lowest of the low singhni

vahegurujikakhalsavahegurujikifateh

I attended one of Harinder Singh's sessions about a year ago. From what I remember, there were good bits and strange bits. He seemed very keen to talk to the kids as a group without any adults present (which involved preventing any adults from talking even when the adults were explaining things to him/the children with Gurbani). For the most part the session was reasonably educational and inspirational, interspersed with activities/teamworking tasks. But personally I am a little wary of the institute and its teachings. Gurbani hits everyone in different ways but it's important to let the youth experience Gurbani and Sikhi for themselves without brainwashing them into believing someone else's beliefs. Perhaps I'm too cautious or perhaps it's an uneasy feeling at the back of my mind, but personally I wouldn't be enthusiastic about attending another session with them.

vahegurujikakhalsavahegurujikifateh

vahegurujikakhalsavahegurujikifateh

IMHO it could mean any type of death. We know that Guru Saheb has already written when each of us is to leave this world. If we are close to dying before our time has come, Guru Ji will save us from it. Baba Deep Singh Ji. In a spiritual sense, someone who has taken refuge in Akaal Purakh's charan can never really be touched by anyone or anything. The perpetrator may think that they are torturing such a Sikh, or that the Sikh has been killed but once a person is at such a high stage they have already merged into Guru Ji's light and it no longer matters how their physical being dies. The main point is that Maharaj can give the highest type of protection anyone can imagine, even if that protection bypasses the common laws of logic or physics.

vahegurujikakhalsavahegurujikifateh

vaheguru ji ka khalsa vaheguru ji ki fateh

ਕਬੀਰ ਜਾਤਿ ਜੁਲਾਹਾ ਕਿਆ ਕਰੈ ਹਿਰਦੈ ਬਸੇ ਗੁਪਾਲ ॥

Kabīr jāṯ julāhā ki­ā karai hirḏai basė gupāl.

Kabeer, what can my lowly status as a weaver do to me? The Lord dwells in my heart.

ਕਬੀਰ ਰਮਈਆ ਕੰਠਿ ਮਿਲੁ ਚੂਕਹਿ ਸਰਬ ਜੰਜਾਲ ॥੮੨॥

Kabīr rama­ī­ā kanṯẖ mil cẖūkeh sarab janjāl.

Kabeer, the Lord hugs me close in His Embrace; I have forsaken all my entanglements.

ਜਾਤਿ = caste, status; ਜੁਲਾਹਾ = weaver; ਹਿਰਦੈ = heart; ਬਸੇ = reside; ਗੁਪਾਲ = God; ਰਮਈਆ = God; ਕੰਠਿ = close to; ਚੂਕਹਿ = forsaken, stopped; ਸਰਬ = all; ਜੰਜਾਲ = entanglements, distractions.

Bhagat Kabeer Ji explains that he lived as a weaver in what was seen as one of the lowest castes of society. Regardless of this, Bhagat Ji had achieved the greatest possible wealth and honour in this world and the next from Guru Saheb Himself. Even when surrounded by those who would scorn or look down upon him, Bhagat Ji could remain happy, peaceful and content, in a way which very few are lucky enough to understand.

We might think that the issue of caste-related status is gradually fading, (although it usually manages to rear it's ugly head from time to time). We're still plagued by issues regarding social status in the modern, everyday world. Taking an airport as an example, there can be a distinct difference in the way people interact with/treat a toilet cleaner in comparison to the respect which is given to a pilot. In hospitals the nurses are often overlooked whereas doctors are automatically highly valued. We make judgements on people's career-choices and on the way they live their lives. Education is important for anyone but at the end of the day is an arrogant chief executive really better than a rubbish collector/bin-man who remembers Akaal Purakh with every breath? And since when did we have the right to pass judgement on the way other people appear to live their lives?

The incredible thing is that although only a few ever make it to the stage which Bhagat Ji describes, the formula for getting there is so beautiful and simple. Bhagat Ji tells us ਹਿਰਦੈ ਬਸੇ ਗੁਪਾਲ - Akaal Purakh resides within all our hearts. When we realise that we are all one and the same, when we never forget our ultimate source and can willingly place our heads in Guru Saheb's hands - then there's a chance that all distractions will cease to bother us.

As long as we keep forgetting that Guru Ji is in everyone including ourselves, we will get bogged down in the entanglements of the world. If we could just open our ears/eyes to the truth that Satguru Siri Guru Nanak Dev Ji Maharaj brought to the world, our minds could stop dancing around to the tune which Maya is so good at playing for us. Even small steps of compassion and love can make a big difference.

~l~

vaheguru ji ka khalsa vaheguru ji ki fateh

vahegurujikakhalsavahegurujikifateh

people should be learning gurmukhi, not changing the guru granth sahib to suit them

That would be ideal.

But why are we treating this any different to Gurbani being translated into English? Sikhitothemax is a resource many of use on a day-to-day basis. Those are still translations.

On one hand having translations of Gurbani in other languages might help to spread Sikhi to many more people. But on the other hand as more translations keep appearing people like me become more and more reliant on them and soon there will be no motivation to learn Gurmukhi properly. Also translations will never really show the true essence of Gurbani.

vahegurujikakhalsavahegurujikifateh

It's easy to look outwards when accusing people of wasting time.

vaheguru ji ka khalsa vaheguru ji ki fateh

Thank you AK-47. I too have heard this Sakhi but my ignorant mind thinks it's strange behaviour of a Bhagat to get annoyed with his wife.

The ang 'loi' has been used by Bhagat Kabeer Ji in many places. The gender in the above Shabad is masculine as told by the ang 'Rey' before it. If it was feminine it would be 'Ree'. In other places Guru Sahib has used the ang 'Loi' to describe the 'world'. So it is possible that is has the same meaning here: Bhagat Kabeer Ji could be renouncing any reliance on the world.

Thanks for posting : )

vaheguru ji ka khalsa vaheguru ji ki fateh

vaheguru ji ka khalsa vaheguru ji ki fateh

These are a few ideas (take them with a pinch of salt):

"Analyse your own spiritual life, realise what you are doing, before trying to run away from yourself."

"Realise the truth about your mind; realise that maya seems sweet to you and the Truth doesn't. Realise that your mind is playing games and is making you believe that worldliness is good. As a result we think we should live our lives chasing after maya. But our true purpose is much different. Know this about yourself and see yourself for what you really are, instead of being puffed up with pride."

I hope this helps a little bit.

vaheguru ji ka khalsa vaheguru ji ki fateh

Nice if someone could share a few examples of Gurdwaras that have good practice and role models for others.

Gurdwara Khalsa Mero Roop Hai Khaas, Southshields, UK.

^ I think those pictures are from Sikhtoons (correct me if I'm wrong) and nearly everything on that site portrays/makes fun of those who disrespect Guru Sahib's crown. I think the pictures are to raise awareness and shed light on the silliness of so-called Sikhs and rituals which are today infecting the panth.

vahegurujikakhalsavahegurujikifateh

But Gurbani is helping you to get the most out of life and everything beyond this life.

The mind is upside down; what it thinks is happiness is actually false, and what it thinks is sad is in fact the truth.

vahegurujikakhalsavahegurujikifateh

vahegurujikakhalsavahegurujikifateh

We might think some of the things mentioned in the original post are harsh or unrealistic but doesn't Gurbani say very similar things?

There are many examples where Guru Sahib tells us not to associate with those who are 'Saakat'. I'm not sure what the literal meaning of Saakat is but I think it is close to one who is an apostate, immoral, unholy, faithless etc.

ਸਾਕਤ ਸੰਗੁ ਨ ਕੀਜੀਐ ਜਾ ਤੇ ਹੋਇ ਬਿਨਾਹੁ ॥੯੩॥ (Ang 1369)

ਕਬੀਰ ਸਾਕਤ ਸੰਗੁ ਨ ਕੀਜੀਐ ਦੂਰਹਿ ਜਾਈਐ ਭਾਗਿ ॥

ਬਾਸਨੁ ਕਾਰੋ ਪਰਸੀਐ ਤਉ ਕਛੁ ਲਾਗੈ ਦਾਗੁ ॥੧੩੧॥ (Ang 1371)

- which basically means run far away from the Saakat-type people, do not associate with them, and then uses the analogy of touching a vessel which is stained with dark soot. It is very very difficult for a clean person to remain clean when surrounded by soot. It is much easier to get dirty. In the same way when one person stands on a chair and another person stands on the ground, it is much easier for the Chair One to be pulled down by the Ground One, as opposed to the Chair One being able to lift the Ground One up and place him on the chair as well. It is possible, but unlikely.

ਸਾਕਤ ਸੰਗੁ ਨ ਕੀਜਈ ਪਿਆਰੇ ਜੇ ਕਾ ਪਾਰਿ ਵਸਾਇ ॥ (Ang 641)

In this Shabad Guru Arjan Dev Ji says that we should try to avoid the company of those people who are Saakat because (in the next line) in their company it is likely that Akaal Purakh will be forgotten. Gurbani tells us that we should avoid anything which makes us forget Guru Ji, not only certain people. So if being on a website, or talking to our friends too much or buying unnecessarily expensive shoes or playing computer games all day long makes us forget Guru Ji, then we should avoid those activities too. Unless we have reached a stage where we can meditate on our Guru and do the other things at the same time. But very few people can really do that. We need to draw the line for ourselves because everyone is different and everyone's minds work in a slightly different way.

Anyway when Gurbani tells us that some people in this world are Saakat, is it those who have no faith in God? Or is it those people who do bad deeds? Or those people who have turned their backs on Guru Sahib? Whatever the answer is, are we really any better than them? The issue is how our own spirituality is affected by those people or activities. To conclude this ramble, taking into account what Gurbani says, decide for yourself where you time is most usefully spent and with whom your soul is fed the most.

vahegurujikakhalsavahegurujikifateh

vahegurujikakhalsavahegurujikifateh

"Baba Tota Singh Ji was Bhai Maharaj Singh's teacher, then Bhai Samund Singh and finally Bhai Bir Singh Ji from Narangabad. Initially he was known as Nihal Singh. He was so humble he called everyone Maharaj out of respect. Eventually people used to refer to him as Maharaj Singh and finally his real name was forgotten. Then he became known as Bhai Maharaj Singh of Narangabad."

vahegurujikakhalsavahegurujikifateh

Guru Nanak Dev Ji went all over the world and was offered food from many non-amritdharies.....?

But Guru Ji chose to eat from Bhai Lalo Ji who worked honestly and not Malik Bhago whose deeds had, in essence, tainted the food he was offering.

Edit:

Just to add, I think Gurbani, truth and honestly has a profound effect on food and other people/things. There was a thread a while ago about a study done on how water reacts to its surroundings e.g. if praises of God are being sung or if there is anger/loud noise nearby etc. We might not understand the reason or the power behind Gurbani but I'm convinced it is there nevertheless. There's a reason we recite Japji Sahib with full devotion when making Karah Prashad.

vaheguru ji ka khalsa vaheguru ji ki fateh

Would you be kind enough to explain, from the knowledge you have gained after reading all the above Teekas, the answer to our very easy question?

Thank you.

vaheguru ji ka khalsa vaheguru ji ki fateh

vaheguru ji ka khalsa vaheguru ji ki fateh

A friend has come forward with a question which they'd like answered by Baba Jagjit Singh Ji.

"There's a tuk from japji sahib in which Guru Ji asks a question:

kiv sachiaaraa hoeeai kiv koorrai thuttai paal ||

Then Guru Ji gives the answer right away:

hukam rajaaee chalanaa naanak likhiaa naal ||1||

But i don't understand the answer

If the thread starter could ask baba jagjit singh jee to explain/expand on it and record, I would be very grateful."

vaheguru ji ka khalsa vaheguru ji ki fateh

It looks like that guy from The Matrix, edited. Or am I just imagining things?

Good picture, apart from what I just mentioned (if it's true).

..nothing could be achieved through the gun. He said all disputes could be resolved through democratic and peaceful means.

But we don't have any real democracy. Resolving everything peacefully would be ideal, but it hardly ever happens. Tyranny and greed exist. If there was no need for guns then next time they'll be saying there is no need for a Kirpan either. These people need the bubbles that they're living in popped with Guru Saheb's own pin of reality.

i dont get this full stop thingy... does it mean 'end of' kinda fing?

No, it usually means the post has been edited by the member.

Talking of Amazing Grace - the film is very good.

Tarrandeeeeeeep bhenji. Clearly the original poster's mind does not work in the same way as yours does. We're different. One person thinks it's an innocent question and wants to learn whereas for another the answer might seem obvious and the question silly. But that's no reason to put them down. At least they want to learn and want to do what's right. If we push them away and then hear that they've done something which we consider to be immoral, we are also partly to blame because we had the chance to help them. These chances don't come every minute of every day and whenever they do it's an opportunity which Guru Ji gives us to share the little we know with other Sikhs. We need to make the most of the little tests.

I'd emphasise the point that S1ngh made.. I know people who have gotten married to extremely distant cousins, several times removed and not direct relations. In that case it might be that you don't know the person at all, have never met, and do not really consider them as your family. Would that be so wrong? Is that what the OP is referring to? Or does he/she mean like brother/sister/first cousin?

Thanks for replying Philip, I'm sure Admin won't mind you quoting the passage of Jesus as a 12 year old, but can you give me the reference? I'll look it up.

Is she an actress/model dressed up for the photograph? Or maybe she actually is a Kaur :umm: I guess everyone has different ideal images of what a true Kaur should look like. Mine is something like the painting you have in the top right hand corner of the poster : )

(I suppose a true Kaur is one who lives and breathes Sikhi with every action and thought.)

vaheguru ji ka khalsa vaheguru ji ki fateh

Peacemaker I'm sorry you feel that way about my response, but I was not wanting to attack anyone when I was typing it. You haven't liked many of my responses of late but it's good to see you posting again. However I could say the same thing you said to me about anyone who comes here wanting to know more about Sikhism and then declares we're all going to hell anyway. Then you accused me of making Philip feel like he is following the wrong path. Why the double standards?

I wasn't forcing my religion on anyone else, that would make me similar to the moghuls. And I did not say I wasn't interested in knowing more. I am very interested in knowing many things, which is why I even went out and bought a copy of the bible. What I meant was that for a Sikh, our destination isn't heaven or hell. It's something higher.

My question about Jesus' childhood hasn't been answered. I couldn't find the answer in the bible.

vaheguru ji ka khalsa vaheguru ji ki fateh

vaheguru ji ka khalsa vaheguru ji ki fateh

And Jesus is the only human being who ever lived, who actually never committed a single wrong thing : because He was God become flesh on Earth, He was without sin.

You have no right to say anything of the sort unless you are completely enlightened and have known the minds, hearts and thoughts of every human being who has walked this earth. One Jesus was great, but we have 10 Gurus, and none of them ever sinned either.

I have a question too. What did Jesus do from the time he was born until the time he started preaching and was Baptised? The chapter Matthew isn't very clear. There seems to be a time period missing. Like.. he was born, taken into hiding from Herod and then when he was an adult he started preaching/doing the miracles. What happened in between?

There are a lot of lovely stories about our Gurus and their 'child'hood, and right from that time it was clear from their deeds/words/actions that they were no ordinary babies or children. Take Guru Nanak Dev Ji and the snake, the alphabet, sacred thread, Sacha Sauda.. it goes on.

But there's also the other side of the message : that everyone who refuses to believe in Jesus remains under the wrath of God, and under His judgement. Even if he is ever so nice and loving.

Right, well, Sikhs aren't interested in hell, nor are we interested in your version of Heaven either, so it doesn't really matter if you think we're all eternally damned. Thanks nevertheless. You come to ask us about our faith and then end up saying we're screwed anyway lol.

And God is simply too holy to tolerate only one single sin if His presence, and He is too just to let one single sin, ever so small, unpunished. That's why by human nature all men and womed, me included, are due to Hell as a punishment for their sins. And all the good you can do simply can't help you to please God, because only one single sin is sufficient to be punished.

Correct me if I'm wrong Bhenjis and Veeray, but doesn't Sikhi teach us that even reciting Guru Saheb's Name once with TRUE devotion is enough to propel you into the arms of God?

And God is simply too holy to tolerate only one single sin if His presence

There were many 'sinners' who came to the court of our Gurus and were accepted, loved, educated and forgiven - even when they sinned in the presence of Guru Sahib. You said Jesus and God were the same... then how did Jesus tolerate the sinners he met, if God is too holy to even go near them?

He is too just to let one single sin, ever so small, unpunished

What happened to God's mercy? He is just yes, but everyone makes mistakes and God is also loving and forgiving. On one hand you said that one small sin is enough for huge punishment but on the other you say that after acceptance of Jesus' sacrifice you don't need to be punished at all?

And all the good you can do simply can't help you to please God, because only one single sin is sufficient to be punished.

Poor you : ( I feel sorry for you. One single sin is enough to be punished but one good deed doesn't even help to turn that fate around.

ਸਿਮਰਤ ਇਕ ਬਾਰ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਮਿਟਿ ਕੋਟਿ ਕਸਮਲ ਜਾਂਤਿ ॥੨॥

Meditating in remembrance on the Lord, Har, Har, even once, millions of sins are erased. ||2||

http://www.sikhitothemax.com/page.asp?ShabadID=4720

vaheguru ji ka khalsa vaheguru ji ki fateh

Some members of Tigerstyle do kirtan as well.

Introduction

In the time of Guru Arjan Dev jee, there was a powerful and rich Jat by the name of Teeratha. Teeratha was a follower of the Muslim sect of Sakhee Sarvar. He was the local leader of this sect and had hundreds of followers who all respected him. Teeratha would regularly lead the members of this sect on a pilgrimage to the main Sakhee Sarvar shrine now in Pakistan.

Meeting the Guru

Once when passing through Amritsar, Teeratha decided to visit Guru Arjan. He had heard that there was a great Guru who had a large following and this Guru was spiritually enlightened. He was curious to know who this Guru was and what he would say. He decided to stop off and see the Darbar of Guru Arjan. When he saw the Darbar, he saw that people of many different backgrounds, and castes were all sitting together and living in harmony. He also heard the keertan in the darbaar and the keertan left a permanent mark on him. He heard of the great gift of naam and the thirst to have this gift rose within him. He was the leader of hundreds of Sakhee Sarvar followers but he could no longer follow that path. He realised that Sikhee was the path he must follow.

He came to Guru Arjan Dev jee and introduced himself. Guru jee saw how rich and powerful Teeratha was and when Teeratha begged for naam and to be initiated into the Sikh faith, Guru jee replied, "Being a Sikh is no easy thing. The path is finer than a hair and sharper than the khanda. The primary principle of Sikhee is humility." Teeratha again repeated his request. Guru Arjan Dev jee then said, "Why do you want to be a Sikh? You are a rich and powerful man with hundreds of followers. You can continue on the easy path of Sakhee Sarvar, because the Sikh path is very hard. If you become a Sikh, you will lose your followers and all their respect and you will lose your wealth as well. You may even have to pay for this decision with your life. What use is there in becoming a Sikh for you?" But Teeratha was insistent he begged that nothing mattered. If he lost everything it would not matter, he needed naam. With tears in his eyes he begged for naam. Guru Arjan Dev jee accepted his request and initiated him into Sikhee and gave him Naam.

Teeratha decided to not return home and took leave of his followers. He decided to stay with the Guru for some time. The Sikhs knew that Teeratha was from the Manjh clan and began to call him Bhai Manjh. Bhai Manjh did seva in the darbaar and one day Guru Arjan Dev jee called him and asked him to return to his village and preach Sikhee to his old followers.

Return to the Village and Disaster

Bhai Manjh returned to his village and began the work of preaching Sikhee to the followers of Sakhee Sarvar. In his home, there was a shrine to Sakhee Sarvar which was revered by all the local followers. Bhai Manjh reached home and immediately had it demolished. Many of his old followers who had considered him a Guru heard Bhai Manjh's message that Guru Arjan was the true Satguru and the source of all happiness. They too decided to become Sikhs and began to recite baaNee. Bhai Manjh and the new devotees of the Guru decided to build a Dharamshaala (Sikh place of gathering) in the village where they could daily meet and do sangat.

While the construction of the Dharamshala was still going on, some Sakhee Sarvar leaders came to the village and saw that so many followers had become Sikhs. They spoke to Bhai Manjh and asked him to renounce Sikhee or face a terrible price. They said that he was powerful and a high official in the Sakhee Sarvar sect and he would lose all this if he did not come to his senses. Bhai Manjh sent them away and was insistent that he would remain a Sikh. The Sakhee Sarvar leaders left the village but heaped countless curses on Bhai Manjh and vowed that he would regret his decision.

Within a few days of this event, one night, all of Bhai Manjh's cattle died. It was unexplainable how all cattle could die in one night. In the following nights, cattle began to die in neighbouring houses as well. The villagers began to believe that perhaps the curse of Sakhee Sarvar was responsible and by becoming Sikhs and destroying the shrine, they had made a serious mistake. More and more cattle began to die each night and the villagers decided to break off from Bhai Manjh. They declared that they had nothing to do with Bhai Manjh and his new religion. They removed him from his position as village head. Bhai Manjh now began to lose his wealth as well and soon poverty entered his home.

Poverty

Before, poor and needy people used to come to Bhai Manjh to request for help and money. People would still come now but he himself was living in abject poverty. Bhai Manjh had absolutely no extra wealth to give to anybody. Bhai Manjh was in a desperate situation and he decided to visit the new village head. Bhai Manjh offered his home to be rented out for some money so he could feed his family. The village head agreed to the proposal but added the condition that Bhai Manjh's wife would become his housemaid. His wife would be paid for her labour as well.

Bhai Manjh returned home absolutely shattered. He was once the most powerful man in the village and today he was being forced to make his wife a maid. When Bhai Manjh's wife asked him what the village head had said. Bhai Manjh haltingly explained the offer he was given. Bhai Manjh's wife listned and then said that in such hard times she too was willing to make sacrifices and if they had to lower their dignity by doing a job such as that of maid, then so be it. They had to marry off their young daughter and needed money to raise their family. Bhai Manjh's wife agreed to go work for the village head.

Bhai Manjh fell asleep that night in deep sadness. The next morning his wife would leave to begin her new job. He thought of Guru Arjan and wondered why the Guru would put his Sikh through such pain. How could the Guru allow him to see such days? Then understanding dawned: this must be the Guru's test. The Guru had said that he would have to sacrifice his all for Naam. Bhai Manjh was determined not to fail this test. He felt shame that he had ever questioned the will of the Guru.

Serving the Guru

The next morning Bhai Manjh's wife gathered her clothes and left for the village head's home. Bhai Manjh decided to also leave the village. He left for Amritsar with his daughter and decided to spend his time doing seva. Bhai Manjh began to take the seva of bringing wood for the langar, cleaning the dishes, serving the visiting sangat and any other seva he could find. The Guru too heard of Bhai Manjh's sevaa. He called Bhai Manjh to come see him.

Bhai Manjh and his daughter appeared before the Guru and bowed. They stood before Satguru Arjan and waited for him to speak. Guru Arjan asked, "Bhai Manjh, where do you eat?" Bhai Manjh replied, "Satguru, I eat from your langar…"

Guru Arjan jee then said, "well then, what you do is nothing but wage-labour isn't it?"

The sangat was stunned. They knew Bhai Manjh had sacrificed his entire wealth and prestige to become a Sikh and now did more seva than anyone else in the Darbaar. How could Guru jee have humiliated him like this in front of everyone? After all, the Langar was open to everyone, why would Guru jee say such a thing?

Bhai Manjh was once a powerful and proud aristocrat with hundreds of followers. He now hung his head and then said, "Satguru, you are wise. Please give me the wisdom to understand and accept your Hukam." Guru jee did not reply. Bhai Manjh then bowed and took his leave with his daughter.

Bhai Manjh now decided to no longer eat in the langar. He decided to collect two bundles of wood from now on and he would give one to the langar and sell the other to earn his living and use it to purchase his food. Bhai Manjh's daughter asked her father why the Guru was so merciless to him. Bhai Manjh immediately replied, "No no! The Guru is merciful. He is testing our faith. We can not fail."

The Final Test

Bhai Manjh would rise early and begin to collect wood for seva and also to sell. After giving the first bundle and selling the second, the two would return to the Darbaar and do seva all day. He would put all his extra money into the Golak. Guru jee once came to Bhai Manjh and asked why he still stayed despite being so poor and having lost everything. Guru jee said he should go home. Bhai Manjh replied, "Mahaaraaj, please never speak of having to leave your feet. Sachay Patshah, worldly wealth is a dream and so it comes and goes. Nothing is lost. I have lost my worldly wealth and found your true treasure of Naam. No thief will take this treasure from me and no King will seize it. " Guru jee gave his blessings to Bhai Manjh and moved on.

One day early in the morning when Bhai Manjh was going to the langar to give wood, such a dust storm arose that he could see nothing. Bhai Manjh stumbled and fell into a well. Day broke and Bhai Manjh still had not returned and everyone understood he must be in trouble. The Sikhs began to search for him and heard him call out from the well. One Sikh ran to Guru Arjan to tell him what had happened and Guru jee immediately dashed bare foot to the well. They threw a rope into the well and asked Bhai Manjh to pull himself out. Bhia Manjh jee called from the depth of the well, "Please, first pull the wood out for the langar! If they become wet, they will be of no use and not burn. If I am wet, nothing will happen." Bhai jee tied the wood bundle to the rope and had it pulled out. Only then did Bhai Manjh pull himself out.

When Bhai Manjh climbed out of the well, Guru Arjan was standing before him. Bhai Manjh fell at Guru jee's feet. Guru Arjan asked, "Bhai Manjh! What have you gained by following me? You have lost your wealth, your status, and even your wife. You have lost everything!"

Bhai Manjh held Guru jee's feet even tighter and with tears in his eyes replied, "No Satguru! I have not lost anything. I have only gained. Please don't push me away, this is my only request of you…"

Guru Arjan Dev jee then said, "Bhai Manjh, your sevaa has borne fruit. Ask for anything you want."

Bhai Manjh replied, "Guru jee, bless me that I may never want anything. May I always be content"

Guru jee replied, "It will happen as you request. But still, request something Bhai Manjh…"

Bhai Manjh then said, "If you are happy with me, then have this mercy. It is Kaljug. Please do not scold and test so harshly. May your Sikhs not have to bear such hardships."

Guru Maharaj again said, "This too will happen, but still request something Bhai Manjh." Bhai Manjh finally replied, "May my consciousness remain at your feet and may I never forget the meditation of your Naam. If you wish to bless me, then bless me with gift of limitless faith."

Guru Arjan heard these words and then said, "Manjh is the beloved of the Guru and the Guru is beloved of Manjh. Manjh is the ferry of the Guru who will ferry across the world ocean."

Guru Arjan sent Bhai Manjh home and told him all had been returned. Bhai Manjh did not understand how this would be possible, but had complete faith in the Guru.

Everything Restored

Bhai Manjh's wife had been working in the house of the village head and she made such an impression on him that he decided to make her his sister. He requested that she take the responsibility of raising his only son. He also gave back Bhai Manjh's home where she could raise the boy. Bhai Manjh returned home and was informed of all that had happened and was stunned.

Bhai Manjh never left the support of the Guru. Even at the darkest time he had faith it was all a test and if he stayed firm in his faith, nothing would happen to him. Bhai Manjh was appointed the entire Doaba area to preach Sikhee and he opened a Dharamshaalaa in his home. The langar that Bhai jee opened was famous all around. Many people became Sikhs because of his parchaar. When Guru Arjan Dev jee came to visit the Doaba area in 1596, he made a point of specially visiting Bhai Manjh and praised him for his parchaar.

Bhai Manjh jee is the embodiment of faith and perseverance. Nothing in life could turn him away from the Guru and in the end, the Guru kept and protected his Sikh.