cover pdf - Sikh Naujawan Sabha Malaysia

44
Elimination of duality
By Sukdarshen Singh
We are trapped by duality. All our
lives, we have looked for answers
outside of our own minds as we
feel we are incapable of finding
the solution within ourselves. This
is where the problem starts.
We can blame the systems -
granthis, gurdwara presidents and
Sikh bodies but the reality is we
are unwilling to acknowledge the
very first step that “I need to
change if I want the world to
change”.
Our Gurus were able to make
significant changes in people lives
because they were willing and
certainly blessed to live and
breathe the live of a Gursikh. The
world is so full of delusions and
we are all trapped in it. We seek
solutions outside for a glimpse of
hope and salvation. We are willing
to accept any path that promises
happiness.
The reality is we need to look
within ourselves to identify how
our behaviors are inconsistent to
GURMAT values as prescribed by
Shabad Guru as the only reference.
We use our current consciousness
to read, understand and reflect on
what Shabad Guru is asking of us
and ask ourselves the TRUTH
question if whether I am following
this hukum.
IF ‘yes’, express our gratefulness
to our Guruji. If ‘no’, then
seek specific help from Guruji to
help us address areas where we
need to improve. This way we start
building a powerful bond with
Guruji as we self-monitor our daily
behavior. Here, when we allign to
Guruji’s hukum, a sense of
gratefulness will arise. Where we
find misalignment, we will
immediately appreciate the gap
and seek to change it with our
actions.
When we align our intentions
in its purest form with Guruji’s
hukum, our success is guaranteed
as we are than aligned towards
our Guruji’s expectation of us.
Through this process, with
Guruji blessing, our consciousness
grow and the reflection
process from the Shabad Guru
will enhance too leading to
further uplift towards a spiritual
stage.
That is why the Shabad Guru
is a Living Guru. It aligns ones
consciousness to it irrespective at
what stage of spiritual path we
are. When we choose to read,
understand and reflect the
Shabad Guru from the perspective
of others we experience a
perspective that is different from
our thoughts. At times, this
prevents us from moving forward
as it is not coming from our own
reflection. This get translated in
our minds as knowledge but not
necessary divine knowledge.
Divine Knowledge inspires us to
change towards a spiritual path
The Sikh, July 2012
while knowledge merely
increases our level of understanding
of a certain area. It may not
necessarily drive a change for the
better in our lives.
Sukh and Dukh are man-made
experiences based on their ability
to achieve or not to achieve their
desires. When we achieve our
desires, it is translated to Sukh.
When we fail to achieve our
desires, it translates into dukh.
The degree of Sukh and Dukh is
based on the intensity of that
desire. We know our desires will
grow as they get achieved. Over
time they become more and more
challenging, leading these desires
to be unlikely met. Ultimately,
they lead us to a sense of
unhappiness, overriding any joy
we had from past desires met.
When contentment exists,
desires get controlled. When
something is achieved based on
our effort, it is accepted as
Guruji’s bessing. When something
is not achieved to our
defined plans, we then look at
understanding objectively what
prevents our success and we are
able to objectively align our
thoughts to correcting mistakes
or lapses of judgment leading to
positive results from past
mistakes. That is why a Gurmukh
is always successful.
Sukdarshen Singh is an active
long-time Sabha sevadar from
the Northern region.