Life – what is it? Is it just a collection of achievements or the ever-evolving dreams and plans for the future? Is it success that we have gathered over the years or is it the great vision of how things would unfold in the future? For me, it is somewhere in the middle – a combination of all three: my past, present, and the future.

Often, we hear that we should focus only on the present. Although this makes sense, I believe that our lessons from the past and our hopes for the future also play a part in laying down the foundations for life. Let us, therefore, do a deep dive and examine how our past, present and future help us to define who we are and allow us to live in fulfilment.

The Past

With regard to the past, we may well have been guilty, sometimes because of the decisions we made and sometimes because of the decisions we did not make. Either way, living in the past or thinking about the past is rarely fruitful, for it can lead to misery, disappointment and anger.  

However, we do not have to shun our past, which is the repository of one of our biggest allies – experience. This experience, which can be the fruit of an enormous success or grand failure, is completely independent of the outcome. Albert Einstein defines it thus;

‘…the only source of knowledge is experience’.

But see how Einstein did not add any positive or negative value judgement to this? The reason behind it is that outcomes are only ever temporary, whereas experience is lasting. If we have been successful in the past, we know about the things and processes that work, and if we failed in the past, we know what processes and things do not work. Indeed, we get to know how to modify and make the necessary adjustments. Therefore, if we are willing to look at the experience and learn, then it holds tremendous power.

Often we love to live in the glory of our past successes and the times when we were on top and doing well, but often, while basking in the glory of our successes, we fail to see if there were any areas for improvement. The moment we stop looking for areas of improvement, we are not utilizing the complete potential of the experiences from our past. On the flip side, we do the same thing but in reverse. While pondering over our failures, we focus too much on the things we did not achieve and again fail to identify any areas of improvement.

In looking at my past, instead of identifying successes and failures, if I looked for areas of improvement, my past could provide deep insight into what I can do in my present and future to build a better and more fulfilled life. In one of the most inspiring pieces of poetry, Rudyard Kipling reminds us:

If you can meet with triumph and disaster and treat those two impostors just the same;
if you view ‘disasters’ as opportunities to learn and course-correct, and ‘triumphs’ as a means for celebrating those around us, who had a part in that triumph,
then ‘yours is the earth and everything that’s in it!’

The Future

With regard to the future, just like the past, we spend our time daydreaming. We make great plans for tomorrow and often start imagining their rewards. However, we all know what happens next. We lose track of our present and thereby nothing is gained. So in short, maybe we should not be spending too much of our time in the future.

We also know that motivation and hope are two incredible catalysts in everyone’s journey. When our hearts are filled with hope, we often work harder and raise the bar of our performance. When our minds are motivated towards a goal, we are very focused and inclined to give our best. So, it would not be incorrect to say that one should have great plans and hopes for our future. These plans, hopes and motivations inspire us to achieve great things. They empower us to push our limits and unlock our potential.

Another factor to consider is not letting the fear of failure to guide us. These hopes and aspirations should be a source of positivity in our life. By positivity, I do not mean that I will get what I dream for; it means that irrespective of the outcome, I will accept and improve myself. If I achieve my goals, I will take all the learning forward, and if I do not achieve my goals, I will review what I have done and ensure that I do not make the same mistakes again.

The Present

This moment in time, this very second, is probably the most important factor in building the foundation of a perfect life. If we think about it, we are alive only in this moment, not the one that passed or the one that is yet to come. This is our moment to shine and it defines who we are. In the animation cartoon, ‘Kung Fu Panda’, when Master Oogway finds Disciple Po struggling to live up to the role of the Dragon Warrior, he says,

Quit, don’t quit. Noodles, don’t noodles. You are too concerned with what was and what will be. There’s a saying ‘Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is Mystery, but Today is a Gift’. That is why it is called the PRESENT!

I do not think there has been a better statement exemplifying the value and power of the PRESENT. The beauty of the present is that you can use the learning from the past and your hopes and aspirations for the future and put everything into motion in the present. If you can spend every moment working on improving yourself, upgrading yourself then you would set yourself up for living a fulfilled life.

Often, when we hear about making improvements, such matters relate to our worldly achievements – i.e. the educational degree that we seek, the dream job we are looking for or the wealth we can acquire. To be honest, all of these are worthy goals because we need to sustain ourselves in this world, but the improvement that I am talking about is beyond the material world, and certainly beyond the senses. This improvement is focused on who we are – i.e. our real self. We have heard and learned from the Scriptures that we are not just this mortal frame, but a part of the Infinite. We are in truth, the INFINITE.

The realization of our true self and then a perpetual awareness of it, is the real improvement. While in this human form, are we striving to become a better version of our self? Are we becoming a better human being? Are we kinder than we were yesterday? Are we filled with more compassion this year, than we were the last? These are the improvements that one should seek and it is only possible by living in the present, at this moment in time.

I think we need to understand that my Past, Present and Future are the pillars on which I can build the foundation of a perfect life. I learn from my past, I hope and dream of great things in the future, and I work hard towards improving myself in the Present. If I can do these, then I have the right ingredients to build a fulfilled, and fulfilling, life!

Let us conclude with these words from Robert Frost, with the hope that they invite us to peek into the past and strengthen our belief in ourselves, inspiring us all to build great dreams for the future.  Above all, I pray that these words push the boundaries for you and me, so that we are enabled to do great things IN THIS MOMENT IN TIME!

These woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

                                                                                                    – Robinder Sidhu, Toronto, Canada

There are a number of important lessons I have learnt throughout my life, which have become central to how I conduct myself. They include the attitude of gratitude, the gift of service, the means of overcoming adversity and the joy of meditation.  All these practices have provided me with the foundation of a perfect life.  I’d like to share what I have learnt, in the writings below.

Attitude of Gratitude

When asked if my cup is half full or half empty, my response – inspired by Sam Lefkowitz – is that I am thankful that I have a cup! This also reminds me of the teachings of Nirankari Baba, who often recommended not just the practising of thankfulness, but ensuring an attitude of gratitude. The premise being that beauty can be found in every facet of life if we look for it. What we practically need, therefore, is positive reinforcement, which comes from positive friends and colleagues, who not only enrich themselves with spiritual company, but nourish and inspire others in their immediate vicinity as well. 

Once we have this positive mind-set and practise gratitude regularly, we can overlook apparent faults or shortcomings and concentrate on perfecting our vision, as opposed to seeking perfection within situations and people. Nirankari Baba, using Matthew Prior’s quote on Women’s Day, reminded us: Be to her virtues very kind; be to her faults a little blind.

Gift of Service

Life is a game of give and take. The ones, who give, always win. There is something reassuringly rewarding about helping and selflessly giving where the mere act of service feels like the reward. Lord Jesus Christ told his disciples (Mark 10:45) that he had come not to be served, but to serve others. Mata Sudiksha Ji, the spiritual head of the Mission today, echoed these sentiments at the turn of the New Year when she said, if equal affection cannot be, let the giving and loving one be me.

Overcoming Adversity

Lord Buddha once said, pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional. Some years ago, I met an individual whose son was diagnosed with a critical illness. To search for a cure, he tried an array of treatments and alternative medicines. He even tried some places of worship. To ease his troubles, a close friend of his suggested attending oneness gatherings within the Nirankari Mission. The individual went on to say that attending these gatherings did not save his son, who sadly passed away. It did, however, provide him with the mechanism to cope with his loss and to remember the time spent with his son fondly. The spiritual experience he had with the Mission may not have changed his circumstances, but it did change him.

Detached attachment is a protective element in overcoming adversity. Life can throw unexpected challenges at us at any time. The more we accept the unexpected or make peace with the sudden turn of events that are appear not to be in our favour, the better it is. The Bhagavad Gita reminds us that life demands we perform certain actions, but a spiritual soul never dictates the fruit of those actions.  In other words, do your best, and leave the rest to God.

Meditation

Meditation, if performed regularly, can render us calm and composed. Nirankari Baba taught me how to practise meditation, to connect with the All-Pervading Entity, using Simran. The All-Pervading is perfection. The Mission calls this Nirankar, who when fully realised, through the grace of Satguru, and remembered via the trio of Seva (selfless service), Simran (remembrance of Nirankar) and Satsang (truthful company), becomes our foundation. It is such a foundation that we need for a perfect, meaningful life.

                                                                                                      – Raul Kamal, London

The foundation of life is to understand who we are, or more appropriately, what we really are. In so doing, we unravel our outer, gross nature to arrive at our inner, eternal nature. Such a process of exploration culminates in moksha (liberation), with which we are able to rise above our psychological identity to embrace our spiritual entity. The four aims of life, Purusharthas of Vedanta – i.e. – artha, kama, dharma and moksha – allude exactly to the above.

Artha

The first aim, artha, relates to a mandatory measure of material comfort to meet our basic needs, in the way of an income, roof over our heads, healthcare and education. In the absence of these needs, spirituality is a difficult pursuit. Indeed, when someone is in extreme poverty, their focus is usually on the material, rather than the spiritual. In having met our basic needs, we are in a position to devote more time to moksha. We find that our material life supports our spiritual goals. We no longer see them as two separate paths, but one inclusive way forward.  

Kama

The second aim, kama, is about fulfilling our desires – desires that consume us and add to our ego, which rarely differentiates between our wants and needs. These unchecked wants for pleasure, wealth, power or recognition must be fully understood. This is where discernment (viveka), whilst in the awareness of Nirankar, has to be utilized in two ways. We can either fulfil the desires in question or transcend them. It is important to note that we should never suppress them, for in so doing, they come back to us in a stronger form. We can visualise such a suppression through the example of an active volcano that can erupt at any time.

However, when we utilize our viveka, we cool down the volcano completely, as we choose to transcend those desires. Fulfilling or transcending our desires, therefore, allows us to get one step closer towards immersing ourselves into Nirankar. In fact, the desire for this oneness with Nirankar would be the ideal desire for any spiritual aspirant.

Dharma

Dharma, the third aim, is basically about our duties or responsibilities in life. It can be understood as our purpose or true calling. The jiva (living substance) is said to choose a body that enables it to perform the said duties effectively. The work or duties undertaken and completed determine our dharma. This may change over our lifespan.

Again, our dharma is based on ethical living, and carving out our own individual path accordingly. To emphasise this, Lord Krishna (Bhagavad Gita, 3:35) says, it is better to follow your own dharma imperfectly than to follow another’s path perfectly. He makes it very clear here that we are all individuals, with our own path of challenges and successes, which we must honour and fulfil.

When we are living our own dharma, we find our actions and thoughts are spontaneously ethical and fruitful. We know what to do and what to think. We create a baseline of harmony, in which there is complete self-fulfilment and life at ease. Influencing both artha and kama, dharma prepares us for moksha, the foundation of life.

Moksha

Now what is moksha? Moksha is liberation. But what are we liberated from? We are liberated from the false identification of what we are. We no longer identify with the body and mind, but with the Changeless, Formless, Ultimate Reality. Moksha is self-realization; it is when you realize what you really are.

Liberation is discovered when we get to know what Nirankar (Formless Ultimate Reality) is through Satguru’s gift of Brahm Gyan. It is only when we fully abide by the Brahm Gyan that we grasp the Oneness of creation. There is not even one iota of duality in this. We understand completely that this Formless Reality that is all-pervading is the only True Reality. It is not separate from me, nor is it separate from anyone or anything else. It can be seen as our Shared Being. The ultimate aim of life is, therefore, achieved.

To conclude, we must live a fulfilled life by mastering our purpose of life, our basic needs, our desires and living in the awareness of this Formless Ultimate Reality as our own Self. When we live in this Supreme Awareness, we live the best life that we can possibly live.

                                                                                                   – Rahul Singh, Atlanta, USA

Just as we see perfection around us in the natural world, the perfection of a human being is no exception. He, too, is perfect by his very nature. However, this perfection – shrouded under many layers of psychological conditioning – can only be experienced by realising the truth of ourselves, nature, and the universe. In the absence of this realisation, many imperfections overwhelm, disturb and even waste this rare opportunity for human life to be salvaged.

Fortunately, Satguru Mata Sudiksha ji (Head of the Sant Nirankari Mission) is today providing inspiration towards this realisation by offering a glimpse of the true essence that flows through, drives, and sustains all that we see and experience. When this inspiration is taken and acted upon, then life flows naturally, perfectly and the true potential of human birth is realised and optimised.

Moreover, when life flows naturally, it takes the path of least resistance and the journey becomes effortless. The need to create a perfect life dissipates and we begin to relax. We simply enjoy, as observers, the wonderful and miraculous events, and experiences on offer, without them taking any lasting effect on us. Whilst being fully engaged and participating where appropriate, there is a sense of detached attachment with the understanding that everything is transient, and that we too are simply passing through. Of course, we still have a requirement to fulfil our duties and work towards the upkeep of ourselves, our families and our communities, but this also becomes easy and is never burdensome.

This human life is often compared to a drop of rain which falls at the top of a hill and starts to flow down, slowly growing into a trickle, a stream, and then a river until it finally reaches the estuary to merge with the ocean. Often, it evaporates into the atmosphere to form a cloud and start the journey all over again, or it simply remains absorbed in the ocean.

If we observe how the water flows down, we notice that the fastest flow is always in the centre of the stream, the part that is furthest away from the edges. The water near the edge begins to interact with the land and this interaction causes the viscosity of the water to increase, making it harder to move, thereby slowing down the flow of water in this area. If we were to float an object on this water it would naturally move towards the centre where the flow is fastest. And as long as there were no other external forces applied, it would stay in the centre for the entire journey. By staying in this position, the object can enjoy the most efficient, fastest, and smoothest journey all the way down, without facing obstacles along the way. Even if there were boulders in the way, the object would be cushioned from them by the slower flowing water, which would divert the fastest flow away from the obstacle.

Similarly, our life can also be made efficient, smooth, and enjoyable (or perfect) if we just allow it to flow and follow its natural course. Unfortunately, as we have all witnessed, this is often not the case. For, as we grow, we start interacting with the world around us and get attached to it, much like the slower flowing water near the edge of the stream. To remove us from this attachment and allow better flow, the first pledge of the Sant Nirankari Mission is to be observed. That is to surrender our body, mind, and wealth to the Almighty Formless, and to use these assets as if were mere trustees. If we can bring this into practice, we can start moving in the natural flow of life. As with the free-flowing object on water, we too can then begin to enjoy the journey through life, observing all the wonders along the way, but remaining detached from them.

It would transpire from this that the only reason for imperfections in our lives is that we have somehow interfered with the natural flow. We have formed attachments with the transient, physical world through our education and experiences. To correct this, it is reasonable to suggest a reversal of the process. We need to reduce our attachment and our reliance on the physical to improve our relationship with the spiritual, for only this is eternal, stable, and all-pervading. His Holiness Baba Hardev Singh ji often referred to this as a process of ‘unlearning’. Rumi, the Persian poet, also stated that ‘unlearning is the highest form of learning’. We must untangle from old habits and ways of thinking to make space for a new, better way of being.

As we place attachments to the material world in their rightful place and start to adopt a more faithful and simplistic existence, it heralds a renewed sense of peace and relaxation. Of course, it is not easy to break the habits of a lifetime and essentially change the value systems we have built up since birth. However, this is exactly what is required if we truly yearn to live a happy, peaceful, enjoyable and fulfilled life. I believe this is what Rabindranath Tagore was referring to when he stated that ‘it is very simple to be happy, but it is very difficult to be simple’.

Fortunately for us, help is at hand to support us through this difficult task today in the form of the Sant Nirankari Mission. The Mission is there to support all human beings to follow this path of life through the realisation of the true essential source of life, often referred to as God. Through this realisation, we come to understand how little control we have over life and how necessary it is to develop faith in the Formless, which enables us to surrender to the flow.

We develop an understanding that all happiness and sorrow in the world is nothing more than the two extremes of a pendulum swing, which continues to swing endlessly, as that is its very nature. With this understanding, we can move towards the origin (i.e. along the axis towards the pivot of the pendulum). As we do this, the effect of the swings between happiness and sorrow is reduced, and we begin to enjoy a more balanced, calm, and blissful life – a state of equipoise.

To summarise, perhaps it is a little like learning to swim. If we did nothing, we would naturally float, but the fact that we do not have enough faith to let go, we start to interfere in various ways. This inevitably makes us sink, until such time that we develop enough skill or understanding to trust the water, propel ourselves forward and stay afloat. When we learn to ‘let go and let God’ in this way, we begin to flow naturally.  If we remain in this natural state, the perfection of life is realised.

Munminder Gill, Wolverhampton, UK

For our faith to be solid and strong, its foundation has to be underpinned with renewed fervour, passion and zeal. This requires both the in-depth understanding and the complete implementation of our moral framework, dictated by the Gnostic Knowledge and the guidance of the contemporary Guide. It is not a one-off initiative, but life-long learning.

Recently, during the pandemic, I managed to side-track into upgrading myself with the benefit of state-sponsored schemes – i.e. business courses. Though the classes were tiring, they brought out the best, both from me and my business. They made me realize how narrow my thoughts and visions, and their interpretations, were. I came to understand that in spite of my store being fully stocked, in the centre of Singapore, with the benefits of good staff, blessed with good communication skills; it was still not enough to stay ahead of the competitive market. In short, my perspective of business management had become outdated.

This was no different when it came to my spiritual beliefs. At one time, I was quite satisfied with attending the Satsang and following the five pledges.  However, after almost 20 years of following this comfortable path, I came across some road-blocks in my every-day routines. My extended social circle and my customers were outside the Mission, whose way of life was far different to mine. In the beginning, my mind was comfortable with what I was doing, but over the years, just like my business-knowledge, I came to the conclusion that I needed to grow and acquire further learning, even if it was outside my comfort zone.

After two years, having taken the steps to read a wider selection of spiritual literature (properly with full respect of the beliefs, as set forward in the book, and not attempting to find faults) I realized that benefits are endless. Following the ground rules of not rushing through the books and ensuring that I understand clearly and consciously what was being said, my life has improved considerably. With the depth of spiritual guidance of the Avtar Bani, the Bible, the Quran and now the Buddhist sutras, my understanding of Scriptures has opened up many aspects of life.

First view

An individual, who dreams of becoming an accountant, would only prefer to read books relating to finance. He may not want to read any books that take him away from the subject of his potential career.

Second View

An individual, who reads something not quite in his comfort zone, would generally skim through it, and feel satisfied with having concentrated on his main subject.

Third View

An individual reads a book, with the intention of confirming his own views. Anything to the contrary, he simply disregards.

Last View,

An individual reads books to acquire information that can bring his spiritual knowledge to a higher level, extending his comfort zone in the process. This person falls into the category of a believer with life-long learning initiatives. 

The lesson I have learned is that a perspective can only be called a perspective if it is viewed and understood in a positive manner. The term embracing- perspective is relevant when it is made into one statement. If we are not embracing, then there can be no meaningful perspective.

Today, I am in the process of understanding both Buddhism and Sikhism. My social circle has changed, though the numbers are low. I am still satisfied being around people who are able to give me positive vibes. I am able to communicate and understand individuals, who have a different view on life as a whole. I only take the positive from them for my spiritual growth.

Having renewed my faith by revisiting the Mission’s teachings, my company’s way of doing things has changed significantly. I have managed to attain the satisfaction of life that was missing inside me before the pandemic. All this has happened with the blessings of my Satguru, who has never left my side when days were dark and the nights were long. The strength to go forward has made me what I am today.

   – Jaidev A Nanwani, Singapore

Foundations are influenced greatly by our start in life. An impoverished individual, with poor upbringing and meagre financial resources, may aspire to a perfect life that is more comfortable and materially secure. A privileged individual, on the other hand, who begins life with many financial assets, may see perfection in settling down one day, to enjoy his earnings. Either way, it seems we hope to live the life we would truly love to have.

In the broader sense, I feel love is the essence – love makes life worth living. Love opens a domain of bliss in all aspects, be it within ourselves or alongside others. Devoid of love, however, life seems cold, difficult, isolated and detached. Such a predicament leads us to deny the presence of any loving hand in creation, for all seems dark and bleak.  With love however, the world lights up and expands beyond the ego to a dimension that is larger than life! In fact, love acts as a bridge between us and all existence.

HH Mata Sudiksha Ji, on 30th March 2022 in Rajnandgoan, Chhattisgarh, explained in her discourse that desires, right from early childhood up until old age, remain constant in life. A child initially desires toys, and then pencils while attending school. As she grows, there are even more desires – the desire for a bike, home, job and so forth. Desiring continues right until old age. Mata Ji explained that all these desires, spanning our entire life, are not necessarily needed to be able to experience a life of import. 

We know that a child could survive without toys albeit this would be a sad situation. But the absence of love and warm human touch profoundly impacts his mental and psychological state. Psychological studies using baby monkeys provide ample evidence – they were observed to move towards fabricated mothers who were wrapped in soft padding and cloth, even if this meant they had less food.  It was the physical touch, that gave them a sense of belonging.

There is always the choice of living with our consuming desires or opting for love – a life of meaning and purpose. In choosing love, our experience goes beyond the material. We arrive at a special kind of contentment, irrespective of the circumstances around us. We learn to like what we have, as opposed to just having what we like. It may not necessarily be smooth sailing, but it does create a resilient outlook in life. It gives us a certain focus, path and destination.

Ultimately, we are all looking for love.  We may well believe that it is outside of ourselves, found in a better version of ourselves, in a more perfect life, with perfect circumstances, but what we forget is that we, ourselves, are the greatest source of love. We have a beautiful ability to create, give and share love in abundance. Instead of trying to find it, let us work on creating it so that we can share it with the world.

Nirankar, God Almighty, is the greatest source of unconditional love, which fills us to the brim. In taking our inspiration from the qualities of Nirankar, both nirguna and sarguna, we create the solid base of love: the foundation of life.  We then become able to navigate a life that may be perfectly flawed, but still worthy and full of meaning.

All we need to do is to find ourselves through the Knowledge of God, for God is Love.  We are, in the deepest sense, love personified. When rooted in such awareness, grounded in the foundation of love, our life becomes stable, balanced and perfectly beautiful in every way.

                                                                                – Harishta Kaur, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire

One of life’s greatest questions is what is the purpose of life? It can either strike as an epiphany or manifest itself as existential dread or crisis. Whatever it may be, it can certainly be life-changing. Whether life poses this question in covert ways or puts it forward very openly, each of us has encountered this question. To seek meaning, reason and purpose, our being that constitutes our mind, body and soul must be in harmony. To discover life’s purpose is to search and secure a sound foundation that supports the purpose of life!

Life has rarely been an easy journey for many of us. No matter how different and diverse, our worries and troubles have always challenged us. If the foundation of our life – physical, mental and spiritual – is strong, the path to our true self (i.e. the purpose) ultimately leads us to unite with our Creator (Nirankar).

Body, Mind and Soul

It is not just the functioning on the outside, but the inside as well that matters. The alignment of the mind, body and soul is the key not only for achieving peace and inner bliss, but the realization of our purpose. This is what we call higher consciousness and the awareness of the self.

1. Mind

Can we stop thinking and just become highly conscious? Are we using the mind or is the mind using us? Do we define our thoughts or do our thoughts define us? Our mind, which is a great tool when used correctly, becomes a liability when obsessed with compulsive thinking. Intelligence is often confused with obsessive thinking, which criticises anything and everything. Eckhart Tolle, in his book The Power of Now tells us,

Not to be able to stop thinking is a dreadful affliction, but we don’t realize this because almost everyone is suffering from it, so it is considered normal. This incessant mental noise prevents you from finding that realm of inner stillness that is inseparable from Being.

I am not proposing that our mind is something evil, responsible for all negativity. That would be a terrible idea. The mind is essentially a foundational tool of our being that communicates, gathers, filters and stores information. When we are fed up with overwhelming ideas and distracted with Maya, our sense of self-waver gets lost completely. We become prone to low self-esteem, hopelessness and faithlessness. This leads to a major conflict between the mind and the spirit, hinderingour journey towards the ultimate purpose of life to seek the super-soul, NIRANKAR!

The practice of mindfulness in the form of paced breathing, journaling, and becoming attuned to our thoughts and feelings without unnecessary evaluation, has been proven to quieten the mind. Next time when a troubling thought occurs, let us be the witness, observing the thoughts, instead of judging. Let us be totally present, not 10 mins before or 10 mins after, but in the very precise moment. In so doing, we will notice an unfathomable stillness and inner bliss.

2. Body

Oftentimes, our physiological health is a mirror of our spiritual health. The physical body is a living machine – Nirankar’s design – to serve our soul. It is home to the mind and soul, our sacred temple. Thus, it is important to cherish, take care of, and understand it.

When we let our body act on the desires that give us temporary happiness, we may find satisfaction, but not fulfilment. These desires can be contrary to what the spirit wants. For example, addiction to anything material may well bring temporary pleasure, but it proves to be harmful to the body. This in turn is detrimental to the mind and soul. Excessive and unchecked need to satisfy these desires can seriously damage our health and well-being.

Hence, taking care of our body should not be a hassle, but quite simply a routine. Incorporating the following practices until they become healthy habits can do wonders for our physical health:

1. Maintaining a good diet
2. Getting adequate sleep
3. Staying hydrated throughout the day
4. Engaging in physical activities such as cycling, jogging or dancing
5. Engaging in daily Simran (meditation)

3. Soul

Our body is a vessel that contains our soul, which is the very essence of our being. It is our inner guidance system, the medium of connection with Nirankar. We do not have to follow a religion to understand or connect with our soul/spirit. The fact that we have all been bestowed with a soul; it is up to us how we nourish it. We are fortunate enough to have a living Satguru, Mata Sudiksha Ji, who is helping us connect the soul with the super soul.

Connect Deeper

In essence, this is exactly what the purpose of life is. The aim of the Sant Nirankari Mission is to ensure that we are not distracted from such a connection. When building a house, we must lay a solid foundation, followed by structured walls and eventually a roof to lock it in all together. Here, it is the foundation of the house that allows all the rest to have purpose.

The foundation of life, therefore, is simply to create a strong infrastructure that consists of a balanced mind, body and soul. When these three components become one, they amount to a solid foundation. This harmonious and robust balance is derived from the Brahm Gyan.  The supporting walls reinforced by the foundation, are Seva (selfless service), Simran (meditative connection with Nirankar) and Satsang (the fellowship of saints). The roof, which shelters us in every storm is composed of the 5 principles that HH Mata Sudiksha Ji has asked us to follow.  When all these elements come together, it ensures our sacred temple remains perfectly intact.

                                                                                              – Dr Sudeep Chawla, Boston, MA, US

Our lives are driven by a need to be happy. It’s the reason why we go to work every day, in an effort to earn money to spend it on the things that make us happy. But how many of us are truly content with our lives? Why is it that something as simple as happiness seems so difficult to achieve? What are we chasing, and will we ever achieve it? Social media is rampant with formulas guiding us on how to manifest the perfect, happy life. A simple web search can lead you to thousands of articles brimming with secrets on living your best life, and 12-step formulas on how to achieve the life you desire.

From the moment we are born we are thrust into leading the type of life society expects of us. From childhood, we are focused on receiving a good education. As we get older, we enter relationships, get married, have children, secure a job, build a retirement plan, and go on vacations. This sounds like the ideal life, one filled with financial security, community support, and adventure. But what happens when life doesn’t go as planned? Perhaps our romantic relationships do not work out the way we had intended, the job we find ourselves in may not provide us with satisfaction, there may be infertility challenges, or financial problems. Life presents us with innumerable setbacks that often challenge our idea of a ‘perfect’ life. On the other hand, life may turn out exactly as one had imagined, and yet there is an emptiness that one is filled with inside. What then? What exactly is a perfect life?

Surely we all have our own definition of perfection, one that is ever-changing. There are instances where my idea of a perfect day consists of sitting on a beach on a remote island, other days, sitting in my backyard reading a good book fills me with contentment. And so, if my definition of a perfect life is so fickle, how will I ever be satisfied, and will I ever be able to achieve it?

I believe we experience the most radical transformation in our lives when we stop chasing an arbitrary idea of perfection and realize that true perfection already exists in our day to day, often seemingly mundane, imperfect experiences. Our mind is always searching for something else, always hoping for something to change in order for us to feel better. Life, however, is a miracle happening right in front of us! If only we could bask in it, relish it, and experience it.

It’s human nature to want to do better, to aspire to be or have what the people around us have. We think that if we look perfect, live a perfect life, work the perfect job, then perhaps we can avoid criticism, blame or ridicule. Reality is, that no one, not even the person we admire the most has it all together. Our shortcomings and idiosyncrasies are what make us who we are. The more we try to hide them the more havoc, anxiety, and uneasiness they cause. Expose them to the healing elements of truth and light and they lose their power. We are given countless timelines to adhere by, rules dictated by society on how to dress a certain way, speak a certain way, live a certain way. So often we become weighed down by these rules, and in turn are unable to be our true imperfectly-perfect authentic selves. Our well-being is determined by the degree to which we move with, instead of against, the passage of time. The more free-flowing we are with the challenges life presents, the less restless and more content we are with how our life is.

My job provides me with financial freedom, value and gratification. My family and friends provide me with a sense of belonging, love and community. I am hugely privileged, but even so all these things are temporary experiences. The likes of a job, a degree, a feeling of belonging to a circle of friends, may all convey a sense of steadiness, but they are never consistent. These illusions never satisfy for long, because both the best and worst experiences run their course. Only the truth of who we are, if realized, can and will set us free. The times where I feel uneasy, vulnerable, and troubled occur when I have difficult letting go of my version of how life should have been.

The foundation of a perfect life is being comfortable with change, knowing nothing ever lasts. It is being free from, or at least resilient to, mental and emotional struggles. It’s about waking up and going to sleep feeling content regardless of the circumstances. Although it may seem unattainable, such a robust foundation for living can be cultivated if we are rooted in Nirankar – the Formless, Unchanging, and Everlasting.

It is easy to focus on what we do not have, for the ego is constantly working to bring us back to a place of not having enough. May we work to cultivate attentiveness in our lives and bring back a sense of wonder and joy for all that life has to offer.

In the end I will share the apt lines by Jhumpa Lahiri’s Interpreter of maladies:

While the astronauts, heroes forever, spent mere hours on the moon, I have remained in this new world for nearly thirty years. I know that my achievement is quite ordinary… Still there are times I am bewildered by each mile I have travelled, each meal I have eaten, each person I have known, each room in which I have slept. As ordinary as it all appears, there are times when it is beyond my imagination.

It is through God-realized eyes that we are able to see the ordinary in an extraordinary way and celebrate the perfection that exists in our life. May we surrender to the mystery of tomorrow and relish in the abundance that today brings. Life is perfectly, imperfect – celebrate it.

                   – Akanksha Mehla, Detroit, USA

For our spiritual life to be stable, safe and perfect, our connection with Nirankar has to be uncompromisingly perfect. For this, not only do we need to value our prayer, a vital tool for connecting with the Divine, but also to make use of it wholeheartedly. It has to be as automatic as our breathing. For this, we have to fill up on love. Let us, therefore, investigate as to what this means.

Prayer is an activity that links man with the higher Being, who accomplishes things that we cannot. It is designed for our constant connection with the Divine in order for us to experience our well-being. But ironically we only connect with Him when we are in trouble. When all is going well, God is a distant thought.

Within all established religions, the manner of prayer is culturally and ethnically coloured. While some religions enforce a stringent format of prayer, the non-adherence of which can result in excommunication, others have a more open approach to communicating with God.  

When thinking of building a strong foundation to perfect our human life, prayer appeals to my sense of logic. Although belief in the All-Pervading God has the majority vote, a firm minority still has no allegiance. Even a non-believer may engage in a similitude of prayer such as positive thinking during meditation. In essence, prayer is positive thinking to develop the belief that help is on the way, ranging from the smallest request to resolving the direst of circumstances.

Prayer has been on my mind these past several years, and like a mad scientist, I have been consumed by many various thought processes, gleaned from Satguru Baba Hardev Singh Ji’s teachings. His teachings on prayer have revealed a logical protocol that has given me clarity from the confusion presented by the world’s religions.

Somehow, I imagined the God-gifted soul within us to be minute, for Baba Hardev Singh Ji mentioned many a time, we are a small particle of the Supreme Entity, or we are a soul within the Super-soul, like a drop of water in the ocean. This premise indicates small, but divine nonetheless.

The True Master reveals God to us through God-Realization, and then the natural flow down is to Self-Realization, where we can actually be introduced to our true self. This realisation of the self finally provides the understanding that the body is only a machine, and that our true self is really the conscience soul tethered within.  The soul is intended to be the master of the body.

However, our natural tendencies are magnetically attracted to the world’s physical manifestations that please our senses. The mind and soul are overridden by the body functioning on chemical and electrical impulses. Our discipline is weak due to our mind’s confusion with what is real and unreal. But when balance is restored with God-Realization, an alternative comes to light for the first time. With our true self known, the missing puzzle pieces are found and placed properly to complete the full panoramic view that God is everything.

Thenceforth, the mind and soul work together to keep the body’s impulses in check. In so doing, the will of God is fulfilled. This is the overall protocol set forth by Satguru: to know God and to keep close to God, which is the ultimate Truth. Although this seems simple enough, it is complicated enough even for an enlightened soul to stay on course. Saints regularly seek guidance for both a deeper understanding to stabilize their spirituality and to avoid the roller-coaster effects. Satguru Mata Sudiksha Ji regularly preaches stability, concerning our overall physical, mental and spiritual life. The stability of our core being is a condition that the majority of mankind desire, which even with the best of knowledge, we fail to keep.

There must be more layers to explore in this God connection to create our existential stability. Satguru has given us the Almighty God and Self- Realization, the instructions to always remember God in prayer, attend the congregation of saints regularly and serve humanity selflessly. If we imbibe these activities, we will have no problems. But why still the angst?

My belief is that we are not fully engaged in God remembrance or that we take this initiative lightly. Reciting the words given to us by Satguru in a ritualistic manner has drained the power out of the most powerful prayer in existence! God remembrance is the connecting factor with God.  It seems to me God is waiting for us to dial in, but we either go days without making the call or limit ourselves to a brief conversation just to ask for something.

We are missing out on the most exciting thing possible, talking with God! As with devotion to anything under the sun, we have to desire it – whatever it is. When our desires focus our efforts to learn, our devotion becomes great, and then we successfully accomplish what we set out to do. Our success is based on our desire, so we have to desire a connection with God, as if we can hardly wait to start our day with God. Starting our day with God sounds awe-inspiring! So what is that process?

Satguru Baba Hardev Singh Ji taught that a God-Realized soul can at any moment think of God and relate to God, and this ad hoc type of God remembrance is very good. You can be anywhere, and at any time think of God, and it counts. The two necessary steps are firstly to be aware of God’s presence all around you, and secondly to relate to God. ‘Aware’ means realizing God, and ‘relating’ refers to understanding God. What is God all about? How do we relate to love, compassion, tolerance and forgiveness? First we have to understand love, compassion, tolerance and forgiveness before we can relate to these virtues. This is a complex process, but necessary to fully connect with God. Indeed, if we have nothing in common with God, how will we relate to God?

Common ground is essential for any relationship to blossom, and finding the common ground is the very next step that Baba Hardev Singh Ji gave us to recite the given words: Thou Formless One, I live sheltered in your creation, please forgive me of my wrong doings. This prayer is the aligning tool that tunes us to the frequency of God. This simple prayer has enormous meaning. We humble ourselves and seek forgiveness from the all-powerful God, who created all and owns all.

Humility is the key to connecting. Humility is the game changer! People are afraid of humility, thinking it weakens them, but humility is actually strength. Humility tunes us to God like a radio receiver tunes to a radio station. Before tuning we hear only static, but once in tune with the radio station frequency, there is full clarity. To understand God and build common ground with God, we first must be humble. We, the receiver, must tune to the frequency of God, and that means tuning out other frequencies that misguide us – i.e. the negativity of the world. Then we will be in a harmonic frequency with God and resonate with God.

Resonating with God takes us further into God’s realm, leaving behind the realm of ritualistic prayer. For when we say these given words, we must be aware of God all around us, and we must relate to God. Furthermore, we must be in the present moment, and not with a drifting mind, to be able to connect with God. The human mind drifts so easily, in that we can consider ourselves a time machine. It is as if we have a special remote controller and DVR to pause, rewind and fast-forward our lives. We find ourselves traveling back in time, as well as to the future, spending less time in the actual present. So let us stop agonizing over the past events, the decisions of the present, and the obsessive planning for the future. Let us live in the current moment, enjoying the gift of the present. We will not find God in our past or future thoughts, as God is in the present; now is the time to really relate to God.

Being aware, relating, and being in the present brings us to the next step of God remembrance, when we pretty much feel it, as Baba Hardev Singh Ji said. This is when the resonating effect with God occurs by feeling the energy. Baba Ji explained that when we see emptiness, it really is not empty. He said what appears to be empty, is full of energies galore, which even science endorses. His next instruction was to take as much as you can from the fullness of these energies, which never deplete, but remain as full as ever. This energy cannot be diminished – God! So once we are feeling the energy, let us take from it to fill our vessel to bolster our particle of the Supreme Entity. Baba Ji said that it is of great benefit to us.

After many years of praying, I would stop once I felt the energy. Now I follow through to the end by taking from the fullness of energy. This critical point of prayer is the replenishment of God in our being or filling up on love! Once we fill up on love, we will begin to truly understand love, compassion, tolerance and forgiveness, establishing the common ground with God. Let us keep ourselves filled with God by always resonating with God, which leads to surrendering to God’s will. As we fill up on love, our mind will have a singular state, a mind without worry of either good or bad in our life. The feeling of bliss or neutrality will be evident, overwhelming us with the simplicity of God’s life style – never bringing harm to anyone.

Filling up on love is how we emulate Satguru, who is love personified. Filling up and keeping full of love is critical to our constant connection with God. In others words, let us not hang up the call, but keep the connection ever going. With the continuum of God in our life, we will be able to succeed in all aspects of our life, bringing peace and love to those within our sphere of influence and beyond. As mentioned in the Bible, all things are possible with God, but we have to have God in our life first and foremost to reveal these possibilities.

This entire process of effective prayer brings us to God, keeps us with God and eliminates the roller-coaster effect in our spiritual lives. Creating this stability enables us to regularly attend the congregation and continually serve humanity selflessly. Effective prayer places us in God’s realm, the entry into the big leagues. But the most important aspect is that it creates the solid foundation of perfection.

                                                                                         – Daniel J. Slebodnik Washington D.C., USA

Whether joy or sorrow be,

Give thanks to – the Divine

Be happy and joyful today

Tomorrow will also be fine

                            – Avtar Bani 99

Our gratitude to God, in both good times and in bad, should be expressed every minute of the day, with the firm conviction that just as the present moment is wonderful, the one yet to come will also prove to be equally wonderful.

Over the ages, spiritual masters, sages and thinkers, have laid great emphasis on the question of gratitude – gratitude that a seeker must have as an essential quality of spiritual wellbeing. Meister Eckhart, a fourteenth century German mystic tells us, if the only prayer you say in your life is ‘thank you’ that would suffice. Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It renders what we have in small measure into enough and more. It turns a meal into a feast, a house into a home, and a stranger into a friend. The Holy Bible says, rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

A thankful heart becomes open to receiving greater divine grace, together with peace, contentment and abundance, but self-absorption and a sense of entitlement ever remain massive impediments to gratitude. A story about two angels, sent to earth, to listen to the prayers of humanity, demonstrates this clearly.

The first angel was asked to collect prayers asking God for something – i.e. material substances -, while the other was asked to collect prayers of thanksgiving and gratitude. The first angel became extremely busy, for people prayed for money, better health, latest cell phones, exquisite ornaments, new toys and bigger cars. The other angel, in the meantime, though travelling far and wide looking for prayers of thankfulness and gratitude, failed to find but a few.

It came to pass, while the first angel had a truck load of messages, the second angel had only a handful in his basket. When presented with their findings, God smiled and said: this is nothing new; people are always praying for something or the other. This is fine, for at least they are thinking of me. But very few remember to thank me and enjoy the bounties of gratitude.

To know the importance of gratitude, therefore, is essential, because the right knowledge is truly the first step towards progress. However, the real benefit lies in putting the knowledge in question into practice. The following four steps can solidify our habits into practical gratitude:

1. The first step is to thank God when something good happens, like getting a good job, promotion, being blessed with a child, a sibling or a friend coming to your help, narrow escape in a bad accident, and getting any form of recognition. This is easy to practice and a good beginning.
   
   
2. The second step is not to take for granted the good that already exists in our life – i.e. good health, a loving spouse, obedient children, a comfortable life, a job in hand, good team and office environment, a car, and doting parents. This list, which we can call what we already have, can be quite long, and so can really overwhelm us with gratitude to God.
   
   
3. The third step is to start making a list of troubles we don’t have. This is because these troubles or problems are such that we shudder at the very thought of them – i.e. untimely loss of a near and dear one, poor health, compulsion of selling one’s only flat for medical treatment of a family member, a nasty spouse, huge property loss in a legal battle, and the only child becoming a source of untold misery in the twilight years of life. The thought of being spared of such distresses can instantly fill our heart with gratitude to God for his saving grace.
   
   
4. The fourth, and perhaps the most difficult step, is about thanking God when going through tough times. Here comes the real test of our faith in God. In such times, a consoling thought can be that things could be worse. Such a thought alleviates the intensity of grief and induces one to thank God for the shelter provided. From a spiritual point of view, the faithful see God as infallible. Everything that happens, including adversities in life, is part of an overall scheme of God to serve our larger good, whether we understand it or not. In expressing gratitude, even for our pain, we dissolve the resistance to the situation, which in turn releases the divine healing power within, which renders even the worst situations bearable. This also hastens our spiritual growth.

We have heard the old saying practice makes perfect. By following the above steps, gratitude can gradually become a habit in life. Many people have even found maintaining a daily gratitude journal a very useful practice. We must remember that there is always, always and always, something to thank God for. And once we develop the habit of thanking God, we also start becoming more and more thankful to people around us, and more appreciative of their role and contributions in our life. Complaints and heartaches start fading away. Transformation happens.

With regard to gratitude, Sarah Ban Breathnach, author of Simple Abundance, writes, Begin this day to explore and integrate this beautiful principle into your life, and the miracle you have been seeking will unfold to your wonder and amazement.

We are to keep on expressing gratitude to God, as gratitude alone is the true devotion. The Sampuran Hardev Bani (Verse 118) expresses it as follows:

Simply continue to thank the Creator
For gratitude is devotion of Nirankar
Bearing moans groans and disapproval
Sans complaint is devotion of Nirankar

SPS DALAL
Gurugram