4.18.2020

How can we become the recipients of the above mentioned protective embrace?

One that protects us from all sides – meaning from everything.

Is it automatic?

Is there something we can do?

Bauji explains this in his Gurbani Vichar – Divine Will- in the following way…here are some excerpts that point this out explicitly. 

The inner experience of the Soul is called ‘Intuition’ or ‘Divine Consciousness’.

This ‘INTUITION’ is the only means of contact or ‘communion’ between Man and God.

It is through ‘intuition’ that humanity can realize Divinity and experience all the Divine attributes of :

Divine WILL, Divine LAW, Divine JOY, Divine COMPASSION, Divine BENEVOLENCE, Divine LOVE, and Divine GRACE. 

In other words, ‘Intuition’ is the only means of TRANSITION.

FROM: intellectual knowledge of outer experience of mind

TO: inner experience of the SOUL, i.e., consciousness of Divinity.

This transition or transformation of consciousness can be attained by turning our thoughts and minds inwards — by concentration and meditation with intense devotion.

In this difficult, subtle and sublime process of transformation of mind to the exalted state of Divine Consciousness:

• Contact, Company,
• Help, Guidance,
• Inspiration, and blessings of Enlightened Souls —

is imperative and essential.

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When a soul is awakened from the illusive ‘world- consciousness’, it is transformed into Intuitional ‘Divine- Consciousness’.

His own will is blended and merged into the Divine Will. All his thoughts, desires, actions and emotions etc., reflect the Divine Will and Divine Law.

He then acts, moves and has his being in the spiritual plane and lives the Presence of Divine Grace and Glory.

To make this point more comprehensive, following illustrations may be helpful.

When water of a rivulet joins a river and merges into it, it starts running in conjunction and ‘in tune’ with the stronger flow of the river, and acquires the full force of the ‘River-flow’.

On the other hand, when some amount of water is separated from, and gets out-of tune with the mainstream, it looses the force and direction of the mainstream.

Similarly, when our own egoistic will is conjoined and merged into the Divine Will and works ‘in- conjunction’ and ‘in-tune’ with the flow of Divine Will, we spontaneously acquire all the powers and qualities of Divinity.

On the other hand, when our mind is disillusioned by egoistic consciousness, and our faith and devotion for Divinity is weakened or diminished, the flow of our ‘life current’ gets ‘out-of-tune’ with the Divine Will. Thereby, we deprive ourselves of our Spiritual Heritage of Divine Qualities, and become slaves of ‘Maya’.

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So, it is clear that it is only when we intuitively realize and merge wit the Divine Consciousness (Shabad) that we are in the Divine Protective Embrace, no longer subject to the mesmeric effects of Maya! 

4.15.2020

It occurred to Pooh and Piglet that they hadn’t heard from Eeyore for several days, so they put on their hats and coats and trotted across the Hundred Acre Wood to Eeyore’s stick house. Inside the house was Eeyore.

“Hello Eeyore,” said Pooh.

“Hello Pooh. Hello Piglet,” said Eeyore, in a Glum Sounding Voice.

“We just thought we’d check in on you,” said Piglet, “because we hadn’t heard from you, and so we wanted to know if you were okay.”

Eeyore was silent for a moment.

“Am I okay?” he asked, eventually.

“Well, I don’t know, to be honest. Are any of us really okay? That’s what I ask myself. All I can tell you, Pooh and Piglet, is that right now I feel really rather Sad, and Alone, and Not Much Fun To Be Around At All. Which is why I haven’t bothered you. Because you wouldn’t want to waste your time hanging out with someone who is Sad, and Alone, and Not Much Fun To Be Around At All, would you now.”

Pooh looked and Piglet, and Piglet looked at Pooh, and they both sat down, one on either side of Eeyore in his stick house.

Eeyore looked at them in surprise. “What are you doing?”

“We’re sitting here with you,” said Pooh, “because we are your friends. And true friends don’t care if someone is feeling Sad, or Alone, or Not Much Fun To Be Around At All. True friends are there for you anyway. And so here we are.”

“Oh,” said Eeyore. “Oh.”

And the three of them sat there in silence, and while Pooh and Piglet said nothing at all; somehow, almost imperceptibly, Eeyore started to feel a very tiny little bit better.

Because Pooh and Piglet were There.

No more; no less.

What you feel, we all feel. Your loss, your grief, your anger, your feelings of betrayal, your disappointment, your fear . . . everyone else has felt just like you. Your joy, your ecstasy, your bliss, your excitement, your inner peace . . . all this is part of the human experience too. It’s so easy to get lost in your own stories, to feel singled out and different, to feel isolated and disconnected, to take your stories so personally—because they do feel personal and through one lens they are personal—but they’re also everyone’s stories, binding you into an infinite web of transpersonal connectedness.

You are not alone – all the Sangat Family is here with you, always!

We are always being carried in the arms of our Masters. We just have to remember to feel their constant presence and look out for the love they send us in myriad forms.

When you put on your video during the webinar, you are just being there- sitting by the side of someone who might be needing it, just because! When you share your struggles, poems, aspirations, inspirations you are giving Nanak Love to someone out there, who at that moment needs it. 

I send you a Nanak Love hug in the form of each newsletter.

In Wonderous Awe of the One

that unites us all in His Love and taught us God is Love.

RA

DHAN GURU NANAK DHAN GURU NANAK DHAN GURU NANAK