Reality Check

Today was the ANTAM SANSKAAR (funeral) of 2 of the 3 Gursikhs who passed away 2 weeks ago in the Lake District. Funerals are a REALITY CHECK. "Death is TRUE, Life is FALSE" - one day God will summon ALL of his and take us away from this life. The ROPE OF DEATH is hanging around everyone's neck - any time, any place death can take us away.

ਹਮ ਆਦਮੀ ਹਾਂ ਇਕ ਦਮੀ ਮੁਹਲਤਿ ਮੁਹਤੁ ਨ ਜਾਣਾ ॥
ham aadmee haa(n) ek damee, muhlat muhat na jaaNaa.
We are human beings of the briefest moment; we do not know the appointed time of our departure.

ਨਾਨਕੁ ਬਿਨਵੈ ਤਿਸੈ ਸਰੇਵਹੁ ਜਾ ਕੇ ਜੀਅ ਪਰਾਣਾ ॥੧॥
naanak binvai tisai sarevhu jaa ke jee-a paraaNaa. ||1||
Prays Nanak, serve the One, to whom our soul and breath of life belong. ||1||
(Ang 660)

This morning Daas was doing vichaar with an elder Gursikh about death and Vaheguru's 'BHAANAA' (Will). As Sikhs, the Guru has told us to ACCEPT the 'bhaaNaa' (Will) of Vaheguru. There is no two way about it - we cannot on one hand say "WHAT IF" and "WHY" and on the other hand say "We accept the Will of God." Vaheguru is Great and his 'Kalaa' (Wonder) is Great. The world is His PLAY. The Singh who initially drowned was SAVED, on the other hand the Singhs who went to save him DROWNED. It's part of Vaheguru's HUKAM - the time of death is written before we are born. Life and death are in His hands - He will save the one who is not ready to die, and take away life where He pleases. We are nothing, He is everything.

ਮਾਰੈ ਰਾਖੈ ਏਕੋ ਆਪਿ ॥
maarai raakhai eiko aap.
The One Lord Himself destroys and also preserves.

ਮਾਨੁਖ ਕੈ ਕਿਛੁ ਨਾਹੀ ਹਾਥਿ ॥
maanukh kai kichh naahee haath.
Nothing at all is in the hands of mortal beings.
(Ang 281)

The 3 Gursikhs are being honoured, remembered and given respect throughout the world. Their JEEVAN (spiritual life) and dedication to BAANI & BAANAA (Gurbaani and keeping Rehit) has affected everyone. When a Gursikh passes away to go back to Vaheguru, his life is CELEBRATED. The death of Gursikhs causes others to remember Vaheguru, do Ardaas, re-evaluate one's life and take steps to improve their spiritual life. It is the Will of Vaheguru that Gursikhs INSPIRE OTHERS others while alive and continue inspire people even after death - i.e. the Gursikh becomes IMMORTAL and forever honoured.

ਜਨੁ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਧੂੜਿ ਮੰਗੈ ਤਿਸੁ ਗੁਰਸਿਖ ਕੀ ਜੋ ਆਪਿ ਜਪੈ ਅਵਰਹ ਨਾਮੁ ਜਪਾਵੈ ॥੨॥
jan naanak DhooR mangai tis gursikh kee, jo aap japai avreh naam japaavai. ||2||
Servant Nanak begs for the dust of the feet of that GurSikh, who himself chants the Naam, and inspires others to chant it. ||2||
(Ang 306)

Life is too SHORT. The death of these 3 Gursikhs is a 'WAKE UP CALL'. Today Bhai Sahib did Kathaa (Gurbaani discourse) at the funeral. He wonderfully said, "We should NOT mourn or cry at the death of a Gursikh, rather if one is to cry then it should because one looks at themselves and thinks "WHERE IS MY LIFE GOING?" and "What have earned or gained in this life?"."

ਕਬੀਰ ਸੰਤ ਮੂਏ ਕਿਆ ਰੋਈਐ ਜੋ ਅਪੁਨੇ ਗ੍ਰਿਹਿ ਜਾਇ ॥
kabeer sant moo-e ki-aa ro-ee-ai, jo apune grihi jaa-e.
Kabeer, why cry at the death of a Saint? He is just going back to his home.

ਰੋਵਹੁ ਸਾਕਤ ਬਾਪੁਰੇ ਜੁ ਹਾਟੈ ਹਾਟ ਬਿਕਾਇ ॥੧੬॥
rovhu saakat baapure jo haattai haatt bikaa-e. ||16||
Cry for the wretched, faithless cynic, who is sold from store to store (i.e. reborn in the reincarnation cycle). ||16||
(Ang 1365)

The only way to be liberated and saved is through holding the hand of Guru Nanak Sahib jee. How does one do this? This is through taking Amrit (the nectar of immortality), living Gursikhi Jeevan and Japping Naam (meditating on Naam). There is no other way. Gurbaani tells us that True Religion has two components:

ਸਰਬ ਧਰਮ ਮਹਿ ਸ੍ਰੇਸਟ ਧਰਮੁ ॥
sarab Dharam meh saraysat Dharam.
Of all Dharams (ways of righteous living), the best Dharam,

ਹਰਿ ਕੋ ਨਾਮੁ ਜਪਿ ਨਿਰਮਲ ਕਰਮੁ ॥
har ko naam jap nirmal karam.
is to Naam Jap (chant the Name of Vaheguru) and maintain pure conduct.
(Ang 266)

So one needs to NAAM JAP and also one needs NIRMAL KARAM, i.e. a spiritual and righteous character, conduct and life-style. The lifestyle of Guru Nanak Sahib jee is SUPREME and most EXALTED. On the train journey to Wolverhampton Daas sat next to a middle aged English lady. She was friendly and said she had been to Amritsar. She had also travelled to Nepal, Pakistan and other parts of India. She said "Sikhs are wonderful. They are so humble and their way of life and principles are great. We need MORE Sikhs in the world. It would be wonderful if Sikhs could EXPAND somehow and people could LEARN to live from GURU NANAK and the SIKHS." I thought to myself, "Dhan Guru, Dhan Teri Sikhi" (Blessed is the Guru, Blessed is Your Sikhi). If one wishes to save and fulfil the TRUE OBJECTIVE of life then one has to add STYLE to one's life. The style will only come from Guru Nanak Sahib jee - the way of life of GURMAT-NAAM.

ਗੁਰ ਪੂਰੇ ਕੀ ਨਿਰਮਲ ਰੀਤਿ ॥
gur poore kee nirmal reet.
The lifestyle of the Perfect Guru is immaculate and pure.
(Ang 893)

The past few weeks has made everyone ask themselves, "How much BAANI have I recited and tried to contemplate; Have I taken AMRIT and held onto the hand of Guru Nanak Sahib jee; How much NAAM JAPNAA do I do" Life is a passing DREAM, the only true reality is Vaheguru. The 3 Gursikhs have shown that through Amrit, Gursikhi Jeevan and Naam Japnaa one lives in honour and dies with honour - they have gone back to their ETERNAL FATHER.

ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਮਰਣੁ ਜੀਵਣੁ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਨਾਲਿ ॥
gurmukh maraN jeevaN prabh naal.
The Gurmukh dies, and lives with Vaheguru.
(Ang 932)