46.Waheguru Simran: Shabad Naam

While reading Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, the Sikh often comes across words ‘Shabad” and “Naam’ and wonders at their meaning.

An attempt is made here to explain  Naam in simple words with Gurbani being the real guide.

Gurbani explains that the Shabad is the cause and creator of the universe. Whole creation has been and is being   created by the Shabad and Shabad ends the creation as well.

ਉਤਪਤਿ ਪਰਲਉ ਸਬਦੇ ਹੋਵੈ ॥ ਸਬਦੇ ਹੀ ਫਿਰਿ ਓਪਤਿ ਹੋਵੈ ॥

ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਵਰਤੈ ਸਭੁ ਆਪੇ ਸਚਾ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਉਪਾਇ ਸਮਾਵਣਿਆ ॥੧॥
SGGS page 117

Creation and destruction happen through the Shabad.

Through the Shabad, creation happens again.
The Gurmukh knows that the only Truth HIMSELF is pervading. The Gurmukh understands creation and merger. ||1||
SGGS page 117

As explained by Gurbani before creation there had been only “Vismad “--bliss or wonder.

ਆਦਿ ਕਉ ਬਿਸਮਾਦੁ ਬੀਚਾਰੁ ਕਥੀਅਲੇ ਸੁੰਨ ਨਿਰੰਤਰਿ ਵਾਸੁ ਲੀਆ ॥
We can only express a sense of wonder about the beginning from the void (nothingness as compared with something). The absolute abided endlessly deep within Himself then.
- SGGS 940 (sidhgost)

ਅਰਬਦ ਨਰਬਦ ਧੁੰਧੂਕਾਰਾ ॥
For endless eons, there was only mist (obscurity).
- SGGS 1035

The world was created through the “shabad” - the creator or God. And the created world a reflection of the bliss:

ਜਗੁ ਤਿਸ ਕੀ ਛਾਇਆ ਜਿਸੁ ਬਾਪੁ ਨ ਮਾਇਆ ॥
The world is a reflection of HIM; Who has no father or mother.
-SGGS 1035

The “Shabad” is all pervading. The process of creation and destruction ever keep going in cycles (small and bigger) ever going on.  What ever is being created gets destroyed, then creation occurs again. Within the created also are elements of creation-destruction-creation.

Are not our body cells being destroyed and regenerated?

Even the stones and metals having longer life are subject to entropy. In nature nothing ever remains same. At quantum level this cycle of creation-destruction-creation is ever continuing and so also at the level of galaxies. All creation is in a living vibrant creation cycle like waves on water in a sea.

Gurbani explains that within all and everything is the Shabad – the creator and also how the Naam reveals the unseen.

ਸੁ ਸਬਦ ਕਉ ਨਿਰੰਤਰਿ ਵਾਸੁ ਅਲਖੰ ਜਹ ਦੇਖਾ ਤਹ ਸੋਈ ॥

 ਸਬਦੈ ਕਾ ਨਿਬੇੜਾ ਸੁਣਿ ਤੂ ਅਉਧੂ ਬਿਨੁ ਨਾਵੈ ਜੋਗੁ ਨ ਹੋਈ ॥

ਨਾਮੇ ਰਾਤੇ ਅਨਦਿਨੁ ਮਾਤੇ ਨਾਮੈ ਤੇ ਸੁਖੁ ਹੋਈ ॥

 ਨਾਮੈ ਹੀ ਤੇ ਸਭੁ ਪਰਗਟੁ ਹੋਵੈ ਨਾਮੇ ਸੋਝੀ ਪਾਈ ॥

-          SGGS 944

That Shabad dwells deep within all beings,

Unknown and Invisible; whatever is seen, there is seen the Shabad (pervading).

 Listen, you hermits and Yogis the explanation (revelation) about the Shabad. It is that without the Naam, there is no Yoga.

Those who are attuned to the Naam, remain intoxicated night and day;

Through the Naam, they find peace.

Through the Naam, everything is revealed;

 Through the Naam, understanding is obtained.

-          SGGS 944

Shabad is the creative force.  The universe is ever changing and illusionary. Universe has come out of Sunn (void).

 Scientists are as yet unaware of origin of matter and consciousness. Already the scientists are looking at the connection of matter with consciousness and zero point energy to find the answer.

Gurbani explains that the only Satt (truth) is Waheguru – the creator and the creation is like a bubble in water or like waves on the water.. Naam is the support that pervades the creation. Naam is a state of being. Naam is the essence of the Karta (creator) that pervades  and  through the Naam connection one connects with Waheguruji.

Gurbani explains that:

ਨਾਮ ਕੇ ਧਾਰੇ ਸਗਲੇ ਜੰਤ ॥ ਨਾਮ ਕੇ ਧਾਰੇ ਖੰਡ ਬ੍ਰਹਮੰਡ ॥ਨਾਮ ਕੇ ਧਾਰੇ ਸਿਮ੍ਰਿਤਿ ਬੇਦ ਪੁਰਾਨ ॥ਨਾਮ ਕੇ ਧਾਰੇ ਸੁਨਨ ਗਿਆਨ ਧਿਆਨ ॥ ਨਾਮ ਕੇ ਧਾਰੇ ਆਗਾਸ ਪਾਤਾਲ ॥ ਨਾਮ ਕੇ ਧਾਰੇ ਸਗਲ ਆਕਾਰ ॥ ਨਾਮ ਕੇ ਧਾਰੇ ਪੁਰੀਆ ਸਭ ਭਵਨ ॥ ਨਾਮ ਕੈ ਸੰਗਿ ਉਧਰੇ ਸੁਨਿ ਸ੍ਰਵਨ ॥ ਕਰਿ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਜਿਸੁ ਆਪਨੈ ਨਾਮਿ ਲਾਏ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਚਉਥੇ ਪਦ ਮਹਿ ਸੋ ਜਨੁ ਗਤਿ ਪਾਏ ॥
-          SGGS 284
The Naam is the Support of all creatures.
The Naam is the Support of the earth and solar systems.
The Naam is the Support of the Simritees, the Vedas and the Puraanas.
The Naam is the Support by which we hear of spiritual wisdom and meditation.
The Naam is the Support of the Akaashic ethers and the nether regions.
The Naam is the Support of all bodies.
The Naam is the Support of all worlds and realms.
Associating with the Naam, listening to it with the ears, one is saved.
Those whom the Lord mercifully attaches to His Naam -
O Nanak, in the fourth state, those humble servants attain salvation. ||5||

-          SGGS 284

Let us look at another explaination within SGGSji.

ਆਪੀਨ੍ਹ੍ਹੈ ਆਪੁ ਸਾਜਿਓ ਆਪੀਨ੍ਹ੍ਹੈ ਰਚਿਓ ਨਾਉ ॥

ਦੁਯੀ ਕੁਦਰਤਿ ਸਾਜੀਐ ਕਰਿ ਆਸਣੁ ਡਿਠੋ ਚਾਉ ॥

-SGGS 436

HE Himself adorned Himself; HE Himself created Naam.

HE created nature as a duality and seated Himself

within the creation beholding it with delight.
-SGGS 436

The creation is a duality, meaning from being ONE HE created nature to appear as many with a dual identity- one true (sat) and the other illusionary.The created do not identify themselves with the creator.This separate identity and distinctiveness is all pervading in the world.The direction of spirituality is to shed this grand illusion and be ONE.

The Naam is HIS creation and is the way towards becoming ONE.

With Naam we connect with Wahaguru –the creator.

The Shabad enables us to connect with Naam.

ਸਬਦੇ ਹੀ ਨਾਉ ਊਪਜੈ ਸਬਦੇ ਮੇਲਿ ਮਿਲਾਇਆ ॥

ਬਿਨੁ ਸਬਦੈ ਸਭੁ ਜਗੁ ਬਉਰਾਨਾ ਬਿਰਥਾ ਜਨਮੁ ਗਵਾਇਆ ॥

-SGGS 644

Through the Shabad, the Naam sprouts up; through the Shabad, we are united (with creator).Without the Shabad, the whole world is crazy, losing life in vain.
-SGGS 644

The life we live is definitely crazy.We look for happiness in things which do not give happiness. We are driven by five passions which rule our behaviour.We desire , desire and desire.We are anxious, stressed and in ever fear. If only we could have had Naam then we would have experiences of true joy. The fear and anxiety would not plague us.True prosperity would be with us without being troubled by five passions.This life has communion with God. We would have company of truth and would have joy living as cocreator.

The Shabad also manifested as Bani.The words of Gurbani not only give spiritual wisdom but changes our state of mind. The Gurbani transforms our mind.We then begin to perceive Naam.

ਇਹੁ ਮਨੁ ਭੀਜੈ ਸਬਦਿ ਪਤੀਜੈ ॥ ਬਿਨੁ ਨਾਵੈ ਕਿਆ ਟੇਕ ਟਿਕੀਜੈ ॥

Mind is drenched, by being attuned to the Shabad.

 Without the Naam there is no other support.

-          SGGS- 1031

ਗੁਰਬਾਣੀ ਵਰਤੀ ਜਗ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਇਸੁ ਬਾਣੀ ਤੇ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਪਾਇਦਾ ॥

– SGGS 1066

As the Gurbani gets known in the world;

So with this Bani, the Naam is obtained.  

– SGGS 1066

ਬਿਨੁ ਨਾਵੈ ਹੋਰ ਪੂਜ ਨ ਹੋਵੀ ਭਰਮਿ ਭੁਲੀ ਲੋਕਾਈ ॥੭॥
SGGS 910

There is no worship, other than through the Naam;

the world wanders, deluded by doubt.

SGGS 910

Naam is a State of Being.

With the touch of Naam we are in touch with our origin.

We feel Waheguruji.

We sense Waheguruji within the creation. 

We feel HIS presence. We observe HIS Hukam prevailing in the world.

The Gurbani is Shabad roop. Reading Gurbani, knowing Gurbani, listening Gurbani, singing Gurbani our state of mind changes and then we connect with Naam.

The Shabad is the True Guru that is ever within us. The Shabad Guru spoke through the Ten Guru’s. The Shabad Guru is enshrined in Gurbani Shabads.As we do Simran we go within. We then do communion with the Shabad Guru.

The Shabad Guru talks through inner dialogue.

The Shabad Guru explains. Shabad Guru had guided the saints and is ever the true guide now. In kalyug Guru Nanak came and HIS Guru being Shabad Guru.The Shabad as Gurbani guides and takes us within in touch with Naam.

ਗੁਰੁ ਗੁਰੁ ਕਰਤ ਮਨੁ ਲੋਰੋ ॥

 ਪ੍ਰਿਅ ਪ੍ਰੀਤਿ ਪਿਆਰੋ ਮੋਰੋ ॥
-SGGS 1306
search with yearning mind calling out, ""Guru, Guru"".
My Beloved Loves the Love.
-SGGS 1306

 ਸਾਚੀ ਬਾਣੀ ਸਚੁ ਵਖਾਣੈ ਸਚਿ ਨਾਮਿ ਲਿਵ ਲਾਈ ॥

 ਭੈ ਭੰਜਨੁ ਅਤਿ ਪਾਪ ਨਿਖੰਜਨੁ ਮੇਰਾ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਅੰਤਿ ਸਖਾਈ ॥

 ਸਭੁ ਕਿਛੁ ਆਪੇ ਆਪਿ ਵਰਤੈ ਨਾਨਕ ਨਾਮਿ ਵਡਿਆਈ ॥
- SGGS 910

True Bani speak the Truth; enshrines love of true Naam.
The Destroyer of fear, the Destroyer of sin;

 my God is the only support in the end.
HEHimself is everywhere and everything; Says Nanak,this awareness is known through the glorious Naam.

- SGGS 910

ਨਉ ਨਿਧਿ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤੁ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕਾ ਨਾਮੁ ॥ ਦੇਹੀ ਮਹਿ ਇਸ ਕਾ ਬਿਸ੍ਰਾਮੁ ॥
ਸੁੰਨ ਸਮਾਧਿ ਅਨਹਤ ਤਹ ਨਾਦ ॥ ਕਹਨੁ ਨ ਜਾਈ ਅਚਰਜ ਬਿਸਮਾਦ ॥

-SGGS 293

The nine treasures are in the Ambrosial Naam of God.
Within the human body is its place of rest. The Deepest Samaadhi, and the unstruck sound current of the Naad are there.The wonder and marvel of it cannot be described.

- SGGS 293

ਪ੍ਰਭ ਪੇਖੀਐ ਬਿਸਮਾਦ ॥

Gaze upon God, the wonderous.
- SGGS 837