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The Power Of Love

INNI KAUR

 

 

 




 

It’s been over a fortnight since I have been back from India. And not a day has gone by that I have not thought about him.

In a crowded room, he approached me and softly said, “I want to speak to you privately.”

His tall frame, arresting face, black turban, flowing beard, elegant walking stick, and sad eyes captured me.

“Yes, of course!” I replied as we moved to a corner in the room.

“Two years ago, my wife passed away. We loved each other deeply -- at both a physical and spiritual level. She was a very good woman. I used to tell her that God would grant her mukti (liberation) for sure. Her reply was always the same, that she was not interested in mukti. She wanted to come back to teach the children and to be with me.”

He paused.

I waited.

“Tell me, will we be together again? I know what gurbani says. But, I want to do whatever it takes to be with her again. This is tormenting me. It has become my life’s goal. What are your thoughts?”

I see the pain in his eyes. His energy reveals his agony. The intensity of his love touches a deep core within me. It humbles me, for I did not think that a man could be capable of such love.

My arrogance! I was so wrong.

The following flowed from me: “Never underestimate the power of love. Love transcends everything. And when devotion enters love, even the gods and goddesses bow to that love. The universe salutes such lovers and the elements protect them. May your love turn into devotion and may your journey be fruitful.”

His eyes penetrated my being. “I don’t know why I shared this with you.”

“I do,” I replied, taking his hands in mine. “Thank you for trusting me. I am deeply honored.”

“Look after yourself and radiate love,” he replied and left.

The encounter silenced me. I was transported ... And a deep-seated memory reawakened.

I saw a young girl standing on the banks of the River Chenab promising eternity to her dead husband before plunging into its raging waters. Centuries later, the legend goes, she found him … and fulfilled her promise.

After the dialogue I had with that man, all I can say is that love is eternal. All I know is that … lovers long to become one, They ache to fuse with each other. They yearn to experience the fullness of life and beyond.

It is not about togetherness, but of near-perfect alignment. Like the shadow and its source. Like the wave and the ocean. Being alike in moments and traveling together to celestial realms.

What an incredible conversation!

*   *   *   *   *

The author is the CEO of The Sikh Research Institute, and the author of ‘Journey with the Gurus’ series, ‘Sakhi-Time with Nani ji’, and ‘Thank You, Vahiguru.’


March 31, 2017
 

Conversation about this article

1: Sangat Singh (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia), March 31, 2017, 4:55 PM.

Inni ji, what a profound love story! "Dhan pir eh n akhian bahan ikathe hoi / ek jot dui murati dhan pir kahiai soi" - 'They are not said to be husband and wife, who merely sit together. They alone are called husband and wife who have one light in two bodies" [GGS:788]. This is my 'simran' for this morning. Bless you, Inni ji, for sharing this touching encounter.

2: Ajit Singh Batra (Pennsville, New Jersey, USA), March 31, 2017, 5:21 PM.

Love with devotion has no price. It is priceless. No one can evaluate the depth of such love. Sikhi promotes such blissful love and devotion for Waheguru.

3: Dya Singh (Melbourne, Australia), April 01, 2017, 12:41 AM.

My dear Inni, what profound thoughts and what a 'love'. I have often reflected on what 'unconditional love' is. It is certainly not between two lovers intending to marry (hopefully). Even there, the love is conditional. I believe even gurbani only hints at two instances of such love - the first by a mother for her child (and not necessarily the other way round!) and the other - a dog for its master. But, when you hear of the kind of love you have written about, then glimpses of divine love do emerge, from time to time.

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