Pyari Saadh Sangat Ji
The Gurbani is to some extent both literature and the foundation of Sikh faith, but also the heritage of modern Sikh generation. Maintaining the link therefore is far more important than the secular wisdom of the era, not to say you have regard for the one and disregard for the other, but from a social and spiritual perspective the link is vital.
Guru Nanak was the chosen instrument through which the divine architect was to design and deliver the message for humankind. In its entirity, Japji sahib is written in a beautiful style of questions and answers.The mool manter sets the scene - ek on kar, karta purakh...gur parsad.
Having captured the main subject-matter in the preamble, Guru Nanak goes on to say, in order to meet and realise satnam, alone satnam can bestow that favour, gur parsad - meaning, by the grace of God. Guru Nanak makes good use of the simile in illustrating gur parsad - its bit like someone possessing food but chosing not to eat and remaining hungry, for if that person was to take pity upon itself that person can have a belly full - likewise when satnam takes pity on someone, it is gur parsad - the union.
Following on from that, Guru Ji throws another question - so, it is by gods grace that makes union with god possible, but how is that grace acquired ? Guru Ji answer's - the way to acquire grace is to "JAP"
Ambarsaria Ji, outside happiness is the effect of inner joy and inner joy is a state of spiritual harmony realised by the grace of God...waheguru nam jahaj ha, jo chara so utra par... Waheguru is in a mantra form to connect the soul with the creator or as the Guru's put it anhad bani. So nam jap is a mean to an end and to that end does Gurbani point. Don't worry about how others treat nam jap - rise above praise and blame and be Guru's Sikh and love every situation and circustance placed before you.
When expounding on Jeevat maryia bhav jal taria
Guru Nanak constucts the importance of nam jap beautifully...jasa jal main kamal neralam, murgai nesana ! surat shabad bhav sagar taria, Nanak nam bekhanya ! Like the lotus flower whose roots are in water yet the flower remains dry and similarily the Duck which floats on water takes flight at its fancy, so can I show you a way to connect to that "waheguru" and you too can swim the ocean of life and take flight from the fetters of this physical world.
More later perhaps...its 0238 UK time and I have to go to work. I hope there is some joy for those who know what "true love" is...jin prem kiya tin he prab payo
Goodnight & Godbless
