Author

The Great Master Gurbakhsh Singh Ji "Manager Sahib"

(21.11.1915 (21.11.1915 (21.11.1915 (21.11.1915 - -- - 30.07.1998) 30.07.1998) 30.07.1998) 30.07.1998)
Fonder of Mastana Shah Bilochistani Ashram, Fonder of Mastana Shah Bilochistani Ashram, Fonder of Mastana Shah Bilochistani Ashram, Fonder of Mastana Shah Bilochistani Ashram,
Jagmalwali (Haryana) India Jagmalwali (Haryana) India Jagmalwali (Haryana) India Jagmalwali (Haryana) India

Publisher
S.S.R.S.T (Regd.)
Mastana Shah Balochistani Ashram
V. P. O. : Jagmalwali
Via Kalanwali - 125201
Distt. Sirsa (Haryana, India)
All Rights Reserved

Sacha Sauda
It is the reality of religion.
It is the exposure of hypocritical worship.
It is the true communism.
It is the terminal stage of all the sciences.
It is the source of love.
It is the basis of peace and order.
It is the solution of the worldly disputes.
It is the giver of true happiness.
It is the asset of the Saints, Sagas and Seers.


Dedication

This book is most humbly and reverently dedicated to the lotus feet of the
Mastani Mauj of Param Sant Baba Sawan Shah who assumed the form of
Param Sant Mastana Shah Balochistani and served mankind in the Dera
Sacha Sauda near Sirsa (Haryana). Param Sant Sawan Shah planted the seed
of Spirituality in me and nourished it under the supervision of his Mastani
Mauj. He provided me an opportunity of rendering service at his lotus feet for
a period of twelve years continuously. I am highly grateful to Param Sant
Mastana Shah Balochistani who through his unbounded grace, glory and
splendour helped in bestowing a unique boon upon me by Param Sant Sawan
Shah, freed me from worldly entanglements, and gave me an opportunity of
serving the Lord and His children.

The Essence of the Teachings of MBA
You have seen the external Gurus; now also behold the internal True Guru.
you have seen the external Thakurs; now also see the internal True Thakur.
You have seen the external temples; now also see the internal True Temple.
You have read the external Shastras (holy books); now also read the internal True
Shastra.
You have listened to the external Shabds; now also listen to the internal True
Shabd (Divine Melody).
You have read the external Bani; now also read the internal True Bani.
You have recited the external Names; now also meditate on the internal True
Nam (Word) which is constantly resounding by itself.
You have listened to the external Kirtan (Hymns); now also listen to the internal
True Kirtan.
You have gained the external bookish knowledge; now also acquire the internal
True Knowledge.
You have tasted the external Amrit (Nectar); now also drink the internal True
Nectar of Immortality.
You have bathed at the external places of pilgrimage; now also bathe at the
internal True place of Pilgrimage.
You have practised the external sectarian worship; now also practise the internal
True Worship.

INTRODUCTION

The original book was written in Punjabi. The title of the book being Sacha Dharma . It is in
two parts. In Part-I it has been explained as to what is God ? Has any body seen God ? What is
Spirituality ? Who is the True Lord ? What is Sacha Sauda (True Bargain) ? How and why this
universe was created ? How man got entangled in this world ? What is the way out for his
liberation ? What is the true Path of God Realisation ? What is the Will (Bhana) of the Lord ?
What is the True Word (Shabad), True Naam (Divine Melody) ? What is dying while living ?
What is true Bani, true Kirtan, true Amrit (nector), true Divine Knowledge, true Initiation,
Repetition (Simran), Meditation (Bhajan) and Contemplation (Dhyan) ? All these questions have
been answered in detail. The word Guru or Satguru has been explained clearly as to who is that
Guru who can re-unite our long separated soul with its origin and liberate it from the whirlpool
of transmigration in which it has been revolving helplessly since time immemorial. The necessity
of a perfect Master who can help us in the realisation of the True Lord (Satguru) has also been
explained.

The sole aim behind writing the book is to rescue the simple and innocent people from being
misled by false and blind Gurus of the present day Religions. The book has been found to be so
attractive by the true seekers of God that who-so-ever happens to have a glimpse of its contents
even in a passing way, he feels strongly inclined to have it, and he invariably says Please give
this book to me. You may arrange another for yourself. The magic of the book has charmed and
convinced even the atheists who deny the Existence of God. They have been observed saying
that they have now understood the real meaning of God. Uptill now, they remained in utter
delusion and were not aware of the real significance of the True Lord.

Part-II mainly deals with the Fundamental Principles of Religion, namely Truth, Love,
Compassion, Contentment, Forgiveness, Charity, Cleanliness, Good Conduct, True Service,
Sweet Tongue, Humility and Meekness. Besides, it has been defined as to who is a true Khalsa,
true Sikh, true Namdhari, true Brahmin, true Kashtriya, true Arya, true Yogi, true Jati, true
Vairagi, true Tyagi, true Sanyasi and a true Muslim. Moral Teachings have also been
incorporated which shall be useful in all walks of life. Owing to misinterpretation of the basic
precepts of Religion, the worldly struggles and disputes have assumed such an alarming situation
that it has become very difficult to solve them. They who quarrel over different names of
Religion have not correctly understood the meaning of Religion and are roaming in the dark. It
has been explained with quotations from the holy books and the teachings preached by the Great
Souls of different Religions, castes and countries that our true Religion is HUMANITY.

Man came first. Religions were instituted later for the preservation of Humanity. However, man
has become the custodian of Religion and has lost Humanity. The essence of the teachings of all
the world Religions is to re-unite the Soul (Atma) with its origin i.e. God (Parmatma). But the
impostors of Religion have drifted away from this basic concept. In this book, the fundamental
Principles of Religion have been explained, by knowing and rightly performing which, one can
achieve not only communion with God, but also lead a peaceful and comfortable life in the
world.

It is humbly requested that the readers should go through the book carefully. They are advised to
abjure the false pride of caste, colour, creed, profession and family. They should rise above
religious disputes and caste differences. They should adopt the fundamental principles of
Religion so that they may lead a happy, peaceful, comfortable and contented life, and also
achieve the ultimate goal of union with God in this very life.


The Necessity of Writting the Book

Once a man visited the Dera Sacha Sauda which is situated near Sirsa (Haryana) and said to
Mastana ji, To recite the Lords Name (Ram Nam) and to loot the wealth of others is the chief
motive of the present day Saints ? isnt it ? Mastana ji replied that it might be true in the case of
other Saints, but my motto is To recite the Lords Name (Ram Nam); to rob the inner wonderful
Lord of His Spiritual Wealth; and not to covet or desire the wealth of others.

However, that man was not at fault. The extent of robbery, looting, deceit, and hypocrisy which
is prevalent in the priestly class, now-a-days, is perhaps not to be found in other walks of life.
Besides robbery and looting, all the worldly strifes and struggles have been caused by false
Sadhus. They have given birth to religious bigotry, jealousy, ill-will and enmity. They are
responsible for causing unrest, uneasiness and disorder in the world.

God sends Divine Guides to this world as required by the conditions of the age in order to show
the path of attaining true life to mankind so that they may live peacefully and comfortably, and
also achieve the real aim of human life which is to attain communion with God. The Divine
Guides and the Spiritual Adepts practise and preach those very teachings which the bygone
Saints and Mahatamas (Holymen) had practised and preached in simple language and in a
systematic manner. Hafiz Sahib says: The Spiritual Teachings may be expressed in any
language , whether Turkish or Arabic, it is all the same. When you sing about your love for the
Lord, you may express yourself in any language you know.

However, it is regretted that the teachings advocated by the Great Souls were misinterpreted by
their followers. So long as true devotees were there, they showed the right path of God-
realisation to mankind, but thereafter their simple and straight forward teachings were made
complex and cumbersome by giving them the colour of Religion which caused worldly disputes.
They ground their own axe by misinterpreting the basic teachings or by distorting and tempering
with them in order to suit their selfish ends. Whereas the Saints taught the lesson of universal
peace, love and affection, and liberated the soul from the national, religious, physical and mental
ties of attachments, but many impostors and pretenders indulged in dogmatism, greed and ill-will
which dragged them away from the True Spiritual path.

It may be mentioned that religious bigotry and conflicts are not caused by the true religious
leaders, but the fault lies with the false and spurious Saints who misinterpret the basic teachings
of the by-gone Great Souls. Indeed, no faith or creed is false. False are they who do not reflect
upon their teachings.

Kabir Sahib says:
Call not the holy book (Quran), the Vedas and other Scriptures false.
False is he who gives not thought to their contents. (Kabir Parbhati 1350-4)

Hafiz Sahib says If the seventy-two sects of the Muslims are quarrelling amongst themselves,
they are not to be blamed. They are helpless as they do not know the Reality. That is why they
are at war with one another.

Dadu Sahib says that those Saints who reached their destination and attained perfection in
Spirituality preached one and the same message. They preached the same Truth and showed the
same Path of God-realisation. They had no differences of opinion. They were of the same caste.
The differences among various Religions and Faiths are due to ignorance of the Reality.

The need of the hour is that the secrets of Spiritual Discipline should be imparted in a simple
and systematic manner, as required by the conditions of the age, so that everybody may
understand them without much difficulty. Keeping this objective in view, Param Sant Mastana
Shah Balochistani asked me to write a book on the subject. Unfortunately, I could not comply
with his instructions and could not bring out the book during his life time, because a number of
other assignments were entrusted to me. Even now, the job of writing the book has been
completed with the abundant grace of Param Sant Mastana Shah Balochistani . Without his
grace, I would have not been in a position to accomplish this task. He himself has preserved the
honour of his words. Mine is merely a pretence.

There may be certain imperfections and shortcomings in the book for which suggestions are most
welcome from the readers so that they may be rectified in the next edition.

GURBAKHSH SINGH MANAGER
Mastana Shah Balochistani Ashram,
V. & P.O. JAGMALWALI via Kalanwali,
Distt. Sirsa (Haryana).
Ph:- +91-1696-286300, 230300
email:- [email protected], [email protected],


What is Dharma (Religion) ?
The word Dharma has been derived from the root Dhri which means to sustain, to support
and to guide. English word for Dharma is Religion which comes from the Latin infinitive
religare : i.e. Re meaning back, ligare meaning to bind or unite; or that which binds one back to
ones origin. Thus, religion means re-union with God.

Dharma (Religion) comprises those principles or doctrines, with the knowledge and proper
performance of which, universal peace and communion with God is attained. The deeds which
benefit the doer and his fellow beings are included in Dharma. If they result in pain or misery to
others, they are termed as irreligious or adharma.
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Explanation of Dharma (Religion)
In the famous war of Mahabharata when Karan, the great warrior, destroyed the army of
Yudhishter, the latter called upon Arjun, reprimanded him and spoke ill of his bow. Arjun
became furious at this insult and decided to kill Yudhishter with his bow. Lord Krishna who was
also present there asked Arjun, What are you going to do ? Arjun replied, I will kill
Yudhishter because he has spoken ill of my bow and I have made a solemn pledge to kill anyone
who speaks ill of my bow. Dharma has to be followed at all cost. Arjun further said, It is the
true Dharma and sacred duty of a Kashatriya to honour his pledge. I will, therefore, kill him.
Lord Krishna again asked, Will you get peace of mind after killing Yudhishter ? Arjun replied,
No. Lord Krishna advised him, An act of Dharma leads to peace of mind and happiness. It is
apparent that what you are going to do is not Dharma. It is an act of adharma or unrighteousness.
Refrain from taking such action.
A seeker after truth came to Rishi Ved Vyas and asked him, I am confused and unable to
understand the meaning of the term Dharma (Religion). The people try to put different meanings.
Kindly explain its meaning in clear, simple and intelligible language so that I may perform my
deeds and duties in accordance with its precepts. The Rishi replied, While performing any
deed you should remember the golden principle viz., Do unto others as you wish to be done by.
This is the essence of the teachings of true Dharma (Religion).
Once St. Peter asked Jesus Christ, Master, which is the great commandment in the Law ? Jesus
said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord, thy God, with all thy heart and with all thy soul and
with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it. Thou
shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the
prophets. (Matt : 22 : 36-40)
Jesus advised his disciples to lead a life full of love and affection. There is nothing in the world
that anybody needs, except love and a little food, clothing and shelter.
This is my commandment, that ye love one another. (John 15:12)
In order to impress this great law on his disciples, he gave to them the supreme test of
discipleship.
By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples,
if ye have love to one another. (John 13 : 35)

True Dharma (Religion)
Man came first. Religions were instituted later for maintaining humanity and for the well-being
of the mankind. However, man discarded humanity and became the custodian of religion. He
forgot that his true Dharma (Religion) is Humanity.
All the outer forms of the body such as to keep long hair or to be clean-shaven, to mark the
forehead with sacred mark (tilak) or to assume some other shape or form is merely a false show
which indicates that one is the follower of a particular sect or a religious leader. These forms
have nothing to do with spiritual uplift. These external marks or signs were evolved by the
inhabitants of different countries, from time to time, which undergo changes with the passage of
time. Therefore, these external observances do not comprise true Dharma or Religion. These are
merely rites and rituals. It is foolishness, irreligious and inhuman to quarrel over these outer
marks.
The followers of almost all the religions and the so called custodians of religion are entangled in
observing outer rites and rituals prescribed by their respective sects. They are quarrelling
amongst themselves over these outer physical forms due to lack of knowledge of the real
teachings of Dharma (Religion). Thus they indulge in evil habits and sinful actions. They try to
get butter by churning water instead of churning curd.
Kabir Sahib says:-
Kabir has seen such wonders;
That mistaking it for curd, man is churning water. (Kabir Gauri 326)
How can they get butter in this manner ? Due to this ignorance such monopolists instead of
coming nearer to God are drifting farther from Him.
The Muslims search for God in mosques;
And the Hindus in temples;
But the Invisible Lord abides in the temple of the body.
They search Him not within themselves. (Kabir Sahib)
Such people cast an ugly slur on the fair names of their ancestors and by-gone holy saints who
showed the true spiritual path. They fill their bellies and live on the hard labour and sacrifices
undergone by the holy Saints. In fact, they are the people who are responsible for the decay of
righteousness. They themselves are unable to achieve true happiness nor they can explain
anything about it to others. They waste their lives in futile discussions and die in ignorance.
Once Hazrat Hasan Basri, a Sufi Saint, said in a religious congregation, Alas ! the Muslims
have mingled unto dust and Mohammedanism is confined to books only. These words are
contained in a book entitled Haftad-Aulia (Seventy Saints) written by Hazrat Shah Murad
Sohraworthy, printed at the Hamidat Press, Delhi. In the foot note, the author has explained that
this fact pertains to the first century Hijri when Hazrat Mohammed and Hazrat Rabia were alive
and the times were good. Now in the Fourteenth Century Hijri, God is the only Protector and
one can well imagine whether or not the Muslims are under dust even.
Similarly, almost all the religions have mingled unto dust and Dharma (Religion) is confined to
books alone. They are drifting away from Reality. The real aim and object of adopting a certain
religion is to attain true life, keep the mind and senses under control, manifest the Naam or
Shabad within ones own-self and above all to achieve communion with God.
Guru Arjun Sahib says :
Of all religions, the best is the one,
that enjoineth the practice of the Lords Name,
which is the purest of all practices. (M: 5 Gauri 266-18)
So long as one does not follow the teachings and acts upon the noble doctrines advocated by the
Great Souls and does not dispel the veil of illusion, one cannot achieve the desired objective or
become truly religious simply by imitating the outer forms of religious leaders.
A true religious man is he who rises above duality and searches for the golden principles of true
religion by adopting which the mind is cleansed and freed from greed, hatred, enmity, violence
and jealousy and faith in God is strengthened. He beholds the Divine-Light in everybody and
loves the whole mankind. He is determined to do good to others by word, thought and action.
Only such a righteous person deserves salvation.
Non-violence is the true duty.
Lack of Knowledge of the Real Teachings of Religion is the Root Cause of Religious Disputes .

As long as the child is in the mothers womb, he has no caste or creed. All human beings are the
children of one Supreme Father i.e. God. All the disputes based on caste or creed are man made
and they crop up only after birth.
Kabir Sahib says :
In the womb of the mother, man has no lineage and no caste.
From the Seed of the Lord, the whole creation has sprung. (Kabir Gauri 324-25)

Hafiz Sahib says, If the seventy-two sects of the Muslims are quarreling amongst themselves,
they are not to be blamed. They are helpless as they are ignorant of the Reality.
Guru Nanak Sahib says that everybody claims to be true and right in his own place. Since, none
of them has realised the Truth, they are quarrelling amongst themselves.

Those who searched the Lord within themselves and manifested the true Naam or Word, have
discovered the Reality and have solved all their problems.

Hafiz Sahib says :
When I heard the Divine Melody or celestial music and
Bang-e-Asmani (Voice from Heaven) within the temple of the body,
Both the Kaba and idol-temple seemed to be Kafar (Infidel) to me.

Similarly, Kabir Sahib says :
When I realised the bliss of the true Shabad or Word,
All my doubts and superstitions were dispelled.
I found that the real path or Religion is the same for everyone,
Whether one is a Hindu Pundit or a Muslim Priest.

Hazrat Shah Bahu says, The essence of the teachings of all the religions is to know ones own-
self. Until and unless one searches for God within the temple of body, one remains ignorant of
the Reality manifest both in Islam and Kafar (believer and un-believer).

Love for God and his Children is the True Dharma (Religion)

God is Love and Love is God. Those who have realised the reality of religion, love God and His
children. They found that true love is the basis of Religion. Maulana Rum says that the religion
of love is different from all others. Realisation of true God is the only religion of the seekers and
lovers. Without love, religion has no footing.

Divine Love and Shariat (Rites and Rituals)

There is no hard and fast rule for entering the kingdom of the Lord. Dadu Sahib says that neither
the Hindu temples nor the Muslim mosques are counted in the court of the Lord. There is no hard
and fast rule or rigid law for getting admittance into His Court.

It is the field of love and affection. He who jumps into it wins the game of life. The devouts
(Karmis) remain confined to the performance of outer rites and rituals of different sects.
However, for the devotees, love for God is the only true religion. They are always in search of
Divine Love. They sit and offer prayers in the lane leading to the Lords Court. The bliss and
happiness which they enjoy in the company of true seekers and lovers is not to be found
elsewhere. That is why there can never be an alliance between the devotees of God and the
worldly people. The worldly people are always in direct confrontation with the true devotees.

Guru Nanak Sahib says :
It is never possible for men devoted to God
and those devoted to the world to pull to-gether. (M 1 Var Majh 145-17)

Similarly, Bulleh Shah says :

Partisans live in Dharamsalas, cheats in temples,
butchers reside in mosques;
while lovers (of the Lord) live apart.

He further says :
Bullah is neither Rafzi nor Sunni, nor learned
nor an intellectual nor a Jaini.
I have learnt the lesson of love of God alone.
People say : Bulleh is an Infidel (Kafar)
and an idol-worshipper.
But in the Lords court, both the Momin and Kafar
(Believer and un-believer) are treated alike.

Dadu Sahib says: I am neither a Hindu nor a Muslim. I belong to none of the six schools of
Philosophy. I am imbued in the dye of the Lords love.

Khusro Sahib says : I have become infidel (Kafar) on account of the intense love of God. I no
longer require outer religion of mine. I have become infidel to such an extent that I need not
wear the outer sacred thread (Janeo) which is made of a few threads of cotton. My every pore
and cell has become sacred thread in the intense love of God. The true lovers have no concern
with the Resurrection Day and the dissolution of the world. They remain absorbed in enjoying
the wonderful glory of their beloved (Lord) within themselves.

Hafiz Sahib says, I am intensely in love with my Beloved. I have nothing to do with my
external caste or religion. I am so restless in the pain of this separation that I have lost all
consciousness of union of separation. My heart is full of love for my Beloved. I need Him in
both the worlds. I do not care for Heaven or Hell nor for Hur (a fairy of Paradise) or Satan. He
further says, The beggars in the vicinity of the Beloved do not even have any desire for Heaven,
because the victims of love are actually free from both the worlds.

Hazrat Bu-Ali Kalander says to the devouts : Go and seek the company of the learned people.
What business you have in the assembly of lovers. Your actions are explicit whereas my game is
implicit.

Kabir Sahib warns the ritualists (Sharais) and says, Why do you feel aggrieved, when I have
realised the one Lord in everyone ? If I am dishonoured, I am myself responsible for it. Why are
you hunting after me ? If I am mean, I am so to myself. I have little concern with you. I do not
care for my honour or dishonour. It will only be exposed when you and I will go to the Lords
court. Do not take pride in the performance of outer rites and rituals. He alone is truly
honourable who is acceptable to the Lord. In the end, he advises to himself and says,
Contemplate the Lords Name and do not care for anybody else as the honour lies in the hands
of the Lord.

Shamas-i-Tabriz says :
What is to be done, Oh Muslims,
for I do not know my own identity.
I am neither a Christian nor Jew,
neither a Zoreastrian nor Muslim,
The placeless is my place; the traceless is my trace;
I have neither body nor life, for, my soul has dissolved
in the very soul of the Beloved.
Had I spent a single breath in my life without Thee;
For that time and that moment Id be eternally ashamed
of myself. He is the First, He is the Last;
He is the Manifest; He is the Hidden.
Save Oh ! He is and Oh ! He who is. Nothing else I know.
O Shamas-I-Tabriz, I have become so
Intoxicated in this world that apart from
ecstasy and revelry I have no other tale to tell.

Fundamental Principles of Dharma (Religion)
Rama and Rehman are one


Pani (Urdu), eau (French), aab (Persian) and Jal (Hindi) are the various names in different
languages of the same object i.e. water which quenches thirst when drunk. Similarly, Rama,
Rehman, Allah, Wahi-Guru, God etc. are the different names of the same Almighty Lord. One
may read the Vedas, Shashtras, Quran and other holy scriptures, perform religious ceremonies,
rites and rituals but until and unless the Divine-Light is manifested, one remains in utter
delusion.

Dadu Sahib says:
Some utter Ram, Ram; others Allah (Khuda);
But no one knows the secret of Ram or Allah.

Similarly, Guru Ravi Das Ji says : As long as I did not realise that Krishan, Karim, Rahim, Ram
or God are the different names of the same Almighty Lord, I remained in utter delusion by
reading the Vedas, Puranas, Quran and other holy scriptures.

All human beings belong to the same caste and have sprung from one light

None is great or small. None belongs to a high caste or a low caste. The same Light is working in
all of us. All human beings are composed of similar skin, flesh, bones and blood. All are born in
a similar manner.

Kabir Sahib says:
All people are born out of the semen of
father and blood of mother;
All have similar skin and flesh.
The whole creation has sprung from one Light (Jyoti)
may they be Brahmins or Sudras.

He further says :
Firstly, God created Light and then by His
Omnipotence were all men made.
From Gods Light, the entire universe has sprung.
Then, whom shall we call good and whom bad ? (Kabir Prabhati 1349-1)

Similarly, Guru Nanak Sahib says:
O Nanak, the Lord Himself createth all, and
Maketh each a distinct entity.
Whom shall we, then call bad
When the one God pervadeth all ? (M 1 Salok 1237-28)

Dadu Sahib also affirms the same truth :
I have seen with eyes open,
There is none else but the Lord;
The same Light is working in all the human beings;
may they be Hindus or Muslims.

It is said in the Holy Quran that the Almighty Lord created the whole universe from the same
Spirit. In the Anjil it is written that God is our Heavenly Father.

The true caste of man is one handful of dust and two handful of ashes.
The jar of unbaked clay (i.e. human body) attired in different colours wanders hither and thither
in vain. Sometimes he puts the sacred mark (Tilak) on the forehead and poses himself to be a
Brahmin. Sometimes, he assumes the guise of a sadhu (holy man) and so on. But the day is not
far off when all this false decoration and the body itself which is decorated will be reduced to
dust. The whole world is engaged in the outer beautification and decoration of the body which
springs from dust and ultimately returns to dust. Only he who understands the Reality can get rid
of this tangle.

Guru Nanak Sahib says:
What is the use of scrubbing the body ?
It is doomed to destruction.

Similarly, Kabir Sahib says :
Why do you take pride on this human body ?
Before our very eyes, it mingles unto dust.

Jesus Christ also says the same thing :
Dust thou art and unto dust shall thou return. (Bible)

Bulleh Shah states the same truth :
Yea, the dust plays its role.
The whole world is composed of dust;
Dust is the horse, dust is the rider.
Dust chases dust, the whole rattling is of dust.
Dust destroys dust, all weapons are made of dust.
Dust abides in dust, dust is full of self-conceit.
Dust is the garden, dust are the flowers.
Dust comes to see the spring of dust.
Ultimately, dust returns to dust, the whole world
is the expansion of the dust.
O Bullah! he who understands this secret
does not entangle himself in the game of dust.

Those who practise devotion are of high caste others are of low caste.

Only those people deserve to be called of a high caste, who worship the Lord and have revealed
the true Naam or Word within themselves. Without the manifestation of the true Naam, all
people are of low caste. Guru Amar Das Ji says that only the true devotees who reveal the true
Naam within themselves can be deemed to be of high caste, while all others are of low caste.
They roam in the illusory world like a worm which is born in filth and dies in filth.
Similarly, Guru Ravi Das Ji says :
One may be a Brahim, Vaishya, Kashtriya or a Sudra;
Even if he be a chandala of an unclean mind;
He becomes immaculate and pure
by contemplating the Lords Name;
He saves himself and saves
the families of both of his parents. (Guru Ravi Das Bilawal: 858-8)

Raja Janak had an intense longing for obtaining Divine-Knowledge. He invited all the saints for
the purpose. But none of them could enlighten the king or impart Divine Knowledge. Last of all,
Ashtavakar, who was very rustic, ill clad and had eight curves in the body, suddenly stood up,
occupied the stage and enlightened the king. All the Faqirs who had assembled in the Durbar,
jeered and laughed at the awkard structure of his body. At this, Ashtavakar remarked, Alas !
these poor fellows do not recognise my virtues. They can best judge quality of skin of my body.
They are not true saints. They are tanners who can judge the quality of leather only.

Tulsi Sahib also says the same thing :
The people are proud of the greatness of their respective caste;
which is infused in every pore and cell of the body.
But without realisation of the Sat-Guru within,
the people of four castes are merely outcastes (chamar).

Similarly, Paltu Sahib says :
He who worships the Lord is great, nobody cares for his caste or creed.
For his caste or creed nobody cares,
The Lord loves devotion.
He who practises worship and devotion is great,
Caste is of no significance.
Bidar, Ajamal and Sadna, the butcher, were approved in the Lords court.
Ganika, the prostitute, attained a high position.
Ravi Das who was of low caste merged in the Lord by virtue of devotion.
Gidh was adopted in the lap and was sent to Heaven.
O Paltu ! with the contact of philosophers stone iron turns into gold.
He who worships the Lord is great, no-body cares for his caste or creed.

The Human Body is the Sacred Temple or Mosque Built by God in which He Himself Dwells


Instead of the temples and mosques of stones and bricks built with our own hands, we should
respect the true temple or mosque (the human body) erected by the Lord in which He himself
resides.

Dadu Sahib Says :
O fool ! you safeguard with great care the temples erected with your own hands,
but demolish the golden temple of human body erected by God.

Mahatama Maluk Das says :
You pay tributes and kneel before the man made
mosques, but demolish the one which is built by God.

Search for God inside the Body

All the spiritual saints advocated to search for the Lord within the temple of human body.

Dadu Sahib says:
The Lord is manifest in the temple or mosque of the body.
Practise devotion and meditation inside.
Why do you wander outside ?

Similarly, Guru Amar Das Ji says :
The human body is the temple of God.
Within it one finds rubies and pearls,
If one utters the Lords Name by the Gurus grace. (M 3 Pauri 952-6).

He further says:
That alone is said to be Gods temple, where from God is realised.
Realising the pervading soul to be everywhere,
Through the Gurus instructions, one finds the Lord in the human body itself.
Search thou not ever the Lord without.
The Creater is within thy very home.
The egocentrics know not the worth of Gods temple and they lose their life.
The one Lord is pervading all and is attained through the Gurus teachings. (M 3 Pauri 952-8)

Similarly, Tulsi Sahib says :
He (The Lord) is in the heart,
But we see Him not;
Such a life is a curse;
O Tulsi ! we suffer from a cataract.

Kabir Sahib also states the same truth :
O Man, where dost thou seek me ?
Lo ! I am beside thee.
I am neither in idol-worship nor in pilgrimage nor in solitude;
I am neither in temples nor in mosques;
I am neither in Kashi nor in Kailash:
Neither am I in rites and ceremonies, nor in yoga and renunciation.
If thou art a true seeker, thou shalt at once see me.
Thou shalt meet me in a moment;
Sayeth Kabir, listen, O Sadhus !
Where there is Faith, there is God Himself.

God has created the universe. He is the Lord of all. He does not reside in the man made temples
and mosques.
God that made the world and all things there in seeing,
that he is the Lord of heaven and earth
dwelleth not in temples made with hands. (The Acts 17-24)

Hafiz Sahib says : Go and inscribe on the gates of all the temples and mosques that God dwells
in the temple of body. He is far above rites and rituals of different sects and creeds.

Do not Injure the Feelings of Anybody

To injure the feelings of others is the greatest sin. Shamas-I-Tabriz says, The first step on the
path of God-realisation is not to injure the feelings of others.

Kabir Sahib says:
Persecute never the lowly, the meek and the helpless,
For, their cry of igony is devastating;
Remember, the breath of the lifeless bellows
Reduces steel to cinders.

It is written in the book entitled, The Sayings of Nabi by Hazrat Mohammed that a man whose
mischiefs are a source of terror for his neighbour is not a true Muslim. The neighbour may be a
Momin or a Kafar (believer or un-believer), but he who persecutes the neighbour must go to hell
even if he may offer prayers for the whole night and keep fast for the whole day.

Mahatama Magrabi Sahib says, You may perform thousands of rituals, austerities, worship,
obeisances, penances or repent thousand times for your sins or you may observe thousands of
fasts with thousands of prayers and pass thousands of sleepless nights in meditation, all these are
not acceptable in the court of the Lord if you injure the feelings of anyone.

Khwaja Hafiz Sahib says, You may drink wine which is prohibited, you may burn the Quran
which is the holy book of the Muslims, you may set fire to Kaaba, which is the holy place in
Mecca, you may commit any other sin and do whatever you like, but dont injure the feelings of
anyone.

Guru Gobind Singh advised Bhai Nand Lal to treat the whole creation as belonging to the Lord
and not to inflict injury to it. He who harms His creation, the Lord punishes him.
Sheikh Farid says that the heart of all the human beings is precious like jewels. To cause pain to
another mans heart is not good. If you want to see the Lord, dont injure the feelings of
anybody.

Jesus Christ says :
Ye have heard how that it hath been said, thou shalt love thy neighbour and hate thine enemy.
But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that persecute you,
do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you and curse you. (Mat :
543-44)

Sweet Tongue


It is essential for a righteous person to speak politely and sweetly. The worth of a commodity is
judged by its qualities. Nobody values a commodity if it is lacking in basic qualities. The plants
which do not bear fruit are uprooted and thrown away. An electric bulb when fused becomes
worthless and useless and is thrown away as it cannot transmit light. Similarly, to be polite,
courteous and sweet are the greatest human virtues. Without these virtues, one is liable to be cast
away from the category of man. Such a person is not better than a picture carved on the wall or a
statute made of stone.

All the Bounties of the Lord are Reserved for the Person who is Good Mannered, Courteous and
Polite

In the book entitled The sayings of Nabi by Hazrat Mohammed, it is recorded that seventy
bounties are bestowed by the Lord on two persons who greet each other. Out of these, sixty-nine
bounties are bestowed on the person who greets with a cheerful heart and with an open mind.
The remaining one goes to the other person.

At another place, it is written that on the dooms day when the human actions and reactions
would be weighed in a beam scale, the pan weighing sweetness and humility would be the
heaviest. Hazrat Ali says, To greet others cheerfully is the first virtue. It is written in the holy
Quran that to speak politely and sweetly comprises half Godliness. A sweet tempered person will
enter the kingdom of Heaven even if he offers little prayer, whereas an ill-tempered man will go
to hell even though he may sing prayers for hours together.

Even the Most Difficult Problems can be Solved Easily by Using Sweet and Polite Words.

It costs nothing to speak gently and politely. None can be more wretched or worthless than a
person who cannot console an aggrieved person with one or two sweet words. Sweet and polite
words win favour of all.

Shah Farid was asked as to how he supervised his servants ? He replied, By politeness and
forbearance. Again, he was asked as to how he solved his difficulties ? He replied, By leniency
and kindness.

The Wound Caused by Sharp and Harsh Words is More Painful than that Caused by A Sword

The wound inflicted by a sword heals in due course, but that caused by harsh words becomes
fresh everytime we remember the words. It goes deep into another mans heart. In no time, it
reduces the other mans virtues to dust. A wise man has aptly remarked, Let not your tongue
become a flashing sword as its wound has no healing ointment.

It is essential for a righteous person to have full control on his tongue. We should think twice
before speaking. We should not use harsh words. In case, we are unable to render service to
others, we should express our helplessness politely and ask to be excused as a matter of courtesy.
This will not cause injury to anyone.

Sheikh Saadi says that it is very easy to take bitterest things, like tumar, from the hands of a
sweet tempered and gentle-man, but it is very difficult to swallow even sweets from the hands of
a rude and harsh man.

When we behave a person with love and affection, our heart feels comfortable and restful. Others
also are pleased with our kind and befitting behaviour. On the other hand, if we behave anyone
rudely, it will pinch him badly. As a result, we will ourselves feel perturbed and restless. It also
breeds hatred and enmity. In fact, it is a sin to visit an ill-tempered man. His bad manners and
evil designs will certainly affect us and injure our feelings.
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The Way to Achieve Peace and Happiness


Hafiz Sahib says that if you want to be happy in this world and the world hereafter, you should
be kind to your friends and also love your enemies. In other words, you should always wish for
the welfare of your friends as well as your foes.

There are two means for being happy in both the worlds;
Kindness to friends and loving treatment to foes. (Hafiz)

To speak gently and to behave cheerfully is the true religion of a righteous person. Such a person
never opposes good ideas. He does not find fault with others. He never injures the feelings of
others. He always tries to please others and to provide comfort and happiness to them.
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Be Humble and Meek


The Lord is the store-house of humility and meekness. In order to be one with Him, we should be
as humble and meek as the Lord. He is the Lord of Khands and Brahmands. Everything is within
His power. He has the power to do everything. In spite of all these virtues, He renders service to
all and looks after them. One may praise Him or speak ill of Him, one may remember Him with
love and affection or one may hate Him, but He tolerates all these things with patience. He has
reduced Himself to non-entity and His traces cannot be visualised with these eyes.

How beautifully Kabir Sahib has described true humility. He says that one should eschew self-
Ego to the extent the Lord has eschewed and of whom no sign is visible. He advises that a true
disciple should become like a pebble, like dust and like pure water. However, he finds one fault
or the other with them. He concludes that a true servant should be as is the Lord. He says :

O man, if you want to realise God,
renounce thy Ego and be like a pebble lying on the road
which bears the kicks of everybody.
He again says that the pebble may strike and hurt the feet of the travellers,
so you should be like the dust of pathways.
But, still he thinks that the dust spoils the body and clothes of the passers-by.
Then he advises to be like the clean water.
But again he finds fault with the water also as it gets cold and hot
which may be unsuitable to people of different natures.
In the end, he advises us to annihilate our self-ego to the extent the Lord has done
and who has no sign of His existence at all.

Similarly, Guru Arjun Sahib says that so long as man does not accept death and renounces ego,
he cannot enter the court of the Lord.

Accept thou death first, abandon the hope of life and
be the dust of the feet of all, then alone come to me. (M 5 Salok 1102-11)
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Our Position


Generally, we tr yto make a show that we are mean, feeble, the most insignificant and
unimportant persons. But when others utter the same words about us, we feel aggrieved as our
inner state of mind is altogether different. When we attend the meetings, we sit on the back
benches or on a low seat. But at the same time, we wish that some-one should seat us in the front
rows or on a high seat. It is a mere external hypocritical, superficial and artificial show. Such like
things are not covered under humility. True humility never makes outer show nor utters humble
words. A humble man always considers himself low. Whatever harsh words one may utter about
him, he does not retaliate. If one speaks ill of his conduct in order to grind ones own axe, he
does not bother at all. On the other hand, he feels happy. Such a person is indeed low, meak and
humble. He deserves to be called a true well-wisher. He is approved in the court of the Lord.

Kabir Sahib says :
Kabir, I am the worst of all.
But for me, every one else is good.
He who knows this Truth is my bosom friend. (Kabir Salok 1364-17)
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Humility is the Best Method of Imbibing Virtues


Humility is the most effective weapon for imbibing virtues. If we want to imbibe the virtues of
others, it is essential for us to have humility and meekness. By imbibing the virtue of humility,
all other virtues follow automatically.

Guru Nanak Sahib says :
O Nanak, sweetness and humility are the essence of all merits and virtues.

As long as a person feels that he knows nothing, he is desirous of knowing more about new
things. The moment he believes that he knows something, the doors of knowledge are closed for
him. A truly humble man considers himself insignificant and meek. He is never proud of his
knowledge and intellect. He, therefore, listens to and understands all persons whether great or
small. He can easily distinguish between virtue and vice. On the other hand, a man who is proud
of his knowledge and intellect and believes that he already knows everything, can never listen to
others. The gates of knowledge are closed for him forever. Kabir Sahib says that only a humble
person can understand the inner state of mind of everybody, but none can imagine his inner
disposition.
The humble one can see all, no one looks at him.
He who looks at the humble, becomes god from man.

True Humility is the Chief Weapon: Even the Bitter Enemy Bows his Head Before it.

Humility is a great virtue which melts the heart of harsh persons also. With the weapon of
humility, we can win over the cruel people. Most of the people consider humility and meekness
to be the signs of weakness and helplessness. They believe that if we behave gently with the
enemy, he again raises his head. They believe in tit for tat. However, what can be achieved with
humility cannot be had by means of harsher methods. When Paras Ram, the great warrior, took
an axe in his hands to kill Lakshman, Ram Chandra humbly bowed his head at Paras Rams feet
and the axe fell down from his hands.

Guru Arjun Sahib says that poverty is our mace and to become dust of everybodys feet is our
sword. These are our chief weapons of defence. No evil minded person can withstand against
them. The perfect master has told us thus:

Humility is my spiked mace.
To be the dust of all mens feet is my two edged dagger.
These weapons no evil-doer can withstand.
The perfect Guru has conveyed this thing to me. (M-5 Sorath 628-14)

One may be a strong opponent or a bitter enemy, if we adopt a humble and meek attitude
towards him and have soft corner for him, he will himself give up his hatred and wickedness.

As already mentioned, humility or meekness is not a weakness. It is a divine gift full of love and
affection. Even the great men of the world have to bow their heads before it. Humility is the
shield which protects the humble and the meek. It blunts the arrows of hatred, enmity and
jealousy.

Kabir Sahib says that the Lord dwells with those who offer prayers in humility and with
meekness. They swim in the ocean of the Lords love like the fish playing in water. The Lord is
Omnipresent and all Pervading. If there is humility in ones heart, the Lord meets him openly.

The Lord pervades in land and sea everywhere.
He who surrenders himself to a Saint and
observes humility, poverty and praying,
The Lord is with him like fish in water. (Kabir Sahib)

Kal (Negative Power) and Maya (Illusion) are the two strong forces which obstruct the path of
spiritual progress. But humility is such a powerful weapon that renders their arrows ineffective.
The Divine power hidden behind humility protects the humble and the meek. That is why all the
devotees of the Lord made humility their ornament.

Mahatama Charan Das says :
Great indeed is humility which never gives way to any force.
It makes ineffective even the arrows of Maya (illusion)
what to speak of other passions.

We should make our hearts the source of love and affection for the whole universe. We should
inculcate humility to such an extent that even if a person does harm to us we should return love
for the same and never think ill of him. Only then, we can lead a comfortable, prosperous and
peaceful life, and thereby success will lick our feet.

The worldly people have always tortured and harassed the ardent lovers of God. But the devotees
owing to humility became receipients of His mercy and reached their destination. Sheikh Saadi
says, I have imbibed humility to such an extent that people trample on me like an ant. I have
abandoned the evil habit of a bee which stings and injures the people.

Sheikh Farid says :
Farid, if men hit thee with their fists,
Beat them not in return.
Nay, kiss their feet and go home. (Salok Farid 1378-7)

Similarly, Kabir Sahib says :
Kabir, the Saint abandons not his saintliness,
even though he meets with millions of impious persons.
Sandal is entwined with serpents,
even then it leaves not its coolness. (Kabir Salok 1373-22)

Tulsi Sahib states :
Take my advice, present a flower to him
who pricks you with sharp thorns;
Your flower will return to you,
While your enemy will be pierced with a three-pronged lance.

Jesus Christ says that if someone slaps you on the right cheek, you should turn the other cheek
also.

Once Jesus while delivering sermons to his disciples said :
Who-so-ever shall humble himself as the little child,
the same is the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven. (Matt. 18 : 4)

Then Peter came to him and said :
Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him ?

Till seven times ?

Jesus said unto him :
I say not unto thee until seven times,
but until seventy times seven. (Matt. 18 : 22)
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True Greatness is Acquired with Humility


In order to acquire true greatness in the world, it is necessary to have humility and meekness. A
man who possesses humility and meekness, behaves gently with others and practises devotion is
great indeed.

Kabir Sahib says :
Have humility, meekness and devotion and treat others with courtesy.
O Kabir, he alone is great who has these virtues.

Jesus Christ says :
He that is least among you, all the same is great.

Similarly, Guru Arjan Sahib says :
He who considers himself low is counted the highest of all. (M.5 Gauri 266-7)

Mahatama Lautse, the great Chinese Saint says, I have three valuable possessions which I
honour most, namely :-
1. Compassion;
2. Economy; and
3. Humility

With compassion, I can be bold and courageous, with economy I can perform charity and with
humility I can become a leader of men.

If a man tries to become great by means of wealth, vanity, pride, falsehood, deception,
cleverness, pretence, propaganda and exhibition of knowledge, it is evidently a proof of his
meanness and wickedness. None can acquire greatness in this manner. Such people are like a
date-tree which can neither provide shade to a tired traveller nor its fruits can satiate his hunger
as they are beyond reach.

Kabir Sahib says :
What does it matter, if you are tall like a date-tree ?
It provides no shade to the travellers and its fruits are too high.

True humility produces sweetness in our hearts and the words uttered by us would also be sweet.
The waves which radiate from our body would also be full of love and affection. These waves
attract friends as well as foes towards them. Consequently, all people become our well-wishers
and they respect us whole-heartedly.
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True Humility is the Best Method to Win over the Lord


Sheikh Farid asks as to what is that knowledge, virtue or the valuable diamond that we should
possess; and which is that dress by putting on which we can win over the Lord? He himself
answers that that knowledge is humility, that virtue is simplicity and that valuable diamond is
sweet tongue. Put on the dress of these virtues and you will win over the Lord.

What is that word, what the virtue and what is that jewel-like spell ?
What is the dress, which I may wear, by which I may captivate my spouse ?
Humility is the word, forgiveness the virtue and sweetness of tongue, the jewel-like spell.
Wear thou these dresses,
O my sister, then alone shall thy spouse come into thy power. (Farid Salok 1384-14).

The Lord loves humility. He Himself is the store house of humility. Pride or egotism do not
behove the Lord. He showers His boons on those who are embellished with humility and
meekness. Water does not accumulate on the top of mountains, but it flows down to the low
lying areas. He who bows drinks water and quenches his thirst, but he who stands erect remains
thirsty.

Kabir Sahib says :
Water does not accumulate at high places but does so at the low places;
He who bends drinks, the stiff necked remains thirsty.

In order to acquire the bounty of the Lords grace, the ground of our heart should be imbued in
the colour of humility. The grace of the Lord cannot be acquired with force. The Lord can be
pleased with humble prayers alone.

Saint James says :
God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble.

If we pray to the Lord in humility and with meekness, it is possible that the Lord may be pleased
to shower His mercy upon us and we may get it in abundance.

Maulvi Rum says :
Give up force and take to weeping.
Mercy is drawn to supplicant. O mendicant !
If you weep, you will gain His mercy.
Seek His mercy in your wailing.

Similarly, Saint Augustine says :
The way to God is firstly humility, secondly humility and thirdly humility.

Firstly, humility is essential because with this virtue one can listen to others. Otherwise, due to
pride, one does not like to go to others. If a man is proud of himself and claims that he already
knows everything then how can he listen to others ?

Secondly, humility is necessary to obtain knowledge. Without humility one cannot listen to
others and practise what they say.

Thirdly, again unless humility precedes, accompanies and follows every good action which we
perform, pride wrests wholly from our hands any good work on which we are congratulating
ourselves.

To win over the Lord, it is necessary that we should be humble and meek because unless we give
up pride and do not contact a perfect Saint and become his servants by surrendering our mind
and intellect, we cannot be the recipients of His grace and cannot utter the praise of the Un-
utterable.
Guru Amar Das Ji says :
When one becomes the slave of the Lords slaves,
He attains to the Lord and sheds his ego. (M.3 Sorath 600-13)
Pride always hath a fall. A proud man can never imbibe the virtues of others. He alone can
benefit by a holy Saint who approaches him with humility. He who is already proud of his
wisdom, knowledge and intellect can seldom come in contact with a perfect Saint. Unfortunately,
if he gets the company of a spiritual Saint, he cannot gain anything from him.
Hafiz Sahib says, The devouts owing to pride could not tread safely the path of spirituality, but
the true devotees owing to humility became the recipients of His mercy and reached their
destination.
Mahatama Hasham Hatam Sahib says that if the pride of the Pundits, maulvis, and ascetics were
weighed with the pride of the rulers and of the rich, the pride of the former would be
comparatively heavier. How can these vain persons deserve the bounty of the Lords Grace? A
true devotee always considers himself the lowliest of the low. He is never proud of his
knowledge and intellect.
Guru Amar Das Ji says :
O my mind, be not proud that thou knowest something.
He who turns God-ward always remains pious and humble. (M.3 Asa 441-13)
The Lord is like sugar mixed with sand. Only an ant can pick up sugar from sand while an
elephant cannot. Similarly, those people who are proud of their caste, colour or creed cannot
partake the bounties of the Lord and His servants. Only the humble and the meek can derive this
benefit.
Kabir Sahib says :
God is like sugar mixed with sand:
It cannot be picked up by an elephant.
Says Kabir, renounce thy lineage, caste and honour,
Become an ant and pick it and eat it. (Kabir Ram Kali 972-10)
Tulsi Sahib also states the same truth :
Become a servant of all and consider yourself the lowliest of the low.
Dont endeavour to become a Master.
Those who are proud of themselves are drowned in the ocean of the world.
The humble and the meek go across.
Candy mixed with sand cant be picked up by an elephant.
Only an ant can pick it and eat it.
Similarly, the humble and the meek can gain something.
A man having humility and meekness alone can attain spiritual wealth from the Saints. After
finding the path, he should tread it in humility. Only such a person deserves salvation.
Mahatama Charan Das says :
He who meditates on the Lords Name with compassion, mercy, humility, forgiveness,
contentment and continence, attains salvation for sure.
Before performing any deed, first of all we should have humility and meekness. We should stick
to these virtues till the job is fully accomplished. Only a humble person can preserve the bounties
of the grace of the Lord and make proper use thereof. Otherwise, pride and vanity would deprive
us of this bounty which is bestowed upon us by the Lord.
In Gurbani, a true devotee has been praised as follows :
A true devotee is full of humility and meekness. He seldom boasts of this virtues or strength. He
never says that he can do this or that. He believes that whatever is done is done by the Lord or
the Satguru. He considers himself to be insignificant. He believes that whatever virtues he
possesses are owing to the bounty of the grace of the Lord.
Guru Arjun Sahib says :
If one be simple even when wise, be powerless even when blessed with power,
and shares with others even when there is almost naught to share.
Some such a rare one is called a Saint. (M.5 Salok 1384-16)
The true Saints are never proud of their achievements. Even after attaining the highest wealth of
spirituality, they lead a life full of humility. They are always grateful to the Almighty Lord. They
believe that they have gained this wealth solely because of the Lords mercy, otherwise, they
were helpless and worthless :
Guru Arjun Sahib says :
I am orphan, poor and unhonoured.
By-Groom took me and made me His Queen. (M.5 Asa 294-8)
The holy Saints visualise the existence of the Lord in each and every particle on this Earth. They
serve the Lord and his Children in humility and with meekness. Those who were proud of the
bounties bestowed by the Lord on them were ruined.
Guru Arjan Dev was tortured in various ways by the then Muslim Emperor for certain reasons.
He was seated in boiling caldrons heated by blazing fire. Hot sand was poured on him. He was
bathed in boiling water and so on. The Guru bore all these tortures without any murmur. He
never groaned or uttered a sigh. Mian Mir, the Muslim Saint of Lahore heard of the Gurus
torture. He went to condole with him in his afflictions. He found the Gurus body all blistered
and suppurated and sought his permission to reduce the Muslim regime to ashes, who had
tortured the Guru very rudely. The Guru replied, Do not be proud of your strength. Be humble
and meek. He who boasts of his strength, the Lord turns His face away from Him. Whereas, he
who becomes the dust of the feet of all, the Lord meets him openly.
When man abides in ego,
He wanders about, like mad, like stranger to himself.
But when he becomes the dust of everybodys feet,
He beholds the all Pervading Lord in every heart. (M.5 Ashtpadi 235-14)
Guru Arjan Sahib advised Mian Mir, See the Lords miracle. I behold the Lord in the Divine
Fire also.
He further says :
There is no other than God, He, the one Lord is amongst all. (M.5 Ashtpadi 287-27)
As desired by the Guru, Mian Mir shut his eyes and found the Guru resting on the bed of roses
instead of burning in fire. He observed the waves of nectar instead of hot sand, trickling upon the
Guru. It is true that the Almighty Lord alleviates the weal and woes of all those who are humble
and meek.
Guru Ram Das Ji says :
They who become humble before the Guru,
Their sufferings the Guru dispells. (M.4 Sarang 1199-2)
Guru Gobind Singh Ji says :
All those who call themselves Supreme Being (Lord),
Shall fall into the pit of Hell.
Believe that I am the Gods servant only.
Have not an iota of doubt about this. (Bachittar Natak)
This sort of humility and meekness can be obtained only through the abundant grace of the Lord.
He who imbibes these virtues is liberated from the bonds of dreadly passions of lust, anger,
greed, attachment and vanity. Such a person attains redemption from this world, enjoys
everlasting bliss and poise.
Guru Arjan Sahib says :
He, in whose heart dwells meekness by His grace,
is emancipated here and enjoys bliss hereafter, O Nanak. (M 5 Gauri 278-9)
Be Compassionate to All
Only a compassionate person can be said to be a true devotee.
Goswami Tulsi Das says:
Compassion is the root of Dharma and pride that of vice.
O Tulsi ! Do not give up compassion till there is breath in the body.
The merit of performing pilgrimage to the sixty eight sacred places is obtained by being
compassionate to the living beings.
Guru Arjan Sahib says :
Better than the pilgrimage of sixty-eight sacred spots is compassion.
He who gets it by His grace is indeed blessed. (M.5 Majh 136-5)
Param Sant Sawan Shah used to narrate a story that once a Saint proceeded on pilgrimage to
Kaaba. On the way, he came across a dog in the jungle. The dog was run over by a cart and all
its four legs were crushed. The Saint took pity on the poor dog. However, later on he hesitated
and thought as to where he would carry the dog as it was bleeding profusely. But the spirit of
compassion moved his heart. He thought that there was none to look after it. He, therefore, took
the dog to a nereby well. He prepared a bucket of leaves of trees and tried to lift up water from
the well by using his turban as rope. But the turban was too short to touch water in the well. He
took off his shirt and trousers also and tied them with the turban. Thus he lifted water from the
well and gave it to the ailing dog. The dog regained consciousness. The Saint covered the dog
with clothes and resumed his journey to the sacred pilgrimage of Kaaba. On the way, there was
a mosque. He told the priest of the mosque that he was on the way to Kaaba and requested him
to look after the poor dog till his return from Kaaba. At night, when the Saint was asleep, he
heard a voice from Heaven saying, You have saved the life of a creature of mine. There is no
pilgrimage greater than it. Your pilgrimage has been approved. Now you may or may not go to
Kaaba.
The imposters and pretenders of religion of the day are in the habit of delivering lengthy
discourses on religious matters, but they themselves are completely devoid of compassion. They
pose themselves as great religious leaders, but actually they are more harmful than the wild
animals. They are selfish and cruel. They misguide the innocent people with a view to grinding
their own axe by misinterpreting the basic percepts of Religion. Such hypocritical leaders who
are devoid of mercy go straight to Hell.
Kabir Sahib says :
Those who have no compassion in their hearts,
And yet deliver lengthy dicourses on spiritual matters,
All shall go to Hell.
Similarly, Mahatama Charan Das says that without compassion, all other virtues are of little use.
All talks and discussions are hollow. Outwardly, the people speak soft and sweet language, but
inwardly they have malafide intentions. They talk too much about Divine knowledge, but have
no compassion in their hearts. In this manner, they throw away the substance and swallow the
chaff.
It is, therefore, very essential for us to keep away from the company of such cruel and irreligious
persons. In fact, they are the people who are most unrighteous and killers of their own-selves.
All human beings, like the constituent parts of the body, are parts of one another because they all
have sprung from the same Light. Just as when one part of the body is in trouble, the other parts
are also affected and feel restless, similar is the case of human beings also . Nobody can lead a
happy and comfortable life by injuring the feelings of his fellow beings. Such people pollute
their consciousness before doing harm to others. They lose peace and happiness for ever.
Sheikh Saadi says :
Sons of Adam are organs of each other. As in the beginning, they spring from the same stalk.
When pain is caused to any organ, other organs also lose their tranquility.
It is, therefore, essential that as far as possible we should not injure the feelings of others. If we
do so, we shall ruin ourselves.
A truly religious person is the source of compassion. The atmosphere around him is always
peaceful and comfortable. Rays of compassion radiate from his face which inject life current in
dry and withered hearts. People feel extremely delighted at the sight of a compassionate human
being. A compassionate person cannot tolerate the sufferings of others. He always tries to redress
the sufferings of others by all means. His heart is full of sympathy for the welfare of others. He
prays for their welfare within the Will of the Lord.
Guru Nanak Sahib says :
O Nanak ! Glory be to the Lord.
May all prosper within His Will. (M.1 Var Asa 470-13)
Similarly, a Muslim Saint has said:
Peace be unto all the world.
A truly religious person feels pleasure in rendering service to the aggrieved people. He sacrifices
his comforts in order to redress the sufferings of others.
When King Ibrahim Adham was leading saintly life, he along with his co-travellers put up in a
house which was in a dilapidated condition. The weather was inclement and there was a heavy
rainfall. The house was not fitted with doors which could prevent rain and icy cold wind. All
were shivering with cold badly. King Ibrahim could not tolerate all this. He got up silently and
stood in the door. He protected them against rain and icy cold wind. The travellers heaved a sigh
of relief. However, he himself became unconscious due to severe cold. Next day in the morning
when the travellers got up, they found King Ibrahim lying in a state of unconsciousness. The
travellers gave him heat treatment and the King regained consciousness. They asked the King as
to why he did so ? King Ibrahim replied politely, If a person sacrifices his life with a view to
saving the lives of a large number of persons and if somebody suffers pain to provide relief to
others, nothing can be more virtuous than this. But, what do we see today ? The religious
monopolists sacrifice the lives of thousands of persons for the sake of their own comfort, honour
and leadership.
The truly compassionate persons do good to others afterwards, but the moment they make up
their mind to do good, they are rewarded adequately beforehand. The devilish tendencies of lust,
anger, greed, attachment and vanity are driven out and they get liberation from the bondages of
these evil passions permanently.
Mahatama Charan Das says :
Lust, anger, attachment, greed and vanity are driven out
When compassion dwells in the heart.

What is True Compassion or Mercy ?
It is very difficult to understand the meanings of true compassion. Only a rare perfect Saint can
understand it who dies while living and who has manifested the true Naam or Shabad within him
and has relished the taste of nectar (Amrit) inside the body. He sees the treasures of nectar
embodied in the heart of everybody.
Guru Nanak Sahib says that he alone can understand compassion who dies while living. He
recognises himself and sees all living beings as his own-self. Such a person gets honour in the
court of the Lord.
All the human beings are engaged in enjoying bodily and mental pleasures. They are the victims
of wordly objects. They believe that to provide wordly pleasures and comforts to the body and
mind comprises true compassion. In fact, the soul is diseased which sustains life and gives
strength to the mind and the body. However, nobody takes the trouble of curing the soul. The
uncherished desires of the wordly objects bring us back into this world time and again and the
cycle of transmigration continues endlessly. The true Saints are fully aware of the secrets of
human life. They cleanse the soul of its impurities and maladies rather than those pertaining to
the body and mind. Only such Saints can be said to be really compassionate. They take pity on
our miserable plight. They want that we should get rid of the cycle of births and deaths and reach
our real Home. But only a rare person understands this secret who goes within and listens to the
Shabad or Word inside the body.
Kabir Sahib says :
All wail for the universe, none wails for Him (God).
He alone wails for Him, who listens to the Word or true Naam.
Param Sant Mastana Shah Balochistani used to say, In contemplation, when I reflect on the
miserable plight of the wordly people, I take to weeping for hours together.
This incident pertains to the time, when the construction of the building of the Dera Sacha Sauda
near Sirsa had hardly started two and a half years ago. Towards the east of the Dera, there was a
kacha road and around the Dera there was a fence. Mastana Ji peeped through the fence and saw
a cart with a pair of bullocks. The cart was heavily overloaded. The road was flooded on account
of a breach in the rivulet. Mud had accumulated on the road. The soil of that area was very
sticky. The wheels of the cart had stuck deep in the mud. The cart owner whipped the bullocks
but they were unable to pull the cart. Firstly, because the bullocks were very lean and weak.
Secondly, the cart was heavily over-loaded and thirdly, mud was very sticky. The cart owner
continued to whip the bullocks badly. Mastana ji was pained to see the miserable plight of the
bullocks and said, Alas ! Had these poor bullocks got rid of the vicious cycle of transmigration
and attained salvation through meditation and contemplation when they were gifted with human
birth, they would have not suffered this sort of severe torture. We are engaged in enjoying
bodily pleasures and are killing ourselves with our own hands. This lands us in misery and
ailments. We are hurled into the veritable hell and the wheel of transmigration continues
endlessly.
The Saints are fully aware of the conditions of this world and the world hereafter. They are
conscious of the deplorable condition which we have to face after death. They take pity upon our
miserable plight. They advise us that human birth is most precious and we should benefit by it.
A Saint has said :
Have pity on thyself; and escape the cycle of eighty four.
There was a sufi Saint who spent a simple but contended life. Right from his childhood, he
neither ate well nor clothed well. Once his mother asked him, O dear son, take pity on thyself.
He replied, Mother, that is what I am doing. By undergoing physical torture in this life for a
short while, I will gain eternal peace and happiness.
Bulleh Shah says :
Undergo torture in this world so that you may attain perpetual bliss in the world hereafter.

Contentment
One needs patience and contentment to become a truly religious person. What is contentment ?
When one does not get any reward after putting in hard labour or achieves little success but still
does not feel aggrieved or perturbed is said to have contentment. When one is surrounded by
troubles on all sides, is not honoured by anyone; feels helpless and has no support whatsoever;
faces defeat from all sides but still looks happy and cheerful, is a sign of contentment. A
contented person is always satisfied with the Will of the Lord, even if he does not get anything
after putting in efforts. Failure or defeat cannot have any effect upon him. He believes that he is
heavily indebted to Kal (Negative Power). The deeds and misdeeds committed by him in the past
births are heavy which are a hindrance in his way to success, otherwise, the Lord never
administers injustice. After rendering account of past good and evil deeds and through worship
and devotion, he must achieve success. He, therefore, endeavours ceaselessly to accomplish his
task. He never becomes dull or lazy.
Kabir Sahib says :
Always be contented and stick to thy Dharma firmly:
Aspire for one Lord only and give room to none else in thy heart.
Patience and perseverance are two great virtues with which one can surmount all the difficulties.
A contented person alone can render tireless service. He always endeavours to reveal the truth
within himself. He never puts his feet in the wrong direction and safeguards his Dharma
(Religion) by performing good deeds.
Guru Nanak Sahib says :
Men of contentment, who meditate on God,
The Truest of the True;
Do the real service.
They put not their feet in sin;
They do good and practise Dharma. (M.I. Var Asa 466-19)
A contented person is very courageous, calm and patient. He never feels jealous when others
progress and get honour. He feels inner happiness and has clean intention. Although he possesses
name and fame, power and prestige, yet he forgives the faults of others. He behaves others with
love and affection. Although learned and wise, he respects others and imbibes their good
qualities.
True contentment comprises going within by controlling the mind from indulging in worldly
objects and evil tendencies.
Money, wealth and other wordly possessions belong to the body. They do not accompany us
beyond death and do not fulfil the objectives of true Dharma. A truly religious person utilises the
major part of his precious time in maintaining true life and in the manifestation of the true Naam
or Word within himself. He spends very little time for the maintenance and upkeep of his body.
He is fully contented with his lot.
Sheikh Farid says :
Take the dry and unbuttered bread and drink cold water.
O Farid, do not be tempted by seeing buttered bread of others. (Farid Salok 1379-8)
A Saint says that if you depend upon food earned by honest means and spend less than your
earnings, you have a sort of philosophers stone i.e. such income is full of boons and hidden
blessings. A wise man can lead a happy life even with meagre income, whereas an extravagant
person cannot be satisfied with the wealth of the whole world.
We should always look towards the people who are poor and are not financially better off than
ourselves. Only then we can lead a contented and peaceful life. Human mind cannot feel restful
at the sight of those who take rich and delicious diet. Such people are tempted to earn more and
more money by foul means. They ruin themselves by indulging in sensual pleasures. Such
greedy and covetous persons are never satisfied with any amount of money, wealth and wordly
pleasures. If one earns one hundred rupees today, he is tempted to earn thousands tomorrow and
lakhs a day thereafter and so on. He becomes greedy and indulges in amassing more and more
wealth for the satisfaction of his sensual desires and this vicious circle continues unabated.
Without contentment, one cannot achieve peace, happiness and satisfaction.
Param Sant Mastana Ji used to say, Do not expect too much. Think of little and consider it to be
plenty and sufficient. This is the key to happiness and contentment.
Ummar Khayam, a Persian Poet also says, He who is getting bread and some space for sitting,
is not anybodys slave or master. He should be told to be happy as this much is sufficient.
Sheikh Saadi Sahib says, I am neither riding on a horse nor I am laden heavily like a camel. I
am not anybodys slave or master. I have risen above the worldly strifes and animosities and lead
a prosperous and contented life. A contented person is the richest of all. Without contentment
even a rich man is poor, hungry and a beggar because he cannot get satisfaction, even if the
whole wealth and all the worldly pleasures are placed at his disposal. It is only after getting the
wealth of contentment that all desires vanish, worries disappear and mind becomes carefree. He
who needs nothing is the real King.
Kabir Sahib says :
Desire is gone, worry is ended. Mind is carefree.
Those who need nothing are kings.
Cows, elephants, horses, jewels and their mines are precious.
But, when contentment is got, all this wealth is like dust.

Forgiveness
What is forgiveness ? To forgive the faults of others and to have no thought of it in the mind
thereafter is called forgiveness.
The Lord is merciful. He is always kind and compassionate to all. If one abuses Him or denies
His existence, He forgives all and says nothing. In order to be one with the Lord, it is essential
for a dharamatma (a dutiful man) to possess the qualities of forgiveness and compassion. Where
there is forgiveness, the Lord Himself is there in the form of mercy.
Kabir Sahib says :
Kabir, where there is Divine knowledge, there is righteousness.
Where there is untruth, there is sin.
Where there is greed, there is Kal.
Where there is forgiveness, there is God Himself. (Kabir Salok 1372-13)
Only a person possessing the qualities of kindness, compassion and mercy is acceptable to the
Lord. Once Hazrat Musa asked the Lord, Who is acceptable in Your court ? The reply was :
A man who forgives the faults of others, and who can but does not take revenge.

Forgiveness and Justice
Everybody wants justice. But persons of forgiving nature sacrifice everything for the sake of
forgiveness. They are not in need of justice. They believe that what can be accomplished with
forgiveness cannot be achieved with justice. To err is human. It is not uncommon for man to err.
Justice aims at taking revenge of crime with punishment. But crimes are not eradicated with
punishment. The guilty undergoes punishment. This, however, engenders hatred and also the
spirit of taking revenge from the person who inflicts punishment. The thought of taking revenge
for getting one punished breeds ill-will and enmity which cripples the normal way of life of the
parties involved. This sort of enmity and hatred is inherited from one generation to another
which results in extirpation of the erring individuals. If we forgive the guilty, all the disputes are
settled instantaneously. The person who is forgiven feels grateful to the person who forgives
him. He imbibes the feelings of love and friendship instead of hatred and enmity.
The spirit of non-forgiveness is the main cause of unrest in the world. The thought of inflicting
punishment and taking revenge are the major causes behind human sufferings. A person who
gives room to these evils in his heart is deprived of happiness and worldly pleasures. Such a
person can never gain spiritual bliss.
Every thought has its reaction. The reaction corresponds to the thought sent out. If we send out
the thoughts of hatred against anyone, we will get the same thoughts in return. If we have the
feelings of love and affection, we will also get love and affection.
Once King Akbar and Birbal were out for a walk. They saw a person coming towards them. King
Akbar said to Birbal, I want to shoot at that land-lord. Let us see what he thinks in his mind
about me ? When the land-lord approached them, Birbal asked him, Fear not and tell the truth.
What idea struck in your mind at the sight of this man (pointing to Akbar). The land-lord
replied, I wanted to pull his beard.
When we wont think ill of others, our love would be universal. When we pardon the guilty and
forget about it, we will have no enemies. A truly virtuous person does not pollute his heart with
the thought of taking revenge. He protects himself against the affects of the sword of duality and
enmity with the shield of forgiveness. It is impossible to describe his state of happiness,
calmness and peace of mind which results from forgiveness. A forgiving person imbibes the
unique qualities of contentment, humility, courage and forbearance. He always looks happy and
cheerful. He never gives up forgiveness and compassion even in the amidst of adversity.
Forgiveness extinguishes the fire of anger and dispells the veil of egotism. Whereas a forgiving
man does good to others, he himself also benefits because all his mental ailments like anger,
jealousy and hatred are dispelled by virtue of forgiveness. A man of forgiving nature gains
contentment. He is freed from all ailments. He is not afraid of death.
Guru Nanak Sahib says :
He who practises forgiveness,
This for him is the keeping of fast,
Good conduct and contentment,
Him touches not ailment, nor the pain of Yama. (M.1 Gauri 223-16)
Kabir Sahib says that one should imbibe the virtue of forgiveness. There is nothing like it. He
who lacks the spirit of forgiveness is drowned in the dreadful ocean of the world.

Always Stick to Truth in your Dealings
God is the incarnation of truth. One should be truthful in his eyes. He loves the truthful. It does
not matter whatever religion one follows.
Kabir Sahib says :
Be true to the Lord, He loves it.
You may keep long hair or be clean-shaved.
Guru Nanak Sahib also says the same thing :
To keep the truth in the heart is the only sublime deed.
All other worship is hypocrisy and degrades. (M.1 Prabhati 1343-15)
Similarly, St. Jesus says :
Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see the Lord.
Guru Arjan Sahib advises that one should be true in ones dealings. To lead a truthful life is the
goal of human life. One should have truthful conduct . In this way ones heart, thoughts and
conduct become truthful.
O Trader, engage in the trade of truth,
So that thy merchandise may be accepted in His Court. (M.5 Gauri 293-6)
Without truthfulness, performance of rites, rituals, austerities, pilgrimages, worship, penances,
fasts and charity are of no avail just as seeds sown in barren land do not germinate and yield no
return.
Kabir Sahib says :
There is no austerity like the truth and no sin like the untruth.
He who has truth in his heart, in him dwells the Lord.
Similarly, Goswami Tulsi Das says :
There is no other Dharma (duty) like the truth:
This has been so said by the Vedas and Puranas.
It is, therefore, essential for a righteous man that he should realise the truth within himself and
give up untruth. Whatever he utters should come out with the full force of truth.
Kabir Sahib says:
If you are a truthful trader, trade in truth.
Sweep the inside and throw out the untruth.
Such a truthful trader establishes contact with the truth. His conscious becomes clean. His
dealings also become truthful. He always remains absorbed in the remembrance of the Lord.
Kabir Sahib says :
He who has true attention has right conduct.
He is in communion with the Lord at all times.
Who are really truthful ? Those who have manifested the True Naam or Shabad by dying while
living and have realised the true Lord within themselves are said to be truthful.
Guru Amar Das ji says :
They alone are true who realise the True Lord.
Silencing their self-conceit, they easily merge in the Lords Name. (M.3 Basant 1174-22)
Whatever a truthful person utters, comes out to be true, although, it may not appeal to us at that
time. Such a man is always cheerful and enjoys the bliss of truth both inside and outside. He
becomes fearless and leads a peaceful and contented life. He is a source of happiness, pleasure
and comfort for others. He is steady, contented, brave, courageous and firm in his determination.
Unlike an untruthful man, he does not falter at every step. He is always in communion with the
Lord and guides others on this path.
Guru Ram Das Ji says :
He in whom the truth dwells, practises Naam truly and speaks the truth.
He himself treads the path of the Lord and guides others on this path. (M.4 Var Majh 1140-2)
A truthful person does not bother at all for the worldly people. He cares for the Lord only. Truth
fears no examination. He is not affected by any curse. Nobody can harm him even though the
whole world may be his opponent. Kal (Negative Power) also is afraid of him. Those who come
in contact with truthful persons and obey them whole-heartedly merge in the Lord.
Kabir Sahib says :
The true devotee is not affected by curses or touched by Kal.
When he meets the Truth (Lord), he merges in it.

Always be Pure
The Lord is always true and pure. In order to be one with Him, it is necessary for us to be pure of
heart and tongue. That is why almost all the religions emphasis on observing cleanliness and
purity. Amongst the Muslims, wazoo (ablutions) are considered necessary before saying prayers
(Namaz). With it, the outside of the body is cleansed. By keeping fasts, the inside of the body is
cleansed. The Sikhs, the Nirmalas and Namdharis also strongly emphasis on bathing by which
the body, mind and intellect become active to some extent and one is inclined to worship.
Amongst the Hindus, besides bathing, it is considered necessary to put the sacred mark (Tilak)
on the forehead before doing worship. To keep away from sweepers, cobblers or those who
belong to low castes; not to touch their clothes and other belongings; not to take food and water
from their hands etc. are included in cleanliness. If one happens to touch them, it is considered
essential that he should take bath in a holy river and do penance. If one happens to take food
from persons belonging to low castes, he should arrange a Brahm Bhoj or a holy feast. Only then
he is considered pure again. Such taboos are also prevalent, now-a-days, in certain sects of the
sadhus.
There is, however, no doubt that baths are necessary for cleanliness and good health. To some
extent, it may also be admitted that in order to keep good health, it is better to keep away from
those people who live in unhygienic conditions. But at the same time, it is not at all advisable to
discard their company. Are these people worst than the patients suffering from tuberculosis or
other infectious diseases ? Do these pure sects of the society expel their children and relatives
suffering from infectious diseases from their homes ? It has been observed that generations after
generations have been ruined completely because of such chronic and infectious diseases. In
spite of all this, the so called pure sections of the society do not refrain from serving such
patients.
It is surprising to note that one becomes impure simply by touching or by taking food from a
person of low caste. But one is not affected when one takes pure milk or curd and other eatables
cooked in butter (ghee) from a person belonging to a low caste. However, when the same milk is
mixed with water or curd after taking out butter from it is considered impure in their hands.
Moreover, it makes no difference to share water with the persons of low castes living in the areas
where there is scarcity of water. For example, in certain parts comprising Rajasthan, which are
deficient in water resources, people from all castes i.e scheduled castes, scheduled tribes,
brahmins, jats etc. have been seen drinking water from the common ponds. They say, There can
be no Mal (impurity) in Jal (water) i.e water can never be impure. It is a great blunder on the
part of the so-called pure sections of the society. Such traditions of cleanliness and purity are
being followed blindly since time immemorial.
Besides, a significant section amongst the Hindus emphasises on cleaning the inside of the body,
in addition to external cleanliness, in accordance with the various traditional customs and
practices. For example, by Neti Karam (Nasal Douche) the inner nasal region i.e. ears, eyes,
nostrils, mouth etc. is cleaned. By way of Dhoti Karam (cloth stomach Douche), Wasti Karam
(Enema), Nauli Karam (Intestinal Douche) and Guj Karam (Stomach Water Douche), the
stomach, abdoman, intestines etc. are cleaned. By Bajroli Karam (sex organ Douche), the inside
of the penis is cleaned. With the performance of these processes, the inner impurities of the body
are washed away. The internal cleanliness is better than the external cleanliness. It helps in
maintaining good health, longevity and purification of the heart. However, the impurities of the
mind and soul are not purged off. It is, therefore, essential to understand the meaning of Purity
in its true perspective.

Real Impurities
Man is full of the poisons of sense attachments and evil actions. He commits sins by means of
his body, mind, thought, wealth and deeds throughout the day and night. With the body he
indulges in robbery, dacoity, cruelty, violence, adultery and causes grief to his fellow beings and
performs heinous actions. With the mind he thinks ill of others and indulges in jealousy, greed,
anger, enmity and egotism. By means of wealth, he leads a luxurious life, which tempts him to
commit irreligious actions. With the tongue, he speaks untruth to grind his own axe, utters harsh,
unkind or harmful words, injures the feelings of others and indulges in back-biting. Thus, he
detaches his attention, mind and soul from the Master (Satguru) and entangles himself in the
inertness of Maya (illusion) and snares of Kal (Negative Power).

Human conscience is covered under the garb of sensual impurities to such an extent that is
beyond our imagination and perception. A fly which hums over the heaps of rubbish throughout
the day cannot be conscious of its bad smell because it has assumed the form of rubbish.
Similarly, we have assumed the form of sins and impurities. Mahatama Garib Das describes the
impurities of the body, mind and soul. He says that those people who are unable to connect their
souls with the Shabad or Naam and do not listen to the sweet melody of the Naam, are full of the
impurities of the Soul. People suffering from mental impurities are those who always hanker
after sensual pleasures, never listen to the spiritual discourses; abstain themselves from the
company of True Master (Satguru) and perform unrighteous deeds. Similarly, those people who
do not pay adequate attention to the cleanliness and purity of food and wear dirty clothes suffer
from physical impurities.
It is necessary for us to be clean both from inside and outside. Cleanliness of the body is
essential to keep the body in good health and proper condition. However, in order to gain real
purity and cleanliness, the purity of the mind and soul is much more essential than the
cleanliness of the body.

Purity of the Mind and Soul
Without the purity of mind and soul, all the Rishis, Munis, gods, goddesses, Lords of Brahmands
and their incarnations, Pirs Paigambers, Sidhs and Sadhiks etc. are full of impurities and are
engrossed in the cycle of births and deaths. Kabir Sahib says that only the True Master or the
True Lord is pure and clean and the rest are impure and false. Only they are pure who have
manifested the true Lord within themselves and have merged in Him.

Impure is Brahma, impure is Inder;
Impure is the Sun and impure the Moon.
The world is defiled with impurity;
Pure is God alone who hath neither end nor limit.
Impure are the gods of the worlds;
Impure are nights, days and months.
Impure are pearls, impure are diamonds.
Impure are air, fire and water.
Impure are Shiv, Shankar and Mahesh.
Impure are Sidhs, Sadhiks and those who wear religious garbs;
Impure are Jogis and Jangams with their matted hair;
Impure is the body with soul.
Sayeth Kabir, only those who know God
Are pure and acceptable to the Lord. (Kabir Bhairon 1158-4)

External cleanliness is false cleanliness. If the inside is full of the poison of sense attachments,
there is no use of observing untouchability or casteism outside. The real impurities pertain to the
mind. By telling lies, the tongue and body both become impure and untruth comes out of the
mouth. Then how can one be true ? By indulging in evil thinking, cruelty, back-biting, lust,
anger, greed, attachment and by keeping bad company, one gathers more and more impurities. If
one keeps the company of a lustful person, one arouses the feelings of lust. By looking at an
angry man, one breeds hatred and contempt. One turns ones face away at the sight of a vain
person. It is, therefore, very essential for us to keep ourselves away from the company of the
wicked persons, if we want to imbibe the real purity and cleanliness. There is no use of sitting in
the company of evil persons by drawing a circle around ourselves.

Guru Nanak Sahib says :
If thy mind is impure, Impure are also thy body and tongue.
If thou speak untruth, How can thy mouth be pure ? (M.1 Sri Rag 55-19)

He further says:
Evil intentions are drummer women,
Heartlessness is butcheress,
Back-biting is a sweeperess.
Anger is the chandala (merciless wretched).
What is the use of drawing a circle around yourself,
When all the four outcastes are within you ? (M.1 Var Sri Rag 91)

Now-a-days, the people who consider themselves pure, lay too much emphasis on outer
cleanliness and untouchability but they pay little attention to remove the impurities of the mind
and soul.

Guru Arjan Sahib says that the people clean the body from outside but do not care to remove the
inner impurities of the mind. Such people bear great pain in this world and the world hereafter.
In this world, they are engrossed in lust, anger and greed; and in the world hereafter they are
subject to punishment at the hands of the Angel of death (Yama) and weep drawing deep sighs.

Kabir Sahib says that one cannot achieve the bliss of heaven by bathing at the sacred spots, if the
inner pot is full of the poison of sense attachments. Nothing comes out by trying to please the
innocent people because the Lord is not a child who can be misled and befooled. He knows our
inner disposition fully. He further says that if our mind is poisoned because of the desires of lust,
anger, greed, attachment, enmity and jealousy, it is of little use to wash the body from outside.
The gourd may be bathed at the sixty-eight sacred places, even then it does not lose its bitterness.
Only a Person who Practises Worship and Devotion is True and Pure
The Lord loves worship and devotion. He is not pleased with outer cleanliness and worship. He
can be pleased only with true love and devotion. Guru Nanak Sahib says that merely by reading
the holy books or by having discussions about them one cannot become pure. True purity can be
obtained only through love and devotion to the Lord.
In Bhagvad Gita, Lord Krishna says, A Brahmin who has learnt all the four Vedas but lacks
devotion is not dear to me, whereas, a person of low caste who may not have learnt anything but
practises worship and devotion is very dear to me.
Lord Rama, in preference to all the hypocritical Saints of high caste, visited Shibri Bhilni, who
was a female devotee of low caste and partook of her half eaten berries. Similarly, Lord Krishna
boycotted the dainty dishes of King Duryodhan, prepared in his honour. He preferred the
tasteless food of a devotee, namely Vidur, who was the son of a low caste maid servant. Guru
Ravi Das was a cobbler by caste but by virtue of worship and devotion, he established
supermacy on the Brahmins of high caste. He says :
My caste is low, my lineage is low and low is my profession.
From a low caste, what a high position I attained
through devotion to God, sayeth Ravi Das, the tanner. (Guru Ravi Das)
Sri Nam Dev was a calico-Printer by caste, but by virtue of the strength of his true devotion, he
moved the temples of the Brahmins who used to hate him.
The thought of caste, colour, creed or untouchability engrosses one in duality and keeps one
away from true worship and devotion. In fact, persons of low mentality are untouchables rather
than the sweepers, cobblers, minstrels and bards. Guru Ravi Das Ji says that without worship and
devotion to the Lord all are of low caste.
Whether one be a Brahmin, Vaishya, Sudra, Kashtriya,
Bard, Chandala or a low minded person.
He becomes pure by the Lords meditation
And saves himself and saves the families of both his parents. (Guru Ravi Das Gond 858-10)
Kabir Sahib also states the same truth :
O Kabir ! they alone are of high caste, who practise worship and devotion.
Those who have no love for and devotion to the Lord are of low caste.
Similarly, Guru Ram Das Ji says that they alone are pure and great, who practise meditation and
devotion with pure heart and clean intention.
There are four castes (i.e. Brahmin, Kashtriya, Vaishya and Sudra) and
Four stages (i.e. Brahmacharya, Garehsthya,
Vanprastha and Sanyasa) of life
But he, who contemplates the Lord, is the supreme amongst all.
He is the highest of the high and the purest of the
pure in whose heart abides the Lord. (M.4 Gond 861-12)
Mahatama Charan Das says, Hollow or hypocritical worship is of no avail. There is no use of
putting the sacred mark (Tilak), counting of beads or indulging in hypocrisy, if the maladies
pertaining to the mind depart not; thoughts of lust, anger, duality are not driven out of the mind;
attachment to wife, children, kiths and kins and worldly objects is not vanished; love for the Lord
and for His ardent lovers is not awakened; and the mind is not inclined to their service.
Kabir Sahib says that the people who bathe early in the morning and offer prayers without
manifestation of Naam or Word are like frogs who bathe constantly in water but dont obtain
salvation. Such people can never get rid of the clutches of the Negative Power (Kal), they cannot
liberate themselves from the shackles of coming and going.
They who take bath in the evening and in the morning are like frogs in water.
If they are not imbued in the Lords Name, shall all go to Dharm Rai to account for their deeds.
(Kabir Gauri 324).
True Pilgrimage
"O Man ! You have bathed in the external places of pilgrimage, now also bathe in the internal
true pool of Nectar (Amritsar, Mansarover) which removes all the impurities of the mind and the
soul."
The places, where true devotees of God took birth, lived for sometime, practised meditation,
performed physical or mental austerities or gave up the body, later on emerged as sacred spots of
pilgrimage and worship. The importance of the sacred spots is owing to the greatness of
holymen, Saints and devotees of God. In fact, the places of pilgrimage are revered because of
their association with the holymen, seers and sages. The places where they sit become sacred.
Guru Arjan Sahib says :
The sixty-eight pilgrim stations are there where the Saints put their feet.
Heaven is there where the Lord's Name is uttered. (M.5 Ramkali 890-21)
Similarly, Mahatama Charan Das says :
The ground and pilgrim stations,
Where the Saints put their feet are glorified.
Charan Das ! so sayeth the Lord.
Past history reveals that thirteen hundred years ago, there were no sacred places of pilgrimage of
the Muslims. Mecca and Madina became the places of Islamic pilgrimage only after the birth of
Hazrat Mohammed. Five Hundred years ago, there were no sacred centres like Nankana Sahib,
Panja Sahib, Amritsar, Tarn Taran etc. of the Sikhs. These places emerged as sacred spots only
after the birth of Guru Nanak, Guru Ram Das and Guru Arjan. Similarly, other sacred places of
pilgrimage of the Hindus and other religions came into being and gained importance.
Who is Great ? Saints or the Places of Pilgrimage
Generally, it is believed that the holy places of pilgrimage have more importance than the Saints.
But this belief is unfounded. The Saints are mobile points of pilgrimage. They are not bound to
any particular place. In fact, the various sacred spots became the places of pilgrimage only
because of the grace of the Saints.
Mahatama Tulsi Das says that the Saints are a sort of mobile pilgrimage. The external places of
pilgrimage like Hardawar, Dwarka, Amar Nath etc. are stationery. By bathing at the sacred
places the outside of the body is cleansed. However, the Saints are mobile points of pilgrimage.
They remove the internal impurities pertaining to the mind and soul.
Guru Ram Das ji says that all the places of pilgrimage including the sacred rivers like Ganges,
the Jumna, the Godawari etc. crave for dust of the feet of the Saints for purification.
As many as are pilgrim stations established by Gods.
So many do crave for the dust of the Saint's feet.
Even the Ganges, the Jumna, the Godawari and the Saraswati;
All yearn for the dust of the Saint's feet.
And pray: O God ! we are laden with sin and are
delivered not till the Saints come to anoint us
with the dust of their feet. (M.5 Malar 1263-5)
It is said that a Brahmin used to offer water, flowers and a betel-nut (Supari) to the Ganges daily.
One day he went to Guru Ravi Das to buy a pair of shoes. He had a brief conversation with the
Guru about the worship of the Ganges. Guru Ravi Das gave a pair of shoes to him free of cost
and in lieu of it, he urged him to offer a betel-nut to the Ganges on his behalf. After bathing,
when the Brahmin offered the betel-nut to the Ganges, on behalf of Guru Ravi Das, an open hand
emerged from the water and accepted the offer. The Brahmin was wonder struck to see this
miracle as it had never happened previously.
Purpose of Visiting the Places of Pilgrimage
The sole purpose behind visiting the external places of pilgrimage is to understand their
importance as to why these places gained importance. We should learn a lesson from the lives
and teachings of those Saints because of whom these places became sacred. We should look for a
holy Saint whose teachings may be helpful in controlling our mind and senses, and who can
show us a path of God-realisation. But, now-a-days to go for a pilgrimage has become a
tradition. People living on the banks of the Ganges run to Kurukshetra and those residing in
Kurukshetra run to the Ganges. Similarly, the inhabitants of Badri Naryan run to Prayag and
those of Prayag run to Badri Narayan and so on. These places have degenerated into fairs and
festivals. People go their for enjoyment, sight seeing, merry making and meeting friends. Instead
of benefiting from the spiritual discourses and practising worship and devotion, they come back
to their homes after taking a dip in the sacred rivers. On the return journey, they buy goods for
distribution amongst relatives and friends by way of gifts. Most of the people visit these places
solely from the commercial angle of making money. They kill two birds with one stone i.e. they
take bath at the places of pilgrimage and also make money. Thus the real purpose of visiting the
sacred places has been lost sight of entirely. One cannot attain God-realisation and remove the
impurities of the mind and soul simply by having a dip in water or by journeying through the
world. The Lord cannot be pleased in this manner.
Sri Nam Dev Says :
The pilgrimages to the Ganges, Gaya and
Godawari, are but to please the world.
But, if the Lord be pleased, only then
he shall be His true servant. (Namdev Salok 1195-16)
Umar Khayyam says, "To go for a pilgrimage or to perform `Haj' is a mere farce." Shri Shankra
Acharya says, "Purification of the mind in a specific manner, is a pilgrimage of the high order."
By visiting the places of pilgrimage, if we do not get the company of a true Saint (Satsang)
which pacifies the heart and controls the mind from wandering hither and thither and do not
benefit from his spiritual discourses, it is a sheer wastage of time and money. In fact, these places
have become the centres of hypocrisy and cruelty. Irreligious activities and evil practices are
gaining momentum at these places. The greatness and fame of these places is because of
advertisement and propaganda launched by the irreligious, unrighteous and business cheats who
get ample chance of robbing and fleecing the innocent pilgrims.

Bathing at the External Places of Pilgrimage cannot Wash Sins
It is pertinent to note that by washing the body at the sacred spots, the impurities of the mind and
soul cannot be cleansed. If bathing could remove the filth of the mind, the fish which bathes
constantly in water would have dispelled its foul smell. Similarly, man may bathe thousand times
in icy cold waters and visit the holy places of pilgrimage but he cannot escape from the snares of
the Negative Power unless he bathes in the internal pool of Nectar after taking shelter at the feet
of a perfect Master.
Kabir Sahib says :
What is the use of bathing and washing,
If the dirt of mind is not washed away ?
Look at the fish that lives in clear water,
But ever has a strong unpleasant odour.
Even a million tours to holy cities,
Are useless without devotion to a Saint.
By visiting holy rivers, making vows,
And having ritual cold water baths,
People have made themselves quite spiritually dead.
For unknown ages Kal has been devouring men,
Because they have not known the True Name of the Lord.
Similarly, Guru Nanak Sahib says :
The gourd is externally washed, but within there is pure poison.
The Saint is blessed even without bathing,
but a thief remains a thief even after bathing.
(M.I Suhi Ki Var 789-13)
By bathing at the external places of pilgrimage man contracts the impurities of Egotism, instead
of removing the dirt of sins. Only those people visit the places of pilgrimage whose mind if not
inclined to worship, body shirks hard labour, mind is fickle and wanders hither and thither and
concentration is not attained even for a moment. Such people after visiting pilgrim-stations,
instead of washing the dirt of sins, make their minds more impure and egotistic. They boast of
having been to the sacred places of pilgrimage and having performed `Haj.' They boast of having
offered prayers, worship, bowing head in temples, and having made donations to certain sadhus
and charitable asharams. There is no use of external bathing and visiting the holy places of
pilgrimage if ego reigns in the mind.
Kabir Sahib says :
Two kinds of men go to the pilgrim stations;
The fickle hearted and the robbers of the mind.
They wash not even a single sin;
But contract a fresh load of Egotism.
Guru Nanak Sahib also says the same thing :
Thou go to bathe at pilgrim stations,
with an evil mind and body of a thief.
So while the outer part of thy body is washed,
the inner parts are sullied twice over. (M.I Suhi Ki War 789-13)
Once a Bagri came to the Dera Sacha Sauda and said, "I have made a pilgrimage to a sacred
place and have given up eating of brinjals for ever." At this Mastana ji remarked, "Oh ! you have
given up eating of brinjals, but when will you give up `I' or `Ego' which would hurl you into the
veritable hell ? Ego has killed the whole world, but none has killed `Ego'. The whole world has
been drowned in the deep ocean of Ego. So, when will you give up `Ego' ?"
Bulleh Shah also says to the same effect that Ego is a chronic disease. As long as Ego reigns in
the mind, bathing at the sacred places is of no avail.
By going on a pilgrimage to Mecca, the purpose is not served,
if Ego is not destroyed from the mind.
By going to the Ganges, sins are washed not even
though one may dip himself innumerable times.
By performing a pilgrimage to the Ganges, salvation is not attained;
Even though one may bathe countless times.
O Bulleh : the purpose can be accomplished
only when Ego is hurled into the pit.
The True Pilgrimage or True Pool (Sarover)
is inside the Temple of the Body
Kabir Sahib says :
I need not go to the Ganges or to the Jamuna;
nor bathe at any other pilgrim station.
The sixty-eight holies exist inside the body itself.
I bathe therein by scrubbing the body and the mind.
Similarly, Mahatama Charan Das says :
The sixty-eight holies are inside the body,
Why do you wander outside ?
So sayeth Charan Das: one should in-turn
And bathe in the inner pool of the body.
Guru Amar Das Ji likewise describes :
Ye Saints, this body is the pool;
in it one should bathe by enshrining affection for the Lord.
They who take bath in this pool of the Naam;
Become immaculate and their filth is scrubbed off
through the Word or Shabad. (M.3 Ram Kali 909-14)
The true pool of Nectar (True Amritsar, True Prayag or Mansarover) is inside the body and is
situated at the mid-point of the forehead behind the two eye-brows which is the confluence of
three veins i.e. Ira, Pingla and Sushmana. One gains real purity and cleanliness by having a dip
in it.
Guru Amar Das Ji says :
Within the body is verily the true Amritsar
(Pool of Nectar); and the mind in-drinketh
it with love and devotion. (M.3 Maru 1046-3)
Similarly, Guru Arjan Sahib says :
By bathing in the inner pool of pure Nectar; the mind becomes
pure and merges in the Truth. (M.5 Asa 363-16)
Beni Sahib also states :
Where the three veins i.e. Ira, Pingla
and Sushmana converge, their confluence,
O Beni, is true prayag and there does the mind bathe.
Ramkali Beni Ji 974-16)
Likewise, Kabir Sahib describes :
There is Sat-Sunn (Region above Brahm) beyond this range.
In Mansar (Pool of Nectar of immortality) have a bathe.
Live there, drink Nectar in the company of
Hansas (Pure souls) residing there; and
thyself to Hansa shall change.
A great folly
It is highly regrettable that people continue to visit the places of pilgrimage and perform Haj
years together for the purification of the mind and God-realisation. They incur heavy expenditure
and bear the hazards of long journeys. But they do not endeavour to bathe in the internal pool of
nectar. They do not strive to seek the Lord inside the temple of the body. They waste their lives
in vain. They have little faith in the bygone sages and seers and do not profit by their experience.
It is recorded that Guru Amar Das in his early life performed many austerities, practised self
discipline, fasts and pilgrimages in accordance with the moral codes embodied in the Shastras
and the Vedas. He led a clean and disciplined life. He used to visit the Ganges every year for a
holy bath alongwith his companions. After he had sought asylum at the feet of Guru Angad Dev,
he gave a bitter gourd bowl to his companions when they were on their way to the Ganges. He
requested them to dip it in the Ganges whenever they bathed. When they returned from the
pilgrimage, they went to Guru Amar Das and returned the bowl to him. They also told the Guru
that they had bathed it in the Ganges as desired. Guru Amar Das cut the bowl into pieces, put
water in it and then gave the water to them for drinking. However, the water tasted bitter. At this,
Guru Amar Das Ji advised them that as the bitterness of the bowl had not departed in spite of its
having been bathed in sacred waters, similarly, by bathing at the external places of pilgrimage,
the body may be cleaned from outside but the inner impurities of the mind and the soul are not
removed.
Kabir Sahib says :
I was going on a pilgrimage to Kaaba and
God met me on the way.
He (God) fell aquarrelling with me saying ;
Who ordered you to go to that place ? (Kabir Salok 1374-3)

True Shabad, Word or Naam is the True Pilgrimage
Shabad (Word) or Naam which is the panacea for all ills has the merit of bathing at the sixty-
eight holies. By having a dip in the internal pool of Nectar, all the weal and woes are dispelled
and one obtains true knowledge.
Guru Nanak Sahib says :
The Lord's Name has the merit of
pilgrimage to the sixty-eight holies.
Through it, one is rid of all one's sins. (M.1 Rag Maru 1009-3)
He further says :
Why should I go to bathe at the pilgrim stations ?
I will bathe at the fount of the Lord's Name,
For, the holy of the holies is the contemplation
of the Word (Shabad) which gives Inner Divine Knowledge.
(M.1 Ashtpadi 687-15)
Kabir Sahib, in his book `Anurag Sagar' says that without having a dip in the Lord's Naam, all
have to surrender themselves to Yama (angel of Death). Their doubts and superstitions do not
depart even though they may live at the sacred places of pilgrimage like Kashi, Badri Narayan,
Gaya, Dawarka, Prayag etc; for four Yugas (Ages) and they may perform journey throughout the
world.

Journey to the True Pilgrimage
The human body is made of matter. It requires material water to cleanse it. For this purpose, it
has to perform the journey through the material world. The soul is exceedingly fine and delicate
thing. For purification, it h as to bathe in the Lord's Naam or Shabad, which is exceedingly subtle
(Suksham) and is found in the astral or subtle regions.
Guru Nanak Sahib says :
The dust of the besmeared hands, feet and body is
removed by washing with water.
The garment polluted with urine is washed clean by applying soap.
The soul defiled with sins is cleansed with the hue of God'sName.
(Jap Ji 4-15)
The true pilgrimage is in the tenth apperture (Daswan Dawar) and journey to it has to be
traversed by the soul which is immersed in every pore and cell of the body. By reciting the holy
Names, we have to withdraw our attention from the finger tips of the feet and hands, and also
from the entire body. We have to concentrate the scattered currents of the soul at the Third Eye
(Tisra Til) which is situated at the centre between the two eye-brows. At this point, the soul
glimpses the luminous form of the Master who assists it to bathe in the true pool of Nectar which
is in the tenth apperture. By bathing in the internal pool of Nectar, the three covers of the soul i.e.
Asthool (Gross or Material), Suksham (Subtle or Astral) and Karan (Ethereal), three Gunnas
(Satogun, Rajogun and Tamogun), Mind, Maya and five passions (lust, anger, greed, attachment
and vanity) all are driven out and the soul becomes absolutely pure and crystal clean. Guru
Nanak Sahib says that true cleanliness can be obtained only with the dye of the Lord's Name and
by God-realisation. Such cleanliness or purity is everlasting and the soul gains honour and glory
in the court of the Lord.
Guru Nanak Sahib says:
They alone, who are blessed with the
Guru's Shabad (Word) are immaculate
and are approved in the True Court.
Night and day they remain attuned
to the jewel of Naam ; and merge in the Truth for ever.
(M.1 Prabhati 1332)
Externally the Company of a Saint is the True Pilgrimage where one is Dyed in the Colour of
Naam or Shabad.
It is simply impossible to have access to the Astral (Suksham) Regions and to besmear the soul
in the dye of Shabad, Word or Naam with our own efforts. For this purpose, assistance of some
spiritual adept, Saint or Satguru who himself travels in the astral planes is absolutely essential.
Externally, the company of a Saint (Satsang) is the true pilgrimage where we acquire the
knowledge of true service, true worship and devotion, true conduct, true religion whereby the
mind and intellect become pure, and clean thoughts emanate from the heart. Association with a
true Saint or a perfect Master enables us to control the evil designs of the mind and sense organs.
The sins of past births are washed off, mind becomes pure and thus ever lasting communion with
God is achieved. The entire environment is spiritualised where a true Saint resides. By keeping
the company of a Perfect Master one obtains the merit of bathing at all the sacred places of
pilgrimage and the soul is dyed permanently in the hue of Shabad. Word or Naam. Such a colour
never fades or wears out.
Kabir Sahib says :
There is no pilgrimage in the world equal to
the company of a true Saint.
By bathing in it, the sins of past births are cleansed in no time.
Similarly, Guru Arjan Sahib says :
Here, ye friends the glory of the company of the Saints !
Filth is washed away, millions of sins are dispelled
and the mind becomes pure. (M.5 Bilawal 809-18)
Guru Nanak Sahib also says the same thing :
When I anointed myself with the dust of the Saints' feet,
I earned the merit of bathing at all the pilgrim stations.
Sayeth Nanak, I have assumed the deep-red dye and
this madder-like colour of God's love fades not.
(M.1 Sarang 1212-18)
Mahatama Charan Das says that by visiting the Saints, the feet are rendered pure as the people go
to them for worship and devotion. By serving their disciples, hands become pure. By bowing
head at their feet, one becomes humble and meak. By having their vision (Darshan), eyes are
rendered pure. By reciting the holy Names as instructed by a true Saint, the tongue becomes
pure.
The End