Petitionary Prayer and Hukam

Sikhism advocates Naam jappo..KIRT KARO..and WANDD CHHAKO. Doing that ensures a comfortable healthy life..but will not give you a filthy rich life...becasue Papaan bajohn hoveh nahin..moyeahn saath na jayee..Maya/WEALTH cannot be accumalated without "wrong actions"..and at Death you have to leave it all here !! Only Naam japp goes with YOU.
Wrong actions..also inlcudes...NOT SHARING !!..as per Pillar no. 3 waandd chhako...the more one ahs..the GREEDIER one gets and the tendency is NOT TO SHARE at all but GRAB as much as you can....so even if a Sikh were to strike a Lottery..once he obeys the WANDD CHHAKO principle..he will be back to square one...hard honest labour soon enough !! Guru Nank ji stayed with BHAI LALO..a poor hard working carpenter...and not Malik Bhago the rich landowner and Lord of the land.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/questions-and-answers/36514-petitionary-prayer-and-hukam.html
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=36514
So Sikhs who matha tek 1.25 and "pray" for a Lottery strike worth millions are actually fooling no one...if they get it they are not going to give nayone more than the original 1.25 they invested.

 
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__________________
We hear with our ears but we listen with our minds.
Hearing the sound of a mantra is one thing - listening to it is another !

Gyaniji,

some clarification please for a fool who wishes to behave in accordance with the spirit of sikhi, you say that maya cannot be accumulated without 'wrong actions' , will this not lead the more gullible like myself to view all very rich people as people who have carried out wrong actions, is there a balance? do you think it possible for someone to be true to guru and very rich?
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=36514

I suppose the answer is, if that person has that much wealth, then why are they sitting on it, earning interest, but then what about very rich people that although they do not share their wealth, put large amounts into social assistance.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=36514

I suppose the question at the end of the day is, 'do riches hold you back from the truth', sorry to deviate from the subject in question

Thank you everyone for your replies. What I'm really trying to get at, is, is it acceptable to my understanding of Sikhi, to have a dialogue with Waheguru where I pray, "I lay my head at your feet, please let me understand your bani, may soandso have the courage to face your hukam, help me to hear the Name and guide me to right actions today" etcetc... all that nice fluffy stuff. I would like to pray "may soandso find peace, may soandso recover from their illness, may soandso overcome their struggles". But I'm not sure if this is in tune with Sikhi.

On one had it seems like a no-brainer - go for it. On the other hand, I wonder if the only prayer at all should be "may I accept everything as your doing" and leave it as that, EXACTLY that, no more, no less, because it is not for me to demand anything at all, and everyone's needs are already being met.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=36514

When I was a Pagan, I hated the thought of "magic". I wanted to worship, everyone around me wanted to cast magic spells for luck, for prosperity, for love, for RAIN. I was like "you're interfering with the natural order of things... why are you trying to do what the creator has control of? how do you know your magic for rain won't do more harm than good, the gods have more knowledge about the big picture than you do...". Part of me feels like prayer is in this category. I don't want to pray for something which I think is good but which is ultimately bad for someone just becuase I think I'm doing the right thing with my limited understanding... surely Waheguru wouldn't allow that to happen. *brain explodey smiley *

Then again, I appreciate Annie ji's message, that we still need to put in human effort for things to happen. Perhaps prayer is the same as any pro-active, physical, mundane deed. It a way it's sharing, sharing positive vibes for those you pray for... like handing a homeless person some food without which he might have perished, perhaps the prayer is the spiritual food without being offered they might lose out?

Bhenji,

maybe instead of praying, we should be thanking?

thank you for your best efforts in helping so and so find peace, thank you for assisting so and so in their struggles etc

That sounds like a nice compromise for me. I will percolate on that for a while, like hot water on coffee and see what the brew tastes like... yes, I'm rather overtired.

Ang 44



ਸ੍ਰੀਰਾਗੁ ਮਹਲਾ ੫ ॥
स्रीरागु महला ५ ॥
Sarīrāg mėhlā 5.
Siree Raag, Fifth Mehl:
ਸੋਈ ਧਿਆਈਐ ਜੀਅੜੇ ਸਿਰਿ ਸਾਹਾਂ ਪਾਤਿਸਾਹੁ ॥
सोई धिआईऐ जीअड़े सिरि साहां पातिसाहु ॥
So▫ī ḏẖi▫ā▫ī▫ai jī▫aṛe sir sāhāʼn pāṯisāhu.
Meditate on Him, O my soul; He is the Supreme Lord over kings and emperors.
ਤਿਸ ਹੀ ਕੀ ਕਰਿ ਆਸ ਮਨ ਜਿਸ ਕਾ ਸਭਸੁ ਵੇਸਾਹੁ ॥
तिस ही की करि आस मन जिस का सभसु वेसाहु ॥
Ŧis hī kī kar ās man jis kā sabẖas vesāhu.
Place the hopes of your mind in the One, in whom all have faith.
ਸਭਿ ਸਿਆਣਪਾ ਛਡਿ ਕੈ ਗੁਰ ਕੀ ਚਰਣੀ ਪਾਹੁ ॥੧॥
सभि सिआणपा छडि कै गुर की चरणी पाहु ॥१॥
Sabẖ si▫āṇpā cẖẖad kai gur kī cẖarṇī pāhu. ||1||
Give up all your clever tricks, and grasp the Feet of the Guru. ||1||
ਮਨ ਮੇਰੇ ਸੁਖ ਸਹਜ ਸੇਤੀ ਜਪਿ ਨਾਉ ॥
मन मेरे सुख सहज सेती जपि नाउ ॥
Man mere sukẖ sahj seṯī jap nā▫o.
O my mind, chant the Name with intuitive peace and poise.
ਆਠ ਪਹਰ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਧਿਆਇ ਤੂੰ ਗੁਣ ਗੋਇੰਦ ਨਿਤ ਗਾਉ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
आठ पहर प्रभु धिआइ तूं गुण गोइंद नित गाउ ॥१॥ रहाउ ॥
Āṯẖ pahar parabẖ ḏẖi▫ā▫e ṯūʼn guṇ go▫inḏ niṯ gā▫o. ||1|| rahā▫o.
Twenty-four hours a day, meditate on God. Constantly sing the Glories of the Lord of the Universe. ||1||Pause||
ਤਿਸ ਕੀ ਸਰਨੀ ਪਰੁ ਮਨਾ ਜਿਸੁ ਜੇਵਡੁ ਅਵਰੁ ਨ ਕੋਇ ॥
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=36514
तिस की सरनी परु मना जिसु जेवडु अवरु न कोइ ॥
Ŧis kī sarnī par manā jis jevad avar na ko▫e.
Seek His Shelter, O my mind; there is no other as Great as He.
ਜਿਸੁ ਸਿਮਰਤ ਸੁਖੁ ਹੋਇ ਘਣਾ ਦੁਖੁ ਦਰਦੁ ਨ ਮੂਲੇ ਹੋਇ ॥
जिसु सिमरत सुखु होइ घणा दुखु दरदु न मूले होइ ॥
Jis simraṯ sukẖ ho▫e gẖaṇā ḏukẖ ḏaraḏ na mūle ho▫e.
Remembering Him in meditation, a profound peace is obtained. Pain and suffering will not touch you at all.
ਸਦਾ ਸਦਾ ਕਰਿ ਚਾਕਰੀ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਸਾਹਿਬੁ ਸਚਾ ਸੋਇ ॥੨॥
सदा सदा करि चाकरी प्रभु साहिबु सचा सोइ ॥२॥
Saḏā saḏā kar cẖākrī parabẖ sāhib sacẖā so▫e. ||2||
Forever and ever, work for God; He is our True Lord and Master. ||2||
ਸਾਧਸੰਗਤਿ ਹੋਇ ਨਿਰਮਲਾ ਕਟੀਐ ਜਮ ਕੀ ਫਾਸ ॥
साधसंगति होइ निरमला कटीऐ जम की फास ॥
Sāḏẖsangaṯ ho▫e nirmalā katī▫ai jam kī fās.
In the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, you shall become absolutely pure, and the noose of death shall be cut away.
ਸੁਖਦਾਤਾ ਭੈ ਭੰਜਨੋ ਤਿਸੁ ਆਗੈ ਕਰਿ ਅਰਦਾਸਿ ॥
सुखदाता भै भंजनो तिसु आगै करि अरदासि ॥
Sukẖ▫ḏāṯa bẖai bẖanjno ṯis āgai kar arḏās.
So offer your prayers to Him, the Giver of Peace, the Destroyer of fear.
ਮਿਹਰ ਕਰੇ ਜਿਸੁ ਮਿਹਰਵਾਨੁ ਤਾਂ ਕਾਰਜੁ ਆਵੈ ਰਾਸਿ ॥੩॥
मिहर करे जिसु मिहरवानु तां कारजु आवै रासि ॥३॥
Mihar kare jis miharvān ṯāʼn kāraj āvai rās. ||3||
Showing His Mercy, the Merciful Master shall resolve your affairs. ||3||
ਬਹੁਤੋ ਬਹੁਤੁ ਵਖਾਣੀਐ ਊਚੋ ਊਚਾ ਥਾਉ ॥
बहुतो बहुतु वखाणीऐ ऊचो ऊचा थाउ ॥
Bahuṯo bahuṯ vakẖāṇī▫ai ūcẖo ūcẖā thā▫o.
The Lord is said to be the Greatest of the Great; His Kingdom is the Highest of the High.
ਵਰਨਾ ਚਿਹਨਾ ਬਾਹਰਾ ਕੀਮਤਿ ਕਹਿ ਨ ਸਕਾਉ ॥
वरना चिहना बाहरा कीमति कहि न सकाउ ॥
varnā cẖihnā bāhrā kīmaṯ kahi na sakā▫o.
He has no color or mark; His Value cannot be estimated.
ਨਾਨਕ ਕਉ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਮਇਆ ਕਰਿ ਸਚੁ ਦੇਵਹੁ ਅਪੁਣਾ ਨਾਉ ॥੪॥੭॥੭੭॥
नानक कउ प्रभ मइआ करि सचु देवहु अपुणा नाउ ॥४॥७॥७७॥
Nānak ka▫o parabẖ ma▫i▫ā kar sacẖ ḏevhu apuṇā nā▫o. ||4||7||77||
Please show Mercy to Nanak, God, and bless him with Your True Name. ||4||7||77||
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=36514

What else can I do with my hopes or desires, for myself or for others, but offer them to Waheguru and focus on Naam?

Ang 148



ਪਉੜੀ ॥
पउड़ी ॥
Pa▫oṛī.
Pauree:
ਨਾਰੀ ਪੁਰਖ ਪਿਆਰੁ ਪ੍ਰੇਮਿ ਸੀਗਾਰੀਆ ॥
नारी पुरख पिआरु प्रेमि सीगारीआ ॥
Nārī purakẖ pi▫ār parem sīgārī▫ā.
The soul-bride loves her Husband Lord; she is embellished with His Love.
ਕਰਨਿ ਭਗਤਿ ਦਿਨੁ ਰਾਤਿ ਨ ਰਹਨੀ ਵਾਰੀਆ ॥
करनि भगति दिनु राति न रहनी वारीआ ॥
Karan bẖagaṯ ḏin rāṯ na rahnī vārī▫ā.
She worships Him day and night; she cannot be restrained from doing so.
ਮਹਲਾ ਮੰਝਿ ਨਿਵਾਸੁ ਸਬਦਿ ਸਵਾਰੀਆ ॥
महला मंझि निवासु सबदि सवारीआ ॥
Mėhlā manjẖ nivās sabaḏ savārī▫ā.
In the Mansion of the Lord's Presence, she has made her home; she is adorned with the Word of His Shabad.
ਸਚੁ ਕਹਨਿ ਅਰਦਾਸਿ ਸੇ ਵੇਚਾਰੀਆ ॥
सचु कहनि अरदासि से वेचारीआ ॥
Sacẖ kahan arḏās se vecẖārī▫ā.
She is humble, and she offers her true and sincere prayer.
ਸੋਹਨਿ ਖਸਮੈ ਪਾਸਿ ਹੁਕਮਿ ਸਿਧਾਰੀਆ ॥
सोहनि खसमै पासि हुकमि सिधारीआ ॥
Sohan kẖasmai pās hukam siḏẖārī▫ā.
She is beautiful in the Company of her Lord and Master; she walks in the Way of His Will.
ਸਖੀ ਕਹਨਿ ਅਰਦਾਸਿ ਮਨਹੁ ਪਿਆਰੀਆ ॥
सखी कहनि अरदासि मनहु पिआरीआ ॥
Sakẖī kahan arḏās manhu pi▫ārī▫ā.
With her dear friends, she offers her heart-felt prayers to her Beloved.
ਬਿਨੁ ਨਾਵੈ ਧ੍ਰਿਗੁ ਵਾਸੁ ਫਿਟੁ ਸੁ ਜੀਵਿਆ ॥
बिनु नावै ध्रिगु वासु फिटु सु जीविआ ॥
Bin nāvai ḏẖarig vās fit so jīvi▫ā.
Cursed is that home, and shameful is that life, which is without the Name of the Lord.
ਸਬਦਿ ਸਵਾਰੀਆਸੁ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤੁ ਪੀਵਿਆ ॥੨੨॥
सबदि सवारीआसु अम्रितु पीविआ ॥२२॥
Sabaḏ savārī▫ās amriṯ pīvi▫ā. ||22||
But she who is adorned with the Word of His Shabad, drinks in the Amrit of His Nectar. ||22||

Unbelievably beautiful.


I know I don't understand these shabads very deeply in relation to my queries at this stage, but they are still beautiful.

Bhai Gurdas Ji has written something interesting on this subject...

Var 26

ਖਸਮੈ ਏਵੈ ਭਾਵਦਾ ਭਗਤਿ ਵਛਲੁ ਹੁਇ ਬਿਰਦੁ ਸਦਾਇਆ।
Khasamai Ayvai Bhaavadaa Bhagati Vachhalu Hui Biradu Sadaaiaa.
खसमै एवै भावदा भगति वछलु हुइ बिरदु सदाइआ ।
Now the Lord also loves to accept the prayer of the devotee because protection of the devotee is His nature.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=36514
4 ਵਾਰਾਂ ਭਾਈ ਗੁਰਦਾਸ : ਵਾਰ ੨੬ ਪਉੜੀ ੧੦ ਪੰ. ੪

bhenji, you should have been a barrister