Manvir Singh (UK): Anti-Sikhi Parchaar (Part 3): Topic

Now, the topic moved to Naam and Gurmantar. The main individual asking the questions asked, "Bhai Sahib, what is Naam?" I looked with a confused face at the person. Now, this person has taken Amrit many decades ago, in the past done Sangat with many Naam-imbued Gursikhs and is asking me what Naam is. I replied, "Bhai Sahib, you have received Amrit from the Panj Pyaare and you still don't know what Naam is?" The others sitting with him interrupted, and said to me, "Please answer the question directly."

I asked, "Why are asking what Naam is? You are all senior Gursikhs to me and should know what Naam is?" The person replied, "The majority of people have not understood what Naam is and instead we have gone off in the wrong direction. People think that one word and repeating it over again is Naam."

I replied:

ਅਖਰੀ ਨਾਮੁ ਅਖਰੀ ਸਾਲਾਹ ॥
ਅਖਰੀ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਗੀਤ ਗੁਣ ਗਾਹ ॥
"From the Word, comes the Naam; from the Word, comes Your Praise. From the Word, comes spiritual wisdom, singing the Songs of Your Glory."
(Japji, 4)

"To help connect to Akaal Purakh, Guru blesses us with Naam in the form of the Word, which is the Gurmantar. Through chanting and singing the Gurmantar-Naam, one is able to experience Naam and absorb oneself in Naam. Your Panj Pyaare should have told you the Gurmantar and how to chant the Gurmantar with each breath." Now the topic changed from Naam, to the Gurmantar.

Again, the person was asking these questions not to ask me, but to tell me what he wanted me to believe. Below are some of their claims along with a Gurmat response…

#1. "How do you know that Gurmantar is Naam?"

RESPONSE: Guru Gobind Singh Ji told me in the form of the Panj Pyaare when I took Amrit. Secondly, Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji says so:

ਚਲਤ ਬੈਸਤ ਸੋਵਤ ਜਾਗਤ ਗੁਰ ਮੰਤ੍ਰੁ ਰਿਦੈ ਚਿਤਾਰਿ || ਚਰਣ ਸਰਣ ਭਜੁ ਸੰਗਿ ਸਾਧੂ ਭਵ ਸਾਗਰ ਉਤਰਹਿ ਪਾਰਿ ||੧|| ਮੇਰੇ ਮਨ ਨਾਮੁ ਹਿਰਦੈ ਧਾਰਿ || ਕਰਿ ਪ੍ਰੀਤਿ ਮਨੁ ਤਨੁ ਲਾਇ ਹਰਿ ਸਿਉ ਅਵਰ ਸਗਲ ਵਿਸਾਰਿ ||੧|| ਰਹਾਉ || ਜੀਉ ਮਨੁ ਤਨੁ ਪ੍ਰਾਣ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕੇ ਤੂ ਆਪਨ ਆਪੁ ਨਿਵਾਰਿ || ਗੋਵਿਦ ਭਜੁ ਸਭਿ ਸੁਆਰਥ ਪੂਰੇ ਨਾਨਕ ਕਬਹੁ ਨ ਹਾਰਿ ||੨||੪||੨੭||

"While walking and sitting, sleeping and waking, contemplate within your heart the GurMantra. Joining the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy take the support of the Lord's Lotus Feet. (This way you will) cross over the terrifying world-ocean, and reach the other side. ||1|| O my mind, enshrine the Naam within your heart. Love the Lord, and commit your mind and body to Him; forget everything else. ||1||Pause|| Soul, mind, body and breath of life belong to God; eliminate your self-conceit. Meditate, vibrate on the Lord of the Universe, and all your desires shall be fulfilled; O Nanak, you shall never be defeated. ||2||4||27||"
(Maaro M:5, 1006-7)

The "rahaao" (ਰਹਾਉ)/ "Pause" line is the central idea of the Shabad which is the base of the rest of the Shabad. The central idea of the Shabad is to enshrine Naam within the heart, and then the first line clarifies that this is done by contemplating the Gurmantar whilst walking, sitting, sleeping and waking.

Furthermore, the Sikh Rehat Maryada clarifies that the Gurmantar and Naam are one:

ਨਾਮ ਬਾਣੀ ਦਾ ਅਭਿਆਸ:
੧. ਸਿੱਖ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਵੇਲੇ (ਪਹਿਰ ਰਾਤ ਰਹਿੰਦੀ) ਜਾਗ ਕੇ ਇਸ਼ਨਾਨ ਕਰੇ ਅਤੇ ਇਕ ਅਕਾਲ ਪੁਰਖ ਦਾ ਧਿਆਨ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੋਇਆ 'ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ' ਨਾਮ ਜਪੇ |

The Practice of meditating on Naam and Bani:

1. A Sikh should wake up in the ambrosial hours (three hours before the dawn), take bath and, concentrating his/her thoughts on Akaal Purakh should repeat the Naam (Divine-Name) 'Vaheguru.'

(Sikh Rehat Maryada, page 1)

#2. "The word "Vaheguru" does not appear in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji."

RESPONSE: Actually, "Vaheguru" (ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ) appears thirteen times in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. For example:

ਸਤਿ ਸਾਚੁ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਨਿਵਾਸੁ ਆਦਿ ਪੁਰਖੁ ਸਦਾ ਤੁਹੀ ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਵਾਹਿ ਜੀਉ ॥੧॥੬॥
"You are forever True, the Home of Excellence, the Primal Supreme Being. Vaheguru, Vaheguru Vaheguru, Vahe Jee-o. ||1||6||"
(Svaiyye M:5, Bhatt Gayandh: 1402)

ਸਤਿ ਸਾਚੁ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਨਿਵਾਸੁ ਆਦਿ ਪੁਰਖੁ ਸਦਾ ਤੁਹੀ ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਵਾਹਿ ਜੀਉ ॥੧॥੬॥
You are forever True, the Home of Excellence, the Primal Supreme Being. Vaahay Guru, Vaahay Guru, Vaahay Guru, Vaahay Jee-o. ||1||6|| (Ang 1402)
- See more at: http://searchsikhism.com/an-exposition-of-gurmantar#_Toc409643560

#3. "There is no proof that historically the Gurmantar is Vaheguru."
RESPONSE: "I don't doubt my Guru!... When I took Amrit, my Guru told me the Gurmantar. Where is there room for doubt?"

ਮਹਾ ਮੰਤ੍ਰੁ ਗੁਰ ਹਿਰਦੈ ਬਸਿਓ ਅਚਰਜ ਨਾਮੁ ਸੁਨਿਓ ਰੀ ॥੩॥
"The Guru has implanted the Great Mantra within my heart, and I have heard the wondrous Naam. ||3||"
(Aasa M:5, 384)

Now, considering these people claim to stand by and be supporters of the Panthic Rehat Maryada, they have exposed that they have little faith in the Maryada. The Sikh Rehat Maryada states:

ਞ) ਉਪ੍ਰੰਤ ਪੰਜੇ ਪਿਆਰੇ ਰਲ ਕੇ ਇਕੋ ਅਵਾਜ਼ ਨਾਲ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਛਕਣ ਵਾਲਿਆਂ ਨੂੰ 'ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ' ਦਾ ਨਾਮ ਦੱਸ ਕੇ ਮੂਲ ਮੰਤ੍ਰ ਸੁਨਾਉਣ ਤੇ ਉਹਨਾਂ ਪਾਸੋਂ ਇਸ ਦਾ ਰਟਨ ਕਰਾਉਣ...
o. After this the Panj Pyaare, all together in chorus communicating the name of 'Vaheguru' to all who have been administered Amrit, and then recite to them the Mool Mantar and make them repeat it aloud..." (Sikh Rehat Maryada)

Furthermore, Bhai Gurdaas Ji, the cousin of Guru Amar Daas Ji, who did Sangat of five Gurus, knows the Gurus better than any of us. Bhai Gurdaas Ji writes:

ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਗੁਰਮੰਤ੍ਰ ਹੈ ਜਪਿ ਹਉਮੈ ਖੋਈ ||
"Vaheguru is the Gurmantar, reciting which the ego is eradicated."
(Vaar 13/ Pauri 2)

#4. "If the Gurmantar is Vaheguru, then why didn't Guru Ji write it directly in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji that Naam and Gurmantar is 'Vaheguru'?"

RESPONSE: Bhai Bijla Singh very nicely sums up this point in an article written by him about the Gurmantar. He writes:

Keeping this view in mind and in order to keep the sanctity and firmness of the established tradition, Guru Sahib deliberately kept Gurmantar secret and mentioned it implicitly lest anyone reading Gurbani mistakenly think that they had obtained Gurmantar. in other words, had it been explicitly mentioned in Gurbani that Vaheguru is Gurmantar, it would have led some to fall astray in believing that they have obtained Gurmantar from Satguru (Gurbani) and have been initiated into Gurmat. This would have been damaging to not only the true path of Gurmat but also to the spiritual seekers because obtaining Naam is not merely obtaining Gurmantar but inclusive of learning meditative technique and all other injunctions absolutely required to attain the highest spiritual state. A community can only stay united and cohesive if it is bounded by same unified principles. Therefore, everyone must go through the same process to obtain Gurmantar and become a Sikh. One must be present in the presence of Guru Sahib in front of Punj Pyare and witness the preparation of Amrit and then be blessed by it while learning Sikh code of conduct and cardinal sins. One cannot learn the technique of meditation without learning it from Punj Pyare. Therefore, by keeping Gurmantar secret, Guru Sahib ensured that no one could negate His well-established tradition (the authority of Punj Pyare) and claim that they have obtained or learned Gurmantar from Gurbani directly. - See more at: http://searchsikhism.com/an-exposition-of-gurmantar#_Toc409643560

"....in order to keep the sanctity and firmness of the established tradition, Guru Sahib deliberately kept Gurmantar secret and mentioned it implicitly lest anyone reading Gurbani mistakenly think that they had obtained Gurmantar. In other words, had it been explicitly mentioned in Gurbani that Vaheguru is Gurmantar, it would have led some to fall astray in believing that they have obtained Gurmantar from Satguru (Gurbani) and have been initiated into Gurmat. This would have been damaging to not only the true path of Gurmat but also to the spiritual seekers because obtaining Naam is not merely obtaining Gurmantar but inclusive of learning meditative technique and all other injunctions absolutely required to attain the highest spiritual state. A community can only stay united and cohesive if it is bounded by same unified principles. Therefore, everyone must go through the same process to obtain Gurmantar and become a Sikh. One must be present in the presence of Guru Sahib in front of Punj Pyare and witness the preparation of Amrit and then be blessed by it while learning Sikh code of conduct and cardinal sins. One cannot learn the technique of meditation without learning it from Punj Pyare. Therefore, by keeping Gurmantar secret, Guru Sahib ensured that no one could negate His well-established tradition (the authority of Punj Pyare) and claim that they have obtained or learned Gurmantar from Gurbani directly."
(Taken from: http://searchsikhism.com/an-exposition-of-gurmantar)

#5. "But the first five Gurus never said or recited Vaheguru. The word Vaheguru first came from the Bhatts (holy poets) during the time of Guru Arjan Dev Ji in their Bani."

RESPONSE: "How do you know? Were you there when Guru Nanak Dev Ji was in his physical body?" The person responded, "How do you know that Guru Nanak Dev Ji recited Vaheguru, were you around then?" I responded, "Well, I am not the one challenging the Gurmantar given by the Panj Pyaare. You first made the claim without any fact or basis." Bhai Gurdaas Ji clearly writes:

ਸਤਿ ਰੂਪੁ ਸਤਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਕਰਿ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਨਾਨਕ ਦੇਉ ਜਪਾਇਆ||
ਧਰਮਸਾਲ ਕਰਤਾਰ ਪੁਰੁ ਸਾਧਸੰਗਤਿ ਸਚ ਖੰਡੁ ਵਸਾਇਆ||
ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਗੁਰ ਸਬਦੁ ਸੁਣਾਇਆ ||੧||
"SatGuru Nanak Dev inspired people to remember the True Naam of whose form is Truth. Founding dharamsala, the place for dharma, at Kartarpur, it was inhabited by the Saadh Sangat as the abode of Truth. The Word ‘Vaheguru’ was imparted (by Guru Nanak) to the people.(1)"
(Vaar 24, Pauri 1)

Who should I believe, someone's baseless and ridiculous speculation or the highest calibre Gurmukh-Saint, Bhai Gurdaas jee, and the Panj Pyaare that give Gurmantar-Naam?

#6. "Repeating one word over again at Amrit-vela and making a loud noise cannot just be Naam. Shouldn't Naam be our life and being a good person? We have people in the morning claiming to do Simran at the Gurdwara who disturb other people sleeping in the neighbourhood."

RESPONSE: Correct. Naam should be part of our morning, daytime and evening, i.e. all the time. Naam should not just be for loudly repeating and chanting in the morning and then being disconnected from Vaheguru during the day. We should be connected to Vaheguru and remember Vaheguru in all our actions and behaviour. However, we can only be conscious of Naam during the daytime and evening if in the morning we loudly repeat Gurmantar-Naam and train our mind at Amrit-vela.

ਹਰਿ ਆਰਾਧਿ ਨ ਜਾਨਾ ਰੇ || ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਗੁਰੁ ਗੁਰੁ ਕਰਤਾ ਰੇ ||
"I do not know how to worship the Lord in adoration. I can only repeat, ""Lord, Lord, Guru, Guru."""
(Sorat'h M:5, 612)

ਕਬੀਰ ਕੇਸੋ ਕੇਸੋ ਕੂਕੀਐ ਨ ਸੋਈਐ ਅਸਾਰ ||
ਰਾਤਿ ਦਿਵਸ ਕੇ ਕੂਕਨੇ ਕਬਹੂ ਕੇ ਸੁਨੈ ਪੁਕਾਰ ||੨੨੩||"Kabeer, loudly chant the Name of the Beautifully-haired Lord; do not sleep unaware. Loudly chanting His Name night and day, the Lord will eventually hear your call. ||223||"(Salok Bhagat Kabeer Ji, 1376)

I am highly sceptical that Amrit-vela Simran in the Gurdwara (which is not even closely near any houses) with the windows closed can disturb the neighbourhood unless the the whole Saadh Sangat swallowed microphones at Amrit-vela! Vaheguru.

To end with Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji clears everything and says:

ਝੋਲਨਾ || ਗੁਰੂ ਗੁਰੁ ਗੁਰੂ ਗੁਰੁ ਗੁਰੂ ਜਪੁ ਪ੍ਰਾਨੀਅਹੁ || ਸਬਦੁ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਜਪੈ ਨਾਮੁ ਨਵ ਨਿਧਿ ਅਪੈ ਰਸਨਿ ਅਹਿਨਿਸਿ ਰਸੈ ਸਤਿ ਕਰਿ ਜਾਨੀਅਹੁ || ਫੁਨਿ ਪ੍ਰੇਮ ਰੰਗ ਪਾਈਐ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਹਿ ਧਿਆਈਐ ਅੰਨ ਮਾਰਗ ਤਜਹੁ ਭਜਹੁ ਹਰਿ ਗ੍ਯਾਨੀਅਹੁ || ਬਚਨ ਗੁਰ ਰਿਦਿ ਧਰਹੁ ਪੰਚ ਭੂ ਬਸਿ ਕਰਹੁ ਜਨਮੁ ਕੁਲ ਉਧਰਹੁ ਦ੍ਵਾਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਮਾਨੀਅਹੁ || ਜਉ ਤ ਸਭ ਸੁਖ ਇਤ ਉਤ ਤੁਮ ਬੰਛਵਹੁ ਗੁਰੂ ਗੁਰੁ ਗੁਰੂ ਗੁਰੁ ਗੁਰੂ ਜਪੁ ਪ੍ਰਾਨੀਅਹੁ ||੧||੧੩||
"Jholnaa: Chant Guru, Guru, Guru, Guru, Guru, O mortal beings. Chant the Shabad, the Word of the Lord, Har, Har; the Naam, the Name of the Lord, brings the nine treasures. With your tongue, taste it, day and night, and know it as true. Then, you shall obtain His Love and Affection; become Gurmukh, and meditate on Him. Give up all other ways; vibrate and meditate on Him, O spiritual people. Enshrine the Word of the Guru's Teachings within your heart, and overpower the five passions. Your life, and your generations, shall be saved, and you shall be honored at the Lord's Door. If you desire all the peace and comforts of this world and the next, then chant Guru, Guru, Guru, Guru, Guru, O mortal beings. ||1||13||"
(Svaiyye M:5, Bhatt Gayandh: 1400)