ALIKE
"They for whom praise and abuse are alike, for whom iron and gold are a like... Know that they are truly free".
Guru Teghbahadur Ji 1621-1675
Take the good with the bad. If you do not get overly proud because of praise or overly unhappy from criticism, then you have understood how to manage the mind. This way, you will avoid anguish and continually feel solace.
Vaheguroo!
REMAIN AWAKE!
"Awake is the life of those who know love. Say goodbye O Goya, to the dawn of sleep".
Bhai Nand Lal Ji 1673-1713
Love is spirituality. Only through sincere love can you fully experience the various realms and states of spirituality.
For the religious, this means sincere love for God and God’s creation. This love for God is the essence of all faith.
Vaheguroo!
WIND!
The wind is blowing
through every home.
Some windows are broken,
whilst others
Remain closed.
The manmukhs (mind followers) look outwards
at the homes of others.
Surveying the damage
their foundations feel stronger.
But only a fool
looks at others.
Opening their windows,
they invite the wind.
The Gurmukh locks
the latches tight,
sitting within
so far from the wind.
The wind is blowing
through every home.
Some windows are broken
whilst others
remain closed.
Look within yourself, don't look outside, you will suffer. Live by practicing Guru Ji's teachings and you will remain untouched.
Guru Arjun Dev Ji says, "The hot winds do not even touch those who are protected by their Guru."
Vaheguroo!
LIFE!
Bhagat Kabir Ji once went to a village, where he met a young friend. Bhagat Ji said with love, "Naam Japla!" (meditate on Vaheguroo's name). The young boy said, "I'm only young, these are my days to enjoy myself."
Bhagat ji came back to the village 25 years later, saw the same boy and said, "Naam Japla!" This time the man quietly uttered, "My kids are young! I want to see them grow old and support them, I'm too busy with life."
Bhagat ji came back to the village many years later, sees the same man and says, "Hun ta Naam Japla" (come on, mediate now). The man, who is still not bothered responds, "What is the point now, I can't see with my eyes, I'm deaf from the ears, my body is shaking. I can't physically do it."
Bhagat Ji comes back to the village two years later and sees a bull In the village. He approaches the bull and says, "Hun Japla" (what about meditating now). The bull lowers his head and a tear drops from his eyes. The bull was the same man reincarnated.
We spend all our lives making excuses, running away from faith and spirituality (our only true support in life). We'll never know, when we will breathe our last breath.
Sikhi is ecstasy, love and bliss. Please don't waste any more years of your life.
Guru Ji wants young energetic Sikhs, who are focussed and have immense energy to spread the treasure of Guru Ji's wisdom.
Become that sikh!
Bhagat Kabir ji says in the same shabad, "When the summons come from Vaheguroo (God), the mortal departs leaving behind his wealth and mansions."
Vaheguroo!
AMRIT (baptism)
Before the birth of Dr. Surinder Singh, Subedar Harbachan Singh and Mata Tej Kaur had given birth to ten children but all ten died very young.
Dr. Sahib’s mother was a very Gurmukh (blessed) soul and despite all her children dying, she remained firm in her Sikh faith. If she ever felt sadness, she would go before Sree Guru Granth Sahib Ji in total humility and express her deepest feelings and then after, would accept Guru Sahib’s hukam (command) and be satisfied. Sometimes though, she would ask her husband how long this difficult time would last? Why all her children would die? Gurmukh Piaaray (Guru’s beloved) Bhai Harbachan Singh would say that the children born in their home were bhagats (saints) from their last lives. They would take birth only to receive amrit and then, when they were blessed by Guru Sahib, they would leave for SachKhand (highest state of spiritual truth). For this reason, he said, she should not feel sad.
We have to accept the blessed nectar of Guru Ji's Amrit to be liberated. Without it, we will suffer in reincarnation.
Amrit Kirtan states, "The 1st discipline of a sikh is to accept the Guru's Amrit."
Vaheguroo!
DEVILS WORKSHOP!
A man went to the market and he sees a stall with no products on it. He asks the stall holder, "What are you selling?" The stall holder says, "I'm selling something which will change your life. They are invisible ghosts, who will do all your work, free of charge. Anything you need done, housework, cleaning, DIY, cooking, driving.. Anything, this ghost will do it for you."
The man was shocked and said, "Wow, I have so many things which need doing at home. I could do with this ghost, how much does it cost?"
"It's free" said the stall holder, "However, there is a catch. Make sure you keep it busy, because if it has nothing to do, it will kill you." The man was worried but was sure he could keep the ghost occupied. He took it home and set it doing different things. The ghost would do them in a flash and await the next command.
The man carried on giving the ghost chores. However, the ghost was finishing them so fast that the man became worried.
He turned to his wife and said, "What shall I do? Soon the ghost will be idle and kill me." His wife said, "Just put this ladder against the side of the house and tell the ghost to keep climbing up and down it. Then, when you need the ghost for something, just call it and when that job is done, send it up and down the ladder again." The man was relieved and was able to keep the ghost busy.
The ghost is our mind... When it is occupied or engaged in work, it doesn't head towards the panj chor and Paap (5 evils of the mind).. But, when left idle, it will destroy us. An idle mind is the devils workshop (behlaa mann, shehtaan da ghar). So just like this man, we must keep our mind engaged in the routine of Naam meditation, Gurbani (reading Guru's words) and Seva (selfless service up and down the ladder). Keep that going and keep yourself busy and the mind doesn't have time to concoct or build any weapons to damage you with. In this way, the mind finds happiness, joy, balance, true love, peace and contentment and dwells in the fourth and highest state of Sehj (truth, tranquility and bliss).
Guru Nanak Dev Ji says, "The intellect of the mind is like a drunken elephant."
Vaheguroo!
COMPANY!
"Saintly people continually peck at the divine name, like swans pecking at pearls in the ocean."
Guru Amardas Ji 1479-1574
The company of saintly and good people is sought by all. Seek the company of those who make you feel happy, comfortable and peaceful. Soon, you will find that you become like them and enrich your own daily feelings and experiences.
Meditation on Naam is what develops saintly people. Guru sahib says, 'when we remember Vaheguroo with love, in single minded concentration, in that instants we become saintly.'
Saintly people never let go of the Naam, as they are aware it's only the naam that will purify their mind from negativity and guide them through this terrifying world ocean.
We will always become like our company, whether it's positive or negative, so it's very important we seek the company of like minded spiritual beings. Our sangat (company) will always pull us through in the end.
"The treacherous and terrifying world ocean is crossed over, in the boat of the saadh sangat (spiritual company)." Guru Arjun Dev Ji
Vaheguroo!
THE SECRET WITHIN
There is a secret within us all. Many people search outside for those things that will answer their souls questions. However, contemplating on the innermost you and through sincere effort and blessing, you will find all the answers to your questions are found within.
We all ignore the fact that death can take us at any time. No one knows when they will breathe their last breath.
Lately, I have experienced many young deaths. There one minute and gone the next. We always think the elders will pass away first. We live as though we will never die. When our time comes, we will have to depart. Who can save us from leaving this body, when death calls. No one will be able to come anywhere near to help us.
We spend most of our life studying, working, saving money, buying land, buying many houses, buying many cars and living luxurious life styles. When our time is up, none of this is going with us. We will leave it all behind. We put our mind and body through so much stress and pressure to earn all we have, yet it will all be left behind. We will not even get the space of a bathroom in the house we spent many years earning for.
Guru sahib ji says, 'We have a life valued as a diamond, yet we waste it for mere shells.'
The secret within is Gur Amrit Naam. Meditation on this Naam is the only substance which will fulfil our soul and answer all our minds desires. Through this Naam we will be blessed with respect, love and knowledge of this world and the spirit world.
Naam, Gurbaani and the loved blessings (asseesaa) of Gursikhs, is the only gem which will support our soul on the other side.
"Deep within the self is the secret, but the fool looks for it outside."
Guru AmarDas Ji 1479-1574
Vaheguroo!
IMMOVABLE FAITH!
This story took place a few years ago. A sikh soldier was celebrating the martyrdom of Guru ArjunDev ji. He was meditating on Vaheguroo's name, whilst preparing and serving langar (food). Just then, a Hindu officer approached the soldier and very rudely asked, "What are you doing here?" The soldier explained the story of Guru ArjunDev Ji's martyrdom with great love.
The Hindu officer very rudely spoke for the second time and said, "How is this possible? No human can sit on a burning hot plate." The officer continued being very rude and kept questioning the soldier. He kept saying, 'This is a joke, it can not be true.'
The soldier got very upset in listening to this and went and sat on a burning hot plate, where the langar (food) was being prepared. When witnessing this, the officer burst out in to tears and quickly rushed to get the soldier off the plate. He fell at his feet and repeated, "You Sikhs are amazing people. Your faith is immovable! You are very pure at heart and you can not accept the disrespect of your Guru." The soldier lifted the officer and embraced him with a hug.
If we have faith in Guru ji, nothing will come near us. Guru ji will always be our saviour and protect us. Gain your faith in Guru Ji!
"The hot winds do not even touch those who are protected by their Guru."
Guru ArjunDev Ji 1563-1606
Vaheguroo!
