Simran – Remembering…
Most of us, when we think of Nam Simran think of "repeating God’s Name" out loud, either musically, or simply verbally we think…. "Sat Nam, Sat Nam, Wahe Guru, Wahe Guru…" but actually, that is Japa, not Simran. Japa is the audible repetion of Nam. In fact, the only command in the entire Siri Guru Granth Sahib is "Jap!" Jap what? "Aaad Sach, Jugaad Sach, Haybee Sach, Nanak Hosee Be Sach."
That mantram is commanded for Jap by Guru Nanak Dev Ji. What a powerful mantram!
But what of Simran? Simran is silent. It is not audible. Simran is the constant inner awareness of the Infinite – silently, through the breath and through a bij mantram (Har, Ram, Sat Nam, Hari, etc.) or through the Guru mantram "Wahe Guru."
Simran is not that you chant the Holy Nam loud and clear and wake up the whole neighborhood and then when it comes to the test, you act like the worst human being anybody has ever met! That is not Simran.
Simran becomes a state of mind. It is not something you do, it is something you are. It is the state of never forgetting your True Identity – being one with the One in everyone and everything.
When this habit of remembering becomes established, then you remember that you and God are One in every moment, with every breath, whether you are in pain or pleasure, whether the kids are crying at the top of their lungs or when you are just brushing your teeth or combing your hairs. You feel that everything is sacred and it is the constant awareness of the sacredness of all things that we call Simran.
"Simran has no other evaluation except its own self-generating power. A man without Simran is just a monkey on the tree. It will never change. Your grit, your strength, your stability, your depth and your totality is based on your simran. Simran is constantly tapping into the infinite. And then tapping into the Infinite you can have seva. There are four fundamentals. Tell me where we have gone wrong. Bana, bani, seva simran. We always say simran the last. Because simran is tek. Simran is our own ‘tek.’ Simran is our own strength. Simran is what we depend on. Simran is our companion. Our friend, our constant associate, our well-wisher. Our total support. Simran is the ambassador of God within us. It’s our reality. It is the congeniality of man and God. Whosoever will do simran can do seva. Whosoever can do seva, can be understood through his bani and can wear bana. The order is actually reversed. The majority of people are very shaky when they wear bana. Especially in the United States. Because bana puts you right in front lines. The moment you wear bana, then you have to perform to what bana shows. If you do not match up with the performance of bana, you will be nakedly known for how stupid you are. A person will say, "Hey, you look different, but you talk common. Your feelings and emotions are common. You don’t match up to who you are." Bana is a reminder to match up to who we are, to feel who we are, to understand who we are. And bana is also an invitation to people. It tells people, "There goes a Sikh of the Guru! There goes a person with purity and piety, who stands for something. There is the Khalsa." – SSS Harbhajan Singh Khalsa – March 25, 1990
13 Responses to “Simran – Remembering…”
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you’ve been blogging very actively lately.
just wanted to say thanks for that.
see you soon.
Ek Ong Kaar Sat Naam
Guruka Singh
You wrote: “Simran becomes a state of mind. It is not something you do, it is something you are. It is the state of never forgetting your True Identity – being one with the One in everyone and everything.â€
I completely agree with you that Naam Simran is not about chanting. Simran is about living as One with the One (Truth.)
“Truth is higher than everything; but higher still is truthful living. ||5||†Guru Nanak p. 62
However there are few misunderstanding about Japji in your article.
Mul Mantra is not part of Japji. It stands alone as its own Bani, ending with “gur prasaadh ||.â€
There really are no commands in the Guru Granth. The word Jap is not a command but the title of the Bani, Japji.
We are not commanded to Jap (chant)
aadh sach jugaadh sach ||
hai bhee sach naanak hosee bhee sach ||1||
nor is it a Mantra. This a Salok, followed by 38 pauris and a final Salok.
Also, Japji, is at the beginning of the Guru Granth because of its importance. Japji was written much later in Guru Nanak’s life, probably when he was living at Kartapur. Guru Granth is not an explanation of Japji but Japji is a crystallization of Guru Nanak’s Banis.
Chardi Kalaa
Amar Prakash Singh
Amar Prakash Singh Ji – This is just a matter of opinion That’s okay, there are many opinions. I choose not to engage in arguments or justifications about Gurbani. I simply love it and revel in it. You are certainly entitled to your opinion.
Guru Fateh!
…..G
I really liked this information ,for i have learned and understood somthing.
very nicely written.
Thanks
Jagbir Singh
Guruka Singh Ji, the information in the link you provided in your response to Amar Prakash Singh Ji is fantastic. It really clears a lot up. I had actually never heard of the controversy surrounding the Mool Mantar. And I also learned a bit about the origins of the Udasis, which is quite important information considering, er, "other" debates in Sikhi.
;-)
Fateh!
Ek Ong Kaar Sat Naam
Kourtney
I can see by your Blog, that you are new to all of this. I can assure you that this is way more important than mere opinions, as Guruka Singh would like you to believe.
It’s all about going back to Guru Granth and understanding what Guru Nanak and the others were talking about. It is all about living a life of truth, Sat. It has nothing to do with meaningless rituals and chanting mantras. In Sikhi a mantra is a lesson to be understood and applied to your life and not something to be chant for some mystical result.
I agree with one thing that is presented in the article that Guruka Singh referenced and that is that the SGPC and its Rehit have no understanding about what Guru Nanak was talking about.
However the so called Sampardahs are really not a group that has any understanding either.
Sri Chand was the son of Guru Nanak. If he had any understanding about what his father was teaching, he would have been named successor to Guru Nanak. But he didn’t and Angad became the next Guru. The Udasis are not Sikhs. They wander around as Sadhus, which is totally contrary to what Guru Nanak taught. In fact, some would contend that Sri Chand was the first Sikh “traitor.”
The Nirmalas have developed into a quagmire of Babas, who have become like Gurus. If you are aware of the Golden Temple replica, you will understand these people are not someone you would look to for inspiration.
The other groups, like the Nihangs and Damdama Takhasal have even more outlandish rehits and developed over time into nothing more than a “cult of thugs.”
So before you take anyone’s word for anything, including my own, please read and study the Guru Granth. Get the word from the “horse’s mouth,” so to speak.
I wish you well on your spiritual journey.
Chardi Kalaa
Amar Prakash Singh
I absolutely LOVE this blog. I learn sooo much when log onto these sites (Sikhnet + Mrsikhnet) they are an inspiration and a brilliant way to wake people up. I really wonder what Sri Singh Sahib was really like? Has anybody met him? i mean i know the guys in New Mexico have but really what was he like? what was it like in his presence? His intepretation of Bani and thier (the American Sikhs) way of thinking is best way in opinion and every video I see of Guruka Singh (or email) and Yogi Bhajan changes my life and attitude. AWESOME!!
WaheGuru Ji Ka Khalsa WaheGuru Ji Ki Fateh
i really thanks you for making clear what the Simran is? you made many illusions diappeared that are in many folks.
once gain thanks very much
Simran as described By A Gurmukh-
Y u can, but always remember Guru Nanak with loving passion, as a mother remembers her child, though thoroughly busy. You should be very particular in doing Simran regularly, even for a few minutes, in the morning on waking up and at night when going to sleep. Also try to snatch out or steal minutes or moments for Simran, when walking, driving, bathing, dressing and doing other odd works. It is a matter of your persisting efforts with single-purposeness and intense longing and hunger for Nam .
3. Being capable of active divinity in inspirational touch with the Divine Spirit, is –
‘ nam Japna repeating His Name. Simran or Remembrances is ‘ Love of God’ in action. His Name is He himself. The Word ‘ WahegurU ’ is God.
(a) With the word on our tongue, God is in our Voice.
(b) With the Word in our mind, God is in our Mind.
(c) With the Word in our soul, God is in our Soul.
We may thus find the ‘ Infinite’ in Man, and Man in the ‘ Infinite ’.
4. Simran of some kind, no one can escape, as the mind is always thinking, remembering or doing Simran of ‘ something’, on which he has set his mind. It may be the face of woman or man, friend, an object, some desire, ambition, even greed or lust, which he is always remembering or repeating to himself. If not God, the spirit of the evil fills him and possesses him. We just have to change the object of Simran, i.e. from worldly things to Divine Spirit or ‘ Nam’.
(a) ‘ Simran’ of God is the highest state of Love, which gives True Divine Life.
(b) ‘ Simran’ is the true builder – slow and silent architect of the Soul.
(c) ‘ Simran’ is the ascent to the Moral and Spiritual Life.
(d) ‘ Simran’ is companionship of angles invisible that rejoice seeing you naming HIM.
(e) ‘ Simran’ is seeing God’s Glory, feeling it, drinking it, swallowing and becoming a song and prayer, a flame of love – personified.
(f) ‘ Simran’ is beating a track, and in due time, it will permeate through your mind and soul – deeper and deeper into your soul, and in the process, overpower and overwhelm the worldly spirit of evil.
(g) ‘ Simran will gradually but surely supervene and become effortless and spontaneous, like the emanation of fragrance from the flower.
5. The incessant chant of ‘ vwihgurU ’ eventually transports you to the Divine Realms.
6. ( inj G r ), where angles come and form above your head a Canopy with their wing In this state of Divine Consciousness, the inner mind or soul is incessantly doing‘ Simran’ and the outer mind carries out the usual mundane duties. Thus a balance of ‘ Mind and Soul’ -‘ sahaj’ -‘ worldly activity’ and ‘ Divine Simran’ is developed.
6. ‘ NAM’ is the highest prize or goal of life, according to Gurbani, and naturally you have to pay the highest price in hard labor, persistent efforts, faith, devotion, service and Love. The one and the only way to achieve this supreme and blissful Divine State of Consciousness is ‘ SIMRAN’ – with the help, guidance and in the company of Enlightened Souls.
7. So, my dear child, don’t despair or get sad – all is well, since you have been blessed with the intense feeling of faith, devotion, longing and Love of the Guru.
8. I assure you, Guru Nanak is always looking after you, and helping and guiding you, like a loving Mother. So, whenever you get sad or depressed, call out
‘ DhangurU nanak – ‘ vwaheguru’ just as Baby in distress calls to the Mother.
9. I do agree with you that every person has a nucleus of soul in him, which can be developed into a full blooming Soul with the help and guidance of Enlightened Souls.
10. DHAN GURU NANAK-DHAN GURU NANAK
See link for a info on what simran means in accordance to gurbani :http://www.brahmbungadodra.org/Downloads/LekhPunjabi/110.pdf
For More info please visit :http://www.brahmbungadodra.org/GurbaniVicharPunjabi.aspx
great post thank you :) i will try and involve more simran and less jap in my life :)
I absolutely agree with all comments, specially S. Amar Prakash Singh, but it is my request that it would have been better for all beloveds of Guru, if they justified the concepts with appropriate Shabads from Guru Granth Sahib. Thanks Daasan Daas Jagjeet Singh.
Waheguru ji ka khalsa waheguru ji ki fateh ji..
As above said that simran is the state of min. It is what we are. . Can you tell me how can i be aware of my inner conciousness, I mean how can i reach that state where simran automaticaly keeps on running in my mind .right now i dont feel that so .
Is that i should start from Jaap first , and one day will automaticaly reach that simran state?????
Ek Ong Kaar Sat Naam ji
one place you wrote "Simran has no other evaluation except its own self-generating power. A man without Simran is just a monkey on the tree" can you explain how????????? "just a monkey on the tree"
thanx n rgds
anvy raj