Some Sikh families had gathered at the Shabad Kirtan (congregation) at the house of one of them at Gurgaon, India. There, a proposal was put forward to establish a Gurduara since none existed in the new colony. A young homeopathic lady doctor came forward to offer her services whenever the Gurduara was established. The new Gurduara came up after some time and she offered her services again. So a dispensary which provides free consultation and medicines was started on Jan 09, 2004. Since then she and another doctor have been regularly attending to the patients five days every week. Both the doctors were offered to draw some allowance but they declined. When the petrol prices went up a lot in 2007 – 08 the lady doctor who comes on a car was requested to at least take the car expenses but she declined again. She said “our family is enjoying so much grace of Akal Purakh that I cannot even think of taking money for whatever way I can serve”. This young lady, Gurbir Kaur is the epitome of contentment and is a source of motivation for all. That God helps a cause served this way is evident from the fact that she hardly ever asks for funds to buy the medicines. She says people just keep giving.

Those who serve selflessly say:

ਕਰਿਸੇਵਾਸੇਵਕਪ੍ਰਭਅਪੁਨੇਜਿਨਿਮਨਕੀਇਛਪੁਜਾਈ॥ਨਾਨਕਦਾਸਤਾਕੈਬਲਿਹਾਰੈਜਿਨਿਪੂਰਨਪੈਜਰਖਾਈ॥੪॥੫੬੧੬

Serve the Lord who has fulfilled your wishes; I am all for the Master who has preserved my honor (M: 5, SGGS, 616).

When someone serves to derive personal benefit or to get recognition it is like serving under compulsion. On the other hand when motivation comes from the realization that something needs to be done and then one does it, there is satisfaction. Such motivation is a sign of goodness of mind free of self-interest and a source of contentment:

ਸੇਵ ਕੀਤੀ ਸੰਤੋਖੀੲ‍ਂ‍ੀ ਜਿਨ੍ਹ੍ਹੀ ਸਚੋ ਸਚੁ ਧਿਆਇਆ ॥ ਓਨ੍ਹ੍ਹੀ ਮੰਦੈ ਪੈਰੁ ਨ ਰਖਿਓ ਕਰਿ ਸੁਕ੍ਰਿਤੁ ਧਰਮੁ ਕਮਾਇਆ ॥੧੪੬੬-੬੭

Those who remember the eternal Lord serve in contentment; they do not transgress but are steadfast in virtuous deeds (M: 1, SGGS, p 466-67).

We put in lots of efforts in gathering money or looking good physically. It is essential that a benchmark for satisfaction should be identified otherwise craving will never end. Those who work and think of Naam (the Creator’s virtues) at the same time obtain this contentment easily. For them:

ਨਾਮੁਧਨੁਨਾਮੋਰੂਪੁਰੰਗੁ॥ਨਾਮੋਸੁਖੁ ਹਰਿਨਾਮਕਾਸੰਗੁ॥ਨਾਮ ਰਸਿ ਜੋ ਜਨ ਤ੍ਰਿਪਤਾਨੇ ॥ ਮਨ ਤਨ ਨਾਮਹਿ ਨਾਮਿ ਸਮਾਨੇ ॥੫੨੮੬

Naam is wealth and personal beauty; all pleasures lie in Naam; those who are thus contented remain absorbed in Naam both mentally and physically (M: 5, SGGS, p 286). And,

ਕਰਹਿ ਭਗਤਿ ਆਤਮ ਕੈ ਚਾਇ ॥ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਅਪਨੇ ਸਿਉ ਰਹਹਿ ਸਮਾਇ ॥

They serve lovingly from their hearts, ever absorbed in the Master (M: 5, SGGS, p 286).

We all enjoy blessings probably in different measures or more likely with varying perceptions. The famous example of whether the ‘glass’ is ‘half full’ or ‘half empty’ demonstrates how perceptions differ. Perception in this regard is a reflection of contentment. Paradoxical as it may seem, there is lesser contentment in richer people than the economically less fortunate. If a poor man gets a small amount of money happiness shows on his face but twice that much may not satisfy another who craves for money. Guru Arjun says in Sukhmani Sahib:

ਦਸ ਬਸਤੂ ਲੇ ਪਾਛੈ ਪਾਵੈ ॥ ਏਕ ਬਸਤੁ ਕਾਰਨਿ ਬਿਖੋਟਿ ਗਵਾਵੈ ॥ ਏਕ ਭੀ ਨ ਦੇਇ ਦਸ ਭੀ ਹਿਰਿ ਲੇਇ ॥ ਤਉ ਮੂੜਾ ਕਹੁ ਕਹਾ ਕਰੇਇ ॥੫੨੬੮

A person puts ten Divine benedictions under wraps and betrays his lack of faith by complaining about one wish unfulfilled; what will he do if God does not give the one and takes away the ten? (M: 5, SGGS, p 268).

The sixth Ashtpadi (the group of eight stanzas) of Sukhmani Sahib reminds man (and woman) of benedictions like good food, mansions, pleasures of life, good clothes, good looks, status and so on. He is asked to acknowledge the Creator who gave these. Any one who follows this obtains peace of mind. In fact the whole composition is about how to obtain peace of mind and is appropriately named Sukhmani, the ‘Psalm of Peace’. All the 24 Ashtpadis have a Slok (prologue) each which gives the central theme of the eight stanzas. The Slok of the sixth Ashtpadi reads:

ਕਾਮ ਕ੍ਰੋਧ ਅਰੁ ਲੋਭ ਮੋਹ ਬਿਨਸਿ ਜਾਇ ਅਹੰਮੇਵ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਸਰਣਾਗਤੀ ਕਰਿ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦੁ ਗੁਰਦੇਵ ॥੧॥ ੫੨੬੯

I seek Your sanctuary O Lord and Guru, show Your grace; may the five afflictions of lust, anger, greed, attachment and vanity all be banished (M: 5, SGGS, p 269).

These five afflictions keep one focused on satisfaction of the senses but they can never be satiated. Unless one is rid of these afflictions self-orientation does not let give way to God-orientation. A self-oriented person normally forgets to express gratitude for what is received unless he feels that such expression will bring more benefits.

It may be argued that we receive such homilies in congregations but they are not relevant in the competitive world of today. If we remain satisfied with what we have there will be no progress. It can be no body’s case that further progress should stop. Do keep working but share with those who help you to make that money and also with the society. These two are the essential components of the Sikh concept of ‘Vand Chhakna’ or sharing. The fifth Guru says:

ਕਛੂਨਥੋਰਾਹਰਿਭਗਤਨਕਉ॥ਖਾਤਖਰਚਤਬਿਲਛਤਦੇਵਨਕਉ॥੧॥ਰਹਾਉ॥ ੫੩੯੦

The devotees never feel short of any thing; they consume themselves and feel pleasure in sharing: Pause: (M: 5, SGGS, p390).

It should never be thought that what we have was earned by efforts alone. There is always an element of Divine help because otherwise there should be no sorrow when it is lost; it should be possible to earn again by efforts. That there is such sorrow cannot be denied:

ਜਬ ਕਛੁ ਪਾਵੈ ਤਬ ਗਰਬੁ ਕਰਤੁ ਹੈ ॥ ਮਾਇਆ ਗਈ ਤਬ ਰੋਵਨੁ ਲਗਤੁ ਹੈ ॥੧॥ ਰ੪੮੭

When man achieves something he shows vanity; when he loses wealth he starts crying (Ravidas, SGGS, p 487).

ਆਪਣ ਲੀਆ ਜੇ ਮਿਲੈਵਿਛੁੜਿ ਕਿਉ ਰੋਵੰਨਿ ॥੫੧੩੪

If one can get what one wants then why do people wail if it is lost? (M: 5, SGGS, 134).

One who realizes this acknowledges that one gets what is deserved and it is God who gives:

ਤੂੰ ਕਰਤਾ ਸਚਿਆਰੁ ਮੈਡਾ ਸਾਂਈ ॥ ਜੋ ਤਉ ਭਾਵੈ ਸੋਈ ਥੀਸੀ ਜੋ ਤੂੰ ਦੇਹਿ ਸੋਈ ਹਉ ਪਾਈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥੪੧੦

You are just my Master; I receive (what I deserve and) You give (M: 4, SGGS, p 10).

In every day life we experience good turns being done by relatives or friends. Sometimes even strangers come to help like when we are stranded somewhere. If we remain dazed in case of a mishap, or too involved in enjoying what is received, we do not thank the benefactor. In such cases there is a feeling of guilt later. This guilt is removed if we thank that person or reciprocate if possible. The situation with blessings is similar. If we get engrossed in enjoying the blessings we forget to them. But there will always be a burden on the mind resulting in a feeling of restlessnessbecause conscience will keep pricking. The second Guru says that these are not the signs of wisdom:

ਦੇਂਦੇ ਥਾਵਹੁ ਦਿਤਾ ਚੰਗਾ ਮਨਮੁਖਿ ਐਸਾ ਜਾਣੀਐ ॥ ਸੁਰਤਿ ਮਤਿ ਚਤੁਰਾਈ ਤਾ ਕੀ ਕਿਆ ਕਰਿ ਆਖਿ ਵਖਾਣੀਐ ॥੨੧੩੮

When a person loves the blessing more than the benefactor, know him as self-oriented; what can one say how conscious, wise or clever that person is? (M; 2, SGGS, p 138).

God’s benedictions are unlimited. It is His nature to just keep giving and as a result man takes the Divine gifts for granted. For example:

ਸਭੁ ਜੀਉ ਪਿੰਡੁ ਮੁਖੁ ਨਕੁ ਦੀਆ ਵਰਤਣ ਕਉ ਪਾਣੀ ॥ ਅੰਨੁ ਖਾਣਾ ਕਪੜੁ ਪੈਨਣੁ ਦੀਆ ਰਸ ਅਨਿ ਭੋਗਾਣੀ ॥ ਜਿਨਿ ਦੀਏ ਸੁ ਚਿਤਿ ਨ ਆਵਈ ਪਸੂ ਹਉ ਕਰਿ ਜਾਣੀ ॥੩॥੪ ੧੬੭

We were given the soul, body, mouth, nose, and water for use; food to eat, clothes to wear as well as avenues of enjoyment; but the benefactor does not come to an animal-like mind as he is only concerned with what he gets (M: 4, SGGS, p 167).

Even an animal acknowledges the master who feeds it. When man realizes this he says:

ਜਿਸ ਦਾ ਦਿਤਾ ਖਾਵਣਾ ਤਿਸੁ ਕਹੀਐ ਸਾਬਾਸਿ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਨ ਚਲਈ ਨਾਲਿ ਖਸਮ ਚਲੈ ਅਰਦਾਸਿ ॥੨੨॥੧੪੭੪

Let us acknowledge the Lord by whose grace we have every thing; this was possible by prayer; blessings cannot be ordered (M: 1, SGGS, p 474).

As man reflects on all the comforts he has, he tells himself:

ਮਾਈ ਮੇਰੇ ਮਨ ਕੋ ਸੁਖੁ ॥ ਕੋਟਿ ਅਨੰਦ ਰਾਜ ਸੁਖੁ ਭੁਗਵੈ ਹਰਿ ਸਿਮਰਤ ਬਿਨਸੈ ਸਭ ਦੁਖੁ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥੫੭੧੭

O my mother since I stared remembering God my mind is at peace; I enjoy millions of pleasures like a king, I have all comforts of life; all pain has disappeared: Pause: (M: SGGS, p 717).

He cries out in gratitude and wishes to be in the company of the beloved who is so benevolent:

ਕੀਮ ਨ ਸਕਾ ਪਾਇ ਸੁਖ ਮਿਤੀ ਹੂ ਬਾਹਰੇ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਸਾ ਵੇਲੜੀ ਪਰਵਾਣੁ ਜਿਤੁਮਿਲੰਦੜੋ ਮਾ ਪਿਰੀ ॥੨॥੫੭੦੯

I cannot put a price on the unlimited comforts I have; I only look forward to meeting my beloved (M: 5, SGGS, p 709).

Let us therefore remember Him and say:

ਤੈਡੈ ਸਿਮਰਣਿ ਹਭੁ ਕਿਛੁ ਲਧਮੁ ਬਿਖਮੁ ਨ ਡਿਠਮੁ ਕੋਈ ॥ ਜਿਸੁ ਪਤਿ ਰਖੈ ਸਚਾ ਸਾਹਿਬੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਮੇਟਿ ਨ ਸਕੈ ਕੋਈ ॥੨॥੫੫੨੦

All the blessings are owed to Your remembrance, I now find no difficulties in life; one, whom the eternal Master protects, cannot be harmed by any one (M: 5, SGGS, p 520).

Dependence on the Divine grace is the source of peace of mind and we need to look nowhere else:

ਸਾਚਾ ਨਾਮੁ ਮੇਰਾ ਆਧਾਰੋ ॥ ਸਾਚੁ ਨਾਮੁ ਅਧਾਰੁ ਮੇਰਾ ਜਿਨਿ ਭੁਖਾ ਸਭਿ ਗਵਾਈਆ ॥ ਕਰਿ ਸਾਂਤਿ ਸੁਖ ਮਨਿ ਆਇ ਵਸਿਆ ਜਿਨਿ ਇਛਾ ਸਭਿ ਪੁਜਾਈਆ ॥੩੯੧੭

I depend only on the eternal Lord; this dependence exterminates all my cravings; my mind remains peaceful and happy because all my wishes are fulfilled ((M: 3, SGGS, p 917).

Let us keep counting our blessings!