In his Bachittar Natak (autobiography, which is included in Dasam Granth), Guru Gobind Singh says that he meditated so long that he met Mahakal, the Lord of Time and Death, the Defender of Dharma. In Brahmanic Hindu belief, Mahakal is Lord Shiva. In Tibetan Buddhism, Mahakal is a compassionate deity who bears a fierce appearance as a warning to opponents of dharma. Mahakal told Guru Gobind Singh that many times He had sent messengers to the earth to restore dharma, but each one instead became the head of a new sectarian religion. Mahakal gave Guru Gobind Singh strict orders not to form another sectarian religion but rather, to unite all religions.
Guru Gobind Singh gave the same orders to our Baba Virsa Singh, his devoted disciple. Tonight Maharaj ji tells us that he has had a vision that Guru Gobind Singh’s name and mission will spread to the whole world in his lifetime. Further, Maharaj ji says,
If you have faith in the Guru, don’t worry. Even if there is a bomb, it won’t go off. Brigadier Sahib (I. G. Randhawa, whose visionary abilities given by Maharaj were so helpful in ending the separatist violence in Mizoram) and Mulayam Singh (Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, who always kept the Jaap Sahib Maharaj gave him in his pocket) were saved again and again from attacks. But our people have no faith.
Maharaj ji speaks of the Muslims who love him so much, and of Guru Gobind Singh’s hukam to light thousands of candles for Christmas:
When such a hukam comes I am so happy that He has looked at me and given us hukam to distribute this or that. The greatest gift is Naam. No one can destroy or steal it. The Prophet Muhammad said that if you give with open hands, Allah will give to you. I have seen this in village hospitality, but now this custom is finished.
Always keep the Guru in front and set yourself aside. He is the most powerful, the Master of the cosmos. Why not make Him your companion who will never leave, who is unequalled in the whole cosmos? Reading scripture, meditating, and having good thoughts are His blessing—nothing to be proud of. If He wants, we will recite His Name.
Jesus’s words have spread so much, but even the Gurus’ names are very little known. A Vice Chancellor in the United States asked me whether Sikhs had any messiah. He had only seen swords in gurdwaras. Our example is very bad. Crores of people come and go, but few disciples truly believe. Christian followers go to the most difficult places to do preaching in Jesus’ service. By contrast, Guru Gobind Singh’s mission has not been spread.
Now I can sit speaking in this room and the words can be carried to the whole world. I want people to know that there was such a great personality who sacrificed and struggled so much for the entire humankind, not just one religion. He never complained to God. He had only love. There is such a great treasure of his words and works that it cannot be kept in storage. It will burst out to the world. For whatever reason, he has chosen to spread it from Gobind Sadan.
If you collect all his qualities, they are unimaginable. In Jaap Sahib, he wrote about God: “You have no religion, no country, no parents, no form, no caste….” [Reading such lines} one wonders who Guru Gobind Singh is. Now it is the most argumentative people who are supposed to be carrying his message. He knows of the fire in the world, and knows that his enlightened wisdom will bring peace. Even in the most difficult time, when all was gone [when he was alone and footsore in the forest, being pursued by his opponents], he sang to God as “My beloved Friend.” Now people have no compassion, but this is God’s play. When He wants, everything will change.