ਡਿਠਾ ਸਭੁ ਸੰਸਾਰੁ ਸੁਖੁ ਨ ਨਾਮ ਬਿਨੁ ॥

ddiThaa sabh sa(n)saar sukh na naam bin ||

I have seen the whole world – without the Lord’s Name; there is no peace at all.

ਤਨੁ ਧਨੁ ਹੋਸੀ ਛਾਰੁ ਜਾਣੈ ਕੋਇ ਜਨੁ ॥

tan dhan hosee chhaar jaanai koi jan ||

Body and wealth shall return to dust – hardly anyone realises this.

Baba Buddha Ji was born in October 1506 to Bhai Sugha Randhawa and Bibi Gauran Ji in the village of Kathunangal. He was given the name Bhai Boora at birth and worked alongside his father in the fields.

One day Bhai Bura heard the sounds of singing from the fields. When he investigated, he saw Guru Nanak sahib Ji, who travelled with Bhai Mardana Ji, singing Kirtan and doing veechar with the Sangat. So Bhai Boora went home to his mother and asked her for a pitcher of milk.

When he returned to Guru Sahib with the milk, he said to Guru Ji, “Please tell me how I can break free from this cycle of birth and death”. Guru sahib put the ilk down and asked him why he was interested in talking about liberation at the tender age of 12 years old. Bhai Boora then said, “Guru Ji, I work with my father in the fields. Just when our crops were ripening one day, some soldiers came and took half of our crops. Their horses trampled what we had left. I looked at my father as he watched helplessly as they did this. That’s when I realised that human life is something that won’t last forever, and just like crops take a while to ripen, it must take a very long time for a human mind to experience God”. 

Guru Sahib took Bhai Boora in his arms and said, “you may be young by age, but you are now my Baba Buddha”. Baba Buddha Ji spent time in the Sangat and learnt Gurbani, kirtan, and Katha from that day. When kartarpur sahib was established, Guru Nanak sahib spent time testing their Sikhs to find out which one of them was worthy of the Guru Takht. Baba Buddha Ji would always pass the tests but never once held on to the idea of becoming the Guru. When Bhai Lehna sat on the Guru Takht and became Guru Angad Sahib Ji, Baba Buddha Ji was asked to carry out the ceremony, and after Guru Nanak Sahib Ji, Baba Buddha Ji was the second Gursikh to bow down to Guru Angad Sahib Ji.

Guru Angad Sahib Ji left for Khadur Sahib and started doing Bhagti at the home of Mata Pirahi Ji. Guru Sahib asked her not to reveal his location to anyone. When the Sangat came to Baba Buddha Ji and asked where Guru Sahib was, he took the Sangat along with him and went to Khadur Sahib. He went straight to Mata Pirahi Ji’s house, who told Baba Ji that Guru sahib had asked not to be disturbed. Here Baba Buddha Ji sat down outside the door and starting doing kirtan, singing the Shabad.

ਮੇਰੇ ਲਾਲ ਜੀਉ ਤੇਰਾ ਅੰਤੁ ਨ ਜਾਣਾ ॥

mere laal jeeau teraa a(n)t na jaanaa ||

O my Dear Beloved Lord, Your limits are not known.

ਤੂੰ ਜਲਿ ਥਲਿ ਮਹੀਅਲਿ ਭਰਿਪੁਰਿ ਲੀਣਾ ਤੂੰ ਆਪੇ ਸਰਬ ਸਮਾਣਾ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

too(n) jal thal maheeal bharipur leenaa too(n) aape sarab samaanaa ||1|| rahaau ||

You pervade the water, the land, and the sky; You Yourself are All-pervading. ||1||Pause||

Hearing the kirtan, Guru Sahib came outside, hugged Baba Buddha Ji and said that the teaching Guru Nanak gave you are to reveal the Guru from inside, please teach this to the Sangat as well; it was here where Guru sahib also sang the Shabad; 

ਜਿਸੁ ਪਿਆਰੇ ਸਿਉ ਨੇਹੁ ਤਿਸੁ ਆਗੈ ਮਰਿ ਚਲੀਐ ॥

jis piaare siau neh tis aagai mar chaleeaai ||

Die before the one whom you love;

ਧ੍ਰਿਗੁ ਜੀਵਣੁ ਸੰਸਾਰਿ ਤਾ ਕੈ ਪਾਛੈ ਜੀਵਣਾ ॥੨॥

dhirag jeevan sa(n)saar taa kai paachhai jeevanaa ||2||

to live after he dies is to live a worthless life in this world. ||2||

And: 

ਜੋ ਸਿਰੁ ਸਾਂਈ ਨਾ ਨਿਵੈ ਸੋ ਸਿਰੁ ਦੀਜੈ ਡਾਰਿ ॥

jo sir saa(n)iee naa nivai so sir dheejai ddaar ||

Chop off that head that does not bow to the Lord.

ਨਾਨਕ ਜਿਸੁ ਪਿੰਜਰ ਮਹਿ ਬਿਰਹਾ ਨਹੀ ਸੋ ਪਿੰਜਰੁ ਲੈ ਜਾਰਿ ॥੧॥

naanak jis pi(n)jar meh birahaa nahee so pi(n)jar lai jaar ||1||

O Nanak, that human body, in which there is no pain of separation from the Lord-take that body and burn it. ||1||

When Guru Angad Sahib Ji started their own Sikh learning centre, teaching Gurmukhi and wrestling, Baba Buddha Ji first learned and then became a teacher as well. Baba Ji was well known for their wrestling skills and vast knowledge. 

When the Gurgaddi was passed on to Guru Amar Das Ji, Baba Buddha Ji carried out the Gurgaddi ceremony. Bhai Datu Ji kicked Guru Amar Das Ji and told them to leave Gowindwal Sahib immediately. Guru Ji went back to their village of Basarke, where Gurdwara Sann Sahib now resides. The Sangat once again turned to Baba Buddha Ji for guidance. Baba Ji once again led them to Basarke, where Guru Sahib was staying. Guru Sahib had put up a sign outside the door that said anyone who ensures this door is not a Sikh of the Guru. 

Baba Buddha Ji, so wise and majestic, said to the Sangat, “Now let me show you how to close the doors to the outside world and reveal the True Guru inside you. Baba Ji made a hole at the back of the house and entered through there. When Guru Ji asked him, Baba Buddha Ji said, just like you have said in Gurbani, 

ਵਜਾਇਆ ਵਾਜਾ ਪਉਣ ਨਉ ਦੁਆਰੇ ਪਰਗਟੁ ਕੀਏ ਦਸਵਾ ਗੁਪਤੁ ਰਖਾਇਆ ॥

vajaiaa vaajaa paun nau dhuaare paragaT ke’ee dhasavaa gupat rakhaiaa ||

He blew the breath of life into the musical instrument of the body, and revealed the nine doors; but He kept the Tenth Door hidden.

ਗੁਰਦੁਆਰੈ ਲਾਇ ਭਾਵਨੀ ਇਕਨਾ ਦਸਵਾ ਦੁਆਰੁ ਦਿਖਾਇਆ ॥

gurdhuaarai lai bhaavanee ikanaa dhasavaa dhuaar dhikhaiaa ||

Through the Gurdwara, the Guru’s Gate, some are blessed with loving faith, and the Tenth Door is revealed to them.

I have only done what you have been teaching the Gursikhs to do all this time. The 22 Manjhis or parcharaks were also under the tutelage of Baba Buddha Ji, and Baba Ji would spend their time in the langar halls doing Sewa and partaking in the construction of Gurdwara Boali Sahib as well. 

When Guru Ram Das Ji started constructing Amritsar Sahib and the Sarovar, Baba Buddha Ji would sit under the Biri tree and oversee the construction whilst doing Naam Simran. He would continue to do Katha as the Gursikhs did sewa so that they could learn more about the wonders of Gurbani. 

When Guru Arjan Sahib Ji sat on the Guru Takht, one of the first things they began working on was the compilation of the Aadh Granth Sahib, written by the hands of Bhai Gurdas Ji. On the day of the first parkash purab, Baba Buddha Ji was asked to do the sewa of Guru Granth Sahib Ji Maharaj, and take out the very first Hukamnama,

ਸੰਤਾ ਕੇ ਕਾਰਜਿ ਆਪਿ ਖਲੋਇਆ ਹਰਿ ਕੰਮੁ ਕਰਾਵਣਿ ਆਇਆ ਰਾਮ ॥

sa(n)taa ke kaaraj aap khaloiaa har ka(n)m karaavan aaiaa raam ||

• 

• 

• 

The Lord Himself has stood up to resolve the affairs of the Saints; He has come to complete their tasks.

Baba Buddha Ji would also teach Sikhs and even the Guru’s Shastar Vidhiya, hence why all the Guru’s were Shastardhari. 

When Pirthi Chand began spreading rumours, saying that Guru Arjan Dev Ji will have no successor because they do not have a child, Mata Ganga Ji was asked to go to Baba Buddha Ji, who said that a great warrior would be born, who would smash the heads of tyrants like i have smashed this onion. 

At the Birth of their son, Baba Buddha Ji was asked to provide the name for the child. Baba Ji looked at the child, and said that his name is Hargobind and he will be a great warrior and fair king. 

After the Shaheedi of Guru Arjan Dev Ji, Baba Buddha Ji granted Guru Hargobind Sahib two swords, and taught them many important things. We know from Gurbilas Patshahi 6vi that Guru Sahib regarded Baba Budha Ji as a teacher.

It was then when Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji created Sri Akal Takht Sahib, with Bhai Gurdas Ji and Baba Buddha Ji. The Guru became a ruler who had now established a kingdom, once again challenging the Mughal reign. It was here when two court poets, Natha and Abdula wrote;

Do talwara badhiyaa ek miri di, ek piri di 

Ek azmat di ik raaj di, ik rakhi kare vajeer di 

Himat baha kot ghar, darvaja blakh bakheer di 

Naal sipahi neel nal, maar dustaa kre tageer ji 

Pag teri ki jahagir di!

 Baba Buddha Ji was now at the age of 125, knowing that their time was near they asked Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji to come and visit them in their village of Kathunangal. Guru sahib  along with Bhi Gurdas Ji, Baba Bidhi Chand Ji and other Gursikhs came to Baba Ji’s house. Guru Ji sat on the bed that Baba Ji was lying on, and Baba Ji asked Guru sahib if he could make one final request of them. All he asked for was to be forgiven. Many of the Sikhs sat there began to cry, as Baba Bidhi Chand Ji asked Baba Ji how to become a true Sikh. Baba ji said to them;

ਨਾਮ ਜਪੋ, ਆਪਣਾ ਆਪ ਛੱਡੋ, ਤੇ ਓਟ ਬਸ ਗੁਰੂ ਦੀ ਰੱਖੋ 

Naam Japo, Aapna Aap Shado te Oot bas Guru di rakho. 

Recite naam, get rid of your own ego, and rely only on the Guru.

Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji asked Baba Ji to recite Japji Sahib, teh same way they heard it from Guru Nanak Sahib Ji maharaj. As Baba ji reached the final lines of the Salok, he looked at the Sikhs, folded his hands begging them to heed these final words;

ਜਿਨੀ ਨਾਮੁ ਧਿਆਇਆ ਗਏ ਮਸਕਤਿ ਘਾਲਿ ॥

jinee naam dhiaaiaa ge masakat ghaal ||

Those who have meditated on the Naam, the Name of the Lord, and departed after having worked by the sweat of their brows

ਨਾਨਕ ਤੇ ਮੁਖ ਉਜਲੇ ਕੇਤੀ ਛੁਟੀ ਨਾਲਿ ॥੧॥

naanak te mukh ujale ketee chhuTee naal ||1||

-O Nanak, their faces are radiant in the Court of the Lord, and many are saved along with them! ||1||

Baba Buddha Ji took the Sikhs on the journey from the Gurgaddi to the Akal Takht and the stick to Miri Piri. In the 125 years of their history, they set the path of how a Sikh should become spiritually wise as well as physically and mentally formidable. They truly lived up to the words of Gurbani; 

ਦੀਖਿਆ ਆਖਿ ਬੁਝਾਇਆ ਸਿਫਤੀ ਸਚਿ ਸਮੇਉ ॥

dheekhiaa aakh bujhaiaa sifatee sach sameau ||

Those who have accepted the Guru’s Teachings, and who have found the path, remain absorbed in the Praises of the True Lord.

ਤਿਨ ਕਉ ਕਿਆ ਉਪਦੇਸੀਐ ਜਿਨ ਗੁਰੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਦੇਉ ॥੧॥

tin kau kiaa upadheseeaai jin gur naanak dheau ||1||

What teachings can be imparted to those who have the Divine Guru Nanak as their Guru? ||1||