The Society of Saints - Saadh Sangat

Sikh Dharma continually emphasises the importance of Saadh Sangat or Holy Company. When nothing else works, the only way out is to choose to commit oneself to a group of people that meets regularly, worships regularly, eats food cooked with consciousness and blessings regularly and sings the praises of God regularly. When the individual concept has become too distorted, complicated or ineffectual, then only the group concept can help to balance it out and give the individual the necessary direction, vitality and vision. This is most beautifully and intricately described in this hymn by Guru Arjan Dev Ji, the fifth Master of the Sikhs on Part 1120 of the Sikh Holy Scripture the Shri Guru Granth Sahib. The hymn is written in melody Kaydaaraa or Kedara,which creates the mood of contemplation, sadness, and longing for the Divine:

ਕੇਦਾਰਾ ਮਹਲਾ ੫ ॥
kaedhaaraa mehalaa 5 ||
Kaydaaraa, Fifth Mehla:

ਪ੍ਰਿਅ ਕੀ ਪ੍ਰੀਤਿ ਪਿਆਰੀ ॥
pria kee preeth piaaree ||
I love the Love of my Beloved.

ਮਗਨ ਮਨੈ ਮਹਿ ਚਿਤਵਉ ਆਸਾ ਨੈਨਹੁ ਤਾਰ ਤੁਹਾਰੀ ॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
magan manai mehi chithavo aasaa nainahu thaar thuhaaree || rehaao ||
My mind is intoxicated with delight, and my consciousness is filled with hope; my eyes are drenched with Your Love. ||Pause||

ਓਇ ਦਿਨ ਪਹਰ ਮੂਰਤ ਪਲ ਕੈਸੇ ਓਇ ਪਲ ਘਰੀ ਕਿਹਾਰੀ ॥
oue dhin pehar moorath pal kaisae oue pal gharee kihaaree ||
Blessed is that day, that hour, minute and second when the heavy, rigid shutters are opened, and desire is quenched.

ਖੂਲੇ ਕਪਟ ਧਪਟ ਬੁਝਿ ਤ੍ਰਿਸਨਾ ਜੀਵਉ ਪੇਖਿ ਦਰਸਾਰੀ ॥੧॥
khoolae kapatt dhhapatt bujh thrisanaa jeevo paekh dharasaaree ||1||
Seeing the Blessed Vision of Your Darshan, I live. ||1||

ਕਉਨੁ ਸੁ ਜਤਨੁ ਉਪਾਉ ਕਿਨੇਹਾ ਸੇਵਾ ਕਉਨ ਬੀਚਾਰੀ ॥
koun s jathan oupaao kinaehaa saevaa koun beechaaree ||
What is the method, what is the effort, and what is the service, which inspires me to contemplate You?

ਮਾਨੁ ਅਭਿਮਾਨੁ ਮੋਹੁ ਤਜਿ ਨਾਨਕ ਸੰਤਹ ਸੰਗਿ ਉਧਾਰੀ ॥੨॥੩॥੫॥
maan abhimaan mohu thaj naanak sa(n)theh sa(n)g oudhhaaree ||2||3||5||
Abandon your egotistical pride and attachment; O Nanak, you shall be saved in the Society of the Saints. ||2||3||5||