In the fear of being immersed in me-ism once again, allow me to gather some courage and talk about myself. Some of you who may not know this, I am a V-Tach- Heart patient. I have a device pacemaker/defibrillator installed in my chest. It has been there since January 2003. It all happened when I was on my usual Sunday run of 7 miles. The device has given me a shock several times as its function when my heart beats shoot up beyond certain beats. It is the last resort.
A month back, I was given the news that my heart has become much weaker and it is only pumping 35% where as a normal heart pumps 55% plus. I was told that my heart is of an 85 year old person.
This did not shock me nor did it phase me.
I had felt that something was wrong with it months ago during my walks when I used to get tired all of a sudden while walking for no reason and had to rest before continuing.
When I went to see my Cardiologist, he told me the reason was that my heart would not work on its own so when it wanted to stop, the pacemaker kicked in when it went to 40bpm. I felt so tired for a couple of days that I could not even go up the stairs. That was the reason of my exhaustion. He also told me that if I had not had the device, I would be lying dead on the pavement. Then he programmed my device to pace at 55bpm which did not help much but I was able to walk. Lastly he programmed it at 70bpm and things are much better.
I have to have the device changed next month. They are going to put a 3 wire device ( now it is a single wire) so that the electric current can come down from up whereas now, it is going from down to upwards like an anxious salmon.
Since the device has been set on 70bpm ( The original intent was not to pace my heart when it was installed in the 2003 but only as a shocking device only when the heart raced up), I have been able to walk. I power walk 7 miles daily with 5lb weight on my each bicep, go over some steep hills and do it under 2 hours, 7 days a week,not bad for a young man with a heart of an 85 year old.
I wanted to give this background before I came to the real part which encompasses Gurbani and its power.
The moment I start walking at 3:45am every morning, by grace, a Shabad comes to my mind and then to my mouth which I start contemplating upon during my 2 hour solitary Galactic voyage. In between, I do my Nitnem without Jaap Sahib, which is done later on at home and then back to the Shabad. I feel relaxed, energetic and serene during this journey which makes me walk with my eyes half closed. These words can not express actually what beautiful feelings I go through. It is like" Gungei de Mithaee".
I come home, record my bp and pulse and all seems fine for a person with a heart of an 85 year old.
By the way, today's Shabad was " Tathi vahao nanh laghee, Parbraham Sarnaee. Chaugiradh hamare Raamkaar, Dukh laghei nanh bhai...."- Nothing wrong can happen when we have found the connection with Ik Ong Kaar by shedding me-ism. As Ik Ong kaar is omnipresent, hence, we are surrounded by His grace, then my brother, there is no pain or suffering because our Protector has given us the tools to shrug the negative forces off.....-.
This Shabad has a lot of personal significance for my sisters and brothers and myself. Whenever we felt sick, fearful due to a bad dream, or any other negative forces that engulfed us, we always went to our Mum, lovingly called Amee ji. She used to make us lie down with her in bed and recite this Shabad again and again which made us feel better.
So, Sadh Sangat, today's journey had a very special significance because I spent 2 hours chatting with my late Mum.
Tejwant Singh
