Saachaa naam mayraa aadhaaro.
Saach naam adhaar mayraa jin bhukhaa sabh gavaa-ee-aa.
Kar saant sukh man aa-ay vasi-aa jin ichhaa sabh pujaa-ee-aa.
Sadaa kurbaan keetaa guroo vitahu jis dee-aa ayhi vadi-aa-ee-aa.
Kahai naanak sunhu santahu sabad dharahu pi-aaro.
Saachaa naam mayraa aadhaaro. ||4||
(Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji 917)
It is a supremely essential truth that the name “SatNaam” (Truth as a manifestation of the Name of God) of Sat PaarBraham Parmeshar (Truth, the Transcendent Lord and Creator of the Universe) alone is the basis of the human life. Not only that, it is a supreme truth that “Sat” (“Truth”) is the womb to all Creation. The entire Creation has been created, is being created and will forever continue to be created from this supreme power of “Sat”. This supremely essential truth is revealed by the blessed SatGuru Arjan Dev Ji (SatGuru the fifth Patshah Ji) in Sukhmani Bani (the composition by SatGuru Arjan Dev Ji, comprising of 24 Astpadis):
Mool sat sat utpat.
(Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji 284)
The essence is that all the supreme powers of creating the entire universe are assimilated within “Sat” itself. Thus the name “SatNaam” of Sat PaarBraham Parmeshar forms the basis of every creation in the entire universe. The source of the human life is the divine Jyot (the divine light within; soul). The human beings owe their existence only to Jyot, and this Jyot itself is “Sat”. This Jyot itself is the human soul or conscience. This Jyot itself is the human life-force. When this Jyot relinquishes the human body, the human body expires. It is this divine Jyot that – in accordance with the divine Hukam (will; command) – unites the five elements (air, water, fire, earth and space), which by their very nature are mutually antagonistic (water and fire oppose each other, water extinguishes fire, air instigates fire, earth dissolves in water, air assimilates water, etc.) and creates the human body. The divine Jyot, abiding within the human body, itself has assimilated within it all of the supreme powers. The five skills bestowed upon the human being, the five sensory organs that govern the human body and control the five human action organs, are sustained by this divine Jyot alone. Not just this, but this divine Jyot alone sustains the seven Sat Sarovars (the seven sources of Amrit, or the spiritual energy, inside the human body) situated within the human soul, which have the eternal supreme powers of Sat PaarBraham Parmeshar assimilated within them. The human beings, who disregard this supreme Jyot and adopt Maya (the worldly temptations; all physical perceptions are nothing but illusions created by Maya) as their Guru (teacher; mentor), waste away the precious gem of their life serving and slaving under Maya and fail to obtain deliverance from the bonds of births-and-deaths. The human beings who hold this divine supreme Jyot, the basis of all life, as their Guru receive GurParsaad (eternal bliss and eternal grace), are admitted in Sat Sangat (congregation in the company of Sat, or of those who have transformed themselves into Sat by virtue of having attained salvation), accomplish their Bandagi (submission before God) under the auspices of Sat, attain triumph over Maya, assimilate themselves in Sat PaarBraham Parmeshar and turn their life into a success.
SatNaam is not just the basis only of human life. The eternal supreme power assimilated within Sat forms the basis of every creation in the universe. SatGuru incarnate the blessed Arjan Dev Patshah Ji manifests this supremely essential truth in Sukhmani Bani:
Naam kay dhaaray saglay jant.
Naam kay dhaaray khand barahmand.
Naam kay dhaaray simrit bayd puraan.
Naam kay dhaaray sunan gi-aan dhi-aan.
Naam kay dhaaray aagaas paataal.
Naam kay dhaaray sagal aakaar.
Naam kay dhaaray puree-aa sabh bhavan.
Naam kai sang udhray sun sarvan.
Kar kirpaa jis aapnai naam laa-ay.
Naanak cha-uthay pad meh so jan gat paa-ay. ||5||
(Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji 284)
In this supremely powerful Salok (verse) of Puran Braham Gyan (perfect divine wisdom) the blessed SatGuru Sahib Ji explains the supremely essential fact of how amazing and astonishing is the magnificence of SatNaam. Here the blessed fifth Patshah Ji describes the immensity of the magnificence of SatNaam – the name of Akaal Purakh (Immortal Being; God). Every entity that abides in the universe has SatNaam as its foundation. Everything present in the universe has SatNaam as its basis. Every entity abiding in the universe has originated from, is originating from and will continue to originate from SatNaam. Every creation present in the world has emerged from, is emerging from and will continue to emerge from SatNaam. All the living beings dwelling in the world are created from, are being created from and will continue to be created from SatNaam. All the plant-life in the world, all Khand-Brahamands (the inner spiritual realms and the outer physical worlds), the earth, the sun, the moon, the stars, all planets and constellations and everything existing in Khand-Brahamands – i.e. every creation in the universe – has originated from, is originating from and will continue to originate from SatNaam. All religious tomes: Smrities, the four Vedas, all Upnishads and all Puranas created from time to time by the Yogis (practitioners of Yoga; ascetics), Rishis and Munis (saints and sages); all of these religious texts too have their foundation in SatNaam alone. That is, all the knowledge and wisdom revealed from time to time in the entire universe have their basis in SatNaam. Even the basis of Puran Braham Gyan manifested in GurBani (Gur’s words or God’s words; Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji) is none other than SatNaam. The basis of the blessed Guru Granth Sahib too is only SatNaam. Because “Sat” is Naam (the Name – representing God and all His Creation), therefore “Sat” alone is the basis of every creation in the universe. Thus SatNaam alone is Guru of Puran Braham Gyan manifested in GurBani. The blessed Sri Guru Granth Sahib too has SatNaam alone as Guru. All SatGurus (Truth Gurus), Avataars (divine incarnates; the ten Guru Sahiban), Sants (saints), Bhagats (devotees), Braham Gyani (those possessing divine wisdom), Pirs (seers), Paigambars (prophets), Khalsa (pure soul that possesses Puran Braham Gyan) and Gurmukhs (those immersed in Puran Bandagi; those who have attained Guparsaad of Naam, and have attained Sach Khand) who have appeared upon this earth till now have only SatNaam as their Guru. Everything within Lok-Parloks (this world and hereafters; physical and metaphysical worlds) is born from, is taking birth from and will continue to be born from SatNaam. SatNaam is the basis of the existence of everything within Lok-Parloks. The entire Braham Gyan (divine wisdom) dawned upon the earth so far is a gift from SatNaam alone. The conclusion is that every creation in the universe has only “Sat” Naam as Guru.
It is extremely essential to know, understand and to accept this supremely true fact that only GurParsaad of “Sat” Naam can: take a human being to the shelter at the feet of Sat PaarBraham Parmeshar; awaken the Kundalini Shakti (divine energy said to reside at the base of the spine, spreading into the entire body through the three energy-channels of Ida, Pingla and Sushmana and making corrections and purification throughout the body) of the human being enabling him or her attain Samadhi (deep trance-like state, where there is no thought, nothing except pure consciousness) and Sunn Samadhi (silent, deep meditation; a state free of thoughts, free even from the effects of time and space); suffuse every cell of the human being with Amrit (our essence or the life-element; the divine energy); open all Bajjar Kapaats (divine doors that – once opened –channel Amrit into the body and establish connection between human being and Akaal Purakh) and Dassam Duaar (the tenth door; the Crown Chakra; once opened, it establishes a link between the human being and the Akaal Purakh) of the human being; illuminate the seven Sat Sarovars of the human being; enlighten Hirda (literally meaning heart, Hirda actually denotes one of the seven Sat Sarovars, and is more a part of our spiritual being than of our physical body) of the human being with Puran Parkash (the supreme light; His aura; aura around the enlightened ones) of Param Jyot (the divine light;, God Himself); imbue Hirda of the human being with all divine virtues and supreme powers; quench the human being’s Trishna (desires), bring Panj Dhoots (the five thieves – lust, anger, greed, attachments and pride) under one’s control and make the human being victorious over Trigun Maya (Maya of the three aspects: Sato – the goodness viz. charity, compassion, contentment; Rajo – the desires viz. hopes, expectations and yearnings; and Tamo – the vices viz. the Panj Dhoots); make a human being achieve victory over mind; make a human being attain Jeevan Mukti (deliverance from the cycle of births-and-deaths; salvation); forever assimilate the human being in Nirgun Saroop (the infinite divine power beyond the three attributes of Maya) of Sat PaarBraham Parmeshar; and make a human being attain Param Padvi (the highest spiritual status).
Those human beings who dedicate themselves in SatNaam, SatNaam Simran (meditation upon SatNaam), SatNaam Di Kamai (putting SatNaam in practice in one’s life), Puran Bandagi (complete surrender before God) and Seva (humble and selfless service to others) reach a state in their Bandagi when all (seven) “Sat” Sarovars are illuminated by SatNaam. Sat PaarBraham Parmeshar, Daataa Kartaa (the doer and the creator) Himself instates all of the divine treasures within our Hirda. The seven Sat Sarovars, which are an integral part of our soul, are the springs of all divine treasures. When these Sat Sarovars are illuminated and our Kundalini Shakti is awakened, we receive the blessing of SatNaam Simran in every cell of our body. The opening up of all Bajjar Kapaats, realization of Anhad Shabad (incessant fall of Amrit at the Dassam Duaar along with Anhad Naad – the divine un-struck music of five primal sounds played on divine musical instruments) at Dassam Duaar along with direct connection with Sat PaarBraham Parmeshar, suffusing of Hirda with Param Jyot Puran Parkash (the perfect radiance of divine light; His aura; God Himself), manifestation of all divine sacred virtues and powers in Hirda – all this is easily accomplished by engaging oneself in service of SatNaam.
Amongst the Sat Sarovars, there is one Sat Sarovar that holds the heavenly powers of Puran Braham Gyan and when this Sat Sarovar is illuminated by SatNaam, we acquire the blessing of Puran Braham Gyan and Puran Tat Gyan (the entire divine knowledge; understanding of the divine ways). Tat Gyan is the highest level of Puran Braham Gyan, and it cannot be acquired by reading GurBani. Puran Braham Gyan is not obtained by reading GurBani or by studying spiritual tomes and texts. It is only with the illumination of Sat Sarovars by SatNaam that the human being attains Simran in every cell of one’s body and acquires all divine powers and Puran Braham Gyan. This is how the spring of Puran Braham Gyan and Puran Tat Gyan gushes from within the human being. Those who receive GurParsaad and completely dedicate themselves with their body, mind and worldly possessions at the Sat Charans (feet where Sat abides) of SatGuru with complete trust, faith and devotion – such human beings realize the state of Dhyan (Simran of Naam – with deep concentration, and detachment from all-else). As the human being engages in prolonged practice of SatNaam while abiding in Dhyan, he or she attains Samadhi and Sunn Samadhi. As the human being abides in Dhyan (i.e. prolonged practice of SatNaam), he or she has all Bajjar Kapaats opened up, the seven Sat Sarovars illuminated, SatNaam permeate every cell of the body and the spring of Puran Braham Gyan beginning to gush forth.
Since Maya has three forms: Rajo (Trishna), Tamo (lust, anger, greed, attachments and pride) and Sato (compassion, righteousness, contentment and forbearance); therefore the human being abiding under these forms is abiding under the influence of Maya, i.e. he or she is a slave to Maya. The fortunate ones among the human beings acquire the blessing of GurParsaad, pass through the process of Puran Bandagi (complete surrender before God), vanquish and transcend Maya and arrive at a state called ‘Chautha Pad’ (the fourth state). First are the three forms of Maya and then ‘Chautha Pad’ beyond Maya, which is Jeevan Mukti. When we vanquish Maya we arrive at ‘Chautha Pad’, where we find the blessing of Jeevan Mukti. The essence of the entire truth is that SatNaam obtains us victory over Maya and takes us to ‘Chautha Pad’, where Jeevan Mukti awaits us. This is why GurParsaad of SatNaam holds immense and supreme divine power.
Such human beings are fortunate who acquire the blessing of SatNaam, and for this reason they should not belittle this GurParsaadi GurKirpa (eternal grace through His blessings) or disrespect this supreme power. These human beings should put themselves at the service of this perfectly divine supreme power of GurParsaad with their body, mind and worldly possessions. The human beings who disrespect GurParsaad are extremely foolish and end up wasting away their life. It is the personal experience of Dass (Dassan Dass, a servant-to-His-servants; the narrator) that many in Sangat are showered with GurParsaadi GurKirpa, but the trouble is that only a rare being cares after this supreme power of GurParsaad of SatNaam and devotes oneself to it. Only a rare human being submits one’s complete self with one’s body, mind and possessions at the feet of SatGuru and accomplishes one’s Bandagi. Most people in Sangat get themselves embroiled in Bharam’s (misgivings; incorrect religious notions and superstitions), are bogged down in swamp of Maya and fritter away the immense blessing of this supreme power. The major reason behind this is the worldly demands of Sangat. It is a complete fact that SatGuru can fulfil some demands of Sangat but he cannot fulfil them all, neither does he do so. The human being – besieged by worldly needs and not finding fulfilment of all one’s requirement – fails the trials posed by Maya and loses one’s trust, faith and devotion. The foolish human being seeks worldly success in Maya and therefore squanders away GurParsaad and once again gets trapped in the web of Bharams woven by Maya.
There is no end to the worldly demands of a human being. The entire Sangat seeks the feet of SatGuru only with their worldly demands. Rare is the human being who seeks the feet of SatGuru to ask for and to perform Bandagi. It is extremely necessary to know, understand and to accept this supremely true fact that a human being can find happiness in life and solve all one’s problems and put an end to all one’s sufferings and troubles only when he or she breaks the bonds of one’s past deeds. The human being breaks the bonds of one’s past deeds only when one’s Bandagi is approved in Dargah (divine court) and when one attains Puran Parkash of Param Jyot in one’s Hirda. Therefore the human being who seeks shelter at the feet of SatGuru should renounce one’s worldly demands and only ask for GurParsaad of SatNaam, SatNaam Simran, SatNaam Di Kamai, Puran Bandagi and Seva. The human beings who find admission in Sangat of SatGuru should put their mind only to their Bandagi. The human beings who receive GurParsaad by the grace of SatGuru should surrender their body, mind and worldly possessions with complete faith, devotion and trust at the feet of SatGuru and single-mindedly pursue the accomplishment of their Bandagi.
The Trishna of a human being is quenched by GurParsaad of SatNaam. It is only one’s Trishna that gets the human being mired in the swamp of Maya. In order to satisfy one’s Trishna the human being commits all Asat Karams under the slavery of lust, anger, greed, attachments and pride. All Asat Karams are like crimes. When a human being bogged down in the morass of Maya commits Asat Karams, these Asat Karams never do any good to him or her but always do harm. But the foolish human being remains under the misconception that he or she is doing it for one’s good. The foolish human being doesn’t realize how the false deeds ever can do a good turn to anybody? How can the false deeds ever work out well for anyone? Any wealth earned by using falsehood is like poison. The riches earned through false deeds act to spiritually destroy the human being. Any profit earned through committing false deeds isn’t a profit, but becomes the cause of sufferings and distresses the human being’s life. All Asat Karams committed under the slavery of Maya make the human life hell-like. But the foolish human being, even while burning day-and-night in the fire of Maya, does not desist from committing Asat Karams and continues to smoulder day-and-night in this never-quenching furnace of Trishna. The fire of Trishna confounds a human being, and keeps him or her ensnared in the trap of Trishna.
GurParsaad of SatNaam alone can quench Trishna of a human being. Only by acquiring GurParsaad of SatNaam does a human being gain understanding of this highly disastrous trap. Only by acquiring GurParsaad of SatNaam does a human being grasp this destructive game of Trishna and of lust, anger, greed, attachments and pride, recognizes the supreme power of Sat PaarBraham Parmeshar and immerses oneself in His Bandagi. Being absorbed in prolonged SatNaam Simran, the mind of the human being is thoroughly cleansed. By practising SatNaam Simran the human being attains Samadhi, and by carrying on with SatNaam Simran in Samadhi the human being attains Sunn Samadhi. By abiding in Sunn Samadhi for a long time the human being attains perfect calm in one’s mind. All one’s thoughts are eliminated. Trishna is extinguished. Lust, anger, greed, attachments and pride find place at the feet of the human being. The human being vanquishes Maya, arrives at Chautha Pad and becomes one with Akaal Purakh. The human being attains Jeevan Mukti. The human being attains Darshan (glimpse with inner eye) of Akaal Purakh. The human being acquires Puran Braham Gyan and Puran Tat Gyan. The human mind attains Sat Santokh (divine contentedness; state of humility and absence of desires). Along with this all one’s desires are fulfilled. The human being devotes one’s life in the service of Sangat alone. To make the Sangat recite SatNaam and to guide them on the path of Bandagi by offering them Jee-a Daan (bestowal of Puran Bandagi and Seva) becomes the sole purpose of the human being’s Bandagi. Parupkaar (selfless acts for benefaction of humanity) and Maha Parupkaar (guiding mankind on the path to Jeevan Mukti) becomes the sole mission in the human being’s life.
A human being receives GurParsaad of SatNaam, SatNaam Simran, SatNaam Di Kamai, Puran Bandagi and Seva by the grace of Puran Sant (perfect saint) SatGuru alone. Only Puran Sant SatGuru is ordained by Sat PaarBraham Parmeshar with the glory to bestow the supreme power of GurParsaad upon others. There is no distinction between Puran Sant SatGuru and Sat PaarBraham Parmeshar. Puran Sant SatGuru, Puran Braham Gyani is called as Parmeshar (supreme God), Purakh Vidhata (the ultimate authority manifesting as a human being), and Nirankaar (without form; God). Those who follow the Hukam of GurBani and regard Puran Sant SatGuru, Puran Braham Gyani as Sat PaarBraham Parmeshar and dedicate their whole self at the feet of such great beings with complete faith, devotion and trust – SatNaam Param Jyot Puran Parkash manifests itself in Hirda of such human beings. The magnificence of Puran Sant SatGuru, Puran Braham Gyani is immense and indescribable. Puran Sant SatGuru, Puran Braham Gyani himself is the greatest magnificence of Sat PaarBraham Parmeshar. Sat PaarBraham Parmeshar manifests Himself upon earth only in the form of Puran Sant SatGuru, Puran Braham Gyani. Therefore if you want to be the recipient of the immense GurKirpa and GurParsaad of Sat PaarBraham Parmeshar, pray for Sangat of Puran Sant SatGuru, Puran Braham Gyani and – when you find admission in this supremely powerful Sangat – regard such a great being as Nirankaar, submit your entire self at his or her Sat Charans, receive GurParsaad and accomplish your Bandagi, earn respect in Dargah and attain Jeevan Mukti.
A human being finds Sangat of Puran Sant Satguru in accordance with one’s deeds in past lives. A human being receives GurParsaad from Puran Sant SatGuru alone. The human beings – who dedicate themselves completely with their body, mind and worldly possessions at the feet of Puran Sant SatGuru with complete faith, devotion and trust – receive GurParsaad of Puran Bandagi. Puran Sant SatGuru alone is the bestower of GurParsaad. Puran Sant SatGuru alone is the bestower of Amrit. The human beings who submit their entire self at the feet of Puran Sant SatGuru accomplish their Bandagi under these supremely powerful auspices and make a success of their life. Puran Sant SatGuru, Puran Braham Gyani alone is the purveyor of all divine treasures. Puran Sant SatGuru, Puran Braham Gyani alone holds the key to all divine treasures. Puran Sant SatGuru, Puran Braham Gyani alone is ‘mukat jugat jee-a kaa daataa’ (one who shows the way to salvation). Puran Sant SatGuru, Puran Braham Gyani alone is the betsower of Amrit. Puran Sant SatGuru, Puran Braham Gyani alone assimilates within oneself all divine and sacred supreme powers. Puran Sant SatGuru, Puran Braham Gyani alone assimilates within oneself all the immense glories of Sat PaarBraham Parmeshar.
GurBani is the advice of the blessed SatGuru Patshah Ji. Every Salok of GurBani is the divine Hukam of Sat PaarBraham Parmeshar. Thus every word of GurBani is Guru. Every word of GurBani is Puran Sat (absolute Truth), and thus every word of GurBani is Guru. Every word of GurBani is Puran Braham Gyan. Therefore every word of GurBani is Guru. GurBani is Gyan Saroop (God manifested as wisdom) of Akaal Purakh. Therefore every word of GurBani is Puran Sat, and this is why GurBani is “Sat” Guru. Therefore GurBani is Nirankaar. This is why SatGuru counsels us to adopt this “Sat” Guru. SatGuru Ji counsels us in GurBani to adopt Gur Shabad (God’s words; His Hukam; GurBani). That is to say, adopt “Sat” as Guru. Adopt the counsel of GurBani. Adopting the counsel of GurBani in itself is adopting Nirankaar as Guru. That is, practise the counsel of GurBani in life. Practise “Sat” Guru, Gur Shabad in your everyday life. Observe the sacred divine Hukam as decreed in GurBani. Nothing shall be gained merely by the repeated readings of the counsels of GurBani. You cannot adorn yourself with “Sat” Guru, Gur Shabad simply by the repeated readings of GurBani. The repeated readings alone of GurBani do not cleanse the mind. The repeated readings alone of GurBani do not extinguish Trishna, nor bring Panj Dhoots (lust, anger, greed, attachments and pride) under control. By merely reading GurBani repetitively one doesn’t conquer Maya. By merely reading GurBani repetitively one doesn’t reach Chautha Pad. Therefore adorn yourself with counsel of GurBani, adopt Gur Shabad as Guru, imbibe your everyday life with GurBani and adhere to the counsel of GurBani – only then you can advance your spirituality; or else you will squander away your life.
The highest and the greatest Hukam of GurBani is “Sat” Naam. SatGuru incarnate the blessed Nanak Patshah Ji has disclosed the greatest Hukam and counsel of GurBani in the very first words of GurBani – “Mool Mantar” (“the mantra of origin”). This Hukam is GurParsaad of “Sat” Naam. Therefore adorn yourself with this supremely powerful Hukam and counsel. Adopt this supremely powerful Shabad Guru (Guru manifested as words; GurBani) as your Guru and practise it in your life. It is by SatNaam Simran, SatNaam Di Kamai and Seva alone that you will come to acquire all sacred and divine treasures.