The True Name

The 16th century was blessed with the grace of Guru Nanak Dev ji. Actually He was born in 1469 in Nanakana Saheb in Pakistan, but His glory was known to the world since 1506, at the age of 36 years. Once, Guru Nanak Dev ji along with His friends went to River Ven of Sultanpur. Diving into the river for bath, three days passed, and He did not come out of the river. Those three days were spent in Samadhi. He had gone for bath of His body but returned with the bath of His soul. On His arrival back he was not the same person. All that was old was washed away. Within Him took the birth of a New Light. As soon as one gets enlightened His life is divided into two parts – initially there was a search, a longing for knowing the Ultimate and after being one with the Reality there is a need for sharing, for letting others also have the experience of Infinite.
These words of Guru Nanak Dev ji, reflect His Inner Joy. It is like after the awaited scorching heat of summer, you experience the rain or after the dark night comes the illuminating rays of the Sun. Guru Nanak Dev ji says:
“Ek Omkar Satnam, Karta Purukh,
Nirbhau Nirvair Akal Murat,
Ajuni Saibam, Guru Prasad.”
Each of His words is a Veda. ‘Ek’ means one. All is said in this single word. ‘One’ stands for what Islam calls ‘Toheed’, what Upanishads call ‘Adwait’. Saint Namdev says:
“Ek Anek Viyapak Purak…”
Truly, it is One, but it seems like many. Wherever I See, I can see only IT. The first declaration is that it is One. But what is it? It is Omkar – it is the Sound of Existence, it is the Light of Universe. It is present in the form of consciousness. It is the energy prevailing everywhere. It is manifested in the form of Bliss. In the real sense, it is Omkar which is the truth. By whatsoever name you may call it, let it be tree, bird, man or animal. All these are just names given so as to differentiate but truly speaking it is Omkar residing inside and outside. Guru Nanak Dev says – it is all the Leela of Omkar. Only Om is existing, and nothing else. Only the ocean is existing. All others are just its waves. Guru Nanak says:
“Ek Omkar Satnam, Karta Purakh”
Once Meera goes to Vrindavan in a temple, where an ascetic, called Gusai, is the chief priest. Gusai says, “Don’t you know that the entry of females is prohibited here?” Meera laughs and replies, “Are you a male? I always knew that only Lord Krishna is a male.” Gusai acknowledges his mistake and falls at the feet of Meera, realizing that the male is only one, Govinda. Only He is the doer.
“Ek Omkar Satnam, Karta Purakh, Nirbhau, Nirvair...”
He is fearless. Remember one who does not fear does not make othesr fear too. So there is no reason to be in fear of God. He is ‘Nirvair’ i.e He does not have enmity with anyone. ‘Akal Murat’ – the world that exists is moving in the zone of time, what is today will not be there tomorrow or was not there yesterday. The form will be destroyed one day or the other. The formless that exists within the form is the actuality. He is ‘Ajuni’. Guru Nanak dev ji is giving a hint to the believers of incarnation. In those days speaking against incarnation or ‘Awtars’ was a matter of great courage. He is ‘Swayambhu’. Iit does not need a womb to be born. It is generated by itself. It does not have parents. It is not barred in the frame of time. But if it is beyond time, how can one know it? Guru Nanak Dev ji answers – ‘Guru Prasad.’ These two lines reveal the entire secret of religiousness. Whenever one gets the key of Omkar, it is only through a Living Master.
Saint Kabir says it rightly:
“Guru Pratap Ja din te jaagi,Din- Din Adhik Chali...”
It can,t happen without a Master.
Guru Amardas jee says it beautifully,
“Jiska Grah Tin Diya Tala Kunji Guru So Pai.” We have treasure within us, but it is locked and its key is given by the grace of a Master or a Guru.
There is a Haiku:
Sitting silently,
Doing Nothing,
The spring comes
And the grass grows by itself.
It indicates that mere presence of a Master leads to growing of grass by itself.
How is that Govinda?
“Aad Sach, Jugad Sach.
Hai bhi sach, Nanak ho si bi Sach.”
It is immortal, having an infinite existence.
Shankaracharya says rightly: ‘Brahma satyam, jagat mithya.’
It is the divine which is the truth All else just appears to be true. It (divine) is the truth today, it was the truth yester ages and it will be the truth for ever.
“Soche Soch Na Hovai Je sochi lakh war.”
How can people know the one having no boundaries in the frame of thinking. It is simply impossible. The divinity is beyond mind and yet we want to know it through the mind. We want to understand it through intellect, discussions, reading religious books. There are two words in Hindi – Chintan and Manan; the former means to know through information and outside knowledge and the later means to understand through one’s own experience. The divine can be explored only through experience.
Saint kabir says it similarly:
“Kya Soche Barambara,
Kya Padiye, Kya guniye, Kya ved kitaba padiye,
Pade Likhe kya hoi jo sahaj na miliye soi.”
Just merely by reading, repeating or preaching nothing will happen unless it is your own experience. Until you haven’t been friendly to omkar, it is of no use. Till the time you have not showered in water of Omkar, nothing can help you.
Guru Nanak says:
“Soche soch na ho vai je soche lakh war,
chupe chup na ho vai je lai raha livtar.”
A wonderful statement is given by Guru Nanak dev ji – doing meditation is not enough.
Our beloved Master Osho says it wonderfully – that meditation is like traveling in a boat. To get to the destination it is essential to get into it and get down of it. If not, then one will miss the goal.
Meditation is simply the cleaning of land before sowing the seeds into it. And when the seeds of Omkar are sown then will the plant of Samadhi be grown. And in this plant, blossom the flowers of Bliss, love and peace.
To be one with omkar is samadhi.