DISCLAIMER: The views expressed in this article are my personal opinions and are research-based.
When I first heard the idea of minimalism, I immediately thought of a small house in a lavish neighborhood surrounded by other mansions. The house was both white on the inside and outside, with no paintings or pictures held up. It contained only the most essential items, like one bed and one bath. If you were to enter the neighborhood, you would most definitely think that the house was out of place. But, as I continued learning more about what the true essence of minimalism really is, I realized that it is not the small house that is unfitting, it’s all the other fancy mansions that are inapt.
As I imagine myself residing in that home, looking out at all the fancy and well-decorated mansions, I find myself jealous of their owners. The luxury and esteem associated with owning a house like that instills a deep sense of yearning for these properties within me.. I often fall into pits where I daydream of a lavish lifestyle with expensive material possessions like mansions, but I always kick myself out of this maaya-abyss thinking about the one timeless, incorruptible, and perfect being who is not only the creator of all, but lives within his creation: Waheguru.
You see, each of those mansions represents the maaya in the world, maaya that takes our focus away from Waheguru. There is no possible way to remove maaya, as that, too, is Waheguru’s creation, but there is a way to redirect our focus towards what really matters. And, that comes from realizing that nothing is permanent in life.
In order to replace the maaya in our heads with love and goodness for all, we should start seeking Guru’s blessings. We should start reading Gurbani, doing Simran, learning from Saakhis, and doing Seva. But beyond these aspects, I want to bring light upon Minimalism - the idea of living simply and possessing only items you need to help you attain happiness & freedom.
I believe that minimalism revolves around purpose - the reasoning behind something. One could get rid of any single possession he/she has, but without an intention behind doing that, it means AND changes nothing.
I like to relate this to Sikhi. One could spend hours and hours doing paath, reciting simran, and doing seva. However, without the intention of connecting with Waheguru, it doesn’t propel that individual towards the right path. Now, I don’t mean that doing paath, reciting simran, and doing seva without the intention of Guru’s grace is useless. That is most definitely not the case. There are many days where I’m doing paath but am just reciting it to get it done with, where I’m doing simran but not actually contemplating Waheguru. These days, I ask Waheguru for forgiveness as my focus was not on Waheguru.
Another connection I make with Sikhi through minimalism is simplicity. Minimalism and simplicity are close synonyms, as they both relate to the idea of less emphasis on good and more emphasis on what matters. Sikhi, as a religion, also has a deep connection with simplicity. Sikhi is free from superstitions, discrimination, drugs/alcohol, and much more. Sikhi revolves around Oneness, and that itself is simplicity on a much deeper level.
Minimalism and Sikhi is not an unusual combination, and there are many connections between the two that can be seen in Gurbani. Take a look at the two quotes below, one from a minimalist and another by Guru Arjan Sahib Ji:
The first quote is by Joshua Becker, the author of “7 Guiding Principles to Help Anyone Declutter Their Home and Life”:
“Minimalism is the intentional promotion of the things we most value and the removal of anything that distracts us from it.”
When I look at this quote from a Sikh perspective, I came up with:
“Sikhi is the intentional promotion of the One we most value, Waheguru, and the removal of ਮਾਇਆ (Maya).”
Now, here is the second quote, a portion of a ਸਬਦ written by Guru Arjan Sahib Ji, ank 214:
ਜਉ ਲਉ ਮੇਰੋ ਮੇਰੋ ਕਰਤੋ ਤਉ ਲਉ ਬਿਖੁ ਘੇਰੇ ॥
jau lau mero mero karato tau lau bikh ghere ||
As long as I claimed, ""Mine, mine!", I was surrounded by wickedness and corruption.
ਮਨੁ ਤਨੁ ਬੁਧਿ ਅਰਪੀ ਠਾਕੁਰ ਕਉ ਤਬ ਹਮ ਸਹਜਿ ਸੋਏ ॥੩॥
man tan budh arapee Thaakur kau tab ham sahaj soe ||3||
But when I dedicated my mind, body and intellect to my Lord and Master, then I began to sleep in peace. ||3||
When we get enticed by ਮਾਇਆ and start declaring materialistic things as our own, we become distracted by the short-term benefits of our possessions and forget to meditate on the ultimate creator who gave us these items. However, when we start dedicating our minds and bodies to our Maharaj, only then can we experience true bliss and peace in life.
I believe that adopting a minimalist lifestyle can help us accomplish our Sikhi-related goals as it reminds us to only focus on the things that matter to us. As Sikhs, we should keep in mind that attaining Guru’s Kirpa and becoming one with Waheguru is the only purpose of our lives. With minimalism, we can prevent ਮਾਇਆ from distracting us by focusing on the essentials and maintaining a balance in our lives.
It all starts by taking that one step. Start by getting rid of one thing. One thing you don’t use, whether it be a shirt, video game, decorative piece, or anything else you can think of. Once you’ve gotten over the material phase, you can then get into the mindset phase. One by one, start working towards eliminating each of the 5 vices in your life - ਕਾਮ (kaam), ਕ੍ਰੋਧ (krodh), ਲੋਭ (lobh), ਮੋਹ (moh), & ਅਹੰਕਾਰ (ahankaar).
As you get into the habit of decluttering your space, and eventually your life, you’ll come to understand that it is not materialistic items that give you happiness: you can’t buy happiness.
ਭੁਖਿਆ ਭੁਖ ਨ ਉਤਰੀ ਜੇ ਬੰਨਾ ਪੁਰੀਆ ਭਾਰ ॥
bhukhiaa bhukh na utaree je ba(n)naa pureeaa bhaar ||
The hunger of the hungry is not appeased, even by piling up loads of worldly goods.
With the blessings of the Guru, I have watched this Naanak Naam video and it changed my entire viewpoint of happiness.
In this video, Bhai Satpal Singh Ji talks about contentment. The feeling of satisfaction, no matter what life brings us. This one quote he mentioned opened my eyes:
“Gurbani was written by people who are still happy even if they have nothing."
Imagine if all we had was taken away from us. Our family, our money, our clothes, everything. Would we still be happy then? It’s a no from me. That’s because I haven’t experienced true happiness. True happiness is contentment - when you are content with everything you have, right now, in the present moment.
If our “happiness” is determined by worldly possessions, then that happiness is nothing more than a false sense of enjoyment that can be taken away at any point in our life.
In order to attain true happiness, contentment, we must:
Accept everything that happens to us as Waheguru’s hukam
Renounce ourselves, our possessions, problems, & ego, all to Waheguru
Trust Waheguru, knowing that he is all-knowing, merciful, & forgiving
ਇਹੁ ਧਨੁ ਸੰਪੈ ਮਾਇਆ ਝੂਠੀ ਅੰਤਿ ਛੋਡਿ ਚਲਿਆ ਪਛੁਤਾਈ ॥
eih dhan sa(n)pai maiaa jhooThee a(n)t chhodd chaliaa pachhutaiee ||
This wealth, property and Maya are false. In the end, you must leave these, and depart in sorrow.
The same shabad later goes on to wonderfully say:
ਹਰਿ ਸੇਤੀ ਸਦ ਮਾਣਹੁ ਰਲੀਆ ਜਨਮ ਮਰਣ ਦੁਖ ਖੋਵਹੁ ॥
har setee sadh maanahu raleeaa janam maran dhukh khovahu ||
Enjoy ecstasy forever with the Lord, and do away with the pains of birth and death.
Money, clothes, gadgets - At one point or another, I have definitely felt a want for these materialistic things. However, I realized that money doesn’t follow you in life - your values do. Clothes that I once believed I ‘needed’ ended up in the back of my closet, only worn a few times. The craze for the new iPhone dies down, as I realized that any other phone will do.
Happiness is the most beautiful feeling in life, and it shouldn’t be determined by the things you own; it should be determined by what makes you who you are today.
All material possessions in life will either break, die, or end up useless. We either replace them, or move on from it. However, the one and only one thing in life that will end up with us till we die and beyond is Guru’s Kirpa. This is the one thing that can never be replaced and broken.
Guru’s Kirpa is the most powerful thing in this world, and this blessing will give us the power to be happy and stay in Chardi Kala all throughout life.
Together, let’s walk on the path to attain Guru’s Kirpa. Let’s forget about our materials and instead, dedicate our focus towards Waheguru. Let’s attain true happiness, the one that arises from the gifts of Waheguru, and not anything else .
Bhul Chuk Maaf
About The Author
Dani Kaur
Dani Kaur is an upcoming freshman in Pleasanton, CA. As a prior camper at CSV, she has learned to embrace Sikhi and take it with her on her journey in life. She hopes to share her opinions on Sikhi and learn more about the different aspects of it. It is a way for her to help guide others, as well as herself, on their path in Sikhi. Along with Sikhi, Dani is interested in psychology, business, and personal development. Her hobbies include playing tennis, working out, and writing. With SikhTeens, Dani aspires to make a difference in the Sikh community and walk with her sisters and brothers on the right path.