Episode 7 of India Travels: "As if Guru Jee will do anything..."

Day 13 of the trip, Tuesday 8th July 2003. My mum and I went back to Jalandhar to stay with my mum's Mama jee. I went to the local Gurdwara Sahib and met the "happy-chappy" Granthi Singh jee. After Rehraas, Keertan and Sukhaasan had happened, a few of us sat together and did Gurmat Vichaar (discussing Guru's teachings and shabads). The Granthi Singh narrated a story of his friend who lives in the other side of Jalandhar, serving as a Granthi Singh in a Gurdwara. It was awe-inspiring to hear the story. One word to explain the story is "WAHEGURU."

The Granthi Singh jee said that a few years back his friend came to see him. His right-hand arm had become paralysed. He went to went to all the doctors and no one could find out what is wrong with him. He become distraught as his livelihood was reading Paath, which became impossible without the right hand and arm functioning.

He confided in his friend, the Granthi Singh jee. The Granthi Singh jee told us that he asked his friend, "Have you done anything which triggered this? An accident? Were you using your arm for something etc?" His friend said he couldn't think of anything. Then his consciousness awakened and he shamefully said that his arm stopped functioning and became paralysed after the day they done Akhand Paath di sewa at someone's house.

His friend explained what happened. The Singh was invited to someone's house to do do an Akhand Paath. The family were rich business people. The Granthi Singh's friend was the main Paathi Singh (main person in charge of reading). The Paathi Singhs arrived at the house early in the morning (Amrit-vela) and did Guru Granth Sahib jee's prakaash. The AKhand Paath (the continuous non-stop reading of Guru Granth Sahib jee) began.

During the evening the man of the house told the Paathi Singh "When will the Bhog (conclusion) of the paath happen?" Bhai Sahib replied, "In 2 days time" (as an Akhand Paath usually takes the minimum of 48 hours. The Sikh Rehat Maryada states that the main thing is reading Paath clearly so that everyone can understand and take laahaa (benefit) of the Gurbani being read. For this reason there is no set time limit). The man replied, "That's not good enough. I have another function set up and family and friends are coming around. This will spoil my plans. The Paath SHOULD finish by tomorrow late-afternoon." "How is this possible?" replied the Paathi Singh. "I don't care - if you want the money then the bhog (conclusion of the Akhand Paath) WILL BE tomorrow." The man was very rude and intimidating, with little or no fear of Waheguru. (We see this many times when people make religion into a KARAM (mere act) rather than DHARAM (a way of life)).

ਕਰਮ ਧਰਤੀ ਸਰੀਰੁ ਕਲਿਜੁਗ ਵਿਚਿ ਜੇਹਾ ਕੋ ਬੀਜੇ ਤੇਹਾ ਕੋ ਖਾਏ ॥
karam Dhartee sareer kaljug vich jehaa ko beeje tehaa ko khaa-e.
The body is the field of action, in this Dark Age of Kali Yuga; as you plant, so shall you harvest.
(Ang 308)

The Paathi Singhs were not wealthy and relied on the money for feeding his family, and supporting his children's education. Under the pressures of Kaljug (darkness of the world) and lobh (greed), the Paathi Singh compromised Gurmat Maryada (the Guru's tradition) by violating the Akhand Paath. Late at night the Paathi Singh skipped a whole section of angs (respected word for pages) of Guru jee, in order to finish the Paath earlier than expected. The Bhog finished on the day the man wanted and the Paathi Singhs left with their money (which is their livelihood).

ਹਰਿ ਕਰਤਾ ਸਭੁ ਕਿਛੁ ਜਾਣਦਾ ਸਿਰਿ ਰੋਗ ਹਥੁ ਦੀਜੈ ॥
har kartaa sabh kichh jaandaa, sir rog hath deejai.
The Creator Lord Waheguru knows everything, although they may try to hide their sins and the causes of their diseases.
(Ang 450)

He said the next day I woke up and my arm was not moving. THE ARM HE USED TO SKIP GURU JEE'S ANGs AND VIOLATE THE AKHAND PAATH was the same arm which STOPPED WORKING. The Granthi Singh telling us the story said that he was 100% sure that this was an act of the Guru and that it was a consequence of his friend's act that he was paying the price. He advised his friend to do Ardaas in front of Guru jee to ask for forgiveness and with humility and devotion perform a Sehaj Paath (slow full reading of Guru Granth Sahib jee).

His friend did exactly what the Granthi Singh said. Half way reading Guru Granth Sahib jee, the Granthi Singh said that his friend could feel HALF OF HIS ARM (from his hand to his elbow). By the end of the Akhand Paath, reading Salokh Mehla 9, his friend gained FULL SENSATION in his arm from hand to shoulder.

It was truly amazing.

Afterwards we discussed in our small gathering at the Gurdwara how we think the Guru is a "Book" and we believe that the Guru will not do anything if we commit some wrong action or violate Gurmat Maryada. However, the Guru works in mysterious ways and we will all reap the consequences of our actions. The Granthi Singh said, "We may think that we can do as we like because there is no human form Guru with a stick (ਡੰਡਾ) in his hand to hit us with if we do something knowingly wrong. However, my Guru is All-Powerful and great. Guru Granth Sahib jee will also strike the clever person commiting wrong with their stick (ਡੰਡਾ). The only difference is that we cannot physically see this stick (ਡੰਡਾ)."

ਭਾਈ ਵੇਖਹੁ ਨਿਆਉ ਸਚੁ ਕਰਤੇ ਕਾ ਜੇਹਾ ਕੋਈ ਕਰੇ ਤੇਹਾ ਕੋਈ ਪਾਏ ॥
bhaa-ee vekh-hu ni-aa-o sach karte kaa, jehaa ko-ee kare tehaa ko-ee paa-e.
O Siblings of Destiny, behold the justice of the True Creator; as people act, so they are rewarded.
(Ang 308)