Sweet Grace of Ever-Flowing Amrit
and the Tegh of Eternal Life
By Sukhdeep Kaur
Blessed are those hands that humbly serve Vaheguru ji.
Blessed are those feet that gracefully walk towards our Guru ji.
Blessed are those lips that sweetly sing Gurbani.
Blessed are those hearts that kindly share sacred love.
Blessed are those lives that wholeheartedly embrace Akaal's divine gift of amrit.
Keertan (devotional singing) touches the soul, plays the strings of the heart, and touches inner-chords connected to Vaheguru ji. With delicate precision, it shatters veils that submerge our minds in illusions, pierces light through our ignorance, embraces our hearts with peace, and reunites us with our true Beloved. Singing ambrosial bani in the presence of Guru ji, the heart yearns to drink amrit, merge with the One, and forever stay attuned to His sweet charran (feet). Rare are those blessed souls who drink the nectar of amrit from within and sing in harmony with the unstruck melody. Their presence in sangat elevates the flow of energy, quiets the mind, and further opens the heart to receive pure love from the divine, universal soul.
ਸਤਸੰਗਤਿਪ੍ਰੀਤਿਸਾਧਅਤਿਗੂੜੀਜਿਉਰੰਗੁਮਜੀਠਬਹੁਲਾਗਾ॥
The Lord's Love, found in the Sat Sangat, the True Congregation, is absolutely permanent, and colorfast.
ਕਾਇਆਕਾਪਰੁਚੀਰਬਹੁਫਾਰੇਹਰਿਰੰਗੁਨਲਹੈਸਭਾਗਾ॥
The cloth of the body may be torn to shreds, but still, this beautiful color of the Lord's Love does not fade away.
(Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, ang 985)
This month brings with it a rich tapestry of commitment, dedication, and profound reminders to reflect upon the lives that we lead. It is in this month that our dharam pitta ji, Guru Gobind Singh ji Maharaaj, bestowed divine blessings upon our beloved panj pyaare who wholeheartedly chose to give their lives to Guru sahib. Surrendering their minds and bodies, Bhai Daya (compassion) Singh ji, Bhai Dharam (justice) Singh ji, Bhai Himmat (bravery) Singh ji, Bhai Mokham (determination) Singh ji, and Bhai Sahib (raaj, rule, kingdom) Singh ji did not see death awaiting in Guru ji's tegh, but rather, they saw and embraced eternal life.
ਜਉਤਉਪ੍ਰੇਮਖੇਲਣਕਾਚਾਉ॥
If you desire to play this game of love with Me,
ਸਿਰੁਧਰਿਤਲੀਗਲੀਮੇਰੀਆਉ॥
Then step onto My Path with your head in hand.
(Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, ang 1412)
With Akaal Purakh ji's grace, pyaare Kalgeedhar Preetam has provided us with sucha amrit Naam, distinct identity, depthless ocean of knowledge, guidance on how to face and overcome injustices, and instructed us to always sing praises of the Lord. True saint-warriors keep their consciousness attuned to the Lord's feet, prevent their focus from being unhinged, and ensure that meditation does not escape their hearts. Protected by the shield of their intrinsic courageous essence, their unwavering determination remains anchored in the promise to uphold righteousness born soley from compassion, serve the vulnerable, and only take steps guided by His Truth. Akaal's warriors of the tegha (sword) always remain brave in battles and sacrifice their praan (breath/life) for the sake of dharam. Even whilst resting, Sri Guru Gobind Singh ji Maharaaj would always remain tyaar bar tyaar (ready upon ready), and have an unsheathed sword underneath their pillow. Guru ji's devoted Nihang Singhs have respectfully maintained this maryada.
Sikhs must confidently embrace the path guided by Guru ji, reflect regularly on their rich history, and use their inherited virtues as a lens for introspection, compassion (with internal remembrance of the One), and navigation when faced with adversity. Once baptised and blessed with amrit, divine nectar, each Sikh must follow the instructions provided by our beloved panj pyaare, awaken daily in the ambrosial hours of the morning to recite Gurbani, and refrain from succumbing to the alluring sirens of lust, anger, greed, attachment, and ego. An unwavering faith and unshakable spirit is paramount on the spiritual path to the Divine.
As the arrows of separation from the One pierce the body, the river of life seeks to merge with the internal flow towards the Lord, the architect of destiny, and yearns for liberation from the thorns of maya. With His grace, the heart immerses in Gurbani, breaks down the walls of vices, and the subtle lotus flower fragrance of His Naam begins to disperse its indescribable scent within. Focusing the consciousness on Gurbani, lips sing with faith when in the depths of darkness, and let the benevolent light within illuminate the path to brighter days.
Through selfless service, simran (meditative remembrance), self-discipline, unwavering faith, sincerity, and genuine desire to merge with the supreme, universal soul, each Sikh can overcome their doubts and fears, cultivate inner-love that nurtures the seeds of empathy, receive priceless pearls of spiritual wisdom, and strengthen the resilient spirit of an intuitive warrior within.
ਸਿਖੀਹੈਬਲਵਾਨਕਰਨਾਸੁਰਤਨੂੰ,
Sikhi is to strengthen your consciousness,
ਚੜ੍ਹਦੀ ਕਲਾ ਨਿਵਾਸ ਸਦ ਹੀ ਰੱਖਣਾ ।
To eternally reside in ever-rising spirits.
(Bhai Sahib Bhai Vir Singh Ji)
As the soul steps onto and walks the path to Vaheguru ji, it experiences vismaad (wonder) in boundless forms. Inspired solely by the grace of Gurbani, a poem entitled, "A Divine Gift of Love," offers words from the heart to those who have been blessed with the precious gift of amrit, and those who yearn to be worthy of this divine gift. May this poem encourage reflection, commitment, and a bowing of the mind to Guru ji's sacrifices, teachings, and radiant love for His Khalsa.
A Divine Gift of Love…
Cradled in a bubble of love, a sweet child embraced with the warmth of vismaad has been brought into the world
As a light of wonder, he is absorbed in complete bliss, attached to the One
The anhad shabad vibrates through his soul sharing the message of eternal love
Each tear in his eye is a priceless pearl that speaks of a history that only he understands
His radiant glow reveals that he possesses knowledge beyond our comprehension
With him he has brought the gifts of compassion, peace, patience and truth
He has promised to walk in harmony with the Will of Vaheguru and to commit to deeds of sublime purity
As a devotee of Akaal, he has been bestowed with the treasures of virtue, intuition and kindness
These treasures will permeate each beat of his heart
Accepting the destiny inscribed upon his forehead, he will lead a life of compassion and contentment
His heart will blossom with intuitive wisdom, peace, divine bliss and tranquility
As he embraces love for the Guru, he will carry the priceless pearls of humility and righteousness in each breath that he takes
Under the protection of Vaheguru, he will look upon pain and pleasure as one and perceive slander and praise as one
His companions of truth, contentment and self-discipline will provide him with strength and anchor him in the direction of his true destiny
As he steps foot on the path to salvation and merges in Naam, he will pour love into the hearts of those around him
His sweet words will bring peace to the minds of the troubled
His gentle touch will heal the wounds of those with shattered hearts
His smile will reach out to the neglected and less fortunate
He will step foot on the path of righteousness and succeed with the support of His Naam
Forgiveness will be a quality that he will demonstrate to others, revealing that pain cannot afflict those who step foot on the path to Vaheguru
As a brave soul he will possess the skill and focus of a true warrior who enshrines love for Vaheguru in his heart and mind
Placed humbly with heartfelt love at the sweet, lotus feet of my dear, beloved Guru ji, may the words above serve in His honor, encourage peaceful dialogue, enhance self-awareness, and ignite a flame within our hearts to dedicate our lives to serving Vaheguru ji. May the words remind us to always draw strength from humility, take support and guidance from Shabad-Guru, and cherish the beautiful blessings that are bestowed upon our paths.
Consciously, our intentions and actions must uphold righteous values, share peace and love that penetrates through hearts, and contribute to the well-being of all of humanity. The beauty behind selfless efforts that alleviate the pain of others, heal those suffering, embrace the helpless, and support those less fortunate, reminds us that simple daily acts of kindness and heartfelt prayers have far-reaching affects. These prayers are joined by waves of others from around our globe, reflecting hope for those who refuse to remain silent witness to harmful behaviors inflicted upon innocent lives. By engaging in meaningful conversations and nurturing genuine relations based upon equity, fairness, mutual-respect, and sovereignty, fruitful steps can be taken towards brightening the beacon of hope for those in despair, feeling hopeless, or being oppressed. Carrying the torch of change in our hands to dispel the darkness of ignorance, each of us have a warrior spirit within us that can infuse love, unity, righteousness, and social justice in all communities.
Standing in global solidarity, let us learn from the sensitivity, tender heart, and over-flowing compassion exhibited in all aspects of Sri Guru Har Rai Sahib ji's life. Guru ji demonstrated the importance of understanding that we share responsibilities towards preserving nature and cultivating a healthy relationship with our environment. By planting flowers, trees, herbs, and vegetation, alongside creating sanctuaries for wildlife, sea creatures, animals, and birds, we demonstrate our sincerity towards mother Earth and flow in harmony with the rhythm of the universe. When treating all living beings with care and nourishing the environment, we in turn receive healing for our souls.
As the sweet author of our lives continues to write our stories, may we remain humble, brave, and fearless in the battlefield of life. As the ink of love flows with the fragrance of eternal life through Vaheguru ji's pen, may our stories bathe in the ever-flowing sweet amrit that springs within, and our hearts be the presence of His love in the world.
The video below entitled, "Mother of Khalsa," beautifully depicts some of the virtues that comprise the pillars of the Khalsa. These virtues must be acquired by those sweet souls who seek to be pure, and desire to walk the spiritual path to unification with the universal soul.
Editor's Note: This article was originally published on April 15th 2020