Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, while spreading the…

Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, while spreading the message of devotion to the formless divine light in various places of Tibet, proceeded towards Shanghai, the major port of China.

There, Guru Ji observed that the general public was deeply addicted to opium, leading them astray. Their lives had lost meaning, and they had fallen into a deep slumber of ignorance, living like animals rather than conscious human beings. Guru Ji, therefore, launched a campaign against intoxicants, which began awakening society. His efforts bore fruit as wise individuals supported him, turning it into a mass movement. This initiative was particularly successful, and women, in particular, felt deeply grateful to Guru Ji, as they found immense relief from the suffering caused by addiction.

To establish a lasting change, Guru Ji arranged for a dharamshala to be built for the worship of the formless divine. Daily satsangs (spiritual gatherings) were held there. Guru Ji set a clear goal for society: every individual must be self-reliant, meaning that no one should be dependent on or enslaved by another. He explained that if a person remains dependent—whether politically, religiously, socially, economically, or even through self-inflicted enslavement to addictions—they cannot develop an independent thought process. Until a person attains self-sufficiency in every aspect, they cannot hold a meaningful place in society.

Thus, Guru Ji emphasized that only an aware and awakened individual constantly strives for self-reliance. For building such a conscious society, satsang is essential, as it is the space where people learn to live in mutual love and inspire others to do the same. The unity of such ideal individuals forms the greatest strength of society, which has always played a crucial role in eradicating suffering.