Give to the Unknown without Fear
Siri Singh Sahib Yogi Bhajan
"Teraa ditaa lahee-e har har kahee-e. This is one line you should always remember. It is a simple line, which means ‘whatever you sow, so shall you reap,’ and say, ‘Har Har’. That is the exact literal translation.
We pledge and honor the obligation of Dasvandh by ourselves. Giving to Dasvandh is the only act in Sikh Dharma where there is only a self-enforced decree. It is not a command. Whenever you take Dasvandh out of your earnings, you will be scared, believe me or not. Try it. Take the money and take one-tenth out. You will be scared. It always happens. Even if you try not to be scared, you will be scared, because you are giving something to the Unknown. You are always willing to take from the Unknown, but you have never learned to give to the Unknown.
Because of that, you cannot direct your soul through the heavens. That’s why every other religion stops at heaven and hell. Sikh Dharma does not recognize heaven and hell. There are millions of heavens, and millions of hells. Who do we look to in order to get beyond heaven and hell to the Unknown? The answer is a very basic part of Siri Guru Granth Sahib. The purpose of this life is to relate to the Unknown. My total self is known and unknown, and if I cannot give to the Unknown, cannot befriend the Unknown, cannot talk to the Unknown, cannot love the Unknown, I am not living at all. I am nothing but meat, bones, blood, pimples and pus if I cannot relate to the Unknown. The known is very boring, and makes one very unhappy. It is the Unknown which is subtle, sophisticated, inspiring, elevating, and promising. It makes you happy, makes you strong, keeps you going. If you cannot give one-tenth of yourself, one-tenth of your time, one-tenth of your earnings, to the Unknown, what can you give?
It is a most complicated matter of life. The life says, if you give one-tenth to the Unknown, the Unknown will give you seven hundred percent back. It is true. It will give you nine occult faculties, ‘nao niddhi’. It will give you ‘ataaraa(n) siddhi,’ eighteen perfections, nine treasures. If you totally keep track of it and multiply it, you will see how the universe gives back. You live by habits; fear is a habit. Give to the Unknown without fear, so giving becomes a habit; then there’s no fear. Give. Give Dasvandh. Be happy."