Extract from "In Search of the True Guru"

(By my Brother)

A extract from Bhai Rama Singh jee's book, In Search of the True Guru.

"That night I dreamt that the jamdoots (angels of death) were taking my soul away to some destination. On the way, I saw other souls being taken away too. They were being tortured by the jamdoots. We were in a long line with many souls in front of me and many following behind. However, my soul was not being tortured because I had recited God’s name.

Where there is no mother, father, children, friends, or brothers, O my mind, there, only the Naam, the Name of the Lord, shall be with you as your help and support. Where the great and terrible Messenger of Death shall try to crush you, there, only the Naam shall go along with you. (SGGS p. 264)

As we walked along, we passed by a very dark area. In this darkness, we saw some very frightful scenes. They were so terrifying that a person could easily faint from fright.

“Where the path is difficult and the street is narrow, there the Lord shall liberate you.” (SGGS p. 996)

As we went further we came to an extremely hot place. It felt as if there was fire burning under our feet. Then there was a hill, which we were ordered to climb. Those, whose souls were soiled, found it very difficult to climb this hill. The jamdoots beat them and forced them to climb this hill. Those with pure souls climbed the hill very easily. According to the Hindu faith, it takes one year for the soul to reach the court of the judge Dharamraj. My soul was travelling at a very fast speed. Along the way, I saw all these scenes but they did not affect my soul directly.

On the other side of the hill, was the court of Dharamraj where the good and bad deeds done in one’s life are judged, and reward or punishment meted out accordingly. Like the modern computer which enables immediate access to information, Dharamraj too is able to look up accounts of people’s deeds instantly. There was a lady standing in the line next to mine. Dharamraj said to her, “You have served saintly people. There are many pots of milk and a variety of food for you. Although, you have done good deeds, you did not meditate on the Lord’s Name. You will be reborn a human being. This time be sure to meditate on the Lord’s Name and obtain salvation.” Anther person’s turn came before mine. Dharamraj said, “Although you were given a chance as a human being, you didn’t do any good deeds. You wasted your life doing evil deeds.” He told the jamdoots, “Send this soul to hell and throw it back into the cycle of chawrasi lakh joon (8.4 million life forms)

Next it was my turn. Dharamraj said to me, “You have recited Bani and meditated on the Lord’s Name, but your mind is soiled from the sins in this life. You have to be sentenced for this. The jamdoots took me to a place where human souls were punished for their bad deeds. The place resembled an immigration area at the airport where people with different passports line up in different lanes. Here, there was a separate line for each bad deed. There was a signboard displayed on every lane. For a lustful person, there was a door to a fire chamber. Next was a doorway for those who had listened to other’s gossip. They were punished by having red hot liquid iron poured into their ears. Liars had their tongues cut off. Thieves had their hands cut off. I could see these terrifying scenes form where I was standing. There was a long line in front of me.

Then the jamdoots brought me in front of the fire doorway and commanded me to go inside. I was terrified. They said that if I did not go in, they would beat my head with a heavy club. They pushed me in. it was a most dreadful place like a big pond. Many people were suffering there and screaming in agony. Nothing but cries of anguish could be heard. Nobody could think of food or water. The water in the pond was boiling like a volcano and small creatures were stinging people. The whole night passes in this dream. When it was time for me to get up to do my Paath of Sukmani Sahib, my soul returned from hell into my body as I chanted, “Aad Guray nameh, jugad Guray nameh….” The first line of the Bany, “I bow to the Greatest (Waheguru) Who is the source of all; I bow to the Guru Who is through the ages………..”.

When I opened my eyes, I was sweating and I had marks of insect stings all over my body. At this point I thanked Guru Arjan Dev Ji a million times for the Bani of Sukhmani Sahib and started crying profusely. I kept repeating “Dhan (Praise be to) Guru Arjan Dev Ji! Dhan Guru Arjan Dev Ji!” and thanked God for blessing me and saving me from hell.

It is a well-known truth that recommendation of an influential person works in our worldly affairs. If a person is jailed and a high-ranking officer calls in asking for the person’s release, the person is freed. The same is very true in our spiritual life. Guru Arjan Dev Ji Maharaj (Great King) helped me out of hell. I thought to myself, “O’ lustful man! For a moment of sexual pleasure, see how much you had to suffer.”

“O sexual desire, you lead the mortals to hell; you make them wander in reincarnation through countless species. You cheat the consciousness, and pervade the three worlds. You destroy meditation, penance and virtue. But you give only shallow pleasure, while you make the mortals weak and unsteady; you pervade the high and the low. Your fear is dispelled in the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, O Nanak, through the Protection and Support of the Lord.” (SGGS p. 1358)"