Page:The Sikh Religion, its gurus, sacred writings and authors Vol 2.djvu/95

Rh The Guru continued: ‘Repeat the one God's name, be humble, abandon pride, and self-conceit. As fire burneth a dry crop, so do pride and self-conceit destroy the effect of alms and religious exercises.

His Sikhs once asked the Guru, ‘If, as the saints say, the world is like a dream, then how do their bodies perform their functions?’ The Guru replied, ‘Their bodies perform all their functions, but their minds are not affected by the world. The saints abide in the form of ordinary mortals, as the sword touched by the philosopher's stone retaineth its shape, but is at the same time changed into gold. By humility and contempt of the world the saints obtain deliverance at their death.’ The Guru then related the following parable: ‘Some one told a saint that his only son had been slain. The saint on hearing the news remained unmoved. On this people began to admire his fortitude, and say, “Thy son was a fine, obedient young man. Thou art to be congratulated that thou canst endure his death without a murmur.” The saint replied, “The world is like a dream or a shadow; sons, wives, and wealth are all perishable. In a dream a poor man may become a king or a king a poor man, but when they awake they find their dreams have no reality. For whom shall man rejoice or mourn?” Upon this some one came and told the father that his dead son had been re-animated. On hearing this, too, the saint manifested no joy.’ The Guru, pointing out the moral of his story, said, ‘Saints are unaffected by joy or sorrow as the lotus is by water.’

Many persons continued to visit the Guru for religious instruction. Lalu, Durga, and Jawanda received from him the following advice, ‘Ever do good to others. This is to be accomplished in three ways: By giving good advice, by setting a good example to Sikhs, and by ever desiring men's welfare.’

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