How to stay motivated?

[CEO]

I am a really moody person, i think according to my mood. Sometimes i feel really close to Waheguru, i feel spiritual, but then sometimes i feel far away from Waheguru, i feel logical & scientific. I always try to stay motivated on what is important, but then philosophy kicks in. I feel like i need to become a hermit & start living on a mountain (if you know what i mean). Then another time, i feel as if success is as important as breathing, and that i need to know everything, from politics to poetry. Then another time, i feel careless and that fun is what matters. The point im implying is that does this happen to you too? And if anyone knows the recipe to stay motivated on one important thing, such as Sikhi, please do share. SSA  

[S1ngh]

If you ask my opinion then i would say that Trust is very important and highly needed if you want to live a stable life. Following a sikh lifestyle of amritvela, nitnem, sewa & meditation every swaas (breathe) everyday will make any human motivate to do anything. Do not do it for somebody nor test it out. Earn the trust of waheguru by following the path without seeking any materialistic benefits.

[sikhni777]

Sggs Ang 409 describes Gods play

ਆਸਾ ਮਹਲਾ ੫ ॥   आसा महला ५ ॥   Āsā mėhlā 5.   Aasaa, Fifth Mehl:

ਹਰਖ ਸੋਗ ਬੈਰਾਗ ਅਨੰਦੀ ਖੇਲੁ ਰੀ ਦਿਖਾਇਓ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥   हरख सोग बैराग अनंदी खेलु री दिखाइओ ॥१॥ रहाउ ॥   Harakẖ sog bairāg anandī kẖel rī ḏikẖā▫i▫o. ||1|| rahā▫o.   Pleasure and pain, detachment and ecstasy - the Lord has revealed His Play. ||1||Pause||

ਖਿਨਹੂੰ ਭੈ ਨਿਰਭੈ ਖਿਨਹੂੰ ਖਿਨਹੂੰ ਉਠਿ ਧਾਇਓ ॥   खिनहूं भै निरभै खिनहूं खिनहूं उठि धाइओ ॥   Kẖinhū▫aʼn bẖai nirbẖai kẖinhū▫aʼn kẖinhū▫aʼn uṯẖ ḏẖā▫i▫o.   One moment, the mortal is in fear, and the next moment he is fearless; in a moment, he gets up and departs.

ਖਿਨਹੂੰ ਰਸ ਭੋਗਨ ਖਿਨਹੂੰ ਖਿਨਹੂ ਤਜਿ ਜਾਇਓ ॥੧॥   खिनहूं रस भोगन खिनहूं खिनहू तजि जाइओ ॥१॥   Kẖinhū▫aʼn ras bẖogan kẖinhū▫aʼn kẖinhū ṯaj jā▫i▫o. ||1||   One moment, he enjoys pleasures, and the next moment, he leaves and goes away. ||1||

ਖਿਨਹੂੰ ਜੋਗ ਤਾਪ ਬਹੁ ਪੂਜਾ ਖਿਨਹੂੰ ਭਰਮਾਇਓ ॥   खिनहूं जोग ताप बहु पूजा खिनहूं भरमाइओ ॥   Kẖinhū▫aʼn jog ṯāp baho pūjā kẖinhū▫aʼn bẖarmā▫i▫o.   One moment, he practices Yoga and intense meditation, and all sorts of worship; the next moment, he wanders in doubt.

ਖਿਨਹੂੰ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਸਾਧੂ ਸੰਗ ਨਾਨਕ ਹਰਿ ਰੰਗੁ ਲਾਇਓ ॥੨॥੫॥੧੫੬॥   खिनहूं किरपा साधू संग नानक हरि रंगु लाइओ ॥२॥५॥१५६॥   Kẖinhū▫aʼn kirpā sāḏẖū sang Nānak har rang lā▫i▫o. ||2||5||156||   One moment, O Nanak, the Lord bestows His Mercy and blesses him with His Love, in the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy. ||2||5||156||     Everything happens in just seconds. When he bestows his grace upon anyone, it also just takes a second.

[CEO]

On 06/09/2016 at 7:01 AM, sikhni777 said:

Sggs Ang 409 describes Gods play

ਆਸਾ ਮਹਲਾ ੫ ॥   आसा महला ५ ॥   Āsā mėhlā 5.   Aasaa, Fifth Mehl:

ਹਰਖ ਸੋਗ ਬੈਰਾਗ ਅਨੰਦੀ ਖੇਲੁ ਰੀ ਦਿਖਾਇਓ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥   हरख सोग बैराग अनंदी खेलु री दिखाइओ ॥१॥ रहाउ ॥   Harakẖ sog bairāg anandī kẖel rī ḏikẖā▫i▫o. ||1|| rahā▫o.   Pleasure and pain, detachment and ecstasy - the Lord has revealed His Play. ||1||Pause||

ਖਿਨਹੂੰ ਭੈ ਨਿਰਭੈ ਖਿਨਹੂੰ ਖਿਨਹੂੰ ਉਠਿ ਧਾਇਓ ॥   खिनहूं भै निरभै खिनहूं खिनहूं उठि धाइओ ॥   Kẖinhū▫aʼn bẖai nirbẖai kẖinhū▫aʼn kẖinhū▫aʼn uṯẖ ḏẖā▫i▫o.   One moment, the mortal is in fear, and the next moment he is fearless; in a moment, he gets up and departs.

ਖਿਨਹੂੰ ਰਸ ਭੋਗਨ ਖਿਨਹੂੰ ਖਿਨਹੂ ਤਜਿ ਜਾਇਓ ॥੧॥   खिनहूं रस भोगन खिनहूं खिनहू तजि जाइओ ॥१॥   Kẖinhū▫aʼn ras bẖogan kẖinhū▫aʼn kẖinhū ṯaj jā▫i▫o. ||1||   One moment, he enjoys pleasures, and the next moment, he leaves and goes away. ||1||

ਖਿਨਹੂੰ ਜੋਗ ਤਾਪ ਬਹੁ ਪੂਜਾ ਖਿਨਹੂੰ ਭਰਮਾਇਓ ॥   खिनहूं जोग ताप बहु पूजा खिनहूं भरमाइओ ॥   Kẖinhū▫aʼn jog ṯāp baho pūjā kẖinhū▫aʼn bẖarmā▫i▫o.   One moment, he practices Yoga and intense meditation, and all sorts of worship; the next moment, he wanders in doubt.

ਖਿਨਹੂੰ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਸਾਧੂ ਸੰਗ ਨਾਨਕ ਹਰਿ ਰੰਗੁ ਲਾਇਓ ॥੨॥੫॥੧੫੬॥   खिनहूं किरपा साधू संग नानक हरि रंगु लाइओ ॥२॥५॥१५६॥   Kẖinhū▫aʼn kirpā sāḏẖū sang Nānak har rang lā▫i▫o. ||2||5||156||   One moment, O Nanak, the Lord bestows His Mercy and blesses him with His Love, in the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy. ||2||5||156||     Everything happens in just seconds. When he bestows his grace upon anyone, it also just takes a second.

Which Bani is this from? The meaning are resplendent!

[sikhni777]

SGGS Ang 409.....line 5

Sri Guru Granth sahib Ji.... http://www.srigranth.org/servlet/gurbani.gurbani?Action=Page&g=1&h=1&r=1&t=1&p=0&k=0&fb=0&Param=409

The shabads which follow it are totally worth a read too....spiritual wisdom.... the one we bow down to when we go to the Guradwara.

[harkirat23]

On 5 September 2016 at 6:43 PM, CEO said:

I am a really moody person, i think according to my mood. Sometimes i feel really close to Waheguru, i feel spiritual, but then sometimes i feel far away from Waheguru, i feel logical & scientific. I always try to stay motivated on what is important, but then philosophy kicks in. I feel like i need to become a hermit & start living on a mountain (if you know what i mean). Then another time, i feel as if success is as important as breathing, and that i need to know everything, from politics to poetry. Then another time, i feel careless and that fun is what matters. The point im implying is that does this happen to you too? And if anyone knows the recipe to stay motivated on one important thing, such as Sikhi, please do share. SSA  

I can help, are you prepared to listen?

[CEO]

On 06/09/2016 at 7:01 AM, sikhni777 said:

 

1 hour ago, harkirat23 said:

I can help, are you prepared to listen?

Yes, please do.

[harkirat23]

On 8 September 2016 at 8:56 AM, CEO said:

 

Your help follows in the following Stanza:

ਰਾਗੁ ਆਸਾ ਮਹਲਾ ੫ ਘਰੁ ੧੭ ਆਸਾਵਰੀ   रागु आसा महला ५ घरु १७ आसावरी   Rāg āsā mėhlā 5 gẖar 17 āsāvarī   Raag Aasaa, Fifth Mehl, Seventeenth House, Aasaavaree:

ੴ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥   ੴ सतिगुर प्रसादि ॥   Ik▫oaʼnkār saṯgur parsāḏ. One Universal Creator God. By The Grace Of The True Guru:

ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਕਰਿ ਹਾਂ ॥   गोबिंद गोबिंद करि हां ॥   Gobinḏ gobinḏ kar hāʼn.   Meditate on the Lord, the Lord of the Universe.

ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਮਨਿ ਪਿਆਰਿ ਹਾਂ ॥   हरि हरि मनि पिआरि हां ॥   Har har man pi▫ār hāʼn.   Cherish the Beloved Lord, Har, Har, in your mind.

ਗੁਰਿ ਕਹਿਆ ਸੁ ਚਿਤਿ ਧਰਿ ਹਾਂ ॥   गुरि कहिआ सु चिति धरि हां ॥   Gur kahi▫ā so cẖiṯ ḏẖar hāʼn.   The Guru says to install it in your consciousness.

ਅਨ ਸਿਉ ਤੋਰਿ ਫੇਰਿ ਹਾਂ ॥   अन सिउ तोरि फेरि हां ॥   An si▫o ṯor fer hāʼn.   Turn away from others, and turn to Him.

ਐਸੇ ਲਾਲਨੁ ਪਾਇਓ ਰੀ ਸਖੀ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥   ऐसे लालनु पाइओ री सखी ॥१॥ रहाउ ॥   Aise lālan pā▫i▫o rī sakẖī. ||1|| rahā▫o.   Thus you shall obtain your Beloved, O my companion. ||1||Pause||

ਪੰਕਜ ਮੋਹ ਸਰਿ ਹਾਂ ॥   पंकज मोह सरि हां ॥   Pankaj moh sar hāʼn.   In the pool of the world is the mud of attachment.

ਪਗੁ ਨਹੀ ਚਲੈ ਹਰਿ ਹਾਂ ॥   पगु नही चलै हरि हां ॥   Pag nahī cẖalai har hāʼn.   Stuck in it, his feet cannot walk towards the Lord.

ਗਹਡਿਓ ਮੂੜ ਨਰਿ ਹਾਂ ॥   गहडिओ मूड़ नरि हां ॥   Gahdi▫o mūṛ nar hāʼn.   The fool is stuck;

ਅਨਿਨ ਉਪਾਵ ਕਰਿ ਹਾਂ ॥   अनिन उपाव करि हां ॥   Anin upāv kar hāʼn.   he cannot do anything else.

ਤਉ ਨਿਕਸੈ ਸਰਨਿ ਪੈ ਰੀ ਸਖੀ ॥੧॥   तउ निकसै सरनि पै री सखी ॥१॥   Ŧa▫o niksai saran pai rī sakẖī. ||1||   Only by entering the Lord's Sanctuary, O my companion, will you be released. ||1||

ਥਿਰ ਥਿਰ ਚਿਤ ਥਿਰ ਹਾਂ ॥   थिर थिर चित थिर हां ॥   Thir thir cẖiṯ thir hāʼn.   Thus your consciousness shall be stable and steady and firm.

ਬਨੁ ਗ੍ਰਿਹੁ ਸਮਸਰਿ ਹਾਂ ॥   बनु ग्रिहु समसरि हां ॥   Ban garihu samsar hāʼn.   Wilderness and household are the same.

ਅੰਤਰਿ ਏਕ ਪਿਰ ਹਾਂ ॥   अंतरि एक पिर हां ॥   Anṯar ek pir hāʼn.   Deep within dwells the One Husband Lord;

ਬਾਹਰਿ ਅਨੇਕ ਧਰਿ ਹਾਂ ॥   बाहरि अनेक धरि हां ॥   Bāhar anek ḏẖar hāʼn.   outwardly, there are many distractions.

ਰਾਜਨ ਜੋਗੁ ਕਰਿ ਹਾਂ ॥   राजन जोगु करि हां ॥   Rājan jog kar hāʼn.   Practice Raja Yoga, the Yoga of meditation and success.

ਕਹੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਲੋਗ ਅਲੋਗੀ ਰੀ ਸਖੀ ॥੨॥੧॥੧੫੭॥   कहु नानक लोग अलोगी री सखी ॥२॥१॥१५७॥   Kaho Nānak log agolī rī sakẖī. ||2||1||157||   Says Nanak, this is the way to dwell with the people, and yet remain apart from them. ||2||1||157||   http://www.srigranth.org/servlet/gurbani.gurbani?Action=Page&g=1&h=1&r=1&t=1&p=0&k=0&fb=0&Param=409

 

You have already identified your problem so half of it is solved, in that, you are the creator of your moods initially.  They are under your control.  You are the only one that can change them. You are the driver and your moods represent your car.  You can either drive your car recklessly or sensibly.  You are in charge.

The next three states of your mind are very normal. It is very easy to feel far away from God, because, it has no shape, color or smell.  We think we are far away but when we pull ourselves together we feel we are not.  God is right there where you are, He is within us, He is all around us, we are moving in His space without ever noticing it. When you are overcome with this thought just take a moment and acknowledge His Presence and carry on with whatever you are doing.  Remember He is All knowing, All Feeling and All Seeing.  He is watching you, listening to your thoughts and feeling your pain of separation too.  He is a Merciful God. He forgives. 

When you feel all scientific and logical it does not mean He has left you and you have gone far away from Him.  He is there with you, within you and all around you. He knows how you feel.  Because He is there with you and within you ask Him for His Guidance.  Surrender your logical and scientific thoughts to Him and tell Him you only wish to remember Him so, why is He bombarding you with these thoughts?  Why this separation?

You don't need to go anywhere at all to be with Him.  For, where ever you go, He will follow you!  That feeling of hopelessness signifies you need to acknowledge his Mighty Presence right where you are and carry on with your life.

God is right there with you when you feel you need to know from poetry to politics and when you feel carefree or careless!  Every time you feel this way, don't ever make a mistake of thinking He has left you and not right there with you.  In fact, He is enjoying all your activities with you just acknowledge His Mighty Presence.

Yes, I have been through this too. I sought Guru's Guidance to stablize my wandering mind, it was difficult but the Guru told me there is light at the end of the tunnel, through Gurbani.  Don't lose heart, carry on with your tremendous love for Him and don't ever forget to acknowledge His Presence everywhere, where ever you are, sweetly and lovingly with heartfelt gratitude.  You will be fine.  He never leaves us, we think we have left Him, but it is impossible. So, good luck.  

Keep a diary if this helps.  

[N30S1NGH]

On 9/5/2016 at 9:43 PM, CEO said:

I am a really moody person, i think according to my mood. Sometimes i feel really close to Waheguru, i feel spiritual, but then sometimes i feel far away from Waheguru, i feel logical & scientific. I always try to stay motivated on what is important, but then philosophy kicks in. I feel like i need to become a hermit & start living on a mountain (if you know what i mean). Then another time, i feel as if success is as important as breathing, and that i need to know everything, from politics to poetry. Then another time, i feel careless and that fun is what matters. The point im implying is that does this happen to you too? And if anyone knows the recipe to stay motivated on one important thing, such as Sikhi, please do share. SSA  

As veer posted above of guru maharaj mahvak says - 

ਗੁਰਿ ਕਹਿਆ ਸੁ ਚਿਤਿ ਧਰਿ ਹਾਂ ॥   गुरि कहिआ सु चिति धरि हां ॥   
Gur kahi▫ā so cẖiṯ ḏẖar hāʼn.   
The Guru says to install it in your consciousness.  

I is the key here, start witnessing your mind (how I arises, form identifications with thoughts/feeling) see how the drama of mind is being unfolded in form of- thoughts/emotions i feel, i feel like our association with thoughts and emotions etc etc. Form a gap between I (shud surat- consciousnesses without any identification of i am xyz person) by witnessing the mind without judgement - without grasping or without resisting)  and surat identifying with thoughts emotions (ego) feel/emotions/thoughts you will notice - thoughts will loose its power on ya then slowly but surely by maharaj grace- shud surat (consciousness) will merge back to its source, leaving you with internal sehaj- absolute balance- equipoise/chardi-kalah in all situations.

Sikh spiritual path is quite paradoxical, its easy and hard at the same time. Enjoy.

[harkirat23]

On 9 September 2016 at 5:39 AM, N30S1NGH said:

As veer posted above of guru maharaj mahvak says - 

ਗੁਰਿ ਕਹਿਆ ਸੁ ਚਿਤਿ ਧਰਿ ਹਾਂ ॥   गुरि कहिआ सु चिति धरि हां ॥   
Gur kahi▫ā so cẖiṯ ḏẖar hāʼn.   
The Guru says to install it in your consciousness.  

I is the key here, start witnessing your mind (how I arises, form identifications with thoughts/feeling) see how the drama of mind is being unfolded in form of- thoughts/emotions i feel, i feel like our association with thoughts and emotions etc etc. Form a gap between I (shud surat- consciousnesses without any identification of i am xyz person) by witnessing the mind without judgement - without grasping or without resisting)  and surat identifying with thoughts emotions (ego) feel/emotions/thoughts you will notice - thoughts will loose its power on ya then slowly but surely by maharaj grace- shud surat (consciousness) will merge back to its source, leaving you with internal sehaj- absolute balance- equipoise/chardi-kalah in all situations.

Sikh spiritual path is quite paradoxical, its easy and hard at the same time. Enjoy.

Thank you paji for pinpointing the Panktee above with precision and accuracy.  I hope it will help our brother CEO with his restlessness and uncertainty in his quest. Sikhee is a difficult Marag but not without spiritual joy and fulfilment.