Wahiguru Akal Purukh, Nam or Shabad & Sadh Kee Sangat...

[carlos]

We must all agree that the objective of any real dharma or religion is the liberation of the soul.

Otherwise, it is just a fair of ignorants, moorakhs.

Sachay Badshah Sree Guru Amar Das, through His sweet ambrosial Bani in Raag Ramkali, removes the coverings of veil from our mental eyes, in the form of slogans, symbolisms, rituals, rules, pilgrimages...etc.

If we think, that Gurmat started with Baba Nanak and ended with Sree Guru Gobind Singh Maharaj, then according to the pure paviter Bani of Dhan Guru Amar Das Jee, we are totally wrong.

Sant Janas, Gurmukhs, Satgurus, Braham Gyanis, may appear at any time on the earth...time is no boundary for them.
As they come from the same place, they can never ever come with different truths to share with us humans, because the Truth is only One, and there is no other truth than Satnam.

They tell us, that all our miseries are due to our separation from this Truth. And all the same, they shall end by uniting ourselves to it, and thus merging in it only, there is no other way. Because if that Primal truth is one, the path leading to it has to be one. It just can not be different for different beings. Neither it can change with time, come whosoever it may.

No Gurmukh comes to change it neither, it is all our wrong misconception, and manipulations about their Bani.

Because, whether there are Gurmukhs or not, or better said, whether we are conscious about their presence or not ... outer conditions may have changed, but the One unchangeable Lord Wahiguru and the path leading to Him, is always one.

That does not change, because it is not a physical one... like for an example, a building has stairs to go up or down, but the people living there decide to break them and put an escalator or a lift, as it would be more esay to go up or come down... or even, it would facilitate the transport of goods in shiftings, or also be a help in carrying the food purchased in the supermarkets.

In the above example, we can observe that we can make physical changes, in our surroundings.

But the owner of Sach Khand, Wahiguru Akal Purukh, does no such changes.

Whether it was Sat yuga, Treta yuga, Dwapur yuga or the present Kal yuga, Akal Puruh is the same, and so is the method established by Him, to go back to Him.

So Guru Amar Das tells us:
ਜੁਗ ਚਾਰੇ ਨਾਮਿ ਵਡਿਆਈ ਹੋਈ
Jug Chaarae Naam Vaddiaaee Hoee
जुग चारे नामि वडिआई होई
In all four ages, the Naam, the Name of the Lord, is glory and greatness.

He says, in all the four ages, Nam mat is Gurmat, because Nam, is the only eternal and infinite Truth.

So from this we can see and understand, that this Nam Mat or Gurmat, started and existed long before Guru Nanak appeared on the earth, right from the begining of the eras... and thus it can not be detained, even if we want it so, or think it to be so...this is all moorakhta or agyanta, utter ignorance.

Then He says:
ਜਿ ਨਾਮਿ ਲਾਗੈ ਸੋ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਹੋਵੈ ਗੁਰ ਬਿਨੁ ਨਾਮੁ ਨ ਪਾਵੈ ਕੋਈ
J Naam Laagai,
So Mukath Hovai,
Gur Bin, Naam N Paavai Koee
जि नामि लागै सो मुकति होवै गुर बिनु नामु न पावै कोई
One who holds tight to the Naam is liberated;
without the Guru, no one obtains the Naam.

Here He clearly says, without Nam, nobody can be liberated. And if this is so, what are we then doing, by putting heavy chains upon us, of race, land, dharam, politics, symbolisms, rules, regulations, comittees... are we really not manmukhs?

Then He says, without a Guru, a Gurmukh, nobody obtains that Nam, or Shabad, or the Word mentioned in the Bible, the Logos mentioned in the greek civilization, or Tao in the chinese, or Kun in the islam...

In the very begining of the Guru Granth Sahib, and then, it is repeated in each ang of it:
Ik Onkar,
Satgur Parsad

This means, there is only one God,
who is realized, by the Gurparsad, the Updesh, the bakshish, given by a Gurmukh only. Wahiguru is a conscious energy of the highest level . And as such, He can not confide Himself in lifless objects made of paper, stone, wood or metal...etc

But as the bani says, He reveals Himself in the Gurmukhs, that is why the Bani says: Parbh jee baseh, Sadh ke hirday
The Lord, resides in the hearts of His beloved Gurmukhs, Sant Janas...

Just as water blends in water, only drops of consciouness (souls), can be recipients of that superconsciousness sea(Akal Purukh), in which they can merge, but never in lifless objects or things.

So if these are laws made by Nature, how can we think otherwise?

Let us always keep a check on ourselves, by always referring to the Bani. Trying to see it´s logical and clear meaning, not what the vast majority sees, thinks and moves about, among the four walls of ignorance created by them and their rulers, though they may think, they are real worshippers of Wahiguru.

Again Sree Guru Amar Das stresses on the vital importance of a Gurmukh, in order to get the Gurparasd of Nam:

ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਹੋਵੈ ਤ ਨਾਮੁ ਦ੍ਰਿੜਾਏ
Guramukh Hovai,
Ta Naam Dhrirraaeae
गुरमुखि होवै त नामु द्रिड़ाए
If only there was a Gurmukh,
Nam could then be implanted.

Now just let us think, if the existence of a Gurmukh or Satguru is vital for our liberation, by the blessing of Gurparsad from Him; Wahiguru can never be cruel and unjust to the rest of us, by stopping sending Gurmukhs to our human level. we may believe whatever we want, but the truths in the Bani, can never be manipulated. Wahiguru can never go against the laws made by Him, because He is not imperfect like us. Today we say something, and then after some few hundred years, we say something different, by misinterpreting His words, due to our narrow mindness, but the fact is, Gurmukhs never change the truths, whether He is the first or the last, times change, people change, but Satpurkh, Shabad and Gurmukhs never change, as it is a one universal and eternal Truth.

Wah wah Sachay Badshah.

[carlos]

?


Nam, as per the Bani, is a Conciouss creative power or energy.



Nam, is not any word or couplet of words in any language, neither spoken nor written.



For example, we say water, so the word water written or spoken, does not bring water there, in that book or in one´s mouth, but it conveys some idea or information about that particular thing.



Our Gurus, tell us that, through this power, all creation came into existence, and it is also our origin. It pervades everything and everywhere.



All that we see or do not see, whether physical, astral, causal or even spiritual, is all created by this Nam or Shabad.



The Bani says:

Shabde dhartee, Shabde akash, Shabde Shabad bhaaya parkash. The earth, the skies...were created by the Shabad; and from that Shabad, the Light came forth.

Saglee shrishtee Shabad ke paachay. The whole creation is a reflection of that Shabad

Nanak, Shabade ghatay ghat aachaay. Nanak, and that Shabad pervades in each and every heart.



So we can see, that Shabad, if it were some words, in which language were those words, when Wahiguru created the creation?

And if He created it, did He at all need to talk with someone to create that creation?



And if Wahiguru alone existed, previous to any creation, in what language did He need to think, to do anything?



Languages, speech, writing .... are all limited worldly affairs, which involves interaction of the mind...and as we all know, Wahiguru has no mind like us...He is beyond the spheres of the reach of mind.



Akal Purukh is Nirankar, means formless. But according to the teachings of our Guru Sahibans, inspite of being formless, He can still be seen and heard by our souls, but of course not with these our physical sense organs.



That is why Guru Angad Dev Maharaj says : Akhee bajoh vekhna, bin kanna sun/nah...pherah bajoh chalnaa, bin hatha karnaa ...



Means, He can be seen, but not with these eyes. He can be heard, by not with these ears. There we need not feet to walk, nor do we need hands to do any devotion. This Shabad has sound and light, which as said before is within each one of us, irrespective of, who we are, or where we are from.



Any wabhagee jeev, who follows the instructions as per the Bani, can hear this Shabad and see its Jot.



Guru Amar Das refering in this sense says: Nam jinke man vaseeya, vajeh Shabad ganere. Means, establish firmly this Nam by its simran, and you will feel its spiritual vibrations, in the form of Holy Sound and Divine Light.



Guru Sahiban is clearly clearing our agyanta, as many of us believe that when we go there in the spiritual realms, we shall see many people like us, of the race, mazab, dharam or community we may belong...



This is totally wrong, as long as we think in that way, it shows only that we have not understood guramt at all, we are wandering in superstitions and ignorance, we are confused and misinformed...



Because the Bani clearly says: Jin Har japiyaa, se har hoeeyaa. This means, whoever meditated on Him, without any distiction became one with Him.



Just as if the drops merge and become one with the Ocean, who can trace them...moreover, who wants to remain as a drop?



If not so, then it means, we have not understood the Bani at all, because we have limited it between the four walls of our poor and polluted minds. Thus we have done a great unjustice to our Guru Sahibans, in a way, it is disrespect to them, by twisting the meaning of their Bani.



Because with our behaviour, we are unconscioussly saying, what is written in the Bani and it really means, that I do not care, but I will do as it is interpreted by our leaders, and is follwed so since quite a reasonably long time... so there is no question to think otherwise.



This can be proved, if we take any slok or pauree, or any Shabad from the Bani, and read it carefully with attention, each and every single word, and then ask ourselves, does my thinking and understanding fully match with Gurmat ?



Though it may seem a difficult task, but it needs a lot of sincerity and courage from our side, to face ourselves. Because if we are sincere, we shall get the answers from our vey hearts.



Gurbani is perfect from any angle and point of view, it is only that we are weak. But we have to be brave, we have to overcome our weakness, that also, with the guidance of the Bani. Not to listen or read the Bani like parrots, nor as theories, but as something practical, to fulfill our only purpose of becoming one with Wahiguru Akal Purukh.



As the Bani says: Saas saas simroh Gobind(Wahiguru ka simran), meditate constantly on Him, the Creator.



We may ask, only that, but what for?



Well, the Bani clearly says: Jin Har japiyaa, se Har hoeeya . It is the only way, the only jugtee, to become one with Akal Purukh.

The Bani does not say, that in order to become one with Wahiguru, practice rituals, rules, regulations, pilgrimages, idol worship, poojas, jap, tap, dogmas, fastings, torturing your bodies ..... nothing of that sort.



We only need to oneheartedly love Him, and have to Him only, in our minds as our goal. Otherwise we shall be born in other lower realms of the wheel of eighty four, where we can fulfill our worldly desires of land, mazab, politics, race or community, because then we shall have all that, but not Him.



The thing is, He is a jealous lover. So we have to choose, if we have Him only in our hearts, or we have many other concepts/things also. If we want Him, then only Him we should have in our hearts and minds. From others we can get guidance or even inspiration, but it is from Him only, that we can get Him.



What a pity.



We must bear in mind, Wahiguru has nothing to do with these petty distractions. His concern is only for our soul, His essence.



And the only thing one has to do, to return its true Home Sach Khand, is to love Wahiguru alone, by observing and respecting the laws of Nature, in order not to get more entangled in the mayavee creation.



But then, some may ask, o.k to love Him alone, but how to do that?



The Bani says do only one thing: Awar kaaj, tere kitteh na kaam, mil Sadh Sangat, aur bhaj kewal Nam.



This bhaj kewal Nam, is the key to love Him, and also to realize and merge in Him.



That is why the Bani says: Nanak, Nam jahaaz hae .



Satguru Dev Maharaj is telling us: Nam is the only vehicle, to reach Wahiguru, which is, His Simran



So, by now we see Nam can never be some words... it is a power which created the creation, and it is also the very vehicle, with which we can return back Home, Sach Khand.



The Bani also says: Har Simran meh, Prabh aap Nirankara. Though He is formless, He has kept Himself, in His Nam, which can alone be unfolded, by His grace and the Gurparsad.



Ikonkar, Satgur Parsad.

[carlos]

t is a well known statement to the mankind, the following words: Dust of the Feet of the Saints, this expression is also mentioned in the Bani.

Means, we bow our head to that being, in whose presence we feel and know, that we are nothing....

It shows a great reverence and respect to whom we considere the embodiment of True wisdom.

People bow to others for various reasons, be it be parents, gurus, bosses, etc.

But according to the Bani, the meaning of applying the Dust of the Saints(hum Santan kee raein pyaree, hum Santan kee sarnaa), to one´s forehead, is keeping their teachings in mind at all times.

Because by applying that Dust, their teachings, one´s face becomes radiant. Means, one is filled with the divine light which we all carry within us, but, that Jot, that Prakash, that Divine Light of Akal Purukh, appears in us.

That appearing of Light, does not mean, that Light is not there now because we do not see it yet, but we do not see it, because we are impure with a heavy load of sins upon us, but by applying that Dust on our faces and foreheads, means as said before, is to keep their teachings in mind at all times.

This practice has 2 main advantages for the souls.

First, it stops us from creating sins, and secondly at the same time, it washes our previous sins.

So naturally, as the mirror of our dirty muddy mind gets purified or cleansed, that Divine Light comes forth, by the darkness getting dispelled.

Such is the mahanta of the Gurmukhs.

Now the question is, what is the essence of the teachings of our Guru Sahibans, in simple words?

That is : Saas Saas Simroh Gobind.

By meditating on that Gobind, through the Simran of His Name, He Himself comes to abide Himself in us.

This, Their(Gurmukhs) "charan dhoor"(Gurmat), is thus available to anybody, at any time and any place... we just need to apply this jugtee, free and available to all, without any restriction or discrimination...it is universal for all.

My God, can we ever imagine the real measure of the blessings that we have received from our Gurus, through their Bani?

Its beauty, its sweetness is beyond any description, or even imagination.

We can only say: Wah wah Sachay Patshah

[carlos]

What is Shabad Guru? Part I


Shabad Guru, means the Shabad is the Guru. Now let us see, what does the word Guru mean? The word guru is composed by 2 syllables. The first one gu, means darkness, and the second one ru, means light, so the word by itself means the one who takes us from darkness towards the light.

This guru, usually is meant for teachers, professors, who teach us and prepare us with the knowledge as sciences, arts and sports... In each and every field, we have to learn something from some "master" or "ustaad".

Now what is Shabad? Shabad in true sense, mentioned in the Bani, is as same as Wahiguru Akal Purukh, as Satnam, as Alakh Purukh, as Agam Purukh... as Anamee...different terms, but one supreme reality.

And this Shabad, is Nirankar also, and morover the Bani tells us: Sach Khand vaseh Nirankar. This Shabad is also the Aad Guru by itself, since the very begining without any end, means, He is a perfect Guru by Himself, He did not have to learn anything from anybody, as He is the very first, without any second. The Bani in the mool mantra, very beautifully says:

Ik Onkar : there is only one Creator

Satnam: He is truth, means He exists forever, He is eternal, and His nature is Nam, or call it Shabad. So Satnam means, the Nam which is everlasting, throughout in the eternity. When the Gurmukhs use the term Truth, they refer it to something which is everlasting and is unchangeable. So, in this sense, that Nam, is Sat, means it is everlasting, is eternal.

Karta Purukh: He is the creator of all the creation, all the khands, brahmands, astral, causal and the pure spiritual realms or regions, with its rulers, up to Sach Khand, where He is resides, and that realm is also eternal and changeless like Him, that is why, the term Sach, is put before Khand, which means region.

Nirbhav, Nirvair: He is fearless and without any enemity with anybody, who is He to be afraid of? Who is above Him?

Akal Moorat: He is beyond the parameters of time and space, so He is eternal in terms of time.

Ajoonee: He does not die or is born like us, because He is birthless.

Seibhang: He exists by Himself, He is self sufficient, He depends on nobody, He is all by Himself.

My God, see how beautifully, and in a simplified manner, our Guru Sahibans have described the undescribable.

So that Shabad is an avastha, a highest level of consciousness, which is in simple words, is Sach-Chit-Anand, means everlasting truth, all consciousness, and all bliss. It is a life force existence by itself.

Now when we say, Shabad Guru, it means, that Shabad which is all pervading(sarva vyapak), all powerfull(sarva shakti shalee), all knowing(anteryamee), He irradiates light of wisdom, of kowledge, and love, anybody in the presence of this nam or Shabad, gets showered by its light(gyan, purity), knowledge(chetanta), and love(prem, bakshish).


Now, where, what for and why does He comes to manifest Himself. For these questions the Guru Granth Sahibs tells us:

Har Jee baseh sadh ke hirdey...Harjee baseh Sadh kee rasna... Har ka sevak, so Har jeha, bhed na jaano manush deha ... Nanak, Sadh, Prabh, bhed na bhaee...

In summary, the Bani says, He is to be found in His manifestations as Sadhs, as Gurmukhs. That is why, these Sadhs, these Gurmukhs, will always lay importance on one Wahiguru, and its real nature of Shabad, and the only method of Nam Simran, to realize Him and merge in Him.
These Gurmukhs may come at any time or any place, time and place is no boundary for them, but their main teachings will always be of Nam and Shabad, as it is the only reality.
They will not come to create any new dharma, or confuse and engage us with useless futile outer activities, neither they mix up into politics.... their only concern is Wahiguru and its bhakti through Nam Simran....they do not dress in any particular way, nor do they do anything(perform miracles) to attract masses, they earn their own living bread, and they will always say: you are the living temple, where Wahiguru resides, so worship Him there...the rest of the creation is "fanaah" perishable, is consciousless, or subhuman lower species, just as plants, insects, birds, fishes and animals, in which, He is not to be found. The human form, is the only privileged form, for this blessed realization, this form is also called "Nar Naryanee deh".


Gurmukhs can be at any times or palces, like our Guru Sahibans, or the rest of Gurmukhs, some mentioned in our Bani, like: Kabir Sahib, Guru Ravi Das... and others like Paltu Sahib, Dariya Sahib, Sant Tukaram . If we see the teachings of all these Gurmukhs, Nam or Shabad, is their main objective , through Nam Simran alone... these are the visible signs among them, so to say, to recognize them.

But to recognize them, is not in our hands at all. This type of Gurmukh maybe our very neighbour, oe even born in our house as a family member, but if we are not destined to recognize and accept Him, we shall never be able to do so.

For example, Prithi Chand, had a father, and a brother as Gurmukhs , but inspite of being so near them, and having their darshan so much, he failed to recognize them, what a pity... But the thing is, no one can go against His will. On the other side you may be living seven seas away, but you will autmatically get pulled to a Gurmukh, because Wahiguru has so willed.

Now the following questions, of what for or why does He come? According, to the teachings our Gurus, He comes to awaken us from our deep sleep, for we have forgotten our origin, and have been once again fallen off from the track of real bhakti, and have entangled ourselves in squareminded religions, outer practices, like pilgrimamges, baths at so called holy places...and a large list of these practices.

As Wahiguru is the only reality, and if we have to reach the undescribable One, Nirankar; so naturally, only the resident of that Anamee Region, call it Sach Khand if you want, is the only capable and all powerfull one, to take back with Him, whom He wants so.Otherwise we are all wandering astray in the Chaurasee ka chakar...

So He comes and manifests Himself in the form of a Gurmukh, as seen according to the Guru Granth Sahib. But what for?
For our liberation from maya, and Kal Purukh, who have kept us prisoners here ...up to the region of Braham or Trikuti.

Naturaully only the one beyond from Braham, means Paarbraham Parmeshwar, which is the only power, superior,to defeat, these barriers in the way of the soul towards its destination, Sach Khand.

Now, this Shabad, works as Guru for the soul, towards the Sat, shows and guides him through the path of Nam, with its light and sound of Shabad.

This is when we say Shabad Guru, Dhun Chela...means the real form of the Gurmukh is Shabad, and the real form of a sikh, the disciple is the soul. Neither the Satguru is the body, neither the sikh is the body, beacuse both of them, shall have leave their physicall coverings(bodies) sooner or later, but the evolution and progress continues, through out all astral causal and spiritual stages, with the company of the Shabad Guru, who once got hold of that particular soul on the earth plane, by giving it the Gurparsad, the updesh, the bakshish.

And that is why also, the Bani says: Sant sang, Prabh anter deetha. Means, in the company now of Shabad, who once was a Gurmukh, a Sant , a Sadh while I was on the earth present like Him, and got His Gurparsad. That is why the bani says: Ik Onkar, Satgur parsad, means the only one Wahiguru Akal Purukh, can be realized by the Gurprasad got from a Gurmukh, because if there is no Gumukh, where can Gurparsad be got?

And so He can never be unjust to us His children, He knows, without Gurparsad we naver ever get true freedom...so naturally He has to continue come, time after time as a Sant, a Gurmukh... a Sadh.

The Bani says: Sant parsad, jaapiye Har Nao, means, the gurparsad a Gurmukh gives us as a blessing, through its jaap, its kamaee, its bandagee, is the valid method to reunite us with Akal Purukh.

I know many may object what I say, because we have different backgrounds and envoiremnets, where we have been brought up, but if given a deeper insight to the Bani, we shall see the logic side and its real meaning.

People along the history, have tried to hide the truths of the Bani, and have thus twisted its meaning, because themselves are agyanis, and have have done a big unjustice to the humanity, by hiding and twisting the truths of the Bani, but as long as Gurmukhs go on coming at our human level, the truths of the Bani, shall be presented to us, in a logic and rational manner, only then, can real unwavering faith be planted in us.


Wah wah, Sachay Badshah, Ooch Apaar Beabt Soami, kaun jaane guna Tere.

[carlos]

Different types of Bhakti or Devotion

In Bhakti, the devotee establishes a near and dear relationship with the Lord. He cultivates slowly any one of the six Bhavas according to his temperament, taste and capacity.

Bhava are the six kinds of attributes of devotees or Bhavas towards God. The Bhavas differ in type and intensity of feeling. The different Bhavas are arranged in order of their intensity.

Santa Bhava Dhruva and Prahlada had the feeling of a child to its parents.

Dasya Bhava the devotee behaves like a servant. His Lord is his Master. Hanuman is an ideal servant of God.

Sakhya Bhava, there is a sense of equality. Arjuna and Kuchela had this Bhava.

Vatsalya Bhava, the devotee looks upon the Lord as his own child. Yasoda had this Bhava for Sri Krishna. Kausalya had this Bhava for Sri Rama.

Kanta Bhava is the love of the wife to the husband. Sita and Rukmini had this Bhava.

Madhurya Bhava where culmination is reached. The lover and the Beloved become one through the intensity of love. Radha and Mira had this type of love.

The last Bhava is the highest culmination of Bhakti. It is merging or absorption in the Lord. The devotee adores the Lord. He constantly remembers Him. He sings His Name (Kirtan). He speaks of His glories. He repeats His Name. He chants His Mantra. He prays and prostrates. He hears His Lilas. He does total, ungrudging, unconditional surrender, obtains His grace, holds communion with Him and gets absorbed in Him eventually.

In Madhurya Bhava, there is the closest relationship between the devotee and the Lord. There is no sensuality in Kanta and Madhurya Bhavas. There is no tinge of carnality in them. Passionate people cannot understand these two Bhavas as their minds are saturated with passion and lower sexual appetite. Sufistic saints also have the Bhava of lover and the Beloved, Madhurya Bhava. Gita Govinda written by Jaya Deva is full of Madhurya Rasa. The language of love which the mystic uses cannot be comprehended by worldly persons. Only Gopis, Radha, Mira, Tukaram, Narada, Hafiz, can understand this language.

But even higher than all these types of devotion, is the one between a Guru and chela, a Gurmukh and a sikh.

And the best examples we have in the lives of our Guru Sahibans. Just for example, Sachay Patshah Guru Arjun Dev Maharaj, was the son of Satguru Ram Das Maharaj, but, He did not take Him as a father, but as His Guru.

And so, even being a single moment away from the beloved Satguru, it seems endless in time, and the sikh feels like a fish out of water, means going through hell...

While, when the sikh is in the company of His beloved Satguru....it is like being in ectasy, in a blissful state, he is most happy and fortunate on the surface of the earth.

And this bond is created by the Gurmukh alone, who has attached His sikh with Himself, with His gurparsad, with the tight rope of Nam.

[carlos]

If there is anything to be converted, that has to be manmukhta. We have to change ourselves from manmukhs to gurmukhs, by Guramt

Sree Guru Ram Das Maharaj in His sweet ambrosial Bani gives us direct instructions for getting the darshan of Wahiguru and becoming one with Him.

In His Bani Raag Bilaaval,He Says:
ਸਾਧੂ ਸਰਣਿ ਪਰੈ ਸੋ ਉਬਰੈ ਖਤ੍ਰੀ ਬ੍ਰਾਹਮਣੁ ਸੂਦੁ ਵੈਸੁ ਚੰਡਾਲੁ ਚੰਡਈਆ
Saadhhoo Saran Parai So Oubarai Khathree Braahaman Soodh Vais Chanddaal Chanddeeaa
साधू सरणि परै सो उबरै खत्री ब्राहमणु सूदु वैसु चंडालु चंडईआ
One who seeks the Sanctuary of the Holy is saved, whether he is a Kh'shaatriya, a Brahmin, a Soodra, a Vaishya or the most untouchable of the untouchables.

ਜੋ ਮਿਲੈ ਸਾਧੂ ਜਨ ਸੰਗਤਿ ਧਨੁ ਧੰਨਾ ਜਟੁ ਸੈਣੁ ਮਿਲਿਆ ਹਰਿ ਦਈਆ
Jo Jo Milai Saadhhoo, Jan Sangath, Dhhan Dhhannaa Jatt Sain, Miliaa Har Dheeaa
जो जो मिलै साधू जन संगति धनु धंना जटु सैणु मिलिआ हरि दईआ
Blessed Dhanna and Sain; all those who joined the humble Saadh Sangat, met the Merciful Lord.

He says, it does not matter where nature has placed you accoring to your karams....you need not leave your origins, you need not change your lifestyle, your community, your dharam, your mazab, your family relations...nothing has to changed.

If ever anything has to be changed, it is the dirt of the mind which has to be washed...which is not washed by any rituals or rites, neither if you cut your body into pieces...

That is why the Bani says: Nimakh nimakh kar sareer kataveh, toh bhee haume mael na jaaveh :
Means, even if you cut your body into pieces, even then, the filth, the dirt of the mind is not going to go away


He then says: but by coming into company of the Sadh Sangat, of a Gurmukh, we shed all our ignorance, our superstitions, our brahams,we start to learn to love Wahiguru, as He wants, not by our "maanmat"....the Bani says only one thing to be done, but we do many other things and not that thing which has to be done, just because nobody really cares for the Bani ...and prefer to do what is said from mouth to mouth and what has been seen since some few hundred years back...

Let us have a open mind, and forget for a moment what we have seen and heard, and then read the Bani, and try to understand it, we shall be amazed the beauty it contains, the rich and deep spiritual wisdom in it ....only then, may we take the correct steps, and reform our lives, by walking on the straight path, which leads to Him.

It is our mind which has to be converted, not the body by changing one religion to other, not by stopping some rituals, and starting some other new ones, because the mind can only be converted, by the Power Of Nam, and this can only be learnt, in order to get the desired transformation in us, by applying Gurmat in our lives, by following Gurmat...

[carlos]

We humans, have created so many divisions, so many limitations, so many barriers, so many differences .....

And because of these differences we go mad and fight and kill...invade others countries........ just for nothing ...... but waste of bloodshed ....then too, we say it is for my religion...in the name of my god...stupid fanatics

We are different due to outer layers, but once we leave this world and leave back our bodies for which we did so many atrocities, so many sins...who is a sikh? who is a muslim? a christian or a hindu there?

If the sun(god) has no nationality, how come the ray(soul) is going to have one?

If the ocean(god) has no caste, creed, no religion...how come a simple drop(soul) is going to have one?

We are all sure insane, we are blind ....

Sree Guru Angad Dev Maharaj through His bani in Raag Maajh, removes all our doubts of this type, regarding: dharam, zaat, paat..with these His following words:


ਅਖੀ ਬਾਝਹੁ ਵੇਖਣਾ ਵਿਣੁ ਕੰਨਾ ਸੁਨਣਾ
Akhee Baajhahu Vaekhanaa Vin Kannaa Sunanaa
अखी बाझहु वेखणा विणु कंना सुनणा
To see without eyes; to hear without ears;

ਪੈਰਾ ਬਾਝਹੁ ਚਲਣਾ ਵਿਣੁ ਹਥਾ ਕਰਣਾ
Pairaa Baajhahu Chalanaa Vin Hathhaa Karanaa
पैरा बाझहु चलणा विणु हथा करणा
To walk without feet; to work without hands;

ਜੀਭੈ ਬਾਝਹੁ ਬੋਲਣਾ ਇਉ ਜੀਵਤ ਮਰਣਾ
Jeebhai Baajhahu Bolanaa Eio Jeevath Maranaa
जीभै बाझहु बोलणा इउ जीवत मरणा
To speak without a tongue-like this, one remains dead while yet alive.


He says, when we reach there in His Darbar, we shall not need our eyes, neither tongue, nor hands, nor feet to walk.... we are different as long as we dress differently, have different physicall features, different skin colours...and so on.

And so if all these diffrences are not required there, and moreover we do not carry them with ourselves, then who is there a sikh, a muslim, a christian or a hindu? If the bodies are not there, then where are the diffrences?

There is nobody to ask us, show me your passport, let me see what is your nationality, or let me see which country do you come from?

Who were your ancestors?

What ritulas did you perform?

To which religion did you belong? There are no such physicall proofs required, or credentials to be presented ....

This is all ignorance at our worldly level ....


There only your karmas, your attitude towards others, your sins, are going to be taken into consideration.... our karmas are going to define our future, our destiny.

Apart from that, what is going to be valued, is, our true love and devotion for Him.

Love and devotion, as per the teachings of our Guru Sahibans and all Gurmukhs from any time and place, is only Nam Bhakti, is Shabad Bhakti.

The Bani throughout repeatedly draws our attention, towards that one eternal Truth, which is Nam or Shabad, to which they say, if you want to be saved and free yourself from the cycle of births and deaths, attach youself to it by meditating upon it, leave aside all your "maanmat", and exclusively devote yourself to this Nam, then from it you will get the true Amrit, made by Wahiguru Himself, which is flowing within you all the 24 hours.... and by drinking that Amrit, you shall become immortal.

Once you taste and savour this Amrit, all your filth of karmas, of sanskaras, of so many lives shall all be washed away....
You wil become pure paviter, your mind will not bother you anymore with its doots of kam, krodh, lobh, moh, and ahankar ...maya and kal will become your servants ...they will no longer ever be able to stop you from going back to your Father´s House, Sach Khand, where you will surely reach, that also not alone, but, in the company of the Shabad Guru.

Such is the mahanta of our Gurumukhs... and our beloved Wahiguru Akal Purukh.

[carlos]

Nam daan ab Satguru deejeh
Give the gift of Nam, O Satguru

Kal sataveh, swasaa cheejeh
Kal torments me, while my life is wearing away

Dukh pawat, mein nis din bhari
Having suffered deeply day and night

Gahee aye ab, aut Tumharee
I now take refuge in you

Tum saman, koee aur na Daata
There is no giver as generous as you

Mein balak, Tum pita aur mata
I am your child, you are my mother you are my Father

Moh ko dukhee, Aap kas dekho
I am perplexed when I consider

Yeh achraj mohe hoth parekho
how can you bear to see me, your own child in such pain

Mein hoon paapi,adam vikaree
I am a sinner, a degenerate

Bhoola chukaa, chin chin bharee
and time and again I ahve gone astray

Augun apne,kehan lag vernu
How can I describe my countless shorcomings

Meree budhee samjeh nahee marmu
My mind fails to understand the mystery

Tumree gati-mati, nek na janoo
I can not comprehend your status, your qualities

Apni mat anusar bakhanoo
I can only describe them from my own standpoint

Tum Samrath aur Anteryami
You are all powerful and all knowing

kya kya kahoo mein, Satgur Soami
What more can I say, Lord Satguru

Mauj karo, dukh anter haroh
Take away the anguish of my heart

Daya drishtee, ab moh pe dharo
Have a merciful glance now on on me

Mangoo Nam, na mangoo maan
So that I beg for Nam, not for the honour of the world

Jas janoh, tas deho mohe daan
Grant me this gift as and when you see fit

Mein atee deen, bikharee bukha
I am a poor beggar, distressed and downcast

Prem bhav nahee, sabh bidhee rukhaa
faithless and without love, dry and dust

Kaisay dogeh Nam amola
How will you ever find me ever worthy of your invaluable name

Mein apne kau, bhau bidh tola
I take a hard look at myself and wonder

Hoe nirash, sabar kar betha
Weary and despairing, I am now resigned to my lot

Par man dheeraj, dhareh na neka
but my mind is without peace, still hoping

Sahid kabhee, meher ho jaaveh
That grace may descend one day

Toh kahun, Nam nek miljaave
and I may receive the priceless Nam

Bina meher, koee jatan na soojhey
Without Grace, no plans can materialize

Bakshish hoe, tabhee kuch bhoojey
Only with Grace, can I comprehend the mystery

Kinka Nam kareh mera kaaj
Only a particle of your Nam would fulfil the purpose of my life

Hey Satgur, tumko merre laaj
O Master, You are the protector of my honour

Abh toh man kar chuka pookar
Spent with praying, my heart cries out

Satguru, karoh udhaar
My Lord Satguru, deliver me from my bonds.


Saints, Gurmukhs, through their teachings, show us the reality of this perishable world, and create that type awareness in us, so that we may ask only the Lord, from the Lord, through the path of surrender, love and devotion at His Lotus feet.

[carlos]

Raag Aasaa, Guru Arjun Dev Maharaj.

ਗੁਰ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਤੇ ਇਹ ਮਤਿ ਆਵੈ
Gur Kirapaa Thae Eih Math Aavai
गुर किरपा ते इह मति आवै
By Guru's Grace, this wisdom has come.

Here Sachay Patshah Guru Arjun Dev, is telling us that, the true spiritual wisdom, spiritual understanding, is not gained by studying or reciting books, or getting degrees from universities on religion, or dharam.

But, it is a consequence of His Grace.
And this Grace is showered, when He is pleased.

We may ask, how is He pleased?
The Bani says, by doing Nam jaapna.

And this Nam Simran can not be performed by all, or anyone just like that.

It is also by His Grace, if He so wishes.

Just as Panchvee Patshahee in this very Raag, at other place, He says:
So Naam Japai, Jo Jan Thudhh Bhaavai
He alone meditates on your Nam, he who is pleasing to your will.

Dear sangat, let us read and understand the Bani,
with love and devotion, so that we may put into action,
what our Guru Sahibans have told us,
forget everything else,
and just love Wahiguru, for the sake of love alone.

And love is best expressed by pleasing the Beloved,
and pleasing beloved wahiguru, is not by words, rituals, sacrifices...
but by unwavering devotion within oneself (Nam Simran)
at His Lotus Feet.

[carlos]

Sathigur Kaa Sach Sabadh Kamaavahu
Meditate on the true Shabad, given by a Satguru

Thhir Ghar Baithae, Prabh Apanaa Paavahu
Remain steady and stable within the home of your own self, and find God

Raag Asa, Guru Arjan Dev Maharaj.


Above are the words of Sachay Patshah, Sree Guru Arjun Dev Maharaj.
He is telling us that, do the Simran of Nam only. You do not need to go anywhere, nor need anything else.
No rituals, no rites, no pilgrimages, no flowers, fruits, incense, lamp....nothing of that sort.

It is our mind, which we have to get treated, which is the root cause of our sorrows, pain, and our presence in the endless cycle of births and deaths.

Wahiguru has everything, there is nothing that we weak humans can give Him, everything is polluted by us. And He knows that, but even then, He accepts our "kachee bhakti". So during our bhakti of Nam Simran, we still our minds, and that is offering Him, our mind.

And He, as a washerman, washes the dirt accumulated on it, and thus gets it purified , with the (soap)Amrit of His Nam.

Then once the mind is purified and pacified, it does not bother the soul anymore, and releases the soul from it´s clutches.

It is like the rat is given mercury in the traps, set to catch it, and as it´s belly is heavy and can not move by ingesting it, so it stops doing mischiefs and lays down, then the house owner catches it and throws it away the from its house.

In the same way, once the mind tastes the "ras" of Nam, it gets defeated by the soul. Nam is the only medicine to nullify the mind forever, anything else is temporary.

Once this mind is conquered, then the soul crosses the causal region and enters Parbraham region, it is only then, that it is pure in essence and nature, as it has been removed from the phiysicall, astral and causal coverings on it.

Continuing with Nam Bhakti, the soul proceeds further and reaches Sach Khand. There it gets the darshan of Akal Purukh Satnam, and merges in it. That is why the bani says: Jin Har jaapiya, se Har hoeeya. Any soul, Sant, Gurmukh, Satguru, upon reaching there become one with Him, without any distinction.



Many of our brothers or sisters have that impression, even the rest of mortals, that even by reaching His abode, each and everyone continues with his/her own personality. Which is totally wrong. Suppose today anyone of us reaches Sach Khand, we shall only see Akal Purukh alone...no Guru Sahibans, no Gurmukhs, no saheeds, no Sants....nothing.

Why?

Because they have blended in Him, they have merged in Him, becoming Him.

They emerged from Him, for a particular purpose, for a particular period of time, to bring back with them an alloted number of souls marked by Wahiguru, and once they reach there back, the wonder or wonder happens, nobody remains as such, because all from individual drops, souls; have become the One mighty Ocean.

So this is one braham , one misconception we have to get it cleared. Maybe somebody is thinking , one day when I reach Sach Khand, I shall see the 10 Gurus sitting beside Akal Purukh, the other bhagats mentioned in the Bani, or even the other Gurmukhs who have been coming at our human level, like Sant Paltu Sahib, Sant Tukaram, Sehjo Bai, Guru Ravi Das, Kabir Sahib, etc...all of them together like in a congress.

That is not Gurmat. The bani says: Sach Khand vaseh Nirankar. There in Sach Khand only Wahiguru exists, so naturally anybody upon arriving there, becomes Him.

Is it not that the purpose of any sikh, of any seeker?

As long as we do not merge and become one with Him, we are imperfect, we are still in the realms of mind, maya, kal and karmas.....Be it may Baikunth, Swarg or heavens...all these stages are under Maya, thus are transient and perishable, are very much in the boundaries of Parlay and Mahaparlay.

And so the Bani tells us, that in order to become one with Him, we should only give our mind, body and soul, to the only one Akal Purukh. Har iko Daata seviye, Har iko dheeaeeyeh.

It is moorakhta to place our hopes on any other beings, apart from one wahiguru Akal Purukh. He is the one sustainer, protector for absolutely all beings.

If we depend on anyone else apart from Him, we shall never get freed from Maya.


Just let us think. Either we are with Him, or we are not with Him.

So If anybody past, we worship or show our reverence, what is the sense in it?

If that individual soul has merged in Him, then why not directly worship Him; and if that is not the case, and those souls are supposed to be somewhere, because some say that they have been seen, then too, what is the sense in worshipping them, because if they have not succeded in reaching Wahiguru, and are stuck somewhere for any reason, how can they avail us? They can only avail us up to what they themselves have achieved, and surely they are not one with Wahiguru, that is why they are being seen, and not Wahiguru . In darkness only stars and moon can be seen. There where the powerful Sun is, no stars or moon are seen...


So let us give our love, faith and devotion, to the only one Wahiguru Akal Purukh. It is popularly known: jaisa dheeayeeh, taisa hoeeyeh. As you meditate so you become. If you meditate on the one Perect Lord Wahiguru, you shall reach there where He is. If you meditate on anything apart from Wahiguru, we shall never reach Him.

He is "sarvavyapak", means omnipresent.

So if He is present everywhere and in everyone, is it not shameful to place our hopes and faiths on any others than Him? Read the Bani, only His mahima, His wadeeayee is described, that also just a fraction of His inmense Majesty.

Why have we created and added so many external elements in Gurmat, thus creating and spreading delusion among the human beings? The essence of Nam in Gurmat is lost, and only rites , rituals, pilgrimages, moortee pujas are the daily bread in our lives...

The Bani alerts us by saying, do whatever you may, but if you do not do Nam Simran... then that what you have done, is just like decorating a dead corspe.

Singhoo, the Bani left by our Guru Sahibans and Gurmukhs, is a treasure beyond measure. Let us go throughly, and put into practice what it says: Awar kaaj, tere kitteh na kaam, mil Sadh Sangat, bhaj kewal Nam.

To end this post, I would like to bring the following words of Guru Arjun Dev Maharaj, as a gist of Gurmat.


Sun sundar, saaDhoo bachan uDhaaree.
Listen, O beautiful soul-bride: By the Word of the Holy Saint, you shall be saved.
jo ih mantar kamaavai, naanak, so bha-ojal paar utaaree.
One who practices this Mantra, O Nanak, swims across the terrifying world-ocean

Raag Aasaa, Sree Guru Arjun Dev Maharaj.