The Platform Test - Choosing Guru Ram Das

Dadi: "Guddu, tonight I'll tell you how a simple test of building a platform chose one of the greatest Sikh Gurus."

Guddu: "Building a platform? That doesn't sound like a very spiritual test."

Dadi: "That's exactly what makes it so powerful, beta. Guru Amar Das, the third Sikh Guru, was old and needed to choose his successor. He had two sons-in-law: Bhai Rama and Bhai Jetha."

Guddu: "Did he just pick the one he liked better?"

Dadi: "A true Guru doesn't choose by preference. Guru Amar Das set a test. He asked both sons-in-law to build a "thara" - a platform - near the holy Baoli, where he could sit for prayers."

Guddu: "That sounds easy enough."

Dadi: "Bhai Rama built his platform and presented it proudly. The Guru looked at it and said, "This is not satisfactory. Tear it down and build again.""

Guddu: "What? Was it really that bad?"

Dadi: "We don't know, beta. Perhaps it was fine. But Rama protested: "I worked hard on this! What's wrong with it?" Still, he agreed and rebuilt it. Again the Guru said, "Not good enough." This happened four times!"

Guddu: "Four times? That would be frustrating!"

Dadi: "Rama gave up. He said angrily, "The Guru has grown old and lost his judgment." And he refused to try again."

Guddu: "What about Bhai Jetha?"

Dadi: "*smiling* When the Guru rejected Jetha's platform, Jetha said nothing. He simply demolished it and started again. The Guru rejected it again - and again - and again."

Guddu: "How many times?"

Dadi: "Seven times, beta. Seven complete rebuilds. Each time, Jetha worked day and night without a single complaint."

Guddu: "*amazed* He never got angry?"

Dadi: "After the seventh time, he came to the Guru and said humbly, "I am a fool. Please have regard for me as your son and guide me.""

Guddu: "That's so different from Rama!"

Dadi: "The Guru was deeply moved. He embraced Jetha and declared: "Because you obeyed my orders seven times and built the platform seven times, seven generations of your family shall sit on the Guru's throne.""

Guddu: "Did that come true?"

Dadi: "Perfectly true! The Guruship passed through Jetha's lineage for seven generations - Guru Arjan, Guru Hargobind, Guru Har Rai, Guru Har Krishan, Guru Tegh Bahadur, and Guru Gobind Singh. Seven Gurus, just as prophesied!"

Guddu: "But Dadi, why was the test about building platforms? Couldn't he test them on spiritual knowledge?"

Dadi: "That's the profound part, beta. Anyone can speak wise words or appear spiritual for a short time. But true devotion is shown in ordinary moments, in how we respond to difficulties, in whether we complain or comply."

Guddu: "Rama was good at building, but bad at obeying?"

Dadi: "He had ego. He thought his judgment was as good as the Guru's. When told to rebuild, he questioned instead of trusting. Jetha had humility - he trusted that the Guru's instructions had meaning, even when he didn't understand."

Guddu: "Like when you tell me to do something and I don't know why?"

Dadi: "*nodding* Sometimes elders see things we don't. The wise student trusts and obeys first, and understands later. The foolish one demands explanations before moving."

Guddu: "But shouldn't we think for ourselves?"

Dadi: "Yes, but there's a difference between thinking and ego. Jetha wasn't mindless - he chose to trust. That choice was wisdom, not weakness. He understood that spiritual growth requires surrender."

Guddu: "What happened to Rama?"

Dadi: "He lived his life, but missed the chance for greatness. His moment of frustration cost him an eternal legacy."

Guddu: "And Jetha became Guru Ram Das?"

Dadi: "He was given the name "Ram Das" meaning "Servant of God" - because he had proven through that simple platform test that he knew how to serve. True greatness comes not from building the perfect thing, but from the patience to rebuild without complaint."

Guddu: "I'll try to remember that when things are hard."

Dadi: "When life asks you to rebuild your work, your relationships, your efforts - don't give up after four tries like Rama. Keep going like Guru Ram Das. Seven times if needed. The reward is not in the platform - it's in who you become while building it."

Guddu: "Goodnight, Dadi. I'll try to be patient like Guru Ram Das!"

Dadi: "Sweet dreams, mera bachcha. May you always have the humility to rebuild and the faith to keep going."