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Ajapaa Jaap

BaljinderS

SPNer
Dec 29, 2011
171
251
Ajapaa Jaap
Posted by T. Singh
As indicated in the onset of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (“ਜਪੁ” ਬਾਣੀ), there are countless Jap (“ਅਸੰਖ ਜਪ”) in the world. Associated with these countless Jap are also countless desires (ਇੱਛਾਵਾਂ), demands (ਮੰਗ), feelings, ways, methods, Mariayada (ਮਰਯਾਦਾ: ਬੰਦੇ ਦੀ ਅਪਣੀ ਮਰਜੀ i.e. ਮਨਮੁਖਤਾ), and so on. Furthermore, according to one’s own intellect, people describe the Supreme Truth differently:

ਅਸੰਖ ਜਪ ਅਸੰਖ ਭਾਉ ॥: Asankh jap asankh bhaaou (sggs 3).
ਆਪੁ ਆਪੁਨੀ ਬੁਧਿ ਹੈ ਜੇਤੀ ॥ ਬਰਨਤ ਭਿੰਨ ਭਿੰਨ ਤੁਹਿ ਤੇਤੀ ॥ Aapu aapunibudhi hai jetee. Barnat bhinn bhinn tuhi tetee (Dasam Granth 1467).
However, the Truth (ਸਚ) as indicated in the Gurbani is Absolute, not relative. Also, the Jap as indicated in the Gurbani (Gurmat) is totally different than all others – It is to be practiced with the support of the Budhi (discerning intellect, Vivek-Budhi …).

The Gurbani asks us to practice the Giaan-Jap (“ਗਿਆਨੁ ਜਪਹੁ”). And the Giaan (Wisdom, Knowledge, Aatm-Giaan, Brahm-Giaan…) is the subject of the Budhi, not the gross external body-frame. The Gurbani:

ਐਸਾ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਜਪਹੁ ਮਨ ਮੇਰੇ ॥ ਹੋਵਹੁ ਚਾਕਰ ਸਾਚੇ ਕੇਰੇ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥: Aisaa giaanu japahu mann mere. Hovahu chaakar saache kere ||Rahaaou|| (sggs 728).
ਗੁਰ ਜਪੁ ਜਾਪਿ ਜਪਤ ਫਲੁ ਪਾਇਆ ਗਿਆਨ ਦੀਪਕੁ ਸੰਤ ਸੰਗਨਾ ॥੧੨॥: Gur japu jaap japat phal paaiaa giaan deepak sant sanganaa ||12|| (sggs 1080).
॥ ਜਪੁ ॥ ਆਦਿ ਸਚੁ ਜੁਗਾਦਿ ਸਚੁ ॥ ਹੈ ਭੀ ਸਚੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਹੋਸੀ ਭੀ ਸਚੁ ॥੧॥: || Japu || Aadi sachu jugaadi sachu || Hai bhee sachu Nanak hosee bhee sachu ||1|| (sggs 1).
Thus, Jap simply means to understand the Gurbani (to attain Brahm Giaan, Divine Knowledge, Spiritual Wisdom, ਗੁਰਬਾਣੀ ਦਾ ਪ੍ਰਚੰਡ ਗਿਆਨ ਪ੍ਰਾਪਤ ਕਰਨਾ…), and constant remembrance of that Understanding (ਸੂਝ-ਬੂਝ…) when transacting with the outside world of objects, sphere of emotions, and the realm of thoughts (ਫੁਰਨੇ, desires…).

In this way, the Jap indicated in the Gurbani is “Ajapaa Jaap” – the letter “A” in “Ajapaa” indicates without the external senses (i.e., tongue, etc.). That is, constant or unbroken Awareness of one’s Mool (ਮੂਲ), Joti-Svaroopa, Aatm-Giaan, Gurmat, Spiritual Wisdom, Divine Knowledge …!

ਅਜਪਾ ਜਾਪੁ ਨ ਵੀਸਰੈ ਆਦਿ ਜੁਗਾਦਿ ਸਮਾਇ ॥ ਸਭਿ ਸਖੀਆ ਪੰਚੇ ਮਿਲੇ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਨਿਜ ਘਰਿ ਵਾਸੁ ॥ ਸਬਦੁ ਖੋਜਿ ਇਹੁ ਘਰੁ ਲਹੈ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਤਾ ਕਾ ਦਾਸੁ ॥: Ajapaa jaap n veesarai aadi jugaadi sammaai… (sggs 1291).
Accordingly, the Gurbani’s Jap makes one “Sewak” or “Chaakar”. It neither makes one the Guroo, nor the Satguroo, nor the Sant, nor Sri 108, nor any Deraas (ਡੇਰਾ), nor any Aashrams, etc. While all other Jap make one a Guroo, a Satguroo, a Sant, a Sri 108, Deraas (ਡੇਰਾ), Aashrams, and so on.

To put it otherwise, the Jap as indicated in the Gurbani makes one humble (“ਨੀਚਾ”, ਨੀਵਾਂ, ਗਰੀਬੀ-ਸੁਭਾਉ, lowly…), but all other Jap make one think he is better, superior, or higher than others…

ਆਪਸ ਕਉ ਜੋ ਜਾਣੈ ਨੀਚਾ ॥ ਸੋਊ ਗਨੀਐ ਸਭ ਤੇ ਊਚਾ ॥: Aapas kaou jo jaanai neechaa. Souoo Ganeeai sabh te oouchaa (sggs 266).
ਆਪਸ ਕਉ ਜੋ ਭਲਾ ਕਹਾਵੈ ॥ ਤਿਸਹਿ ਭਲਾਈ ਨਿਕਟਿ ਨ ਆਵੈ ॥: Aaps kaou jo bhalaa kahaavai. Tisahi bhalaaee nikati n aavai (sggs 278).
This “Ajapaa Jaap” as taught by the Gurbani is perfected within – in the Heart. So Kabeer Sahib asks us to give up mental trickery, worldly cleverness, craftiness, etc. (“ਚਤੁਰਾਈ”).

ਕਬੀਰ ਚਤੁਰਾਈ ਅਤਿ ਘਨੀ ਹਰਿ ਜਪਿ ਹਿਰਦੈ ਮਾਹਿ ॥: Kabeer chaturaaee ati ghanee hari japi hiradai maahi (sggs 1370).
ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮ ਜਪਿ ਹਿਰਦੇ ਮਾਹਿ ॥: Raam naam japi hiradai maahi (sggs 283).
ਬਿਨੁ ਜਿਹਵਾ ਜੋ ਜਪੈ ਹਿਆਇ ॥: Bin jihavaa jo japai hiaai. Koee jaanai kesaa naaou (sggs 1256).
So, as indicated earlier, the Jap as tought to us by the Gurbani is performed within, with the support of the Budhi, to attain Brahm Giaan (Divine Knowledge, Spiritual Wisdom, ਗੁਰਬਾਣੀ ਦਾ ਪ੍ਰਚੰਡ ਗਿਆਨ ਪ੍ਰਾਪਤ ਕਰਨਾ…).

ਕਹੁ ਰੇ ਪੰਡੀਆ ਕਉਨ ਪਵੀਤਾ ॥ ਐਸਾ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਜਪਹੁ ਮੇਰੇ ਮੀਤਾ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥: Kahu re pandeeaa kaoun paveetaa. Aisaa giaanu japahu mere meetaa ||1||Rahaou|| (sggs 331).
With constant and thorough practice of this Ajapaa Jaap - the state of “ਬੁਧਿ ਬਦਲੀ” arises within (“Budhi Badalee” – transmutation of Mayaic Budhi or worldly intelligence, or worldly mind, or worldly wisdom, etc.). This seems to be the Goal of Jap as toucht by the Gurbani. While in all other Jap – to the contrary – there is the perpetual hunger of Maya (ਮਾਇਆ ਦੀ ਭੁੱਖ, ਇੱਛਾਵਾਂ, ਮੰਗਾ …) in the mind.

Therefore, the Gurbani indicates to us that only that can be called Jap which is agreeable with the Satigur’s Shabad (ਉਪਦੇਸ, ਗਿਆਨ …), not what we think is to be the Jap (e.g., counting beads – ਮਾਲਾ ਫੇਰਨੀ – etc.)!

ਸੋ ਜਪੁ ਸੋ ਤਪੁ ਜਿ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਭਾਵੈ ॥: So japu so tapu jo satigur bhaavai (sggs 509).

http://www.gurbani.org/gurblog/2012/01/20/ajapaa-jaap/
 

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