Step up and take the path of right intent
The other day, we had an elderly visitor. He was attired in a white kurtapyjama with a cream-coloured turban and a neon pink fitness band that seemed out of place. I served him water and asked whether he’d like tea or coffee. He politely declined. During the conversation that followed, I realised that the gentleman, who looked so ordinary, was spiritually sound and quoted from Sri Guru Granth Sahib while explaining the true meaning of Sikhism as the way of life.
I was fascinated. We download apps and read books to gain insight into the true meaning of life and here was one person who said he had deliberately taken up the most servile job of cleaning up the cowsheds at a nearby dera or sect. In fact, the then head of Harkowal Sahib told him that he should do some other work but he said this was the best sewa (service). This was the only way he could kill his ego.
The elderly gentleman belonged to the Jat community and deliberately took this chore to kill his hauma (ego), as this was reserved for the lower caste or for migrant labourers. Yes, this division still exists in Punjab.
Last week, I had the fortune of meeting Babaji Iqbal Singh of the Kalgidhar Trust and he, as he has repeatedly said, earned the bachan of his Guru. He just followed and obeyed the path laid out without question. Some things are best not questioned as the answers are revealed at the right time. Wouldn’t life be simpler if we just followed what was written in the scriptures?
About a week ago, life was disrupted over a caste controversy. We had a curfew-like situation, no internet and no one in the village had a clue. Everyone had a different reason. Children, youngsters, old women sitting on crossroads fighting for a cause about which they had no idea but suddenly it had become a war between them and us. Why is it so easy to inflame passions on the basis of caste or religion? How come we suddenly start baying for each other’s blood? The same people would gladly partake of prasad from the granthi in the gurdwara and the prasad from the temple. Overnight, lines get drawn and we start hating each other.
Baldev Singh, in his simple clothes, high intellect and true path, showed me the way. The right way is the intent one should have. When intent is there, we can do anything. It is listening to one’s heart when one quiets oneself. This is when one starts to look within. In fact, what we need the most in this country more than the paid news, more than the fake news and the rabble-rousing, is when we can forgive each other and embrace each other as human beings rather than dividing each other on the basis of gender, caste, religion, and have and have-nots.
Isn’t it time, we the Gen Next stepped up and took charge rather than scrolling down a social media feed, along with posting on a wall that is so far removed and wasting life in drawing room conversations?
SOME THINGS ARE BEST NOT QUESTIONED. THE ANSWERS ARE REVEALED AT THE RIGHT TIME.