Wednesday, December 16, 2020

The Secret of Sargun-Nirgun

The Secret of Sargun-Nirgun

These two words are mentioned in Gurbani and hold special secret. The created world is called Sargun, meaning it has attributes, has activity, has form as well as non-physical aspects. The Sargun world is a world of experience and has duality. In it we see polarity meaning comparative opposites like hot-cold, long-short, soft-hard, peace-anger etc.

The Nirgun means nothing of that which is Sargun is there in it. Nirgun is thus has formless presence of the Creator. The duality also has two parts- one that is true and and is called Naam in Gurbani. It is eternal, is all aware, has all presence and is self expressed in creation activity.

In Gurbani both are talked of together. Without Nirgun the Sargun has no existence. Everything happening in Sargun world is in awareness of Nirgun presence. Everything in Sargun is created by Nirgun.

Gurbani says:

ਸਰਗੁਨ ਨਿਰਗੁਨ ਨਿਰੰਕਾਰ ਸੁੰਨ ਸਮਾਧੀ ਆਪਿ ॥

Sargun Nirgun Nirankar Sunn Samadhi Aap.

Sargun, Nirgun are Nirankar (formless One), who Himself is in  Sunn Samadhi.

(Guru Granth Sahib: 290)


Sargun and Nirgun are in essence both are Nirankar. Sargun is created through self- expression by Nirgun by Hukam via Sabad ( Ikongkaar). There is oneness in all creation. 
The One creator is single sameness, timeless and exists in creation as Sunn ( silence) Samadhi. HE through Hukam has created the Sargun-Nirgun Creation.

Now the secret - the two are different levels. in Sargun we cannot perceive the Nirgun. For this we have to go within. Only within can we perceive where the shift happens and our awareness opens up to Gyan Khand ( see Japji Sahib)  and then begins to hear Anhad Sabad, the celestial vibration sound that creates.

Gurbani says:

ਈਘੈ ਨਿਰਗੁਨ ਊਘੈ ਸਰਗੁਨ ਕੇਲ ਕਰਤ ਬਿਚਿ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਮੇਰਾ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ ਨਗਰ ਮਹਿ ਆਪਿ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਫੁਨਿ ਆਪਨ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਮੇਰੇ ਕੋ ਸਗਲ ਬਸੇਰਾ ॥

This side is Nirgun and the other side Sargun, within them my beloved Master is at play.  ||1||Pause||
You exist within the city ( meaning the body), and outside as well;  my God dwells in all the places.
( Guru Granth Sahib: 827)

Next obvious question that would be asked is - " where is Sunn?"

 Gurbani emphasis again and again that there is ONE and ONENESS of creation. Sunn  is also here and everywhere. Gurbani says that about sunn nothing is discernable. The Saints and Masters who in meditation have gone deep just feel nothingness.

Gurbani says in Sunn nothing of the creation exists there, just singleness and silence like Samadhi. Outside Sunn is Hukam, which is an all aware intent and a creative force which creates the world with Sabad. Both are Same. ( see Gurbani Hymn at 1035


 

Tuesday, December 15, 2020

Where is Ekankar ?

 

Where is Ekankar (God)?

The entire world speaks of the Creator God but do not know where HE is present. Is HE in heaven, but we don't even know where whereabouts of heaven. When we are in problem, danger, have  life threatening illness only then we think of God.  When seeking, HIS where about presence, we simply have no idea.

About this situation and way to know God, Gurbani Says:

ਰਾਮੁ ਰਾਮੁ ਕਰਤਾ ਸਭੁ ਜਗੁ ਫਿਰੈ ਰਾਮੁ ਨ ਪਾਇਆ ਜਾਇ ॥ ਅਗਮੁ ਅਗੋਚਰੁ ਅਤਿ ਵਡਾ ਅਤੁਲੁ ਨ ਤੁਲਿਆ ਜਾਇ ॥ ਕੀਮਤਿ ਕਿਨੈ ਨ ਪਾਈਆ ਕਿਤੈ ਨ ਲਇਆ ਜਾਇ ॥ ਗੁਰ ਕੈ ਸਬਦਿ ਭੇਦਿਆ ਇਨ ਬਿਧਿ ਵਸਿਆ ਮਨਿ ਆਇ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਆਪਿ ਅਮੇਉ ਹੈ ਗੁਰ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਤੇ ਰਹਿਆ ਸਮਾਇ ॥

The entire world roams around, saying, "Raam, Raam (God, God)", but the God cannot be obtained like this.

He is inaccessible, unfathomable and so very great so is inestimable. No one could evaluate HIM nor can be obtained at any price.

Through the Word of the Guru's Sabad, the mystery is unraveled and in this way, HE comes to dwell in the mind.

Says Nanak, HE is  infinitely vast; but with Guru's Grace, is known to be permeating everywhere.

-(Guru Granth Sahib:555) 

Many people wish to know God. They wish to come out of  misery of problems brought by daily survival to earn money and  inability to come out of the grip of human failings. They have been told they are spiritual beings but are not able to find the spirit within.

The created world is both physical and subtle. When going within through meditation they feel the subtle body, do chakra work and other meditative practices. Still the imperceptible and hidden God is not found. May be our very idea of God is not correct.

Gurbani says the Creator is Ekankar, which means is ONE and without any form. So Ekankar does not have any form like the physical world we see and neither like the subtle unseen matter.

There is a difficult mystery surrounding HIS whereabout presence. HE is so near but is not known.  Gurbani explains the reality but even this is understood when the Guru blesses. When we try to know the meanings and follow the words of Guru then the blessing comes.

Ekankar is formless and has no attributes like anything in our world. The one place HE comes to dwell is in the mind.. In the mind we have conscious awareness. The consciousness is non-physical and ephemeral. It is still a mystery for the present day science.

Gurbani in the Mool Mantar and Japji composition describes the nature of true reality. It also talks about opening up of hidden parts of perception in our consciousness. This perception is that of the Truth. For this we have to shift attention within. The technique is  through Charnarbind point within.

Gurbani says:

ਮਨੁ ਬੇਧਿਆ ਚਰਨਾਰਬਿੰਦ ਦਰਸਨਿ ਲਗੜਾ ਸਾਹੁ ॥

The mind is penetrated at the Charnarbind and then there is  Blessed Vision of the Lord.

-(Guru Granth Sahib:555) 

The location of Charnarbind point is behind the eyes, slightly below. To locate it breathe in and breathe out. The place where breath strikes inside on mouth palate is the approximate point. It is called approximate  as it is not a physical point but a location. Here Jap is done and Anhad Sabad is heard.

The Charnarbind and the Jap meditation  are described in more details in the books available in Amazon. 

Sunday, November 22, 2020

Power is in our own Mind

 Power is in our own Mind

  

ਤੁਝ ਬਿਨੁ ਅਵਰੁ ਨਾਹੀ ਮੈ ਦੂਜਾ ਤੂੰ ਮੇਰੇ ਮਨ ਮਾਹੀ ॥ ਤੂੰ ਸਾਜਨੁ ਸੰਗੀ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਮੇਰਾ ਕਾਹੇ ਜੀਅ ਡਰਾਹੀ ॥੧॥

Other than You, I am not any other; You  are in my mind. 
You are my beloved Companion, God; why  my self makes me fearful? 
(Guru Granth Sahib: Ang 378)

Interpretative meaning:

Other than You, I am not any other;

The above line of Gurbani explain a truth which Gurbani speaks of again and again. The very  beginning  word of Guru Granth Sahib  are  "ੴ " Ikongkaar which tells of Oneness of Creation. There is only ONE and is self-expressed in the Created World. The creation is made up of Sound Vibration created by Hukam,. The Hukam is  like a command or a directive. It has with it   programmed information which is the blue print of the created world. All creation is structured into forms and systems which function in accordance with Hukam. 

The nature of Creation is Satnaam. This signifies that the  world we live in is a duality. One part of which is Sach (true) while the other by inference is not true. By true the meaning here is permanence that is eternal. The created part is a self expression of the ONE and is also real but is transient in nature.  The creation thus has beginning and end meaning transient.

We with our body, house, car mind, job, family are all part of the created world. Looks strange but think of what everything is the composition of matter. This is a hard truth which we have to know through contemplation. Just like the dream world in our mind which looks real. 

You  are in my mind

Gurbani says HIS light is illuminating everything. HE Himself pervades and is present in everything. This presence is also there in our mind as his light. Our conscious awareness is this light and is part of all pervading Nirankar as Purakh, the all pervading consciousness which is Karta the creator. Purakh is also known as God, Prabh or Parmeshwar or Parmatma.

You are my beloved Companion, God; why  my self makes me fearful? 

We are unaware of the presence of the One and consider HIM to be distant and separate. This is because of the presence of Haume, a sense of individuality in living beings. Our Soul  has Conscious Awareness which is part of Purakh, Mind and Haume. Our ignorance of reality is due to presence of Haume. We think ourself as an individual. This is HIS world play. In the Created world exists fear which again is only part of created duality. Our true nature is also Nirbhau, having no fear, 

Gurbani calls our true identity as Naam.  Our conscious awareness when becomes aware of its true origin comes to have Naam in the mind. Purakh is always with us, within us connected with our consciousness. HE is our companion. Our intent is a form of Hukam. Our thoughts create our reality.

We can be out of fear and live empowered. This we can achieve by going within. We can live from within by feeling connected and by having Naam in our mind. The path to have Naam is what Gurbani teaches, We have with us Satguru Purakh as guide, Purakh and Satguru are one and same.  Satguru is our companion, guide and also friend.

Learn to go within.

Then live from within.

When we are within out thoughts are forceful and manifest. This is Naamaukhad. Feel healthy and you are healthy. Feel prosperous and you would have prosperity. Do not get attached or the Haume comes to disturb.


Saturday, August 29, 2020

Advent of Gurbani as a change away from life of suffering.

 

Advent of Gurbani

Gurbani was first introduced by Guru Nanak (1469-1539) and is presently compiled in Guru Granth Sahib, the Holy Granth having status of Guru in word form. Gurbani means word of the Guru. The hymns of Gurbani are those recited by Saints having diverse origin including Hindu and Muslims.

The following hymn appears on Ang (page) 628 in Guru Granth Sahib. It explains the change brought about by Gurbani has come to this world.

ਪਰਮੇਸਰਿ ਦਿਤਾ ਬੰਨਾ ॥ ਦੁਖ ਰੋਗ ਕਾ ਡੇਰਾ ਭੰਨਾ ॥ ਅਨਦ ਕਰਹਿ ਨਰ ਨਾਰੀ ॥ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਪ੍ਰਭਿ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਧਾਰੀ ॥੧॥ ਸੰਤਹੁ ਸੁਖੁ ਹੋਆ ਸਭ ਥਾਈ ॥ ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਪੂਰਨ ਪਰਮੇਸਰੁ ਰਵਿ ਰਹਿਆ ਸਭਨੀ ਜਾਈ ॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ ਧੁਰ ਕੀ ਬਾਣੀ ਆਈ ॥ ਤਿਨਿ ਸਗਲੀ ਚਿੰਤ ਮਿਟਾਈ ॥ ਦਇਆਲ ਪੁਰਖ ਮਿਹਰਵਾਨਾ ॥ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਨਕ ਸਾਚੁ ਵਖਾਨਾ ॥੨॥

Parmeshar (Transcendent Lord) has given support(embankment). The dwelling of suffering and disease has been demolished. The men and women are enjoying in happiness. With Har, Har (simran) Prabh extends Kirpa (Blessing). || 1 || As Saints, there is peace everywhere. Parbrahm when makes one complete then the Parmeshwar (Transcendent Lord) is found pervading everywhere. || Pause ||  The Bani (utterance) has come from place of origin. It removes all anxiety. The Purakh  is kind and compassionate.  Har, says Nanak,  is expressing of the Truth. || 2 ||

Gurbani Vocabulary- 

Bani - speech, utterance
Banna - Embankment, support, barrier
Har, Har - Har means devotion towards Lord Master. When it is written double then it means  doing Jap or Simran.
Kirpa - Blessing, mercy
Parmeshwar - Almighty Supreme Lord to whom one prays.
Prabh - one of the name of God.
Purakh -  Purakh means great personae, The word represent presence of  the True One (Ekankar) in Creation. As Satguru Purakh there is guidance and direction; as Karta Purakh there is making the World Creation function; and as Akaal Purakh the Conscious Awareness is free of fear and in awareness of Eternal Nature.

Comment and explanation:

The support given by Parmeshwar by way of  a barrier that prevents or stops the suffering or prolonged disease that afflicts humans during their life. This suffering the Gurbani explains in number of hymns is due to Haume, sense of individuality in the living beings. The true nature of the person is having the consciousness which is part of the One Awareness pervading and Creating this universe. When the Haume which dwells in the mind of the humans is gone as it dies then there Awareness is same as that of the  Parbrahm. This is having perception and Conscious Awareness like that of Saints. Then the fear, anxiety and attachments that cause misery are gone. There is empowerment. There is peace and bliss in the mind. This stage is known when the person sees the presence of Parbrahm everywhere in Creation. (This perception is Saint like and happens when there comes Conscious Awareness of True Nature in the form of identifying with the Purakh, whether Karta Purakh, Satguru Purakh or Akaal Purakh.


Friday, August 21, 2020

 New Book Released

Living from within: New Spirituality for the Modern World


Contents

Introduction

About Gurbani

Chapter 1 The Self Decoded Unraveling the Truth

Chapter 2 Physical World Living The "Maya Effect”

Chapter 3 Saran, the Empowerment Within

Chapter 4 Truth Revelations in Mool Mantar

Chapter 5 Understanding Naam, Our Real Identity

Chapter 6 Opening up of Sach Awareness

Chapter 7 “Waheguru” Jap

Chapter 8 Living From Within

Chapter 9 Life with Naam

Chapter 10 Sangat Effect

Glossary

About The Author

Books By This Author

Introduction

This book is about a new way of living. It is a spirituality that is neither ritualistic nor asks us to give up the ways of worldly life and living. It only tells us to live differently by thinking differently.
This new spirituality has been bestowed upon us in the form of Gurbani, meaning words of the Guru. It is here for us and explains the way to live as an awakened human being. This is a living not simply with an awareness of our True origin but as a person having a merged conscious awareness with opened up perception by becoming True origin identity.

The illumination of Gurbani was brought for humanity by Guru Nanak 550 years back. Gurbani was bestowed Guruship 300 years back when the concept of a living person gave way to the Guru’s word and the True Guru within each one of us. We have heard the inner voice, the voice of wisdom and
hidden Truth within us. This Truth has been known to humanity with different names. People found it elusive and seldom knew the way to have a dialogue.
Gurbani brings before us the knowledge and the way to bring the True presence in our life. Gurbani words are in the form of hymns in the sacred book form known in this word as Sri Guru Granth Sahib.
Gurbani is meant for everyone. Its message is for all of humanity as an equal irrespective of caste, creed, color, or social status.
In this world there is ever present fear and anxiety that leads to stress in life. Even though we call ourselves as a modern society that has reached the moon and other planets, our problems on earth still exist. We frequently encounter sadness and our bodies still get to have new forms of diseases.
The Truth about the True nature called Sach in Gurbani is available to each one of us.

This book is about our Soul taking the charge of our life. It is an opening up of our Conscious Awareness to perception of truth with hidden parts of consciousness becoming part of our awareness.
The text explains Gurbani’s way of living from within as an awakened being as the way to shift away from the Stress of fear and anxiety. The Living from Within is living with protection of the creative force pervading the entire Creation.
The path of Gurbani goes beyond the commonly known paths to the Truth. It is about the knowledge of “Truth” that all of humanity can seek by going within. It is up above religious living and is a New Spirituality for the present times.

This Truth has been accessible throughout entire human history. A select few actually knew and achieved this awakening in all the eras. The Avatars and this messengers of God have been
telling the humanity about it. Gurbani is for this era and has brought the illuminating knowledge for Humanity to Shift to evolved way of living. 

The concepts of Gurbani explained in this book are astonishing, and so would be the change that learning and following Gurbani way brings. Our approach to life would adopt to the new state and so
does our responses towards life situations. We shift away from our Sense of Identification with the physical body and an individuality Self. The new thought opens us to our True Self
which Gurbani calls as Naam.
The new approach to life is in tune with the True Reality as we would be having perception of the true nature world. We as Soul with a body would feel the workings of unseen Oneness. This is an awakened way of living in this world in the human body connected with the Eternal

All the chapters have quotes from the hymns of Gurbani at the end. The full text is freely available in the online resources and translations. Additionally a short Glossary of terms is given at the end.
The Gurbani hymn lines have been translated by the author. While doing translations given here it has been ensured that the sequence in sentence structure and the meaning should be nearer to the original . In some translations found online the exactness may be missing as these are interpretative. Own
experience and intuitive understanding plays a vital role in translation of Gurbani lines as it is written in poetic style and not descriptive as a sentence. The Gurbani lines are not simply to convey knowledge but are also means to connect with the True Reality.
Knowing the original script is desirable but it does need inner guidance.

 ਜਿਨ੍ਹ੍ਹਿ ਕੀਏ ਤਿਸਹਿ ਨ ਜਾਣਨੀ ਮਨਮੁਖਿ ਗੁਬਾਰੀ ॥ 
 ਜਿਸੁ ਬੁਝਾਇਹਿ ਸੋ ਬੁਝਸੀ ਸਚਿਆ ਕਿਆ ਜੰਤ ਵਿਚਾਰੀ ॥
One who created, is not known to the Self-Willed person
(manmukh) as they are in darkness.
To whom HE gives understanding that alone understands,
the True One; howsoever the living being may ponder?
- (Guru Granth Sahib: Ang (page) -788)

This book book would introduce one to Gurbani which is the window to the True One. It tells about the True Guru within each one of us. We do in our life had occasion to have heard the inner voice or received guidance.
While reading the book at some places repetition may be observed. This is intentional as another door is being opened showing a different angle to reality so that our mind does not skip the subtle message since it prefers the familiar.

Dasam Dwar : Clarification of misinformation

Dasam Dwar clarification of some Misconceptions


This post is to clarify  misinformation being propagated by some Sikh missionaries or teachers during their discourses. It is a tendency to talk of spiritual matters with a false authority without any actual self experience. They even talk of Sunn without knowing what gurbani says about it. They talk of Anhad Shabad without actually hearing it. A simple reading of Gurbani Hymns and a look at their meaning exposes these assertions. The actual meaning as given in Gurbani is given below which any Gurmukh can experience.

The Dasam Dwar is a door that opens up our mind towards Naam to settle in the mind. Naam Mann Vich Vasda heh. The conscious awareness ( Surt) then can also have Sunn experience. The Sach, truth about reality of creation is explained in the Mool Mantar and also the method of Jap. The Japji explains in detail and the secrets in specific terms.

Why Tenth Door ( Dasam Dwar) is closed?

Gurbani explains that in the cave of our body the Life has been places and the breath of body's life starts. This life is conscious awareness ( Surt) which is part one whole. In Ang (page)-24 Gurbani clarifies that Surt in all living beings is same. The difference comes due to Haume (self- identity) which has been placed in all beings. Haume gives us thought of individuality. The Soul (Atma) has both the Surt and the Haume along with astral body. Our Surt  is restricted in perception of Sach. We are not aware of the Ekankar's presence. We live in the Sargun world and because the Dasam Dwar is closed so are unaware of the Nirgun Sach. This is for the Soul to have Human life experience with Haume giving it sense of separate identity. When Dasam Dwar opens the Haume dies meaning then the Conscious Awareness is connected with Karta Purakh. We are not there then only HIM. To remain so we have to be in Simran by keeping Surt within listening to Anhad Sabad. 

Dasam Dwar location

The location of Dasam Dwar is hinted at several places and more so on Ang-974. There is no physical point but  the Lotus Chakra at the top comes nearer to the location. This lotus opens at the time of opening of Tenth Door. The illuminating Light comes from above it entering the body. Then Karta Purakh is felt in the mind. Naam  is in the mind then. From  the Dwar Anhad Shabad is heard to be flowing. The Sabad is heard even before that at Charnarbinnd within when Nadar is blessed by Satguru.

Anhad Sabad

Anhad Sabad is  also called celestial vibration and is heard as sound within. This is Nirgun in nature but creates five Tatt ( basic Sargun parts) which are Water, Earth, Air, Fire and Space (Sky) that give rise to creation. So this is known as Panch Sabad. Differences in sound are due to this. Anhad Sabad is heard only within by Surt which also is Sach in nature. It is not heard outside. The Simran with Surt hearing the Sabad keeps Surt within and thus in Sach Awareness.