People feel this way due to doubts, and these doubts have increased from having so many life times in which we have sinned. By sinning a real filth, not an abstract filth but real, clouds the mind with such thickness that the person cannot feel or hear the soul but only the mind. People have both good and bad thoughts, the good thoughts which lead us closer to God come from the soul whereas the bad from the mind. In Gurbani it says that people only began to doubt and to think of God to be faraway in Dvapar Yug, the yug before this one, Kaliyug (dark age). So, imagine what people would be like now in this age - they won't believe God exists at all.
Why would God show that he exists so easily to one who doubts or who has ego, if he did that, than everyone in this world would believe in God, worship him and would not SIN. He saves his existence for his SAINTS; this is the glory of the saints. God teaches, guides and inspires his devotee, perfecting him/her, turning them into a SAINT in order to grant their GIFT, God's Darshan. This is the love they have for God and the love God shows back to them, enabling them to merge with him and return to their true home.
What separates us from him is our own EGO. In this EGO we say I did this, I bought this, but in reality God does everything. In fact, everything you have in your life has been given to you by GOD; in gurbani God is called the GREAT GIVER. To counter this EGO we put FAITH in between this EGO and God. Now, faith is everlasting, nothing like belief as belief can be shattered easily. By putting faith in Guru Ji and God, we have put a thorn in our EGO, because we will now look beyond the blindness of the ego into the unseen. The soul already knows God exists it is our mind that does not. With this Faith we become humble living, not in our own will (ego), but God’s will doing what he tells us not what our mind tells us, ie giving our head to Guru Ji by taking amrit and JAPING NAAM. This is the beginning stage of perfection - NAAM CONVERTS THE FAITH INTO A REALITY. There is no difference between God’s name and God himself; the naam acts like a mediator, we have to remember this. It erases countless sins and filth of the mind so much that we will begin to hear and feel our soul’s needs, which is to unite with GOD. This state is called Bairaag, it has been reached by many Gursikhs in the past. Notable ones to mention are Bhai Sahib Randhir Singh Ji and Baba Harnaam Singh Ji. Below are their pictures and short stories of major turnings in their life before they both had the vision of God. Enjoy.
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Bhai Sahib Randhir Singh:
Bhai Sahib Ji’s father always told him that prayer to God does not cure physical illnesses but only mental illnesses, and that he should take a medicine to cure the physical ones. Bhai Sahib disliked medicines as he never accepted or put faith in them, but only in God. Soon his father became ill of Malaria, and if not cured by medicine, he would have died. Bhai Sahib Ji served him at the hospital himself accompanying him. After a week the treatment had no effect on him; there was not the slightest change in his condition and his fever proceeded to worsen. More servants were sent to help bhai sahibs father but whoever did suffered a severe attack of malaria and had to leave the place. Even a relative of Bhai Sahibs could not help from also becoming ill from being near Bhai Sahib’s father. His father’s condition was taking a serious turn now. Bhai Sahib himself eventually caught the fever too, he was fine at first but then he started to shiver and his body’s temperature rose every high, so he had to confine himself to a bed. His father was dying now, and it was unlikely for him to survive in the next 24hrs.
Now, bhai sahib was told to take medicine by a doctor, otherwise he won’t be able to serve his father in his last moments. Bhai sahib replied: “your medicine had not been able to cure my father after a treatment of many weeks. Your medicine had not cured anyone of those servants and relatives who became a victim of the fever and had to go home. How could this medicine cure me? Don’t worry about me I have my own medicine. Do not annoy me anymore as I am not going to take any of your medicines anymore”. The doctor became very angry on hearing this and put two medicines on a table beside his bed, ordering him to take it or if he does not after an hour when he comes back he and his dying father will be thrown out of hospital. Bhai sahib who was unaffected by the threat gathered strength and went to his father. His father looked completely dead; he was lying unconscious, his pulse was very slow and about to fail, his hands and feet were very cold, a rattling sound could be heard in his throat and he could neither hear nor see for the last two days. For three days he was unable to pass urine, although his catheter was passed and some injections were given. His urine had poisoned and infected his whole body. There was no hope of his survival. Giving up, Bhai sahib ji then heard a voice inside of him that the divine name is the panacea of all illnesses. This gave him hope and his faith was awakened, but only because he already served Guru Ji and believed this in his heart.
Being disappointed from every side, he concentrated on the inner voice which was his only hope. He wrapped himself in a blanket and in a state of mental concentration did ardaas and then recited Japji (to him this was the only name he knew as he had not taken amrit at the time). The spiritual mystery of the name had not been revealed to him. He recited Japji five times and sixth time his mind was concentrated on the verses of spiritual communion manai (verse no. 12 to 15). He continued to repeat these verses and could not go beyond it. His body then began to sweat and his fever had come down to normal and he was feeling light and healthy. He went to see his father, thinking that he might be dead. When he was near him he was surprised and at the same time delighted to see that his father was now passing urine and his pulse was better. He was also breathing clearly. His body was also sweating, even though he did not have the cotton sheet over his body. Happy seeing him recovering he called his father, who opened his eyes and spoke as if coming out of Samadhi. He said “Son somebody is reciting the communion verses manai ki pauri of Japji. I feel deeply elevated in spiritual bliss”. Bhai Sahib was astonished to hear him say that and thanked God for saving his father.
As he was sitting near his father, the doctor came back finding Bhai Sahib in normal condition. The doctor thought he had taken the medicine but Bhai Sahib told him that he hadn’t and left them where they were, the doctor felt his pulse and was astonished. Bhai Sahib then asked him to see his father’s condition. When he looked at his father and found him quite well, he was dumbfounded. He stood there like a statue and asked his father: “what is the miracle that has suddenly cured you”. The father said “It is the miracle of the communion verses of Japji” and then closed his eyes and remained silent. The doctor again questioned his father who said back “Do not disturb my mind which is deeply absorbed in the music of the communion verses. The music of the communion verses manai ki pauri is still ringing in my ear”. Bhai Sahib ji told the doctor that it was the miracle of the divine name which is the panacea of all illnesses. Within another two or three day Bhai Sahib’s father was brought home. Bhai Sahib’s faith in the high principle of Sikhi became deeper and more sublime. No one thereof prevented him from taking religious life seriously.
Baba Harnam Singh Ji:
Taking Guru Granth Sahib Ji's Shelter
All directions were totally fruitless which led to a feeling of despondency. Two or three days passed in this way. Finally he decided to go to the village Gurdwara. In great sorrow and anguish he did an Ardaas (supplication).
As our fourth Guru, Guru Ram Dass Ji says :
ਅਬ ਹਮ ਚਲੀ ਠਾਕੁਰ ਪਹਿ ਹਾਰਿ ॥
Now, I have come, exhausted, to my Lord and Master.
ਜਬ ਹਮ ਸਰਣਿ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਕੀ ਆਈ ਰਾਖੁ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਭਾਵੈ ਮਾਰਿ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
Now that I have come seeking Your Sanctuary, God, please, either save me, or kill me. ||1||Pause||
ਲੋਕਨ ਕੀ ਚਤੁਰਾਈ ਉਪਮਾ ਤੇ ਬੈਸੰਤਰਿ ਜਾਰਿ ॥
I have burnt in the fire the clever devices and praises of the world.
ਕੋਈ ਭਲਾ ਕਹਉ ਭਾਵੈ ਬੁਰਾ ਕਹਉ ਹਮ ਤਨੁ ਦੀਓ ਹੈ ਢਾਰਿ ॥੧॥
Some speak good of me, and some speak ill of me, but I have surrendered my body to You. ||1||
ਜੋ ਆਵਤ ਸਰਣਿ ਠਾਕੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਤੁਮਰੀ ਤਿਸੁ ਰਾਖਹੁ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਧਾਰਿ ॥
Whoever comes to Your Sanctuary, O God, Lord and Master, You save by Your Merciful Grace.
ਜਨ ਨਾਨਕ ਸਰਣਿ ਤੁਮਾਰੀ ਹਰਿ ਜੀਉ ਰਾਖਹੁ ਲਾਜ ਮੁਰਾਰਿ ॥੨॥੪॥
Servant Nanak has entered Your Sanctuary, Dear Lord; O Lord, please, protect his honor! ||2||4||
Satguru Ji! I have given up faith in all other things and I have come to your shelter. Please bless me and assist me, I will never leave your Door for any other. Baba Ji said that he didn't know how long he stood there with love and affection doing his Ardaas. Suddenly he heard a voice: "Harnam Singh! Take the Guru's Amrit and become one of the Guru's followers, only then will you attain this spiritual state. Don't get upset."
The yearning to meet the Guru was now fulfilled. A few days later, he took Khandey Dhaa Amrit at Kesgarh Sahib (Anandpur Sahib) and set foot on Guru Ji's path. Now the desire to meet God remained firm in his mind. He arose early (at Amrit Velaa) took a bath and did his Nitnem and then he would do his worldly duties. Although he was only around 10 years old, this was necessary because his father had passed away. Through work he would repeat Mool Mantar. When he lost concentration he would repeat the Gur Mantar. He would try to use every breath to remember God. Every moment was a desire to meet God.
As Gurbani says:
ਹਰਿ ਜੀਉ ਤੁਧੁ ਨੋ ਸਦਾ ਸਾਲਾਹੀ ਪਿਆਰੇ ਜਿਚਰੁ ਘਟ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਹੈ ਸਾਸਾ ॥
Dear Beloved Lord, I praise You continually, as long as there is the breath within my body.
ਇਕੁ ਪਲੁ ਖਿਨੁ ਵਿਸਰਹਿ ਤੂ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਜਾਣਉ ਬਰਸ ਪਚਾਸਾ ॥
If I were to forget You, for a moment, even for an instant, O Lord Master, it would be like fifty years for me.
The pain of being separated was becoming unbearable. Oh Great One! If I could meet you, then all these pains would disappear immediately and be replaced with pleasures. Bless me. He kept all hope in meeting God.
