W O R D
Word means BaNee or Sabd (ਬਾਣੀ/ਸਬਦੁ) in Sikh thought. It is a metaphor of the Divine Command or Will or direction. It is important to have a clear idea of what it actually means. In essence, the Word is a message for us to act honestly and truthfully. Word is an idea, a notion, a concept, which manifests as an impulse in consciousness.
In Webster’s dictionary it is defined as Truth, Logo, Bible, Scriptures or Gospel.
The whole creation was created by Creator’s one Word says Nanak in Japji;
ਕੀਤਾ ਪਸਾਉ ਏਕੋ ਕਵਾਉ ॥
Keeta Pasaaou Ayko Kvaaou.
Akal Purkh created the vast expanse of the Universe with One Command!-----Guru Nanak, Japji, AGGS, Page, 3-16
ਤੂੰ ਜਾਣੋਈ ਸਭਸੈ ਦੇ ਲੈਸਹਿ ਜਿੰਦੁ ਕਵਾਉ ॥
Ŧūʼn jāṇo­ī sabẖsai ḏė laisahi jinḏ kavā­o.
You are the Knower of all, give life, and take it away again with a command.-----Guru Nanak, Raag Asa, AGGS, Page, 463-5
Sabd Guru, AGGS, contains the teachings or order to be free of doubt and duality leading to the evolvement of better human or Guru willed (ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ).
ਸਬਦੁ ਗੁਰੂ ਸੁਰਤਿ ਧੁਨਿ ਚੇਲਾ ॥
Sabd Guru Surat Dhun Chela.
Sabd is my Guru and the conscience is the disciple learning the Divine Knowledge in celestial music. -----Guru Nanak, Raag Ram kali-Sidh Gost, AGGS, Page, 943-1
ਬਿਨੁ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਨਾਮੁ ਨ ਪਾਈਐ ਭਾਈ ਬਿਨੁ ਨਾਮੈ ਭਰਮੁ ਨ ਜਾਈ ॥
Bin Satgur Naam Na Payee-ai Bhaaee, Bin Naamai Bharam Na Jaa-ee.
Without Word (Divine) the world remains in perplexity, O, friend, and without the Name, doubt does not depart. -----Guru Nanak, Raag Sorath, AGGS, Page, 635-12
ਸਭਸੈ ਊਪਰਿ ਗੁਰ ਸਬਦੁ ਬੀਚਾਰੁ ॥
Sabhsai Ooper Gur Sabd Veechaar.
Deliberation of the Word is the highest attainment.-----Guru Nanak, Raag Ramkali, AGGS, Page, 904-13
ਬਿਨੁ ਅਭ ਸਬਦ ਨ ਮਾਂਜੀਐ ਸਾਚੇ ਤੇ ਸਚੁ ਹੋਇ ॥
Bin Abh Sabd Na Manjee-ai Saachay Tay Such Hoey.
With out Guru’s Word mind cannot be cleansed, and through the Word one could realize the Truth. -----Guru Nanak, Siri Raag, AGGS, Page, 56-1
ਬਾਝੁ ਗੁਰੂ ਗੁਬਾਰੁ ਹੈ ਬਿਨੁ ਸਬਦੈ ਬੂਝ ਨ ਪਾਇ ॥
Bajh Guru Gubaar Hai Bin Sabdai Boojh Na Paaey.
Without the Guru, there is only pitch darkness; without the Sabd, understanding is not obtained. -----Guru Nanak, Siri Raag, AGGS, Page, 55-15
ਸਰਮ ਖੰਡ ਕੀ ਬਾਣੀ ਰੂਪੁ ॥
Saram Khand Kee BaNee Roop.
In the realm of humility, Word is the beauty -----Guru Nanak, Japji, AGGS, Page, 8-1
Word in Bible:
In the beginning was the Word, and
The Word was with God,
The same was in the beginning with God.
Who made all things?
And without God was not anything made that was made.
In God was life; and the life was the light of men. -----Bible, John (1:1-4)
ਬਾਣੀ ਗੁਰੂ ਗੁਰੂ ਹੈ ਬਾਣੀ ਵਿਚਿ ਬਾਣੀ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤੁ ਸਾਰੇ ॥ਗੁਰੁ ਬਾਣੀ ਕਹੈ ਸੇਵਕੁ ਜਨੁ ਮਾਨੈ ਪਰਤਖਿ ਗੁਰੂ ਨਿਸਤਾਰੇ ॥
BaaNee Guru Guru Hai BaaNee Which BaaNee Amrit Saray, Guru BaaNee Kahai Sevak Jan Maanai Partakh Guru Nistaaray.
The Word, the Bani is Guru, and Guru is the Bani. Within the Bani, the Ambrosial Nectar is contained. If God’s humble servant believes, and acts according to the Words of the Guru's Bani, then the Guru, in person, emancipates him. -----Guru Ram Das, Raag Nutt AGGS, Page, 982-10 &11
ਡਿਠੈ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਨ ਹੋਵਈ ਜਿਚਰੁ ਸਬਦਿ ਨ ਕਰੇ ਵੀਚਾਰੁ ॥
Dithai Mukat Na Hovaee Jichar Sabad Na Karay Veechaar.
Merely seeing It does not liberate one, unless one contemplates the Word of Akal Purkh’s Sabd. -----Guru Amar Das, Raag Wadhans, AGGS, Page, 594-11
God, in Its Mercy, destroys the impurities and limitations of the human ego and bestows upon him the true knowledge and everlasting existence. The man when freed from the gravitational pull of the world of corruption becomes weightless and purified with Truth, that is, the Word. It is sung with melodious music as expressed by Guru Ramdas in Raag Ramkali;
ਰਾਗ ਰਤਨ ਪਰਵਾਰ ਪਰੀਆ ਸਬਦ ਗਾਵਣ ਆਈਆ॥ਅੰਦਰਹੁ ਜਿਨ ਕਾ ਮੋਹੁ ਤੁਟਾ ਤਿਨ ਕਾ ਸਬਦੁ ਸਚੈ ਸਵਾਰਿਆ ॥
Raag Rattan Parvaar Paree-an Sabd GavaN Aaee-aa, Androh Jin Ka Moh Tuttaa Tin Ka Sabd Sachai Sware-aa.
The jeweled melodies and their related celestial harmonies have come to sing the Word of the Sabd. Those who eradicate attachment from within them are adorned with the Sabd, the Word of the True Akal Purkh. -----Guru Ramdas, Raag Ramkali, AGGS, Page, 917-3 &18
ਆਵਹੁ ਸਿਖ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੂ ਕੇ ਪਿਆਰਿਹੋ ਗਾਵਹੁ ਸਚੀ ਬਾਣੀ ॥ਬਾਣੀ ਤ ਗਾਵਹੁ ਗੁਰੂ ਕੇਰੀ ਬਾਣੀਆ ਸਿਰਿ ਬਾਣੀ ॥
Aavoh Sikh Satguru Kay Piaarho Gaavoh Sachee BaaNee”, BaaNee Ta Gaavoh Guru Kayree BaaNiaa Sir BaaNee.
Come, O beloved Sikhs of the True Guru, and sing the True Word of Akal Purkh’s Bani. Sing the Guru's Bani, the supreme Word of Words.-----Guru Ramdas, Raag Ramkali, AGGS, Page, 920-4 & 5
ਏਹੁ ਸੋਹਿਲਾ ਸਬਦੁ ਸੁਹਾਵਾ ॥ਸਬਦੋ ਸੁਹਾਵਾ ਸਦਾ ਸੋਹਿਲਾ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੂ ਸੁਣਾਇਆ ॥
Eh Sohila Sabd Sohaavaa, Sabdo Sohaavaa Sada Sohila Satguru SuNaa-eaa.
This song of praise is the Sabd, the most beautiful Word of God. This beauteous Sabd is the everlasting song of praise, spoken by the True Guru.-----Guru Ramdas, Raag Ram kali, AGGS, Page, 919-5
Guru Arjan on Word in Raag Gauri;
ਅਖਰ ਮਹਿ ਤ੍ਰਿਭਵਨ ਪ੍ਰਭਿ ਧਾਰੇ ॥ਅਖਰ ਕਰਿ ਕਰਿ ਬੇਦ ਬੀਚਾਰੇ ॥ ਅਖਰ ਸਾਸਤ੍ਰ ਸਿੰਮ੍ਰਿਤਿ ਪੁਰਾਨਾ ॥ਅਖਰ ਨਾਦ ਕਥਨ ਵਖ੍ਯ੍ਯਾਨਾ ॥ਅਖਰ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਜੁਗਤਿ ਭੈ ਭਰਮਾ ॥ ਅਖਰ ਕਰਮ ਕਿਰਤਿ ਸੁਚ ਧਰਮਾ ॥ ਦ੍ਰਿਸਟਿਮਾਨ ਅਖਰ ਹੈ ਜੇਤਾ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਨਿਰਲੇਪਾ ॥
Akhar Meh Tribhavan Dhaaray, Akhar Kar Kar Bayd Beecharay, Akhar Saastar Simnirat Puraanaa, Akhar Naad Kathan Vakhaanaa, Akhar Mukat Jugat Bhai Bharmaa, Akhar Karam Kirat Souch Dharmaa, Dirsittmaan Akhar Hai Jaytaa, Nanak Paarbraham Nirlaypaa.
In the Word, God established the three worlds and from the Word, the Vedas are contemplated. (Books of 1st age). From the Word, came the Shaastras, Simritees and Puraanas. (Books of 2nd, 3rd & 4rth ages). From the Word, came the sound current of the Naad, speeches and explanations. From the Word, comes the way of liberation from fear and doubt. From the Word, come religious rituals, karma, sacredness and Righteousness. In the visible universe, the Word is seen. O, Nanak, the Supreme Creator God remains unattached and untouched. -----Guru Arjan, Raag Gauri, AGGS, Page, 261
ਜਗ ਮਹਿ ਲਾਹਾ ਏਕੁ ਨਾਮੁ ਪਾਈਐ ਗੁਰ ਵੀਚਾਰਿ ॥
Jug Meh Laahaa Ayk Naam Paa-eeai Gur Veechaar.
There is only one greatest achievement in the world that of realizing the True Name, by concentrating on Guru’s Word. -----Guru Nanak, Raag Majh, AGGS, Page, 55-3
ਗੁਰ ਸਬਦੀ ਸਚੁ ਪਾਇਆ ਸਚਾ ਗਹਿਰ ਗੰਭੀਰੁ ॥
Gur Sabdee Such Paa-eaa Suchaa Gehr Ganbhieer.
Through the Word of the Guru's Sabd, I have found the True, Profound and Unfathomable God. -----Guru Nanak, Raag Suhi, AGGS, Page, 789-1
He, who recognizes God in himself and knows the secret of the Word/Will/Order, shall be satisfied. Why speak of meeting God? Man has already met the God, but only receiving the Word he is satisfied. God can be addressed by any name Sat Kartar, Waheguru, Ram, Bhagwan, Allah, Jesus etc; it is the humility, supplication, selfless service, inner cleanliness, and sincerity of the heart, which is important to becoming a candidate for receiving Its Grace.
With these words (Name of the God) and deeds alone the state of perfection is not reached. One needs to adopt the path as shown by the “Word” in AGGS. One has to cultivate the habit of truthfulness at all times. He must develop the moral fortitude to publicly (in Sangat) acknowledge his failures whenever he gets diverted from the correct practice.
Can one reach God through repetition of some descriptive or specific name?
Guru Nanak says no one can reach or comprehend God by repetition of any descriptive or specific name, in Raag Asa:
ਜਪੁ ਤਪੁ ਕਰਿ ਕਰਿ ਸੰਜਮ ਥਾਕੀ ਹਠਿ ਨਿਗ੍ਰਹਿ ਨਹੀ ਪਾਈਐ ॥
Jap Tap Kar Kar Sanjam Thaakee Hath Nigreh Nahee Paa-eeai.
Through recitation, austerity, and self-discipline, people have grown weary. Even after stubbornly practicing these rituals, they still have not been able to realize God.
-----Guru Nanak, Raag Asa, AGGS, Page, 436-18
Guru Ramdas has re-iterated the above philosophy of Guru Nanak as follows:
ਜਪੁ ਤਪ ਸੰਜਮ ਵਰਤ ਕਰੇ ਪੂਜਾ ਮਨਮੁਖ ਰੋਗੁ ਨ ਜਾਈ ॥
Jap Tap Sanjam Varat Karay Pooja Manmukh Roag Na Jaa-ee.
The self-oriented recites mantras or verses, practices austerity and self-discipline, and fasts but his sickness does not go away. -----Guru Ramdas, Raag Suhi, AGGS, Page, 732-8
The teachings of the Word are to be deliberated, contemplated, and reflected upon, in daily life. After a long practice, if one is blessed with Divine Grace, he can gain control of the mind. He can then remove all extraneous thoughts from it, replacing them with just one central over arching thought: O, How shall I further the Will of “Akal Purkh”. As our mind gets cleansed, it becomes the abode of “Truth”, the enlightened mind transcends in to the “Supreme Creator.”
Conclusion:
The world is a tempestuous ocean; how shall man traverse it?
Make God’s name the boat, and put the Word into it as helmsman,
God It self will ferry thee over, and thus you shall traverse the worldly ocean, difficult though it be.
God acts It self causes one to act; and adores men by Its word.
God Itself is the true Guru. God is the Word. In every age and humans are dear to God.
God Itself is far seeing and causes men to serve It.
God Itself is the Bestower of merits and the remover of demerits. It causes Its name to dwell in men’s heart.
Word/Will/Command consists of bestowing Truth, Contentment, Mercy, and Faith in Akal Purkh.
Virinder S. Grewal
Williamston,MI
