Hari Bol

Hari Bol

All apprehensions of facing life on returning home after her sojourn disappeared as soon as Gurjas Chahal__started chanting God’s name 

After spending two years away from home in Jabalpur, I was transferred back to Delhi, my hometown. It was a moment of joy, but for reasons unknown, my heart was heavy. I felt as though I was leaving a part of me behind. I had packed my bags, but by nightfall, my heart started sinking. The pain was so intense, as though a mother was being separated from her son. 

The next morning, this poignant anguish kept clouding my psyche; I was scared. For two years of my stay in Jabalpur, away from home, in connection with my official duties, I had a lot of time to myself in which I did many online courses, walked big time, explored the city, and grew spiritually.  I would miss all this because, from now on, I would have to live amongst family, relatives, and neighbours, and that would leave no free time at my disposal. Moreover, there seemed to be no escape from the impending monsters of gossip, criticism, lethargy, selfishness, diseases, gluttony, and various other vices. I feared I would be surrounded by negativity that would derail me from the path of spirituality.  

No amount of wisdom or rationale was coming to my rescue. After finishing my morning chores, I sat down to read the Holy Book. The very first line I read was as follows:  

“Tajo syanap Sur jano, simro Har Har nao, 

Ek Hari ki aas rakh, Nanak dookh, bharam, bheiy jao.” 

(“Hey, Saintly Beings! Abandon logic and reason, recite the name of Hari.  Rest all your hopes only on Hari.  Sorrow, illusions and fear will go away, thus sayeth Nanak.”) 

I felt as if somebody had read my mind and was telling me exactly what to do. I read these lines over and over again. It dawned on me that I had got my mantra for the day and there was no need to read any further.  

It was my last day at the office. It went extremely well. A new me attended all tasks with renewed vigour. Later on, sitting in the train, I kept chanting Hari’s name and pondered over what had happened. I realised that my mental state in the morning had changed after receiving the mantra for the day from the Holy Book. My little pigeon brain had come out with a version which was my view of the situation. I thought there was a mental game behind it. My negative thoughts had been removed and replaced by one word—‘Hari’—and this had made my mind calm. And the moment my mind became calm, I could reach the utmost limits of my being. I am sure that this is just one small perspective of how reciting Gurbani early in the morning helps one. There is a big mental game behind it which is fathomless and beyond me to comprehend.  

That’s why Osho has rightly said that all searching must be abandoned. That is, one should forget what goes on behind the things to get things done and simply rejoice in their getting done. If by chanting Hari’s name everything gets settled, why try to find out how it is getting done?   

On reaching home, real-life situations with human nature on display in its myriad shades did hit me, but chanting Hari’s name helped me sail through. It made my mind calm and brought out the best in me in all circumstances, where I could be hardworking, patient, and accepting. Gradually, as time passed, things were back to normalcy, and I was a better version of myself.