The present times are marked by chaos, noise and lack of stillness. There is a need to “Pause” or Rahao as expressed in Gurbani. Rahao or pause is the way to rest, contemplate and quieten the mind to seek solace. And what better way than to recite “Sukhmani Sahib”, rightfully called “Psalm of Peace”, or ‘Song of Peace.
“Sukh” means peace or comfort and “mani” means mind or heart, hence, Sukhmani is the comfort in the mind and heart.The ‘Sukhmani Sahib’, composed by the fifth Sikh Guru, Guru Arjan Dev, comprises 24 ashtpadis or cantos. It is believed that the Guru had written this Bani for a devotee who was suffering from great physical pain. As he listened to the Sukhmani Sahib, his pain and agony was removed and was fully recovered. Not surprisingly, the Sukhmani Sahib, because of its soothing effect and healing powers, is called the “mani of sukhs”(Gem of Bliss).
The central theme of the Bani is to understand the way of salvation and how to be a brahmgiani, or the enlightened one. The Sukhmani Sahib opens with an invocation to the Supreme Being. Adi Gure, Jugadi Gure, Sati Gure and Sri Gurdeve, the primal being, existing since the beginning, the truth and the divine. He is the absolute one.
How to attain bliss and peace? What is the true path? There are two evils one has to fight to overcome the initial stages of dilemma. The first evil is the very first act of being conceived and born, implying separation of the soul from the divine spirit. The second evil is the fear of death. With the grace of God one treads the path of nam-simran which is not an individual act of meditation but a congregational form in the company of fellow beings, shabad kirtan in sangat. Guru Arjan Dev says meditation on nam (shabad) with love and devotion is the bridge which helps the devotee to realise the supreme being.
Through meditation one can obtain all material things,honour, power over others but it is all futile. “The body, wealth, family, ego, attachment, kingly power, youth, lust, wrath, infatuation, pride, elephants, horses, chariots and other kinds of wealth are all illusory,” says Guru Arjan. Desires are endless and happiness lies in nam-simran, not in worldly things. A man devoted to God suffers from no frustration and remains indifferent to pain and pleasure, success and failure. He becomes a brahmgiani, an enlightened one.
In order to achieve this blissful state, there is no need to starve yourself or inflict pain on your body or to live a life of a recluse.
Fasting, bathing at holy places, purification practices are of no use. If you seek relief from pain and ill, seek the company of saints who will take you to the path of meditation and salvation. But the first condition is to be a good human being.
The Guru says, “He who gives up pride, gives up all ill-feeling, regards all persons as friends, regards misery and prosperity as same, rises above sin and merit and above all worldly things”, is a wise man.
How can a blind man find the way, how can a deaf man answer a riddle? How can a dumb man sing hymns? How can a cripple climb a mountain? The answer is remembrance of the absolute truth who is the creator as well as the creation. Guru Arjan Dev says, “Friend, forget all other ways and means, Cherish His lotus feet in your heart”.
The reading, listening and recitation of the Sukhmani Sahib brings comfort to the mind. It is the bringer of the bliss of the Lord’s name; Sukhmani dwells in the hearts of those who love Him.
