“Jap” is the title of the first Bani (sacred composition) in Sri
Guru Granth Sahib Ji. It literally means “to chant”. By having this is
at the start of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Guru Sahib tells us that our
spiritual journey to enlightenment and to Sakh Khand (the Eternal Home
of God) has to start with “Jap” or “Japnaa” (meditatively chanting and
calling out to the Creator Lord).
Interestingly, the next Bani that appears in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is “So Dar” (that Door), ie Jaap will lead you to “So Dar”, to the door of the Home of the Almighty. Then comes the Bani of “So Purakh” (that Divine-Being). At that divine-spiritual state and place, Vahiguru is met. Then comes the Bani of “Sohila” (the song of happiness). In this divine state and place, the song of happiness of the Lord exists, and nothing else. To experience, the song of happiness, divine-joy... one has start with Jap, with Jaap, with chanting, with spiritual effort to call out to the Loving Creator Lord.
How do we call out- through the support of a Mantra, divine words, through chanting which leads you back to where these Words came from. The Gur-Mantar is given by the Guru during initiation (taking Amrit). In addition to this, the first opening line of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji (referred as Mangla Charan or Mool Mantar) is used by Sikhs and non-Sikhs to connect with the Divine, earn the Almighty’s Grace and elevate oneself beyond worldliness to divinity.
If you don’t already, make a start to do Jaap of Gurbani, whether it is Mool Mantar, any other line/Shabad (sacred hymn) of from Gurbani, as a lovely way marking the 550th Prakaash Divas (anniversary of the coming) of Guru Nanak Dev Ji
Interestingly, the next Bani that appears in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is “So Dar” (that Door), ie Jaap will lead you to “So Dar”, to the door of the Home of the Almighty. Then comes the Bani of “So Purakh” (that Divine-Being). At that divine-spiritual state and place, Vahiguru is met. Then comes the Bani of “Sohila” (the song of happiness). In this divine state and place, the song of happiness of the Lord exists, and nothing else. To experience, the song of happiness, divine-joy... one has start with Jap, with Jaap, with chanting, with spiritual effort to call out to the Loving Creator Lord.
How do we call out- through the support of a Mantra, divine words, through chanting which leads you back to where these Words came from. The Gur-Mantar is given by the Guru during initiation (taking Amrit). In addition to this, the first opening line of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji (referred as Mangla Charan or Mool Mantar) is used by Sikhs and non-Sikhs to connect with the Divine, earn the Almighty’s Grace and elevate oneself beyond worldliness to divinity.
If you don’t already, make a start to do Jaap of Gurbani, whether it is Mool Mantar, any other line/Shabad (sacred hymn) of from Gurbani, as a lovely way marking the 550th Prakaash Divas (anniversary of the coming) of Guru Nanak Dev Ji
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