The Power Within

Resilience is like the survival of a plant in the cracks of concrete. It is overcoming the improbable, the so-called impossible. It is what our people have been doing since the very beginnings of Sikhi. Within all of the destruction in the world right now, it is important for us to realize the absolute enormous potential for strength within us. A couple of years ago I did CPR on a family friend at the Gurdwara when I was just a few weeks post-op. In the moment I forgot about myself entirely and no one else even knew anyways. Despite surgery, my body had no limitation and it did what it needed to do. It is these types of events that have shown me that the power, the strength, and the resilience that is built within us. 

In the Gurdwara Sahibs of India, I screamed from the scorching heat of the bricks on my feet. It made me think of Guru Arjan Dev Ji’s shaheedi, sitting on a hot plate, placed in a boiling cauldron, having hot sand poured over the body. Our Guru Ji was in such a state of Anand that what this body’s pains go through wasn’t able to touch that. The way that the mind, soul and physical elements of the body interact are playing by rules that we cannot fathom. We are taught that this state of bliss is achievable in our lifetime. 

We were meant to fully enjoy our lives and live in contentment, not the “normal” that we have come to accept. The normal that we accept is a narrow image of the type of life that Gurbani tells us that we could live. It goes back to this analogy we saw when we were exploring Anand Karaj and they talked about the frog in the well. It’s world is only as small as the well and it has no idea what else is out there. We shouldn’t be restricting ourselves to living through the ups and downs of life as it comes. Instead Gurbani gives us this amazing capacity for us to survive and thrive despite our environment. Remembering that there is just You, the creator that made the stars and the universe, the One that operates everything from the microbes to the oceans, is the One within. I cannot even begin to wrap my mind around the vast extent of what we are a part of and have the chance to merge into. All of that universe energy, Waheguru, is already here, we are already a piece of it, it is just our doubt that prevents us from our final merger. We need to stop limiting ourselves, and when I say "we" I always mean me as well because I am also just trying my best to travel this journey. I don't have anything figured out, I'm just sharing as I learn as well. Today I am in awe of this universal power that is already within. 

In Rehras Sahib the following shabad appears and reminds us that there are no limits: 

Raag Goojaree, Fifth Mehl:

Why, O mind, do you plot and plan, when the Dear Lord Himself provides for your care?

From rocks and stones He created living beings; He places their nourishment before them.||1||

O my Dear Lord of souls, one who joins the Sat Sangat, the True Congregation, is saved.

By Guru's Grace, the supreme status is obtained, and the dry wood blossoms forth again in lush greenery. ||1||Pause||

Mothers, fathers, friends, children and spouses-no one is the support of anyone else.

For each and every person, our Lord and Master provides sustenance. Why are you so afraid, O mind? ||2||

The flamingoes fly hundreds of miles, leaving their young ones behind.

Who feeds them, and who teaches them to feed themselves? Have you ever thought of this in your mind? ||3||

All the nine treasures, and the eighteen supernatural powers are held by our Lord and Master in the Palm of His Hand.

Servant Nanak is devoted, dedicated, forever a sacrifice to You, Lord. Your Expanse has no limit, no boundary. ||4||5||