We find one of the biggest delusions that has clouded a lot of people’s beliefs is that one does not need a ‘living’ Guru, or that there can be no ‘living Guru’. Guru Granth Sahib Jee is the praise of Naam.
Naam is Dhan Dhan Paar Brahm Parmesar’s creative power/energy. It is Naam that brought the whole of creation into existence and sustains it every second. This is the same Naam that those wanting to meet God yearn for, we yearn for the Naam to come into our heart to allow us to blossom. We want the Naam to saturate our every cell. We want to realise Truth in our soul. Gurbani tells us that IK OANKAAR SATNAAM – there is one God and His name is Truth, his creative energy is truth (SAT). Gurbani also says:
I am blind; Your Name, O Creator Lord, is my only anchor and support.
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Naam is clearly that energy that will help us find the way. Therefore Naam is the inner spiritual guide – the Guru. Baba Jee said to us that Naam is our Guru and if someone was to ask who our Guru is, we should say ‘SATnaam is our Guru.’ When Gurbani says
The Word, the Bani is Guru, and Guru is the Bani.
Within the Bani, the Ambrosial Nectar is contained.
If His humble servant believes, and acts according to the Words of the Guru’s Bani,
then the Guru, in person, emancipates him. ||5||
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Gurbaani also equals Naam. So in effect this verse is saying that Naam is the Guru and Guru is Naam and all the Amrits are contained within the Naam. The second line says that when a servant listens to what the Naam (SAT – Eternal Truth) says, then the Guru (Naam) will be revealed in person. If we are able to believe that the entire Brahmand (creation) has manifested out of His Naam (SAT – Truth) – then why is it difficult to believe that this Naam (SAT) can manifest itself in a human being? When this Naam does manifest itself in a human being that person has the SAT inside – therefore he becomes the SATGuru. At this stage it is important to keep in mind that the Guru is still Naam (SAT) but now it is in human form. This person is no longer a mere mortal This is the opportunity for the disciples to interact with Naam, learn from Naam, get direction from Naam in a way that it can be understood. Naam itself is directing the sevak back to itself. This is why there is so much praise given to the SatGuru in Gurbani.
Unfortunately, it has been misunderstood which has led the masses to believe that they do not need a living Guru. But to be a disciple (meaning of ‘Sikh’) ones needs a teacher, we can have all the manuals – but the value of a teacher who has lived through what is being taught is immeasurable. Please forgive this fool for any mistakes and mis-interpretations,
Kiram Jant