Written in Espanola, New Mexico, 31 August, 1994

The steps were wet, the marble cold,

As I walked through lifetimes of prayer,

The dark morning sky over this place, so old,

Held the vibrations, which hung in the air.

 

We climbed to the top while the music played

As my withering mind gave way to my heart,

In my hands a garland and prashad, just made,

Seemed like treasures and sacred works of art.

 

The lights from inside glowed yellow and bright,

Then I looked up and saw light on the dome,

And deep in my heart day broke from night,

I had awakened and found my way home.

 

And off to the right where a few people stood,

They were pouring water into the pilgrim’s hands,

They sipped it and splashed it, the bad and the good,

For Guru’s mercy falls, like the rain, on all lands.

 

We walked to that place where Guru once sat

And lovingly took on Himself the plague, 

For thousands of people were saved by that

Sacrifice for them and the coming age.

 

The water, cold, fell into my palms 

And trickled down my throat and face,

While below, children begged for alms,

As the morning light began to fill the space.

 

As we started to walk in I heard him say,

Like a voice that fell, softly, from the sky,

“This water heals people, even today,”

Then I choked and started to cry.

And I understood within myself,

The depth of Guru’s love for us all,

That sweet little boy, who sacrificed Himself,

Simply listened and answered the call.

 

For many days after when I would recall

That moment, when with my teacher I stood,

I would begin to cry and my tears would fall,

But I felt grateful and happy and good.

 

That water heals people, even today,

But it springs from the heart, not the ground,

For it is when we walk in Guru’s way,

That the source and the stream are found.

 

Gurutej Singh Khalsa is a yogi, warrior, businessman, poet, healer, and teacher. For 35 years he studied Kundalini Yoga and the teachings of the Sikhs from his teacher Siri Singh Sahib Bhai Sahib Harbhajan Singh Khalsa Yogiji, aka Yogi Bhajan (1929 – 2004). As a trained law enforcement officer, Gurutej was a personal bodyguard and aide to Yogi Bhajan and traveled the world with him. He is the Founder of Akal Security, Inc., which he grew from a small start-up business in his living room to the largest privately held security services contractor in the United States and largest provider of protective services to the U.S. Government. Gurutej is a respected and recognized teacher, speaker, healer, and counsellor in his own right and has taught Kundalini Yoga, the science of meditation, and the teachings of the Sikhs all over the world. In 2001 he published a book of poetry, Children of the Cusp, about his experiences as a student on the spiritual path under the guidance of a great teacher. In 2014 he published his moving and inspiring novel RAJNI, which was awarded the Gold Seal of Literary Excellence. Drawn from myth, legend, and historical events and the first of a trilogy,RAJNI is a deeply moving epic about the powers of love, sacrifice, and the elevation of the soul. Gurutej Singh lives in Singapore with his wife and son. Click here to purchase a copy of Children of the Cusp