September 20, 2009 Before going to bed last night, I opened my mail to be hit with two negations of my spirit, which cannot be negated, so it does not bother me. I will deal with them on Monday: Wells Fargo's closure of my account after I met their terms for my last payment, and the NM Tax and Revenue Department's demand that I pay in full after my last payment, a money order sent priority mail as soon as I had the funds, which still arrived late.
Like Guru Nanak shares in today's Hukam from the Golden Temple, "If one strings a garland of virtues for oneself, what is there to cry for?"
Dhanaasaree, First Mehl, Chhant:
One Universal Creator God. By The Grace Of The True Guru:
Why should I bathe at sacred shrines of pilgrimage? The Naam, the Name of the Lord, is the sacred shrine of pilgrimage.
My sacred shrine of pilgrimage is spiritual wisdom within, and contemplation on the Word of the Shabad. The spiritual wisdom given by the Guru is the True sacred shrine of pilgrimage, where the ten festivals are always observed. I constantly beg for the Name of the Lord; grant it to me, O God, Sustainer of the world. The world is sick, and the Naam is the medicine to cure it; without the True Lord, filth sticks to it. The Guru's Word is immaculate and pure; it radiates a steady Light. Constantly bathe in such a true shrine of pilgrimage. ||1||
Filth does not stick to the true ones; what filth do they have to wash off?
If one strings a garland of virtues for oneself, what is there to cry for?
One who conquers his own self through contemplation is saved, and saves others as well; he does not come to be born again. The supreme meditator is Himself the philosopher's stone, which
transforms lead into gold. The true man is pleasing to the True Lord. He is in ecstasy, truly happy, night and day; his sorrows and sins are taken away. He finds the True Name, and beholds the Guru; with the True Name in his mind, no filth sticks to him. ||2||
O friend, association with the Holy is the perfect cleansing bath.
After reading Guru's Hukam from the Golden Temple I did Nitnem Path and
went to morning sadhana at the Mother Ashram, in time for chanting
Rakhay Rakhan Har, which is also playing this very moment as I write!
It is Guru Arjan, reassuring me I am on track.
Following Sadhana I was asked to sit behind the Guru and read the
morning Hukam. Waheguru! These dear ones did not know what they were
asking for! Guru Arjan blasted those who slander the saints, as each of
them has done by simply discussing and condescending to me as a mental
case:
Bilaaval, Fifth Mehl:
Thus, the slanderer crumbles away. This is the distinctive sign - listen, O Siblings of Destiny: he collapses like a wall of sand. ||1||Pause||
When the slanderer sees a fault in someone else, he is pleased. Seeing goodness, he is depressed.
Twenty-four hours a day, he plots, but nothing works. The evil man dies, constantly thinking up evil plans. ||1||
The slanderer forgets God, death approaches him, and he starts to argue with the humble servant of the Lord. God Himself, the Lord and Master, is Nanak's protector. What can any wretched person do to him? ||2||9||95||
One woman felt the Hukam's impact and let out a wondrous, "Waheguru!" once the alcove curtain was pulled closed.
I helped clear their karmas, the Gurdwara floor, as we packed
everything away, dusted, swept and finally washed the marble floors
with Wahe Gurus, towels and buckets of water. In so doing, Guru blessed
me to wash and dry his marble stage in preparation for Siri Guru Granth
Sahib's Manji throne.
Now, having fed the animals, washed a chuni and made these notes, I am set to wash the world.
Sunday Gurdwara was rich with blessings for all of us, with Ravi Kaur
and Cherdi Kala ragis playing kirtan. Cherdi Kala Jatha sang "Rang
Rataa Mera Sahib", a shabad by Guru Nanak in Sri Raag. This is the
shabad that awoke me to Guru Arjan's presence as my husband when I first
heard it played by Professor Surinder Singh as an instrumental. The professor
then taught it to our Raag class where, to my delight, I found the
words sinking deep into my soul with divine recognition of the oneness of our love:
I am in blissful living remembrance, ever one with my Beloved:
Siree Raag, First Guru, Second House:
He Himself is the Enjoyer, and He Himself is the Enjoyment. He Himself is the Ravisher of all. He Himself is the Bride in her dress, He Himself is the Bridegroom on the bed. ||1||
My Lord and Master is imbued with love; He is totally permeating and pervading all. ||1||Pause||
He Himself is the fisherman and the fish; He Himself is the water and the net. He Himself is the sinker, and He Himself is the bait. ||2||
He Himself loves in so many ways. O sister soul-brides, He is my Beloved. He continually ravishes and enjoys the happy soul-brides; just look at the plight I am in without Him! ||3||
Prays Nanak, please hear my prayer: You are the pool, and You are the soul-swan. You are the lotus flower of the day and You are the water-lily of the
night. You Yourself behold them, and blossom forth in bliss. ||4||25||
Guru's Hukams at every sacred turn in my life are my virtues; wearing such a garland, tender bliss.
