The other day I was talking with a friend who is facing some immense challenges in his life. These are due to circumstances outside of his control and are partially a result of political upheaval in his local area.
He said, “I thought it was going to get better as we got closer to the Age of Aquarius.” We reflected on the polarization that seems to be showing up in the world — in the political arena, in people’s personal lives, and certainly in the life of Sikh Dharma.
I reminded my friend that there have been countless predictions that this age in history would be marked by natural disasters, plagues, huge challenges, stress, and conflict.
The key to maintaining a balance while navigating these treacherous waters is a daily spiritual practice. The discipline of elevating your spirit on a daily basis is the touchstone that will carry you through. My friend realized that he wasn’t doing much lately to feed his soul and that troubled him.
How blessed we are to have these practices to uplift us daily: sadhana, banis, Kundalini Yoga, meditation, seva, and of course our beloved Siri Guru Granth Sahib.
I came across this excerpt from Furmaan Khalsa: Poems to Live By (p.59-60) reprinted in Victory and Virtue (p.39). It was a good reminder to me and I hope it inspires you.
The Daily Banis
(Nitnem Namaa)
by Siri Singh Sahib Bhai Sahib Harbhajan Singh Khalsa Yogiji
The Yogi speaks effortlessly…
From the Love and Light of his Heart,
And from the depth of his meditative Wisdom.
Oh, Sikhs of the Guru! Oh, Khalsa!
Listen to my Prayer!
The Nitnem is the Command given by the True Guru.
If you recite your Banis consciously, you will gain
Divine Knowledge.
It is by Guru’s Grace that I tell you this,
And it is by God’s Grace that you will be merged with Him.
When your Soul feels sad, recite Japji in the depth of your
Inner Self.
When your body feels useless, recite Shabd Hazaare.
When your Dignity is threatened, meditate on Jaap Sahib.
When nothing seems to satisfy you, sing Tav Prasad Swaye
each day.
When you feel hopeless, unsuccessful, and worthless,
That is the time to sing Rehiras.
When your lower self confronts you, and you seem to have
no money,
When your affairs all seem to fail, and your mind can find
no Peace,
That is the time to sing Anand Sahib.
When your life seems boring, and you feel uninspired,
That’s when you should sing Kirtan Sohila.
When the Light of your Soul is dim, and the dark ethers
surround you,
Then recite the Bhagauti Ardas.
If you sing Sukhmani from your heart,
You shall be wealthy and exalted, beyond your
wildest dreams.
All the Bliss your mind desires,
Is yours, when you meditate on Gobind, the destroyer of cruelty.
The Kingdom of the one who chants the Gurmantra, Wahe Guru,
Shall endure forever and ever.
If you chant Sat Nam, all your affairs are arranged,
And all your desires are fulfilled.
When you sing Sopurkh, the Vision of the Infinite Creator
shall come to you.
The entire Universe fills the meditation,
Of the one who sings the watch of the So Dar.
When you sing the praises of Guru Ram Das,
God manifests in your Innermost Soul.
The Siri Sargam is such a powerful Naad,
That hearing it, even the homeless shall find a good home.
Hearing and singing the Guru Gayatri,
Rishi Dusht Daman will be the Protector of your home.
The Paintees Akharee* gives the understanding of Yoga.
Benti Chaupee liberates the Soul.
Whoever listens to, or recites the Bara Maha to others,
His home becomes an ocean of Peace and Bliss.
By eating lightly of healthy food,
One experiences the Bless of Brahm and complete Liberation.
The Guru’s Langar is the very best food!
The entire Universe meditates at the Harimandir.
Whoever recites his Nitnem daily,
Is blessed by Akal with Peace and Bliss!
*Painti Akhri is a Punjabi term that refers to the Gurmukhi alphabet.
Let’s use our technology and sail through these times. May God ever bless you.
Humbly,
SS Dr. Sat-Kaur Khalsa
Secretary of Religion
THE SECRETARY OF RELIGION
SS Dr. Sat Kaur Khalsa has served as Secretary of Religion since 1991 and was ordained as a Sikh Dharma Minister in 1975. As Secretary of Religion, Dr. Sat Kaur oversees and is ultimately responsible for the delivery of the functions of this Office. Dr. Sat Kaur is a long-time member of the International Khalsa Council and the Khalsa Council Executive Committee. She maintains a full-time psychotherapy private practice in Santa Monica, California and Santa Fe, New Mexico, counseling individuals, couples, and families to support their personal and spiritual growth. She is a certified Kundalini Yoga teacher, a facilitator of White Tantric Yoga®, and a published author.
