Guru Nanak and the Cannibal

     Guru Nanak, Bala and Mardana traveled to many, many places all over India. They encountered lots of different people and situations and always Guru ji blessed every spot where he touched his feet. He healed all those he saw. He gave the medicine of Truth to everyone he spoke to. 

     One time Mardana got hungry and went to get some food in the woods near by. What he didn't know is that a cannibal, someone who eats humans, saw Mardana. The cannibal, named Kauda, tied a rope around Mardana and took him back to his dwellings. He boiled some oil in a huge pot which he was going to cook Mardana in. Even while Kauda started to chop other foods to cook with him, Mardana just kept praying in his mind, "Satinam, Satinam, Satinam...."

     Guru Nanak felt what was going on. He said, "Bala, let us go find Mardana, he needs our help now." So they came to the place where Kauda was about to cook Mardana. At first Kauda the cannibal wanted to eat the two new men who came his way. His mind had been twisted almost his whole life. His body never felt real peace. Even though he was a king among the wicked, his soul suffered from the dark path of his life.

     When Kauda saw the Guru, he felt different somehow. Guru Nanak didn't have to say anything, his eyes spoke more than words can. Kauda knew he had no secrets from this new traveler with the bright eyes. He felt the Guru looking so deep in to him that he knew not only his whole life, but his soul too. He felt the Guru's understanding. He felt that Guru ji didn't want to punish him for all the awful things he had done in his life. The Guru saw who he was and understood him, had compassion for him. It's hard to imagine someone having compassion for a man who kills and eats other people. The Guru had no fear of him but just radiated love.

     Kauda fell on his knees and began to cry. Without even saying a word Guru Nanak had made this fearsome man helpless. Without raising a fist Guru Nanak made this filthy murderer defenseless. The Guru said, "By your actions you decide your destiny. Why do you do the actions which will make your burn?" The Guru kindly said, "You have become blind and do not know what you do."

     Kauda fell at the Guru's feet crying. Guru ji said, "God is Forgiveness and Compassion. If you truly want to change your ways, change them. Everyone was created by the Creator. Everyone will eventually go back to the Creator. You are a child of God. Always remember God and chant the Naam. Earn an honest living and share with others. You must do this and show all others to do the same." Kauda took everything the Guru said to heart. He went from being filthy and dirty to being well dressed and clean. Instead of stealing from people and killing them, he worked hard and shared with others. The rest of his life he dedicated to living the teachings of the Guru. He became a righteous man and always remembered the Guru in his heart. God loves everyone.