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
