In Search of Naam - Part 1
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Naam is foundation of successful human life
After building some understanding of core principles of Naam, my search started in integrating this with our modern lives. I sought guidance from Guru Sahib and got following insights:
Naam is something which will emerge from the heart with the blessings of Shabad Guru.
The process of Naam getting enshrined in the mind will be marked by elimination of fear, worries, doubts and anxieties.
In fact there is a direct correlation.
Enshrinement of Naam will result in complete elimination of Haumai, this is a difficult task.
Understanding of Naam will mean understanding of ੴ, Oneness.
Duality will be dropped and oneness of everything in this world will be experienced through lens of ੴ.
This is also a difficult task.
Enshrining Naam in the mind appears to be the biggest goal of a Sikh. Sikh here is being used for a seeker who is seeking Supreme Light and wanting to successfully complete this journey of human life.
Guru Sahib explained this in following verse:
ਨਾਮੁ ਧਿਆਇਨਿ ਸਾਜਨਾ ਜਨਮ ਪਦਾਰਥੁ ਜੀਤਿ ॥
ਨਾਨਕ ਧਰਮ ਐਸੇ ਚਵਹਿ ਕੀਤੋ ਭਵਨੁ ਪੁਨੀਤ ॥੧੦॥ ਅੰਗ ੧੪੨੫Meditating on the Naam, O friend, the treasure of life is won.
O Nanak, speaking in Righteousness, one's world becomes sanctified. ||10||
Guru Sahib advised that Naam enshrinement is the most important milestone of my spiritual journey. This is difficult to achieve and will only happen if there is a strong desire and hunger to get here. Once it is achieved all sorrows will disappear- it is panacea of all ills.
Guru Sahib further advises;
Chanting it, I live; forgetting it, I die.
It is so difficult to chant the True Name.
If someone feels hunger for the True Name,
that hunger shall consume his pain. ||1||
Guru Nanak also explained in Japji Sahib that Naam is the only way to cleanse all past sins.
ਭਰੀਐ ਮਤਿ ਪਾਪਾ ਕੈ ਸੰਗਿ ॥
ਓਹੁ ਧੋਪੈ ਨਾਵੈ ਕੈ ਰੰਗਿ ॥ ਅੰਗ ੪When the intellect is stained and polluted by sin,
it can only be cleansed by the Love of the Name.
Guru Arjan Dev ji also concludes SGGS with Mundavani and writes that Naam enshrined in the heart helps in successful completion of human journey and we need to regularly partake it and adopt it in our way of life.
Upon this Plate (of Gurbani), three things have been placed: Truth, Contentment and Contemplation.It seems to me that there are following two important elements in the equation of achieving Naam enshrinement:
The Ambrosial Nectar of the Naam, the Name of our Lord and Master, has been placed upon it as well; it is the Support of all.
One who eats it and enjoys it shall be saved.
This thing can never be forsaken; keep this always and forever in your mind.
The dark world-ocean is crossed over, by grasping the Feet of the Lord; O Nanak, it is all the extension of God. ||1||
Understanding the nature of this beast - Haumai and way to control it and finally eliminate it.
Getting Guru’s Blessings - big question in my mind is how?
We will seek Guru ji’s guidance to help us understand these elements. We will do this in subsequent articles.
I will request Sangat of Sikhnet to share the insights on the subject and together we can build a common understanding of this important subject.
Maninder Sood
--14th August 2020
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