How do we give thanks in celebration for His gifts? For gifts that are merited and unmerited? Or for gifts we asked for or that He simply granted to us without waiting to be asked, granted in His own special way? The words "thanks" and "thanksgiving' occur rarely in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Maharaj. This may be one more example of how rare and unusual is the Sikh faith. We have a vision of a God who does not expect tribute, sacrifice, and perhaps not even thanksgiving.
I found this one shabad, and in this shabad by Sri Guru Ram Das Dev ji, thanks is given that " evil-mindedness, love of duality, and sense of alienation are totally gone." These are not words of thanksgiving for wealth, power, status, health, food, children, or even for wishes that were granted. Guruji gives thanks for the most perfect gift.
ਮੇਰੈ ਮਨਿ ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮੁ ਜਪਿਓ ਗੁਰ ਵਾਕ ॥
maerai man raam naam japiou gur vaak ||
O my mind,chant the Name of the Lord,through the Guru's Word.
ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਕ੍ਰਿਪਾ ਕਰੀ ਜਗਦੀਸਰਿ ਦੁਰਮਤਿ ਦੂਜਾ ਭਾਉ ਗਇਓ ਸਭ ਝਾਕ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
har har kirapaa karee jagadheesar dhuramath dhoojaa bhaao gaeiou sabh jhaak ||1|| rehaao ||
The Lord, Har, Har, has shown me His Mercy, and my evil-mindedness, love of duality and sense of alienation are totally gone, thanks to the Lord of the Universe. ||1||Pause||
ਨਾਨਾ ਰੂਪ ਰੰਗ ਹਰਿ ਕੇਰੇ ਘਟਿ ਘਟਿ ਰਾਮੁ ਰਵਿਓ ਗੁਪਲਾਕ ॥
naanaa roop rang har kaerae ghatt ghatt raam raviou gupalaak ||
There are so many forms and colors of the Lord. The Lord is pervading each and every heart, and yet He is hidden from view.
ਹਰਿ ਕੇ ਸੰਤ ਮਿਲੇ ਹਰਿ ਪ੍ਰਗਟੇ ਉਘਰਿ ਗਏ ਬਿਖਿਆ ਕੇ ਤਾਕ ॥੧॥
har kae santh milae har pragattae oughar geae bikhiaa kae thaak ||1||
Meeting with the Lord's Saints, the Lord is revealed, and the doors of corruption are shattered. ||1||
ਸੰਤ ਜਨਾ ਕੀ ਬਹੁਤੁ ਬਹੁ ਸੋਭਾ ਜਿਨ ਉਰਿ ਧਾਰਿਓ ਹਰਿ ਰਸਿਕ ਰਸਾਕ ॥
santh janaa kee bahuth bahu sobhaa jin our dhhaariou har rasik rasaak ||
The glory of the Saintly beings is absolutely great; they lovingly enshrine the Lord of Bliss and Delight within their hearts.
ਹਰਿ ਕੇ ਸੰਤ ਮਿਲੇ ਹਰਿ ਮਿਲਿਆ ਜੈਸੇ ਗਊ ਦੇਖਿ ਬਛਰਾਕ ॥੨॥
har kae santh milae har miliaa jaisae goo dhaekh bashharaak ||2||
Meeting with the Lord's Saints, I meet with the Lord, just as when the calf is seen - the cow is there as well. ||2||
ਹਰਿ ਕੇ ਸੰਤ ਜਨਾ ਮਹਿ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਤੇ ਜਨ ਊਤਮ ਜਨਕ ਜਨਾਕ ॥
har kae santh janaa mehi har har thae jan ootham janak janaak ||
The Lord, Har, Har, is within the humble Saints of the Lord; they are exalted - they know, and they inspire others to know as well.
ਤਿਨ ਹਰਿ ਹਿਰਦੈ ਬਾਸੁ ਬਸਾਨੀ ਛੂਟਿ ਗਈ ਮੁਸਕੀ ਮੁਸਕਾਕ ॥੩॥
thin har hiradhai baas basaanee shhoott gee musakee musakaak ||3||
The fragrance of the Lord permeates their hearts; they have abandoned the foul stench. ||3||
ਤੁਮਰੇ ਜਨ ਤੁਮ੍ਹ੍ਹ ਹੀ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕੀਏ ਹਰਿ ਰਾਖਿ ਲੇਹੁ ਆਪਨ ਅਪਨਾਕ ॥
thumarae jan thumh hee prabh keeeae har raakh laehu aapan apanaak ||
You make those humble beings Your Own, God; You protect Your Own, O Lord.
ਜਨ ਨਾਨਕ ਕੇ ਸਖਾ ਹਰਿ ਭਾਈ ਮਾਤ ਪਿਤਾ ਬੰਧਪ ਹਰਿ ਸਾਕ ॥੪॥੪॥
jan naanak kae sakhaa har bhaaee maath pithaa bandhhap har saak ||4||4||
The Lord is servant Nanak's companion; the Lord is his sibling, mother, father, relative and relation. ||4||4||
In this thread, let's discuss how to thank Him and how our Gurus expressed thanksgiving.
More...
I found this one shabad, and in this shabad by Sri Guru Ram Das Dev ji, thanks is given that " evil-mindedness, love of duality, and sense of alienation are totally gone." These are not words of thanksgiving for wealth, power, status, health, food, children, or even for wishes that were granted. Guruji gives thanks for the most perfect gift.
ਮੇਰੈ ਮਨਿ ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮੁ ਜਪਿਓ ਗੁਰ ਵਾਕ ॥
maerai man raam naam japiou gur vaak ||
O my mind,chant the Name of the Lord,through the Guru's Word.
ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਕ੍ਰਿਪਾ ਕਰੀ ਜਗਦੀਸਰਿ ਦੁਰਮਤਿ ਦੂਜਾ ਭਾਉ ਗਇਓ ਸਭ ਝਾਕ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
har har kirapaa karee jagadheesar dhuramath dhoojaa bhaao gaeiou sabh jhaak ||1|| rehaao ||
The Lord, Har, Har, has shown me His Mercy, and my evil-mindedness, love of duality and sense of alienation are totally gone, thanks to the Lord of the Universe. ||1||Pause||
ਨਾਨਾ ਰੂਪ ਰੰਗ ਹਰਿ ਕੇਰੇ ਘਟਿ ਘਟਿ ਰਾਮੁ ਰਵਿਓ ਗੁਪਲਾਕ ॥
naanaa roop rang har kaerae ghatt ghatt raam raviou gupalaak ||
There are so many forms and colors of the Lord. The Lord is pervading each and every heart, and yet He is hidden from view.
ਹਰਿ ਕੇ ਸੰਤ ਮਿਲੇ ਹਰਿ ਪ੍ਰਗਟੇ ਉਘਰਿ ਗਏ ਬਿਖਿਆ ਕੇ ਤਾਕ ॥੧॥
har kae santh milae har pragattae oughar geae bikhiaa kae thaak ||1||
Meeting with the Lord's Saints, the Lord is revealed, and the doors of corruption are shattered. ||1||
ਸੰਤ ਜਨਾ ਕੀ ਬਹੁਤੁ ਬਹੁ ਸੋਭਾ ਜਿਨ ਉਰਿ ਧਾਰਿਓ ਹਰਿ ਰਸਿਕ ਰਸਾਕ ॥
santh janaa kee bahuth bahu sobhaa jin our dhhaariou har rasik rasaak ||
The glory of the Saintly beings is absolutely great; they lovingly enshrine the Lord of Bliss and Delight within their hearts.
ਹਰਿ ਕੇ ਸੰਤ ਮਿਲੇ ਹਰਿ ਮਿਲਿਆ ਜੈਸੇ ਗਊ ਦੇਖਿ ਬਛਰਾਕ ॥੨॥
har kae santh milae har miliaa jaisae goo dhaekh bashharaak ||2||
Meeting with the Lord's Saints, I meet with the Lord, just as when the calf is seen - the cow is there as well. ||2||
ਹਰਿ ਕੇ ਸੰਤ ਜਨਾ ਮਹਿ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਤੇ ਜਨ ਊਤਮ ਜਨਕ ਜਨਾਕ ॥
har kae santh janaa mehi har har thae jan ootham janak janaak ||
The Lord, Har, Har, is within the humble Saints of the Lord; they are exalted - they know, and they inspire others to know as well.
ਤਿਨ ਹਰਿ ਹਿਰਦੈ ਬਾਸੁ ਬਸਾਨੀ ਛੂਟਿ ਗਈ ਮੁਸਕੀ ਮੁਸਕਾਕ ॥੩॥
thin har hiradhai baas basaanee shhoott gee musakee musakaak ||3||
The fragrance of the Lord permeates their hearts; they have abandoned the foul stench. ||3||
ਤੁਮਰੇ ਜਨ ਤੁਮ੍ਹ੍ਹ ਹੀ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕੀਏ ਹਰਿ ਰਾਖਿ ਲੇਹੁ ਆਪਨ ਅਪਨਾਕ ॥
thumarae jan thumh hee prabh keeeae har raakh laehu aapan apanaak ||
You make those humble beings Your Own, God; You protect Your Own, O Lord.
ਜਨ ਨਾਨਕ ਕੇ ਸਖਾ ਹਰਿ ਭਾਈ ਮਾਤ ਪਿਤਾ ਬੰਧਪ ਹਰਿ ਸਾਕ ॥੪॥੪॥
jan naanak kae sakhaa har bhaaee maath pithaa bandhhap har saak ||4||4||
The Lord is servant Nanak's companion; the Lord is his sibling, mother, father, relative and relation. ||4||4||
In this thread, let's discuss how to thank Him and how our Gurus expressed thanksgiving.
More...