Old Story
I had a very interesting day today. One my way to University I was stopped by two men which looked from the ‘Hare Krishna’ tribe as they were bold heads and were dressed in orange. [The ‘Hare Krishna’ is a sect of Hindu men & women who follow a Gaudiya Vaishnava religious organisation].
I saw this as a perfect opportunity to teach someone about Sikhi, & learn something about another religion. They knew I was a Sikh, as I was in Full Khalsa Attire.
Suddenly, they came up to me and asked if I was happy which I replied, ‘I am very happy’. They then asked me why I was happy, and I said ‘because Vaheguru is keeping me breathing and has given me another day to live’. They looked shocked by my answer and asked who Vahegurooo was. I told them that in Sikhi we believe in One God, Hindu’s say Raam, and Muslims Say Allah Etc... But as Sikhs we call God, Vaheguru. They then asked me the basic tenants of Sikhi which I told them about the 4 Cardinal Sins which to my surprise they to also believed 3 out of 4, as they believe the hair is impure hence they shave their heads.
After sharing basic knowledge about our religions’ they said that ‘you are wasting your life by not repeating the ‘Maha Mantra’ & by not fasting’. I was very puzzled to what the ‘Maha Mantra’, so I asked them.
The Maha Mantra:
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare
They said that if you don’t chant this mantra I shall not live a happy life. I then explained to them that I am living a happy life, and that my head was sold in the house of Guru Nanak and I had been given a Supreme Mantra Of All [Gurmantar]. They then said that this will not lead you to open the tenth gate. – I then laughed! I didn’t want to carry on with this debate as I knew there was no point. Satguru Ji through Gurbani gives us many examples where if you know one is not willing to listen and believe what you are saying, you are wasting your time.
ਵਿਣੁਗਾਹਕਗੁਣੁਵੇਚੀਐਤਉਗੁਣੁਸਹਘੋਜਾਇ ||
"If virtue is sold when there is no buyer, then it is sold very cheap."
(Ang 1086)They then asked me if I Fast. [Fasting is also known as not eating for x amount of hours, days etc... in meditation of the Divine]. My answer was simply No. They then said that, I had no love for God as I didn’t Fast. I then explained that love is not shown by not eating food but is shown by the virtues you have!
‘By not eating for x amount of hours is just following hypocrisy, as you are rejecting what the Lord has given to you, to sustain you’. Just as I said this following Gurbani Pangati came to me:
ਅੰਨੈਬਾਹਰਿਜੋਨਰਹੋਵਹਿ ॥ ਤੀਨਿਭਵਨਮਹਿਅਪਨੀਖੋਵਹਿ ॥੨॥ ~ ਅੰਗ ੮੭੩
One who abstains from this grain, Loses his honor in the three worlds.According to Gurmat, one who Fasts is practicing total insincerity –
Bhagat Kabir Ji Says:
ਛੋਡਹਿਅੰਨੁਕਰਹਿਪਾਖੰਡ ॥ ਨਾਸੋਹਾਗਨਿਨਾਓਹਿਰੰਡ ॥ ~ ਅੰਗ ੮੭੩
One who discards this grain, is practicing hypocrisy. She is neither a happy soul-bride, nor a widow.They where amazed by these lines from Gurbani and we ended our conversation with agreeing that fasting is pointless as is don’t not aid one in getting Darshan of the Divine any quicker.
Dhun Guru , Dhun Sikhi!
This was a funny little story on my way to university..
Please share your experiences with the public so we can be inspired by each other and share Gurmat Knowledge.Amanjot Singh
ਸਤਿਗੁਰਬਚਨਕਮਾਵਣੇਸਚਾਏਹੁਵੀਚਾਰੁ॥