Guru Sahib Is Always There

[HKaur16]

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa

Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

Saad sangat ji, I am going through some tough times in life right now which I cant really share. I have been feeling low and upset a lot recently and it has started to affect my bani. I have realized that only Guru Sahib is the one who will stand with us, Guru Sahib Ji will never leave our side.

I was hoping if saad sangat ji could post some motivational sakhi's, katha, kirtan, Gurbani, or articles which would help my moorakh budhi understand that Guru Sahib will always be there for you whether anyone else is or not.

Please help a moorakh sister out.

Dhanvad

Rab Rakha

[Consciousness]

The life of Bhai Manjh, a disciple of Guru Arjan, one among the 10 Sikh Gurus, is one of the best examples of the surrender one must have towards one's Guru.

Bhai Manjh was a very wealthy landlord, who used to worship the tomb of Sakhi Sarwar, a renowned saint. One day he happened to hear Guru Arjan'sdiscourse and was so inspired by it, that he decided to accept Guru Arjan as his Guru.

Guru Arjan said, "If you wish to get initiated by me, you will have to raze your worship room."

Bhai Manjh ran back to his house, and started demolishing his worship room. All his well-wishers warned him, "Bhai Manjh, this act of yours will bring great misfortunes to your family."

Manjh said, "Whatever be the consequences of my act, I am ready to bear them all."

He returned to the Guru and was initiated into the holy name. Manjh's heart was filled with gratitude towards his Guru. But soon one misfortune followed another: His horses died, his house was ransacked by thieves, and soon he became a pauper who owed a lot of money to others. All the villagers started making fun of him and criticizing his devotion towards his Guru. But never did his faith swerve.

Soon, Manjh had to leave the village with his wife and children and find shelter in another village. There he made his livelihood by cutting and selling grass.

Several months passed. One day Guru Arjan sent a letter to Bhai Manjh through one of his disciples. But the Guru had instructed the carrier that the letter should only be delivered after Bhai Manjh gave 20 rupees as an offering. Bhai Manjh was delighted to know that his Guru had sent him a letter. But how could he manage to get 20 rupees? Seeing his ordeal, his wife said, "Don't worry. I shall take our daughter and my ornaments to the goldsmith. I am sure we can collect 20 rupees." Soon the wife came back with the money. Giving the money to the disciple, Bhai Manjh received the letter with tear-filled eyes, kisses it and pressed it against his heart.

After some years the Guru sent a second letter and demanded 25 rupees for it. Once again Bhai Manjh had nothing with him. Then he remembered that the head of the village had sought his eldest daughter's hand in marriage. He soon fixed the alliance for which he asked 25 rupees as payment. Offering the money Manjh received the second letter.

Soon after that, Guru Arjan sent a disciple to Manjh with a message that they could come and stay at the Guru's place, doing seva in the Gurudvara. Manjh's happiness knew no bounds. He, his wife and remaining daughter soon started on their way. They were asked to do seva in the kitchen. They would clean the utensils and cut firewood.

One day, Guru Arjan asked one of his close disciples, "Where does Bhai Manjh and his family take food from?"

"From the community kitchen," said the disciple.

The Guru retorted, "Bhai Manjh is not doing real service as he is charging us for his wages, which he takes in the form of food."

Bhai Manjh, who overheard this conversation, felt sad at heart. He went and told his wife, "From tomorrow, we will get our food by some other means. The Guru has given us the priceless treasure of Nam (the Divine Name), and I can never repay that debt. How can we expect anything else for our service to Him."

The next day, after working for the whole day in the kitchen, he went to the forest, cut firewood and sold it at the market, using the money to buy food for his family. This continued for many days.

One day there was a shortage of firewood in the Gurudvara kitchen, and Bhai Manjh had to go to the forest in the evening to fetch some. He had almost finished collecting firewood, when a severe windstorm began. Manjh tried to take shelter under the trees with the bundle of firewood on his head. But the wind started blowing so strongly that he was blown into a deep well.

Suddenly, Guru Arjan called some of his disciples to quickly collect a wooden board and a long rope and accompany him to the forest. The disciples were surprised. On reaching the well, the Guru said, "Manjh is at the bottom of the well. Shout and tell him that we will lower a board tied to a rope. Tell him to cling on to it so that we can pull him out." The Guru then muttered some words into the disciple's ear and asked for that to also be told.

The disciple said, "O Brother, see your pathetic condition. Why do you follow such a Guru who's so cruel? Why don't you leave him and forget him?"

Manjh shouted back, "How dare you say that my Guru is cruel. He has only compassion for me. Never utter such shameless words."

Bhai Manjh did not get on the board first. He put the bundle of firewood on the board and said, "Take the wood first. It is for the Guru's kitchen. If it gets wetter, it will not burn."

The wood was drawn up and the Bhai Manjh was himself pulled out. When he came out he saw Guru Arjan standing before him. He fell prostrate at the Guru's feet.

Lifting him up and patting his shoulders, Guru Arjan said, "I am proud of you. You have faced all the tests with unswerving faith, courage and devotion, and have come out successful in all of them. I would be glad to gift you even the three worlds."

With tears streaming down his cheeks, Bhai Manjh said, "O Lord, the only boon I wish for, is You alone! Nothing else is of interest to me."

The Guru warmly embraced Bhai Manjh and took him back to the Gurudvara.

May all of us have such trust and surrender towards our Beloved Amma, who is waiting eagerly to take us across the ocean of transmigration

[Beginner]

Wow, great Sakhi, thanks, hadn't heard it before!

A request though, any sakhi of someone overcoming something like a chronic disease or illness, ie. leprosy, Parkinson's, chronic constipation, digestive problems, to become holy? Please share , thanks brothers and sisters.

[SukhneetSingh]

Vaheguru Ji Ka Khalsa,

Vaheguru Ji Ki Fateh.

Please reference the following video bhenji.

http://www.ted.com/talks/shawn_achor_the_happy_secret_to_better_work.html

The suggestions at the end of the video are entirely within our Sikh practice, and are encouraged (Baba Iqbal Singh Ji of the Akaal Academy suggests we be thankful during Ardaas rather than ask for things).

Over the course of months (life is a process, not an event), I found the simple practice of writing things I'm grateful for and journaling about a happy experience helped me recognize Vaheguru's blessings in our lives. This is happiness to the point of tears at times. It fluctuates, like many things in life. Yet it leads towards the experience of Chardi Kala.

Also, being thankful while walking and doing Simran is a very spiritual act.

These things, as with any solution, will take time. Think of this troubling time as a test. Continue doing good, positive, healthy, and Naam-focused things. It will improve with time.

Seva also uplifts the spirit, more than many, many, other things. Couple seva with Naam and gratefulness for the seva.

I hope this is helpful!

[Only five]

Go into the Saadh sangat and read Gurbani with them. In the Sadh sangat all the shortcomings of the mind are cured. All anxieties are lifted. When is the last time you went to the Gurdwara and really contemplated over Gurbani and did seva?

Satguru's recipe is naam simran, go into the saadh sangat, seva, and making an honest living. Leave one out for some time and the mind goes imbalanced.

[SheikhFareed]

Dont feel low like you said you are. Just try and remember this is not you. This body this mind, its not you. Just dont attach yourself with it, the burden will decrease, just try think all is in hukam. even that which is causing the problem. i know it is easy to say. sorry if this has not helped you.