Vahiguru ji ka Khalsa, Vahiguru ji ki Fatih!

From our earliest moments, many of us are surrounded by love, warmth, and teachings that shape our understanding of the world. Among these, deep spiritual wisdom is often passed down quietly, woven into our lives through sacred verses. As infants in the laps of our grandparents and parents, the composition of Anand Sahib enters our lives, gently cradling us in its wisdom.

Anand, in its simplest sense, means happiness and joy. However, the joy that Guru Amardas Sahib speaks of is distinct. Our everyday joys are often tied to fleeting experiences—specific tastes, objects, and moments that pass with time. These are joys with an expiration date, tied to the temporary pleasures of the world. But the anand described by Guru Amardas Sahib is everlasting, not bound by the five senses or the physical world. It is a joy that transcends what our ears hear, our eyes see, or our tongues taste. It is a joy that moves beyond intellectual understanding, beyond the limits of our emotions and sensory perception. Yet, this joy can be felt throughout the body in its profundity. It is an experience that reveals itself to those who are deeply immersed in the remembrance of the One, the IkOankar.

In the opening stanza of Anand Sahib, Guru Amardas Sahib opens with an exclamation to his mother: Bliss has arisen, O my mother! I have found the eternal Wisdom. Here, the Guru shares his experience of finding eternal Wisdom, using the metaphor of a mother’s voice to convey this joy's nurturing and profound nature. This bliss does not result from austerities or specific rituals; rather, it arises from unwavering dedication and steadfastness. Guru Amardas Sahib tells us that the mind becomes filled with celebration. Celestial beings arrive to sing the Sabad—the Infinite Wisdom—of Hari, the All-Pervasive One, the 1-Light. How did this transformation happen? It transpired solely through the singing of the Sabad. We absorb the significance that these celestial beings sang only the Sabad of Hari; their songs praised or glorified none other. Guru Amardas Sahib concludes this stanza by reiterating that I have found the eternal Wisdom.

We pause.

Reflecting on Guru Amardas’s life, it’s possible that, before walking the path of Guru Nanak Sahib, he experienced various forms of joy—perhaps through status, wealth, religious adherence, or the support of a following. Yet the bliss he discovered through the eternal Wisdom was so profound that he expressed it through the gentle voice of a mother—nurturing, soothing, and full of warmth. It invites us to believe that, here and now, in our everyday lives, we too can encounter this profound bliss when the eternal Wisdom graces our existence.

This joy, this bliss, is available to everyone—not just a select few. It manifests when the eternal Wisdom becomes part of our being, nurtured through tranquility and steadfastness.

We question: How do we access this eternal bliss that transcends the fleeting satisfaction of worldly achievements and pleasures?

The answer: It begins with cultivating a quiet mind and an unwavering commitment to the remembrance of the One.

If we struggle to connect with this Wisdom, we might reflect on our state of mind—are we restless, caught in turmoil, or overthinking? The eternal Wisdom enters moments of calmness and steadiness, bringing joy and bliss.

Do we long for this boundless bliss?
Do we yearn to hear the celestial within?
The invitation awaits, open and clear—
Are we ready to walk the path and draw near?

May Wisdom-Guru guide us!