HUKAM

LIVING THE HUKAM(WILL OF GOD)FINAL
Living the WILL OF GOD (HUKAM) is the spiritual concept that, if properly understood and grasped, could bring stability, peace and happiness in our lives. Modern spiritualists call this living in the present, or the power of now. I will discuss this concept in the context of spiritual teachings of SRI GURU GRANTH SAHIB, the Sikh Scriptures.
Right in the beginning of SGGS (SIKH SCRIPTURES) Guru Nanak raised a critical question about living life in modern times, KIW SACHIARA HOEEAI KIW KOORAI TOOTAI PAAL( SGGS page 1) meaning how can one become spiritually awakened, enlightened, a good human being and break the wall of falsehood, ignorance of truth and slavery of mind? Then Nanak answered his own question, HUKAM RAJAEE CHALNA NANAK LIKHIA NAAL (SGGS page 1). Nanak says it is entirely possible to become SACHIARA (enlightened) by following the HUKAM, WILL OF GOD. Following the HUKAM in simple words means living and conducting ourselves in society according to the universal spiritual guiding principles and instructions contained in SGGS. EKO NAAM HUKAM HAI NANAK SATGUR DIAA BUJHAE JIO (SGGS page72) meaning we are here in this world for one reason that is to meditate in order to realize, understand who we truly are and live the truth of who we really are in everyday life. Living in accordance with HUKAM, DIVINE WILL or WILL OF GOD means living in the present by accepting the situations as they occur in life and accepting that these situations occur based on unchangeable laws of nature. Resistance to the laws of nature leads to conflict and tension in one’s life.
Living HUKAM or WILL OF GOD in our daily life operates in two ways: internally becoming SACHIARA, spiritually awakened, and externally surrendering to unchangeable laws of nature, living in the present. A spiritually awakened and internally enlightened mind learns to follow (accept) the HUKAM, WILL OF GOD. Nanak explains the spiritual philosophy of living HUKAM (living in the present).
Nanak says BALIHAREE KUDRAT WASIA (SGGS page469) meaning God is embodied in the unchangeable cosmic laws, or laws of nature. In Sikh Scriptures KUDRAT and God has been discussed in the same context. In spiritual terms, KUDRAT (the unchangeable laws of nature) is the Will of God. Nanak says HUKAMAI UNDER SABH KO BAHAR HUQAM NA KOAI (SGGS page 1), and KUDRAT PATALI AKASEE KUDRAT SARAB AKAAR (SGGS page 464) meaning everything, every event in the universe, happens in accordance with the COSMIC LAWS. BHAI WICH SURAJ BHAI WICH CHAND (SGGS page 464) meaning in the universe, planets, sun and moon operate according to laws of nature. No miracles ever happen in violation of the laws of nature. For example, it is inconceivable that fire would not burn your hand. Then Nanak says TERA ANT NA JAEE LAKHIA (SGGS page 1) meaning the structure of the universe is incomprehensible, infinite and unknowable. That gives me a feeling of complete humility and of surrender to the COSMIC LAWS, Will of God. This means accepting the situations as these come. I do not fight the nature; I accept what is happening and then act from that place of acceptance. NANAK HUQMAI JE BHUJAI TA HAUMAI KAHAE NA KOAI (SGGS page1) those who understand this concept kill their ego and learn to live in the present. Ego and living in HUKAM are two opposites. Ego leads us to defiance of HUKAM. Ego is individual will while HUKAM is DIVINE WILL. Surrendering to DIVINE WILL is to transcend ego consciousness. Nanak says nothing should be undertaken in the spirit of egoism. This viewpoint is purely spiritual. Man must direct his actions in accordance with WILL OF GOD.
According to spiritual philosophy of Nanak we live life in two ways: way of conflict (Follow own WILL OR) and way of surrender( WILL OF GOD). APNAI BHANNAI JO CHALAI BHAEE BICHHUR CHOTAN KHAAI (SGGS page601) meaning living the way of conflict is when we are ignorant of truth, divine wisdom, divine knowledge, godly virtues. We are slave of our own mind and thoughts. We hold negative personal biases and inaccurate expectations that we have developed through our exposure to people and circumstances. These negative biases and inaccurate expectations cloud our perspective and do not allow us to see a situation for what it truly is. Our mind and thoughts are not our true nature; it is acquired ego Identity. In this state of self- consciousness we want things to happen our way. Nanak says SEHAS SIANNPAN LAKH HOHAI TA IK NA CHALAI NAAL (SGGS page 1) meaning the cause of our stress, worries, anxiety and pain is the slavery to our own mind, thoughts and non acceptance of the situations as these arise, resisting the truth. ‘God I do not like what you did to me, why you did this to me?’ The level of resistance depends upon how strongly we are identified with our egoistic mind. The stronger the resistance means more pain. ‘I want things to happen my way. I desire birth of son not daughter. I want rain not draught.’ Nanak says NAR CHAHAT KACHH AUR AURAI KI AURAI BHAEE (SGGS page 1428) meaning under the unchangeable laws of nature things do not happen all the time the way we desire. Exceptions never happen in violation of the laws of nature. When I jump up, gravitational force will bring me back to the ground no matter who I am, black, white, brown, Hindu, Sikh, Muslim or Christian. This is the unchangeable law of nature. The main cause of our pain and suffering is in resistance; peace and happiness is in surrender to Will of God. Nanak says HUKAM NA JANNAI BAHUTA ROWAI (SGGS page85) meaning in daily life we do not accept the WILL OF GOD; we do not accept the situations as these arise. ‘This should have never happened this way, this should have happened my way.’ Stress, worries, anxieties and depression come from not accepting the reality. Following the HUKAM means power of acceptance.
HUKAM is not order or command, it is just happening spontaneously ( the laws of nature, process and the results). It is the law of nature. For example the river will continue its flow down stream whether we like it or not. It is up to us to swim with the flow or against the flow. Nanak says JINHI PACHHATA HUKAM TINH KADE NA ROWNA (SGGS page523) meaning those who gain divine wisdom ( understood divine laws/process), knowledge, internalize godly virtues and learn to follow the HUKAM do not experience stress, worries, anxiety and mental health problems in life. Nanak explains as we learn to be conscious of our thoughts and underlying biases/expectations, we can train our mind to accept what is, so that we can remain calm and consciously choose our response rather than have a knee-jerk reaction. From the position of acceptance of what is, we can respond constructively to resolve the situation rather than squandering mental and physical energy on resisting and resenting the situation. As an example, if we hold the expectation that people should treat us with respect, then we are hurt when we are mistreated (our expectations are not met). In reality, and in accordance to a law of nature, people behave based on what their level of conscious is, and this has more to do with them than it does with us, so we need not take their behaviour as a personal affront. Accessing divine wisdom within ourselves gives us clarity about who we are. We can understand why things are happening as they are. We can have clarity on how to process circumstances, thoughts and emotions without getting lost in these and choose a way forward with decisive actions. We choose the way of surrender.
When we contemplate, understand and internalize divine wisdom, divine knowledge, godly virtues, we find our true self, our true nature. When we are spiritually awakened, we destroy, overcome our ego identity. We surrender to laws of nature, Will of God, accept situations the way they are before acting. The actions arising from acceptance are far more productive and better suited to what is required by the situation overall, rather than acting from resistance in an attempt to meet a self-centered end. Peace, happiness, joy of life comes from accepting the situations as they come, to live in the present.
As we become more aware of how our mind reacts to people and situations, we realize that it operates largely in the past or future, rarely in the present. Nanak gives us a great thought here and says AGAHA KOO TRANG PICHHA PHER NA MUHDRA. NANAK SIJH EWEHA WAAR BAHUR NA HOWEE JANMRA (SGGS page 1096) meaning as humans we must plan the future, look not on the past over the shoulders. Make present life a great success because this is the only opportunity you have. We relive past pain over and over, and we are fearful that our expectations may not be met in the future. As we become more aware of this, we can train the mind to focus on the present situation and deal with it constructively, without adding suffering through rehashing the past or fearing the future.
There are a few misconceptions about the concept of HUKAM that need to be cleared. First, the belief that we cannot obliterate what is written in our destiny because it is written by Divine Will. This cannot be erased by human efforts. This kind of thinking is based on HINDU VEDIC KARMA THEORY that what is happening is predetermined and cannot be changed. The concept of HUKAM is that whatever happens with us happens according to laws of nature; we have no control. We face situations every day. An accident happens, a family member becomes sick or we lose a family member, face destruction of tsunami, someone steals your money, hurts you. This does not mean we do nothing. Following the HUKAM simply means we accept the situation as it happens with us and then make every effort to solve the problem (improve situation for future) without getting angry, feeling resentment and helplessness. We can also make efforts to avoid the situation. There is a difference between predetermined destiny that we cannot do anything about and events happening according to laws of nature that we can accept and protect from, mitigate or solve.
We can only remain calm, stable, stress, worry and anxiety free when we accept the situation as it is. NANAK says CHINTA TAKEE KIJIAI JE UNNHONNEE HOAI (SGGS page 1429) meaning everything that happens to us including disasters or losing a loved one, happens according to immutable laws of nature. Do not resist or deny the facts. Spirituality empowers us to be able to cope with such situations. Some die at birth, some live to be hundred. This is the law of nature.
It is the mistake to believe that past and future are more real than the present. Past determines who we are, as well how we perceive and behave in the present. Our future goals determine what actions we take in the present. Spiritual philosophy of Gurbani reject, consider baseless, superstitious, all life after death belief systems. Following the HUKAM means living in the present, here and now.