Attending Satsang but Not Following Guru’s Teachings | A Harsh Spiritual Truth
सत्संग में बैठकर भी नकारात्मकता में जीना
Guru Hargobind Ji Maharaj ji once traveled to Kashmir. Upon reaching there, Guru Ji heard the faint sound of a small child crying. He immediately asked everyone to stop and search for the source of the cry.
Soon, they found a baby lying in a basket, abandoned by his parents. The child’s face was not considered pleasing, which may have been the reason he was left behind. His face had large teeth protruding outward and an unusual facial structure. (A similar situation is also said to have happened at the birth of TulsidasTulsidas Ji was left alone on the road at the age of three, tapping his stomach in hunger as he wandered in search of someone to feed him. The great saint who later wrote the Ramayan was also once abandoned by his father.)
When Guru Ji saw the child, His heart filled with compassion. He instantly named the child “Suthra.” At that very moment, Guru Ji called a sewadar woman and instructed her that the child would stay within their premises. Guru Ji took full responsibility for his upbringing, education, and care, blessing him with the grace of Guru Nanak Pathshah.
As Suthra grew, he became deeply immersed in the teachings of Guru Ji. However, he developed a strong dislike for the sangat (the congregation), because he noticed that people would listen to Guru Ji’s teachings but would not follow them in their daily lives.
Seeing this hypocrisy, Suthra would sometimes speak harsh or unpleasant words to them. He also performed chavar seva, standing beside Guru Ji and fanning Him.
The sangat did not like Suthra’s behavior. One day, they gathered and went to Guru Ji with a complaint:
“Guru Ji, this Suthra who performs chavar seva is not right. He uses harsh and negative words for the sewaks. Please change his duty. He is misusing the position of being close to you, and people are upset with him.”
Guru Ji called Suthra and calmly asked,
“Suthra, is what the sangat is saying true?”
With folded hands, Suthra replied,
“Yes, Guru Ji, they are right. But I request one thing—please ask them to repeat the exact words I have said to them.”
The sangat began speaking one by one.
“He said this to me a month ago…”
“He said this to me last week…”
Each person clearly remembered and repeated the words Suthra had spoken to them.
Guru Ji became serious and asked again,
“Suthra, is all this true?”
Suthra replied,
“Yes, Guru Ji. Whatever they are saying is correct. But please give me one chance to explain.”
Guru Ji allowed him.
Suthra then turned to the sangat and asked,
“Tell me honestly—am I your Guru, or you all are sewadar of Guru Ji?”
The people replied with irritation,
“How can you even say that? You can never be our Guru.”
Suthra then said,
“Alright. Then tell me—what did Guru Ji teach exactly one month ago on this day?”
Everyone fell silent.
“Then tell me—what lesson did Guru Ji give last week?”
Again, silence.
“Now tell me—what did Guru Ji teach just two days ago?”
No one could answer.
Suthra folded his hands and said to Guru Ji,
“Guru Ji, they are not truly your sewaks, because they do not remember your teachings, nor do they implement these learnings in their real life. But they are my sewaks, because they remember every single word I have spoken—even the harsh ones.”
“They do not come here to absorb your wisdom. Instead, they hold onto my words for months, even a year. Now, Guru Ji, you tell me—what should be said about such people?”
✨ Message:
We often forget divine teachings but remember hurtful words for years. The real devotion is not just listening—it is living the teachings.
Just like in the present time, we easily remember and discuss negative words, but we fail to remember even a single teaching of our Guru or to chant the sacred, blessed Name given by the Guru.