Listening, Listening. Suniai (Excerpted From SikhChic)

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Listening, Listening. Suniai

Excerpted discussion from the Talking Stick at Sikh Chic

sikhchic.com | The Art and Culture of the Diaspora | Attentive Listening:The Talking Stick Colloquium VII - Pauris 8 to 11, Feb 15 - 21
<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" width="98%"><tbody><tr bgcolor="#ffecec"><td class="ggs">ਤੇਹਾ ਕੋਇ ਨ ਸੁਝਈ ਜਿ ਤਿਸੁ ਗੁਣੁ ਕੋਇ ਕਰੇ ॥੭॥
</td></tr><tr bgcolor="#ffecec"><td class="subhead">thaehaa koe n sujhee j this gun koe karae ||7||
</td></tr><tr bgcolor="#ffecec"><td class="shlok">No one can even imagine anyone who can bestow virtue upon Him. ||7||
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</td></tr><tr bgcolor="#ffffec"><td class="ggs">ਸੁਣਿਐ ਸਿਧ ਪੀਰ ਸੁਰਿ ਨਾਥ ॥
</td></tr><tr bgcolor="#ffffec"><td class="subhead">suniai sidhh peer sur naathh ||
</td></tr><tr bgcolor="#ffffec"><td class="shlok">Listening-the Siddhas, the spiritual teachers, the heroic warriors, the yogic masters.
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</td></tr><tr bgcolor="#ffecec"><td class="ggs">ਸੁਣਿਐ ਧਰਤਿ ਧਵਲ ਆਕਾਸ ॥
</td></tr><tr bgcolor="#ffecec"><td class="subhead">suniai dhharath dhhaval aakaas ||
</td></tr><tr bgcolor="#ffecec"><td class="shlok">Listening-the earth, its support and the Akaashic ethers.
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</td></tr><tr bgcolor="#ffffec"><td class="ggs">ਸੁਣਿਐ ਦੀਪ ਲੋਅ ਪਾਤਾਲ ॥
</td></tr><tr bgcolor="#ffffec"><td class="subhead">suniai dheep loa paathaal ||
</td></tr><tr bgcolor="#ffffec"><td class="shlok">Listening-the oceans, the lands of the world and the nether regions of the underworld.
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</td></tr><tr bgcolor="#ffecec"><td class="ggs">ਸੁਣਿਐ ਪੋਹਿ ਨ ਸਕੈ ਕਾਲੁ ॥
</td></tr><tr bgcolor="#ffecec"><td class="subhead">suniai pohi n sakai kaal ||
</td></tr><tr bgcolor="#ffecec"><td class="shlok">Listening-Death cannot even touch you.
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</td></tr><tr bgcolor="#ffffec"><td class="ggs">ਨਾਨਕ ਭਗਤਾ ਸਦਾ ਵਿਗਾਸੁ ॥
</td></tr><tr bgcolor="#ffffec"><td class="subhead">naanak bhagathaa sadhaa vigaas ||
</td></tr><tr bgcolor="#ffffec"><td class="shlok">O Nanak, the devotees are forever in bliss.
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</td></tr><tr bgcolor="#ffecec"><td class="ggs">ਸੁਣਿਐ ਦੂਖ ਪਾਪ ਕਾ ਨਾਸੁ ॥੮॥
</td></tr><tr bgcolor="#ffecec"><td class="subhead">suniai dhookh paap kaa naas ||8||
</td></tr><tr bgcolor="#ffecec"><td class="shlok">Listening-pain and sin are erased. ||8||
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</td></tr><tr bgcolor="#ffffec"><td class="ggs">ਸੁਣਿਐ ਈਸਰੁ ਬਰਮਾ ਇੰਦੁ ॥
</td></tr><tr bgcolor="#ffffec"><td class="subhead">suniai eesar baramaa eindh ||
</td></tr><tr bgcolor="#ffffec"><td class="shlok">Listening-Shiva, Brahma and Indra.
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</td></tr><tr bgcolor="#ffecec"><td class="ggs">ਸੁਣਿਐ ਮੁਖਿ ਸਾਲਾਹਣ ਮੰਦੁ ॥
</td></tr><tr bgcolor="#ffecec"><td class="subhead">suniai mukh saalaahan mandh ||
</td></tr><tr bgcolor="#ffecec"><td class="shlok">Listening-even foul-mouthed people praise Him.
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</td></tr><tr bgcolor="#ffffec"><td class="ggs">ਸੁਣਿਐ ਜੋਗ ਜੁਗਤਿ ਤਨਿ ਭੇਦ ॥
</td></tr><tr bgcolor="#ffffec"><td class="subhead">suniai jog jugath than bhaedh ||
</td></tr><tr bgcolor="#ffffec"><td class="shlok">Listening-the technology of Yoga and the secrets of the body.
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</td></tr><tr bgcolor="#ffecec"><td class="ggs">ਸੁਣਿਐ ਸਾਸਤ ਸਿਮ੍ਰਿਤਿ ਵੇਦ ॥
</td></tr><tr bgcolor="#ffecec"><td class="subhead">suniai saasath simrith vaedh ||
</td></tr><tr bgcolor="#ffecec"><td class="shlok">Listening-the Shaastras, the Simritees and the Vedas.
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</td></tr><tr bgcolor="#ffffec"><td class="ggs">ਨਾਨਕ ਭਗਤਾ ਸਦਾ ਵਿਗਾਸੁ ॥
</td></tr><tr bgcolor="#ffffec"><td class="subhead">naanak bhagathaa sadhaa vigaas ||
</td></tr><tr bgcolor="#ffffec"><td class="shlok">O Nanak, the devotees are forever in bliss.</td></tr></tbody></table><script type="text/javascript" src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/200/addthis_widget.js"></script> <!-- AddThis Button END -->
Comments by forum member Tejwant Singh Malik ji

In these four verses, Guru Nanak has shown us the difference between the dogmatic religions and the pragmatism on which Sikhi is based. Listening cultivates pragmatism. 'Listening' in these four beautiful verses is not what we want to hear, or what we already know. Here it means for us to pay attention to our own denial within - the ego, haumai. This also clearly shows that naam japna - simran - is not meaninglessly repeating the same word or words again and again - in other words parroting, does not serve any purpose. When one listens, one becomes attentive; one becomes aware of one's own shortcomings, one's defensive walls crumble, one bursts out of the self-created cocoon. One becomes aware. One starts interacting, conversing. One becomes a learner, a seeker, a Sikh ... and it is the duty of a Sikh to listen so he/ she can be aware of, comes to understands his/ her faults so they can be mended, which in turn breeds acceptance of Hukam and rejection of denial. So, let's become true listeners. Listen to our kids, to our spouses, to our brothers and sisters, to our parents, to our friends and, last but not least, to the voice within where Ik Oankaar dwells.

 

[japjisahib04]

In Guru Ghar so much importance is given to listening to the Name and teaching of God that even prime route to merge back into God and means of prayer is also considered to be listening His guidance which is the root. Listening/connecting to the sabad (through naam) is the only way out. . Unlike reading and singing which is natural, listening is sadhna. It requires concentration, hard work and ras. On Page 1240.9 gurbani tells us, nwie suixAY sB isiD hY iriD ipCY AwvY ] Hearing the Name, all supernatural spiritual powers are obtained, and wealth follows along. Guru Nanak promulgates his experience in just one phrase ... : Only love and understanding the message of God and development of humility will help to attain salvation ("bhaa-o bhagat kar neech sadaa-ay, ta-o naanak mokhantar paa-ay. Guru Nanak puts it as a succinct and easily understandable statement. In Sikh Philosophy we are looking for the Love of True Naam and all other kind of love is false (Koorh). The Will of the Lord gives the love of True Naam when one is blessed with his Grace.We accept ‘word’ as the source to meet God and thus most important is to know the taste of and cultivate the Guru's words by listening.<?"urn:fficeffice" />
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In Japjisahib Guru Nanak has recited four-four stanzas only on one subject and among those stanzas, listening is first and they are in four stanzas. In these four Stanzas he has said persistently and repeatedly that if the devotee listens to the Name of God quite attentively he will be enriched with infinite spiritual gifts. But the Word “listen” has two meanings. First is “hearing” when another person is reading loudly. Second is hearing when we are reading or reciting ourselves. In these stanzas we are more concerned of hearing when we ourselves are reading or reciting. Gurbani tells us, “sRvn goibMd gunu sunau Aru gwau rsnw gIiq ] - hear the Glorious Praises of God of the Universe with your ears, what you sing with your own tongue.” - Guru Granth ang.631.11. God’s Name and word when enters to the heart through ears, it transforms to unstruck sound, spiritual assets into supreme bliss. Hence Sabd is the subject of listening. Earlier Guruji had stated briefly the benefits of singing and hearing the glory of the indwelling Name of God with wholehearted devotion in stanza V. There Guruji says “Oh, devotee; you just sing or hear praise of God with love from the core of your heart. Thereafter the entire burden of your sufferings are not only taken care automatically but you take home wagon full of happiness.”

Now in stanza VIII to XI comprehensive detail of the aforesaid happiness has been given. In these four stanzas he talked <TT>about 'Bliss of Listening' (</TT><TT>suixAY</TT><TT>). He glorifies Name and its contribution to the development of mental, moral and spiritual stature by the votary of the Name. He says listening requires attention and concentration plus off course urge to listen from within. The perception of sound by hearing mechanism, when interpreted based on the pragmatic experiences; helps human beings become 'one with universe' or the self-centered egoists without realization their real function in the cosmos. Thus Sabd is our perpetual insurance for internal security against all kinds of visible or invisible onslaught. Listening in JAPJI means comprehending the philosophy of God in the Gurbani to become ‘one with universe’.By listening the gur sabd one get attached and the karta takes his place in the heart thus,</TT> <?xml::ffice:smarttags" /><st1:City w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">nis vM\hu iklivKhu krqw Gir AwieAw ] dUqh dhnu BieAw goivMdu pRgtwieAw ]Run away, O sins; the Creator has entered my home.<TT> </TT>The demons within me have been burnt; the Lord of the Universe has revealed Himself to me.
Best regards