The Purpose of Life, True Wealth and Success per Guru Tegh Bahadur

I'm currently enjoying listening to and meditating upong one of my favorite shabads. This shabad was written by the 9th Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur. I am convinced that this shabad, along with meditation, has had a profound effect on me. It helped me comprehend the true meaning of life. According to this shabad, the purpose of life is to sing, and each individual has their own unique song to sing. Some express themselves through art, poetry, others through business, and some through music. The key is to find your song and sing it with all your heart. The closer you are to your true calling, the happier and more successful your life will be.


 

Guru Tegh Bahadur and the Purpose of Life

One of the most important teachings of Guru Tegh Bahadur is that life is an illusion. This teaching is based on the concept of Maya, which refers to the transient nature of the physical world. According to this belief, the world is a mere illusion, and our senses deceive us into believing that it is real. The physical world that we experience is only a temporary manifestation of the universal energy, and our true selves are not defined by our physical bodies or material possessions.
The wealth that I thought was my own, was taken away from me in an instant. - Guru Tegh Bahadur 
Guru Tegh Bahadur taught that people should not be attached to material possessions or worldly pleasures as they are transitory and ultimately meaningless. Instead, he urged his followers to seek a deeper understanding of the divine and to live a life of spiritual fulfillment. He emphasized the importance of meditation and contemplation to develop a deeper connection with the divine and to transcend the illusions of the material world.

The teaching that life is an illusion is also closely related to the Sikh concept of Hukam, which refers to the divine order or universal will. Sikhs believe that everything that happens in the world is a manifestation of Hukam, and it is the divine will that governs the universe. By recognizing the illusionary nature of the physical world and submitting to the will of the divine, Sikhs seek to live a life of harmony and spiritual fulfillment.

Success and True Wealth

Guru Tegh Bahadur's teaching that life is an illusion emphasizes the transient nature of the physical world and urges people to seek a deeper understanding of the divine to live a life of spiritual fulfillment. It is a reminder that material possessions and worldly pleasures are ultimately meaningless, and the true purpose of life lies in the pursuit of spiritual growth and enlightenment.

When you recognize that what you perceive is an illusion and that you are the creator of that illusion, you can derive greater enjoyment. Those who pursue success often measure it solely by acquiring possessions that are ultimately fleeting. While attaining material success is important to avoid fixating on it, it is only one aspect of true success. 

Genuine success encompasses several factors, including increasing happiness, exhibiting love and compassion, experiencing innate joy, and sharing it with others. It also entails having a sense of purpose and meaning in life, as well as making steady progress towards worthwhile goals, which can include acquiring material possessions. When these become the only markers of success, people can fall victim to modern ailments like hypertension and heart disease due to a narrow definition of success. 

True poverty only arises from spiritual poverty, which results in an inability to succeed. One can be wealthy but still poor if they only think about money. Wealth and poverty are subjective states of mind.

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