ANAND BHAYAA MERI MAYEE

 This year (2004) we are celebrating the 400^th Anniversary of the installation of the Guru Granth Sahib in the Golden Temple in Amritsar.

The disciples of Guru Gobind Singh were full of grief when the Guru was about to leave the body. They asked the Guru, Who would guide them to find God, when Guru Gobind Singh was gone? 

Guru Gobind Singh replied that the Great Book of the Sikhs: The Guru Granth Sahib, would become a Living Guru for the disciples. The Guru said that whenever they (the disciples) were troubled, or they missed him, they could open and read the Guru Granth Sahib, and the answer would be revealed to them. 

The Guru Granth Sahib (The Guru in the book form) has since been regarded as the Living Guru, for the Sikhs.

WHO IS A GURU?
According to Ma Indira Devi, a guru is one who you can love trust and say 'yes' to. He is on the path that you are most comfortable in, just ahead of you, lighting the way, with your hand firmly in his/hers.

Many believe that ones real Guru resides within oneself.

WHY SHOULD WE HAVE A GURU?
Just like one requires a teacher for anything in life that one wishes to learn. It makes it easier rather than experiment by trial and error, especially in the Spiritual path. But most importantly he/she is one who is able to point out where you are straying from your god-given mission.

WHAT SHOULD BE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE GURU & HIS DISCIPLE?
Faith, Love

Let us celebrate and bring joy to our hearts. Why? Because we have been fortunate to find our guru, without much effort.

Let us sing:

ANAND BHAYYAA MEREE MAEE SATGURU MAIN PAAYA

SATGUR TA PAAYA SAHAJ SETEE  MAN VAJEEA VADHAEEA

RAAG RATAN PARVAR PAREA SHABAD GAAVAN AEEA

SHABDO TO GAVAH HAREE KERA MAN JINEE VASAIYA

KAHEY NANAK ANAND HOA SATGURU MAI PAAYA

EY MAN MERIA SADA RAHU HAR NALEY  HAR NAAL RAHU TU MAN MERE

DOOKH SABH VISARNA ANGEEKAR OH KAREY TERA

KARJ SABH SAVARNA SABHNA GALA SAMARTH SWAMI

SO KIU MANAH VISARE KAHEY NANAK MAN MERE SADA RAHU HAR

NAALE

SACHEY SAHEBA KYA NAHEE GHAR TERE GHAR TA TERE SABH KUCHH HAI

JIS DEVE SO PAVAI SADA SIFAT SALAH TERI

NAAM MAN VASAVE  NAAM JINKE MAN VASIYA

VAAJEY SHABD GHANERE  KAHEY NANAK SACHE SAHEBA

KYA NAHEE GHAR TERE.

  SAACHA NAAM MERA AADHAARO  SAACH NAAM AADHAR MERA

JIN BUKHA SABH GAVAEEYA KAR SAANT SUKH MAN AI VASSIA

JIN ICHHA SABH PUJAIYA  SADA QURBAN KEETA GURU  VITOH

JISDEEYA EH VADIAEEA  KAHEY NANAK SUNO SANTOH

SHABAD DHAROH PYARO SAACHA NAAM TERA AADHAARO

VAJEY PANCH SHABD  TIT GHAR SABHAAGE   GHAR SABHAAGE SHABAD VAJEY

KALA JIT GHAR DHAARIA  PANCH DOOT TUDH VAS KEETEY

KAAL KANTAK MAARIA DHUR KARAM PAIYA TUDH JAN KAU

SE NAAM HARKE LAAGE  KAHEY NANAK TAH SUKH HOA

TIT  GHAR ANAHAD VAAJEY

  ANAND SUNOH VAD BHAGIYO SAGAL MANORATH POOREY

PAARBRAHM PRABH PAIYA UTRAY SAGAL VISOOREY

DOOKH ROG SANTAAP UTRAY SUNEE SACHEE BAANEE

SANT SAAJAN BHAE SARSEY POOREY GUR TEY JANEE

SUNTEY PUNEET  KAHTEY PAVIT SATGUR RAHYA BHARPOOREY

BINVANT  NANAK GUR CHARAN LAAGEY VAAJEY ANAHAD TOOREY.

  PAVAN GURU PAANI PITA  MATA DHARAT MAHAT

DIVAS RAAT DUI DAYI DAIYA KHELEY SAGAL JAGAT

CHANGIAEEYAN BURYAEEYA VAJEY DHARMA HADOOR

KARMI AAPO AAPNEE KAY NERAY KAY DOOR

JINI NAAM DHIYAIA  GAYE MASTAK GHAAL

NANAK TAY MUKH UJLAY KAYTEY CHHUTEY NAAL.

The above prayer, loosely translated means:

I feel blissful, since I have found my Guru, without difficulty

My heart fills with immense joy

The Raagas sing Your song! (and so does one) who has got you in his heart sing your song (praise)

I feel joyful since I have found my guru!

Oh mind of mine! forget all (your) problems, stay near the thought of God.

Stay with Hari. He will accept you and fulfill all your needs.

He is 'All capable'. Don't forget Him. Nanak says, “Oh my mind, always remain close with God.”

Oh True Lord! What exists that You do not possess?

Whosoever is receptive will receive your grace.

Your teachings (The chanting of your Name) must remain in my heart.

In whosoever's heart lives Your Name… Constant Grace resides.

Guru Nanak states, what exists that You do not possess?

Your True Name is my support. You have annihilated all my desires, you have

brought me happiness. I love you so much, I will naturally surrender. You have given me a desireless status. Nanak says, “Hear, O holy ones, keep the True Name as your support!”

Whoever is fortunate, hears these  5 words within his heart. The 5 senses have you in their grip. Time is running out. Wake up! Listen to the words (of the Guru). Whoever's heart has the name of God, their bad karmas will dissolve to dust. In whose heart His Name resides…his heart will be full of joy.

(Breath) Wind is the Guru, Water is the Father, Earth is the Mother. Day & night dance on.

I may be good, I may be evil, I have come to your feet. Give me Your blessings whether

We are close or far from you. Whoever has taken the Name has given up their ego. Whoever has reached there, they are worthy of praise!

Oh Fortunate Ones! all your desires will be fulfilled. Once you achieve (Your Spiritual Goal) all your problems will vanish  (illness, mental disturbances etc). When you listen to the True Guru you will easily become saintly and pure. Nanak touches the feet of the Guru and the ANAHAD SHABD (The Soundless Sound of the Name) resounds.

GURU NANAK—JAPUJI SAHIB

Kulbir Kaur, Excerpts

Japuji sahib is the opening composition of  the Guru Granth Sahib.

It is a morning prayer

Composed by Guru Nanak.

Japuji Sahib contains a prologue called the Mool Mantra.

Mool Mantra is the basic creed of the Sikh faith.

It sums up the characteristics of the Supreme Being.

Ek Omkaar:

There is only 1 God

Beyond Time

Beyond Circle of Birth, Death and Rebirth

He is the Creator

Without Fear and hate

Immortal

Omniscient

Omni present.

Guru Nanak says:

In order to be a Man of Truth

Your Actions should be pure

You must suppress ego with the discipline of:

Morality

Meditation

And

Moulding ones life with

Hukam and Raza- His will.

How does one get rid of ego?

Sunai: Listen to the Holy Name

Maniai: Conviction in the truth of God's Word

Nidhiaasan: Carrying out the Guru's instruction in daily life.

 Ardas: Seeks the welfare of entire humanity

Sarbat da bhalla: Seeks welfare of entire humanity

Because True worship of God is Service of His Creation.

 In the last section of Japuji Sahib, Guru Nanak mentions 5 stages of  man's progress on the path of Divinity.

1)      Dharam khand

2)      Gian khand

3)      Saram khand ( Spiritual effort to train body, mind…)

4)      Karamkhand:  The region of Grace, he becomes Gurmukh, inclined towars God)

5)      Sachkhand: The abode of Formless

 The qualities of  continence, patience, divine knowledge, wisdom, prayer, austerity and love of the Divine Word makes him a True man of God