Sunday, June 24, 2007

Naam Simran


Last Saturday I attended the Akhand Jaap (continuous Waheguru simran) programme at Seven King's Gurdwara in Ilford. It took a while to get there on the train but it was a Chardi kalaa programme where Sangat could take benefit of Naam Simran. Here's some photos (more photos on www.SikhiMedia.net):




Today I came across a video of Kathaa (Gurbani discourse) by Bhai Paramjeet Singh jee Khalsa discussing Gurmat & Naam. The video is in easy and understandable Panjabi, so for those who understand Panjabi it's worthful to watch the video:



Sometimes people question, "What is the use of repeating Waheguru?" and others will say, "Is it not enough to be good person? Why should I do Naam Simran?"

‘Naam’ refers to the ‘Divine-Name’ revealed by Guru Nanak Sahib jee. Naam is also the ‘Divine Presence’ or 'Divine Energy' everywhere, supporting all things at all times – in today’s language we could say the energy structure or power of the whole Universe. Essentially it is the presence of Waheguru that is supporting absolutely everything.
ਨਾਮ ਕੇ ਧਾਰੇ ਸਗਲੇ ਜੰਤ ॥
Nām kė dhārė saglė janṯ.
The Naam is the Support of all creatures.

ਨਾਮ ਕੇ ਧਾਰੇ ਖੰਡ ਬ੍ਰਹਮੰਡ ॥
Nām kė dhārė kẖand brahmand.
The Naam is the Support of the earth and solar systems.
(Ang 284)

Naam is within everyone but is concealed and not visible:
ਅੰਤਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਨਿਧਾਨੁ ਹੈ ਪੂਰੈ ਸਤਿਗੁਰਿ ਦੀਆ ਦਿਖਾਈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
Anṯar nām niḏẖān hai pūrai saṯgur ḏīā ḏikẖāī. ||1|| rahāo.||
The treasure of Naam is within; the Perfect True Guru has shown this to me. ||1||Pause||
(Ang 425)

During an Amrit Sanchaar, Naam manifested in the Divine-Name (Gur Mantar) is given by the Guru (in the form of the Panj Pyaare) to the seeker. The Guru-Roop Panj Pyaare awaken or reveal the Naam within the seeker that leads to the beginning of the Spiritual Journey of Gurmat:
ਦਸਵੈ ਦੁਆਰਿ ਕੁੰਚੀ ਜਬ ਦੀਜੈ ॥
Ḏasvai ḏuār kuncẖī jab ḏījai.
When the key is inserted in the Tenth Gate (Dasam Duaar),

ਤਉ ਦਇਆਲ ਕੋ ਦਰਸਨੁ ਕੀਜੈ ॥੨੪॥
Ŧao ḏaiāl ko ḏarsan kījai. ||24||
then the Blessed Vision of the Merciful Lord's Darshan is seen. ||24||
(Ang 341)

When we take Amrit we are told to refrain from four things (i.e. the Bajjar Kurehits). If an individual commits any of the four acts then Naam returns back to its invisible or concealed state.

Naam is something to ‘Jap’ (chant), reflect and contemplate through which Naam becomes woven in the heart of the devotee, and Waheguru becomes imprinted on the heart of the devotee. The Lord and His Name are identical. They are one. ‘Naam Japnaa’ (lovingly living and meditating on Naam) is the only way to attain unity with God. Guru Nanak Sahib jee established God’s golden rules for leading a pure and pious life. He preached the concepts by practically enforcing them in his life first.


A Sikh is required to lead a virtuous, pure and pious life. Always remembering and repeating the Divine-Name with full concentration, breath by breath, can attain this virtue. Naam will awaken the consciousness, and create love and affection for all those who are created by God. It is strongly believed that a pious person would be compassionate and contended. He will aspire to serve the needy. He will have no enmity with anyone, as he knows that God lives in every human being. To serve His Creation is to serve God and remember Him day and night. The individual can merge with God by loving Him, living in Him, by dying in Him, and singing his Divine Praises.

May Waheguru do kirpaa on us all.

4 comments:

Uttam Singh said...

veerji u did it soo wikid yesterday, and the rehras was sikk to :D
Vaheguroo

Balbir Singh said...

Nice post!Manvir Singhji.
Waheguru ji ka khalsa!
Waheguru ji ki Fateh

Anonymous said...

Paaji..so am i right in thinking that if one hasn't taken Amrit, then one cannot attain Naam and therefore cannot attain Mukhti?
What about people of other religions?
Bhul Chuk Maaf Karna Ji

Manvir Singh (UK) said...

Anonymouse Jee,

ਗੁਰੁ ਪਰਸਾਦੁ ਕਰੇ ਨਾਮੁ ਦੇਵੈ ਨਾਮੇ ਨਾਮਿ ਸਮਾਵਣਿਆ ॥੨॥
Gur parsāḏ karė nām ḏėvai nāmė nām samāvaṇi­ā. ||2||
When the Guru showers His Grace upon us, He blesses us with Naam; through Naam, we merge in Naam. ||2||
(Ang 130)

In Aasa Kee Vaar, Guru Nanak Sahib jee says:

ਬਿਨੁ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਕਿਨੈ ਨ ਪਾਇਓ ਬਿਨੁ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਕਿਨੈ ਨ ਪਾਇਆ ॥
Bin saṯgur kinai na pā­i­o bin saṯgur kinai na pā­i­ā.
Without the True Guru, no one has obtained the Lord; without the True Guru, no one has obtained the Lord.
(Read Full Pauree)


Since the time of Guru Nanak Sahib jee, seeker became initiated onto the Gurmat Marg (Path) and received the blessing of Amrit & Naam through submitting themselves to the Guru, receiving Pahul (nectar) and living by Rehit instructed by the Guru (Rehit has always been given but has developed over the Guru-period). So in short, if you wish to receive Naam/Gur Mantar then it has be "given" by the Guru.

ਕੇਵਲ ਨਾਮੁ ਦੀਓ ਗੁਰਿ ਮੰਤੁ ॥
Kėval nām ḏī­o gur manṯ.
The Guru has given me the Mantra of the Naam, the Name of the Lord.
(Ang 183)

The Guru not only gives the Gur Mantar but he implants/churns (ਦ੍ਰਿੜ ਕਰਨਾ) the Mantar within the seeker:

ਨਾਮੁ ਜਪੇ ਜਪਿ ਜੀਵਣਾ ਗੁਰਿ ਮੰਤ੍ਰੁ ਦ੍ਰਿੜਾਇਆ ॥੧॥
Nām japė jap jīvṇā gur manṯar driṛ­ā­i­ā. ||1||
I live by chanting and meditating on the Naam. The Guru has implanted this Mantra within me. ||1||
(Ang 399)


Just to follow up on the point of Gur Mantar - some people have the question in their mind, "I know I should do Jaap (recitation) of "WAHEGURU" so why do I need to take Amrit or go pesh (present oneself) in front of the Guru-Roop Panj Pyaare in Amrit Sanchaar?"

Anybody can know the WORD Waheguru, i.e. hear it, read it, know about it etc, BUT ONLY the PANJ PYAARE can give it to an Amritdhari during the Amrit Sanchaar. Then ONLY does it become the "GUR MANTAR" (meaning the "Mantra given by the Guru").

Through receiving Amrit & Naam externally through the Guru Sahib (in the form of the Panj Pyaare in the presence of Guru Granth Sahib jee), the Amrit & Naam "within us" becomes churned and manifest. Some Mahapurkh give the example of a water well needing water to be pour into the ground before the water within the ground pumps upwards.


Please read the posts on the links below that should hopefully be helpful to you:
1) Sikhi & Other Religions

2) Before Guru Nanak Sahib Jee...



Bhul Chuk Maaf