Remembering stuff during simran/paath

[N30S1NGH]

amazing post khalis veer..do post more often :D

[ssinghuk]

All the above is relevant advice, particularly the not giving 'importance' to interrupting thoughts. When a distraction enters the mind... smile. It's there because it is a personal experience (something you saw, heard, felt). Don't feel upset/panicked/worried/depressed, understand that your present action (bhagti) is the answer to ensuring that all experiences here on, are pavitar. It's usually the hurt of stress/bad experience that brings us to remember Vaheguru. Acknowledge it, relax and it will swiftly pass by. Fight to remove it... and it will stay (even if in a subtle form).

Rather than risk your simran being interrupted, prepare the focus/concentration before hand, this is what Sant advise, and it works. Never go straight to simran (until you are accomplished). Always start with a Japji Sahib (full dhyaan, said aloud with correct ucharan). The focus on each word, it's arthh, the flowing poetry will blow away any distraction. By the time you complete the Jap Ji Sahib, your mind should already by super-focused and in total peace. That is the perfect time to go into naam simran. As in most disciplines - a higher preparation ratio will always ensure a higher quality/level execution of the main objective.

The other traditional method is to start off with sampuran Mool Mantar as already mentioned... recite it aloud until the Mantar goes internal/cyclic, then switch to Gurmantar. Sometimes we get so much anand form Mool Mantar alone, that we feel like continuing it, if so, continue it - it is Guru given anand.

Another important aspect to remember is that our Guru given Mantars are a plant. In order to receive the fruit from that plant, we need to nurture, it, care for it, feed it, give is sunlight etc. These things are manifest in ‘inspiration and karam (actions)’. We must inspire ourselves by being rehitvaan, not for fanatical ‘I’m better than you’ purposes, but to please our Gur-Pita, it’s for him we keep our rehit, not to show or tell others. Ensure you are making udham towards learning arthh of Gurbani, doing vichaar on those arthh, discussing them with sangat. Ensure you are daily listening to, reading, telling ithihaas of our Guru Sahiban or esteemed Khalsa. Ensure you are staying away from manmat lok and bad environments, these people or places drain our kamai. Learn yudh vidya (in whatever form) with dedication, keep an open mind – keep learning and improving your skill, you don’t need to talk about it, learn it for yours, your families and the Panths raksha – not just to tick your ‘cultural roots box’. Do all things with umpteen nimrata, this pleases the Guru, and increases his blessings. Do nishkaam seva, be involved in ‘some’ form of seva to increase ekta/unity/pyaar in the Panth, stay away from those that create division and argument in the Panth. Do seva to promote Sikhi in whatever form you can.

All the above have a huge impact on simran.. we can’t expect not to live a Gurmat life (sweet speech, respectful gaze, pure thoughts, considerate/selfless actions) and think our simran will be fruitful. Simran effects our lifestyle/personality, but the opposite is totally true too. It’s a circle.

At a basic level, 'association' is also a great tool to have. If dedicate one place to sit and do simran everyday, if do it at the same time everyday (we do of course aim to do it 8 pehar), if you light a candle or wear a shawl etc, whatever you do, make it a rehit, a habit. Your mind will associate all these things with the exercises of simran and it will becmoe easier.

Another thing to consider is ‘gyaan’. Many get obsessed with gyaan, this can take the form of history, theology, comparative religion etc etc. To the point that there is no effort and time for simran. And for some, the simran is simply a mechanical exercise, because gyaan is not the essential ingredient for simran. Gyaan is powerful ONLY, if it increases our bhagti, otherwise it simply serves to drag us away from Parmeshar (feed our haumai ‘I’). Many people have read and contemplated the ocean of advice on simran available on the internet by Sants. But this alone is not enough for bhagti. The gyaan is supposed to lead to a change in thought and action, and more importantly bhaav. Bhagti is only fruitful if it is done with prem. I know many academic types who have excellent knowledge over Gurbani, can quote all day, have great ithihaasik gyaan.. but struggle with ‘prem’.

Prem can only come from ‘nimrata’ (humility). And nimrata increases with prema bhagti. This then effects all our thoughts and actions and creates a person who endeavours to please everyone and be the perfect son/daughter, wife/Husband, parent, friend, work colleague, neighbour, stranger etc etc. These Gurmukhs then become residents of ‘Anandpur’ no matter where on this planet they reside.

Most importantly, always ask for naam di daat in your ardaas. This is the single most powerful action that will eventually lead us to recieving Gur-Prasad.

Forgive the random ramble and gaps in the vichaar.

Vaheguru.

Wow, what a great post.

[GPS]

dalsingh ji

It is good to know that you are doing simran. Simran is essence of sikh teachings.

Good riddance from influence of nastik Giani arshi.Wish you charhdi kala

[Bundha]

Sorry if this sounds a bit wierd, but its true.

The five within you (Kamm karodh lobh moh hunkar) sit happily. As long as you indulge in worldly things they remain silent. If you do gossip, nindia, backstab, if you go to bad places, pubs, clubs, etc even if you watch TV, read a book, or magazine they remain silent. As soon as you even think about simran they become active , and in very subtle ways. Straight away they will get you do do something else, or try to put you off. If you do sit down then the thoughts will start, stories, memories, things you need to do, things that are not important suddenly become very important. It is all their way to try to stop you from your simran. There are ways and techinques to counteract them.

[Wicked Warrior]

Not weird at all. I understand the power of the five evils. I have seen them rob me blind. I used to be able to do three malas of mool mantar and five japji sahib paaths a day. I then lapsed. Since then, I struggle to do more than one japji sahib a day. Everything goes wrong if I try. If I stay at one, everything ticks along fine. I feel like I'm being held back but I realise in the end it is only me holding myself back.

I normally remember stuff when I'm relaxed. But I find it distracting during times of simran.

[dalsingh101]

dalsingh ji

It is good to know that you are doing simran. Simran is essence of sikh teachings.

Good riddance from influence of nastik Giani arshi.Wish you charhdi kala

Bhai ji,

I know we can only get a partial sense of someone over the net, and I know you are trying to be complimentary. But seriously brother, do give some people credit to not be gullible or easily susceptible to others influences. I have my own destiny and Rabh is unveiling things to this fool at their own pace - as their nadar dictates.

I've never really been 'under the influence' of others from a relatively young age. I'm sort of independent minded like that, frequently to the chagrin of even my family. lol

I'm trying not to offend you here but I feel I have to make the point. I don't know Giani Arshi enough, or I haven't looked at his own personal beliefs close enough to be able to make any judgments visa vis what he believes. And before I point fingers regarding others spiritual discipline/beliefs - if I'm going to be even half a man - I have acknowledge my own frequent shortcomings, lapses and misapprehensions in this area, which are in no way small.

I might as well take this opportunity to let you know that the most 'influence' (if you want to term it such) or support I got towards getting into prayer and simran came from a forum that MANY ignorant people were deriding as 'suspicious' or even 'anti-Sikh' at the time (sikhawareness.com).

That (frankly life changing) experience itself makes me very cynical about paying attention to 'reputations'/slander and following the opinions of others over learning and experiencing for myself. But that's just me.

However I got there, by whatever unconventional, circuitous route - I'm very happy to have got there. On a good day simran gives me a peace and contentment that has eluded me all of my life, even on a mediocre day it helps me relax and be at peace with myself. It has also done wonders at making me understand the nature of mind too. But it IS a battle. I do fall off the wagon. With God's grace it will be a battle I'll fight my whole life. And this is the part you need to pay attention too especially carefully...... to my mind, the journey to where I am now involved ALL of the characters I interacted with - even if I can't remember my interaction/exchanges with them. Thus, I would say, in terms of the negative, bad stuff I've seen, experienced in my life (and I'm no sheltered cat trust me), I'd say Giani Arshi doesn't even register as a blip.

I hope you understand?

[Bundha]

Not weird at all. I understand the power of the five evils. I have seen them rob me blind. I used to be able to do three malas of mool mantar and five japji sahib paaths a day. I then lapsed. Since then, I struggle to do more than one japji sahib a day. Everything goes wrong if I try. If I stay at one, everything ticks along fine. I feel like I'm being held back but I realise in the end it is only me holding myself back.

I normally remember stuff when I'm relaxed. But I find it distracting during times of simran.

Bhaji, what you should do is let go of the 'me'. When 'we' try to do something especially simran then we make it harder for ourselves. Do benti to Guru Ji and ask for Gurparsad. Ask for guru Ji's blessing to do naam/simran then you cannot go wrong. If we take Guru Ji with us whenever we are about to embark on anything then He will help and assist you, when we try to do anything our selves then it is always going to be hit and miss.

[N30S1NGH]

Just picking up where khalis post left off. I wrote this few months ago. I though i share.

~~ Sach Kahon Sun leho Sabhe ~~

~~Jin Prem Kiyo Tin Prabh Payo ~~

Guru maharaj declared Prem is shraist(highest) out of all read whole couplet, if there is no prem there is nothing, all the technicalities in meditation...pretty much like doing simran like a robot without any emotions which can be further broken down to:

- forcing dhyan without emotions/prem

- forcing smadhi through bibek buddhi on your own real self with out emotions (prem/bairaag)

- some claim we are sargun vaddis without prem

- some claim we are nirgun vaddis without prem

- some claim we are shabad upasakhs without prem

- some doing simran with hyperventilation without prem.

- some doing simran robotically (without prem) idiolzing shabad(vahiguroo) without emotions

- some doing jap of 150000 mool mantar without prem

- some holding chailsa doing patt without prem

- some doing simran with mala without prem

- some doing simran robotically (without prem) listening to anhad shabad - getting hooked on it for own selfish tripti(satisfaction) getting stuck in anand mandal(realm) thinking thats the higher reality.

- some stuck at dasam dvar listening to sounds/naad without prem, thinking thats higher reality.

If you want to know prem, read through sakhiya Sri Guru Angad Dev prem towards Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Sri Guru Amar das Prem towards Sri Guru Angad Dev Ji...Sri Guru Ram Das towards Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji in gurbani composition- shabad hazare...Baba Farid prem towards his murshid...all orginal panj pyares prem towards Sri Guru Gobind Singh Maharaj asking for head..bhai nand lal goya prem towards dhan dhan sri guru gobind singh maharaj , read his deep craving love poetry

http://www.sikhsanga...-bhai-nand-lal/

20th century examples of prem- baba isher singh ji nanaksar wale prem towards baba nand singh ji kaleran..bhai gurmukh singh aurdesa prem towards sant gyani gurbachan singh ji bhindranwale jumped in pyre of fire while sant gyani gurbachan singh bhindranwale was being cremated, sacrificed his mann, tan, dhan, burned himself to death with sant gyani gurbachan singh ji bhindranwale body cremation..sant isher singh ji rara sahib prem bairaag towards sant attar singh ji reru sahib wale, sant jvala singh prem towards sant aya singh ji hoti mardan, sant waryam singh ji ratwara sahib prem towards sant isher singh ji rara sahib wale..sant nand singh ji kaleran prem towards dhan dhan sri guru granth sahib ji where guru nanak dev nirankar gave him darshan..!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We have our own sufism in the sikhi which hardly anyone explores, but most of people are busy going over technicalities of things i.e- searching for theological answers/explanation in sikhi, searching for logical/rational explanation of sikhi (i know i have for longest time- guilty of it)..all of its nothing compared to love.

Everyone should read sri akaal ustat sahib, amount of technalities, karam kaands maharaj did khandan its just amazing amazing .!!!!!!!!!!!

I will end my post with an article - what is love?? It's from Sant Jvala Singh Harkhowale pustuk- Jivan Kiranie.

refererence: The Radiance of complete journey to Akaal Purkh

chapter- Sant baba Aiya Singh Hoti Mardan giving divine sermons( on love) to Sant baba jawala Singh Ji.

What is love?

Love: Love is the divine law. It will win where reason fails.

God is love and love is God.

It is to surrender one's self to the beloved and giving away own heart and moving like a bewildered person. If you want to know about love, then ask love itself. Do not ask anybody else, he will not answer !. Only love knows how to describe itself lovely. It will explain pretty well what it is. True love means to give up possession or self. Until ego is renounced no one can find that path of love. Cleanse your heart, like a mirror(glass) clear and simple. So long heart has imprints of lust one cannot see the face of love. Love gives life to humans, true love negates greed, Kabir sahib says: Everybody talks about love, yet no one expereinces love. Only such a person knows love, as remains, imbided in it day and night. If love came and gone, everybody saw it but if one cries now then laughs next moment, it is not love.

Shalok Mohalla 4 (p-301)

My body and mind are ever imbued with my lord's love,

Be though merciful, O god, that I Abide in Guru's peace. (1)

God's love grants such a high vision that to even a helpless that he does not care about the kings(Master of corwn) and throne, lover weaves gorgeous clothes like attish and kim khwab with the blood of his heart and spreads under the feet of his beloved. Only lover can help someone to reach God's court and attaining to such a position is real ascention to God's place(Heaven). If you want to read the true story of ascention of love then look at the face of some true lover. From his face, one can have the glimplse of love. In love, Gardens of happiness bloom in heart's blood. Lovers are always absorbed in God's love. On this path several mansoors turn down worldy honours and choose to kiss the crucifixion instead. How can one gain the wealth of divine love? Without guide's instruction it is not possible. Only some one with large heart can win this with God's grace. How to recognise love? If you find someone lost in despair and disheartned he is deviod of love. He does not belong to the realm of love. Even though studded with thorns, a lover is always happy like some body in garden in spring. Find not such a one lonely because he is always in God's embrace. Should I offer Nimaz (Muslim prayer) or look in your way? How can I visit kahba (God's place in holy mecca)

Bulleh shah

The Nimaz of memories lie in bowing down before God and lovers Nimaz in forgetting one's body.

Ablution of memories is in washing hands and feet but lover's ablution is washing hands off the world. Unless you take your hands off the worldy tempations do not remember God because without Wuzzo, Nimaz is not acceptable in Islamic Code(Shria).

Having delivered such lovely sermon, sahib siri baba aiya singh ji hoti mardan waley threw glance towards the sipahi(jawala singh). Lover had filled his goblet of heart with love..tears of joy began to role down his face and his head tilted towards baba ji's feet. Eyes of mind became Ganga-Jamuna and he washed baba ji's feet with tears. It was like his own heart cleaned up.. his forehead got blessed with baba ji's feet touch. The way of love began to rise in his heart and his tongue un-intentionally moved in meditation. Glands of knowledge opened up. Heart began to feel coolness of love. Light flashed up. Six close cycles(chakars) turned up. Petals blossomed up. Unstruck melodies became aloud. All hair turned into tongues and every single hair changed into divine word. He began to realise all around. Baba Aya Singh Ji merged jawala singh ji into sargun-nirgun. There was flood of light all around. Having done this miracle, Baba Ji again came into being and turned jawala singh to an saint. He lifted him from his feet, took him in embrace and asked, "Now tell me, do you know me or not? "Jawala Singh began to weep in low and said, "By your grace, I have come to know of my real self. I am thankful to you I have realised that I have been your servant since many births. You are my mentor(Murshid). Then Baba Jawala Singh became silent. Baba Aya Singh Ji thus turned sipahi into saint and blended him into his own being.

Grace of Give commandmends given by Baba Ji:

1. Remember God breath by breath

2. Never be egoist.

3. Keep company of those detached from the world.

4. Do not Beg.

5. Be aloof.

Sant jawala Singh Ji listened to the commandments and dutyfully observed all throughout life.