BUILD A FOR EVERLASTING HOUSE!
An elderly Sikh carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer-contractor of his plans to leave the house building business and live a more leisurely life with his wife, enjoying his extended family. He would miss the pay-check but he needed to retire and they could get by.
The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favour. The carpenter said yes, but in time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end his career.
When Jasbir Singh (carpenter) finished his work and the builder came to inspect the house, the contractor handed the front door key to Jasbir.Β "This is your house," he said, "my gift to you."Β
What a shock! What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently. Now he had to live in the home he had built none too well.
So it is with us! We build our lives in a distracted way, reacting rather than acting, willing to put up less than the best. At important points, we do not give the job our best effort. Then with a shock, we look at the situation we have created and find that we are now living in the house we have built. If we had realised, we would have done it differently.
Think of yourself as the carpenter. Think of your life as the house. Each day you hammer a nail, place a board or erect a wall, build wisely. It is the only life you will ever build. Even if you live it for only one day more. Each day deserves to be lived graciously, in tune with the love of Vaheguroo's name and Gurbaani (Guruβs Teachings). So we can create our true dignity in the house we reside in (our body). Let's liberate our soul from within this house, by living virtuously through selfless service and meditation on Naam (Godβs name). Let's control the thieves (mindβs desires), who are plundering our Saintly home.
The plaque on the wall says, "Life is a do-it-yourself project, do it to the best of your ability. So the Guru can liberate us by merging us with Vaheguroo."
Guru Arjun Dev Ji Says, "Nanak builds his house upon that site, where there is no death, no birth, and no old age."
Vaheguroo!
