ibnu sMgiq swD n DRwpIAw ibnu nwvY dUK sMqwpu ]
“Bin sangat_ sa-d_h_ na d_h_ara-pi-a- bin na-vai d_u-kh_ sant_a-p.”–
Without the Saadh Sangat, the company of the holy, he will not be satisfied.
Without the name, all suffer in sorrow
(page 20: line 15 of Sri Guru Granth Sahib).
The Gurus always emphasized that true satisfaction and the absence of sorrow would be the result of one’s presence in Saadh Sangat, or a holy congregation. Guru Arjun said, “O my dear Lord of souls, one who joins the Sat Sangat, the true congregation, is saved” (10:10). He also supports the idea of Sangat by saying, “In the Saadh Sangat, the company of the holy, you shall become absolutely pure, and the noose of death shall be cut away” (44:15).
By the Gurus' stressing on the importance of Sangat, it should be noted that the idea of community is a prevalent one in Sikh ideology. Sangat plays a part in many other pillars of Sikhism such as prayer (Ardas) and service (Seva). The Sangat is made up of Gurmukhs, or righteous men that follow the Guru’s word, and is meant to uplift and purify one’s mind, soul, and body and provide a peaceful experience. “Joining the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, I have found peace and tranquility; I shall not wander away from there again” (818:6).
Guru Nanak said, “The true Guru is found in the Sat Sangat, the true congregation. Day and night, praise the word of his Shabad” (22:15). The true Sangat is always in remembrance and realization of god. You are a direct result of the company you keep and by your association with Gurmukhs, you will become a purer soul, since “the Gurmukhs train their minds to contemplate the lord, the supreme soul” (18:14).
We’ve accepted Shabad as our guru by way of the SGGS, but we fail to see the importance of Sangat, another major pillar of Sikhism. The common argument is that god is everywhere, therefore why does one need to go to the Gurdwara to pray? Of course its possible to pray alone, but the concept of Sangat isn’t restricted to only prayer or only a Gurdwara. As Guru Nanak said, “day and night, praise the word of his Shabad.” This shows that wherever you go, you must be in constant remembrance of god, and the company you keep can make that happen.
Sangat can also provide help or aid when necessary. By way of the Sikh ideals of charity, community, and Sarbat da Bhalla (welfare for all), the Gurmukhs that make up the Sangat display their holiness and will always step up and be there for support. The faith the Sangat has in god is nothing less than elevating. Couple this in with the traditional Sikh mindset of Chardi Kala, or ever-rising and optimistic spirits, and its clear that association with the Saadh Sangat can be wholly enriching experience.
We went through the religious and logical reasoning behind Saadh Sangat. As prescribed by the Gurus themselves, participation in Saadh Sangat will give you salvation, help you become spiritually pure, provide tranquility and peace, and cut the metaphorical noose of death away. But can the Gurus’ teachings about Saadh Sangat stand up to scientific scrutiny?
“Join the Saadh Sangat, the company of the holy; vibrate and meditate on the jewel of the Naam” (12:7). This line shows that the vibration or frequency that one emits during meditation helps one realize god. In scientific terms, electro-magnetic energy represents one mechanism by which prayer can be transformed into legitimate power. Dr. Paul Pearsall (The Heart’s Code, 1998) speculated that through the synchronization of electro-magnetic energy between individuals, group or collective consciousness could be obtained. Dr. Larry Dosser (Laughter is Good Medicine, 1996) recognized the exponential power of prayer and said that it is possible to fuse a congregation’s electro-magnetic energy together and provide more prayer power, much like Pearsall’s speculations.
On a more individual level, a 2006 Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Maryland study found that “attendance at religious services weekly or more than weekly was associated with somewhat lower adjusted hypertension prevalence and blood pressure in a large national survey.” Association with the religious lifestyle and frequent visits to a place of worship with a holy congregation proved to be physically beneficial.
It seems like the Gurus were years ahead of their time. Be it written in the Guru Granth Sahib, or proven by science, the benefits of Saadh Sangat cannot be overlooked, so the case for Sangat is very much alive and its up to the Sangat itself to stay strong.
Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!