Guru Gobind Singh Ji was sitting in the congregation with Sangat. He had a stone with him and a bucket full of water. He threw the stone into the bucket and the stone sunk to the bottom. He then asked the Sangat why the stone sunk? One person said that it sunk because it was […]

Guru Gobind Singh Ji was sitting in the congregation with Sangat. He had a stone with him and a bucket full of water. He threw the stone into the bucket and the stone sunk to the bottom. He then asked the Sangat why the stone sunk?

One person said that it sunk because it was a stone … a stone always sinks. But Guru Ji again asked why is it that the stone sunk? Another person from the Sangat responded that it was going to sink because it is heavy … a heavy object will always sink in water. Guru Sahib Ji responded that this was not the right answer.

He kept asking people about the right answer. No-one had a clue – they could not overcome their scientific way of thinking.

Finally, Guru Gobind Singh Ji turned to Bhai Nand Lal Ji. Bhai Nand Lal Ji was sitting at the bottom of Guru Ji’s Takhat, and as soon as Guru Ji asked him, Bhai Nand Lal Ji started crying. Guru Ji said “Nand Lal, why are you crying? Give an answer to my question.”

Bhai Nand Lal Ji responded, “when the stone was with you, it was afloat in this world. When the stone left you, it sunk.” Guru Gobind Singh Ji was very happy with Bhai Nand Lal Ji and gave him a tight embrace.

Guru Ji gave this as an example of what happens to us when we leave the Guru. When we leave the True Guru, we all sink. When we stay with the Guru, Guru Sahib carries us across the Ocean to the almighty.