Spiritual traditions have affirmed time and again the inevitability of ‘dukkha’ in life – that there are definitive causes that give rise to ‘dukkha’, that peace is possible, and that there is a path that leads to peace. In fact, in his first composition – the ‘Jap’, reverentially called the Jap Ji Sahib by the Sikhs, Guru Nanak asserts that ‘dukkha’ is also a blessing. Not a curse. Well, it is one thing that there can be a remedy for ‘dukkha’, but how can ‘dukkha’ be a blessing? Is this self-flagellation? Quite to the contrary. Here is a very revealing insight offered by Giani Pinderpal Singh ji. ‘Dukha’ is like poison. Like the venom of a snake which can kill a person. However, the ones who make anti-venom pay lacs of rupees to buy the venom of the most poisonous snakes. An experienced vaid (traditional doctor) uses the poison, crushes a mix of medicinal herbs and adds it to this venom to prepare the anti-venom. The very venom that kills, now becomes medicine that saves lives.
Guru Nanak describes a similar process that can be used to transform pain. He suggests that ‘Dukkha’ is like poison, and asks us to add to it the medicine of Naam (identification with the Universal Creator). When this mixture is ground on the mortar of contentment using the pestle of good deeds, it transmutes the poison to medicine. If you take such a medicine regularly, you will not waste away due to the vicissitudes of life. Furthermore, Guru Nanak guarantees that you will win the ultimate battle – overcoming the fear of death and breaking free from the cycles of pleasure and pain. ਦੁਖ ਮਹੁਰਾ ਮਾਰਣ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ॥
दुख महुरा मारण हरि नामु ॥
dhukh mahuraa maaran har naam ||
Pain is poison. The Lord’s Name is the antidote.
ਸਿਲਾ ਸੰਤੋਖ ਪੀਸਣੁ ਹਥਿ ਦਾਨੁ ॥
सिला संतोख पीसणु हथि दानु ॥
silaa sa(n)tokh peesan hath dhaan ||
Grind it up in the mortar of contentment, with the pestle of charitable giving.
ਨਿਤ ਨਿਤ ਲੇਹੁ ਨ ਛੀਜੈ ਦੇਹ ॥
The Sabad Project - Wisdom stories 