Voices of Shabad: A Reflection by GAAVANI
In honor of the 350th commemorative year of Guru Tegh Bahadur, GAAVANI continues its special essay series on SikhNet, sharing reflections from Sikh women on their personal journeys with Sikh spirituality and the living presence of the Guru’s Shabad.
In this essay, the author reflects on the experience of the Divine as a constant companion—Hik Sathi—guiding, holding, and responding to even the quietest whispers of the heart. Through moments of awareness, vulnerability, and grace, the essay explores how the Guru’s presence unfolds as a deeply personal and living relationship.
Launched on International Women's Day (March 8), this series continues to share a new reflection every two days, inviting the Sangat to reconnect with the wisdom and presence of the Guru’s Shabad in everyday life.
Hik Sathi Laddham
The Companion
A blank document,
a laptop,
a conscious exhale -‘Waheguru’-
and the fingers are directed to type the title: “Hik Sathi Laddham”. In that quiet moment, The Guru announces the Divine’s presence. I smile at the assuring collaboration, this loving grace, and bow in gratitude. This piece - and the very opportunity to write it, are both a paean born from a gentle whisper. Feather light, not even a complete thought, yet dipped in wonder.
Background
My sister shared how her application had been selected for an international art project. I was awestruck both by both the sensitivity and the scale of the concept, carrying such gentleness, yet the fierce energy to forge through time and space, touching countless lives. It drew a deep Waaaheguru from me - an aha moment!
Now
I didn't have a fully formed thought - “What if I .....?” It was just an incomplete furrna, a fleeting spark. Yet it was heard, completed, aligned, and answered as this very opportunity.
The Gift
Sadd Sunnda Sadd Vekhda - these words of Guru Amardas Patshah ji arise within my consciousness. My heart slows; immense spaciousness blooms within my body.
A serene pause - Rahao - unfolds inside.
A peaceful smile spreads.
My vision sharpens, brightens, clears.
I savour these subtle shifts, this vitalised awareness, full yet empty at once. Words begin to pour.
Air feels like amniotic fluid - my being floating, held, sustained. The world becomes the womb. And then it strikes me: how selectively the mind remembers. Every time a prayer is answered - even a whisper - the Shabad Wisdom rises effortlessly. Yet in moments of anger, sadness, brooding or irritation - I ignore it.
Today, I witnessed this clearly.
Wah Patshah ji, Kotan Kotan Shukar.
The Companion, Hik Sathi
The Shabad Guru always holds me - holds all of us.
Today, I experience this presence as Hik Sathi - the One Companion. As I rest in this tenderness, a doubt flickered:
“Will I feel this again? Will I remember?”
Before the spiral deepens - I am held once more.
Ardas gleams on my racing thoughts’ highway, pausing me in Rahao, anchoring my now in benti, ardas, jodary.
As a little girl, Waheguru was simply a Name - repeated sincerely.
It became a dialogue mostly of small desires -
“Please wake me up at 5am Babaji.”
“Help me find my jewelry Babaji.”
“Help me crack this exam Babaji.”
“Make my daal turn out well.” and so on…
Earnest. Ordinary. Human.
And now in this moment - my awareness shifts - to the power button on my laptop, to the wifi that invisibly connects all. A click and everything awakens. The screen lights up. Applications open. Connection is established,
And I wonder -
A single utterance - “Waheguru” and the inner world awakens.
Beauty,
Divinity,
Kirtan,
Sangat,
Sewa - all systems come alive.
I’d like to believe this is how it works.
One word - and the Guru moves kot paenda (a million steps) to ensure we feel this companionship. Slowly, through Kirtan, Sangat, Gurbani Vichar, Sakhis, synchronicities, this bond deepens.
And one becomes gently mesmerised by the Divinity reflected in Nature.
A Moment
I am about to undergo a serious surgery. A nurse explains the risks of anesthesia. My mind filters the discomfort. Within, one longing arises - Will they allow me to listen to “Samrath Guru Sir Hath Dhareyo ?”
Just then, a senior nurse walks in. She places her hand gently on my forehead and says, “You can play music of your choice.”
I request the shabad be played during surgery. They agree.
My companion never fails me. Such is the Guru’s birad.
The Realisation
My head bows to this nectar sweet presence -
this Hik Sathi - loving, protecting, guiding, holding.
Within this space,
I am many and one,
one and nothing,
nothing and all - at once.
This Companion enables me to seek, love, learn, grow and long - to be reminded, rewired, rekindled - as The One Force wills. No matter how small or incomplete our step towards The Divine -
The Guru plants the seed,
nurtures the fragrance of consciousness
and makes us aware of the Divine presence -
again and again.
Where is this Companion?
Everywhere.
In the Shabad,
In the moon, the stars, the skies.
In the rain, the trees, the morning dew.
In colors and their hues.
In pain, sufferings and in the cries
And within
And then it settles...
Not as something to chase - but as a quiet knowing and a gentle prayer:
Thank You for being with me, always.
Please allow me to love You more. Please bless me to rely only on You. Fortify my trust, deepen my surrender, anchor my faith in You.
Grant me the divine wisdom
to see, hear, speak, touch, feel, - and breathe You.
To recognise You in action
in every person, place, thing, situation.
And when I forget -
hold me again. Remind me again. Return me to You.
Hik Sathi - Laddham.
By Taranpreet Kaur Mehndi