Guru Arjan Dev Ji and Buddhu Shah
Buddhu Shah was a resident of Lahore and was a big businessman. His work was to get bricks that had been moulded and baked in kilns by labourers, and then sell them on. His trade was flourishing, so much so that bricks were even being bought from him for government works.
Once, when Buddhu Shah had a large order for bricks, he went to Guru Arjan Dev Ji and asked that Guru Ji may ensure that all the bricks placed in his newly started kilns would be well baked. Guru Ji said that in order for this to happen, Buddhu Shah must serve Sangat with langar.
So Buddhu Shah did just that, and invited Sangat to his house in order to feed them. Whilst the Sikh devotees were taking their meals, Bhai Lakhu Ji (also called Bhai Kamaliya by the village men) reached the gate of Buddhu Shah’s house. Seeing the torn dress of Bhai Lakhu, Buddhu Shah who was standing at the gate, ordered Bhai Lakhu to go away, saying that he would not be given food, as he was too late. Bhai Lakhu remained standing outside the closed gate.
After the Sikh devotees had finished their meals, one Sikh offered a prayer that Buddhu Shah’s bricks may be well baked and earn him lots of money. However, outside Bhai Lakhu could be heard saying, “I am hungry and need some food. Feed me, or else your bricks will remain unbaked.”
When Buddhu Shah checked his bricks, they were still unbaked. He was very cross, for he had done as the Guru had instructed him and had fed the Sangat, yet Guru Ji had not ensured that his bricks had been baked. He went to visit Guru Arjan Dev Ji to express his anger.
“Are you sure that nobody was left hungry?” asked Guru Ji. “Everybody was fed until they were full, except one beggar who came too late,” replied Buddhu Shah. “A beggar?” questioned Guru Arjan Dev Ji. “Yes, someone known by the name of Bhai Kamaliya.”
Guru Arjan Dev Ji replied, “In accordance with the words of Bhai Kamaliya, the bricks of your kiln remained unbaked as you refused to feed a hungry man. However, the prayers of a Sikh devotee can neither go unheeded. Therefore your bricks will fetch the same price as the baked ones despite being unbaked.”
Buddhu Shah was very pleased to sell unbaked bricks at the rate of baked ones. From then on, he grasped the truth:
God listens to the hungry and naked, and grants the wishes of those who give clothes to the naked, food to the hungry and help to the needy.
Sri Guru Har Gobind Ji and the Blind Gursikh
In the time of Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji, there was a Gursikh who lived in a poor little hut. This Gursikh was blind and had a lot of Pyaar for Guru Ji. As he couldn't travel anywhere he would ask people to go to see Guru Ji and then wait for there return to hear of Guru Ji's well being. He would ask them what does my Guru Ji look like, How brave is he, what weapons does he keep, what stories does he tell, and each would reply "I cannot explain with words."
One night he could not sleep, he kept thinking of Guru Ji and how wonderful he was. He longed so much to see the beautiful Mukh of Guru Maharaaj. He could not take it any longer he felt angered at himself.
"Guru Ji, I am such a dirty sinner, I am unworthy of your darshan. I do not know what countless sins I have committed for me to suffer without you."
At this moment Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji awoke from his Samadhi, he told some Sikhs to get the horses ready as he had to go somewhere urgently.
The blind Gursikh started to cry, he felt angry at himself for being blind, he tore his hut apart throwing things and cursing himself. He wanted to kill himself. He wanted too go to see Guru Ji. He ran out of the hut and just ran into the misty dark distance. He tripped and fell , he hurt himself pretty badly. He was bleeding. He started to cry and thought only of Guru Ji.
"Guru Ji, Guru Ji! Guru Ji! Guru Ji! Guru Ji! Guru Ji!" he cried continuously calling out for Guru Ji.
Suddenly he felt two strong arms lift him to his feet, and he heard a beautiful strong voice
"I have come, my beloved"
"Guru Ji, is it really you, but how come you have come"
This is what Guru Ji said…"Beloved, I could not sleep without doing your darshan, I felt your heart pulling me towards you and I could not survive"
When the Blind Sikh heard this he fell to Guru Ji's feet and cried so much he could not contain himself. Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji again lifted him and said
"the home of Guru Nanak Contains everything ask of it what you will"
The Sikh replied "Guru Ji all that I ask of is, that my eyes may work so I can do your Darshan"
Guru Ji smiled and kissed both of his eyes. When the Sikh opened his eyes he again fell to Guru Ji's feet on seeing him and could not help himself and could only cry. He wept at Guru Ji's feet and kept doing his Darshan. He could not even imagined such a beautiful Guru. He just kept staring at Guru Ji. Guru Jee then said
"beloved I must go now, it is amrit vela and the Sangat will be waiting" The Sikh begged Guru Ji to stay longer…
"Guru Ji, I cannot live without your Darshan now, what will I do" Guru Ji Smiled again and said
"the house of Guru Nanak again offers what you ask of it, one more thing"
The Sikh fell to the floor in dandaut, stretched out with arms towards Guru Ji and said "Guru Ji if you are going to give me one more thing then take these eyes away as I wish not to see anything ever again besides your darshan."
A tear dropped down Guru Ji's cheek as he granted the final wish.
Guru Gobind Singh Ji and the Sinking Stone
Guru Gobind Singh Ji was sitting in the congregation with Sangat. He had with him a stone and a bucket full of water. He threw the stone into the bucket and the stone sunk to the bottom. He then asked the Sangat why the stone sunk?
One person said that it sunk because it was a stone … a stone always sinks. But Guru Ji asked why is it that the stone sunk? Another Sangatee responded that it was going to sink because it is heavy … a heavy object will always sink in water. Guru Sahib Ji responded that this was not the right answer. He asked people to give the right answer. No-one had a clue – they could not overcome their scientific way of thinking.
Finally, Guru Gobind Singh Ji turned to Bhai Nand Lal Ji. Bhai Nand Lal Ji was sitting at the bottom of Guru Ji’s Takhat, and as soon as Guru Ji asked him, Bhai Nand Lal Ji started crying. Guru Ji said “Nand Lal, why are you crying? Give an answer to my question.”
Bhai Nand Lal Ji responded, “when the stone was with you, it was afloat in this world. When the stone left you, it sunk.” Guru Gobind Singh Ji was very happy with Bhai Nand Lal Ji and gave him a tight embrace.
Guru Ji gave this as an example of what happens to us when we leave the Guru. When we leave the True Guru, we all sink. When we stay with the Guru, Guru Sahib carries us across the Ocean to Waheguroo.
How can we stay with Guru Sahib so that we too are carried across the Ocean? We must submit ourselves to him by taking Khande-Battae-Da-Amrit. We must follow the Rehits provided to us by Guru Sahib … each and everyone is designed to carry us across. We must abstain from the Bujjar Kurehits, since these only lead to pain and suffering.
We must follow the Nitnem routine provided to us by Guru Ji. Baba Nand Singh Ji used to say that when we do Nitnem, we offer our arm out to Guru Ji to carry us across. By doing Nitnem, Guru Nanak Dev Ji will never let go of our arm. But when fail in our Nitnem, we take away our offering arm. How can Guru Ji carry us across then?
We must follow our Guru. Our Guru is the Shabad … we must immerse ourselves in it. When we immerse ourselves in the Shabad, there is nothing that can cause us to sink, since the Shabad forms a protection barrier all around us to carry us across.
gur kw sbdu rKvwry ]
gur kaa sabadh rakhavaarae ||
The Word of the Guru's Shabad is my Saving Grace.
caukI cauigrd hmwry ]
choukee chougiradh hamaarae ||
It is a guardian posted on all four sides around me.
Who was the king during Kabir's life-time?
Once, there was discussion about God. Guru Gobind Singh Ji asked, "Brothers! Who was the king during Kabir's life-time?"
Then, some old persons said, "Humanyoo".
Someone said, "Pithora".
One said, "Sikandar".
One said, "Madan Paal was the king".
There was a big debate for a long time. Guru Ji continued to listen.
“We cannot reach them; the God's men are high. The castes, 'varnas' and kingdoms, all remain lower.”
They all became silent. The Sikhs asked, "O True King! Why did you ask? Please tell yourself".
Guru Ji said, "This is the glory of 'Naam'. Kabir was a poor weaver. Everyone knows him. And the king was the owner of large kingdoms of the world, no one knows him (now). See the glory of the 'Name'. There were thousands of Pandits, Shah, astrologers, kings, but all are unknown (now). By the grace of 'Name', Kabir is called the knowledgeable and 'Sidh' (perfect). O Sikhs! The 'Name' is great. It was 'Sikandar Shah' (who was the king during the lifetime of Kabeer). He conquered India, he bowed before Kabir Ji after seeing the miracle of Kabir. O Sikhs! He, who repeats the 'Name', is the Sikh of the Guru. Repeat the 'Name' and do the 'seva' (service) with thy hands."
These are …
… WONDERFUL …