Metaphysics Of Naam

[Sikh80]

The Metaphysics of Naam​

Dr. Debabrata Das*​

* 19/5 Pottery Road, Kolkata. 700 015.
Japu to eko nama: contemplate thou only the Name. This expression is found in Sri Guru Granth Sahib, Rag Suhi Mahala I, P-728. The meaning of the technical terms "Japu" and "Nama", expressed in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, is as follows:1
"Japu" means prayer, meditation, "Nama" means the Name; the spirit within; figuratively the Name also means Amrita or nectar of immortality.
In Punjabi verse, Rag Suhi Mahala I is as follows:
Bhanda dhoi baisi dhup devahu tou dudhai kou javu
Dhudh karam phuni surati samain(u) hoi nirash jamavahu. (1)
Japu to eko nama. avari niraphal kama (rahao)
Eh manu iti hath karahu phuni netreo nind na avai
Rasna nam japu tab mathiai in bidhi amrit pavahu (2)
Manu sampat jit satsari navan bhavan pati tripat kare
Puja pran sevak je seve in bidhi sahib ravat rahai (3)
Kehnde kahai kahe kahi javahi tum sari avaru na koi
Bhagat-hin Nanak jan janpai hou salahi sacha soi.(4)

(SGGS, P. 728)​

The above hymn translates as follows: One washes the vessel and disinfects it with incense before one pours milk in it. Yea, the milk is of the deeds; our conscious mind the farment, and the milk is curdled through disinterestedness (in the result).1 Dwell thou on the One Name (of the Lord): For, all other works are fruitless and vain, (1-pause) Let this mind be the holding-ends of the cord, and the churning-stick be of being ever-watchful.
Essence: And let the churning be the uttering of the Lord’s Name with the tongue; thus wil though gather the butter, yea, the Nectar of the Lord. (2) Let thy mind be the abode (of God), washed in the pool of Truth, make leaf - offering of devotion to please (thy God); and dedicate to him even thy life; thus wilt thou enjoy thy union with thy Lord.(3)
Many but say Thy praise, O Lord, and many more will say and leave off, but there is no one to equal Thee.
Nanak, bereft of devotion, fervently prays before thee: "O God, I praise only Thee, the True One alone."(4-1)3
In Sikhism, the worship is done by praising God through the praise of His attributes (kirtan) along with the lovable remembrance of God’s name, known as "Nam-simran", i.e. the recitation of the name of God all the times in the focussed mind, individually or in congregation. A particular way is suggested by the spiritual teacher, or Guru, for nam-simran. The spiritual teacher governs the human mind according to its spiritual capacities. Those who remember God’s name and are devoid of ego, never have any fear of death. In Sri Guru Granth Sahib, p 72, Sri Rag Mahala I, we have:
Sat sangat kaisi janie
Jithe eko namu vakhanie
eko namu hukam hai, Nanak
Satguru dia bujhai jio. (5) (SGSS: P.72)
The English translation approximates as follows:
Sadh-Sangat: Of what nature is the society of saints? It is that where they truly utter the Name of the one Lord. For the Lord’s will is in the (Lord’s) Name and, through the True Guru, one realises it all. (5)
Nectar-sweet is the Lord’s Word,
Filling the devotee’s hearts,
If we cherish in ourselves the peace-giving service (of the Lord),
He blesses us with His grace and save us. (12)
True is the meeting with the True Guru,
If through him, one recites the Name (of the Lord).
Without the True Guru, no one has found thee,
O Lord; all are tired of the (way of) works. (13)4
Non-Dualism: The essential element of metaphysical doctrines of Guru Nanak is its uncompromising monotheism. The ultimate reality is the One Absolute, the transcendent, the ineffable, the unborn, eternal, self-existent. He is the infinite being who can never be defined in human words, who has existed from all eternity, by whose perfect power and mercy all this universe has been called into being by a simple act of His Will. He is One - creator, preserver, and destroyer. The burden of Guru Nanak’s song is:
"Thou alone art, the one true Lord, truth is thy law and rule" (Asa -di-Var, 8:2)
A true conception of the oneness of God is acquired if He is realized to be one within and without.
"Everyone says God is one,
Through intellectual reflection and pride
He alone understands the oneness of His presence
who realizes the One God, within and without". (Omkar 5)
Only Reality: Strictly speaking, God alone exists: Akaal Purakh is the only Reality. In Japji, we get the last line of the Pauri nos.28, 29, 30, 31 as: "Jug Jug eko wes" i.e. "He is One and same, in all times, of course".5 In Pauri 32 of Japji, we have:
Ik - doo jibhoo lakh hoe
Lakh howe lakh - vees
Lakh lakh gera akhiye,
Ik nam jagdish6
In substance this means: If one tongue turns into thousands of tongues, and each multiplied by twenty times, and each tongue may repeat a million times, the name of one God time and again, even so there is no end. Yet let us remember Him.
Gurbani says a Guru-drenched person (gurmukh) can realise God’s grace; yet the gurmukh knows that all depends on divine will and there is no other way out. "Karan kaaran sabhna ka eko, avar(u) na dooja koee", i.e., He is the entire creation and none else is the cause of causation. (SGGS, P 666)
Guru Tegh Bahadurji, the Ninth Guru, reminds us to concentrate on one God, whose attributes are enshrined in all holy books, including the Vedas and Puranas:
"bed puran jaas gun gaavat

ta ko naam(u) heeaai mo dhar(u) re" (SGGS, P 220)​

Revelation: Gurbani is the revelation, the commutative wealth of that truth, it is a love, devotion of Him. Gurbani leads humanity to salvation. Guru Nanak says that in order to be reunited with reality one must contemplate upon one formless God who is all the all - pervading spirit, and advises us to dwell on Naam simran: Prani eko naam(u) dhiavoh(u), apnee pat(e) seytee ghar(e) javoh(u)", i.e. acknowledge only one God, and do not recognise the trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Siva. (SGGS, P 1254)
Guru Angad Dev ji, , the second Guru, lovingly urges us: "Jini naam dhiaia gae musakat ghal/Nanak te mukh ujle hor keti chhuti nal" (Var Majh Shlok).
Guru Amar Dasji, the third Guru, upbraids those who meditate on false gods and applauds those who concentrate on the attributes of one eternal formless God:
"har(e)-har(e) naam(u) dhiae(e) man har(e) dargah paveh(e) maan(u)"

(SGGS, P 1418-19)​

Guru Ram Dasji, the fourth Guru, defines the object of meditation in the following verse:
jap(e) man nirbhau(u)
sat(e) sat(e) sada sat(e) nirvair(u) akaal murat(e) aajoonee sambhau(u)
i.e., O, my mind! contemplate on one who is fearless, who is timeless being, beyond limits, above want, and self-existent:
so purakh(u) niranjan(u) har(e) purkh(u) niranjan(u) har(e) agama agam apara
sabh(e) dhiavah(e) sabh(e) dhiavah(e) tudh(u) har(e) sache sirjanhara

(SGGS, P 10)​

i.e., Thou, the person purest of the pure, infinite, true creator on whom all meditate.
Guru Arjun, the fifth Guru and compiler of Guru Granth Sahib, reiterates the same truth to the Sikhs:
"sat(e) purakh akal murat(e), ridai dharoh dhian". In Bachitter Natak, Guru Gobind Singhji, the tenth Guru, lays down a clear code of conduct for his followers emphasising "Naam-simran". He says:
na dhian ann ko dharo, na naam an uchro.
param dhian dhario anant paap tariao.
i.e. adhere to one supreme being, reject all other entities.
The importance of utilizing every available time in the remembrance of God in our daily lives is beautifully illustrated in the following lines from Raag Asa:
Kab ko bhaalaai ghunghroo taala kab ko bajavaai rabab(u)
aavat jaat baar khin(u) laagaai hao(u) tab lag(u) samarao(u) naam(u).

(SGGS: 368)​

i.e., How long must one search for bells and cymbals, and how long must one play the guitar? In the brief instant between coming and going, I meditate on the Naam, the name of the Lord. How long must one tune the five strings, and assemble the seven singers, and how long will they raise their voices in song? In the time it takes to select and assemble these musicians, precious moments elapsed, and my mind sings the glorious praises of the Lord.
Any time, that the saints forget to remember God, for them it is like dying:
Gun gaava nit-nit sad har(e) key
man(u) jeevaai naam(u) sun(e) tera
Nanak jit(u) vela visraai mera suamee {censored}(u) Velaai mar(e) jaae(e) jeeo(u) mera

(SGGS: 562)​

Each and every day, forever, I sing the Lord’s praises. My mind lives by hearing your name. O Nanak, that moment when I forget my Lord and Master - at that moment, my soul dies.
Following are some of the most sought-after and key benefits of doing Naam-Jaap:
Naam as dispeller of the fear of death:
Prabh kai simran(e) naahee jam trasaa
Prabh kai simran(e) pooran aasa

(SGGS: 263)​

In the remembrance of God, there is no fear of death. In the remembrance of God, hopes are fulfilled.
Naam as Aukhad-Panacea for all diseases, woes and sufferings:
Anik upavee rog(u) n(a) jaae(e)
Rog(u) mitaai har(e) avkhadh(u) laae(e) (SGGS: 288)
All sorts of remedies may fail to cure the sickness, which is cured only by giving the medicine of the Lord’s name.
Naam as Parjat (The tree) - Kamdhenu - fulfiller of all wishes:
Paarjaat(u) eh(u) har(e) ko naam
Kaamdhen har(e) har(e) gun gaam.

(SGGS: 265)​

This Elysian Tree of miraculous powers is the name of the Lord, the wish-cow of miraculous powers, is the singing of the glory of the Lord’s Name.
Naam as Sin Erasure:
Anik bisthaar ek te bhae
ek(u) aradh(e) praachat gae.

(SGGS: 289)​

The many expanses of the Cosmos have all come from the One. Adoring the One, past sins are removed.
Naam as giver of occult powers or Ridhi Sidhi:
Prabh kai simran(e) ridh(e) sidh(e) nao(u) nidh(e)
Prabh kai simran(e) giaan(u) dhiaan(u) tat(u) budh(e) (SGGS: 262)
In the remembrance of God are wealth, miraculous spiritual powers and the nine treasures. In the remembrance of God are knowledge, meditation and the essence of wisdom.
Eh(u) dhan(u) sanchoh(u) hovoh(u) bhagvant. (SGGS: 288)
Grasp firmly the theme of the Lord’s name. Gather this wealth and fortune. Pure are the instructions of the humble saints. Remembering God is like thanking Him for His many bounties, especially for the gift of life. as per our Guru’s advice, we are expected to do so if we have to reap the benefits which accrue from such a practice:
Jap(e) jann sadaa sadaa din(u) rainee.
Sabh te ooch nirmal eh karnee.

(SGGS: 283)​

Meditate on Him for ever and ever, day and night. This way of life is exalted and ennobled.
The desirability of the repetitious nature of Naam-Jaap is given by Guru Nanak Dev ji, in Japji Sahib, Pauri 32 and by Guru Arjun Dev ji in his Bani - Sukhmani Sahib.
Ik doo jeebhao lakh hoe(e) lakh hovah(e) lakh vees
Lakh(u) lakh(u) gerha aakheeah(e) ek(u) naam(u) jagdees
Et(u) raah(e) pat(e) pavreea chareeaai hoe(e) ikees (SGGS: 7)
If I had 100,000 tongues, and these were then multiplied twenty times more, with each tongue I would repeat, hundreds of thousands of times, the name of the one Lord of the Universe. Along this path to our Master Lord, we climb the steps of the ladder, and come to merge with him.
It is not to be confused with the Naam Jaap as a quantitative and qualitative equivalent of the other forms of Jap-Tap and rituals, as in the following quote:
Anik punahcharan kart nahee taraai
Har(e) ko naam(u) kot(e) paap parharaai

(SGGS: 264)​

By performing countless religious rituals, you shall not be saved. The Name of the Lord washes off millions of sins.
Giaan dhiaan sagley sabh(e) jap tap jis(u) har(e) hirdaai Alakh abhevaa.

(SGGS: 356)​

All wisdom and meditation, all chanting and penance come to one whose heart is filled with the invisible inscrutable Lord.
If we are able to do the Naam-Jaap initially, we will be doing it as habit, knowing the numerous benefits (or rewards) accruing from this practice, until such time that we get used to it and, perhaps, start getting the blissful and uplifting feeling - the ultimate goal.
Grace: Every chapter of the Guru Granth Sahib begins with the invocation "Ek Onkar Satguru prasad", which translates as "There is only one God. Only the grace of true Guru can guide us to Him". Guru Nanak took some aspects of God from the Vedas, such as the concept that God was nirguna (without quality) and in sunya samadhi (a state of profound meditation) before creation. After creation, however, He became the repositiory of all qualities (saguna). Likewise, the symbolic representation of God as the mystic syllable or sound Om, in saying "Ik Aumkar" (there is one God.)
The various Janamsakhi7 traditions record that Guru Nanak summed up the fundamental Sikh tenets for his followers in three simple precepts:
"Kirat karo, wand chhako and nam japo", meaning thereby: "work and earn thy livelihood by honest means; share the fruits of thy labour with others; and practice the discipline of naam. (i.e. remembering God.)
Sikhism propounds an objective idealism of spiritualism with the characteristics of dynamism, non-dualism and social involvement. Man as a microcosm is constituted of spiritual energy (sakti) and consciousness (siva): Siva sakti dehi mahi pai. Sikhism gives priority to the spirit over the matter. Thus it is spiritualism.8
Robe of Honour: According to the Janamsakhi, Nanak was summoned by God (River Bein experience at the age of twenty-nine), and charged with his mission in the following wods: "Let your life be one of praise of the "word" [nam], charity [dan], ablution [ishnan], service [seva], and prayer [simran].
Fortunately, it is not necessary to rely on the Janamsakhi account of this episode, though these may well contain a strong kernel of truth. One of the Guru’s own hymns is probably intensely autobiographical.
"I was a minstrel out of work, the Lord gave me employment. The mighty one instructed me, "night and day sing my praise," The Lord summoned the minstrel to his high court. On me He bestowed the ‘robe’ of honouring him and singing his praise.
"On me he bestowed the nectar in a cup, the nectar of his true and holy Name. Those who, at the bidding of the divine Guru, feast and take their fill of the Lord’s holiness, attain peace and joy. Your minstrel spreads your glory by singing Your word. Nanak, through adorning the truth, we attain to the all-highest." (SGGS: p. 15)
Redemption: Nanak believed that, by repitition of the naam, one can conquer the greatest of all evils: the ego, or haumai ("I am"). So great is the power of the ego, said Nanak, that those who conquer it attain salvation while still alive; they become Jivanmuktas. According to Nanak, the ego carries within itself the seed of salvation, which can be fully nurtured by the repetition of the naam. Once the power of the ego is properly channeled, the conquest of the other five sins - lust, anger, greed, attachment, and pride - follows as a matter of course. The wanderings of the restless mind stops, and it attains a state of divine bliss (vismad). So, Naam japo" (worship the name of the Lord") was Nanak’s constant exhortation.
According to Sikhism, the knowledge of the way to Truth, even "Naam-simran" (remembrance of God’s name or recitation of God’s name), without the direction of the true Guru is useless and illusory. Unless human consciousness in its pure sentiments contemplates on the true naam of God with the help of Guru’s direction, no way is open for self-realization.
God-realization, i.e. self-realization, or whatever word we may use for the ultimate destination of the human soul but faith in the one and concentrated streamlined love-worship of the one is the only way to that one. Naam-simran, with the concentrated single-mindedness is the way established by the Gurus for worship in Sikhism. Recitation of God’s name holds the key to realization. The remembrance of God alone while withdrawing from all the altercations of the world and concentrating upon the one absolute alone leads to the final destination, and none else. Sadh-sangat is a significant part of the Sikh way of religious life. This is the place where faith in the One is discussed, simran of the One is performed, and praise of the One is pronounced in a collective and co-ordinate way. Faith in God, and praise only of God and remembrance of God alone while submitting the whole of individual independent consciousness to His will, with the help of true Guru is the way to attain oneness with that greatest One.
The Sadh-sangat, or the holy congregation, is the gathering of the like-minded God-oriented people where only One is praised, only One is remembered and only One is discussed in the presence of the Guru. The Guru asks, "what qualities has the holy company? Then he himself replies: such it is where in the sole name of the Lord is expounded, by the sole name of the Divine is known the ordinance (hukam) of which the preceptor has granted the realization.
Merger: When the separateness of soul, the individual ego, "haumai", i.e. "I-am-ness" is shunted out with the divine knowledge and further erased with the concentrated love - worship, then slowly and gradully, it comes to the knowledge of the realized soul that there is no essential difference between the individual and the universal soul. As the individual soul comes near its destination, i.e. the supeme reality, the divine qualities automatacilly start flowing into the individual consciousness.
Ultimately, at its final realized state the individual self merges into the being of God and itself becomes God, as a drop becomes ocean when it mingles with the ocean. This in fact is the re-absorption of the human essence into the real source essence and the ultimate ground of its being. This state is the final goal, destination and complete perfection of the human existence. It is said in Gurbani, "As into the sun is the ray absorbed, water in water, light into light is merged, and is perfection attained. It is said; "suraj kiran(e) milé jal ka jal(u) hua raam jotee jot(e) ralee sampooran thia raam. (Bilaval Mahala, SGGS: P 5)
As realized person reaches the final destination the attributes of God simultaneously manifest in him, he becomes the jivan-mukta; the liberated while living. Guru Arjun Devjirefers to the realized person, as sadhu, sant, and brahmagyani and even calls him God. He says, "The knower of God is God Himself. There is no difference between the sadhu and God. We have:
"Sadh ki sobha sadh ban(e) aaee.
Nanak sadh prabh bhed(u) n(a) bhaee"

(Gauri Sukhmani Mahala., SGGS: P 272)​

v​

References​

1. Sri Guru Granth Sahib (English version), Vol-I, translated and annoted by Dr. Gopal Singh, World Sikh Univesity Press, Chandigarh, 1978, "Glossary of Technical Terms employed in the Guru-Granth," at the end of the book.
2. Sri Guru Granth Sahib Darpan (in Punjabi), Vol-5, p-347, comm. by Prof. Sahib Singh, Raj Publishers, Jullundhar, Punjab.
3. Sri Guru Granth Sahib (English version), Vol-III, translated and annoted by Dr. Gopal Singh, World Sikh University Press, Chandigarh, 1978. p-697.
4. Sri Guru Granth Sahib (English version), Vol-I, translated and annoted by Dr. Gopal Singh, World Sikh University Press, Chandigarh, 1978, p-66.
5. Japji Sahib of Guru Nanak, Tr. by Naunihal Singh Layal, New Delhi, 1961, pp-34-36.
6. Ibid, p-37.
7. The life stories of Guru Nanak are called Janamsakhi.
8.Concept of Freedom in Sikhism, by Dr. Debabrata Das, published in The Sikh Review, May 2001, p-14.
http://www.sikhreview.org/november2002/philo.htm

 

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Benefits Of Naam Simran

This article is written with the unlimited Gur Parsaad and Gur Kirpa of God (Agam Agochar Anant Beyant Aprampar Dhan Dhan Paar Braham Parmesar) and the Guru.
Let us pray to them for divine understanding and divine knowledge about the benefits of Naam Simran.
Let us pray for Gur Parsaad.
Let us pray to be always blessed with this Eternal Gift of Naam and Naam Simran.
Naam is the ladder for the complete realization of the Almighty. Naam is the ladder which leads us to :
· the discovery of the Eternal Truth (
the Param Tatt – Supreme Essence,
the Braham Tatt – God’s essence,
the Puran Jyot Parkash – Complete Brightness of God’s Light,
the Nirgun Saroop of Akal Purakh – Spiritual Form of Timelss God)

· the complete silence of mind and soul,

· becoming completely truthful

· Sach Khand (God’s realm Of Truth).

By doing Naam Simran we keep on climbing on this ladder and step by step get closer to the Almighty. Eventually we merge in Him.

Naam is the Eternal Truth.

By doing Naam Simran we can realize this Eternal Truth, the Almighty Himself, the Amrit, the Atam Rus.

Naam is the highest eternal gift one can get through Gur Parsaad:

jaevadd aap thaevadd thaeree dhaath ||

As Great as You Yourself are,

O Lord, so Great are Your Gifts.​

SGGS 9​

By doing Naam Simran we can realize this highest eternal gift. This gift contains

· Akal Purakh Himself
· All His eternal treasures and
· all His spiritual and divine powers

So why ask or settle for anything less than that? We can get the highest eternal gift with our sustained efforts. We should forget about day today and worldly things and ask for the highest eternal gift, which contains everything, which contains Paar Braham Himself. Once He becomes ours and we realize Him completely within ourselves and become His then all His possessions will become ours. This is the biggest and unexplainable benefit of Naam and Naam Simran. However, there are a lot of other benefits of doing Naam Simran, some of which are listed below with a brief description:

YOU BECOME BEYOND DESCRIPTION

kinakaa eaek jis jeea basaavai ||

thaa kee mehimaa ganee n aavai ||​

That one, in whose soul the One Lord dwells
the praises of his glory cannot be recounted.​

SGGS 262​

The Naam is unlimited, it is Agam Apaar Anant and Beant like Akal Purakh Himself. It is the origin of the universe. It is Akal Purakh's Aad Jugaadi Naam, created by Himself. If a person is able to plant even a little bit of the Naam in his Hirda, then it will be impossible to descibe such a soul. Because such a soul will become a Sant Hirda and will become unlimited like Almighty Himself. Such a soul will become a Pargatyeo Jyot Braham Gyani and a Puran Sant, a Puran Khalsa. Naam Simran will bring the highest level of happiness to us. All our sorrows will disappear and we will be filled with complete joy and happiness forever.

SALVATION FROM THE CYCLE OF LIFE AND DEATH – JIVAN MUKTI

The highest level of sorrow is the involvement in the cycle of birth and death. We all have been involved in this cycle for a very long time. We have been through countless births and deaths in 8.4 million species. Naam Simran is the only power, which can take us out of the cycle of life and death. We will be able to get ourselves out of the fear of death only by Naam Simran. This means that we will be able to achieve salvation – Jivan Mukti through Naam Simran only.

FEAR OF DEATH

The biggest fear is the fear of death. This is a universal truth and a fact that cant be denied. Such a fear vanishes only with the Naam Simran. Actually when you go in deep meditation – Smadhee and Sunn Smadhee you might encounter out of body and soul travel experiences. During such incidents the soul actually physically leaves the physical body and goes into various astral planes depending upon the spiritual state of the soul and see and experience the higher levels of spiritual worlds – Sach Khand and so on. These experiences teach you what can happen to you after you die physically and where your soul will be after your physical death. That is why the Sants and Braham Gyanis know beforehand about what will happen to their souls after death.

WINNING THE MAYA
Naam Simran is so powerful that it saves us from all our enemies – and what are these enemies? These are Panj Doot – Kaam, Krodh, Lobh, Moh and Ahankaar, which are the deepest chronic mental sicknesses along with Asa, Trishna and Mansha, Nindya, Chugli and Bakhili. The Naam is the prescription to cure our heart from these deepest mental sicknesses. All these enemies of our soul form a barrier between us and the Almighty. Naam Simran is the most powerful weapon to kill all these enemies. These enemies are the road blocks in the path to Sach Khand and Naam Simran removes these road blocks. By keeping our mind alert and helping us to restrain from doing any such deeds which are performed under the influence of these enemies of ours. Our mind remains awake all the time and we are able to deal with these enemies in our day-to-day life. Thereby defeating them every time they try to cheat us and rob us of the Amrit.

WINNING OVER MIND

Your mind operates all your five senses, and your mind is operated by your own wisdom. Your own wisdom is operated under the three attributes of Maya: Rajo, Tamo and Sato. By winning over Maya your soul goes beyond the shackles of Maya. It is liberated from the shackles of Maya and your mind comes under direct control of the divine wisdom. In fact your own wisdom and your mind are eliminated when you reach the heights of spirituality. Then all your five senses come under direct control of the divinity and the divine wisdom operates your five senses. They no longer remain under the control of Maya. This is salvation from Maya. By winning over your own mind you replace your mind with Param Jyot (Supreme Light)

man thoo(n) joth saroop hai aapanaa mool pashhaan ||



O my mind, you are the embodiment of the Divine Light

- recognize your own origin.​

SGGS 441

NO ILLUSIONS OR DELUSIONS

The illusions, delusions, distractions, doubts and all the negative forces governing your mind and soul are eliminated by doing Naam Simran. Your mind starts to become stable and eventually you win over all the situations that cause distractions in your mind. Your concentration of mind will increase with the advancements in your spirituality and eventually your mind and soul will become free from all kinds of illusions and distractions.

MAKES US FEARLESS

Naam Simran makes us fearless in our day today activities. With Naam Simran we keep on becoming more and more truthful to ourselves, to others and to the Almighty. We are given the strength to speak the truth, see the truth and serve the truth. We are not afraid of speaking and serving the Truth. We start to see the difference between the truth and non-truth, and save ourselves from non-truth deeds.

ELIMINATION OF ALL SORROWS & SICKNESSES

sarab rog kaa aoukhadh naam ||



The Naam is the panacea, the remedy to cure all ills.​

Naam Simran eliminates all the sorrows in our life. We become so strong mentally that we are able to tolerate all kind of sorrows and diseases including chronic mental diseases. There remains no difference between sorrow and happiness. We become single vision and enjoy the complete, pure and pious happiness – Sat Chit Anand – which is Param Jyot Puran Parkash – Nirgun Saroop of Akal Purakh.

ETERNAL TREASURES

Naam Simran brings all the eternal treasures and also supernatural powers- comprising of nine treasures and Ridhis and Sidhis. Please keep in mind that these treasures give us all kinds of powers to create miracles - Karamaats – public surprising acts, which can attract a large number of people towards us. By using these powers we can fullfill worldly desires of people, become famous, make a lot of money and obtain all kinds of worldly comforts. BUT keep in mind, if we use these powers EVEN ONCE, our spiritual progress will stop right there and then. We will never be able to achieve salvation. When you reach the heights of Bandgi then Akal Purakh Himself uses these powers to create miracles for you. Such miracles were created by the Almighty many times during the Guru Sahibans times.

DIVINE INTELLIGENCE – BRAHAM GYAN

Naam Simran brings the divine knowledge and divine intelligence inside us. We start to listen to and understand Gurbani. This motivates us further to practise the teachings of Gurbani in our daily lives. Our commitment and belief in the Guru, Gurbani and Akal Purakh keeps on growing. All kinds and means of worshipping the Almighty are contained with in Naam Simran. This means that Naam Simran is the highest level of service of Almighty. By doing so we realize and establish in our inside the fact that there is no one like the Almighty Himself and that He is the Supreme and creator of the entire universe. We develop a total belief and commitment to the Almighty.

THE INTERNAL PILGRIMAGE

The real pilgrimage is the internal pilgrimage and this happens due to Naam Simran. This means that when we go through different stages of Naam Simran in Smadhi, when we go through different stages of spirituality as described in the Jap Ji – Dharam Khand, Gyan Khand, Saram Khand, Karam Khand and Sach Khand, then we physically see the divine things and esperience the divinity, Puran Parkash, Guru Darshan, Sach Khand Darshan and so on. This is the real pilgrimage.

When we pass through such stages of spirituality and go into Smadhi and Sun Smadhi then we are recognized by the Dargah for this highest level of service to the Akal Purakh. We remain satisfied and contented in all circumstances and everything that happens a round us appears to be due to the will of God – Hukam. This means that we are able to recognize the Hukam of Akal Purakh, we don't complain for anything and thus remain silent and peaceful under all circumstances. By doing so we are able to achieve our spiritual objectives –

hukam boojh param padh paaee ||



Obeying the Lord’s Command, the supreme status is obtained.


SGGS 292​

Naam Simran is a priceless gift which is given to us only with the blessings of Akal Purakh, and that is what Gurparsadi means. There is nothing more precious than Naam Simran. We should all bow to such souls who have been blessed with Naam Simran.

HIGHEST SERVICE TO THE ALMIGHTY

prabh kaa simaran sabh thae oochaa ||



The remembrance of God is the highest and most exalted of all.


SGGS 263​

Here Almighty God has made it absolutely clear, there should remains no doubt in anybody's mind whatsoever, that Naam Simran is the highest service of Akal Purakh. This means that all the other religious acts (Dharam Karams) are of a lower value than Naam Simran. Now we have learned this fact from Sukhmani why don't we devote our time to Naam Simran? When Naam Simran is going to bring us the highest and the sweetest fruits, highest level of happiness, complete silence, Param Jyot and Puran Parkash Darshan, then why don't we concentrate on Naam Simran?

Just reading Sukhmani is not enough. Doing Naam Simran as sukhmani instructs us to is the highest service of Almighty. This is a part of Perfect Original Divine Wisdom (Puran Tat Gyan) and is mandatory for Perfect Devotion (Puran Bhagtee). And people who don't follow this Gyan remain in doing lowest service of mere religious acts (Dharam Khand).

HUMBLENESS

Naam Simran brings into us the divine quality of utmost humbleness. The souls which get absorbed in Naam become full of humbleness. Their extreme humbleness takes them to the height of spirituality:

breham giaanee sagal kee reenaa ||

aatham ras breham giaanee cheenaa ||​

The God-conscious being is the dust of all.

The God-conscious being knows the nature of the soul.​

SGGS 272​

They become the dust of the feet of the entire creation. We should all bow on the feet of such souls. Such humbleness comes only with Naam Simran. Such humbleness is the key to the Dargah of Akal Purakh.

THE BIGGEST TREASURE IS AKAL PURAKH'S NAAM – “IK OANKAAR SATNAAM”

a(n)mrith naam nidhhaan hai mil peevahu bhaaee ||



The treasure of the Naam, the Name of the Lord, is Ambrosial Nectar;

meet together and drink it in brothers.​

SGGS 318​

When we do Naam Simran, we will become the owner of Akal Purakh’s priceless treasure “Ik Oankar Satnaam”. When we own this priceless jewel and it goes into our mind and spiritual heart (Hirda), then we will become honorable in the Royal Court Of the Immortal One (Dargah of Akal Purakh). The Sant, Braham Gyani who owns this priceless jewel of Naam becomes the wealthiest soul in the universe. There is nothing above this treasure. Such a soul :

· becomes honorable
· is respected everywhere in the universe
· completes his pilgrimage
· is accepted as successful in the Dargah
· is always in a very high spiritual state
· never needs to look for anything more
· has obtained everything
· has achieved Eternity
· becomes the King of the entire universe – King of 14 Dimensions Here and Hereafter (Lok Parlok).
· Speaks and it happens - their words are honored by the Almighty
· never dies - they achieve the Eternal happiness and Eternal silence,
· wins over everything,
· is always absorbed in the Almighty.

We should all pray for the dust of the feet of such souls. By doing so, Akal Purakh will bless us and get us involved in this Gurparsadi Game. All this doesn't happen without the Gurkirpa. We should all pray for Gurkirpa and ask for the eternal treasure of Naam Simran.
DIVINE QUALITIES

With this eternal treasure of Naam Simran our Hirda will become very powerful and very vast, it will develop in us the highest qualities of head and heart, selflessness, sacrifice for others, helping the poor and others, doing good to others, think about the well being of others, not live for self but live for others, forgiveness, kindness, contentment and openness of heart comes in, total peace and silence of mind comes in, such qualities will make our life more and more meaningful to the society, and imagine if every one becomes like this than will it not be an age of the Truth – Sat Yug. These are the vital signs of a Sant Hirda and such souls will always be regarded in the Dargah and in the universe, such souls will always have bright and shining faces in the society and in the Dargah, they will always enjoy the highest level of eternal comforts and happiness in their inside. Such souls win over their minds and their life becomes very pure and pious, truthful and dignified. Souch souls who are engaged in the Naam Simran will always stay very close to the Almighty, and stay in eternal happiness, everlasting happiness – Sat Chit Anand. Such souls live with the Almighty always remain in awareness of the things happening around them, for that matter the things happening in the entire universe.

NO DESIRES AND WORRIES

The soul and mind which absorbs itself in the Naam Simran no longer is controlled by the need to fulfill worldly desires. He will always remain in complete satisfaction. He will never feel deficient of anything. No worldly comforts can distract him. All his worries disappear. This all happens to him because all his actions and reactions are recognized by him as and under the Hukam of Akal Purakh. Basically his mind and soul become totally stable.

This is a very high spiritual condition the soul remains in, and such a condition comes only in Sach Khand, when a person becomes completely truthful, speaks the truth, listens to the truth and serves the truth only.

Such a soul is always engaged in the praise of Akal Purakh and in the service of the Guru and Sangat. Such a soul will always remain stable and absorbed in the Almighty. Nothing can distract such a soul, which always stays in the state of complete eternal peace and happiness. His heart always remains blossoming like a lotus flower. Such souls enjoy the eternal music vibrations on a continuous basis in their body, and always stay in a never ending eternal happiness. Only such people who are blessed by the Akal Purakh Himself can get this eternal treasure of Naam Simran.

SMOOTHNESS IN DAILY LIFE

With Naam Simran, everything starts to fall in the right place for you. All your problems start to disappear and things will start to happen in your way. Your life will become very clean and smooth. No difficulties will remain in your way. The people around you will become more understanding of you and will start to cooperate with you. Your work environment and family environment will become more and more congenial. Things will start to appear very simple and easy for you. The family disputes and other problems will gradually start to disappear and your surrounding will become very enjoyable and nice.
REACHING THE HEIGHTS OF SPIRITUAL WORLD - SANTS AND BHAGATS

All the Sants and Bhagats of every religion have only become Sants and Bhagats through Naam Simran. Such souls could reach these highest levels of spirituality only because of the eternal treasure of Naam Simran they obtained and performed on a regular basis in their lives.

This is how these souls became so powerful spiritually and became one on one with Almighty. There are a number of such souls whose Bani is included in Shri Guru Granth Sahib Jee, including our Great Ten Gurus. Some of them are Sant Kabir Ji, Bhagat Ravidass Ji, Bhagat Nam Dev Ji, Bhagat Baba Farid Ji, Bhagat Peepa Ji, Bhagat Sain Naai Ji, Bhagat Benney Ji and some others.

All these souls reached the highest levels in spirituality became absorbed in Akal Purakh and obtained Param Padvi, and became Puran Braham Gyanis. Such souls are also known as Pargatyeo Jyot Puran Braham Gyanis.

Such souls have continued to come to this world after Dassam Patshah Ji, some of them are Sant Baba Nand Singh Ji, Sant Baba Ishar Singh Ji and Sant Baba Attar Singh Ji.

Such souls also exist now and are engaged in this highest level of service to the Almighty – Naam Simran. They will continue to provide spiritual energy and guidance to the Sangat for all ages to come, some of them are there at this moment as well. They are serving the Sangat, and will continue to come to this world in all Ages to come

har jug jug bhagath oupaaeiaa paij rakhadhaa aaeiaa raam raajae ||



In each and every age, He creates His devotees

and preserves their honor, O Lord King.​

SGGS 451​

The benefits of Naam Simran are indescribable. we have just tried to give you a glimpse of what happens when you do Naam Simran. In reality these benefits have to be felt and physically experienced to be truly understood. The above descriptions are just a taste of this divine eternal blessing, the Gur Parsaad to help you get motivated and start doing Naam Simran. Then you will reap its unlimited rewards and make your human life sublime. The only condition is to surrender yourself completely to the Gur and Guru and have full faith, trust commitment and belief in Gur, Guru and Gurbani.

Dassan Das
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