Notes From the Road

Yogi Bhajan has taught us so much about this Shabad. I have been singing it my whole life. He taught that when you chant this Shabad it can totally transform you and bring miracles. I totally feel that kind of energy with this Shabad. It is incredible. I can only imagine what it was like for the sangat (sacred community) to hear that Shabad for the first time as it was sung by Satta and Balwand. It must have been astounding.

Hundreds of people would stream into the Court of the Guru every day, bow their heads to the Guru, give an offering for the free kitchen, listen to the Guru speak, and listen to the incredible kirtan of Satta and Balwand. People loved their kirtan so much. I can only imagine the beauty of it.

Well Satta and Balwand began to feel that since people loved their kirtan so much that it would be good to set up another hall where people could see them more often, and just be able to focus on the beautiful kirtan. So, they established another hall and left the Court of the Guru.

Everything was set to go. The invitations were sent out, and the grand opening day arrived. The doors were open, and the two musicians prepared for a huge crowd.

Nobody showed up.

How could this happen?

As the musicians sat in the empty hall, they realized in the depths of their hearts that people were attracted to the Guru, the One who they were singing the kirtan for. The One who pulls us out of our ego and confusion into our awareness and love. The One who liberates us. All this time everyone had been coming to see the Guru.

With heads bowed low they came back to the Court of the Guru and asked for forgiveness. The Guru embraced them and gave them their positions again.

This story is with me always. As we chant in every concert I see my Guru there and chant for Him. It is not always easy to maintain the focus and to remember to do that. But I find that it happens now more easily and with more strength. The moment I do this, it always shifts the energy and brings me back to that internal clarity and balance that delivers the transformation.

So whatever your path may be, may you find the way to truly worship the One.

love and blessings,

Snatam Kaur Khalsa

PS. If you would like to chant the Shabad Dhan Dhan Ram Das Gur, we have a version of it on Mother's Blessing available at www.spiritvoyage.com. Also, if you would like to find out more about Sikhism and the Sikh Gurus you can visit www.sikhnet.com