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.[1]
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 ;
- ↑ Ramkali.
