Nam (the Name or Word) what It is and What it is not
Naturally, the question arises in every seeker mind, as to what the Nam is? It is any word, syllable or sound? What is it that is given such Sumprem importance by the sages and Saints as to be called sufferion to God and Rama both? Clearly, it cannot be a word or a collection of words. Words and syllables cannot creat universes or give life to dead matter Guru Nanak says that Nam is neither spoken by the tongue nor seen with the eyes nor heard with the ears:
“seeing without eyes, hearing whithou ears walking wihtout feet, working without hand by reealizing His order Oh Nanak such are United with the Lord”
Our order (Hukum), is the word, the Logos the Name. One may doubt how sound create and maintain the universe. This is not the subject of intellect or reasoning. Reasoning take us only to a certain point beyond that we have to take the help of ANUBHAY(intuition) and fill we have developed that mental insight, the power of comprehension without reasoning we have to depend upon the intuition and inner experiences of those who have gone within and have seen with their own eyes.
Real name is SHAB SWAMI JI says:
“nam is the support and sustenanse of all. The wonderful treasure of Nam is in the heart of the Saints. The more zealous take yog(sacrifices) tap (austerities and Dan(Charites), or ASHTANG YOGA. But they miss the essential point. The methods and way of attaining God realization are therefore not the same in every age, all actions and practices, a part from Nam are like sowing seed out of season.
The law of past yugas are not applicable to the present age. What is the law of present age Guru Nanak Says:
In kalyug, kirtan( THE SONG OF PRACTISE OF SHABD) is supreme.
Swami Ji Says:
“Except for shabd, there is no other way to get out of this cage of the body.
This shabd practice can be learned only from a perfect master.
Saints says that nam is of two kinds, VARNAT MAK and DHUNYATMAK. Varnatmak Nam is the which can be spoken and written, as the language of the world.
It is four kinds:
a. Baikhri(Oral) – that which spoken with Tongue and lips.
b. Modhama(silent) – that which is repeated silently in the throat.
c. Pashyanti – that which is meditated mentally in the heart.
d. Para – the current of wave which the yogis raise from the navel.
People throughout the whole world make use of VARNATMAK NAM. There are many such name and they differ with different people, reaces and countries. Religious book and scripture are full of them. These names, cannot liberate the soul from bondage. The name that does so is common to all. The latter recognizes no caste, creed, color, race or notion. It resounds in every human being. It is not the design of any man it is natural, without beginning or end, and was created by God Himself. Before th creation of the word. It was it is called DHUNYATMAK NAM.
DHUNYATMAK NAM has nothing to do with the physical body. It can neither be spoken, written or seen, nor can it be perceived by othe rsense. Only the soul can comprehend it iand that too when a perfect Master shows us how to attach our soul to it.
The difference between the two VARNATMAK and DHUNYATMAK NAM, can be appreciated only when by the Grace of the perfect Master, one goes within and concentrates his attention at the center where the DHUNYATMAK NAM, the celestial Sound the voice of God the word resounds. Then it will be clear that one is the spoken word and the other is the Nam itself. VARNATMAK NAM is necessary for purifying the mind when the gross impurities are removed. The mind and the soul begin to relish the sweet taste the subtle impurities are removed stage by stage VARHATMAK NAM is the means while DHUNYATMAK NAM is the end and the object.
True Nam cannot be realized below the eyes. One attention has to be withdrawn from the pinda, in other words, it has to quit the nine portals of the body (two eyes, two ears, two nostrils, mounth and two lower appertures) before one is able to attain Nam. This is called “DYING BEFORE DEATH” by the Mohammedan Saints and what is what st. Paul meant when he said “I dai daily”. When the soul, leaving the none portal, enter the tenth gate during life, it hear the heavenly sound (the Nam) which is resounding behind the eyes in the Tisra Til, the voice of God beckon us ther all the time but we do not hear Him until our attention is concentrated at the proper center. As soon as one concentrates attetion in any othe language. It is the language of God, which each and every one can understand.
Guru Nanak Says:
“Close the nine doors and stop they mind from wondering Enter thou the tenth that leads thee to the Eternal Home ther the sweet melody resound day and night. Attain thou this with guidance of a Guru.”
Maulana Rum Says:
“Shut thine eyes, ears and lips, If then thou find not hte Secret of God, scoff at me.”
Guru Nanak Says:
“High above in the Lord Mansion (our body) Ringenth the transcendent music. But, alas, the unlucky hear Him not; they are in deep slumber.”
The treasure of Nam is within us, but the key to it is in the hand of the Guru. BRAHMAND and SACH KHAND are within, but none can reach there without the Master help two things are essential;
1. The perfect Master, and full faith in Him and
2. Hard and earnest effort on the part of the disiple to practise Nam.
Like all others wealth, one gets this wealth also a result of hard labor. It demand a great sacrifice. You cannot get it by mere talking Saints enjoin;
“Live thou in the world, but be not of the world, do thy duty towards thy family and others; carry on thy profession yet do not fail to attend regularly to God’s devotion. Give at least three hours daily to meditation”
The unique qality in human life, which is not present in other form is the capacity for God realization and permanent release from the prison house of Chaurasi.
They love all being including the birds and the beasts. Just washerman does not refuse to wash any clothes, howsoever greasy and dirty they may be, knowing that if not the first, the second washing will doubtless cleanse them, so also saint do not turn away eventhe vilest of sinners but willingly take them under their protection.
The sage who is not a practitioner of SHABD is not a perfect Master. The latter takes the disciple right up to the fifth stage within. He gives us the Names of these five region and describes in detail the lights. Sounds, music and other attributes. Thus a saint takes his disciple through SAHANSRAR and BRAHM, is not subject to dissolution and change.
The first essential worth imbibing is that the object of Nam is and should be only God realization and retun to our original Home. Nam should not be misused for either earning wealth or gaining worldly fame. People often run after supernatural power and cannot resists the temptation of using them when they acuire them. Sidhis1 and Shaktis2 automatically come to disciple, but he should pay no heed to them, because these are the devices of KAL (negative power) to keep the soul within his domain.
This body is a veritable mine of everything precious and occult. But a true seeker is enjoined to steadfastly pursue the task of union with the Lord, avoiding the pitfalls and temptations that besets this path.
The second essential to remember is that so long as the seeker does not attach himself to NAM(the Audible Life Stream), he remain subject to egotism (I – Ness) and the consequent misery and bondage. Even good actions like Charities, Sacrifices, Auterities etch., cannot take him out of the cycle of transmigration.
It is the choice of the seeker whether to remain confined within the nine sense apertures, or to seek guidance from an Adept in raising his consiousness above them and connectiong it with the sound current (Nam) which alone can take him out of this prison. This however, requires concerted and sustained effort in the practice of Nam. If only we were to give as much time to our spiritual practise as we do to worldly pursuits, we doubtless attain liberation.
The tragedy is that we don not run away from sensual pleasures, nor are we afraid of aftedning him even though we are told daily of the presence of nam, the supreme being within us. We would not dare commit an evil act in the presence of a small child, yet what wicked sins do we not perpetrate in his Omnipresens? Evindently, we do not fear God as much as we do even child. Unless the mind develops awe for the Lord, success can hardly be expected. Love and fear go hand in hand, and both are essential prerequisites to a lasting attachment.
*1 and 2 – Miraculous and Supernatural Power
