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.
The first systematic analysis of the Sukhmani, including its historical and religious context, and featuring a new translation of this important Sikh text.About the AuthorKamala 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.
ReviewsAn 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 *
Book InformationISBN 9781350139879
Author Professor Kamala Elizabeth NayarFormat Hardback
Page Count 272
Imprint Bloomsbury AcademicPublisher Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Weight(grams) 556g