Art of living

2.  Each of us strives for success andEach of us strives for success and
happiness in lifehappiness in life
 Success is not accumulation of wealthSuccess is not accumulation of wealth
and materials aloneand materials alone
 Many rich men are failure in lifeMany rich men are failure in life
 True secret of successful living are notTrue secret of successful living are not
material but contentment and joy ofmaterial but contentment and joy of
usefulnessusefulness

3. HUMAN INSTINCTSHUMAN INSTINCTS
 Our actions and thoughts are under theOur actions and thoughts are under the
control of human instinctscontrol of human instincts
 Lust,anger,greed,attachment and egoLust,anger,greed,attachment and ego
 Essential to learn to control themEssential to learn to control them

4. 5 MORAL EVILS5 MORAL EVILS
Lust (Kaam)Lust (Kaam)
 lust and illegitimate sex.lust and illegitimate sex.
 It is one of the greatest evils that tempts people awayIt is one of the greatest evils that tempts people away
from God.from God.
 It makes an individual weak-willed and unreliable.It makes an individual weak-willed and unreliable.
 Normal sexual relationship as a house-holder is notNormal sexual relationship as a house-holder is not
restricted in any way in Sikhism.restricted in any way in Sikhism.
 But sex outside marriage or sex against the will of theBut sex outside marriage or sex against the will of the
partner is taboo, as it can cause unlimited sorrows.partner is taboo, as it can cause unlimited sorrows.

5. Anger (Krodh)Anger (Krodh)
 Anger needs to be controlled. A personAnger needs to be controlled. A person
overcome by 'krodh' loses his balance of mindovercome by 'krodh' loses his balance of mind
and becomes incapable of thinking.and becomes incapable of thinking.
 According to Sikhism, 'krodh' takes a personAccording to Sikhism, 'krodh' takes a person
away from God as hatred has no place inaway from God as hatred has no place in
religious practice.religious practice.

6. Greed (Lobh)Greed (Lobh)
 greed is a strong desire to possess whatgreed is a strong desire to possess what
rightfully belongs to others.rightfully belongs to others.
 It makes an individual selfish and self-It makes an individual selfish and self-
centered.centered.
 It takes a person away from his religiousIt takes a person away from his religious
and social duties.and social duties.
 A person can become blind with greed ifA person can become blind with greed if
an effort to control the desire foran effort to control the desire for
unlimited possessions is not made.unlimited possessions is not made.

7. Attachment (Moh)Attachment (Moh)
 Strong attachment that an individualStrong attachment that an individual
has to worldly possessions andhas to worldly possessions and
relationships.relationships.
 It blurs the perspective of a humanIt blurs the perspective of a human
being and makes him narrowbeing and makes him narrow
minded.minded.
 It deviates a person from his moralIt deviates a person from his moral
duties and responsibilities and leadsduties and responsibilities and leads
him towards a path of sin.him towards a path of sin.

8. False Pride : (Ahankar)False Pride : (Ahankar)
 Means false pride due to one's possessions, materialMeans false pride due to one's possessions, material
wealth, intelligence or powers.wealth, intelligence or powers.
 It gives an individual a feeling that he is superior toIt gives an individual a feeling that he is superior to
others and therefore they are at a lower level than him.others and therefore they are at a lower level than him.
 It leads to jealousy, feelings of enmity and restlessnessIt leads to jealousy, feelings of enmity and restlessness
amongst people.amongst people.
 Sikhism requires that a person serves the society andSikhism requires that a person serves the society and
community with humility. Hence, the practise of cleaningcommunity with humility. Hence, the practise of cleaning
the footwear of visitors to a Gurudwara is followed bythe footwear of visitors to a Gurudwara is followed by
many devout Sikhs.many devout Sikhs.


9. 8 VIRTUES TO8 VIRTUES TO
COMBAT THE 5COMBAT THE 5
EVILSEVILS

10. Wisdom (Gyan)Wisdom (Gyan)
 complete knowledge of a set of religiouscomplete knowledge of a set of religious
principles.principles.
 It can be achieved by hearing good, thinkingIt can be achieved by hearing good, thinking
good and doing good.good and doing good.
 A man of wisdom tries to achieve a high moralA man of wisdom tries to achieve a high moral
standard in his life and interaction with others.standard in his life and interaction with others.
 According to Sikhism, the first steps to wisdomAccording to Sikhism, the first steps to wisdom
is to consider oneself as an ignorant personis to consider oneself as an ignorant person
who has to learn a lot in life.who has to learn a lot in life.

11. Truthful Living (Sat)Truthful Living (Sat)
 This is more than 'truth'.This is more than 'truth'.
 It means living according to theIt means living according to the
way of God i.e. the thoughtsway of God i.e. the thoughts
should match the words that ashould match the words that a
person speaks and his actionsperson speaks and his actions
should also match his words.should also match his words.
 Truthful living brings a personTruthful living brings a person
closer to God.closer to God.

12. Justice (Niaon)Justice (Niaon)
 Means freedom and equal opportunitiesMeans freedom and equal opportunities
for all.for all.
 Respect for the rights of others and strictRespect for the rights of others and strict
absence of attempts to exploit a fellowabsence of attempts to exploit a fellow
being.being.
 Sikhism forbids the desire to lootSikhism forbids the desire to loot
another's property.another's property.
 It also strictly instructs the Sikhs to showIt also strictly instructs the Sikhs to show
respect even for the women and childrenrespect even for the women and children
of an enemy.of an enemy.

13. Temperance (Santokh)Temperance (Santokh)
 :: means self control which has to bemeans self control which has to be
developed through meditation anddeveloped through meditation and
prayers.prayers.
 A Sikh has to banish evil thoughtsA Sikh has to banish evil thoughts
from his mind by constantlyfrom his mind by constantly
repeating Gods name and recitingrepeating Gods name and reciting
prayers.prayers.
 Torture to the body to develop self-Torture to the body to develop self-
control is not advocated in Sikhism.control is not advocated in Sikhism.

14. Patience (Dhiraj)Patience (Dhiraj)
 :: implies a high level of toleranceimplies a high level of tolerance
and empathy for others.and empathy for others.
 It requires control over ones egoIt requires control over ones ego
and willingness to overlookand willingness to overlook
anothers weakness or mistakes.anothers weakness or mistakes.
 It requires that a Sikh should beIt requires that a Sikh should be
strongwilled, but kind hearted.strongwilled, but kind hearted.

15. Courage (Himmat)Courage (Himmat)
 Means bravery i.e. absence of fear. It is theMeans bravery i.e. absence of fear. It is the
ability to stake ones life for ones convictionsability to stake ones life for ones convictions
and for saving others from injustice or cruelty.and for saving others from injustice or cruelty.

16. Humility (Namarta)Humility (Namarta)
 Deliberate denial of pleasure at one's ownDeliberate denial of pleasure at one's own
praise and admiration. It means underplayingpraise and admiration. It means underplaying
ones own strengths and respecting the abilitiesones own strengths and respecting the abilities
of others. It is the antidote to 'ahankar'of others. It is the antidote to 'ahankar'

17. Contentment (Sabar)Contentment (Sabar)
 Means refraining from worldly fears andMeans refraining from worldly fears and
submitting oneself to the will of God.submitting oneself to the will of God.
 The typical worldly fears can be fear ofThe typical worldly fears can be fear of
death, poverty, disrespect and defeat.death, poverty, disrespect and defeat.
 It is this virtue that has given the SikhsIt is this virtue that has given the Sikhs
the moral strength to withstand the variousthe moral strength to withstand the various
atrocities committed on their community inatrocities committed on their community in
the last three centuriesthe last three centuries

18. TALENT OF YOUR OWNTALENT OF YOUR OWN
 Finding ones particular talent is importantFinding ones particular talent is important
step in the art of successful livingstep in the art of successful living
 Each one has a particular talent try toEach one has a particular talent try to
develop itdevelop it
 Strive to improve quality by learning newStrive to improve quality by learning new
skills and knowledgeskills and knowledge

19. BE HONESTBE HONEST
 Cheating, lying, stealing and grabbing byCheating, lying, stealing and grabbing by
hook or crook are negative virtueshook or crook are negative virtues
 Self deception drives things intoSelf deception drives things into
subconscious mind and troubles mansubconscious mind and troubles man
 Good conduct,integerity and honest hardGood conduct,integerity and honest hard
work lead to success and happiness inwork lead to success and happiness in
lifelife

20. LIVE WITHLIVE WITH
ENTHUSIASMENTHUSIASM
 Everyone faces hardships in chosen pathEveryone faces hardships in chosen path
 Enthusiasm makes one to work and notEnthusiasm makes one to work and not
to quitto quit
 Chardikala is answer to all problems ofChardikala is answer to all problems of
lifelife

21. BE MASTER OFBE MASTER OF
POSSESIONSPOSSESIONS
 Money is a necessary evilMoney is a necessary evil
 We loose freedom by becoming slaves ofWe loose freedom by becoming slaves of
money and material thingsmoney and material things
 Too much money and wealth destroysToo much money and wealth destroys
peace of mindpeace of mind
 Learn judicious use of money and shareLearn judicious use of money and share
with needywith needy
 Stress is on honest earningStress is on honest earning

22. DONOT WORRY ABOUTDONOT WORRY ABOUT
PROBLEMSPROBLEMS
 Life is full of problems and mistakesLife is full of problems and mistakes
 Don't worry about themDon't worry about them
 Rather understand them and learn the artRather understand them and learn the art
of solving themof solving them

23. DONOT CLING TO PASTDONOT CLING TO PAST
 Learn from past mistakes andLearn from past mistakes and
experiencesexperiences
 Fatal to hang on to past victories orFatal to hang on to past victories or
achievementsachievements
 Should look to futureShould look to future

24. LOVE HUMANITYLOVE HUMANITY
 Learn love people and know themLearn love people and know them
 Learn from experience of othersLearn from experience of others
 Learn from glorious past and heritageLearn from glorious past and heritage

25. TAKE CARE OFTAKE CARE OF
HEALTHHEALTH
 Eat simple balanced food at almost fixedEat simple balanced food at almost fixed
timetime
 Do daily exercises for physical fitnessDo daily exercises for physical fitness

26. PRAYER TO GODPRAYER TO GOD
 Prayer gives inspiration and strength toPrayer gives inspiration and strength to
mind essential for higher achievementsmind essential for higher achievements
in life and peace of mindin life and peace of mind
 Do self analysis daily for selfDo self analysis daily for self
improvementimprovement

27.  Maintain positive thinking always and doMaintain positive thinking always and do
hard work in lifehard work in life
 When you are hard on yourself, life willWhen you are hard on yourself, life will
be easy on you but when you are easybe easy on you but when you are easy
on yourself life will be hard on youon yourself life will be hard on you