Gurmat Saachi Saacha Vichaar

According to Gurbani, Sevak is a product of Divine motivation bestowed on an individual turning him/her as an obedient servant of Waheguru. Sevak is shaped by Waheguru by infusing Divine strength by remaining engrossed in Waheguru (Naam). Sevak’s only support is keeping Waheguru in the driving seat in his/her life.

Becoming of a Sevak:-

According to Guru Arjan Dev Ji, the first step involves a Divine infused willingness on the part of a would be Sevak to obtain Gurmat followed by receiving Grace of Waheguru to enjoy eternal bliss of Naam to provide the necessary motivation and strength to accept the sweet Will (Hukam) of Waheguru with full faith and fervor:-

-ਸੇਵਕ ਕੀ ਮਨਸਾ ਪੂਰੀ ਭਈ ॥ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਤੇ ਨਿਰਮਲ ਮਤਿ ਲਈ ॥ (Raag Gauri M. 5, GGS. 289-16).
The wishes of the Lord’s servant are fulfilled. From the True Guru, the pure teachings are obtained.

ਜਨ ਕਉ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਹੋਇਓ ਦਇਆਲੁ ॥ ਸੇਵਕੁ ਕੀਨੋ ਸਦਾ ਨਿਹਾਲੁ ॥
Unto His humble servant, God has shown His kindness. He has made His servant eternally happy.

-ਸੇਵਕ ਕਉ ਸੇਵਾ ਬਨਿ ਆਈ ॥ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਬੂਝਿ ਪਰਮ ਪਦੁ ਪਾਈ ॥ (Raag Gauri M. 5, GGS. 291 ?).
The servant’s purpose is to serve; Obeying the Lord’s Command, the supreme status is obtained.

Guru Ram Das Ji who rose to Gurudom from a very humble background (being a blue color worker who used to sell boiled black chick-peas) through devotion to his Guru and Waheguru gives his confession in the following verses:-

-ਤੂ ਆਪੇ ਗੁਰੁ ਚੇਲਾ ਹੈ ਆਪੇ ਗੁਰ ਵਿਚੁ ਦੇ ਤੁਝਹਿ ਧਿਆਈ ॥੧੯॥ (Raag Suhi M.4, GGS. 758-3).
You Yourself are the Guru, and You Yourself are the chaylaa, the disciple; through the Guru, I meditate on You. ||19||

ਜੋ ਤੁਧੁ ਸੇਵਹਿ ਸੋ ਤੂਹੈ ਹੋਵਹਿ ਤੁਧੁ ਸੇਵਕ ਪੈਜ ਰਖਾਈ ॥੨੦॥
Those who serve You, become You. You preserve the honor of Your servants. ||20||

ਭੰਡਾਰ ਭਰੇ ਭਗਤੀ ਹਰਿ ਤੇਰੇ ਜਿਸੁ ਭਾਵੈ ਤਿਸੁ ਦੇਵਾਈ ॥੨੧॥
O Lord, Your devotional worship is a treasure over-flowing. One who loves You, is blessed with it. ||21||

ਜਿਸੁ ਤੂੰ ਦੇਹਿ ਸੋਈ ਜਨੁ ਪਾਏ ਹੋਰ ਨਿਹਫਲ ਸਭ ਚਤੁਰਾਈ ॥੨੨॥
That humble being alone receives it, unto whom You bestow it. All other clever tricks are fruitless. ||22||

The same sentiment is further endorsed by Guru Arjan Dev Ji:-

-ਗੁਰ ਕੈ ਗ੍ਰਿਹਿ ਸੇਵਕੁ ਜੋ ਰਹੈ ॥ ਗੁਰ ਕੀ ਆਗਿਆ ਮਨ ਮਹਿ ਸਹੈ ॥ (Raag Gauri M. 5, GGS. 286-17).
That selfless servant, who lives in the Guru’s household, Is to obey the Guru’s Commands with all his mind.

ਆਪਸ ਕਉ ਕਰਿ ਕਛੁ ਨ ਜਨਾਵੈ ॥ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਰਿਦੈ ਸਦ ਧਿਆਵੈ ॥
He is not to call attention to himself in any way. He is to meditate constantly within his heart on the Name of the Lord.

ਮਨੁ ਬੇਚੈ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਕੈ ਪਾਸਿ ॥ ਤਿਸੁ ਸੇਵਕ ਕੇ ਕਾਰਜ ਰਾਸਿ ॥
One who sells his mind to the True Guru – that humble servant’s affairs are resolved.

ਸੇਵਾ ਕਰਤ ਹੋਇ ਨਿਹਕਾਮੀ ॥ ਤਿਸ ਕਉ ਹੋਤ ਪਰਾਪਤਿ ਸੁਆਮੀ ॥
One who performs selfless service, without thought of reward, Shall attain his Lord and Master.

Essential Attributes of a Sevak:-

Sevak is always attuned to the Naam, the Name of the Lord. On receiving Gurmat, a Sevak is inspired by the Advisory Divine Force of Waheguru and lives in blissful state and imbibed in Naam:-
-ਠਾਕੁਰ ਕਾ ਸੇਵਕੁ ਆਗਿਆਕਾਰੀ ॥ ਠਾਕੁਰ ਕਾ ਸੇਵਕੁ ਸਦਾ ਪੂਜਾਰੀ ॥ (Raag Gauri M. 5, GGS. 285-12).
The servant is obedient to his Lord and Master. The servant worships his Lord and Master forever.

ਠਾਕੁਰ ਕੇ ਸੇਵਕ ਕੈ ਮਨਿ ਪਰਤੀਤਿ ॥ ਠਾਕੁਰ ਕੇ ਸੇਵਕ ਕੀ ਨਿਰਮਲ ਰੀਤਿ ॥
The servant of the Lord Master has faith in his mind. The servant of the Lord Master lives a pure lifestyle.

ਠਾਕੁਰ ਕਉ ਸੇਵਕੁ ਜਾਨੈ ਸੰਗਿ ॥ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕਾ ਸੇਵਕੁ ਨਾਮ ਕੈ ਰੰਗਿ ॥
The servant of the Lord Master knows that the Lord is with him.

Existence of Sevaks:

Guru Arjan Dev Ji traces the existence of Sevaks from time immemorial in Gurbani:-

ਆਦਿ ਮਧਿ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਅੰਤਿ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਅਪਨਾ ਥਾਟੁ ਬਨਾਇਓ ਆਪਿ॥ ਅਪਨੇ ਸੇਵਕ ਕੀ ਆਪੇ ਰਾਖੈ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਮੇਰੇ ਕੋ ਵਡ ਪਰਤਾਪੁ ॥੧॥ (Raag Bilaaval M. 5, GGS. 825-6).
In the beginning, in the middle and in the end, God is our only Lord and Master. He Himself fashioned His Creation.
He Himself saves His servant. Great is the glorious grandeur of my God! ||1||

Waheguru is the Protector of His Sevaks:-

Guru Amar Das Ji and Guru Arjan Dev Ji emphasize that Waheguru treats a Sevak with loving care of the like of parents in various walks of life – thus Waheguru is the Protector of His Sevaks and takes control of Sevak’s needs and responsibilities. All the Sikh Gurus, Bhagats and Mahapurakhs were Divinely protected to lead the Humanity on Spiritual Path as directed by Waheguru:-

-ਆਪੇ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਮੇਲਿ ਸੁਖੁ ਦੇਵੈ ਆਪਣਾਂ ਸੇਵਕੁ ਆਪਿ ਹਰਿ ਭਾਵੈ ॥ ਆਪਣਿਆ ਸੇਵਕਾ ਕੀ ਆਪਿ ਪੈਜ ਰਖੈ ਆਪਣਿਆ ਭਗਤਾ ਕੀ ਪੈਰੀ ਪਾਵੈ ॥ (Raag Bihaagrhaa M. 3, GGS. 555-8).
He Himself causes us to meet the True Guru, and blesses us with peace. His servant is pleasing to the Lord.
He Himself preserves the honor of His servants; He causes others to fall at the feet of His devotees.

ਧਰਮ ਰਾਇ ਹੈ ਹਰਿ ਕਾ ਕੀਆ ਹਰਿ ਜਨ ਸੇਵਕ ਨੇੜਿ ਨ ਆਵੈ ॥ ਜੋ ਹਰਿ ਕਾ ਪਿਆਰਾ ਸੋ ਸਭਨਾ ਕਾ ਪਿਆਰਾ ਹੋਰ ਕੇਤੀ ਝਖਿ ਝਖਿ ਆਵੈ ਜਾਵੈ ॥੧੭॥|
The Righteous Judge of Dharma is a creation of the Lord; he does not approach the humble servant of the Lord.
One who is dear to the Lord, is dear to all; so many others come and go in vain. ||17||

– ਅਪੁਨੇ ਸੇਵਕ ਕੀ ਆਪੇ ਰਾਖੈ ਆਪੇ ਨਾਮੁ ਜਪਾਵੈ ॥ ਜਹ ਜਹ ਕਾਜ ਕਿਰਤਿ ਸੇਵਕ ਕੀ ਤਹਾ ਤਹਾ ਉਠਿ ਧਾਵੈ ॥੧॥ (Raag Asa M. 5, GGS. 403-14).
He Himself preserves His servants; He causes them to chant His Name. Wherever the business and affairs of His servants are, there the Lord hurries to be. ||1||

ਸੇਵਕ ਕਉ ਨਿਕਟੀ ਹੋਇ ਦਿਖਾਵੈ ॥ ਜੋ ਜੋ ਕਹੈ ਠਾਕੁਰ ਪਹਿ ਸੇਵਕੁ ਤਤਕਾਲ ਹੋਇ ਆਵੈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
The Lord appears near at hand to His servant. Whatever the servant asks of his Lord and Master, immediately comes to pass. ||1||Pause||

ਤਿਸੁ ਸੇਵਕ ਕੈ ਹਉ ਬਲਿਹਾਰੀ ਜੋ ਅਪਨੇ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਭਾਵੈ ॥ ਤਿਸ ਕੀ ਸੋਇ ਸੁਣੀ ਮਨੁ ਹਰਿਆ ਤਿਸੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਪਰਸਣਿ ਆਵੈ ॥੨॥੭॥੧੨੯॥
I am a sacrifice to that servant, who is pleasing to his God. Hearing of his glory, the mind is rejuvenated; Nanak comes to touch his feet. ||2||7||129||

-ਸੇਵਕ ਕਉ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਪਾਲਨਹਾਰਾ ॥ ਸੇਵਕ ਕੀ ਰਾਖੈ ਨਿਰੰਕਾਰਾ ॥ (Raag Gauri M. 5, GGS. 285-14).
God is the Cherisher of His servant. The Formless Lord preserves His servant.

ਸੋ ਸੇਵਕੁ ਜਿਸੁ ਦਇਆ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਧਾਰੈ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਸੋ ਸੇਵਕੁ ਸਾਸਿ ਸਾਸਿ ਸਮਾਰੈ ॥੩॥
Unto His servant, God bestows His Mercy. O Nanak, that servant remembers Him with each and every breath. ||3||

ਅਪੁਨੇ ਜਨ ਕਾ ਪਰਦਾ ਢਾਕੈ ॥ ਅਪਨੇ ਸੇਵਕ ਕੀ ਸਰਪਰ ਰਾਖੈ ॥
He covers the faults of His servant. He surely preserves the honor of His servant.

ਅਪਨੇ ਦਾਸ ਕਉ ਦੇਇ ਵਡਾਈ ॥ ਅਪਨੇ ਸੇਵਕ ਕਉ ਨਾਮੁ ਜਪਾਈ ॥
He blesses His slave with greatness. He inspires His servant to chant the Naam, the Name of the Lord.

ਅਪਨੇ ਸੇਵਕ ਕੀ ਆਪਿ ਪਤਿ ਰਾਖੈ ॥ ਤਾ ਕੀ ਗਤਿ ਮਿਤਿ ਕੋਇ ਨ ਲਾਖੈ ॥
He Himself preserves the honor of His servant. No one knows His state and extent.

ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕੇ ਸੇਵਕ ਕਉ ਕੋ ਨ ਪਹੂਚੈ ॥ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕੇ ਸੇਵਕ ਊਚ ਤੇ ਊਚੇ ॥
No one is equal to the servant of God. The servant of God is the highest of the high.

ਜੋ ਪ੍ਰਭਿ ਅਪਨੀ ਸੇਵਾ ਲਾਇਆ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਸੋ ਸੇਵਕੁ ਦਹ ਦਿਸਿ ਪ੍ਰਗਟਾਇਆ ॥੪॥
One whom God applies to His own service, O Nanak – that servant is famous in the ten directions. ||4||

Kirpal Singh
Wellington, New Zealand
kirpal2singh@yahoo.com