48.Waheguru simran : Anhad Shabad (The Celestial Sound)

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.

--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).

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 ॥

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॥

-         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