Chapters 21 and 22: The End

This brings us to the end of the chapter summaries of Bhai Sewa Singh Ji Tarmala’s book, Forgetting the Way of Love, Pantha Prem Na Janiye.  

These last two chapters are largely summaries of the rest of the book, reviewing again the key concepts that the subtle and physical bodies are two different things that are connected by our breath. Our subtle body has non-physical senses and vision that it uses. The physical body is simply a clothing for the mind in this lifetime. The mind travels from lifetime to lifetime, and got this lifetime as a human life. This is the only form that it can merge into God. Even Angels want this life! It is very special that we were born as humans. We only have so many breaths and kaal will tighten the net (jaal) so that we use these up and waste them away. When the time is up, the Jum beat us and bring us back to account for our breaths, which have been recorded by Chitrgupt throughout our lives. Bhai Sahib Ji very powerfully points out that a dying person begs for more breath, but it cannot be bought by any wealth or worldly means possible. We must protect our breaths, and protect our mind in this lifetime. (In the below translation head beaten refers to how the Jum take us if we haven't followed Hukam). 

Reflections:

I saw something recently that said, “successful habits of billionaires”. I didn't find this to be a very useful topic- show me the habits of the spiritually wealthy and then you will have something meaningful. The spiritually wealthy are those who have Naam. These habits are the ones described in Gurbani, in fact, to wake up early at Amritvela and contemplate God’s name. This is written into Japji Sahib Pauri 4, where the question is raised- the Provider provides all, so what can we place in front of You that we might see You sitting in Your court and what words should we speak that would give us this love? The answer is given that at Amrit vela, we must contemplate the Greatness of Waheguru. Guru Ji tells us that our physical wealth will not go with us and it never belonged to us. What use is there in having pride over it? We should be able to look back at our day and think, if this had been my last day to live did I spend it fruitfully, did I invest my breaths wisely knowing that this would determine if I returned to this cycle of reincarnation and suffering in maya if I didn’t. Did I do my best? I remember one of my dad’s friends used to say “you’re using up my oxygen” when someone was wasting his time. This is such a clever way of understanding that we only have so many breaths in this life, Kaal does loot us and we get caught up in either thoughts or meaningless conversation with others. We should be guided and inspired by those around us to make our time in this world meaningful according to Gurbani and achieve the path that is universal for all of humanity. 

In a Nanak Naam Katha, Bhai Satpal Singh mentions this line from Ang 404: “Who has seized and conquered the five warriors? Is there anyone strong enough?” This refers to the 5 dhoots, kaam, krodh, lob, moh and hankar. They are a powerful five. Hopefully now that we understand they are looting us of our Amrit ras that is our natural mind’s food, we can fight using the Gurmantar (Waheguru Jap). Guru Ji tells us "their army is might and unyielding." Who can be called a warrior? The one who conquers these, and breaks the wall of illusion/doubt (param da parhda). That is a true warrior according to Guru Ji. 

I got a lot more out of re-reading this book now that I already had some practical experience and knowledge of the terminology from prior. I got the Ida, Pingla and Sukhmana clarified by Bibi Sukhwinder Kaur Ji, she told us that they do correspond to the words Ganga, Jamuna and Sarsa that appear in the book and this deeper practical knowledge is also contained in Gurbani. I think this was delved into further in one (or multiple) of the other books but I can’t remember which one. It is with much passion and enthusiasm that many Gurmukhs do kathas and share this knowledge worldwide about how we merge back into Waheguru, using the knowledge imparted from Guru Ji. I am much appreciative of their efforts, as I know there are the rare few who actually listen wholeheartedly. I know that too is written as part of the game.