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Summary of Question:	Sukhmani Sahib
Category:	General Sikhism
Date Posted:	Monday, 7/08/2002 7:22 PM MDT

Sat Sri Akal ji

I have a question on reciting Sukhmani Sahib.

I do five banis daily in the morning. Due to lack of time in the mornings, I have also being reciting Sukhmani Sahib partially (e.g. 4 astpadis per day - today first four, the next day, 4th to 8th, the following day 8th to 12th and so on until I complete it on the 6th day and then restart)

I have recently been told that it is wrong to break up the reciting of Sukhmani Sahib into parts and reciting the whole Sukhmani over six days. I was told that if you wish to break it up, it can only be done within a day i.e. you break it up say, 1st to 8th in the morning, 9th to 16th at noon and 17th to 24th in the evening but that you must complete the whole Sukhmani within the day. Otherwise, it is not fruitful. Is this correct - that you should not break up the reciting of Sukhmani Sahib over a day?

Also, I have been told that it is not necessary to recite all the five banis in the morning, that you do so to feel at peace with yourself, that you have performed your duties according to the sikh maryada. To achieve oneness's with Waheguru, it is important to meditate - hence, it is sufficient only to recite the Japji Sahib followed by meditation. The meditation can be on Gurmantar (waheguru) or Mool Mantar etc. Is this true? Is it according to our Guru's teachings? Can we just do meditation and achieve Naam without reciting all the five banis?

I am very confused. Please shed some light.
(REPLY) I can't claim this is "official" but to the best of my understanding, Japji Sahib is, of course to be recited first thing in the morning. But Rehiras, for instance is definitely a prayer to be recited in the evening, preferably at sundown, and Kirtan Sohila is for bedtime. Reciting all the banis at once does not give you the blessing of the Guru's words at the various times during the day. You could also include Jaap Sahib and full Anand Sahib in your early morning routine before meditation. Or, when you do Rehiras in the evening, then do the full Anand Sahib, not just the brief version, if you haven't done it in the morning. Guru Gobind Singh did instruct the Panj Piare to recite all the Banis, not just Japji Sahib! It's up to you if you want to take advantage of the blessing of these powerful divine prayers. AS for your dividing up Sukhmani Sahib, obviously it's ideal to read it all at once, but it seems to me something is better than nothing. So, if you can only read a few portions each day, and that's all you can do, then do it. Again, I don't have an "official" response to this, and I believe that each person must follow his/her own conscience and inner guidance in all worship. The Guru has given us guidelines, and we do our best to follow them. Perhaps someone else can give you a more specific answer. May God bless you and Guru guide you always, SP