God's Light Within All (Part 1)

In December 2004, while I was studying in London, I visited the Gurdwara Sahib in Southall and Giani jee was doing Kathaa (discourse on Gurbaani). Giani jee's words stuck to my mind. He explained how Gurbaani says Waheguru resides WITHIN ALL and that Waheguru FORGIVES and CLEANS the sins or filth of a sinner.

He went on to explain how at the end of Ardaas we all say together, ‘naanak naam chardee kalaa, tere bhaane sarbat da bhalaa’. Yes, we say, ‘SARBAT DA BHALAA’. We ask for the good of ‘ALL’. Guru Gobind Singh Sahib jee did NOT say, "I ask for the good of all EXCEPT for AURANGZEB who cowardly murdered my two young sons." No. When we do Ardaas we do not say, "Sarbat Da Bhalaa, but NOT that person who swore at me last week… I don’t want his bhalaa (good)."

A beautiful analogy was given to illustrate that there is good within all. We say Waheguru is within all, but from personal experience seeing Waheguru is difficult at times. The example given by Giani jee was:

A lady works hard to earn a living. On the side, she saves a little bit of money at a time, so that they she can save up to buy a GOLD BRACLET. Eventually, the lady saves enough money to go the jeweller’s shop and buys a gold bracelet. She gives the bracelet to her child. The child one day is walking with the bracelet and accidentally DROPS the bracelet in the GUTTER. The gutter is DIRTY. God knows what is in the gutter – urine, dirt, people’s spit, and the smell.

Would we expect the child to leave the bracelet in the gutter and walk on home? NO. Why not? Because he knows how HARD his mother has WORKED to earn the money, which she used to buy the bracelet. Therefore, he stretches out his arm and PICKS UP the dirty bracelet. He goes to WASH the bracelet with WATER and SOAP, and then puts it back on his hand.

Vaheguru has made ALL of us. Vaheguru sees us all in an EQUAL light, because the Lord has created us and the Lord knows how beautiful we are within DESPITE how much FILTH and DIRT we throw on ourselves.

Guru Nanak Sahib jee did not only REVEAL Gurbaani, but he also LIVED Gurbaani. Guru Nanak Sahib jee stretched his arm out to help people. Guru Nanak Sahib jee stretched his arm out to help people out of the gutter of Kaljug. Guru Nanak Sahib jee stretched his arm out of people to give them the CHANCE to realise that they can clean themselves and realise that under this dirt and filth lies a beautiful TREASURE.

Guru Nanak Sahib jee gave his arm out to BHUMEEAA CHOR, a bandit and thief, and helped him to become a SANT, saintly person. Guru Nanak Sahib jee gave his arm out to KAUDA RAAKASH, a cannibal who ate men, and inspired him to remember Waheguru and live a TRUTHFUL LIFE. Guru Nanak Sahib jee gave his arm out to SAJJAN THAG, a deceitful murderer who would rob people of their money, and made him REALISE the consequences of his actions and CHANGE his life.

Giani Jee explained to the Sangat that Guru Nanak Sahib jee gave his arm out. He saw Waheguru within all, because he shared the Light of God, he knew that Waheguru had created EVERYONE. It is the PERVERSION of the MIND and one's ACTIONS that are EVIL, not the person. Just as the child stretched out his arm to get out the gold bangle from the dirty gutter because he knew his mother had worked hard to buy it, similarly the Gurmukh recognises the divinity WITHIN ALL the creation, despite the dirt and filth which one may throw over themselves. Waheguru...

(...to be continued)