SHADOW OF A TREE
Some would say that the word love is hugely overused nowadays, and often in a manner that really undervalues the true meaning and depth that should come with it.
The real reason for this is that people now use it in a very conditional and non-permanent sense. In other words, we are loving things that provide us some form of personal benefit, and the love will only remain, as long as that benefit is available to us.
The love of a spiritually awakened person is never conditional. They are attuned to the universe through their spiritual practice of Naam meditation, and have a very clear appreciation of what is permanent and what is temporary or fleeting.
Spiritually devoid individuals, waste their lives getting attached to things that ultimately will not last and they ignore the one universal truth, that always has been and will be there.
Guru Arjan Dev Jee in Sukhmani Sahib gives us a great example of this teaching through the following verse.
anik bhaat maiaa ke het || sarapar hovat jaan anet ||
The many forms of attachment to Maya (materialism) shall surely pass away - know that they are transitory
birakh kee chhaiaa siau ra(n)g laavai ||
People fall in love with the shade of the Tree
oh binasai uh man pachhutaavai ||
and when it passes away, they feel regret in their minds
jo dheesai so chaalanahaar ||
Whatever is seen, shall pass away
lapaT rahio teh a(n)dh a(n)dhaar ||
and yet, the blindest of the blind cling to it
baTaauoo siau jo laavai neh ||
One who gives her love to a passing traveller
taa kau haath na aavai keh ||
nothing shall come into her hands in this way.
man har ke naam kee preet sukhadhaiee ||
O mind, the love of the Name of the Lord bestows peace
kar kirapaa naanak aap le laiee
O Nanak, the Lord, in His Mercy, unites us with Himself.
Vaheguroo!
Sikhi Game of love- PURE LOVE
PURE LOVE
Bhagat Kabeer ji was a beautiful saint who loved to meditate on the Name of God. Bhagat Ji wanted to instil all the virtues of the virtuous one (God) within him. He spent night and day in meditation. He would complete all his worldly chores, whilst meditating upon the supreme one. He didn't do this as a chore or because his religion/faith told him to do so. He did this because this is what found him true peace, bliss and happiness. This is what emerged him with the greatness of the one. This is what united and connected him to the originality of all beings. Meditating on God's name became his faith. This is what gave him true love, power and strength. This is what purified him!
Why was he so blessed?
Bhagat ji was like your everyday, normal human being but wanted to give his all to God. By giving his all to God, he became truly blessed and loved by the world.
Bhagat ji had so much faith in God, that he created Saloks like the one below. Bhagat ji was so humble, that he classed himself as the dog of God and named himself mothi. He said, there is a chain around his neck and wherever God pulls him, he will go. For those of you who have dogs, you will realise how loyal and loving they are towards their masters. Bhagat ji was just as loyal, if not more to his master (God).
A truly humble being, who gave his all to God and in return, God gave him all the worldly and spiritual treasures of life and beyond life.
Kabeer Ji Says, "Kabeer kookar ram ko, motheeaa mero nao.
Kabeer, I am the Lord's dog; Moti is my name.
Galay hamaray jayvree, jeh kinchai teh jao.
There is a chain around my neck; wherever I am pulled, I go."
Vaheguroo!
Sikhi Game of love- CURING ALL DISEASES
CURING ALL DISEASES
Guru Arjun Dev Ji tells us that God purifies the sinners in an instant and cures all diseases.
What is a sinner? And what disease are we talking about? Is there really such thing as a sinner?
Many of us can fall! The mind is weak! When we become a slave to this desire filled mind and it begins to control us, this is the sin Guru Ji is talking about. When we want to taste worldly pleasures but don't want to experience spiritual ras (taste), this is polluting the mind and making it much, much more difficult to purify it.
We fall at the feet of the great warriors lust, anger, attachment, greed, jealousy, slander, hatred and egotism. We feel they are going to give us something special. This something special only lasts for an instant. It is only a temporary pleasure. It does not remain with us forever. It does not keep us in high spirits or happy for this life or the here after.
This is the disease Guru Sahib Ji is talking about. The disease of the negative mind is a killer. It never lets us settle. It controls us in which ever way it wants to. When are we going to recognise its entity and start to control and guide it in the way we think is best (spiritually)? We need to stop becoming a slave to this worldly, desire filled mind and let the True Guru guide us through the most powerful warriors of Gurshabad (Guru's word), love, truth, compassion, contentment, tolerance, service to all (seva) and patience.
In this Shabad, Guru Ji goes on to say, if I control this polluted mind through meditating on God's name, not only I will be saved but all my friends and companions will also be blessed in the Gate of Truth (sachkhand).
Guru ji says, I spoke to like minded people, who had a saintly state of mind and after doing so, my sexual desire, anger and greed had been eradicated.
Guru Nanak Ji goes on to say, I can not praise this faith anymore. I have no words to describe its purity and love so I go on to say, please bless me with the dust of the pure ones and God. I am a sacrifice to the Guru and God.
Guru Arjun Dev Ji Says, "Ab hum rakhanhaar chithaaria. Now, I contemplate and meditate on the Lord, the Saviour lord.
Patit puneeth keeay Khin bhuithar, sagla rog bidhaaria.
He purifies sinners in an instant, and cures all diseases."
Vaheguroo!
Sikhi Game of love- MERCHANT AND THE BANKER
MERCHANT AND THE BANKER
Guru Angad Dev Ji wrote a beautiful shabad in Gurbani about how the merchant came from the banker and how our accounts were sent with us. Then, on the basis of our accounts (karma) we were issued a command and left to take care of our own merchandise (good deeds and bad deeds).
The merchants purchased their merchandise and packed up their cargo. Some departed after earning a great profit of Naam (meditation on God's name), Baani (Guru's Teaching) and selfless service (seva). Some departed after losing the root battle of why they actually came here. So the merchants lost all the investment they had in the merchandise of Naam, Baani and Seva.
In reality, no one wanted any less than anyone else. But, who actually worked hard in this life to keep earning the merchandise of Naam, Baani and Seva? Who was really the true merchant? Who's life should be celebrated and who's life should be mourned?
Those lives are celebrated and their honour is preserved by God, who went on to preserve the capital investment of Meditating upon God's name.
We are here for one reason and one reason only and that is to purify this polluted mind, recognise our true self (soul), which is God, see the light of God in all (souls) and are here to reconnect with this universe and many other universes through this vibration of Naam energy.
In the end, our soul (Atma) is to merge back with Vaheguroo (God). Every soul will merge back with the supreme soul (parmaatma), after purifying this polluted mind.
Recognise your true self! Don't waste time! If you are young, do it now and don't leave it until tomorrow. You may never see tomorrow. And if you are old, do it now, it's never too late.
Guru Angad Dev Ji Says, "Nadar tinna ko Nanka, je saabat laae raas." The Lord casts His Glance of Grace, O Nanak, upon those who have preserved their capital investment.
Vaheguroo!
Sikhi Game of love- HOPE-LESS
HOPE-LESS
When people want to give their best wishes to a friend or relative, they will often use phrases such as, ‘may all your hopes and desires be fulfilled.’
Often, these hopes and desires will all be linked to worldly and material gains. This could include successful careers, success for your children, money, health, property, reputation, status etc. The list goes on.
There are many that would suggest you need to have these desires if you are to achieve any success in life.
However, what is the result of these hopes and desires not materialising? The negative affects on people’s mental and physical well-being can be devastating when, for example, someone’s children don’t quite achieve the levels of educational attainment that the parents had hoped for.
Guru Jee’s teachings in this respect are to live a life of acceptance, contentment and detachment. The concept of living in Hukam, the divine order of the universe, is central to Sikh philosophy. This is the only way we can keep our egos in check and live a Naam-focussed life.
Once we live a life that is fully accepting of the divine Hukam, then all our hopes and desires will vanish and instead, we live a life of bliss.
The saying “What will be will be” is in vogue as a modern day mantra for people, who live a stress free and “happy-go-lucky” life. Bhagat Kabeer Jee had already given us this formula for life many hundreds of years ago.
surag baas na baachheeaai ddareeaai na narak nivaas ||
Don't wish for a home in heaven, and don't be afraid to live in hell.
honaa hai so hoiee hai maneh na keejai aas ||1||
Whatever will be will be, so don't get your hopes up in your mind. ||1||
ramieeaa gun gaieeaai ||
Sing the Glorious Praises of the Lord,
jaa te paieeaai param nidhaan ||1|| rahaau ||
from whom the most excellent treasure is obtained. ||1||Pause||
Vaheguroo!
