49. Naam Aukhad

ਨਾਮ ਅਉਖਧੁ      Naam Aukhad        

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 ਨਾਮ ਅਉਖਧੁ ਜਿਹ ਰਿਦੈ ਹਿਤਾਵੈ ॥

 ਤਾਹਿ ਰੋਗੁ ਸੁਪਨੈ ਨਹੀ ਆਵੈ ॥

SGGS 259

  
One whose heart is filled with Naam as medicine.
Is not afflicted with disease even in his dreams.
SGGS 259

ਸਰਬ ਰੋਗ ਕਾ ਅਉਖਦੁ ਨਾਮੁ ॥

Sarab Rog Ka Aukhad Naam

The Naam is the panacea, the remedy to cure all ills.

-SGGS 274

 
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Naam Aukhad is the single remedy to heal and harmonize all kinds of human afflictions, health issues and problems.

The method to heal physical body ailments through application of “Naamaukhad” is through recitation of Gurbani and Waheguru Simran. To apply this method correctly some basic understanding of key concepts is a must.

The method involves opening oneself to the flow of Naam and then the touch of Naam within through healing restores balance. The life that is generally being lived by people is with a state of mind that is closed to Naam. They live a life of imbalance and negativity that affects the flow of life events, circumstances and the physical body.

Naam is our origin from which the creation has come about and is being sustained. Naam is the state which is purest. This is the state where there is only ‘Sat’- truth. The creation has two parts one known as Nirgun and the other. The Nirgun is the portion that is not changing and ever pure. Nirgun can be said to be the creator’s unseen presence in the world. The Sargun is the created world The Sargun is the part that is ever changing. The created world is subject to cycle of being birth- sustenance- death. These three forces are ever active in the creation and the material world is subject to these forces. The world of matter that we see around does not remain same. Matter isn't constant. There is decay. There is change of state. There is newness also.  In biosphere the change is very obvious to observe. Are we also not changing from moment to moment? And so also does our circumstances. This change is not there in the Nirgun part of the creation. To science this   world of marvelously complex universe is still left unexplained and enigmatically mysterious.

The Guruji explains the creator and the creation. Naam is the hidden and unseen part of the creation. Naam is also the creative force. This force makes possible the existence of material world. Naam is the cause of the flow of creation.

The material world is also known as the world of Maya – illusion. Maya means that the world exists but is not true .In this world of Maya there is duality meaning the opposites exist. Like love has its opposite as Fear, hot-cold,long-short,up-down,near-far,plus-minus,positive-negative,anger-peace,exists-does not exists, empty-filled, and so on.

Guruji state that the creator is not a person or has form .HIS presence in the world is Naam. The Naam is the state which is also “Nirbau” –‘no fear’ meaning not to be identified with fear. Thus anything which is part or variant of fear is not Naam and is part of Maya.

We live in this world of Maya which has Fear and Love both and so also their variants. The fear aspect is negativity and love aspect is positivity. There is dis harmony when in fear and harmony where there is love or positivity.

Before we look at how Naam heals, we have to look at what has caused the ailment.

Why our body is diseased?

Our physical body is a perfect harmonious living bio-organism which is capable of regeneration and repair of cells the building blocks of organs and parts. Our body also has a perfect versatile mechanism to fight germs and viruses. So why this perfect machine does gets diseased. The Medical Science is finding the reasons in ‘psychosomatic” causes.

Gurbani states that we get diseased because of aberration caused by our behaviour that indulges in “Kaam, krodh, lobh, moh and ahankar”.  The behaviour connected with this has associated thoughts and emotions. We are angry, harbor resentments, and are hateful, stubborn, intolerant, jealous, lustful, impatient, egoist, guilty, shameful, covetous etc. in an endless way. These thoughts and emotions change the state of mind which gets reflected as disharmony in the body’s systems and mechanism. The distortion makes the body parts diseased.

Gurbani explains that we should not blame extraneous reasons; the blame is on our own karmic actions. What we sow we reap. We come to this world with a personality and thereafter it is the environment. Apart from genetic propensity our attitudes and susceptibility to get affected by subtle thoughts and beliefs of the persons we live with and those conveyed through lectures, TV and newspapers all play a part in shaping our thoughts and behaviour. All this affect the body systems. All in all it is mainly our thoughts that are shaping our own reality – the effects on body and the circumstances of our life. Guru ji has clearly stated in Japji sahib itself that ‘Akhar’(words) are the cause that that writes our “Bhag” (destiny).What we think and what emotions we have gets reflected in our body’s physiology and cellular structure either by way of illness or health.

The modern medicine addresses the issue of diseased organs by treating the parts leaving the cause unattended hence the patient remains ill in one way or another. People from their inner core realize this and hence also go for alternative holistic medicine treatment. They are beginning to realize need to change life style.

Changing one’s lifestyle or behaviour is found to be difficult by people. One just cannot ‘will’ the change.

From the above the obvious answer as a cure method that quietly addresses the mind, thoughts and keeps our body in harmony and balance preventing disease. 

But given the tricks of the mind controlling or changing the mind is very difficult. But Gurbani’s method is different. Association with Gurbani gives one assurance of healing which is able to impact and change all the factors responsible for sickness.

How the Naam cures?

The Gurbani explains that we are living in a world which is ‘a world of Maya (illusion)’. Our awareness is fully involved in the material world and worldly affairs. Day in and day out we are deeply involved having a family, an occupation and making a living. Our responsibilities as son/daughter, brother/sister, father/mother, employee/employer, citizen and so on keep us involved. There are worldly attractions, enticements and the five thieves or passions ever direct our behaviour. Our environment and change ever keeps demands on us. Given such a situation we are being ever prevented from a State of Mind which is peaceful and a joy within our own self.  This state is harmonizing, balancer and aligned with creation. This state of mind is touch of Naam.

Naam is a state of alignment with the creator. As Guruji explains in Mool Manter that Naam is the only Sat in the creation. The duality which the creator created for the purpose of creation has the opposite parts of what creator is. Creator is Nirbhau meaning No Fear. Fear is created duality and opposite of Love. Creator is Anand , joy . The creator is all the variants of love. Fear is the duality created to define what love is. Fear is maya. And so also are its varients like anxiety and anger. In this world we can experience both the aspects. We can be in fear or in love. Love is our natural sat state whereas fear comes from living attached to this world of maya. In this world we believe the Karta to be a person (purakh) ignorant of the fact that creator is within the creation. Creation is not separate from the Creator. Creator is also Nirvair meaning No enmity. How can there be enmity when there is oneness. In fact enmity is part of the created duality. When we are in touch with Naam we are in touch with Sat.  Then positivity enters our mind. The thoughts are of confidence, assurance and love. The body which reflects the state of mind in all its parts is thus in balance, has harmony of parts and resultant health.

Health is natural state of the body.

Guruji has stated in Japji sahib itself how Akhar (words) write our Bhag (destiny) . The words we use. The words in our thought have vibration. These have associations. Our mind knows what confidence means and so does our physical body. Each part reflects confidence.  Our mind also knows what weakness means and so does our body. You can try experimenting repeat these words fast and observe how body reacts.

 Gurbani words are link to Naam. Gurbani words connect us to Naam. So recitation of Gurbani with emphasis on meaning results in change of state of mind and correspondingly the body.

Many Gurmukh’s on path towards spiritual growth have observed that their body becomes bright and reflects the state of health in their beginning stage itself. They find that their body no longer gets afflicted with illness which earlier came so early.

With Gurbani these Gurmukh’s had become positive. They no longer let the fear and anxiety rule their mind. Their mind no longer show resentments, anger and resistance. They harbor no enmity. They are closer to Naam and moving towards experiencing oneness.

The Sikh which recites the Gurbani with Vichar (contemplation on meaning);

The Sikh that sings or listens to Gurbani kirtan with love;

The Sikh that follows the direction of Gurbani by attaching to Sat (ever true) attributes and not following the enticing path of maya – the duality would be connected to Naam and so in a state of harmony. The ardas (prayer) of the Sikh if of health and so it is.

Know that all thoughts are Ardas (prayer). The creator, the all-knowing knows all thoughts and so does the creation. The Gursikh also takes care of the thoughts. These are not of resentment, anger, anxiety, weakness, illness, revenge or resistance. The Sikh follows the path of Raza (in peace and acceptance). Naam is then the aukad (medicine) that removes all afflictions. The body is in harmony and health. There is true prosperity and abundance. All issues and problems of the material world gets resolved.

Gurbani’s view of the material world and Physical body

Gurbani states and explains again, again, again and again in so many ways that:

There is Oneness.

The One creator created the Universe; HE created the play of duality, and staged it.

HIS presence is the only truth and the True One is pervading everywhere.

HE is totally permeating the water, the land, and the sky.

HE is unseen and Maya clouds awareness of HIS presence.

The Beloved Himself is the earth, and HE Himself is the water; He Himself acts, and causes others to act.

The Beloved Himself issues His Hukam, and keeps the water and the land bound down. The Hukam, the Command of the One Creator is all-pervasive.

In each and every heart, the One Lord is pervading.

The Shabad is pervading in everyone.

There is no other at all.

Expansion is of Braham.

Creation and destruction happen through the Word of the Shabad.  Through the Shabad, creation happens again.

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ਹਰਿ ਆਪਿ ਉਪਾਏ ਹਰਿ ਆਪੇ ਵੇਖੈ ਹਰਿ ਆਪੇ ਕਾਰੈ ਲਾਇਆ ਜੀਉ ॥ 

ਇਕਿ ਖਾਵਹਿ ਬਖਸ ਤੋਟਿ ਨ ਆਵੈ ਇਕਨਾ ਫਕਾ ਪਾਇਆ ਜੀਉ ॥ 

ਇਕਿ ਰਾਜੇ ਤਖਤਿ ਬਹਹਿ ਨਿਤ ਸੁਖੀਏ ਇਕਨਾ ਭਿਖ ਮੰਗਾਇਆ ਜੀਉ ॥

 ਸਭੁ ਇਕੋ ਸਬਦੁ ਵਰਤਦਾ ਮੇਰੇ ਗੋਵਿਦਾ ਜਨ ਨਾਨਕ ਨਾਮੁ ਧਿਆਇਆ ਜੀਉ ॥

The Lord Himself creates, and the Lord Himself beholds; the Lord Himself assigns all to their tasks.
Some partake of the bounty of the Lord's favor, which never runs out, while others receive only a handful.

Some sit upon thrones as kings, and enjoy constant pleasures, while others must beg for charity.
The one  Shabad is pervading that of  my Lord ; 

says Nanak, devotees come to know meditating on the Naam.

-SGGS 173

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The Naam is all-pervading and permeating everywhere.  Through the Perfect Guru, it is obtained. It is revealed within the heart.

Naam is the support. Naam supports earth and solar systems. Naam is the support of all forms.

Leaving aside scientific terminology the view of the Gurbani of that emerges about the world is:

There is oneness and the one creator is all there is. HIS Hukam runs the world. The world has permanent and non-permanent aspects. HIS presence is veiled and HE permeates unseen. HE is the only one there IS .Maya creates the veil that prevents the world to know and see the real player. HIS presence is Naam and associated with it is Hukam and Shabad. Naam is the support of the creation.

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  ਤੁਧੁ ਆਪੇ ਆਪੁ ਉਪਾਇਆ ॥ 

 ਦੂਜਾ ਖੇਲੁ ਕਰਿ ਦਿਖਲਾਇਆ ॥ 

 ਸਭੁ ਸਚੋ ਸਚੁ ਵਰਤਦਾ ਜਿਸੁ ਭਾਵੈ ਤਿਸੈ ਬੁਝਾਇ ਜੀਉ ॥

 

You Yourself created the Universe; You created the play of duality, and staged it. 

  The Truest of the True is pervading everywhere; those pleasing gets to understand this.

SGGS 73

ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਮਹਿ ਜਨੁ ਜਨ ਮਹਿ ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ॥ਏਕਹਿ ਆਪਿ ਨਹੀ ਕਛੁ ਭਰਮੁ ॥

 The servant is in God, and God is in the servant.Only HIM  - there is no doubt about this.

SGGS 287

ਆਪੇ ਕਾਰਣੁ ਕਰਤਾ ਕਰੇ ਸ੍ਰਿਸਟਿ ਦੇਖੈ ਆਪਿ ਉਪਾਇ ॥
ਸਭ ਏਕੋ ਇਕੁ ਵਰਤਦਾ ਅਲਖੁ ਨ ਲਖਿਆ ਜਾਇ ॥

 
The Creator Himself created the Creation; He produced the Universe, 
and He Himself watches over it.  

The One and Only Lord is pervading and permeating all.
 The Unseen cannot be seen.
   SGGS 37

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Gurbani’s view is different from the common view. It is generally said that there is one GOD and the world is an illusion. So people give up any association with the illusion part of the world. This thinking again promotes misdirection of a thought that creation is separate from the creator .Gurbani although considers the world as illusion and false but also considers reality and existing. Gurbani explains that everything in the creation is changing and is non-permanent. It is not same from one moment to next. It is only NOW that we experience. Only the  creator is permanent , unchanging and same always. In this way the creation is real (sachee) in one way and illusion in another.

 Within this real seeming creation the Gurmukh lives detached with Maya but attached with Naam.

 Oneness in creation is the strong message that Guru Nanak gave as “Ek-ongkar”. The Gurbani talks about one God but emphasis is on oneness. In “SatNaam” Gurbani explains that the Naam is the only truth in this world.

The world we live in exists. It is perceived as real because of Maya. The Gurmukh knows and attaches to the Naam, which is the support and origin.

However, the creator and the creation are inseparable. Without the presence of creator the creation cannot exist.

In the creation the “Shabad” also known as celestial sound or Anhad shabad exists all-round. This is also called the sound of creation.

We should not be misled by the word sound. Shabad is not mere sound but sound is a reflection of Shabad.

Shabad is an aspect of Naam. Shabad is intelligence. Shabad is consciousness. Shabad is awareness. Shabad is vibration. Shabad is energy. Shabad is force. Shabad is what makes the illusion live.

Hukam (command) is another aspect of Naam in the creation. Hukam makes the creation flow. All the creation is under the Hukam (command) of the Karta (creator). The whole flow of creation is as per Hukam. The Hukam specifies what each and every part of creations characteristics would be like. The forms in the creation are as per Hukam. They interact as per hukam. The seed becomes tree and only that particular tree is as per hukam.  See around you would see countless structures and happenings. All these are as is the Hukam.

Hukam is commonly translated as command or as will. But these words do not convey the actual meaning and essence. Hukam can be likened to laws of physics. Hukam is both fixed and dynamic. The world has been created instantaneously. Suddenly everything came into existence with past present and future, a flow of now. It would end up like that only.

Hukam defines how everything has to exist, work and change as a flow in the universe in all aspects .Hukam can also be likened to an invisible template everything fits. Let us take Taking example of Human body the growth of the body from inception to a baby, child, young and then old is as per preexisting template. The template is dynamic in nature; the cells know where to fit in and what organ to make. They also know in what way to change because of environmental influences. They also know in which way to change to reflect the disease pattern. Whatever we think, feel and believe changes our body a template already exists. The Hukam had already placed it within the template. The Hukam has also placed healing and restoration back.

The example of a computer game can to a slight extant explain Hukam. There is in the computer game everything already written by the programmer. The scenes, the players, the talk and all the moves. Everything is already written in the program .The outcomes of every move is there. Hukam in the world   specifies what happens and would happen in the creation

Gurbani states that matter is a combination of “Shiv and Shakti”(see SGGS -21). This means that what it is made of is subject to destruction or death by nature and held by the force of creation. The created part by its very nature is not permanent and by construction is subject to birth-life-death cycle. The force of creation is the only part which is same had been same and would be same so it is called ‘Sach’ or true.

The Gurbani states that the presence of creator in the creation as ‘Naam’ and associated creative aspects as ‘Shabad’ and ‘Hukam’. The third aspect of creation is Maya. The Maya keeps the illusion which keeps the knowledge of presence of creator and reality of creation as secret.

Naam, shabad and hukam in a way are same as they in the creation go together.

The presence of creator is Naam along with Shabad and Hukam.

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ਦੁਤੀਆ ਦੁਹ ਕਰਿ ਜਾਨੈ ਅੰਗ ॥

ਮਾਇਆ ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਰਮੈ ਸਭ ਸੰਗ ॥

ਨਾ ਓਹੁ ਬਢੈ ਨ ਘਟਤਾ ਜਾਇ ॥

ਅਕੁਲ ਨਿਰੰਜਨ ਏਕੈ ਭਾਇ ॥੩॥

On the second day (of the lunar cycle), 

know that there are two parts within the fiber of the body.

Maya and God are blended with everything.

God does not increase or decrease.

GOD the unknowable and immaculate is the only one,o friend.

 – SGGS 343

ਆਪੀਨ੍ਹ੍ਹੈ ਆਪੁ ਸਾਜਿਓ ਆਪੀਨ੍ਹ੍ਹੈ ਰਚਿਓ ਨਾਉ ॥
ਦੁਯੀ ਕੁਦਰਤਿ ਸਾਜੀਐ ਕਰਿ ਆਸਣੁ ਡਿਠੋ ਚਾਉ ॥

HE Himself fashioned Himself; 
HE Himself created Naam.

 HE fashioned the creation as duality. 
Sitting within the creation, HE beholds it with delight.

SGGS 463

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Nature of maya is to keep the mind of the person involved in the world and worldly affairs. Howsoever the maya may create doubts the Naam is there in both living and non-living. All and everything has jyote (light) of the creator intermingled .Creator and creation are not separable. Only the creation is impermanent which regularly change and renews creating illusion of reality.

How then the creators presence known? This presence is in the awareness. We just become aware of HIS presence. It is just knowingness. It is just in feelings.

Gurbani states that humans have been created in a way to have the experience of HIS presence. Humans can bring the spiritual in the physical world. They can live in awareness having a merged identity.  The Humans can merge the spark with the light.

The humans can know oneness and live with awareness of HIS jyote by being jyote swaroop.

From the above, the view that emerges out Vichar of Gurbani about the physical body and material world is under:

1.    The creation is a duality. It is created as an illusion but at the same time to be perceived as real.

2.    The creation is Truth as HE permeates it.

3.    All matter has Creator’s presence. There is Naam in everything.

4.    The created World is ever changing and the cycle of Birth –Life- Death is seen everywhere. Being not Sat (ever true), the created world is non –permanent. Nothing in it remains same. The illusion of time ensures it is perceived as real.

5.    HIS Hukam (command) is the cause of whatever is happening and the way it happens or has to happen in this world. The illusion creates the impression and acceptance of the world that is seen being truth and reality all else is doubted.

6.    The physical body is also matter and also has connection with the creator. Under the HUKAM these are being associated with each other and seen to be controlled by the brain. At the same time when everything is at the same time creator and created so is our physical body. Each part reacts as per the script of the body but at the same time being connected with creator responds and moves towards

When we perceive, feel and accept the Sat as aspect of creation and at the same time know that the duality (maya) is part of the created part of the creation and avoid being swayed or controlled by it then we live as jyote swaroop.


PS-
The method for Naam Aukhad also comes  from  the way shown in Japji sahibs beginning. The question and then the answer :

ਕਿਵ ਸਚਿਆਰਾ ਹੋਈਐ ਕਿਵ ਕੂੜੈ ਤੁਟੈ ਪਾਲਿ ॥So how can you become truthful? And how can the veil of illusion be torn away? 

 ਹੁਕਮਿ ਰਜਾਈ ਚਲਣਾ ਨਾਨਕ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਨਾਲਿ ॥੧॥ The walking in the path of Hukam and Raza , Says Nanak, gets written(as destiny) . ||1||  - SGGS 1

 This is the way to spiritual growth. This is the way also to delinking from the effects of maya and the five thieves or afflictions. Raza is to be in peace in a state of acceptance , non resistance, non judgement with the  illusion that is maya . To be in awareness and connected with underlying Hukam of the creator.

For beginner even mere shifting of the attitude and Gurbani Simran brings in physical body healing benefits.The Sikh begins to delink  from fear , anxiety and anger that is gripping the person and so also the wrong attitudes. Even the circumstances and problems that dog the person gets resolved.

Naam aukhad in true sense heals the person of all afflictions and the main being of Haume (self identification).

With grace of the Guru my next post would explain the path of "Hukam Razai " for the beginner as well . So that along with the healing of diseases and circumstances the Sikh may move forward with spiritual growth.