Author: admin

There may come a time when we might need inspiration, support, and help to navigate life’s challenges. For a Gursikh, Satsangat is that place – where one can listen, learn and apply. Sangat has the power to transform an individual while offering coping strategies for life’s ups and downs. It’s not surprising that our Gurus had the utmost respect for the satsangat.

In sangat, we learn the real purpose of our lives, which is to meet Waheguru while alive. One of the places to connect with sangat is at samagams. Samagams present us with the time and solitude necessary to rejuvenate and reflect on the teachings of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, which is essential for spiritual growth.

Let’s take a look at other reasons to join satsangat and samagams:

1. Breakaway from daily routine. Samagams help us break our monotonous routine and rejuvenate our inner self. We’re able to discover Gurbani-inspired perspectives which can help us think more clearly and solve problems differently. This is not only beneficial for ourselves but for our families.
2. Listen and learn. With no distractions from your phone, TV or email, you can listen and learn from the teachings of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. Families have the opportunity to learn more about gurbani, simran, jeevan jaach, and how these core concepts relate to every stage in life.
3. Apply the teachings. Sangat is a platform where one can learn how to apply the teachings of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. Through samagams, we slowly transform from being a passive Sikh to a Guru-inspired Sikh. Our goal should not only be to acquire knowledge but also learn how to apply core Sikhi concepts in our everyday life.
4. Share experiences and help others. Samagams attract Gursikhs from all walks of life. It’s helpful to meet others who have similar life struggles you can relate to and have learned how to apply Sikh concepts. These people become your support system as you work towards your spiritual goals. Most importantly, sangat lets you realize that you’re not alone in your journey and your challenges are not always unique.
5. Hit refresh. With an energized mind and a fresh perspective, you’re able to go back to your everyday life and re-start your journey. You can implement newly learned ways of tackling daily life challenges through gurbani, simran and jeevan jaach. This is one way that Waheguru provides a new opportunity to work towards the purpose of your life.
6. More economical than vacations. Samagams are much more economical and cost-effective as opposed to regular vacations. You don’t have to worry about things like meals, accommodations or transportation. Local sevadars will take care of all of this. Samagams have long-term benefits in the form of applicable lessons from Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, while vacations only provide fleeting moments of pleasure.
7. Investment for the future. While we meticulously plan for our kids’ education and personal retirement through regular savings plans, we often forget to pay attention to our personal and family’s spiritual well-being. Spending our time and money to attend satsangat and  samagams is an investment for an enriched and healthier spiritual life. Attending samagams and satsangat is our investment to advance spiritually.

Take action: Sign up for the biggest samagam of 2019 in North America at Gurdwara Sahib of San Jose, California, June 21 to June 23. The theme of this samagam: How can I hear God’s voice? Learn more about how you can register: Gurmat Samagam.

Salary Is Not The Endgame

Money is an essential tool that promises you and your family a safe and comfortable life. Earning money also allows you to contribute to the community. So, earning fair wages for your work and time is important.

Instead of being satisfied with what we are given, waves of greed drive our mind to chase a higher salary. In our desire to draw fat paychecks we forget the ultimate giver, Waheguru. Chasing money by ignoring other tangible aspects of healthy working life is inane and self-detrimental. Here are some other reasons to not be greedy about your compensation, and ways to be content.

You will never know what is enough.

It’s not surprising to find someone negotiating aggressively to earn the salary he or she desires but then quickly feeling insufficient and yearning for more. This is because the mind is greedy and it doesn’t always know how much enough is actually enough. The relentless chase is similar to dogs chasing a car.

ਏਹੁ ਮਨੋ ਮੂਰਖੁ ਲੋਭੀਆ ਲੋਭੇ ਲਗਾ ਲੋੁਭਾਨੁ ॥
This foolish mind is greedy; through greed, it becomes even more attached to greed.
ਅੰਤਰਿ ਲੋਭੁ ਫਿਰਹਿ ਹਲਕਾਏ ॥
Within them is greed, and they wander around like mad dogs.

Love for learning is the key.

Doing something that you enjoy will manifest in the form of higher productivity and quality, motivation to find solutions to complex problems, and learning about new areas of your field. These traits automatically result in faster promotions, higher salary, positive feedback, new opportunities, and general happiness in life. In today’s world, when technology is disrupting every industry, there’s considerable value in honing your craft, to the point where you won’t need to chase money. It’ll gravitate to you because of the value you’re able to provide.

Numbers don’t tell the complete story.

Widely cited research published in 2010 has shown that happiness plateaus at an annual salary of $75,000 ($90,000 in today’s dollars), making little difference in one’s emotional well-being beyond that. It is definitely important to be paid a fair wage for your services but other things that create a holistic and satisfying work experience include an open-minded boss, a schedule and commute that won’t drive you crazy, a sense that what you do matters, and a workplace that embraces diversity and inclusion.

Waheguru is the ultimate giver

A Gursikh is always thankful to Waheguru for the opportunity to serve, whether it is professional work or Sewa in the local gurdwara. The Gursikh performs his or her work with the intention of serving the ultimate giver, Waheguru. Constant remembrance of Waheguru keeps the Gursikh insulated from terrifying winds of greed. Everyday do simran, and the mind will automatically become pure and get rid of greed.

ਚਾਕਰੁ ਲਗੈ ਚਾਕਰੀ ਜੇ ਚਲੈ ਖਸਮੈ ਭਾਇ ॥
If a servant, performing service, obeys the Will of his Master,
ਹੁਰਮਤਿ ਤਿਸ ਨੋ ਅਗਲੀ ਓਹੁ ਵਜਹੁ ਭਿ ਦੂਣਾ ਖਾਇ ॥
his honor increases and he receives double his wages.

Image credit Artist: DEREK MICHAEL BRENNAN