The awareness (surt) of the persons who do regular Simran or mediation
develops an inward focus. The cloudiness of the thoughts and emotions is
thinner and then they easily hear the celestial sound . This sound is known as
naad. Gurbani
calls it Anhad Shabad. . Anhad means the sound that is not produced by striking of
two objects. This sound exists as such and has divine origin.
Linkup with the Celestial Sound is
an ancient spiritual jugat
(technique) of the saints to reach the highest state of merger with their
origin – the creator Lord. This method was referred to by Guru Nanak Dev ji ),
the founder of Sikhism during his meeting with sidhas
and this conversation account is described in Sidh Gosht.
There are references to the Celestial
Sound in all the religions however description of the method of Surt-Shabad is
scant. I have come across persons who have been doing yoga and meditation and
hear the celestial sound. They were searching for enlightenment and next step.
The way that Guru Nanak explained
is an integrated one with unfolding of the Mool and the Naam.
The spiritual path through the Shabad ( celestial Sound) is described in the
hymns in Shri Guru Granth Saheb ji.
This spiritual path of the Shabad-surt can be appreciated only when the “shabad” is understood well. For this we have to see how
Gurmat explains the creation.
The world is a creation of
Nirankar.
Nirankar means
without form or formless and in the Guru Granth Sahibji reference is to this
aspect of God. The God has the power or ability meaning kala to exist as form and support the form without
appearing to have any connection with the form. Continuing with the same way of
expression, the Ekankar is God being one appearing as many. The Nirankar
through ‘kala dhar’ created the universe. The
creation is oneness- Ekankar. HE is both the Creator and the Creation. This is
HIS “Akl kala”.HE also has taken “Shabad Roop” to create and sustain creation.
Among
the aspects of the Shabad one is sound. This is celestial sound.
Here is an illustration to explain the
creation process:
In the
material world the sound is created due
to striking of two objects so this form
of sound is called ‘Ahat Naad’ , whereas
the celestial sound heard during meditation is called ‘Anahat Naad’ which is not
caused by striking of objects. Gurmat explains
that this Shabad is everywhere and in everything.
And here below some Gurbani lines from Shree Guru Granth Sahibji are given to clarify the above explanation:
ਨਿਰੰਕਾਰਿ ਆਕਾਰੁ ਉਪਾਇਆ ॥ਮਾਇਆ ਮੋਹੁ ਹੁਕਮਿ ਬਣਾਇਆ ॥
ਆਪੇ ਖੇਲ ਕਰੇ ਸਭਿ ਕਰਤਾ ਸੁਣਿ ਸਾਚਾ ਮੰਨਿ ਵਸਾਇਦਾ ॥੧॥
-
SGGS
1066
The Formless Lord
created the universe of form. He created Maya ( the illusion to sustain separate identities ), Attachment ( to the world )
and Hukam ( HIS
command ). The Creator
Himself stages all the play; Listen and place the true one in the mind (here path is being referred to).
-
SGGS
1066
ਨਿਰੰਕਾਰ ਆਕਾਰ ਆਪਿ ਨਿਰਗੁਨ ਸਰਗੁਨ ਏਕ ॥
ਏਕਹਿ ਏਕ ਬਖਾਨਨੋ ਨਾਨਕ ਏਕ ਅਨੇਕ ॥੧॥
-
SGGS
250
Nirankar Himself is form, and as Nirgun (without
attributes), Sargun ( with attributes ) is One. Describe the One Lord as One, and Only One;
says Nanak, HE is the One, and the many.
-
SGGS
250
ਜਾਤਿ ਮਹਿ ਜੋਤਿ ਜੋਤਿ ਮਹਿ ਜਾਤਾ ਅਕਲ ਕਲਾ ਭਰਪੂਰਿ ਰਹਿਆ ॥
-
SGGS
469
HIS Light is in the
Created and Creation is in HIS Light; know that
Through HIS
almighty power, HE is pervading everywhere.
-
SGGS
469
ਨਿਰਗੁਨੁ ਆਪਿ ਸਰਗੁਨੁ ਭੀ ਓਹੀ ॥
ਕਲਾ ਧਾਰਿ ਜਿਨਿ ਸਗਲੀ ਮੋਹੀ ॥
-
SGGS
287
HE Himself is
Nirgun; HE Himself is Sargun.
This manifestation
is His power (kala dhar), the entire world is
fascinated.
-
SGGS
287
ਉਤਪਤਿ ਪਰਲਉ ਸਬਦੇ ਹੋਵੈ ॥
ਸਬਦੇ ਹੀ ਫਿਰਿ ਓਪਤਿ ਹੋਵੈ ॥
-SGGS 117
Creation and
destruction happen through the Shabad.
Through the Shabad, creation happens again.
Through the Shabad, creation happens again.
--SGGS 117
The Question in Sidh Gost -
ਸੁ ਸਬਦ ਕਾ ਕਹਾ ਵਾਸੁ ਕਥੀਅਲੇ ਜਿਤੁ ਤਰੀਐ ਭਵਜਲੁ ਸੰਸਾਰੋ ॥
Where is the Shabad said to dwell? Which will
carry us across the terrifying world-ocean?
The
Answer by Guru Nanak in Sidh Gost –
ਸੁ ਸਬਦ ਕਉ ਨਿਰੰਤਰਿ ਵਾਸੁ ਅਲਖੰ ਜਹ ਦੇਖਾ ਤਹ ਸੋਈ ॥
That Shabad dwells unknown , within everything .
wherever I look, there I see the Shabad(HIM).
-
Sidh Ghost SGGS 944
Shabad that pervades the entire creation
has also taken the form of words and is Gurbani. This is why Sri Guru Granth Sahib
ji
is known as Shabad Guru. The Shabad Roop Gurbani is the first place where the Sikh focuses his
Surt (conscious awareness) .
The Gurbani changes the state of mind of
the Sikh. The Gurbani guides and gives direction and knowledge. As the Sikh progresses
spiritually, so does this level of guidance. The Sikh does Waheguru Simran as
well. The knowledge of The Mool (Naam) unfolds. The Naam starts to permeate the psyche of the
Sikh.
The Sikh hears the Anhad Shabad. The
Sikh perceives HIS presence and starts to live in Hazuri. The Sikh has many
spiritual experiences and is able to manage the five passions. The Shabad Guru
is perceived within as a guide and companion. There is communion with the
Shabad Guru. The Anhad Shabad shows its different roops and ever pulls the Surt upward.
The illustration
below explains the path of shabad-surt as per Gurmat.
The Gurmat path of Shabad-Surt is
an integrated one. There are references to the celestial sound in scriptures of
other religions as well.The Celestial sound is mentioned
as primodal sound of creation .
This sound is surely a sound of
creation. The meditators hear it in various forms. It has sound of the five elements and is thus
also known as panch shabad. It also comprises sound of all
the 84 lac created beings.
The Shabad is coming from the tenth Gate (Dasam Dwar).
The Shabad is coming from the tenth Gate (Dasam Dwar).
Gurmat way is to listen to the
Anhad Shabad and keep doing Simran. As this meditation is continued the quality of sound changes.This Shabad is a transformer and ever pulls the Surt inward or rather upward. The Sikh's mind is in raza,The haume is waning through the simran .The Surt ( conscious awareness)of the Sikh is subtle due to regular Simran and is thus able to connect well with the Anhad Shabad. For the Sikh Anhad Shabad is Guru Roop and thus has preet (feeling of love). The integrated path of Gurmat enables the Sikh to feel His presence, to see the
oneness and to be one.
ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਮਿਲਿਐ ਧਾਵਤੁ ਥੰਮ੍ਹ੍ਹਿਆ ਨਿਜ ਘਰਿ ਵਸਿਆ ਆਏ ॥
ਨਾਮੁ ਵਿਹਾਝੇ ਨਾਮੁ ਲਏ ਨਾਮਿ ਰਹੇ ਸਮਾਏ ॥
ਨਾਮੁ ਵਿਹਾਝੇ ਨਾਮੁ ਲਏ ਨਾਮਿ ਰਹੇ ਸਮਾਏ ॥
ਧਾਵਤੁ ਥੰਮ੍ਹ੍ਹਿਆ ਸਤਿਗੁਰਿ ਮਿਲਿਐ ਦਸਵਾ ਦੁਆਰੁ ਪਾਇਆ ॥
ਤਿਥੈ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਭੋਜਨੁ ਸਹਜ ਧੁਨਿ ਉਪਜੈ ਜਿਤੁ ਸਬਦਿ ਜਗਤੁ ਥੰਮ੍ਹ੍ਹਿ ਰਹਾਇਆ ॥
ਤਹ ਅਨੇਕ ਵਾਜੇ ਸਦਾ ਅਨਦੁ ਹੈ ਸਚੇ ਰਹਿਆ ਸਮਾਏ ॥
ਇਉ ਕਹੈ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਸਤਿਗੁਰਿ ਮਿਲਿਐ ਧਾਵਤੁ ਥੰਮ੍ਹ੍ਹਿਆ ਨਿਜ ਘਰਿ ਵਸਿਆ ਆਏ ॥੪॥
ਤਿਥੈ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਭੋਜਨੁ ਸਹਜ ਧੁਨਿ ਉਪਜੈ ਜਿਤੁ ਸਬਦਿ ਜਗਤੁ ਥੰਮ੍ਹ੍ਹਿ ਰਹਾਇਆ ॥
ਤਹ ਅਨੇਕ ਵਾਜੇ ਸਦਾ ਅਨਦੁ ਹੈ ਸਚੇ ਰਹਿਆ ਸਮਾਏ ॥
ਇਉ ਕਹੈ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਸਤਿਗੁਰਿ ਮਿਲਿਐ ਧਾਵਤੁ ਥੰਮ੍ਹ੍ਹਿਆ ਨਿਜ ਘਰਿ ਵਸਿਆ ਆਏ ॥੪॥
-
SGGS 441
Meeting the True
Guru (shabad
guru), the wandering
mind is held steady; it comes to abide in its own home. It trades in the Naam, does jap of the Naam, and remains absorbed in the Naam. The outgoing, wandering surt, upon meeting the True
Guru, finds the Tenth Gate. There,
Ambrosial Nectar is food and the celestial music resounds; the shabad that is
keeping the world supported. The many
strains of the unstruck melody resound there, as one experiences the merger
with the true one. Thus says Nanak: by
meeting the True Guru, the wandering mind becomes steady, and comes to dwell in
the home of its own self.
-
SGGS 441
