Sins are erased, merits take their place, and peace abideth in the heart.

RAG MARU ASHTAPADI

A hypocritical Sanyasi called Brahmpuri was mentioned to the Guru as a very worthy man. The Guru, knowing his real condition, composed the following:--

The perverse having through avarice abandoned their own homes, ruin themselves by casting covetous eyes on the houses of others.

They have ruined their state as householders; they have not met the True Guru, and through their stupidity are involved in a whirlpool.

Of wandering in foreign countries and reading texts they grow weary, and their covetousness increaseth.

Of weak intellect, they know not the Word; they fill their bellies like cattle.

O Sir, the way of the Sanyasi should be this

He should under the Guru's instruction only think of the one God, love His name, and be satisfied with it.

But the hypocrite mixeth ochre, dyeth his dress with it, and weareth the garb of a beggar;

He teareth his clothes to make a patched coat, and putteth money into his wallet;

Blind that he is and bereft of shame, he beggeth from house to house and preacheth to the world;

Led astray by superstition he knoweth not the Word and loseth the game.

The fire which is within him is not extinguished without the Guru, yet he heateth himself with external fires[1] also.

[1. The penance of five fires is frequently spoken of and resorted to {footnote p. 359} by Hindu devotees during the sultriest time of an Indian summer. They light fires around them in the four directions; the sun over them is the fifth.]

{p. 359}

There is no worship without serving the Guru; how can man of himself recognize God?

He who slandereth others shall abide in hell, and be separated from the Supreme Spirit.

He who wandereth to the sixty-eight places of pilgrimage is ruined thereby; how can he wash away the filth of his sins?

He sifteth dust, applieth it to his body, and looketh for the way of mammon.

He knoweth not the one God who is with him whether he be at home or abroad; if any one tell him the truth, he groweth angry.

While reading texts his mouth uttereth falsehoods; that is all the wisdom a man without a guru possesseth.

How can man obtain happiness without repeating the Name? How shall he be honoured without the Name?

Some shave their heads, some twist long hair round them or wear a top-knot; others through pride remain silent;

But without the love of divine knowledge their minds waver and hasten in every direction.

Maddened by worldly love they reject nectar and drink deadly poison.

They obey not God's order; their evil deeds shall not be effaced, and they shall enter the bodies of beasts.

The Kapari with a bowl in his hand and excessive greed in his heart

Abandoneth his own wife, and filled with lust coveteth his neighbour's.