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,
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
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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