PRECIOUS PEARLS
(SAYINGS OF BABA GURBACHAN SINGH JI)

"R"

 

REAL
Artificial flowers may be beautiful to look at, but they have no fragrance. On the other hand, real (natural) flowers may not be so attractive, but they perfume the entire environment with their sweet fragrance.

 

REDEMPTION
Only a free man can set others free. Similarly, the one who is himself redeemed, can redeem others.

 

REFUGE: GOD
God alone is true, eternal and infinite, while the entire creation is transient and finite. The devotees, therefore, identify themselves with and take refuge in God and lead a truthful and blissful life.

 

REFUGE: TRUE MASTER
Whoso seeks refuge in the True Master, needs no other shelter.

 

RELATIONS
The worldly relations are generally cynical and fickle and can fizzle out any moment. The love of saints and devotees, however, is selfless and enduring.

 

RELATIONSHIP: LIVING
Unless we establish a living relationship with God, the Supreme Master, all our possessions are just like the stolen property.

 

RELATIONSHIP MISSING
When one claims his Satguru (Teacher of Truth) to be perfect but fails to imbibe any of his teachings, obviously, the teacher-disciple relationship is missing or sham.

 

RELATIONSHIP: REAL
The birth of a baby spontaneously evokes love in the mother. This is because of their intimate relationship. Similarly, real relationship with God i.e. His Fatherhood, automatically fosters Brotherhood of Man.

 

RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
The worldly relations are ever fickle. Even blood-relations betray us in adversity. The booty amassed by thieves and smugglers is generally enjoyed by their friends and relations. When caught, it is the former who suffer. On the other hand, the relationship with God is ever abiding and stands us in good stead.

 

RELIGION: ESSENCE
Not the effervescence but the essence of religion sustains it.

 

RELIGION: HUMANISM
True religion makes true humans.

 

RELIGION: LIAISON
The prime purpose of religion is to establish liaison with Universal Light and Truth.

 

RELIGION: NOT SHOW
Religion or spirituality is not a matter of show. Unless the essence of religion ( Truth ) is realized and imbibed, one cannot be truly religious.

 

RELIGION: OBSERVANCE
There is no need for a new religion. One should know the essence of the religion one professes. One may have faith in any scripture, but reading or reciting it is of no avail, unless one actually practices its teachings. No officer can be pleased merely by reading and reciting his orders, but by observance thereof.

 

RELIGIONS: BASICALLY ONE
Often we tend to consider one religion higher than another. However, on realizing God, we realise that all religions are basically one. They integrate man with the Almighty.

 

RELIGIOUS: EQUAL REVERENCE
One cannot be truly religious unless one has equal reverence and regard for other religions.

 

RELIGIOUS: SANS RELIGION
The irony is that we consider ourselves religious without understanding what religion really is!

 

RESPONSE
It is the ruler, not the throne, that can respond to our petitions. Similarly, it is the living Master who can redeem our souls.

 

REVERENCE
Living up to the teachings of the True Master is their true reverence.

 

RIGHT ANSWER
The right answer is one, even if furnished by one or one million.

 

RIGHT: MAJORITY AND MINORITY
Some contend that the majority is always right and we should follow it blindly. However, even the majority verdict may be wrong and the single minority view may be right. The solitary word of Guru Nanak was right, though the world, at large, thought otherwise.

 

RITES AND RITUALS
Deprecation of rites and rituals by the Great Master in every age, should be an eye-opener to God-seekers.

 

RITUALS: FUTILE
A holy personage is not a slave of orthodoxy and traditions. Rather, he rids the people of such chains as Guru Nanak did to awaken and enlighten the people.

 

RITUALS: MERELY APPETIZERS
Appetite is, no doubt, essential, but the means to appease it i.e. food is all the more essential. Similarly, the rituals may act as ‘appetizers’ for God-realization, the goal, which is attainable only by the grace of a spiritual guide.

 

ROBE OF LOVE
We have been pulled out of the mire of materialism and endowed with a spotless robe made of the fine fabric of love and affection. We must take care not to soil it with ego, hatred or jealousy.

 

RUN-AWAYS
The world can benefit only from a man of the world. The run-aways cannot contribute anything to human welfare.