Naam, The Breath of Life!

As I clicked on the Hukamnama page today, the first shabad got my attention more than even the Hukamnama and really hits the inner cords. I mean Guru Sahib gives an example as to what the relation of a person with Guru and God should be. Analogy given is that of a drug addict (amli) to the drug (amal). The yearning of Lord 24/7 is like taking breath of life. The longing after a sepration to be with the Guru. I remember one of Yogi Bhajan's lectures, where he mentions this longing as the relationwhip between a mother cow and the her bachari(calf). She runs towards the calf to feed if she is separated when milk is ready in her udders. Another example he gives is that of Prabhupati (prabhu da pati) meaning when the slave becomes the master that is when the petowner wakes up or longs to let the pet out and feed the pet or take care of it, then in actuality the owner becomes slave to the pet and it is difficult to tell who is the owner and who is the master. This merging of human with the Lord's name thru Guru's words is what Guru Saheb calls the breath of life and longing after a separation.

ਜੈਤਸਰੀ ਮਃ ੪ ॥
जैतसरी मः ४ ॥
Jaiṯsarī mėhlā 4.
Jaitsree, Fourth Mehl:


ਹਮ ਬਾਰਿਕ ਕਛੂਅ ਨ ਜਾਨਹ ਗਤਿ ਮਿਤਿ ਤੇਰੇ ਮੂਰਖ ਮੁਗਧ ਇਆਨਾ ॥
हम बारिक कछूअ न जानह गति मिति तेरे मूरख मुगध इआना ॥
Ham bārik kacẖẖū▫a na jānah gaṯ miṯ ṯere mūrakẖ mugaḏẖ i▫ānā.
I am Your child; I know nothing about Your state and extent; I am foolish, idiotic and ignorant.


ਹਰਿ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਧਾਰਿ ਦੀਜੈ ਮਤਿ ਊਤਮ ਕਰਿ ਲੀਜੈ ਮੁਗਧੁ ਸਿਆਨਾ ॥੧॥
हरि किरपा धारि दीजै मति ऊतम करि लीजै मुगधु सिआना ॥१॥
Har kirpā ḏẖār ḏījai maṯ ūṯam kar lījai mugaḏẖ si▫ānā. ||1||
O Lord, shower me with Your Mercy; bless me with an enlightened intellect; I am foolish - make me clever. ||1||


ਮੇਰਾ ਮਨੁ ਆਲਸੀਆ ਉਘਲਾਨਾ ॥
मेरा मनु आलसीआ उघलाना ॥
Merā man ālsī▫ā ugẖlānā.
My mind is lazy and sleepy.


ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਆਨਿ ਮਿਲਾਇਓ ਗੁਰੁ ਸਾਧੂ ਮਿਲਿ ਸਾਧੂ ਕਪਟ ਖੁਲਾਨਾ ॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
हरि हरि आनि मिलाइओ गुरु साधू मिलि साधू कपट खुलाना ॥ रहाउ ॥
Har har ān milā▫i▫o gur sāḏẖū mil sāḏẖū kapat kẖulānā. Rahā▫o.
The Lord, Har, Har, has led me to meet the Holy Guru; meeting the Holy, the shutters have been opened wide. ||Pause||


ਗੁਰ ਖਿਨੁ ਖਿਨੁ ਪ੍ਰੀਤਿ ਲਗਾਵਹੁ ਮੇਰੈ ਹੀਅਰੈ ਮੇਰੇ ਪ੍ਰੀਤਮ ਨਾਮੁ ਪਰਾਨਾ ॥
गुर खिनु खिनु प्रीति लगावहु मेरै हीअरै मेरे प्रीतम नामु पराना ॥
Gur kẖin kẖin parīṯ lagāvahu merai hī▫arai mere parīṯam nām parānā.
O Guru, each and every instant, fill my heart with love; the Name of my Beloved is my breath of life.


ਬਿਨੁ ਨਾਵੈ ਮਰਿ ਜਾਈਐ ਮੇਰੇ ਠਾਕੁਰ ਜਿਉ ਅਮਲੀ ਅਮਲਿ ਲੁਭਾਨਾ ॥੨॥
बिनु नावै मरि जाईऐ मेरे ठाकुर जिउ अमली अमलि लुभाना ॥२॥
Bin nāvai mar jā▫ī▫ai mere ṯẖākur ji▫o amlī amal lubẖānā. ||2||
Without the Name, I would die; the Name of my Lord and Master is to me like the drug to the addict. ||2||


ਜਿਨ ਮਨਿ ਪ੍ਰੀਤਿ ਲਗੀ ਹਰਿ ਕੇਰੀ ਤਿਨ ਧੁਰਿ ਭਾਗ ਪੁਰਾਨਾ ॥
जिन मनि प्रीति लगी हरि केरी तिन धुरि भाग पुराना ॥
Jin man parīṯ lagī har kerī ṯin ḏẖur bẖāg purānā.
Those who enshrine love for the Lord within their minds fulfill their pre-ordained destiny.


ਤਿਨ ਹਮ ਚਰਣ ਸਰੇਵਹ ਖਿਨੁ ਖਿਨੁ ਜਿਨ ਹਰਿ ਮੀਠ ਲਗਾਨਾ ॥੩॥
तिन हम चरण सरेवह खिनु खिनु जिन हरि मीठ लगाना ॥३॥
Ŧin ham cẖaraṇ sarevėh kẖin kẖin jin har mīṯẖ lagānā. ||3||
I worship their feet, each and every instant; the Lord seems very sweet to them. ||3||


ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਕ੍ਰਿਪਾ ਧਾਰੀ ਮੇਰੈ ਠਾਕੁਰਿ ਜਨੁ ਬਿਛੁਰਿਆ ਚਿਰੀ ਮਿਲਾਨਾ ॥
हरि हरि क्रिपा धारी मेरै ठाकुरि जनु बिछुरिआ चिरी मिलाना ॥
Har har kirpā ḏẖārī merai ṯẖākur jan bicẖẖuri▫ā cẖirī milānā.
My Lord and Master, Har, Har, has showered His Mercy upon His humble servant; separated for so long, he is now re-united with the Lord.


ਧਨੁ ਧਨੁ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਜਿਨਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਦ੍ਰਿੜਾਇਆ ਜਨੁ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਤਿਸੁ ਕੁਰਬਾਨਾ ॥੪॥੩॥
धनु धनु सतिगुरु जिनि नामु द्रिड़ाइआ जनु नानकु तिसु कुरबाना ॥४॥३॥
Ḏẖan ḏẖan saṯgur jin nām driṛ▫ā▫i▫ā jan Nānak ṯis kurbānā. ||4||3||
Blessed, blessed is the True Guru, who has implanted the Naam, the Name of the Lord within me; servant Nanak is a sacrifice to Him. ||4||3||

If you continue to read, Guru saheb further equates Maya to a poison and the Guru's words is like the antidote for getting rid of the poison. Fortunate are the ones who lovingly absorb with the Name of the Lord to obtain this state of of absolute absorption that is compelte merging. Wow! All I want say is "Waheguru!" This is like a drug! Then there are people who make mockery of Lord's name by writing something like "Religion - The Opium of the Masses". To them, I say, "Lord's Name, the Opium of the Blessed Few".



ਜੈਤਸਰੀ ਮਹਲਾ ੪ ॥
जैतसरी महला ४ ॥
Jaiṯsarī mėhlā 4.
Jaitsree, Fourth Mehl:


ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਸਾਜਨੁ ਪੁਰਖੁ ਵਡ ਪਾਇਆ ਹਰਿ ਰਸਕਿ ਰਸਕਿ ਫਲ ਲਾਗਿਬਾ ॥
सतिगुरु साजनु पुरखु वड पाइआ हरि रसकि रसकि फल लागिबा ॥
Saṯgur sājan purakẖ vad pā▫i▫ā har rasak rasak fal lāgibā.
I have found the True Guru, my Friend, the Greatest Being. Love and affection for the Lord has blossomed forth.


ਮਾਇਆ ਭੁਇਅੰਗ ਗ੍ਰਸਿਓ ਹੈ ਪ੍ਰਾਣੀ ਗੁਰ ਬਚਨੀ ਬਿਸੁ ਹਰਿ ਕਾਢਿਬਾ ॥੧॥
माइआ भुइअंग ग्रसिओ है प्राणी गुर बचनी बिसु हरि काढिबा ॥१॥
Mā▫i▫ā bẖu▫i▫ang garsi▫o hai parāṇī gur bacẖnī bis har kādẖibā. ||1||
Maya, the snake, has seized the mortal; through the Word of the Guru, the Lord neutralizes the venom. ||1||


ਮੇਰਾ ਮਨੁ ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮ ਰਸਿ ਲਾਗਿਬਾ ॥
मेरा मनु राम नाम रसि लागिबा ॥
Merā man rām nām ras lāgibā.
My mind is attached to the sublime essence of the Lord's Name.


ਹਰਿ ਕੀਏ ਪਤਿਤ ਪਵਿਤ੍ਰ ਮਿਲਿ ਸਾਧ ਗੁਰ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੈ ਹਰਿ ਰਸੁ ਚਾਖਿਬਾ ॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
हरि कीए पतित पवित्र मिलि साध गुर हरि नामै हरि रसु चाखिबा ॥ रहाउ ॥
Har kī▫e paṯiṯ paviṯar mil sāḏẖ gur har nāmai har ras cẖākẖibā. Rahā▫o.
The Lord has purified the sinners, uniting them with the Holy Guru; now, they taste the Lord's Name, and the sublime essence of the Lord. ||Pause||


ਧਨੁ ਧਨੁ ਵਡਭਾਗ ਮਿਲਿਓ ਗੁਰੁ ਸਾਧੂ ਮਿਲਿ ਸਾਧੂ ਲਿਵ ਉਨਮਨਿ ਲਾਗਿਬਾ ॥
धनु धनु वडभाग मिलिओ गुरु साधू मिलि साधू लिव उनमनि लागिबा ॥
Ḏẖan ḏẖan vadbẖāg mili▫o gur sāḏẖū mil sāḏẖū liv unman lāgibā.
Blessed, blessed is the good fortune of those who meet the Holy Guru; meeting with the Holy, they lovingly center themselves in the state of absolute absorption.


ਤ੍ਰਿਸਨਾ ਅਗਨਿ ਬੁਝੀ ਸਾਂਤਿ ਪਾਈ ਹਰਿ ਨਿਰਮਲ ਨਿਰਮਲ ਗੁਨ ਗਾਇਬਾ ॥੨॥
त्रिसना अगनि बुझी सांति पाई हरि निरमल निरमल गुन गाइबा ॥२॥
Ŧarisnā agan bujẖī sāʼnṯ pā▫ī har nirmal nirmal gun gā▫ibā. ||2||
The fire of desire within them is quenched, and they find peace; they sing the Glorious Praises of the Immaculate Lord. ||2||


ਤਿਨ ਕੇ ਭਾਗ ਖੀਨ ਧੁਰਿ ਪਾਏ ਜਿਨ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਦਰਸੁ ਨ ਪਾਇਬਾ ॥
तिन के भाग खीन धुरि पाए जिन सतिगुर दरसु न पाइबा ॥
Ŧin ke bẖāg kẖīn ḏẖur pā▫e jin saṯgur ḏaras na pā▫ibā.
Those who do not obtain the Blessed Vision of the True Guru's Darshan, have misfortune pre-ordained for them.


ਤੇ ਦੂਜੈ ਭਾਇ ਪਵਹਿ ਗ੍ਰਭ ਜੋਨੀ ਸਭੁ ਬਿਰਥਾ ਜਨਮੁ ਤਿਨ ਜਾਇਬਾ ॥੩॥
ते दूजै भाइ पवहि ग्रभ जोनी सभु बिरथा जनमु तिन जाइबा ॥३॥
Ŧe ḏūjai bẖā▫e pavėh garabẖ jonī sabẖ birthā janam ṯin jā▫ibā. ||3||
In the love of duality, they are consigned to reincarnation through the womb, and they pass their lives totally uselessly. ||3||


ਹਰਿ ਦੇਹੁ ਬਿਮਲ ਮਤਿ ਗੁਰ ਸਾਧ ਪਗ ਸੇਵਹ ਹਮ ਹਰਿ ਮੀਠ ਲਗਾਇਬਾ ॥
हरि देहु बिमल मति गुर साध पग सेवह हम हरि मीठ लगाइबा ॥
Har ḏeh bimal maṯ gur sāḏẖ pag sevah ham har mīṯẖ lagā▫ibā.
O Lord, please, bless me with pure understanding, that I may serve the Feet of the Holy Guru; the Lord seems sweet to me.


ਜਨੁ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਰੇਣ ਸਾਧ ਪਗ ਮਾਗੈ ਹਰਿ ਹੋਇ ਦਇਆਲੁ ਦਿਵਾਇਬਾ ॥੪॥੪॥
जनु नानकु रेण साध पग मागै हरि होइ दइआलु दिवाइबा ॥४॥४॥
Jan Nānak reṇ sāḏẖ pag māgai har ho▫e ḏa▫i▫āl ḏivā▫ibā. ||4||4||
Servant Nanak begs for the dust of the feet of the Holy; O Lord, be Merciful, and bless me with it. ||4||4||

Daughter's Graduation - Chack De Simran!

Yesterday was my daughter's graduation from high school. It is really exciting to see this girl graduate and go on to college. This is a big acheivement for anyone in life. As I am going thru some old pictures of her growing up to make a little DVD for her graduation party, I decided to go on Sikhnet to check out news. The first thing I see is this article below on Sikhnet on Simran - Remembering... written by Guruka Singh Ji. It is short and sweet and describes everything what Simran means and should be. Now I know my daughter knew what the Gurmukhi translation of her name means like rememebring God's name or prayer etc. but I don't think she really knew teh depth of what Simran really means and this article does a great job of communicating it. So I am debating should I print it and put it in her graduation card or just give it to her. Now I know she doesn't get too excited about "Sikhi stuff" but I could not hold my excitement and give it to her anyways. I feel good and I did and hope she will read it on her own and one day will understand the beauty and gracefulness behind her name. May be it will inspire her to live up to it one day. I will never know since it would be done in silence anyways if she did. It may be a small thing but sometimes I do think things just don't happen coincidently and there a Master Plan that we just don't know or understand or believe. Everyone has a purpose and a journey on this Earth and they are not the same by path but destiny is same. I call this crossing a little path in life's journey towards the infinite. Happy Graduation to the ones that have finished this part of their journey in life! May Waheguru fullfil everyone's dreams and goals in life, bring them peace and happiness. I remember graduating from high school in India, it is a big relief especially given the pressure of studies in India. There is pressure here too but it is a little different in a sense people don't look down upon you at your failures as in India. You get scolded and you are made to feel like it is end of life. That is sad and it is wrong. Life is not about formal schooling but learning. Passing a formal test from some school doesn't mean he or she is smarter or wiser or richer or better learned. Real learning I think actually takes place outside of colleges and schools and universities. Anyways, enough rambling, here is the article and I better go get some Laddoos, Barfi and Gulab Jamuns to pass out on her graduation party:

Most of us, when we think of Nam Simran think of "repeating God's Name" out loud, either musically, or simply verbally we think.... "Sat Nam, Sat Nam, Wahe Guru, Wahe Guru..." but actually, that is Japa, not Simran. Japa is the audible repetion of Nam. In fact, the only command in the entire Siri Guru Granth Sahib is "Jap!" Jap what? "Aaad Sach, Jugaad Sach, Haybee Sach, Nanak Hosee Be Sach."

That mantram is commanded for Jap by Guru Nanak Dev Ji. What a powerful mantram!

But what of Simran? Simran is silent. It is not audible. Simran is the constant inner awareness of the Infinite - silently, through the breath and through a bij mantram (Har, Ram, Sat Nam, Hari, etc.) or through the Guru mantram "Wahe Guru."

Simran is not that you chant the Holy Nam loud and clear and wake up the whole neighborhood and then when it comes to the test, you act like the worst human being anybody has ever met! That is not Simran.

Simran becomes a state of mind. It is not something you do, it is something you are. It is the state of never forgetting your True Identity - being one with the One in everyone and everything.

When this habit of remembering becomes established, then you remember that you and God are One in every moment, with every breath, whether you are in pain or pleasure, whether the kids are crying at the top of their lungs or when you are just brushing your teeth or combing your hairs. You feel that everything is sacred and it is the constant awareness of the sacredness of all things that we call Simran.

"Simran has no other evaluation except its own self-generating power. A man without Simran is just a monkey on the tree. It will never change. Your grit, your strength, your stability, your depth and your totality is based on your simran. Simran is constantly tapping into the infinite. And then tapping into the Infinite you can have seva. There are four fundamentals. Tell me where we have gone wrong. Bana, bani, seva simran. We always say simran the last. Because simran is tek. Simran is our own 'tek.' Simran is our own strength. Simran is what we depend on. Simran is our companion. Our friend, our constant associate, our well-wisher. Our total support. Simran is the ambassador of God within us. It's our reality. It is the congeniality of man and God. Whosoever will do simran can do seva. Whosoever can do seva, can be understood through his bani and can wear bana. The order is actually reversed. The majority of people are very shaky when they wear bana. Especially in the United States. Because bana puts you right in front lines. The moment you wear bana, then you have to perform to what bana shows. If you do not match up with the performance of bana, you will be nakedly known for how stupid you are. A person will say, "Hey, you look different, but you talk common. Your feelings and emotions are common. You don't match up to who you are." Bana is a reminder to match up to who we are, to feel who we are, to understand who we are. And bana is also an invitation to people. It tells people, "There goes a Sikh of the Guru! There goes a person with purity and piety, who stands for something. There is the Khalsa." - SSS Harbhajan Singh Khalsa - March 25, 1990