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Clarity of Vision ... The Way of the Sikh:
Letter & Spirit # 25

YUKTANAND SINGH

Translated from Bhai Vir Singh's ‘Gurmukh Sikhia’

Part XV

Gurbani should be recited and studied with deep attention, and without any distractions. Each word contains deep secrets. We need to understand the value of this priceless jewel and have proper respect for it.

Great yogis and bhagats have been enchanted by gurbani after taking its sanctuary. Gurbani transformed their lives.

There was a holy man. (Sant Sangat Singh ji had learned Sanskrit from him.) One day he was so ill that his body was covered with blisters. He said, “Take me in Guru Granth Sahib’s presence. Let me lie there and listen to gurbani”. He listened to the paatth with such faith and devotion that his entire body was completely cleared.

Another sant, from the Gwalior area, whose tale is also found in the book called ‘Sant Gaatha’, had blessed a rich man named Vinayak Rao from Itawa. Mr. Rao came to visit Amritsar to pay obeisance to the Fourth Guru’s Harmandar Sahib. He was awestruck after having darshan of Darbar Sahib. He would often describe with great honor the majestic effect this temple made of gold had on him.

He would say, “We worship the avatars. Rama came. Krishna came. Yes, they did come and they went away. But look here, Guru Ramdas came in the kalyug and never went away. He has stayed here with us. The Guru converted into kirtan of gurbani. Having transformed himself into a steady stream of kirtan, he created the pool of nectar, and then he himself sits in the Harmandar Sahib. This is the true coming that he stays with us forever. By taking the form of kirtan he also made it possible for those like us to see him. This is the true coming of an avatar (incarnation) of the Guru.”

Another holy man had lived through great spiritual toil. He was a scholar. He had studied the vedas, and was a follower of Lord Krishna. He liked participating in the traditional ‘ras leela’ (play representing the legend of Krishna and the maids), considered himself as one of the maids of Lord Krishna and wore earrings.

Thus he was known as the ‘sant ji with the earrings’. He came to Amritsar and he was enchanted by the kirtan of gurbani. He gave up everything. Even his worship was changed. At one time he was an accomplished worshipper of Krishna; now he believed that taking sanctuary in the exalted presence of Guru Ramdas was the ultimate goal that fulfilled all his desires.

He started spending his days and nights in the presence of the Guru. Some worshipper of Krishna would cajole him to go and see ras leela some night and take him away from Harmandar Sahib. He would go just to avoid disappointing others. But as soon as he could, he would sneak out and run back to Darbar Sahib.

Even from a distance, as soon as he could view Harmandir Sahib he would prostrate, weep, and pray in Hindi: “O Guru Ramdas, please do not let this ignorant and foolish child ever be separated from you. Please never let him get away from your feet, keep him always in your presence”.

This sant too had found peace only after listening to the kirtan of gurbani.

* * * * *

A fakir needs to be mature and wise.

One day in Jerusalem, people were gathered around a woman to stone her. Jesus happened to pass by and he asked why they were stoning her. They told Jesus that she had sinned, she had committed adultery. Jesus said, “Let us pause. True, it is written that someone sinful must be stoned. But let someone who is without sin cast the first stone at her.” People wondered, ‘We are not free of sin either’ they said. So, they did not stone the woman. Jesus put his hand on her head and said, “Go and sin no more”.

During the month of Ramadan, one student of the poet Bulleh Shah was eating in the daytime in a mosque. People asked, “Who are you?” “I am a Muslim” he said. When the Muslims heard this, they beat him up.

“If you were a Muslim, then how could you eat in daytime during the fasts? No, you are an infidel.” Bulleh Shah heard about this. So he went to that mosque, sat down and started eating some bread. When the Muslims spoke to him, he ignored them and stayed mum. People said to each other, “He must be a crazy fakir. Let’s leave him alone.”

Being a crazy fakir is okay, but being a Muslim, one gets beaten up!

* * * * *

When the mind is emptied through meditation it can be in danger of being occupied by some evil or lost spirit, just as unwanted people are found in an abandoned house. So, for our safety it is necessary to “develop friendship with a gurmukh and develop attachment with the Guru” [GGS:1421.5].

Someone claiming to see a light or vision of the Guru is a danger sign. It is a result of auto suggestion, self-hypnosis, or influence of some spirits.

Someone following instructions of a Radha Soami sant started to see stars and moon in his visions, as it was suggested to him. He saw a large moon and small stars, just as he was told. But the truth is that stars are much bigger than moon, they look smaller due to distance. What is the benefit of such a vision? We must be careful of such false sants and we must protect ourselves from their damaging influence.

Similarly, one lady was so influenced by some fakir that whenever she completed the reading of Sukhmani Sahib, she felt that her body was on fire.

If after doing simran we do not feel light, cheerful and free, then it is not simran but influence of the spirit world. Simran makes our mind peaceful.

Eight hours of daily sleep is also important. Lack of sleep is also a danger sign.

Having visions of light, etc., does not indicate spiritual growth.

Real light resides in the shabad.

“True Guru’s shabad is the light that illuminates” [GGS:821.11].

Edited by/for sikhchic.com

March 6, 2013

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