How to win over the Lord

What is that knowledge, virtue or best amongst diamonds, we should get and which is that dress, by putting on which, we win over our Lord?

Guru Arjan Sahib answers that that knowledge is humility, that virtue is simplicity and that pure diamond is a sweet tongue.¹ Wear the dress of these three and your consort will be in your power.

What is that knowledge, virtue and thing which is dear to the spouse? What dress should be put on to win over the Lord? Humility is the knowledge, simplicity the virtue and sweet-tongue the winning chant that are dear to Him. If the dress of all these three is put on, the Lord is won over.

Farid Ji, Salok, 1384-14

The saying of Saints and holy men give glimpses of this humility, meekness and simplicity. Hafiz says that on the path of love there is no difference between the rich and the poor. He prays: "O Master, you are a beauteous King. Look at this beggar at your door also. I am very sinful, please pay no heed to my deeds; but as a King, be kind to a beggar and cast a look of mercy on this sinner also."

On the path of love, there is no difference between the rich and the poor. Oh Beauteous King, say a word to this beggar. I am a great sinner but look not at my sins. In kingly manner speak to this sinful beggar.

A true spiritual seeker, being humble and meek, considers himself to be so inconsequential that he hesitates even in the presence of the Master and employs others to convey to Him the feelings of his heart.

Hafiz uses even air as his messenger.

Oh Wind, carry a message of love to that King of beauty that besides the hundreds of Jamsheds and Kai Khusros have me as his slave. You may guide like Khizar this broken-hearted. I am walking on foot, while others are on horse-back.

Oh wind, carry the message of my humble love to that King of beauty at whose doors kings and monarchs are standing. Request Him to help me as my companions are mounted while I am tottering on foot on the way.

Sheikh Sa'adi says that a branch laden with fruit bends towards the ground. The Cyprus tree which is devoid of fruit stands erect. In truth when a horse-man reaches his destination, he gets down and walks on foot. He alone can derive full benefit from a Saint who goes to Him in humility. He who is full of pride of his wisdom seldom reaches Him and if he does so by mistake, what will he gain? If you want to be admitted to the court of Saints, go with the cup of humility without any pride, as it is only when the cup is empty that the flagon bends towards it. If the cup is full to the brim, how can it contain anything more? Respectful humility is accordingly very necessary.

The empty-handed have a higher rank than the rich. The flagon bends its neck to the empty cup.

The Grace of the Lord and Master cannot be had forcibly. He melts only on hearing humble prayer. If you are meek and pray to him in humility, he may turn his face towards you and you obtain His Grace. Therefore give up all pride and vanity and place the cup of humility before Him, then it would not be surprising if He fills the cup of the beggar.

Give up force and take to weeping; mercy is drawn to supplicant, oh mendicant! If you weep, you will gain His Mercy. Seek His mercy in your wailing.

Give up reliance on your strength and take to weeping as mercy is drawn towards wailing. If you adopt wailing you will get mercy. Always pray for His mercy while weeping. To many persons humility is natural and some learn humility from the sufferings of the world but true humility can be learnt only in the company of the Saints. They are free from egoism. Humility is their true embellishment. On the removal of egoism, true wisdom dawns. Shams Tabrez says, "Give up pride and become like dust, as from dust springs green grass. If you become ash because of divine Fire, then this ash will act as alchemy which would turn your iron into gold.

Give up egoism and become dust so that green grass may spring out of this dust. If you are reduced to ashes because of fire of yearning, your ash will become alchemy.

There are verses in the hymns of the saints which show their humility. After getting boons of high spiritual order they have expressed feelings of humility. "Oh Lord and Master, whatever is happening is due to Your Grace."

Guru Nanak gives a beautiful illustration of humility. "Oh Lord, all the faults are in me. I have no virtue. How is union with the Lord consort possible? I have no beauty or shine in the eyes. I do not belong to a noble family and cannot utter sweet words. If a woman (soul) dresses plainly and is liked by her Lord then is she the ever happy wife. That Lord has no form or colour and He is beyond the reach of thought. I am neither beautiful nor wise nor clever. Oh Lord, give me a place at Your feet."

I am full of defects and have no virtue; how can I meet my Lord? I am not beautiful and have no shining eyes, I am not of noble family and have no sweet tongue. A woman may dress plainly, she is ever a happy bride, if dear to her Lord. He has no form or delineation, his limits no one can find; I am not beautiful, wise or clever oh Lord! Be kind and unite me to Yourself.

Suhi Ashtpadi M1, 750-12

He further says, "I am a fool, without wisdom and being full of filth, how can I go and unite with the Lord? Others are full of virtues. No one knows my name even. Those of my friends who have won the love of the Lord are sitting under mango tree and enjoying its sweetness. They are happy. Those virtues are not in me. How can I blame anyone?"

I am unwise and full of faults, how can I go to my Lord? Others are far better, no one knows my name. Those who have won the love of the Lord are enjoying it in the shade of the mango tree. These virtues are not in me: how can I blame anyone?

Suhi M1, 762-6

We are unwise, foolish and deluded. Oh Master! show us the way. Oh Nanak! a Gurmukh loves the Shabd and always sings the praise of the Lord.

Gauri M3, 246-6

Thou knowest what would be our state without Thee oh True Guru. We would have roamed about, helplessly, without support. Oh Blessed Thou, Who hath raised us worms to Thy own state; oh Blessed, Blessed, is the Guru; Nanak, on meeting whom all our woes depart.

Gauri M4, 167-11

I am a poor unrespected orphan. The Lord held me to His bosom and made me His queen.

Asa M5, 394-8

I was a low caste unknown orphan without virtue and merit. Oh Nanak! He was kind and made me His slave.

Belawal M4, 815-1

Another Saint prays to the Lord in humility:

My intellect was topsyturvy, the Master set right my soul!

Sar Bachan

Paltu Sahib has shown his humility in a peculiar manner:

There was another Paltu. I was mistaken for him and given devotion. Devotion was given to me by mistaking me for another of my name. I took the wealth meant for another and secreted it. It was fated for another but was given to me. I alone know it, nobody else does. I offered to return it but it was not accepted. This was a mistake by the great One; what He said I did oh Paltu! You are a great sinner and the Lord committed a mistake. There was another Paltu. I was mistaken for him and given devotion.

The humility of Tulsi Sahib appears from the following verses:

I am unwise, helpless and of humble heart. By taking refuge in the saints I have recognized the Master. The Master is an unfathomable ocean of peace. He put me on the right Path. I bow at his feet again and again. I humbly sing the praises of the saints.

I am thy slave with the whole of my mind. Considering me low you have found me. I am your slave for ever and for ever. No one can cross without a Saint.

Saints are merciful and compassionate. By taking refuge with them even the low caste swim across. There can be no beginning or end without a Saint. Tulsi the helpless has taken shelter with You. Whatever is done, is done by Saints. Without the saints, the path cannot be found.

Shamas-i-Tabrez expresses his helplessness and inability with humility. He says,

Oh Master! I am a lame and humble beggar. I have not as yet been able to quench the thirst of my longing soul to my satisfaction by drinking the intoxicating water of the river of your compassion and mercy. You know my deeds full well. My weaknesses and helplessness are before you. When I committed any fault I was helpless. After all I was ill. I have come to the door of the perfect spiritual healer for treatment. A healer treats the patient through mercy. Now is the time for giving bounty. Give me some out of your treasury. No doubt, I am a thorn but a thorn also grows on flower plants. An intelligent gold dealer uses grain of barley also with mashas¹ to make up tolas².

No doubt I am a thorn but thorn also grows on a flower plant. An intelligent gold dealer puts barely in scales.

Give a place to this unworthy being in your court although I am not fit for it.

We are not fit for Your court but we are called Your slaves.

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Footnote:

1) This refers to a lovely expression.
1) Masha: Weight for weighing gold.
2) Tola: Unit of weight. During the British colonial period, 1 tola = 12 mashas.