Chaz ji
Please forgive for the audacity to raise this. I am a little intrigued by your form of greeting ‘Satnaam’. Sikhs use the greeting ‘Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh’ or its, less formal, short form Gurfateh. Sat Siri Akal is also used as a general form of address when Sikhs run into each other – fmore popular amongst non-amritdharis. Sat Siri Akal is also used by our Naamdhari friends, on stage and otherwise. Please do not see this as a criticism – just plain curiousity and passion to learn.
Satnaam Ji, wjkk wjkf, sat sri akal...i use all of the above, in no particular order or popularity 
The words/sounds of Waheguru and Satnaam have been with me since childhood when my mother used to tell me to jaap them and think about, be curious of God and Guru Ji. Satnaam i like using amongst sangat because it signifies the existance of god in all of us. Ek ong kar - from the ONE came the SOUND and through the sound it expressed itself in form - KAR Satnaam, the true naam, the presense of god within all, our true identity that we must remember and become once again. So sometimes i greet other sangat members with Satnam
As I have indicated in my earlier post, I am extremely impressed by your humility and dedication to Gurbani, although I do not necessarily agree with the techniques you use – I just do not know enough about your exact approach and discipline and would rather not discuss it anyway – no offence meant. Some use the ‘swas swas’ technique whilst others speak of ‘swas giras’. Harry ji has his personal approach. However, he is very sincere and truthful in what he does – his courage to talk about his innermost feelings and private life is commendable - each to his own as they say.
I am much closer to the approach described by Jasleen ji (findingmyway - hope I got the name right). She wrote:
“Different people work differently and my understanding of Gurbani's references to simran are implementing Gurbani in your life, however that may be. For some it is the constant repetition of Waheguru. For me personally, that does not work at all. For me its always analysing myself, my words and actions, its doing voluntary work and it is working through my sehaj paath very slowly trying to understand Gurbani rather that reciting it only (no matter how much love goes into the recitation, it is not enough for me).”
I use only two mantras to be honest "satnaam" and "waheguru" only because i have a strong connection with them during my life. As soon as jap them, like a lightening bold i feel connected to Guru Ji. So much love behind those words, so i dont bother with any other mantra. I jaap the mantra because when i focus on the mantra my mind is stopped from thinking of money, women, family bickering, greed, ego related desires. this gets easier to do because of the love that sits with the words/sounds of waheguru and satnaam. The mantra is only to quieten the mind so that i can 'listen' deep within, or just relax in peace for once without the crap that litters the mind all day and night. The surprise was, and i didnt expect anything more out of this other than to relax myself, there IS an inner light, an inner sound current, and only god knows what else...i'm on the train now...and i never want to get back off. Guru Ji says eik man eaek dhhiaaeeai man kee laahi bharaa(n)th || With one-pointed mind, meditate on the One Lord, and the doubts of your mind will be dispelled. The 'one pointed mind' or 'Eik man' as described by Guru Ji is what the mantra helps with to obtain the one pointed mind during meditation, so that we can really listen deep in smadhi to and experience our real true selves. The satnaam within us all. and then just like guru ji says 'the doubts of the mind will be dispelled. I can tell you that the doubts of my mind have been stamped on when everything i've read in gurbani over the years starts to become a 'REALITY' and i started experiencing it DEEP WITHIN just like gurbani said all along. Gurbani never lied to me, it's shown me finally that its all REAL
However, I also try to attune myself to the Guru’s teachings through keertan, sometimes, including a brief chanting of Waheguru at home and on stage. I, personally, do not engage in endless chanting (at home or on stage).
People need to get out of this thought that it is 'chanting'.
The mind does a lot of 'chatter' in our lives...why not make it chatter " border="0" alt="" />The soul 'listens', so when you chatter waheguru or satnaam in your mind, try to really listen to each sound, vibration...100% concentration to just them sounds. full focus. What you'll find is after a few moments of being able to concentrate 100% on the sounds, your mind will start to drift away to something else...you feel this..and when you do, shake it off, and then go back to 100% concentration on satnaam and waheguru. It does start to feel like a battle, because your mind doesnt let you do this concentration, but the love that you have for guru ji and the love that you have for the words Satnaam and Waheguru helps a lot.
It is this 'drifting of the mind' to other things, that the mantra is fighting.
you will start to notice that it is drifting to certain things like women, money, a family member you have issues with, desire for anything.
The more you practice, the better the ability to focus "eik man" "single minded" towards the mantra and the better you become at stoping the mind from thinking of the 5 thieve related thoughts.
The 'japping' and 'listing with 100% focus' by then has done its job and you become open to the GOD WITHIN YOU. to your SOUL. what happens then, well, its for you to find out but one thing i promise you, after the effort you make to break the entanglement with the mind, you'll never look back, you'll just keep going forward towards god. I vouch for it.
I have seen a lot of this on TV and on various stages but the protagonists do not appear to extend their activities to the welfare of the general society they live in – they just operate within their own circles and add to divisions and confusion within the Sikh Panth and families – brothers do not speak to brothers or eat at each other’s place. I actually know of such cases.
I cannot make judgement on these people lives after they have done some jaap on T.V. they may do a lot of other seva, or they may not be...but i cannot say everyone is like this. because i know i'm not like this.
lets just help each other, uplift each other..thats the only method i know.
Yes we have problems with the Jathedars but we cannot blame them for all our ills. We as a nation must also take responsibility – we need to unite and strive and bridge the schisms created by an endless queue of babas and deras – apologies to the ones who are genuine and stand up for the mainstream Sikh values and interests. I personally am not into babas but have admired one or two from a distance – neither am I, currently, a member of any group, mainstream or otherwise, but I do take part, as an independent individual, in social activities, including keertan.
All of the above is meant in good spirit but apologies, nevertheless, for anything untoward in my post.
Not sure why the topic of babs and deras has come up here. I'm not part of any but there definately are some real true people out there that have reached god consciosness, and if we cross paths with the True ones then that is beautiful grace.