This Sakhi is taken from ‘Sikhan Di Bhagat Mala’, an eighteenth-century text originating from the Giani Sampardha of Bhai Mani Singh Ji Shaheed. This text contains Sakhis of the Sikhs of Guru Nanak Dev Ji to Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji as recounted by Bhai Mani Singh Ji Shaheed to the Sangat, based on the names of Sikhs in Bhai Gurdas Ji’s 11th Vaar. In the following Sakhi, Sri Guru Hargobind Ji explains the roots of Gursikhi to a Sikh, Bhai Chooharr Chaujharr Ji using the analogy of a tree:
ਸਾਖੀ ਹੋਰ ਚਲੀ ਭਾਈ ਚੂਹੜ ਉਝੜ ਭਾਈ ਚੂਹੜ ਚਉਝੜ ਲਖਉ ਰਹਿੰਦਾ ਸੀ ਤੇ ਅੱਠੇ ਪਹਿਰ ਟੁਰਦਿਆਂ ਵਿਰਦਿਆਂ ਕੰਮ ਕਰਦਿਆਂ ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਦਾ ਨਾਮ ਜਪਦਾ ਰਹੇ। ਛਿਵੀਂ ਪਾਤਿਸਾਹੀ ਪਾਸ ਪ੍ਰਸ਼ਨ ਕੀਤਾ: ਸਚੇ ਪਾਤਿਸਾਹਿ! ਸਿੱਖੀ ਦਾ ਮਲੁ ਕਿਆ ਹੈ ? ਤਾਂ ਬਚਨੁ ਹੋਇਆ: ਮਨ ਨੀਵਾਂ। ਸਿਖੀ ਦੇ ਟਾਸ ਕਉਣ ਹੈਨਿ? ਤਾਂ ਬਚਨੁ ਹੋਇਆ: ਸੇਵਾ ਟਹਿਲ ਸਿਖੀ ਪਤ੍ਰ ਕੌਣ ਹੈਨਿ? ਤਾਂ ਬਚਨ ਹੋਇਆ: ਸਾਧ ਸੰਗਤਿ। ਸਿਖੀ ਦਾ ਫਲੁ ਕੌਣ ਹੈ? ਤਾਂ ਬਚਨ ਹੋਇਆ: ਸ਼ਬਦ ਸਮਝਣਾਂ, ਇਹੁ ਸਿਖੀ ਦਾ ਫਲ ਹੈ, ਜਿਸ ਨੇ ਜਗਤ ਨੂੰ ਨਾ ਜਾਤਾ ਹੈ ਤੇ ਆਤਮਾ ਸਤਿ ਜਾਤਾ ਹੈ, ਸੋਈ ਸਿਖੁ ਹੈ॥੧੧੩॥ - ਸਿੱਖਾਂ ਦੀ ਭਗਤਮਾਲਾ
"Bhai Chooharr Chaujharr lived in Lucknow and would recite the Naam of Vaheguru, 24/7 while attending all his worldly tasks. Once he went to Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji and asked a question: Sache Patshah! (O true King!) What is the mool (roots) of Sikhi? Guru Ji said: Man Neeva (humility). He then asked: What are the branches of Sikhi? Guru Ji said: Seva Tehal (selfless service). The Sikh asked: What are the leaves of Sikhi? Guru Ji said: Saadhsangat (the company of Saints). Bhai Sahib then asked: Guru Ji! What is the phal (fruit) of practising Sikhi? Guru Ji said, the fruit is understanding the Shabad, the fruit of Sikhi has been received by that person who has understood this world is false, and only the Aatma is true, they are truly a Sikh." (Samapti of Sakhi)
In the above Sakhi, the analogy of a tree has been given. Guru Sahib explains that the tree of Gursikhi, its very root/seed is humility. Without humility, Sikhi cannot begin to sprout. How do the branches of this tree expand and grow? Through Nishkaam Seva (selfless service). The tree of Sikhi starts to blossom in Saadhsangat. Finally, the fruit which is received is the Giaan of Sat and Asat (Vivek Veechar), discerning what is true and false. Recognising this world and all else as false/transitory, one can realise their true form (Aatma).