mIT` l`gY - Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle

light of his soul is brighter than the light of the moon; nay, it is even more
resplendent than the light of the sun. He is imbued with the love of God
and in him burns the undying flame of the Eternal. Everyone
acknowledges the spiritual greatness of Guru Arjan and the wise and
enlightened sing of his virtues and spiritual greatness. Men and women of
the four castes, followers of the Vedas and the Six Systems and people of
various faiths are attracted by Guru Arjan's spiritual ideals and examples
of Sikhism (gurmukh marag.)' (Vr : 24, Pr 18)
'Guru Arjan is a worthy child of his forefathers (the first four Gurus).
He sits in full spiritual glory on the sovereign seat of Guruship established
by Guru Nanak. He gives out spiritual sustenance to countless souls.
Innumerable thirsting minds of true seekers find peace and life in his holy
Word. He has compiled a treasury of divine Word the sacred humans of the
Adi Granth) and he spends his time singing these religious songs,
interpreting them and enlightening his disciples with spiritual thoughts
and experiences contained in them.' (Vr : 24, pr. 19)
'In the soul of Guru Arjan vibrates music celestial. His inner self is the
abode of perennial joy and bliss as he is deeply absorbed in the love of God.
His kingdom is the kingdom of truth. His personality emanates truth. The
emblem of his spiritual sovereignty is truth. Supreme and lasting is Guru
Arjan's reign of truth.' (Vr.24, pr .19)
'From the north and south, from the east and west, seekers of truth
flock to Guru Arjan and accept the discipleship of his faith. So wonderful is
the Sikh organization of the perfect One that there is a free kitchen giving
bodily food to all who come and there is also the more important free
kitchen distributing spiritual food to all who seek it.' (Vr.24, pr .20)
'On Guru Arjan's head rests the crown of spiritual perfection given to
him by God. He is a always absorbed in the love of the Lord and radiates
the light of the holy Word that is beyond the comprehension of the Vedas
and Semetic books. He has created a new type of devotees who live in the
world and yet are detached from it. (maya vich udas.) He has created
countless enlightened disciples (sikhs) each as great as King Janaka of
yore. The holy baptism of the Guru's feet has made them pure and great.'
(Vr.24, pr .20)
'In sorrow the Guru was never dejected, in joy he did not exult. All his
life he dwelt outside the stress and strain of passion, fear and anger. He
was free from all bondage of wealth and the world. Living in equanimity
and charity he was tender towards all who suffered. His calm and
forgiving spirit was embodiment of patience and purity.' (Vr.24, pr .21,
first 2 lines)
'Profound indeed was Guru Arjan' a martyrdom : As a fish swims into
the depth of flowing waters so Guru Arjan dived deep into the eternal
stream of the Lord's Presence. As the moth flings its body into the flame
and burns itself to be one with the flame, so Guru Arjan submitted his body
to the tortures of fire and heat to blend his soul with the undying Flame of
God. As a deer cares not for the deadly arrows of the hunter but runs
heedlessly towards the call of the drum, Guru Arjan cared not for the cruel
June 2006
hands of the murderer but
walked fearlessly to face a
martyr's death, keeping all the
time his mind absorb in music
of the divine Word. Even
under the severest tortures
and at the most tragic moment
of his end, he thought not of
anything else but the
enchanting music of the Word.
(dhid pai cit awar na jani.) As a
butterfly when trapped in the
petals of the flower dies in the
joy of its fragrance and honey,
so Guru Arjan cared not for
any bodily tortures but kept
his mind unsullied in the
fragrance of the Lord's love.
Even at his last moment he
forgot not the great mission of
his Lord and his one longing
was to hold aloft in the face of
all stormy trials, the torch of
Truth given to him by the
Masters. Like the papiha bird
(Brain-fever bird) thirsting
only for a drop of rain and no
other water, Guru Arjan
abandoned all worldly
opportunities offered to him
and desired but an abiding
repose in the love and will of
God. So deeply was he
absorbed in the undisturbed
and unbroken vision of the
Lord (sahaj samadhi) that his
enlightened and elevated
spirit conquered all sorrow
and pain and his soul rested
peacefully in the eternal
embrace of God's love. I am a
sacrifice unto Guru Arjan, the
Perfect One.' (Vt : 24, 23).
contd....
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