Human life is considered a unique blessing, which actually lies in the achievement of “Awareness about self”. He who is not aware about self can neither have peace nor can he foster peaceful co-existence. As per natural phenomenon, man has to link his soul with God and body with physical world for sustenance. Formless God being invisible to the naked eye, the human mind wanders where-ever the eye goes in the grandeur of mundane world. Lost in the ‘will,o’-the wisp’, man does not develop love for God. Religion, like the white light of heavens breaks into many-coloured fragments by the prisms of men and loses its gravity. Instead of uniting, it becomes a major dividing force interweaving grotesque picture of harakiri in the humanity at large:— “This world is full of conflicts, fights and riots; If they know the Common Father, there would be no wrangle.”

Buddhist Philosophy of “Dependent Origination” — that all things arise in dependence of other things tell us that life is a mix of so many different ingredients and sources. We are all part of intricate web of life mixed up in secular ways. Human body and soul within are an apt combination of complementing and supplementing each other. The exist of soul from body, causing death is painful, But more painful than that is the situation when body lives, with soul lying deadly neglected within. Soul cannot go to the True Master all alone or through any other living being for seeking divine knowledge. While soul (consciousness) keeps human body alive the human body takes the soul to its destination — the True Master for spiritual enlightenment and eventual salvation. The significance of spirituality strengthening human propriety can well be imagined.

God is eternal so the True Master for unabated flow of mainstream of Spirituality. Combination of spoken words and practical hint by the True Master  introduces the seekers to the all-pervading God. To accept and respect the contemporary “True Master is to accept all the past and future True Masters.”

Talihard de Chardin a French philosopher and Jesuit priest thinking deeply on the meaning of our existence and relationship with the Divine, expounds, “We are not human beings having a spiritual experience, we are spiritual beings having a human experience.”

Today, we live in the exponential world where everything is growing rapidly.  Religion, science-technology, medical research, robots, academia, space exploration and material world. “How do we reckon the role of spirituality in the exponential world?” This is what H.H. Princess Maria Amor D.D., Founder President, “We Care for Humanity, USA” asked giving a unique example of Robot named Sophia reportedly introduced a new citizen in Saudi Arabia. Can the robot be given citizenship or capable of being spiritual?

What, if someday, the world is dominated by artificial intelligence and we lack the understanding that it is spiritual intelligence that enables human intelligence and human intelligence enables artificial intelligence. We must never forget that. If we all agree that all of us living on this earth are spiritual beings and that we were born in this temporary body which makes us human and that what we are doing today is unfolding the spirituality in us.

Physical poverty is a curse, but spiritual deprivation is worse. The human mind therefore requires a spiritual universe, anything less will never satisfy a thinking person. Great philosopher Saint Augustin of Hippo writes, “Restless are our souls untill they rest in Thee my God”. This statement shows implicit relationship of soul with God, like roots and fruits, explicitly summing up in the axiom:—

No God, No Peace; know God, Know Peace.

Spirituality is needed to release our spiritual intelligence which is the foundation of the exponential world. For all this we need spiritual guidance and this is what Sant Nirankari Mission is doing. The concept of One God for all foresees the idea of one religion for all that suits the whole human race. The Sant Nirankari Mission has succeeded in achieving this objective through a living revelation of Fatherhood of God, the central seed of all religions, ruling out any question of conversions.

Spirituality is the essence of life and encompasses humanity. It develops body, mind and ignites the soul with strength and joy. The power and ability come from higher intelligence, man by propriety is enabled by spiritual intelligence.

Her Holiness Satguru Mata Sudiksha Ji Maharaj, the Spiritual Head of the Sant Nirankari Mission says that oblivious of his spiritual identity, man falls victim to all maladies because of his ignorance about God and the singular remedy for all the maladies is to be consciously one with God. If God is all you have, you have all you need. Spirituality essentially means to “Know One, Believe in One and Become One”. Sant Nirankari Mission is creating an ever expanding joyous world born out of Spiritual Intelligence.

The sky may be unlimited, but everyone needs a ground to fall back to. In reality, that ground is spirituality. Swami Vivekananda said, “Manifest spirituality within you. Mark, if your give up spirituality, the result will be that in three generations, you will be extinct”. Spirituality can guide us through the process of developing consciousness, spiritual development within the mind, body and soul can help us weep off failures and drive into the ocean of success.

The Sant Nirankari Mission is celebrating its 75^th Platinum Jubilee International Nirankari Sant Samagam at Sant Nirankari Adhyatmik Sthal, G.T. Road, Samalkha, Distt. Panipat (Haryana) from 16 to 22 November 2022, where lakhs of devotees and learned speakers from across the world will participate.

C.L. Gulati, President, Sant Nirankari Mandal, Delhi-9

*****

It is often said that a perfect life is not perfect without the hue of the all -encompassing Spirit. Although human life is in many ways no different to that of other living creatures utilising the earth’s resources, it is also unique and exceptional. It is the only life that has not only the capacity to understand its physical nature, but the ability to transcend it, to embrace its spiritual nature.

The growth in technology, the internet and creative resources has given us a phenomenal grasp of knowledge, which is far beyond our ancestors’ comprehension. This has enabled new, diverse and distinct ideas to take root, and blossom into entirely new industries and ways of life. For example, popular photo sharing applications have enabled the world to come closer, within the physical realm. As the world begins to make a move into virtual worlds, and virtual methods of achieving goals, new industries are opening, just as they did in centuries gone by.

But there is one thing that still casts its shadow. That is, no number of new ideas or technological revolutions can help to develop the aptitude required to understand and form a life-long bond with the All-encompassing Spirit. Since time immemorial, mankind has been longing for this spirit or divine energy, known by various names.

Baba Hardev Singh Ji explained it as follows: The value of a line of zeros, with 1 at the end will always be small. But if we were to take that 1, and place it at the beginning, the value becomes significant. Simply by moving the position of the one, changes the dynamics of that number. Similarly, the foundation of a perfect life begins with first things first – i.e. placing the One, Nirankar, before all and ahead of everything in our life. The Brahm Gyan (Knowledge of God) helps us to understand not only that everything – animate and inanimate – emanates from the divine Creator, but that this alone is the foundation of all decisions and actions. Nirankar enables us to move towards a perfect life, in which all thoughts, words and deeds are in alignment. This synchronicity signals to the mind and body that we are on the right path.

However, in the absence of such harmony, individuals may well secure unprecedented success, but still fail to put into context their achievements. This can result in self-harm, harming others, and the development of a life of misery.

Hence, to manifest the perfect life, it is of the utmost importance that the foundation stone is placed with precision. This foundation of perfect life is provided by the Spiritual Adept, Satguru.

A self-realised life, forever in touch with the Divine, fills with joyous and meaningful experiences, all of which we must use and apply to every aspect of our being. Apply these life-lessons to each new moment, day, week and year. The personal development that ensues makes up the perfect life.

                                                                                                 Sunny Nirala, London UK

The perfect life starts with a dream – a dream of how we want our life to be, which then can become our drive. A motivational quote, which is appropriate for all aspects of life – i.e. our financial situation, physical health or lifestyle, sums it up as follows:   

‘A dream written down becomes a goal,
A goal broken down into steps becomes a plan,
A plan backed up by action makes your dreams come true’

But can this apply to our spirituality? I find that spirituality contradicts worldly goals. For, while in our worldly life, we are always trying to gather or gain – be that wealth, knowledge or power – in spirituality we are always trying to lose our attachment by unlearning, simplifying and by surrendering our ego.

I have also found that with worldly aims we section things up; we allocate time or dedicate efforts specific to what we are trying to achieve. We dedicate a time in the day to work to earn money, time to improve our physical health, time to spend with our family and so on. With spirituality, however, it is difficult to dedicate a time because it is a way of life, a perspective and awareness. It is that precious something that we should incorporate into our lives at all times, whether at work, the gym, travelling or socialising. It is not something that we can switch on or off.

Indeed, it is only when we consider our spirituality as a measure of our holistic health that the quote becomes relevant. After all, spirituality is not just something that we acquire as a commodity, which consequently remains with us. It is very much like our physical health, which we do not automatically get; we have to work for it through healthy lifestyle choices.  Maintaining our ideal weight for example requires a strict, on-going regimen, involving apt diet, drink and exercise.  

The Satguru reminds us all that the Realisation of God, through the Gyan, is never enough. It has to be practised and lived. The attainment of the Gyan is just the beginning of our journey. Baba Hardev Singh Ji describes it as follows:

In having attained the Gnosis – he, who
Fails to practically live by it, O Nirankar
He secures nothing from it nor does he
Experience any ecstasy-bliss – Nirankar
By simply taking the Gnosis there is no
Beneficial, redemptive effect, Nirankar
Without putting your chore into effect
There can never be any yield, Nirankar

                                 – Hardev Bani, 51

Spirituality, like anything else, takes practice, dedication, commitment, sacrifice and hard work. In making efforts towards our spiritual health, it is always worth it, as the rewards are life changing.

So, what is our dream?

If we were to ask 100 people on the street as to what their dream is, you will likely get 100 different answers – i.e. to be a billionaire, to run a big company, to be a world leader, to have a 6-pack and so on. But if we ask a billionaire, a CEO, a prime minster or Mr Universe, the answer would be that they are not living their dream sincerely, for they now harbour another dream.  That dream will be just as temporal as the last.  Thus, dreams tend to be never-ending.

The truth is, we just want to be happy, have peace of mind, and experience love and life. Everything else is really a vehicle to achieve this.  Indeed, we do have moments in life when we not only experience this happiness, but become contented, feeling a sense of peace and love. But how often do we experience this, and how often does it last? Baba Hardev Singh Ji reminds us as follows:

To measure spirituality, count how many times a day our peace of mind is disturbed.

Having established our goal, we come to our plan. How are we going to achieve this happiness? There are numerous examples of how wealth, power and knowledge fail to bring us happiness or peace of mind.

Alexander the Great is said to have proclaimed that all the wealth he fought for, is nothing but dust.  He came into the world empty-handed and left the same way.  All he had accumulated and conquered, he had to leave behind.

We also hear of great saints, who had very little to their name in the way of education, knowledge, power or social standing – Bhagat Kabir, Sage Ravidas, Saint Namdev and so many others. In spite of all that, however, they led peaceful and happy lives, proving that success, wealth, power and knowledge do not satisfy our true desires as human beings.

This dream of happiness and peace of mind cannot be promised by the richest, most knowledgeable or the most powerful of people. It can only be promised by those, who are experiencing eternal bliss and unflinching peace of mind. It can certainly only be promised by one who knows and can fulfil our true purpose of life. Such a custodian of this one eternal Truth has perennially been known as Satguru.

In unveiling the God Knowledge, Satguru changes our perspective in all aspects of life, which in turn directs our thoughts, words and actions towards a stable, contented and happy life. It is akin to seeking the advice of a doctor, who examines our malady and prescribes the appropriate medicine. If we choose to accept the treatment and follow the doctor’s guidance, we can be cured. It must be stressed that the remedy only works when we follow the advice, exactly as prescribed.

Similarly, if we suffer from greed, ego, hatred and a whole host of vices, all of which disturb our peace of mind, then we must seek the advice and guidance of Satguru, who can teach us how to break free from these harmful qualities. For, Satguru enlightens us with the Gyan, which is the panacea for all ills. But there is always a proviso that we remain in God’s awareness, the absence of which can return us to our vicious life. After the Gyan, what Satguru prescribes are the five principles and the trio of Seva, Simran and Satsang.

Seva, selfless service, is designed for both ourselves and others.  Not only do others benefit, we gain a great deal too. It is a worthy and noble deed, a pillar of spiritual practise in all faiths. When we are in this awareness, there is no room for any ego. We become the vessel that serves, without being the active doers. After all, none of the body, mind and wealth is me; everything belongs to God. This is the first principle that we promise to abide by, when Gyan is being revealed to us. Anything other is just food for the ego – transactions, fuelled by our expectations of recognition or return.

Simran occurs during our personal communion with Nirankar, through conscious awareness and remembrance. Simran allows us to remain aloft, like the lotus flower that has its roots in the mire but stands majestically above it. It is there for us to be constantly aware of the Divine in everything and everyone. Simran is a true gift from Satguru. Wherever we may be, whatever situation we find ourselves in, whatever time it may be, Satguru has gifted us the ability to remain in the awareness of the Formless. When we truly focus, we truly consider what we are consciously reciting – You and you alone are the Almighty Nirankar; I am under your protection, so please shield and pardon me. We have to connect with Nirankar because our ego plays havoc with us. Although we are not separate from Nirankar, it is a fact that Nirankar does not exist where ego prevails. Through Simran, the flame of awareness Satguru lit within us shines even more brightly – should the flame be receding for any reason, Simran will help to reignite it.

The Sadhsangat, the fellowship of saints and a treasure-trove of wisdom, constantly reminds us that it is one of the forms of Satguru, who speaks through it, blessing and sanctifying all.  One never knows when something heard in Sadhsangat comes to mind and helps us navigate some challenge or other.  What is more, Sadhsangat always provides opportunities for Seva and Simran – if we do not make room for these practises elsewhere in our daily lives, they are waiting for us in Sadhsangat!

Sadhsangat is like a purifying bath for the soul.  In many places around the world, we remove our shoes before entering the Sadhsangat.  Not only is this a sign of respect, but it is also a reminder that all tensions, stresses and strains can be left outside of the Sangat Hall, so that we may refresh ourselves with saintly virtues shared through poetic verse, inspiring talks and uplifting hymns.  We are reinvigorated in the Sadhsangat, so much so that having shed our stresses, we leave our troubles behind as we return to our family and worldly life. 

The Mission’s ideals are to serve mankind, to work for the benefit of mankind, and to live for mankind. But if we are not living our dream, how can we fulfil the dreams of others? If we have no peace of mind, how can we give peace of mind to others? If we are not experiencing love, how can we show love to others? Indeed, if we are not happy ourselves, how can we give happiness to others?

Raj Mata Kulwant Kaur Ji, our Holy Mother, used to use an analogy. A bag full of sugar, when pierced, always produces sugar. If our saintly vessels are filled with sweetness, it is sweetness that comes out. If we are full of ego, hatred, bitterness, then that is what we will show others. But if we are filled with Nirankar, then we will only show love, tolerance, acceptance, humility and oneness. HH Satguru Mata Sudiksha Ji has said in numerous discourses to focus on ourselves, reflect on ourselves and work on ourselves.

Satguru Mata Sawinder Ji used to remind us of being the lighthouse, while Baba Hardev Singh Ji would urge us to know one, believe in one, and be one.

When the divine light of this Formless Nirankar is lit within us, our thoughts, words and actions align to those of Satguru. We shine brightly for all others to experience warmth, guidance and illumination. The surrender that this light of Gyan brings to us, the state of mind we become, the perspective and vision we see with, then allows us to be the vessel for Nirankar’s will.

It is not our decision, or under our control what happens in the life of others, that is up to Nirankar, we just have to be the vessel for Nirankar by remaining in awareness of this Formless.

That is what Satguru is asking us to do.

                                                                                            – Dr Sumeet Bassan, Sutton Coldfield, UK

As the whole world recoils from the effects of a worldwide pandemic, and we watch on at rising tensions of a superpower at war with one of its neighbours, the need to reflect on a more perfect foundation for life could not come at a better time. Indeed, what is the foundation of a perfect life?

The fact that human beings suffer from a whole manner of ailments or problems, is nothing new. Ups and downs of life are naturally present. Guru Nanak Ji, the founder of the faith community known as the Sikhs, declared some 500 years ago:

Some are physically unwell, some are mentally stressed and others have financial woes; to some extent, everyone is afflicted. Peaceful is only he, who devotes himself to God.

Lord Buddha, on stepping out of his palace, also witnessed much sorrow and discomfort prior to finding enlightenment – his journey of discovery started from seeing the suffering of people around him and wanting to understand how man could be liberated from it (as explained in the doctrine of the four noble truths). Lord Jesus Christ was equally approached by the destitute and the diseased, who sought salvation and joy – his message of love and knowing the Truth that will set you free, has stood the test of time.

Yet in view of the ongoing pain and disillusionment we see in the world it is easy to come to the conclusion that there is no such thing as a perfect life, and no real freedom from suffering. Bearing in mind that we are surrounded by problems, both consuming and never-ending, we may even question the existence of a loving God.

However, from a personal standpoint, I have found such a sceptical viewpoint to be far from reality.  I have found that if the foundation is strong, then no matter how destabilising the turbulent winds may be, we can remain grounded and rooted. This is exactly what I experienced in 2018.

I went through a very difficult time. Had my faith in Nirankar (the Formless All-Pervading) not been steadfast, I would not have been able to write this article – infact, I would have been totally lost! What is required are the essential ingredients that build a strong foundation, which HH Nirankari Mata Sawinder Ji summed up as follows:

In Divine love there’s but one rule that’s true
In acceptance of You, I accept all that You do

When we have God as our foundation, we accept all as per Divine will. This alleviates our sense of doership, frustration, dejection and attachment. When we appreciate that everything is written by The All-Knowing; we are simply here to learn and evolve in the process.  It’s a tricky balance, to live with right conduct and responsibility in the world, whilst also being an observer of the play or leela that the Creator is directing.

At this stage, we may ask, if God is the foundation, then where do we find such a God? How do we come to know such a Creator? Indeed, with a plethora of religions and Holy Prophets to choose from, how do we know which one to choose, and who to follow?

It is my conviction that all Sages, Seers and Prophets came for one reason – not just to connect us, but to teach us how to realise God, before worshipping Him. Hence, we must search for the One, who makes us feel whole.  Just as in our search for a good doctor, we look to the health outcomes of his patients, so we can look for those devoted souls who are whole and unperturbed, inspite of the challenges of life.

Furthermore, someone who truly knows and lives with God can help us achieve the same experience.  Such a Guru does not merely train us in mantras or yogic exercises and certainly does not limit us to prayers and hymns.  Neither does he simply talk about God.  A True Guru reveals the Truth through the revelation of Gyan, variably known as the Word or Naam. In the Bible (John, 1:1) it is said:

In the beginning, there was the word, and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.

The Sampuran Avtar Bani, verse 311, clearly describes what the benefits of Naam or the awareness of God, are:

Name – is panacea of all ills

Remedy for – every disease

Oh! So mighty is the Name

It rights wrongs with ease!

Ones devoid of divine light,

Name shows them the way

Every home Name inhabits

Becomes a heavenly array!

Perfect Master  –  Oh’ man,

Only deals – in divine Name

 Knower of Him is, Nirankari

For He is Nirankar in Name

The Naam or Word is to live in the perpetual awareness and remembrance of God. It is to personally connect with God. It is such union that leads to a different perspective on life.

When we look at ourselves as spiritual beings having human experiences, and not human beings having spiritual experiences, then we can truly be in the world, but not of the world. It is akin to the Shakespearean verse,

Nothing is good or bad, but it’s the thinking that makes it so

-Hamlet

This awareness transforms our thinking to an elevated state. Indeed, when we accept everything as the creation of the Perfect God, and see God infused in every particle of existence, we develop faith that the Almighty Father can, does and will protect us in every situation.  We can sit on His shoulders comfortably, without pain, anguish, stress or fear.  Difficulties will still be inevitable, for such is life, but we will no longer choose to suffer.

It is said, Ignorance is Bliss. Indeed, overthinking situations can lead to anxiety, and it can be helpful to step aside from them, perhaps through distraction or engagement in some other more positive pursuit. However, ignorance should never extend to our relationship with God, for without God as our foundation, we tend to have faith in our name, our fame, our money, our connections and our intelligence, inspite of knowing they will all fail us. Even this very body we have faith in, will grow old and frail. 

Perfection, if at all it can be attained, may be considered an ideal.  It is really a state of mind, which in turn produces a certain state of being. Ironically, whilst someone in a palace, with every amenity at his disposal, may be miserable, someone in a hut, poor and destitute, may be grateful for the little he has.  Such is the power of the mind – it can make a heaven of hell, or hell of heaven (John Milton)

With Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, we can see that self-actualisation and transcendence are at the very top, but they only come about when all other needs – i.e. physiological, security, belonging etc. – are met. However, I have experienced that when we see our surroundings and situation as the Lord’s grace, we can overcome every adverse situation, or at least manage it with dignity.

Indeed, Acceptance, Gratitude and Faith are by-products of a Spiritual Life that has God at its foundation. With such a perspective, we can find the perfection in the imperfections; the positively yielding in every adversity; and the Creator in the vast creation.

– Sudhir Kundi, London

Major advancements in technology have brought about fundamental changes in our daily lives. To a great extent, technology has made life so much easier, so much more convenient for all, that it is now extremely difficult to imagine a world devoid of such conveniences. However, just as normally is the case with everything else, a fair share of disadvantages has also been attributed to such advancements over time.

Although with the advent of the internet and social media, it may no longer feel that we are distant from our loved ones, research shows that the exact same social media can also impact one’s mental and physical health¹ adversely. Without a doubt, it is clearly understood that such technological progress was originally intended to bridge the gap that paradigms like globalization had brought about. It was to enable real-time and cost-effective communication and collaboration. However, as family, friends and social media influencers make use of these platforms with the intent of celebrating and sharing their key achievements with their well-wishers and loved ones, such practices bring increasing tendencies of superiority and inferiority complexes. 

Gradually, people’s definition of a perfect life changes, as exposure to such content increases. People have now begun considering attractive looks, expensive gifts, luxurious homes, regular overseas trips and so on as essential ingredients to an ideal life. Our thinking is reinforced by those validating likes and shares that are received for such attainments, which lay the groundworks for a never-ending rat race. It is perceived mistakenly that a perfect life is found in the fulfilment of all desires. The foremost of these desires is to be valued by others, just as is sometimes illusively portrayed on various online networks. It would appear most people do not have their own, personalised definition of a perfect life. Rather, it seems to be subsumed by what others think a perfect life should be.

Everyone should be free to form their own opinion as to what a perfect life is, rather than being influenced by social media celebrities or the need to live upto social desirability trends.  However, if we are to be influenced, why not spend some time dwelling on the teachings of great saints, seers and sages, who have been defining a way to live beautifully, over the ages. They have always presented their perspective to the world and could be considered the original social media influencers! History has been a witness to the fact that those who have sincerely followed the teachings of such divine personalities and messengers of Truth have themselves become beacons of light. Such personalities have not left any stones unturned in sharing their experiences with the world on how to live a perfect life. Just like posts that may never be erased from the world wide web, the messages of these saintly beings are etched in scriptural writings, that will stand the test of time.  Why not become a follower to them?  

Such saints, since time immemorial, have reminded us of the temporary nature of the material world in which we seek comfort, joy, and validation. His Holiness Shahenshah Baba Avtar Singh Ji, the second in the lineage of the Sant Nirankari Mentors, states in the Avtar Bani:

Illusion, in its every guise,

Luring although it may be

Take it as gospel from me

It’s nothing but transitory

Lust for all your comforts

Is a fleeting shadow, a lie

The very minute it wanes, 

You’ll ever moan and cry!

All you see is nothing but

A futile and passing show

The blind fool – is dazzled,

And deceived by its glow!

If one’s fond of the fickle,

In the end you will repent

You’ll be – empty-handed,

Without one dime or cent

In being fond of the Saint

Total bliss, one embraces,

You bond with Him, Avtar

 If indeed, Saint so graces!

                        – Avtar Bani 51

As repetitive as it may sound, history has been witness to the fall of great empires. The above verse however, in no way forbids us from acquiring material possessions. What Baba Avtar Singh Ji is emphasizing is that we should not be too deeply attached to them. They are mistakenly perceived as essential ingredients to a happy life. When we attach ourselves excessively to something that is temporary, its absence leads to sorrow, and life begins to seem incomplete and imperfect. But, it is worth asking, how can something that is subject to change be associated with perfection? His Holiness Baba Hardev Singh Ji, the fourth Spiritual Mentor of the Mission, would often state in his divine discourses that the deeper the attachment, the deeper the sorrow.

Thus, according to the spiritually adept, a perfect life is not that which comprises all of life’s comforts and conveniences, but one that recognizes the temporal nature of the material world, accepts it, and rises above it. A perfect life is that which gives precedence to the Omni-present, the never-changing supreme Entity that people call God. Those who have lived by these principles – be they royal or rank and file – fully grasp the art of living. What we need to do is to keep drawing from their wisdom to be able to live a perfect life in the true sense.

 Sohan Motwani, Manilla, Phillipines

Over millions of years of evolution, man has become accustomed to looking at what he does not have, rather than concentrating on what he has. So much so that he constantly aspires towards a future in which every single need of his is fulfilled, rendering him happy and content.

Indeed, every person wants to be happy, as it is his birth right. In looking for happiness in people, objects, relationships and experiences, we will find a certain degree of happiness, for sure. However, this kind of happiness is only ever ephemeral, and not lasting. So how do we find a more enduring happiness?

The answer is not to look for joy and happiness per se, but to be the joy and happiness. It is a matter of knowing that we are abundantly blessed, and that we are enough. We do not have to hoard anything, impress anyone or be afraid of anyone. We do not have to regret the past or worry about the future. We simply need to know how to enjoy what we have – i.e. the present moment, a gift from the Divine. Baba Hardev Singh Ji expresses it as follows:

It’s the Lord Almighty – who has given,

Every single thing to man – O’ Nirankar

In things, he’s delved to such an extent

That he’s forgotten the Lord – Nirankar

To readily please his child a doting dad

 Supplies him with many toys, Nirankar,

But in acquiring many a toy in question

He forgets the father himself, Nirankar

In having acquired – all the acquisitions

Why are you so proud-arrogant O’ Man

Having so mixed, in material donations,

Donor, you have detached from, by far

Although Almighty Creator’s enormous

 Creation is, in fact, unique, O’ Nirankar,

But, before the Creator, every creation

Proves to be of little worth, O’ Nirankar

                                           – Hardev Bani, 216

The art of being grateful is an integral part of living a life of contentment. It certainly does not mean that we should not have aspirations. On the contrary, we should not only strive for new goals, but at the same time, enjoy the journey itself just as much as the accomplishments.

In this fast-paced, materialistic life, we can easily get carried away with gross happiness and lose sight of the subtle. Baba Hardev Singh Ji puts it very succinctly as follows – in the rat-race of life, even if you win the race, you’re still a rat.

We have to be grateful for all that we have been blessed with, and even more grateful for what we do not have, for which there is always a deeper reason. But how, indeed, do we practise gratitude?

There are gratitude jars and gratitude journaling for recording what we are grateful for. Another powerful practice is gratitude pause, which encourages us to take short breaks many times in the day to mentally take note of things, people and circumstances that we are grateful for. For example, if someone were to offer me a glass of water, I would say, thank you. But in the case of life’s manifold bounties, who do we thank? Is it an unseen God, the vast Universe or something else we take to be the source of all Existence? Indeed, would it not be more meaningful, and more deeply connecting, if we truly knew the object of our gratitude i.e. the One we are thanking for all that we are blessed with?

Just as a science student needs to go to a science teacher to learn about his subject, we, too, as seekers of the subtle, need to go to a Subtle Teacher – i.e. the Satguru – to empower us with the Knowledge of God that opens the door to the Supreme Entity. Hence, it is Satguru, who charts the roadmap towards a blissful life, with gratitude playing a key role. Baba Hardev Singh Ji puts it as follows:

Simply continue to thank – the Creator

For thankfulness is devotion – Nirankar

Having no complaints and disapproval,

On your lips is devotion –  O’ Nirankar.

In word, deed and action, totally being

 Lord’s very own is devotion, O’ Nirankar

Being attuned to, and losing yourself in

The love of God, is devotion – Nirankar,

To die a death of the self, at the Guru’s

Hallowed domain is devotion, Nirankar

Hardev Bani, 118

It is always Satguru, who teaches us the art of living through surrender and gratitude. While surrender is about leaving behind all that which deters us from experiencing a wholesome life of abundance and peace, gratitude is about being thankful at all times, for a life of contentment.

                                                                                                      – Shiva Rane, Livingstone, Scotland

It has been estimated (2021) that there are circa 170,000,000 unique books in the world¹ and yet there is no author and no single book that can authoritatively tell us how to live a perfect life. There are many acclaimed self-help writers, who can advise and inspire, but the idea of a perfect life is often so intensely subjective that it requires us to embark on a journey of deep self-reflection.

The truth is, I cannot tell you how to live a perfect life; no one can. I can only share my own experience of what it means to have lived half-a-life, and what it means to live freely.

For many years, I was gripped by a compulsion to control situations and strive for flawlessness. In other words, I was a perfectionist. Externally, it seemed as though a perfect life was being led, and at times, I convinced myself this was the case. Truthfully, I was creating impossible standards that weaved an elaborate web of anxiety, stress and fear. This clouded every decision I made and shaped my responses to people and situations.

Exploring this topic has, therefore, presented an opportunity for introspection on my part. After all, we must ask ourselves, is life something to be perfected? If so, by what and whose standard do we measure its perfection? There are many generational, cultural and social understandings of what it means to lead a perfect life. At the micro level, our lives are largely shaped by our peers, family and friends. Adhering to such social norms may be acceptable, but can we truly describe meeting these expectations to be the bedrock of a perfect life?

A Perfect Life?
If we were to imagine a perfect life, how would it look? How would it feel? In my younger years, I envisaged a future self that would be accomplished, successful, loving, and healthy. I held on to this image for dear life, as though it were a safety blanket. It was only as I matured that I realised life was infinitely more complex and vibrant than I had dared to imagine. I realised that life is not a static canvas with one perfect painting etched upon it.  Rather life is more nuanced and layered, inviting us to create and destroy many such images, as our depth and understanding grows. Life is what happens to us, whilst we are waiting to live!

I realised that I had fallen into the trap of chasing a perfect life, assuming it was some place to be reached, some day.  In that illusory and imaginary place, I assumed I would arrive at one version, one way of being fulfilled.  I completely overlooked the time and presence available to me now – my musings were only wishful solutions for the lack I felt deep within.

In those years, I experienced a disconnection. After all, how could I expect to build the foundation of a perfect life with cracks in the mortar? I had been trying to build my own idea of a perfect life with an imperfect mind-set. If I were to juice an orange, logic demands that only orange juice would reasonably be produced. Similarly, if our mind-set is still caught in a cycle of negativity, how can we expect to create a positive lifestyle? How can we create meaningful impact when we are still in survival mode? Perfection, then, begins and ends with the mind.

Perfecting the Mind
Whenever I see a space in the house, I like to fill it with books or ornaments that create a pleasing aesthetic. The unenlightened mind works like this too. Whenever there is a space in the mind, we find ourselves overwhelmed with thought-seeking to fill the gap. A sense of restlessness prevails and it is difficult to imagine anything close to perfection emanating in this environment.

But this gap is precious. The gap is the space where the idea of who we are, is not. And where we are not, is where perfection is! As long as we are seeking perfection, we will never know perfection. It is the idea, the concept, the notion of perfection that we have, which must be dropped. This is how Osho (Bhagwan Rajneesh) once put it:

A Sufi master was sharing his wisdom with a group of people. He repeated an old Sufi saying, life is perfect, everything is perfect; everybody is perfect. An elderly man, who had been listening to the conversation, stood up. The man, who had a hunched back, said to the Sufi master, “Look at me. I am living proof that life is not perfect and that your idea of life being perfect is wrong. All my life I have been called a hunchback. Look at my disfigurement and tell me that life is perfect”. The Sufi master looked at him kindly and said: “But you are the most perfect hunchback I have ever seen!” ².

This story reminds us that it is the standard of perfection that is imperfect, for this stems from the ego. We must drop the idea that perfection is to be attained and recognise the perfection that already is. As long as the mind is chasing smoke, it can never know the eternal flame of Truth.

The Perfect Truth
The Satguru has given us the tools of Seva, Simran and Satsang with which to build the foundation for a perfect life. It is with her grace that all the emptiness becomes full, and the incomplete becomes complete. The Upanishads describe it as follows:

All this is full. All that is full.
From fullness, fullness comes.
When fullness is taken from fullness,
Fullness still remains³.

A perfect life, therefore, does not require us to live perfectly. It only requires us to recognise the True Self through the Brahm Gyan. To live in this loving awareness is more than just to know perfection, it is to BE PERFECTION. And what could be more perfect than this?

                                                                                           – Serena Nagha, London, UK

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