Guru's Kirpaa - The Gift of Amrit

Today my friend Bhaji Gupreet Singh Khalsa rang me. He recently took Amrit from Siri Anandpur Sahib while he was on a yatra trip visiting various Gurdwaras in India with a jatha from the UK. Gurpreet Singh was telling me about his visit to Sri Darbaar Sahib, Amritsar, Sri Hemkunt Sahib, Fatehgarh Sahib and Takhat Sri Keshgarh Sahib. Listening to his voice explaining the yatra and the anand (joy) of the experience overwhelmed me and me hairs on body feel tingly. I felt as if I was having darshan of the Gurdwaras in India which he had been to through listening to his experiences.

August last year Bhaji Gurpreet Singh was cut-haired, and he used to be like the average Panjabi lad who drinks occasionally and goes out with his mates clubbing etc. However within this year Bhaji has internally flourished and the fragrance within has come and spread.

I first met Bhaji at a Sikh Camp in August 2004. I was originally sleeping alone in the balcony of the Diwaan Hall with one or two other sewadaars. A few days into the camp someone asked me to move into a room and sleep with the other campers, because the balcony floor was hard and uncomfortable. With Guru's Kirpaa I met Bhaji Gurpreet Singh (Kent), Bhaji Arvinder Singh (Reading), and others who were sleeping in that room. We became friends and brothers and enjoyed having Gurmat Vichaar.

I remember near the end of the camp Gupreet Singh told me that he had decided to stop shaving and trimming his hair and that he had gone off the thought of drinking alcohol and eating meat. The pyaar and shardaa that Bhaji and the other campers had for Sikhi was inspirational.

Now look! A year later, Bhaji now asked Guru Ji for Amrit and became a member of the Khalsa. He practices rehat and does his Nitnem (daily paath and simran). He is lucky that his father and mother are also Amritdhari. He said to me, "I have been reborn... After taking Amrit you see a whole new world... You cannot explain it in words".

In Anand Sahib we read the lines (Ang 922):

eihu vis sansaar tum dekhde, eihu har kaa roop hai, har roop nadaree aaeiaa.
This whole world which you see is the image of Vaheguru; only the image of Vaheguru is seen.

gur parsaadee bujhiaa, jaa vekhaa har eik hai, har bin avar na koee.
By Guru's Grace, I understand, and I see only the One Lord; there is no one except the Lord.

kehai naanak eihi netr andh se, satgur miliai dib drisatt hoee. 36.
Says Nanak, these eyes were blind; but meeting the True Guru, they became all-seeing. 36.

In my spare time I was reading a book in Panjabi on Sikh Philosophy. There was a topic on "Why should we do Nitnem and the importance of Nitnem." There were a few lines which stuck out and hit me. It said that when we do our Panj Banian da Nitnem (Japji Sahib, Jaap Sahib, Tav-Prasaad Svaiye, Benti Chaupayee Sahib, & Anand Sahib) at Amrit-vela the person reading is taking Amrit everyday. This made me think and remember the beautiful ras (taste) of Amrit and the feeling of when the Panj Piaare sweetly sin the Panj Banian and all five hold and stir the Sarbloh Khanda (double-edged sword) in the Sarbloh Baata (iron bowl) and prepare Amrit. In the morning we can take the Anand (the bliss) which we got from Amrit every day from "Amrit-Baani".

eh rasnaa too an ras raach rehee, teree piaas na jaae.
O my tongue, you are engrossed in other tastes, but your thirsty desire is not quenched.

piaas na jaae horat kitai, jichar har ras palai na paae.
Your thirst shall not be quenched by any means, until you attain the 'ras', subtle essence, of the Lord.

har ras paae palai peeai har ras, bahurr na trisnaa laagai aae.
If you do obtain the 'ras', subtle essence, of the Lord, and drink in this 'ras', essence,
of the Lord, you shall not be troubled by desire again.

eihu har ras karmee paaeeai satgur milai jis aae.
This 'ras', subtle essence, of the Lord is obtained by good karma, when one comes to meet with the True Guru.

kehai naanak hor an ras sabh veesre, jaa har vasai man aae. 32.
O Nanak! All other tastes and essences are forgotten, when the Lord comes to dwell within the mind. 32.
(Ang 921)

My ardaas for Bhaji is that may he remain in chardikala and keep hold of the Guru's feet. May the Guru continue to keep him on his path and hold his hand. :)