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METHOD OF REPEATING NAM IN GURBANI

Shri Guru Nanak Dev preached that the only way to cross the ocean of creation is to attune the mind to the 'Word'  (Gurbani). The remaining Gurus preached this fundamental principle. When the great Guru, during his discussion with Sidhs (Those who had achieved sidhies i.e. success in different fields) told this principle to the sidhs they were wonder stuck and requested Shri Guru Nanak Dev to explain this principle in detail so that they may comprehend it. The sidhs questioned Shri Guru Nanak Dev as under:

"Please explain this principle as to how you become capable of ferrying the soul across the terrible ocean (of creation through the Word."

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The Sidh named Charpat questioned Guru Nanak Dev as under:

"The world-ocean is said to be impassable and it is extremely difficult to cross t. How can one cross it? Charpat says, O' Nanak the detached give a true reply after due deliberation."

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In answer to this question Shri Guru Nanak Dev says:

"As a lotus flower remains unaffected in the water and duck swims in water but does not become wet, similarly by uttering NAM with fixed intent on the 'Word' O' Nanak the dreadful World Ocean is crossed. (This is the only way to repeat NAM. Fix your intent on the Word & repeat it - the word i.e. Gurbani and in this manner the mind would merge in the Word). He who enshrines one Lord in his mind and lives without desire, in the midst of desires, is in fact living in aloneness (one need not go to forests & canes to live in aloneness). Adopting this method he who sees (experiences) and shows to others the Inaccessible and Incomprehensible Lord, of him Nanak is a slave."

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It means that the world - ocean is crossed by fixing intent on the 'Word' & repeating the 'Word'. One need not leave his wife & children or society and need not go to forests/caves. One need not leave palaces or homes, need not give up service or a job. Living in society one should fix his intent on the word, live without desire in the ocean of desires and this is living in aloneness in Sikhism. He, who adopts this method, experiences the Inaccessible and Incomprehensible, formless Lord and can help others experience Him.

If one leaves the society and goes to forest/caves but does not fix his intent on the word (Gurbani) and does not tune his mind to the 'Word" then leaving the society & going to forests is useless. Unless the mind is tuned to the 'Word' the mind cannot remain stable & would continue to run in different directions. So living in the society & in one's family on should fix his intent on the 'Word' & recite NAM. In searching outside one under goes great sufferings:

"Searching without one suffers much pain

The NAM nectar is in your heart at home."

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Now let us examine the above principle according to science. The word science literally means that accept only that fact which you clearly see or experience and all other things be rejected. When applied in daily life the principle of repeating NAM by fixing intent on the 'Word' is proved.

When two friends are discussing some serious subject if the mind of one of them goes astray, even foe a moment, he does not understand the words said by the  other during that moment. Why? The answer is simple. At that time he was absent minded and he appologises to the other and says "Sorry Sir, excuse me, my mind went astray and I could not understand what you has said. Please repeat it."

If a student becomes absent minded during a lecture being delivered by his teacher, he cannot understand the subject being taught by the teacher. If he asks the teacher to repeat the lesson, the teacher says, "Where had your mind gone. Please hear with rapt attention." After saying this, he repeats the lesson. It provides that it mind goes astray while doing some intellectual work success cannot be achieved in that work. So intent is extremely important.

Similarly while repeating NAM if the intent is not there and mind goes astray from the 'Word' (Gurbani) then the effort is useless and is wastage of time & physical energy. Those friends who preach that one should repeat NAM even if the mind goes astray and even if the intent is not in the 'word' should consider the above principle. The purpose of repeating NAM is to tune the mind to the "word' (Gurbani) and this can only be achieved by fixing intent on the "word'. If this is not done one would definitely fail to achieve the objective and his whole effort would go waste. The target is to completely tune the mind to the 'word' so that the wall of ego may be demolished and one should experience one's real self so that the mind may ever remain in equilibrium & extremely happy. Five sins of lust, wrath, avarice, attachment and pride may be destroyed and mind should have subjective control over these. If these targets are not achieved then one becomes suspicious about the system itself and stops repeating NAM. He feels & says, "I repeat NAM continuously for hours by my mind is not satiated. Perhaps it is useless to repeat NAM." But he does not understand that while repeating NAM his intent is not in the 'Word' & his mind is always astray. He has been misguided by so called guides who told him that he should go on repeating NAM whether his mind is with the 'Word' or not and repetition of NAM without intent would give results. This is wrong. Gurbani says:

"Sing the praises of the Lord, O' Saints my friends with rapt attention and single mindedness."

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If the element of rapt attention and single-mindedness is missing while repeating NAM then it can never give the desired results. We have to understand and obey the Guru's instruction that repeating NAM without intent in the Word is rejected by Gurbani:

"All utter God's NAM but by such utterance one does not achieve unison with God. By Guru's grace the Lord abides in the mind, then alone does one gather the fruit (of NAM)."

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Guru's grace is that he tells the correct & perfect mehtod of reciting NAM,. He who obsy's Guru's instructions and repeats NAM according to that method, the Lord abides in his mind and he remains ever happy.

"From the mouth every one repeats God's NAM. But only a few enshrine it in their mind. Nank, with in whose heart dwells the Lord they alone attain deliverance and emanicpation."

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"He who utters God's NAM and ever practices deceit, his mind does not become pure. He may perform many ceremonial rites and rituals day and night,( to purify his mind) he gets not peace ever in a dream."

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"Those who utter God's NAM with their tongue, but do not understand as what they are saying (The intent is missing and mind is going astray from the 'word') their mind has been lured by mammon L& they continue reciting fluently and mechanically. (this clearly preoves that repeating NAM without intent in the 'word' is useless L& those who don so their minds continue to be lured my mammon)."

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"Though man may repeat by mouth nine grammars, the six Shastras and six chapter of Vedas, but my God Lord is not pleased like this. Slave Nanak says, ever meditate on God in your mind , it is like this that  my God-Lord is pleased."

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"By mere utterance with the tongue the bonds (of attachment to creation) are nt brokern and pride and doubt do not depart from within. When one needs the True Guru his egoism departs and only then, he obtains the fruit of NAM.  (True Guru tells the correct and perfect method of repeating NAM that NAM be repeated with rapt attention and single mindedness. By adopting this method wall of ego is destroyed & soul is accepted in the Lord's court. In this quotation repeating NAM with the tongue without intent in the Word has been rejected."

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"By mere talking about and saying NAM or by reading loads of books or washing the body one is not saved (from the clutches of creation)l without enshrining love of God in the mind there is no other way out."

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"Hear O' mind, O' you blind and false dog, even without speaking the True Lord is experienced."

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In the above quotation Shri Guru Nanak Dev, to awaken a mind in sound sleep of attachment of creation, uses very harsh words and says. "O mind blind and false dog, you hear me. The True Lord is experienced without uttering with the tongue. It means that repeat his NAM with intent in the 'Word'/ if intent is not in the 'Word' then repeating NAM is useless. Repeating NAM would only give results if intent is in the 'Word'.

"Some rare one who repeats NAM in his heart without speaking with the tongue knows what NAM is. Doubtlessly the words of mouth cease in such a state and the mind remains tuned to God. He alone understands this, on whom is the Lord's grace."

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The above quotations prove that by simply repeating NAM with the tongue the soul does not get emancipation from the clutches of creation, unless one's intent remains with the "word' whether we repeat NAM in a raised voice or in a low tone with the mouth or with each breath, unless we fix our intent on the 'word' while repeating NAM, the NAM is not enshrined in the mind. The matter does not end with this principle alone, of repeating NAM with intent in the 'word'. The instructions about other aspects have to be obeyed to achieve success. Gurbani says:

"Every one utter the NAM with his tongue. If one serves the True Guru only then one obtains/experience NAM."

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Now the question arises as to how to serve the True Guru. It is essential to know as to what is the service of True Guru as condition has been laid in the above quotation that only if one serves the 'True Guru' one can obtain NAM otherwise not. We all in our way serve the True Guru but have limited it to observing certain religious formalities and feel satisfied that different duties in the Guru's common kitchen, cleaning impure utensils in the common kitchen cleaning premises of the Gurudwara (Sikh temple) offering carpets, durries, fans, air-conditioners and other things to a Gurudwara, offering or presenting before Shri Guru Granth Sahib, cleaning and arranging shoes of the devotees, offering marble or gold to a Gurudwara, opening schools and colleges or paying donations to such institutions expected to do. Doing these things is very good and these duties may be attended to, but the best service which has to be done and is the most essential is different, by doing which the wall of ego is demolished and NAM can be experienced. That service has been defined in Gurbani as under:

"Submit to the will of True Guru and expel self conceit from with in. (Caste aside your own views and obey the instructions of True Guru as given in Gurbani). This is the service, the true service by which NAM is enshrined in the mind."

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"If one obeys the true Guru's will (orders which are given in detail in Gurbani) then alone performs he the true Guru's service and employment."

"the service of the Guru is to ponder over the 'word' (Gurbani) and to still one's ego. This action is the best of all actions."

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"Act as the Guru enjoins upon you. Meditating on the 'word' you shall come in to the home of bliss."

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"By obeying instructions of the Guru I have earned profit (of NAM). Through Guru's word (Gurbani) I have realised the Detached Lord  (This is personal experience of Shri Guru; Nanak Dev.)

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"Act upon the True Guru's instruction, this indeed is the true philosophy."

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"Utter the Guru's hymns. This is the real devotional service (of the Lord)"

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"O' mind hear (and obey) the Guru's instructions and you shall obtain God the treasure of virtues. The Destroyer of sins and giver of piece (God) shall abide in your mind and your ego and pride would depart."

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" O' my mind live according to the true Guru's instructions. Thus you shall abide in your own home (in the core of your own heart) grind NAM Nectar and reach the place (level of the mind) where there is eternal happiness & comfort."

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Above quotations, explain the word seva (service) of the Guru. The service of the Guru is to obey all his instructions as given in Gurbani and live according to those instructions. Only then one gains (earns) the profit (of NAM) and one's ego is destroyed and NAM abides in his mind.

To repeat/recite NAM and to experience NAM are two different stages of mind. Gurbani clearly tells that unless one obeys all the instruction of the Guru, with thoughts, words and deeds, NAM cannot be realised. The relevant quotation is as under:

"He who in his thoughts, words and deeds contemplated One Lord that man obtains all the fruits."

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All fruits i.e. financial, religious, social, political, educational and countless other successes are obtained by a person, who repeats/recites NAM with love and affection for NAM in his mind according to the Guru's instructions. All the three aspects have to be kept in mind while repeating NAM. Firstly to utter God's Word (Gurbani) with the tongue. Secondly, to keep one's internt fixed on the 'Word' which is being repeated. Thirdly to live in life as per the Guru's instructions  is to act according to Gurbani and accept and abide by all the Do's & don'ts enjoined upon by the Guru's word (Gurbani). If even one of these three aspects is not obeyed, NAM cannot be realised. If one contemplates NAM with thoughts and words and not with deeds he would never be able to realise NAM. To do the deeds in daily life, according to Guru's instructors is a very important aspect & without this NAM can not be realised.

It is necessary to relate a personal incident here. one well known singer of Gurbani once met the author and the method of contemplating NAM was discussed. That well known singer of Gurbani knew in detail about music and different ragas (tunes). He could deliver religious sermons and explain Gurbani to others. The discussion was as under:

The singer:

"Doctor sahib you say that by repeating NAM all fruits I.e. religious, financial and others, fulfillment of desires and emancipation is obtained. I do not agree with this. My experience is just different."

The author:

"Respected Sir, I don't say that all fruits are obtained by repeating NAM. Gurbani is preaching this with a guarantee as under:

"O' mind you praise the Creator, eschew all your cleverness and fall at the feet of the Guru. Pause. Pain and hunger shall not oppress you if the giver of comforts (God) be in your mind. You will not fail in any undertaking (will succeed in all efforts in different fields) if the True Lord abides in your mind."

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But Shri Guru Arjan Dev days that you would get all these fruits only if you ever remember that true Lord, Giver of all comforts, in your heart:

"Heartily apply your mind to God's meditation (with love & affection) and you shall obtain/get whatever you desire O' Nanak."

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One may belong to any country, caste or race. If he heartily applies his mind to God's meditation, he would get whatever he desires.  But one must remember that heartily applying one's mind to God's meditation means meditating with thoughts, words and deeds. The author said that it is the devotee who fails to observe one aspect or the other and so does not succeed in his effort" Hearing the author the singer replied:

The singer:

"No sir, I tell you my personal experience. In the fifth pauri (stanza) of 'Jap-jee Sahib' Shri Guru Nanak Dev says:

"The pure one is all in all Him-self. He is neither established nor created by any one. They who serve him obtain honor. O' Nanak sing praises of the Lord who is treasure of excellence. With the Lord's love reposed in your heart sing and hear his praises. Thus you shall shed paid and take happiness in your home (heart)."

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Shri Guru Nanak Dev clearly says that he who sings and hears the praises of Lord - God, who is Pure & is not established or created by any one, he is honoured and he sheds pain and gets happiness. My age is about sixty years now. I have been singing the praises of the Lord through Gurbani through out my life and have been hearing others singing His praises. MY source of income is singing His praises and so I have been doing it since long. Doctor sahib what ever you may say I have not obtained that stage which I should have obtained according to above quotation of Gurbani. My pains have not been destroyed & I have not obtained eternal happiness. I am telling you my true experience. Some times I suspect if that stage of mind (where pains are destroyed & eternal happiness is obtained) can ever be obtained or this has been said by Shri Guru Nanak Dev just for the sake of saying only."

The author:

"Brother I respect hour sincerity and praise your straight forwardness in saying what you feel. But fault in this is yours due to which you have not been able to obtain the desired state of mind. Had you obeyed all the aspects mentioned in this quotation you could have obtained the desired state of mind & pains would have been destroyed and happiness obtained."

Hearing me he got perplexed and said:

The singer:

"Sir which is the aspect which I have not obeyed in my life?"

The author:

"Revered Sir, you may have sung Gurbani with presence of your mind and with intent in the 'word'. May have heard Gurbani being sung by others. But the third aspect, which you have not kept in your mind, is whom we are singing and whose praises we are hearing we must love him in our mind while singing or hearing. "With lord's love reposed in your heart sing and hear His praises. "This third condition of singing and hearing HIM with love reposed in the heart has not been obeyed by you. Have you ever loved Him whose praises you have been singing and hearing."

Hearing the above explanation tears welled up in the eyes of the singer and he said, "I wasted my whole life uselessly. "The author consoled him and said that nothing has been lost so far. Now you start observing this aspect and see whether the guarantee given by Shri Guru Nanak Dev is true or he has just written this.

The Guru Word singer started observing this aspect also and the author received a letter from him after some time. He wrote, "Now my mind is in a much happier state and the guarantee given by Shri Guru Nanak Dev is true. I was at fault, as I had never observed this third aspect. I hope all my sufferings would be destroyed and I will obtain eternal happiness."

From this incident we learn that all aspects given in Gurbani have to be observed and kept in mind to achieve success. As much effort should be made to observe other aspects when we utter  NAM with our tongue. Now we examine different aspects that have to be observed while repeating NAM. Given below are the quotations where the word method or may or manner etc. of repeating NASM has been used. It is essential to observe these method's while repeating NAM:

"Bow at the Guru's lotus feet and eradicate lust and wrath from this body. Feel like the dust of the feet of all (in you mind) and see the Lord in every heart and all the things. In this manner dwell on the World-Sustainer and Creator. Accept that this body and wealth belong to the Lord an so does the very life belong to Him."

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In this quotation the Guru's lotus feet means the Guru's word (Gurbani) as the lines given below clarify:

""Enshrining the feet (of the Guru) in the heart is enshrining the Word of True Guru in the heart Nanak has clearly understood this."

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So in the above quotation bowing the feet of True Guru is that one must meditate on 'Guru's word" and bow to the 'word'

"O' man you would cross the world ocean in this way. Meditate on God (through the word) become the dust of the feet of all & purge your self of your duality."

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"Before putting milk in a vessel it is to be perfumed. Similarly one should do good action's and in the milk of action's add the ferment of meditation and without any desire leave the milk of good actions to curdle with the help of the ferment of meditation. Contemplate One NANAM alone. All other actin's (so-called religious rites/rituals and other efforts) are unfruitful. Pause.

Control your mind as hand pieces of wood tied to the cord are caught in the hands while churning milk. Make being ever alert and awake, to repel the attacks of mammon, the cord to churn milk. Utter the NAM with your tongue and then the curd would be churned. In this way you shall gather the Ambrosial Butter (NAM). Wash the can of your mind by living in the company of the blessed (where NAM is repeated) and instead of offering leaves & flower's, as is generally done before the deities, make offering of devotion to please Him. The servant should serve his Lord by offering all he has including his very life and he in this way would remain absorbed in his Lord."

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In the above quotation two metaphors have been used, one of putting milk in a vessel, fermenting it to curdle and then to churn it to get butter. Milk is good actions. Vessel is clean thoughts in the mind. Ferment is meditation with attention. Curdling is doing above actions desirelessly. Wooden hand-piece is the mind, cord is alertness from attacks of mammon and to remain absorbed in the Guru's Word. Without the help of 'Guru's Word' mammon would capture the mind. In this way uttering NAM with the tongue one would obtain NAM.

In the second metaphor, the system of paying Obeisance to idols has been used. People keep the idols, of the deities they believe, in a vessel. They take that vessel to a tank & wash the idols and then offer flowers and leaves before them.

The devotees of the deities repeat this action daily. Gurbani says make the mind the vessel and take it daily to the tank of the company of the blessed who meditate on NAM. Offer all you have to the Lord out of devotion, including your very life instead of flowers and leaves and in this way remain absorbed in the Lord. Who so ever would repeat NAM in this manner would definitely achieve success and obtain NAM.

"Accepting that every thing belongs to HIM  the mortal should remain detached. He should dedicate his body and soul to Him of whom they are. Then neither he is born again nor he dies. O' Nanak only the true (who abide by the above methods) merge in the True Lord."

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"Listen to the instructions of the perfect Guru. See the supreme Lord as nearest to you. At every breath (continuously), meditate upon the World-Creator. Abandon the thought of expecting any thing from the perishable things (all creation is perishable) and heartily pray for the dust of the feet of the saints. Renounce your pride and make supplication. In the society of the saints, you would cross the ocean of fire (ocean of worldly desires). In this manner fill your treasures with the wealth of NAM. O' Nanak make obeisance to the perfect Guru."

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In the last stanza of Sukhmani Sahib, Shri Guru Arjan Dev has explained the method of meditating on NAM and has covered all aspects to be obeyed. Any one who would meditate on NAM obeying all aspects mentioned above he would full his treasures with the wealth of NAM. The first aspect is that hear the instructions of the perfect Guru. Now the question arises as to who is the perfect Guru. This question has been answered by Shri Guru Ran Das as under:

"Guru Nanak is the perfect Guru, Meeting that True Guru (Guru Nanak) I contemplated NAM"

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The second aspect is to see the Supreme Lord nearest to you. The third aspect is continuously meditate on God. In this way, the anxiety will depart. The fourth aspect is abandon expecting from the perishable i.e. the creation, the fifth aspect is pray for the dust of the feet of the blessed i.e. live in their company. The sixth aspect is abandon yourself conceit and pride. The seventh aspect is pray to God. The eighth aspect is by living in company of saints the ocean of fire (desire) is crossed. This must always be remembered. The ninth aspect is bow only to the perfect Guru.

Never bow to the false and imperfect Guru, who without having the qualities of a Guru becomes guru and misguide other innocent people. By obeying all the nine aspects the treasure are filled with NAM and the mind attains equilibrium. So unless we obey all the aspects given in Gurbani, while meditating on NAM success can not be achieved & NAM cannot be experienced.

"Make continence the furnace, patience the gold-smith, understanding the anvil, Divine Knowledge the tools, Fear (of under going) the reaction of all actions) the bellows, penance (practicing of ) the fire, love (of the Lord) the  pot, and in this filter the nectar of NAM is prepared. In this true Mint the life is recast and remolded. On whom God casts His gracious glance they obey the above instructions. O' Nanak the Merciful Master with his kind glance makes them happy.

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In the above quoted 38^th stanza of Jap-jee Sahib the method of remolding intent, intellect, mind and wisdom have been enumerated. The method has been explained by using the metaphor of a goldsmith molding ornaments of gold with the help of tools and the furnace by paying rapt attention to every detail.

The word 'Penance' has been used in the above quotation.. but in Gurbani all types of penances and self willed actions have been rejected. Penance has been explained in Gurbani as under:

"Obeying Guru's instructions is the essence and excellent penance of all penances."

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The gist of the above discussion is that NAM can only be realised if all the aspects of meditating NAM, as given in Gurbani, are obeyed/practiced. These aspects are repeated again:

"I utter world creator, world-creator (with my tongue) I love the Destroyer of sins (God) in my mind. I always remember and obey the Guru's instruction I withdraw my mind from all others (and keep it with the Lord). Like this I have obtained the beloved (God)  O' my friend."

In the above quotation four aspects have been mentioned to repeat NAM and Shri Guru Arjan Dev says that by obeying above principles he has obtained Beloved God. The first aspect is to repeat the words. 'Word Creator' - 'Word Creator' (with intent in the word). The second aspect is to love God in the mind/heart. The third aspect is to obey Guru's all instructions (as given in Gurbani) and live accordingly in daily life. The fourth aspect is to keep the mind away from all worldly attractions with conscious and continuous effort. By doing so says Shri Guru Arjan Dev I have obtained the Beloved God.

So the persons who want to meditate on NAM should gain from the experience of Shri Guru Arjan Dev and repeat NAM accordingly. Then he will surely succeed. A car has four wheels. If one is punctured the car cannot move. Similarly, while meditating on NAM if attention is not paid to all the aspects, then success cannot be achieved. This principle should always be kept in mind.