The Secret Of Happiness

[xPreetx]

A shopkeeper sent his son to learn about the secret of happiness from the wisest man in the world. The lad wandered through the desert for 40 days, and finally came upon a beautiful castle, high atop a mountain. It was there that the wise man lived. Rather than finding a saintly man, though, our hero, on entering the main room of the castle, saw a hive of activity: tradesmen came and went, people were conversing in the corners, a small orchestra was playing soft music, and there was a table covered with platters of the most delicious food in that part of the world. The wise man conversed with everyone, and the boy had to wait for two hours before it was his turn to be given the man's attention.

The wise man listened attentively to the boy's explanation of why he had come, but told him that he didn't have time just then to explain the secret of happiness. He suggested that the boy look around the palace and return in two hours.

"Meanwhile, I want to ask you to do something", said the wise man, handing the boy a teaspoon that held two drops of oil. "As you wander around, carry this spoon with you without allowing the oil to spill".

The boy began climbing and descending the many stairways of the palace, keeping his eyes fixed on the spoon. After two hours, he returned to the room where the wise man was.

"Well", asked the wise man, "Did you see the Persian tapestries that are hanging in my dining hall? Did you see the garden that it took the master gardener ten years to create? Did you notice the beautiful parchments in my library?"

The boy was embarrassed, and confessed that he had observed nothing. His only concern had been not to spill the oil that the wise man had entrusted to him.

"Then go back and observe the marvels of my world", said the wise man. "You cannot trust a man if you don't know his house".

Relieved, the boy picked up the spoon and returned to his exploration of the palace, this time observing all of the works of art on the ceilings and the walls. He saw the gardens, the mountains all around him, the beauty of the flowers, and the taste with which everything had been selected. Upon returning to the wise man, he related in detail everything he had seen.

"But where are the drops of oil I entrusted to you?" asked the wise man. Looking down at the spoon he held, the boy saw that the oil was gone.

"Well, there is only one piece of advice I can give you", said the wisest of wise men. "The secret of happiness is to see all the marvels of the world and never to forget the drops of oil on the spoon".

How much like this boy we are too....whilst observing the marvels of the world that Waheguru has created, we forsake the one who is the source of this living....we get too engrossed in Maya and forget the Creator....and others...try to search Waheguru everywhere, without understanding that He is here, He is in each and every one of us...He is not detached from His creation.....A Gursikh should be like the lotus flower, surrounded by the mud of Maya, yet unaffected.....Let's not get too carried away with the marvels of the world, that we forget the one who has created these in the first place - WAHEGURU!!!!!

[K. SINGH DEEP]

ਜੈਸੀ ਅਗਨਿ ਉਦਰ ਮਹਿ ਤੈਸੀ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਮਾਇਆ ॥

Jaisee agan oudar mehi taisee baahar maaeiaa ||

As is the fire within the womb, so is Maya outside.

ਮਾਇਆ ਅਗਨਿ ਸਭ ਇਕੋ ਜੇਹੀ ਕਰਤੈ ਖੇਲੁ ਰਚਾਇਆ ॥

Maaeiaa agan sabh eiko jaehee karatai khael rachaaeiaa ||

The fire of Maya is one and the same; the Creator has staged this play.

ਜਾ ਤਿਸੁ ਭਾਣਾ ਤਾ ਜੰਮਿਆ ਪਰਵਾਰਿ ਭਲਾ ਭਾਇਆ ॥

Jaa tissu bhaanaa taa jamiaa paravaar bhalaa bhaaeiaa ||

According to His Will, the child is born, and the family is very pleased.

ਲਿਵ ਛੁੜਕੀ ਲਗੀ ਤ੍ਰਿਸਨਾ ਮਾਇਆ ਅਮਰੁ ਵਰਤਾਇਆ ॥

Liv cshhurrakee lagee trisanaa maaeiaa amar varataaeiaa ||

Love for the Lord wears off, and the child becomes attached to desires; the script of Maya runs its course.

ਏਹ ਮਾਇਆ ਜਿਤੁ ਹਰਿ ਵਿਸਰੈ ਮੋਹੁ ਉਪਜੈ ਭਾਉ ਦੂਜਾ ਲਾਇਆ ॥

Eaeh maaeiaa jit har visarai mohu oupajai bhaao doojaa laaeiaa ||

This is Maya, by which the Lord is forgotten; emotional attachment and love of duality well up.

ਕਹੈ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਗੁਰ ਪਰਸਾਦੀ ਜਿਨਾ ਲਿਵ ਲਾਗੀ ਤਿਨੀ ਵਿਚੇ ਮਾਇਆ ਪਾਇਆ ॥੨੯॥

Kehai naanak gur parasaadee jinaa liv laagee tinnee vichae maaeiaa paaeiaa ||29||

Says Nanak, by Guru's Grace, those who enshrine love for the Lord find Him, in the midst of Maya. ||29||

( Raamkalee Mehla Teeja Ananad at ang 921 of Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji)

[SevaSimranSacrifice]

I like!!

[K. SINGH DEEP]

I like!!

THANK YOU

WAHEGURU JI KA KHALSA WAHEGURU JI KI FATEH