His Holiness Sri Satguru Jagjit Singh Ji 

Written by Atma Kaur Narinder

Sarbat Da Bhalla, meaning “the well-being of all,” is a line from the Sikh prayer.

These words carry a simple truth: our compassion is meant for everyone and everything. This teaching was given to us by our first Guru, His Holiness Sri Satguru Nanak Dev Ji, and continues to guide Sikhs in how we live with one another and the world around us.

Over the centuries, each Guru built upon this foundation, showing how compassion should be lived in action and applied to the challenges of a changing society.

In the 19th century, this guiding principle led His Holiness Sri Satguru Ram Singh Ji to respond to the suffering He witnessed. He stood firmly for the equality of women, speaking out against harmful practices such as female infanticide, dowry, and widow immolation, helping to bring an end to these cruel practices.

He taught that every life is precious and that compassion must extend to every living being. Under His guidance, the cow protection movement began, a cause so deeply valued by Namdhari Sikhs that many even gave their lives to protect these innocent creatures.

Later, His Holiness Sri Satguru Jagjit Singh Ji deepened these values for the modern age, demonstrating compassion in the simplest yet most profound ways.

If an insect found its way indoors, He would gently lift it with a napkin and release it into the wild, ensuring it remained unharmed, a reminder that every life, no matter how small, deserves compassion.

Today, under the care of our current Guru Ji, His Holiness Sri Satguru Uday Singh Ji, compassion has taken on a new dimension. We are reminded that it is for each other, for animals, for our earth, but also for ourselves. By being gentle and kind to ourselves, we nurture the strength to extend that same love outward, creating a cycle of healing and compassion that reaches all.

By living with compassion in thought, word, and action, we honour a legacy that has guided generations of Sikhs, helping to create a gentler, kinder, and more peaceful and just world for all.