The History of Keeping Up

Our Ten Gurus have a history of not giving into defeat.

Attempting to complete a complex technical assignment by its deadline, I encountered hours of obstacles. No sooner did I figure out where I had gone wrong, then I'd find myself up against a brand new problem. Encountering difficulty over and again, I became very anxious. I remembered the story of Jetha and Third Nanak, Guru Amar Das.

Guru Amar Das had given Jetha the task of building a platform for the Guru to sit upon. Jetha's brother-in-law Rama, the husband of the Gurus eldest daughter Bibi Dani, received a similar task. When their platforms were completed, Guru found them unsuitable, and asked for them to be torn down and rebuilt. After rebuilding, Guru found imperfections, and requested them to rebuild again. Rama gave up when Guru asked him to rebuild his third platform. Jetha kept on task, tearing down and rebuilding his platform seven times over. When Guru told him once again to tear down and rebuild, he fell at Guru's feet and asked to be forgiven for his lack of understanding, requesting his Guru to bless him with the wisdom to accomplish his task. Guru Amar Das embraced Jetha, praising his willingness, capacity for service, and self sacrifice, promising that he and seven generations of his heirs should someday sit upon the throne of Nanak.

I relaxed a little. After all, the tools I hand at hand had a purpose. I just had to keep at it until I figured out how they worked. Little by little my efforts began to pay off.

There is more to the story, for a lineage has a mother as well as father. Jetha's wife, Bhani, the youngest daughter of Guru Amar Das, lovingly attended him. One day when the Guru sat deep in meditation, she noticed the leg of his seat about to give way, and rushed to support his weight with her arm. The Guru opened his eyes to see that Bibi Bhani had suffered injury, and had begun bleeding from the arm which held him. He asked what favor he might bestow in return for her selfless act. She requested that she, and her heirs, might continue to ever serve the Guru. At the time of his departure from the world, Guru Amar Das bestowed the title of Guru to Bhai Jetha, naming him Raam Das Fourth Guru.

I went through a range of emotions, feeling like an entire scale of low notes to high on a musical keyboard, while trying to determine the proper technical methods, so that I might succeed. When finally I accomplished my task, I felt utter elation. I'm so very thankful to have had such an invaluable learning opportunity, and very pleased that it avails me the ability to serve.