As described in the elaboration of the Sloka of Fifth Nanak quoted above, the contemplating the Creator brings eternal peace to the mind and it remains absorbed in Him in utter love. It eventually becomes one with Him. Because of that, the feelings of pains, inclinations toward vices and fearing of death go away. The furnace of desires starts getting dim to go off. Maya – influences though exist, they remain ineffective. Then, Guru Ji again reminds us the importance of the company of His devotees where true contemplating Akalpurakh is learned. All Sikhs must understand that to follow Guru path, the environment in which He is praised and discussed, must be preferred to everything. In there, meditation on Him is mastered. Bhagat Kabir Ji strongly asks the seekers to avoid negative environment (1369 SGGS).
In the society, super natural illusions are embraced as powerful trades; who display them, they become known in the society. Because of having those supernatural powers, or influential techniques, some people start defining the divine knowledge, and set up their own rules for the soul to get salvation. In the following, Guru Ji asks us to start contemplating Prabh because through contemplating Him, one doesn’t desire any kind of rituals or set up religious norms. The person, who contemplates on Him, gets divine intellect, pleases the Creator and thus becomes pious. If we get committed to the Guru guidance, why should we care for what the so called spiritual leaders say? Now, Fifth Nanak compresses all the deeds of known powers into one deed: His meditation.
ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕੈ ਸਿਮਰਨਿ ਰਿਧਿ ਸਿਧਿ ਨਉ ਨਿਧਿ ॥ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕੈ ਸਿਮਰਨਿ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਧਿਆਨੁ ਤਤੁ ਬੁਧਿ ॥
ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕੈ ਸਿਮਰਨਿ ਜਪ ਤਪ ਪੂਜਾ ॥ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕੈ ਸਿਮਰਨਿ ਬਿਨਸੈ ਦੂਜਾ ॥
ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕੈ ਸਿਮਰਨਿ ਤੀਰਥ ਇਸਨਾਨੀ ॥ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕੈ ਸਿਮਰਨਿ ਦਰਗਹ ਮਾਨੀ ॥
ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕੈ ਸਿਮਰਨਿ ਹੋਇ ਸੁ ਭਲਾ ॥ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕੈ ਸਿਮਰਨਿ ਸੁਫਲ ਫਲਾ ॥
ਸੇ ਸਿਮਰਹਿ ਜਿਨ ਆਪਿ ਸਿਮਰਾਏ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਤਾ ਕੈ ਲਾਗਉ ਪਾਏ ॥੩॥
Parabẖ kai simran riḏẖ siḏẖ na▫o niḏẖ. Parabẖ kai simran gi▫ān ḏẖi▫ān ṯaṯ buḏẖ.
Parabẖ kai simran jap ṯap pūjā. Parabẖ kai simran binsai ḏūjā.
Parabẖ kai simran ṯirath isnānī. Parabẖ kai simran ḏargėh mānī.
Parabẖ kai simran ho▫e so bẖalā. Parabẖ kai simran sufal falā.
Se simrahi jin āp simrā▫e. Nānak ṯā kai lāga▫o pā▫e. ||3||
In Essence: By contemplating Akalpurakh, all power and nine treasures are obtained; by contemplating Him, the Divine knowledge, the meditation and the essence of wisdom come. Contemplating Him is itself His devotion, penance and worship; with it, duality is illuminated. Contemplating Him is like bathing on pilgrimage-places; contemplating Akalpurakh makes one accepted by Him. By contemplating Him, one deems whatever happens is good and happens under His Ordinance; contemplating Him enables one to achieve the spiritual goal successfully. Only that person contemplates Him whom He causes to do so; Nanak says that he likes to touch the feet of that person who is blessed with that virtue (means he has the highest respect for those who contemplate Him).
His meditation leads to contentment, worry free living and spiritual powers. Through His meditation, one attains divine wisdom.
His meditation is above all deeds and through it one succeeds in spiritual success because it satiates the mind completely. It cleans the mind and enables it to walk on a right path. As the mind is contented, all desires are fulfilled (it’s a metaphoric expression; it means the mind doesn’t desire anymore). Thus, while living in Maya, through His meditation, one remains immaculate.
ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕਾ ਸਿਮਰਨੁ ਸਭ ਤੇ ਊਚਾ ॥ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕੈ ਸਿਮਰਨਿ ਉਧਰੇ ਮੂਚਾ ॥
ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕੈ ਸਿਮਰਨਿ ਤ੍ਰਿਸਨਾ ਬੁਝੈ ॥ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕੈ ਸਿਮਰਨਿ ਸਭੁ ਕਿਛੁ ਸੁਝੈ ॥
ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕੈ ਸਿਮਰਨਿ ਨਾਹੀ ਜਮ ਤ੍ਰਾਸਾ ॥ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕੈ ਸਿਮਰਨਿ ਪੂਰਨ ਆਸਾ ॥
ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕੈ ਸਿਮਰਨਿ ਮਨ ਕੀ ਮਲੁ ਜਾਇ ॥ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਨਾਮੁ ਰਿਦ ਮਾਹਿ ਸਮਾਇ ॥
ਪ੍ਰਭ ਜੀ ਬਸਹਿ ਸਾਧ ਕੀ ਰਸਨਾ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਜਨ ਕਾ ਦਾਸਨਿ ਦਸਨਾ ॥੪॥
Parabẖ kā simran sabẖ ṯe ūcẖā. Parabẖ kai simran uḏẖre mūcẖā.
Parabẖ kai simran ṯarisnā bujẖai. Parabẖ kai simran sabẖ kicẖẖ sujẖai.
Parabẖ kai simran nāhī jam ṯarāsā. Parabẖ kai simran pūran āsā.
Parabẖ kai simran man kī mal jā▫e. Amriṯ nām riḏ māhi samā▫e.
Parabẖ jī basėh sāḏẖ kī rasnā. Nānak jan kā ḏāsan ḏasnā. ||4||
In Essence: Contemplating Akalpurakh is the most exalted deed of all deeds. And, many are saved by it. By contemplating Him, all desires are realized and understanding of everything comes. Because of His contemplation, the fear of death doesn’t remain and one is satiated (in His love). Because of contemplating Him, one enshrines His Eternal Name in the heart due to which the filth of the mind goes away. Akalpurakh remains on the tongue of His devotees. Nanak is slave of the slaves of Akalpurakh (who utter His Name).
Guru Ji again suggests us to seek the company of His devotees; only they can keep us inclined toward Him. Through them when one learns to meditate on Him, everything is changed; all the fears are gone and the satiation with His Naam blooms within. How does it occur? When one believes what Guru says and practices it in the company of Guru – believers, one’s mind grows enough strong to defeat the outer influences of Maya.
In the following, Fifth Nanak defines the state of mind of those persons who get drenched in His love through meditation:
ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕਉ ਸਿਮਰਹਿ ਸੇ ਧਨਵੰਤੇ ॥ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕਉ ਸਿਮਰਹਿ ਸੇ ਪਤਿਵੰਤੇ ॥
ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕਉ ਸਿਮਰਹਿ ਸੇ ਜਨ ਪਰਵਾਨ ॥ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕਉ ਸਿਮਰਹਿ ਸੇ ਪੁਰਖ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ॥
ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕਉ ਸਿਮਰਹਿ ਸਿ ਬੇਮੁਹਤਾਜੇ ॥ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕਉ ਸਿਮਰਹਿ ਸਿ ਸਰਬ ਕੇ ਰਾਜੇ ॥
ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕਉ ਸਿਮਰਹਿ ਸੇ ਸੁਖਵਾਸੀ ॥ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕਉ ਸਿਮਰਹਿ ਸਦਾ ਅਬਿਨਾਸੀ ॥
ਸਿਮਰਨ ਤੇ ਲਾਗੇ ਜਿਨ ਆਪਿ ਦਇਆਲਾ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਜਨ ਕੀ ਮੰਗੈ ਰਵਾਲਾ ॥੫॥
Parabẖ ka▫o simrahi se ḏẖanvanṯe. Parabẖ ka▫o simrahi se paṯivanṯe.
Parabẖ ka▫o simrahi se jan parvān. Parabẖ ka▫o simrahi se purakẖ parḏẖān.
Parabẖ ka▫o simrahi sė bemuhṯāje. Parabẖ ka▫o simrahi sė sarab ke rāje.
Parabẖ ka▫o simrahi se sukẖvāsī. Parabẖ ka▫o simrahi saḏā abẖināsī.
Simran ṯe lāge jin āp ḏa▫i▫ālā. Nānak jan kī mangai ravālā. ||5||
In Essence: The persons, who contemplate Akalpurakh, are wealthy and glorious (in spiritual realms). The ones, who contemplate the Almighty, are the accepted ones (by God) and distinguished ones. Who contemplate Akalpurakh, they become totally independent. Who contemplate Akalpurakh, they are kings of all. Who contemplate Akalpurakh, they have the peace of mind all the time, and the contemplating Him makes them immortal. Those persons contemplate Him whom Akalpurakh causes to do so by bestowing His kindness. Nanak says: upon whom He has shown His kindness, he humbly shows utter respect toward them.
In Guru Nanak’s house, only those persons are wealthy and glorious who remain drenched in His love. This stanza expresses about those virtues which one attains through His meditation. Because of His meditation, one becomes distinguished one and thus gets accepted by the Creator. Contemplating Him leads the soul to merge with its Creator; it becomes eternal. His meditation doesn’t stop anyone from working to make a living. It doesn’t stop anyone performing duties of a family; actually, it fortifies the internal instinct to remain with Him while living in His Created Maya.
When the mortals learn how to contemplate Akalpurakh through a Saint, they totally get changed; they start living in a different way because through contemplating Akalpurakh, they become benevolent, they attain stable peace, they become able to control their minds and they feel Akalpurakh always present within.
ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕਉ ਸਿਮਰਹਿ ਸੇ ਪਰਉਪਕਾਰੀ ॥ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕਉ ਸਿਮਰਹਿ ਤਿਨ ਸਦ ਬਲਿਹਾਰੀ ॥
ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕਉ ਸਿਮਰਹਿ ਸੇ ਮੁਖ ਸੁਹਾਵੇ ॥ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕਉ ਸਿਮਰਹਿ ਤਿਨ ਸੂਖਿ ਬਿਹਾਵੈ ॥
ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕਉ ਸਿਮਰਹਿ ਤਿਨ ਆਤਮੁ ਜੀਤਾ ॥ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕਉ ਸਿਮਰਹਿ ਤਿਨ ਨਿਰਮਲ ਰੀਤਾ ॥
ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕਉ ਸਿਮਰਹਿ ਤਿਨ ਅਨਦ ਘਨੇਰੇ ॥ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕਉ ਸਿਮਰਹਿ ਬਸਹਿ ਹਰਿ ਨੇਰੇ ॥
ਸੰਤ ਕ੍ਰਿਪਾ ਤੇ ਅਨਦਿਨੁ ਜਾਗਿ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਸਿਮਰਨੁ ਪੂਰੈ ਭਾਗਿ ॥੬॥
Parabẖ ka▫o simrahi se par▫upkārī. Parabẖ ka▫o simrahi ṯin saḏ balihārī.
Parabẖ ka▫o simrahi se mukẖ suhāve. Parabẖ ka▫o simrahi ṯin sūkẖ bihāvai.
Parabẖ ka▫o simrahi ṯin āṯam jīṯā. Parabẖ ka▫o simrahi ṯin nirmal rīṯā.
Parabẖ ka▫o simrahi ṯin anaḏ gẖanere. Parabẖ ka▫o simrahi basėh har nere.
Sanṯ kirpā ṯe an▫ḏin jāg. Nānak simran pūrai bẖāg. ||6||
In Essence: The persons, who contemplate Akalpurakh, are benevolent, and I always sacrifice to them who contemplate Him. Those persons appear beauteous who contemplate Almighty; such persons live their lives in peace. Who contemplate Akalpurakh, they conquer their minds and their living becomes pure. Those who contemplate Akalpurakh, they have many folds of joys. By contemplating Him, they live close to Akalpurakh. With the blessings of Saints, they remain awake (From Maya influences,) Nanak says that contemplating Him comes because of a perfect luck.
Only those learn to contemplate Akalpurakh who are fortunate; otherwise, many people remain stuck in doubts or duality. Being convinced by the Guru, many people start imbibing with nectar-Gurbani and get drenched in the love of the Creator. The Guru enables the soul to remain in the refuge of one Creator and thus he makes it fearless. It is His show and the mortals are just the actors who play their assigned roles (951 SGGS). The Creator has laced the mortals with wonderful brains to execute their assigned duties. He has thrown all kinds of dices (433 SGGS). To help the mortals to secure stability, He takes the mortals to the right path.
Below, Guru Ji is explaining how contemplating Akalpurakh becomes beneficial. Day by day, all worries and anxieties kill us slowly. That unbearable and unwanted storm of worries and anxieties are barricaded with His meditation. Guru Ji also reminds us of His grace in this context.
ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕੈ ਸਿਮਰਨਿ ਕਾਰਜ ਪੂਰੇ ॥ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕੈ ਸਿਮਰਨਿ ਕਬਹੁ ਨ ਝੂਰੇ ॥
ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕੈ ਸਿਮਰਨਿ ਹਰਿ ਗੁਨ ਬਾਨੀ ॥ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕੈ ਸਿਮਰਨਿ ਸਹਜਿ ਸਮਾਨੀ ॥
ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕੈ ਸਿਮਰਨਿ ਨਿਹਚਲ ਆਸਨੁ ॥ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕੈ ਸਿਮਰਨਿ ਕਮਲ ਬਿਗਾਸਨੁ ॥
ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕੈ ਸਿਮਰਨਿ ਅਨਹਦ ਝੁਨਕਾਰ ॥ ਸੁਖੁ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਸਿਮਰਨ ਕਾ ਅੰਤੁ ਨ ਪਾਰ ॥
ਸਿਮਰਹਿ ਸੇ ਜਨ ਜਿਨ ਕਉ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਮਇਆ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਤਿਨ ਜਨ ਸਰਨੀ ਪਇਆ ॥੭॥
Parabẖ kai simran kāraj pūre. Parabẖ kai simran kabahu na jẖūre.
Parabẖ kai simran har gun bānī. Parabẖ kai simran sahj samānī.
Parabẖ kai simran nihcẖal āsan. Parabẖ kai simran kamal bigāsan.
Parabẖ kai simran anhaḏ jẖunkār. Sukẖ parabẖ simran kā anṯ na pār.
Simrahi se jan jin ka▫o parabẖ ma▫i▫ā. Nānak ṯin jan sarnī pa▫i▫ā. ||7||
In Essence: By contemplating Akalpurakh, the tasks are accomplished and one doesn’t endure anxiety ever. By contemplating Almighty, one utters His praises only and thus remains in equipoise. By contemplating Him, one remains stable and one’s lotus heart blooms. By contemplating Him, one hears sound of the celestial strain. There is no limit of comfort and peace one gets through contemplating Almighty. Only those contemplate Him upon whom He bestows His grace. Nanak seeks refuge of such persons.
Fifth Nanak gives stress on meditating on Akalpurakh through which one learns how to still the mind to experience ever the stability of the mind. We talk about freedom but never enjoy it completely because some how our bonds of Maya keep us slaves of our minds and other influences. No spiritual guide can guide us to the stability of mind as long as Maya bonds are promoted. There are many so called seers who do such advertisement, but they go through the same kind of slavery of the mind as their followers do. Fifth Nanak asks us to prepare our minds to reach to the state of mind where it gets stilled. If that is done, a complete freedom is obtained. Our minds are made to observe everything it experiences or encounters; nonetheless, if it develops love in the Creator and His Ordinance, it doesn’t get involve in other stuff. It acts like a person who has no desire to drink even being present in a club where drinks are served free. Such a person’s mind becomes disinterested in things that drag it away from His envisioned presence. When it secures a state of mind where peace is restored forever, it doesn’t want to lose it. It stays with the Guru guidance. It remains into envisioning Him everywhere. Worldly show loses its luster for it and the presence of Maya attractions become ineffective.
In this last stanza of First Ashtpadee, Fifth Nanak elaborates on gnosis of scriptures, seekers, and Bhagatas; it is the power of Akalpurakh that runs His big show. We must understand how the Guru sees no difference between Akalpurakh and His meditation.
ਹਰਿ ਸਿਮਰਨੁ ਕਰਿ ਭਗਤ ਪ੍ਰਗਟਾਏ ॥ ਹਰਿ ਸਿਮਰਨਿ ਲਗਿ ਬੇਦ ਉਪਾਏ ॥
ਹਰਿ ਸਿਮਰਨਿ ਭਏ ਸਿਧ ਜਤੀ ਦਾਤੇ ॥ ਹਰਿ ਸਿਮਰਨਿ ਨੀਚ ਚਹੁ ਕੁੰਟ ਜਾਤੇ ॥
ਹਰਿ ਸਿਮਰਨਿ ਧਾਰੀ ਸਭ ਧਰਨਾ ॥ ਸਿਮਰਿ ਸਿਮਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਕਾਰਨ ਕਰਨਾ ॥
ਹਰਿ ਸਿਮਰਨਿ ਕੀਓ ਸਗਲ ਅਕਾਰਾ ॥ ਹਰਿ ਸਿਮਰਨ ਮਹਿ ਆਪਿ ਨਿਰੰਕਾਰਾ ॥
ਕਰਿ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਜਿਸੁ ਆਪਿ ਬੁਝਾਇਆ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਹਰਿ ਸਿਮਰਨੁ ਤਿਨਿ ਪਾਇਆ ॥੮॥੧॥
Har simran kar bẖagaṯ pargatā▫e. Har simran lag beḏ upā▫e.
Har simran bẖa▫e siḏẖ jaṯī ḏāṯe. Har simran nīcẖ cẖahu kunt jāṯe.
Har simran ḏẖārī sabẖ ḏẖarnā. Simar simar har kāran karnā.
Har simran kī▫o sagal akārā. Har simran mėh āp nirankārā.
Kar kirpā jis āp bujẖā▫i▫ā. Nānak gurmukẖ har simran ṯin pā▫i▫ā. ||8||1||
In Essence: By contemplating Akalpurakh, His devotees become distinguished ones; by contemplating Him, the Vedas were composed. By contemplating Him, many people become adepts, celibates and donors. Due to the contemplation of Him, persons who were called low, become well renowned in the world. Because of contemplation of Him, the entire earth is installed and held with His support; therefore, (one should) contemplate Him who has created all this. For His contemplation, He has created the whole creation. Akalpurakh Himself is present where He is contemplated. Nanak says that to whom He imparts understanding of this with His grace, obtains the contemplation of Him through the Guru.
His mediation leads to higher level of consciousness. It glorifies the deliverer; it leads to virtuous deeds. Guru Ji states that this whole world is created so that the mortal can meditate on Him (433 SGGS, Mehla 1); in His contemplation, Akalpurakh Himself abides in. He is felt, envisioned and realized in His contemplation. Nonetheless, this gift of contemplating Him is obtained with His grace. Who gets it, does it perfectly. Here, it is not said that one is asked to wait only for His grace; actually, one is advised not to worry about anything, not even about His grace while following the Guru. Good deeds need to be continued; virtuous thinking must be continued to shape the behavior and to improve the meditation on Him which enables the mind to drench in His love. Hoping nothing but living in His love is important. His grace is in His hands, it comes as His own way; therefore, worrying about that is not encouraged at all in Gurbani. In other words, follow the Guru shown path and follow it with all honesty without worrying about the fruit because hoping for the fruits can lead us to selfishness; it is the devotion done in selflessness that counts in spiritual realms…………
G Singh
1 comments
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