Sakhi Series :- 110 ( Getting Advice from Siri Guru Granth Sahib )

Getting Advice from Siri Guru Granth Sahib

Source: www.mrsikhnet.com

A Fun and Inspiring Story related to the Siri Guru Granth Sahib, by Gurshabad Singh Khalsa (La Jolla/Espanola). 

har bhagathaa har dhhan raas hai gur pooshh karehi vaapaar ||

The devotees of the Lord have the Wealth and Capital of the Lord; with Guru's Advice, they carry on their trade.

-          Guru Granth Sahib Ji , Ang 28 

"I was listening to a Siri Singh Sahib lecture and he said "Sikhs do two things, they…."  Just before he gave the answer, I stopped the tape to try and guess what he was going to say.  I had been getting in the habit of doing this, to see if I was learning anything.  In this case, I guessed something completely wrong, and then put the tape back in.  This is what he said:  "Sikhs do two things.  They do Sadhana and they take advice from Siri Guru Granth Sahib".  I took this quote very literally and thought it was unrealistic, and I wrote the Siri Singh Sahib a letter to tell him that I thought this couldn't possibly be true.  My rational was, how can a person, realistically, read from a book and get advice from it. I told him that I was going to put this to the test, to see if it worked or not.  Like most everyone else I know, I had taken Hukams before, but I was looking at this more specifically as "taking advice".  To me, there was a big difference taking a Hukam and taking advice. After writing the letter, the Siri Singh Sahib called me back and said "The teaching is true.  Put it to the test and let me know what you find out".  

Some time went by and I really didn't have any need to "take advice" from Siri Guru Granth Sahib, until one evening.  I had just started my frozen waffle business and the printer was going to print my first run of cartons.  There was a bit of a rush to get these out and it was down to the wire to get them printed and out in time for the first run of waffles.  At 11:00 pm that night, the printer called and informed me that they thought there was going to be a real problem with 'holding' the blue color with the four color process we were running.  They gave me two options.  First, was to keep it as it is, and risk having the blue color be very inconsistent and 'spotty'.   The second option was to go to a fifth color, which would for sure 'hold the color', but would cost significantly more per carton.  At 100,000 cartons per run, this was going to represent a significant increase in cost.  I hadn't worked that into my profit margins and was very concerned about this.  I was equally as concerned about not doing it, and having an inferior product.  Concerned, I called some friends and consultants to see what they thought.  No one had the answer.  I was stuck and didn't know what to do, and it was late and I had to give an answer.  Then, I realized that this would be the perfect time to "take advice from Siri Guru Granth Sahib".  

  So, I went into the Gurdwara, sat behind the Guru, waived the Chori Sahib and literally spoke out loud to the Guru telling him what the situation was and asked him what I should do.  I decided I needed to ask a very specific question.  So, I asked: "Guru Ji, should I print in 4-color?".  I opened the Guru and the Hukam was from Nam Dev, the Calico Printer.  It said, and I paraphrase "God is the seed which grows into a tree.  The tree has bark on it.  The bark is taken from the tree and turned into pulp to make paper from, so Nam Dev, the Calico Printer can print on it"! 
  
Excited, I called the printer back and said "Print 4-color.  This is my final decision.  Please call me in the morning and let me know how it went".  The next morning, I was awakened by a phone call at 5 am.  It was the printer informing me that they were "amazed" at how well the blue color held and the cartons look perfect.  I happily wrote the Siri Singh Sahib back, told him the story and informed him that I had become a "believer" in this teaching.  From that day forward, I have always dedicated a room or space in my house for Siri Guru Granth Sahib, and whenever I get into a place where I don't have an answer, I always take advice and it has NEVER not given me the best answer possible to my situation.  It is a gold mine of technology that can be practically applied to anyone's life, anytime.  Thank you Siri Singh Sahib for this gem and Happy 300th Anniversary of Siri Guru Granth Sahib!   --   Gurshabad Singh Khalsa (La Jolla/Espanola)

Take the Guru's advice, you ignorant fool;

without devotion, even the clever have drowned.

Worship the Lord with heart-felt devotion, my friend;

your consciousness shall become pure.

Enshrine the Lord's Lotus Feet in your mind;

the sins of countless lifetimes shall depart.

Chant the Naam yourself, and inspire others to chant it as well.

Hearing, speaking and living it, emancipation is obtained.

The essential reality is the True Name of the Lord.

With intuitive ease, O Nanak, sing His Glorious Praises. ||6||

-          Guru Granth Sahib Ji , Ang 288

Sakhi Series :- 109 ( Hari Singh Nalwa and the Pathans)

Hari Singh Nalwa and the Pathan

There are many short incidents about Hari Singh Nalwa, donno if true. 

One is about him in peshawar, he along with some 20-30 singhs were attacked by around 200 pathans. Being short in number, the Sikhs took shelter in a nearby haveli. They asked for the peace terms but the Pathans were for Nalwa.

At night it rained a lot. In the early morning, the singhs saw local people hammering their mud roofs. When he asked, someone told that the local mitti was called "kuttan mitti" bcoz whenever it rained, they had to do this exercise otherwise it leaked.

So Hari Singh Nalwa said that those pathans were made of the same Mitti.... so the only way to keep them under control is to hammer them regularly. So all of Sikhs  attacked the pathans with full vigour and after some time all of them were asking peace from the Sikhs.

 jis no saajan raakhasee dhusaman kavan bichaar ||

What harm can a helpless enemy do one whom the Lord protects?

shhaioo n sakai thih shhaahi ka nihafal jaae gavaar || 24||

(The enemy) cannot strike even his shadow. (Such an action) by the fool proves futile.(24)

-          Guru Gobind Singh Ji

PS: There was a mistake in Sakhi 108 ( Guru Angad and King Humayun) . It is beleived that Guru ji was busy teaching the students and not in prayers (as was mentioned in the sakhi series version ). Apologies for the mistake.

SikhNet Launches Childrens Audio Stories

SikhNet Audio Stories for Children www.SikhNet.com/Stories   Many of our SikhNet visitors have discussed with us and asked us, how can we give our values our virtues and our valor to our children? Why must we raise our children on Mickey Mouse and television cartoons? Soul Spirit and Reality - that's what our children really want from us as parents. As Sikhs of the Guru we have such beautiful stories of wisdom, valor, love, devotion and sacrifice which is a natural part of our heritage. Here at SikhNet, we asked for storytellers. Storytellers raised their hands and came to our microphones to tell wonderful spiritual stories for our children. So, today we offer a new section on SikhNet called "Sikh Stories for Children." Just click and listen. Bed time stories or any-time stories. We'll be adding new stories regularly. Read More >> visit www.SikhNet.com/Stories

Sakhi Series :- 108 ( Guru Angad Sahib Ji and King Humayun)

Guru Angad Sahib Ji and King Humayun

(Source : http://www.gurmat.info)

Humayun was the only son of Babur, who was the king of Delhi. When Babur died, Humayun became the king. He was lazy and weak. So one of his officers, named Sher Shah, rose against him. There was a battle in which Humayun was defeated and Sher Shah became the king of Delhi. Humayun had to run away to save his life. On his way to Lahore, he had to pass by Khadur, where Guru Angad Sahib Ji lived. He wanted to become king once again, so he went to Khadur to see the Guru and ask for his blessing.

When Humayun reached the Guru's house, Guru Angad Dev ji was busy teaching students. Therefore, he did not notice the king. The king was upset. He did not like waiting. He thought "How dare the Guru not show any respect to the King!" This feeling made him very angry. In a fit of anger, he drew out his sword to kill the Guru. In the meantime the Guru had finished his prayers and was ready to listen to the king. Seeing what the king was about to do, he smiled and said, "You are brave enough to draw your sword to kill or frighten the peace-loving people. Why didn't you use it in the battlefield, from which you come running like a coward? Your sword did not work in the battlefield, but now suddenly you seem to have become a brave fighter." Humayun felt ashamed. He begged the Guru's pardon.

"I am very sorry, sir," he said, "I really lost my head. You know that Guru Nanak was kind enough to bless my father, who became the king of Delhi. I am no good, because I've lost the throne to Sher Shah. Your blessing alone can make me the king once again. Please have mercy on me and bless me."

The Guru kept quiet for some time. "My blessing has no magic,' he said smilingly. 'To be a king means to be kind, just and helpful to the people. If you promise to do that, you will be a king with God's grace. Be patient and always remember God, who grants all wishes." Humayun hurried away to Persia determined to act upon the Guru's Advice.

After a few years, he gathered his soldiers and also received help from the king of Persia. He came back to India with a very large army and this time, he and his soldiers fought very bravely. Humayun won the battle and became the king of Delhi once again. Humayun was full of gratitude towards the Guru and he wanted to do him a favour, but by that time Guru Angad Sahib Ji had left the human body. Guru Amar Das ji had become the third Guru of the Sikhs. The Guru sent a message reminding the king to be kind and good to his people and to respect holy men. Sometime later, Akbar, the son of Humayun, visited Guru Amar Das ji and offered help for the Guru's Langar.

"The Lord can make the blind see clearly; He treats Man as He knows him, no matter what one may say. Where the truth is not seen, know that pride is strong there. Nanak, how shall a man buy anything if he likes it not." -(Guru Angad Dev ji)

Sakhi Series :- 107 ( Guru Jee and Sayt)

ddeegan ddolaa thoo lo jo man kae bharamaa ||

As long as there are doubts in the mind, the mortal staggers and falls.

 

bhram kaattae gur aapanai paaeae bisaraamaa ||1||

The Guru removed my doubts, and I have obtained my place of rest. ||1||

- Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Ang 400

 

A millionaire called Sayt, went to see Guru Nanak jee. Guru jee asked him, "How much money have you got?"

He said, "40 million Rupees." Another Sikh said, "O protector of the poor,
Gareeb Nivaaj, Guru jee he has got nothing."

Guru jee asked him why he had lied. He said, "I'm telling you the truth Guru jee."

Guru jee then asked him how many sons he had. Sayt answered, "Guru jee, I have one son." The other Sikh said, "Guru jee he's lying again, he has got 5 sons."

Guru jee said , "Sayt why are you lying?" Sayt said, "Why would I lie to you Guru jee?"

Sayt was 60 years old he had a white beard. Guru jee asked him how old he was, he took out his dairy and started flicking back the pages he answered, "Guru jee, by your grace I'm 12 years old."

Guru jee said, "What are you saying Sayt? You are obviously over 60."

Sayt put both hands together and said, "Guru jee I told you the truth. You asked me how much money I had, well I've had 40 million Rupees in my life which I've given away and I'm left with only 1 million."

Guru jee said, "Forgive me Sayt for doubting you, your answer was true. Sayt is true.'

Sayt said, "Next you asked me how many sons I had, I said one, it is true I have five sons but four are drunks only one is beloved of Guru jee, he is sensible and loves his parents. Then Guru jee, I said I was 12 years old because that's how many hours of service, meditation and holy congregation (Seva, Simran and Sadh-Sangat) I've done. Every time I do one of these I note the duration. That's what I regard as my age, that amount of time will be taken into account not my body's age."

Guru jee said, "Sayt is true."

 

-> http://tuhitu.blogspot.com/

 

Sakhi Series :- 106 ( Kaka Hakikat Rai Singh)

Kaka Hakikat Rai Singh

Sikhs do not lie, even if they have to die.

(Source: http://www.gurmat.info/ )

 

maaeiaa mohu jalaaeae so har sio chith laaeae har dhar mehaleesobhaa paavaniaa ||1|| rehaao ||
Those who burn away this attachment to Maya, and focus their consciousness on the Lord are honored in the True Court, and the Mansion of the Lord's Presence. ||1||Pause||

Guru Granth Sahib, Ang 129

The people of Punjab, both Hindus and Muslims, rose against the terrorist rule of the Nawab (Governor) of Sirhind.  The Nawab was killed in 1710, i.e., just half a decade after he murdered the two innocent sons of Guru Gobind Singh.  This brought a rule of peace and justice in the area of Punjab, east of Amritsar.

 

To again take over the control of Punjab from Banda Singh Bahadur, a strong army was sent from Delhi.  The army generals feared to fight a battle with Banda, hence they tricked him with the pretension of having a dialogue with him for peace.  They unarmed him and arrested him.  His 700 men were also made prisoners along with a teenage boy, Hakikat Rai.  All of them were taken to Delhi and asked to surrender to the Emperor.  They refused bluntly.  The government ordered the murder of everyone.  About 100 Sikhs were murdered every day near Chandni Chauk, Delhi.

 

The mother of Hakikat Rai, whose only support and hope of life was her son, submitted a petition to the government to save the life of the boy.  She narrated that her son was not a Sikh but was there in the Sikh camp when he was arrested.  The Emperor ordered the release of the boy if the boy himself denied being a Sikh.  The mother dashed with the release orders to the place where the Sikhs were being murdered.  Her son was still waiting for his turn to be killed.  Presenting the Farman - the order of the emperor - to the Kazi (Judge) supervising the murdering of the Sikhs, she requested the release of her son.

 

The Kazi called Hakikat Rai and asked him if he was a Sikh.  The boy replied that he certainly was a Sikh.  His mother intervened and told the Kazi that the boy was her son and she knew that he was not a Sikh.  The boy emphasized that he was a committed Sikh.  The son and the mother started arguing with each other.  Khafi Khan, a Muslim historian, an eye witness who recorded these horrifying killings, was very surprised to hear those arguments.

 

The mother again asserted that her son was not a Sikh.  However, the boy raising his voice retorted immediately that his mother was telling a lie in order to save his life.  His father was dead, and he was the only support for her.  Being a Sikh, he wanted to be murdered without further delay so that he may not be left behind by his Sikh associates already murdered.  Before another word could be said by his mother, the boy was standing with his head bent before the butcher.  The sword in the hand of the butcher lowered and Hakikat Rai attained his martyrdom.

 

Such blood curdling events of Sikh history made Sikhs stronger and even more fearless of the oppression let loose against them.  Even today Sikhs don't hesitate to die for justice and human rights.

 

Even under a threat to their life, Sikhs do not tell a lie.  They love to live as Sikhs or, they would prefer to die