Guru Tegh Bahadur
The ninth Sikh guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur, whose teachings are included in the Adi Granth, composed 116 shabads and 15 ragas. Here are some of the quotes from his teachings:
One who grieves not in misery and delights not in pleasure, who is free from fear and attachment, and for whom gold and dust are the same and who has renounced both praising and blaming (flattery and slander) and is immune to greed, worldly attachments and pride….when the all Merciful Guru blesses a disciple with His Grace, only then does the disciple attain this blessed spiritual state and blends (merges) with the Lord as water with water.
O saints, renounce the Ego, and always flee from lust, wrath and evil company. One should consider pain and pleasure, honor and dishonor the same. One should renounce both praise and blame and even the search for salvation. This is a very difficult path and rare is a (Gurmukh) pious person who knows how to tread it.
One who vanquishes his ego and beholds the Lord as the Sole Doer of all things, that person has attained ‘Jiwan Mukti’ (is liberated while living), know this as the real truth, says Nanak.
True Realization of the actual nature of this material world, its perishable, transitory and illusory aspects best dawns on a person in suffering.
Give up your head, but forsake not those whom you have undertaken to protect. Sacrifice your life, but relinquish not your faith
Why go to search forests (to find Him). He who dwells in all hearts but remains ever pure, pervades thy heart also. Just as fragrance fills the rose and reflection the mirror, the Lord pervades all without a break; search Him inside thee. The Guru hath revealed this knowledge that the Aum pervades inside and outside. Saith Nanak, without knowing thyself the scum of doubt will not be removed.
O Man, hold firmly to this truth in thy mind; The whole world is like a dream and like a dream will soon be no more. A man may elaborately build a wall of sand, but it will not last even for a short while. Similarly transient are pleasures of Maya (mammon) why art thou entangled in them, O ignorant man.
Mother, I have obtained the wealth of the God’s Name. My mind is rid of running hither and thither – It has found its rest. Illusion and desire of possession have departed from my body – the pure knowledge of God has dawned. Greed and delusion do not touch me now. I have grasped firmly devotion to God. The doubt about birth and death is no more. Now that I have obtained the jewel of the Name, All desire has been removed from my mind: It is now absorbed in bliss. He alone sings the praises of Hari, on whom the ocean of Grace showers His compassion. Saith Nanak, such wealth is found rarely by some through the Guru’s Word.
Good men: discard pride of mind. Flee day and night lust, wrath and the company of evil men. He who regards pleasure and pain, honor and dishonor as alike. And rises above joy and sorrow – Such a one knows the Truth. He renounces praise and obloquy and seeks to achieve the state that is inexpressible. Nanak, this way is hard – Only the rare God-oriented man knows it.
The 343rd death anniversary of Guru Teg Bahadur is being observed on November 24. He was beheaded on this day in Chandni Chowk, Delhi for refusing to convert to Islam.
