After recommencing the Sikhi Book Club discussions in January 2021, this month’s book was entitled ‘Gurbani Healing Guide – Sarab Rog Ka Aukhad Naam.’ This book is available to read here: http://www.gurmatveechar.com/books/English_Books/Gurbani.Healing.Guide.(GurmatVeechar.com).pdf.
This book describes the power of Naam and gives us advice on how to harness this power in order to maintain health and prevent/treat illness. Whilst the book club members felt that the book focused rather a lot on physical illness, the authors did make clear that mental illness and mind-related problems such as anger (which affect us all) can also be helped through Naam. The authors were prescriptive in their approach, recommending the recitation of Naam for four to six hours a day as a minimum especially in times of ill health. There was practical advice given as to how to start meditation and how to ensure one isn’t distracted by sleep and other material pleasures of life when going on this journey.
The members of the Sikhi Book Club had a lively discussion on the merits of this approach. We discussed the dichotomy between accepting God’s will and asking for healing. Some felt that it was unrealistic to be sitting down and reciting Gurmantar for several hours a day and felt that the book was referring to a level of constant awareness of God. Others felt that the book was quite ‘firm’ in its advice and came across as intense for some. However everyone was in agreement that we spend many hours a week thesedays on other pursuits (as our mobile phone apps will confirm) and actually we could all potentially utilise this time in a more effective manner by connecting with Guru Ji.
There is no doubt that this book provides a refreshingly holistic approach to health and illness, which is missing from many aspects of mainstream medicine today. Whilst some members felt some of the claims in the book were far-fetched, we discussed the fact that history teaches us that the power of Naam is beyond measure. The authors clearly stated that absolute faith is required for this approach to work, and all doubts needed to be left behind. One feels that you can only bow your head to the words of those who are actually putting this in practice!
Sikhi Book Club 