Okay, I can appreciate there might be a cultural clash here.
Yeah the larger western culture has no clue. However Psychologists, especially those who are involved with studying meditation, neurology, and abnormal behaviours - basically related fields - definitely do consider it a part of science.
Despite your input, I have to maintain then that from the position of the "Western" definition of science, what you're describing still comes under pseudoscience.
Ok but why don't you develop your own understanding by researching it?
As for what western scientists think - you need only look as far as Google Scholar. It should contain many free scientific papers on meditation.
However, I don't quite agree with your point of view, but I'm not able to articulate why yet. I get this a lot; I tend to feel the Gurbani to make up for my lack of intellectual knowledge about the language. Quite often what I feel initially is later validated when I learn enough, intellectually. For now I can only assume my feeling is informed by what I've encountered in the past and isn't realised in my conscious mind yet.
That I admire. Its a relief to hear that you are doing this
(and not merely contorting intellectual muscles).
Another possibility might be that you haven't grasped the full scope of what I am trying to explain or the larger picture of meditation. Maybe I am not doing a good job at it. I think further discussion will bring us closer no doubt, whether we agree fully or not.
So you said you wanted to hear why I think Pauri 38 is talking about meditation. Let's continue to discuss that -
Gurbani is talking about achieving an holistic state of mind and being that includes a deep, constant awareness of Ik Onkar which guides and influences our thoughts and actions.
Right. The gold coins that we are minting.
I agreed with you before when you stated this earlier and I agreed with Japji when he stated it again, and I agree with you now when you repeated yourself again.
Lol did I mention I agree with this part?
achieving an holistic state of mind and being that includes a deep, constant awareness of Ik Onkar which guides and influences our thoughts and actions.
Like I said before this is the XYZ, the end-goal. There are many steps before that.
To live continuously in a holistic state of being, where one is deeply immersed in God is hard.
And believe you me this is much harder than it sounds. japji keeps reminding me of that, however I already understand that this is difficult.
What I am really trying (hard) to put forth is the basics of Sikhi. The basic meaning - the ABC, the methodology by which we progress to the goalpost you out-lined.
Methodology is the key word. Guru Sahib is teaching us ways to open up to God.
So many tools and techniques themselves are brushed aside by the Gurbani.
They are actually not. Guru Sahib is brushing aside the idea that you can simply walk around with the tool and not really apply it and expect that tool to do its job.
Guru Sahib is encouraging people to use the tools they already have. And he also teaches them ( and us) how to use the tools they have (or ones he has given us). This is because Guru Sahib himself knows how to use the tools and so he can guide us on how we can use them as well.
The tools can be difficult to use, this is why it may require much instruction.
So what does that mean when we are talking about meditation or Jap?
Guru Sahib is saying that if you simply close your eyes and say God's name then you are not applying the tool I have given you; in addition, you also have to focus single-pointedly on His name.
Let's understand this word by word.
ਗਉੜੀ ਗੁਆਰੇਰੀ ਮਹਲਾ ੫ ॥
Guru Arjun Dev ji explains the Guru's importance and his teachings in Rag Gaurhi
ਬੰਧਨ ਤੋੜਿ ਬੋਲਾਵੈ ਰਾਮੁ ॥
The Guru (ਤੋੜਿ) breaks you away from your (ਬੰਧਨ) attachments, and (ਬੋਲਾਵੈ) makes you speak (ਰਾਮੁ) "Ram"! (this is the tool)
ਮਨ ਮਹਿ ਲਾਗੈ ਸਾਚੁ ਧਿਆਨੁ ॥
(He gets you to apply the tool)
(ਸਾਚੁ) truly/continuously (ਧਿਆਨੁ) focus single-mindedly on Ram, in your (ਮਨ) heart.
ਬੰਧਨ ਤੋੜਿ ਬੋਲਾਵੈ ਰਾਮੁ ॥ ਮਨ ਮਹਿ ਲਾਗੈ ਸਾਚੁ ਧਿਆਨੁ ॥
Breaking your attachments, the Guru causes you chant the name of Ram, and then you single-mindedly focus on it in your heart.
ਮਿਟਹਿ ਕਲੇਸ ਸੁਖੀ ਹੋਇ ਰਹੀਐ ॥ ਐਸਾ ਦਾਤਾ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਕਹੀਐ ॥੧॥
The (ਕਲੇਸ) suffering is (ਮਿਟਹਿ) eradicated and (ਸੁਖੀ ਹੋਇ ਰਹੀਐ) one begins to live in peace. Such are (ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਕਹੀਐ) the words of the Guru himself, who (ਦਾਤਾ) is the giver.
What does he give us? this tool - chant Ram - with the knowledge on how to use it - focus single-mindedly on it.
ਸੋ ਸੁਖਦਾਤਾ ਜਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਜਪਾਵੈ ॥ ਕਰਿ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਤਿਸੁ ਸੰਗਿ ਮਿਲਾਵੈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
The (ਸੁਖਦਾਤਾ) peace-granting Guru makes you (ਜਪਾਵੈ) chant God's name, and like a catalyst, immerses you in God.
ਜਪ - there is that word 'jap' and ਬੋਲ - to say or utter and then to (ਧਿਆਨ) focus single-mindedly on it.
So Guru Arjun Dev ji says the guru is great because the guru teaches this method and that it brings results! And I can attest to his teachings.
So how does this relate to Paurhi 38?
