Saturday, March 20, 2021

Visualizing ੴ Ikongkaar

 Visualizing ੴ  Ikongkaar

Ikongkaar is the core revelation by Guru Nanak  in Japji composition that is at the beginning of Gurbani, the words of Guru Granth Sahib. This word explains both the Creator and Creation as One Singleness which is expressed in manifold forms in created expansion of the One All in All.

We living in the world of form are not able to perceive this truth. We neither can see it nor know much about true reality. We have an idea that my deep mediation we can have vision of our true self . We expect to see a bright light brilliantly shining appearing before us. This is the general belief.

Gurbani says the Karta (creator) is Formless, Colorless, Imperceptible, limitless, Eternal, Unseen  and Pure. How then can we visualize the Karta?

Gurbani talks of experiences on the path of Naam Jap it explains. First is hearing the ever flow of Anhad Sabad , the Celestial Sound  within. It is an unstruck sound meaning the origin is not like the sound that comes when objects strike together like in our world of form. Second is feeling of the "presence" which Gurbani calls " Hazuri" meaning feeling the Ekankar's ( One who is formless) presence all around. Third is seeing the white illuminating light within coming from top of head and illuminating the body. This vision is seen within. This is an experience of seeing the Jyote (light) which is the consciousness that is within us and all around. Our world is a world of duality. The Jyote is life in creation. It's absence is darkness.

Ikongkaar cannot be visualized as an image but as a "Feeling and Idea". The following lines of Gurbani brings the idea of Ikongkaar.

ਸਰਗੁਨ ਨਿਰਗੁਨ ਨਿਰੰਕਾਰ ਸੁੰਨ ਸਮਾਧੀ ਆਪਿ ॥ Sargun Nirgun Nirankar Sunn Samadhi Aap.

Sargun ( world of form)  and Nirgun ( The Ekankar's presence)  is all Nirankar ( formless One)  who Himself is in Sunn ( silence of no movement)  Samadhi ( a state of  singularity).

 (Guru Granth Sahib: 290)

The One who is formless is also the duality of Nirgun-Sargun. The above line is a broader idea of Ikongkaar. When we read the  hymn composition  which is describing the state of Sunn Samadhi then the visualization through "feeling and idea" can emerge.

ਅਰਬਦ ਨਰਬਦ ਧੁੰਧੂਕਾਰਾ ॥ ਧਰਣਿ ਨ ਗਗਨਾ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਅਪਾਰਾ ॥

ਨਾ ਦਿਨੁ ਰੈਨਿ ਨ ਚੰਦੁ ਨ ਸੂਰਜੁ ਸੁੰਨ ਸਮਾਧਿ ਲਗਾਇਦਾ ॥੧॥

Arbad Narbad Dhundhukara.  Dharan na gagna hukam Apara.

Na ḏin raen na cẖanḏ na suraj sunn samaḏẖ lagainda. ||1||

For eons which are unknowable as like a dark mist, as there is no earth and sky other than the presence of immense Hukam. There was no day or night, no moon or sun; only the assumed state of Sunn Samadhi.

(Guru Granth Sahib: 1035)

There is nothingness of creation here nor any time. The Sunn is like a silent state of Samadhi because of singleness. The manifold presence of forms is only in the created world which Hukam Creates.

This idea and the feeling of presence is one possible way to visualize Ikongkaar as a drop in the endless presence.




No comments: