EMPTY GLASS
We have often heard the quote, “Before you can learn anything new, you first have to empty your cup”, Similarly, when we read or listen to Gurbani, we tend to do it with a cup (mind) that is already full. Alongside reading or listening to Gurbani, our mind tends to constantly chatter with our many desires and demands. To the extent that we don’t realise when we have finished listening/reading Gurbani. We want the Guru to hear, whilst we listen with full concentration. Due to this, we don’t make any spiritual progress.
If a cup is pre-filled and a person continues to pour water in to that cup, it will overflow. Likewise, if our cup like mind is already full with negative thoughts, past, present, future and many other desires, how are we going to make room for Guru Ji’s teachings? We should go with a mindset clear of demands and desires, making an attempt to be the listeners rather than the speakers; to listen rather than to be heard. This is what the Guru teaches us, first to empty our mind by putting our desires and demands to a side and meditate on the Naam (Vaheguroo), so that it can be filled with the true knowledge, wisdom and for us to experience the supreme bliss and pleasure Guru Ji blesses us with.
Guru Nanak Dev Ji Says in the following Verse: “cha(n)chal mat tiaag bhau bha(n)jan paiaa ek sabadh liv laagee ||
Forsaking my fickle intellect, I have found God, the Destroyer of fear; I am lovingly attuned to the One Word, the Shabad.
har ras chaakh tirakhaa nivaaree har mel le baddabhaagee ||2||
Tasting the sublime essence of the Lord, my thirst is quenched; by great good fortune, the Lord has united me with Himself. ||2||
abharat si(n)ch bhe subhar sar guramat saach nihaalaa ||
The empty tank has been filled to overflowing. Following the Guru's Teachings, I am enraptured with the True Lord.
man rat naam rate nihakeval aadh jugaadh dhiaalaa ||3||”
My mind is imbued with love for the Naam. The Immaculate Lord is merciful, from the beginning of time, and througout the ages. ||3||
Vaheguroo!
