Jap Ji, salok (pavan guroo paanee pitaa)

Once a butterfly disguised himself as a moth to infiltrate a group of moths.  He was trying to boast about his experiences and told the other moths that he once saw a huge flame… they stopped him in mid-story and said, “You are not a moth! You wouldn’t be here to tell about a flame if you were!”

If you desire to play this game of love with me,
then step onto my path with your head in hand.
When you place your feet on this path,
give me your head, and do not pay attention to any other.
----- Guru Nanak,  Shri Guru Granth, 1410

Teacher:  The game of naam is not an easy game - naam and you are mutually exclusive – they cannot co-exist.  So if you want to meditate on naam, you better be prepared to lose you!

Seeker:  Will I cease to exist?
Teacher:  Only you as pure consciousness will remain.

Seeker:  How does that feel like?
Teacher:  Like jumping into a cool clear lake on a hot muggy summer day!

Seeker:  Thank you for sharing your wisdom of Jap Ji with an unworthy seeker like me.
Teacher:  Ha!. As long as I am not absorbed in the formless One all the time, I am an unworthy seeker too!

Saying that the Teacher stepped down to the seeker’s mat and sat opposite him.  “Let’s breathe together,” was all he said.

It was a breathtakingly beautiful morning.  The desert sun had not turned too harsh yet and there was a slight breeze that took the edge off the sunlight that fell on their faces.  There were some birds still chirping. They stared into each other's eyes;  slowly their breathing synchronized.  They both felt the blissful presence of the formless One  - loving them, supporting them and playing with them.

Without any words being said, they started breathing from their hearts – wahe inhaling in, and guru exhaling out.  It was a glorious moment.

wahe guru

wahe guru

wahe guru

wahe guru

wahe guru

Those who have meditated on the Naam, and departed after having worked by the sweat of their brows, O Nanak, their faces are radiant, and many are saved along with them!
----- Guru Nanak, Jap Ji, salok

Jap Ji, 38 (jat paahaaraa Dheeraj suni-aar)

Bhai Lehna was a successful business and spiritual man who worshiped the Goddess Durga.  Each year he would lead a group of worshipers to the Goddess’s temple to pay her homage.

Once before embarking on such a trip, he happened to hear some of Guru Nanak’s Words being recited by one of the Guru’s Sikhs.  An arrow pierced his heart; he felt the Guru’s words talked directly to him.  Since the Guru’s place of residence was in the direction of his trip, he decided to pay the Guru a visit.  Once he reached close to the Guru’s residence, he told his fellow pilgrims that he would go visit the Guru and then catch up with them a day later.

It never happened – since as soon as Bhai Lehna had a look into Guru Nanak’s eyes, he never left the Guru’s side!  Bhai Lehna already had a longing to see the Truth, so as soon as the Guru glanced in his direction, his heart and inner eyes opened to the formless One within him.  Since there was no more searching left, he decided there and then to dedicate the rest of his life to the service of the Guru and the Guru’s message of naam.

Yes, physically he did leave the Guru to wrap up his business and family affairs in his hometown, but spiritually he was single-mindedly focused on the Guru for the rest of his life.  After he had returned, even physically, he barely left the Guru.  He would stand at attention all night at Guru’s door while the Guru rested.  Many Sikhs offered to relieve Bhai Lehna for some time so he could go rest, but he smiled and said, “You are welcome to join me, but even if I go to rest, I would still be standing here in spirit!”

Only during the late morning hours, when people came to listen to the Guru and there were plenty of Sikhs around to take care of the Guru, would Bhai Lehna go and lie down to give his body some rest (for advanced naam mediators, only a few moments of rest are enough to get the body revitalized).

Once, the Guru had a taka (similar to a penny) in his hand.  He asked the Sikhs present how much it was worth.  The Sikhs replied in estimating what things a taka could buy in the market.  Bhai Lehna was also present but had not spoken, so the Guru turned to him and asked him the same question, Bhai Lehna folded his hands in a prayer form and said, “That taka in your hands, Guru ji, can buy the whole Universe!” The guru smiled knowingly.

Later a Sikh approached Bhai Lehna and respectfully asked about his strange answer to the Guru’s question.  Bhai Lehna smiled and said, “Anything that Guru Nanak glances at becomes instantly priceless!”  He paused and further added, “You too, my friend, are priceless – perhaps you don’t know it yet, but a day will come when you will realize my words to be true.”

At another time, the Guru woke up the Sikhs at midnight and asked them to take some wet clothes outside to dry in the sunlight!  To most Sikhs this sounded rather strange and they, including the Guru’s own children said, “It is midnight, we will do it in the morning”.  But not Bhai Lehna, he immediately took the clothes outside.

Later a Sikh approached Bhai Lehna and asked him why he did such a strange thing, to which Bhai Lehna replied, “My dear fellow seeker, you haven’t yet seen Guru Nanak for what Guru Nanak really is. If you did, you would have done the same thing.”  The Sikh looked at Bhai Lehna questionably, Bhai Lehna explained further, “You see, there is very little of Nanak in Guru Nanak!”  That was even stranger than what he had said before, so Bhai Lehna had to add, “Guru Nanak is mostly just the formless One with a touch of form called Nanak.”  The Sikh bowed deeply and walked away to mull over Bhai Lehna’s words.

One day, towards the end of Guru Nanak’s physical life, Guru Nanak started acting very strange.  He wore strange clothes and started saying strange things.  He walked into the forest holding a large stick which he menacingly shook at anyone who tried to follow him.  Many Sikhs who had started following him eventually turned around, not Bhai Lehna.

When Guru Nanak could not shake off Bhai Lehna, he asked him, “All others have left, why are you still here?”  Bhai Lehna bowed and said, “Sire, we both know that there is no other place for me to go to.”

Later when Bhai Lehna became the second Nanak, Guru Angad Dev, he wrote,  

Some people have others, but I am forlorn and un-honored; I have only You,
I might as well just die crying, if you will not come into my mind.
---- Guru Angad, Shri Guru Granth, 791

Let self-control be the furnace, and patience the goldsmith.
Let understanding be the anvil, and spiritual wisdom the tools.
With the fear of God as the bellows, and austerity as the flames,
In the crucible of love, melt the Nectar of the Name,
And mint the True coin of the Word of God.
Such is the karma of those upon whom the One has cast the glance of grace.
O Nanak, the Merciful Master, by the One's Grace, uplifts and exalts them.
----- Guru Nanak, Jap Ji, 38th pauri

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Jap Ji, 34-37 (raatee rutee thitee vaar)

There was a redwood tree that was 2,000 years old and had grown to 300 feet tall. It was once basking in the summer sunshine when a man in a hot-air balloon asked it how it was feeling that day.

"Hmm," the tree replied, "Which part of me do you want to know about?"

The man said, "All of you of course!"

The tree paused for a moment, "Well, that's a tough one.  You see, the top of me, who you are now addressing is doing just great. Up here there is abundant sunshine.  I don't have to worry about anything. Me and the other trees live playfully and peacefully.  We love each other.  Going towards the middle of me, there is right now a young man who is camping in my branches!  Yes, you can't see him from here, but he is there.  He has been there for 6 months now; he hugs me a lot, which I enjoy.  But he also cooks his food with an open fire!  So needless to say, my middle part is quite anxious about the fire.  Now my bottom part - don't laugh, I do have a bottom, are my roots of course. They are in constant war with other tree's roots for the sparse water there and I dare say they would be incensed if they found out how carefree I am - their life is of constant strife and conflict.  So like I said, it would be difficult to tell how the whole of me is feeling today."

The man thanked him and flew away shaking his head and saying, "What a weirdo!"  

Little did he know that he too had multiple parts of him existing simultaneously.  He, unlike the tree, didn't even know he had other parts - let alone know how they felt.

Seeker: I too have several parts of me existing simultaneously?
Teacher: Yes you do.

Seeker: Please explain.
Teacher: Well first there is your body, which is an amazingly advanced machine which runs very efficiently - you can read any anatomy book to realize how intricate it is and how many things it has to do to keep running smoothly.  Its' awareness level is immediate only.  If it is fed, it is happy and relaxed.  When it feels hungry, it urges you to give it energy urgently; if you don't, it starts eating parts of itself which it deems to be non-critical.  But as soon as you feed it, it becomes perfectly satisfied - it does not worry about the next meal.  It will die one day, but it does not fear or think about death at all.  The bodies of people who do yoga or other exercises run even more efficiently.

Seeker: What other part do I have?
Teacher: Well, then there is the mind.  The mind too needs feeding in the form of attention.  If you don't give it attention (by meditating or reading or discussion or learning or music or something) it becomes very unsatisfied and throws tantrums.  It is very worried about it's death - it will constantly show itself and remind you and others around that it is very much alive and needed.  Ironically, it never dies.

Seeker: Is this my roots then?
Teacher: Yes, the body and the mind can be said to be your roots.  They always look for energy and sometimes have to get that energy via conflicts and strife.

Seeker: And my soul?
Teacher: Yes, your soul can be said to be the top of the tree - it watches you and the world unattached - it knows about God and knows that God is the real doer, so is not worried whatsoever.

Seeker: That's it then?
Teacher: Not quite, you are also the formless One!  Yes, you are all these things living simultaneously.  For example, you and your wife live together and if you both are rooted in your body/mind you will create much conflicts and strife.  But if you are more rooted in your soul, you will realize you are companions with abundance of resources, so will naturally live in more harmony.

Seeker: How can I and my wife feel the formless One within us?
Teacher: Ha! You already actually do, my friend, you just don't realize it.  When you are in perfect harmony with your wife; you can feel the formless One within both of you when you meditate or sing together - it greatly helps if you both meditate regularly.  Or when you make selfless love.  The formless One is not far from us - in fact the formless One IS us!

The formless One rejoices watching over all creation.
----- Guru Nanak, Jap Ji, 37th pauri

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Jap Ji, 33 (aakhan jor chupai neh jor)

Seeker and Seeker's soul's had a conversation - here is the transcript:

Seeker: What do you do on a daily basis?
Soul: I watch you joyfully.

Seeker: That's it?
Soul: Yes.

Seeker: What do you know?
Soul: I know that God is the real doer, so all I got to do is watch and enjoy.

Seeker: How big is God?
Soul: Unbelievably big, yet completely small too. In fact so small that all of God fits in this moment.

Seeker: You are kidding!
Soul: No I am not.  God is here and God is now. I would suggest you don't worry about God's qualities, since words can't describe God.

Seeker: What do I need to worry about?
Soul: Nothing!  But here is what you need to do.  You need to drop your "otherness".  I (another part of you) enjoys life infinity more than you do because you are always worried about non existing things.

Seeker: Like?
Soul: Like the future, past and whether you are living a good life or not.

Seeker: Am I?
Soul: There is no good or bad life, there is only awesome life!

Seeker: How can I become more like you?
Soul: That is not a good question. Think about it and ask again.

Seeker: Ok, how do I become you?
Soul: Good question. As you are already me but you think you are something else, I would say, simply drop your otherness.

Seeker: How?
Soul: Naam.  Our guru is Guru Nanak and Nanak's way is that of devotional awareness.   So meditate on naam with devotion,  and might I add meditate on naam urgently.  Imagine if someone said tomorrow will not come, since tonight the world will end, how would you meditate then?

Seeker: Oh wow, you asked me a question for once!  Well, I would meditate on naam like there is no tomorrow.

Soul: Exactly, meditate on naam like there is no tomorrow.

Seeker: What does naam do?
Naam brings you here.  Naam is the most potent form of God.  All joy is naam.  All things have joy in them because they are made of naam.  You are attracted to things because of the naam inside them. Our Guru Nanak says to become immersed in naam instead of seeking its' reflections.  And naam is an unimaginable fountain of joy.  You have tasted it (and so has everybody else) but you have tasted it unconsciously,  our Nanak says taste it consciously now and it becomes pure nectar.  I can go on forever, literally :) but I won't, now go and become me.  Bye!

The One alone has the power to do anything - the One watches over all.
O Nanak, no one is high or low.
----- Guru Nanak, Jap Ji, 33rd pauri

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Jap Ji, 32 (ik doo jeebhou lakh hohi)

Iktu had always been a well-behaved droplet.  She hadn’t ventured out much.  Over the years though, she had seen other droplets who had, and upon their return she’d feel a little left out.  So one day, she floated right up to the top.  She even rode on a wave briefly leaving the other droplets behind in its wake. It felt exhilarating.  In time, her excursions grew quite adventurous. She would go up top and linger there day and night. 

One such night while riding a wave, she hit the shore rather abruptly.  She found herself stuck in one of the pools on the shore along with some of the other droplets, and for the first time, she felt fear. The others told her, “It's going to be alright, the wave always comes back.” She waited hours upon hours. At dawn, the rising sun cast warm rays over the shallow tidal pools. Suddenly it dawned on Iktu that she had risen, for she found herself floating on air! She called out loudly to the others, they only looked up at her helplessly.

She hung suspended in the air for quite a while before getting sucked into a cloud.  There she found others whom she had never previously met.  They looked at her curiously, but said nothing.  Day became night. The Sun set into a shimmering sea. A dreamy drowsiness crept over Iktu like she had never felt before.  The others all seemed droopy too.  Suddenly she found herself with her mother playing in the waves and she shouted with joy. One of the droplets next to her jolted her out of her reverie, "Shh!" he hissed.

Iktu, to her dismay, found herself still in the cloud!  How had she come back so fast from playing the waves?  Peering down through the mountain tops, she could see mother on the shore far away.  She felt so alone!  The others crept away from her and withdrew from each other.  She tried to talk to the one who had shushed her, but he didn't seem to hear her.  She jumped up and down trying to get her mother’s attention, but to no avail.  The others glared at her a little menacingly now. So eventually, she stopped and sulked away by herself.

Again, she found herself playing with her mother, and then abruptly felt herself lifted into the air. She screamed. This time Shh poked her cruelly while shouting at her to “Shut up”.  She looked down terrified , but could not spy her mother anywhere. Iktu felt cold and discovered herself becoming hard and heavy.  She had never felt anything like this before.  Desperately she looked to the others for help, but they too began solidifying right before her, and she could tell they had never felt like that either.  

She became so heavy that she could feel herself slipping from the cloud and dropped swiftly into the dark night.  Petrified, she could not scream because she could not control any part of herself.  She fell landing hard on a harder vast white landscape. She lay there helplessly. Days and nights passed until she lost count of how many. 

Years, then decades passed.  She could barely think. All she knew was the whiteness around her. She couldn't see the sky anymore, only the endless white above her and below.  Centuries passed. If anyone would had asked her identity she couldn’t have told them, for she longer knew. She just lay there like a rock, frozen, not knowing, nor even caring that she didn’t' know.

One day a deep rumble stirred her from the deep slumber she had been lost in forever.  A sharp jolt tossed her high into the air and then she fell back again rushing downwards along with many of the other frozen droplets.  Painfully, she stumbled down getting hit from all sides.  Too stunned to scream, for it had been eons since she had felt pain or indeed anything, she realized her numbness had departed as she regained the experience of sensation.

She landed in a pool alongside a rushing river.  She surveyed her surroundings and noticed many other droplets; some still frozen and some looking around in wonder.  They looked at each other in awe, and some of them even smiled.  She smiled back.  After a while she felt a very ancient but familiar sense of kinship with the other droplets; the others must have felt it too because they started hugging each other.  The hugs created so much commotion that some of the still frozen ones began to stir too.  After a few hours, the sun shone high and strong upon them. All the frozen ones thawed and awoke amidst the cheers of the others.

After the sense of immediate relief had passed, they looked at each other.  Shh qureied, “Now what?”  One of them suddenly chirped up, “Listen!”  They all quieted and listened, sure enough they heard the river sound loudly and clearly saying “Maa.”  They all went wild with enthusiasm!  They too started shouting Maa over and over until the river took notice of them and with a gurgling splash merged them with itself.

Iktu gloried amidst the thrall. She and Shh had somehow managed to stick together, riding the current gushing downstream. All around them they heard wild shouts and frenzied cheering everywhere!  Some droplets crying, others laughing, the craziest thing Iktu had ever seen.

After several hours, all had exhausted themselves and had for the most part quieted down, when they heard a huge cheer raised on the river that went up from those up in front.  Iktu looked up, she could see mother in the distance!

She screamed, laughed, and cried all at the same time in an almost unbearable state of bliss; she and Shh just joined the others jumping up and down like baby droplets!  Old familiar songs broke out and before long Iktu saw mother opening up her arms to her in an engaging embrace.

The actual union felt solemnly somber.  Iktu just melted into her mother.  She held on tight and said, “I love you!” mother replied, “I love you”.  Iktu kept on repeating “I love you” to which mother kept on replying “I love you” over and over again.  Iktu could not stop and apparently mother could not either.

This went for days, even weeks.  Finally, Iktu quieted down and just held on to mother.  Mother held her back firmly.  Iktu had come up with a million questions for mother when in the river, but they all seemed somehow self-answered now.  

Quite simple actually, she had come home; this is where she belonged.

Meditating on naam over and over again is the way to merge with the One.
----- Guru Nanak, Jap Ji, 32nd pauri

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Jap Ji, 28-31 (mundaa santokh saram pat jholee)

There is a amphitheater in Southern India which has hosted plays for thousands of years - so much fake blood, fake love, true and fake tears have been spilled there.  We are the blood, love and tears, while the space that holds the plays in the formless One.

Seeker: Please tell me about the formless One.
Teacher: The formless One is the space in all of us, it is what makes it possible to make form,  it is the empty canvas where artists can paint, it is the silence between the notes that allows music to be made. We, at our deepest essence, are the formless One.

Seeker: What is our inert nature?
Teacher: We are permanent , conscious and blissful - Sat naam waheguru.

Seeker: How will we realize this?
Teacher: By serving our highest self.

Seeker: How can we do that?
Teacher: By singing and listening from our hearts.  Serving translates to paying attention; we pay the most attention when we sing and listen.

Seeker: Singing and listening to what?
Teacher: Our Gurus' Words

I bow to the formless One - the Primal One, the Pure One, without beginning, without end;
throughout time, the unchanging One.
----- Guru Nanak, Jap Ji, 28th - 31st pauri

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Jap Ji, 27 (so dar kayhaa so ghar kayhaa)

Taan Sain was the best musician in Emperor Akbar's court. Each evening he would sing for the Emperor. The Emperor was a lover of the arts and would greatly appreciate the musician. He would shower many gifts and praises onto the musician.

One evening, after a particularly beautiful performance by the musician, the Emperor called Taan Sain to his palace and said, "Today you overwhelmed me. While I was listening to your song, a thought occurred to me that you are the best musician on this Earth. But as soon as that thought had trespassed my mind, I thought about the teacher who taught you - that teacher must be great too. That's the reason I asked for you. Pray tell me, how can we arrange for your teacher to come to this court to perform for the kingdom."

Taan Sain smiled and said, "Sire, my teacher is full of wonders. But I know him enough to tell you that he will not come to this court."

"Of course we will pay quite handsomely..."

"With due respect, Sire, no amount of money will bring my teacher to your court."

This greatly intrigued the Emperor, "Surely there is a way that I could listen to your teacher sing. If he will not come here, perhaps we can go to him."

Taan Sain again smiled, "Sire, my teacher is carefree and he might not like us going to him."

"But surely my good man, there must be a way."

Taan Sain thought a while and said, "Well, there is one way. My teacher usually sings in the early mornings by the Ganga River. If your majesty insists, then we must be discreet and hide nearby and listen to him at that time."

The Emperor was a spiritual man and he did wake up at early hours of the morning anyway, so he arranged for them to be taken to a place where Taan Sain's teacher bathed and sang. Both the Emperor and Taan Sain reached the river bank at midnight and hid in nearby bushes. Shortly afterwards, as was the daily routine of Taan Sain's teacher, he came to the river, bathed and sat on the river bank and sang.

His song was so great that it completely mesmerized the Emperor. The Emperor could not speak or move, and just sat like a stone idol for entire time the teacher sang. Even after the teacher had left, the Emperor had to be nudged by Taan Sain. The Emperor half-dreamily walked back to the carriage which had brought them there and remained in this state for the whole ride back and indeed, the whole day.

That evening the Emperor summoned Taan Sain to his palace and said, "Taan Sain, your teacher is wonder itself. I am very, very curious at one thing. I love your singing but if you wouldn't mind, I would request you answer one question."

"Sire, please ask this servant any question."

"With much due respect, I used to think that you were the best musician on this Earth, but your teacher far, far surpasses you. Indeed your song is like a rose in a vase, but your teacher's song is like ... fresh and fragrant roses dancing in the wind."

The Emperor continued, "I do not wish to offend you in any way, but please tell me how is it possible that your teacher's talent is eons deeper than yours?"

Taan Sain laughed and said, "With due respect Sire, I perform for you; my teacher performs for the One Being that pervades all."

The sound-current of the naad vibrates where the One resides.
----- Guru Nanak, Jap Ji 27th pauri

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Jap Ji, 26 (amul gun amul vaapaar)

There was once a king who organized a conference entitled “The vastness of God” – he invited all scholars, saints and preachers in the area.  It had been advertised for months, and all those invited had replied back affirmatively.  But there was one very well-known and loved saint who had not yet replied.  

The king was lover of the saint’s teachings, so sent him a special message.  The saint still refused, so the king himself went to the saint’s house and begged him to attend. The saint told the king he would attend on one condition only.  The king said any condition would be acceptable. 

The saint handed the king a spoon and said, “Take this spoon and bring me back the ocean in it!”

If anyone presumes to describe God,
they shall be known as the king of all fools! 
----- Guru Nanak, Jap Ji, 26th pauri

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Jap Ji, 25 (bahutaa karam likhi-aa naa jaa-i)

“Can I have a piece of cake today, dad?” 

Even after years of having to do this, Tiloh still cringed a little when he curtly shook his head.  “Oh well, some other day then!” the 12 year old boy, Ghanteh, said in a fake bubbly voice.

Tiloh had hinted and then had a long talk with the boy several times about how money was short and relieving their heavy debt was the priority of their lives, rather than buying cake for an already pudgy boy.

But the boy was obsessed with food, cake in particular.  And Tiloh had seen that the boy could not help asking for cake when they were at the baker’s shop. Tiloh had thought of quitting the baker’s shop but that was one place that brought him memories of happier days, when his wife and his two daughters were with them.  Most of his other life was draining and exhaustive.  His work was the only place where he felt alive and passionate; and his company recognized his talent - he was paid quite well although most of the pay went to alimony and a crushing credit card payment.

At home, Tiloh was in a constant state of regret – regret that he had pushed his wife away due to what now, 6 years later, seemed utterly petty and easily resolved issues.  Regret that he had fought tooth and nail to keep custody of the boy, causing him the most emotional and financial pain – he had hired the best lawyer; for what? So that he could watch the boy play video games all day long, lose interest in school and just eat, eat and eat?

They had barely talked for 3 years; in fact Tiloh could count the number of words they said to each other on a daily basis – “How did you sleep?” “Ok”, “Breakfast today?” “No”, “How was school?” “OK” and the dreaded “Can I have a piece of cake today, dad?”  Tiloh had reminded the boy several times that he preferred being called “Papa” but the boy always nodded like he understood and went on calling him “Dad”.   

Tiloh would go to work even when sick.  One such day, his boss noticed his croaky voice and remarked, “You really should be resting at home.”  Tiloh replied, “Yes, I should be but I .. there was too much work left over…”  His boss nodded and said nothing.

Next pay period, Tiloh had an extra check for “over-achievement” for $3,000!  Even that didn’t bring him much joy because even $3,000 wouldn’t make a noticeable dent in the debt.

That day he drove to the baker’s and when the boy asked “Can I have a piece of cake today, dad?” he was about to shake his head when he remembered his extra check and he decided he could afford some cake today.  

He said, “Yes, go ahead”

“Oh well, some other…” the boy stopped and looked at him sharply.  “Did you say...?” Tiloh nodded, “Yes, have a cake today – any kind you like”

The baker had an exceptional number of cakes on his shelves.  The baker and his wife ran the shop and always looked fully of jolliness.  They seemed to really enjoy their work.  The ingredients on their products always listed “Love” and Tiloh believed it was true – there really was love in their breads and in their lives.  He had never really struck a conversation with them because they were almost always busy and he felt out of league from their high energy.  But to Tiloh coming to the baker’s shop was almost a religious ritual – he usually had moments of some clarity and relief from his suffocating home life.

The boy looked around intrepidly and still a little unsure if this had actually happened, pointed to the cheapest one he could find.  The baker handed him the piece and the boy looked for a full minute at the cake like it was a long lost treasure that he had discovered.  He again looked at his father, who nodded; then with one gulp, in case his father changed his mind, finished the cake.  He again looked at his father to make sure he hadn’t done something wrong. The boy was too stunned to say words of gratitude or to smile; he just looked dazed.

Tiloh looked back at him and suddenly realized how much pain was hidden in the boy’s eyes.  With almost a jolt Tiloh realized that he had been wrapped up so much in his sorry story that he had completely failed to see what had happened to his son Ghanteh.  For the first time he felt pity for someone other than himself.  His son was the one who had suffered the most -  Ghanteh had lost his mother, his sisters ... and his father too.  And Tiloh saw that Ghanteh had no one to turn to – at least Tiloh had his work to dive into for relief, Ghanteh had nothing!  

A deep sense of remorse went through Tiloh. How could he have let this happen?  He felt like sobbing and turned away, catching his own reflection in the cake shelf glass.  He couldn't believe what he saw - a fat old balding man. When did this happen?  No wonder Ghanteh never looked directly at him.

He felt a sharp pain in his heart - he thought he would have a stroke. Then something shifted inside him and someone, apparently another part of him, said and he heard it distinctly, "You don't have to take this self-created pain."

Tiloh was not a hippie type, as he would have put it; he barely believed in God or anything other than what he could see, but this was happening as surely as the day outside.  And he knew the voice was speaking the truth - yes, he did not have to take the pain, and he realized with a deep sense of intuition that the voice was a part of him who knew a lot more than he did, so he listened again for more instructions, but there was stillness and silence.  And it felt good to be so still.  

He might have stayed there for moments or minutes but when he came back to himself he looked at his reflection again and it had lost much of the "old man ness" - he looked kind of handsome even; he smiled.  "I don't have to take the pain," he softly muttered to himself. 

Tiloh felt more awake and alive than he had in years.  He straightened up a little – there was still time - he was going to use the extra money for the well-being of his son; he would get him all the cake he wanted and go on a trip with him some place where they could reconnect.


He wanted to hug his son and say he was sorry, but he knew the time hadn’t come for that yet.  So he turned towards him and lightly placed his hand on his shoulder.  Ghanteh stiffened at first (they hadn’t touched for a long time) but then relaxed and started walking back to the car with his father.  When they reached the car, the boy leaned in a little bit towards his father and mumbled “Thank you … Papa”

So many endure constant pain and abuse;  even these are gifts from the One.
----- Guru Nanak, Jap Ji, 25th pauri

Seeker: How could pain be a gift?
Teacher: You have to realize that for Guru Nanak the only worthy goal of life is to merge back with God and so pain, or indeed any other intense feeling, which has the ability to push you out of your comfortable space and wake you up, is a gift.

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Jap Ji, 24 (ant naa siftee kahan naa ant)

There was a young girl by the name Sifty who had a very curious mind.  Even at the young age of 8, she had already read most of the world's classics.  Her parents, who were blue-collar workers and had never attended college, were proud of her; and also a little intimated by her. They would often wonder where she got her brains from.  

As it turns out, she got her brains from one of her Aunts,  her mother's sister by the name of Karney - they found this out when Karney was visiting their city and happened to run into them at the local library when they were picking up their library-attached daughter. The Aunt had not been in contact with them for ages and it was a wonder that she even recognized them.

When Sifty was introduced to her Aunt, it was love at first conversation.  Her Aunt had a PhD in literature, had taught at universities across the country and given literary workshops around the world.  It was a perfect match.  They spent almost all of the summer together in discussion about the universe and its workings.  

Once Karney was talking about her youth and it was then Sifty found out that her Aunt and her mother were actually twins.  Sifty had been wondering lately about how her mother's life and Karney's life were so different.  Karney enjoyed the world, while her mother mostly just collapsed in front of the TV as soon as she got home and after hastily putting together a reminiscent of a dinner; watching hockey of all things with her father; they both gulped down beer after beer and her mom was usually snoring away embarrassingly loudly after an hour or so; it was usual for her father to half-lift, half-walk his wife to bed each night.

But to realize that Karney and her mother were twins was a shock - how could their lives be so different?!  Once after a heated argument with her mom, she bluntly asked her, “What happened to you?!"

"You want to know what happened to me?" her mother replied in anger, "I will tell you what happened?  You happened!"  As soon as she said that, a sob escaped her and she covered her mouth with her hand, "Yes, you happened.  I and your 'fabulous' Aunt were similar in every way, we had the same dreams and the same plans, but .. I took a turn when I met your father.  He was the hockey captain and very different from my world, so it was fun to be with him, but I got.. I got pregnant with you and ... and now," she pointed to the TV and the cans of beers lying around, "this happened!"

Teacher:  So which of the twins is more interesting to God?
Seeker: (after a long pause) I would think Karney is but I don't think you would have asked that question if it wasn't a trick one!

Teacher: Ha!  Yes, you know me well!  Well, God finds both of their lives equally interesting and valuable.  God is big and keeps on getting bigger with each of our experiences.

Seeker. How so?
Teacher:  With each experience you have, God grows - you are expanding God's experiential knowledge every time you have an experience. Remember you are a spiritual being having a human experience, not the other way around.

Seeker. What kind of experience grows God?
Teacher: All experiences - from you sitting in a car waiting impatiently for the traffic light to turn, to you stubbing your toe on a table corner and to you searching for the formless One within you!

Seeker: But most of my life is boring!
Teacher: Not to God. Have you seen a new mother talking about her child?  She calls her friends when the child does something new; even something as small as falling sideways and giggling.  For God, we are perpetually new children.

Seeker: So God loves every moment of ours?
Teacher: Yes. Even spiritual masters love each moment.  For most of us, we have decided to love parts of our lives and not others.  For some it is watching sports and they impatiently go through their days to get to the game start-time and then they become alive with passion.  For others, it's spiritual things. You, for example, rush through your day finding it boring and shallow, but when you get here, you become attentive and joyful.

Seeker: So true.
Teacher: But masters know that each moment is alive and just as fulfilling as any other moment, because remember God resides in this moment and you can't skip this moment to enjoy God in the next.  You have to enjoy God in this moment, because God really just exists in this moment!

Seeker: But if I just start enjoying each moment, who is going to meditate on naam?
Teacher (with a hearty laughter): My dear, dear friend, enjoy each moment WITH naam.   That is the message of Guru Nanak.

Only God knows how big God is
Guru Nanak, Jap Ji, 24th pauri

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Jap Ji, 23 (saalaahee saalaahi aytee surat)

Sant Baba Attar Singh Ji Mastuana was a renowned Sikh saint - he literally spent most of his youth in deep uninterrupted naam meditation. 

Once he was sitting on a river edge meditating on naam when a gold merchant happened to pass by.  The merchant was deeply moved when he saw the Saint  (who wouldn't?)

And despite the Saint's reluctance, presented him with a gold bracelet. The Saint was a very gentle man and he too was moved by the love in the merchant's eyes, so he finally accepted the gift.  When the merchant left, the Saint resumed his naam meditation.  But after a few minutes, he opened his eyes and put the gold bracelet under the sheet he was meditating on - he was concerned that the gold would attract thieves. 

He tried to resume his meditation, but found that his thoughts kept returning to the gold bracelet.  He started thinking perhaps he should sell the bracelet or give it to charity.  Perhaps he should open up a charity hospital himself...

After a few minutes, he suddenly got up and picked up the bracelet and threw it into the river as far as he could!  He realized that he had wasted his precious and priceless consciousness on something that was utterly useless on the path to union with the formless One.

For a heart that loves God, even an ocean full of worldly treasures is worthless
----- Guru Nanak, Jap Ji, 23rd pauri

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Jap Ji, 22 (paataalaa paataal lakh)

Once an aspiring spiritual man brought his 6 year old son to see Guru Nanak. After bowing to the guru, the man asked, "Guru ji, in your teachings you mention an infinite number of universes - perhaps it is asking for too much but would it be possible for me to see those with my own eyes?"

The guru smiled, "My dear friend, your subtle eyes that can see such subtle realms are not open yet. But your son’s spiritual eyes haven’t closed yet". 

Saying that the guru placed his hand on the boy’s head; the boys’ eyes closed by themselves and he kept them shut for a few moments.  When he opened them again, his father eagerly asked him what he saw and the boy replied, "I saw our world being a part of a circle of heavenly bodies, and that circle was inside another circle of even more heavenly bodies, and that circle too was inside another circle.  It kept on going and on”, he blinked for a bit as if in a daze and added, “I never saw the last circle; … papa, I don't think there is one!"

God’s play is so vast that recording it in writing would be impossible; the mortal writer would perish before the recording can ever be complete.
----- Guru Nanak, Jap Ji, 22nd pauri

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Jap Ji, 21 (teerath tap da-i-aa dat daan)

All places are known for some unique quality in them - there was a small city known for it's philosophical debates.   The main attraction on the weekend for the townsfolk, who were mostly retired academia types, was a lively debate which took place in the city center.  People from all around the region would gather there - the debate topic were proudly chosen by a well-funded debate committee and ranged anywhere from "Why God created this Universe" to "Which ice cream flavor is best after a steak dinner."

When a compliment was given to a child, it usually involved the debate, "Oh, he would make a great debater" was given to any child who said anything resembling a critical thought.  "Oh, the opposing team better watch out for this one!" was another liberally-given compliment.

The city was known also for another thing - an eccentric man who lived somewhere in the forest on the outskirts of the city.  He would randomly show up in the city center; he usually wore orange clothes and sometimes blue ones.  He had a long flowing white beard - looking at the length and the whiteness of his beard, one would guess his age to be in the 70s, but he moved like a young man.  People swore that only his beard had whitened and lengthened, but his face and youthful gait had not changed a bit in the last few decades.  

A lot of people had tried to communicate with him over the years, but he would reply to all their questions with very strange answers.  Once a prominent member of the local meditation group had approached him with a genuine question, "How can I make my mind settle down during meditation?"  The strange man had roared with laughter and said (in between fits of laughter), "Mind, what mind? There is no such thing! Only fools have minds!"  

Another time, a young women came up to him and said she is prone to anger outbursts and it was destroying her relationships;  and he had simply said, "Ahh, don't worry about it, you only have 40 years left in this role - keep up, you are doing great!"

Needless to say, people didn't approach him very much and he never bothered anyone either.  On occasions, he would weigh in on the debate topic at the city center and speak coherently and seriously for several minutes. When this happened, people rushed close to him to listen and record his words.  Sometimes he would look at a person directly and start speaking to him or her and the person would transform in front of everyone's eyes.  

That person would never be the same again.  Their back would somehow straighten when they walked, their eyes would become sparkling clear and, much to the horror of many, they never again would take part in a debate. Outwards, they would be the same - they would continue their jobs and whatever else responsibilities they had, and indeed they would become more patient and forgiving to all around them, but they became almost impossible to talk to, since they would laugh at everything and say things that made no sense at all.

When this happened, the debate committee members usually gathered around afterwards and consoled each other by shaking their heads in unison and saying, "Well, at least it's not one of us!"

I bow to the One creator who is beautiful, True and eternally joyful.
----- Guru Nanak, Jap Ji, 21st pauri

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Jap Ji, 20 (bharee-ai hath pair tann dayh)

Seeker: Dear teacher, please tell me what naam is.
Teacher: Naam is the essence of God. It is the energy which is the active, creative and most importantly, loving force that actually does things.  God created naam for this exact purpose - while God mostly just watches.

Seeker: Sir, did you say that God mostly just watches?
Teacher: Yes, but God does things too ... mostly loving things, like merging back with souls.  God has delegated most things to naam.

Seeker: Is that why naam meditation is paramount in Guru Nanak's teachings?
Teacher: Yes - it is one of the most blissful ways to Truth.  Naam is in everything, including unconscious things.  But the easiest way to get to naam is to meditate on things which have more consciousness in them.  For example a True Guru is the most conscious form in existence, so meditation on a guru is very fruitful, meaning when you listen to the Guru, you make rapid spiritual progress.

Seeker: How do I meditate on naam?
Teacher: There are many stages,  but ultimately you will have to feel it. How you will feel it most effectively depends on your nature, some find it easy to use their body (yoga), while others use their minds (knowledge), while still others use their hearts (devotion).  Guru Nanak prescribes to devotional awareness.

Seeker: How do I feel naam?
Teacher: At first you will have to listen to "pointer Words" that Gurus have created over the ages eg WaheGuru, YahWeh, Allah Hoo etc.  Then you ultimately will feel the unutterable and unfathomable loving energy which is naam.  Naam cannot be described in words, it can only be felt.

Seeker: How does feeling naam help in self-realization?
Teacher: The reason most of us are not self-realized is because our minds have lost the ability to be focused.  At any given time, our mind is thinking, actually worrying, about multiple unresolved things.  For instance, your car might be needing an oil change, but you haven't had the time to change it, so that little errand is bothering your mind at the unconscious level.  Then there are deeper things that your mind is worrying about.

Seeker: Such as?
Teacher: Such as your unresolved childhood traumas. Perhaps in your childhood, someone hit you and said hurtful things to you, but instead of dealing with the issues, you put them away because as a child you did not have the capacity or skill to handle them.  But they stayed in your unconscious mind, bothering you to this day.

Seeker: That's why therapists are so much in demand?
Teacher: Yes, exactly.  Therapists will dig deep into your subconscious mind and try to dislodge those unresolved issues to the surface so you can face them and free your mind from them.  Ultimately, good therapy will also make you self-realized.

Seeker: How is naam different?
Teacher: naam at first does the same exact thing as therapy.  That's why it takes a considerable amount of effort and time to start enjoying naam - because it is mostly work at first.  But once the mind becomes clear, naam turns into joy and bliss.  With practice, it turns into easily-accessible ecstasy.

Seeker: Where is naam?
Teacher: In everything, including us. Naam already exists within each of us, so once the pathway is clear of unresolved issues, the "outside naam" merges with the inside naam and the inside naam comes out overflowing.  Have you noticed that when wells are dug, a pipe is sent into the well and water is pumped from the outside. The outside water then connects with the well's water and only then does the well water rise to the top.  It is the same with naam.

Seeker: What happens then?
Teacher: Once naam comes out, naam is so intoxicating, so fulfilling and ever-green that our ego, which the mind has found to be the most interesting thing so far, becomes shallow and even painful. Then, the mind becomes interested in naam and naam only - it becomes a creative force to be reckoned with.  The only difference is that now it is creative rather than destructive.  It's like a magnifying glass, which can start fires when concentrated.  It is then that we transform into naam, and that is our most true form-self.

Seeker: Are we done then?
Teacher: Almost, from there on, there is still the path to merge with our formless self, but that path is crossed only with God's grace.  For instance, if you start counting 1, 2, 3... you will never get to infinity. Similarly, you can't get to the formless self, the formless self gets to you!!

Love of naam will wash away the darkness within us
----- Guru Nanak, Jap Ji, 20th pauri

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Jap Ji, 16-19 (panch parvaan panch parDhaan)

There was a mayor of a town who wanted to promote his town (and himself), so he came up with an idea - he arranged a competition for young adults to write about their glorious town (and hopefully the town's glorious mayor).  It was to be held on a Saturday at the local School.  Each applicant would have up to two hours to finish their essay and the best one (the mayor made it clear that his name in the essay would make it more prone to winning) would be announced the next day at the local Church.  The prize was a free lunch with the mayor and all-expense paid trip to a nearby city.

Most of the young adults in the town applied for the competition.  On the day of the competition, the mayor personally monitored the competition.

About 400 people showed up and most were done in 15 minutes.  Others took about an hour.  But one girl just went on and on.  It was two hours before the mayor approached the girl to ask her to stop, but to his delight he saw his name mentioned a few times when he looked over her shoulder, so he decided the rules were there to serve them, not the other way around.

She had written about 35 pages already.  With her permission, he took a look at her first few pages and he was overwhelmed with her writing - it had so much detail about the room she was sitting in that he looked at the room with fresh eyes.  She had described the roof, the cobwebs in the corner with such intricacy and poetic skill that he looked at them like a child would see something for the first time.

Yes, she had mentioned his name too, but it was mentioned as a footnote rather than a main feature.  She had described him as casually as she had described the desk she was sitting on - they both were just there, part of the whole room, not dominating in any way.

For a few minutes, he forgot about his position and his name and he went into a minor rapture.  He realized with somewhat of a shock that he and his life were just part of this amazing, vast life that was bursting with activity and creativity.  With relief, he realized he wasn't that important after all - he had carried the weight of importance of himself for all his life, but now he knew he could let it go and he would be free.

After a good while, he shook himself and brought the girl some tea and biscuits and told her that she could go on as long as she wanted.  When evening approached, the girl got up and said, "I'm done with writing about the school, with your permission I would like to write about the marketplace tomorrow!"

How can I possibly discuss your creativity, God? All I can hope for is to sacrifice myself completely to you.
----- Guru Nanak, Jap Ji, 16th pauri

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Jap Ji, 12-15 (mannay kee gatt kahee naa jaa-i)

There was once a young prince who was of the generous kind.  He spent his days with the servants, not because he thought that was the kind thing to do, but because he felt most at home with them.  He would eat their food and even try to sleep in their homes.  He loved them so much that he asked his father if he could just go start living with them.  

The royals, as you may well imagine, had been horrified at this behavior of the young prince and had done everything to dissuade him. The king. however, was a wise man and had been waiting for an opportunity like this.  He said, "Son, yes, you can, but there are security problems, your bodyguards will have to be with you."

The boy didn't want to inconvenient the servants, so agreed to the suggestion that he go to his Uncle's neighboring kingdom to live with servants there.

Plans were made and the young prince was whisked away one night.  The king made sure that no one, not even his brother, knew that the boy he was shipping was a prince.  The rumor he spread was that the boy was a troublemaker, so had to be leave the kingdom.

Within a few weeks the king start receiving messages from the prince that he was done with the "horrible servants here" and wanted to come back.  The father smiled and replied back "not yet".  After a few months, the messages were desperate.  The king clutched his trembling heart and said nothing.  After the messages had stopped coming after almost a year, and the boy apparently had lost all hope of ever coming back, was when the king asked for the boy to be brought back.

Teacher: Can you imagine the joy of the boy when he came back to his kingdom?

Seeker: It would be difficult to put into words, he would be bursting with the newfound (actually already existing) freedom and happiness.

Teacher: Exactly! That boy is you and the return of the prince to his kingdom is described in the next few pauris of Jap Ji.

The state of the person, who fully realizes naam in their mind, cannot be told.

----- Guru Nanak, Jap Ji, 12th pauri

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Jap Ji, 8-11 (suni-ai siDh peer sur naath)

There was once a very successful farmer.  One day, after he had just worked in his barn, he discovered his precious pocket-watch to be missing.  The watch had been in his family for generations and it had been given to him just a few years ago by his dying father.  He could not bear to be without it, so he hurried into the barn and with increasing anxiety searched for it.  The barn was a gigantic one and he had spent the entire afternoon walking the breath and width of it, so the watch could have fallen off anywhere.

After a few hours of hectic searching, he asked his sons and daughters to help him.  But to his dismay, noone could find it - the Sun had set by now and it was useless to search now.  He sadly gave up the search and walked outside feeling guilty and stupid.  The whole family had gathered outside and everyone was giving advice about how to quickly find it.

There was a yogi who was walking by who heard the commotion and asked what it was all about.  The farmer readily told him and asked if he could help using his occult powers. The yogi smiled and said, "I don't have any occult powers, but I will try to help you out."

The yogi then entered the barn and around midnight re-emerged with the watch and was met with a visibly moved and grateful farmer with tears of joy in his eyes.  The farmer hugged him over and over again.

Finally after the euphoria has somewhat subsided, the farmer asked him, "Sir, I am deeply grateful for your help, but ... but, if you don't mind me asking, I am a little curious about why, despite your occult powers, it took so long to find the watch?"

The yogi laughed heartily, "O my dear man, I will tell how I found the watch and you will see why it took me so long.  First when I entered the barn, I went to the center and just sat down.  I heard a thousand different sounds - of different animals, birds and you people outside. I focused on the sounds of the animals; first the horses and I told my mind to start un-listening to the horses.  Then I focused on the pig's oinks and told my mind to un-listen to those sounds too.  After a few hours, I had commanded my mind to un-listen to every sound in the barn, even the tiny mice running around beneath the ground. Then and only then did I hear your watch ticking away at the entrance of the barn.  That's why, my good friend, it took me so long!" 

The devotee who learns the art of listening to the Guru's words, remains always in bliss, shedding away the pain of duality.
----- Guru Nanak, Jap Ji, 8th through 11th pauri

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Jap Ji, 7 (jay jug chaaray aarjaa)

There was once an oil merchant traveling with his container of oil on his head to another town.  He was an old man and halfway on his trip, he realized he needed help.  So he inquired from a village he was passing through about hiring someone to help him.  The villagers pointed out a loitering young man by the name of Juga.  Juga agreed to carry the container of oil for a fee of 100 rupees - the oil merchant readily agreed.

Juga picked up the container and started walking a few paces behind the merchant.  As the merchant was not a talkative kind, Juga started thinking about how he would spend his 100 rupees. After several thoughts, he decided he would be responsible and invest that money in buying a chicken.  The chicken, he further thought, would lay many eggs; from which other chickens would emerge.  Then thinking further down the line, those chickens would produce even more chickens and soon he would have a big farm with thousands of chickens.  He would then marry the village beauty he had his eyes on and she would bear him many children. The children would soon grow up and help him grow the farm into many farms.  Soon he would be the richest man in whole region. 

His children would then produce more children, and he would be an old grandfather with hundreds of dotting grandchildren.  The grandchildren would come to him asking him many questions about his life and he would feign annoyance at them and tell them to leave him alone. The grandchildren, who would love him so much,  would insist that he tell them stories.  Then he would give in and tell them stories about his glorious rise to wealth.

But the children, being children, would keep on pestering him for more and more stories, until he would get tired and would angrily shoo them away...

When Juga raised his hand to shoo the imaginary grandchildren away, the oil container came off his head and crashed on the ground, spilling all of the oil.

The horrified merchant turned around and furiously shouted at him, "You idiot!! You ruined my whole day of work!"

Juga shouted back, "You are worried about your stupid day, my whole chicken empire just collapsed!!!" 

You might be well-beloved and well-known person in this world, but if you do not realize your true essence, in the spiritual realms you are a nobody!
----- Guru Nanak, Jap Ji, 7th pauri

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Jap Ji, 5-6 (thaapi-aa naa jaa-i)

Once Guru Nanak sent Bhai Mardana Jee, his musical companion, into a city with a gemstone and asked him to sell it to the highest bidder. Bhai Mardana Jee first went to a street vendor who was selling spicy samosas and showed him the gem. Amazingly beautiful, the flawless stone shimmered and sparkled with inner fire. It completely captivated whoever looked at it. As though they had peered into a mirror where dreams come true, they could almost feel their innermost longing about to be fulfilled - but then what else would you expect from a stone which Guru Nanak had touched?!

The vendor stared into its magnetic magnificence. Unable to tear his eyes away from its spell he offered, "I can give two trays of spiced samosas and fresh milk-cake made this morning by my mother's own hands." Bhai Mardana Jee smacked his lips appreciatively, but moved on; quite sure that he could get a better price!

Then he showed it to a merchant wearing expensive silks heavily embroidered with gold threads. Extremely impressed, the merchant rubbed his hands together, his fat fingers bulging with gold rings. He reached beneath his outer garments, took out his purse and counted 5 gold coins holding them out on his pudgy palm to pay for the Jewel. When Bhai Mardana Jee hesitated, the merchant tempted him with three shimmery lengths of colored silk, one vermillion, one azure, and one saffron colored. Smiling in admiration, Bhai Mardana Jee, commented on their luster but shook his head and turned to go. The merchant called after him, "Take these two fine embroidered robes as well," but he kept walking.

Next he entered into a market where the shopkeeper, quite busy with customers, impatiently asked him, "Yes, what can I do for you?" Bhai Mardana Jee showed him the gemstone. The shopkeeper took him aside. He stared at the precious stone for a long time forgetting all about his waiting customers. Tearing his eyes away with a sigh, he looked at Bhai Mardana Jee with new respect and put his hands together with a slight bow, "O Sadhu, I can give you whatever you want. Take anything. Please just name your price!" Bhai Mardana Jee looked around at the variety of goods. Telling the shopkeeper that he might be back after getting an appraisal from a jeweler, he moved on.

He noticed a Jewelry store just up the street and stepped inside. The Jeweler, an extremely spiritual man, had an eye not only for precious quality of stones but for the precious qualities of people characters too. He respectfully bowed to Bhai Mardana Jee and motioned his assistant to bring a comfortable seat and some refreshment for their esteemed guest.

When shown the gemstone, the jeweler lost all his bearings and muttered, "Such beauty! Is it possible that such beauty exists?" The entrancing aspect of both the stone-bearer and the stone itself enchanted him. Focusing on the beauty within himself, he involuntarily closed his eyes, catching a glimpse of his soul. A vision that he had spent his entire life pursuing had been instantaneously revealed.

He opened his wonder-filled eyes in awe and looked from Bhai Mardana Jee's face to the gemstone and back again several times. After several minutes of complete silence, the Jeweler softly clapped his hands. His assistant came forth and he whispered some instructions into his ear. The assistant left returning with a chest which he set in front of Bhai Mardana jee. The Jeweler pulled a key from beneath his robes and unlocked the chest. He opened it and placed 1,000 gold coins in front of Bhai Mardana Jee.

He murmured, "O Great Sadhu, I bow to you and to your Great Guru who has made you so exquisitely beautiful. This gemstone, just like you, Sir, is priceless! I give you this gold as merely a token for the unparalleled pleasure in glimpsing the enticing treasures within it. I cannot, nor could anybody, possibly place a value on this gemstone".

By singing, listening and loving the words of the Guru, you will discover the precious jewel of your real self.  
----- Guru Nanak, Jap Ji, 5th and 6th pauri

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Jap Ji, 4 (saachaa saahib saach naa-i)

A young girl had been captured and enslaved by 5 cruel masters.  At first they had appeared inviting and seemed entertaining, but once they had lured her into their trap and caught her fast she knew no mercy. Her life became an unbearable infliction of horrors. No recourse availed her but to seek escape. Heavy chains bound her preventing any possibility of flight so she sought sanctuary in an imaginary garden of her own invention.

One day news came that the King traveled their way. As he passed by, the 5 miscreants threw themselves to the ground - faces pressed into the dirt bowing in subservience.  The girl, seeing opportunity, struggled against her bonds. She’d heard rumors of the monarch’s mercy and a tiny spark flared in her heart. Hope of rescue prompted her into action. Dragging her heavy chains, she attempted to attract attention to her plight.

The kind king did indeed take notice of her effort and commanded that she be freed and employed in his service. His attendants paid her captors a sum, removed her shackles and carried her away with them to the royal palace. When they left her, she found herself in a bare room built into an alcove of a stone wall. Weary, she sank onto a pallet in a corner and fell into a deep slumber. Hours later she woke. In another corner she discovered a spinning wheel, a loom, and a basket of flax. There were plain provisions provided and a pitcher of water. She ate her simple fare, drank the clear water, washed her hands and set to work.

She had no idea at first of how to go about her task. The gratitude in her heart made her determined however, and soon she found she could twist the long flax stems. With the spindle she fashioned a length of thread which she wound on to the loom and shuttle. By days end she had woven a bit of cloth. She removed this and finished the edges. The sun had set. She finished her provisions and slept.

After a few hours she woke to an enchanting fragrance. Enticed, she slipped through the door of her hut and found herself in a garden. The dark night sky glittered with stars and the moon shone faintly illuminating the landscape before her in pale light. A sultry breeze blew gently. As her eyes adjusted she became entranced for all around her petals opened releasing their scent. Her heart swelled. Overcome in awe at the beauty she beheld, tears formed in the corners of her eyes, not tears like those of yesterday’s captivity, but tears of unfathomable joy. She reached for the scrap of cloth she had woven, pulled it from her pocket and dried her tears. She sought for and found a perfect rose. The first rays of morning sun glistened on fresh dew droplets wetting the rose. She plucked the rose and folded it gently into the cloth she had woven, the perfumed essence permeating it.

When attendants came with her morning meal, she asked to be shown to the king so she might express her gratitude. She quickly washed, covered her head and arranged her robe as best she could, then followed them to the throne room.  Lowering her eyes she crept to the king’s feet. Before him she placed her offering of his lovely sunrise gardens flower petals bloom oozing droplets of perfume, wetted by morning dew mingled with tears. Bowing low, she backed from the room. 

Her days and nights passed similarly in this way. Devotedly she spent her mornings weaving, her afternoons tending the garden, and evenings nurturing the rose bush. Every morning before the sun rose she reveled amongst the perfumed petals of the rose garden seeking the most perfect blossom to convey her gratitude to her sovereign. As the weeks passed, unbeknownst her beauty increased the traces of her former life struggles erased by the blooming devotion in her heart. She began to hum during her work making up songs to sing.

Merciful master you freed this slave,
Every wonderful thing to her gave
My king you are perfect in every way
Yet of others you have only good things to say
Your ways are so gentle so sweet and so kind
Desire to serve you is first in my mind

Loving you has given me reason to live
I only wish I had something worthy to give
That I might somehow in someway repay
All the joy that I have in living this day
Your ways are so gentle so sweet and so kind
Desire to serve you is first in my mind

So I offer to you this scented bloom
Upon a cloth woven from my simple loom
Soaked in my tears and wetted with dew
I realize it to be hardly fitting for you
Your ways are so gentle so sweet and so kind
Desire to serve you is first in my mind

You are so gracious to compassionately accept
This boon from one so utterly unadept
Your ways are so gentle so sweet and so kind
Desire to serve you is first in my mind
Your ways are so gentle so sweet and so kind
Desire to serve you is first in my mind

Repeating his name over and again she sang,

Emanating Light

Particles shimmer golden

Floating suspended

Sparkling on soundless waves

In the spectrum of Thy Name

Sultry breezes waft

Scenting the night with perfume

Of a thousand blooms

Intoxicating this one

With the essence of Thy Name

Though the girl thought herself to be alone when she sang, there are many ears in a palace and her songs came to be known to the king.  One day when she had come to place her rose at his feet, He bade her look up at him. What he saw in her eyes moved him completely. Her unending gratitude and depth of devotion awed and overwhelmed him stirring him to request that she sit by his side as his bride. She could refuse him nothing although she knew herself to be his inferior and requested only that she be allowed to continue serving him in her humble way. That she might always present to him the budding blooming fragrance of her heart.

Meditate on the ambrosial naam, the nectar of God’s essence, and you will realize everyone and everything is God and God only.
----- Guru Nanak, Jap Ji, 4th pauri

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Jap Ji, 3 (gaavai ko taan)

Once, a traveling theater came to a village. A dashing hero and a beautiful heroine starred together in a play which also featured a nasty villain. The villain had done just about every bad thing possible: robbed the hero's father; poisoned the heroine's sweet grandmother, and that's before breakfast.

In one nighttime scene, the heroine was walking home alone.  Hiding behind a tree, the villain lurked waiting to kidnap the fair maiden. The heroine slowly approached the tree...

One of the audience sitting in the front row - a villager - had had enough of the villain. The villager shouted out to the heroine, "WATCH OUT! I WILL SAVE YOU FROM THIS RASCAL!!!" 

Saying that, the villager took off his slipper, and jumped on the stage and starting slapping the villain with all his might!  Of course, there was much running around. Many stage-hands tried to save the villain but the furious villager mistook the stage-hands for the villain's goons and beat even some of them!

The director had the good sense to turn on all the lights and bring the villager "back to reality".

The villager turned out to be no less than the village headman -  he felt quite embarrassed and walked away mumbling sanskrit mantras.

This is a true story and it is said that the actor who played the villain refused to give back the villager's slipper, prizing it above any acting award.

God carefreelessly watches the unfolding of the play of an infinite number of various characters, some high and some low.  
----- Guru Nanak's Jap Ji, 3rd pauri

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Jap Ji, 2 (hukmee hovan aakaar)

There was an old rich couple who had had no children because their career demands had been too great.  Now they were retired and living on a grand home on a large lake.   They were an adventurous kind, but after a while, the adventures started turning dull and unfulfilling.  One of their close friends, who had a seemingly happy and fulfilled life with 3 children and 8 grandchildren, softly but consistently urged them to adopt a child.  

After mulling it over for some time, they decided to adopt a 3 year old boy from Romania.  The boy brought much needed joy into their home. The couple devoted themselves to the upbringing of their boy.

The boy was perfect for them - he was adventurous and fun-loving.  He did have an intense  fear of water though which was a damper for the family since they loved water sports. But with therapy and love, the boy slowly started warming up to water sports.  On his 6th birthday, he pleased his parents to no end by actually wading knee-deep into their lake for the first time. 

The proud parents were overjoyed at possibilities of including their son in their favorite water activities. With a nod from their therapist, they planned a canoe trip to introduce their son to journey on a river. 

The day came when their friend drove them up to their chosen river and they unloaded a canoe into the water.  The canoe was packed and ready to go.  The boy was excited - this would be his first time in a canoe.  The couple were busy saying goodbye to their friend; the excited boy stepped into the canoe and waited for them, but to his horror, the canoe started moving into the water - it hadn't been anchored well.  Before anyone could react, the canoe had drifted midstream and gathered speed. Soon, the canoe was swiftly traveling downriver and the boy was gripped by fear. 

He screamed and screamed.  His parents came running but it was too late to swim to the canoe. There was no phone signals in that area to summon rescuers and no road to travel along the river.  They felt doomed and helplessly ran along the wooded shore shouting useless instructions to their son.  The son was stricken insensible with fear to listen to anything.  The parents soon realized the boy was in mortal danger. With that realization came a deep stillness, first to the father and then the mother.  They regrouped and stood still and both shouted to the boy "WE LOVE YOU!  JUST RELAX! JUST RELAX, PLEASE!!".

The boy was shaking from head to toe and in too much shock to even listen to them, let alone relax. After a few minutes of horror, he too regained some of his composure.  He could no longer see his parents so he started looking around.  He saw that the oars were in the canoe, he picked them up eagerly and as he had seen on TV, he started rowing back up the stream to reach his parents. 

Needless to say, he was too young and the water too strong for him to make any progress backwards.  All he could manage was to spin the canoe around with his inept rowing skills.  After a few minutes, he put the oars back in the canoe and just sat.  It was a beautiful day he noticed and the river had slowed down considerably.  With his 6 year old mind, he weighed his options.  He was afraid but not of death - he was too young to die - dying was what happened to old people, not him!  

He tried to remember his parents shouts and he recalled them telling him to relax - when he had first heard those words, he hadn't the faintest clue to how it was possible to relax in a situation like this, but quite surprisingly he understood his parents words. "Just relax" they had said, so he tried to do just that.

He saw a sandwich bag which was lying at his feet; he gulped down a couple of his favorite ones and sat back in much better mood.  He realized he was fine; he was dry and there was enough food for him to last the whole day.  His parents would somehow manage to save him.

So he started singing and looking into the water. It was a magnificent river, clear enough for him to see the bottom and the fish darting around.  He leaned over carefully and touched the water - it felt cool and somehow homely. 

He fully relaxed and started enjoying himself.  After an hour or so, the canoe veered toward a fork of the river that thinned into a gentle stream and his eyes landed on the same lake he lived on!  He was too shocked to shout in joy - he had been traveling towards his home all this time!  His efforts to go backwards had been useless and indeed unnecessary.  He looked at the river and found it incredibly friendly.  He could have easily jumped into it - he lad lost all his fear of it.

Seeker: O Master, I feel discontent and stressed all the time!
Teacher: Ahh, my friend, discontentment is just a symptom.

Seeker: Pray tell me, what is the underlying disease then?
Teacher: You are dis-connected.

If you recognize the will of God as the only source of action,
you will realize that you are not separate from God.
----- Guru Nanak's Jap Ji, 2nd pauri

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