Guru Pancham Patshah Guru Arjun Dev Ji has very kindly continued to ellaborate the Mahima (praise) of Naam in this Ashtpadi as well. However, the Mahima (praise) of the Naam is unlimited, it is Beant like Akal Purakh Himself. Akal Purakh and Naam are Beant means that they are : –
- beyond all the boundaries we can think of,
- beyond the three attributes of Maya
- indescribable,
- beyond any description and
- priceless.
Naam’s price can’t be quoted. Nobody knows its value and price, but even so Guru Arjan Dev Ji has been very kind on us by giving us a glimpse of the Mahima (praise) of Naam through these divine words.
baho saastar baho simritee paykhay sarab dhadhol.
poojas naahee har haray naanak naam amol ||1||
There are a number of religious books which are known as Shasters and Simritees. They are part of the Hindu religion. In addition to these Dharam Granths (religious scriptures) there are a number of other books which are known as Vedas, Purans and Upanishids. All these religious books are full of the descriptions of the rituals and Mantras regarding how to live a comfortable human life. They describe the religious rituals and so on which help in leading a good and truthful life. These books also contain stories of the olden time Rishis (founders of Hinduism) and Munis (silent sages) as well, and how they lived and what they did and what they achieved. These books also describe the Dharam Karams (religious rituals) and so on, but Guru Patshah Guru Arjun Dev Ji has seen all these religious books very seriously and thoroughly and concluded that there is no Naam in these religious books. There is no description of the Naam and Naam Ki Mahima (praise of Naam) in these religious books. The Mantras and the descriptions of the Dharam Karams (relgious rituals) as described in these religious books will not take us to the Ultimate – Akal Purakh. This means that the practice of these rituals and deeds as described in these religious books will not be able to help us in the complete realizations of the Almighty. But there is one thing which can take us to the Ultimate and help us merge in the Nirgun Saroop (Body of Light) of Akal Purakh. This priceless diamond is the Naam – the Gur Parsaad of Naam (Naam received by Guru’s Grace) – the “Ik Oankaar Satnaam” (One god Named “Truth”) as described in the Mool Mantra.
The bottom line is that only the Gur Parsaad of Naam can take us back to the Almighty. No matter whatever else we do to realize the Akal Purakh, we will not be able to reach and merge in Him unless we get the Gur Parsaad of Naam and then meditate on this Gur Parsaad (Guru’s blessing). Then this Gur Parsaad (Guru’s blessing) will help us clean from inside make our Hirda (heart centre) a Puran Sachyara Hirda (Complete Truthful Heart Centre) and our Suksham Dehi (astral body) becomes as pure as gold and gets filled with all the divine qualities of a Sada Suhagan (eternal bride of God). It becomes a place where the Sachyaar (True One) – Akal Purakh will come and reside forever.
jaap taap gi-aan sabh Dhi-aan.
khat saastar simrit vakhi-aan.
jog abhi-aas karam Dharam kiri-aa.
sagal ti-aag ban maDhay firi-aa.
anik parkaar kee-ay baho jatnaa.
punn daan homay baho ratnaa.
sareer kataa-ay homai kar raatee.
varat naym karai baho bhaatee.
nahee tul raam naam beechaar.
naanak gurmukh naam japee-ai ik baar. ||1||
If we :-
- practice the wisdom in our daily life as described in the six Shasters and six Simritees (the religious books as described earlier)
- perform all the rituals and meditate on the Mantras given in these religious books
- concentrate on these Mantras daily, and
- live our life according to the rules written in these religious books,
we will still not be able to achieve the Almighty.
If we :-
- perform all the Yoga Asans (postures) as described in these holy scriptures
- perform all the Dharam Karams (relgious rituals),
- leave our family and house,
- sacrifice everything we have and go into the forests and stay there and absorb ourselves in the practice of these rituals as described and explained in these religious scriptures,
- torture our physical body,
- donate everything we can or we have at our disposal,
- perform all kinds of Havans (Havan is a ritual that is performed by reciting the Mantras sitting around a fire and feeding the fire with the butter – Desi Ghee),
- cut our body into pieces and offer it for burning in these Havans, meaning if we torture ourselves to death in order to realize our spiritual dreams of meeting the Paar Braham Parmesar (Supreme Transcendental Lord), and
- starve our body by fasting and perform such rituals endlessly,
even then we can’t achieve salvation.
This means that whatever is written in these six Shasters and Simritees, even when performed with full faith and trust will not bring us salvation.
Only Gur Parsaad of Naam can bring us salvation. There is nothing like the Gur Parsaad of Naam and by doing Naam Simran we can achieve salvation in just one life, this life. If we dedicate ourselves to Naam Simran in this life then we will succeed in realizing our spiritual dreams in this current life. Such souls are Gurmukh souls, they have surrendered everything they have to the Gur and Guru – mind, body and wealth. Such Gurmukh souls get the Gur Parsaad of Naam, Bandgi (devotion) and Seva (service) and merge into the Nirgun Saroop of the Akal Purakh.
Even by sacrificing everything we have : our family our physical belongings, our body, mind and soul, we still can’t pay for the Gur Parsaad of Naam, because there is no price for this diamond. The Gur Parsaad of Naam is a priceless jewel which the Gurmukh souls carve into their Hirda. They bring salvation to 21 past generations of their family. This does not mean that as soon as they become Gurmukh that 21 past generations are also instantly saved without making any effort. No, it means that the souls of these past family generations that have taken human birth again will now come to the Gurmukh for salvation. Every Gurmukh’s sangat is actually their past family who are now coming to them for the Gur prasad of Naam. That is how 21 past generations are saved along with the Gurmukh.
We don’t have to engage ourselves into the difficult and torturing ways as defined and explained in these Shasters and Simritees. We don’t need to and we don’t have to sacrifice our family life and runaway from our wordly responsibilities either. We can live life in a normal way, but dedicate ourselves to the Naam and do Naam Kamai (earning Naam). Naam Ki Kamai will bring us salvation because there is nothing like Naam and doing Naam Ki Kamai. This is the highest service of the Akal Purakh. It is the easiest way to realize our spiritual dreams, because Naam is the highest eternal treasure. Naam eradicates all of our mental sicknesses and desires and fills our Hirda with all the divine qualities. Naam makes us Nirbhao and Nirvair and merges us back into the Origin – Akal Purakh.
na-o khand parithmee firai chir jeevai.
mahaa udaas tapeesar theevai.
agan maahi homat paraan.
kanik asav haivar bhoom daan.
ni-ulee karam karai baho aasan.
jain maarag sanjam at saaDhan.
nimakh nimakh kar sareer kataavai.
ta-o bhee ha-umai mail na jaavai.
har kay naam samsar kachh naahi.
naanak gurmukh naam japat gat paahi. ||2||
Some people who practice the Yoga and these Mantras and rituals as described in these religious books achieve some supernatural powers – which are called Ridhis and Sidhis in Gurmat. One of these supernatural powers is when such people (Sidhas) can enhance their life span by the practice of Yoga. The famous Sidh Gosht (Baba Nanak Ji’s conversation with the Sidhas, SGGS 938), explains a real divine story. Guru Nanak Patshah very kindly gave the Sidhas the divine wisdom on how to achieve Salvation purely by Gur Parsaad of the Naam. These Sidhas were the masters of spiritual powers (sidhis) and had been living on the Himalyas for a long time by increasing their life spans. They were living on the mountains through the practice of these supernatural powers.
In Gurmat (Divine Wisdom – teachings of God), these supernatural powers come at a very early stage of the Bandgi (devotional path). If indulged, they will stop spiritual progress. They are considered a major roadblock in the passage to Sach Khand. These supernatural powers are used by Akal Purakh for His administration of the universe and the use of such powers by individuals is considered a violation of the Hukam of Akal Purakh. However, when the Bhagat (lover of God)’s Bandgi (devotion) reaches its heights and the Bhagat and Bhagwan(Lord) become one, then all these powers and all the eternal treasures come at the disposal of the Bhagat. Then sometimes miracles happen by themselves under the Puran Hukam of Akal Purakh to :-
- enhance the Mahima (praise) of a Bhagat
- help the Sangat understand the divinity (God) and follow the divine laws
- help the Sangat develop their trust and faith in the Bhagat as their spiritual mentor
Salvation is not attained by achieving long lives and being able to live all over the Earth. There are nine parts or continents of the Earth as defined in the Gurbani. Practicing these rituals over long lifetimes and all over these continents as defined in these religious books will not bring us salvation. The Sidhas that were blessed with divine wisdom about Gurprasadi Naam by Dhan Dhan Guru Nanak Patshah, had been living for hundreds of years by practicing their powers, but were unable to reach salvation.
Salvation is not attained even if we burn ourself in fire, meaning torturing ourself to death through the practise of these rituals. Nor is salvation attained just by donating gold, horses and land. Baba Farid Ji tortured himself for almost two decades but could not reach salvation. Even though he achieved the Ridhis and Sidhis (supernatural powers) he still could not meet the Parmesar (Supreme). Ultimately he had to go to a Satgur – Murshad, whom he accepted as a Guru and received the GurParsaadi Naam from. Only then could Baba Farid Ji achieve salvation.
Neoli Karam, which means swallowing a strip of cloth, which is then used to clean the intestine, is a very difficult Yog Asan (yogic practice). There are a large number of other Yog Asans which are performed by the Yogis. These Yog Asans are thought to maintain good physical health, but just by doing these difficult Yog Asans we can’t achieve salvation either.
In the Jain Dharam (religion) similar rituals are also followed. In fact, Jains are even more strict in their conduct. They leave the house and family and live a very hard life. They travel on barefoot, pluck each hair from their head, follow an extremely strict vegetarian diet, sleep on the ground and so on. But, even by performing these acts and torturing their body to death does not bring them salvation. Why? Because the dirt of Haumai – ego – Ahankaar doesn’t leave.
By living in isolation, we aren’t relieved of the mental sickness of Haumai. Unless Haumai is eradicated completely salvation doesn’t come. In fact, people who becomes Yogis and perform these rituals as defined in these religious books become more isolated. Then after working so hard for so many years and failing to get what they wanted, they become more angry. Anger complements ego – Haumai. Anger comes because of haumai, and haumai is shown in our anger. It is the worst enemy of the person. That is why many of the stories about Yogis, Rishis and Munis tell that they became angry and then cursed the people. This means that their ego – Haumai – still had not left them.
Jivan Mukti (salvation whilst alive) is the death of Haumai. Jivan Mukti is the Mukti (liberation) from Maya. So if the influence of Maya on the mind is still present, then what good is the performance of these rituals, mantras and living a very hard life? If the influence of Maya on the mind is still present, then what use is it to run away into the jungles and leave our family and worldly things and still not reach where we wanted to reach?
Guru Patshah Guru Arjun Dev Ji is telling us that none of these acts and deeds recommended by the Shasters and Simritees will bring us salvation. Only Gur Parsaad of Naam can bring us salvation. The Naam is so powerful that it will kill our Haumai. Not only that, but the Naam will free us from all the Panj Doots (five thieves) and desires and we will be able to win our mind and merge with the Almighty. There is nothing like Naam and Naam Ki Kamai. The ones who do Naam Ki Kamai with full and complete dedication, commitment, belief, trust, faith, love and devotion become a Gurmukh Hirda filled with all the divine qualities and achieve salvation.
man kaamnaa tirath dayh chhutai.
garab gumaan na man tay hutai.
soch karai dinas ar raat.
man kee mail na tan tay jaat.
is dayhee ka-o baho saaDhnaa karai.
man tay kabhoo na bikhi-aa tarai.
jal Dhovai baho dayh aneet.
suDh kahaa ho-ay kaachee bheet.
man har kay naam kee mahima (praise)a ooch.
naanak naam uDhray patit baho mooch. ||3||
Many perform the outer pilgrimage (teerath). Meaning they visit temples and places of religious importance with the hope that by doing so they will be able to achieve salvation. Some people even desire that they should die whilst visiting such places. Because they believe that dying at such place of religious importance (ancient temples of Devi and Devtas, Haridwaar Har Ki Pauri etc.) then their soul will be able to get free and achieve salvation, but this is not true. The real pilgrimage is the inner pilgrimage, the outside Teerath is the Atsath Teerath (pilgrimage to 68 holy places of Hinduism which is believed to give salvation) and will not be able to wash the dirt of Haumai and the dirt of millions and millions of sins from our soul, which have been clinging to our soul for ages. The outer pilgrimage will not be able to wash the inside of our Hirda and win over Maya – Panj Doots and desires. Only the inner Teerath – inside pilgrimage will be able to help us clean our Hirda and fill it with Naam and all the divine qualities then only we will be able to achieve salvation.
The performance of these outside rituals in the name of religion (Dharam Karams), and the observance of outer compliance to the religion (eg merely wearing relgious dress and symbols) is of no spritual value at all. Only the internal compliance by winning the mind over, and by winning Maya over and bringing the Panj Doots and desires under our control will be able to bring salvation.
Just by keeping our outside clean will not wash our soul and mind of all the sins and the dirt of Haumai – ego. Whatever we do to our body physically to keep it clean will not free our mind and soul of the Panj Doots and desires. The internal pilgrimage – internal Teerath is performed when our soul will be blessed with the Gur Parsaad And we will go into Smadhi and Sunn Smadhi (merged with God in deepest meditation) and do Naam Ki Kamai which will wash all our internal dirt and sins that have been clinging on to our soul and mind for ages. When this happens then all our divine doors will open including Trikuti (third eye) and Dassam Duaar (tenth gate) and Naam will go into our Surat and Hirda. All the seven centers of spiritual energy will be activated and a continuous flow of Amrit will start flowing from our body. Our soul will become absolutely clean and pure a Khalsa Soul and Naam will go into our Rom Rom (every cell) and this will bring us Jivan Mukti.
The poison of Maya will only be washed away by the Amrit of Naam and not by performing and adhering to any outside compliance. Internal compliance is
- how we gain salvation,
- winning over Panj Doots,
- winning over desires,
- winning over Maya,
- a continuous flow of Amrit through our entire body,
- how we enter Rom Rom Simran (every cell vibrating with Naam),
- the path to becoming a Sant Hirda filled with all the divine qualities,
- how we will become a Sada Suhagan, Nirbhao and Nirvair, Ek Drisht and a Puran Brahmgiani.
The physical body is like a mud wall. It is perishable, so washing perishable things is not going to diminish the effect of all the sins and misdeeds that is attached to the soul for many ages. The real thing is the Atma (individual soul) which is not diminishable. It is part of the Param Atma (Supreme Soul). The Atma has to become a Param Atma in order to be liberated from the shackles of Maya. So just washing the physical body (by taking sacred dips at pilgrimage centres) is just an act of Maya.
The real washing is the washing of the soul and mind with the Naam Amrit. That is the real “Ishnaan” (holy bath) – “Gyan” (Knowledge) – “Dhyaan” (meditation). The Ishnaan (bathing) with Naam Amrit is going to eat all our poison of Maya. Naam Amrit is going to relieve us of all the sins and misdeeds and make our inside like a clean piece of cloth without anymore dirt clinging to it. Naam Amrit will make us completely truthful and pure – Khalas – and will create a Puran Jyot Parkash (perfect supreme light) inside our Hirda and make it a Khalsa by converting our Atma into Param Atma.
Just by practicing the outside compliance we will not straighten our inside and make it a Sadh (Saint) Hirda. Only internal compliance which can be earned by the Gur Parsaad of Naam Ki Kamai, will only be able to help us.
Guru Arjun Dev Ji Patshah has very kindly shown us this path of Naam, Bandgi and Seva with devotion and love, with faith and trust. This Gur Parsaad (blessing of the Guru) has liberated many souls from the shackles of Maya and uplifted them so much that they have become honorable in the Dargah (royal court) of Akal Purakh. Only the Gur Parsaad of Naam, Naam Ki Kamai and internal compliance will bring us liberation and salvation, there is no other way.
bahut si-aanap jam kaa bha-o bi-aapai.
anik jatan kar tarisan naa Dharaapai.
bhaykh anayk agan nahee bujhai.
kot upaav dargeh nahee sijhai.
chhootas naahee oobh pa-i-aal.
mohi bi-aapahi maa-i-aa jaal.
avar kartoot saglee jam daanai.
govind bhajan bin til nahee maanai.
har kaa naam japat dukh jaa-ay.
naanak bolai sahj subhaa-ay. ||4||
To become Nirbhao (fearless), is a mandatory divine quality. Unless we are completely fearless we will not be able to serve the Truth. Being Nirbhao is one of the most important divine attribute of Dhan Dhan Paar Braham Parmesar. Unless we become totally fearless we will not be able to speak the complete truth, we will not be able to deliver and serve the truth, we will not be able to become SAT Saroop.
What is the greatest fear? The fear of death. This fear always clings on to us no matter what we do unless we become completely fearless. The divine quality of fearlessness can only be achieved by serving the divinity, by serving the Akal Purakh and the greatest service of Akal Purakh is the Naam Ki Kamai.
There are four kinds of wisdom:
- self wisdom : this is acquired as a result of our own intelligence, education and learnings;
- worldly wisdom : his pertains to the customs, rules and regulations or the norms that are followed by the society in which we live;
- bad wisdom or Durmat such as abuse, Nindya, Chugli, Bakhili;
- the most important divine wisdom – Gurmatt, which is nothing but the word of Akal Purakh, the word of the Guru and we call it as Gurbani.
Practice of self wisdom, worldly wisdom and bad wisdom will never be able to make us fearless and get us relieved from the fear of death, because these promote Haumai – ego – Ahankaar, anger, hatred, discrimination and take us away from the Almighty. Wereas, the practice of Gurmat will bring Naam inside our Hirda which will replace all the mental sicknesses and desires with all the divine qualities and will be able to make us fearless and relieve us of the fear of death forever.
Trishna is the desire to amass wealth and worldly comforts and material goods. It is one of the three parts of Maya. It is called “Rajo” part of maya. It constantly provokes us to engage ourself in the acts of collecting worldly material things, money and worldly comforts to make our living more and more comfortable. One desire leads to another desire and so on and this chain never breaks. With this our Karam Kand (accumation of actions that result in being reborn) keeps on expanding.
The next important thing to say is that most of the time, we engage ourselves in meeting our desires by foul means. Which can make our future life more and more painful. In this way we keep ourselves always burning in the fire of desires which never extinguishes. No matter what we do this fire of desires never stops. What can really extinguish this fire of desires? The answer is very simple – contentment can stop this fire of desires. SAT SANTOKH can stop this ever-burning fire of desires. However, contentment is a divine quality and can only be achieved by Naam Ki Kamai.
The outside compliance will not be able to extinguish this fire of desires. Wearing all kinds of outside robes and dresses (religious looking) will not be able to take us to the Dargah of Akal Purakh. Only internal compliance by way of practicing divine wisdom and doing Naam Kamai will be able to make us honorable in the court of the Almighty.
Moh means the attachment to the family and worldly possessions. This is one of the most poisonous weapon of Maya which diverts us from the Almighty. Moh is known to be the basic reason behind all the sorrows. It is a selfish attachment. This means that we only want to do things that help our family and close relations and we ignore the rest of the world. This makes us selfish. Selfishness is the opposite of unconditional or devotional love, therefore, attachment takes us away from the Akal Purakh.
Unconditional devotional love for each and every creation of the Creator is a mandatory divine quality. God is the name of love and compassion for others. Parupkaar and Maha Parupkaar are the divine qualities which makes us help others unconditionally, selflessly and without expectaction of any returns. That is the real service to humanity and only that is counted as true Seva. Attachment draws us towards our own close ones. That is selfishness and against the divine rules. Moh is a serious mental sickness. However, to beat it doesn’t mean that we have to leave our family members. No, just treat everyone as we treat our own family. Love all elders as we love our parents. Love all children as we love our own children. In this way we take out the selfish aspect and transform Moh into love.
In addition to loving others as we love our own family, we can also treat our own family members as a Sangat. Serve them as if we are serving the Sangat. Help them as if we are helping the Sangat. Respect them as if we are respecting the Sangat. This will make us humble from inside and will inculcate in us the habit of treating everyone as a Sangat. By doing so we will be treating everyone we come across equally.
Becoming Ek Drisht – Single Vision and Nirvair is a mandatory divine quality for achieving salvation. But, Moh – attachment is a major roadblock in the way of developing this divine quality inside our Hirda. Internal detachment and conversion of attachment into unconditional selfless devotional love and compassion for everyone will make us Ek Drisht. This means we have no animosity, see all as equal, lovable and respectable. Each and every one has the Akal Purakh Ki Jyot and the Jyot should be respected and loved equally in each and every human being.
As long as we are operating under the influence of Maya : Panj Doots and desires, we can’t make it to the realms of the Eternal Truth. We can’t reach Sach Khand and can’t achieve salvation. No matter what we do, no mater whatever Dharam Karams and Punn Daan we engage ourself in, no matter whatever Atsath Tirath we go to, no matter whatever religious places we go and take a bath. Nothing else will not take us beyond the three attributes of Maya, because God lives beyond the three attributes of Maya so we have be able to go beyond them too to have His Darshan. Only Gur Parsaad of Naam, Bandgi and Seva – Naam Ki Kamai can take us beyond Maya. Only Naam Ki Kamai will eliminate all these mental sicknesses : Panj Doots – Kaam, Krodh, Lobh, Moh and Ahankaar, plus Asa, Trishna and Mansha. Only then will we be able to reach salvation stage.
When we win over Maya then we will go beyond Maya and this is the Sahaj Awastha (sublime state of mind absorbed in God’s Love). Guru Nanak Patshah was a Puran Brahmgiani Nirankaar Roop and always stayed in Sehaj Awstha. So Sehaj Awastha is a very high spiritual stage, it is reached only after bringing Maya under our control.
Maya served Guru Nanak Patshah. When we win over our mind and Maya, then Maya becomes our servant, Panj Doots and desires operate under our command. These things become our slaves and we rule over them. This is what is Sehaj Awastha. Since Guru Nanak Patshah was always in Sehaj Awastha so whatever he spoke was and still is an absolute pure and pious Eternal Truth. When a person goes into Sehaj Awastha then His words are carved in stone, they are the words of Almighty that is why it is Dhurki Bani (Primal Word).
Whosoever listens, believes and performs according to the Bani of such souls who reach the Sehaj Awastha they become Dhan Dhan and they meet the objective of their human life – Salvation.
chaar padaarath jay ko maagai.
saaDh janaa kee sayvaa laagai.
jay ko aapunaa dookh mitaavai.
har har naam ridai sad gaavai.
jay ko apunee sobhaa lorai.
saaDhsang ih ha-umai chhorai.
jay ko janam maran tay darai.
saaDh janaa kee sarnee parai.
jis jan ka-o parabh daras pi-aasaa.
naanak taa kai bal bal jaasaa. ||5||
Guru Nanak Patshah has been very kind on us all. He has given us a wonderful way to live our life and while enjoying a family environment meet the real objective of our human life which is achievement of salvation. So for living a happy and comfortable life and reaching salvation what are the necessities? The four essential elements needed are called “Chaar Padarath”, they are :
a) Dharam. We need dharam to be able to live a truthful life. To become a Puran Sachyara. To be able to see, speak, hear, serve and deliver the Truth. To listen to, accept, learn and practice the divine laws. This will make life eternally happy and we will operate beyond the three attributes of Maya. We will win over our mind and Maya completely. We will earn the Gur Parsaad of Naam Simran, engage ourselves in Bandgi and Seva, Parupkaar and Maha Parupkaar. This is the gift of Dharam.
b) Arath. We need money to meet our physical needs. Money for shelter, food, clothes and all the amenities for living a comfortable life. However, always keep in mind that money is only good so long as it is earned by fair and truthful means. Then is used for a good purpose and truthfully. Money becomes a deadly weapon if misused or earned by unfair means.
c) Kaam. We need Kaam to live a happy and comfortable married life. This is a very powerful tool which Akal Purakh has created to continue reproduction of the generations after generations to keep the universe going forever. Without this evolution was not possible. If it is used according to the divine laws, it bring in happiness and evolution of the universe. But, if misused, Kaam becomes a serious crime and ruins our life all together. Infact it ruins not only our character and murders the human values, but it completely destroys our human life. So it should be controlled to be used only between us and our spouse and should not go beyond that relationship. If kaam goes beyond our spousal relationship it is a curse. If it stays within our marriage it is a boon. So don’t let kaam become a curse, that is when kaam is named as one of the five thieves. But, Kaam within marriage can be enjoyed as a boon.
d) Mokh. This is Jivan Mukti, meaning merger into Akal Purakh whilst alive. Then at the time of death when leaving the physical body, the soul permanently merges to live in the real home – Sach Khand – Dargah of Akal Purakh.
Guru Pancham Patshah Guru Arjun Dev Ji has very kindly given us this divine wisdom and guided us where we can find these four essential elements to make our life sublime. These Chaar Padarath can only be found at the Charans (lotus feet) of a Puran Sant, a Puran Sadh, a Puran Brahmgiani, because these souls are the custodians of these treasures and all the eternal treasures. Maya is their servant and lives under the Charans of these Sants. That is why Guru Patshah have very kindly advised us to go to the Sharan (shelter) of such a Puran Sadh, a Puran Brahmgiani for getting blessed with these four essential elements of living a happy and prosperous human life and at the same time achieve salvation.
The stage of salvation is reached when Naam goes into our Hirda. When we become a Jivan Mukt then all our sorrows and mental sicknesses will disappear, in fact as our Bandgi progresses all our sorrows and Panj Doots start to disappear and eventually we reach the Sahaj Awastha or the Atal Awastha where nothing can distract us or bother us.
Haumai has been defined as a very deep mental sickness and the worst one to be controlled in order to win over Maya and mind. Only Naam and Naam Ki Kamai can help us get a control over this very serious mental sickness. The Gur Parsaad of Naam can only be obtained from a Puran Sant. The Gur Parsaad of Bandgi and Seva can only be achieved and earned in the Satsangat of a Puran Brahmgiani. When we do so and go through the complete Bandgi cycle then our soul reaches Sach Khand and we receive the highest level of respect and honor in the Dargah of Akal purakh. We are respected and honored everywhere. The cycle of birth and death have been defined as the deepest sorrow one has to go through time and again. Only the Sangat of a Puran Sant can help us to get out of the cycle of birth and death.
Bandgi can only be blessed and done under the blessings of a Puran Sant and salvation can only be achieved by the blessings of a Puran Sant. Those who have realized the objective of their human life are very honorable and respectable in the Dargah and are honored by the Guru and Akal Purakh. They have worked through maya to realize their spiritual dreams and are engaged in the Naam Ki Kamai, Seva, Parupkaar and Maha Parupkaar. The Guru and Akal Purakh becomes a sacrifice to such souls. The Guru and Akal Purakh then serve such souls. There remains no difference between the Bhagwan and Bhagat at the stage of salvation.
sagal purakh meh purakh parDhaan.
saaDhsang jaa kaa mitai abhimaan.
aapas ka-o jo jaanai neechaa.
so-oo ganee-ai sabh tay oochaa.
jaa kaa man ho-ay sagal kee reenaa.
har har naam tin ghat ghat cheenaa.
man apunay tay buraa mitaanaa.
paykhai sagal sarisat saajnaa.
sookh dookh jan sam daristaytaa.
naanak paap punn nahee laypaa. ||6||
Humbleness is a mandatory divine quality, utmost humbleness is the “Garibi Ves Hirda” (heart cloaked in humbleness). The humbleness is in the Hirda and is a very important and mandatory internal compliance divine law. Without achieving utmost humbleness we can’t reach the Almighty. Humbleness, Nimrata, is the only way to kill our ego, Ahankaar , Haumai. This is a deep mental sickness and lives in our head and is the most difficult to kill.
In fact all the Panj Doots live in our body:
- Kaam (lust) lives in the middle part of the body around our organs;
- Krodh (anger) lives in our abdomen area;
- Lobh (greed) and Moh (family attachment) live in the chest area and
- Ahankaar (pride) lives in the Head,
These are called thieves in Gurbani (they steal our inner amrit, drain us of spiritual energy). They are always instigating us to perform under their influence. These Doots are very important weapons of Maya and lead to our spiritual destruction by robbing us of our spiritual progress continuously. So Guru Patshah Guru Arjun Dev Ji is talking over here about killing our ego and earning the utmost humbleness. Humbleness is a mandatory divine quality, it is the Gur Parsaad and is available from a Puran Sant only. Only with the Gur Parsaad can we reach that stage of utmost humbleness which will make us a Purakh Pardhan – means utmost humbleness will make us a very wise person. Gurbani will go deeper into our Hirda. Naam will go deeper inside our soul, mind and body, Naam will go into our Rom Rom and we will become a Puran Brahmgiani – Purakh Pardhan and this can happen only with the Sangat of a Puran Sant a Puran Brahmgiani.
The person who becomes the lowest of the lowest is honored and respected in the Dargah of Akal Purakh Ji and also respected and honored everywhere in this universe. Such a person is the slave of God’s slaves and Charan Dhool (foot dust) of the entire creation. A person who really becomes very humble and whose Hirda gets filled with this divine quality of utmost humbleness gets absorbed in Naam and becomes one with the Almighty.
Akal Purakh and His Naam live only in such a Hirda. A continuous flow of the Amrit is given to the one who :
· becomes Sagal Ki Reena (dust of all creatures) of the entire creation.
· becomes Single Vision – Ek Drisht and sees the entire creation with the same level of love and compassion,
· sees all as equal,
· sees all as friends and sees no enemy,
· doesn’t have animosity with anybody and loves everyone the same way,
· sees the entire humanity is a Sangat and never thinks or does any harm to anybody at all and does only good to all,
· sees no difference between happiness and sorrow, meaning there is no effect of sorrow or happiness on them. They remain stable and in Sehaj Awastha under all circumstances,
· is beyond the Punn and Paap Karams and not effected by Paap and Punn Karams
· becomes a Purakh Pardhan (wisest of the wise).
When a person reaches the stage of Puran Bandgi and becomes a Puran Sant a Puran Brahmgiani then all his deeds are true deeds. He goes beyond the three attributes of Maya and becomes a Nirankaar Roop (a human form of the Formless Lord), so sorrow and happiness, Paap and Punn Karams don’t mean anything. There is no effect of these things on such a soul. Sand and gold is same for him. Utmost humbleness can take us to the heights of spiritual world and transform our soul to be the soul of a Purakh Pardhan.
nirDhan ka-o Dhan tayro naa-o.
nithaavay ka-o naa-o tayraa thaa-o.
nimaanay ka-o parabh tayro maan.
sagal ghataa ka-o dayvhu daan.
karan karaavanhaar su-aamee.
sagal ghataa kay antarjaamee.
apnee gat mit jaanhu aapay.
aapan sang aap parabh raatay.
tumHree ustat tum tay ho-ay.
naanak avar na jaanas ko-ay. ||7||
Guru Pancham Patshah Guru Arjun Dev Ji is continuing to give us the divine wisdom about the humbleness in these divine words. Nirdhan (the ones without wealth) doesn’t mean that God lives in those hearts who are financially poor, but it means the Nirdhanta of Hirda (attitude of gratitude), Garibi in Hirda (poverty i.e humbleness of heart). The poverty of Hirda is the utmost humbleness – Nimrata in the Hirda. Wherever there is Nirdhanta of Hirda, then Naam lives in that Hirda. It means that only down to earth humbleness can bring Puran Jyot Parkash in our Hirda. It means where there is no Haumai there is God. Where there is no Ahankaar, Akal Purakh lives in that Hirda.
Nithawan (homeless) doesn’t mean the person who doesn’t have a place to live. Nithawan means the person who has given back everything to the Giver – Akal Purakh. The one who has surrendered everything to the Akal Purakh and has accepted that everything belongs to the Akal Purakh and nothing belongs to him. A complete sacrifice and detachment from the worldly things, that is the Hirda where Almighty makes His permanent home and lives and forever.
Nimana (without respect) means the one who has no Maan, meaning the who doesn’t care about his respect in the society he is living in. The one who has completely eradicated the ego from his head, for whom there is no difference between Maan and Apmaan – respect or abuse. Respect or abuse doesn’t effect him at all and he is in a state of complete control over these things. Such is a soul who is in Atal Awastha – Param Padvi and is respected and honored in the court of Akal Purakh.
The ones who realize His Kirpa and become detached from the world of Maya and make a place for Him in their Hirda, the Almighty is infinite and unlimited and gives them everything they need to live a happy and prosperous life. Now imagine when we do the same and God comes and lives in our Hirda then what else would we want? When the Creator and Doer Himself has given us Himself then what more do we want? This is what happens when our Hirda becomes filled with Nirdhanta.
Akal Purakh is the only Doer and He knows everything that is in our Hirda and nothing can be kept hidden from Him. He will know the moment our Hirda is filled with Nirdhanta – utmost humbleness. He will come in right there and then.
The emphasis here is on the inside and outside behavior of a person. If our outside looks different, meaning our outside behavior doesn’t reflect what we think, then there is a difference in the Karni and thinking which is not good. We should look, think and do the same. The people who are engaged in the practice of “Mukh Hore Munn Hore” – saying some thing and doing something else, should know that they are under the constant watch of Akal Purakh. All our deeds are being recorded and these deeds form the basis of our future. Our behavior should reflect our thinking and by doing so we will be performing truthfully and our deeds will be more truthful.
Always keep in mind that nothing can be hidden from the Akal Purakh since He is Anterjaami. This quality of reading the mind comes in as a divine gift to the people those who dedicate themselves to the Naam Ki Kamai and reach the Karam Khand and Sach Khand stage. At the same time we can’t understand His Mahima (praise) completely. We only know whatever we experience and see, but His Mahima (praise) is beyond description and can’t be described by anybody, whosoever he may be.
Only He knows what His Mahima (praise) is, what His powers are and what He is capable of doing. He can do anything in the blink of an eye. His capacity and capabilities are beyond doubt and unquestionable. The most important part to learn here is that we can meet Him or reach Him or experience Him only with His own Gur Kirpa with His own Gur Parsaad with His own Nadar (look of grace). The Guru Patshah is telling us that nobody is even capable of praising Him or singing His Mahima (praise) or singing His grace, but only with His own Kirpa and Gur Parsaad His Praise and Mahima (praise) is possible.
sarab Dharam meh saraysat Dharam.
har ko naam jap nirmal karam.
sagal kir-aa meh ootam kiri-aa.
saaDhsang durmat mal hiri-aa.
sagal udam meh udam bhalaa.
har kaa naam japahu jee-a sadaa.
sagal baanee meh amrit baanee.
har ko jas sun rasan bakhaanee.
sagal thaan tay oh ootam thaan.
nanak jih ghat vasai har naam. ||8||3||
Guru Pancham Patshah Guru Arjun Dev Ji has very beautifully explained to us in the above divine words about the Mahima (praise) of Naam and Naam Ki Kamai. Most people just read the Sukhmani, but there is one in ten millions who practices what he read in Sukhmani and becomes Sukhmani. That is what Guru Patshah Guru Arjun Dev Ji was : a walking encyclopedia of the Brahmgyan (divine wisdom). Brahmgyan only comes into us by putting into practice what we read – not just by reading. All of the Guru Patshahians were Puran Brahmgianis and so where all the Sants and Bhagats who contributed their Bani to Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. All these entities became Gurbani by themselves. Meaning, whatever Gurbani said they became so. Gurbani came true for these souls. Even now there are Puran Brahmgianis on the face of this Earth. Infact, the world runs on the shoulders of such souls who reach the heights of the spiritual world.
Shri Guru Arjun Dev Sahib Ji has very kindly made some divine conclusions in this piece of divine wisdom. Sikhs, Hindus, Muslims and people from various ethnic groups and so called religions keep on fighting with each other endlessly. Guru Patshah Guru Arjun Dev Ji has very kindly told us to follow the real religion which is Naam Japna, Naam Ki Kamai (earn naam) and Nirmal Karam (pure deeds). Sat Karams (true deeds) are the deeds which are performed under the Sato Birti of Maya (goodness aspect of Maya).
This is the highest religion in the entire universe to do Naam Simran and perform all our actions and reactions according to the Sato Birti.
What is our behavior and our conduct? Only with the Sangat of a Sadhu can we clean up all inside our Hirda. Only with the Sangat of a Sadhu can we wash all our sins and the negative effects of Asat Karams (untrue deeds) conducted in all our previous lives.
Durmat is the bad wisdom which prompts us to perform Asat Karams – like Nindya, Chugli, Bakhili – negative criticism; stealing, abusing, extortion, bribery, dishonesty, telling lies, hurting others, killing, beating, and so on. Washing all our sins is possible only by doing Sat Sangat. What is Sat sangat? It is where there is presence of SAT – Param Jyot Puran Parkash. This happens only in the Hirda of a Puran Sadh, Puran Sant, a Puran Brahmgiani.
The highest and the purest task is to do Naam Simran and collect Naam Dhan and Naam Ki Kamai. This will eventually lead us to the Gur Parsaad of salvation. The highest and purest divine words are those which are used in singing the Mahima of Akal Purakh. The most pious and pure place is the place where God lives and that is the Hirda of a Puran Sant, a Puran Brahmgiani.
In other words once we are blessed by a Puran Sant , Puran Brahmgiani with the Gur Parsaad of Naam, Bandgi and Seva then we will be able to dedicate ourself with Tunn, Munn and Dhan (body, mind and wealth), with complete surrender to the Gur and Guru. Then we will be able to do Naam Ki Kamai. Eventually, our Hirda will become a place where the Naam Amolak Rattan (naam the priceless jewel) will be carved. Our Hirda will be filled with all the divine qualities and we will reach salvation and meet our objective of the human life.