In an age where stress, anxiety, and distractions are the order of the day, and in a world that runs on hyper-activity, a desperate need to be active more than who we are, the Guru Granth Sahib provides us a reminder of what is truly needed:
Peace, joy, and satisfaction are not in the outer world but in the stillness within.
Mindfulness and meditation are modern words, but the Sikh Gurus had long paved the way for seekers to walk the path of awareness, remembrance of God, and presence.
Meditation in Sikhism: Naam Simran
Naam Simran — the meditation of the Divine Name — is the centre of Sikh practice. It’s not just repetition — it’s a deep anchoring of attention to the present moment through the sacred sound of Waheguru.
“Simar simar sukh paavahu.”
Just keep meditating, and your meditation be your ultimate peace
— Guru Arjan Dev Ji, SGGS, Ang 262
In Naam Simran, the mind becomes still, the ego fades away, and eternal bliss starts flowing.
Mindfulness: The Art of Awareness
The Guru Granth Sahib doesn’t explicitly use the word “mindfulness,” but the idea is deeply embedded in its verses. Gurus teach us to live consciously here and now, living the present with humility and presence.
“Man tu jot saroop hai, apna mool pachhaan.”
O mind, you are the light of the Divine — know your own source.
— Guru Amar Das Ji, Ang 441
This is an invitation to inner awareness—remembering who we really are beneath the noise of the world.
Why Presence Matters
The root cause of suffering, says the Sikh path, is ego (haumai) and forgetfulness. Being mindful helps us bust out of those unconscious patterns and tune into our higher selves.
“Haumai vich jag upjai, haumai sabh vigsai.”
The ego is where the world is born, and the ego is where the world dies.
— Guru Nanak Dev Ji, Ang 466
And so mindfulness here becomes a kind of spiritual discipline — not just to feel calm but to be aware of how we think, speak and act.
Meditation Is Not Escape — It Is Engagement
The Sikh way does not propound the principle of retreating from the world. It’s the rich experience of living in the world with consciousness. Meditation prepares us to meet life more clearly, humbly, and effectively.
“Ghaal khaai kichh hathhu dei, Nanak raahu pachhaani sei.”
Who earns by honest labour and shares with others, O Nanak, knows the true way.
— Guru Nanak Dev Ji, Ang 1245
Sikhism teaches mindfulness not only in stillness but also in service (seva), community (sangat), and honest living.
The Modern Relevance
Today’s science confirms the centuries-old words of the Gurus: that meditation and mindfulness reduce stress and amplify focused attention and well-being. But more than that, they challenge us to take back our attention, to reengage with who we really are.
“Nanak naam chardi kala, tere bhaane sarbat da bhala”.
By the power of the Highest, let us all be uplifted, let us all be abundant.
These teachings of the Guru Granth Sahib do not mean we need to seek anything outside ourselves, but rather we already hold the peace we desire within us.
We simply need to pause, breathe, and be in the sacred now, the present.
Shall we take the path of Simran and Mindful Living, which will not only help us feel better but also help us live better?