SAIL ON THE SATGURU’S SHIP

 

There is a hymn of Guru Nanak in which he presents a vivid picture of the world drifting into illusion and oblivion, and how the individual  can be rescued from this drastic plight, if he so desires:

 

The ship laden with poison (Maya)

Has been drifting on the limitless ocean;

On no side can the shore be seen.

 

He describes the world as a huge ocean without beginning or end. Cosmogonists have made numerous statements regarding when and how it was created, but no definite information has ever been established. Some say it was created four million years ago – but that only goes back to the last dissolution. There were many other dissolutions and grand dissolutions before that, so who can say when creation started? So Guru Nanak describes it as a vast, dangerous ocean containing mighty breakers and treacherous whirlpools. And what is the cargo of the ships that sail in this ocean? Poison – and every ship overladen with it. one can picture each physical form as a ship or a boat drifting aimlessly on the vast ocean of life, laden with the poison of Maya.

 

Maya or illusion, is just another name for forgetfulness; and the cause of all our illusion is the body. We should have been the controller of our whole being, but instead we became the body – so much so that we now cannot differentiate between the body and it's controller. Are we the house, or the indweller of the house? But although we may rarely think of it, there will come a day when we have to leave the house. Even when we take a body to the cremation ground, and perhaps light the fire with our own hands yet we do not stop to think that the same even will happen to us one day.

 

While drifting on the ocean of life, overcome with illusion and forgetfulness, attachments develop. When the indweller is identified with the body, so much so that he forgets himself and considers himself as a part of the world itself, it is but a natural sequence of events that many attachments develop. Birth upon birth, he tosses about in the storms of life. sometimes the soul goes under – sometimes it rises to the surface  but it can see no end to this existence. Just consider: one knows nothing of the past, or of what will happen in the future. One is just going wherever the current carries one. The ocean of mind contains limitless waves upon waves. Sometimes they are waves of enjoyment, sometimes of anger, or lust, or greed, attachment and ego. And who can see this true condition of affairs? Only he who stands on the edge for he who is drifting is not conscious of what is happening, has no awareness of what is to come. Learned or illiterate, rich or poor, cultured or uncouth, yet all are in the same position. How to get out of that condition will be revealed as the hymn proceeds.

 

It is not a question of caste, creed or color. It simply concerns all souls who are embodied in the physical form. Man is pushed from pillar to post – you can see for yourself that if a wave of enjoyment comes along we quickly fall into it. we are steeped in anger, jealousy, backbiting, all kinds of viciousness and prejudice, and indulgence in the condemnation of others. We are drenched in whatever color that comes along – dancing to the tune of the moment, saturated in forgetfulness. God is forgotten, self is forgotten – we just drift along aimlessly.

 

There is no compass or pilot on our ship,

And the ocean is wild and terrifying.

 

This condition is terrifying – like the danger from a huge hooded black cobra. It is a sea of fear. On board a ship, two things are most necessary: a captain, and some radar or equipment to guide the ship away from rocks and shoals. Without these, what hope is there of saving the ship? It can never be free from dangers, and if one does not realize this today, then tomorrow or the next day one will see it in dire distress.

 

Baba (God), the world is trapped in a huge net.

 

Without a captain or radar, there is no way of escaping the net. A Persian Saint says that God has placed us on a plank of wood in the middle of the ocean, saying, “Beware! Do not allow even your clothes to get wet!” how can we possibly avoid getting wet? We will very easily drown, unless some help comes along. We have no idea how to save ourselves; in fact, we are not even aware of the danger we are in, being poisoned through and through with illusion. Even those with a little consciousness cannot help themselves; excuse me. then is there any hope in life?

 

There is need of someone to assist the distressed souls – to help them out and guide them onward – a boatman, even an oar, but they should reach the shore safely somehow. When the true Master's come into the world, they see the souls in these dire straits and their prayer is: “Oh Lord, they are very badly trapped. Is there any way to release them?” if for a brief moment a man turns his attention from illusion and recognizes his condition, then in the suffering, torment and agony of heart, he cries out, “Oh God, take me out of here!” such a sincere and heartfelt cry reaches the Lord; but the appeal should be true, we should realize where we stand – soul that we are, living like a log of wood, helpless, and floundering into further danger at every step. With this realization, the prayer goes forth from the depths of the heart – without any effort – and then God makes it possible to meet that saving lifeline, the Guru, the boatman who will guide the poor soul out of the torment.

 

Brothers, can you yourselves take your ship to the shore? How will you swim across this vast worldly ocean? When there is a storm at sea, the entire responsibility of the safety of the ship, passengers and cargo lies with the captain. Even at the point of sinking, each passenger is given a lifebelt, and the captain will do his best to save each and every one. Similarly in this ship of the physical form, some competent Master is desired to sit therein, to guide us and help us, and to be with  us constantly. He is a great knower of the world with it's snares and pitfalls, and is competent to pilot any number of souls across in safety. Through God’s physical law, oxygen assists the fire to burn, and this same law of supply and demand has been at work throughout Nature ever since the world began; so when you meet a Guru, he showers his mercy and blessing upon you. observe how the child forming in the mothers womb has all it's need supplied by Nature; even the milk is ready and waiting for it's arrival. Those who are born in the future will enjoy the same attentive service. So even the tiniest awakening and earnest desire to escape from this intolerable condition in the world will bring help from the Lord himself.

 

There is an anecdote about Hazrat Juniad Sahib, who was a perfect Master. He was riding his mare one day, when she suddenly refused to continue in the direction he was leading her, so he thought, well this is all Gods land, I will allow her to go where she wills and he gave the mare it's head. She galloped like the wind and after a while stopped in a valley beside a hill. The Saint dismounted, musing that he would see what was gods will. A man was sitting nearby, so he asked him, “who are you?” the man replied, “I am sitting here in this lonely place out of disappointment and helpless, for I have searched everywhere for a true Master to give me a connection with God but I could not find one; and I decided that I would go to the wilderness where no man could find me, and leave my fate in the hands of Nature.” Hazrat Junaid Sahib smiled and graciously put the man on the true path. When the was leaving, he gave his new disciple his address, saying, “whenever you feel the need, you may come to me.” the disciple replied, “Why? When I was in need you came, and whatever power brought you here will bring you again.”

 

God sees and knows everything including which child is truly yearning for him. The true cry for help comes from the heart, not  from the tongue. The loud cries form the tongue do not reach the Lord. The arrow which is drawn back to the chest will reach the target when it is released but that which is drawn limply will not go very far. He who has given salvation to millions will bring us to the feet of the Guru who places this tiny boat of ours on the mighty ship of Naam. On very large ships, many tons of wood, iron, or stone can be carried without danger of the ship sinking; so the Guru puts you on a spiritually unsinkable ship and he himself is the pilot.

 

The words, “The true Naam”, indicate that there must also be some Naam or name which is not true. God has many names, for he is known by those names which the rishis, munis and Master's gave. Some called Him. Some called him Brahm, some called him Allah, some God, and numerous other names. The God-realized people gave these names to help humanity to remember God. they are words denoting the Lord by which the remembrance of him draws us closer but they do not connect us to him. They are but names denoting the one power. Water for instance is known by various words – jal, neer, aqua, aab, etc. – according to different languages, but they are mere words; they are not the element itself. We can quench our thirst when we come in contact with that element which the word denotes.

 

Repetition of words will not give us realization but is necessary to help our Simran and prayer for we have been doing the worlds Simran and have become the very image of the world. By doing the lords outer Simran and have become the very image of the world. By doing the lords outer Simran it will help us to forget the world and remember the Lord. The sweet remembrance of God can cut off the remembrance of the world. But words alone are only a help; they are not a contact. Iron can only be cut by iron or something that is stronger.

 

The word Ram comes form Rama, which means “that which is permeating in all.” So the word Ram, and Ram himself, are different. One is a word, the other is the Lord himself; that power which is vibrating everywhere. So the Master's puts the seeker on the ship of the true Naam, that is above all senses. It is not an outer subject; one must withdraw, invert, and rise above the senses where one receives the divine link with the God – a power which has many different phases of work.

 

What are the waves which oscillate in the ocean of mind? This happens because the senses are boiling over. from the eyes alone, 83 percent of all impressions enter our being, and 14 percent through the ears. the remaining three percent enters through other sense organs. These impressions through the senses are so severe that they are perpetually at boiling rate; so our first lesson is to learn how to control the senses. When the senses are in control, only then will the mind be tranquil. When the mind is stilled the intellect also becomes still, and the soul can have connection with the oversoul. If you make three holes in a container, fill the container with muddy water, and then force air through three holes, you will see that the water will churn and bubble. But if you put a little alum in that water, it will become crystal clear and still. So the alum of Naam will cut through the dirt of birth upon birth. In the Jap Ji Sahib, Guru Nanak says, when the hand, feet and body are besmeared, they are washed clean with water; when the clothes get dirty and polluted, they are cleansed with the soap; when ones mind gets defiled with sin, it can be purified only by communion with Naam. He also says, Naam has created Khand and Brahmand. Also the whole world was created by Naam, but without the Satguru there is no connection. Naam is the power by which the whole of creation came into being, and that powers name is Naam. Those who become absorbed in Naam returned home rejoicing. O Nanak their faces were radiant with freedom. through these radiant souls others gain freedom also. So there is a vast difference between merely repeating the names of God, and actually getting connected to the God power.

 

By repeating the Naam, millions of suns will shine forth. But this does not happen by merely repeating his name. In that Naam, which is the God power, there is music vibrating also, so contact with Naam is proven by the experience of these two aspects of the God power: light and sound. And if the soul rides on that Naam, where will it be taken? Back to it's own source, the souls source and the source of Naam. Understand that God himself is nameless; Naam is that divine link in each and every being. The nine hidden treasures of Amrit are the name of the Lord; in this body does it reside. And the giver of these nine hidden treasures is the same form, the human body. When he makes inversion possible, the restless waves of mind are stilled and all is peace and calmness.

 

Why does the mind run around in outer things? Because it enjoys the taste of them. These enjoyments are mostly experienced through attractive sights and sounds: beauty, music, singing, etc. Naam also has these attributes – beautiful sights and beautiful sounds inside, of the very highest expression. The higher the plane the more beauty there is – Suksham, karan, and Beyond. The sound becomes more and more melodies. Seeing and hearing all this, the mind becomes attached to the higher expressions of life, and ceases to desire the lower pursuits. When the taste comes this taste is not to ones liking. So first stop the outer waves, and you will get the inner taste of Naam, through which the mind will be stilled and the incessantly discriminately intellect will also be stilled. out of this perfect stillness, the knowledge of self is revealed. When knowledge of the self is gained, then the subject of the overself, what and who he is, is taken up.

 

One Muslim fakir says, close the eyes, ears and mouth; if you thereby do not realize what God is, then you may laugh. In gurbani it is written, he who controls the ten senses (five outer and five inner) in his soul is the true light. the ten senses are the five organs of enjoyments – viz.. eyes, ears, etc. – and five of knowledge through them. Whosoever controls then, so will the light shine forth in him. Close off the outgoing faculties, withdraw inwardly to the still point at the seat of the soul, and you will see the light of God. because your attention is outgoing, always running away in outer expressions, you cannot see the light within. Kabir Sahib says, she who has forgotten herself in the nine outlets will never realize the priceless treasure. These nine outlets are those of the physical form: two eyes, two ears, two nostrils, mouth, genital organ and rectum. After suffering so much misery in the world, one begins to seek some safety and refuge; and when this true call comes out of the depths of the heart, God comes to the rescue. Gurumukh gives salvation to millions through the one and only Naam. Millions have been saved, which for him is a simple matter; but when it happens to us, it is magnificent even in our lives.

 

Naam has many names, although it is the one power: Nad (Creator of fourteen regions), Udgit, Akash-bani, and various others; but the Master's have called it Naam or Shabd. The Muslim fakirs have called it Kalma, and they also say that through Kalma were the fourteen regions created. The Christians call it the “word”. Zoroastrian named it Sraosha. But all these names denote the same power which is the truth, and the Satguru is that personality in whom truth is personified. He has a physical form, but he has become the mouthpiece of the Lord. Naam is the truth (eternal), and the world is an untruth (changing). At present we cannot see that Naam unless we get a connection with it, but we can see the Satguru who lives as we do in the world, but who is word made flesh and who shows his sympathy and great mercy, and prepares us for emancipation from the worldly life.

 

So take your place in the Satguru’s ship, the ship which is made of that which the Satguru made, the ship which can take us across the treacherous ocean of life. Brahm speaks in the shadow of the human form without which, how could he speak? There is God, and there is God manifested in the physical form, which are two things, but which are the same. That which is God manifested in man is the Satguru at whose feet we may sit and receive the priceless connection with the holy Naam. It will take us across the ocean of life – drag us back to the source – and is the only power able to do so. Something like a powerful motor vessel, it is strong enough to ride any strength of wave which looms in the path. Those who have entered the Satguru’s ship have such connection that can never sink in this world.

 

There is no need of air, water or fire to drive this ship.

 

No physical or other fuel is necessary to drive this ship – it is it's own power, driven automatically. Now don’t start wondering what kind of ship it is, what shape or model; this is merely a way to describe the Naam power and it's functions. The Satguru who is Naam personified does have a physical form; but at the same time he himself is above it. he is not the body; he has a body.

 

Outer ships are on coal, wood, oil and sometimes electricity. Electricity is the lowest expression of Naam power; soul is the highest then prana (vital airs), then electricity. They are all actually lower degrees of the expressions of Naam. The whole world runs on the same power but the soul can be connected directly to it and can return to him by contact with Naam or Shabd, by rising up above the senses, above the six centers, and being dragged on and Beyond to the source of all life, which is God.

 

Swami Ji Maharaj says, without the Shabd there is no way no release from this earthen vessel. Imprisoned in the body, caught in the net of illusion he says that only the Shabd can take us above all this. There are two kinds of Shabd: outer and inner. The former keeps us more firmly imprisoned in the world by singing holy songs and playing sacred music, etc. the inner Shabd is gained through the Guru. The yogi, after transcending the lower centers, comes up to the agya chakra and there contacts the Anhad Shabd (perpetual sound) and then goes ahead. Beyond this are this other stages: Sar Shabd, Sat Shabd and so on. We, as the image of the body, cannot rise above by our own efforts but when the Guru gives a special sitting, he brings the soul above the senses and directly connects it to the Shabd power, which is experienced in the two aspects of light and sound. From that moment on, the student is sustained by that Naam or Master power.

 

Wherever that true Naam is, that will take you across the ocean of life.

What is the truth? O Nanak consider a true man as the truth. a person who is true has become the truth itself; his name is the true name. Any soul who comes in contact with him will cross the ocean of life safely. Hafiz sahib says, No one knows where my beloved’s abode is. but yes, the sound of the bell reaches us from there. We should catch hold of that and start our auspicious journey. The attention or soul has become one with physical form, but the Guru separates it, that the God into-expression power may be experienced. In the Ramayana Tulsidas has highly praised the Naam. He says, the Naam is Beyond all my praise; even Ram connote sing it's praises. Even Lord rama cannot praise the Naam, for it's attributes cannot be described in words. It is also said, for ages have you wrangled in philosophy. But whatever was said, yet he remained that which he is. Rishis and Saints who have come have said that God is this, God is that – but the subject has never been completed. Those who praised him got tired, and their song remained unfinished.

 

Beyond all explanations and description, Naam though in each being must be experienced by rising above the senses – the senses which in their perpetual oscillation are sinking us farther and farther into illusory oblivion. It is a man problem; there is no question of caste, creed or color. We all have the same malady; that of a drowning man. those who succeeded in crossing this ocean all did so through one method only. This law has not changed so far, nor will change in the future for it existed before creation began.

 

The God realization people stand on the edge of the world and survey the scene with an all encompassing eye, but the poor people who are being tossed about on the ocean of torment, what can they know of the true situation? Literate, illiterate, singers, lecturers, readers of the holy books – all the drifting in the sea of life. lacking in realization, they have no knowledge of their futile condition. A sleeping man cannot waken another; who will awaken those who sleep at the level of mind and senses? One can become learned through the help of a learned, and a doctor can teach another medicine; an engineer can teach engineering and so on. It follows naturally that only a God-realized person can give an experience of the God power.

 

The Gurumukh has gone across;

He has embraced the truth.

 

He is now clearly stating who can cross this ocean of life. A Gurumukh is the mouthpiece of the Guru. He who becomes a gurumukh will never be a manmukh (mouthpiece of the mind) again. Guru Nanaks advice is to become a gurumukh. The Guru has given you a berth on his ship – go and occupy it, and make the utmost use of the golden opportunity. Whether awake or sleep, you are on that ship; all trails and tribulations are the worry of the captain (the Guru or power that propels it). all difficulties can be removed or overcome with his help; each and every passenger is protected by his power that is always overhead. We may at present be seen attached to money, children, property, friends, but we will become attached to the truth itself. This mind is one wherever it may be attached; either in the Guru’s bhakti, or in the worldly enjoyments. To become attached to the Guru is like being near God, for truly God-realized persons are not like mere so called gurus. There is so much abundance of these in the worldly today – you can pick up a stone and find a Guru, Sant or sadhu underneath.

 

We should seek enlightenment like Raja Janak sought from Ashtavakra: from a personality who can separate spirit from matter, give the soul contact with the oversoul, and teach the secret of transcending the body, giving a firsthand experience of the science through opening the inner eye. That type of personality can take one across the ocean of life. the truth is already there within you; just withdraw yourself from outer things.

 

When Bulleh Shah went to Shan Inayat, who was by worldly trade a gardener, he asked him, “Master, how can we realize God?” Shah Inayat Sahib replied, “just uproot it from here and plant it there.” It means that one should withdraw from outside and concentrate inside. No matter who it may be, everyone must cross the ocean of life safely. Guru Amar Das Ji himself described a manmukh in this way : he is a manmukh who has not recognized the Shabd; he has never known the fear of the Guru. Manmukhs are all those who are the mouthpiece of mind and senses: they have no contact with the inner sound, and their consciousness remains always at the sense level. Even if they happen to meet a God-realized person, they have no respect awe or attraction toward him. It makes no difference whether they are illiterate.

 

Births and deaths, coming and going in the world are all erased when we get the connection with Naam. Coming and going is finished when the light is connected to the light. our light – the soul – becomes connected to the all light, which is the oversoul or God. who can continue having a taste for worldly things when our attention enjoys the Nectar of the Lord? Our light loses itself in that light all inferior tastes gradually fade away. The Guru works in the world through the power of God’s perpetual light, which is in each one of us and which is brought out into stronger expression by the Guru. He is above the law of birth and death and is competent to release our souls from the same cycle.

 

For all ills, the only cure is Naam;

Through Gurumat (the Guru’s teaching), sehaj state (Beyond attributes) is easily attained;

Up to the third plane the way is difficult, manmukh remains in illusion;

The fourth stage, Beyond Sehaj is attained with the ease by the Gurumukh.

 

In the first three stages, progress is very difficult but by obeying the Guru one can cross these and reach the fourth stage where one attains the status of gurumukh. From there one becomes the very image of truth, with the gurus help because that drop which is our soul, when plunging into the ocean of the oversoul, becomes fully awakened in him. But this cannot happen unless one first crosses the three stages below. When Lord Krishna unfolded the Gita to Arjuna he told him, O Arjuna, transcend the Three attributes for they are all regions of birth and death. What is this gurumat which can take us above all this? The Gurbani describes two kinds of Gurmat, the first being outer and deals with ethical and social teachings for a righteous way of life; and each religion has it's own methods. The inner gurumat however, is one for all. It also says in Gurbani, O Nanak to unravel the gurumat become one with the all pervading Naam. The inner gurumat starts with a connection to Naam. Man is a social being while dwelling here in the world, and correspondingly must live within some social formation or religion and he should do so in a pure and chaste manner; but if he wants true spiritual progress, he should also sit at the feet of some realized soul and board the ship of Naam.

 

Like a snake in a basket, mind poisons the whole being;

You receive that which was written as a reaction of ones past, so who is to blame?

 

The human form is likened to a basket in which the serpent mind poisons in a thousand different ways, in a thousand forms of bad habits. We have therefore become very poisonous beings, forgetting our purity and correct understanding. When a snake bits, the senses become dull – the person does not know what he is doing and this is our true condition. We can only be saved from the effects of this poison by throwing it out of our system. When we are receiving the due deserts of our own past actions, can we blame anyone else? The blame I cannot pass to another, it rests with my own karmas. Another way of expressing the same thing is, as ye sow, so shall ye reap.

 

Whoever listens to the gurumukhs garar gains tranquility of mind.

 

When one becomes a gurumukh, one is truly capable of listening to the gurus mantra. And what is the Guru’s mantra? The Naam. By listening to Naam you will enjoy the tranquility and the protection from poisoning; further more, the existing poison will leave the system. Free from the poisonous traits, a man returns to his right senses. Go then and sit at the feet of a God realized person and hear his Garar. It is said that Lord Krishna overcame the hydra headed serpent on the bed of the river Jumna with the sound of his flute. It is synonymous with the serpent mind and the Naam power.

 

Khatri, Brahmin, Sudra, Vaish, there is a common teaching for all castes;

Whoever repeats Naam in this Kali yuga, O Nanak will get salvation.

All the nine supernatural powers, grace from the Amrit, lie in this human form;

Those who got connection did so with the grace of God.

O Nanak they get true happiness in whose house the perpetual sound vibrates.

 

In the Hindu caste system there are four main sections: warriors, teachers, those in service, and farmers and merchants. No matter what the caste there is no message for all, and that is Naam. Hearing the Anahad sound, the perpetual melody, the poison leaves and mind comes under the controlling the mind which is a gigantic obstruction between us and God.

 

To capture the crocodile hook him in the net;

Through wrong understanding, you will repeat again and again.