The Life of Guru Nanak

IV

There are lowly amongst the noble; and pure amongst the low; the former shouldst thou avoid; and be like dust under the feet of the latter.

Guru Nanak

Nanak began His travels within the Punjab area, after which He went eastward, preaching at places of Hindu worship: notably Hardwar, Benares and Patna; and He travelled as far as the delta of the Ganges at Dacca and Assam. When He came to the village of Saidpur – now Eminabad in the Punjab – He saw a poor carpenter busy to work.

What dost thou do, Lalo?

the Master asked.

I am busy at my repairs,

replied the carpenter without looking up.

Come. I shall give thee better work than this, that thou mayest repair thy heart to contain the Lord.

Looking up, Lalo saw the Holy Figure before him; spontaneously he fell at His feet. A mere touch and a glance were enough to transform his simple heart to that of a devout disciple. Drawn by Lalo’s devotion and simplicity, Nanak remained with Him for several days.

Quickly the word spread that a Holy Man was staying with the carpenter Lalo, and many came there for His Godly Counsel. But when one Malik Bhago, a high official of the army, invited Nanak to a religious feast and the Master refused, scandalous reports were spread against Him.

Bhago himself sought Nanak out and demanded an explanation: why had He refused the Malik’s feast and instead partaken of food from a low caste carpenter? But the Guru, Who had renounced all idea of castes except the caste of God, replied:

That man is holy who loves the Lord and earns his livelihood by the sweat of his brow. Lalo’s food is coarse and plain but earned by honest means and cooked in the remembrance of God – and such food is pure and peace giving. But your wealth, Bhago, has been gained by extorting the poor, and to partake of it breeds a restless mind and evil passions. Lalo’s food is sweet like honey but yours reeks of blood.

Nanak then took a loaf of the Malik’s bread in one hand and a loaf of Lalo’s in the other. As He squeezed the Malik’s, blood oozed out of it.¹ It is said that Bhago then repented his past and sought the Guru’s forgiveness, and thereafter sought to live a life of devotion to the Lord.

Beckoned on by the Divine Will, Nanak left Saidpur, to the deep anguish of His disciple Lalo. En route to Tulamba, He came across one Sajjan, who posed as a wealthy man of God and offered hospitality to tired wayfarers. As they took to sleep, he would empty their purses and cut their throats.

When Nanak and Mardana passed by, Sajjan mistook them for rich travellers and offered them the accommodations of his house; and with darkness, a place to sleep. Nanak accepted, but perceiving His host’s intentions, first requested to sing a hymn:

Behold the lustre of the bronze – but rub it and your hands are blackened. Wash them but the impurities remain. They are True Friends² who always abide at one’s side and are ever prepared to account for their deeds. Temples arrayed in pomp but hollow within are but a disguise to deceive the world. Mansions too may dazzle the beholder but all things pass away. White herons stand silently as though in prayer at places of pilgrimage. But behind their appearance they await the chance to devour living things. Who can call them ‘white’? This body is like a tree whose fruit is useless but men beholding it, mistake it. A blind man carries a burden on a long mountainous way. He seeks eyes, which he cannot find; how shall he rise up and reach his journey’s end? Of what avail are services, cleverness and virtues? Oh Nanak, contemplate the Naam, so thou may be released from thy bondage.

Guru Nanak, Rag Suhi M1

Hearing these words, Sajjan was stung to the depths of his life. In this Holy Presence, he began to tremble from head to foot, as the full weight of his sins came before his vision. His tears became as washings on the Master’s feet – which he clung tenaciously to, while he sobbed in repentance. His deceit and treachery were exposed, yet he felt a Great Love and forgiveness there also. When he looked up, Sajjan folded his hands and confessed all that he had done.

In the Name of God, distribute your wealth to the poor and holy,

Nanak told him.

Leave off the evil ways of your past and devote yourself to the services of God and humanity.

In the presence of a Holy Man, life abounds with miracles; but the greatest of them all is the spark which kindles the Divine Love; and in Sajjan, such a miracle was worked through the Master’s Grace. He not only distributed his ill-gained wealth, but also destroyed his palace in which countless murders had been committed, and built for himself a small hut in its place. He then constructed a house for meditation and prayer, which was to become the first Gurdawara. But above all else, he was blessed with the treasure of Naam.

Nanak continued His travels and eventually arrived at Hardwar, a place of Hindu sanctity. Here, as in many places yet to come, He found men who, though seeking righteousness and God, followed fruitless paths. With the fullness of compassion, He came to awaken them from their Spiritual Slumber. The day was just breaking as He approached the banks of the Ganges and there several pilgrims were offering water to the rising sun. He questioned them about their actions and they replied that they were offering this sacred water to their ancestors in the land of the sun. Nanak walked down to the river bank and began throwing water to the west. They in turn questioned Him concerning His offering.

I am watering my fields in the Punjab.

The pilgrims broke into mock laughter:

Your water falls into the Ganga itself. How can it reach your fields in a faraway land?

The Master replied,

You claim your water can reach the world of the dead; why is it foolish to believe that mine can reach a corner of this world?

At this all were silenced. And then stepping onto dry land, the Guru instructed the men thus:

Your offerings of water, food or money cannot reach your departed ancestors. Rather they stay in the hands of him to whom you give them. Do not be misled by false counsel nor follow another’s words blindly. Each man receives the fruits of his own actions – as did your ancestors in the past, so do you now. Thus one who lives a life of high character and self restraint will find happiness both here and hereafter.

Later at Hardwar, under the pretence of needing firewood, Nanak walked within the sacred lines of a Brahmin’s cooking square. This was considered a bold sacrilege and the Brahmin was outraged. He shouted at the Master for entering his sacred area and thus defiling his food.

Your kitchen was already made impure,

the Guru replied.

Of what avail were your lines? – An evil mind is like a scavenger; cruelty, a butcher. Slander is a sweeper, and anger, a jester.³ While these four are seated within one, he is yet of the lower caste. Only by a pure heart, a noble character, and the loving remembrance of God, does one’s touch become pure.

From Hardwar, the Guru proceeded to Gorakhmata – renamed Nanakmata after His visit there – and on to Benares, Patna, Ayodhya, Gaya and then into Assam and Dacca. From Dacca, He went on to Puri where He met the God intoxicated Vaishnava, Chaitanya – who is well-known for His chanting of Hari Bol – and His chief devotees. The two spent some days together singing the praises of God before Nanak resumed His travels.

By now, Mardana was exhausted by the demands of travel and requested that they return to the Punjab. His wish was granted, but first the two met with Sheik Ibrahim – the twelfth successor to Farid, a famous Sufi Master. The Great Sheik bowed humbly when he met Guru Nanak, and the words Thou art Allah poured involuntarily from his lips.

Nanak replied,

Allah is only the aim of my life, oh Farid! Allah is the very essence of my being.

Ibrahim gave Nanak Farid’s writings, which were later to be incorporated into the Sikh Holy Scripture. Here also Nanak founded the city of Kartarpur – lit. The Abode of the Creator Lord – where He built a house and settled His family. But His rest was short as the world’s confusion called for a place of refuge. In response, He again set out to fulfil the Divine Orders. This time He headed to the south, as far as Ceylon.

These travels were to lead Nanak into strange lands, where He met people of diverse ways and varying powers. Though warned repeatedly of great dangers, Nanak disregarded them. Wherever there was the yearning of Love and devotion, or where there was suffering that cried for relief, He responded as a messenger of the Divine Will, without allowing the smallest thought of self to interfere:

He Who has sent me forth, shall also provide for me.

Here He saw people blinded by their own powers, by their worldly charms or wealth or by their own selfish motives. But He remained ever of steady mind. And each time, the dim glow of the ephemeral dwindled before the Sun of Divinity and the miracles of witchery and yoga became insipid within its light.

On the final leg of this journey, Nanak met with a wealthy banker named Dhuni Chand. Dhuni Chand invited the Guru to attend a ritual where he offered homage to his deceased father. Nanak however discouraged such performances as they had become a source of livelihood for priests but incurred none of the supposed benefits. The following night Dhuni Chand had a vision which confirmed the Guru’s words. After this, he sought the Guru’s company more closely and would listen carefully to His discourses. One day he approached Nanak – perhaps with a tint of pride over his vast wealth – and asked Him to accept some favour. The Master handed a small pin to Dhuni Chand and said,

When we meet again in the Beyond, please return this pin to me.

– How can that be done? Who can take anything along with himself when he dies?

Then what do you gain by a treasure, not one cent of which you can take along with you?

Dhuni Chand was stunned by these words: his whole life had been spent in amassing a fortune, and once gained, he had dwelt constantly upon it.

The Lord’s Name – which is within you – is the only profit that benefits you both here and hereafter,

Nanak continued.

The Guru can give you some capital – Spiritual Capital – to start with and that can be developed from day to day. The disciple needs only follow the Master’s injunctions and he will reap the True Profit of life which will never fail him.

Shortly thereafter, Dhuni Chand was initiated into the mysteries of the Panch Shabda. He worked hard to cultivate this Divine Gift and distributed much of his wealth in the service of the holy, the poor and the needy.

After these long travels, Nanak again retraced His footsteps to the Punjab. Nanaki, His sister, was told of His homecoming in her meditations and left her house in Sultanpur to see Him in Talwandi. She was the first to see Him coming but respectfully waited in the background as others rushed forward to greet Him. Mehta Kalu was the first to meet Him – and joy filled the heart of the father who again saw His son. Nanak bowed low to His feet and then bowed before His mother. Tears rolled down from Tripta’s eyes as she embraced her son. Only when called for did Nanaki come forward – and then not to meet her brother but to meet her most dearly beloved Guru. She bowed down to touch His feet but Nanak would not allow this. He picked her up and embraced her with a warm, loving caress.

News spread of the Guru’s arrival and many came to receive His darshan and to hear His Holy Words.

For Mehta Kalu, however, while the animosities of earlier years had faded, the idea of his son’s Divinity could not penetrate into his heart. Thus he continued to speak to Him concerning future responsibilities: Had He not travelled enough now? Was He not now ready to take over the cares of the household? And was it not a parent’s due right to have some claim on his child? Such were among the many questions he put to Nanak when alone with Him and his wife Tripta.

I am but a poor servant to the Lord,

Nanak replied.

Mine is simply to live within His Will.

The Guru then sat silent for some moments and looked deeply into their eyes. He became ablaze with Light; and when He now spoke, His parents no longer heard the voice of their son but of a Divine Personage Whose words brought solace and awakening.

There is One God who pervades His creation as Conscious Spirit – Naam. He is the Light that is everywhere and is found deep within ourselves. Those who turned to Him find Divine Beatitude. Others wander lost in the torments of worldliness. In the veil of egoism, man runs blindly after sense pleasures and evil desires though they never bring fulfilment. In contacting the Naam, the mind is brought to rest and the curtain of darkness is rent asunder. Only then does the Inner Man find peace.

After much silence, Tripta finally spoke.

Under our delusion, we tried to hold You within the bounds of filial attachment. Why didn’t You show us earlier Your heavenly mission?

But Nanak remained silent.

A few days later, the Guru began His third journey which took Him north: through the Himalayas into Nepal and Tibet. In the mountains and foothills, He gathered yogis from their hermitages and preached to them of the vanity of their performing miracles; of the needlessness of their total isolation and the wasted efforts of their outer and symbolic worship.

When they asked Nanak how the world below fared, He spoke of a pitiable condition and condemned these renunciates for living on the alms of those they hid themselves from, during a time when the very same people were desperately in need of guidance.

God cannot be gained by selfish prayer. And you who should have been the example of Hindu society, have concealed yourselves in the fastness of these mountains. You have deserted your responsibility to those seeking guidance and taken to a life of waste. When you turned your face from suffering humanity, you also turned your hearts from God.

He then spoke to them at great length on the True Path of yoga: that while man must live in solitude to realise God, that solitude is within oneself, found by an unceasing communion with the Holy Naam. He who wished to cross the ocean of life must do so with an ever-alert and worshipful mind; and though living in the midst of impurities, he must remain pure. Then whether in the jungles or towns, one would dwell with the Inner Peace and behold the Light of the One Reality present in all life.

These men were great ascetics: old in years and endowed with supernatural powers. That One Who by age seemed but a mere child to them, had such wisdom, aroused within them the desire to convert Him to their own path – so that its respect might be revived. But Nanak replied that He followed a different system:

My own system is unbroken communion with the Word; my wearing of earrings is in discarding pride and attachment. My renunciate’s garb is seeing the Lord in all things. Only God can make me free. Saith Nanak, He is the Truth: Eternal, Unchangeable; he who will, may test this.

Guru Nanak, Rag Ramkali M1

He continued that His system was not of man’s make but stemmed from God’s own infallible wisdom, and only by treading such a Path could man attain to the Highest.

With the beginning of the life breath; so too began my system. Its source is the Satguru. Shabda (the Word) is the Guru; and Surat (soul or attention) is the disciple. My detachment is maintained by meditating upon the Incomprehensive One. Through the Divine Word is God revealed to us; and in the company of the Saints is the fire of Ego destroyed. I am a slave to Him who knoweth the Unknowable; and enables others to know Him as well.

Guru Nanak, Rag Ramkali M1

The Yogis were moved by the depths of wisdom with which He spoke and their pride was broken. But only one, Bharathri Yogi – who had earlier met the Master in a dense forest Ashram, and still before that, had come to know of His advent into the world while in deep contemplation – left the isolation of the Himalayas. He spent his remaining years in the Guru’s home village of Kartarpur, living to enjoy His Holy Darshan.

After His meeting with the Siddhas, Nanak returned to the Punjab. His stay was again brief as His mission called Him to the fourth point of the compass – west – and to the land of the Muslims.

When Nanak entered the city of Multan – which was considered to be a place of many holy men, He met a high priest who carried a bowl full to the brim with milk. It was a silent message that the city had no more room for holy men. Understanding it, Nanak floated a jasmine flower across the milk, allowing none to spill: His silent reply that He would pass through so lightly, so silently, that all would be left undisturbed, yet they would receive the sweet fragrance of God’s Holy Word.

Passing through various stations on His long march, Nanak eventually reached Mecca, a famous place of Muslim pilgrimage. At the city’s outskirts, He went into meditation with His feet pointing towards the Kaaba. This was considered a sacrilege; and espying it, a priest kicked Him, shouting that the Guru had His feet pointed towards the House of God. Unperturbed, Nanak replied:

Would you kindly turn my feet in that direction where God is not? 

The Mullah was startled by the answer, but from it, realised how he had narrowed his worship by limiting God to man-made temples and forgotten the words of the Qur’an: that the Lord God is omnipresent and that any place becomes sanctified where one sits for devout prayer.

When the people of Mecca had heard of this strange Master, they crowded around Him and pressed Him as to which was the greater of the two: Hindu or Muslim? He replied that without right deeds, both would perish, but to him whose delusion of mind is gone, Hindu and Muslim are alike.

Leaving Mecca, He travelled on to Bhagdad. Here again, people thronged around Him. They asked Him His religious faith and He replied:

My religion is that of God. I have renounced all sects. I know only the One True God, the Supreme Being who is on earth, in the heavens and in between and in all directions.

Here He also met the Muslim Divine Shah Bahlol. After a short stay with him, Nanak prepared to leave; but the faqir quickly attached himself to the Master’s presence and begged Him to settle there. To the Shah’s regret, the Guru replied that no place of impermanence can be a man’s home:

We have made this world our home; but a True Home is only that which remains. What kind of station is this world? Do the deed of faith, gather thy needs for travel beyond and meditate upon the Naam. Home is that place where the Hand of Death is no more. The skies and the earth will pass away; the One God alone remains. The sun, the day; the moon and the night and millions of stars will all vanish. The True Lord alone remains. Listen, oh man, for Nanak speaketh the Truth.

Guru Nanak, Sohila M1

‘In memory … of the Divine Master Baba Nanak Faqir Aulia’ Shah Bahlol constructed a shrine.

For the final time, Nanak turned His feet back towards Kartarpur. He had spent nearly thirty years carrying His message to the four directions of the compass and tirelessly given of His own life in the service of God and humanity. But even as He returned to the Punjab, He found no chance for rest. While staying with His disciple, Lalo, He witnessed Babar launch his third massacre upon the Punjab. Palaces were reduced to rubble; men were ruthlessly slaughtered and women and children were dragged into slavery. He was deeply moved and wrote the following:

Though Thou hast protected Khurasan; and struck terror to the heart of Hindustan; thou oh Creator bringest no blame unto Thyself. Thou hast sent death in the guise of the Mughal, Babar. Terrible was the killing. Oh Lord, did Thou not hear the cries? Did not Thy heart fill with pain?

A jewel among kingdoms was wasted by the dogs; but now they are gone; who shall recall their names or mourn their death? It is Thou who unites and Thou Who divides.

That man who thinketh himself great, indulging himself to his every whim; before the Lord is but an insect nibbling at grain. Saith Nanak: Only they who die while yet alive have truly tasted life; and only they can gain the gift of Thy Naam.

Guru Nanak, Rag Asa M1

The emperor’s soldiers arrested Nanak and Mardana and put them to labour. However word got back to Babar of a Holy Man Who sat in meditation, while His mill beside Him worked of its own accord, and thus His imprisonment was brief. The emperor himself went to see this Holy Man and on meeting Him was deeply humbled. His apologies were profuse. Taking Nanak into his tent, Babar offered Him some hashish, but the Master refused.

The effect of this drug, if taken in the evening, will be gone in the morning. But the intoxication of Naam is with me twenty-four hours of the day and night.

Babar then requested Nanak to please take some other favour, but again He refused:

Foolish would be the faqir who would beg of kings. God is the only Giver, munificent beyond all measure. Nanak hungers for God alone and He asks for naught.

The Guru spent His last days with His family in Kartarpur. Here He worked as a farmer to provide for Himself and His family and likewise employed many of His disciples. Ample food was thus provided and a huge langer – community kitchen – as started. Free meals were given to all who came, regardless of caste, religion, or position. The langer continued to be used by the later Sikh Masters and even now the tradition of serving meals to all is carried on.

Nanak’s disciples would daily rise early for meditation and prayers, often followed by discourses given by the Master. Without fail, a certain young boy would come and sit for the meditation, and afterwards listen attentively to the Master’s Satsang. Soon Nanak approached Him and asked why He was not asleep as were other children His age.

The child replied that he sought refuge from death:

One day I watched my mother start a fire. It was the little sticks that burned first and I thought how death could likewise so easily overtake me, also being so little. Then the emperor came and burned our fields. I was afraid and ran to by father but he could do nothing. I thought that since my father could not even protect me from the emperor, who would protect me from death? So I sought the refuge of a Saint.

Nanak was very pleased with the boy’s reply; though so young, he had the wisdom of an old man – a budha – and from thence onward, he was known as Bhai Budha.

Bhai Budha grew to an old age and fully developed the gift Guru Nanak had given him. He lived to serve the five succeeding Masters after Nanak, performing for each the ritual which symbolised Their ascension to the Spiritual Throne. The Love and respect that the Masters had for him is clearly shown in many instances, but devout disciple that he was, he never transcended the bounds of humility. When finally he lay on his deathbed, Guru Har Gobind – the sixth of the Gurus – hastened to his side. Bhai Budha was thrilled with the joy of the Master’s presence in his dying hour. But the Master bent before him and asked for his last counsel.

Thou shinest forth like the sun and I am no more than a firefly, replied the aged sage. By Thine own Grace, help me to swim across the vast Sea of Life.

– You ask for what you have already gained,

said Har Gobind and placed His hand upon Bhai Budha’s forehead, whereupon his soul withdrew forever into the region of the Imperishable One.

So many came to the Master’s feet, and while that Great Love radiates to all alike, each can receive it only according to his own level of receptivity. Some saw Guru Nanak only as another man, and left disappointed, while others even thought Him to be an atheist and drove Him from their presence. Others saw that He was God walking the earth in human form. Even among His disciples, each saw Him as the Master chose to reveal Himself.

Guru Nanak Himself said that there were three different types of disciples; and when asked about this by a follower – Bhai Ajitha – Nanak told him He would show these three types. One night Guru Nanak took Ajitha to a certain house, and when the owner saw the two outside, knowing them to be Holy Men, he wished to feed them. The family was very poor so each took some share of their meal and gave it to Nanak and Ajitha and then returned to their house. Nanak and Ajitha passed the night in meditation and in the morning told the owners they were leaving.

They replied,

Brothers, you are going? Then go. Who asked you to come?

As they left, Nanak told Ajitha,

This man has a little fragrance of discipleship. This type of person will listen, and will serve both physically and financially, but will remain where he is – in Spiritual Advancement.

Nanak then took Ajitha to another house where he could see the second type of disciple: those who live under the Master’s protection. When they entered the house, Nanak and Ajitha were entertained and fed with Great Love and devotion. They pleaded with the Master to show them the way to control the mind and break away from the imprisonment of the world. All night the Master spoke with them on the Path to God and they spent the night attentively listening. When the sun rose, Guru Nanak expressed His intentions to leave and the family quickly prepared food for Him and packed it for His journey. They begged for His Grace and that He might soon return to their home. After leaving, Nanak told Ajitha that this family was of the type who lived under the True Guru’s protection. Such people may not be spiritually advanced just now but there is hope for their future.

A few days passed and finally Guru Nanak took Ajitha to a third home to show him the last type of disciple: those who have received the essence of Truth from a Guru. Here was a family of a man, his wife, two sons and a daughter – all imbued with the Love of the Guru. When the Master entered, He was shown great respect and devotion. The wife at once went to the kitchen and prepare food, but as her son rushed into the kitchen, he slipped on the floor and was killed. The mother of course distressed, but thinking of karmic law, she attributed it to give and take of the past and then put her mind to the Great Saint Who had come to her home. So the incident would not cause any commotion while the Saint was with them, she took the body to a room and hid it under the covers of a bed intending to tell her husband only after the Master had left. Meanwhile the younger son, accompanying the father, also fell down and died, and the father went through the same procedure as his wife had done. When they sat down for food, Guru Nanak took the daughter into His lap and asked her where her brothers were.

She replied:

They are in the lap of the Guru. In life or death, we are all in His lap.

Guru Nanak then took some food, but He could not swallow it:

It will not go down my throat,

He said;

They have bound me by their complete surrender to the Guru.

Turning to the father, Nanak asked to meet his sons; the husband and wife were alarmed but the Master insisted and finally the husband called to his sons. At once, both boys came from their respective rooms and told of their interesting sleep during which they were held in the lap of the Guru.

Guru Nanak then turned to Ajitha:

Now, this is the type of person who enjoys the very essence of the Guru’s presence.⁴

_______________

Explanations: 1) Guru Nanak claimed, ‘I have no miracles except Naam.’ Because of this statement, many modern historians reason that any miracles associated with Him are inconsistent with His own words. Therefore they discredit them as inventions of overzealous Sikh historians – of which there are unfortunately many. However, God-realised Men understand nature’s higher laws, many of which appear as miracles to people living wholely within the laws of this world. If at all there are miracles to a Saint, they occur when the soul is reconnected with the Oversoul, God, through the Power of Naam. Moreover, Saints do not use these occult powers for any personal gains – as many yogis or others may do: to attract attention, gather a following or whatever other reasons one may have. However, they may use them in some rare instances for the sake of a devotee; to change a man’s heart towards God, or other reasons, unbeknown to us. But they act in accordance with God’s Will, and not by exertions of their own powers. Ordinary men may praise Them for working miracles but They Themselves take these powers as They take all other worldly things – passing displays. Therefore, They not only avoid using them when possible, but strictly enjoin Their disciples who are yet on the way to avoid them at all costs as they are fraught with dangers. Further, miracles upset a balance in Nature’s plan and this balance must somehow be restored. Whoever has been around a True Saint feels the deep pain of seeing Him take upon Himself great suffering to lighten the burden of His children. But moved by disciples’ sufferings or by their Love and devotion, He will sacrifice His own well-being for their sake.

2) The word ‘Sajjan’ implies a True Friend.

3) People of lower castes were believed by orthodox Hindus to pollute the atmosphere of the kitchen and the food that was cooked in it. Therefore many Hindus would draw lines around their cooking areas, allowing no one to enter within them.

4) Master Volume I: ‘The Night is a Jungle – VIII. Thief of your Life’s Breath,’  by Kirpal Singh, 1894–1974.