From the above verses of the Gurbani, it becomes clear that the
Shabad, Guru, Satguru, God,
Naam (Divine Name), Divine Light, Word,
Anhad-Dhuni, Naad (Divine Sound),
Hukam, Bani, etc., are virtually synonymous. It also becomes clear that the
Shabad or
Naam not only resides in the bosom of all beings, it also pervades the entire creation as butter in the milk, and as fire in the wood. It is the Unstruck Celestial Sound that vibrates, creates, guides, controls, directs, sustains, and animates every particle of the cosmos.
- Jetaa keetaa teta Nayu. Vin Naavai naahee ko thaayu: The created universe is the manifestation of God's Name. O God, without Your Name, there is no place at all (sggs 4).
- Shabad deepak vartai tih loyi: The Word of the Shabad is a lamp, illuminating the three worlds (sggs 664).
- Su Shabad kayu nirantar vaas alkham jah dekhaa tah soyee: That Shabad dwells deep within the nucleus of all beings. God is invisible; (also visible) wherever I look, there I see Him (sggs 944).
- Naam ke dhaaresagle jant.....Namm ke dhaare pureeyaa sabh bhavan: The Naam is the Support of all creatures. The Naam is the Support of the earth and solar systems. The Naam is the Support of the Simritees, the Vedas and the Puraanas. The Naam is the Support by which we hear of spiritual wisdom and meditation. The Naam is the Support of the Akaashic ethers and the nether regions. The Naam is the Support of all bodies. The Naam is the Support of all worlds and realms (sggs 284).
To put it in simple language, the
Shabad or
Naam is akin to a subtle bridge between the Source and His material universe. One must cross this bridge to go back to Divine Home ("
Nij Ghar" or Pure Self) within. This is to say that, without Realizing the Essence of the
Shabad (
Naam,
Bani, etc.) within, one can not link with his True Self. But, as the Gurbani says, rare is the one who, by becoming a
Gurmukh (Spiritual Being), reflects on the True
Shabad (
Naam) within. Rest of us — stumbling around in delusion — search for It in the gross objects of the mirage-like fleeting, perishable or changeful world!
- Tanu manu khoje taa naaou paae: Search your body and mind, and find the Name (sggs 110).
- Raam naam aatam mahi sodhai: He searches for the Divine Name within his own soul (sggs 274).
- Vadabhaagee gharu khojiaa paaiaa naam nidhaan: By great good fortune, I searched my body, and found the treasure of the Naam within (sggs 757).
- Kaaiaa nagaree sabade khoje naam navam nidhi paaee: One who searches the village of the body, through the Shabad, obtains the nine treasures of the Naam within (sggs 910).
- Bin Shabdai Pir na paayeeai birthaa janam gavaayi: Without the Shabad, one does not find her Divine Beloved, and her life wastes away in vain (sggs 31).
- Hari jeeyu saachaa saachee Bani Shabad milaavaa hoyi: The Dear God is True, and True is the Word of His Bani. Through the Shabad, we merge with Him (sggs 32).
- Naamai te sabh oopjai bhaayee nayi visariyai mar jaayi: Naam is the creator of everything. To forsake Naam is death (sggs 603).
- Gur kai sabde aap pashaanai: Realize the Self through the Shabad (sggs 224).
- Nanak naam na veesarai shootai sabad kamaae: O Nanak, do not forget the Naam; without practicing and Realizing the Shabad, you will not be liberated (sggs 62).
- Gurmukhi saach sabad beechharai koi: Rare is the one who, by becoming a Gurmukh (Spiritual Being), reflects on the True Shabad (sggs 946).
—T. Singh
Sikhism: Reflections On Gurbani
