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dhillon
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[SIZE=+1]MEDITATION[/SIZE]
The Praise of the Lord does not come to dwell in the minds of the mortal beings. Day and night,
they remain engrossed in Maya. Tell me, how can they sing God's Glories? || 1 || Pause ||
In this way, they bind themselves to children, friends, Maya and possessiveness. Like the
deer's delusion, this world is false; and yet, beholding it, they chase after it. || 1 || Our Lord
is the source of pleasures and liberation; and yet, the fool forgets Him. O servant Nanak,
among millions, there is scarcely anyone who attains the Lord's meditation (sggs 219).
If you wish to keep your Consciousness Intact, then meditate on God;
otherwise, It will break (sggs 1376).
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The Praise of the Lord does not come to dwell in the minds of the mortal beings. Day and night,
they remain engrossed in Maya. Tell me, how can they sing God's Glories? || 1 || Pause ||
In this way, they bind themselves to children, friends, Maya and possessiveness. Like the
deer's delusion, this world is false; and yet, beholding it, they chase after it. || 1 || Our Lord
is the source of pleasures and liberation; and yet, the fool forgets Him. O servant Nanak,
among millions, there is scarcely anyone who attains the Lord's meditation (sggs 219).
If you wish to keep your Consciousness Intact, then meditate on God;
otherwise, It will break (sggs 1376).
<><><><>
What is meditation? Simply put: it is an uninterrupted thought flow directed towards Higher Awareness or God without open expression through the senses. It helps us to be aware of the false ego-sense (false self or Haume) and related negativity and defilement in our minds. Meditation serves to introvert and concentrate the noisy or wandering sense-blind mind to annihilate the false "I". Thus, meditation is an integrated state of the mind — an outcome of a concentrated mind harmonized with Truth — fixed on one's real Self. In other words, it is merging into the Source consciously where Meditator and meditation become one. The aim is to remain as Meditator or one's True Nature ("Joti-Svaroopa" or Pure Being as Untainted Consciousness). What it means is that if one can ever remain as the Meditator, there is no need to meditate!! Hence, meditation is a battle with the mind to annihilate the ego and related thoughts — expulsion of the non-self or nonessentials, and experience of the ego or Haume free Consciousness ("Shabad-Surti"). In nutshell, annihilation or conquering of the mind is meditation. Without it, selfless service (Nishakaam Sevaa) is not possible. Of course, along with the meditation, we also need to assimilate the spiritual principles. An inquiry into one's real Self, meditation comes relatively easy with Bhagti (devotion) blooming in one's heart; for the Bhagti softens the heart and relaxes the intellect.
During "Sidh Gosti" (also spelt Sidh Gost etc.), Sidhas posed many questions to Baabaa Nanak (ਰਾਮਕਲੀ ਮਹਲਾ ੧ ਸਿਧ ਗੋਸਟਿ ). One of those questions asked what was his "way"? He replied: "To be seated in the eternal God's meditation (i.e. Naam-Simran or Jap) is my way..."
- ਆਸਣਿ ਬੈਸਣਿ ਥਿਰੁ ਨਾਰਾਇਣੁ ਐਸੀ ਗੁਰਮਤਿ ਪਾਏ ॥ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਬੂਝੈ ਆਪੁ ਪਛਾਣੈ ਸਚੇ ਸਚਿ ਸਮਾਏ ॥: Aasan baisan thir naaraain aisee guramat paaeye. Gurmukhi boojhai aapu pashaanai sache sach samaaye: To be seated in the Eternal God's meditation (i.e. Naam-Simran or Jap) is my way. This is the Gurmat. By becoming a Gurmukh, I have realized the Self, and merged with the True Lord (sggs 938).
- ਜਪਿ ਜਪਿ ਕਰਹਿ ਅਨੰਦੁ ਜਨ ਅਚਰਜ ਆਨੂਪੁ ॥: Jap jap karahi anand jan acharaj aanoop: Meditating and meditating on the embodiment of Wonder and Beauty, His humble servants are in Bliss (sggs 677).
- ਹਰਿ ਸਿਮਰਤ ਸਭਿ ਮਿਟਹਿ ਕਲੇਸ ॥: Hari simrat sabh mitai kales: Meditating on God, all suffering vanish (sggs 194).
- ਜੋ ਪ੍ਰਾਣੀ ਗੋਵਿੰਦੁ ਧਿਆਵੈ ॥ ਪੜਿਆ ਅਣਪੜਿਆ ਪਰਮ ਗਤਿ ਪਾਵੈ ॥੧॥: Jo praanee Govind dhiaavai. Parhiaa anparhiaa param gati paavai ||1||: That mortal who meditates on God, whether educated or uneducated, obtains the Supreme State (ਸਭ ਤੋਂ ਉੱਚੀ ਆਤਮਕ ਅਵਸਥਾ) ||1|| (sggs 197).
- ਜਿਹ ਸਿਮਰਨਿ ਕਰਹਿ ਤੂ ਕੇਲ ॥ ਦੀਪਕੁ ਬਾਂਧਿ ਧਰਿਓ ਬਿਨੁ ਤੇਲ ॥ ਸੋ ਦੀਪਕੁ ਅਮਰਕੁ ਸੰਸਾਰਿ ॥ ਕਾਮ ਕ੍ਰੋਧ ਬਿਖੁ ਕਾਢੀਲੇ ਮਾਰਿ ॥: Jih simran karahi too kel. Deepak baandhio dhario binu tel. So deepak amrak sansaar. Kaam krodhh bikh kaadteelae maar: Meditating on the Divine you feel joyous. God has placed the lamp (Knowledge) deep within you, which burns without any oil. (Whosoever awakened this lamp within) This lamp makes one immortal in the world; it conquers and drives out the poisons of lust and anger (sggs 971).
- ਅਕਾਲ ਮੂਰਤਿ ਅਜੂਨੀ ਸੰਭੌ ਮਨ ਸਿਮਰਤ ਠੰਢਾ ਥੀਵਾਂ ਜੀਉ ॥: Akaal moorati ajoonee sanbho mann simarat thandaa theevaan jeeou: By meditating the Timeless, Unborn and Self-illumined Principle, the mind gets filled with a profound peace (sggs 99).
- ਜਾਸੁ ਜਪਤ ਭਉ ਅਪਦਾ ਜਾਇ ...: Jaas japat bhayu apdaa jaai ....: Meditating on Him, fear and misfortune depart, and the wandering mind is held steady. Meditating on Him, suffering will never again overtake you. Meditating on Him, this ego runs away. ||2|| Meditating on Him, the five passions (i.e. all evil passions) are overcome. Meditating on Him, Amrit or Nectar (of Naam) is collected in the heart. Meditating on Him, desires (thirst of Maya) are quenched. Meditating on Him, one is approved in the Court of the Lord. ||3|| Meditating on Him, millions of mistakes (of past karma) are erased. Meditating on Him, one becomes Holy, blessed by the Lord. Meditating on Him, the mind is cooled and soothed. Meditating on Him, all inner filth (all evil passions) is washed away. ||4|| Meditating on Him, the jewel of the Lord's Name is obtained and one becomes so absorbed in the Lord that he will not abandon His Name again. Meditating on Him, many acquire heavenly existence (Aatamic-Jeevan). Meditating on Him, one abides in intuitive Peace. ||5|| Meditating on Him, one is not affected by this fire (of desires). Meditating on Him, one is not under the gaze of (fear of) death. Meditating on Him, your forehead will be immaculate (inner Purity). Meditating on Him, all pains are destroyed. ||6|| Meditating on Him, no difficulties (in living a Divine Life) are encountered. Meditating on Him, one hears the unstruck melody. Meditating on Him, one acquires this pure reputation (here and hereafter). Meditating on Him, the heart-lotus is turned upright ||7|| (sggs 236).
- ਸੰਤ ਜਨਾ ਮਿਲਿ ਕਰਹੁ ਬੀਚਾਰੁ ॥ ਏਕੁ ਸਿਮਰਿ ਨਾਮ ਆਧਾਰੁ ॥: Sant janaa mil karahu beechaar. Ek simir naam aadhaar: Join the Company of the saints or true devotees and reflect. Meditate on the One and take the Support of His Name (sggs 288).
- ਮਿਹਰ ਦਇਆ ਕਰਿ ਕਰਨੈਹਾਰ ॥ ਭਗਤਿ ਬੰਦਗੀ ਦੇਹਿ ਸਿਰਜਣਹਾਰ ॥: Mihar dayaa kar karanaihaar. Bhagati bandagee dehi sirajanhaar: Be kind and compassionate to me, O Creator Lord. Bless me with devotion and meditation (sggs 896).
Our mind becomes noisy (contaminated) when it takes in false ego or the sense of worldly objects, otherwise it's the pure Self. This technique of meditation when practiced with Saadh-Sangat (Spiritual or Holy Company), faith, dedication, determination, regularity, discipline, steadfastness and one-pointed focus brings about integration in our lives — an integration of the body-mind-intellect apparatus and heart; an integration of our True Self ("Joti-Svaroopa") with God. Its physiological, psychological and Spiritual benefits are tremendous: through self-discovery, it brings God closer and takes us away from evil passions (the "heart-lotus" is turned upright); it enables one to retain the vision of the true Self (Inner Purity, Pure Consciousness, Spiritual Experience, etc.); it awakens Divine Grace within; it brings Divinity to life; it helps tame one's mind (i.e. ego or Haume along with its faults and defects); it makes one mentally strong (Sahaj, calm, truthful, contented, moral, righteous, wise, mindful, selfless, disciplined, fearless, free of desires or evil passions or Vaasnaas etc.); one learns to live in the eternity of "NOW" (Timelessness) by shedding the shades of the past and future; Peace, Happiness or Bliss (Anand) within can be experienced when all thoughts of the mind subside through it; it helps one become a Gurmukh (Spiritual Being) leading a Divine Lifestyle of Self-awareness, Self-realization or the Vision of Oneness; it helps one become humble or meek; it offers inner and outer stillness and renders the mind "controlled", "killed", "annihilated" or "conquered", and with the death of the lower mind comes the death of all evil passions; it works out Karmas and releases one from their grip; it erases body identity and promotes Awareness Identity; it offers various therapeutic benefits (state of conscious relaxation, stress reduction, harmony, etc.); and so on. It, thus, helps inculcating a more positive attitude towards Healthy Lifestyle at large. Hence, according to the Gurbani, meditation (Naam-Simran or Jap) is the Gurmat (Divine Teachings of God or Gurbani), and that there is no liberation (Mukti) from worldly bondage without it. But it is a tightrope walk indeed; for the mind needs to be destroyed piece by piece or pulverized of its negativity and defilement, and thus conquering oneself (perfect tranquility of the mind). It's easier said than done, for our mind and intellect keep roaming in their clusters of thoughts (Phurne) or wanderings!
- ਮਨ ਚੂਰੇ ਖਟੁ ਦਰਸਨ ਜਾਣੁ ॥: Man choore khatu darasan jaanu: To conquer the mind (destroying it by cutting it into pieces or pulverizing it's evils) is the knowledge of the six Shaastras (sggs 352).
- ਮਨਮੁਖਿ ਕਮਲਾ ਰਗੜੈ ਲੁਝੈ ॥ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਹੋਇ ਤਿਸੁ ਸਭ ਕਿਛੁ ਸੁਝੈ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਮਨ ਸਿਉ ਲੁਝੈ ॥੪੬॥: Manmukh kamlaa ragarhai lujhai. Gurmukh hoyi tis sabh kish sujahi. Nanak Gurmukh mann siou lujhai ||46||: The Manmukh (material being) drives himself crazy struggling with worries and stubbornness. But those who become Gurmukh understand everything (ਆਤਮਕ ਜੀਵਨ ਦੇ ਹਰੇਕ ਭੇਤ ਨੂੰ). O Nanak, (the one who) becomes the Gurmukh struggles with your own mind (ਆਪਣੇ ਮਨ ਨਾਲ ਟਾਕਰਾ ਕਰਦਾ ਰਹਿੰਦਾ ਹੈ) ||46|| (sggs 1418).
- ਮਨਸਾ ਮਾਰਿ ਮਨੈ ਸਿਉ ਲੂਝੈ ॥: Manasaa maar manai siou loojhai:: Annihilte your desires, and struggle with your mind (sggs 1021).
- ਜੋ ਇਸੁ ਮਾਰੇ ਸੋਈ ਸੂਰਾ ॥: Jo is maare soee soorss: One who kills this is a Sooraa - Spiritual Hero (sggs 238).
- ਮਨੁ ਵਸਿ ਦੂਤਾ ਦੁਰਮਤਿ ਦੋਇ ॥: Mann vas dootaa durmati doi: The mind is in the control of evil passions, evil intent, and duality (sggs 222).
- ਇਸੁ ਮਨ ਕਉ ਕੋਈ ਖੋਜਹੁ ਭਾਈ ॥: Is mann kafryu koee khojo bhaaee: Let each person examine his own mind, O brother (sggs 1128).
- ਮਨੁ ਮਰੈ ਧਾਤੁ ਮਰਿ ਜਾਇ ॥: Mann marai dhaat mar jaae: When the mind is conquered, its turbulent wanderings stop (sggs 665).
- ਸੋ ਮੁਨਿ ਜਿ ਮਨ ਕੀ ਦੁਬਿਧਾ ਮਾਰੇ ॥ ਦੁਬਿਧਾ ਮਾਰਿ ਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਬੀਚਾਰੇ ॥੧॥: So muni ji mann kee dubidhaa maare. Dubidhaa maar braham beechaare ||1||: He alone is a Sage, who annihilates his mind's duality. Killing his duality, he contemplates God. ||1|| (sggs 1129).
- ਬਿਨੁ ਮਨ ਮੂਏ ਕੈਸੇ ਹਰਿ ਪਾਇ ॥: Binu mann mooye kaise hari paai: Without annihilating (conquering) the mind, how can God be found? (sggs 665).
- ॥ ਜਪੁ ॥ ਆਦਿ ਸਚੁ ਜੁਗਾਦਿ ਸਚੁ ॥ ਹੈ ਭੀ ਸਚੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਹੋਸੀ ਭੀ ਸਚੁ ॥੧॥: || Japu || Aadi sachu jugaadi sachu || Hai bhee sachu Nanak hosee bhee sachu ||1||: Understand (ਸਮਝੋ, Reflect...): ਆਦਿ-Aadi (Source, Bignning, Base, or ਮੁੰਢ of Maya, ਸ੍ਰਿਸਟੀ...) is Truth (Sach-ਸਚ), (and) ਆਦਿ-Aadi of time (ਜੁਗਾਦਿ = ਜੁਗ+ਆਦਿ; and ਜੁਗ= time, Kaal, ਕਾਲ ਸਮਾਂ...) is (also) the Truth. Sach (Truth, Sach-ਸਚ) is Now, (And) O Nanak, Sach will be (i.e., Sach-ਸਚ is the same in all Jugas, forever and ever - Sach never gets old...). ||1|| (sggs 1).