Attaining Brahmgyaan helping a fugitive

Background

A Sikh by the name of Gujjar used to work as a Blacksmith (Lohaar). One day he came to the Darbar of Siri Guru Angad Dev jee and pleaded with Siri Guru jee, “O Satguru jee, I remain occupied with work all day long. In the evening, I do householder’s tasks and give time to my family. Basically, I can’t find any time for sewa. I wish to renounce everything and do sewa at your Darbar on fulltime basis but I don’t know if this is the right thing to do. I am extremely worried about my spiritual life. How will I attain salvation, given my circumstances?”


Siri Guru jee's nectar-like Amrit-Updesh (Teaching)

Siri Guru jee opened his mouth and the sweeter-than-honey words came out. The atmosphere turned as flowers blossom in spring:

1) With one mindedness (full concentration) always to paath of Siri Jap jee Sahib. Do paath of Siri Jap jee Sahib as many times as you can do, all day long. You will reap great rewards for this.

2) Meditate on the meanings of Siri Jap jee Sahib and while meditating the meanings, reside the Naam inside you with every breath (Saas Saas).

3) If a poor person comes to you for help, do his work as Sewa without charging him anything.

4) Help out poor people everyday and help them out of your love for your Guru. This way, you will not get egoistic.

5) Give out Daswandh to Gurughar from your honest earnings.

6) When Sikh Bhagats come to your house, serve them humbly and earnestly.

Bhai Gujjar heard Siri Guru jee’s lesson very carefully and carved it on his heart as strongly as something is written in stone. He followed Siri Guru jee’s instructions word by word. He started doing many paaths of Siri Jap jee Sahib and as he did paath with concentration, he also kept his mind and concentration in the meanings. He did swaas swaas Simran of Naam. He helped out the poor and served Sikhs as if he was serving Guru Sahib. His heart blossomed as the Lotus flower blossoms with sunrise.


A Bhagat gets falsely implicated and Bhai Gujjar helps him

In the town Bhai Gujjar resided, there lived a Gursikh Bhagat of who was very Chardi Kala. It so happened that he was implicated in a false case and imprisoned for a crime he did not commit. He was sentenced to imprisonment for life. Gurmukh Bhagat jee stayed in Chardi Kala. Somehow he was able to escape from the prison. He was still handcuffed and had heavy iron fetters or shackles tied to his feet.

Shackled with iron chains he arrived at the Dera (house) of Bhai Gujjar jee. He knew that Bhai Gujjar’s occupation involved dealing with iron. Bhai Gujjar jee knew about this Gurmukh Bhagat and as such served him very humbly. The Gurmukh Bhagat requested Bhai Gujjar jee to free him from the iron shackles.

Bhai Gujjar jee was faced with a dilemma. On one hand he had Siri Guru jee’s clear instructions to serve Gursikhs who come to his home and on the second hand there was a fear of helping a convicted criminal and this way earning the wrath of the king. After thinking for a few moments, he made up his mind to obey the Hukam of Guru Sahib and help out a Gurmukh in distress. He cut the iron shackles of the Gurmukh. The Gurmukh was extremely pleased and uttered many blessings (Asees) for Bhai Gujjar jee. As soon as he got Asees from this Chardi Kala Gurmukh Pyare, divine spiritual Gyaan (knowledge) appeared in the heart of Bhai Gujjar. The gupt (secret) doors of divine knowledge opened up. He became an accomplished Gursikh owning many spiritual assets. His Rom Rom (every cell) was filled with gratitude for Guru Sahib and the Gurmukh Pyare he had served. He went to the Darbar of Guru Sahib to express his deep gratitude. Siri Guru jee received him with love and affection. Bhai Gujjar jee was Nihaal Nihaal Nihaal (full of divine Bliss).


Guru Sahib's Updesh in Beautiful Poetic Language of Mahakavi jee

Presented below is the Updesh that Siri Guru Angad Dev jee gave to Bhai Gujjar jee, in the sweet, beautiful, and poetic language of Sirimaan Mahakavi Bhai Sahib Santokh Singh jee Chooramani. It is still relevant today and we all can make use of it to please Siri Guru jee:

ਸੁਨਿ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਕੀਨਸਿ ਉਪਦੇਸ਼।
ਇਕ ਚਿਤ ਜਪੁਜੀ ਪਠਹੁ ਹਮੇਸ਼।
ਜੇਤਿਕ ਵਾਰ ਪਠਯੋ ਨਿਤ ਜਾਇ।
ਪਠਤਿ ਰਹਹੁ ਦੀਰਘ ਫਲ ਪਾਇ।23।
(After listening to the request of Bhai Gujjar, Siri Guru jee said, "do paaths of Siri Jap jee Sahib all the time, with one mindedness. Read as many times as you can read everyday, you will receive great reward.)

ਪਿਖਹੁ ਗਰੀਬ ਕਾਰ ਕਰਿ ਦੀਜੈ।
ਨਹਿ ਤਿਸ ਨਿਕਟਿ ਮਜ਼ੂਰੀ ਲੀਜੈ।
ਜਪੁਜੀ ਅਰਥ ਬਿਚਾਰਨ ਕਰੋ।
ਸੁਆਸ ਸੁਆਸ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਨਿਤ ਧਰੋ।24।
(If you see a poor person, help him out without charging him anything. Meditate on the meanings of Siri Jap jee Sahib and along with that recite Naam with every breath.)

ਗੁਰੂ ਨਮਿਤ ਕਰਹੁ ਜੁਤਿ ਪ੍ਰੀਤਿ।
ਦਯਾ ਕਰਹੁ ਦੀਨਨਿ ਪਰ ਨੀਤਿ।
ਜੋ ਅਪੁਨੀ ਕਛ ਕਰਹੁ ਕਮਾਈ।
ਗੁਰ ਹਿਤ ਦੇਹੁ ਦਸਵੰਧ ਬਨਾਈ।25।
(As part of your love for your Guru, help out the needy everyday. Give out 1/10th of your earnings as Daswandh, in the name of Guru.)

ਸਾਧਿਕ ਸਿਖ ਆਇ ਜੋ ਡੇਰੇ।
ਕਰਹੁ ਸੇਵ ਧਰਿ ਪ੍ਰੇਮ ਘਨੇਰੇ।
ਸੁਨਿ ਉਪਦੇਸ਼ ਰਿਦੈ ਤਿਨ ਧਾਰਾ।
ਜਿਮ ਗੁਰੁ ਕਹਯੋ ਕਰਹਿ ਤਿਮ ਕਾਰਾ।26।
(Bhagat Sikhs who come to your home, serve them with great love. Bhai Gujjar listened to Guru Sahib's teachings and started living his life as per the teachings.)

Daas,
Kulbir Singh