Purpose of Life and Attaining Vahiguroo

I am going to start a series of posts on questions and answers by Bhai Rama Singh Ji, taken from: Roop Gobind Ka Raj Khalsa Ka Sika Sohna Ka, by Bhai Rama Singh (translated by Bhai Gurmukh Singh)

"Gurmat Discussion (Some of my replies to questions asked by Gursikhs from time to time.)"

Part 1 - Purpose of life and attaining Vahiguroo.

One day Bhai Sukhdev Singh and I were discussing Gurmatt topics and he asked me,

“Bhai Sahib Ji, how can one quickly reach the spiritual stage, so that Waheguru resides in one’s mind and salvation is achieved?”

I explained, “It takes the effort of many life times to reach this stage. After taking many births there comes a time when, through the grace of Waheguru, this stage is achieved. There is a need for a lot of simran.”

Bhai Sukhdev Singh, “Bhai Sahib Ji, what should one do in this life?”

I said, “To meet Waheguru, one has to give up three things:

“Rise at Amrit vela (early in the morning) and contemplate on the praise of Waheguru.” (Jap Ji Sahib: SGGS p. 2)

“These three things one must give up are: early morning sleep; another’s wealth and another’s body (i.e. extra-marital relations).

“If one follows these principles, at tends Guru Ji regularly and does simran early in the morning, then Guru Ji helps such a person. If one is unable to get up then Guru Ji sends Shaheed Singhs to wake a Sikh up. When the Shaheed Singhs come to wake up a Sikh, from that day his mind gets totally immersed in simran. When a Gursikh reaches this stage, then Waheguru is very close to him and saves him from the three things mentioned above. These are the first three steps to reach Waheguru. The one who passes these three steps reaches the fourth. Then Waheguru Ji shows many kautaks (unusual experiences) to such an individual. In this stage the physical body remains here and the ethereal body escapes through the dasam duar (tenth gate - see Glossary) to see numerous phenomena of nature and then returns into the physical body again. When the soul returns to the body, then the chant of Waheguru starts in the body in such a way that it is difficult to stop it. If a person reaches this stage then it is important to beware of haumai (ego-centricity or arrogance).

“When I started simran, Waheguru made me experience many unusual phenomena. Many Gursikhs reach this stage, but cannot remain unaffected and humble. They tell others and the word spreads. Waheguru Ji is not happy when this happens. It takes a great deal of effort to reach this stage again.

“Indulgence in useless dramatic exhibition of magic,

(From such practices) Godly people (refrain because they) are ashamed (to compete with God).” (Bachittar Natak Patshahi 10)

If Waheguru has blessed someone then one should not tell others. The same happened with me at the beginning; I would see kautaks and tell others about them. This was a great loss to me. Then it would take me many months of simran to reach that stage again. If you tell people then you cannot make further progress.

Once Giani Amolak Singh Ji advised me, that just as someone who has wealth, will not talk about his bank balance; not even to his own family, so Naam is real wealth, the more silent you remain about it, the better. After that I did not talk to others about my spiritual experiences.