When Bhagat Ravi Das arrived at years of discretion he began to wait on saints. He used to present them with everything he could get from his father's house. His father was displeased at this and gave him a seperate place to live. Though his father was a rich man, he gave nothing to his son.
In due time Bhagat Ravi Das was married and supported himself and his wife by making shoes, and lived very happily. Whenever he saw a holy man he supplied him gratuitously with covering for their feet.
Bhagat Ravi Das was ever immersed in his devotions a circumstance which lef to the abandonment of his trade and the deterioration of his circumstances. He soon presented all the external marks of poverty and hard life, yet his heart was glad and happy in the contemplation of Waheguru. It was during this period of distress that a holy man desired to render him assistance. Bhagat Ravi Das gave him bread to eat and lavished every attention on him.
His visitor in return presented him with a philosopher's stone, explained its qualities and told him to keep it carefully. Bhagat Ravi Das replied that he did not require it, as his property and wealth consisted in the name of Waheguru. When the visitor saw that Bhagat Ravi Das absolutely coveted nothing, he implored him to accept the philosopher's stone.
Bhagat Ravi Das told the visitor that he might leave it in the thatch of his house, by which he meant that the article was not worth acceptance. The visitor obeyed and departed. On that ocassion Bhagat Ravi Das composed the following hymn:
God's name is the great wealth of God's saints;
Day and day it increases and in no way decreases,
Nothing can steal it either by day or by night; its possessor sleeps secure in his home.
O God, what is the need of a stone for someone who possesses this wealth?
After thirteen months the visitor returned and found Bhagat Ravi Das Ji, in the same circumstances as before. He asked what had become of the philosopher's stone. Bhagat Ravi Das Ji said, 'It must be where you put it; I have been afraid to touch it.'
Upon this the visitor took it from the thatch and departed, fully satisfied that Bhagat Ravi Das desired nor required no earthly wealth.
This Shabad is by Bhagat Ravi Daas Ji in Raag Gauree on Ang 346
gourree bairaagani
ik oa(n)kaar sathigur prasaadh ||
sathajug sath thaethaa jagee dhuaapar poojaachaar ||
theena jug theena dhirrae kal kaeval naam adhhaar ||1||
paar kaisae paaeibo rae ||
mo so kooo n kehai samajhaae ||
jaa thae aavaa gavan bilaae ||1|| rehaao ||
bahu bidhh dhharam niroopeeai karathaa dheesai sabh loe ||
kavan karam thae shhootteeai jih saadhhae sabh sidhh hoe ||2||
karam akaram beechaareeai sa(n)kaa sun baedh puraan ||
sa(n)saa sadh hiradhai basai koun hirai abhimaan ||3||
baahar oudhak pakhaareeai ghatt bheethar bibidhh bikaar ||
sudhh kavan par hoeibo such ku(n)char bidhh biouhaar ||4||
rav pragaas rajanee jathhaa gath jaanath sabh sa(n)saar ||
paaras maano thaabo shhueae kanak hoth nehee baar ||5||
param paras gur bhaetteeai poorab likhath lilaatt ||
ounaman man man hee milae shhuttakath bajar kapaatt ||6||
bhagath jugath math sath karee bhram ba(n)dhhan kaatt bikaar ||
soee bas ras man milae gun niragun eaek bichaar ||7||
anik jathan nigreh keeeae ttaaree n ttarai bhram faas ||
praem bhagath nehee oopajai thaa thae ravidhaas oudhaas ||8||1||
Gauree Bairaagan:
One Universal Creator God. By The Grace Of The True Guru:
In the Golden Age of Sat Yuga, was Truth; in the Silver Age of Trayta Yuga, charitable feasts; in the Brass Age of Dwaapar Yuga, there was worship.
In those three ages, people held to these three ways. But in the Iron Age of Kali Yuga, the Name of the Lord is your only Support. ||1||
How can I swim across?
No one has explained to me,
so that I might understand how I can escape reincarnation. ||1||Pause||
So many forms of religion have been described; the whole world is practicing them.
What actions will bring emancipation, and total perfection? ||2||
One may distinguish between good and evil actions, and listen to the Vedas and the Puraanas,
but doubt still persists. Skepticism continually dwells in the heart, so who can eradicate egotistical pride? ||3||
Outwardly, he washes with water, but deep within, his heart is tarnished by all sorts of vices.
So how can he become pure? His method of purification is like that of an elephant, covering himself with dust right after his bath! ||4||
With the rising of the sun, the night is brought to its end; the whole world knows this.
It is believed that with the touch of the Philosopher's Stone, copper is immediately transformed into gold. ||5||
When one meets the Supreme Philosopher's Stone, the Guru, if such pre-ordained destiny is written on one's forehead,
then the soul blends with the Supreme Soul, and the stubborn doors are opened wide. ||6||
Through the way of devotion, the intellect is imbued with Truth; doubts, entanglements and vices are cut away.
The mind is restrained, and one attains joy, contemplating the One Lord, who is both with and without qualities. ||7||
I have tried many methods, but by turning it away, the noose of doubt is not turned away.
Love and devotion have not welled up within me, and so Ravi Daas is sad and depressed. ||8||1||
Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh
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