Q:  How can we remain committed to the practice of simran ?

 

A:  It is those with great fortune that are attracted to this practice because it's not easy. Our surti (mind) has come from travelling through many many previous lives. It has been doing little bits of Bhagti (meditation) in previous lives too.  When the good karam we have done in previous life become manifest then we meet a saintly person, knower of God

 

Then Mahraj explains in Gurbani

 

Poorab Janam Ankur Jab pragate, Bheteyo Purakh Rasak Bairaagee. Mitiyo andher milant har nanak. Janam Janam kee Soee Jaagee

 

When we have union with a Perfect Saint,  come into Perfect Sangat, then it becomes easier

 

In Gurbani it says

 

Saadh ke sang nehee kich kaal. Darshan Bhetat Hot Nihal

 

Our dhiyan (attention) that is here, there and everywhere, Using a simple method to control this,  the individual's attention is brought onto the straight path. Then when the seeker starts to have experiences, then they start to take interest. Mostly what happens is that people don't experience anything from doing simran.Then they become fed up

 

Like on a worldly level we see if a child makes effort but sees no outcome, gains no profit he will slowly stop doing this thing. 

 

in the same way on the spiritual path, when our surti (mind)travels there should be some outcome. Meaning that as a result of searching internally there should be some discovery, some outcome.

 

If individuals don't have the true understanding, they  make the effort for a while, but they leave it within 2-4 years because they are not walking on the correct path. 

 

When we do abhiyaas (meditation)and turn inwards then we achieve something like as we are travelling this path, we start to experience amrit ras (sweet tasting nectar) or when we travel inside we start to hear anhad shabad (celestial music) from inside

then the individuals interest increases. A desire is created

 

Guru Amardas ji says

 

Man Chau Bheya Prab Aagam Suniya. Har Mangal Gao Sakhi Greh Mandar Baneya

 

Then the desire/excitement is created and the individual does meditation with excitement/passion

Then when the individual does meditation with excitement/passion

 

Bhagat Kare Aatam Ke Chaae

 

When he starts to connect inward then he does meditation with passion then he starts to achieve something and the interest increases. That person who has no internal understanding does "Bada chati" forces himself to sit

 

Bada Chatee Jo Bhare naa gun naa upkar

 

No goodness comes from this. Then individuals slowly leave this path of spirituality

 

This is why when we are doing Bhagti (meditation), Interest is essential. When there is interest then the individual does not get tired

 

Q. Do we need a spiritual teacher on this path?

 

A: If someone is trying, but there are distractions or challenges, or someone can even go on the wrong path then we need a teacher to explain that this is correct and this is wrong. This  is why when walking the spiritual path we need to go according to the light of Gurbani. If someone is a Saint, or a Saadhu or a gyani (knowledgable one) whenever they preach about the religious path we have to check. Is this according to Gurbani and Gurmat?

 

If we go according to Gurbani then that path will be correct but if we take a path that is not in line with the light of Gurmat, this is where Manmat starts

 

Like many people you see. They have the desire. They come into sangat to meet Vaheguruji but if the teacher/preacher is not complete himself, he is in Gurbani called "Anari"

 

Asant Anari Kish Na bujai. Kathanee Kare Maya Te Lujai. And Agyani kadhe na seejai

 

That Anari Slowly slowly he will say to place your attention here in the forehead. There are many asthaans (places) that have been created where hundreds of thousands of people go to meet Vaheguru and the saints they seek guidance from will say place your attention here (on the forehead. They say that from placing your attention here you will have Darshan (you will see God). However

the Darshan that happens there is of Akar (physical forms)

 

And Akar is Maya. They keep doing Darshan of Maya. From here the individual can find no path and they lose the game of life

 

This is why a seeker that comes to learn must be learning from a teacher who is teaching according to Gurbani because Gurbani is the perfect/complete Guru

 

Maharaj says "Vaho Vaho Poore Gur Ki Bani. Poore Gur te Upjee Sach Samanee”

 

Guru Arjan Dev Ji within GuruGranthSahibJI collected together and compiled 15 Bhagats Bani So that you can check that any thing that is being said, do those 15 bhagats give the stamp of approval? When somebody is preaching, is Gurbani Guru giving the stamp of approval? if so, then that path is correct

 

Otherwise if someone using their own understanding is telling people to place their attention here/there. Keeping looking at physical forms. As many people will say

 

Maharj is saying "Gur ki moorat man meh dhiyaan"

 

But Maharaj is saying Gur Ki moorat man meh dhiyaan. Gur Ka Shabad mantar man maan. Gur moorat Gur shabad hai, ridhey taro dhiyaan

 

Q: Where should we be placing our attention whilst doing simran?

 

A: Guru's form is Guru's shabad. When we are travelling on this path, Guru's shabad is the Gurmantar that we have been given. We are to place our attention in the sound of this shabad

not in the akhars (letters). Many people place their attention in the letters. 

 

Maharaj says "Dhun Meh Dhiyaan Dhiyaan Meh Janeya Gurmukh akath kahaanee

 

We are to place attention in the sound of our voice because the sound of our voice cannot be seen.

I am speaking, you are hearing my voice, you are not seeing it are you?

 

We need to get to that spiritual state of being sookham (not visible). This  is why we want to place our attention in the sound of our voice

 

This sound will slowly slowly take us to that place where there is the unstruck sound (anhad dhun)

Then when the mind joins with the anhad dhun. This gyan will turn into dhiyaan

 

Maharaj tells us in Gurbani- Gur gyan ar dhiyan tat sio tat milavai. Sach sach jaaneye ek chitai liv laavai

 

We then want to, through placing our dhiyaan in the shabad, go to Agam (realm of Vaheguruji). This is why it is essential that the teachings be according to Gurmat

 

Q: How do we know who is a true teacher? If you come into a congregation how do you know

whether its right for you to progress spiritually. Is there a stamp according to Gurbani?

 

Yes absolutely. First there is Satguru. Like Guru Nanak Dev Ji came into the world at the status of Satguru

 

Jin ko Satgur thapeya tin met na sake koe on antar naam nishaan hai naamo pargat hoe

 

Their bachan (words) are included in Gurbani, therefore Gurbani is Satguru. Then Satguru establishes the Guru. When the Satguru gives a teaching, like in the case of Guru Nanak Dev ji. Blessed all of the khajana (treasure of wisdom) to Guru Angad Dev Ji. Now when we come into the Sanctuary of Dhan Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, then what is the duty of Satguru?

 

Maharaj tells us in Gurbani- Jis de andar sach hai

So sacha naam mukh sach alahe. oh har maarag aap chaldaa. horna noo har marag paye. Je age teerath hovai. Taa mal lahe. Shaapar naate sagvi mal laye. Teerath poora Satguru. Jo andin har har naam dhiyae. Oh aap shutaa kutamb sio. Deh har har naam sabh srist sadhaye. Nanak Tis Balihaarne. Jo aap japai avraa naam japaae

 

If we go into the sanctuary of the Satguru if naam is being recited and meditated upon there, and nothing else. If naam is being spoken about 

then that is the true sangat . And where Naam is not being spoken about. Then at that place dirt will accumulate on the mind

 

This is why in Guru Granth sahib ji's bani in gurbani, only understanding of Naam is given. Maharaj says Nanak Ke Ghar Keval NaamAnd Guru gives duty to Saints

 

LIke Guru Amardas Ji Maharaj- those Gurmukhs that were doing practice of meditation and achieved the spiritual state of Sehaj- they established 22 manjiyaan (platforms for parchar), meaning 22 saints who can sit at the same level as Guru and preach. Manji meaning that the Guru sat them alongside and gave them the duty of parchar. And what duty did they give the Saints?

 

Avoh Sant pyaareo akath ki kareh kahaani. kareh kahani akath keri kit duare peaaye

 

The saints were given the duty that any spiritual seeker who comes to you, you are to tell them how they can meet Vaheguru 

 

Kahe Nanak suno santo katheho akath kahani

 

Those Saints were established as such if their mind had reached the level of joining with Anhad Shabad. That is where they are called a Saint

 

Teh geet naad akhare sanga, Ooha sant kare har ranga

 

The Saints mind rests at the level of Anhad shabad

 

After meeting with Vaheguru, their mind comes to sit at the level of Anhad Shabad. Those in Gurbani are called Saints

 

Panch shabad teh pooran naad. Anhad vajai acharaj bismaad.Kel kare sant har lok. Parbraham pooran nirjog

 

Their duty is that whichever spiritual seeker comes, they are to explain to them the game of life, the akath kahani. They are to give wisdom about the mind. How the mind is disconnected from Shabad. And the Saints role is wherever they are sitting, to bring the seekers mind up to that point

 

This treasure is given to Saints

 

Anhad Bani punji santan hath rakhee khunjee

 

If you go, and the Saint is not doing akath katha (discourse about Vaheguru) and does not take your mind to Anhad Shabad, then what is said about them in Gurbani?. Mahraj says 

 

Manmukh budh kachee, Manuaa dolai. Akath na kathe kahaanee

 

Now we understand that up to this point, this is the Saint's duty.

 

Then after the Saint, the Guru is to give understanding. Guru Sikh, Sikh Guru Hai eko updesh chalaae

Raam naam mant hirdhai devai Nanak milan subhaae

 

Then what is the duty of Guru? Guru Gobind SIngh ji gave Punj Pyaare the status of Guru

 

So gur karo je sach driravai. Akath kathavai shabad milavai

 

Now within the seeker there is a desire to meet Vaheguru. They are to grant Darshan (vision) of the formless Vaheguruji. The Guru removes the curtain/veil that is in the way. That is the Guru's duty

​

Param paras gur bhetiye, purab likhat lilaat. Unman man man hi milai shutkat bajjar kapaat

 

They are to unite the seeker with Sach/ Vaheguru ji. So this is why, we need to recognise as we are walking along the path, which spiritual stage they are in

 

It shouldn't be that we go into a Sangat to listen to discourse about Vaheguru (Akath), where the mind was meant to be washed. But when we go there, there is talk that comes under dubida (duality). There is slander. Then we can't call that True Sangat

 

Sat sangat kaisi janeeye jither eko naam vakhaneeye. Eko Naam hukam hai Nanak Satgur deeya bujai jio

 

Satsangat is where there is nothing but discourse on Vaheguru and Naam

 

Q: Is Dharam or religion important on the spiritual path?

 

Without Dharam we cannot meet Vaheguru, and that Dharam that is going to allow us to meet Vaheguruji- that Dharam starts from our Mind.

 

Sagal Dharam meh srest dharam har ko naam jap nirmal karam

 

Now many of us don't know which Dharam should we choose?Just like when a child grows up and its time to put them into school, there are so many schools to choose from. We ask ourselves where should we put or child? Grammar school or elsewhere?

 

In the same way, in this world (kaal da desh). There are lots of shops open that say that promise that they can unite you with Vaheguruji

 

Just in the same way that Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji went to Aurangzeb after being approached for help by the Kashmiri Pandits. There when the discussion started, the king was present. They said to Guruji ‘ You follow our religion’. They asked Guruji to adopt their religion Islam

 

When they asked Guruji this, Guruji replied by saying. have you been in the Islamic religion from the beginning? They said "yes". Then Guruji said "well have your vikar/ bad virtues been eradicated from within?" Have you cleansed your mind? Have you begun the meditation of the formless One

who is going to give you the status of immortality?

Maharaj said to them. 

Praane kaun upaao kare?Jaa te bhagat raam ki paavai jum ko traas harai

 

Has your fear of the messengers of death been extinguished? When you die will they not come to get you?

 

So tell me about what you do. You wish for me to adopt your religion, so tell me what you do. So the karam (actions)that you perform. For example you pray towards a certain direction. Do you have full faith that God is in that direction? That study that you do. Is this the highest study. Is this study of Brahm (God)? Do you believe your religion to be the highest? Which Naam do you chant? Who are you joined with? How do you believe that you can gain salvation in this time of Kaljug? Tell me, how you have crossed over the bhavsagar (ocean of thoughts)

 

They had no answer for this. Then Guru Maharaj gave them the following understanding

 

Kal meh ek naam kirpa nidh, jaae japai gat paavai. Aur dharam taa ke sam nahin, eh bidh bed bataavai

 

In all of the Dharam granths and Shastaras (other dharmic texts), the knowledge is given that, It is only through joining with the one Naam that we can attain mukti (salvation)

 

In the world, there are countless names to chant. If you want to meet Vaheguruji and attain salvation and the status of immortality, then you have to join with the one Naam. Now no one knows about Ek naam but Ek Naam as de-mystified in Gurbani

 

Ek Naam is that Naam that when we are in our mother's womb we are connected to Vaheguru.

That Naam that the mind is joined to in the mother's womb that is called Ek Naam

 

Now when Maharaj explains to us in Gurbani

 

Jaise janan jathar meh pranee oh rehta naam adhar.Saas saas samare Naa pohe aganar

 

So that baby is connected to Naam. Which Naam?because the baby doesn't know how to speak. That Naam resounds even without chanting. Bin bole jo japai heaye Kei janai kaisa nau

 

That Naam, which is in the form of a sound. Which is the sound being spoken from Vaheguru's mukh (mouth). We will need to join with that Naam. And Guru Nanak has said that it could be anybody from the 4 castes. That the updesh/teaching is the same for each of the 4 castes

 

Gurmukh naam japai kal meh so udare, ghat ghat Nanak maajaa

 

In Kaljug the one who joins to that Naam. Whoever it is. Whoever's connection is broken from Vaheguruji, as in the case of when a Hindu is born

 

His connection to the Naam is broken. When a muslim child is born, their connection is broken. It is the mind's connection which is broken, and the mind which is going to seek and get salvation. Now how is the mind to reach that shabad/naam? This knowledge is even shared in the Gita (the Hindu religion text). But people do not read the Gita. They worship stone Gods. They workshop dristman (visible form) And Bhagat Namdev explained to the people- Namdev said it says even in the Gita that we are to join with the One Parmatama And Maharaj explains in Gurbani- Chaar pukare naa tu manai. Meaning the 4 Vedas? What do these tell us?

 

That kinkaree shabad/anhad shabad (celestial sounds), it is through joining with this that one will get salvation, and that has not been explored/reflected upon

 

Guru Amardas ji was very knowledgeable about the Vedas, then when they came into Guru Angad Dev ji's sanctuary the understanding was given. They said that these people don't search the Vedas. Therefore they don't find Naam from within these.

 

In the same way, Guru Granth sahib ji's Bani. In Gurbani the entire understanding of Naam is given. And if we do not search Gurbani then Maharaj says that "Parre manmukh par bedh na jaanai"

 

Naam na bujai bharam bhulaana

 

Now if we don't do the khoj of Naam from within Gurbani then what spiritual state will we find ourselves in?

 

We will do Darshan of the Guru "Satgur nu sabh no dekhda" but not achieve mukti. 

 

So whoever it is will have to follow Guru Nanak Dev ji's philosophy, whatever understanding that Parmatama has given us. That being that walks according to this will merge into Naam and experience milap (union)with Vaheguruji

 

So (clarifying) All religions talk about Naam Eg in Christianity I think the Name is referred to as Logos. Rastafarians talk about it. So different religions have talked about Naam?

and you can meet Vaheguru through all religions, but via the Naam? 

 

The names given to Naam are different, but the concept and the meaning is the same

 

Q: Can we really meet God? people say, as in Gurbani Peyi parapat manukh dehuriya Gobind Milan ki eh teri bariya. This is our chance to meet God, what does it mean to meet God? Could you explain this to us ?

 

Some people say that I've gone to the Gurdwara into the Satsangat and I've bowed down to Guru Granth Sahib ji so I've met God. Or i've looked at nature. And I've felt that Vaheguru is here, so I've met Vaheguru

 

What is the meaning of Gobind Milan Ki Ehe Teri Bareeya

 

Maharaj has told us in Gurbani

 

This human body, has been gifted to the mind

 

Like how someone gives us something, someone hands you something. You are separate from the thing you are being given. In this way the body is separate and the mind (that has been given the body) is separate.

 

This house (body) that we have come into , we have come into this to meet Vaheguru. Now in order to meet Vaheguru

 

Vaheguruji has two forms: sargun and nirgun. Now this place we come to, this whole creation is Vaheguruji's Sargun forme

 

The first way in which to meet Vaheguru is whilst residing in our families to see your mother and father as Vaheguruji's form. See Vaheguruji in your mother and father. When you see children, you are to see them as part of Vaheguruji, as the Sargun form of Vaheguru ji

 

We are to respect Vaheguruji's Sargun form in this way. Through looking at Vaheguru's Sargun saroop and gradually developing love for the Sargun form

Then slowly our concentration will build, and the mind will start to recognise its origin and ask- Where has this entire creation sprung from?

How has this body of ours been made? Where has this ground been created from?Where have the khand, brehmand been made from?

 

Then slowly slowly as we trace backward, we will get to Vaheguruji's Nirgun form: Nirakar. Vaheguruji's form that has no form, colour, caste, 

That is our actual goal. That through loving the Sargun (visible) form of Vaheguruji that we see the formless Vaheguruji. Meaning that when this mind leaves the body it will merge into Nirakar- formless Vaheguruji

 

When we take our attention to those stages of meditation then we see Vaheguruji's Nirgun form, Parkash (light). That Maharaj has explained to us in Gurbani

 

This akar (creation/form) this comes under the 3 gunas (3 qualities of Maya). Nirakar (Vaheguruji) is separate from those 3 guns. The entire creation is playing within the 3 qualities of Maya

 

As we slowly take our minds outside of the 3 gunas of Maya, we are to see Vaheguruji. Vaheguruji is Parkash roop (light). They have no form, colour, They are Prakash roop. In the same way we see light in the daytime, Vaheguruji's form is so much brighter. That Prakash is to be seen by the mind

 

Like, the mind sits in the pupils of the eyes and looks outwards And whatever it is seeing, this is all the creation. We can call this Maya's country. This body is also Maya's house/territory

 

This mind comes and sits within the pupils of the eyes and sees. The light here that is within the eyes, it sees via the pupils. When the mind start to recognise, and merge into the Shabad (Naam) then the mind's own light starts to come into expression

. When this happens, then the mind's own light will look. When it looks it will not see form (akar), it will see Prakash (Vaheguru's light). It will see Nirakar

 

That is Nirankar's light. We are to look at this, with our eyes. In the same way that we are looking at each other. I know that you are looking at me and I am looking at you? When we look in the formless realm we will know that we are looking at Vaheguruji's light 

 

Some people believe that you cannot meet Vaheguruji in this life and At the end of life, or judgment day, you will find yourself in front of Vaheguruji And this is where the decision will be made as to what will happen to you next?

 

Malik, Vaheguruji has given us an alloted time to play this game. Gin ghale sabh divas saas, neh badan ghatan til sar (we are given an alloted amount of breaths and the amount does not increase or decrease). Whilst we are still taking breaths, we are to meet Vaheguruji. We are to meet Vaheguruji here

 

If we do not meet Vaheguruji here whilst we are living, we cannot merge into Vaheguruji once we leave our body (when we die) because we will not have recognition of Vaheguruji and how to merge into Vaheguruji

 

This is why, whilst we are still taking breaths, we are to meet Vaheguruji. After death there is no mukti (salvation). Mukti is here.Whilst we still have breaths we are to search for and find Vaheguruji

 

Through the Guru, we are to recognise Vaheguruji

And meet with Vaheguruji. It  is only then that we can stay in that realm once we leave our body (die)

 

Moeya jit ghar jaeeyai tit jeevateya mar mar. That house that you are to go to when you die, you must conquer that death while you are alive

 

Q: Where can we learn more of this spiritual wisdom and develop our meditation practice?

 

Gurmukhs have come together and set up a place near Jandiala Guru, which is near Amritsar. There is Gurdwara Guru Gian Anjan Sahib where they can sit together and do meditation practice. And learn Practical spirituality  according to the teachings of Dhan Dhan Sahib Sri Guru Ganth sahib ji

 

The Gurmukhs are trying to walk the spiritual path

can reflect/discuss alongside.

 

At the Gurdwara Sahib there are facilities for those who want to stay for some time and practice meditation. They can stay and listen to discourse on Gurbani also. They can take what they learn forward and share with others. This is our motto. That we go to the Gurdwara to learn something, and to share the Guru's message through parchar. This was Guru Nanak Dev Ji's advice/message

 

Jan Nanak Toor Mangeh Tis Gursikh Kee, Jo Aap japai avra Naam japaavai (I seek the dust of the feet of the Gursikhs who chant the Name, and cause others to chant it)

 

This is what we want to invite people to do. Come and sit, and lets explore what is in Gurbani. And lets spread Guru Nanak's teachings throughout the whole world. And come into this state of being as described in Gurbani

 

Saajan sant karo eh kaam. O friend, Saint, do this work. Aan tiyaag jap har naam. Forsake other things and chant the Naam. Simar Simar Simar sukh paavo. Through meditation experience peace. Aap jap avreh naam japaavo. Chant yourself and get others to Chant

 

Such that the message of Gurbani reaches each and every home