Heartbeat XIV: Bhai Jagraj Singh Ji
Bhai Jagraj Singh has delivered many kathas on love. They were probably the first person that allowed daas to see the Divine Love of GurSikhi through metaphorical romance. During one katha in Toronto (2016), Bhai Sahib mentioned The Fugees' Killing Me Softly (1997) as a song that represents the ego being destroyed by Guru Sahib's Shabad.
There wasn't a recording of the katha but Bhai Sahib Ji – more or less – said the following:
"Strumming my pain with his fingers"
Guru Sahib strums my pain away through singing Kirtan of Their Shabad
"Singing my life with his words"
Guru Sahib's Shabad is giving me life!
"Killing me softly with his song"
Guru's Shabad is killing my ego slowly [through Sehaj]
"Telling my whole life with his words"
Guru Sahib are showing me my purpose of life!
Through loving Guru Sahib, we connect to the Poetic Shabad and our ego dies
This perspective of Bhai Sahib Ji makes one look beyond the sphere of the gurdwara and look for Guru Sahib everywhere. Those Gursikhs who truly love Vaheguru will see The Beloved in every little bit of existence. Wherever their ears turn to and listen, it only makes them think of Their Beloved.
Bhai Jagraj Singh had taken the songs about a beloved to mean the Songs of The Beloved-Vaheguru.
This talk is one of many which inspire many of the heartbeats in this book.
Here is a transcript of this recording:
"Indian love stories are full of this. Parents reject it but the kids fight on anyway but here in our panth it’s the same... The parents say ‘Tu viyaah na kar’ (don’t get married) with the Guru... “Tere Naal Kaun Viaah Karuga” (who is going to marry you?)... The people are saying don’t become a sikh... it’s dangerous... Sikhi is contagious. Go to Saadh Sangat and you’ll catch it. (Then you will most certainly get married). What’s the Vyaah for us? How are we gonna put the Haar (Garland) around the Galaa (neck)? What’s the Mangalsutra (Wedding necklace for the bride)? Here is the Mangalsutra [holding his Gatra and Kirpan]. This is the Guru’s Wedding Gift... Now put a ring on [showing karaa]. Everything is given to us. If you think it’s not true: Anand Karaj! [getting married to Guru Sahib is the deeper meaning behind it]
ਵੀਆਹੁ ਹੋਆ ਮੇਰੇ ਬਾਬੁਲਾ ਗੁਰਮੁਖੇ ਹਰਿ ਪਾਇਆ ॥
(A Marriage has happened, Oh Father...)
Who is that Vyaah (wedding) with? It’s with Vaheguru"
Daas had seva hazuri at the Central [London] Gurdwara Khalsa Jatha in Summer 2022. During this time, the president of the gurdwara committee discussed a memory they had of Bhai Sahib Ji. This was the first gurdwara that Bhai Jagraj Singh supposedly did katha seva. They remembered that Bhai Sahib Ji contacted the gurdwara with the email address flowerboy within it. This name hinted towards Bhai Sahib Ji's sensitive nature. Not sensitive in a weak way but sensitive as in very perceptive of their surroundings. Just like a flower. There are very few people like this in the world.
In multiple videos, Bhai Jagraj Singh spoke about the BOSS camp that changed their life. Hearing Bhai Sahib Ji mention this multiple times, it made daas want to attend the camp. In 2022, daas went to UK to try and retrace Bhai Sahib Ji's Footsteps. Upon asking the older camp sevadaars about the year that Bhai Sahib Ji first attended... they remembered that the camp's theme was: Dhan Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji's Shaheedi. Bhai Sahib Ji were remembered to be crying throughout every day of the camp. They were a mona (hair cut) at the time but they wanted to be blessed with Amrit as soon as possible. This tenderness towards the memory of Guru Sahib's Shaheedi... this is true love. A love we can only beg Maharaj for.
Those who have watched enough of Bhai Sahib Ji's videos will know this shabad really well:
ਜਉ ਤਉ ਪ੍ਰੇਮ ਖੇਲਣ ਕਾ ਚਾਉ ॥
Jo[u] Tho[u] Praem KhaelaN Kaa Chaao[u]
If you wish to play this Game of Divine Love
ਸਿਰੁ ਧਰਿ ਤਲੀ ਗਲੀ ਮੇਰੀ ਆਉ ॥
Sir[u] Dhhar[i] Thalee Galee Maeree Aao[u]
Place your head upon the palm of your hand and walk down my alley
(Dhan Guru Nanak Dev Sahib Ji)
Such is the love of the Sikh. Have you tasted this love?
