Page:The Sikh Religion, its gurus, sacred writings and authors Vol 1.djvu/269

Rh spiritual influence, and, when the Guru was seated, put him the questions contained in the first four verses of the following hymn. The Guru s replies follow :

What callest thou that gate at which thou sittest ? Who can see the gate within it ? Let some one come and describe to me that gate to attain which the Udasi wandereth. How shall we cross the ocean ? How shall we be dead when alive ? Sorrow is the gate, wrath the porter, hope and anxiety its folding-doors. Mammon is a moat, domestic life its water ; man abideth by taking his seat on truth. How many names hast Thou, God ! Their limit cannot be known ; there is none equal to Thee. Man ought not to call himself exalted, but dwell in his own thoughts ; what God deemeth proper, He doeth. As long as there is desire, so long is there anxiety ; how can one who feeleth it speak of the one God ? When man in the midst of desires remaineth free from desires, then, O Nanak, he meeteth the one God. In this way shall he cross the ocean, And thus be dead while alive.

On uttering this hymn the Guru was pressed to adopt the style and religion of a Jogi. The principles of the Jogis sect were explained to him. The Guru replied :

The Word is my meditation, divine instruction the music of my horn for men to hear ;

Honour is my begging-wallet, and uttering the Name my alms.

Father, Gorakh awaketh.

Gorakh is He who lifted the earth and fashioned it without delay ;