FOLDING HANDS

The way you use your our hands says a lot. Using the single hand with muscle power is easy learning and exercised liberally over many generations, but bringing together two hands without muscle power and with devotion and humility for prayer is rather becoming difficult.

Most Institutions of family, professional education and community living in their enthusiasm of imparting modernization ‘Gyan’ overlooked the traditions of inculcating the sense of daily prayer. A day without blessing and a life without prayer is a life without meaning. Some minds impart prayer forcibly as if it’s more of a duty to be performed. Folding Hands in prayer is to be looked upon as a privilege to be enjoyed, a rare delight always revealing some new beauty in the world and within you, an expression of gratitude and meeting your creator within you. Prayer for many was like a spare wheel that you pull out when in trouble. They neither failed to learn nor were taught that it is the ‘steering wheel’ that directs the right path throughout. Earlier I used to believe that prayer changes things, but now I know prayer changes us and we change things.

How ungrateful can a human body be that cannot fold hands to say ‘Thank You’. One simply forgets to pray each day, but if God didn’t forget to wake you up this morning, that alone is a good reason you don’t forget Him.

Interestingly for the occasional praying souls an ‘Ardas’ could be a great beginning. The Ardas is usually done standing up with 'folded hands' and it encompasses many humanistic and sikh values. It is a request, a supplication, a prayer, a petition an address to a superior authority. Praying to God to receive blessings for what one is about to undertake or has done. Seek strength to overcome pain, failure and bring wellness beyond them. To praise God, thank God for His giving’s, to admit and seek forgiveness for our wrong doings (sins). ​ Ardas is more than just a prayer; a concept of therapy for the elevation of the human spirit, mind and body. It lowers ones ego and teaches ‘Nimrata’ (humility), ‘Daya’ (compassion) and ‘Chardi Kala’ (relentless optimism). It requests a sense of community, forever in seva and asking for Sarbat ka bhalla. Each time it is a reminder of the level of dedication required to become a better human being.

The beginning of the Ardas importantly links the mind with the 'pure ones' from human history for their sacrifices and martyrdom in saving religious faith of their own and also that of other religions. The reason for this post is remembering in gratitude and in prayers events of December 1704, the selfless sacrifices of Guru Gobind Singh ji, his followers and his four sons martyr sacrifices all within a weeks’ time. (Fateh Singh ji 7years, Zorawar Singh ji 9years, Jujhar Singh ji 14yrs, Ajit Singh ji 18years). Gurus mother in whose care-taking the youngest two lads were, knowing about their martyrdom also passed away. To know more read our previous post “Become a history student this December” or “November–December has more to remember”

December also arrives with abundance of colorful lights, vibrant wreaths and many a celebrations. The Interfaith Calendar organization lists 14 religious festivities this month. Season’s Greetings and best wishes to all readers.

Many believe a busy life makes prayer harder, unknowing that it is prayer that makes a busy life easier. Younger generations wanting to be on their feet must first go on knees with folded hands; as clasping the hands together communicates both an acknowledgement of God's authority and one’s own submission to that authority.