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Holy communion with the Word or Naam, says Nanak, is the only means to achieve oneness with the Supreme Lord. No other means can procure for man this end. It is the Spirit Current, emanating from One Being, as it does, that forms all the spiritual and material planes, reverberating in and out of all of them. It comes down from the purest spiritual planes to Materio-Spiritual and thence to Material planes, changing in Sound as it posses through the different planes. The main sub-divisions of the spiritual and astral planes are five in number as given by various scriptures. It takes on five different Sounds as it passes through them. These five Sounds are termed by the Masters or those who are Adept in this Science, "panch Shabd" (or five Words): "Panch" also literally means "head" and Nanak, in this passage, refers to both these meanings. The Word was made flesh and dwelt amongst us. All the Saints are conscious of the one and the same Word, which may be defined as the Five-Sounded Word. Naam, Bani (or Word) and Hukam (or Will) are used by Nanak almost synonymously. Those who are all along conscious of the Divine Word or God-head, become His mouthpiece and are called Sant. Such Ones are honoured in His Court and are His chief workers. It is the communion with this "Five-Sounded Word," which unites one with the Lord. All other means fail. It is from this Word that the whole creation springs up and returns to It on its dissolution. It is resounding within all of us and man's body is verily God's living temple. The saints of all denominations speak of the same, as the only means by which to reach the ultimate Reality.

 

 

STANZA XVI

• The Saint (or the Word personified), is acceptable at His Court
  and is the Chief Elect therein;
  The Saint adorns the threshold of God and is honoured
  even by kings;
  The Saint lives by and meditates on the One Word.
  Whoever discusses and expounds the mystery of His creation,
  realises that the works of the Creator are beyond reckoning.
  Dharm or Word born of His Grace is the proverbial bull
  that is harmoniously sustaining the creation,
  Whosoever realises this verily knows the Truth.
  It is nothing but the Word, that is carrying the crushing load
  of the entire creation;
  For were this earth upheld by a bull, that in turn must be
  supported by some other planet and that by another,
  and so on ad infinitum:
  What a tremendous load!
  What other power could support it?
  None, but the Word.
  There is no end to the creation;
  There are countless forms of life with varied names,
  species and colours;
  Writ on the objective world by the Everflowing Pen of the Creator.
  Who can reckon His creation, and if one could, how great
  would be the count?
  How great is His Power and how beautiful His handiwork?
  Who can count the measure of His sweet bounty?
  With one Word(1) of His, this vast creation blossomed into being;
  And a thousand streams (of life) sprang into existence;
  What power have I to conceive of Thy wonderful nature?
  Too poor am I to make an offering of my life to Thee;
  Whatever pleaseth thee, is good.
  Thou art forevermore;
  O Formless One !

(1) The Hindus believe that the Word was "Eko-Aham Sahu-syam" meaning thereby "I am one and wish to become many". The Muslims say that the word was "Kun-fi-Kun" as "He willed, and lo, all the universe sprang up".