Sticking To The Khalsa Path

[Jatha Nihang Singha]

'Sticking to the Path with a Stedfast Mind' From:

There is an old folktale which goes as follows:

One day a man set his mind wholeheartedly on reaching the Divine Being and set forth on his journey. While travelling he became thirsty and got sidetracked looking for a river. He found a river somewhat off his course but it was necessary for him to drink. While drinking from the river he saw a gold bangle sparkling in the water, while trying to reach for it he fell into the water. A passer by told him that the bangle he saw in the water was just a reflection and the bangle was actually stuck up a tree, so he set about trying to climb the tree… so on so forth.

Such tales hold within them important teaching, this one alerts us to how much of an alert and steadfast mind we need in order to stick to our path. Within hours this individual that set about whole heartedly and genuinely to meet the Divine Being was falling into rivers and climbing trees in pursuit of a gold bangle. Despite his wholehearted intentions, he did not have a steadfast mind.

The great Brahmgiani Baba Mitt Singh Ji when walking to Hazoor Sahib from Punjab at the beginning of the 1900s ordered all accompanying Nihang Singhs to maintain maximum bibek. This did not just refer to the way the prepared their food, but how the acquired their nourishment and how the perceived it in relation to Akaal Purakh. The Singhs would only eat what little food they came across on their journey either from trees or from vegetables offered from devotees and they would cook the food themselves. Even if a tree was abundant with fruit Baba Mitt Singh would not let the Singhs carry in fruit from it on the journey, requiring them to eat what they could and entrust in Akaal Purakh to provide for them further. Despite going hungry sometimes for days at a time, Baba Mitt Singh Ji kept this maryada - Never straying from the path he had taken and the way in which he had vowed to take it. This is one example from the life of Baba Mitt Singh Ji who's jeevani can be read here: There are countless other examples of how great Gursikhs whole heartedly with a steadfast mind and clear objectives stick to their path in whatever experience life brings before them.

Every Gursikh needs clear direction and a steadfast mind otherwise we often find ourselves straying from our path. Sometime we become completely off track, other times we get side tracked with certain things we encounter along our path. The word 'Panth' literally means path and when we join the Khalsa we devote ourselves to a specific path. Remember when taking amrit we vow to follow a path of seva, simran, nitnem amritvela and devote ourselves to the practise of Dharam, may Maharaj bless us to never stray from this path and the strength to return when we are side tracked.

Gurbur Akaaal

[Mahakal]

Akaaal

[Wales85]

Great post. This site needs more of this.

Thanks,

-W