The Sikh View on Happiness - by Kamala Elizabeth Nayar & Jaswinder Singh Sandhu

Book Synopsis

Sukhmani (The Pearl of Happiness) is a popular Sikh text by Guru Arjan, which inculcates the Sikh religious ethos and philosophical perspective on wellbeing and happiness. The book features a new translation of this celebrated Sikh text and provides the first in-depth analysis of it. The Sikh View on Happiness begins with an overview of the nature of suffering and the attainment of happiness in Indian religions. This provides the foundation for the examination of the historical, social, and religious context of the Sukhmani and its contribution to the development of the Sikh tradition. In addition to exploring the spiritual teachings of the Sukhmani, Nayar and Sandhu draw upon the Sikh understanding of the mind, illness, and wellbeing to both introduce key Sikh psychological concepts and illustrate the practical application of traditional healing practices in the contemporary context. In doing so, they highlight the overlap of the teachings in the Sukhmani with concepts and themes found in Western psychotherapy, such as mindfulness, meaningful living, and resilience.

Review Quotes

"An interesting text that situates the Sukhmani prayer in a historical, social and religious context and demonstrates its applicability to psychotherapy." --Dr Jagbir Jhutti-Johal, Senior Lecturer in Sikh Studies, Department of Theology and Religious Studies, University of Birmingham, UK

About the Author

Kamala Elizabeth Nayar is Lecturer of Asian Studies at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Canada. She is the author of The Punjabis in British Columbia (2012), and The Socially Involved Renunciate (2008).

Jaswinder Singh Sandhu is an independent scholar and clinical counsellor specializing in mental health and addiction, Canada.