Kaljug

As many of you know, currently we are in Kaljug, which is the last of the four ages, the last of the four time periods. Before Kaljug, there were three other time periods: Satjug, Tripta, and Duapar. Out of those four, Kaljug is the most difficult because you have so many obstacles, so much Maya. There is so much corruption, so much pain, so much suffering in this world. Because of all this suffering, it makes it so difficult for us to keep our Dhyaan, our focus on doing Naam Simran, on doing Seva. There are five obstacles that we have to encounter in this life, in Kaljug: Kaam, Krodh, Lobh, Moh, Ahankaar. Their sole purpose is to stop us from getting Kamaee, stop us from getting spiritual advancement, stop us from realising God.

Dhan Dhan Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji Mahraaj explains what the meaning of life is:

bhee paraapath maanukh dhaehureeaa || gobi(n)dh milan kee eih thaeree bareeaa ||

This human body has been given to you. This is your chance to meet God.

In this world, there are good and there are bad people. The bad people are those that are full of sins, the people that fall trap to the Panj Chor (five evils). A story comes to mind that relates to this issue.

There was a thief in Punjab. He had a scheme that he would go to the richest house in his villlage, the one with the wealthiest family. He would go to this house, and he would steal from these people, to get the most money possible. One evening, he went to the house, and waited until all the lights went out, until all the members went to sleep, until it was completely dark, so he would get his chance to steal from these people. When his chance came, when it became dark enough, and all the lights had gone out, he began climbing the gate of the house. As he came to the top of the gate, he saw a guard dog from the house. The dog started barking at him immediately. He knew that if the dog kept barking at him, there was no way he would have gotten into the house. He quickly climbed back to the other side, and waited until the dog stopped barking, but the dog could still smell him, so it continued barking.

During this time, there were Singhs that had the responsibility of the Seva of going into the Keth(fields) and managing the crops for Langar(free kitchen). These Singhs went during the night, so they could do Bhagtee, so they could do Naam Simran, and they wouldn't have any distractions; nobody to bother them, no sound, everybody would be sleeping. They were doing their jobs, at the same time the robber was attempting to steal from the wealthy family. The dog kept on barking, and when it finally stopped barking, morning had come. He realised that there was no way he could fulfill his task of stealing from those people. He decided he would finally go home; he had stayed up the whole night because the dog kept barking. His eyes were red and bloodshot. He was very fatigued. He started to walk home to his Pind(village), as he would not have his opportunity. At the same time, the Gursikhs who were doing their work in the Keth(fields) were walking home, and they crossed paths. When they looked at the thief, they saw the redness in his eyes, and they were filled with joy. They were so happy. They assumed that the thief was actually doing Naam Simran throughout the night. He looked so tired, they thought that this was the only thing he could have been doing, to be coming home at this time. When the thief looked at the Gursikhs, those Gursikhs were also tired, they were also human, they also had red eyes. When that theif looked at the Gursikhs, he assumed that they had made an attempt to steal from somebody, that they had done the same deed which he was trying to do. They were also empty-handed. He thought to himself, “Look at this. These people are in Bana, they look like Gursikhs, but they're doing these things and now in front of me, they're doing Pakhand.”

Guru Sahib explains why this happened, why this person, this thief, could only think wrongly of these people.

sukheeeae ko paekhai sabh sukheeaa rogee kai bhaanai sabh rogee ||

To the happy person, everyone seems happy, everyone seems full of truth. To the sick person, the person who is filled with filth inside, who's not pure, everyone looks sick.

sa(n)th sa(n)g jaa kaa man seethal ouhu jaanai sagalee t(h)aa(n)dtee ||

One whose mind is comforted in the Society of the Saints (Sangat), believes that all are joyful.

If you look at the difference in the two situations, the thief looked at the Gursikhs, and all he could see was the wrong in them, but there was nothing; he just assumed. He could not see anything else. He could only have seen bad, because he, himself, was not pure. When the Gursikhs looked at the thief, even though he was a thief, they could only see good, they could only assume good.

Another example of this is Sikh history. When Bhai Kanaya Ji went on the battlefield, when he saw the enemies, the enemies that were trying to fight the Gursikhs, the enemies that were fighting against Guru Gobind Singh Ji, he did not see those people as being enemies. He could only see the light inside them of Waheguru. He could only see Akaal Purakh in them, he could only see purity in them. Even though we are in this world that has so much pain and so much suffering, it is very much possible for us to get true happiness, through Naam Simran, through Seva. That is how you fight the Panj Chor. You fight them with three of your own soldiers: Amrit, Simran, and Seva. Make those strong, and those will conquer the Panj Chor. You will defeat them. We are so blessed in Sangat; we listen to Kirtan, we come here and listen to Gurbani. We are in Guru Ji's Darbar.

kalajug mehi keerathan paradhhaanaa || guramukh japeeai laae dhhiaanaa ||

In this dark age of Kaljug, the Kirtan of the Lord's praises are so powerful and superior. Become a Gurmukh and chant the name of the True Guru, and focus your meditation.

We must strive in life, to act and be like those two Gursikhs, the two Gursikhs who could only see purity, and it is possible. It is not out of our reach. Those Gursikhs were human too. Their state of mind was not something impossible for us to reach. We can become like those two Gursikhs by doing Simran and Seva. We spend our whole lives, getting away from Naam Simran because it gets difficult for us. These Panj Chor keep standing on us. They won't let us get up. Defeat those Panj Chor. Do Naam Simran and make yourself strong and get up. They cannot stay on you forever. We cannot do everything ourselves. We need the Great Guru.

charan saran gur eaek paiddaa jaae chala
sath gur kott paiddaa aagae hoe laeth hai ||

If the Sikh takes one step towards the Guru, towards Akaal Purakh, the Guru will take endless steps towards you, will come running towards you with open arms.

All we have to do is open our arms and accept the same.