lowest of the low singhni

vaheguru ji ka khalsa vaheguru ji ki fateh

The whole world is growing like a garden of flowers. It looks attractive to us and we are engrossed in it's so-called beauty, forgetting about everything else. But just like a garden of flowers, it will eventually wither and die, passing away just as we all will.

Our minds are so foolish and stubborn that there are very few ways to discipline it. (Gurbani/Naam is one of the ways obviously.) We always covet the the wealth of others, the looks/qualities others have or the spouses of others which we wish all for ourselves. It is only when one is rid of all these attachments/greed that they are a True spouse - one which is filled with love for Akaal Purakh and nothing else.

There are probably many deeper meanings to these lines which I cannot see but this is just a rough sketch.

vaheguru ji ka khalsa vaheguru ji ki fateh

vaheguru ji ka khalsa vaheguru ji ki fateh

ਕਬੀਰ ਮਨੁ ਪੰਖੀ ਭਇਓ ਉਡਿ ਉਡਿ ਦਹ ਦਿਸ ਜਾਇ ॥

Kabīr man pankẖī bẖa▫i▫o ud ud ḏah ḏis jā▫e.

Kabeer, the mind has become a bird; it soars and flies in the ten directions.

ਜੋ ਜੈਸੀ ਸੰਗਤਿ ਮਿਲੈ ਸੋ ਤੈਸੋ ਫਲੁ ਖਾਇ ॥੮੬॥

Jo jaisī sangaṯ milai so ṯaiso fal kẖā▫e.

According to the company it keeps, so are the fruits it eats.

ਮਨੁ = mind; ਪੰਖੀ = birds; ਭਇਓ = happened, become; ਉਡਿ = fly; ਦਹ = 10; ਜਾਇ = goes, ਜੈਸੀ = that; ਸੰਗਤਿ = company; ਮਿਲੈ = meets, keeps; ਫਲੁ = flowers/fruits; ਖਾਇ = eats.

On a daily basis our minds are distracted and entranced by the people around us and the situations we’re in. Our minds control us, control the way we think and as a result control our actions. Just like a bird flies, our mind flies around. And for some reason this usually happens most at the times when we sit down to do Nitnem or Simran. Our mind doesn’t recognise that this is the one thing which will liberate it. Instead it regards what is truly sweet as something bitter and punishing. In the opposite way, it regards things like the TeeVee and the Wii and the Iphone and the stockmarket as the sweetest things in the world, and so our time passes being entertained by them.

ਕਿਵ ਸਚਿਆਰਾ ਹੋਈਐ ਕਿਵ ਕੂੜੈ ਤੁਟੈ ਪਾਲਿ ॥

Kiv sacẖi▫ārā ho▫ī▫ai kiv kūrhai ṯutai pāl.

So how can you become truthful? And how can the veil of illusion be torn away?

The lines which follow this in Japji Sahib give the answer in the simplest but deepest way. In the second line of this Salok Bhagat Kabeer Ji gives us a hint as to how to solve this problem. In other Saloks he talks about going into a room full of soot and trying to remain spotless. Unless you have some sort of advanced repellent shielding technology your clothes will undoubtedly become black. In the same way it’s extremely difficult to become pure when those you spend your time with are impure.

Of course we’re all climbing this mountain of love at different rates and very few people in this world are completely imbued with Guru Ji’s truth and love. So it’s really difficult to ensure that we keep the company of ‘Brahmgyanis’ : ) but there are little steps we can take to make sure that we aren’t influenced by people who are convinced life is all about being carried out of a club by a bouncer at 3am covered in your own alcohol-induced vomit. Even though we might go to work with such people and we might have to study alongside them, there is no rule saying we have to socialise with them in the same way they enjoy socialising. These rules which are governed by peer pressure only exist in our heads. And all we need is the strength to resist. This doesn’t necessarily mean that we ignore those people or that we look down upon them. It’s perfectly possible to remain civil and nice to people who have a different outlook on life than we do. If a time comes where you are asked to go out drinking or to a pub etc there is nothing embarrassing or wrong with politely declining. In fact it’s a good opportunity to tell them why you’re refusing and raise a bit more awareness about this beautiful path we’re all on.

Make friends with people you admire and respect. Make an effort to emulate the good qualities that they exhibit, and help each other learn more about our King of Kings. And most of all we should try and remember that Guru Ji is watching us lovingly in every thought, word and action. We must always try to honour the love-filled brotherhood we’ve been placed in.

vaheguru ji ka khalsa vaheguru ji ki fateh

ਆਸਾ ਮਹਲਾ ੫ ॥

Āsā mėhlā 5.

Aasaa, Fifth Mehl:

ਦਿਨੁ ਰਾਤਿ ਕਮਾਇਅੜੋ ਸੋ ਆਇਓ ਮਾਥੈ ॥

Ḏin rāṯ kamā▫i▫aṛo so ā▫i▫o māthai.

Those actions you perform, day and night, are recorded upon your forehead.

ਜਿਸੁ ਪਾਸਿ ਲੁਕਾਇਦੜੋ ਸੋ ਵੇਖੀ ਸਾਥੈ ॥

Jis pās lukā▫iḏ▫ṛo so vekẖī sāthai.

And the One, from whom you hide these actions - He sees them, and is always with you.

ਸੰਗਿ ਦੇਖੈ ਕਰਣਹਾਰਾ ਕਾਇ ਪਾਪੁ ਕਮਾਈਐ ॥

Sang ḏekẖai karaṇhārā kā▫e pāp kamā▫ī▫ai.

The Creator Lord is with you; He sees you, so why commit sins?

ਸੁਕ੍ਰਿਤੁ ਕੀਜੈ ਨਾਮੁ ਲੀਜੈ ਨਰਕਿ ਮੂਲਿ ਨ ਜਾਈਐ ॥

Sukariṯ kījai nām lījai narak mūl na jā▫ī▫ai.

So perform good deeds, and chant the Naam, the Name of the Lord; you shall never have to go to hell.

ਆਠ ਪਹਰ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਸਿਮਰਹੁ ਚਲੈ ਤੇਰੈ ਸਾਥੇ ॥

Āṯẖ pahar har nām simrahu cẖalai ṯerai sāthe.

Twenty-four hours a day, dwell upon the Lord's Name in meditation; it alone shall go along with you.

ਭਜੁ ਸਾਧਸੰਗਤਿ ਸਦਾ ਨਾਨਕ ਮਿਟਹਿ ਦੋਖ ਕਮਾਤੇ ॥੧॥

Bẖaj sāḏẖsangaṯ saḏā Nānak mitėh ḏokẖ kamāṯe.

So vibrate continually in the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, O Nanak, and the sins you committed shall be erased.

[Check your PMs]

Maybe you should visit your GP.

Singh-In-Welling, the three qualities mentioned in your second post and the three attributes of Maya, Rajo/Tamo/Sato. The fourth stage alias mentions is when, as a Gurmukh, one rises above these.

http://www.sikhsangat.com/index.php?showto...=rajo+tamo+sato

is their any special law for them

ਭਗਤ ਜਨਾ ਕੀ ਹਰਿ ਜੀਉ ਰਾਖੈ ਜੁਗਿ ਜੁਗਿ ਰਖਦਾ ਆਇਆ ਰਾਮ ॥

The Dear Lord protects His humble devotees; throughout the ages, He has protected them

I'll get you for that later Tubelight. You and me, outside the Sikhsangat gates at 4 o'clock.

: )

Being a Gursikh Kaur, one must dress decently (that is why Bana was developed).

I'ss perfectly possible to do so when swimming.

Firstly, it is not mandatory to learn swimming, one can take up other forms of training & exercise.

Yes. However swimming is an excellent way of exercising all your muscle groups. It's up to personal choice whether or not to choose this form of exercise. In my opinion, at least knowing how to swim is an essential skill a human being should have for various reasons.

Secondly, it is unhygienic to bathe in same water as others. Generally people can't control their urine inside the pool and hence release it while swimming. Pool water is capable of carrying & spreading contagious diseases as well as infections from person to person.

Very true. However I think my experiences in swimming pools when I was younger have built up my immune system lol. God bless those verrucas. Anyway although this is one of the reasons I haven't gone swimming in a while, public swimming pools aren't the only place you can swim. Especially in places like America where people are lucky enough to have private pools.

Thirdly, don't think if you consult Punj Piyaras, they would approve the concept of swimming.

Why? Mine do. If you consult your Panj Pyare, they will tell you whatever they feel is best, but please don't tell other people what you think their Panj Pyare should tell them.

Lastly, Gursikh bibi's must refrain from acts which Entice the others.

Yes. Btw what has this got to do with swimming?

i mean we dont actually wear shorts cz of our hairy legs...(sorry guys)

Lastly, it's impressive that Jasleen Kaur feels comfortable enough with her body and her Guru's will to wear shorts. Although many will judge her for doing so and will claim that she is 'enticing' others, perhaps the real reason why many Sikh girls do not wear shorts or cropped trousers is because of their 'hair' (as was mentioned above). If this is the case, then we must ask ourselves, are we really being modest by covering up? Or are we just using that as a pretence, covering up for feelings of embarassment with regards to the way our legs look. Are we really happy with the way Guru Ji made us?

With the way the majority of the population of the world currently think, hairy legs wouldn't entice many people anyway. Anyway I don't want to tell people how to dress or live their lives. Just wanted to type these few thoughts here.

Girls can get full body swimsuits which have the extra benefit of making you look like a professional Olympic swimmer.

*agrees with Jasleen Kaur*

477

vaheguru ji ka khalsa vaheguru ji ki fateh

Oh right.

Firstly I'm sure the Admin could do that if necessary. However this entire subforum was created solely for Gurbani Vichaar, which is a few notches up from only being a sticky! Secondly posting the Saloks individually allows for more in depth replies from everyone else - e.g. if people want to add/correct something. If all (so far 84, eventually 230-something) Saloks were to be put into one topic there would be less fluidity as it would be a mixture of Gurbani posts, feedback posts and correction posts. We could always bump up the older threads as we do with the Sikh Sakhian section, that way they wouldn't disappear entirely.

On a side note, strictly speaking, the Japji Sahib thread should be a sticky in this forum. Unfortunately it just seems that fewer people read or post in this forum than in the others which is quite sad.

Anyway singh_comradz perhaps you should create a ticket and put forward the suggestion to the admin, I'm sure they'll do what they think is right.

vaheguru ji ka khalsa vaheguru ji ki fateh

How do they disappear?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7605999.stm

(There's a video in the above link)

Ahmed Al Haj is only 48 and looks healthy on the outside, yet this Bangladeshi waiter has ended up on the operating table for a triple heart bypass.

As a Muslim, Ahmed does not smoke or drink, but his diet has been rich in ghee, the clarified butter in which many south Asian dishes are drenched.

Instead of a healthy pink muscle, his heart looks like a pulsating lump of lard after a lifetime of eating too much saturated fat.

The layer of fat encasing Mr Haj's heart was so thick the surgeons doing his triple bypass could not see his coronary arteries.

Surgeon Shyam Kolvekar from The Heart Hospital at University College London, who performed Mr Haj's triple bypass, said cases like this were increasingly common and highlighted the dangers of eating too much saturated fat.

"There are plenty of healthy looking people walking around who do not know they have heart disease.

"This patient looked healthy on the outside, but when we opened him up his heart was covered with fat. It looked like a piece of lard pumping.

"When there is that much fat it makes the bypass harder to do."

Mr Haj, from London, recovered well from his operation and was discharged home after five days.

Mr Kolvekar said when he became a consultant cardiac surgeon eight years ago the bulk of bypass operations he did were on older people.

Now he is seeing people in their 40s and 50s needing triple bypasses.

He said: "People need to think about what they are eating. It is not just calorie intake that is important. Fat is also a worry."

The footage, taken at The Heart Hospital a few weeks ago, has been released with Mr Haj's permission to highlight the hidden danger done by fried snacks, pastries and buttery foods.

The images will be used in a live debate about the dangers of saturated fat on www.satfatnav.com on Wednesday 10 September at 1830 BST.

vaheguru ji ka khalsa vaheguru ji ki fateh

:umm: sums up exactly how I felt when reading this Shabad too.

Bhagat Kabeer Ji may be describing the effect of worshipping Akaal Purakh. So the animals/images would be metaphors for the way things change when Guru Ji's Grace has been realised, and the way a person changes when they become a true Gurmukh.

Our minds are like the elephant (drunk with ego/lust), the oxen (who always needs beaten to get it to move), the crow (who thinks of himself as very clever). But after becoming devoted to Guru Ji, the mind develops pure love. (The donkey was stubborn and stupid but the mind no longer is, instead it dances to the tune of God's love. Even the great water buffalo now attaches its mind to Guru Saheb.) Everything has given up its desire/ego/lust/cleverness.

raajaa raam kakareeaa barae pakaaeae, kinai boojhanehaarai khaaeae||

Guru Ji has blessed us with this divine knowledge. The King of creation has cooked the barae (cakes) but the world mistakes it for poison/bitterness (kakareeaa). Only those spiritually awakened souls eat it and find the taste sweet - only the fortunate Gurmukhs utilise this knowledge and revel in it.

The mind has given up kingliness and aggression (the lion instead prepares the betel nuts) and the rat abandons its greediness. The turtle/tortoise abandons its fear of the outside world and instead of hiding in its shell blows the horn with confidence. The mouse similarly sings God's praises to the world. The mind is set free from its entanglements and is liberated through Guru Ji's blessing.

I don't know how accurate the translations are with regards to the next two lines (bans ko pooth beeaahan..) as there doesn't seem to be any mention of sterility? Someone please correct me if there is. The woman Bhagat Ji talks of could be Maya's son, who abandons his dual-mindedness and sin, instead marrying a pure daughter/virgin. The whole world blesses this union.

Bhagat Ji says that even the tiny ant has managed to conquer the mountain. It has overcome its ignorance and instead has adopted humility and true knowledge. (Mahan Kosh says that angaar here doesn't mean ember, but instead means atamgyaan.) Basically the Gurmukh who has instilled patience and virtue into his heart now encourages others who are searching for truth to do the same ,and as a result spreads the light of Guru Ji's knowledge.

No doubt someone who actually knows what they are talking about will now come and give a completely different angle on this intruiging Shabad : )

vaheguru ji ka khalsa vaheguru ji ki fateh

You're just mad I blocked/deleted you from msn, its not good to hold grudges.

Yes, I weep every night into my pillow because of it. It is a really good article and the only thing you mentioned was the thing you disagreed with..

Btw do you get a warning too for attacking me?

Very nice.

Really hope you took more from this topic than that Talikhaak : )

Anything below 5 indicates that the person is not a suitable candidate for sharing food with, in the true Khalsa spirit : )

First word which came into my mind was 'Why'

(when I saw the topic)

(While we're sharing stories)

I worked for a while in a doctor's surgery in an area where most of the patients and staff were Asian (Pakistani/Indian). There was one gori bibi named Alison who was a receptionist at the practice and had worked there for many years. One extremely grumpy Pakistani patient came in one day but she had to spend about 5 minutes working on his request and clearly he thought this was too slow. He began muttering bad things under his breath and complaining to his wife, referring to Alison as 'Moti' (she wasn't exactly the skinniest of women). So it was really funny when Alison stood up and proceeded to shout at him in very fluent Punjabi in front of all the other patients in the waiting room, much to everyone's astonishment. She gave him a very thorough telling-off :lol: .

vaheguru ji ka khalsa vaheguru ji ki fateh

ਕਬੀਰ ਸਤੀ ਪੁਕਾਰੈ ਚਿਹ ਚੜੀ ਸੁਨੁ ਹੋ ਬੀਰ ਮਸਾਨ ॥

Kabīr saṯī pukārai cẖih cẖaṛī sun ho bīr masān.

Kabeer, the widow mounts the funeral pyre and cries out, "Listen, O brother funeral pyre.

ਲੋਗੁ ਸਬਾਇਆ ਚਲਿ ਗਇਓ ਹਮ ਤੁਮ ਕਾਮੁ ਨਿਦਾਨ ॥੮੫॥

Log sabā­i­ā cẖal ga­i­o ham ṯum kām niḏān.

All people must depart in the end; it is only you and I".

ਸਤੀ = widow who burns on the funeral pyre of her husband; ਪੁਕਾਰੈ = cries; ਚਿਹ = funeral pyre; ਚੜੀ = climbs; ਸੁਨੁ = listen; ਬੀਰ = brother; ਮਸਾਨ = cremation ground; ਲੋਗੁ = people; ਸਬਾਇਆ = everyone; ਚਲਿ = depart; ਹਮ = all; ਤੁਮ = you; ਨਿਦਾਨ = in the end.

(I'm not sure what the ਕਾਮੁ means here? I think it should be something quite simple but if someone could let me know that'd be great.)

In this Salok Bhagat Kabeer Ji makes reference to the Hindu practice of Sati, where a widowed woman will kill herself by jumping into her late husband's funeral pyre. Literally Sati means something close to 'virtuous woman' and it was believed that a wife who loved her husband enough to die in this way would receive a one-way ticket straight to heaven, and also earn all her previous sinful forefathers an escape route from hell and chance for salvation. Fun for all the family. The entire act was considered one of the most meritorious things a wife could do, and as a result those that did choose to do it would be honoured after death and worshipped as a goddess.

Obviously Gurbani can have many meanings and hundreds of deeper explanations. The basic message behind this Salok is clear, although the metaphor can relate to several different things. I'm not sure if the Sati-woman is referring to the funeral pyre as her brother - i.e. turning to the fire as her last support in the world. It's possible that she is talking to the relatives or brothers she is leaving behind on earth and telling them that everyone must die in the end, and to make the most of life while they can. (I have a feeling there might be a link to the practice of Rakhri/brothers protecting their sisters here too but if I dig such a deep hole full of Bhagat Kabeer Ji's ideas I might never reappear.)

Anyway. The point is that however and whenever we are destined to die, that fate is one of the only certain things in life. Thousands of generations have come and gone living and dying by that universal rule. Guru Saheb tells us that a true Sikh has nothing to worry about - they will already have died whilst alive, will already have fulfilled their purpose on earth and found inner peace in life. When they reach Dharamraj's court their life-account will be torn up and they won't need judged like everyone else. But we're also told that a very small number of people will ever have enough love, dedication and fortune to reach that stage.

Dying is one universal truth, but another universal truth is that Guru Saheb will answer those prayers of his Sikhs who commit to Him with their entire minds, bodies and souls. If we forget for a second that we need a new car, need to pay off a loan, need to please our friends, need to pass our exams, need to cook the dinner, and stop to humbly ask Akaal Purakh for his blessings and the gift of his Naam to be enshrined in our hearts, that King will surely answer. And there can be no doubt in our mind about that. And even though we might continue to search for the perfect car, pay off the debt, sweet-talk our friends, study for the exams and burn the dinner to ash, at least we'll be doing it with Guru Ji's light shining through our actions in every second. The worry of Dharamraj's court will gradually become less of a problem as we step closer to embracing our beloved father who has been waiting for us all our lives.

vaheguru ji ka khalsa vaheguru ji ki fateh

bbbump.

Gurbani can do anything.

vaheguru ji ka khalsa vaheguru ji ki fateh

ਕਬੀਰ ਐਸਾ ਕੋ ਨਹੀ ਮੰਦਰੁ ਦੇਇ ਜਰਾਇ ॥

Kabīr aisā ko nahī manḏar ḏė­ė jarā­ė.

Kabeer, will anyone set fire to his home

ਪਾਂਚਉ ਲਰਿਕੇ ਮਾਰਿ ਕੈ ਰਹੈ ਰਾਮ ਲਿਉ ਲਾਇ ॥੮੩॥

Pāʼncẖa­o larikė mār kai rahai rām li­o lā­ė.

and kill his five sons (the five thieves) to remain lovingly attached to the Lord?

ਕਬੀਰ ਐਸਾ ਕੋ ਨਹੀ ਇਹੁ ਤਨੁ ਦੇਵੈ ਫੂਕਿ* ॥

Kabīr aisā ko nahī ih ṯan ḏėvai fūk.

Kabeer, will anyone burn his own body?

ਅੰਧਾ ਲੋਗੁ ਨ ਜਾਨਈ ਰਹਿਓ ਕਬੀਰਾ ਕੂਕਿ* ॥੮੪॥

Anḏẖā log na jān­ī rahi­o kabīrā kūk.

The people are blind - they do not know, although Kabeer continues to shout at them.

ਮੰਦਰੁ = home, temple; ਜਰਾਇ = burn; ਪਾਂਚਉ = five; ਲਰਿਕੇ = boys; ਮਾਰਿ = kill; ਰਹੈ = remain; ਰਾਮ = God; ਤਨੁ = body; ਫੂਕਿ = burn; ਅੰਧਾ = blind; ਲੋਗੁ = people; ਜਾਨਈ = know; ਰਹਿਓ = to continue; ਕੂਕਿ = shout.

*Both these angs should have dulainkar instead of just an aunkar but for some reason it isn't showing up here.

In this first Salok Bhagat Kabeer Ji asks, would anyone willingly give up everything he possessed in order to become one with Akaal Purakh. On Sikhitothemax the translation has "five thieves" in brackets after the words "five sons". The panj chor which make up our body - lust, anger, greed, pride and attachment. We're so attached to these five emotions which keep drawing out our life force and feeding on our weakness. It's so difficult to even imagine a life without being possessed by them, but while they survive we will always be distanced from Guru Saheb. The question is do we have the determination, humility, discipline and love to even begin trying to tie these five in chains, just like they have us in chains right now. Will the tables turn : ) will the messers become the messees.

The Salok is probably referring to our minds and the panj chor that plague us, but even just reading this Salok without looking for a deeper meaning paints a picture of the sacrifice we should be making for Guru Ji. I read a story today about something similar. If we asked Guru Ji for one thing, and that thing was to become one of his true disciples, would we really be willing to do anything for it? Many have already made this promise when taking Amrit. If Guru Saheb told us to burn ourselves or to kill our children, would we have enough faith to place all our trust in him and do as he asked?

Guru Raam Das Ji Maharaj was at Sachkhand Siri Harmandar Sahib in Amritsar, doing kar-seva. Everyone was very busy doing all different types of seva – digging, cleaning, serving the sangat etc. At that place there was a soul named Bhai Soma Ji who made his living by selling little snacks to the residents of Amritsar. He had a lot of love and humility and would also take part in the seva.

One evening Guru Ji saw Bhai Soma Ji and asked him how much money he had earned that day. Bhai Soma Ji immediately went to Guru Ji and bowed down before answering. Guru Saheb then asked Bhai Soma Ji to hand over all his earnings, which Bhai Sahib did without any hesitation. He placed everything he had at the feet of Satguru Ji.

Bhai Soma Ji wasn’t a very rich person at all. He only just managed to scrape by thanks to the money he earned when selling the snacks. On the second evening however, the same thing happened. Guru Raam Das Ji approached Bhai Soma Ji and told him to hand over the day’s earnings. Once again, Bhai Soma Ji placed his faith in Guru Ji and immediately did it. After all, Guru Ji always knows best.

This continued for 5 days. On the sixth day, Bhai Soma Ji saw Guru Saheb at Sachkhand Siri Harimandar Sahib doing seva with the other sangat. He went towards Guru Ji in order to see the light of the world which he loved so much. He didn’t even wait for Guru Saheb to ask for his earnings but instead bowed down and placed them at Guru Ji’s charan. Guru Raam Daas Ji was only testing Bhai Soma Ji’s devotion and love, but seeing this He was overjoyed. He said, ‘Today I’m not going to take anything from you. Instead I’m going to give to you. From now on your name will be Soma Shah’. (Shah was the name given for those who are rich.) In this way Bhai Soma Ji became wealthy not only in worldly trade but in Naam also.

Bhai Soma Ji gave up everything for Guru Saheb, and there are many more stories and Sikhs who did and would still do the same.

In the second Salok Bhagat Kabeer Ji laments that the world’s people have gone blind. Nobody realises the truth, even when it’s staring them straight in the face or being shouted into their ears. Bhagat Ji knows the value of life, and of the wealth of Guru Saheb’s service, but still people think of him as a madman instead of listening to the truth behind his words. This is true even of us. We can hear Guru Ji talking, we hear his Gurbani and we know we should listen but our minds tell us to delay or tell us that it’s too difficult and too crazy. Guru Ji asked for a head, and people thought he had gone nuts. Guru Ji started beating everyone with a stick and people ran in fear.

There was once a Sikh named Bhai Mona Ji who did seva in the kitchens of Guru Angad Dev Ji’s darbar. Bhai Mona Ji had a very arrogant and greedy attitude, and nobody really liked him. Some of the sangat complained to Guru Saheb about Bhai Mona’s disrespectful behaviour. When asked for an explanation, Bhai Mona Ji said that he would serve Guru Ji and only Guru Ji – he was not the servant of other people. The Guru then asked him to go to a nearby forest, chop some wood, create a funeral pyre and cremate himself. Bhai Mona Ji did as he was told. But when it came for the time to jump into the burning logs he got scared and couldn’t bring himself to jump in. A thief, who was a decent person deep at heart, was passing the scene. He asked Bhai Mona what was going on, and Bhai Mona Ji explained the hopeless situation. When the thief heard about Guru Ji’s order, he immediately thought of the fire as an opportunity to wipe his past sins and attain salvation. He made an agreement with Bhai Mona that if he was allowed to burn himself in the fire, he would give Bhai Mona a great big bag of jewels. Bhai Mona agreed. The thief was spared by Guru Angad Dev Ji Maharaj, the knower of every person’s heart, as he was about to burn himself. Bhai Mona on the other hand was arrested for being in possession of the bag of stolen jewels.

When the sangat heard this story, Guru Saheb told them that just by following Akaal Purakh, even though the thief had committed countless sins, one could attain salvation. But the vices such as pride, greed and anger will always be a hindrance to us.

(Another moral of this story is the fact that sometimes we find it easy to say that we will bow down to Guru Ji and nobody else, just as Bhai Mona Ji did. However if we can’t see Guru Ji in everyone and instead proceed to treat them like youknowwhat, then how can we even face our Guru? This can apply to so many situations including dealings with parents, elders, siblings, and even incredibly irritating bus drivers who yell at you for no reason whatsoever. There is another little story about Bhagat Naamdev Ji and a dog and seeing Guru Saheb in everyone/everything but I seem to have gotten too carried away today and I shall now abruptly depart. It’s probably already in the Sakhi section anyway.)

vaheguru ji ka khalsa vaheguru ji ki fateh