Shri Nathji would say time and again:
There is no one in the world we can call our own, not even our own body. Everything and everyone changes and decays–the entire world slips away with time. There is one and only one Permanent Unchangeable Truth, and that is God.
Even if you live in a kingdom where the king is your friend, he will not be present by your side all the time. In times of need you may send for him but he will not be able to come at once. It will take time for him to reach your side, by which time it may be too late.
No friend or relative in the world can ever remain with you each and every moment of your life. Even your own body deserts you in sleep. If you are sleeping and a snake comes to bite you, your body will not be able to protect you, because of the sleep. In illness and old age the powers of your body desert you again, and finally in old age your body bids you a final goodbye.
Shri Nathji said in Persian:
Yaareen beguzeen ke bevafaayi na kunad
Dil khastaa turaa dar aashanaayi na kunad
Paibastaa dar aagoshe kinaarat gardard
Hargiz za to yak gaam judaayi na kunad
Make such a friend in life who shall not betray thee,
Who shall not break thy heart in love,
Who shall hold thee always in his embrace
And never be separate from thee even for a single step
No friend in the world could ever have these qualifications. Only God could be so kind as to be forever by your side in every breath of life. He is your Eternal Friend. He will be by your side when everyone else has left you, He will never betray you, nor will He ever break your heart. He will come to your aid even before you can call out to Him. And, most of all, He will embrace you in His Love.
“Tum mere paas hote ho goyaa
Jab koyi doosraa naheen hotaa
Thou art with me, when-
There is no one else
Shri Nathji used to say: I have come as your servant–nay your slave–your Ghulam, one who wants nothing from you, and who is always with you at all moments of your life, as freely available as the air. You can understand for yourself now why I make the claim of being Ghulam Rue Zameen–the Servant of the Earth!
Yes, indeed, despite his humility, Shri Nathji was that Everlasting and Eternal Friend of humanity.
He had often said:
I am a very old companion of yours.”
“I was your companion even before the Universe came into existence.”