ਧ੍ਹਾਨੰ (dhyaananǧ)
Meaning: noun: Meditation, contemplation; attention, focus.
Quote:
ਮੰਤ੍ਰੰ ਰਾਮ ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮੰ ਧ੍ਹਾਨੰ ਸਰਬਤ੍ਰ ਪੂਰਨਹ॥
maňtranǧ raam raam naamanǧ dhyaananǧ sarbatra poornah
(First trait of saintly persons): Reciting the mantra of the Name of the Divine and contemplating on the all-pervading One. – Guru Arjan Sahib, Guru Granth Sahib, 1357
Message: Mantra for change in our lives?
The verse above tells us of the mantra – the daily motivation and the focus (dhyan) of saintly and devout persons. What is their formula of life and what do they focus upon?
For spiritually oriented persons, the mantra of life is the loving remembrance of the Divine, i.e., living in the awareness of the Divine by emulating virtues like compassion, kindness, love for the whole humanity, contentment, and truthfulness, etc.
The first and foremost quality of such people is to know and remember, at all times, that: there is one all-pervading Divine who is our creator and giver. This is the fulcrum or base of their thought or meditation.
In Sikh tradition, mantra refers to the hymns in Guru Granth Sahib which have divine knowledge. Mere repetition of a word, phrase, or even a verse, over and over again is not the mantra prescribed by Sikhism. There is a necessity to contemplate upon and consider what that word or phrase actually means.
This is done by singing or listening to Gurbani hymns (kirtan) and reflecting on them (vichar) or through a spiritual discourse (katha). Mere repeated recitation like a magic formula is not what Sikhism means by mantra.
In short, acknowledging and being grateful for the blessings and gifts we enjoy in our life, and emulating the qualities of the Divine in daily activities, while we interact and deal with people around us, is true meditation.
The important element here is the realisation of the presence of a single and universal Spirit within us and within everyone around us. The spiritually-oriented persons are conscious of this in their words, speech and actions.
Why should we emulate them? If we choose to do so, anxiety will take flight and inner peace and stability will ensue.
ਬਾਣੀ ਮੰਤ੍ਰੁ ਮਹਾ ਪੁਰਖਨ ਕੀ ਮਨਹਿ ਉਤਾਰਨ ਮਾਂਨ ਕਉ॥
Bani, the teaching, of the greatest people is the mantra to eradicate pride from the mind. – Guru Arjan Sahib, Guru Granth Sahib, 1208
