Laughing All The Way To Heaven: YOUR WILL IS SWEET ---

TERA Bhana Meetha Laagey –

What is the power that can make a physical body endure inhuman tortures, and the spirit in this tortured body can yet smile and say HIS/ GOD will is sweet. Or even forgive all the tormentors and keep looking forward to ultimate release of spirit, in death ?

When we recount all those inhuman stories, we see one single thread running through this all...

We start from Jesus Christ --- After going through many tortures on body, He was hung for six hours on cross. He was subjected to crown made of thrones, lashings, bearing heavy wooden cross and walk down to the place where He was then crucified. And yet as He was left to die slowly, He still managed to forgive all His tormentors and say -- “Father forgive them, for they do not know what they do”. How can anyone manage to suffer and bear so much on physical body and yet utter words of forgiveness ??

Then there is this story of Sufi SAINT – Hazrat Sarmad Shaheed. HE was MASTER of Mugal Prince – Dara Shikoh. HE told HIS disciple that he will soon become a Sultan. Aurangzeb who was emperor then, though a younger brother to Dara Shikoh. Became fretful of the prediction by Sufi MASTER. Hazrat Sarmad was also brought to Aurangzeb’s court for many spiritual believes Hazrat Sarmad used to teach. When asked about this prophecy , Hazrat replied -- “Yes it is true; and that good news was truthful for he has attained the crown of the eternal sultanate.”

HE was then for many accusations declared guilty and sentenced for execution . The next day HE was taken to the execution spot. When the executioner came near to HIM with a gleaming sword in his hand, HE smiled on seeing him and then lifting HIS eyes to the heavens spoke these words:

“May I be sacrificed for YOU ! Come, come, for whichever guise YOU come in, I recognize YOU !”

And then HE was beheaded.

Then there is this torture of Mansur Al-Hallaj. HE was cut to pieces slowly. But first HE was subjected to thrashings by stones. HE bore every hitting of stone with smile on HIS face. But when HIS loved disciple was forced to throw a stone, Shebil threw a flower instead and Mansur is reported to cry in pain as the flower touched HIS body. For HIS disciple knew what he was doing.

Hallaj's hands and feet were then tied to the stake, and with a single stroke of his sword the executioner severed Hallaj's hands. HIS legs were cut off, HE smiled and said, "I used to walk the earth with these legs, now there's only one step to heaven, cut that if you can. "

The executioners then plucked out Hallaj's eyes and cast them upon the ground. Then they severed HIS ears and nose. An executioner then sought to pull Hallaj's tongue from HIS mouth, but Hallaj drew back and said: "O GOD. Permit ME one final word. I am so grateful that YOU have kept me steadfast and true. I wish that YOU would bestow this Grace upon my persecutors also." Hallaj's last words were, "The Love of the ONE separates you from all others." Then HIS tongue was pulled out and severed at its root. Hallaj's tormented body was left to bleed as HE merged slowly into death. At the time of evening prayer the executioner cut HIS head off with a single blow, releasing HIS soul unto GOD.

HIS death is described by ATTAR as a heroic act, as when they are taking HIM to court, a Sufi asks HIM: "What is love?" HE answers: "You will see it today, tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow. " They killed HIM that day, burned HIM the next day and threw HIS ashes to the wind the day after that. "This is love, " ATTAR says.

And then comes torture of Shri GURU ARJAN DEV JI. From where comes these words – YOUR will is sweet. HE suffered 5 days of inhuman tortures. HE wasn’t given anything to eat or drink on first day. On second day HE was made to sit in boiling water. HE remained absorbed in the sweet remembrance of GOD and repeated---

"All is happening, O Waheguru, according to THY Will. THY Will is ever sweet to ME."

On third day HE was again made to sit in boiling water while hot sand was poured on HIS body. All the while HE kept smiling and saying YOUR will is sweet. On forth day HE was made to sit on hot iron plate. On fifth day HE asked to go into river and never came back.

But no ordinary human can go through all these inhuman tortures and still smile and give not only forgiveness to those who tortures their body buy say to GOD --- YOUR will is sweet.

And now here is our MASTER, going through chemo and yet manages to deliver discourses, darshan and so much more. No ordinary human can go through pains of cancer and chemo and still manage to lead a hectic life.

So again the question ---- what is the power which enables all these SAINTS to go through ultimate extent of human body and yet keep smiling and working and forgiving at what we can only call as ----- MYSTICAL level.

And the answer is --- SHABAD DHUN/ THE CELESTIAL MUSIC.

All of these SAINTS are one with That ONE CONSCIOUSNESS. They are attached to CELESTIAL MUSIC every single moment. They have become ONE with DIVINE MUSIC. As THEIR body suffer tortures THEIR consciousness remains immersed in this MUSIC.

And so next time when we think about our MASTER, and worry about HIS sufferings, which may be due to us. Let’s just remember that HE is not any ordinary human being. HIS body is not just any other body. HE is SHABAD incarnated in Body. And thus HE is beyond sufferings. But yes, all we can give HIM is our unconditional love. Love in form of Meditation.

Just to let HIM know --- WE CARE...