The spiritual practice of Naam

 

The correct and accurate method of spiritual sadhna is explained by a Master-Soul at the time of initiation. The Science of Naam is coeval with creation and the most natural.  No human agency has any hand in it.  It is an eternal Kirtan or Song Celestial, which comes to a person as a free gift from a Master-soul like the free gifts of Nature such as water, air, sunshine, etc.  It involves transmitting of actual life-impulse from one to the other and comes through the grace of the Master.  At initiation, he gives some experience of rising above body-consciousness by opening the inner eye and ear to see the light of God and to hear the Sound principle.

The Sadhna of Naam is the easiest and the quickest as it is the most natural.  It is to be done with the tongue of thought.  Religious beliefs national fellings do not come in its way.  It is Sehaj Yoga and everyone irrespective of color, caste, or creed, sex or age, profession or avocation, can practice it and derive benefit from it.  It is an old old wine, but ever fresh, presented in new bottles to suit the needs of the age.  In this scientific age it is presented purely as any other science, verifiable as scientific truths are with mathematical precision.

Truth never gets old nor rusty.  *125

                                                                                   GURU AMAR DAS

It is so natural and so easy that one can take to it as a matter of routine.  It involves no intricacies and mysterious practices and one can safely go ahead on the path with ease and comfort.  It is a Grand Trunk Road to God.  One may with a little labor gather a rich harvest.  What the Rishis of old achieved with much labor extending over centuries can now be gained easily with sincere devotion from day to day, without any physical penances or tortuous practices.

To start with one has to take care to devote time regularly at fixed hours in some solitary place.  But as soon as inner experience becomes a regular feature with the aspirant, then all restrictions as to time and place drop off and one can hear the Divine Symphony all day long, even in the midst of most strenuous work, without any effort on his part.

Sleeping or awake, sitting or standing, Kabir remains ever at his post within.

                                                                                                               KABIR

With the Dhun Atmak or inner Sound Current ever reverberating audibly, spirit gets ever absorbed in it.  All his worldly acts hereafter become a part of his one interminable Sadhna.  Always in contact with the light and life of God, one lives in and fells His immanent presence.

Paramhans Ramakrishna, the saint of Dakhshineswar, when questioned by Naren (afterwards Swami Vivekananda) if he could see God, unhesitatingly declared, "Yes, my child, I see Him as plainly as I see you. " Guru Nanak says, "Nanak sees his Lord visibly."

Having once witnessed face to face the glory of God within, one becomes ever conscious of His presence.  In tune with the Infinite, whatever one does forms a part of worship. Kabir Sahib gives a beautiful pen-picture of this state:

Peerless is the natural form of meditation,

With the grace of the Master, I remain attuned all the time;

Wherever I go and whatever I do, it is all worship,

At home or abroad makes no difference to me;

Renouncing all, I listen to the Transcendental Music within,

Awake or asleep and at all hours I am deeply engrossed;

Why close the eyes, stop the ears or undergo penances,

When with open eyes I see the Lord in so many forms?

This is how Kabir leads his life and he tells this openly to all.

Beyond the realm of duality lies the region of eternal bliss.

Guru Arjan says in this context:

The Lord which cannot be described by any scripture,

Is visibly seen by Nanak permeating everywhere.  *128