Section 2 – The Jan (God’s Servant)

In the second Ashtpadi, Dhan Dhan Satgur Sachey Patshah Ji Shri Guru Arjan Dev Ji has very kindly shown us the Mahima (praise)  of Naam and the Mahima (praise) of Jan (enlightened soul – devotee of the Lord).
 
The first Ashtpadi explained the
 

  • mahima of Naam Simran,
  • benefits of Naam Simran,
  • super powers of Naam Simran,
  • and the gifts we will get as a result of taking refuge in Naam Simran.

Dedicate ourselves to Naam Simran on a regular basis.  When we say regular basis we mean everyday, early in the morning and for as long as possible without taking a break.  The early morning hours start after midnight.  Have a shower, preferably a complete shower including the hair and then get absorbed in long sessions of Naam Simran.   It will be very difficult to do long hours when we first start, but with sustained efforts and prayers for the Gur Parsaad we will eventually be able to go into long sessions of Naam Simran. 
 
The minimum target should be at least two and a half hours every morning.  The longer the better.  Some of the MahaPurakhs (Great Souls) have given the following example to show how much more powerful naam simran is earlier than later.  They compare the benefits of naam simran in the early hours as follows :-  
 

  • 1 am to 2 am, will bring as much reward as donating 40 KG of diamonds,

 

  • 2 am to 3 am, the rewards will equal to donating 40 KG of gold,

 

  • 3 am to 4 am, it becomes silver

 

  • after 4am, it becomes copper and then steel and the benefit is reduced to minimum after 6 am.

Many are skeptical about doing naam simran in the early morning hours.  They worry that they will get tired and will not be able to perform their daily job. But believe us by doing Naam Simran in the early morning hours we will start getting so much “cosmic energy” and “divine energy” (naam amrit) that we will never feel tired during the day.
 
We were talking about the Second Ashtpadi of Sukhmani Bani which explains to us what Naam does to us and the Mahima (praise) of those who do Naam Ki Seva (serve Naam).  Such souls have been called Jan in Gurbani.  Jan is a very high spiritual state.
 
Let us try dive deep into this part of the Sukhmani Bani and help our souls by collecting these priceless diamonds of Brahmgian (divine wisdom) given to us by Dhan Dhan Pancham Patshah Ji Guru Arjun Dev Ji.
 
DEEN DARAD DUKH BHANJNAA GHAT GHAT NAATH ANAATH.
SARAN TUMHAAREE AA-I-O NAANAK KAY PARABH SAATH.
 
There are various ways which have been practiced by the Yogis (practisers of postures), Rishis (founders of Hinduism) and Munis (Silent Sages) and a large number of Bhagats (lovers of God), Sants (Enlightened Hearts), Brahmgianis (Knowers Of God) around the Globe to reach the Almighty.  But Guru Nanak Patshah Ji has very kindly shown us the most easy and practical way of Bandgi (loving devotion).  This way is for an ordinary person to reach the Almighty whilst :-
 

  • living in this world which is being run under Maya

 

  • living with the family and fulfilling all the family and worldly responsibilities

 

  • living in this Maha Kaal (Great Ignorance Of God) – Kalyug (Age Of Darkness).

 
This path of Bhagti is called the “Sharnagat (Devotional) Bhagti” or the “Prema (Loving) Bhagti”.  It is the path based upon the fundamental divine law of unconditional devotional love for the Gur (God, the Highest Guru) and Guru (God manifested in a divine heart).  It requires full and complete belief and commitment, faith and trust in the Gur, Guru and Gurbani.  Having that attitude we can bring into ourself utmost humbleness and  innocence.  We can leave all the worldly wisdom and self wisdom.  And by taking the Guru’s wisdom, the divine wisdom and practising it in our daily life we can bring in all the divine qualities.  These make our Hirda (heart chakra) a pure and pious place.  A Puran Sachyara Hirda (completely truthful heart).  It will become a place where the Gur and Guru will reside forever.
 
By doing bhagti like this, all our sorrows and mental sicknesses (Panj Doot and desires) will disappear and we will have victory over the mind and Maya.  God is “deen darad dukh bhanjnaa” meaning He takes away all our pains and sorrows.  All the diseases and discomforts of our life disappear when our soul and Hirda becomes a place for Him to come and reside in. 
 
We have been an orphan for an unlimited time in space.  Our soul is an orphan which has been separated from its owner, its Creator – Akal Purakh (Immortal Being) for a long time.  Long time means many, many lifetimes.  However, even though He lives in each and every one of us, in every living being, we still have been separated from Him for Ages due to our own Karni (deeds) done under the influence of Maya.
 
The main reason of this separation is Haumai (ego – our sense of “I AM SOMEONE”) which makes us a separate identity from its source.  Everything belongs to the Source and remains a part of the Source until we see ourself as a separate identity due to Haumai.   This Haumai can only be killed by going into the sanctuary of the lotus feet of the Owner, the Creator – Akal Purakh.  This means leaving aside all our own existence, our own identity, our own wisdom and completely surrendering to the Gur and Guru with full and complete unconditional devotion and love  – Sachee Preet and Sachee Shardha.   This will promote Sharnagat Bhagti and Prema Bhagti in us. 
 
Based on Gurbani it is believed that Haumai is the deepest mental sickness and is the most difficult one to be killed besides desires.  The one who wins over Haumai and desires wins over his mind.  Guru Nanak Patshah ji was a Puran Sant Satguru, he was a Puran Brahmgiani, he was Nirankaar Himself who appeared on this Earth in the form of Guru Nanak Patshah.   He has been one of the super most spiritually powerful souls that ever visited this Earth for uplifting the spiritual and social standards of  mankind.  If we are fortunate enough and can get a Sangat of such a soul, or the Sangat of a Puran Brahmgiani, then with the Gur Parsaad of the Sangat of such a soul we go into the Sharnagat Bhagti and Prema Bhagti.   Then we can make our life sublime.
 
 
 
JAH MAAT PITAA SUT MEET NA BHAA-EE.
MAN OOHAA NAAM TAYRAI SANG SAHAA-EE.
JAH MAHAA BHA-I-AAN DOOT JAM DALAI.
TAH KAYVAL NAAM SANG TAYRAI CHALAI.
JAH MUSKAL HOVAI AT BHAAREE.
HAR KO NAAM KHIN MAAHI UDHAAREE.
ANIK PUNAHCHARAN KARAT NAHEE TARAI.
HAR KO NAAM KOT PAAP PARHARAI.
GURMUKH NAAM JAPAHU MAN MAYRAY.
NAANAK PAAVHU SOOKH GHANAYRAY. ||1||
 
When the soul departs from the body at the time of the death, then all the worldly relations are proven to be false.   Gurbani tells us again and again that all the worldly family relations are false.  But only at the time of death does the soul actually experience that nobody including father, mother or siblings go with us.  Nor can any of them help us in any way when our soul leaves the body at the end of our journey in this world.
 
Some people do have near death experiences. This is when their soul leaves the body and travels through the after death realms.   This is when they find out that what really happens when the soul leaves the body.  Some people while doing Bandgi and Naam Simran get similar experiences when their soul leaves the body (out of body experiences) and travels through various realms of the universe.    A stage comes in Bandgi when we can leave our body at will and travel in the universe and come back at will.  But there is a difference between the experiences of the normal person and a person engaged in Naam Simran. 
 
The normal person’s out of body experience only reveals the near death experience.  Wereas a person engaged in Naam Simran travels to the higher realms of Truth and meets with the highly elevated spiritual souls and gets their blessings.  However, for a normal person who has never had any such experiences it might seem weird.  But this is an absolute Truth, that such experiences happen in Bandgi.
 
When we dedicate ourself to the Gur and Guru and completely surrender ourself and go into Smadhi, then such visions and experiences become a routine for us. This means that only Naam Simran and Seva (Service) – Parupkaar (Generosity) and Maha Parupkaar (Extreme Generosity) helps at the time of death.
 
For a normal person, death is very painful, but for a person dedicated to Naam Simran it becomes a really excellent journey without any pain.   All the other kinds of service like donations and such stuff only helps us in our coming lives.  This means when we give in charity now, we will recive it back plus more in future lives.   But Naam Dhan (wealth) takes us through to Jivan Mukti (freedom from reincarnation).   Only the person who enjoys the Naam in the Hirda (advanced spiritual state) becomes  Jivan Mukt.
 
Those who are dedicated to Naam Simran are respected by the Dharam Raj.  Dharam Raj  is the Divine Judge who weighs our good and bad deeds and sends us into the next appropriate lifeform.  Dharam Raj doesn’t judge the ones who did naam simran, instead he escorts them to the higher realms of Truth.
 
Whenever we are in trouble or faced with a severe problem only Naam will be able to help us and put us on the right track. Our dedication to Naam Simran makes us mentally so strong and stable that such problems and troubles will not be able to shake us.  The people who get absorbed in the Naam reach the Atal Awastha (Unshakable State) and are never distracted by Maya or the worldly distractions.  Naam will always guide us and help us when we are in deep trouble.  Naam will show us the right path and take us out of trouble.
 
We may perform all kinds of religious deeds and rituals all our life but if we don’t have Naam then we will not be able to swim across and meet God, the Master.  If we have the Gur Parsaad of Naam then all our sins will be washed away instantaneously and we will be able to ferry across to salvation.
 
The process of death is an amazing mechanism.  It is true and it is a divine law that when the soul leaves the body at the time of the death it leaves the body behind but carries with it all the true and untrue deeds performed during life.  It carries with it the account of all the Punn Karams (Good deeds) and Paap Karams (Bad deeds) with it. Our future course is decided by these deeds of ours, not just from the current life, but also from past lives that we haven’t cleared.   So at any point of time we are carrying the burden of all the unaccounted for, true and untrue deeds.  The true deeds will bring in better things in future for us but the untrue deeds – Paap Karams will bring in sorrows and pains for us.  
 
The effect of all these hundreds of millions of Paap Karams will be neutralized by the Naam.   Naam is so powerful that if we get the Gur Parsaad of Naam and by virtue of our dedication and Bandgi, if we can bring this Naam inside our mind and Hirda then all our hundreds of millions of Paap Karams will be washed away right there and then.
 
All the outside rituals and outside religious acts will not be able to help us eliminate the effect of all our untrue deeds.  Only Naam will wash all our sins away, such is the Mahima of the Naam, such is the power of Naam. Who is the holder of God’s Graceful Naam (Gur Parsaadi Naam)?  The Gurmukh is the holder of the Gur Parsaad of Naam.  The person who has surrendered completely to the Gur and Guru, who has given everything to the Gur and Guru and dedicated Himself to the service of the Gur and Guru is a Gurmukh.   And only the Gurmukh has the Gur Parsaad and will be absorbed in the  Naam.
 
Gurmukh is a very high spiritual state of a person who has the Gur Parsaad and always remains absorbed in the Naam and such a Gurmukh soul will always enjoy the highest level of happiness and comfort – the eternal treasures.
 
SAGAL SARISAT KO RAAJAA DUKHEE-AA.
HAR KAA NAAM JAPAT HO-AY SUKHEE-AA.
LAAKH KAROREE BANDH NA PARAI.
HAR KAA NAAM JAPAT NISTARAI.
ANIK MAA-I-AA RANG TIKH NA BUJHAAVAI.
HAR KAA NAAM JAPAT AAGHAAVAI.
JIH MAARAG IH JAAT IKAYLAA.
TAH HAR NAAM SANG HOT SUHAYLAA.
AISAA NAAM MAN SADAA DHI-AA-EE-AI.
NAANAK GURMUKH PARAM GAT PAA-EE-AI. ||2||
 
Even if we are a king of the entire universe we will not be happy.  No worldly comforts and worldly possessions can make us happy.  The happiness that comes from worldly achievements are only for a limited period of time.  After that the happiness vanishes and is taken over again by the circumstances around us. But the happiness we will get with Naam is the eternal happiness.  It will be an everlasting happiness.  This happiness will never fade and will remain with us for all ages to come.  The people who have achieved the Naam have become “Sat Chit Anand” (TRUTH CONSCIOUSNESS BLISS), this is :-
 

  • the true happiness
  • a complete stability,
  • a complete silence,
  • no distractions,
  • no illusions,
  • no Dubidha (doubts and double-mindedness),
  • no pains and sorrows,

This is the kind of happiness that comes with the Naam.
 
Mohammad Gajnvi was a Moghul emperor who attacked India seventeen times and looted its gold and diamonds and took them back to Gajni – his capital.  He amassed a large quantity of wealth in his royal treasury.  When he returned home for the seventeenth time with the looted wealth, he was really proud of his achievement.  But guess what happened to him then?  He got paralyzed.  
 
All his life he was a very powerful ruler, but then all of a sudden he was crippled with a paralysis that could not be cured.  He had a son who was not as powerful as him and who could not protect the wealth collected by him.  Then he realized, “Why did I collect all this wealth which cannot do anything for me now?”  While he was collecting the wealth, he didn’t realise that in ammassing the wealth by unfair means he was also collecting loads of Paap Karams.
 
The collection of wealth by unfair means is greed – Lobh, as defined in Gurbani.  And collection of wealth over and above our own needs is called Labh, which is even more dangerous.  So Mohammad Gajnavi collected his wealth under Labh and Lobh aspects of Maya.  He used all kinds of unfair means in looting this wealth from the temples and all over the country.  He killed innocent people and looted the wealth of the innocent people.  In this process he collected loads of Paap Karams, and when his mind and body vessel got filled with these sins then he was punished.  There and then and was crippled with paralysis.
 
At this time he was lucky enough to realise that he had committed many sins and that was the reason for his suffering.  Getting this kind of feeling is also a Gur Parsaad, which takes us closer to the Almighty.  For that matter anything that gets us closer to the Almighty is considered an eternal blessing.   So he came out openly and criticized himself and all his Paap karams openly.  He told people to learn from him and never indulge in an acts like he did. He wanted his folks to learn a lesson from his wrong doings.
 
There is another example in history of Alexander the Great (Sikandar) for his pursuit to conquer the world.  But look at what happened to him.  When he was going back from India to his own country, he fell sick and could not even buy a few weeks worth of time to be able to see his mother before he died.  He even offered half of his kingdom to anyone who could make him live long enough to meet his mother one last time.
 
Hitler also became so tormented by his sins that he had to commit suicide in order to end his mental suffering.   Only those kings have been able to live a happy life who were blessed with the GurParsaad of Naam like Raja Janak the Brahmgiani.
 
There is no end to the desires of a human being.  Desires never end.  Desires are a part of the “Rajo Birti” of Maya and will never be able to create a satisfaction in our Hirda.  
 
It is a very strange behavior of a human being that he always wants to have more and more, yet is never satisfied with what he has.   Desires are the root cause for our discontentment.  One desire leads to another and when the desire is fulfilled then we get a temporary happiness.  When the desire is not fulfilled then we get disappointed. When such disappointments keep on accumulating for a long period of time then this leads to depression and to all kinds of mental sicknesses and bodily sicknesses.  Desires are the root cause for all our sufferings.
 
There is only one way we can win over our desires and that is contentment.  Yes, when our mind and soul goes into the contentment state then that is the point when all our desires are diminished.  That is why the state of contentment has been called a a divine quality.  It is a mandatory divine quality to win over our mind – Sat Santokh – it makes our mind to go into complete silence. 
 
How will this Sat Santokh come inside us? Only Naam can bring the Sat Santokh inside our Hirda.  The person who reaches this state of mind and soul achieves Salvation. 
 
Everyone’s destiny is unique, which makes everyone’s Bandgi also unique.  That also makes everyone’s fortune unique as well.  Each one of us has to reach the Param Dhaam one day, meaning every one has to go back to the Origin one day.  This Origin is “Ik Oankaar Satnaam” – that is why it is called Beej Mantra (original seed mantra). And every single one of us has to return to the Origin in our original form (pure soul).  Nothing material is going to go with us when our soul leaves this Panch Bhootak Dehi.  This is our five element body, meaning our  physical body comprises of five basic elements of nature.  They are  sky, air, water, earth and fire.  On the face of it, these five elements can’t be held together due to their incompatible nature with each other.  But look at God’s Hukam which is so powerful and Super that holds these five non compatible elements together with the element of life and this life is nothing but the Jyot (Supreme Life Light) of Akal Purakh that keeps these five non compatible elements together and when this Jyot is withdrawn then the body dies and goes back to these five elements.
 
Our unique destiny is a result of our own Karni (past deeds), which decides our future destiny. We only reap what we have sown – “aapay beej apaay he khao”.  In a way, we shape our own destiny. Whatever we do is weighed on the Sach Di Takdi (scales of Truth). According to these divine laws and our Karni, our destiny is formed.  And later in this life and in our next life or lives we have to bear the rewards of this destiny.  Family relations and all the surroundings relationships are formed as a part of this destiny.
 
When our soul leaves this physical body as explained earlier, nothing goes with us.   This means nothing that is a part of Maya goes with us.  Everything that is visible with the worldly eyes is a part of Maya including all relationships and material goods.  Only Naam goes with us, because with the Naam we are able to wash all our sins and make our soul clean and pure.   So the burden of the sins is left behind us due to the Naam Ki Kamai (earning of naam).  This makes our soul pure and pious and this purity as a result of Naam Ki Kamai will fill us with all the divine qualities.  These will go with us, and our future destiny will become a very happy one and fruitful.
 
If we are fortunate and have collected enough Naam Dhan (naam wealth) by becoming a Gurmukh, then and only then will we be able to get salvation, the Param Ghat,  and be free of the cycle of birth and death and live in the Sach Khand forever and enjoy the eternal happiness forever.
 
It is very important to understand here that Gurmukh is a very high spiritual stage of a person or a soul.  The one who has completely realized the Almighty and is always absorbed in Akal Purakh is the Gurmukh, a Gurmukh is the one who lives in Sach Khand.
 
CHHOOTAT NAHEE KOT LAKH BAAHEE.
NAAM JAPAT TAH PAAR PARAAHEE.
ANIK BIGHAN JAH AA-AY SANGHAARAI.
HAR KAA NAAM TATKAAL UDHAARAI.
ANIK JON JANMAI MAR JAAM.
NAAM JAPAT PAAVAI BISRAAM.
HA-O MAILAA MAL KABAHU NA DHOVAI.
HAR KAA NAAM KOT PAAP KHOVAI.
AISAA NAAM JAPAHU MAN RANG.
NAANAK PAA-EE-AI SAADH KAI SANG. ||3||
 
There will come a time when we will not be able to be saved even by millions of helping hands.  Many of us experience during our daily life, that when a problem comes in our way there are family and friends who come and rescue us from the difficult situations.  But when our soul leaves this physical body then even if we had millions of helping hands come to save us, they will not be able to.   At this time, only Naam Ki Kamai  (our naam earnings) will be able to help us.  At the time when we exit this world of Maya, only Naam has the power to help us.  Naam is so powerful that it will be able to guide us and take us in the right destination.
 
Naam is not just a few words, or just a Shabad of Gurbani.  When we say Naam it is the Nirgun Saroop Puran Jyot Parkash of Akal Purakh (God’s immaculate body of light) which makes our Hirda (heart chakra) a place for Akal Purakh to reside.  Which makes our astral body (Suksham Dehi) into a Kanchan Dehi (golden inner body).  We become a purified entity without any dirt of sins clinging on to us.  Our Kanchan Dehi takes us through this final phase of our journey back to our original home – Dargah of Akal Purakh (royal Court of God).  
 
Many a times in our life we are surrounded by alot of problems as a result of our misfortune.   The reason for this misfortune is however our own deeds, Karni from the ealier in this lifetime or from past lives as well.  But this misfortune is washed away with the carving of the Naam in our Surat (consciousness) and Hirda (heart chakra).  Naam is so powerful that it washes all our untrue deeds (Asat Karni) from the past and all previous lives. 
 
When the Naam goes into our Surat and Hirda we become a Suhagan (bride of God) and then a Sada Suhagan (forever a wife of God).  When we go into the Karam Khand (realm of God’s Grace – He has done Gurprasad upon us) and are accepted as a Suhagan then the Naam goes first into our Surat (thoughts and mind) and then gradually it travels into the Hirda (heart chakra), then Nabhi (navel chakra).  Then into the other areas of the body including Kundalini (base of spine chakra) and up the spine into the Dassam Duaar (crown chakra) and back to the Trikuti (brow chakra) the center of the forehead.  Naam enlightens and activates all seven major centers of  spiritual energy in our body.  These seven centers of spiritual energy are called Sat Sarovar (seven lakes) in Gurbani.    This happens in Karam Khand when we go into Smadhi and then into Sunn Smadhi – a stage of complete trance – no thoughts –  complete silence and then eventually Naam goes into Rom Rom (every hair and cell) – every bit of our body vibrates with Naam and the entire body gets filled with Naam Amrit and not only that it starts to overflow.  
Now ask ourself when on is blessed  with so much GurParsaad (of God’s grace) what adversities of life can even come near us?  All our sins are washed away and our soul merges in the Nirgun Saroop Sat Saroop (Light Body Of God, Truth Body of God).   
 
The restlessness of our soul vanishes.  Our restless soul which had been travelling through unlimited and unknown periods of time through so many cycles of life.  Through so many pains of birth and death and burning in the fire of Maya for so many ages in the past.    Finally, the restlessness of the soul vanishes when with the GurParsaad of Naam Ki Kamai (earning the naam).
 
Consider what life is.  We are born and go through the entire cycle of life – birth, childhood, education, job, marriage, children and their upbringing and helping them build their future.  Then retirement, old age and death.  We leave the world to restart our journey again in another body. During this cycle of one lifetime we go through so many pains and sufferings as well as some happy moments also. But we are never able to get a never-ending state of happiness.  If we are fortunate and have collected enough Sat Karams – true deeds, then we might get human birth again.  But if we have led an untruthful life and our Chiter-gupt (record of our deeds) is full of asat Karams (untrue deeds) then we might go back into the 8.4 Million lifeforms and take a long time to come back into the human life.   This cycle of birth and death continues like this for an unknown period of time until our sat karams accumate above  a certain limit.  In human life, when our sat karams finally outweigh all our asat karams so much  then we become fortunate to be blessed with the Gur Parsaad of Naam.   Having done so many good deeds and stopped our bad deeds, God looks kindly upon our soul and gives His grace – His Gurprasad.  God comes to give us His naam in the form of an enlightened soul.  And we begin the final part of our spiritual journey home.
 
This Gur Parsaad of Naam can be blessed to us by a Sadh – a Puran Sant, a Puran Brahmgiani.   And the Naam Ki Kamai (earning naam) can be done under their Chattar (divine umbrella).  And with this Naam Ki Kamai we can wash all our sins and win over Panj Doots (five thieves) and desires.  This Naam Ki Kamai will make a Puran Jyot Parkash (Supreme Light Of God) inside our Hirda.  And it will bring in all the divine qualities and make it a Beant Hirda (infinitely open heart), a Khalsa Hirda (pure immaculate heart).  Our ego will be washed away and we will be saved from going through the pains and sufferings of another birth and death cycle.
 
JIH MAARAG KAY GANAY JAAHI NA KOSAA.
HAR KAA NAAM OOHAA SANG TOSAA.
JIH PAIDAI MAHAA ANDH GUBAARAA.
HAR KAA NAAM SANG UJEE-AARAA.
JAHAA PANTH TAYRAA KO NA SINJAANOO.
HAR KAA NAAM TAH NAAL PACHHAANOO.
JAH MAHAA BHA-I-AAN TAPAT BAHO GHAAM.
TAH HAR KAY NAAM KEE TUM OOPAR CHHAAM.
JAHAA TARIKHAA MAN TUJH AAKRAKHAI.
TAH NAANAK HAR HAR AMRIT BARKHAI. ||4||
 
Here Pancham Patshah SatGuru Arjun Dev Ji has very kindly explained to us that this is a very long journey back to our original home.  We have been separated for a very long time. The length of this journey can’t be counted.  It takes a large number of lives full of Bandgi and Seva to be able to qualify our self for the Gur Parsaad of the completion of this journey. To reach salvation stage.  This journey can only  be completed in a human life in this world of Maya.   In maya we are burning our souls for a long period of time in the fire created by the mental sicknesses ruled by the Panj Doots – Kaam Krodh Lobh Moh Ahankar and desires.  It is believed and it is practically true that time goes very fast when we are in a state of happiness but it feels real slow when we are in pain and suffering.  That makes this journey even more difficult and long.   
 
This world of Maya is currently going through a period of darkness which is called Kalyug.  This darkness is caused by the untrue deeds of the masses, the  Asat Karams of the masses.  The current society is going through the peak period of this darkness due to the absence of the practice of the divine values and moral values, due to the lack of practice of the truthful deeds which is the cause of all the crime, sins, bribery, extortion, hatred, discrimination, abuse, terrorism, rape and so on.  All the worst kind of things happening in the world around us is due to this darkness and the general behavior and character of the society is responsible for this never ending fire.  The entire humanity is lost in this world of Maya and burning in the fire of the Panj Doots.  This is also known in gurbani as the Bhavjal or Bhavsagar – a vast sea of darkness caused by the influence of Maya.  A sea of maya where there is a complete lack of the practice of the divine knowledge and earning of the diamonds and jewels of the divine wisdom and carving them into our Hirda and making it a Sant Hirda.   Instead humanity is bearing this unbearable heat and darkness caused by the lack of living according to the divine principles based on Sat Karams, devotion, love, compassion, commitment and belief, faith and trust in the Gur and Guru.
 
But once we are blessed with the Gur Parsaad (God’s grace) of Naam and with this GurParsaad we do Naam Ki Kamai (earn the naam) and collect the Naam Dhan (naam wealth) and when this Naam goes into our Hirda (heart chakra) then all this darkness is washed away.  Enlightenment is achieved, a Puran Jyot Parkash (Supreme Light Of God) inside our Hirda is achieved.  Then this long passage through the darkness of the Kalyug becomes blessed with the light and divine wisdom by opening the divine eye. We reach a stage where we understand this play of the world of Maya and our soul reaches a state of never ending eternal happiness.  We are declared a winner over  Maya and desires.  We are recognized in the Dargah of Akal Purakh (Royal Court of God) as a Jivan Mukt (Liberated while still in a human body).  With this happening to us with Naam, the Amrit (cosmic energy flowing in our energy system, God’s presence within our mind, body and soul) rain keeps on pouring on us continuously.  All our seven spiritual centers (chakras) are activated.  All our Bajjar Kapaats – divine doors (4 minor chakras around the head) including the Dassam Duaar (crown chakra) will be opened.  Then there is Naam and Naam all over our soul mind and body.  We are completely absorbed in Naam. The Naam will save us from the burning heat being generated through the influence of Rajo (desire) and Tamo (ignorance) attributes of Maya.
 
BHAGAT JANAA KEE BARTAN NAAM.
SANT JANAA KAI MAN BISRAAM.
HAR KAA NAAM DAAS KEE OT.
HAR KAI NAAM UDHRAY JAN KOT.
HAR JAS KARAT SANT DIN RAAT.
HAR HAR A-UKHADH SAADH KAMAAT.
HAR JAN KAI HAR NAAM NIDHAAN.
PAARBARAHM JAN KEENO DAAN.
MAN TAN RANG RATAY RANG AYKAI.
NAANAK JAN KAI BIRAT BIBAYKAI. ||5||
 
With the Naam Ki Kamai (earning of naam) one becomes a Bhagat (lover of God) and the Naam becomes an integral part of the Bhagat.  Naam becomes a priceless diamond  carved in the Hirda (heart chakra) of a Bhagat.  The enlightened soul is regarded as a “Sant”, “Jan” and “Bhagat” in the Dargah of Akal Purakh (Royal Court of God).  And the Naam becomes an item of daily use for them.  In fact these enlightenend souls are always absorbed in Naam.  Their Rom Rom (every cell) does Naam Simran and hears the Naam vibrations physically in each and every part of their physical body as well.  Infact, they become 100% Naam themselves
 
har kaa naam jan kaa roop ra(n)g ||
The Name of the Lord saturates with love, the servant’s form.
 
And the Naam flows out from their entire body continuously non-stop.  They become the slave of the Naam, and Naam becomes their only hope and base and support.  They basically become the dealers of the Naam.  They get an authorization to deal in the Naam – they become Naam Key Beopari (merchant of naam).
 
This GurParsaad of Naam has been able to bring salvation to millions of the Bhagats like this. It comes to us through the Sant Hirda.  The shabad Sant actually is not a name or title of a holy man, Sant actually refers to a hirda that permantly resides in God’s court.  In a Sant hirda only God resides 100% in the form of Naam.   The soul of a Sant is always absorbed in the praise (Mahima) of Naam.  They become a custodian of this medicine of Naam and they are given the authority by God to give this prescription of the Naam to the deserving candidates.   
 
Naam has been called an universal cure because it cures us from the deadly viruses of  Kaam, Krodh, Lobh, Moh, Ahankar and desires.   Basically, Naam cures us from all kinds mental ailments and cleans us up from inside out.  It relieves us of all the sins and crimes and Asat karams we have done in the past and all past lives, so that is why Gurbani says:
 
sarab rog kaa aoukhadh naam ||
The Naam is the panacea, the remedy to cure all ills.
SGGS 274
 
Naam is the highest eternal treasure and this treasure is given to the Sants and Bhagats by the Almighty and becomes their property.  Such souls are always absorbed in the divine love and compassion, devotion and dedication to the service of the Almighty.  They are always enlightened with the divine wisdom and stay in a state of eternal happiness forever.  They can never be distracted by anything whatsoever it may be. By virtue of the attainment of the divine wisdom they become Brahmgianis and the divine wisdom becomes their food.  The divine wisdom becomes their Birti – conscious.  They are always and forever absorbed in the Mahima (praise) of Naam. The divine wisdom is like a ball of divine wisdom with its center as Naam.  The entire divine wisdom – Gurbani, revolves around the center of Naam.  The Naam becomes a pivot and these souls are always like a pivot – center of this ball of divine wisdom and the divine wisdom evolves from them continuously.
 
HAR KAA NAAM JAN KA-O MUKAT JUGAT.
HAR KAI NAAM JAN KA-O TARIPAT BHUGAT.
HAR KAA NAAM JAN KAA ROOP RANG.
HAR NAAM JAPAT KAB PARAI NA BHANG.
HAR KAA NAAM JAN KEE VADI-AA-EE..
HAR KAI NAAM JAN SOBHAA PAA-EE.
HAR KAA NAAM JAN KA-O BHOG JOG.
HAR NAAM JAPAT KACHH NAAHI BI-OG.
JAN RAATAA HAR NAAM KEE SAYVAA.
NAANAK POOJAI HAR HAR DAYVAA. ||6||
 
Guru Pancham Patshah Guru Arjun Dev Ji has very kindly shown us the Mahima of the Jan (enlightened soul) and Naam in this Ashtpadi.  This piece of divine wisdom explains how high the spiritual status of an entity called "Jan" is in Gurbani and how it is so with the Gur Parsaad of Naam.
 
Naam is so powerful that it is the means of bringing salvation to the ones who are absorbed in the Naam and get them liberated from the shackles of Maya for ever.  They by virtue of being absorbed in Naam become Jivan Mukt, meaning they are liberated whilst still alive in the human body.   Naam becomes their food which keeps them always contented.  Meaning that Naam eradicates all their desires and they become desireless. They become so satisfied and contented inside their Hirda that nothing else remains important for them but Naam.   
 
Such beings become Naam’s physical form in the world.  When Naam goes into every bit of the body and the soul becomes so purified, then Naam becomes their delight and beauty for ever. Actually, such beings emit so much divine light, that the ones who have divine eyes to see it can see that they are brighter than thousands of suns shining at the same time.  This is what is shown normally as an aura of divine light around the Guru Sahibans and Sants and Bhagats on their pictures.   
 
Some people who are blessed with the divine eye (inner vision) and whose visual senses are very strong can physically see this wonderful aura of divine light around such souls. This is what happens to those who do the Naam Simran and all their difficulties and problems are taken care of by the Almighty Himself.  They never face any misfortune or distractions, illusions and delusions, Dubidha (doubts and doublemindedness about God and Guru) and problems. Naam becomes their praise and they are respected every where in the universe.  They are highly regarded in the Dargah of Akal Purakh and they find a permanent place at the Charans (Holy feet) of the Akal Purakh.   Naam becomes their Bhog and Jog (their food and their unity with God).  They are merged in God forever by virtue of their Naam Ki Kamai (earning of naam) and an inseparable connection is formed with God.  Actually when our Dassam Duaar (crown chakra / tenth door) opens then a permanent connection is formed with the Almighty:
 
dhasam dhuaaraa agam apaaraa param purakh kee ghaattee ||
The Tenth Gate is the home of the inaccessible, infinite Supreme Lord.
SGGS 974
A continuous stream of the Amrit keeps on flowing uninturrepted from the Nirgun Saroop of the Akal Purakh (God’s Body of Light) to us.  At this point we also start hearing the Panch Shabad Anhad Naad (mystical music of naam) music continuously:
 
anehadh sabadh dhasam dhuaar vajiou theh a(n)mrith naam chuaaeiaa thhaa ||2||
The unstruck sound current of the Shabad vibrates and resounds in the Tenth Gate;
the Ambrosial Naam trickles down there. ||2||

SGGS 1002
Which is the real divine Amrit. After this there is no separation of the Bhagat from Bhagwan (God the Master).  They get absorbed in each other.  The Bhagat praises the Bhagwan and Bhagwan praises the Bhagat.  Ten they can’t remain without each other. After this happens then the Bhagat absorbs himself in the service of the Almighty – he sees, speaks, hears, serves and delivers the Eternal Truth – the Naam.   This is the highest service of AkalPurakh, serving His Naam becomes his only job.
 
naanak kai ghar kaeval naam ||4||4||
Nanak’s home is filled ONLY with Naam. ||4||4||
 
SGGS 1136
 
 
HAR HAR JAN KAI MAAL KHAJEENAA.
HAR DHAN JAN KA-O AAP PARABH DEENAA.
HAR HAR JAN KAI OT SATAANEE.
HAR PARTAAP JAN AVAR NA JAANEE.
OT POT JAN HAR RAS RAATAY.
SUNN SAMAADH NAAM RAS MAATAY.
AATH PAHAR JAN HAR HAR JAPAI.
HAR KAA BHAGAT PARGAT NAHEE CHHAPAI.
HAR KEE BHAGAT MUKAT BAHO KARAY.
NAANAK JAN SANG KAYTAY TARAY. ||7||
 
Finally our bandgi reaches a certain level, which happens when our soul goes into the highest realm of truth – Sach Khand. 
 
There are five phases of the Bandgi:
 
DHARAM KHAND: when we realizes that the objective of life is to achieve  salvation and switch to doing Paath and Pooja (prayers and worship).
 
GIAN KHAND: when we listen to the Gurbani, accept the Gurbani and then put it into practice inour daily life and thus keep on earning the divine wisdom more andmore by practicing it. 
 
SARAM KHAND: when we start to work really hard to realize our objective of life – salvation and dedicate ourself to the Gur and Guru with full commitment and belief, faith and trust, devotion and love and surrender ourself completely to the Gur and Guru  and dedicate ourself to the Naam Simran.
 
KARAM KHAND: when we get the Gur Parsaad – the eternal blessings and eternal grace then all our Bajjar Kappaats – divine doors are opened.  We go into the Samadhee and then into Sunn Smadhi during our long sessions of Naam Simran.  We are accepted as a Suhagan of the Akal Purakh and our Bhagti account opens in the Dargah of Akal Purakh – this is a very high spiritual stage.  This is when the real Bandgi starts and the Panj Doots and desires start to come under our control.  The real fight with Maya starts and eventually with the Gur Parsaad we are able to win our Maya and mind.  The Naam goes into our  Rom Rom, our Dassam Duaar opens a direct and permanent connection is formed with the Akal Purakh. 
 
SACH KHAND:  when we win over Maya and reach salvation stage.  We become Nirbhao and Nirvair – single vision – Ek Drisht and fearless.  We can see, hear, speak, deliver and serve the complete truth, then our Bandgi is considered as completed by theAkal Purakh and we are given the Gur Parsaad of Sada Suhaag (forever bride) and we become a Sada Suhagan (wife forever), never separable from the Akal Purakh. At this stage Akal Purakh gives us all the eternal treasures and authorizes us to give this Gur Parsaad of eternal treasures to the other Sangat. We become "Amrit Ka Data" (bestower of amrit).  We become Bandgi and Seva Ka Data (bestower of the gifts of bandgi and service).  We become Gur Parsaad Ka Data (bestower of God’s grace) and we are then absorbed in the service of these eternal treasures by helping others do Bandgi and to achieve salvation.
 
Those people who start preaching before reaching this stage of Sach Khand, mislead the Sangat and become a source of  Dubidha, Bharams, illusions and delusions and are not helpful to the Sangat in any way.  They become responsible for the spiritual downfall of the Sangat. 
 
The souls that reach Sach Khand are always lost in the devotional love for their Lord and become very powerful with all the eternal treasures at their disposal.  Such souls are always absorbed in the Almighty continuously and enjoy the highest level of their union with Akal Purakh by sitting in Sunn Smadhi – a state of complete silence, no thoughts.  Such souls can never hide them, they are brought into appearance by the Almighty Himself amongst the masses with their super-state of ecstasy eternal grace.  They deliver the message of the Eternal Grace and Eternal Truth to the masses.  Such souls don’t belong to a particular sect of the society, they help everyone who is destined to meet them.  Whoever goes into their Sangat gets transformed.   Such souls deliver the Gur Parsaad to their Sangat and with this GurParsad a large number of people are blessed with Naam, Bandgi and Seva and thus reach salvation.   Such souls come in this world to take a large number of people with them and ferry them across this Bhavsagar – ocean of Maya into their permanent home by bringing them salvation.   Such souls have been called "Jan" in the Gurbani.
 
PAARJAAT IH HAR KO NAAM.
KAAMDHAYN HAR HAR GUN GAAM.
SABH TAY OOTAM HAR KEE KATHAA.
NAAM SUNAT DARAD DUKH LATHAA.
NAAM KEE MAHIMAA SANT RID VASAI.
SANT PARTAAP DURAT SABH NASAI.
SANT KAA SANG VADBHAAGEE PAA-EE-AI.
SANT KEE SAYVAA NAAM DHI-AA-EE-AI.
NAAM TUL KACHH AVAR NA HO-AY.
NAANAK GURMUKH NAAM PAAVAI JAN KO-AY. ||8||
 
It is believed that there are five trees in heaven which deliver all kinds of comforts to the people who do Naam Ki Kamai – truth seekers.  Paarjaat is one of these five trees which fulfills all the desires of the seekers.  Similarly Kaamdhen is a cow in the heaven which also fulfills all the desires, but Naam contains all the eternal treasures. Naam is the highest treasure and Paarjaat and Kaamdhen are also a part of the Naam.  Meaning that when the Naam goes into our Hirda then we can get or we get all the comforts and all our desires are fulfilled with the Naam.   
 
Practically speaking when a soul reaches that high level of the Bandgi then there remains no desire at all, the mind goes into a state of complete contentment and never demands anything.  But at the same time most people don’t do Bandgi to reach salvation stage but they do Bandgi to fulfill their desires and achieve all the worldly comforts.  Which they get according to their destiny. 
 
But in Puran Bandgi there is no place for any demands for the worldly things and comforts.  But when a soul reaches that high state of spirituality then all the comforts and needs are fulfilled by the Naam. If we are engaged in asking and praying for worldly comforts and material things then we will not be able to reach salvation stage. So Naam Ki Kamai to reach salvation and get relieved of the highest-level sorrow of revolving in a cycle of birth and death is the best thing to do.  The eternal treasures can be achieved with the Naam Ki Kamai. This is the highest service of the Almighty, to understand feel and experience the story of the indescribable in all physical senses is the best things for us to do.  Naam Ki Kamai washes all our sins and mental sicknesses and salvation is achieved.  Naam Ki Mahima lives in the Hirda of a Sant, or a Sant Hirda is the one where Naam lives forever.  Meaning that the Charans of Akal Purakh live in the Hirda of a Sant or in a Sant Hirda.  This means that a Sant Hirda becomes a pure and pious place a Puran Sachyara where God comes in and lives forever.
 
A Sant Hirda is the Naam Ki Mahima.  A Sant Hirda carves in all the divine qualities and by virtue of doing so becomes Naam Ki Mahima or Akal Purakh Ki Mahima.  This means that the Sants, Bhagats, Brahmgianis and Satgurus are the Mahima of Naam and the Mahima of Akal Purakh in all practical and physical senses.  With the grace of these great souls and with the eternal blessings of these souls we can get the Gur Parsaad which eradicates all the dirt of our mind and erase all the Durmat – bad wisdom, self-wisdom and worldly wisdom and replaces it with the divine wisdom.
 
The  Sangat of a Sant is a sign of good fortune.  And the people who get the Sangat of a Sant become eligible for doing the Naam Ki Kamai.  Because Gur Parsaad of the Naam can only be obtained from a Sant as the Sant is the custodian of all the eternal treasures and only He can give the Gur Parsaad of Naam to us and institute us in the Karam Khand where the real Bandgi starts as explained earlier.
 
Doing Naam Ki Kamai is the real service of a Sant, because this is the highest level of the service to Akal Purakh.  So Naam Simran with the Gur Parsaad taking Naam into the Surat, mind and Rom Romis the real service of a Sant and Akal Purakh.
 
Naam is the most powerful thing, it is the Gur Parsaad which is the highest of the highest and there is nothing like Naam and the person who will receive the Naam and absorb this Gur Parsaad and will do Naam Ki Kamai and reach the Sach Khand will be a rare Gurmukh soul. This means that there will be a rare soul who sill be able to become a Gurmukh, a Sant Hirda a Brahmgiani.