Whew, I scrambled last night to prepare for the sale of my daycare, setting out all washed blocks, dolls and doll clothes attractively, re-organizing alphabet baskets with toys for beginning letters and going through the daycare's music tapes and CDs, to take out the few that belonged to me.
What a shock! Half were pesonal riches going back twenty years--precious old 3HO songs and mantra tapes, bangara dance music, Yogiji's Gurdwara lectures, Nitnem daily prayers, morning sadhana chants, Snatam Kaur, Amrit Kirtan Kaur and Guru Kirn Kaur gems, classical Gurbani Kirtan and soothing memorbelia, like George Winston and Dougie McClean and countercultural neo-spirtuals.
I gathered these dear ones up in a tray and stashed them safely in my bedroom, holding the same sentiments for children's books, some of which I had compiled, as on child doable yoga and Command Training and ways to teach the Gurmukhi alphabet, and treasures on the Sikh Gurus and saints. Other than sentimental attachments, like my daughter's childhood book on poetry and my Kiddy Lit book of Children's Literature from UCLA, my personal collection of music and literature would not likely appeal to the average Christian coming to the daycare sale. Or would it?
This morning I awoke with contrary thoughts. Like, what if it was me? I was once a Christian, new to Aquarian Age spiritual trends, the blissful depth of it. What magic and Grace of God would I feel if at a sidewalk yard sale I came across a CD graced with Snatam Kaur's angelic face amongst Mozart, Raffi and the Velveteen Rabbit, or picked up a book with a Santa Clausy looking old man that happened to be Guru Nanak? Each such tape, book and CD would feel like a portal to a sacred realm, a link to the Divine--freedom from the ribcage prison seeming to surround my soul.
Guru Arjan affirmed my thoughts. These precious friends will be scattered amongst trendy books and CDs as portals to serve the saint within every person who has eyes to see. There will be no tinge of miserly intent in Guru's Day Care sale--only blessings and blessings.
Today's Hukam from the Golden Temple of Amritsar:
Raag Todi, 5th Guru
Without understanding, his coming into the world is useless. He puts on various ornaments and many decorations, but it is like dressing a corpse. ||Pause||
With great effort and exertion, the miser works to gather in the riches of Maya. He
does not give anything in charity or generosity, and he does not serve
the Saints; his wealth does not do him any good at all. ||1||
The soul-bride puts on her ornaments, embellishes her bed, and fashions decorations. But if she does not obtain the company of her Husband Lord, the sight of these decorations only brings her pain. ||2||
The man works all day long, threshing the husks with the pestle. He is depressed, like a forced laborer, and so he is of no use to his own home. ||3||
But when God shows His Mercy and Grace, He implants the Naam, the Name of the Lord, within the heart. Search the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, O Nanak, and find the sublime essence of the Lord. ||4||2||4||
