Reason & Mind

A Pair Truly Mindful

Reason and Mind work well as a pair, bringing good meaning and actions in one’s life. Mind the part of a person that thinks, reasons, feels, understands and remembers, whereas reason means that which causes something an efficient cause.

A reason functions to justify ourselves and to convince others. To emphasis this point I wish to relate an historical event in Sikhism. (Sakhi)

Over 250 Sikh soldiers lost their lives fighting the enemy while guarding their Guru and their fellow brothers who were reciting the (early morning) Amritvela prayers. In spite of being trailed by a combined force of several thousand Moghuls, Guru Gobind Singh ji realizing it is time for Amritvela prayers choose to stop his cavalry for the same. Post the aftermath bhai Daya Singh ji dared to ask Guru Gobind Singh ji what if one day prayers were postponed, you endangered your life and we could have saved 250 of our men. His reason “even if I would have died and also the rest of us, it would be worth it. (sauda mehanga nahi sasta honda) I want the generations hereafter to know the importance to Amritvela prayers. This learning for many souls and for me too has become a reason to honor the Amritvela practice as initiated by the Gurus.

Reason is one grace of God to Humans. Reason can tell us certain things about God. The things that reason cannot tell us, God has revealed to us and our faith enables us to believe what He has revealed. Once we believe what God has revealed, reason can then help us understand what we believe through faith.

“ He blessed you with the light of reason and clear consciousness ”. Siri Guru Granth Saheb ji ang 913

Reasoning skills determine how people comprehend, evaluate and accept claims and arguments. In olden days people were good with their reasons; the current generation is often on the opposite end of reasoning thus often adding explanations and justifications for its actions or events. Manufacturers, service providers, entertainment industry, professionals, employers, marketing pundits all have been selling their acts well to influence the individual’s mind. In pursuit the individual gets attached to temporary things, and then wonders why his happiness never lasts.

We all indulge in this worldly give and take, but the truth remains....

“ Chanting the Naam, the mortal is saved.

Chanting the Naam, sublime peace and poise are found.

Chanting the Naam, honor and glory are received.

Chanting the Naam, no obstacles shall block your way.

For this reason, you have been blessed with this body, so difficult to obtain”.

- Siri Guru Granth Saheb ji ang 1181