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Beni And His Pride

There was a hindu pandit called Beni, who expounded the Veds and the Shastars. Beni, who had committed Sanskrit syntax, etymology, and prosody to memory, was travelling round India in great spiritual pride. Wherever he heard of any famous pandit, he went, discussed, vanquished his opponent, and then took possession of their libraries.

Having defeated, in argument, the pandits of all the great cities of India, he turned his direction towards Goindwal. The pandits there naturally refused to enter into a discussion with a man who had gained so many victories, and referred him to Guru Amar Das.

The Discussion

Guru Amar Das gave Beni a seat, and inquired why he favoured him with a visit. Beni replied, "Your Sikhs do not read the twilight prayers or the gayatri. They do not perform pilgrimages, penances, or the religious duties of the hindus; how shall they be saved?"

Guru Amar Das replied, "Those things sufficed for the first three ages of the world, but in this fourth age they are useless. At present it is the Name alone that can confer salvation. Devotion is the means of salvation, and it is best performed under the Guru's guidance. Without devotion all ritual is vain. Take a lamp in your hand and walk not in darkness. The seed can only germinate at the proper season. Renounce false pride, and perform such devotion as may absorb your mind in God's love. Now as your are a pandit, give an answer to my questions;"

"Is man a householder or an anchoret? Is man without caste and ever immortal? Is man fickle or without love for the world? Where has pride attached to man? O Pandit, reflect on man. Why read so much and bear further burden? The Creator attached mammon and worldly love to man, And according to this law created the world."

"By the Guru's favour understand this, O brother, and ever abide under God's protection. He is a pandit who divests himself of the load of the three qualities, and daily utters the one Name. Such a pandit receives the instruction of the true Guru, And offeres his life unto him. The pandit who ever abides apart and unmoved, shall be acceptable in God's court."

"To all he preaches that there is only the one God. All that he beholds he recognizes as the one God. One whom he favours he blends with God, and renderes ever happy in this world and the next. Says Nanak, what can one do and how? One to whom God is merciful shall be saved; One shall each day sing God's praises, And not be again deafened with the Shastars and the Veds." - Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Raag Malar.

The Pandit Defeated

The Pandit, on hearing Guru Amar Das, was defeated. Beni thought to himself, 'I have been carried away by the stream of intellectual pride. Now that I have the raft of the Guru's instruction, I will embark on it, cross the world's dangerous ocean, and obtain salvation.' The star of the pandit's good fortune had arisen; he sought the Guru's protection and obtained the fruit thereafter.

With clasped hands he again addressed the Guru, "Great king, I have become a pandit by reading, but until now I have not understood what real knowledge meant. I have been so blinded by pilgrimages, penance, and reading the Shastars, and so absorbed in idol-worship and pride, that I have possessed no real devotion. Now that I have entered your sanctuary, please instruct me and save me."

The pandit unburdened himself of all his volumes, and humbly sat at the Guru's feet for spiritual instruction. The doors of his understanding opened, and he became filled with devotion. Beni having, by the Guru's favour, became a Sikh and obtained salvation while alive.


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