The Story of immortality Sant Waryam Singh Ji English Trans.: Prof. Beant Singh Chapter - 1 Invocation: True and supreme is God’s Name. Blessed is Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji. ÃÃÃÃÃÇÇÇÇÇåååååéééééÅÅÅÅÅîîîîî¹¹¹¹¹ ÃÃÃÃÃÌÌÌÌÌÆÆÆÆÆ òòòòòÅÅÅÅÅÇÇÇÇÇÔÔÔÔÔ×××××¹¹¹¹¹ðððððÈÈÈÈÈ,,,,, èèèèè¿¿¿¿¿ééééé ÃÃÃÃÃÌÌÌÌÌÆÆÆÆÆ ×××××¹¹¹¹¹ðððððÈÈÈÈÈ éééééÅÅÅÅÅéééééÕÕÕÕÕ çççç綶¶¶¶òòòòò ÜÜÜÜÜÆÆÆÆÆúúúúú îîîîîÔÔÔÔÔÅÅÅÅÅðððððÅÅÅÅÅÜÜÜÜÜÍÍÍÍÍ ‘Prostrate salutation and obeisance I make many a time before the omnipotent Lord, the Possessor of all the powers. Reach me Thy hand, O Lord and save me from wavering, says Nanak.’ âââââ¿¿¿¿¿âââââÀÀÀÀÀ°°°°°ÇÇÇÇÇååååå ììììì¿¿¿¿¿çççççééééé ÁÁÁÁÁÇÇÇÇÇéééééÕÕÕÕÕ ìììììÅÅÅÅÅððððð ÃÃÃÃÃðððððììììì ÕÕÕÕÕñññññÅÅÅÅÅ ÃÃÃÃÃîîîîîðððððææææ樨¨¨¨ ââââ⯯¯¯¯ñññññééééé åååå嶶¶¶¶ ðððððÅÅÅÅÅÖÖÖÖÖÔÔÔÔÔ¹¹¹¹¹ êêêêêÌÌÌÌÌíííííÈÈÈÈÈ éééééÅÅÅÅÅéééééÕÕÕÕÕ çççç綶¶¶¶ ÕÕÕÕÕÇÇÇÇÇððððð ÔÔÔÔÔææææ樨¨¨¨ êêêêê³³³³³éééééÅÅÅÅÅ ----- BBBBBEEEEEFFFFF ‘After wandering and wandering, O Lord, I have come and entered Thy sanctuary. O Master, Nanak’s prayer is: Attach me to Thy devotional service.’ ÇÇÇÇÇëëëëëðððððååååå ÇÇÇÇÇëëëëëðððððååååå êêêêêÌÌÌÌÌííííí ÁÁÁÁÁÅÅÅÅÅÇÇÇÇÇÂÂÂÂÂÁÁÁÁÁÅÅÅÅÅ êêêêêÇÇÇÇÇðððððÁÁÁÁÁÅÅÅÅÅ åååååÀÀÀÀÀ°°°°° ÃÃÃÃÃðððððéééééÅÅÅÅÅÇÇÇÇǨ¨¨¨¨ éééééÅÅÅÅÅéééééÕÕÕÕÕ ÕÕÕÕÕÆÆÆÆÆ êêêêêÌÌÌÌÌííííí ìììì춶¶¶¶éééééåååååÆÆÆÆÆ ÁÁÁÁÁêêêêêéééééÆÆÆÆÆ ííííí×××××åååååÆÆÆÆÆ ñññññÅÅÅÅÅÇÇÇÇǨ¨¨¨¨ êêêêê³³³³³éééééÅÅÅÅÅ ----- BBBBBHHHHHIIIII Refrain: Cast off is d oubt from my mind O dear, ever since I have had a glimpse of Thee. èèèèèÅÅÅÅÅðððððéééééÅÅÅÅÅ ----- ÃÃÃÃÿ¿¿¿¿ÃÃÃÃÃÅÅÅÅÅ îîîî¶¶¶ðððððÅÅÅÅÅ ÜÜÜÜÜÆÆÆÆÆ,,,,, ÀÀÀÀÀ°°°°°åååååððððð ÇÇÇÇÇ×××××ÁÁÁÁÁÅÅÅÅÅ ----- BBBBB,,,,, BBBBB..... ÇÇÇÇÇêêêêêÁÁÁÁÁÅÅÅÅÅðððð𶶶¶¶ ÜÜÜÜÜììììì åååå嶶¶¶¶ çççççðððððôôôôôééééé êêêêêÅÅÅÅÅÇÇÇÇÇÂÂÂÂÂÁÁÁÁÁÅÅÅÅÅ ----- BBBBB,,,,, BBBBB..... ÃÃÃÃÿ¿¿¿¿ÃÃÃÃÃÅÅÅÅÅ îîîî¶¶¶ðððððÅÅÅÅÅ ÜÜÜÜÜÆÆÆÆÆ,,,,, .......................................................-----BBBBB ‘Lord; to Your shelter have I come, since having a sight of You, cast off is doubt from my mind. Without a word have You known my state, And devotion to Your Name inspired. Fled is suffering, and in joyful serenity am I absorbed, As in joy Your laudation I have sung. By grasping my arm has the Guru succoured his servant From evil stars and the dark well of Maya (Mammon). Saith Nanak: The Guru our bonds has snapped And to the long-separated granted union.’ áááááÅÅÅÅÅÕÕÕÕÕ°°°°°ððððð ååååå°°°°°îîîîî ÃÃÃÃÃðððððäääääÅÅÅÅÅÂÂÂÂÂÆÆÆÆÆ ÁÁÁÁÁÅÅÅÅÅÇÇÇÇÇÂÂÂÂÂÁÁÁÁÁÅÅÅÅŨ¨¨¨¨ ÀÀÀÀÀ°°°°°åååååÇÇÇÇÇððððð ×××××ÇÇÇÇÇÂÂÂÂÂúúúúú îîîî¶¶¶ðððð𶶶¶¶ îîîîîééééé ÕÕÕÕÕÅÅÅÅÅ ÃÃÃÃÿ¿¿¿¿ÃÃÃÃÃÅÅÅÅÅ ÜÜÜÜÜììììì åååå嶶¶¶¶ çççççðððððÃÃÃÃÃééééé°°°°° êêêêêÅÅÅÅÅÇÇÇÇÇÂÂÂÂÂÁÁÁÁÁÅÅÅÅŨ¨¨¨¨ ÁÁÁÁÁéééééìììì쯯¯¯¯ñññññååååå îîîî¶¶¶ðððððÆÆÆÆÆ ÇÇÇÇÇìììììðððððæææææÅÅÅÅÅ ÜÜÜÜÜÅÅÅÅÅéééééÆÆÆÆÆ ÁÁÁÁÁêêêêêéééééÅÅÅÅÅ éééééÅÅÅÅÅîîîîî¹¹¹¹¹ ÜÜÜÜÜêêêêêÅÅÅÅÅÇÇÇÇÇÂÂÂÂÂÁÁÁÁÁÅÅÅÅŨ¨¨¨¨ ççççç¹¹¹¹¹ÖÖÖÖÖ éééééÅÅÅÅÅááááᶶ¶¶¶ ÃÃÃÃù¹¹¹¹ÖÖÖÖÖ ÃÃÃÃÃÔÔÔÔÔÇÇÇÇÇÜÜÜÜÜ ÃÃÃÃÃîîîîîÅÅÅÅŶ¶¶¶¶ ÁÁÁÁÁéééééççççç ÁÁÁÁÁéééééççççç ×××××¹¹¹¹¹äääää ×××××ÅÅÅÅÅÇÇÇÇÇÂÂÂÂÂÁÁÁÁÁÅÅÅÅŨ¨¨¨¨ ìììììÅÅÅÅÅÔÔÔÔÔ êêêêêÕÕÕÕÕÇÇÇÇÇððððð ÕÕÕÕÕÇÇÇÇÇããããã ñññññÆÆÆÆÆéééé鶶¶¶¶ ÁÁÁÁÁêêêêê¹¹¹¹¹éééé鶶¶¶¶ ÇÇÇÇÇ×××××ÌÌÌÌÌÔÔÔÔÔ ÁÁÁÁÁ³³³³³èèèèè ÕÕÕÕÕ±±±±±êêêêê åååå嶶¶¶¶ îîîîîÅÅÅÅÅÇÇÇÇÇÂÂÂÂÂÁÁÁÁÁÅÅÅÅŨ¨¨¨¨ ÕÕÕÕÕÔÔÔÔÔ¹¹¹¹¹ éééééÅÅÅÅÅéééééÕÕÕÕÕ ×××××¹¹¹¹¹ÇÇÇÇÇððððð ììììì¿¿¿¿¿èèèèèééééé ÕÕÕÕÕÅÅÅÅÅààààබ¶¶¶ ÇÇÇÇÇìììììÛÛÛÛÛ°°°°°ðððððååååå ÁÁÁÁÁÅÅÅÅÅÇÇÇÇÇééééé ÇÇÇÇÇîîîîîñññññÅÅÅÅÅÇÇÇÇÇÂÂÂÂÂÁÁÁÁÁÅÅÅÅŨ¨¨¨¨ êêêêê³³³³³éééééÅÅÅÅÅ ----- AAAAABBBBBAAAAAHHHHH Holy congregation! loud be thy utterance: ‘True and supreme is God’s Name’. Getting free from your worldly chores, you have reached the Guru’s 1 court. If the congregation of the holy and true is attended in the prescribed manner, it proves to be immense fruitful. Unless we fully understand the discourse, we are incapable of gaining full advantage of it, though we come from home leaving our worldly chores for this purpose. For a person of average intelligence, it is like this. A machine may be having a number of wires connected with one another with screws and producing a voice. If the voice comes clearly, as my voice is coming, the listener is benefited fully. But if one or two wires do not function, there will be confusion, and nothing will be intelligible. The loudspeaker will not function properly. The hall will reverberate with the sound, as it is doing now, because everything has to be done in a proper manner. When something is done fully in the prescribed manner, the result is full, right and proper. Man can mend it as much as required. This is not to say that, that is all. Generally, those who come to attend a holy congregation should have fourteen virtues, and the speaker too should have fourteen qualities. In this connection, four Sikhs – Bhai Mansadhar, Bhai Dargah Tali, Bhai Takhat Dhir, and Bhai Tirath Uppal – came together to the Sixth Guru Sahib and prayed, “O True, Sovereign! we listen to holy discourses. Your Gursikhs (disciples) explain to us with detailed meanings, but even then why don’t we get joy and peace of mind? Our mind continues wandering in different directions. But when we listen to ‘kirtan’ (singing of Gurbani)-cum-explication from Bhai Nivala and Bhai Nihaloo, we are filled with fear of sins and evils, and we feel inclined to give up evil thoughts and wickedness, and start imbibing Gurmat (Guru’s teachings) and the light of Divine knowledge and understanding is lit within us. O True Sovereign! why does it happen that while listening to the discourses of many persons, our mind does not become absorbed in them at all? On the other hand, there are some discourses in which the wandering fancy becomes still and concentrated in the mind. At this Guru Sahib said to them, “O Gursikhs! there is a proper method for attending a holy congregation in which both the speaker and the listeners have a responsible role to play. Generally, fourteen qualities are needed in the speaker and fourteen in the listener, and only then does it prove to be perfectly fruitful, otherwise not.” On that occasion, the Sikhs requested Guru Sahib, “O Master! kindly tell us in detail the qualities of a good speaker. We are your servants; we shall be greatly benefited when we come to know about the qualities of a good speaker and a good listener.” Guru Sahib said, “The first quality of a speaker is that his utterance should be pleasing, steady, sweet, gentle and humble; 2 i.e. free from pride. He should know the meanings of the ‘shabad’ (hymn) fully. The second quality is that he should speak as loudly as warranted by the number of listeners. If there are devotees sitting upto some distance, and he speaks in a low tone, then those sitting nearby will be able to hear him, but not those sitting at some distance. ‘Chhand’ (stanza or song) and ‘dharna’ (refrain) should be recited or sung at the required pitch. Thirdly, he should know how to explain the subject in detail, and how to express it in a brief manner. He should be acquainted with both the arts. He should keep an eye on the congregation to see whether what he is saying is interesting them or not, or whether it is going home to them or not. He should continue observing the listeners’ attention carefully. He should state a subject in as much detail and depth as is intelligible to them. The moment, their attention starts declining, he should stop explaining in detail and wind up the subject briefly. Fourthly, he should be capable of describing the context of his discourse and the illustrative stories therein in a gentle, loving and appealing manner. He should make his utterances so sweet that they may sound charming to them. Fifthly, every utterance from his tongue should be true and about truth. In the holy congregation, he should not utter anything which is purposeless or fruitless. He should talk about ‘karma’ (deeds), worship and devotion, and Divine knowledge according to the mental and spiritual level of the listeners. He should be competent to explain the doctrine fully and should explicate by drawing conclusions or through careful discrimination and discernment. The sixth quality of a good speaker is that whatever doubts and misgivings appear to be rising in the course of the discourse, he should dispel them by giving examples, and if some listener asks a question, the speaker should know the art of answering it to the satisfaction of the questioner. He should be capable of explaining the central idea of the ‘shabad’ (hymn) clearly, and in support thereof, he should be able to give illustrations from old tales and stories or the proofs adduced by holy men. He should give examples only after estimating the listeners’ level of intelligence and understanding lest he should continue to display his learning which goes above their heads. The examples given should be such as the listeners can understand. Seventhly, the speaker should be fully conversant with the scriptures of all religions, their controversies and debates. He should not criticize any other religion or its scripture, and should quote only that much writing or utterance which agrees with his own religious doctrine or tenets. The eighth virtue is that he should not allow any digressions in his discourse. 3 He should not digress and should speak with reference to the subject of the discourse. He should not talk about things which are unrelated with or irrelevant to the topic. He should take only those illustrative stories from other religions which resemble with Gurmat (Sikh doctrine) and help in understanding its meaning or objective. The ninth quality is that the speaker’s posture should be perfect and flawless. He should sit with his back straight, and similarly, he should keep his mind also simple, straight and guileless. The tenth quality is that, from time to time, he should make such utterances also which please the listeners and create love and reverence for the Guru (Perfect Holy Preceptor). In this manner, he should enthral the entire audience. He should ensure that the listeners sitting in front of him are listening to him attentively, and none is looking hither and thither. The listeners should be all attention waiting eagerly for what he is going to say next. Eleventhly, he should not feel proud, thinking that he is speaking well and the listeners are listening to him attentively. Eschewing every kind of pride, he should keep his mind humble. Inspite of possessing many virtues, he should not feel proud and cultivate humility. In the twelfth place, he should not belittle any person. He should not intentionally make any critical comment by keeping any particular individual in mind. His own life should be thoroughly religious and pious and the listeners should have keen longing and devotion for listening to his discourses. The thirteenth quality of a good religious speaker is that before making any utterance, he should first imbibe and follow it in his own life. In other words, before preaching anything, he should first practise it himself. The fourteenth important quality is that he should cultivate and practise contentment. He should be satisfied with his lot or destiny. He should not resort to any means to extract money from the congregation for his own self. He should accept only what is offered voluntarily as a token of reverence for Gurbani. What is received without any request and demand is like ‘amrit’ (nectar). He should not pray even in his heart or mind that he should receive wealth and clothes in abundance. Thus, these fourteen qualities are essential in a religious speaker or explicator. Once again I repeat them in brief: 1.He should be capable of speaking in a sweet and pleasing tone. (2) He should be capable of explaining things in detail in keeping with the listeners’ inclination or interest. (3) He should be in a position to be brief, if needed. (4) He should be able to tell interesting illustrative stories. (5) He should be capable of uttering clear and precise sentences. (6) He should have 4 the ability to dispel the listeners’ doubts? (7) He should be familiar with all the scriptures. (8) He should not give contrary proofs or examples with reference to the topic being discussed. (9) He should sit in a correct posture, which is appealing to the eyes. He should not make superfluous gestures or movements with eyes, nose, ears, hands and fingers or needlessly move his hand over his head. He should sit in a straight and erect posture. (10) He should delight the listeners’ heart. (11) He should be able to win all. (12) He should be free from pride or vanity. (13) He should be of religious and pious thinking without any difference between his words and deeds. He should not repeat the utterances of others, or what he has heard from others. (14) The biggest attribute is that he should be contented with his lot, and should not feel attracted towards Maya (material riches). Similarly, a good listener too has fourteen qualities. He should have faith in and devotion for the speaker in thoughts, words and deeds. Secondly, he should not have any pride in him. Thirdly, he should listen to the speaker with perfect love and devotion. Fourthly, there should not be any counter- argument in his mind. Fifthly, he should not be capricious and should not practise cunningness in words and deeds. He should listen to the speaker attentively and endeavour to comprehend his discourse. Sixthly, he should have the ability to ask questions about the discourse he has heard. Seventhly, he should have heard about all the scriptures. Eighthly, he should not be lazy or lethargic, and listen to the speaker’s discourse by sitting straight and erect and free from all other thoughts in the mind, either with closed eyes or with eyes fixed on the speaker’s face. Ninthly, when he is listening to the discourse, he should not let sleep or indolence come near him. Tenthly, he should have the nature and temperament of sharing his earnings with the needy. Eleventhly, he should imbibe in the heart and mind whatever he hears at a holy congregation. Twelfthly, he should not be opposed to or critical of the Gurmat doctrine in any way exactly as, he has heard what the Guru has said: ‘O my mind! why thou art fallen into this brooding? The Lord Himself on thy behalf is making endeavour; In rocks and stones has He created living creatures, Whose sustenance He there provides.’ ÕÕÕÕÕÅÅÅÅÅÔÔÔÔÔ¶¶¶¶¶ ðððð𶶶¶¶ îîîîîééééé ÇÇÇÇÇÚÚÚÚÚåååååòòòòòÇÇÇÇÇÔÔÔÔÔ ÀÀÀÀÀ°°°°°çççççîîîîî¹¹¹¹¹ ÜÜÜÜÜÅÅÅÅÅ ÁÁÁÁÁÅÅÅÅÅÔÔÔÔÔÇÇÇÇÇððððð ÔÔÔÔÔÇÇÇÇÇððððð ÜÜÜÜÜÆÆÆÆÆÀÀÀÀÀ°°°°° êêêêêÇÇÇÇÇðððððÁÁÁÁÁÅÅÅÅŨ¨¨¨¨ ÃÃÃÃÃËËËËËñññññ êêêêêæææææððððð îîîîîÇÇÇÇÇÔÔÔÔÔ ÜÜÜÜÜ¿¿¿¿¿ååååå ÀÀÀÀÀ°°°°°êêêêêÅÅÅÅŶ¶¶¶¶ åååååÅÅÅÅÅ ÕÕÕÕÕÅÅÅÅÅ ÇÇÇÇÇðððððÜÜÜÜÜÕÕÕÕÕ¹¹¹¹¹ ÁÁÁÁÁÅÅÅÅÅ×××××ËËËËË ÕÕÕÕÕÇÇÇÇÇððððð èèèèèÇÇÇÇÇðððððÁÁÁÁÁÅÅÅÅŨ¨¨¨¨ êêêêê³³³³³éééééÅÅÅÅÅ ----- AAAAA@@@@@ Considering it an absolute truth, he should follow it in his life. He should not entertain any doubt or criticism with reference to the Guru’s utterances. 5 The thirteenth quality which is very essential in a good and pious listener is that he should not attend a holy congregation dressed in dirty and foul- smelling clothes; he should not yawn and should come to the company of the holy only after cleaning his bowels, so that he does not pass out wind there. Fourteenth requirement for a listener is that he should not practise any hypocrisy or affectation. For example, where a very moving discourse is being delivered, he should not shed false tears without being really touched, and try to attract the attention of other devotees thereby. When the speaker and listener possess the required qualities, then as per the Guru’s edict: ‘Merit of million-fold sacrifice comes to such as listen to, and chant the Lord’s Name.’ ÕÕÕÕÕÂÂÂÂÂÆÆÆÆÆ ÕÕÕÕÕ¯¯¯¯¯ÇÇÇÇÇàààààÕÕÕÕÕ ÜÜÜÜÜ××××× ëëëëëñññññÅÅÅÅÅ ÃÃÃÃù¹¹¹¹ÇÇÇÇÇäääää ×××××ÅÅÅÅÅòòòòòéééééÔÔÔÔÔÅÅÅÅÅðððð𶶶¶¶ ðððððÅÅÅÅÅîîîî¨¨¨êêêêê³³³³³éééééÅÅÅÅÅ ----- EEEEEDDDDDFFFFF Until these 28 attributes (of the speaker and the listener) accord with one another, we are deprived of reaping the great advantage of attending the holy congregation. So, all of you have been attending holy congregation for a long time, but if man is not careful and attentive, nothing is gained even after much effort and labour. Just as a farmer has land and he does farming, but if he does not know how deep the seed is to be sown, and how manure is to be put, whether it should touch the seed or not, and then if he does not know how much the leveller is to be applied, how heavy it should be, when the field is to be watered and when the weeds are to be removed, he cannot get a full or rich crop. That farmer, who neither knows about wetness of the land, nor about putting manure, nor about other moistures in the land, cannot get a good crop. If excessive water is given to the wheat crops in the month of ‘Chet’ (Indian month coinciding with February and March) it will sag. However good the crop may be, the yield is reduced to half. In paddy crop, if excessive urea is put, it will appear black, and one will be delighted, but when the fruit comes, it is not even 1/4th of the average fruit. Then man sadly wonders what has happened – ‘My crop was the best of all. Everybody stopped to watch it with joy and surprise.’ His companion with a weak mind remarks, ‘Brother! your crop was excellent, but since you did not put up a black pot to ward off evil eyes, it has been destroyed by someone’s malevolent eye.’ But what is the reality? There is no such thing as being influenced by an evil eye. The truth is that he put excessive urea due to which, after growing quickly, when it came to seeding, it sagged and got diseased. So there was nothing lacking in effort or labour; what was lacking was that the person did not know the right 6 and proper method or procedure, and did not have full knowledge. So, in this way, you may take up any task in the world – industry, transport or business – if proper method is not known, man does not get full reward, even if he invests the required capital. Once a devotee came to me and said, “Sir, I am a very good artisan; everybody praises my work; none can equal the quality of work done by me, but even then why do I get fewer customers and why do customers go to unskilled persons?” I looked at his face and remarked, “Son, thank God that you get some customers at least; in fact, no customer should come to you”. He said, “Sir, but why?” I said, “Your brow is so much wrinkled and your eyes are so much full of pride due to your knowing your vocation or skill extremely well that the customers are frightened at seeing you. Besides, you have female customers, who otherwise also don’t enter a shop. You should mend yourself and put up a smiling face. Learn how to talk politely. Then you will get everything”. So, you may take up any task in the world, whether it is meditation and worship, or it is attending holy congregation, there is always a proper method for it. Until man attends a holy congregation by following the full and proper procedure, he cannot reap any benefit from it. Those who follow the procedure, progress very fast. If after listening to a spiritual discourse at a holy congregation, one imbibes it also in his heart and mind, then says the Guru: ‘Those chanting His laudation listening to it with minds attentive; Those to Him devoted – Their sorrows annulled, Are into the House of Bliss ushered.’ ×××××ÅÅÅÅÅòòòòòÆÆÆÆÆÁÁÁÁÁËËËËË ÃÃÃÃù¹¹¹¹äääääÆÆÆÆÆÁÁÁÁÁËËËËË îîîîîÇÇÇÇÇééééé ðððððÖÖÖÖÖÆÆÆÆÆÁÁÁÁÁËËËËË íííííÅÅÅÅÅÀÀÀÀÀ°°°°°¨¨¨¨¨ ççççç¹¹¹¹¹ÖÖÖÖÖ¹¹¹¹¹ êêêêêðððððÔÔÔÔÔÇÇÇÇÇððððð ÃÃÃÃù¹¹¹¹ÖÖÖÖÖ¹¹¹¹¹ ØØØØØÇÇÇÇÇððððð ñññññËËËËË ÜÜÜÜÜÅÅÅÅÅÇÇÇÇÇÂÂÂÂÂÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ êêêêê³³³³³éééééÅÅÅÅÅ ----- BBBBB As soon as the three things are done – chanting, listening and imbibing God’s laudations – sorrows and sufferings will automatically fall off. We shall carry home with us happiness and joy. If we carry with us slander and backbiting, and our mind is not rid of jealousy, then not much benefit accrues from attending holy congregation. If you harbour intentions to bring down a person whom God has granted a high position, then, brother, uptill now, you have not attended the company of the holy in the real sense and holy congregation has not had any healthy impact on you so far. You do come to the holy congregation. It is true that some fruit does come to you, but your mind is covered with so many layers of filth that you cannot attain to Supreme Bliss or God as yet. A lot of Divine meditation is needed; you have 7 to control your mind because it is the mind, which is the real thing. Until man’s mind is cleansed, there can be no spiritual attainment. First, man should know the purpose or goal for which he is attending the holy congregation. If the goal is before the mind, only then can he make some achievement. Goals can be both big and small. He who comes with bigger or loftier goals makes bigger achievements. The goal must be before the mind. So, it is a matter of the mind or soul. That is why Guru Sahib says thus: Refrain: O dear, first subdue and control thy mind. èèèèèÅÅÅÅÅðððððéééééÅÅÅÅÅ ----- ÃÃÃÃÃÅÅÅÅÅèèèèè ÇÇÇÇÇêêêêêÁÁÁÁÁÅÅÅÅÅÇÇÇÇÇðððððÁÁÁÁÁÅÅÅÅÅ!!!!! êêêêêÇÇÇÇÇÔÔÔÔÔñññññ»»»»» îîîîîééééé ÁÁÁÁÁÅÅÅÅÅêêêêêääää䶶¶¶¶ ùùùùù ----- BBBBB,,,,, BBBBB îîîîîééééé ÁÁÁÁÁÅÅÅÅÅêêêêêääää䶶¶¶¶ ùùùùù,,,,, êêêêêÇÇÇÇÇÔÔÔÔÔñññññ»»»»» îîîîîééééé ÁÁÁÁÁÅÅÅÅÅêêêêêääää䶶¶¶¶ ùùùùù-----BBBBB,,,,, BBBBB..... ÃÃÃÃÃÅÅÅÅÅèèèèè ÇÇÇÇÇêêêêêÁÁÁÁÁÅÅÅÅÅÇÇÇÇÇðððððÁÁÁÁÁÅÅÅÅÅ!!!!!.....................................................................................BBBBB ‘By M learn: With the mind lies our concern; by subduing the mind comes true success in obtaining liberation. Kabir thus speaks to his self: “None like the mind have we found to guide.” ’ îîîîîîîîîîÅÅÅÅÅ îîîîîééééé ÇÇÇÇÇÃÃÃÃÃÀÀÀÀÀ°°°°° ÕÕÕÕÕÅÅÅÅÅÜÜÜÜܹ¹¹¹¹ ÔÔÔÔÔËËËËË îîîîîééééé ÃÃÃÃÃÅÅÅÅÅèèèè趶¶¶¶ ÇÇÇÇÇÃÃÃÃÃÇÇÇÇÇèèèèè ÔÔÔÔÔ¯¯¯¯¯ÇÇÇÇÇÂÂÂÂÂÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ îîîîîééééé ÔÔÔÔÔÆÆÆÆÆ îîîîîééééé ÇÇÇÇÇÃÃÃÃÃÀÀÀÀÀ°°°°° ÕÕÕÕÕÔÔÔÔÔËËËËË ÕÕÕÕÕìììììÆÆÆÆÆðððððÅÅÅÅÅ îîîîîééééé ÃÃÃÃÃÅÅÅÅÅ ÇÇÇÇÇîîîîîÇÇÇÇÇñññññÁÁÁÁÁÅÅÅÅÅ ééééé ÕÕÕÕÕ¯¯¯¯¯ÇÇÇÇÇÂÂÂÂÂÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ êêêêê³³³³³éééééÅÅÅÅÅ ----- CCCCCDDDDDBBBBB If man chastens the mind, he will attain joy and peace. The mind is man’s biggest friend as well as his biggest enemy. If it becomes inimical, man loses his life for cowrie shells. If it becomes a friend, it exalts a rank sinner and a fallen soul to heaven, the Realm of Eternity. It is all a matter of the mind. The first thing is to imbibe an attitude of non-attachment that one is not to remain in this world; that is, to consider the world false or illusory and its joys momentary. Momentary is that which is subject to destruction, and does not last forever. Nothing lasts forever. He who happens to become attached to the world, becomes unhappy; he feels extremely miserable. He suffers vexation or annoyance. He loses his human life for nothing. So, the mind, when it happens to stand by man, then, first of all, he develops non- attachment. He considers all the joys, relishes, pleasures and achievements mean and paltry. He realizes that they are nothing. Those who developed non-attachment in their heart and mind, made great sacrifices. Gopi Chand was the ‘Raja’ (ruler) of Ujjain. It is said that all his ‘Ranis’ (Queens) were ‘Padminis’ (very beautiful, lily-like). ‘Padminis’ are a class by themselves. He had hundred queens – possessing refined traits, obedient and loyal. One day, by chance, from the palace balcony above, his mother happened to see him bathing below in the courtyard. No sooner did she see him than she was lost in a stream of thoughts – ‘How handsome my son is! What a charming body he has! What a golden complexion he has! But 8 his childhood, youth and old age, will one day be destroyed. Human body passes through three stages and he is in the prime of youth, which is passing swiftly, and one day old age will start eating into it. Finally, no trace of youth will be left behind, and old age will consume it. Childhood is consumed by youth, youth is consumed by old age, and then a day will come when he will depart from this world, and his hearse will be carried away. This beautiful body which I have nursed with love and care will be placed in fire which will burn it to ashes; no trace of it will be left behind.’ As these thoughts were coming into her mind, she was witnessing in her imagination his burning pyre and she was completely carried away by these thoughts and forgot herself. She was completely absorbed in these reflections. She was deeply moved and so could not restrain her tears. Tears started falling from her eyes. Gopi Chand was taking bath below. Hot teardrops fell on his back one after the other. The mother moved by emotions, sat in a half-conscious state in the balcony. She was slightly bending from the balcony. At that time, Gopi Chand looked up and wondered why his mother was weeping. Tears were falling profusely, one after the other. After taking bath hurriedly, he went upstairs and taking his mother in his embrace he said, “O mother! is there so much grief hidden in your heart? Have I committed some crime or done anything wrong? Has any queen done anything wrong which has hurt you so much? Is any servant guilty of some lapse? Please let me know, for I want to decide it at the earliest.” The mother said, “Son! nobody has done or said anything.” “Then why are you your tears streaming?” “Son! what should I tell you? I was imagining the future events. You have been blessed with human birth, and about human birth, it is said: ‘Saith Kabir: Hard to attain is the human birth, and comes not again and again. Fruits of the forest, falling to the ground, Again to the branch get not fixed.’ ÕÕÕÕÕìììììÆÆÆÆÆððððð îîîîîÅÅÅÅÅéééééÃÃÃÃà ÜÜÜÜÜéééééîîîîî¹¹¹¹¹ ççççç¹¹¹¹¹¦¦¦¦¦ííííí¹¹¹¹¹ ÔÔÔÔÔËËËËË ÔÔÔÔÔ¯¯¯¯¯ÇÇÇÇÇ ééééé ìììììÅÅÅÅÅðððððËËËËË ìììììÅÅÅÅÅðððð𨨨¨¨ ÇÇÇÇÇÜÜÜÜÜÀÀÀÀÀ°°°°° ìììììééééé ëëëëëñññññ êêêêêÅÅÅÅÅÕÕÕÕÕ¶¶¶¶¶ ííííí¹¹¹¹¹ÇÇÇÇÇ ÇÇÇÇÇ×××××ðððððÇÇÇÇÇÔÔÔÔÔ ìììììÔÔÔÔÔ¹¹¹¹¹ÇÇÇÇÇððððð ééééé ñññññÅÅÅÅÅ×××××ÇÇÇÇÇÔÔÔÔÔ âââââÅÅÅÅÅðððððÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ êêêêê³³³³³éééééÅÅÅÅÅ ----- AAAAACCCCCFFFFFFFFFF Human birth is so precious that once it is lost, one does not get it again. All the scriptures say so: Refrain: With great good fortune does one receive the human birth. èèèèèÅÅÅÅÅðððððéééééÅÅÅÅÅ ----- òòòòò¼¼¼¼¼ÇÇÇÇÇâââââÁÁÁÁÁ»»»»» íííííÅÅÅÅÅ×××××»»»»» éééééÅÅÅÅÅñññññ,,,,, ÇÇÇÇÇîîîîîñññññ ×××××ÂÂÂÂÂÆÆÆÆÆ çççç綶¶¶¶ÔÔÔÔÔÆÆÆÆÆ ----- îîîîîÅÅÅÅÅéééééÃÃÃÃà çççç綶¶¶¶ÔÔÔÔÔÆÆÆÆÆ ----- BBBBB,,,,, BBBBB îîîîîÅÅÅÅÅéééééÃÃÃÃà çççç綶¶¶¶ÔÔÔÔÔÆÆÆÆÆ-----îîîîîÅÅÅÅÅéééééÃÃÃÃà çççç綶¶¶¶ÔÔÔÔÔÆÆÆÆÆ ----- DDDDD,,,,, BBBBB..... òòòòò¼¼¼¼¼ÇÇÇÇÇâââââÁÁÁÁÁ»»»»» íííííÅÅÅÅÅ×××××»»»»» éééééÅÅÅÅÅñññññ,,,,,...............................................................................................BBBBB 9 It is with great difficulty after passing through 83,99,999 existences, after the sufferings of millions of years that the sentient being attains the human incarnation. This is the chance to meet and unite with God: ‘With the gift of human incarnation granted to thee, Now is thy opportunity to have union with the Lord. Nothing shall avail thee: In holy company on the Name immaculate meditate. In achieving the end of liberation thyself engage! In Maya attachment is thy life going waste.’ íííííÂÂÂÂÂÆÆÆÆÆ êêêêêðððððÅÅÅÅÅêêêêêÇÇÇÇÇååååå îîîîîÅÅÅÅÅééééé°°°°°ÖÖÖÖÖ çççç綶¶¶¶ÔÔÔÔÔ¹¹¹¹¹ðððððÆÆÆÆÆÁÁÁÁÁÅÅÅÅÅÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ ××××ׯ¯¯¯¯ÇÇÇÇÇììììì¿¿¿¿¿ççççç ÇÇÇÇÇîîîîîñññññäääää ÕÕÕÕÕÆÆÆÆÆ ÇÇÇÇÇÂÂÂÂÂÔÔÔÔÔ åååå嶶¶¶¶ðððððÆÆÆÆÆ ìììììðððððÆÆÆÆÆÁÁÁÁÁÅÅÅÅŨ¨¨¨¨ ÁÁÁÁÁòòòòòÇÇÇÇÇððððð ÕÕÕÕÕÅÅÅÅÅÜÜÜÜÜ åååå嶶¶¶¶ðððððËËËËË ÇÇÇÇÇÕÕÕÕÕåååååËËËËË ééééé ÕÕÕÕÕÅÅÅÅÅîîîî¨¨¨ ÇÇÇÇÇîîîîî««««« ÃÃÃÃÃÅÅÅÅÅèèèèèÃÃÃÃÿ¿¿¿¿×××××ÇÇÇÇÇååååå íííííÜÜÜÜܹ¹¹¹¹ ÕÕÕÕÕ¶¶¶¶¶òòòòòñññññ éééééÅÅÅÅÅîîîî¨¨¨ ÃÃÃÃÃððððð¿¿¿¿¿ÜÜÜÜÜÅÅÅÅÅÇÇÇÇÇîîîîî ñññññÅÅÅÅÅ×××××¹¹¹¹¹ íííííòòòòòÜÜÜÜÜñññññ åååååðððððééééé ÕÕÕÕÕËËËË˨¨¨¨¨ ÜÜÜÜÜéééééîîîîî¹¹¹¹¹ ÇÇÇÇÇìììììÌÌÌÌÌæææææÅÅÅÅÅ ÜÜÜÜÜÅÅÅÅÅååååå ððððð¿¿¿¿¿ÇÇÇÇÇ××××× îîîîîÅÅÅÅÅÇÇÇÇÇÂÂÂÂÂÁÁÁÁÁÅÅÅÅÅ ÕÕÕÕÕËËËË˨¨¨¨¨ êêêêê³³³³³éééééÅÅÅÅÅ ----- AAAAABBBBB Son! this precious life gets spent in pleasures and insipid relishes of the senses, and one day, old age will set in. After old age will come death, and after death this carefully nurtured and preserved handsome body will not go with the soul. It will get burnt to ashes. Neither wealth, nor the queens will stand by you or give you company. Son! what a handsome body you have! But one day, it will be reduced to a handful of ashes, which too will be scattered by the wind, leaving behind no trace whatsoever. The water will carry away the burnt bones. This charming face and handsome body will not be seen again.” Gopi Chand became thoughtful and serious, and said, “Mother! then what should I do?” She replied, “Son! meet some holy man who has realized the Ultimate Spiritual Reality. Ask him how to achieve the immortal state, from where man does not come back into the cycle of birth and death, where after attaining to eternal life and arriving at the immortal state, man achieves Supreme Bliss. Therefore, son, it is for this purpose that we have got human birth.” As soon as Gopi Chand heard this, he was stricken with renunciation and non-attachment. At that point of time, a holy man named Jalandhari was already on a visit to them. Gopi Chand approached him and received the orders of a ‘yogi’ (ascetic). Renouncing his kingdom, he went away. This is called renunciation or asceticism. However, it is not necessary that we should go away renouncing our household. What is needed is that we should realize that worldly pleasures are a big hurdle in our way. When one is stricken with renunciation, then comes the next stage – of listening. Then man listens with rapt attention. He does not allow his mind to be distracted even for a moment, lest he should miss listening to any holy utterance. Then he imbibes it in his mind and heart. He does not forget it 10