“Can we live in Peace when there is so much chaos in this World”– The question directed me to this Mindfulness – Baba Nanak has his ways of reaching out to me. A call from my Guiding Angel helped me revise my lessons that I share TODAY.
I will be sharing with you a “Bani” that can Gift us Peaceful Existences amidst the chaotic storms that come to destroy our Peace of Mind.
Here’s a Connect for us to get ANCHORED to this LIFE LESSON – When we are taught on how to “Drive a Car”, many sessions are taken and rules are explained – We are expected to follow the rules and regulations as we drive on the road, but in spite of being a Good Student in class, when we take our car out on the roads, we are faced with challenges – we may be following the rules but not everyone is interested in following them – Precise reasons, why accidents take place…We may not be at fault and yet when our car is involved in an accident, our anger is justified 😦
Similar is Life…Time and again, we are reminded of how to “Live a Peaceful Life” – We are told that if we wish to be HAPPY then our Expectations from others must be ZERO…and yet we fail in our LIFE…ever wondered WHY ?
Do sit down and check your Choices – Was the Rule forgotten by YOU ?
Maybe NOT – The rule is very much a part of your “Value system” but there is no guarantee that it is also a part of all those who are a part of our LIFE…Not everyone who learns how to DRIVE a CAR, will follow the RULES of the ROAD…and so when things get MESSY in our LIFE, we feel MISERABLE 😦
To expect from others is our MISTAKE and yet many of us continue to have “Expectations” from others and thus Pain becomes a constant feature of our Life. Are we too blame the OTHER for this PAIN that we have self invited in our life by having “Expectations from others”…
I invite you for a Reflective Moment RIGHT HERE !
Here is a pause Moment for us – If you are like me, who is on a Quest to get answers to how to keep PAIN away from our LIFE – Read the “Sukhmani Sahib” – A fabulous Bani written by the fifth Guru Arjan Dev ji.
Scholars take this “Bani” to be the greatest composition of Guru Arjan – One that offers solace to the Mind and resolves all queries that come to bother the being…
History Records reveals that Guru ji wrote this composition for his devotees who were suffering from great physical pain and mental anguish. The devotees would often complain to Guru ji about their “Wandering Mind” – The devotees said that the Mind is only stable in the presence of a Guru – and when they set out to fulfil their worldly responsibilities – the mind wanders and they get diverted from their Purpose of Life – Diversion directs them to wrong lanes – Life gets messy and painful becomes each day. The devotees would often plead Guru ji to write verses that when recited can make EACH DAY (24 hrs.) not only Productive but also Peaceful.
Seeing his devotees in PAIN, Guru Arjan Dev ji decided to compose a Bani with 24 Verses – Recitation of which would provide the Devotees’ Mind Protection for 24 Hours. All wandering would STOP and one would be Happy and Content as the Worldly obligations were being fulfilled.
Guru ji chose to named the Bani “SUKHMANI SAHIB” The Perfect Blessing that every Devotee seeks.
The word “Sukhmani” means a “JEWEL of PEACE” – The word SUKHMANI when split consists of TWO WORDS
- Sukh means “Peace“
- Mani means “Jewel“
Guru ji wanted to gift the Sikhs a Bani that could help them stay Peaceful even when life gets Painful – hence it was important to share a detailed understanding of Life and its ways to Peaceful Existences… Each verse of this Bani has been explained in DETAIL so that the Mind is FREE to focus on the True Purpose of Human Life.
Sukhmani Sahib, though a lengthy composition that spans over 35 pages from page 262 to page 296 of the Guru Granth Sahib, is believed to have a Magical Impact on the Reader.
The physical site, where the Guru Arjan dev ji composed this composition was once enclosed by a dense wood. The location is still marked on the bank of the Ramsar Sarovar (the site of Gurdwara Manji Sahib), near the famous Golden Temple, the Harmandir Sahib, in the city of Amritsar.
History records that Baba Sri Chand, elder son of Guru Nanak and founder of the Udasi order, came to Amritsar to meet Guru Arjan Dev Ji during this phase when the verses of Sukhmani Sahib were being composed – Guru Arjan dev ji was happy to know of Baba ji’s visit.
Guru Arjan Dev ji considered this visit to be a Beautiful Coincidence and told Baba ji about his new Project of “Sukhmani Sahib”
Guru ji said that “I am composing a Bani by the name of Sukhmani which is intended to make 24000 breaths SPIRITUALLY FRUITFUL. I have completed 16 verses of the 24 verses planned to be a part of this Bani.
Guru Arjan Dev ji then recited the first 16 Hymns of Peace for Baba Siri Chand ji. Baba ji appreciated the writings of Guru Arjan Dev ji and Blessed HIM to carry on with his Beautiful Composition – However, Guru Arjan Dev ji requested Baba ji to compose the remaining verses and grace the Bani with their Blessings.
Baba Ji humbly responded saying that composing the Bani is the privilege of a GURU and that Guru ji HIMSELF should continue and complete the 24 Verses. Guru Arjan Dev ji, with folded hands humbly requested Baba ji to share his Blessings with the Sikhs stating that, “My mind will only be pleased and happy if you compose something”
Baba Sri Chand Ji humbly accepted, and recited the Shalok of Guru Nanak Dev Ji in veneration with Two Differences – This was done to pay utmost respect to Guru Nanak Dev Ji and to make sure no one would attribute the original words of Guru Nanak to him…Such was the grandeur of Guru Nanak’s first born.
Baba Sri Chand was a saint of the HIGHEST CALIBRE – Epitome of restraint and humility. Baba Sir Chand ji, upon request, gave the opening lines of the 17th hymn.
Guru ji was aware that Man is always curious to know the Benefits of his DOINGS and efforts are made only if the Task is Profitable – Keeping this nature of mankind, Guru ji gave his assurance stating that anyone who reads the Sukhmani will be gifted PEACE – A True seeker of Peace will be rewarded with a Healthy & Virtuous Life. Wisdom, Peace and Enlightenment through the sincere recitation and contemplation of the Sukhmani Sahib will be the OUTCOME – This soul will Be Crowned with Glory Both in This World and also in God’s Court ❤
This are the GIFTS, one shall receive upon reading the “Sukhmani Bani”
An investment of less than 100 Mins is all it takes to READ the Bani that can gift us 100% Peace of Mind – It is indeed a “Profitable Deal” – Go on Sign your Contract and Be Peaceful for LIFE.
I recall reading a story that shares the Glory of “Sukhmani Sahib” – The story helps a person comprehend the Healing Powers of Sukhmani Sahib with clarity. This is one of the many stories available.
There is a mention of a Muslim devotee who was cured of his Pains when he listened to the “Sukhmani Sahib”. It is reported that the Governor of Lahore, Hakim Alleem-ud-din Ansari, was suffering from a chronic stomach disease. He would often come to Amritsar for treatment. In one of his visits, he also visited the Harmandir Sahib.
When he shared his Pain with the Sikhs, he was asked to meet Baba Buddha ji – Baba Buddha ji pressed his stomach, and his condition became normal. The Governor was then asked to meet Guru Arjan Dev ji – Guru ji suggested the Governor to listen to a recitation of the Sukhmani Sahib daily, if he wished to gain inner peace and be freedom from all Pains in Life.
Who doesn’t want FREEDOM from Pain 🙂
The Governor was happy to have found a strategy to live a Pain free life. He engaged a Sikh to recite the “Sukhmani Sahib” to him every day. By and by, he memorized the text and became a Healthy and Happy Man…
Peaceful Mind made LIFE easy for the Governor – Let us too get ourselves FREE from Pain by reading and contemplating the Wisdom that echoes in the verses of “Sukhmani Sahib”
Most important Connect ❤
At the very commencement of this Bani, Guru ji shares with us an essential aspect of this Bani – Guru ji wants us to BOW DOWN in reverence to the DIVINE GURU and seek HIS BLESSINGS to calm the Mind. The reason being, our mind always wanders in Doubts and Fears of the Unknown and so if we are to benefit from the Sukhmani sahib , our very first duty is to ask the Divine Guru to BLESS us with a Mind that is excited to Follow the Path towards the Divine…Meditation is the Perfect START to this Amazing Bani.
Take Away from the POST !
JEWELS of Spiritual Wisdom from this Bani composed by Guru Arjan Dev ji aid in keeping the Mind CONTENT – A Content Mind helps achieve Perfection in all aspects of LIFE – Mind, Body & Soul = All THREE in Perfect Alignment with the Purpose of Life…Isn’t that SUPER AWESOME !
I personally take SUKHMANI SAHIB to be Treasure Chest filled with Joy & Happiness – Open it on a Daily Basis and enjoy the Pleasures Galore.
Journeys & Reflections 