Gems of Gurbani

Guru Granth Sahib

Siddha Gosht    16

The Yogis ask Nanak’s opinion about: Air is said to be the life of mind, on what does it survive?

Acquiring knowledge is the life of an ascetic (yogi), for what shall a hermit (Siddha) employ his mind to?

Guru says: Without God O Hermit the air (breath) survives not, the thirst is not quenched unless ego departs, and the life of a hermit will find purpose if he gets ambrosial nectar by drenching himself in the love of Lord. A hermit or an adepts’ purpose is to remain satiated by the True Lord’s Name.

The yogis ask:

What is that understanding or knowledge by which one remains steady?

With what food do the mortal remains satiated?

Guru says: By learning that suffering and happiness become alike by meditating on True Lord’s Name and that serves as food to become steady in mind. That also removes fear of death from mind II 61 II

Devoid of True Guru’s Name and Word the inner strength is lost and man cannot get imbued in His Being, cannot quaff on nectar of His Name. In this confused state he is consumed by his own fire from within.

If one forgets to meditate on True Lord’s Name he has forgotten his inheritance (Guru’s belief that man has originated from Lord). If True Name is forgotten then all breath controlling exercises are futile. O Nanak by uttering the Ineffable Lord’s Name the difference between pain and happiness is lost and the Omnipresent Lord is obtained II 62 II

By obtaining Lord’s grace man is imbued with the Lord’s love.

By quaffing on the nectar of his Name man is absorbed in the True Lord.

By reflecting on Guru’s word the inner fire is quenched.

By drinking Lord’s ambrosial nectar the soul comes to peace.

Contemplating on the Truth of Lord’s existence by the grace of Guru’s word it becomes easier to cross over the world ocean.

O Nanak such people are rare who understand and contemplate on this Truth II 63 II

Yogis ask: Where is the abode of carefree mind?

Where is the abode of breath?

Where should the Lord’s word reside O Hermit Nanak so that mind’s wandering ceases?

Guru says: With god’s merciful grace one finds True Lord and the wandering mind settles down in its own home. When man eats up his self conceit he becomes immaculate and thus able to prohibit and control wandering mind II 64 II