SATGURU IS FORMLESS
This debate on who is a Satguru, has been going on for ages. Let us first understand the term Satguru. "Sat" means truth. The word "Guru" consists of two parts, namely, "Gu", which means darkness and "Ru", which means light. So, that entity who shows us the truth and takes us from the path of darkness to light is a Satguru. Therefore, the prime mission of a Satguru is to show us the Truth.
Now a question arises as to the description and definition of Truth. Is it God or is it Allah? Is it Ram or is it Rahim? Is it Waheguru or is it Jehovah? One could get bogged down in different names. Then comes the various practices. Is He attainable by praying to a stone idol or by going for Haj to Mecca? For others, it is the visit to holy places like Kashi, Mathura or Ayodhya, which will bring them salvation. Yet others may desire to kiss the Pope’s hand and be saved for life. Monastic life may be someone else’s panacea for salvation. So, wherein lies the truth and the means to achieve the same? Of course, we have the various scriptures to guide us. There is the Bible, the Quran, the Guru Granth Sahib, the Vedas, the Upanishadas and the Geeta. Which out of these is one to follow?
The true saints come at various times to resolve this recurring problem. "There has been and always will be one underlying reality to this creation. It is timeless, unchangeable and the source of everything. Only our perception of this basic reality changes. The various books and the various saints only describe it differently."
This is how a Satguru will describe Truth: "That, by knowing which everything else is known." His is an all-encompassing, unifying and all-embracing kind of vision. Whenever and wherever, it is the division or the difference, which is stressed, be sure that you are deviating from the eternal truth. That which unifies, encompasses and explains all shades of thoughts, all manners of living, is the test element of truth. A Satguru comes to unite and shower love and affection and not propagate hatred and jealousy. Such a person was Lord Jesus Christ, who proclaimed the Fatherhood of God and Brotherhood of Man. Also such a person was Prophet Mohammad, who united warring tribes into a loving brotherhood of Islam. So was Baba Nanak, known for his secular vision of uniting Hindus and Muslims. Lord Krishna befriended the lowly Sudama. Lord Rama ate the partially eaten berries of Bhilini, a low caste woman. Caste, creed, birth, colour or position had no meaning in their reckoning. Such persons could be called Satgurus. They provided the vision and guidance in their times to the humans who were true seekers. Truth was revealed by them, for others not only to know but also to follow it in their own lives. Such a revelation is now possible though the grace of the contemporary Satguru, the Nirankari Baba.
So, we see that "Sat" or Truth has been in existence since times immemorial. The same Sat (Truth) is now available by the grace of Satguru Nirankari Baba Ji.
Has a Satguru to be a human? That is a profound question. We know that Lord Jesus, Prophet Mohammad, Baba Nanak and many other were all humans. So were Lord Rama and Lord Krishna human beings. Yet, some believe that realization of Truth or God-realization is possible by praying to an idol, bathing in a river or doing a critical study of a holy book. This debate will go on and on. The solution is to test and experiment. Approach the Nirankari Baba and test for yourself his ability to grant you the boon of Divine Knowledge. This Divine Knowledge is the same which was available throughout the ages.
We know that all human forms are themselves transitory. So, what happens to the human form of the Satguru. The Satguru himself explains this riddle. The human form may be transitory, but Truth is eternal. The human form comes out of the eternal Truth, preaches the eternal Truth and falls back into the eternal Truth. Revelation of the eternal Truth through the medium of a Satguru has been going on throughout the ages. Hence, the Satguru has emerged form the Formless Eternal Reality Nirankar (God Formless) and will merge in it again. So, his human form may be subject to change, birth and death, but his formless form (Nirankar) remains always eternal, never changing, timeless and ever existing. Those, who take refuge in him, join him in eternal life in Nirankar. For them, there is no more life and no more death. They acquire the same position and status as that of the Satguru himself. Blessed are such seekers.
So we see that Satguru is really the formless one. He can, however, be known through his human form. In fact, it may be stated, that He takes human form as a Satguru for His devotees. Those, who consider a Satguru a human being, gain little. But those, who regard him as the Formless Reality (Nirankar), reap all the benefits. By merging in this Reality, they are saved from the cycle of birth and death. They are then established in the supreme reality, namely, Sat Chit Ananda or Truth, Consciousness and Bliss. So coming to the Satguru, you also access Nirankar, which is the true self of all. This is not only possible, but also desirable for all Truth seekers. So, be warned that a Satguru is not a mere human. Do not be led away by his human for. He is the eternal, everlasting and ever-effulgent reality. Know him, worship him and merge with him and thereby enjoy the bliss of happiness of life, which he alone is capable of bestowing. What a beautiful, benevolent and rewarding bargain this is. You have everything to gain and nothing to lose by this act of surrendering to the Satguru. In fact, how can anyone do without it? So, know the human form of a Satguru to be only and appendage of the Formless Reality Nirankar. Through him you can also tap and access the most powerful, the most benevolent and the most stupendous source of joy and happiness, love and wisdom.
LIFE OF ILL-WAY OR SANR-WAY
There is the ill-way of life. One is constantly disturbed, worried, feeling harassed and generally upset. This person is worried about his family, his position, his work, his finances, what others think about him, etc. Such a person is constantly on the run. He goes here, he goes there, he does this, he does that, but his mind is in a constant state of upheaval, agitation, disturbance and dissatisfaction. "I wish I had that car. I wish my wife was more caring about me. I wish my boss does not show favour to Mr. "X" over me. I wish I had a country-house. I wish I could have more time with my family. I wish- I wish." So goes this person’s refrain. He is living his life in an ill-way. He is ill of an ailment which he does not know even exists. It was Swami Vivekananda who stated that "It is only the saints in this world who are sane. Rest of the humanity is insane to a lesser or more degree."
It is not the fault of a human being. He/she has been programmed in that manner by God . The programme is that "this body is me/mine. Rest is mostly external to me. This is my wife, my children, my house, my car, my job, my colleagues, my city, my country; I have to survive in this. For this, I may have to do many things for my sake." This reasoning is then extended to grabbing, cheating, hurting, lying as long as it benefits "Me and mine". This state in Indian philosophy is called Haumein (i.e. I am), where you and your body is the centre to the universe for you. Everything else is external. Such a programme only bodes ill for you. You will remain ill and you will make those with whom you come in contact also ill. You are living the ill-way of life.
Is there another way? Guru Granth Sahib has a very apt saying in it : Sarab Rog Ka Aukhad Naam" (God’s remembrance is the panacea for all ills). This is the way shown by the saints: Do not live the ill-way of life. Learn to live the sane-way of life.
The saints are capable of reprogramming you for the sane-way of life. Actually, the programme lies within you. It is your own inner essence. The saints only do the job of pointing this source of health, of happiness, which is already inside (within) of you. Look! You have arisen from the source of all power. Your true nature is that of love, compassion, calmness, concern. You had only forgotten it. Change the centre of your life from your own self to that the Murshid (Guru or True Master) and through him the absolute reality Nirankar. He is the centre of all life, including your own centre. Once you realize this, you become one with Him. Since He is absolute, changeless, impartial, all-loving, all-benevolent, all-encompassing, you become the same. Gone is your worry for yourself, for your family, for your position etc. You live and work only for Him. You are now the ever serene, ever calm ever poised person. It is not the calmness of inaction or laziness. It is the calmness even in the most intense action-oriented activity. Recall the doubt and inaction felt by Arjuna in the battlefield of Mahabharata. How Lord Krishna revealed to him the true Doer? It was then that Arjuna took up his bow and arrows without worrying about the consequences of his actions. Such are the saints who bow at the feet of their True Master. Theirs is the only sane-way of life: "We are nothing. All is you. We exist in You, we work in You. We enjoy what we do. We leave the results to You." Such persons live in calmness, humility and compassion. They do not harm, hurt no one, wish ill of no one and always extend their hands in help, love and companionship. What do you think such a person will be like? His is the only true sane-way of life. All others are 'ill'. The beauty of it all is that the sane-way of life not only benefits the person who is living it, it also benefits everyone around him. "How is it that Miss "L" is so calm under all circumstances?" "How is it that Mr. "M" took change in that emergency, while everyone else panicked?" "How is it that Mrs. "T" has always good words to say about everyone else?"
Such are the remarks one hears about the truly sane persons. My Master, Nirankari Baba Ji is converting the ill - way of life to a sane-way of life. Is it not a stress on character - building? Yes! It is much more. It is character - building and preaching, and imbibing of the good characteristics in your day-to-day life. It is not only the lecture and the harangue. It is the practice and imbibing which Baba Ji stresses. Does it involve lot of personal effort? No, if you follow the basic principles and practices as taught to you by Baba Ji. In fact, it is the most easy, natural way of life. Provided, of course, you have surrendered fully. Partial surrender will not do. Till you retain any element of "I-ness" 'at the feet' of the Lord Master, then yours is the sane way - the way of all saints. The way which was shown by Lord Jesus, Prophet Mohammad, Lord Rama, Lord Krishna, Baba Nanak and others. Such saints are the truly sane persons in this world. Such a life is also with in your reach.
THE RITUAL AND THE REALITY
The author was once in London and wanted to visit a famous church, and hence he asked his friend as to where were the shoes to be removed and kept. Imagine his surprise when he was told that removal of shoes was not necessary. Even though he hesitantly entered the sacred premises, he was not very comfortable about it. How could you enter a place of worship with your shoes on? The ritual of removing the shoes is considered a mark of respect for the holy place. Not so for the ordinary church-goes in London . The story did not end there. When we went a little further, there was a somber looking gentleman collecting all the hats. He pointed at the author's turban. The friend had to explain that it was not a hat but a part of the dress. Imagine the perturbness caused. How could a Sikh (as the author is) remove his turban and present himself before the church priest? It would amount to sacrilege and insult to his faith. And here were people, very calmly removing their headgear to walk into the church. If they would come to visit a Gurdwara (Sikh temple), we would ask them to put on something on their heads. The ritual of wearing or removing headgear had acquired absolutely different meaning for the two sets of people. What about the reality behind it ? The reality is the same, i.e. a mark of respect. Hence the one basic reality of showing respect has led to two exactly opposite sets of rituals. One showed respect by putting on something over his head, the other showed respect by removing his headgear.
Hence, is there a need to fight over rituals? The answer is that one should go beyond rituals and try to find out the reality behind them.
A devout person prostrates himself before a stone idol. He is so moved that tears flow down his cheeks. Is he doing a wrong thing? The reality is that in his own simple way, he is showing his love of God. Another will call him Buut Prasat (idol worshipper). This person is then so angry that he goes and breaks the idol. He is then called Buut Shikan (idol breaker). His question is how can God, who is the supreme power, the all-pervading entity, be a mere piece of stone. Now he, too, is correct is his own limited way. Both are partially correct. The saints have the knowledge to resolve both these conflicting viewpoints. They point out that one should not worry about the mere rituals. One should rise about them and understand the reality behind them. Mere rituals can have different meanings for different people.
A youngster shouts from the door, "Auntie! Peri Paina" (Antie, I bow at your feet). Just a mere shouting of these words from afar has no meaning. He is merely performing a ritual. A real respectful person will go near the auntie and very humbly touch her feet, and then stand up with folded hands, waiting for her response. No words are necessary. A genuine loving action says it all.
What happens is that the mere ritual has become the whole message. The reality behind it is neither sought to be known nor verified. This causes all the problems of the world. You are wearing saffron, whereas we are from a sect, what wears white. You are keeping long hair, whereas we shave off our beards. You eat anything, which you get, whereas we are pure vegetarians. You believe in prophet "A", we are the followers of prophet "B". City "A" is your holy place, whereas we go to city "B". Your marriage rituals are like this, but ours are like this. Your holy book is "X", ours is "Y". The examples are endless, so are the misunderstandings over them.
The true saints like Nirankari Baba Ji cut through this wall of ignorance. Look beyond all this. Go beyond mere outer trappings of dress, caste, creed, religion, colour, language, cultural differences, etc. That ultimate reality called variously as Allah, God, Brahman, Waheguru, is the sole source of all creation, all thoughts, all prophets, all holy books, all actions, all religions and all rituals. Such is the message of true saints. They are here to reconcile, unite and unify humanity. All others, through the stress they place on differences of rituals, only divide humanity into different sects, different races, different people. This struggle has been going on for all ages. One has to decide which side one wants to be. There is the life of Brotherhood of Man and Fatherhood of God, as envisaged by Lord Jesus. On the other side is the life of division, selfishness, stress on mere differences of rituals. The enlightened man shuns this. Herein lies the importance of the true saints and devotees. They bring peace, unity, love, understanding to humankind. And such is the message of the Nirankari Baba. Those who see him only in his outer form of a human being, miss the point completely. He is the embodiment of the inner reality (Nirankar or God Formless). No specific rituals of caste, creed, colour, dress, gender, age, language, nationality bind him. He is free from all this. Each human is equal in his eyes. His benign grace is showered over the whole if the humanity. You may do his Aarti (a mode of worship) and he accepts it. You may perform no Aarti but just stand before him with folded hands. He accepts it. You may wear anything, eat anything, speak in any way. He accepts it. He brings to you the union of the inner reality which has been the inner reality of all ages. He is beyond rituals and the outer visible self. He only considers your inner urge and devotion and blesses you for it. So, rise above the rituals and come and see the inner reality. This is his message for the whole humanity.
THE TRIGGER OF YOUR LIFE
Two friends are watching a hockey match, sitting side by side. The opposing teams jostle, run and position themselves for the ball. Suddenly, the centre forward of the Red team is near the opposite team's "D". He dodges the remaining back, enters the "D", and strikes a stinging shot into the goal which finds the board. The goalkeeper is left standing. Such was the speed of the shot. At once, one of the friends shouts loudly, "Goal! Here comes the equalizer." The other friend moans, "Oh, no! What happened to the other back who should have been guarding the Red centre forward." Now both of them are watching the same match and the same incident. One is jubilant because his Red team has scored. The other is sad because his Blue team has conceded a goal, which they could have avoided by better play. Why this different reaction to the same external event? The answer is their different inner motivation. In one person's case, the trigger of his behaviour is the support for the Red team. In the other's case, the trigger is his support for the Blue team. Hence, we see that not an external event but the inner motivation is the trigger of their behaviour.
Let us take another example. One person who has a fairly high fever is lying in bed. Baba Ji goes to visit him. He tries to get up, but Baba Ji restrains him. "How are you feeling?" asks Baba Ji. "Baba Ji! I have some fever but now that I have got your Darshan (holy glimpse), I am going to be alright," says the devotee.
There is another person who, too, is sick with somewhat less fever. Baba Ji goes to see him, too. "How are you feeling?" Enquirer Baba Ji. This devotee slumps further in his bed and says, "Baba Ji, I am feeling miserable. Probably, I am dying. I cannot bear it any longer. My whole body is paining."
Both the persons are in somewhat similar situations. However, their trigger (inner motivation) is different. One has full faith in Baba Ji and has a positive attitude to life. The other is full of his own importance and his sickness. He is exaggerating his sickness and thereby making it worse. You can yourself guess as to who will get well soon. Here, too, we see that even in very similar circumstances a person's inner state of mind governs his actions, perception of life and his health and happiness. Here, too, the inner trigger is more important, more powerful and more effective than the external circumstances.
Hence, we have seen that the inner state of mind is the trigger of your life. How is this inner state of mind acquired? As human beings can we do something about it? This is a profound question which every human needs to address in his life. We will attempt to unravel this mystery.
The mystery is automatically solved, once you know your true origin. Your inner mind, your inner motivation, your inner trigger is nothing but your real self, which is the self of all. To understand this let us go back to the origin of each human being. How was he/she created? Parents were only a mechanical means of your procreation. It is God who created you, hopefully in His image, as stressed by Lord Jesus. The whole problem/trouble arises when one does not know his own true origin. The trigger of the whole creation is Nirankar (God) Himself. The human, who now sits at the top ladder of His creation, is also created by Him . He is the trigger of everything, visible, sentient, imaginable, existing and evident.
Hence, we have two types of humans. The ones, who know their origin (trigger), namely, Nirankar* - (God). Not only do they know Him, they live by Him. Such persons are very few. The others are those, who know Him not and even if they know about Him in a vague sort of way, they do not live by Him. Such persons are numerous, may be 99 percent of the humanity.
In the Indian school of thought, such a one is called Gurmukh (a Guru - oriented person). It is the Gurmukh category who really enjoy life, are balanced, have love for humanity and are devoted, loving, caring and sympathetic and calm. On the other hand, is the Manmukh category who are selfish, deceitful, ever complaining, ever blaming others, letting external circumstances and persons affect them. To be a Gurmukh, involves the guidance of a Guru (Murshid or Master). The Guru informs the human about his origin, i.e. Nirankar (God) and then asks, exhorts and encourages him to live by Him. Blessed are the few such chosen ones, who have full faith in their Guru. Through their Guru, they have come to know the real trigger of their life. On having known Him, they live by Him. Thus they save themselves from the painful, miserable, troublesome life. Instead, they are a centre of love, joy, happiness, calmness, sereneness and goodness of life. This is the kind of miracle wrought by the Nirankari Baba. Come! And known the real trigger of your and this creation and thereby trigger yourself into the life of joy and happiness. Can anyone ask for any thing better?
ARJUNA AND THE VIRAT SWARUP
Two armies are facing each other. On the one side are the Pandvas and on the other are Kurus. The whole history of this conflict is narrated in the epic of Mahabharat. The culminating point of this epic is the final battle scene. At the start of the battle, the conversation between Lord Krishna and Arjuna is the subject of the Geeta, also called the Sing Celestial. In this book, the whole Hindu philosophy is summarized. The aim is not to repeat what was said in the Geeta. Rather, an effort has been made to explain that one portion wherein Lord Krishna shows his Virat Swarup (Universal Form)
Arjuna is facing the opposing army and his eyes fall, on his Guru, Dronacharya. He further beholds his elder, Bhishampitama, who was the object of his love and affection all his life and on whose lap he used to sit as a small child and listen to Pitama's words of love and wisdom. "Am I to take up arms against them?" "Will I have to shoot the arrows to kill such people?" He is full of remorse and doubt.
At this moment of doubt, he turns to his friend, Lord Krishna. So far he has been treating the Lord only as a relative and a friend, helping out a person in need. He does not know the true form of Lord Krishna or his greatness. So, he turns to his friend, Lord krishna, who has also volunteered to be the charioteer for Arjuna's chariot. He expresses his doubts and worries.
Lord Krishna now narrates the wisdom which has been chronicled in the Geeta and also shows his Virat Swarup (Universal Form).
"Do you think that you are going to kill these persons? They are all dead. For whoever is born is destined to die. You are not going to kill them; it is I who am going to kill them, "says Krishna.
Here we must pause and understand that Krishna's statements in the Geeta are made in two different perspectives. One is the perspective of a human being that is born and is related both to Pandavs and Kurus. He is a normal human being who lives amongst them as a mortal. This is how Arjuna, too, understands and sees his friend. Then there is the other perspective of Lord Krishna, that of God Almighty Himself. He is Himself the creator, the sustainer and the destroyer. When he tells Arjuna about the real killer of all human beings, he is referring to this second perspective. Krishna is the Lord of birth and death. In that capacity it is His will and His wish which terminates the lives of human beings, and not Arjuna's arrows.
The Mahabharata serial which was telecast shows the Virat Swarup (Universal Form) as an enlarged form of Lord Krishna himself. The only change is that many heads are added on both sides of the main head. Also there are many hands and feet. Further, it is depicted that each of the head is spewing something or swallowing something. It could be water, fire and human beings. Maybe the effort was to show that Lord Krishna is the creator of the creation, human beings water, fire, etc. and also their destroyer. Similar or somewhat similar pictures made by certain artists depict the Virat Swarup of Lord Krishna, in the same manner.
The enlightened one know that such depiction does not do full justice to the depiction given in the Geeta. This is not a personal assessment. In Geeta (2:23:24) Lord Krishna describes His Virat Swarup - Universal Soul - in terms of individual soul, viz: God is formless, all - pervading and cannot be cut by weapons, burnt by fore, blown by wind, wetted by water. He is unbreakable and insoluable. He is everlasting, all-pervading, unchangeable, immovable, eternally the same.
We now move on to the effect the revelation of the Virat Swarup has on Arjuna. Gone is his worry, his doubt. He takes up his gandiv (bow) strumming the string of which produced a sound so fierce that the enemy's hearts used to sink on hearing it. From a depressed and reluctant warrior, he now becomes Arjuna, the valiant and the Arjuna, the conqueror.
Some people wonder at the setting of this dialogue between Arjuna and Lord Krishna. Why should the long discourse take place at the start of a battle, when the two armies are facing each other in full regalia? Is this the time and place to discuss abstract philosophical tenets? Some people also think it to be a later addon to the Mahabharata by its author, especially since it would not have a lot of bearing on the main story. This is, however, one point which needs elaboration. Maybe the author is trying to prove that God realization is possible even in a most unlikely place such as a battlefield. With this explanation the setting becomes. Very logical and appropiate. We can imagine Arjuna leaning before Lord Krishna and listening to him with folded hands. This is how the Geeta was born and Arjuna saw the Virat Swarup - Universal From (of the Lord). This Virat Swarup which was shown to Arjuna by Lord Krishna is very much realizable, here and now. All you need is to humbly bow at the feet of the Nirankari Baba and pray to be enlightened. Thereafter, you too, can see the Virat Swarup as seen by Arjuna. Also you can yourself compare what you see with what is written in the Geeta about it. You will find it to be entirely matching. Rest is a matter of your own faith. The key is with the Nirankari Baba. Avail of this golden opportunity of having the Truth Master amongst us. You, too can become a valiant warrior just like Arjuna in this battlefield of life, vanquishing your foe of lust, anger, greed, attachment and selfishness. These epics, parables and stories were written to guide the humans towards a better life. Mere reading of the stories is not likely to benefit you. It is the divine spark and the true enlightenment imparted by the True Master which would make you and your life divine. Come ye all and become Arjuna in the battlefield of life.