Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, from Agra, arrived…
Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, from Agra, arrived near the Keshav Dev Temple in Mathura and settled there. In those days, the Keshav Dev Temple was a small structure. Gurudev instructed Bhai Mardana Ji to perform Kirtan. Upon hearing the melodious voice, the temple priest and many devotees, who had come on a pilgrimage, gathered around Gurudev and sat near him.
At the end of the Kirtan, the devotees expressed their curiosity, saying, "O Gurudev, we have come here to Mathura for our spiritual well-being. However, our hearts are deeply saddened, and our faith has been greatly hurt. Wherever we have gone, we have only found falsehood to be dominant. People have no fear of God, and those who were supposed to propagate religion are themselves engaged in unrighteous deeds, walking on the path of destruction."
Hearing this, Gurudev said, "Devotees, the thing is, the money you donate to them is so abundant that they begin to misuse it, which corrupts their minds. Gradually, their morals become tainted. In reality, those who do not work hard and instead live a life of luxury and indulgence with donated money, they fall from righteousness."
The priest said, "The fact is that this is the age of Kaliyug, and therefore, being virtuous is not possible."
Gurudev replied, "Priest, you are harboring a false illusion in your mind to deceive yourself. What exactly is Kaliyug? Is it the name of a specific object? No! It is a state of mind. Wherever people with evil thoughts exist and engage in bad company, there will be conflict and unrest—that is Kaliyug. Wherever people with good thoughts engage in holy company, that is Satyug. Tell me yourself, has nature changed in Satyug or Kaliyug? The sky, the sun, the moon, the stars, the vegetation—have they undergone any transformation? The rivers and streams remain unchanged. In reality, it is our way of thinking that has changed. The meaning is that the way one earns their livelihood shapes their thoughts, and accordingly, their conduct follows. In other words, the kind of food one consumes influences their mind."
Gurudev then recited the hymn:
Soi chand charahi se tare soi dinīar tapat rahe. Sa dharti so paun jhulare, jug jee khele thav kaise. (1) - Raag Ramkali, Ang 902
A curious devotee then asked, "O Gurudev, please guide us toward salvation."
Gurudev replied, "Perform all tasks in life with a natural and simple mindset. Understand and align yourself with the laws of nature. Living with the awareness that God is present everywhere and abiding in His fear is the path to salvation."
Sahaj mile miliya parvan. Na tis maran na avan jan.
Thakur mahi das das mahi soi. Jah dekha tah avar na koi. - Janam Sakhi