by SS Sarb Nam Kaur Khalsa, Espanola NM
Winter 2016
When you think about Sikh Dharma, subtlety may not be the first thing that comes to mind. Our royal lineage inspires us to dress regally in our bana and turbans, crowned with jeweled pins, carrying swords of steel. We decorate our Gurdwaras with beautiful silks, flowers, and raiments fit for a king. However, in the sound current we can experience the subtle essence of the Guru’s presence. It is the Naad, found in the Shabad Guru, where we can bathe our souls and spirits in this divinely subtle vibration.
The technology of the Shabad Guru takes advantage of our human physiology. When we chant Gurbani and sing our Sikh hymns in the divine ragas (scales) we are able to open our chakras and our hearts in order to feel the lightness and radiance of the Guru’s presence. The subtlety of Guru’s words goes deeply into our psyches. Because the Naad touches all the tattwas (elements), we experience the vibrations on both the physical and etheric levels.
The Siri Singh Sahib explained, “Naad means the essence of all sounds. All languages contain sounds, which relate to one or more of the five elements of air, fire, water, earth, and ether. Gurbani is a perfect combination and permutation of sounds relating to all the five elements in complete balance. When Guru Arjan Dev, the fifth Guru Nanak, compiled Siri Guru Granth Sahib in 1604, he put in only those banis which were in Naad. These compositions are called Gurbani.”
The Power of Gurbani
The Siri Singh Sahib spoke of the power of Gurbani to awaken our souls to our divine destiny. He said: “The whole language of Gurbani has the power to make a person divine, just in its recitation, if done correctly. One need not be concerned with the meaning for a change in consciousness. Read Gurbani in the way Guru says it, and understand it, and you will be in such ecstasy you will not believe it!”
The key to experiencing this subtle bliss, according to the Siri Singh Sahib, is to tune in on a deep level to the sound current. He said, “You must listen to your own construction of the Gurbani. This is the technical way in Naad Yoga.”
As a Sikh Dharma Minister, I feel blessed to share with others the healing vibration of the Guru. The more I experience this vibration of peace and wisdom, the better able I am to impart the Guru’s subtle wisdom and uplift all those with whom I communicate. It is my blessing to read my daily banis, participate in Akhand Paths and surround myself with the Guru’s divine presence.
As the Siri Singh Sahib said, “The Guru’s Word (Gurbani) is what the Guru spoke. It is the imprint of the essence of God. It is the pathway to God. If the ordinary human being speaks it, it will always elevate him to that state of consciousness of the Guru. The Guru’s consciousness is united with God, so the person will automatically get united with God, if he speaks the same words. It is a scientific and direct way to unite the finite with the Infinite Consciousness.”
In our mission as Ministers of the Divine, let us always vibrate the Holy Name through our beings and manifest this divine subtle energy in our service, work, and worship.
Siri Singh Sahib quotes from Aquarian Times, Aug/Sept 2008
Resources
Shabad Guru: The Guru for the Aquarian Age (Sikh Dharma International)
About the Author
SS Sarb Nam Kaur Khalsa serves as the Executive Assistant to the Office of the Secretary of Religion. Her duties include administering annual Minister credentialing, providing a variety of Minister support services, and supporting the Minister Candidate application process. She is the Sikh Dharma Ministry website developer and Ministry newsletter editor. She took her Minister vows in 2004 and has been on the Sikh path since meeting the Siri Singh Sahib in 1981. She lives with her husband, Aradhana Singh Khalsa, and son, Fateh Singh Khalsa, in Espanola, NM. She is a member of the International Khalsa Council and serves as the Recording Secretary.