8. Get connected to Naam through Simran… (The Method part IV)

The Home inside (Nijh ghar )

Own home inside living is obtained as one is absorbed in the Name of the Lord, Har, Har. (Meaning: through Simran)

In Gurbani the resting place when Simran takes you inside is called Nijh ghar .

While beginning Simran Guru Sahibji advices one to

i) listen to the Simran inside

and

ii) to do Simran with each breath while sitting, standing, lying ,walking ,eating and while doing your daily chores.

Simran then takes you inside through a natural gentle subtle automatic pull and places your focus point inside the head. The point is approximately between the two ears, slightly lower , at a point inside where the breath strikes on the mouth cavity. As it is a point in our subtle body its exact physical body part cannot be specified.

This Nijh ghar is the place where we have to keep our attention and operate in the physical world with conscious awareness. While at this point that we can feel HIS presence simply by ‘feeling’ and ‘knowing’. We can also observe HIS presence in the outside Physical world simply by ‘feeling’ and ‘knowing’.

In the Nijh ghar we can hear the SHABAD going on inside, just attempt to hear in a quiet place where sensory input is less you will start to hear it. As one progresses full bloom Anhad Shabad is heard.
(This comment has been added Later : The Nijh Ghar refered above is the one at the physical level , the shabad pulls the surt afterward and the individual reaches the Nijh Ghar in the Ekha (One) of Ek Ongkar where the Two earlier are now One )
Some Gurbani Quotes:

(Note: simple literary translation does not give true meaning of Gurbani. Meaning is intuitively revealed when basic principles and teachings of Guru Sahibj are kept in mind. Actual meaning remains same wherever the word comes again. As one progresses new meanings begins to be seen .)

Those who listened (to recitation of Jap) and agreed (with Guru Sahibji’s words on his divine origin) presence, dwells in the home within.

In whose heart the lord abides, within them is illumination.
(It is through heart that we feel and when we feel our divine origin meaning we feel what we are and neither doubt nor question the process. We feel that ALL is HIM then the illumination comes feeling translates into experience)

I am a sacrifice to them, who make ego die to recognize their Divine origin.
( when in Simran we feel that WE are actually HIM ,HE is seeing , hearing ,talking , walking , eating as has been told by Guru Sahibji at no places in Gurbani then we are making the ego die as it is no longer operating)

The eighteen supernatural spiritual powers follow those (are in their reach)
who dwell and sit inside their inner home.

The diseases, fear and bondage go away when mind come to know of the peace while sitting in its own inner home.

When you are conscious in the consciousness, then shall come enlightenment.

You Yourself are the Giver and You Yourself the Enjoyer.
I do not consider (anything) other than You.

This mind is Shakti; this mind is Shiva.
(meaning mind has power to create)

This mind is the life of the five elements.

(Meaning it is the mind that brings into existence the material world of five elements. To this truth the Quantum physics also agrees)
When this mind is made unmann

(by placing your conscious awareness focus within after taking it out of the physical world),
He can then talk of the three worlds

( as the secrets of the world creation is then intuitively known ).

7. Get connected to Naam through Simran… (The Method part III)

The first thing a rightly done Simran does is that it takes you inside.
Your awareness point is shifted inside.
Simran starts you on the journey homewards, towards merging of Jyote with Jyote (light with light).

What happens first is that your awareness is shifted from the world of maya to inside in the consciousness. Know that awareness is not lost only shifted to deeper levels of finer consciousness.
.Guru Sahibji advices us to keep the awareness inside connected with Naam while we are operating in the physical world. From this point of attention our conscious awareness starts to function with Naam connection. At this point Simran is further done .The intention gets forceful and hold of maya reduced. We do can go further and further hearing Shabad inside, even be in Samadhi.

We have to understand the significance of this shift in point of awareness which also bestows us with creative powers to live a life that befits our stature as Jyote Swaroope.

Our intention will rid us of the five passions. The hold of maya on our mind will reduce. We can heal our physical body ailments. We can live in true abundance , prosperity, health and happiness based on Gurbani’s principles.

Now let us understand Guru Sahibji’s explanations and advices from one Shabad to another.

-SGGS page 878

RAAMKALEE, FIRST MEHL:
Mix your conscious awareness with deeper consciousness (reference to deeper level of consciousness more universal in nature; keep in mind that all has originated from one source) in this way. Make a ropeway from physical body to cross over (starting point is physical body since our awareness is at physical level mostly).
Keep this awareness (which has crossed over) within you. (Inside) lamp starts to burn unceasingly (lamp is reference to your conscious awareness in HIM). 1
Float such a lamp upon the water
(Water is reference to all pervading presence of God; accept and feel this presence).
Burning the lamp this way brings all understanding (meaning reality is understood intuitively). 1 Pause
(Guru Sahibji having explained the process for burning the lamp next implores us to burn the lamp and its importance)
The clay of the lamp gets better (means it is kept burning) when understanding is imbibed and accepted for action.
On the wheel of actions the lamp is shaped. These actions (how we live life in thought, words, and deed) are a support to us in this world and in the next. 2
When He Himself grants His Grace (when conditions are right), then, as Gurmukh, one understands how to burn the lamp.
Within this lamp is permanently lit and is not extinguished by water or drowned in it (meaning Guru Sahibji assures that your conscious awareness is not merged in all pervading consciousness so have no fear if any of being lost). The water (i.e. all pervading consciousness, HIS PRESENCE) itself keeps this lamp afloat. 3
The wind (meaning maya’s attractions) does not shake one who has floated the lamp nor does he think himself bigger; even while feeling as if a throne has been found.
Kh'shaatree, Brahmin, Soodra or even a Vaish (reference to all kinds of wordly people) cannot find the value of this lamp, even by thousands of calculations (which are material in nature).
When anyone lights such a lamp, says Nanak, he stats living across (meaning has Naam connection). 4


Here are some more pearls from among many in SGGSji:

-SGGS page 358

Name of the One (meaning Naam) is my lamp;
my sufferings (of physical realm) are put as oil in it.
Its flame (Naam) dries up this oil (sufferings are removed),
and I no longer have to meet the Messenger of Death ( means have understood there is no such thing as death ,the soul ever lives).

-SGGS page 149

The jewel is found within home of own self; when the lamp is lit.

(please feel free to share experiences or ask any question)

…contd.

6. Get connected to Naam through Simran… (The Method part II)

Our awareness generally is focused outside and rarely do we go inside. Naam is within us. The first thing we face when we close our eyes is constant stream of thoughts. This through attractions of daydreaming or fear based thoughts prevents our awareness to go further. We have to go beyond.
A brief idea of structure of our body will give clarity to our goal.
- everything in essence has manifested out of consciousness.
- everything is vibration and changing. Our world at macro level appears solid but at micro i.e. subatomic level there is vibrating energy field.
-our physical body has within it an ethric body which is made up of subtle energy. This ethric body is an exact replica of physical body having all organs. The acupuncture meridians are in the body. This body also has the energy chakra long known to yogis.
-next finer energy body is emotional body and characterizes our psychological condition. -Next fine layer is our mental body. And further fine layers are in spiritual realm.(more details will be written in some other post)

When we close eyes the first layer which is our physical body disturbs a newcomer with an itch here or a pain there. The thoughts and emotions from the next layers keep our awareness occupied. Thoughts are energy patterns .Even the thought energy of others influence us.
Guru Sahib advices us to seek sadh sangat (company of spiritually oriented people and recite/sing Gurbani in there company).During early morning hours (before six) there is minimal thought disturbance, our awareness can go inside easily. Evening hour is another suitable time.
Let us now come to the method proper.

-- Sit in a quite place. Close your eyes. Briefly observe your breathing. Then take your awareness to your head area. Mentally say the command “relax” then feel the scalp relaxing, the forehead relaxing, the eyes relaxing, the nose relaxing and so on. Know that your intention has the creative power of Karta Purakh .You are Jyote Swaroop . Take your awareness to other body parts one by one from head to toe , command “relax” and FEEL THE BODY RELAXING. This will ensure that the physical body does not disturb you further during Simran.

-- With body relaxed start the Jap of Guru Mantra – WAHEGURU. It can be voiced initially and then spoken inside the head only. LISTEN to the JAP. Keep listening as Guru Sahib has advices in Japji Sahib at page 3 of SGGS “ By Listening-your awareness goes into sehaj (a peaceful spiritually connected state). You will automatically feel a pull that takes and keeps you inside not disturbed by incessant thoughts.

-- Keep your awareness inside the head at a point approximately centre between two ears .When you do simran with eyes open keep your awareness focussed around this point.

--At this stage set aside the ego (the makes for an illusion of separateness).FEEL HIS PRESENCE. Don’t dwell on separateness. FEEL all is HIM.

--Do this Simran daily, even with eyes open .When walking look at objects of the world the trees, houses, everything FEEL HIM in them .They have been created out of consciousness so are HIM.When looking at them ,FEEL that HE is actually looking, when driving FEEL HIM actually driving ,holding stearing and so on same simran can be done for other chores.You are not you here but HE who is walking,talking,looking,etc.During this time keep your awareness inside.
Look up in Shree Guru Granth Sahibji , there are a number of Shabads for doing this simran .

--Through daily Simran kirpa is received. Kirpa also comes as per Hukam (Laws and systems that run the universe).When conditions are satisfied Kirpa comes and you actually start feeling HIS presence.The NAAM connection.

Do take a step .You have gurbani to guide and to live with.We have Naam connections at different levels.Shabad in SGGSji and Shabad inside takes us deeper.

...contd