NOSTALGIA-II

MY INTRODUCTION TO “THE SIKH REVIEW”

The Sikh Review, is a socio-cultural and religious monthly published by The Sikh Cultural Centre, Calcutta.

All that is created is bound to be destroyed once. Nanak says that “the composition of this universe is just similar to the bubbles of water that are formed but lose their identity in no time.” (*2)

So, make the torch of life just now in your hands, burn as bright as possible, for we know not when this flame may be extinguished. “We live in deeds, not in years, in thoughts, not breaths, in feelings, not in figures on a dial.” Let’s count time by heart-throbs and let each heart-throb chant the Name of the Lord, since: “We do not know how and in what manner we may die. However be sure that yours will be an easy death, if you never forget thy Lord.”(*3)

Luxuries, riches and amenities of life are all but a passing show. “In this world, all love is false! Whether friends or relatives, each and every one cares for his own mean ends.” (*4)

In this context, let’s for a moment listen to the following meaningful dialogue between Lord Buddha and a shepherd:(*5)

Shepherd : “My meal is ready, I have milked my cows. The door of my hut is bolted. And you, sky, can rain as much as you please.”

Buddha : “I no longer need food or milk. The winds are my shelter, my fire is out. And you, sky, can rain as much as you please.”

Shepherd : “I have oxen, I have cows, I have my own meadows and a bull who covers my cows. And you, sky, can rain as much as you please.”

Buddha : “I have neither oxen, nor cows. I have no meadows. I have nothing. I fear nothing. And you, sky, can rain as much as you please.” 

Shepherd : “I have a docile and a faithful shepherdess. For years she has been my wife. I am happy when I play with her at night. And you, sky, can rain as much as you please.”

Buddha : “I have a free and a docile soul. For years I have trained it and I have taught it to play with me. And you, sky, can rain as much as you please.”

Our life is a short journey and we are all travellers trudging along the road of life. Let us be courageous and let not the difficulties on the way, deter us from our goal. Let’s try to learn the meaning and purpose of life from the following beautiful words of an eminent writer : (*6)

…”Concerning the Traveller, who would enter the House of Courage, there are many lands that must be passed on the road, before he rests there. There is, first ‘The Land of Lacking All Things–that is hard to cross. There is secondly, ‘The Land of Having All Things.’ There the Traveller’s fortitude is most hardly tested. There is thirdly,’The Land of Losing All those things that one hath possessed.’ That is a hard country indeed,for the memory of the pleasantness of those earlier joys redoubleth the agony of lacking them. But at the end, there is a land of ice and snow that few travellers have compassed and that is:’The Land of Knowing What One Hath Missed’. The bird was in the hand and one let it go-that is the hardest agony of all the journey… But, if these lands be encountered and surpassed then doth the Traveller at length possess his soul and is master of it… This is the Meaning and Purpose of Life.”

The thread of life is bound to snap some day. Death is certain.”We are nothing but idols of dust,” saith Kabir, “called by the name of Human Beings. We are nothing but four-days guests and yet,we rush to possess all that we can.” (*7)

Let’s make it a point to recite the following prayer every night, for it may be our last night :

 “I lay my body down to sleep,
  I pray to God,my soul to keep,
  And if I die before I wake,
  I pray to God,my soul to take.”

— J.S.Broca

References : (*):

(*1) “Kabir manas janam dulambh hai,
       Hoi na bare baar,
       Jiyo ban fal paake bhoe gireh
       Bahur na laage daar.”
      (Guru Granth Saheb-Page 1366) 
(*2) ” Jaise jal te budbudda,
       Upje binse neet,
       Jag rachna taise rachi,
       Kahu Nanak sun mit.”
       (Guru Granth Saheb-Page 1427)
(*3) “ Kai jaanaa kiv marehege,
       Kaisa marna hoi,
       Jekar Sahib manon na visre,
       Taan sahela marna hoi.”
       (Guru Granth Saheb-Page 555)
(*4) ” Jagat main jhuthi dekhi preet,
       Apne hi sukh sio sab laage,
       Kya daara,kya meet.”
       (Guru Granth Sahib-Page 536)
(*5) ‘Zorba The Greek’ by Nikos Kazantzakis.
(*6) “Fortitude” by Huge Walpole (Henry Lessingham
      Book III,Chapter vi )
(*7) ” Kabir maati ke hum pootle,
       Manas rakhio naaon,
       Chaar divas ke pahune,
       Bad bad roondhe thaao.”
       (Guru Granth Sahib-Page 1367)