THE TEACHINGS OF THE MASTERS

 

Without the Word, Sound or Eternal Song, the soul sees not.  Where could she go? As he cannot fathom the mystery of "Word" she is wandering from place to place.

KABIR SAHIB

Mind hankereth after evil; though the Word the Master restraineth it.

GURU TEG BAHADUR

Though the medium of the Word, soul doth cross the endless ocean of matter.  Lowly Nanak, therefore, glorifies His Naam (the Word). *99

The Word is both earth and ether.  These had their being through the Word.  This Word expressed itself in other aspects as well.  The whole creation sprang up after the Word.  O Nanak, the endless word is reverberating in each heart.  *100

The all-pervading Word has attracted all my mind.  What else have I to think of? Communion of the soul with the Word creates everlasting Bliss.  At-one-ment with the Lord procures the Essence of Joy and Peace.  *101

I am emancipated.  The God-man has unfettered me.

Though the communion of soul with the Word, I have gained the resplendent seat of honor.  O Nanak! the All-pervading Naam or the Word dwelleth in the hearts of all.  The Company of the Gurumukhs procures communion with it.  *102

Far off, on the other shore, is my Beloved.  The God-man's Word alone carries the soul across.  In the company of the saints, man is in bliss and never repents.  *103

How can the ignorant get to the principle of union of soul with the Word?  Without communion with the Word, soul comes and goes.  O Nanak! the Gurumukh who is himself emancipated, is met by the merciful Writ of the Lord.  *104

GURU NANAK

The creation and the ultimate dissolution of the universe is caused through the Word.  Again, through the Word, it takes its existence anew.  *105

GURU AMAR DAS

By good luck, the Lord Consort has become ours.

The Endless Song (the Word), resounding every-where gives a clue to His Court.  *106

The Word made all the earthly and heavenly systems.  *107

GURU ARJAN

He is the true saint, who talks about the secret of the Divine Word (Eternal Sound).  Having scrutinized the Unknowable and  the unthinkable, he has realized the Bani (the Eternal Sound).

TULST DAS

Word is the lock and Word is the key thereto,

With the chains of the Word, all are bound.

The Lord resideth in the form of the Word,

I bow my head at His Feet.

DOOLAN SAHIB

Ever since I heard the Limitless Divine Song (Anhad) reverberating throughtout,

The indriyas (organs) have become tired of going out,

And the mind has shed all its ramifications,

All desires have been satisfied; like a madman, I have lost myself in the Word, and obtained complete oneness with it.

CHARAN DAS

The Sound of the Word is the prime cause of all.  It is also the be-all the end-all.  The three regions and the fourth were made by It.  The Word and the Spirit are of the same origin and both spring from the essence of the Nameless One.  It is both the cause and the effect, and all were created by It.  The Word is the preceptor as well as the disciple and is resounding in the heart of everyone.  The Word is water and it is the fish also.  Kabir speaks only of this Word.  Nanak and Tulsi proclaimed the same Truth.  The king and the minister, both are Word personified.  Radha Swami (the Lord of the Spirit) says: My brave son, listen to it.

SWAMI SHIVDAYAL SINGH

 

3.  A Study in Naam

the Word (Sound) is echoing and re-echoing in the whole of creation. There is no place without it.  It is resounding in the living temple of the human body.

 

The riches of Naam are lasting and inexhaustible

The treasure-house of Naam is perfectly secure and eternally the same:

While worldly riches come and go, the riches of Naam are eternal and everlasting, fir cannot destroy It nor can It be stolen.  *108

GURU AMAR DAS

Therefore it is said:

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal;

But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither month nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal;

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.  *109

CHRIST

I am possessed of the treasure of Naam,

Whosoever gets It, is emancipated,

It can neither be stolen nor destroyed,

It is tax-free and is not affected by the ravages of time.  *110

GIRI NANAK

Attributes of Naam

The fountain of Naam is eternal and perennially full.  It springs from Sant Satguru (One established in Truth) and becomes manifest in a Gurumukh (One who scrupulously follows the teachings of the Guru).  He who realizes and experiences It within himself becomes truly blessed.

We have the treasture of Naam in abundance,

Satguru transmits his own Life-current,

May he live eternally.  *111

GURU RAM DAS

Word is an inexhaustible treasure and resides in the heart of a Gurumukh.  *112

GURU ARJAN

The riches of Naam never run out and are inestimable,

With the gift of Naam one verily sines bright

And becomes the knower of Truth.  *113

GURU ARJAN

Whosever drinketh of the water that I shall give him, shall never thirst; but the water I shall give him shallbe in him a well of water, springing up into everlasting life.  *114

CHRIST

The wealth of Naam is truly great and is surging everywhere:

Verily, verily the wealth of Naam is truly great,

It is surging full and free within each individual.  *115

GURU NANAK

Nannm is Hukam and Shabd:

He who attunes with the Will of God (Controlling Power of Naam) is truly acceptable,

The Master's Shabd gives a clue to and is indicative of the Naam.  *116

GURU AMAR DAS

Naam is the heritage of the devotees; Guru is the Treasure house and Sikh the dealer in this merchandise:

The devotee's true capital is the treasure of Naam.

This he spends quite freely.  *117

GURU ARJAN

Verily, verily, blessed is themerchant that deals in Naam,

For his disciples buy this commodity and through Shabd cross over the Sea of Life.  *118

GURU RAM DAS

God is truly the King of Naam:

Hari Naam is thy crest jewel,

Thou has a monopoly in this respect and Thy disciples trade in It.  *119

Naam is the greatest support for ensouled bodies; Naam is the only prop.  Devotees have a friend in Him and are able to get single-minded devotion through the agency of Naam.

O Nanak! Naam is the mainstay of the Jivas, and without It there is no support,

Let the universe appear and disappear but one who

Is devoted to a Gurumukh remains steadfast like a rock in the changing panorama of life.  *120

GURU RAM DAS

The Name of the Lord is a tonic for the mind,

By its use the Pranas and the senses get steady,

Naam is my all in all and everything to me,

He is my constant friend and guide and helps me to safely cross over the "Sea of Life."  *121

GURU ARJAN

The True Naam is my staff for It helps me always and satiates all my cravings.  *122

Listen ye, O saints, says Nanak, and make friends with naam for It is his only Pole-star.  *123

GURU AMAR DAS

Thy name alone is a great blessing for the world,

For me It is a sure support and a sheet anchor.  *124

GURU NANAK