured.  They see how deserving the person is.  They give the correct wisdom for their state.  The Sikhs then tell them how to live their life.  They give them the Rehit.  Those new Sikhs receive Brahmgyaan quickly then.  If a person is given wisdom without them being deserving of it, forget about Gyaan, they get tangled into conflicts within themselves.  The glory of the Sadhsangat is great.  That is the reason why Gurudev has written about the glory of the Sadhsangat.”

Bhai Teertha ji was a Sikh who was a soldier in the army of the Badshah.  He came to the shelter of Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib ji.  He folded his hands and bowed to Guru ji’s feet.  He said to Guru ji: “I work all the time.  I don’t get the time to do Simran.  How can I be saved?”  Sri Guru ji said: “do the Seva of saints everyday.  Give them food, clothes and joy.  The ones who give grains to cows, they get milk to drink.  For this reason, do the Seva of Sadhoos.  They will be happy and tell you the easy way.  Bhagti and Gyaan will live in your heart by their effort.”  The Sikh further inquired: “but how will I know who is a true saint, whom I should serve?”  Satguru ji told him a way to understand this: “there was a king who wanted to see cranes.  He knew he had to serve birds first, so he left food and water for birds.  He placed grains on the roof of his home.  Many birds came.  Birds from other lands began to come.  They ate grains and praised the Raja as they flew away.  Some birds reached Mansarovar and praised the Raja who serves birds.  The cranes heard this and decided to go to the Raja’s home.  They wanted to make the Raja’s faith grow deeper so he would feed more birds.  A crane couple flew to the Raja’s home and sat on his roof.  The Raja saw the cranes and was very happy.  People saw this and were happy.  The Raja filled plates full of pearls and brought them to the cranes.  He also placed milk in front of them.  The cranes separated the milk for the water and ate the whey.  They ate the pearls.  They gave rubies to the Raja and made him happy.  They left back to their land.  When the jewellers appraised the rubies, they said: “you can sell all of your assets and properties plus your wealth, it will not be enough for these rubies.”  Just as the Raja received the rubies by serving the birds, you should keep serving Sadhoos.  Such a Sadhoo will come one day that will give you Brahmgyaan.”  The Sikh heard this and was filled with bliss.  He served saints which gave him a lot of peace.  He did Simran of Vahiguru with joy.  During his end time, he came to Guru ji.

Bhai Bhava Dheero ji lived in Ujjain and did Bhagti of Guru ji.  He did and listened to Keertan and Katha.  He slept 6 hours and did Bhagti for 6 hours of the night.  He did the Sangat of wise Sikhs.  He came to Guru ji every 6 months to get Darshan of Satguru ji.  One day, he was sitting with Guru ji.  He asked Guru ji: “what are the traits of a saint?”  Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib ji said: “there is a Salok towards the saints:

Salok Sahaskriti Mahala 5..

The Mantra: Ram Ram, they meditate on it, that is the most complete..

With Gyaan, they see pain and pleasure as the same, there way is pure and without hatred..

They are compassionate towards all life, they stay away from the 5 vices..

Their food is the Keertan of Gopal, they are detached from Maya like a lotus is above the water..

They give wisdom to both friend and foe, they love the Bhagti of the Bhagwant..

They don’t listen to the descriptions of anyone’s faults, they leave their egos and become humble like dust..

These are the 6 traits, whoever has these, Nanak says, that is who is called a Saadhoo..40..

(SGGS 1357)

The ones who do Simran of Ram; they see pain and pleasure as the same; they are without hatred; they are connected to Akaal Purakh all the time; they are compassionate to all life.  They do not get dirty with desire and anger.  They are like the lotus on top of the water, that does not get wet.  They give advice to friends and enemies.  They don’t talk about anyone nor do they listen to slandering.  They keep their minds humble.  Wise people see these people as complete Sadhoos.  Do their Sangat.  Staying with them, the bad intellect will go away.  Serving them will give you Gyaan.”  The Sikh heard this and was happy.  Bhai Dheero ji went home and strived to obtain the 6 traits of the saints.

Many Sikhs gathered in Burhanpur.  Bhai Bhagvan Das ji was a great Bhagat in that village.  Other Sikhs: Bhai Bhodala ji, Bhai Malak Kataroo ji, Bhai Prithi Mal Jaraand ji, Bhai Dhalloo ji, Bhai Churaa Hairaan ji, Bhai Swami Das Vadhavan ji and Bhai Sunder ji, all lived in Burhanpur.  They would meet and do Keertan.  They would discuss Gurbani together.  They all gathered and came to meet Guru Hargobind Sahib ji.  They met Guru ji and brought many types of gifts.  They bowed their heads seeing Guru ji.  They stayed there for many days.  They sat near Guru ji with the wish to receive Mukti.  They asked Guru ji: “please give us wisdom by which we can be saved.”  Sri Guru ji spoke: “the Dharamsala will save you.  Make one in your village.  Gather there early, before the sun rises.  Listen to and read Gurbani.  Discuss the meanings and ponder on them.  Do the Katha.  Follow what the Gurbani says and apply it to your life.  In the evening, do the Aarti, the Charan Kamal Chownki.  (The 11 Chownkis of Sri Harmandhir Sahbi: 1. Tripera Chownki 2. Asa Di Vaar 3. Bilaval Pehli 4. Bilaval Dooji 5. Anand di Chownki 6. Saarang di Chownki 7. Jaitsri di Chownki 8. So Dar di Chownki 9. Charan Kamal 10. Kalyaan di Chownki 11. Keertan Sohila Chownki) Do Ardaas and go to your homes.  Earn the life of Dharam.  Don’t lie.  During Rehraas, do Keertan for 3 hours.  Recite Sohila at the end.  Bathe at Amritvela and read Bani from memory.  This will give you all the joys.  If you see a Sikh who needs food or clothes, give them food and clothes.  On the days of Masya, Shangrand, Diwali, Vaisakhi and others, collect the money and make Panchamrit.  Distribute it to the Sangat.  Let go of your egos and be humble.  Do Satsangat in this way, everyday.  I will tell you a story: a dead cat once fell in a well.  How could the water be purified?  Everyone asked the Pandit and the Pandit said: “take the dead cat out and remove 1,000 buckets of water from the well.  The pure water will replace the old water.”  People went to the well and started to take out the water.  They forgot to take the cat out.  The smell did not go away after taking 1,000 buckets of water out.  They all went back to the Pandit and said: “the well is still not pure.  It smells still after taking so much water out.”  The Pandit said: “maybe the water is too dirty.  Take 10,000 buckets of water out.”  The people took out 10,000 buckets but the smell didn’t go away.  They went back to the Pandit and told him.  The Pandit was surprised and went to the well himself.  He saw the dead cat in the well.  He said: “what did you do?  The dead cat is still in the well.  If you don’t take the cat out, how can the water be pure again?  This is how ego is.  It is like a dead cat inside of us.  Until it is still within us, Mukti is not possible.  For this reason, make a great effort to discard your ego everyday.  It dies slowly everyday.  When it dies, the Aatam Gyaan illuminates.”  When the Sikhs heard this, the people of Burhanpur, they were filled with bliss and went back to their homes.  They did the Simran of Satnam and did what Guru ji said.  Their Chit, Man, Bhuddi and Ahankaar were purified over time.  Whatever Satguru ji said, they did that in their village.  They all achieved Mukti and said: “Satguru ji is Dhan who gave us bliss.”

5-44 The Kathas of the Sikhs – Maeea Lumb

Bhai Maeea Lumb ji was from the village Suhund and went to Satsangat everyday.  He sang the Shabad of the Guru with love and devotion.  He did Prema Bhagti with great respect.  He came to do Darshan of Satguru ji.  He bowed to Guru ji’s lotus feet.  He stayed with Guru ji for some days.  When he got the chance to speak to Guru ji, he came and said: “please tell me, oh great Guru: some come to the Satsangat and the Guru’s Darbar with desires in their hearts.  They ask for things from the Guru’s home for their well-being.  They eat and consume those things.  Some work for a living and share with the Gursikhs before eating.  Some are with desires and others are without.  They both sing and listen to Keertan.  They sit in Satsangat, spend their whole life here and do your Darshan everyday.  What happens to these people when they go on ahead?  What rewards do they receive and what is the difference between them.”  Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib ji spoke: “both come to the Satsangat.  The ones with desires go to the Gandharv Lok (the dimension of the Musicians of Sach Khand) when they die.  They receive many types of pleasures there for a long time.  Within Gandharv Lok, the Keertan of Parmeshwar happens there all the time.  The people who live in that Lok eventually receive Mukti there and don’t come into the cycle of birth and death again.  They do not die or take birth again.  They never see pain again because they do the Sangat of the Gandharvs.  The ones who do not have any desires, they receive Gyaan.  They see the world, along with its joys and pleasures, as false.  They see pleasures as temporary.  They stay in the world till their Karma lasts.  When the account is all settled with their karma, they become one with Vahiguru and immerge into bliss.  The desireless ones get the most rewards.  The ones that have desires, there are 2 types: one type only take as much as they need for their body’s and family’s needs.  They take whatever is given to them with love and do not ask for anything more.  They are happy with what they receive.  They feel that Parmeshwar has given them everything.  They share everything they receive.  They do Katha and Keertan for Mukti, not for money.  They are content with what they get and eat in joy.  These types of people are pretty much the same as the desireless ones, as they don’t have greed.  They are happy with what they have.  Some who have more desires, they go to Gandharv Lok.  The second type of desire-folk are the ones who do Katha and Keertan for money.  Their focus is not in the Katha or Keertan.  They do Katha and good deeds for money.  Their doubts do not go away.  They do not see their Aatma.  They get all the things they need here.  They come to the Satsangat for money.  When they die, they come back as humans.  They then do Simran of the Satguru.  They have to take many births to get rid of their karma.  They will do Bhagti and eventually become desireless.  They will receive Mukti.  For this reason, become desireless, do Keertan and do Simran of Satnam.”  Listening to Guru ji, Bhai Maeea ji followed Guru ji’s teachings and became Mukat.

Bhai Choohar Chojhar ji was a great Sikh from Lucknow.  While standing, sitting, walking or laying down, he did Simran all the time.  He came to see Guru ji and bowed to his feet.  After staying for a few days, he said to Satguru ji one day: “what is the root of the vine of Sikhi?  Tell me what it looks like and how it is achieved.”  Guru ji then spoke: “keep your mind humble, this is the field.  Faith on the Guru, this is the stem that comes from the ground.  The love for the Guru’s feet is the root of this plant.  Meet the Satsangat; this makes the plant of Sikhi grow.  Doing the Seva of the saints is the best deed; that is the branches of the plant.  Take on good virtues and follow the Guru.  That makes the plant green.  Singing or listening to Keertan is watering the plant of Sikhi.  To ponder on the Shabad, that is the flowers coming out.  Keertan is the fragrance of the flower.  Ukti, Mukti and Jugti are the pollinators.  Vairagya, detachment, from pleasures and commodities is the blossoming.  The fruit is to see the world as false and experiencing the Brahm Anand.  They see themselves as the Aatma and One with Parmeshwar.  They no longer see the Jeev.  This is the taste of bliss.  Whoever obtains this plant of Sikhi, that is the true beloved Sikh of the Guru.  That is the generous Gurmukh.  They are saved themselves and help others get there.  They are Gyaanis, Bhagats and Karam Yogis.  They are the Shiromani, the highest, in this world.  They have won!  They will never lose again!”  The Sikh from Lucknow heard this and went home, praising Guru ji. 

A Sikh named Bhai Bhanna ji came.  He lived in Prayaag, where the Kumbh Mela happens every 12 years.  Bhai Bhanna ji lived there for a long time.  He came to see Guru ji and brought great gifts for Guru ji.  He bowed with his hands folded.  When Guru ji asked him how he was, the Sikh said: “my heart’s desire is to be blessed with Mukti.  I have come to your great sanctuary for this reason.  Please give me your wisdom by which I am not born or dead again.”  Guru ji said to the Sikh: “do the work of Dharam.  Do the Simran of Vahiguru.  Say it with your mouth and don’t forget it.”  Bhai Bhanna ji said: “where we live, there are people living there with other ideologies.  Those people come to me and debate with me.  They fight with me and say: “if someone keeps saying a high-status person’s name all the time, the high-status person will get fed up of it.  That person doesn’t keep the person saying his name beside him.  If you keep saying Ram Ram all the time, Parmeshwar won’t be happy.  He won’t be happy with you.  What rewards will you receive with Simran?  Parmaatam is too big and will be upset with you.”  This is what they say.”  Satguru ji said: “don’t see it like this.  Have faith and do what I say.  Just as many sinners come together and give pain to a poor person; many people chase the one person to loot him; that person does not have anyone to protect them; that person only calls out to the king.  Until nobody listens to him, he keeps calling out to the king for protection.  When the sinners hear him, they stop bothering the poor person, fearing the king.  They stop hitting the poor person.  They get scared and don’t go near him anymore.  The king’s servant, the police, if they find out, they come to help the poor person.  They protect him.  They make all the sinners go away.  If the king hears the yelling, hears his name, he makes the poor person fearless by destroying the sinners.  This is how the desires, anger and ego are.  They loot us everyday.  They make us do sins, keep us in fear and desires.  They bother us a lot.  If we say “Ram,” a saint will help us and make the vices go away.  Desires and anger make us do sins.  The saints help us.  Parmeshwar hears the name and blesses the person.  Parmeshwar says: “this person is in pain by the vices and is calling out to me.”  Parmeshwar fulfills the grace and blesses the person.  The bonds are broken and the undying joy comes.  This is the reward of Simran.  So many rewards and advantages are in Simran.  Whatever the Satguru says, do it.  If someone tries to stop you from Simran, that person is your enemy.  That person is a Paamar and an atheist.  Those people are sinners who debate with you.  They want to take you to Hell.  Don’t meet with them.  It is a sin to meet or speak to them.  They only know how to debate.  They will ruin your faith.  They will take you towards atheism.  They don’t let go of their vices.  Don’t meet with them.  Stay away from them.”  Bhai Bhanna ji said: “if the sinner is worse than the vice, how is this possible?  Vices are the cause.”  Guru ji said: “fire is the reason the body burns.  The fire heats the iron.  It becomes red and more dangerous than fire.  One can’t go near it.  It damages anything it touches.  That is how a sinner is.  They are in bonds and cannot receive Mukti.  That will take them to Hell.  They can never achieve the high status.  If a plant has too many fruits, the wind knocks it down.  The fruit falls and does not ripen.  There would be no taste in it.  The plants that are not affected by wind, the fruit ripens to sweetness.  They are not bitter.  The ones who stay connected to Gurbani, they will be saved from the sinners.  They won’t debate with atheists.  The ones who do, they will not taste the sweetness of the Bhagti of Parmeshwar.  They will continue to be born and dead.  They will be in pain.  If you stay connected to Gurbani, you will receive Gyaan and Mukti.  So Bhanna, don’t listen to there arguments.  Don’t see the difference of Parmeshwar.  Don’t let go of the Simran of Satnam, which gives bliss.  Do this if you want to be in bliss.”  Bhai Bhanna ji listened to Guru ji’s words and said: “this is true.  Gurbani is true and the treasure of virtues.”  He did Simran with great faith.  He achieved Mukti from this world. 

5-45 The Kathas of the Sikhs – Jattu Tappa

In Jonpur, lived a Sikh named Bhai Jattu Tappa ji.  He came to Guru Hargobind Sahib ji.  He bowed with this his hands folded.  He sat down and said to Guru ji: “I have heard of your great glory.  You have washed the sins and mind of millions.  I come to your sanctuary and wish to be saved.  Give me wisdom, oh Satguru.”  Sri Satguru ji said: “do the Shantki Tapp.  There are 3 types of Tapps: Rajsi, Tamsi and Shantki.  Tamsi Tapp is done in the cemetery and the objective is to give your body pain.  Rajsi is to impress the Devatas; to receive Riddhis and Siddhis.  Shantki is to meet Parmeshwar.  Do the Simran of Ram, stop your mind and Indriyas while doing this Tapp.”  Bhai Jattu ji said: “many say that without Gyaan, the Mukti cannot be achieved.  The Vedas say this as well.”  Guru ji heard this and spoke: “listen carefully: the Jagyaso who wishes to receive Mukti, they do Simran of Vahiguru, day and night.  The four doors of Mukti open for them.  A door is needed to enter.  They receive Mukti.  Just as Sri Harmandhir Sahib has 4 doors.  Whoever comes in is blessed.  They will see Guru Granth Sahib ji through any door.  Jog, Vairagya, Bhagti and Gyaan are the 4 doors to Mukti.  Jog- to connect.  To stop the mind from wandering.  Vairagya is not to desire any object or person in any lok.  Bhagti is to love Parmatma.  Gyaan is to know that the Jeev and Brahm are one in the same.  The Aatma is the same as Parmatma.  Doing the Simran of the Naam gives one all 4 doors.  Collect your consciousness and focus it on the Naam with Love.  Do the Simran of Satnam.  The fruit of Jog is achieved with this.  Simran will make the mind still and not let it wander.  After this, one is detached from the pleasures; this is Vairagya.  The root of Bhagti is Simran itself.  Love for Prabhoo will come once you call out Prabhoo’s name.  All day and all night, you will think of the One, the beloved one.  Whoever Vahiguru blesses, their focus stays still in Simran.  When love is their, the inside becomes illuminated.  As the Bhuddi becomes clear, Parmatma from within can be seen.  The person knows that the Aatma inside is the same as outside.  Just as space inside a pot, inside the home is the same; is the same as the sky, that is how it is.  Seeing the real self, all the bonds are broken.  In this way, the Naam is the support of everything.  All 4 doors are achieved by Simran.  Whoever wants these 4 doors, do Simran continuously.  The doors of the Dharamsala, whoever walks one step towards it, they are rewarded with many rewards.  Come and listen to Keertan by letting go of ego.  Listening to Keertan with humility, Bhagti is received.  Wake up at Amritvela and bathe.  This is the greatest Shantki Tapp.  Doing Simran of Satnam will give you the rewards.  Be determined and understand that you are not your body.  When the body was born, that was not your birth.  When the body dies, it won’t be your death.  The Anand, the bliss; Sat, the infinite existence; and Chetan, pure consciousness, is the real you.  Slowly, the bliss will illuminate in this way.”

Bhai Navla ji and Bhai Nihala ji were 2 Sikhs who lived in Patna.  That is where their home was.  They spoke the truth and earned a truthful livelihood.  They would go to and only wish for the Satsangat.  They wouldn’t meet with people who were liars.  The Sikhs that did Simran with love, these 2 Sikhs would serve them.  They came to meet Sri Guru ji once.  They brought gifts for Guru ji.  They bowed and stayed with Guru ji for many days.  They came to Guru ji one day and said: “Guru Gareeb Nivaaj, saviour of the poor, giver of Mukti; give us wisdom by which everything is successful.  We want to be complete and don’t want to leave anything out.”  Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib ji said: “do the Upasana of Satnam.”  Bhai Nihala ji said: “many wise people say that till duality exists inside the mind (the perception of self and Parmatma as 2 different entities) the Triputi remains.  (Triputi is the combination of 3 things: knowledge of something, the knower/ perceiver and knowledge.  There are 14 Triputis running in our wakeful life.  The 14 Triputis are eyes, ears, nose, tongue, skin, speech, hands, feet, urinal tract, intestinal excretion, mind, chit (desire), Bhuddi (wisdom) ahankara (perception of self/ego)) One is the person doing Upasana.  The second is the one who is being remembered.  The third is the Upasana practice.  One is who is being remembered; two is the one who is doing the remembering; third is the act of remembering.  One is what is being known; two is who is doing the act of knowing and the third is the act of knowing.  When a person knows there is only One, the Triputi emerges into One and the duality does not exist anymore.  The Triputi cannot be seen separately and so there is only the Parbrahm Parmeshwar; just as the drop of water mixes into the ocean.  The one doing Simran, becomes one with the one for whom the Simran is dedicated to (Akaal Purakh).  One sees their form everywhere.  The experience is one to understand deeply as it was “you” all along.”  Guru ji continued: “there are 4 types of Bhagats: “1. Arthi Bhagats – the ones who have desires and do Bhagti to obtain some material object or status.  They so Simran of Satnam, day and night, to obtain something.  They also do Seva of saints with determination.  They listen to and obey what the saints say.  Their desires come to fruition but they fall in love with Prabhoo as a result of their practice.  2. Aarat Bhagats – the ones in pain.  If they are troubled by some enemies, or illness, they join their mind with the Simran of Prabhoo; they are cured and the enemy is destroyed.  Their faith gets deeper and they do more Simran to avoid further pain.  3. Upasana Bhagats – they only do Simran for the love of Akaal Purakh.  They want their sins to be washed away.  They see themselves as the servants of Akaal Purakh’s feet.  They see Kartaar as the sustainer; they see themselves as women and Akaal Purakh as their husband.  Their hearts and Bhuddis become clean and the Brahmgyaan illuminates.  4 Brahmgyaani Bhagats – they see Parmatma everywhere, inside and out.  They don’t see duality.  Just as there is space in a pot, home and sky; they see the Brahm illuminating everywhere.  They do Simran of Vahiguru all the time.  They become Aatam Gyanis and move away from their bodies.  They cross the fourth, fifth and sixth Bhumika of Gyaan (wisdom) and go straight to the seventh.  (7 Bhumikas of Gyaan: Subicha (good desire), Subvicharana (self-inquiry), Tanumanasa (still mind), Sattvapatti (attainment of Gyaan), Asamshakti (inner detachment), Padartha Bhavana (divine vision), Turiya (supreme freedom)) For this reason, do the Simran of Satnam and do the selfless Seva of saints.  Keep your mind humble and your wisdom high.  You will be in joy and be blessed.”  The Sikhs heard this and attained Mukti.  Bhai Navla ji and Bhai Nihala ji obtained the Gurmukh status. 

Bhai Jodha ji, Bhai Jaith Seth ji were the guards of Guru ji’s door.  They stood with spears in their hands.  Nobody could go in without asking them.  They were sitting near Guru ji one day.  They asked Guru ji: “some say when Brahmgyaan is achieved, Bhagti is not required anymore.  They say that Gyaan can only give Mukti.  They let go of Bhagti then.  They say that when the Gyaan comes in the heart, one knows that you are the Parmatma, so whose Bhagti should you do?”  Guru ji then spoke to the Sikhs and told them the righteous path: “without Bhagti, Gyaan cannot be radiant.  Ghee is very powerful.  It makes food taste great.  If a “Kaphi” (phlegm in the chest) eats ghee, the phlegm increases.  The chest congestion gets worse.  Their taste goes bad and they cough a lot.  They can’t eat.  If a “Pithi” (increased heat) eats ghee alone, they will get diarrhea.  Other illnesses will arise in the body.  This is what happens if ghee is eaten alone.  If sugar crystals are added to ghee, then it is good for both Kaphi and Pithi.  If there is only Gyaan, the person says: “Ahang Brahm Asmi” – they say that they are Brahm.  This won’t be good.  The person listening to that person won’t become humble.  They will go to Hell and never see Heaven.  They will be egotistical.  Ego makes one person see themselves as the highest.  They do not go to Satsangat to do the Sangat’s Seva.  They are not humble in front of anyone.  This is the increasing of the phlegm.  Their chest is always inflated with ego.  They go to Hell and endure more problems.  The person with desires, listens to the Gyaan and then eyes other women or pleasures.  They feel they are above sin as they are Brahm.  They get stuck into the vices.  They get diarrhea like the Pithi and go to Hell.  For this reason, do Bhagti with the Gyaan.  Bhagti is the sugar.  Kartaar blesses the one who has both.  They will say that they are Prabhoo’s servant but in their hearts, they will know that they are in fact the Brahm.  The Gyaan of Ahang Brahm Asmi will illuminate.  (the 3 wisdoms Guru Nanak Dev ji gave to Guru Angad Dev ji and subsequently passed from one Guru to the next: Hirday Gyaan- know that you are the Brahm in your heart.  You are the Aatma, not the body.  Don’t say this ever; Mukh Bhagti – do Simran of Satnam from your mouth.  Call yourself the servant of Prabhoo; Vartan Vairagya- this world is a Mela.  Nothing here belongs to you, not even your body.  See every desirable item as the feces of a crow.)  For this reason, everyone should do Simran of the Naam.  Do it with deep love to obtain the home of bliss.  Gyaan is dry without Bhagti.  Do the Simran of Naam and be blessed.”