By Hari Jiwan Singh

What’s the difference between obedience, blind faith, and stupidity? Do you know? It’s a difficult question. One that obedience has allowed me to answer. Please, let me explain.

Let’s start with obedience. Now, that’s a very charged word. These days, "do your own thing" is much more acceptable. It used to be that you had no choice - obedience to the king, or the consequences would follow for lack thereof. Of course, that led to massive abuse. Those in charge could pretty much do what they wanted. Many still do. Much of what they wanted wasn’t good for us so we rebelled. Many still are.

I’m not discussing how this rebelling has led us to just refocusing our projection on who we would follow next all the way down to projecting to follow ourselves. Many of us are blessed to now have a choice. I’m discussing that which we call free will really isn’t, it’s just obedience refocused.

The important rule that is for obedience and its benefits, is: the more obedient you are to a good discipline, a technique, to that which you want to become, the quicker you become it. So, whether we like it or not, obedience is the process for making your projection your reality.

Of course, an obvious question arrises: To what are you obedient? You are obedient to something whether you see it or not. When this obedience is your projection, it’s called blind faith.

Blind faith is great. It’s actualized hope. Life always feels better when there’s hope. Hope is the sexiest thing on the planet. Actualized spiritual hope leads to gratitude. You become so grateful for the experienced of God’s wonderful hand playing out your life in His expectations that you’re more and more grateful and, therefore, more and more obedient. It’s the true circle of Infinity. True spiritual obedience leads to gratitude; gratitude leads to devotion; devotion leads to trust; trust leads to love; and, love leads to merger with God.

You can’t help yourself loving God and Guru more and more and you trust that this love is the key to God’s heart. You trust because you experience it. Your trust becomes so reciprocal that God hugs you more and more, deeper and deeper. And, as we all know, God knows how to hug. He’s the best hugger.

Therefore, the more obedient you are to the true teachings, the more God hugs you. The more God hugs you, the more trust you have in His having your back. So much so that you depend on it, know it, and experience it. You and God have become one. Obedience did this.

The awareness of your blessings humbles you to the point of surrender. That’s the spiritual word for obedience. Surrender is a more acceptable word for the sacrifice it takes. It sounds like you're getting something back. That’s more my style and I’m unabashed about it.

My sacrifice is to my Guru, and my Guru is not the Guru of poverty. In fact, He’s just the opposite. He’s the King of Kings. He’s the one I’ve given my obedience to, so prosperity is His gift. It’s not about me, it’s about what God wants to give me. At this point, surrender becomes easier and easier.

Now, let’s discuss stupidity. To God, we’re all stupid. However, our stupidity has begun the process to get us to blind faith. We are so grateful for this progression that we love our stupidity. It got us there! Stupidity is defined in this world as doing something stupid. We all get it. Most would agree that believing in something that takes blind faith is stupid. I would, but I’ve seen the necessity for stupidity.

In order to pursue spirituality outside customs is stupid. Everyone says so. So, you must be stupid, at least in customary vocabulary, in order to pursue not just spirituality, but spirituality outside of established customs. You’ve challenged the security of custom and the condemnation which typically comes with it, so compassion is called for, not judgement. “They know not what they do.”

As the great sage Forrest Gump said, “Stupid is as stupid does!” When stupid does right, magic happens.

So, there’s really no difference between obedience, blind faith, and stupidity. They’re like a hand fitting inside a glove one finger at a time. They make the whole. They’re a progression. They’re complementary. They’re authentic. And, they’re synergistic. Stay tuned,

In the Humility of Service and Gratitude,
MSS Hari Jiwan Singh Khalsa
Chief of Protocol
Sangat Representative