By: Pritpal Singh Bindra, Canada A person with a tender heart is endowed with cool composure, sincerity, and compassion for others’ afflictions the eternal self-control bestows him with tolerance and strength to encounter any unethical mental or physical persecution. And, neither, he commands the ill will of his adversary. He becomes the epitome of ‘all, [have made my companions, (and) to all, I am sweetheart’ and his ideal becomes.
“He who effaces malice from his heart, beholds the whole world as his friend.” (G.GS. p.266)
‘No one now is my enemy noising one a stranger to me and am the friend of all.” (G.G.S. p.1299).
Guru Arjan Dey, the Fifth Supreme Master of the Sikhism was the embodiment of such attributes which represented the practical aspects of his life. The messengers brought the news of the intended invasion of Amritsar by Mughal Official, Sulahi Khan. Guru Arjan was urged to send emissary to find out the cause of the invasion, and, also, to take necessary steps in defense. But guru Arjan’ ever prevalent patience was not shaken and to dispel the apprehension he pronounced. “At first, I was counseled to send a letter, Secondly, I was advised to send two men to meditate.
The Third suggestion was that some efforts should be made. Forsaking one and all, I have meditated on Thee, O Lord.
Naturally I am, now, exceedingly happy and carefree,’ (G.G.S. p.371) “The Lord’s attendant knows no design, politics and cleverness, Whosesoever an occasion arises, there he meditates on God.
The innate nature of the Lord is to love His devotees.” (G.G.S. p.498).
The forces of adversary were conspiring to poison Guru Arjan Dev’s son, (Guru) Har Gobind, The miscreants were exposed but Guru Arjan Dev did not get into rage and pardoned the guilty.
The apostle of patience was seated on a hot iron plate and the hot sand was poured on his head. A prominent saint of Lahore, Sain Mia Mir, was flabbergasted to observe the torture. He offered the Guru that he would annihilate the city of Lahore with his occult power to avenge the immoral deeds of the Lahore Administration. But, every serene, Guru forbade him not to conduct any such operation and accept the will of the God. “He, who in his heart loves Lord’s ordinance, is said to be the man having salvation while alive as is joy, so is sorrow for him.
In that state, there is everlasting happiness and no separation from God.’ (G.GS. p.275).
He taught the world the practical way of living in composure by remaining in the Will of God. He showed the people the way of emancipation from corporeal existence. He suffused the same spirit through to his Grandson, (Ninth Guru) Tegh Bahadur who enunciated.
“The man, who in pain, feels that pain, who is affected not by pleasure, love and fear, and deems gold as dust.
He, O Nanak, blends with the World Lord, as water mingles with water.” (G.G.S. 7.633) It is obvious from the following Shabd that Guru Arjan had envisaged what ‘was coming. In spite of his own prediction he remained faithful to accept the Will of God and went forward to seek the martyrdom to protect the principals he believed in: “The love of the Lord’s slave has endured to the end.
In my lifetime I have served my Lord and now while departing, I have ‘enshrined Him in my mind. As is the command issued by my Master; from that I have turned not my face away. If He keeps me in home, I deem it peace and pleasure, and if He asks me to quit then therefrom I run to vacate it. Privation in the Lord’s will, that I accept as bliss and weal and woe I know not. ‘Whatever is the command of my Lord; that accept cheerfully on my forehead. The Lord has become merciful unto His serf, and his this world and the yonder ‘one are embellished. Blessed is the slave and fruitful is his advent, who O Nanak, realizes his Lord (G.G.S. p.1000).
(Guru Granth Sahib, which contained the above Bani, and the prophecy of Guru Arjan, was completed in August, 1604 whereas his torture and martyrdom took place two years later, on May 30, 1606).
In the face of atrocities, rather than to exhibit reluctance, Guru Arjan showed the way to bear the forces of subversion in fighting for the just cause: “Whatever the Lord docs that I deem as good. (G.G.S. p.782) ‘Whatever has happened, all that has come from Thee? Thou hast friendship with all. (G.G.S. p.795) For Guru Arjan to keep faith on the Creator was Supreme. To hesitate complain and doubt His accomplishments were the acts unbefitting of the human beings.
Whatsoever the Creator does, that alone is the good thing.” (G.G.S. p.964) Whatever befalls, man should accept with gratification, reflecting upon it as the Creator’s benevolence; it is the way He wills, and is being carried out in a just system. Along with the belief in the conduct of the Almighty, “Whatever is His Will, that comes to pass,” the spirit of Raza, the Will of God, was assigned, as well, by Guru Nanak, to Guru Arjan: ‘Whatsoever happens, is all according to Thy Will.’ (G.G.S. p.151) “He does that, whatever is His Will.’ (G.G.S. p.475) The same spirit prevailed in Guru Arjan: “T have seen one miracle of God, O my beloved. Whatever He does that is righteous and just.’ (G.G.S. p.541) And thus Guru Arjan believed that man does not have to falter to accept the Will of God, and none other than that: “Then alone should we grieve, if the Lord were to tyrannize over us. Then alone should we sorrow, if the Lord pains through mistake. The Guru says, whatever comes, all that comes from the Lord.”
Article extracted from this publication >> June 2, 1995