SGGS Conference 2017 in San Jose, CA

1. Hukam
Inder Mohan Singh
SGGS Conference – August 19, 2017

2. Kiv sachiara hoeeay
[Japji M1 p 1]
So how can we achieve union with the True One? And how can the veil of illusion
be torn away?
O Nanak,walk in Hukam which is inscribed in all creation. ||1||
What is Hukam
How do we live in alignment with Hukam (Hukam rajaai chalna)

3. What is Hukam
Everything is under His Hukam
[Japji M1 p1]
Everyone is subject to His Command; no one is beyond His Command.
[M5 p523]
As is the Hukam of Your Command, so do things happen.
The whole creation is strung on Your thread.
That which has come from You is under Your Command.

4. Hukam is agam, agochar -beyond human comprehension
[M1 p1]
By His Command, bodies are created; His Command cannot be described.
[M1 p18]
No one knows how great the Hukam of His Command is; no one can describe His actions.
Your Command is infinite; no one can find its limit.
One who meets with the Perfect Guru, walks in the Way of the Lord's Will. ||2||

5. Hukam includes the System or Framework under which everything in the
universe operates.
- Not like a puppeteer micromanaging everything.
Hukam is manifested through
- the laws of nature and
- spiritual laws
You created the vast expanse of the Universe with One Word!
Hundreds of thousands of rivers began to flow.
Maybe the Kavao or Word or Hukam is the expression by God of the natural and
spiritual laws.

6. What is Hukam - the Laws of Nature
Many Laws of nature are progressively discovered by science.
Reflection of His awesome glory.
Example: myriad living beings, including humans, are created in His Will, but through the
mechanism of evolution.
Evolution of the universe from big bang through galaxies, stars and planets.
Karte kudrati mustaakh
O Creator, beholding your creation, I am filled with love for you.
According to Gurbani, He is the master of countless universes, which he creates and
destroys in His Will.

7. What is Hukam - Spiritual Laws
Spiritual Laws are the subject of Gurbani
Dharma - we reap what we sow
Bhagti, Naam to overcome haumai and Kaam, krodh, etc
God takes care of his bhagats
[M5 p662]
He does not let His devotees see the difficult times; this is His innate nature.
Giving His hand, He protects His devotee; with each and every breath, He cherishes him. ||1||

8. The Creator of these laws of nature and the spiritual laws is not limited by
them.
He is not arbitrary or whimsical - He is just, kind and forgiving. If His Will
appears to be unfair or mean, it is our limited understanding
[M5 p 199]
The Creator administers true justice.
[M5 p 513]
What You do is always good, but we do not understand and appreciate it.
You are always kind and compassionae.

9. Hukam rajaaee chalna
What does it mean to live in tune with or in alignment with Hukam?
1.Accepting His Will - bhaana manana.
2.Obeying or living according to Hukam
a. The Divine Hukam within ourselves (Nanak likhia naal)
b. Practicing the teachings of Gurbani
(The Hukam inscribed within is hidden because of our haumai. The
Word of the Guru reveals it to us)

10. Bhaana manana
Cheerfully accepting His Will
Jo tudh bhaave sai bhali kaar
Whatever pleases you is good.
Tera keea meetha laagai
Whatever You cause to happen is sweet to me.
Be engaged in life and do your best, but accept whatever happens as His Hukam
Keep your faith and remain in Chardi Kalaa even in the face of misfortune.
Inspiring example of Guru Arjan Dev Ji

11. Bhaana manana
[M 5 p 108]
People do whatever the Lord inspires them to do.
Wherever He keeps us is a good place.
That person is clever and honorable, unto whom the Hukam of the Lord's Command seems
sweet. ||1||
It is not easy to accept His Will, of course
[M5 p 1186]
Your Mansion is imperceptible, O my Beloved; it is so difficult to accept Your Will.

12. Bhaana manana
Even when we are trying to do the right thing, things don’t always work out the way
we want.
[Rehras M1 p469]
You are the Creator Lord; I can do nothing. Even if I try, nothing happens. ||1||
We must have faith that what happens in His Hukam is for the best
[ M5 p 613]
You do what is good for us, but we do not see it as good; You are kind and
compassionate, forever and ever.

13. Bhaana Manana
Dukh and Sukh, good and bad fortune, happiness and suffering are all his
gifts
Pleasure and pain are the two garments given, to be worn in the Court of the Lord.
[M4 p 757]
If You will bless me with happiness, then I will worship and adore You. Even in pain, I will
meditate on You. ||2||
Even if You give me hunger, I will still feel satisfied; I am joyful, even in the midst of sorrow. ||
3||

14. Bhaana manana is not just accepting misfortune
When something bad happens, we say oh well it is God’s Will
When good things happen, we often take the credit --It is the result of our
hard work, or our smarts, etc. or we take them for granted.
Good things also happen in His Will and are an opportunity to remember
Him and practice gratitude
We take too many of the blessings in our lives for granted.
Bhaana manana also means to celebrate all our blessings as His gifts
and live in gratitude.
.

15. I am grateful for

16. Living in alignment with Hukam
Obeying or living according to Hukam
a. Practicing the teachings of Gurbani
b. The Divine Hukam within ourselves
[M4 p667]
O Sikhs of the Guru, O friends, walk on the Guru's Path.
Whatever the Guru says, accept that as good; the sermon of the Lord, Har, Har, is
unique and wonderful. ||1||Pause||

17. Living in alignment with Hukam
The teachings of Gurbani center on our relationship to God (Naam) and our
relationship with others (our actions) -- spirituality and ethics
[M5 p266]
Of all religions, the best religion
Is to chant the Name of the Lord and maintain pure conduct.

19. Living in tune with Hukam and recognizing Hukam helps overcome Haumai, which
is the biggest obstacle to Naam
[M3 p 560]
Ego is opposed to the Name of the Lord; the two do not dwell in the same place.
[M1 p1]
O Nanak, one who understands His Hukam, does not speak in haumai. ||2||
[M3 p 560]
If you submit to the Hukam of the Lord's Command, then you shall meet with the
Lord; only then will your ego depart from within. ||Pause||

20. Alignment with Hukam by following Gurbani includes
Overcoming Haumai
Overcoming the five avguns or evils that originate in haumai
Kaam (lust)
Krodh (anger)
Lobh (greed)
Moh ( unhealthy attachment)
Hankar (pride)

21. Inculcating guns or positive qualities in Gurbani
Sat (Truth)
Santokh (contentment)
Daya (compassion)
Dharam (doing one’s duty)
Parupkar (altruism)
Khima (forgiveness)...

23. [Kabeer p 1349]
First, Allah created the Light; then, by His Creative Power, He made all mortal
beings.
From the One Light, the entire universe welled up. So who is good, and who is
bad? ||1||
------
Whoever realizes the Hukam of His Command, realizes it is all the One.. He alone
is said to be the Lord's slave. ||3||

24. Free Will and Choice
According to Gurbani, everything is under His Hukam, we have no power on our
own..
[Kabeer p 1165]
I cannot do anything by my own actions.
Whatever the Lord does, that alone happens.""||4||
[M1 p 469]
You are the Creator Lord; I can do nothing. Even if I try, nothing happens. ||1||

25. Free will and choice
[M4 p.736]
All that happens, and all that will happen, is by His Will. If we could do something by
ourselves, we would.
By ourselves, we cannot do anything at all. As it pleases the Lord, He preserves us. ||1||
O my Dear Lord, everything is in Your power.
I have no power to do anything at all. As it pleases You, You forgive us. ||1||Pause||

26. Free Will and Choice
At the same time, the Guru constantly tells us to make the right choices:
Follow the Guru’s Word - do paath, simran ..
Avoid evil -- kaam, krodh, ..
Good actions, compassion, parupkaar, etc.
We are also held accountable for our actions, we reap the results of our actions.
[quote?]

27. Free Will and Choice
Our choices are highly constrained. We have no control over:
Our DNA which determines much of our personality
The environment in which we grow up which also impacts who we are
The external situations we face as we make our choices.

28. Free Will and Choice
How to address this dilemma?
In my understanding, I have to
Exercise choice. Take responsibility for my actions, try to follow the Guru’s
teachings.
At the same time, see it all as a part of His Hukam. My ability to do anything,
including acting according to the Guru’s teachings, is through His blessing and I
should be grateful.
If things don’t work out as I intend, I also have to accept that as His Hukam.