Sarbat da bhala

Sarbhat dah phalla or Sarbat da bhala is a Punjabi term which means "may everyone be blessed" or "may good come to all". This is a term from an important part of the Sikh prayer called the Ardas. This term forms an important part of Sikh philosophy. The term establishes a new precedence set by the Sikh Gurus - It binds the Sikh to ask for the "well being of everyone in the world". In establishing this concept, the Gurus have set a new standard for the Sikhs – not only should the Sikhs pray for their own well-being but also need to ask for the blessing of "all the peoples of the world".
All Sikhs narrate this prayer called the Ardas (final request/prayer to God) at least twice a day. In the ardas, the Sikhs say the following line near the end of the Ardas:-
 
* "Nanak Naam Chardikala, teraa bhanaa Sarbaht dah Phahla" which can be translated as "Nanak asks for 'Naam' (name of God) with which comes well being, happiness and positive spirit and with your blessings, Lord may everyone in the world prosper and be in peace" or can be broken down as:
* Nanak, With Naam comes Chardi Kala and with your blessings, may there be peace for all 
(part of the Ardas performed daily by all practising Sikhs)
==Details==
The Sikh concept of "Sarbaht dah Phahla" which means "blessings for everyone" or literally "May everyone Prosper".
This statement is repeated by all practising Sikhs at least twice daily (if not more) as part of their Nitnem (daily prayers). This concept is central to Sikhism and forms a very important and essential role in the religious philosophy of the Sikh Gurus.
To put this in concise and clear language, it means that the Sikh desires, prays and asks God for the:
* Well being of all of humanity
* Prosperity for everyone in the worldwide community and
* Global Peace for the entire planet.
A true Sikh selflessly prays daily for "all to prosper". This gesture comes from the clear and pure teaching of Gurbani (Sri Guru Granth Sahib, SGGS) and forms the Gurmat code of conduct. Gurbani tells us that there are no "others". There is only One. The same One God resides within all. We are all the children of that One God. As the potter makes pots of different forms and colors from the same basic clay; and as the goldsmith moulds jewellery of various types, colors and shapes from the same single homogenous material, gold; similarly, we are all born of the same One Light. There is no difference.
Accordingly, by instruction from the Gurus, the true Sikh begs for "the good for all beings" of the world. Because he knows the within each and every one of us resides the same One God – The Sikh should realise that he is "one with the rest". If he does not than he is not a real Sikh, at least not yet. The all-inclusive Gurbani's teachings are wonderful, so Divine and so pure that if the follower meditates on the meaning of the pure Shabad, it takes one to a higher spiritual plane.
 
* Too sarabatar teraa sabh koee: You are everywhere; all are Yours (sggs 998).
* Ekaa surati jete hai jeea: There is One Awareness among all Jeeva or beings (sggs 24).
* Saahib maeraa eaeko hai: My Lord is One (sggs 350).
* Jo deesai so taeraa roop: Whatever is seen, O God, is Your form (sggs724).
* Brahm deesai Brahm suneeyai ek ek vakhaaneeyai. Aatam pasaaraa karan haaraa parabh binaa nahee jaaneeyai
* The One Unique Reality is seen everywhere, the Unstruck Celestial Music is heard everywhere, the One Creator is present in all creation; there is none else than He Himself everywhere (sggs 846).
* Ek anek biaapak poorak jatt dekho tatt soee... Sabh Gobind hai sabh Gobind hai Gobind bin nahee koyee...Ghat ghat antari sarab niranti keval ek muraaree
* In the one and in the many, God is pervading and permeating; wherever I look, there He is....God is everything, God is everything; without God, there is nothing at all...In each and every heart, and deep within the very nucleus of all, is the One God (sggs 485).
* Ek noor te sabhu jagu upjiaa kaun bhale ko mande: From this One Light, the entire universe welled up. So who is good, and who is bad? (sggs 1349).
When one prays for all (Sarbaht), then the entire universe prays for him! Like all beads are strung on one thread, and all waves are formed from the same one water, so are we all strung on the same One Awareness. Therefore, we are inseparable like the whiteness of the snow, fragrance in the flower, heat in the fire, liquidity of the water, light in the bulb, waves in the ocean, gold in the bracelet, clay in the pot, and rays in the sun. This is why our lives are interwoven with the thread of Divine Love. God is Love. It is this Divine Love that brings harmony between souls. As such, the influence of our daily actions and behaviour spreads in ever-widening circles. As our lives are interwoven, we can each draw the needed strength from the all-pervading Divine Presence within to help each other.
* Sooth ek mani sat saha(n)s jaise out poti prabh soee: As one thread holds hundreds and thousands of beads, He is woven into His creation (sggs 425).
* Aanl agam jaise lahar mayi oudadh jal keval jal maa(n)hee: The wind may raise up huge waves in the vast ocean, but they are just water in water (sggs 657).
* Tohee mohee mohee tohee antar kaisaa. Kanak katik jal trang jaisaa: O Lord, You are me, and I am You—what is the difference between us? We are like gold and the bracelet, or water and the waves (sggs 93). 
* Bhagavaan ramanam sarabatar thaanim: God is pervading and permeating all places (1354).
A Mahatama has said that, "The need to feel and express love and compassion for all, with the understanding that we are all part of a greater reality, is the core of the spirituality." How can we experience this underlying Unity or Oneness of the entire creation? "By eradicating egoism", says the Gurbani. Our unripe ego or Haume is that wind which raises up huge waves of different shapes in the vast ocean (worldliness), and makes us look and believe separate or different from everyone else! Therefore, Gurbani tells that this ego (deluded mind) must disappear. The ego is selfishness, the feeling of "I, me, you". Without annihilation of this ego, there cannot well up the true selfless love within. In other words, so long as ego is there, there cannot be the full Awakening within. Therefore, mere mechanical or robotic repeating of " Sarbaht dah Phahla " will not do the trick; one must live by it at each moment or breath. Such lasting inner transformation takes place in the real Holy Company called "Sadh Sangat" in the Gurbani.
* Ek pashaanai haumai maari: Recognize One Truth by erdaicating egoism — the error (sggs 1277). 
* Har jan prabh ral eko hoye har jan prabh ek samaan jeeou: God's servants meet with God and merge into That Oneness. God's servant and God are one and the same (sggs 447).
* Bisar gayee sabh taat paraaee. Jabb te saadhasa(n)gat mohi paaee ||1|| rehaao || Naa ko bairee nahee bigaanaa sagal sa(n)g ham kayu ban aaee
* have totally forgotten my jealousy of others, since I found the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy. ||1||Pause|| No one is my enemy, and no one is a stranger to me. I get along with everyone (sggs 1299).
* Saach kahon sun leho sabhai jin prem keeo tin hee prabh paaio: Listen all, I tell you the Truth: One who practices (selfless) love attains God (Paatshaahee 10).
* Maanas kee jaat sabai ekai pahchaanabo: Recognize the entire mankind as one family (Paatshaahee 10).
If we do not recognize Oneness, it is not the fault of the religions or spirituality. The problem lies within the human mind, which is inflicted with menacing ego — lust, anger, greed, attachment, self-conceit, jealously, stubbornness etc. A Great Soul observes, "Undoubtedly, most of the religions are led by intellectuals" In turn, most of the intellectuals are led by ego or Haume for the intellect is the seat of the ego. The ego-mind is doubting, suspecting, turbulent and unsteady, which craves for money, name, fame, power, attention and status. Due to this ego, we do not properly understand the religious principles which teach selfless love, peace, truthful living, and harmony.
Unfortunately, the ego-mind of the intellectual interpreters of the religions only highlights the external differences, not the underlying principles of Oneness. These so-called torch bearers or custodians of the world religions force their wrong ideas and evil visions on the unsuspecting followers. Thus they misguide them and make them fight for the satisfaction of their own ego. It is like the "blind leading blind". The result is the present day conflicts, chaos, and lack of integrity in the human society everywhere. When we are ruled by ego, we are not concerned about others; we are only concerned about ourselves. Thus ego creates hell within us. That's why Gurbani repeatedly asks us to eliminate this ego and become Gurmukhs (egoless or spiritual beings).
* Aap na boojhai lok bujhaavai. Mann kaa a(n)dhaa a(n)dh kamaavai: One who does not understand his own self, but still tries to instruct others, is mentally blind, and acts in blindness (sggs 832). 
* An ko matee de chalahi maya kaa vaapaar: They give instructions to others, and then walk away, but they deal in Maya-illusion-themselves (sggs 56).
* Kabeer avareh ko oupadhaesathae mukh mai par hai raeth: Says Kabeer, those who only preach to others (i.e.do not pratice themselves) - sand falls into their mouths (sggs1369).
* Tinaa pishhai shhutteeai jin a(n)dar naam nidhhaan: Those who have the Treasure of the Divine Name within emancipate others as well as themselves (sggs 52).
* Gurmukh hovai man khoj sunaaeae: One who becomes Gurmukh (egoless) examines his own mind, and then instructs others (sggs 1059).
Gurbani also teaches us not to have excessive pride and not to consider ourselves above in status compared to others; instead, one should practice humility (Nimrata. Because naturally when one considers oneself "superior" then it implies that there are "others" and that they are "interior" or at "lower status" (duality). This is again raw ego (Haume) and excessive pride. Such negativity, weaknesses, ideas, and preoccupation of the mind must go. Gurbani tells us that each one of us has the capacity within us to realize the Oneness, Peace and harmony internally — the 'Total Identify. Due to lack of selflessness and proper understanding, however, this capacity to realize Oneness with the Totality remains dormant. However, if we have the determination, proper understanding and correct attitude, we will become Gurmukhs — selfless, spontaneous and loving (Sahaj).
* Naa ko maeraa dusaman rehiaa naa ham kis kae bairaaee: No one is my enemy, and I am no one's enemy (sggs 671). 
* Hamm nahee cha(n)ge buraa nehee koi: I am not good; no one is bad (728).
* Naa hamm cha(n)ge aakheeah buraa na disai koi: I am not called good, and I see none who are bad (sggs 1015).
* Kabeer sabh te ham bure ham taj bhalo sabh koi. Jin aisaa kar boojhiaa meeth hamaaraa soi
* Says Kabeer, I am the worst of all. Everyone else is good. Whoever understands this is a friend of mine (sggs 1364).
* Nanak Gurmukh gian praapat hovai timar agian andher chukaayaa
* O Nanak, by becoming spirirtual being (Gurmukh), attain the spiritual wisdom, and the pitch-black darkness of ignorance will be dispelled (sggs 512).
* Gurmukh hovai s eaeko jaanai eaeko saev sukh paavaniaa: One who becomes Gurmukh knows only the One. Serving the One, peace is obtained (sggs 113).
The above has been adapted from the original article written by Sardar T. Singh
Category:Sikh practice
Category:Sikh belief
Category:Glossary of Sikh Terms
Category: Sikh Philosophy