The teaching of the master is not heard through the mind. This is to be heard through heart. And when you are listening to the master do not bring your mind. This has to be heard with love and trust. Coming to a master implies that all your efforts have now proved futile. Now you are incapable of moving on your own. In short this is trust. You can reach the master only when doubt is no more. Without inner preparation you cannot reach the master. And one thing more the moment a disciple is born in you master will appear. Disciple is one who has dropped the realm of the mind. Trust has arisen in him. He can now trust the unknown. Many come to the master. But rarely comes a disciple one in whom there is trust. With trust surrender becomes possible. Love and trust harmonizes the energies of intellect. Only such a person can listen to the words of the master. Only then you can be a ‘Sikh’. One who has listened the ‘Sikhavan’ or teaching is indeed a ‘Sikh’. This word ‘Sikh’ is beautiful. It comes from Sanskrit root that means ‘Shishya’ or disciple. One who is ready to learn is really indeed a ‘Sikh’. One who can put the attire of a ‘Sikh’ is not Nanak’s Sikh. To be a Sikh is the miracle of the unknown. Nanak says: There are two ways to listen. One is the way that emanates from the head or intellect. Duality is the way of intellect. Intellect very easily comes to the conclusion. Intellect always thinks in terms of right and wrong; good and bad; high and low. Intellect thinks whether to accept or not. Intellect is supported by ego. Intellect can never trust heart. Culture of intellect dominates. You pass on the street. Seeing a hungry beggar the heart wants to give something. The intellect and others in the car will immediately ask you to lock the door. Then even if you want to give intellect will give many arguments. Maybe he is a professional beggar! He looks so strong why he does not earn. And the children will give their own arguments. Someone may say do not give anything otherwise he will recognize the car and next time anyone of us maybe driving and anything may happen. This is how intellect works.
Love springs forth. Intellect will argue love is blind. Never trust love. Be wise. Love has destroyed many. Love is like a thoroughfare that always leads to the forest. And gets lost in the woods of life! Love is the path of aloneness. Intellect always follows crowd. Love needs privacy. Intellect creates so many obstructions that slowly and slowly heart space shrinks. The gap between intellect and widens. And then one day you cannot listen to the whispers of the heart. Even you love emanates from intellect. Have you ever thought this? Your heart space becomes barren. There is no ripple, no song, and no dance. The teaching of the master is heard from the heart. Kabir says one who is ready to cut off his head can really attain to love. Intellect is borrowed. It is given by your society. You were born with heart. This is the sad plight. All that in imposed on you becomes important. Your center has moved from heart to intellect. Nanak says one teaching of the master alone changes the entire perceptive in life. What is the single teaching of the master?
I do not forget Him even for a moment. This alone is enough to transform you. There are two word remembrance and forgetfulness. The Hindi words are:
Smr[ and ivSmr[ (remembrance and forgetfulness) Remembrance implies that something continues deep within like an undercurrent. You may be doing anything but the remembrance remains at the background. Look at a pregnant woman. A change has taken place within her biology. As a result a growth is taking place within her. She engages in household activities like cooking, cleaning and many such actions. However she remains aware of the new growth taking place within her. A new life has begun to sprout in her. All through her daily actions this remembrance remains in her like an undercurrent. Even while walking, bending to pick up something she never forgets even for a moment. This is remembrance.