Words of Wisdom...

Yesterday a Giani jee shared some words of wisdom. The topic being discussed was the power of Japji Sahib and Gurbani in general. Giani jee mentioned about Guru Teg Bahadur jee's Shaheedi and how Aurangzeb gave Guru Sahib three choices - 1) show miracles (like a magic show), 2) convert to Islam or 3) accept death. Guru Sahib chose death. Giani jee expanded upon this.

Giani jee said, "When you have a dead body, no one keeps it home. No one wants to give it home. Why? Because it is 'dead'. The value of a person is when they are live. People are accepted and kept home when they are living. Similarly, when someone's soul or spirit is alive they are given a home in the Court of Waheguru and accepted. But if someone's spirit or soul is dead then they are sent away from the Court of Waheguru because dead spirits or souls have no value." Giani jee made the link that becoming a Gursikh, doing Naam Simran, reading Gurbani and following Gurmat gives our spirit or soul life. Our life is our Sikhi, Japji Sahib, the Guru. Without Sikhi, Gurbani, Simran and Guru's Rehat we are spiritually dead. For this reason Guru Sahib and his beloved three Gursikhs accepted the death of the physical body but eternal life of the soul. Even when being tortured to death great Gursikhs recited Japji Sahib and sought spiritual strength and spirit. I was really impressed by this explanation.

Then this morning whilst doing Sehaj Paatth I came across these lines in Sri Guru Granth Sahib jee on ang 142 that relates to what Giani jee was explaining:

ਮਃ ੧ ਸਲੋਕੁ ॥
First Mehl, Shalok:

ਸੋ ਜੀਵਿਆ ਜਿਸੁ ਮਨਿ ਵਸਿਆ ਸੋਇ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਅਵਰੁ ਨ ਜੀਵੈ ਕੋਇ ॥
They alone are truly alive, whose minds are filled with the Lord. O Nanak! (Other than those who Bandagi - devotion to God,) no one else is truly alive.

ਜੇ ਜੀਵੈ ਪਤਿ ਲਥੀ ਜਾਇ ॥ ਸਭੁ ਹਰਾਮੁ ਜੇਤਾ ਕਿਛੁ ਖਾਇ ॥ If one (without Naam) does live then departs (from here) with dishonor. Whatever they eat and drink (here) is all 'haraam', impure.

ਰਾਜਿ ਰੰਗੁ ਮਾਲਿ ਰੰਗੁ ॥ ਰੰਗਿ ਰਤਾ ਨਚੈ ਨੰਗੁ ॥
Intoxicated with power and thrilled with wealth, they delight in their pleasures, and dance about shamelessly (meaning, gloats).

ਨਾਨਕ ਠਗਿਆ ਮੁਠਾ ਜਾਇ ॥ ਵਿਣੁ ਨਾਵੈ ਪਤਿ ਗਇਆ ਗਵਾਇ ॥੧॥
O Nanak! They are deluded and defrauded. Without the Lord's Name, they lose their honour and depart.||1||
(Ang 142)

Dhan Hai Guru! Dhan Hai Teree Sikhee!