Protector and Protection

III

You may ask, ‘Is all this the truth?’ but you can prove it through your own experiences; and in the many letters I receive daily there are numerous accounts of the Master’s protection. For example, a car was travelling along the road and it overturned into a very steep slope. The disciples in the car remembered the Master, and the car righted itself onto all four wheels again. Disciples who have faith in their Master can go through many dangerous experiences and will be astonished how they are saved and protected. These things are daily occurrences. Become receptive and obey His orders implicitly, even though at times He may show anger and displeasure, for He has taken this task upon Himself, and has to make you into something. A sculptor will pick up a rock lying on the roadside and chisel it to make eyes, nose, etc., and finally it becomes a work of art, a valuable thing. The Master will make the disciple into something priceless, and those who are receptive will progress quicker, regardless of how long they have been travelling along this Path. What good would it be if the stone started fighting with the sculptor, saying ‘I do not want a nose chiselled – I do not want my face like this’? He has to make something of it and He does so with Great Love.

Sometimes, due to the fate karmas, many difficulties cross the student’s Path, and Who is there to console and give strength to bear them? A single word from a Perfect Master goes to the depth of the heart, that it can stand upright and bear the burden. I remember when Pakistan was formed – you know the condition at that time – whole families died, friends were killed, many people starved, even rich people were destitute and hungry for a slice of bread. Naturally they tried to console each other, but the misery and hurt was so deep that they were inconsolable.

However, when they came to Hazur He would say,

It is all right, don’t despair – God will give you more,

and He would lift His hand in Love and blessing. His words were like soothing balm on their raw wounds. The Truth is that there is great power in this attention, and when one is helpless and feels that there is no hope, one will get full protection and assistance by turning one’s face towards the Master.

For example, if a child has to undergo some minor operation by the doctor, he will feel more assured and protected if his mother holds him in her lap, where her tender concern and love will help to take his attention from what is happening. There are many disciples who, while going through serious operations have seen their Master as the surgeon performing the operation. It is a question of Love and faith in the Guru. Some have seen the Master standing near them with loving and concentrated gaze; they lost their fear and forgot the operation completely. These are not stories from invention, but true facts which have happened and are still happening. It is very necessary to have a Living Master.

On this subject, Guru Ram Das, the fourth Guru of the Sikhs, says:

She who has given birth will look after the child with all her strength, he may be in the house or outside, but she is concerned for his every morsel.

As the mother takes care of the baby selflessly with all her strength, in all his needs, even going without herself if necessary, so does the True Guru take care of the disciple through all the tribulations of life. If the disciple’s eye is open enough, he will see for himself how he is being protected, and even if he does not see he will still receive the protection. If the child gets dirty, the mother does not spurn him, but washes him clean and lovingly embraces him to her breast. We are covered with the filth of ages of worldly living, and the Guru with all Love and concern teaches us how to refrain from soiling ourselves. 

Many times she will reprove, But always press you to her heart in love.

Guard the invaluable gift from the Master with your very life, for it will remain with you in this world and the next. It is not a trivial thing to meet a Guru, but with deep sorrow I observe that many people do not have respect for their Master. A child can never forget his mother and all she has done for him; if anyone does forget their mother’s love, it is a great sin. To forget all the blessings the Guru has bestowed is unforgivable.

Kabir says,

This sigh will never leave my heart; that I can do nothing in return for all that the Guru has done for me.

Forgive me, but the task of the Guru is not an easy one. To make something of the disciple, to put him on his feet, to give him new life, to reach him to his True Home – this is the Guru’s work. Giving lectures or fine talks is not the Guru’s work. His talks are merely to help them be aware that are in deep forgetfulness, but the Master’s duty is a matter of custody.

Oh Lord, we are the children of God, but in ignorance.

The Master unfolds our understanding, first as a teacher and then by taking on all the headaches, like bringing up a child from infancy; worrying about everything we do, just like a mother. When the child is fully grown, the mother knows that when he is hungry he will himself come for food, but if by chance he does not come, she again goes looking for him everywhere. If the disciple does not listen, the Master will offer alternative ways to help his progress, but if he is clever and keen to learn he will understand much from but a single gesture, and so learns accurately and advances rapidly. When the disciple does not learn from Satsang, books and messages, the Master uses many other ways to encourage him. There is the indirect method.

Baba Sawan Singh Ji would sometimes rebuke a man when the actual wrongdoer was another, standing nearby. He would say,

This is not right; it should not happen again,

and the person being addressed would wonder in his heart,

What have I done, that he is saying this?,

not realising that the words were indirectly meant for someone else.