by SS Harsimranjeet Singh Khalsa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
Fall 2019
We have taken birth into the Iron Age (Kali Yuga), and its inherent nature is one of turmoil, tragedy, and duality. This is the darkest age, where our emotions and instinctive animal nature exert control over the mind and therefore our actions. Grace and wisdom are in short supply. The use of intoxicants, drugs, and unsustainable lifestyles are rising as quickly as are rates of mental health conditions; many look outwards for a solution to what is going on inside.
Thankfully, the Guru has given us a technology for self-elevation and liberation:
The Remembrance of God (Simran) is the highest and most exalted of all.
In the Remembrance of God (Simran) many are saved. ~ Sukhmani Sahib (composed by Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji)
The chanting of a mantra is often mistaken for Simran but, in actuality, Simran is the result of meditation, chanting (japa), and yoga. It is the divine conversation that takes place between the Soul and the Great Soul, when the door of the subconscious mind is clear.
The individual meditatively clears the mind and establishes a pure flow or channel to remember God. And in turn, God focuses on you, giving that wonderful experience of Ang Sang Waheguru! God fills every cell of you! In this “art of Simran,” the Will of God becomes your shield and protection, peace becomes your companion, mental purity is experienced, anxiety runs as far away from you as it can, and there comes an internal state of balance.
The practice of Simran delivers a calculated scientific effect: “Simran means only repeatedly meditate. Jap and Simran are two different things. Jap is repeated for the hypothalamus. Simran is repeated for the frontal lobe, which controls the personality of a human being.”—The Siri Singh Sahib (February 8, 1994)
Simran is an immense gift in my day-to-day life. Whenever I am dealing with difficult situations where I feel unbalanced, my instinct will kick in to change my thought patterns. I gently remind myself that the most fruitful action I can participate in is the constant meditation on our Beloved Lord, and to let the One who watches over all take care of me and all my situations.
In this way, while I continue to work, talk, and deal with situations (both pleasant and unpleasant), my concentration is projecting towards our kind and compassionate Lord. My breath automatically slows down, and my mind becomes relaxed. Rapidly, doubt is replaced with surrender, hopelessness becomes trust in God, loneliness evolves into a sense of union, and feelings of abandonment are replaced with deep joy. This way the neutral mind is in control, and I can see things without the clouded judgment of an emotional mind.
When I was unsure about the importance of incorporating Simran in my daily routine, I reflected on the following excerpt from a lecture by the Siri Singh Sahib, it is my prayer that it serves to inspire you as well:
“Simran is not a Japa—Japa gives the power of Simran. Japa is the repetition of the Holy Naam. Dian, the meditation, is not a Simran—meditation gives you the power of the Simran. Raj yoga is not Simran— raj yoga is a technology to achieve, receive, and conceive the Simran. Sahaj yoga is not Simran—sahaj yoga is a concept through which you can pursue Simran. Prayer is not Simran—prayer is a prayer to give you the power so that your mind can be set for Simran. May you all be blessed when the state of consciousness reaches Simran. Then you do not do anything. God follows you.”—The Siri Singh Sahib (July 6, 1980)
About the Author
Dr. Harsimranjeet Singh Khalsa ND currently resides in the city of Ottawa, Canada, with his wife, SS Rupinder Kaur Khalsa. He serves his community as a Naturopathic Doctor, helping couples to overcome infertility and reproductive disorders. Aside from work, Harsimranjeet Singh frequently takes part in cooking meals for homeless shelters and spends his free time immersing himself in the magnificent natural landscape in Ottawa, while snowshoeing, canoeing, hiking, and swimming.