Is happiness and contentment our natural state?

[Ranjeet01]

I am across this interesting article and just wondered if this rang true in Sikhi context:

http://www.deanabbott.com/happiness-is-not-your-natural-state/

If I look at this from a Sikhi standpoint, does this mean that the 5 vices (krodh, ahankaar, lob, moh, kaam) are a natural default position as human beings and that to get rid of these vices in order to get to santokhi is a choice?

Your thoughts please.

 

[MisterrSingh]

I've been mulling over something similar for the past few weeks. I sometimes wonder whether Sikhi is maybe too idealistic? A perfect path but perhaps beyond the reach of 99.9% of its followers? There's too many bull5hitters who talk a great and pious game in public, but behind closed doors are left severely wanting on even the most basic of tenets. I think they call it human nature, lol.

Of course, Sikhi's inherent message at its very core is one of self-improvement and betterment, not only for the individual on a spiritual basis and otherwise, but also in terms of how we affect others around us.

Overcoming the 5 Vices is, I believe, the key to it all. Whether humanity is capable of ever overcoming its built-in switches is debatable. Still, it's a message of hope and something to strive for, and it's a beautifully positive way of aiming to exist as prescribed by our Guru Sahibs.

[singhbj singh]

"Strive for progress, not perfection"

http://www.mycuppajo.com/progress-not-perfection/

[Thanatos]

35 minutes ago, MisterrSingh said:

I've been mulling over something similar for the past few weeks. I sometimes wonder whether Sikhi is maybe too idealistic? A perfect path but perhaps beyond the reach of 99.9% of its followers? There's too many bull5hitters who talk a great and pious game in public, but behind closed doors are left severely wanting on even the most basic of tenets. I think they call it human nature, lol.

Of course, Sikhi's inherent message at its very core is one of self-improvement and betterment, not only for the individual on a spiritual basis and otherwise, but also in terms of how we affect others around us.

Overcoming the 5 Vices is, I believe, the key to it all. Whether humanity is capable of ever overcoming its built-in switches is debatable. Still, it's a message of hope and something to strive for, and it's a beautifully positive way of aiming to exist as prescribed by our Guru Sahibs.

There was a Sant (I think it was Isher Singh Ji Sant Ji) who said we should strive to do deeds to better our chances in the next life and reap the rewards there. Not everyone will reach Nirankar, but we can try. 

[Ranjeet01]

1 hour ago, MisterrSingh said:

I've been mulling over something similar for the past few weeks. I sometimes wonder whether Sikhi is maybe too idealistic? A perfect path but perhaps beyond the reach of 99.9% of its followers? There's too many bull5hitters who talk a great and pious game in public, but behind closed doors are left severely wanting on even the most basic of tenets. I think they call it human nature, lol.

Of course, Sikhi's inherent message at its very core is one of self-improvement and betterment, not only for the individual on a spiritual basis and otherwise, but also in terms of how we affect others around us.

Overcoming the 5 Vices is, I believe, the key to it all. Whether humanity is capable of ever overcoming its built-in switches is debatable. Still, it's a message of hope and something to strive for, and it's a beautifully positive way of aiming to exist as prescribed by our Guru Sahibs.

One of things that make me question the article is that as a child, you tend to be quite happy and content for the most part. In some ways, children by nature show the 5 virtues (daya, santokhi,sat,pyaar,nimrata) more readily but as we get older and we experience life, the baggage we pick up the 5 vices. 

Perhaps in some ways we get programmed in life to let the 5 vices over-ride us and Sikhi helps to de-program what we have been conditioned in Maya. 

Maybe in terms of Sikhi, being happy and content is a human's default state and we strive to get back to that state.

 

[MisterrSingh]

11 minutes ago, Ranjeet01 said:

Perhaps in some ways we get programmed in life to let the 5 vices over-ride us and Sikhi helps to de-program what we have been conditioned in Maya. 

Maybe in terms of Sikhi, being happy and content is a human's default state and we strive to get back to that state.

Very true. 

Various religions refer to a state of human existence pre-Sin, i.e. Christianity and the Garden of Eden prior to Eve's temptation; Original Sin. And there's the Eastern faiths, including Sikhi, that refer to an era of ultimate Truth (Satjug), etc., so perhaps there was an age when we were not subject to - or at least had a firm grip on - what became the vices.

[MisterrSingh]

1 hour ago, Thanatos said:

There was a Sant (I think it was Isher Singh Ji Sant Ji) who said we should strive to do deeds to better our chances in the next life and reap the rewards there. Not everyone will reach Nirankar, but we can try. 

All too often our people interpret the above in bold as material rewards; elevated social status, fruitful employment, peaceful and contented existence... MONEY, lol. The fact that there may be other less tangible rewards may as well as be voodoo to these folk.  

[N30S1NGH]

Real Happiness is our natural state its already in us as the source, gurbani talks about this state as - unmun(no mind) state, man agam roop, turiya, vismaad, Man tu jot saroop hai apna mool painchain. 

ਗਉੜੀ ਮਹਲਾ ੫ ॥ गउड़ी महला ५ ॥ Ga▫oṛī mėhlā 5. Gauree, Fifth Mehl:

ਅਗਮ ਰੂਪ ਕਾ ਮਨ ਮਹਿ ਥਾਨਾ ॥ अगम रूप का मन महि थाना ॥ Agam rūp kā man mėh thānā.

The Lord of Unfathomable Form has His Place in the mind.

 

ਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ਕਿਨੈ ਵਿਰਲੈ ਜਾਨਾ ॥੧॥ गुर प्रसादि किनै विरलै जाना ॥१॥ Gur parsāḏ kinai virlai jānā. ||1||

 

By Guru's Grace, a rare few come to understand this. ||1||

 

 

 

Ang-603

ਮਨ ਰੇ ਤ੍ਰੈ ਗੁਣ ਛੋਡਿ ਚਉਥੈ ਚਿਤੁ ਲਾਇ ॥ मन रे त्रै गुण छोडि चउथै चितु लाइ ॥

Man re ṯarai guṇ cẖẖod cẖa▫uthai cẖiṯ lā▫e. O mind, renounce the three qualities, and focus your consciousness on the fourth state.

 

ਹਰਿ ਜੀਉ ਤੇਰੈ ਮਨਿ ਵਸੈ ਭਾਈ ਸਦਾ ਹਰਿ ਕੇ ਗੁਣ ਗਾਇ ॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ हरि जीउ तेरै मनि वसै भाई सदा हरि के गुण गाइ ॥ रहाउ ॥

Har jī▫o ṯerai man vasai bẖā▫ī saḏā har ke guṇ gā▫e. Rahā▫o.

The Dear Lord abides in the mind, O Siblings of Destiny; ever sing the Glorious Praises of the Lord. ||Pause||

 

anhad Dhunee sad vajday unman har liv laa-ay.
The Unstruck Melody constantly vibrates within when my thoughtless mind is lovingly absorbed in the Lord.

 

unman manoo-aa sunn samaanaa dubiDhaa durmat bhaagee.
The thoughtless mind has been absorbed in the Sunn; duality and evil-mindedness have run away.

 

ih man saktee ih man see-o.
This mind is Shakti; this mind is Shiva.
ih man panch tat ko jee-o.
This mind is the life of the five elements.
ih man lay ja-o unman rahai.
When this mind is channeled and kept thoughtless
ta-o teen lok kee baatai kahai.
it can describe the secrets of the three worlds.

 

 

param paras gur bhaytee-ai poorab likhat lilaat.
When one meets the Supreme Philosopher's Stone, the Guru, if such pre-ordained destiny is written on one's forehead,
unman man man hee milay chhutkat bajar kapaat.
then the empty mind meets the Supreme Mind, then the stubborn doors are opened wide.

 

 

Dhan Dhan vadbhaag mili-o gur saaDhoo mil saaDhoo liv unman laagibaa.
Blessed, blessed is the good fortune of those who meet the Holy Guru; meeting with the Holy, they lovingly center the thoughtless/empty minds in the state of absolute absorption.

 

 

gurmukh sayvaa thaa-ay pavai unman tat kamaahu.
The service of the Gurmukhs is approved when they earn a thoughtless state of mind.

 

jab nakh sikh ih man cheenHaa.
When I came to understand this mind, from the tips of my toes to the crown of my head,
tab antar majan keenHaa.
then I took my cleansing bath, deep within my self.
pavanpat unman rahan kharaa.
The mind, the master of the breath, abides in the state of supreme bliss. 
nahee mirat na janam jaraa. ||1|| rahaa-o.
There is no death, no re-birth, and no aging for me now. ||1||Pause||

 

 

panch janaa gur vasgat aanay ta-o unman naam lagaanee.
When the Guru helped me to overcome the five thieves, then my thoughtless mind attached to the Naam.

 

hirdai kaval pargaas unman liv laa-ee-aa.
The heart-lotus blossoms forth when the thoughtless/still mind is lovingly absorbed.

 

 

rasak rasak gun gaavah gurmat liv unman naam lagaan.
Through the Guru's Teachings, I sing the Glorious Praises of the Lord with joyous love and delight; I am enraptured, lovingly attuned to the Naam, the Name of the Lord.

 

 

jag jeeta-o gur du-aar khayleh samat saar rath unman liv raakh nirankaar.
Through the Guru's Door, the Gurdwara, You have conquered the world; You play the game even-handedly. You keep the flow of your love steady for the Formless Lord.

 

 

janak so-ay jin jaani-aa unman rath Dhari-aa.
He alone is enlightened like Janaka, who rides the chariot of his still mind.

sat santokh samaachray abhraa sar bhari-aa.
He gathers in truth and contentment, and fills up the empty pool within.

[Thanatos]

10 hours ago, MisterrSingh said:

All too often our people interpret the above in bold as material rewards; elevated social status, fruitful employment, peaceful and contented existence... MONEY, lol. The fact that there may be other less tangible rewards may as well as be voodoo to these folk.  

Very true lol. 

[jkvlondon]

On 8/21/2016 at 4:12 PM, MisterrSingh said:

I've been mulling over something similar for the past few weeks. I sometimes wonder whether Sikhi is maybe too idealistic? A perfect path but perhaps beyond the reach of 99.9% of its followers? There's too many bull5hitters who talk a great and pious game in public, but behind closed doors are left severely wanting on even the most basic of tenets. I think they call it human nature, lol.

Of course, Sikhi's inherent message at its very core is one of self-improvement and betterment, not only for the individual on a spiritual basis and otherwise, but also in terms of how we affect others around us.

Overcoming the 5 Vices is, I believe, the key to it all. Whether humanity is capable of ever overcoming its built-in switches is debatable. Still, it's a message of hope and something to strive for, and it's a beautifully positive way of aiming to exist as prescribed by our Guru Sahibs.

Guru ji also said it is a hard path to follow because to tread the middle path of equipose demands detachment to results and things , trust in Akal Purakh much like Job had even when being put through hardships . We have learnt the ways of maya not Gurmat yet , we need to go deep and think deeply and feel deeper still into our role as soul brides. The one thing life has shown me is Akal Purakh works on His timescale not ours and His plan is more subtle and loving than we can imagine so a prayer today will get an answer immediately but we may not understand until a lot later ... even the bad in my life made me a better person , so never look at life in black and white Waheguru ji hues are beshumar and the palette is as individual as your current form.