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.