Mere Man Pardesi Ve, Pyare, Ao Ghare

Last night I was thinking about all the things that help our mind in it's journey to meet God. I decided to make a picture to put up in my room to remind myself of all these aspects of our journey. When we are struggling, it is easy to forget all the tools we are given. 

I have been reading the book Alap Ahar Sulap Si Nindra (in Punjabi) by Bhai Sewa Singh Ji Tarmala. In it he writes that even though we have eyes, we are blind to God; and having ears, we are deaf to God's voice. It is Kaal (the governor of Maya) that loots of of God's gifts. God speaks to us through Anhad Bani, but we don't hear it. We don't see God in this creation or within ourselves. We don't taste the Amrit Ras that God sends us as food for our mind. Instead, our mind becomes friends with it's thoughts, constantly lost in anxieties, worries, anger, lust, greed, pride, and attachment. He writes about how God tells us to come home (to the home of the mind, Nij Mahal, Thir Ghar, Sunn, etc.), but we forgot where the doors are (the Dasam Dwaar or 10th Gate of the mind). On Ang 70 of the Guru Granth Sahib Ji, it says, "Mere Man Pardesi Ve, Pyare, Ao Ghare, O my dear beloved stranger mind, please come home!" 

We need to employ everything that God has given us in order to overcome the challenges of living in the rules of this game. His book even explained that there is a reason for Dhadi Vaaran, kirtan, etc. all having their own roles. He writes that when we go from our houses to sit in the presence of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, there are many thoughts that block our path. In order to stop those thoughts, the Dhadhi Jatha sings loudly, just like when we start to do simran we do it in what is called "Bakhri Bani"- meaning out loud, so that the thoughts can stop and we can focus. The idea is that by hearing the praises of God in loud voices, we will stop our thoughts. At this point our mind becomes in "Beear Ras." Then we listen to the singing of kirtan in order to bring our minds to another level of peace, "Shant Ras." When our minds come to peace, finally, we can sit and listen to katha. We hear about how to play this game of life and we get inspired to do it. 

We are blessed with many gifts, may we now make an effort to get to the home of our minds. It makes a huge difference just to make small changes in our lives. About a year ago, I changed my alarm on my iphone to Waheguru simran by Bhai Niranjan Singh Ji. Before this, the sound of my alarm clock would make have this awful reaction of dread and anxiety in the morning. When I wake up now, my first thought is now Waheguru; it is my reminder for my gift of life and breath for the day. What change will you make today?