Practical Living

Since we live a grist jeevan as Sikhs, we end up having to figure out ways to manage the mind while managing other personalities that live with us and interact in our closest circle. I got the opportunity to live with some Gurmukhs for two weeks which was an a really great experience as I learned what day to day living looks like, from waking up in the morning to bedtime. I got to see what it’s like to manage the household, take calls, interact with each other, etc. When we are part of someone’s family we get to point out and see where we might be able to improve and change our own ways of being or things can be done differently.

One of the first things I noticed about the physical space was that there was a calm and peaceful environment conducive to doing simran. They had a very simple way of living, and I really liked the space that they had for sitting and living, because we all ate and sat together on the floor. It created a real sense of togetherness. I’m realizing that crowded spaces and spaces that are too fancy prevent us from togetherness and overstimulate the brain too from being able to find moments of rest and peace. There was no television and interactions on the phone were limited to what was necessary only. I realized how much extra tension and stress is created from our phones, computers, and social media. 

 

The way of talking to each other was one of the most noticeable things to me. There was a lack of anxiety or anxiety-provoking talk in the household and a lot of positive talk and gratitude to God instead. At the camp I also learned a lot about how I talk. When I have conversations now I am more aware about whether I am talking about myself or someone else, whether I am doing my gurmantar, whether I am listening to shabads, whether I am eating, whether I am in rajogun, satogun or tamogun, whether I can change the topic off of tamogun to something outside or change to satogun or end the conversation. I saw the practical applications of all of this by watching Gurmukhs take phone calls, manage meeting other people, invitations, and household conversations. Their talk to other members of the family were with utmost love and respect but also not of moh. There was laughing, joking, and so much joy. While we can cognitively know what the benefits are of living such a jeevan of getting out of tregun maya, it was so beneficial to see it in real life. Somehow perhaps somewhere in my mind I thought this would be restrictive, too strict or disciplined to the point where no one talks and it is serious all the time. I realize now that it is so joyous, easy, blissful, like God does the work and we are just present. The sangat needs food and somehow three pizzas are made. Somehow the plants are watered, the dishes done. Our minds are not excessively drained and fatigued from the day’s work which was a huge contrast to me. I realized how exhausting and difficult our lives are when the mind is not living in its home. It wanders hungry without amrit ras, without honor, acting as a servant to kaal, acting out of accordance to Hukam and receiving punishment in the form of shackles of kaal's jaal, unable to see Waheguru, unable to hear Naam from the mukh of Waheguru, unable to recognize itself as a raja. Here the Gurmukhs are home, their minds are satiated by amrit, they are within Hukam, they have the clothing and protection of Waheguru. I noticed a lack of talking about other people, pleasing others, getting in middle, etc. Instead there were gentle reminders to each other that kaal has created this thought, or gotten us off track, or a redirection. There certainly is a discipline, a doing of paath, simran, katha, kirtan, etc. but also way more flexibility in how that happens and what it looks like then I realized. I’m recognizing a more natural rhythm of being. I learned a lot about how the five come to get me. Guru Ji gives us a rakhiya da chakar if we do the sewa of the mind, by looking at jot prakash, listening to anhad bani and speaking the gurmantar. 

 

Bhai Sahib Ranbir Singh (Edmonton) talked in katha the other day about how many of us think all we have to do is live a good life and do things for other people. We focus on sewa of others, we have projects we want to do to benefit others. Yet Gurbani tells us that this alone is not what’s needed to avoid the 8.4 million reincarnations; we had a purpose that was about our own mind’s journey. Doing good work doesn’t avoid the need that we have to finish what this mind came for, and return again and again until it finds out what it needs to do to go home. When we care about other people we wish so much that they find their way and benefit from akath katha as well. We attempt to share the applications of Gurbani and simran to our daily lives as Sikhs, things that we didn’t know or see before, so they can advance as well. We see all as the sargun saroop for God and wish them success in this lifetime and we go around spreading what we learn. Sometimes though it isn’t someone’s time and we cannot be attached to whether they benefit or don't. You may be long gone from someone’s life before they realize what you shared had some significance. I know this has been true for me, and I think back to what I learned from people I once knew and can no longer thank. I know now my weakness is spending time worrying about other people when I should be focused on my own house. One of the Gurmukhs at the camp reminded us- your house is on fire, you imminently need to address this. People who are meant to get Naam will find their way on this path, and God has many ways of bringing them in. Compassion to the sargun saroop of Waheguru is so important, sewa is so important but also simultaneously we must do our inner work to truly start our journey. Our compassion and love and ability to give is extremely limited without this. If we take our mind on its inner journey, our sewa will then come from a different, even larger pool of love and compassion than what we can provide now. 

I am so forever thankful to have had the opportunity to live with Gurmukhs for a while and learn a different way of living.