Saturday, May 22, 2010

Jaap Sahib...

Taken from book "Se Kinehya", a biography of Baba Harnam Singh jee (Rampur Kera) written by Bhai Seva Singh jee:



Chapter 11: Guru Gobind Singh Ji
The family had built a small hut in the fields to watch over the crops and to occasionally stay over in. Whenever Baba ji had time he would come and sit in this hut to do his meditation. Baba ji told us of one June when it was very hot. He was doing Mool Mantr jaap in the hut. The door suddenly opened and a Gursikh with very glowing features entered. They both greeted each other with Guru Ji's blessed Fateh.

The Gursikh then said that the Tenth King is on his way to bless you. Harnam Singh was overjoyed. They both rushed outside. At a distance, Guru Ji approached on his horse along with four other Gursikhs. Guru Ji got close and His horse stood still. With great humility, Harnam Singh bowed down at Guru Ji's feet. Satguru Ji smiled very slightly and then continued walking further on and then suddenly disappeared. Harnam Singh was astonished.

The 'mysterious' Gursikh remained standing next to him all the way through this experience. He said "Harnam Singh Ji! You should be absolutely ecstatic but you seem dismayed. What's the matter?" He replied that Satguru Ji had blessed him with Darshan but he said nothing. The Gursikh told him that Satguru Ji was very happy with his spirituality which is why he blessed him. But, he remained silent because when you do Nitnem, you don't recite Jaap Sahib. Baba ji replied that he found it difficult that's why he didn't do it. He did Sukhmani Sahib and Aasa Di Vaar every day. But the Gursikh said that it is Guru Ji's COMMAND to a Gursikh; it is imperative.

Gursikhs who do not do their full Nitnem can do as many other prayers and Baanis as they wish, but they will never be granted with Guru Ji' s full happiness. However, Sikhs who do as the Panj Pyaaray have told them and then do more prayers/Paath/Baani on top will obtain Guru Ji's true happiness. Those who remain sluggish and negligent towards Guru Ji's command will fall short of his full blessing.

From that day, he made sure he did his Jaap Sahib daily, no matter how long it took. And slowly he memorised it. Gurbani tells us over and over again about accepting and implementing GurBani into our lives:
ਹੁਕਮਿਮੰਨਿਐਹੋਵੈਪਰਵਾਣੁਤਾਖਸਮੈਕਾਮਹਲੁਪਾਇਸੀ||
hukam manniai hovai parvaan taa khasmai kaa mehal paaisee||
Obeying the Order of His Will, he becomes acceptable, and then, he obtains the Mansion of the Lord's Presence.
(Ang 471)
and
ਹੁਕਮਿਰਜਾਈਜੋਚਲੈਸੋਪਵੈਖਜਾਨੈ||
hukam rajaaee jo chalai so pavai khajaanai ||
One who follows the Command of the Lord's Will is taken into the Lord's Treasury.
(Ang 421)

It is quite clear. As our third Guru Ji states:
ਸੋਸਿਖੁਸਖਾਬੰਧਪੁਹੈਭਾਈਜਿਗੁਰਕੇਭਾਣੇਵਿਚਿਆਵੈ||
ਆਪਣੈਭਾਣੈਜੋਚਲੈਭਾਈਵਿਛੁੜਿਚੋਟਾਖਾਵੈ||
so sikh sakhaa ba(n)dhhap hai bhaaee j gur kae bhaanae vich aavai || aapanai bhaanai jo chalai bhaaee vishhurr chottaa khaavai ||
He alone is a Sikh, a friend, a relative and a sibling, who walks in the Way of the Guru's Will. One who walks according to his own will, O Siblings of Destiny, suffers separation from the Lord, and shall be punished.
(Ang 601)

Guru Ji's teachings give supreme precedence to obeying the command. Those who listen to it and follow it will rise to great heights. The whole essence of the religion is to obey:
ਹੁਕਮੁਮੰਨੇਸੋਜਨੁਪਰਵਾਣੁ||
hukam ma(n)ne so jan parvaan ||
That humble being who obeys the Hukam of the Lord's Command is accepted.
(Ang 1175)

ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿਹੁਕਮੁਮੰਨੇਸਹਕੇਰਾਹੁਕਮੇਹੀਸੁਖੁਪਾਏ||
ਹੁਕਮੋਸੇਵੇਹੁਕਮੁਅਰਾਧੇਹੁਕਮੇਸਮੈਸਮਾਏ||
gurmukh hukam ma(n)nae seh keraa hukame hee sukh paae-e || hukamo seve hukam araadhhe hukame samai samaae-e ||
The Gurmukh obeys the Order of her Husband Lord God; through the Hukam of His Command, she finds peace. In His Will, she serves; in His Will, she worship and adores Him.
(Ang 1423)

Just like Lehnaa Ji followed Guru Nanak Dev Ji's command. Anything Satguru Ji commanded he obeyed heart and soul. After doing that Satguru Guru Nanak Dev Ji infused His own Light into Baba Lehnaa Ji and made him Guru Angad Dev Ji. Guru Ji' s whole history is our perfect example. Those who obeyed were (and will be) raised to great heights:
ਹੁਕਮੁਮੰਨੇਸੋਈਸੁਖੁਪਾਏਹੁਕਮੁਸਿਰਿਸਾਹਾਪਾਤਿਸਾਹਾਹੇ||੩||
hukam ma(n)ne soee sukh paa-e hukam sir shaahaa paatishaahaa he ||3||

Whoever submits to His Command, finds peace; His Command is above the heads of kings and emperors. ||3||

(Ang 1055)

ਹੁਕਮੁਮੰਨਹਿਤਾਹਰਿਮਿਲੈਤਾਵਿਚਹੁਹਉਮੈਜਾਇ||ਰਹਾਉ||
hukam ma(n)nehi taa har milai taa vichahu houmai jaae || rehaao ||

If you submit to the Hukam of the Lord's Command, then you shall meet with the Lord; only then will your ego depart from within. ||Pause||
(Ang 560)

For a Gursikh, the instructions he/she receives from the Panj Pyaaray at the Amrit Ceremony are Guru Ji's command. Any laziness/lethargy in practicing will leave an individual wanting and they will never obtain Guru Ji's happiness.
----



Vaheguru

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thank you very bhaji !! i was trying to find the name of this book!!

whats you review on it

Manvir Singh (UK) said...

Se Kineyha is an awesome book. I read the whole book (although it takes me a long time to read a book!). It has easy to read small chapters which helps a lot.

The book looks at Bhai Sahib getting into Sikhi and how he progress in his Bhagti and the challenges and experiences he comes across.

The experiences and stories which are supported with Gurbani are very inspiring.

The ending of the book was very emotional. It showed how the Saint is also a Warrior and is never afraid to stand up for the Truth.

Dhan Guru, Dhan Guru Ke Pyaare :)

Anonymous said...

Bhaji, i was wondering if you knew where i could get this book from? ive been trying to find it for a while now, but not had much sucess.

Anonymous said...

thank you very much!!!

i just read your article that you must have written years ago about your struggle to keep kesh.

Very inspiring!! i can imagine me reading that story to my kids (future tense!)

do you know where i could obtain a copy of se kineya? maybe online..

thanks

Manvir Singh (UK) said...

You can buy the book from most Gurmat stalls/shops.

In UK - you can buy from Sikh Missionary Society Shop in Southall (10 Featherstone Road, Southall) or in Birmingham from DTF shop on Soho Road, Handsworth.

Also I know Singh Sabha Cross Road Gurdwara in Coventry has copies of the book in the Gurdwara shop/stall.

Alternatively you can browse the internet. I think GurmatKhoj.com may sell them.

Hope that helps jee.