I have to conclude that selfless service just is not enough, one needs to look at action and consequence too, selfless service
THIS !
well you learned something ! guess what. sorry I don't wish to sound rude at all . apologies if I do .
But if you just once went through the teachings of guru, you could have learned it without having to experience it .
after all, what's the point of Gurbani if you have to learn everything the hard way.
Last diwali, at evening, when I went to take a stroll at the lake side, as I was returning back home, I saw a man and a small girl with her (maybe her daughter) crying in deep sorrow and as I passed by them , begged for some food . I came home , but my mind was in them. After a while, got up , brought 2 packs of food and went up to the man, who was asleep (or maybe dead ?!! ) . Tried to get him up , so kept the food pack next to him , hoping he will eat it when he gets up, and gave another food pack to the beggar family living under a skywalk
I came home, and did ardas before my PC, and said "O ever present master . I beg you to tell me of my actions. Offer me a gurvaak." And then I went to the
cyber hukamnama website and took a shabad
The word came , astonishingly describing my situation
ਸਲੋਕ ਮਹਲਾ ੩
Shalok, Third Mehl:
ੴ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥
One Universal Creator God. By The Grace Of The True Guru:
ਅਭਿਆਗਤ ਏਹ ਨ ਆਖੀਅਹਿ ਜਿਨ ਕੈ ਮਨ ਮਹਿ ਭਰਮੁ ॥
Do not call the wandering beggars holy men, if their minds are filled with doubt.
ਤਿਨ ਕੇ ਦਿਤੇ ਨਾਨਕਾ ਤੇਹੋ ਜੇਹਾ ਧਰਮੁ ॥੧॥
Whoever gives to them, O Nanak, earns the same sort of merit. ||1||
ਅਭੈ ਨਿਰੰਜਨ ਪਰਮ ਪਦੁ ਤਾ ਕਾ ਭੀਖਕੁ ਹੋਇ ॥
One who begs for the supreme status of the Fearless and Immaculate Lord -
ਤਿਸ ਕਾ ਭੋਜਨੁ ਨਾਨਕਾ ਵਿਰਲਾ ਪਾਏ ਕੋਇ ॥੨॥
how rare are those who have the opportunity, O Nanak, to give food to such a person. ||2||
So yes , who you give charity does matter. Perhaps, thats why charity is not so emphasized in sikhi as in other faiths.
Better yet, take some % of income every month and personally go to a orphanage or old age home with some gifts for them .
But remember, "Teerath, tap , daya, dat daan , je ko paave til ka maan" - Guru Nanak in japji sahib
(Pilgrimages, penance, mercy, charity, donations, if they bring , they bring little honour"
Then what brings best rewards ? Naam simran
Perhaps your charities would have frutified multiple folds if you did simran too
Now I make a request with folded hands . Consider a veer from some other side of the world said so :
" Will you wake up tomorrow anytime between 4 and 6 am and take a bath, and sit and read a baani or just close your eyes, repeat 'waheguru waheguru' and listen to it with attention"
Please do it ! He will not let disappoint you .
Guru Arjan dev ji says in Sukhmani Sahib :
"Sagal ki chinta jis man maahe, tis te birtha koi naahi"
(God, in whose mind is concern for all living beings, no one returns empty-handed from him)
Thats his promise !
My long typing would be worth it if you did so . Thank you . God bless you _/\_