Dog and Master

Bhagat Kabeer ji, one of the authors of Guru Granth Sahib wrote:
"Ham kookar tere darbaar ||
I am a dog in Your Court, O Lord. SGGS||969

My son and I took our dog out a walk down to the river. She strained at her leash, every scent along the way a new sensation pulling her nose this way or that. In a bid to focus her attention, my son held her leash tight, bringing her to heel reinforcing his position as master. When we reached the river bank, he went wading with her into the water. Excited by a variety of water fowl swimming in the current, she splashed happily in the shallows. After a bit he let her go. Thrilled with her freedom, she raced giddily up and down the river bank and we lost sight of her.

Guru Arjan Dev likened the mind devoid of meditation to a mad dog, running hither and thither:
"Bin simran kookar harkaaiaa ||
Without meditating in remembrance on the Lord, one is like a mad dog." SGGS||239

Unable to follow her when the trail narrowed, we had to climb up to a path high above the bank and became separated. We called to her. Confused by the sound of our voices coming from different locations, it took her several minutes to find us. She ran up and down the trails through the shrubs and trees until, upon finally locating us, she ran up and slid between my son's feet, her head to the ground in submission.

Guru Tegh Bahadur advised bind the mind to God as a loyal dog to its master:
"Suaamee ko grehou jio sadaa suaan tajat nehee nit ||
A dog never abandons the home of its master for another.
Nanak eh bidh har bhajo ik man hue ik chit ||
Nanak, single-mindedly contemplate God, whole-heartedly, with one-pointed consciousness." ||45||
SGGS || 1428