THOSE WHO HAVE NO ENMITY
by
Sant Ajaib Singh Ji
This talk was given on July 9, 1980
at Sant Bani Ashram, N.H. and is the
sixth in a series of fourteen talks
on the Gauri Vars of Guru Ramdas Ji.
------------------------------------
The disaffected One made his servant wear the black and
blue quilt (coat) which was full of filth and lice.
No one let them sit near. They have fallen in dirt.
The manmukhs came back having more dirt (than before).
In the beginning (of this series of talks) I said that when Guru Amardas
started doing His work He was opposed by everyone, especially by the sons
of Guru Angad Dev, Bhai Datu and Dasu, who kicked Guru Amardas and said,
"You used to be our servant - now you want to become the owner of the
throne which belongs to us." They kicked him, but Guru Amardas was so
humble that instead of getting upset at them, he massaged their bodies,
saying, "Forgive me, because I have this old body; I just have the
skeleton and bones and I am afraid that you would have hurt yourselves
because you kicked my old body." He was very humble and he didn't get
upset at them. Then, when Guru Amardas left everything and came to
Goindwal, where He started His work, he was also very much opposed there.
There lived a yogi who was performing austerities, and before Guru Amardas
came there, he was well known and people went to him. I told you all
these things, and I also said that that yogi, with the help of Gondar the
shepherd, who was the chief of that village, started opposing Guru Amardas.
In those days, Emperor Akbar was ruling over India, and that yogi told
Gondar, the chief of that village, "You go to Emperor Akbar, and tell him
that Guru Amardas is a fake sadhu; he is not a good man; I am the only
good person here, and this person should be thrown out of the country."
In those days, whenever anybody wanted to go to Delhi to meet the
Emperor and complain about something, he had to wear a special coat
which Emperor Akbar had given to every district. So there was a coat
there; but there was only one coat for the district of Punjab, which was
very big. Everybody was using the same coat, and nobody wanted to wash
it, so it was very dirty; there were many insects and lice in it. It did
not belong to anybody; that is why nobody bothered about cleaning it.
Gondar didn't want to wear that coat, so he made his servant wear it.
And both of them went to Delhi.
But when they reached there, Gondar had to put on the coat because
he was going to present himself in front of the Emperor and complain about
Guru Amardas. He went to the court and started talking about Guru Amardas,
but Emperor Akbar didn't believe him because he had once visited Guru
Amardas; he had seen Him, attended His Satsang, and moreover he had taken
food from His langar also. So Emperor Akbar knew Guru Amardas very well
and he knew that He was a true Sadhu and that all these people were trying
to bother him and harass him. So he did not believe Gondar and he kicked
him. When he did, Gondar fell down and the place where he fell down was
very dirty. So his coat became even more dirty and he was so embarrassed
that he would not go back to his home, because he had not been treated well
by Emperor Akbar. Word spread that he had been humiliated by Emperor Akbar
because he was making false complaints.
When he did return he did not go into the village, because nobody came
to welcome him even though he was the chief of the village. So he sat
outside waiting for someone to come. Nobody came; but eventually his
daughter-in-law and his niece came to receive him. After that, when he
returned to his home, he became so sick that even though he felt like
eating, he couldn't eat anything. He couldn't put any food in his stomach
through his mouth, and he was in such terrible shape that in the end he
left the body in a lot of pain.
So all that happened in those times Guru Ramdas has very beautifully
pictured in this bani. And he will tell us how all these things happened
there.
The bemukh (he who has turned away from the Master)
was sent to criticize and backbite.
There also both of their lives were blackened.
Guru Ramdas Ji says that no one welcomed Gondar the shepherd, and his
servant, who went to Delhi to complain about Guru Amardas. Instead of
welcoming them, the Emperor blackened their faces and sent them back,
saying, "You don't know how to do anything except criticize the true
Saints."
At once all the world heard, "Brothers, the bemukh and
his servant came back after being beaten up with shoes."
When Emperor Akbar ignored those who went to criticize Guru Amardas, and
when he refused to listen to them, when he kicked and humiliated them,
then this news was spread all over India: that the critics of Guru Amardas
were treated this way by Emperor Akbar. So when they came back, nobody
welcomed them in their homes, and nobody talked to them with respect.
Further he was not allowed to mix with the Sangat.
So the daughter-in-law and niece came to take him home.
This world and the world beyond; both are lost, he cries
in hunger and thirst always.
Blessed, blessed is the Lord, the Creator, the Supreme Being
Who Himself caused true justice to be done.
So Guru Ramdas Ji Maharaj says, "Great is the Lord Who gives always true
justice." Because when he came back, he became so sick that he was hungry
but he couldn't eat any food. In those days, medical science had not
progressed enough that they could feed him intravenously. There was no
other means except putting food through the mouth, and he was not able to
do that. So he was always hungry.
Guru Sahib says, "Great is the Lord, Who gives the perfect and true
justice. Whatever one does, he suffers its reaction according to that
justice."
"Those who criticize the Perfect Master, the True One
Himself has killed them."
These words are said by Him Who has created the whole world.
Guru Ramdas Ji says, "Masters do not curse anyone. Whatever I am saying,
it is not me saying it: it is God Who is manifested within me." He says
that critics always repent and suffer for what they have done, and the
meditators of Naam always enjoy the meditation they have done.
When the Master (or Lord) is naked and hungry, how can
his servant be satisfied?
If the Master has the things in his home, it comes in the
hands of the servant; how can he get it if there is none
in the home?
Guru Amardas had meditated very much, He had worked very hard, and he had
served his Master. But still, this Perfect Mahatma, Who had done so much
meditation, had to leave His original place which was called Kadur Sahib,
and had to come and settle in Goindwal; and there also he was very much
opposed.
So Guru Ramdas Ji says., "How can those people whose Masters are hungry,
be satisfied? Only those whose Masters have something in their home, can
be satisfied." Guru Ramdas Ji means to say only this: If the Master has
not reached Sach Khand, how can the disciples get any wealth of devotion?
How can the disciple think of going to Sach Khand if his Master has not
reached there? So that is why the disciple will get only that which the
Master has in His Home. Those whose Masters are blind, the disciples also
become blind. They always do their own will, and they are always involved
in untruths.
Perfect Masters have worked very hard and have spent all Their life in
meditating. How can those who have spent their nights meditating criticize
others? How can They allow Their disciples to criticize others? Those who
have done the meditation know how much they lose if they criticize others.
So how can those who have this awareness criticize others?
Swami Ji Maharaj says, "One who meditates on the Shabd, or earns the
Shabd, He is the Perfect Master; we become the dust of His feet." Kabir
Sahib says, "Don't ask the caste of the Master; ask about His knowledge.
Don't bother about the value of the sheath; learn the value of the sword."
We should read the life of the Master. We should know whether the
Master has done any meditation in his life or not. If He has spent years
of His life in meditation, then we don't need to ask to which caste He
belongs, from which country or religion He comes, because we have to take
only Knowledge from Him; we have to take only Naam from Him.
That seva is difficult (of no use) by doing which
the accounts are still seen (by the Lord of Judgment).
Nanak says, serve the Master or Lord Whose darshan is
fruitful, so that no one may ask for the accounts.
We should not serve anyone if by serving him our accounts will still have
to be seen, and we will have to pay. It is better to serve that Master Who,
has done the meditation of Shabd Naam, because only the seva done for such
a Master has worth. Once Guru Hari Rai was taking a walk with some of his
disciples, and they came across a big snake being eaten by ants: he was
still alive but he couldn't move and he was in a lot of pain. So the
disciples asked, "Master, what is this?" So Guru Hari Rai replied, "This
is the result of becoming a false Master. In his past life, he pretended
that he was a true Master, and he was teaching people. But in fact he was
false and those people who came to him, looking at others - because they
were afraid of other people - this is their condition: they have become
ants. He became the snake, and he is paying his karmas by suffering this
pain. Because he deceived the disciples, they have come back as ants and
they are eating up his body while he is still alive."
Even though Baba Bishan Das had the knowledge of only two Words, He had
perfected himself up to the first two planes. He used to say that we should
always take a Master after knowing about Him, as we should drink the water
after filtering it. If the disciple is a true seeker he can easily
recognize the false Master. When a true seeker comes to a false Master, the
false Master at once knows that now a true seeker has come, and he starts
running because he is afraid that the true seeker will learn his secret
and he will ask for something which he cannot give.
We cannot test anyone if we are still working on the level of mind and
the organs of senses. If we are polluted by the dirt of the worldly
pleasures, we cannot test anyone. Unless we go within and become pure, we
cannot test anyone, we cannot recognize. As long as we are dirty, we cannot
know who is True and who is not. If we want to see who is True and who
is not, we need to become pure.
Once two pundits, or learned scholars, came to Dadu Sahib, a great
Mahatma; they had heard about Dadu Sahib but they had never seen him. They
came to him for Initiation, but when they came near His house they saw that
a bald man - his head was shaved - was coming out of that house. In India,
people believe that if you meet someone like that, it is a bad omen. So
those people thought, "We came here to meet the Master to improve our life;
but look at this! We have met this man and it's a bad omen; now we will not
be able to meet the Master!" They got so upset at that bald man that they
hit him on the head not realizing that it was Dadu Sahib himself, and they
asked Him, "Where is the dera of Dadu Sahib?" Dadu Sahib was the abode of
peace, and He told them very patiently and lovingly, "This is the dera of
Dadu Sahib. You go in and wait and he will come."
Both those pundits went and sat with the Sangat, and waited for Dadu
Sahib to come. And after some time, He came, and they saw the same man,
whom they had hit on the head; and they were much afraid. They thought,
"Now, He will not give us Initiation! We had so much yearning and we came
for Initiation, and we insulted Him. He will not even want to talk with us."
But when the Satsang was over, Dadu Sahib called them; they were very much
afraid, and they apologized. Dadu Sahib was very patient and loving, and he
said, "It's all right. You know that if you go to buy a pot, you hit it to
make sure that it is good. It's all right that you hit my head to make sure
that I am the true Mahatma." So when the Great Masters come into this world,
They are the abode of peace, They are very patient and loving, and They
don't mind all these things.
If anyone criticizes the Perfect Masters, the Masters do not respond.
Instead of getting impatient and upset, They always pray to the Lord, "Oh
Lord, if You want to shower grace and have mercy on him, please give him
my recognition so that he may know what he is doing."
When Hazur Maharaj Kirpal told me to give Initiation, He told me that
His teachings should not remain hidden in the world, and that they should
be spread. At that time I presented my shortcomings and lackings, and I
told him all about them; but He said, "When the bad man will not stop his
bad deeds, why should a good man stop his good deeds?" He told me that I
should do this work, and I should not worry about others. When the Masters
start Their work, They are very determined. They do Their work with full
determination and They don't worry about the criticism or blame which they
get from others. They never respond in the same tone.
So Guru Sahib says, "Those who criticize the Beloveds of God, the Beloveds
of God do not reply in the same way and they do not lose their quality."
Hazur Maharaj Sawan Singh Ji used to say, "The foolish or mean people
always present excuses, and try to prove that they are true. But the wise
man always waits, because he is patient and knows that time will tell the
truth."
Nanak says, after thinking, that all the four Vedas say that
whatever the Saints say from their mouth are the true words.
Now Guru Sahib says that even the four Vedas bear this witness; they also
say that whatever words Saints speak, are weighed and are spoken after great
understanding. And whatever they speak is true. Whatever they speak is what
happens.
It is well known everywhere:
All are hearing that the foolish ones who criticize the Saint
never get any happiness.
In this world there are many well-known stories about those people who
criticize the Master, and what they got for it. The Guru says that up
until now, no one has been benefited by criticizing the Master.
Once some children of Yadav caste - into which Lord Krishna was born -
came to Rishi Durvasa and made him the butt of a practical joke. There was
a boy named Samba, and they tied things on his stomach and disguised him as
a pregnant woman. They brought him in front of Durvasa Muni, and said, "You
are called Saint and Rishi; tell us what this woman will have: a boy or a
girl?" Durvasa Muni knew that they were playing a joke on him, and he tried
to tell them that they should not do that, they should go and not bother
him. But they didn't stop and they didn't go. Durvasa Muni was very quiet
and said, "Sons, don't play jokes on the Saints; it is not good for you.
It can bring many bad results." But they still didn't stop. So in the end,
Durvasa Muni said, "If you want to know what this woman will bear, I will
tell you. She will bear that which will be the means for the destruction
of your dynasty." When he said that, they all went back, and when they
thought over that statement, later they became very worried because it was
obvious that Durvasa Muni had cursed them.
So they went to Lord Krishna, and told him what had happened. Lord
Krishna, who had insight, said, "Whatever that Saint has said, that cannot
be changed; whatever he has said, will happen. But let us try something.
Open this `lady' up and see what she has." When everything was untied, they
found a ball of iron. Lord Krishna told them to file that iron, make dust
of it, and put it in the river, so that the iron ball would lose its
existence and they would not have to worry about it. But when they did
that, that dust eventually settled on the bank of the river and made a very
fertile soil in which a special type of grass was grown. That grass had
leaves that were very wide and sharp, as if they were swords.
Once it so happened that the Yadavs had a marriage celebration in their
dynasty. After doing all the ceremonies, they came to the bank of the river
to enjoy, and they drank wine. Eventually, they became so intoxicated that
they started fighting with each other, and they used the leaves of that
grass as swords. It is said that fifty-six crores of Yadavs were destroyed
just because they played a joke on Durvasa Muni.
They desire the Saints' virtues and are burning
in the fire of egoism.
When the critics of Saints see that people are coming to the Master and
are getting benefit, and that the Masters are getting honor, and are
becoming well-known in the world; they don't like that. They are full of
ego, and they are burning within with the fire of anger, and they cannot
stand that and become jealous.
That yogi who criticized Guru Amardas had this jealousy. He thought, "I
know many mantras and other things, and this Guru Amardas is an old man.
Why do people go to him and not to me?"
What can those poor ones do if their fate is not good
from the very beginning? Those who are killed by the
Par Brahm are not undefeated by any one.
Now Guru Ramdas says, "What can those poor people do when it is written in
their fate to criticize and do the bad deeds? When God has decided for them
that they are supposed to do that work, what can those poor people do if
they don't have the grace of God?"
Those who have enmity with those who have no enemies
get punished when the Lord of Judgment judges.
Those who are cursed because of the Saint wander here
and there.
Masters are without enmity, and those who become Their enemies are sent by
God to the Lord of Judgment. And the Lord of Judgment gives them punishment
according to their deeds. And those people come in this world again to
suffer the reaction of the deeds which they have done in their past life.
They continually come and go in this world, and in this way they suffer.
The tree which is cut down from its roots,
its branches all dry up.
When the tree is cut down, the branches die of themselves. In the same
way, when we become the enemies of those Masters who have no enemies, we
lose a lot. The Law applies to everyone: It is not true that the Law
doesn't apply to us and that we are special people. The Law applies to
everyone; those who criticize the Masters always get pain.
Master Sawan Singh used to say, "Those who like to criticize others
cannot give up this bad habit because they are so attached to it."
Guru Nanak says, "There is medicine for every disease but there is
no medicine for the critic. God makes him forget himself, and God Himself
makes him wander here and there in births and He makes him come and go in
this world."
He who meditates on the Lord, the Master, his glory is great.
The glory which is given by the perfect Master does not
diminish even a little bit.
The glory of the disciple who after taking Initiation manifests Naam
within him, cannot be diminished by anyone. His Satguru has given him that
glory, and nobody else can reduce it.
The True Lord is in favor of the Satguru;
The people work (against Him) with no results.
When the True Lord, the One Who never dies, is in favor of the Master, then
no matter what the people of the world may do, they still will never become
successful. And in the end, when the people do not get any success, they
hold back and repent.
He blackens the faces of the critics and the Creator Himself
increases the glory (of the Master).
As the critic goes on criticizing, the glory of the Master
goes on increasing manifold.
Now he says that God blackens the face of the critics; day by day He
glorifies the Name of the Master and diminishes the glory of His critics.
I have seen this: when Master Sawan Singh was very much opposed by the
Akalis, they built a gurdwara right in front of the Dera. They always
abused and criticized Master Sawan Singh. But Master Sawan Singh was very
gracious and very loving with them, and He would always invite them to
come in the langar and have food. He would say, "Brothers, you might want
some food to eat because you are doing this work from morning to night.
Why don't you come and have some food here?" He was always graciously
inviting them to come and eat food in His langar.
Many times the Akalis would invite other Akalis to come and discuss how
to work more effectively against Master Sawan Singh. But when the new
people would come there and see the Dera right behind the gurdwara, in the
evening they would attend the Master's Satsang. Instead of criticizing the
Master, they would become so impressed by Him that they would take Naam,
and leave the company of the critics. As the Akalis saw that many people
were becoming impressed by Master Sawan Singh, and were even becoming
initiates, they decided to move from that place. They turned that gurdwara
into a school, which still exists.
Once some four or five hundred Akalis came to test Master Sawan Singh at
midnight. They said they were hungry and wanted food to eat. They didn't
think that Master Sawan Singh would have enough food in His langar to feed
them all and they would be able to humiliate Him and say that He was not
a Master. But Master Sawan Singh did not become nervous, although the dear
ones in charge became nervous (they had enough food for only forty people).
But Master Sawan Singh told them to start cooking food, and said, "Let us
distribute whatever we have to them." So they started giving food,
everybody was well fed, and in the end, there was still food for forty
people.
So Master Sawan Singh fed everyone with love and patience, and they were
very impressed to see how Master Sawan Singh was serving them at midnight,
when He didn't even have enough food for all these people. Master Sawan
Singh told His dear ones that Guru Nanak had been opposed by the Siddhas,
who had supernatural powers. Once they removed the teeth from their mouths,
and came to Guru Nanak and said, "You are called the Master; feed us.
People say whoever comes to you, you feed them well. You see that we don't
have any teeth; so feed us some food we can eat." They thought that Guru
Nanak would have nothing to feed them because if they were fed with regular
food they would not be able to eat it, and they would get one more excuse
to criticize Him. But Guru Nanak Sahib didn't become nervous either, and
he invented halvah, and gave it to everyone. Halvah is a food which, as
most of you know, you don't have to chew; you just swallow it - it is very
delicate.
So Master Sawan Singh said, "When the Siddhas came to Guru Nanak, they
had supernatural powers, and they removed their teeth and Guru Nanak fed
them with halvah. But these poor Akalis do not have any supernatural powers,
and they cannot remove their teeth. When Guru Nanak fed His opponents with
halvah, can't we feed them with regular food?" So Master Sawan Singh loved
them very much and He fed them very well; and they were very impressed.
The dear ones who have gone to Rajasthan know what halvah is; because at
least once each trip we make halvah so you will know about it. When the
dear old man of Sant Bani Ashram, Baba Gerald, came to Rajasthan, we made
halvah. When I asked him how it was, he said, "I don't know anything else,
except that it is very easy to swallow!"
Nanak says, He who has meditated on the Lord, at His
feet the Lord has laid all the world.
God inspires the souls to come to the Masters Who have done the meditation
of Shabd Naam. Souls come and apologize to such Masters. Bheeka Sahib says,
"Even if the Master meditates in the world below, still He will be
manifested everywhere. People will know about Him, even in the sky."
He who mistreats the Satguru is lost in this world
and the world beyond.
Everyday he gnashes with his teeth, he emits foam
and in this way he breaks down.
Now He says that if anyone treats the Perfect Master badly, his condition
is like a dog who foams at the mouth and is not attended by anyone.
For the sake of Maya he plans everyday.
But his former wealth always goes away.
Hazur Maharaj Kirpal Singh Ji used to say, "Who knows what intention people
have when they criticize the Master?" Some criticize the Perfect Master
because they want more material wealth. But they don't realize that if they
criticize Him, the wealth that they already have will go away.
What does he gain, what does he get,
who has the pain of feeling guilty?
The habit of our mind is such that when we have made any mistake, he always
makes us aware of it. So the Guru says, "The one who feels guilty all day
long, how can he earn anything, how can he get anything?"
He who has enmity with those who have no enmity takes
the sins of the whole world on his head.
He does not get any support here and there.
Who has felt the taste of criticism as the mango?
Because the Masters are without enmity, those who become His enemies have
no happiness in this world, and when they leave this world, get no comfort
and nobody supports them. Those who feel the taste of criticism as if it
were mango juice, may feel that here, but when they leave this world they
will not find that taste.
If he deals with gold it becomes the sand.
If he comes to the refuge of the Master
he gets forgiveness for his past mistakes.
Nanak says, If he meditates on Naam day and night
by doing the Simran of Lord all the pains vanish.
Even if the critic deals in gold, it turns into sand, and he always gets
defeated. Whatever work he starts, he never succeeds in it. But if the
same critic comes back to the Master, does meditation and remains in the
refuge of the Master, Master forgives all his past sins and again puts him
on the Path.
You are Truly True and are above all.
Those who meditate on you and serve you, O True One,
their hopes are true.
Within Him is truth, their faces are bright, they speak the
truth and your true strength is within them.
Those who praise the Gurumukhs and hold the true sign
of Shabd are the devotees.
I sacrifice myself on those who serve the True One truly.
Now he comes to the Lord. He says, "Oh Lord, You are the Giver to everyone.
You are the Emperor; You are the Donor and You take care of us all. Those
who meditate on You, those who remember You, You honor them and give them
a place in Your Home." Further he says, "Those who search for God with a
true heart, God makes them realize Himself." So that is why, according to
the instructions of Guru Sahib, we should also do the meditation of Shabd
Naam, and make our lives successful.
Guru Teg Bahadur was killed, in Delhi, because at that time the Emperor
Aurangzeb thought that Guru Teg Bahadur was not the True One, but that he
himself was the True One. That is why he killed Him, to reduce the glory
and name and fame of Guru Teg Bahadur. He thought that if he killed Him,
people would forget Him and they would always remember Aurangzeb.
But that is not true; if you go to Delhi now, you can see how people
remember that great soul; how people remember Guru Teg Bahadur, and make
parshad and sing hymns in praise of God in the place where Guru Teg Bahadur
was killed. Even though they are not even sure that this is the exact place
where the Guru was killed, still people remember Him there and they sing His
glory. Whereas nobody goes to the tomb of Aurangzeb; nobody is even there
to take care of the tomb, and it is filthy with bird droppings.
Those who do the devotion of the Lord, their glory cannot be reduced
no matter what people do. Even if people take their lives, they cannot
reduce the glory of those Masters - because the Lord has honored them and
has given them that glory. It may take some time, but always, Those who
have done the meditation are glorified.
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