Sikh meditations are
all about relating to the Shabad in various forms. The Sikh meditates to know the Shabad, to
live with Shabad and to be one with Shabad
The “Shabad” is common
name for known as hymns(bani ) in Shree
Guru Granth Sahib ji and also the “sound
of creation” – the celestial sound vibrating in all the creation.
Shree Guru Granth Sahib
ji is Guru and the bani compiled therein are the words of Shabad Guru.
All above is just only religious
knowledge till the mind ACCEPTS and KNOWS.
The Sikh meditations
are all about making the mind know and experience the truth. In fact the actual
spiritual pursuits are simply reshaping the mind. Letting the truth come out
and be part of experience.
How this can and is
done is by relating to the Shabad in all its form progressively.
The Shabad shows the
way, Shabad guides, and Shabad is the creative force of change. Shabad is always with the Sikh as Shabad
Guru. It is through the Shabad, that Sikh knows the Creator. The Creator is
with the Sikh through Shabad.
The beginning of the
journey is to relate with Gur-bani.
The following are some pungtees ( lines) from Shree Guru Granth Sahib ji
which explicitly state how the Sikh
changes through relating with Gurbani :
Gurbani is the Light that
illuminates (the path) in the present
world;
by karma (effort) it comes to abide
within the mind. || 1 ||
SGGS 67
Through Gurbani, the Incomprehensible GOD is
comprehended. || 1 ||
SGGS 366
Through the Guru’s Bani, (the reality of) SHABAD that gives self-realization is known. || 7 ||
SGGS 752
Whoever utters the Word of the Guru’s Bani – the GOD
is enshrined in the mind.
SGGS 1238
There are several directions is SGGSji that enable the Sikh
to relate and connect with Gurbani.
These keys unlock the hidden meaning and open doors. Here is an important key
O GurSikhs, know that the Bani, the Word of the True
Guru, is true, absolutely true. The Creator Lord Himself causes the Guru to
chant it.
SGGS 308
Guruji categorically
state that the Gurbani is to be accepted as ‘truth’ what Gurbani states is
‘true’ and that should be known as such.
This statement reflects
the attitude that the Sikh has to have and should develop. The Sikh accepts the statement of Gurbani as
’true’. This means that the negation and
doubts would deprive the Sikh from experiencing truth. The ‘how’ and ‘what way’ direction of thought
towards the statements is fine and part of ‘vichar’ that Gurbani encourages but
negation in the form of ‘cannot be’ and ‘I don’t believe’ this keep the Sikh
stuck in the level of spiritual growth.
Words of Gurbani are
simple statement without any filler words.
These statements have simple deep meanings. The meaning unfolds to make the Sikh grow
spiritually. The understanding gives
direction to the effort (udham) that
the Sikh does.
Here is another important key for an early state in
Sikh’s life.
People believe that
this is just a song, but it is a meditation on God.
SGGS 335
He understands the Bani of the Word, and he is
absorbed into the True Lord.
SGGS 412
True is Your Court. The
Shabad symbolizes (the court) . Contemplate( and understand )this truth and revealed through the Word of the Shabad.
Meditating deeply on the True Word of the Shabad, I have merged into the Truth.
SGGS 144
He alone performs devotional
worship, whom the Lord so blesses;
he contemplates the Word of the Guru's Shabad.
SGGS 429
Here the key is the
“vichar” or contemplation. As long as
the attitude is to take it as song (Geet) then the Sikh is relating to Gurbani
at song level only. But as soon as the attitude shifts towards “Braham Vichar”
then the shift occurs and Gurbani reveals to the Sikh the meanings.
Suddenly there are so many ‘Aha” moments with awareness of understandings that
cannot be easily voiced.
Gurbani is not only
“Braham Vichar” but is an aspect of
Waheguruji as Shabad Guru and as Shabad.
To appreciate this
aspect let us look at this statement of Gurujee:
Waaho! Waaho! is the Bani, the Word, of the Formless
Lord.
There is no other as great as He is.
SGGS 515
For the Gurmukh , Bani is God Himself.
Through the Shabad ( Gurbani), we are one with Him.
SGGS 39
How a written word is a
Shabad Guru and waheguruji Himself is a key that the Sikh to learn , appreciate
and use. The points below may give some leads.
-
Thoughts in the
Mind and Words are interconnected. Any word read evokes a connection, meaning
and even feelings in the person reading it. These thoughts are energies and can
be said to be connected with consciousness. The language is simply a
symbol. While language can have
existence outside a human being in the shape of written word, but these symbols
are meaningless without the connection with the human mind. When several people
read written words, each person has a different understanding based on the prior
knowledge and experiences. Each people thus have different states of mind. With
more experiences the state of mind changes.
-
What is mind?
What is consciousness? The answer to this question is very difficult. Let us
not get involved but rather look at how the Gurus words reveal. The Gurbani tells us three points have to be understood
together and interrelation seen..
-
The first and
foremost statement is that there is oneness – all creation is” intelligent
consciousness”. Ekongkar is the foremost and least understood reality. The
second is that it is the Shabad that has created the world ( Utpat parlao shabday hovai – creation and destruction is by the Shabad – SGGS page 117.).The Anhad Shabad ( The
Celistial Sound) is consciousness vibration , the creative force shaping the
world. The third is that Guru is ever with us always and within. The Guru is accessed
through Simran and contact is also so maintained (Gur Mere Sang Sada Hai Naley
- sggs 394). The Shabad Guru within is accessed and contacted because of the
Shabad in written form which has been voiced
through the Saints and Guruji by the Shabad Guru.
We should understand that
in the spiritual world we have to Believe first and Know later in contrast to
the material world where we see first and then believe. The believe first
approach when adopted without much qualms would enable the Sikh to then
experience the spiritual realities. Know and believe that Bani is Shabad Guru.
The Shabad Guru is ever with us within as Guruguide. As we keep on living life
of ‘Hukam Razai ’( in awareness and
acceptance of working of Hukam) our haume (self identity) begins to diminish
taking us towards oneness.
