Meditation Times November 2009

A DOWNLOADABLE E-MAGAZINE Vol II * NOVEMBER 2009 * Issue XI Meditation leads to Ultimate Flowering

Introducing various Masters & Dimensions of Spiritual Sojourn

TM

KHALSA THE WAY OF THE SIKHS www.taoshobuddhameditations.com

MEDITATION TIMES Published by Taoshobuddha Meditations Trinidad, West indies

EDITORIAL Wahe guru ji ka Khalsa! Wahe guru ji ki Fateh! The Khalsa is the commune of the Sikhs and was the last seal given to the fragrance of Guru Nanak. This seal was given by Guru Gobind Singh – the last of the ten Gurus of the Sikh tradition. Nanak had spread his fragrance to the winds to be wafted by all who would seek a path to enlightenment. And Guru Gobind Singh had sought to put this amrit, this celestial fragrance in the cup of the Khalsa.

Incidentally Khalsa means challis or cup.

Guru Gobind Singh made three important seals: 1. Khalsa 2. Sangat 3. Guru Granth Sahib.

It is very important to note the methodology of Guru Gobind Singh. He wanted to make the essence of Nanak available in one place, or one pot (Khalsa). This Pot he called Khalsa. Then he made all the Sikhs into one commune – this he called Sangat. Then he collected the various teachings of all the masters at the time even from different systems and put all this into one book which he called Guru Granth Sahib.

This Holy Scripture can be considered a revisit to the Sikh’s Guru parampara – disciplic succession.

After the last Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, he carried the tradition to the next level. He lifted the consciousness from human into supramental.

There was no more human guru to guide humanity. Instead the guru became immortalized into the eternal vak – word. The Guru Granth Sahib became the guru for the next level of evolution.

My personal insights into the wisdom of Guru Gobind Singh was that he never intended the

Swami Anand Neelambar physical book to be worshiped as a guru as is being done; and also that this physical book become the be all and end all of the way of Nanak.

As the former gurus were living, growing, evolving - this Guru Granth Sahib is also living, growing, evolving. And the words are not confined to space and time...but the words are eternal.

New masters appear to add fragrance to the Guru Granth Sahib from time to time. These masters may not come from the Sikhs....but that was no hindrance to their being included in the original Guru Granth Sahib – as is evidenced in there being 18 different masters in the Guru Granth Sahib as per wisdom of Guru Gobind Singh.

In this pantheon of masters we find Meera Bai, Sant Kabir, Raidasa, Shiekh Farid and many others.

This is the first time apart from the Hindu tradition that other masters are given such importance. And it is for this reason we dedicate this issue of Meditation Times to the Birth of Khalsa. Wahe Guru ji ka Khalsa...Wahe Guru ji ka Fateh.

We hope the universality of the Sikhs inspire you to expand your minds beyond the narrow confines of bigotry and fanaticism.

May Guru Nanak and Guru Gobind Singh shower their guidance upon you.

Nanak is religious because of his tremendous awareness and understanding of that which is.

Nanak is flowing in divine placenta that he calls as ‘Hukum.’

When you do not have any desire of your own! You begin to flow with the will of the unknown and unknowable. You are in tune with all that is or is happening. You move effortlessly. No more swimming! You are simply floating!

Life moves in a different dimension. This is the dimension of the unknown! The dimensions of the unknowable! This is the dimension of religion.

This is the dimension of Nanak. This is the essence of Nanak.

Nanak calls this as Hukum – the cosmic law. Nanak says everything moves in a synergistic harmony.

This harmony Nanak calls as Hukum. Hukum is the cause of existence. This harmony or Hukum is the outcome of the existential sound that Nanak experienced as ‘EK OMKAR’. Everything in this existence is bound by is synergistic harmony. The plants, the rivers, and the mountains are all bound by this harmony. Only man is in disagreement with this harmony. This is his agony and his misery as well.

Nanak is not religious in any ordinary sense. There is nothing apparent in Nanak that seems religious.

He is not religious in your sense of the word.

He is religious because of his tremendous awareness and understanding of that which is.

Nanak is flowing in divine placenta that he calls as ‘Hukum.’

To flow in harmony with HUKUM is the very way of Nanak. hukum rja$ cl[a nank iliOaya nal.

GURUDWARA SAHIB TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

OF

NANAK’S EFFORT IS THE BIRTH OF A NEW MAN OUT OF YOU! THE INTEGRATED, HARMONIZED, AND BLISSFUL!!! ONE WHO LIVES LIFE BEYOND DUALITY!!!

Before I go into the message of Nanak it is relevant for me to speak to you of Nanak as a mystic.

If you look at Nanak only in historical perspective or as a social reformer you will miss the essence of Nanak.

Nanak is more than this…

Sangat bolo… Shri VahE… guru…. VahE Guru Ji ka Khalsa vahE Guru Ji ke Fatah! Hail to the master! O Congregations remember the master forever. Seek eternal! There is nothing more sublime and invigorating than the congregation of the master or his commune. That alone has the capability to transform you and your life.

Nanak is a mystic. A master! One who has attained to oneness with his eternal beloved? One, union with who, Nanak sought erelong. Now Nanak is overflowing with the essence of that which is. And Japji Sahib is the message of this Ultimate flowering of consciousness.

As the entire Sikh community worldwide celebrates the birth anniversary of Nanak let us all participate in the flowering of this consciousness.

And allow oozing a few drops of this nectar into our beings. Only then your process of flowering will attain a new dimension.

I speak to you not of a Nanak who was not born on April 15th, 1469 in Talvandi to the parentage of Mehta Kalloo and Tripta; and who died in 1539 in a small village Kartarpur of Punjab, in India. This Nanak I know not. He is historical. I speak to you of the Nanak who was never born and never died. A Nanak who is existential! A Nanak whose energy field can never be destroyed! The energy field that is existential. Energy field that surrounds you each finite moment! Only you have lost connection with this existential energy field.

This is the experience of my life that if one can keep his inner instrument attuned one can feel the feeblest of vibration anywhere in the world beyond time and space. This sentence narrates the methodology of a master. This cannot be destroyed. To feel this energy field beyond time

and space an inner preparation is needed. This energy field is there to transform you.

JUST AS ATOM CANNOT BE DESTROYED SO TOO CONSCIOUSNESS CAN NEVER BE DESTROYED!!!

SCIENTISTS HAVE HARNESSED ATOMIC ENERGY ONLY FOR DESTRUCTIVE PURPOSES SO FAR! BUT NANAK HAS HARNESSED THE ENERGY FIELD OF CONSCIOUSNESS FOR THE TRANSFORMATION OF HUMAN BEING! FEEL IT! BE IT!!! NANAK’S EFFORT IS THE BIRTH OF A NEW MAN OUT OF YOU! THE INTEGRATED, HARMONIZED, AND BLISSFUL!!! ONE WHO LIVES LIFE BEYOND DUALITY!!!

Since then my entire effort is to harness this energy field and make it available beyond time and space through my life, living, and efforts. The effort is to harness and present truth is its sublime and nascent form. Truth is sublime. Truth is beyond religions and even your gods and goddesses. Truth is solitary. Truth is auspicious. Truth is beyond duality. So is bliss or Anand. This alone is auspicious or Mangalam. Scriptures say: sTy< prm xImih. AanNdm! prm xImih. m<glm! prmxImih.

Truth has nothing to do with Sikh, Hindu, Muslim, Christian or Jew. Truth is beyond these boundaries. Your conditioning, your values, and your understanding have no correlation with Truth.

A Hindu mind listens to that which resonates and strengthens his mind. So is the case with a Sikh, Christian, Mohammedan and other sects as well.

You are listening simply to strengthen your mind.

Nanak is unique. And he is unique in many ways.

Nanak happened before Tulsi Das. Social values were declining. Politically that was the beginning of a new era. The message of the masters was losing its inner fabric. Nanak’s role was to resurrect all these. Nanak came like a fresh breeze.

Look at the earlier scriptures. Valmiki used one meter throughout the entire narration. The meter happened to him during his one early morning bath in river Tamsa. There he saw basic act that we go on overlooking in our day to day life. He saw a pair of birds making love. At one plane this seems an ordinary act for pleasure for man and progeny for the other creatures. What actually happens during this act has lost its meaning. This is the communion or the confluence of two energies. One is young virgin or the feminine energy as symbolized through the female body.

The young virgin symbolizes the undeveloped or underdeveloped consciousness. Or the sub consciousness where the entire growth pattern of human consciousness is in code form. Hindus call this energy field as ‘Prakriti’. And the male energy that Hindus call as ‘Purush’ is symbolized as male or soul. Transformation cannot happen until this union between the souls and the undeveloped virgin takes place.

These two male and female principles exist in each individual. With the passage of time a discontinuity came in this understanding. Leaving this here right now I move to the other aspect where I was speaking of the structure of various scriptures and there relevance with the message.

Valmiki used one meter with eight quadrants which emerged during his morning bath spontaneously.

So too Bhagwad Gita also uses one meter and each composition is of four quadrants and two lines each this is the meter used throughout the text. All this describes one set pattern. Bhagwat Gita is the path of Yoga although different paths of Yoga are explained. And Ramayana is the story of Rama on the platter of Bhakti.

Nanak has used different meter in each Pauri. The Japuji Sahib does not follow any strict meter of poetry and even the rhyming seems, at places, uneven and incoherent. Besides, sometimes the

basic line of thought appears to be intruded upon by verses in between, particularly if one relies solely upon translations and word meanings.

This explains that through each Pauri Nanak goes into in depth message of different systems of transformation used by the masters and paths. For instance in Pauri 27 Nanak explains the role of music, and existential sound as the system of transformation. And in the next Pauri 28 and 29 Nanak completely reviews the path of Tantra.

If I go on speaking like this for each Pauri I will never finish the talk. That is a fact one can spend the entire life explaining Japuji still something remains unfinished unless your consciousness changes.

Anyone with linear consciousness or one track mind and understanding cannot understand Nanak. Only a master whose consciousness has reached its pinnacle! Or has merged with the ultimate can explain various systems of transformation of human consciousness as interwoven through various Pauris of Japuji.

This present work is such an effort of Taoshobuddha as an excerpt from his Published works, ‘Japji Sahib – Songs of Nanak.’

Beyond dualities, conditionings, and your beliefs lays the realm of Buddhas. Nanak is a Buddha - one who has not only attained to this Oneness with that which is, instead has harnessed this energy field for the transformation of human consciousness.

Japuji Sahib is the expression of Truth as envisaged by Nanak. Japuji Sahib occupies a foremost place in Sikh religion. The entire Sikh religion revolves around Japuji Sahib and Nanak.

Both Nanak and Japuji Sahib are inseparable. Both are the two sides of the same coin. Japuji Sahib is the fragrance of Nanak. @k bar jae tUne pukara wa muHe tajISt mere mn bjtI rhI zhna$, taAbd mere mn me< bjtI rhI zhna$.

AaEr hm fUb ke tU)anae me< th la@ smuNdr kI.

Japji Sahib is the poetry of the soul’s journey as narrated by a drunkard.

EK BAR JO TOONE PURARA THA MUJHE TAZEEST MERE MN ME BAJTI RAHI SHAHNAI TAABAD MERE MN ME BAJTI RAHI SAHNAI AUR HAM DOOB KE TOOFANO ME TAH LAYE SAMUNDER KI!

Nanak says that which is cannot be destroyed. This is ‘akshar’. ‘Akshar’ cannot be translated as ‘word.’

And the closest reflection of ‘akshar’ is ‘Omkar’.

Once you had called me so lovingly Erelong its music echoes in my ears Like the dissolving notes of a sweet melody!

And I dived deep within the ocean to bring forth the inner treasures from the realm of the Being!

Today I invite you to this mystical realm and the energy field of Nanak through Japuji Sahib. Japuji Sahib is my being, my life my living. The words of Nanak resonate in my mind. And this work on Japuji Sahib is the echo of that resonance that continues to linger in my being like the dissolving notes of an enchanting melody.

Allow a few drops of this nectar to ooze into your being. Allow this fragrance to sanctify and waft an aura of bliss in your inner being. Life will attain a new meaning.

Words are failing to express the ecstasy of my being. The orchestra is mute yet still melody overflows. I can speak no more for now. Now only the overflow is there. Drink it to your heart’s content.

Like a mad, intoxicated one, Nanak goes on speaking in His praise. These are not the words of a learned one. These are the words of someone who has drunk the mystical wine of Saqui (God).

Like a drunkard he goes on repeating the same thing again and again. These words are the outcome of ecstasy. If you can understand the situation of a drunkard you will understand the words of Nanak. The only difference between an ordinary drunkard and Nanak is that Nanak drank the pristine mystical wine to his heart’s content.

And now he is drowned in the ocean of oneness with God. This is the beauty of Nanak. Nanak is the poet of the inner.

Thus Nanak’s entire message revolves around ‘EK OMKAR SATNAM.’ If you have understood these three words you have understood Japuji.

Whether you call this as Japuji or as Ek Omkar Satnam it is same. Then you have understood Nanak. Omkar is the only sound that cannot be destroyed. This is the only sound that continues to echo even without being written. This can never be destroyed till eternity lasts.

Omkar is the music of the existence. Omkar is the echo or the whisper of the existence. Even when everything is destroyed ‘Omkar’ will continue to echo. Out of this evolves Hukum.

As<o khih isir _aarU hae#. AorI namu AorI salah.

The indestructible, the imperishable, the unknown, the unknowable ‘akshar’ that was in the beginning, that is now and that will always be is the very name of God. This is the way of worship.

Say no more. Just be filled with this existential sound. That is all. Prayer has now begun. You need not say that you are a sinner. No confession can ever become a prayer. Be filled with this presence.

You are prayerful!

Out of ego, however man has created so many prayers. You go to the emperor you have to implore again and again, sing the glories only then you can gain any favour. Such implorations have become prayers.

Nanak says these cannot be a prayer. And God is not egoistic that you have to implore or beg. You are praising God as if you are trying to convince or invoke the sleeping God. Are you coaxing Him to shower favours on you? It seems these are your prayers.

‘EK OMKAR’ THE PRAYER Omkar is the music of the existence.

Omkar is the echo or the whisper of the existence.

Even when everything is destroyed ‘Omkar’ will continue to echo.

Out of this evolves Hukum.

Prayer is a state of awareness, understanding, and oneness.

And the moment you flow with it, you are a prayer yourself.

‘Ek Omkar’ is the prayer. Let us look into its solemnity and the cosmic yet existential nature.

Omkar is the existential sound. The entire cosmos is filled with this existential sound. It is the cause of the entire creation. The moment you flow with it! The moment you are in harmony with it, you are prayerful.

Nanak says no praise can ever become a prayer.

Are you capable of praising Him? But ego thinks so. Then what can really be the prayer. Nanak says be filled with this existential sound. Beyond this existential sound there can be no prayer. Omkar is the end. Omkar is the prayer. Beyond Omkar there is nothing. Therefore drown in this existential sound. You are prayerful. Life will attain a new meaning.

Nanak says the ‘akshar’ the indestructible word is the prayer. Nanak has experiences this as ‘Ek Omkar’. This is ultimate knowing. This is the ultimate glory. Out of this sound evolves all that is manifest and unmanifest. This is your destiny. This is not only delicate instead difficult to comprehend as well.

Aora isir s<gaegu voai[.

As this existential sound opens within, life unfolds new meaning. Omkar is the key to bring about this inner change. Moving away from this leads to a life of misery and misfortune. Moving away from this

is hell and coming closer is bliss. To be one with Omkar is moksha or salvation.

Peace and serenity dwells not only as the finite instead the entire cosmos is permeated by bliss.

Bliss is the very texture of this cosmos. However this is the experience of my life that if one can keep his inner instrument attuned only then one can feel the feeblest of vibration anywhere in the world beyond time and space.

Remember you cannot attain without inner purification. No ritual bath, worship, visit to holy places can really purify your inner being. No it can never happen until your ego vanishes. Water can clean the outer dirt. However if your consciousness is full of such misunderstandings and misdemeanours then it can only be washed with love for ‘Satnam’ the name of God. Love alone can sanctify your inner being. Love alone can transform you. There is no greater energy than love that can give you a real birth. Allow it to enchant your being. And then a new birth takes out of you.

Nanak says no one can glorify Him. And yet still he goes on without a break. Because in the process of singing, or overflowing one attains to Samadhi! He cannot be described. Yet still glorifying enchants the being. This is not only beautiful instead nectarine as well. It is so blissful that in the process the singer is no more. Instead he dissolves in an unknown

ocean. I will continue to overflow erelong because there is no better song, no better melody than being enchanted with Japji Sahib.

Nanak says if the feeling has arisen to pay regards!

Heart is ready to pay regards then do this to that oneness:

His description! His glories are not mere words to entertain you. This is a technique of meditation.

His description is the way to drown in His subtleties. Overflowing Him is a way to turn towards Him. Wherever His message overflows pause for a moment to listen! Maybe a drop of nectar may shower in your being. Maybe breaking all barriers of deafness a word may enter you. May be your blind eyes may be filled with light.

Aadesu itsE Aadesu.

This is the reason Nanak goes on singing. As one continues singing you may drown in it. Nanak did not say anything. Instead he sang. Also he used music so that the inner ‘sur’ or tune may establish.

Maybe in the musical melody you attain to inner silence. And once you have tasted this you will never forget.

Each word of Nanak is soaked with a deep understanding. These are not ordinary words. You can get the literal or philosophical meaning. You can give many interpretations. However the mystical meaning is difficult from your level of consciousness. Nanak is one with God. Nanak is enlightened. He is illiterate in the sense that he does not have university degrees. He is simple. To speak on Japuji Sahib needs inner preparation.

Only an enlightened one can relive Nanak. This present work in not really a commentary on Nanak’s Japuji Sahib instead it is an effort to relive and present the message of Japuji Sahib for the future humanity.

GURUDWARA DOOR TO BEYOND Temple is a small devise. Begin from there. You can begin to learn swimming only in shallow waters. And then you can swim in deep waters. So too start drowning in the temple echoes. And then one day you will certainly learn the art of drowning in the vastness of all that is existential.

Then entire existence becomes the abode of the unknown and the unknowable. And then wherever you will create this sound you will find the rain of bliss. This dome of the temple symbolizes the vast infinite sky.

The moment to reach the one everything becomes possible. There are temples of the Hindu trinity.

But there is no temple of God. Nanak gave a beautiful name to the temple. He called this

‘Gurudwara’. This is not the temple of God. Instead this is the ‘door of the master’.

That is door alone. From the door alone you can come in or exit. Door refers to transcendence.

Door cannot be your resting place. You simply pass through Gurudwara – the door of the master.

Beyond this door of the master lies the abode or the realm of that which is ‘Satnam’ that whom Nanak calls as ‘Malik’. Going beyond the precincts of the finiteness is the realm of Satnam. To reach to that realm is Transcendence.

Know this as the essence of GURUDWARAS.

Dome Devise for Eternal Echo The dome in the temple and mosques is the bio-feed devise to create the echo of the existential sound. It is not a devise for ornament as we see in most of the Gurudwaras around the world. The real purpose is lost.

Man created temples. And within this was created a devise of round structure of dome for the sound to echo. This devise is to create the echo of Omkar from within the forewalls of the temple as ‘temple echoes’. This devise amplifies the echo manifold and it appears as if coming from far.

Now in the west a new devise ‘Bio feed’ has been created. This is an important devise. And in times to come these will be very useful. Accordingly through small instruments effort is made to render your mind silent.

East has created different bio-feed instruments.

The dome in the temple and mosques is the biofeed devise to create the echo of the existential sound. It is not a devise for ornament as we see in most of the Gurudwaras. The real purpose is lost.

As your inner sound reaches close to the existential sound the intensity of the sound within will increase. As the sound begins to emanate more and more from the inner being and not the lips you will find that the quality of the echo

returning from the dome has changed. The temple echoes are more peaceful and blissful as well.

Deeper you enter this existential echo within, temple echoes will become blissful. Then you can experience this sound echoing all around. Where you had experienced noise and disturbances once a new music, a new echo evolves from there now!

And when you attain to fruition, you will find the entire cosmos permeating this existential sound.

And bliss overflows each finite moment. Temple is a small devise. Begin from there. You can begin to learn swimming only in shallow waters. And then you can swim in deep waters. So too start drowning in the temple echoes. And then one day you will certainly learn the art of drowning in the vastness of all that is existential. Then entire existence becomes the abode of the unknown and the unknowable. And then wherever you will create this sound you will find the rain of bliss.

This dome of the temple symbolizes the vast infinite sky.

‘Ek Omkar Satnam’ SATNAM VAHE GURU!

THUS BEGINS THE ETERNAL MESSAGE OF JAPJI SAHIB!!!

‘Ek Omkar Satnam’ is the Invocation. This is the essence. The entire Sikh religion is condensed in these three words. After this all that Nanak spoke is the explanation. #k Aae<mkar sitnamu krta puruo inr_av inrbEr Akal mUrit AjUnI sE_a<g guru prsad jpu.

Ek‐omkār saṯ nām karṯā purakẖ nirbẖa‐o nirvair akāl mūraṯ ajūnī saibẖaʼn guru parsāḏ!

PURPORT: One Universal Creator God! Thy Name Is Truth! Creative Being Personified!

No Fear! No Hatred! Beyond death! And beyond Birth too! Self-Existent - cause of His own existence! How one can attain! Certainly by Guru's Grace alone!!!

THE MOOL MANTRA - THE INVOCATION: The mool mantra has two parts the Invocation and the Explanation of the attributes. As is the customary etiquette before one begins the message there is invocation. Invocation comes first. ‘Ek Omkar Satnam’ is the Invocation. This is the essence. The entire Sikh religion is condensed in these three words. After this all that Nanak spoke is the explanation.

Not everyone is at the same plane as Nanak is. And if that has been the case then there was no need for Nanak. The explanation is therefore needed.

This is the methodology or Tariqat or the Way of Nanak to bring transformation in you. This is the way for the transformation of human consciousness.

‘EK OMKAR SATNAM’ is the remembrance and salutation of that which is. And there can be no

better way than remembering the attributes of that which is. There is a significant difference between the invocation you do and the invocation of Nanak. The words Nanak is using as attribute are his experience.

These are the words of the one who has known.

When a master uses certain words there is certainly a difference. In fact it is the master who gives his fragrance to these words. Each word that Nanak has used echoes his fragrance and his being.

Nanak experienced his beloved and out of that experience these words overflow.

Before I go into the actual text it is important to know something of the birth of JapJi Sahib. Only then we will be able to enter the being of Nanak through the message of JapJi Sahib.

JOURNEY OF TRANSCENDENCE Nanak’s path is full of songs. Nanak’s search is unique. Remember Nanak did no Yoga! No Tap! No Dhyana! Nanak simply sang. And thus attained to oneness with the Ultimate! Nanak sang with so much totality that his song became ‘dhyana’ (meditation).

One dark rainy night in the month of Bhadaun (The Indian Name for the rainy month)! Thunder!

In between lightening! Periodic pangs of rain. The entire village was asleep. Only the lamp is lit in Nanak’s room. Thunder! Lightening! In between the sound of rain drops falling on the roof breaks the stillness of the night. An indrawn Stillness continues! Total silence! Only the melody of Nanak echoes. Until late that night Nanak continues singing. Night entered the third quarter. Nanak’s mother feared. She gave a gentle knock at the door.

Mother Tripta said, ‘Son, go to sleep now. The night is about to disappear. It is almost day break, son go to sleep now.’

Nanak’s path is full of songs. Nanak’s search is unique. Remember Nanak did no Yoga! No Tap! No Dhyana! Nanak simply sang. And thus attained to oneness with the Ultimate! Nanak sang with so much totality that his song became ‘dhyana’ (meditation). Song became Yoga! Also song became tap or austerities. An ecstatic Kabir sings:

Nanak got silent. Same time amidst the dark stillness of the night a bird papeeha echoed the sound PIHU PIHU…. Nanak drew the attention of his mother towards this sound, and said, ‘mother are you listening to the sound of this bird. This bird is not asleep as yet. Its song – the Clarian call continues. The bird continued the lament of separation with its beloved. I am in competition with this bird. It is calling to its beloved. Then how can I be silent. I will continue to sing as long as this bird continues to call. Its beloved is close by. But my beloved is far. Even if I continue for lives only then I can reach. In love one does not count days.’

And thus Nanak continued singing. Nanak reached to the Ultimate through singing.

Nanak is the one who drank the mystical wine to immeasurable quantum!

Saurt klarI mtvarI mxuva pI GayI ibn taEle,

SURAT KALARI MATVARI MADHWA PEE GAYEE BIN TAULE!

Nanak continued to sing the rest of the life. Such songs are not the songs of an ordinary singer.

These are the songs of one who has known Truth.

These songs echo the ultimate experience of Truth or Oneness. These songs reflect the very Being of Parmatma or God or ‘Rab’ as Nanak calls Him. Having drunk Nanak is now overflowing that which cannot be put into words. Only an enchanting heart can feel Nanak and His ENERGY FIELD. The energy of Nanak cannot be destroyed by any means. Only an Enchanting heart can become a medium of communion.

NANAK’S TOTALITY Birth of Japji Sahib JAPJI is the announcement of Nanak’s union with God. The bird is now united with its beloved.

The lament of PIHU, PIHU is over now.

The dark night of rainy season I spoke of earlier, and then Nanak was about 16‐17 years old. When Jap Ji was born Nanak was 36years, 6 months and 15 days old. The night that I spoke of earlier Nanak was an aspirant. That night he was in search of his beloved. Search has just begun. The call for the beloved is continuing— PIHU, PIHU… The bird was still calling. Union had not yet happened. The flower has not yet blossomed. But the bud has its beauty fragrance and aura as well.

Whenever an individual does any act with so much totality that alone becomes the path! Anything done halfway! Be it meditation, cannot lead to ultimate flowering!! If you sing with your whole being! Dance totally! Certainly you will reach. It matters not what you do? What really matters how you do? The question is of your totality.

Just as atom cannot be destroyed so too consciousness can never be destroyed!!!

Scientists have harnessed atomic energy only for destructive purposes so far! But Nanak has harnessed the energy field of consciousness for the

transformation of human being! Feel it! Be it!!!

Nanak’s effort is the birth of a new man out of you!

The integrated, harmonized, and blissful!!! One who lives life beyond duality!!!

JAPJI is the announcement of Nanak’s union with God. The bird is now united with its beloved. The lament of PIHU, PIHU is over now.

After this solemn union with his beloved: 1. JAPJI SAHIB is Nanak message.

2. Nanak’s compassion overflows through JAPJI SAHIB. 3. Japji Sahib is the Being of Nanak.

4. Japuji Sahib is the Fragrance of Nanak.

Therefore, in the message of Nanak JAPJI SAHIB occupies a very significant place. Most sublime of Nanak’s message is Japji Sahib. Japji Sahib is the most authentic, sublime, and the recent message from the UNKNOWN AND UNKNOWABLE. JAPJI SAHIB is the first words that overflowed through Nanak after the Union with his beloved.

PRELUDE TO JAPJI SAHIB Nanak is fulfilled. God said, ‘Now you go back.

All that I have bestowed upon you, Share the same with people.’

Returning from this communion, JAPJI SAHIB is the offering of Nanak to humanity.

In the darkness of the night! On the bank of the river Bain! Nanak remained sitting till late in the night along with his disciple and attendant Mardana. All of a sudden Nanak took off his clothes. Without a single word Nanak entered the river. Mardana followed. And kept on asking, what are you doing? Night is cold and dark. Far he went in the river. Nanak took a dive. Mardana thought in a few moments Nanak will come out. Nanak did not come out of the river. For five to ten minutes Mardana waited. Then he started searching for Nanak. He started calling. Then he started sprinting along the shore. Where are you?

Respond! Mardana felt as if each wave is responding. Have patience! Wait a little longer! But there was no trace of Nanak. Mardana ran to the village. Midnight he woke up every one. Crowd gathered. Everyone loved Nanak dearly. People saw a rare possibility in Nanak. A possibility of blossoming!

In the presence of Nanak everyone felt a different aura. A new fragrance! Flower has not yet blossomed! Yet still the bud has its beauty! And fragrance too! Entire village started crying. People gathered. They searched the entire river. But found no trace of Nanak. Three days passed. It was accepted either Nanak drowned or some animal

has eaten Nanak. It was accepted that Nanak died.

There seemed to be no possibility of Nanak coming back. Sudden demise of Nanak was accepted.

Three days after Nanak appeared from the river suddenly. As Nanak appeared JAPJI SAHIB is his first message. Nanak made this announcement.

Such is the story. I say a story! A story means it is true and not true at the same time. It indicates truth. And it is not true because it indicates in symbols. And deeper the message is one has to search for deeper and more subtle symbols.

When Nanak disappeared in the river for three days, the story says Nanak appeared in front of his beloved – God. Nanak experienced Totality. He came face to face with God. Found his beloved in front of his eyes. One whom Nanak called day and night through his songs found in front of his eyes.

For whom all his songs were addressed! One who was his heart beat! One who was the cause of his existence! Found right in front of his eyes!

Nanak is fulfilled. God said, ‘Now you go back. All that I have bestowed upon you, Share the same with people.’ Returning from this communion, JAPJI SAHIB is the offering of Nanak.

Birth of Japji Sahib JAPJI is the first offering of Nanak to humanity. After this communion with his beloved JAPJI IS THE FIRST WORDS THAT EVOLVED OUT OF NANAK! JAPJI IS THE ECSTASY OF NANAK! NOTHING IS MORE SUBLIME IN THE MESSAGE OF NANAK THAN JAPJI! JAPJI IS THE BEING OF NANAK! HIS FRAGRANCE!

W

hen I said Nanak disappeared in the river for three days he appeared in front of his beloved. Found the beloved in front of his eyes! One for whom he sang! One for whom he spent sleepless nights! One that existed within him like a deep thirst! Now found him in front of his eyes! Eyes are overflowing with joy. Insatiable quest is fulfilled now! His beloved asked him now to return and share all that He has filled him with.

JAPJI is the first offering of Nanak to humanity.

After this communion with his beloved JAPJI IS THE FIRST WORDS THAT EVOLVED OUT OF NANAK! JAPJI IS THE ECSTASY OF NANAK! NOTHING IS MORE SUBLIME IN THE MESSAGE OF NANAK THAN JAPJI! JAPJI IS THE BEING OF NANAK! HIS FRAGRANCE! This is a story. And I say this is a story. Try to understand its symbols. Until you disappear there can be no communion. What is this paradox! Until you disappear! And if I disappear then who will meet! Who will be in front of God! This you need to understand. You are not what you ought to be. You are not one. You are divided. There is utter confusion and conflict within. You cannot see that a seed is a flower. All this happens because of the false centre-Ego. So when I say until you disappear it refers to the disappearance of ego. Ego has to dissolve. Only then your real face will appear. And remember this is the first criterion. How does this ego disappears it matters not. It is insignificant whether you disappear in the river, or mountains or forests. None of these really matter. What really matters is that you disappear. Where and how you disappear matters not. Your very presence is the obstruction. You are the china wall. This is the reason that story says Nanak disappeared in the river. So too you have to disappear. Your ego has to vanish. This takes minimum three days.

This is the reason when someone dies we celebrate â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Teesaraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; or the third day ceremony. For the

process of death to complete minimum it takes three days. That much time is needed. So too ego never dies instantaneously. Slowly and slowly it dissolves. And it takes three days. This is the reason there is gap of three days. Nanak disappeared in the river for three days. Nanak remained in the river for three days. Ego dissolved completely. Man exists as ego alone. Ego feels happy, sad, etc. All that you do is the outcome of ego. This happens until ego dissolves completely. Thereafter a new journey begins. Family, friends, and relatives can only see ego. If you are not operating as ego you do not have any existence. Sometimes you would have observed this happening to you as well. We do not have the eyes to see the soul. So it was considered that Nanak drowned or died.

Whenever one begins the inward journey he becomes futile for the outer world. Now he is no more. He does not behave as you are. There is a discontinuity. Past is no more. New is now born.

This is the reason that the story has the gap of three days. The symbol of three days! Three days after Nanak returned.

On the inward path whoever begins the journey certainly returns. But returns as refurbished, as new, as reborn! Certainly whoever moves on this path ultimately returns to the world of beings. He returns to share all that he has experienced through this commune. On his way he was thirsty. His quench is satiated now. He was a beggar while he was going. But he returns as an emperor. Emperor not of the outer but of the inner! He is now connected to an unfathomable ocean of bliss.

JAPJI is such an offering of NANAK. Never consider this story of Nanak disappearing in the river or drowning and then appearing in front of God literally. If you think so then you are still an infant juvenile. You have only grown physically.

Consciousness or wisdom is not yet born in you.

What to do? Something sublime has to be

communicated. Language is the only medium. This is the problem with the masters. They have to choose the words from the language. Words and language has its limitations. All that he wants to communicate is magnanimous. And cannot be put into words! Words are incapable to manifest its magnanimity. So this remains the barrier.

When ego vanishes the entire creation becomes godly. In that inner harmony and oneness everything and everyone dances in that glory.

Remember God is not a person sitting somewhere and you have to be in front of him. God is an invisible energy field. Such an understanding comes out of maturity. How can you appear in front of that invisible energy field? When this happens you see that invisible energy at work all around. It is this energy that surrounds you. To say then that the creator is separate from the creation is wrong and ignorance.

The creator is hidden in the creation. The creation is the manifestation of the creator. And creator is the unmanifest creation. Precisely creator is the process of creativity. God is an unmanifest power hidden within you. It is this power or energy field that knows beyond our finite understanding. And we are bound to each other by a causeless force. We are not aliens nor as strangers meet. Instead we are bound to each other by an invisible causeless force.

Such an understanding is the beginning of the inward journey. An ecstatic Kabir says: jb mE< wa tb hrI nahI<, jb hrI hE< mE< nahI<.

JAB MAIN THA TAB HARI NAHI, JAB HARI TAB MAIN NAHI! As long as I was, Ego continued to function.

No union with God was possible!

And now that when God is I have disappeared!! p&em glI AtI sa<krI tame du# n sma@, raja prja jeih rucE zIz dE lE ja@.

PREM GALI ATI SSANKRI TAAMAI DUI NA SAMAI RAJA PRAJA JEHI RUCHE SHEESH DAI LAI JAI!!!

The lanes of love are very narrow!

Two can never dwell simultaneously!

The rich or poor; king or the subject Whoever this appeals can get it!!

Certainly not as he is; Certainly a price is for this: And what is the price?

Your mind, your thoughts, your conditionings, Your traditions and your dogmas too; Are all the price for this invaluable inner treasure of love!!!

With ego and vanity how can you be in front of him? Also how can you be in such a presence that is not an ordinary presence? You cannot look towards the sun attentively. The glare blinds you. Then how can you be in front of that which is thousand times more glowing than the sun.

The day your inner vision opens, you will realize only that energy field surrounds you. Only you disappear. That is all. This cannot happen as long as you have ego. Ego is like a speck of dust in your eye.

With that speck you cannot open your eye. And with closed eyes you cannot envision. Do not consider me literally. By opening the eye I mean the disappearance of the speck of ego in your eye. The moment this speck is removed the unknown and the unknowable becomes visible to you. God is always. There was never a time when he was not and also there will never be a time when he will not be. This is true of you as well. Only you were not available. Nanak disappeared. God appeared. Now God manifested through his very being, and his presence! Remember there is nothing except God. But God only appears through his creation and godliness. This is more sublime that God himself.

Nanak returned as God. The man in him died. And now God is born in Nanak. After this happening whatever Nanak said is precious. Every syllable is precious than the costliest gem. For each word or syllable even the entire wealth is meaningless. Each syllable then is Scripture. Each syllable is VEDA. Now try to understand JAPJI: Ek omkār sat nām kartā purakh nirbhao Nirvair akāl Murat ajūnī saibhaʼn guru parsād He is one! His very form is Omkar! The existential!

He is Satnam! Embodiment of truth! Truth

incarnate! The cosmic doer! Beyond fear! Beyond prejudice! Beyond time and space is his sublime existence! Born out of his own free will he ever remains unborn! Yet still he is the cause of his own existence! Such are his attributes Sacred and Sublime!

How can one attain to this presence!!

Certainly not by your own efforts alone! Be assured! By the grace of the Master! Let this be your trust and certitude as well!!!

All that we see around is many. Wherever you see division is. All around only duality and multiplicity is. You go to the sea shore. Only waves are visible.

Ocean alone is. And waves are on the surface. Yet still you do not see the ocean.

You can see all that is on the surface. This is the only vision that you have. Tou do not see beyond the duality! To see beyond the outer you need a different eye. As is your vision so will be the scene.

Whatever shade you have on your eyes will certainly give you the hue. Your awareness can never be deeper than your understanding. This is the reason there are altered states of awareness.

And Sufis call these as various states of Nafs. And when you have the outer eye, then you can only see the waves. And then you will claim that you have seen the ocean.

Use your intelligence to find the answer yourself.

This is not the way to go to the ocean. From the shore only waves are visible. To know the ocean you have to be in the ocean. This is the reason that Nanak drowned in the river. He is not lost in the waves. Instead Nanak is deep within the river.

Mystically river symbolizes the being of an aspirant.

And from the surface whatever you will say will be false. How can you say that you have been to the ocean? A wave is not ocean. And neither the sum total of waves is ocean. There is a fundamental difference between the ocean and a wave.

Wave is short-lived. One moment before it was not!

Next moment it appears. And then the following moment it no more again! This is transitory. Such cannot be the taste of God. Can it be? Certainly not!

Once there was a mystic, a Sufi master! His name was JUNNAID. He loved his son dearly. Suddenly,

one day the son died in an accident. Junnaid cremated the son. This baffled his wife. Wife always thought that Junnaid could never bear the agony of separation with his son. It appeared as if nothing has happened to Junnaid. It appeared son has not yet died. Junnaid remained unaffected. By evening everyone left expressing their condolences. An amazed wife enquired if he did not feel the agony.

You loved your son so dearly that I thought you may break apart with this.

Junnaid’s response is significant. It reflects the understanding of a master, one who has known how to be. For a moment I was taken aback by the sudden demise. The same time I remembered something. There was a time when the son was not and I was happy. And then the son came, happiness remained. Now that the son is no more then why lament. Happiness is there still. You think happiness increases or decreases. Happiness is not quantitative. Happiness is the quality of your being.

In that state it is Bliss.

Happiness is an inner functioning. It has nothing to do with the outer. I am blissful because of a different reason. When the son was not yet I was not unhappy. Then how can I be unhappy when the son is no more. Between these two happenings was a dream. Children are born through you. Not from you. You are the door. You are the mechanism that a child is conceived. A child is the gift from the unknown. Give them your love. Mind they will have of their own.

And once you have given them your love certainly something will evolve from within. That which comes and disappears is dream. That which attains form and dissolves is dream. Waves are dream like.

Waves are numerous. Ocean is one. We can only see many. As long as we will not see oneness wandering will continue. Misery and despondency too will continue. TRUTH IS SOLITARY. Nanak sings: Ek omkār sat nām kartā purakh nirbhao Nirvair akāl Murat ajūnī saibhaʼn guru parsād.

EK OMKAR SATNAM!

‘EK OMKAR’ The Existential Sound ‘Omkar’ is the only existential sound.

It was in the beginning of the creation.

It will be in the dissolution of creation. Also it is nowhere!

You will feel it deep within as the noise of the mind dissolves!

N

anak says that which is cannot be given any name. All names are given by man.

Omkar is the only name that is not given by any one. Ram, Krishna, Allah are all names given by men of different sects. The only name that is not created is OMKAR. And why this name Omkar? Man is a constant chatterbox. Thought keep on floating on the inner sky. Constantly waves keep on appearing on the surface. When thoughts are no more! Waves have subsided and merged in the ocean, and you drown in your innerness, only then you can hear a mystical sound. This sound is uncreated. No one has created it. This is the sound of the existence.

This is the echo of the existence. Omkar is the way of existence. This name is not assigned by anyone.

Aum is not a word. This is the sound. Not only an ordinary sound, is it unique as well. Without any source, uncreated this remains hidden in the existence itself.

All sounds are created by friction. A musician vibrates the strings of the instrument and thus creates a sound. This sound is created because of the friction between the strings and the finger.

The river flows. A sound arises through the flow.

This is the sound created when water strikes the shore. You sit by the waterfall. There is a sound.

Water falls on the rock a sound is created. This is the sound of the waterfall. Breeze blows and rustling it passes through the leaves. Rustling is the sound created between the breeze and the tree leaves. We speak singer sings all such sounds are created because of duality. When all duality vanishes a sound continues to echo. This is the

sound of Aum. Remember Aum is not a word.

Each language be it, Hindi, Sanskrit or Gurumukhi has a special letter to represent this sound.

Science says electricity is at the root of the entire existence. Science revolves around the trinity of electron, proton, and neutron. Accordingly if you go on dividing the entire existence to reach the solitary unit then we obtain electricity or electricenergy. The ultimate search of science is electron.

Science says entire existence is composed of electricity. For the scientist even the sound is composed of electrical-energy. And the root of everything is electrical-energy. This is objective.

Science is outward journey.

The search of the mystics is subjective. Mystics have reached the very core of the existence by uniting the discordant elements that constitute the creation. By uniting the entire sense organs mind attains to oneness. By uniting various individual minds one attains to cosmic mind. The difference is very insignificant and yet still it is not. To science existence is composed of electrical-energy. And for the mystic the entire existence is composed of sound-energy. Science reached to this conclusion through an objective analysis. And the mystics reached to this conclusion through a subjective analysis.

To science sound is a form of electricity. And to the mystic electrical-energy is another form of sound energy. The difference is not so big. It is like two different persons with different levels of understanding, and frame of mind are looking at a glass half full. One sees it as HALF FULL and the

other sees it as HALF EMPTY. The object is the same. One object! However people with different frames of understanding are looking at the situation. And the outcome is two different conclusions.

The search of science differs from that of the mystics. The way of science is that of dissection and that of the mystics is unification. Mystics or religion moved from many to one. And when all discordant elements are united oneness happens.

In that oneness meditation attains fruition as samadhi. And something echoes as the pulse of the cosmos. This echo is discovered both within and without. He finds this echo like the dissolving notes of an enchanting melody. Everything seems to be dissolving in that sound.

Something like this has never happened before.

Bemused, dazed, he finds no one creating this sound yet still it is there. He knows not the source. Suddenly something dawns. A realization happens. Awareness comes. He understands this sound is not created by any friction. Not a created sound, it is uncreated. This is ANHAT NAAD. Nanak says this is OMKAR! This is the only authentic name of that which is. Nanak calls this NAAM. Again and again Nanak uses this word NAAM. Remember whenever Nanak uses the word NAAM he refers to God or Creator or ‘rub’ as he calls.

And says that alone is Truth! That alone is existential! He says one who drowns in this remembrance of the word will certainly attain.

Nanak is referring to this existential sound as ‘Ek‐omkār’. This alone is ‘Sat nām’. Each time Nanak uses this word he refers ‘Omkār.’ All other names cannot take you far. And even if any of these names take you anywhere along the journey it is because each name finds resonance with ‘Omkār.’

Try to understand this. When you chant Ram, Ram, Ram a stage comes in the process when the word disappears and only a sound remains. The sound of letter ‘M’ in Ram resonates with the ‘M’ sound in ‘Omkār.’ Thus chanting Ram the sound dissolves into the existential sound of ‘Omkār.’ As you attain to silence meditativeness happens Ram

transforms into ‘Omkār.’ Such is the experience of all the mystics: one may begin with any name ultimately everything dissolves into ‘omkār.’ As silence descends ‘omkār’ is. ‘Omkār’ is always only you need to attain to silence. Nanak says: ‘Ek‐omkār Sat nām’.

The word ‘Omkār’ has three sounds viz., or A, U, and M. The sound ‘A’ resembles the last syllable of Brahma. This sound-energy creates, and evolves.

The second sound- energy ‘U’ resembles with the last syllable in the word Vishnu. This is the energy that preserves and sustains. And lastly the sound of the syllable ‘M’ resonates with the sound ‘M’ in Maheshwara. In this sound the other two sounds dissolves to attain Samadhi, or oneness. Even a lifelong is not enough to understand the essence of this existential sound. And even one moment is enough for this experience, only the grace of the master is needed, says an ecstatic Nanak.

I will take another sutra to explain further the sound Omkar. This is a Tibetan Sutra. The only country in the world which has devoted all its genius to the inner exploration is Tibet. Its findings are of tremendous value. ‘Om Mani Padme Hum’ is one of the most beautiful expressions for the ultimate experience. Its meaning is ‘the sound of silence, the diamond in the lotus.’ Silence also has its sound, and music.

The outer ears cannot hear it, so too the outer eyes cannot see it. We have six outer senses. In the past man knew only five outer senses. The sixth is a new discovery. It is inside your ears. As a result people failed to recognize it. It is the sense of balance. When you feel giddy or when you see a drunkard walking, it is the sense of balance that is affected.

Just as these six senses are used to experience the outer, exactly the same six senses exist within to experience the inner to see it, to hear it, to feel its utter balance, its beauty. It is invisible to the outer eyes but not to the inner. You cannot touch it with your outer senses, but the inner senses are absolutely immersed in it.

OM is the sound when everything else disappears from your being! No thoughts! No dreams! No projections! No expectations! Not even a single

ripple! Your whole lake of consciousness is simply there! Silent too! It has become just a mirror. In those rare moments you hear the sound of silence. It is the most valuable experience because not only it shows a quality of the inner music instead it shows that the inner being is harmony, joy, and blissfulness. All this is implied in the silent music of OM Nanak says.

You are not to say it. If you say it you will miss the real thing. You have to hear it! You have to be utterly calm and quiet! And then suddenly it is all around you like a very subtle dance. Or like a subtle melody. And the moment you are able to hear it, you have entered into the very secrets of existence. You have become so subtle that now you deserve all the mysteries to be revealed to you. Existence waits till you are ready. Matters not how low it has to wait!

In the East all the religions without exception agree on this point, that the sound which is heard in the final. It is the highest peak of silence something similar to OM. Or what Nanak calls as ‘Omkār’.

The word OM is not written alphabetically in any language of the East because it is not part of language. It is written as a symbol. And the same symbol is used in Sanskrit, Pali, Prakrit, Tibetan, Hindi, or Gurumukhi with slight variation in its writing style. All the mystics of all the ages have reached to the same experience, that it is not part of our mundane world. Hence it should not be written in letters. It should have its own symbol which is beyond language. It does not mean anything as far as mind is concerned, but it means tremendously much as far as your spiritual growth is concerned. It is not the part of your language, or grammar, or mind. It is concerned with your being, your inner sanctum, and your spirituality.

All music, particularly the classical music, has been trying to catch the sound of silence so that even people who have not entered into their beings can experience something similar. But the similar can never be the same. It is a very faraway echo. Even the greatest musician has to use sounds. But howsoever beautifully he arranges them, he cannot be absolutely silent. He gives

gaps of silence in between. The whole play of music is between sound and silence. Those who do not understand hear the sounds, and those who understand hear the silence, as the gaps between two sounds. The real music is in the gaps.

This silence is not created by the musician. The musician is creating the sounds and leaving the gaps as a contrast, so that you can experience something of what happens to the mystic in his inner world.

OM is one of the great achievements of the seekers of truth. There have been cases which are absolutely unbelievable. However these are historical.

When Marpa, a Tibetan mystic, died, his closest disciples were sitting all around him because the death of a mystic is as tremendously valuable as is his life. And perhaps even more. If you can be close to the mystic when the consciousness is leaving the physical body, you can experience many things, because his whole consciousness is leaving the body. And if you are alert and conscious, you can feel a new fragrance. You can see a new light. You can hear a new music.

However we do not understand the mysteries of dissolution of consciousness into existence. We call this as death. And lament when the consciousness is leaving the body.

When Marpa died he was living in a temple. And all his disciples became suddenly surprised. They looked all around to find from where is the sound of OM coming? Then finally they realized that it was not coming from anywhere. Instead it was coming from Marpa! They heard it by putting their ears to his feet, to his hands, and they could not believe it – inside his whole body there was a vibration creating the sound of OM. He had been hearing that sound for his whole life since he became enlightened. Because of his constant inner experience of the sound, the sound had entered even into his physical cells. Every fiber of his body had learned a certain synchronicity, the same wavelength. And the same is now being heard by all gathered around. I had the experience to witness such occasions several

times when the masters were entering back into existence. It is indeed benediction.

But it has been experienced with other mystics also. The inner starts radiating, particularly at the moment of death when everything comes to a crescendo. But man is so blind and so utterly unintelligent: knowing that the mystics experience the music of silence within them and they call it OM. However people start repeating OM as a mantra, thinking that by repeating it they will also be able to hear the pulse of the existence.

By repeating it you will never be able to hear it.

Your mind is functioning when you are repeating it. But perhaps I am probably one of the few to tell you this. And for centuries people have been teaching: ‘Repeat OM’ and the quagmire. This creates a false experience, and you can be lost in the false and you will never discover the real.

I emphasize repeating will not help you at all.

Simply be silent and try to listen to it. As your mind becomes calm and quiet, suddenly you will become aware. Like a whisper, the sound of OM is arising within your being. When it arises on its own, it has a totally different quality. It transforms you.

Even modern physics says that everything in the world is composed of electrical energy. According to modern physics even sound is nothing but electric waves. The physicists have been working from the outside. The mystics say just the opposite, but I see no contradiction. They say the whole existence is made up of the soundless sound OM. And even electricity or fire is nothing but a certain condensed form of the sound.

opposition. Perhaps it is only a different interpretation, because the mystic is coming from the inside and the physicist is looking at the outside. What the physicist feels as electricity, the mystic feels and knows as the pulse of the cosmos or music of the existence. They are both saying the same thing in different languages. And if there is a choice, I would choose the mystic, because he is experiencing it in his very center. His experience is not just an experiment on objects.

His experience is an experiment on his own consciousness. And consciousness is the very essence of existence.

This mantra has many secrets in it. The first wordless word is OM, and the last is HUM. OM is the flowering and the HUM is the seed.

The Sufis do not use the whole name of Allah.

They use Allah hoo, and slowly, slowly they change Allah hoo into simply hoo, hoo. They have found that the sound of hoo strikes exactly at the life source just below the navel. You were connected with your life, with your mother, from the navel. Just below the navel is the source of your own life. Just try: when you say hoo the hit is below the navel.

‘Hoo’ is a Sufi discovery. And ‘Hum’ is the Tibetan way. ‘Hoo’ seems to be a little harsh. ‘Hum’ on the other hand seems to be a little softer. But the softer will take a longer time to wake up your energies. It is possible that in the particular climate of Tibet, the softer maybe perfectly good.

They did not need such a harsh sound in order to hit the life source. But in the harsh desert of Arabia Sufi mystics had to use ‘Hoo’.

In the East it has been known for centuries.

There have been musicians who could create by their music a flame on an unlit candle. As the music falls over the unlit candle suddenly the flame arises. It was a test in the ancient days that unless a musician could create light, fire, or flame, with his music he was still amateur. He cannot be recognized as a master as yet.

‘Hoo’ is better than ‘Hum’. In the colder heights of Tibet ‘Hum’ is perfectly right for. Hum is the hit to create OM in you. If you hit the seed of your life it starts disappearing in the soil and green leaves, sprouts start growing. Between the two OM and Hum is ‘Mani Padme’ in the Tibetan Sutra. I do not think anybody has been able to express the ultimate experience, the ultimate beatitude, better than ‘Mani Padme’.

The explanations of physics and the mystics look different, but perhaps there is some deeper source which can withdraw the contradiction and

You have to visualize it. The lotus flower in the East is the most beautiful, the mystical flower.

And if you put diamonds on the lotus flower in the

early morning sun, you will have a tremendously beautiful experience... the lotus flower with diamonds. It is very difficult to say anything about the ultimate experience. However Tibetan mystics have tried the best. Many things have been said about it, but ‘Diamond in the Lotus’ seems to be the best expression. It is the most beautiful experience, and they have chosen two of the most beautiful things of the ordinary world, the lotus and the diamond. It is just a visual expression of the beauty that you come to see within yourself. This mantra ‘Om Mani Padme Hum’ has a whole philosophy within its womb.

Start with ‘Hum’, the last word, and the first will arise on its own accord. And when your inner being is filled with the sound of silence, you will also have the beautiful experience of seeing a ‘Lotus with a Diamond’ in the early morning sun.

The diamond is radiating. The lotus is so soft, so feminine, and so delicate! It has no comparison in any other flower.

They were also working but they could not devote their entire time. They had to create food and clothes and shelter, and in Tibet it is a difficult matter. The climate is not very helpful. To live in Tibet is a tremendous struggle. But still every family used to give their first-born child to the monastery.

It became so important to the mystics! You must have seen Gautama Buddha's statues sitting on a lotus. They are showing symbolically that he has reached the ultimate; his own inner lotus has flowered. And not only the lotus has flowered, the diamond hidden behind it, inside it... as it opens its petals, you find a Kohinoor - the most precious diamond. The diamond has a quality -- that's why it has been chosen. It is symbolic of eternity. The diamond is forever, it knows no death; it is immortal. The experience is beautiful and eternal.

Meditation gives them a feeling of immortality; hence their fear will disappear. Meditation not only gives them the experience of their own immortality instead it also gives them the experience that everybody is immortal. Death is a fiction. They will be living. And you cannot kill them. Not even your nuclear weapons are going to kill them. Krishna, in the Gita, has a beautiful statement:

But unfortunately, Tibet has fallen into darkness.

Its monasteries have been closed. Its seekers of truth have been forced to work in labor camps.

The only country in the world which was working a one-pointed genius, all its intelligence in the search for one’s own interiority and its treasures has been forced to stop by the communist invasion of Tibet.

Nayanam chhindanti shastrani; nayanam dahati pavakah!

Nowhere has such concentrated effort been made to discover man’s being. Every family in Tibet used to give their eldest son to some monastery where he was to meditate and grow closer to awakening. It was a joy to every family that at least one of them was wholeheartedly, twentyfour hours a day, working on the inner being.

There were hundreds of monasteries. None of these monasteries can be compared with any Catholic monasteries. These monasteries had no comparison in the whole world. These monasteries were concerned with only one thing: to make you aware of yourself. Thousands of devices have been created down the centuries so that your lotus can blossom and you can find your ultimate treasure, the diamond. These are just symbolic words. However the destruction of Tibet should be known in history, particularly when man becomes a little more aware and humanity a little more humane.

nEn< iDNdiNt zSÇai[ nEn< dhit pavk> .

‘No can any weapon destroy me nor can any fire burn me.’

Yes indeed the body will be burned. However I am not the body. Meditation gives you this feeling, for the first time. This is your authentic reality.

This is existential. This is the pulse. This is being.

This is OM. This is ‘Ek‐Omkār’. This is the EXISTENTIAL ONENESS that Nanak calls ‘Ek‐Omkār.’

EK OMKAR SATNAM!

The essence of Nanak’s message is ‘Hukum – The Cosmic Law’.

Nanak again and again speaks of this cosmic law.

T

he indestructible, the imperishable, the unknown, the unknowable ‘akshar’ that was in the beginning, that is now and that will always be, is the very name of God. This is the way of worship. Say no more. Just be filled with this existential sound. That is all. Prayer has now begun. You need not say that you are a sinner. No confession can ever become a prayer. Be filled with this presence. You are prayerful!

First comes the cosmic sound. In fact it is existential. Out of this then manifests the cosmic law or the Hukum. It is the Hukum that remains at the core of entire phenomenon world. But man continues to ignore the essence of this cosmic law and live life in disharmony. The outcome of this is misery and despondency. Ego remains the main cause of all this.

PAURI: I saecE saeic n haev$ je saeic lo bar. cupE cup n haev$ je la# rha ilv tar. _auioya _auo n %trI je b<na puirya _aar. shs isAa[pa lo haeih t #k n clE nail. ikv sicAara hae$@ ikv kUfE tuqE pail. hukum rja$ cl[a nank ilioAa nail.1.

Soche Soch Na Hovai Je Sochi Lakh Var Chupe Chup Na Hovai Je Lai Raha(n) Liv Tar Bhukhia(n) Bhukh Na Utari Je Banna(n) Puria(n) Bhar Sahas Sianpa Lakh Hohi Ta Ik Na Chale Nal

Kiv Sachiara Hoiai Kiv Kurai Tute Pal Hukam Razai Chalna Nanak Likhiya Nal PURPORT: Thinking leads not belief! Even if one thinks a million times! Prolonged silence and meditation does not quieten the mind!

Hunger (Greed) cannot be satisfied even with all the food (wealth)! At the time of death intellectual smartness also stays behind! How can then we realize the Truth and destroy fibs.

Nanak says live with His Divine Will! Be within the existential law! A new meaning will arise!

He is the only truth. He is true in the beginning. He is true in the end. He is truth now. He will be truth forever. His truth is beyond time and space. For this you have to move from the realm of the mind to another realm. Of this you know not. Neither by thinking can you attain. Also by your constant thinking you have missed the essence. Inner chattering continues unabated. And there seems no way to cease this chattering. How and when will the veil of ignorance and ‘koor’ or illusion vanish? And when will Truth manifest? The methodology comes: ‘Hukum rajai chalna Nanak likhiya naal.’

What is the definition of truth and non-truth?

What does a master like Nanak understand by truth? How to make you understand this? May be a problem with you! It is bound to be. However such is not the case with Nanak. Having drunk the life’s elixir words are simply flowing effortlessly out of Nanak. It seems as if words are coming not from the mind. Although mind mechanism is working to continue the message but the words

are forming from the deepest core of Nanak-the infinite, unfathomable realm of harmony, and oneness. Nanak sings: Aadi sachu jugadu sachu, He is the only truth. He is true in the beginning.

He is true in the end. He is truth now. He will be truth forever. His truth is beyond time and space.

Such is the only definition of truth. That which is now but not later is transient. That cannot be God. God is eternity. This is the definition of truth and untruth. Untruth is that which is ephemeral, short-lived, something that goes on changing.

Untruth is that cease to exist at the two shores.

Look at the dream. Before you went to sleep it was not and when you wake up again it is not there. A dream exists only between these two shores of waking, and dreaming states of awareness. And these states are not permanent.

Not in your control either until you are totally awake. And when you are awake totally then you will remain awake even in your sleep and dreaming state as well. Then dreams are more.

And thus disappears the veil all that beclouds the manifestation of truth. The veil of ignorance and illusion as well!

And all changes happen around that eternal alone.

Try to understand this. A wheel moves. How does this happen? The wheel moves around an axle.

The axle remains fixed-unmoved. You remove the axle. The wheel falls apart immediately. Without the axle the wheel can no more revolve. The change in the movement of the wheel happens around the fixed axle. So too the axle of soul remains ever fixed and body revolves around this axle of soul! Nanak echoes incessantly: Aadi sachu Jugadi sachu Hai bhi sachu Nanak Hosi bhi sachu!!

That alone is true. How can that alone be true?

Because nothing else exists except that eternal, and immutable! All the rest is dream-like. This veils the manifestation of truth. Now the methodology: When anger plagues your consciousness! Hate inflicts you! Allow the words of Nanak echo in you like the dissolving notes of an enchanting melody or an intoxicating awareness. Remember: Aadi sachu Jugadi sachu Hai bhi sachu Nanak Hosi bhi sachu!!

The dreams are when you are dreaming. In the morning it disappears. On waking you know the dream cannot be true. It was not there in the evening and again this morning this no more.

Be a witness. You will realize slowly and slowly all that is futile will certainly begin to vanish. The essential will begin to evolve. The world will begin to disappear.

One day your body was no more. And one day again it will be no more again. Your body is false.

Truth is that which exists beyond time and space.

This is the definition of Nanak and all other mystics.

Nanak says you cannot attain to this awareness or witnessing by thinking. And through thinking alone you have lost your serenity. Nanak says God is not and conclusion of any hypothesis. Also he is not the conclusion of logic. God is eternal truth.

The way is not through thinking. What will you gain through thinking? By thinking you have lost.

Through thinking you are lost in the forest of words and duality. You have to attain eyes to see the essential. When your eyes are full of thoughts you will remain blind. Your eyes need to be ‘nirvichar’ or thoughtless.

One moment there is anger and the next moment it is no more. This is dream like. Nanak says when you allow this understanding to sink in you will be transformed. Do not be too much concerned with mind and its mechanism of veiling truth.

Nanak says search that which never dies and is never born. That which is beyond change!

What is that within that never changes? Seek that alone, says an ecstatic Nanak. Certainly that lies within you veiled by your vision and cognition.

Zen calls this ‘no mind’. Kabir calls this as ‘unmani dasha’ or the state of awareness. Patanjali calls this as ‘nirvikar samadhi’. All these are different ways to explain the same state of awareness. This

refers to a state when all thoughts, opportunities, and alternatives are no more.

Neither by thinking nor by a forced silence can you attain this. By thinking inner silence is not attained. Thinking is effort. You cannot fall asleep through effort. All efforts have to drop. And then suddenly you realize that you have fallen asleep.

Your effort alone will become an obstruction in attaining inner silence. You can become statue like outwardly but inner dialogue and disturbance will continue. You will be like the one sitting on a volcano- ready to explode any moment.

It happened once Nanak was the guest at the house of a Muslim chief (Nawab). Nanak is beyond religion. One who has known he is not bound by finiteness of caste, creed and religion.

Knowing this the chief invited Nanak for Friday ‘Salaat’ or prayer. Nanak agreed for the prayer only on one condition. He said I will certainly offer prayers, if you are going to offer the prayers.

The chief could not understand this condition. He was going to offer prayer anyways.

Entire village gathered. Hindus and Muslims gathered. Everyone wants to know what Nanak is doing. Hindus lamented as they thought Nanak is going to be a Muslim. Muslims rejoiced that a man like Nanak has now got senses. We see things as we are. And fear remains the guiding force of all our thinking and approach to life.

Nanak entered the mosque. Prayer began. Nanak stood behind the chief for the prayer. The chief was angry as Nanak just remained standing.

Somehow the prayer finished. How can you pray or fool a Nanak? And when you are full of anger there can be no prayer. The chief was angry with Nanak and complained that he did not fulfill his promise of offering prayers. At this Nanak reminded the chief of the condition. The condition was Nanak will definitely offer prayers only if the Nawab offered the prayer.

At this chief responded, ‘Are you in senses?

Everyone knows that I offered the prayers. People are witness to my claim.’ Nanak replied, ‘I am not concerned with all your understanding or the witness. I am concerned with all that is happening

deep within. You were in fact buying horses in Kabul. And your priest or Imam was busy cutting the crop in the fields. Now tell me how I can offer the prayers when you did not.’

This surprised both the chief and his Imam. The most important and prestigious horse had died.

And the chief was filled with agony. And he was wandering how to go to Kabul and buy another horse. And as far as the Imam is concerned his crop is ready. There is shortage of labor. This worried him. And he was cutting the crop. ‘How can I offer prayers when neither you nor your priest offered prayers?

Prayer is a state of awareness. It springs out of your inner serenity. Prayer, meditation etc., cannot be forced. It is not important what you do.

What is more important what is going on deep within? You can be statue like. You can hold and discipline your body easily but not the mind.

This is what happens when people go into meditation. More thoughts arise on the inner sky.

Whenever you go to your religious place your inner disturbance surfaces! When you are engaged in work there is not much energy left for disturbance. And when you sit in meditation or prayers your energies are not divided. There is total energy available and disturbances surface.

Thus when you are in a theatre or a part, or a discotheque you remain peaceful. However in meditation and prayers you remain twisting and turning-disturbed.

Why does this happen? Theatre, discothèques are all associated with your desires. There all that is being provoked which is part of your deep unconsciousness. This resonates with you. Hence there is enjoyment. And you are never bored.

Whatever happens in temples does not resonate with you. This is why such things remain boring.

Nanak says even by plasticizing silence you cannot attain. You may continue to meditate nothing will happen. The hunger of the senses will not vanish even if the mountain of foods is provided for. The hunger for God is not an ordinary hunger. Nothing can satisfy this.

How can we be truthful? And how can this veil of ignorance and falsehood are removed. Nanak says; ‘Hukum’ is the only way. This is very significant statement.

Hukum Rajai Chalana ‘Hukum Rajai Chalna Nanak Likhiya Naal.’

What is Hukum? Literally it means the order or the command. Nothing will happen by your doing.

When you are false then all that evolves will definitely be false as well. It matters not if you are speaking truth. To Nanak Hukum implies the cosmic law, the synergetic harmony. Before I explain this, an anecdote: Once Nanak stayed in a village! The chief of the village had a religious function. Entire village was invited. Nanak was also invited. Nanak did not go.

Instead he stayed at the place of a poor carpenter Laloo. Several times the chief send the message for Nanak. But he did not go. Ultimately the chief came himself. At his request Nanak accompanied him to his place. However Nanak refused the pure sanctified food. The food was prepared by the chefs who took a bath with holy waters before starting the cooking.

At this Nanak said now that you insist bring your food and he asked Laloo to bring his dry rotis or bread without any vegetables.

It is said Nanak took the dry food of Laloo in one hand and in another hand he took the delicious food of the chief and squeezed. It is said from Laloo’s food the stream of milk came out; whereas from the food of the chief blood came out. This is symbolic. I do not know it if happened this way or not. It is significant. If you are dishonest it does not matter if you bathe or wash the vegetable in pure and holy water. If your life is that of dishonesty, falsehood, exploitation and torture then every grain of your food is soaked in blood.

It is not important if this really happened or not.

However the anecdote is very significant. And gives an important message! Nanak Says nothing will happen on your own. When you are dishonest this will become part of you. You will speak truth only if this benefits your dishonesty. Even your truth will harm others.

Nanak says leave everything on him. Let Thy will prevail. Whatever condition or state he keeps you remain pleased. His commandment or way becomes your way. Accept all that is happening.

Flow with life. Life is given by God. Only he knows what is good and what is not. Be in harmony.

Behind every happening there is a cosmic law, a meaning, a secret. Thy wish is my command.

Then you will find that suddenly an inner harmony, oneness and silence begins to descend.

No more worries. You are the part of this cosmic harmony.

What is the worry? The worry is that you are not in harmony with all that is happening. The only sutra of peace in the East from LauTzu to Nanak is ‘TOTAL ACCEPTABILITY.’ Omar Khayyam says: Moving finger writes and having writ moves on. Nanak says: Hukum Rajai Chalna Nanak Likhiya Naal.

There is a law the cosmic law. Everything happens according to this cosmic law. Flow with this cosmic law. You can float in the sky that Nanak calls as ‘Ek Omkar Satnam.’ And there is only one methodology-the Hukum the wish of God. Once it happened. In Bulkh there was chief Ibrahim. He had a slave who was very vibrant and loving. Ibrahim brought him home. Because of his ways Ibrahim fell in love with the slave. Ibrahim enquired how he wants to remain, what would he like to eat etc. It is said the reply of the slave was beautiful. The slave replied, ‘My wish does not matter. Whatever the master wants really matters. I am your slave and you are my master.’

It is said with this reply Ibrahim’s life transformed. He bows down to the slave. Ibrahim got the secret that he had been searching for so long.

This is ‘hukum rajai chalana Nanak likhiya naal.’

This is Nanak’s methodology to attain inner oneness, harmony and bliss. Thus Nanak blocked all doors for ego. First Nanak emphasizes the

‘Guru kripa or parsad’ and now he gave the next one: ‘hukum rajai chalana Nanak likhiya naal.’

Be within the existential law! Flow with the Ultimate will! He alone knows what is right!

When you look at the entire creation there is a synergistic harmony. The plants, the river, and the seasons everything moves in harmony. Each season unfolds into another. During autumn leaves turn gold and fall from the tree. The tree remains bare. There is a reason in it. Autumn is followed by winter and snowfall. The bare tree helps the snow to slide from the tree. This is followed by spring. New foliage begins to grow.

There is harmony in the scheme of the existence.

Only man is not in harmony with all that is or is happening.

Bliss or benediction is the outcome of flowing in harmony with the existence. A river flows towards ocean out of harmony. A man fights with the river. There is lack of harmony. This brings struggle and despondency.

Nanak emphasizes the Hukum. Flowing with ‘Hukum’ is the way of surrender.

This is the way of surrender!

EK OMKAR SATNAM!!!

The Seed that gave Birth to Khalsa LARS JENSENS SWEDEN

The Golden Temple

Now I will tell about the soil that nourished the young Gobind Rai (later known as Guru Gobind Singh). It all started even before he was born and it reached its climax when he was nine years old. It was the time when India went through a Dark Age and his father Guru Teg Bahadur was the living guru of the Sikhs.

Even the motherland of India has many wounds on her chest that she has got by the so-called

messengers of God. Along with the true spiritual kings, the Sikh Guruâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, there were also worldly kings and emperors that came at the same time.

One of these emperors was Aurangzeb who wanted to convert all Indian people into Islam and he wanted to use violence to force his decision to come true. Those who refused to embrace Islam were killed. But since many people choose death over a breach of their faith, Aurangzeb directed his

attention to converting the Brahmins (the priests of the Hindus), for if he succeeded in converting the leaders of the Hindu society, others would naturally and easily follow their example, he thought.

The Brahmins became afraid of losing their life or faith and had a secret meeting to deal with the situation that had arisen. They prayed to Lord Shiva and one of them had a vision where Lord Shiva appeared to him and directed him to the living master Teg Bahadur. Upon the advice from the vision of Lord Shiva these five hundred Brahmins went to meet Guru Teg Bahadur and approached him with their dilemma. They begged for his help and said, “Our holy books are burned and now our life is threatened if we do not convert to Islam. In our helplessness we have turn to you.”

Guru Teg Bahadur told them that the house of Guru Nanak has ever upheld men’s fundamental rights of worship. Something has do be done. Guru Teg Bahadur sat for some time and reflected upon the problem while young Gobind Rai entered the room and saw the sorrowful look on his father face. Upon Gobind’s request for the reason for this sorrowful state, his father told him about the problem and added, “If a person of a very high moral stature agreed to sacrifice his life, these atrocities could be stopped.” Gobind Rai said, “I know of no one of such a high stature except you!”

Guru Teg Bahadur was deeply moved by his nine years old son’s compassion, it made it easier for him to make a fateful resolve. Guru Teg Bahadur told the Brahmins that they should let it be known that only if the Guru can be persuaded to embrace Islam they will also embrace Islam. However, if Aurangzeb accepted this deal and if he cannot persuade the Guru to convert to Islam all the Brahmins and Hindus should be free to choose their own religion. When Aurangzeb heard about the news he became happy, because he thought it would be easier to convert only one person and then all other had to follow.

Guru Teg Bahadur was arrested and was brought to Aurangzeb who tried every means to persuade him to follow the path of the Prophet - but if not perform a miracle and you will be free. But Guru Teg Bahadur told: “When your Prophet could not unite all men into one religion, how do you think that you can?”

Aurangzeb became upset and imprisoned Guru Teg bahadur and his five followers (who freely had chosen to follow the Guru). One person even told that he could help the Guru to escape, but Guru Teg Bahadur strictly answered that he had come there to sacrifice his body so that many more may be free. Later Aurangzeb ordered the five disciples to be tortured to death before the eyes of the Guru, but no one of them embraced Islam. The only request the disciples had was that their face would be turned so that they could see the beloved Guru while dying. Bhai Mati Das was sawn in half, Bhai Sati Das was wrapped in wool and burnt alive and Bhai Dayal Das was boiled alive.

Soon it was the turn of the Guru. Aurangzeb told that if the Guru neither converts to Islam nor performs a miracle, then he also had to be executed. The Guru replied: “You will see a miracle when my head is cut off, the miracle of a man sacrificing his life so that other may be free to pray as they choose. But I have no respect for the cheap tricks of magic that you are shouting for. I pray for you that you may realise what you have done against men and against your own self. But I shall not change my way, I shall sacrifice my head but not my faith.”

When the head of the Guru was cut of a terrible dust storm began and covered the city, a faithful Sikh took the head and brought it to Gobind Rai under the cover of the storm. Later at a dark night another Sikh brought back the body and both the head and the body where cremated with full respect. Even so Aurangzeb had order that anyone who tried to move the body would be put to death.

So everywhere people misuse their power for their own purposes in the name of God and the ordinary people has to suffer due to that. So Guru had to make an offer to cut off the tentacles of this negative power.

It was under these situations that Guru Gobind Singh was growing up. This was the seed that had been sown, which much later would culminate in the birth of the KHALSA and ultimately put Guru Gobind on the mission of both a Saint as an avatar (the one who uphold righteousness).

This is the real beginning of the story of the

Khalsa, when Guru Teg Bahadur asked his nine years old son Gobind Rai for permission to making a big offer for mankind. The fruit of that big offer may be the birth of the Khalsa. God alone knows the secret behind the scene of the outer happenings. His blessings are endless even so it outwardly appears to be a Dark Age. The word “Khalsa” means “pure”. Only the one who has sacrificed his head (EGO) is truly pure.

When the ego has gone only God remains.

Ultimately when the Khalsa was delivered and took birth it was due to that five brave Sikhs was ready to offer their head, just as the five disciples of Guru Teg Bahadur had done long before.

The history repeated itself, the only different is that this time it was given a name “Khalsa”. His blessings overflow in all ages and many Saints have offered their head for the sake of mankind.

This is also Khalsa or the pureness of the Saint.

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COMMENTS from an avid reader of MEDITATION TIMES Jalaluddin Ahmad Ar-Rowi

Bismillahir rahmaanir rahiim, nahmaduhu wa nusolli 'ala rasulihil karim, wa ba'du, assalamu'alaikum wa rahmatullahi wabarakatuh.

Alhamdulillah, the meditation times gives to the audiences an extra knowledge and understanding about different path to reach the divine destination.

Special thanks to Hadhrat Sufi Taoshobuddha for reviving the spiritual elements in modern age by discovering the various paths to reach the truth. May Allah's blessing be upon those who strive to love him and are striving to bring the people towards him, especially to Hadhrat Sufi Taoshobuddha for what he has done for the sake of Allah.

Either by following a guru or without a guru is not so important because a guru is just a medium for a person to reach the knowledge of the unlimited. The true source of knowledge and understanding only comes from Allah, nothing else. If one knows Allah really well and can learn from the manifestations of his names, attributes, qualities and actions, so one may not need to have a guru anymore, Allah will be his greatest guru. But for those who can't even understand about his creator's names, qualities, attributes and actions, how could he understand his essence? These kinds of people are compulsory to have a guru to guide them physically and spiritually to reach the divine. Otherwise their journey will be impossible at all. He will move like a blind man in a dark night. Still if one needs a guru, Allah is the best guru.

May Allah bless us, Amin. Wabillahi taufiq wal hidayah, wallahu a'lam wa 'ilmuhu atam.

Regards, Faqir Mawlawi Jalaluddin Ahmad Ar-Rowi 'Ufiyallahu 'Anhu

Gurudwara Panja Sahib, Hasan Abdal, Rawalpindi,Pakistan

GURUDWARA PANJA SAHIB

GURUDWARA PANJA SAHIB

GURUDWARA PANJA SAHIB, HASAN ABDAL, PAKISTAN

Nearly 45 km from Rawalpindi on the main G.T road is situated the Attock District in Pakistan. In this district there exists Hasan Abdal a small flourishing town.

Hasan Abdal’s running waters and springs have always helped it stay as a cultural nucleus in a populous region. The Gurudwara of Panja Sahib at Hasan Abdal is the famous Sikh pilgrimage center. Sikh pilgrims from all over the world gather here every year in the month of April for the Baisakhi Festival. The temple is situated in the center of the town. It depicts typical Sikh architecture and stands in the middle of a large stone water tank beside the huge stone with the large hand print of Guru Nanak.

It is also known as ‘Dera Sahib’. The ‘dera’ had a specific significance for giving boon to the man of the faith and punishing the non-believers. Guru Nanak along with Bhai Mardana reached Hasan Abdal in Baisakh Samwat 1578 B.K. or 1521 A.D., during the summer season.

On reaching Hasan Abdal Guru Nanak and Bhai Mardana sat under a shady cool tree.

It was there Nanak started reciting Kirtan.

As echoes reached the aspiring heart devotees gathered.

Congregation began around the master.

This annoyed Wali Qandhari but he was helpless. According to a legend, Bhai Mardana was sent three times to Wali Qandhari so that the former might quench his thirst as he had a water fountain. Wali Qandhari refused to allow Mardana the water from that fountain and even used

harsh words for him. Despite all this, Mardana still very politely mentioned his request. The Wali ironically remarked: Why don’t you ask your Master whom you serve?

Mardana reached the holy presence of Guru in a miserable state as he narrated all that has happened. Imploringly Mardana said, ‘Oh lord! I prefer to death to thirst but will not approach the Wali, the egoist.’

In a unique gesture of a master Nanak smilingly responded, ‘O! Bhai Mardana!

Repeat the Name of God, the Almighty; and drink the water to your heart’s content.’

It was then the Guru put aside a big piece of stone lying nearby, a pure fountain of water sprang up and began to flow incessantly. Bhai Mardana quenched his thirst and felt grateful to the Creator. On the other hand, the fountain of Wali Qandhari got dried up like vanishing of comforts and conveniences of an unfortunate one.

On witnessing the miracle, the Wali in rage, threw a part of a mountain towards the Guru from the top of the hill. Nanak stopped the hurled stone with his hand.

With this an indelible mark of Guru’s hand was inscribed in the stone. Observing that miracle, the ego of Wali vanished and he became the Guru’s ardent devotee. Several attempts were made to deface the impression of the hand of the Guru but all of no avail and the mark remained forever and still exists in the same grace and aliveness as the symbol of Trust. This holy and revered place is now known as Panja Sahib.

GURUDWARA SACHA SAUDA

Gurudwara Sacha Sauda is situated in Farooqabad, nearly 85 kilometers (52 miles) west of Lahore, Pakistan. Sikh pilgrims visit the Gurdwara Sacha Sauda temple from all over the world. During the Celebration of Guru Parv or the Birth Anniversary of Guru Nanak thousands of Sikh pilgrims from all over the world arrive in Pakistan to participate in a three – day festival to celebrate the occasion.

The word Sacha Sauda comes from two words.

‘Sacha’ meaning true and ‘Sauda’ means the transaction. Thus the word ‘Sacha Sauda’ means true transaction.

It is said Nanak’s father Mehta Kaloo wanted Nanak to excel in business. Therefore after giving him the primary lessons in business his father told

Nanak, business implies buying goods and articles somewhere at a lower price and then sell the merchandise somewhere else at a higher price thus earning profit. With this Mehta Kaloo send Nanak with some money to venture into business.

It was at this location Nanak met a group of recluse who were hungry for three days. Hearing this Nanak asked the recluse to earn the money that they can spend. The recluse responded, ‘When God will wish He will provide us with food otherwise not.

This did something in Nanak. And he spent the money to arrange the Lunger for the group. It is with these as the memory Gurudwara Sacha Sauda stands at this site as a beacon light of Nanak’s essence of Consciousness.

Gurudwara Sri Nankana Sahib

GURUDWARA NANKANA SAHIB

GURUDWARA NANKANA SAHIB

I

t is aslso known as Gurudwara Birth Place of Sri Guru Nanak Dev. Nankana Sahib is a holy place where the founder of Sikh religion, Guru Nanak Dev ji was born early in the morning to Mata Tripta and Mehta Kalu Ji on 15th April, 1469 (Baisakh sudi 3, Samwat 1526). The township of Nankana Sahib was earlier known as Raipur and later on as Rai-Bhoi-di-Talwandi but after the birth of Guru Nanak, it began to be known as Nankian Sahib or Nankana Sahib. It is situated at a distance 48 miles on the west from Lahore. Guru Nanak passed his childhood and youth in Nankana Sahib.

After this partition, a mention of Nankana Sahib Gurudwara in the daily ardasa or prayer has become a regular feature.

These Sikh shrines in Pakistan are managed by a Waqf Board and every year, Sikh Jathas visit these shrines on four different occasions. At present there are 25-30 Sikh families residing in Nankana Sahib and as a result of this, daily service is performed and bani is recited.

However on the occasion of Guru Nanak’s anniversary thousands of Sikh devotees from India and worldwide visit Nankana Sahib for three day celebration.

GURDWARA BAL LILAH NANKANA SAHIB.

G

urdwara Bal Lilah is situated 400 yards away from the holy shrine of Janam Asthan. There is a holy pond ‘Nanaksar’ with this Gurdwara. Gurdwara bal Lilah occupies an important place for Sikh community.

It was Rai Bular, the ruler of Talwandi who built this Gurdwara. As is apparent from the name, this site is related with the wonderful adventure of the early childhood of the Guru.

The Guru in his infancy, used to transport the essence of the Nama in the minds of his mates, while playing with them. The Gurdwara had formerly 120 acres of land and a little cash endowment also. Before the Saka of 1921,

the arrangement of this Gurudwara was in the hands of the Nirmala Singhs. Besides Tirath Singh, the Mahant there were also 37 other patidaars. The Gurdwara came under the panthic management at the time of the Gurdwara Sudhar Movement. This Gurdwara remained in the panthic hands up to 1947. However after the partition, the Pakistan Waqf Board has been serving the Gurdwara.

The sarovar adjacent to the Gurdwara is lying dried up and the Gurdwara is opened only at the time of visiting to it by the Sikhs. There is no arrangement of Parkasha of Guru Granth Sahib. It is only the building which is safe and sound.

The 541st Birth Anniversary celebration of Nanak The 541st birth celebration of Guru Nanak began on November 2, 2009 will To commemorate this occasion thousands of Sikh from around the world annually gather to pay homage to Guru Nanak at Nankana Shaib and other historical sites in Pakistan.

However the celebration in India at Harmandir Sahib, Sach Khanda Nanded Sahaib are famous among others.

During their 10-day stay in Pakistan, the Sikh visitors will also visit Gurdwara Dera Sahib in Lahore, Gurdwara Punja Sahib in Hasanabdal and Gurdwara Kartarpur in Narowal.

Sikhs celebrate Guru Nanakâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Birthday with the reading of the Sikh Holy Scripture, the Guru Granth Sahib.

The Gurdwaras are decorated with flowers, flags and posters depicting various aspects of Sikhism. On the morning of the anniversary, celebrations begin early at around 4 or 5am, with keertan (musical recitation of hymns from the Guru Granth Sahib) and katha (talks on Sikhism). These celebrations go on until around 1pm or 2pm approximately.

541st birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, at Harmandir Sahib, Amritsar Gurpurbs are part and parcel of Sikhism. In history we see that the Sikhs have to sacrifice even their lives in order to celebrate the Gurpurbs.

Whether it is DEWALI (Bandi Chhor Diwas), VAISAKHI (Khalsa Sajna Diwas), or Martyrdom day of Guru Arjan Sahib (Sahidi Diwas), Sikhs gather and remember their Gurus &

pay homage to the great Martyrs. All the Gurpurbs are celebrated with great fervor & enthusiasm by the Sikhs throughout the world. We are giving the account of the main & widely celebrated Gurpurbs.

The birth - day celebrations & Gurpurbs of Guru Sahibs usually last for three days. Generally before the birthday - date ‘Akhand Path’ is held in the Gurdwara. A large procession (Nagarkirtan) is organized one day before the birthday. This is led by the Panj Piyaras (Five beloved ones) and the Palki (Palanquin) of ‘Shri Guru Granth Sahib’ and followed by groups of kirtani Jatha, Various School bands and students, eminent Citizans, Gatka Parties (displaying mock-battle with the traditional weapons). Along the way devotees sing hymns from ‘Guru Granth Sahib’ in chorus. The passage of the nagarkirtan is decorated with flags, flowers; religious posters decorate gates and banners depicting various aspects of Sikhism. On the Gurpurab day, the Divan begins early in morning at about 4 or 5 a.m. with the singing of ‘Asa-di-var’ and hymns from ‘Guru Granth Sahib’. Sometimes it is followed by katha (discourse), religious and Sikh Historical lectures and recitation of poems in praise of the Guru. ‘Kirtan-Darbars’ and ‘Amrit Sanchar’ ceremonies are also held in the Gurdwara hall. After ‘Ardas’ and distribution of ‘Karah Parshad’ (sweet pudding) the ‘Langar’ (food) is served to one and all and there is kirtan till late in the night. The distribution of langar continues to the end of the program.

Parade of ‘The Guru Granth Sahib’ through the streets of Nankana to commemorate Guru Nanak's 530th birthday.

Guru Granth Sahib in Nanakana Nagar Kirtan Procession Photo © [S Khalsa] The Guru Granth, Sikhism's holy scripture, is brought out of the historic gurdwara in Nankana and placed in a palki, or palanquin decorated with wreaths of flowers. In celebration of Guru Nanak's 530th gururab,

or birthday, the Guru Granth is paraded through the gurdwara complex and out into Nankana's streets amid a throng of worshipers.

The Gurudwara was built by Maharaja Ranjit Singh in the memory of Guru Arjan Dev, the fifth Sikh Guru who complied the Adi Granth, the principal part of Sikh scriptures. This shrine has a highly gilded attractive dome.

The followers of Guru Arjan Singh assert that it is the same spot where Guru Arjan Dev miraculously disappeared in 1606 A.D. in the waters of river Ravi. The site where Guru Arjun Dev was martyred a Thara (platform) Sahib was built at by Guru Hargobind Ji in Samvat 1919 when he came to Lahore visiting Gur Asthans.

Samadh of Maharaja Ranjit Singh: (1780-1839) Lahore : This mausoleum of the powerful ruler of the Sikh dynasty is situated just opposite the Lahore Fort. His Samadh occupies the spot where he was cremated. The architecture is mixture of Mughal and Hindu styles. This building was built in 1848 A.D by Kharak Singh son of Ranjit Singh. The square roof with a central fluted dome is crowded around with Naga hood designs. The interior of the chamber is elaborately decorated with fresco pertaining to Sikh gurus etc. In the center of the sepulchral chamber is a small four column domed marble pavilion beautifully decorated with pietra aura work.

In this pavilion is a marble urn in the form of lotus containing ashes of the Maharaja. Eleven smaller knobs hold ashes of four queen and seven slave girls. Kharak Singh, the successor of Ranjit Singh, died in 1840 and their ashes rest side by side with his son Naunihal Singh in the domes of Ranjit Singh's mausoleum

THE GATELESS DOOR Infinite is his mercy That extends to seekers And those that go astray How great is his glory That leads one to the gateless door!

Neelambar sings: What can I know of his greatness?

How can I reach his abode?

Wherever you step that is the path That ultimately leads to him.

Some paths lead through peaks and meadows and filled with infinite wonder Some paths meander through deserts and dark valleys and filled with infinite wonder His hands foreâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;er uplift the weary hearts Who rely on his mercy.

Beyond his boundary you cannot step The horizon is ever elusive.

Just pause and reflect his Naam And see his hands guide you through the gateless door.

Infinite is his mercy that knows no bounds.

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The word Taoshobuddha comes from three words, ‘tao,’ ‘sho,’ and ‘Buddha’. The word Tao was coined by the Chinese master, Lau Tzu. It means that which is and cannot be put into words. It is unknown and unknowable. It can only be experienced and not expressed in words. Its magnanimity cannot be condensed into finiteness. The word Sho implies, that which is vast like the sky and deep like an oc carries within its womb a treasure. It also means one on whom the existence showers its blessings. And lastly the word Buddha implies the Enlightened One; one who has arrived home. Thus, Taoshobuddha implies one who is existential, on whom the existence showers its blessings and one who has arrived home. The Enlightened One!