SIGHT OF THE SAINTS
"You come to mind, O Lord and Master, when I behold Your devotees."
The importance of holy company has been highlighted many times in previous posts. Gursikhs who meditate on Naam have a glowing look and an impacting presence. Simply, having the vision of Gursikhs is enough to have a lasting effect on oneself. They are a reminder that we should Jap Naam (meditate on God’s name) constantly with love in order to meet Vaheguroo jee (God) and obtain the qualities of pure Gursikhs and God.
Vaheguroo!
Sikhi Game of love- THE BOAT
THE BOAT
"The Guru is the boat, the ship, the raft; meditating on the Lord in your mind, you shall be carried across to the other side."
Many times in Gurbani, this dark age is referred metaphorically as a terrifying ocean; one which we are to cross in order to reach the shore on the other side. In order to cross an ocean, we need support, we need a boat that can carry us across. That boat is the name of God (Vaheguroo). By continually meditating, we build and craft this ship which one day we shall board and be carried across elegantly. Only the name shall save us; all other ways and methods shall not work! Meditating and loving God’s name is the key to liberating the soul.
Vaheguroo!
Sikhi Game of love- GOD’S OWN IMAGE
GOD’S OWN IMAGE
You will often find people saying that Man has been created in God’s own image.
Nowadays, in the materialistic world that we live in, this is often taken in the literal sense as a physical likeness or form. However, we really need to think of this concept on the metaphysical level.
The image of God is the eternal energy that we all have embedded deep within us. This is the likeness of God and indeed a part of God.
When we manage to destroy our own ego’s and awaken the Naam (mantra) energy within, we will then automatically exude all the qualities of God and indeed become an image of God.
We can only get to this stage by truly connecting with the Naam meditation24/7. We will then see only the light of God everywhere we look and only feel one’s presence in the whole universe.
Guru Teg Bahadur Jee in their Saloks, that appear at the end of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Jee, offers us the following teachings to summarise this concept.
Jo Praanee Nis Dhin Bhajai Roop Raam Thih Jaan ||
That mortal who meditates and vibrates upon the Lord night and day - know him to be the embodiment of the Lord.
Har Jan Har Anthar Nehee Naanak Saachee Maan ||29||
There is no difference between the Lord and the humble servant of the Lord; O Nanak, know this as true. ||29||
Vaheguroo!
Sikhi Game of love- MANAGING AND PRIORITISING TASKS
MANAGING AND PRIORITISING TASKS
We often make a list and work out what order to do things in by thinking which tasks are urgent and how important each task is. If we are unable to find out which order to rank them, we usually look at deadlines dates to prioritise.
We often look at Sikhi as a chore and one of those tasks too. Some that are not on this spiritual path may often think we have enough time to tread on this path. We usually feel the need to prioritise and focus on gathering wealth and spending time with friends and family, and then when we are old and retired, we will take steps towards the path of Sikhi. We usually don’t give much priority to Sikhi as we naturally assume, Sikhi is not as important and we have enough time to become Guru’s Sikhs. However, we don’t know how long we have and there is no guarantee that we will make it to the old retirement age. We don’t even know if we are going to draw another breath.
In light with recent covid events we can see that nothing is of guarantee, as anything can happen at any moment. We forget that Sikhi is not a task, rather, a spiritual path which leads one to enlightenment and everlasting peace, love and happiness through Naam meditation. It is a path which one constantly treads upon with each and every breath, as we don’t know if our next breath could be our last. Guru Arjan Dev Ji says:
gagaa gobidh gun ravahu saas saas jap neet ||
GAGGA: Chant the Glorious Praises of the Lord of the Universe with each and every breath; meditate on Him forever.
kahaa bisaasaa dheh kaa bilam na kariho meet ||
How can you rely on the body? Do not delay, my friend;
neh baarik neh jobanai neh biradhee kachh ba(n)dh ||
there is nothing to stand in Death's way - neither in childhood, nor in youth, nor in old age.
Vaheguroo!
Sikhi Game of love- PARUPKAAR
PARUPKAAR
The word ‘Parupkaar’ means to do good or give to people who we have no connection with; to be generous to a foreign entity; to be nice to someone who you do not know.
Gurbani automatically moulds a person into a kind and loving person. As Sikhs, we should then spread this love into the world through our actions and sweet speech. No matter who we meet, love should be radiating and warming in the same way to the world through Naam meditation, as true love teaches us not to differentiate between anyone or anything. By doing so, Sikhi flourishes and the love of God (Vaheguroo’s) message spreads throughout the world.
Guru Sahib Ji Says,
“Parupkaar boleh bahu gunniaa mukh sant bhagat har dheejai.”
They do good deeds for others, and speak of God’s many Glorious Virtues; please bless me to meet these Saints, these devotees of Vaheguroo (God).
Vaheguroo!
Sikhi Game of love- MUSIC!
MUSIC!
“Janam mooay bin bhagat srothe”
They are born only to die, without hearing the music of God’s meditation. Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
Music has an immense impact on ones spirituality, because it has a tendency to stay in our minds and it effects the mind’s ego in believing the negative fulfilment's of the mind.
A Sikh who is serious about spirituality, should avoid listening to songs about the love of women, wealth, caste etc. These clearly dont’t have a good effect on us and it's what leads us away from the higher conscious living. Instead, a Sikh should sing Gurbani/Naam and contemplate it deeply within. With Gurbani in the mind, one’s mind and Soul enjoys divine peace and pleasure, which any other song can not bring. Other songs can bring it for a short period, but everlasting love, peace, tranquility and happiness only comes through singing God’s praises and stilling the mind through Naam meditation.
As Sikhs, we need to be extremely aware of what goes in through our senses. All that goes in, will be the same that comes out. So, if Gurbani and Naam go in, then only God’s virtues of truth, love, sweet speech, compassion and positive energy will come out. If the contrary goes in, then the opposite will also be exposed through our character, mannerisms, energy and aura!
Vaheguroo!
Sikhi Game of love- 8.4 MILLION
8.4 MILLION
"Wandering and roaming through 8.4 million incarnations, you have now been given this human life, so difficult to obtain."
Before science, Gurbani has told us there are 8.4 million stages or forms of life on earth. The human soul has passed through these life forms and now because of its commendable actions it has been gifted with this human life form.
Why is the human form so special? Because unlike the 8.4 million, this one form is the only chance we have to meet and connect with God and become one with our mind and soul. Only in this form can we read Gurbani and Jap Naam (meditate on God’s name) and experience the divine within. Unfortunately, we waste this precious life in vain and don't realise it's true value until the very end, when it has become too late to do anything about it!
Vaheguroo!
Sikhi Game of love- THREADS OF COMPASSION
THREADS OF COMPASSION
Although, as a youngster, I was raised in a fairly non-religious environment, I still had some awareness of certain historical stories from the lives of the Sikh Gurus, which I had picked up from various children’s books.
One of the most common stories that is shared is the one where Guru Nanak Dev Jee refuses to wear the holy thread of the Hindu Brahmins and instead questions how this will make him a good person. Unfortunately, this is the extent of the story that is typically shared.
However, the real message of this story and one of the central tenets of Guru Sahib’s teaching is the detailed response that they gave to the practice of wearing a holy thread.
It was probably twenty years after having first heard the story, I realised that the answers were in the fifteenth section of Asa Kee Var.
In essence, Guru Sahib challenges the Pandit’s by saying that they are prepared to wear a thread, but not a physical thread that will break, get dirty etc. Guru Sahib asked for a thread for their soul that was made of compassion, truth, contentment and self restraint.
What an amazing teaching! Below is the first verse on the subject from Asa Kee Var but I would strongly recommend a study of the full section if you get the chance.
Dhaeiaa Kapaah Santhokh Sooth Jath Gandtee Sath Vatt ||
Make compassion the cotton, contentment the thread, modesty the knot and truth the twist.
Eaehu Janaeoo Jeea Kaa Hee Th Paaddae Ghath ||
This is the sacred thread of the soul; if you have it, then go ahead and put it on me.
Naa Eaehu Thuttai Naa Mal Lagai Naa Eaehu Jalai N Jaae ||
It does not break, it cannot be soiled by filth, it cannot be burnt, or lost.
Dhhann S Maanas Naanakaa Jo Gal Chalae Paae ||
Blessed are those mortal beings, O Nanak, who wear such a thread around their necks.
Choukarr Mul Anaaeiaa Behi Choukai Paaeiaa ||
You buy the thread for a few shells, and seated in your enclosure, you put it on.
Sikhaa Kann Charraaeeaa Gur Braahaman Thhiaa ||
Whispering instructions into others' ears, the Brahmin becomes a guru.
Ouhu Muaa Ouhu Jharr Paeiaa Vaethagaa Gaeiaa ||1||
But he dies, and the sacred thread falls away, and the soul departs without it. ||1||
Vaheguroo!
