Naam Realization – Part 2 of 4
Read Part I here
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- What is Naam Simran?
On Ang 349, Guru Nanak Dev ji writes:
ਆਖਾ ਜੀਵਾ ਵਿਸਰੈ ਮਰਿ ਜਾਉ ॥ ਆਖਣਿ ਅਉਖਾ ਸਾਚਾ ਨਾਉ ॥
ਸਾਚੇ ਨਾਮ ਕੀ ਲਾਗੈ ਭੂਖ ॥ ਤਿਤੁ ਭੂਖੈ ਖਾਇ ਚਲੀਅਹਿ ਦੂਖ ॥੧॥
Guru ji states when I do Naam Simran, I am alive and when I am separated from Naam, I am dead. Clearly, word death in this Shabad does not refer to physical death. Death and life are being referred to as two different states of mind or way of living in this world. When we are separated from virtues of Naam, Gurbani considers its synonymous to pain, fear and worry associated with physical death. A state of total distress whereby all worldly possessions fall short of giving comfort and respite in adverse situations we face in our daily life. On other hand, Guru ji states when I am doing Naam Simran, I am alive. Aliveness refers to state of mind, whereby our life becomes embodiment of virtues of Naam. We live in state of No Fear, No Hatred, having realized our immortal existence, beyond life and birth of physical bodies, whereby our reliance on impermanence is abolished by realization of Naam. In this state, we are bliss. Naam is a state of being alive.
If Naam Simran was simply repetition of a word, it is not hard to repeat the same word. Naam Simran shall lead to dispelling of all fears, hatred and all pains. Dispelling all fears, hatred and all pains results from embodiment of virtues of Naam under all conditions. To remain imbued in virtues of Naam, is very difficult because of our mind in form of Haume will resist such a state. This is because Haume and Naam oppose each life, like darkness opposes light. Therefore, Guru states, ਆਖਣਿ ਅਉਖਾ ਸਾਚਾ ਨਾਉ. Word Aakhan here refers to a life imbued in virtues of Naam. Living such a truthful and pure life is not easy by any means. Intent of Guru ji is to prepare us to the challenges of Naam Simran. Intent of Guru ji is to inspire us to lead such a life. It might appear to be a tremendously arduous task at first if we listen to our sly mind. Our mind has tendency to walks us away from the treasure of Naam. Be aware of Haume that will find millions logical arguments to distract us from path shown by Guru.
- Benefits of Naam Simran
Naam is supreme treasure. Gurbani calls Naam Nau Nidhs, to motivate us, Guru ji lists benefit of Naam that are supreme in nature. ਸਾਚੇ ਨਾਮ ਕੀ ਲਾਗੈ ਭੂਖ ॥ ਤਿਤੁ ਭੂਖੈ ਖਾਇ ਚਲੀਅਹਿ ਦੂਖ ॥ When bhukh of truthful Naam or desire of Naam arises in our mind, all other desires, shall end. All our pains shall end, just by carrying supreme desire of Naam. If this is not miraculous, I am not sure how one defines a miracle. Such is potency of Naam, that it has been called the Nidhan or treasure in Gurbani. Let us understand what this really means. Use an example to illustrate
ਸਾਚਾ ਨਾਮੁ ਮੇਰਾ ਆਧਾਰੋ ॥
The True Name is my only support.
ਸਾਚੁ ਨਾਮੁ ਅਧਾਰੁ ਮੇਰਾ ਜਿਨਿ ਭੁਖਾ ਸਭਿ ਗਵਾਈਆ ॥
The True Name is my only support; it satisfies all hunger.
ਕਰਿ ਸਾਂਤਿ ਸੁਖ ਮਨਿ ਆਇ ਵਸਿਆ ਜਿਨਿ ਇਛਾ ਸਭਿ ਪੁਜਾਈਆ ॥
It has brought peace and tranquility to my mind; it has fulfilled all my desires.
ਰਾਮ ਰਸੁ ਪੀਆ ਰੇ ॥ ਜਿਹ ਰਸ ਬਿਸਰਿ ਗਏ ਰਸ ਅਉਰ ॥੧॥
After Naam, Adhar is the key word in these panktis. Adhar can be translated into origin in this context. When Naam becomes origin of all thoughts and thus actions, it results in a miraculous life. Miracle implying a life that we always thought is impossible and unimaginable.
When Naam becomes Adhar of our life, all bhukhs are abolished. Bhukh is of mann or mind whose Adhar is something other than Naam. Opposite of Naam is Haume. Haume implies I am. When Naam is not our Adhar, then I am my own Adhar or Mann is its own Adhar. In other words, Mann worships itself and relies on entities it can acknowledge through five senses. Furthermost, all that can be acknowledged through five senses is not permanent. Gurbani calls impermanence Maya or illusion. It is natural for mann to remain in state of bhukh or desire as it seeks peace and tranquility. Desires are thoughts of lack. Desires reflect a state devoid of gratitude.
Upon Naam becoming Adhar of our thoughts or mann, all thoughts and actions arise from Naam or Truth, mind becomes peaceful and tranquil. Without peace and tranquility, a mind is asleep. Asleep mind is comparable to a corpse. Like a corpse an asleep mind is not conscious. A peaceful and tranquil mind has eyes of clarity to see. A peaceful and tranquil mind has ears of patience to listen. A peaceful and tranquil mind has hands of gratitude to give. A peaceful and tranquil mind has feet of comprehension to understand and move forward through pain and pleasure without attached to neither.
- Life without Naam Realization
I am always amazed by the logical structure in this Shabad offering comparative analysis between a life with and without Naam. Understanding of life with and without Naam offers options to those who are seeking to cultivate a blissed life. First and foremost, benefit of Gurbani is becoming aware of an alternate way of living, where by one is free of all fears, hatred and sufferings.
Guru as Gurbani is meant to dispel darkness of ignorance from our mind to awaken us to our real husband. ਖਸਮੁ ਵਿਸਾਰਹਿ ਤੇ ਕਮਜਾਤਿ. When we follow our mind and serve our mind or haume ignoring righteous living fulfill bhukhs or desires of our haume, we are married to our mind and mind is our husband. When we listen to our mind for guidance and rely on mind’s advice to seek safety, security and happiness through our reliance on impermanence, we are separated from our real husband. Our real husband is Naam or virtues of Naam in form of No Fear, No Hatred, having realized our immortal existence, beyond life and birth of physical bodies. By virtues of Naam, our reliance on impermanence is abolished by realization of eternal truthful Naam.
Guru ji states that one who is separated from husband, lives a low life. Low life or ਕਮਜਾਤਿ implies a life of ignorance whereby one is entrapped in clutches of deceitful mind, enslaved to desires of mind. A low life implies non-realization of our true self as the Jot. Guru ji further reiterates this point by stating, ਨਾਨਕ ਨਾਵੈ ਬਾਝੁ ਸਨਾਤਿ. One who lives without Naam, is a wretched outcast. ਸਨਾਤਿ is a word often used for people of lowest cast who are considered unfortunate and despised for living poor quality of their lifestyle. One who is without Naam suffers like a ਸਨਾਤਿ. Though due to darkness of ignorance, a ਸਨਾਤਿ is unaware of their pitiful state of mind.
