Extracting Maximum Anand from Gurbani
When juice for sugarcane is extracted, it is placed between two rollers. If there is space between the rollers, then maximum juice is not extracted. Closer the rollers are to each other, more the juice that comes out. Same way, when we don't keep our mind under control and allow space in the mind for alien thoughts to come, we can't derive full Rass and Laaha from Gurbani Paath.
When we do many Paaths of Siri Jap jee Sahib or Siri Sukhmani Sahib, we must ensure that maximum Laaha or Rass is extracted from each Paath. If we let our mind wander around, then surely we do extract Laaha but the Laaha is much less than Paath done in concentration. There is no limit as to how much Laaha we can extract from just one Paath of Siri Jap jee Sahib. So how can we derive maximum Laaha from each of the Paaths we do? We require, at least the following ingredients or factors to derive maximum Laaha:
1. Dhyaan (concentration): Dhyaan means to not let the mind wander anywhere but within the Baani we are reciting. When non-Gurbani alien thoughts enter our mind, they prevent us from extracting maximum Laaha from it. Dhyaan is kept in Dhuni (sound) of Gurbani and simultaneously in Arths (meanings) in order to bring Vismaad and Anand.
2. Prem (love) and Shardha (devotion): Paath done with Prem and Shardha brings immense Laaha and Rass and Paath that is devoid of Prem and Shardha is dry, and does not give Rass. Prem and Shardha is kept in Guru Sahib who is the Author of Gurbani. More we love our Guru Sahib, more lovingly we will do Paath of Gurbani.
3. Vishvaas (faith): We must have Vishvaas in Guru Sahib's Baani and believe that this Baani alone is the truth. For Gursikhs, Gurbani is Brahma's Ved and Gurbani alone is all the required Gyaan. Faith should be such that we must actually believe that Gurbani alone is the light of this world and nothing is more powerful than Gurbani. No problem, disease, accident, person is greater than Gurbani. When a Gursikh who has faith in Gurbani, utters Shabads like "ਤਾਤੀ ਵਾਉ ਨ ਲਗਈ ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਸਰਣਾਈ ॥ ਚਉਗਿਰਦ ਹਮਾਰੈ ਰਾਮ ਕਾਰ ਦੁਖੁ ਲਗੈ ਨ ਭਾਈ ॥੧॥ ", then indeed a Kaar or protection wall gets erected around that Gursikh. It's all about Vishvaas. A faithless person can't derive much Laaha from Gurbani.
4. Arth-bodh (understanding of Gurbani): Arth-Bodh of Gurbani is required to understand and fulfill the Hukams of Gurbani and also aid in getting Dhyaan. After many Paaths of Siri Jap jee Sahib or Siri Sukhmani Sahib, when one's mind stands still, then the Dhuni (sound) of Paath alone gives Rass but if a Gursikh also concentrates on the Arths of Gurbani, then one's mind goes into Vismaad. Vismaad augments Anand and gives more and different Anand. Another reason why Arth-bodh is important is that without Arth-bodh, Shudh Uchaaran that includes pronunciation and proper Bishraams (pause), is not possible. In short, Arth-bodh aids greatly in getting Dhyaan in Gurbani, doing Shudh Uchaaran and understanding and obeying Hukams of Gurbani.
Since we do Gurbani Paath, then why not give it our full effort because we are spending the time to do Paath anyways; so we might as well derive maximum Laaha from it. It is very tragic to see us spending time on Gurbani devoid of the four ingredients mentioned above.
Another thing is that Dhyaan, Prem, Shardh and Vishvaas etc. are not attained by doing just regular Nitnemi Paaths. Nitnem is the bare minimum. A Gursikh should spend all his day and night in Gurbani and Naam. Dhyaan, Vishvaas etc. come after Ghor-Ghaal-Kamaaee (massive) of Gurbani Paaths. Gursikhs who are serious about getting somewhere spiritually, spend maximum time in doing Paath and Naam Simran.
May Guru Sahib enable us to do Paath in such way that we may derive maximum Laaha and Rass from it.
Bhul chuk dee Muafi jee.
Daas,
Kulbir Singh
When we do many Paaths of Siri Jap jee Sahib or Siri Sukhmani Sahib, we must ensure that maximum Laaha or Rass is extracted from each Paath. If we let our mind wander around, then surely we do extract Laaha but the Laaha is much less than Paath done in concentration. There is no limit as to how much Laaha we can extract from just one Paath of Siri Jap jee Sahib. So how can we derive maximum Laaha from each of the Paaths we do? We require, at least the following ingredients or factors to derive maximum Laaha:
1. Dhyaan (concentration): Dhyaan means to not let the mind wander anywhere but within the Baani we are reciting. When non-Gurbani alien thoughts enter our mind, they prevent us from extracting maximum Laaha from it. Dhyaan is kept in Dhuni (sound) of Gurbani and simultaneously in Arths (meanings) in order to bring Vismaad and Anand.
2. Prem (love) and Shardha (devotion): Paath done with Prem and Shardha brings immense Laaha and Rass and Paath that is devoid of Prem and Shardha is dry, and does not give Rass. Prem and Shardha is kept in Guru Sahib who is the Author of Gurbani. More we love our Guru Sahib, more lovingly we will do Paath of Gurbani.
3. Vishvaas (faith): We must have Vishvaas in Guru Sahib's Baani and believe that this Baani alone is the truth. For Gursikhs, Gurbani is Brahma's Ved and Gurbani alone is all the required Gyaan. Faith should be such that we must actually believe that Gurbani alone is the light of this world and nothing is more powerful than Gurbani. No problem, disease, accident, person is greater than Gurbani. When a Gursikh who has faith in Gurbani, utters Shabads like "ਤਾਤੀ ਵਾਉ ਨ ਲਗਈ ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਸਰਣਾਈ ॥ ਚਉਗਿਰਦ ਹਮਾਰੈ ਰਾਮ ਕਾਰ ਦੁਖੁ ਲਗੈ ਨ ਭਾਈ ॥੧॥ ", then indeed a Kaar or protection wall gets erected around that Gursikh. It's all about Vishvaas. A faithless person can't derive much Laaha from Gurbani.
4. Arth-bodh (understanding of Gurbani): Arth-Bodh of Gurbani is required to understand and fulfill the Hukams of Gurbani and also aid in getting Dhyaan. After many Paaths of Siri Jap jee Sahib or Siri Sukhmani Sahib, when one's mind stands still, then the Dhuni (sound) of Paath alone gives Rass but if a Gursikh also concentrates on the Arths of Gurbani, then one's mind goes into Vismaad. Vismaad augments Anand and gives more and different Anand. Another reason why Arth-bodh is important is that without Arth-bodh, Shudh Uchaaran that includes pronunciation and proper Bishraams (pause), is not possible. In short, Arth-bodh aids greatly in getting Dhyaan in Gurbani, doing Shudh Uchaaran and understanding and obeying Hukams of Gurbani.
Since we do Gurbani Paath, then why not give it our full effort because we are spending the time to do Paath anyways; so we might as well derive maximum Laaha from it. It is very tragic to see us spending time on Gurbani devoid of the four ingredients mentioned above.
Another thing is that Dhyaan, Prem, Shardh and Vishvaas etc. are not attained by doing just regular Nitnemi Paaths. Nitnem is the bare minimum. A Gursikh should spend all his day and night in Gurbani and Naam. Dhyaan, Vishvaas etc. come after Ghor-Ghaal-Kamaaee (massive) of Gurbani Paaths. Gursikhs who are serious about getting somewhere spiritually, spend maximum time in doing Paath and Naam Simran.
May Guru Sahib enable us to do Paath in such way that we may derive maximum Laaha and Rass from it.
Bhul chuk dee Muafi jee.
Daas,
Kulbir Singh