This year (2004) we are celebrating the 400th Anniversary of the installation of the Guru Granth Sahib in the Golden Temple in Amritsar.
The disciples of Guru Gobind Singh were full of grief when the Guru was about to leave the body. They asked the Guru, Who would guide them to find God, when Guru Gobind Singh was gone?
Guru Gobind Singh replied that the Great Book of the Sikhs: The Guru Granth Sahib, would become a Living Guru for the disciples. The Guru said that whenever they (the disciples) were troubled, or they missed him, they could open and read the Guru Granth Sahib, and the answer would be revealed to them.
The Guru Granth Sahib (The Guru in the book form) has since been regarded as the Living Guru, for the Sikhs.
WHO IS A GURU?
According to Ma Indira Devi, a guru is one who you can love trust and say ‘yes’ to. He is on the path that you are most comfortable in, just ahead of you, lighting the way, with your hand firmly in his/hers.
Many believe that ones real Guru resides within oneself.
WHY SHOULD WE HAVE A GURU?
Just like one requires a teacher for anything in life that one wishes to learn. It makes it easier rather than experiment by trial and error, especially in the Spiritual path. But most importantly he/she is one who is able to point out where you are straying from your god-given mission.
WHAT SHOULD BE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE GURU & HIS DISCIPLE?
Faith, Love
Let us celebrate and bring joy to our hearts. Why? Because we have been fortunate to find our guru, without much effort.
Let us sing:
ANAND BHAYYAA MEREE MAEE SATGURU MAIN PAAYA
SATGUR TA PAAYA SAHAJ SETEE MAN VAJEEA VADHAEEA
RAAG RATAN PARVAR PAREA SHABAD GAAVAN AEEA
SHABDO TO GAVAH HAREE KERA MAN JINEE VASAIYA
KAHEY NANAK ANAND HOA SATGURU MAI PAAYA
EY MAN MERIA SADA RAHU HAR NALEY HAR NAAL RAHU TU MAN MERE
DOOKH SABH VISARNA ANGEEKAR OH KAREY TERA
KARJ SABH SAVARNA SABHNA GALA SAMARTH SWAMI
SO KIU MANAH VISARE KAHEY NANAK MAN MERE SADA RAHU HAR
NAALE
SACHEY SAHEBA KYA NAHEE GHAR TERE GHAR TA TERE SABH KUCHH HAI
JIS DEVE SO PAVAI SADA SIFAT SALAH TERI
NAAM MAN VASAVE NAAM JINKE MAN VASIYA
VAAJEY SHABD GHANERE KAHEY NANAK SACHE SAHEBA
KYA NAHEE GHAR TERE.
SAACHA NAAM MERA AADHAARO SAACH NAAM AADHAR MERA
JIN BUKHA SABH GAVAEEYA KAR SAANT SUKH MAN AI VASSIA
JIN ICHHA SABH PUJAIYA SADA QURBAN KEETA GURU VITOH
JISDEEYA EH VADIAEEA KAHEY NANAK SUNO SANTOH
SHABAD DHAROH PYARO SAACHA NAAM TERA AADHAARO
VAJEY PANCH SHABD TIT GHAR SABHAAGE GHAR SABHAAGE SHABAD VAJEY
KALA JIT GHAR DHAARIA PANCH DOOT TUDH VAS KEETEY
KAAL KANTAK MAARIA DHUR KARAM PAIYA TUDH JAN KAU
SE NAAM HARKE LAAGE KAHEY NANAK TAH SUKH HOA
TIT GHAR ANAHAD VAAJEY
ANAND SUNOH VAD BHAGIYO SAGAL MANORATH POOREY
PAARBRAHM PRABH PAIYA UTRAY SAGAL VISOOREY
DOOKH ROG SANTAAP UTRAY SUNEE SACHEE BAANEE
SANT SAAJAN BHAE SARSEY POOREY GUR TEY JANEE
SUNTEY PUNEET KAHTEY PAVIT SATGUR RAHYA BHARPOOREY
BINVANT NANAK GUR CHARAN LAAGEY VAAJEY ANAHAD TOOREY.
PAVAN GURU PAANI PITA MATA DHARAT MAHAT
DIVAS RAAT DUI DAYI DAIYA KHELEY SAGAL JAGAT
CHANGIAEEYAN BURYAEEYA VAJEY DHARMA HADOOR
KARMI AAPO AAPNEE KAY NERAY KAY DOOR
JINI NAAM DHIYAIA GAYE MASTAK GHAAL
NANAK TAY MUKH UJLAY KAYTEY CHHUTEY NAAL.
The above prayer, loosely translated means:
I feel blissful, since I have found my Guru, without difficulty
My heart fills with immense joy
The Raagas sing Your song! (and so does one) who has got you in his heart sing your song (praise)
I feel joyful since I have found my guru!
Oh mind of mine! forget all (your) problems, stay near the thought of God.
Stay with Hari. He will accept you and fulfill all your needs.
He is ‘All capable’. Don’t forget Him. Nanak says, “Oh my mind, always remain close with God.”
Oh True Lord! What exists that You do not possess?
Whosoever is receptive will receive your grace.
Your teachings (The chanting of your Name) must remain in my heart.
In whosoever’s heart lives Your Name… Constant Grace resides.
Guru Nanak states, what exists that You do not possess?
Your True Name is my support. You have annihilated all my desires, you have
brought me happiness. I love you so much, I will naturally surrender. You have given me a desireless status. Nanak says, “Hear, O holy ones, keep the True Name as your support!”
Whoever is fortunate, hears these 5 words within his heart. The 5 senses have you in their grip. Time is running out. Wake up! Listen to the words (of the Guru). Whoever’s heart has the name of God, their bad karmas will dissolve to dust. In whose heart His Name resides…his heart will be full of joy.
(Breath) Wind is the Guru, Water is the Father, Earth is the Mother. Day & night dance on.
I may be good, I may be evil, I have come to your feet. Give me Your blessings whether
We are close or far from you. Whoever has taken the Name has given up their ego. Whoever has reached there, they are worthy of praise!
Oh Fortunate Ones! all your desires will be fulfilled. Once you achieve (Your Spiritual Goal) all your problems will vanish (illness, mental disturbances etc). When you listen to the True Guru you will easily become saintly and pure. Nanak touches the feet of the Guru and the ANAHAD SHABD (The Soundless Sound of the Name) resounds.
GURU NANAK—JAPUJI SAHIB
Kulbir Kaur, Excerpts
Japuji sahib is the opening composition of the Guru Granth Sahib.
It is a morning prayer
Composed by Guru Nanak.
Japuji Sahib contains a prologue called the Mool Mantra.
Mool Mantra is the basic creed of the Sikh faith.
It sums up the characteristics of the Supreme Being.
Ek Omkaar:
There is only 1 God
Beyond Time
Beyond Circle of Birth, Death and Rebirth
He is the Creator
Without Fear and hate
Immortal
Omniscient
Omni present.
Guru Nanak says:
In order to be a Man of Truth
Your Actions should be pure
You must suppress ego with the discipline of:
Morality
Meditation
And
Moulding ones life with
Hukam and Raza- His will.
How does one get rid of ego?
Sunai: Listen to the Holy Name
Maniai: Conviction in the truth of God’s Word
Nidhiaasan: Carrying out the Guru’s instruction in daily life.
Ardas: Seeks the welfare of entire humanity
Sarbat da bhalla: Seeks welfare of entire humanity
Because True worship of God is Service of His Creation.
In the last section of Japuji Sahib, Guru Nanak mentions 5 stages of man’s progress on the path of Divinity.
1) Dharam khand
2) Gian khand
3) Saram khand ( Spiritual effort to train body, mind…)
4) Karamkhand: The region of Grace, he becomes Gurmukh, inclined towars God)
5) Sachkhand: The abode of Formless
The qualities of continence, patience, divine knowledge, wisdom, prayer, austerity and love of the Divine Word makes him a True man of God
Shakun Kimatrai 