A great soul looked at earth and decided to make a sacrifice: Give up the bliss of living in God's home and help people
Guru Nanak Dev Ji used to travel on foot everywhere with his companions and musicians, Bala and Mardana. One day they were walking and Mardana felt very thirsty. It was very hot outside and they had been walking for a long time. Finally they reached a hill with a dwelling at the top. They were sure they would be able to get water there. A man lived there and had a well that everyone in the nearby village used to get water for washing themselves, growing food, and drinking. But he was very greedy and charged money before anyone could use the well.
Mardana doesn't understand why Guru Nanak would bless both the mean people of one village as well as the kind people of another village. When he finally ask, Guru ji teaches him a profound message.
Guru Nanak, together with Mardana and Bala, his two friends who always served him, traveled together to the country of Kashmir. They came to the city of Sri Nagar. There the people knew who he was because of his grace and his light. The people were very happy and blessed to sit with him and learn from him. In that city there was also a Pundit named Brahm Das. He was very learned and through his devotion to the goddess he had gained yogic powers. When he heard that a great Guru had come to town he thought, "I don't think I will be that impressed with this new-comer. It is I who has great knowledge and supernatural powers. I will show him my skill. Sitting on this carpet I will fly over to where he is and there is no doubt that he will be totally impressed when I arrive."
A Brahman goes through a long process to make the most pure food. But when Mardana comes too close to his food we find out the Brahman isn't totally pure himself.
Once a raja in India wanted to meet Guru Nanak, amazed at hearing of the Guru, the raja built majestic gardens for Guru Nanak. While Guru Nanak was still far away from he area of the raja, during that time many spiritual people thought to see the raja also. The raja only sought to meet the true Guru, so the raja created a test to determine the visitors integrity. The tests eventually go old for the raja & he gave up on ever really being able to see the Guru Nanak. As time continued, soon Guru Nanak did go to see the raja of Ceylon. Listen to the story hear what happened next.
A noble King had all his subject do a fast in honor of Vishnu on the day of Ekadasi. There was one man who didn't do the fast though, he was a Sikh of Guru Nanak. "I am constantly fasting. I eat little food and sleep little. I fast from any and all temptation that distract my devotion to God," explained the man. The King was very impressed and wanted very much to meet this Guru. But how would he ever meet this famous saint known as 'Baba Nanak'?
Guru Nanak began his mission of spreading light to the world. He went to the Himalaya mountains where many Sadhus were practicing many spiritual disciplines. The Sadhu's were impressed with his wisdom and purity. He told them that they shouldn't run away to the mountains and be by themselves but the true way is to keep a spiritual discipline while living in the world. Many of them did not like what this young man had said.....
Once Guru Nanak went on a long walk with all his dicsiples. As they were walking some people found money on the ground and they went home. After a long, long distance only two Sikhs were left. Guru Nanak told them to eat a dead body. One Sikh couldn't do it, but Bhai Lehna humbly obeyed. Lehna's devotion surpassed all tests. He was so devoted he was like an 'ang' a limb of the Guru.
Guru Nanak knew that the time was coming for him to do his mission. He sat by the river and was confronted by all kinds of demons but he wasn't distracted. After they couldn't do anything to him, he went in to the river for 3 days. When he came out he said Japji. Soon after he, Mardana and Bala went on great journeys to go everywhere and help the world.