Gurbani Awareness Series-25
SIKH MISSIONARY COLLEGE 

IF WE CAN SPARE TIME
Let’s sit with Guru Nanak Dev Ji, I know you are busy; you have hardly any time to talk about this now just as when time comes to brush teeth, a sudden hurry envelops the mind and it is done quickly. I know that, and I have been there so don’t feel bad about it. I was kept away from Guru Nanak Dev Ji by the storms of communist thoughts and hyper rationality I once adored. Erich From, a thinker and psychologist, gave me a jolt about communist thought and its application in context of freedom of mind; he actually helped me in analyzing his own work critically, and the study of mind- psychology in context of hypnotherapy of Dr Franz. A. Mesmer and Dr. Milton Erickson put a dent in my fanatic rationality I used to gloat on. Still the science is unable to prove anything about limits of the mind with evidence. That is why to question each other’s beliefs based on different researches on the mind, is a fair game. The closed doors can deprive you of many beautiful things existing out there.
    The landscapes of beautiful words created by many thinkers couldn’t satisfy me; after all we need to see the bottom of the words because words change colors in various contexts especially when they come close to the reality, and some time they go beyond it. Just be with me, I am just sharing with you my “wandering- around-journey.” I went back to Guru Nanak; this time, it was a very different experience. For the first time, I could see First Nanak and Tenth Nanak standing on the same spot, because before their portraits were differently presented to me by our so called Sikh-scholars (As you know, just floating on the top never let us know what is there underneath). I strongly believe that the born-blind has no imagination of light. If you are interested in understanding Guru Gobind Singh, study Gurbani in – depth, you will know him better than ever.
  Going back to our glorious Guru, I must stress that Guru Nanak Dev Ji neither binds his followers with fanatic-rationality nor keeps them in the darkness of blind faith layered with beliefs or social prevailed practices put in the mind with many ways. Therefore, we, as Sikhs, need to grab the opportunity to learn from Guru Ji even if we are busy. Please come with me; give your soul a few precious moments to hear what Guru Ji says in context of becoming true devotees of the Creator. I admit, it is very much difficult though. You will be surprised, if you don’t know, Guru ji also agrees with this fact that people just cannot get time out of their entanglements; therefore, there are not many who fall for the Creator. Here is his Sloka on 1411 SGGS
ਹੈਨਿ ਵਿਰਲੇ ਨਾਹੀ ਘਣੇ ਫੈਲ ਫਕੜੁ ਸੰਸਾਰੁ ॥੧੨॥
Hain virlay naahee ghanay fail fakarh sansaar. ||12|| {1411}
In Essence: There are not many but a few people who are His devotees; otherwise the whole world is into show off.
   Let’s for a moment ask ourselves to what category we fall in? Are we one of a few, who follow the Guru or one of the crowds amusing in show off? A Sincere answer of this question may help us to tread on Guru Path with sincerity.
           Like you I have witnessed a storm of negativity and avalanche of anxiety triggered by failures, deceptions and uncontrollable circumstances. Guru Ji talks about that too; it is a matter of time when the mind learns about the reality of experiencing Him and the wall that blocks other sources of knowledge. Let’s be open, and understand what Guru Ji asks us in this regard too to set up a parameter of our goal of uniting with our origin—the Creator. If that is done, and a journey is started as directed by the Guru, stability of the mind becomes certain. On 520 SGGS, Fifth Nanak says
ਸਲੋਕ ਮ ੫ ॥
ਬਾਰਿ ਵਿਡਾਨੜੈ ਹੁੰਮਸ ਧੁੰਮਸ ਕੂਕਾ ਪਈਆ ਰਾਹੀ ॥
ਤਉ ਸਹ ਸੇਤੀ ਲਗੜੀ ਡੋਰੀ ਨਾਨਕ ਅਨਦ ਸੇਤੀ ਬਨੁ ਗਾਹੀ ॥੧॥
Salok, Mehlaa 5:
Baar vidaanrhai hummas dhummas kookaa pa–ee–aa raahee.
Ta–o sah saytee lagrhee doree naanak anad saytee ban gaahee. ||1|| {520}
In Essence:  In this strange world (temporary), the paths are interrupted with tumult and confusion, but oh my Master! Nanak’s heart is attached to you, and he is passing through this jungle joyfully.
           Are you with me listening to our Guru? Do you see how powerful is to be in love with Him? Please note it down, it is not just a statement but a display of experience, First Nanak suggests about this miracle on 1410 SGGS
ਝੜ ਝਖੜ ਓਹਾੜ ਲਹਰੀ ਵਹਨਿ ਲਖੇਸਰੀ ॥
ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਸਿਉ ਆਲਾਇ ਬੇੜੇ ਡੁਬਣਿ ਨਾਹਿ ਭਉ ॥੪॥
Jharh jhakharh ohaarh lahree vahan lakhaysaree.
Satgur si-o aalaa-ay bayrhay duban naahi bha-o. ||4|| {1410}
In Essence:  There are continuous rains, storms, floods and millions of surging waves (of various kinds like sorrows, failures and anxieties and urges), call on the True Guru, there will be then no fear of downing the boat of life in them.
           Guru Ji shares his experience with us; to have that experience, following the Guru with utter honesty is mandatory (Please do not drag your own wisdom into what Guru says; leave it aside for a moment, then you will notice that the learning that takes place, will open the eyes in wonder!). That way, the path of falling in love with the Creator becomes easier. The Guru leads us only to Him that is why only he becomes His ultimate medium for the ultimate union with Him. Why to put the mind on the fire of anxieties when there is another solution to still it? Guru Ji states that on 522 SGGS Slok Fifth Nanak
ਮ ੫ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਸਤਿਗੁਰਿ ਭੇਟਿਐ ਪੂਰੀ ਹੋਵੈ ਜੁਗਤਿ ॥
ਹਸੰਦਿਆ ਖੇਲੰਦਿਆ ਪੈਨੰਦਿਆ ਖਾਵੰਦਿਆ ਵਿਚੇ ਹੋਵੈ ਮੁਕਤਿ ॥੨॥
Fifth mehl: naanak satgur bhayti-ai pooree hovai jugat.
Hasandi-aa khaylandi-aa painandi-aa khaavandi-aa vichay hovai mukat. ||2|| {522}
In Essence:  Nanak says that if a True Guru is met, the perfect way of living is realized, and one gets liberated while being into laughing, playing, dressing and eating.
           You see Guru ji never says to abandon the world or anything normal, which is a part of life; Guru wants our sincere attention; as stated in the above previous Sloka, this dreadful world – forest cannot take away the joy of the heart triggered by His love. Keep your worldly assignments, family and friends, but please enshrine His love in the heart by eradicating self conceit totally. Once that is done, there will be a big change in the heart to deal with everything. Negative imprints of the mind will be framed again as positive ones, and other things like fear and anxiety will be eradicated in obeying His Ordinance. This occurs if conceit ceases to exist. In that realm, the death starts conveying positive hints of His beautiful “call” instead of sending through us the fear — feelings; after all no one dies, it is the only body that is worn out, and it is also very natural process, on 885 SGGS Fifth Nanak