Astpadi 9: Apras – In Praise Of A Pure Soul

Salok.
Ur dhaarai jo antar naam.sarabh mai paykhai bhagvaan.
Nimakh nimakh thaakur namaskaarai.nanak oh apras sagal nistaarai.  1.
 
Guru Pancham Patshah Ji has very kindly explained to us the place of a Sadh and a Braham Gyani in the previous two Astpadis.  This Astpadi now describes a soul that is called an Apras.   This Astpadi deals with one of the most important mandatory divine principles pertaining to the Mahima of a Sadh and a Braham Gyani.  The principle is that the Shabad and Surat must combine inside a person to make them into an Apras soul.  Shabad and Surat only combine with the GurParsaad of a Puran Braham Gyani.  When they combine it transforms an ordinary soul into a Pargateyo Jyot Puran Braham Gyani and such a soul has been called an Apras. We need to understand and practice this principle of transformation in our daily life if we really want to benefit from the divine wisdom in this Astpadi.

Many read Sukhmani Sahib on a daily basis.  Some even do multiple readings everyday, but the sad fact is that the majority of those who read the Bani don’t actually do what the Bani teaches.  They are convinced that merely reading Sukhmani Sahib is a good deed that pleases God.  Reading Bani is of no use if we don’t practice Bani in our daily life.  Practice of Bani in our daily life is the key to success.  Reading Bani is following the status quo, but practising what we read is following the real eternal teachings.  Reading Bani without understanding is an empty ritual, but applying GurBani to our life brings all of the divine qualities in our Hirda.  So applying Bani in our life is the key to success.

There is much confusion among the Sangat about the meaning of Shabad Guru and the role of a Braham Gyani, a  Pargateyo Jyot, a SatGuru.  The reason for this confusion is due to the misunderstanding about the  human element of a Braham Gyani, a Pargateyo Jyot.  With the blessings of the Guru and Akal Purakh we are making an attempt to remove this confusion from the minds of the Sangat.  Please look at these words with a fresh and open mind.  We are hopeful that it will help you remove or diminish any confusion you may have on this subject and hopefully benefit you.

COMBINATION OF SHABAD GURU AND A SOUL

The Shabad Guru is Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.  It has been very clearly mentioned in GurBani that Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is the Gyan Saroop of Akal Purakh, “Pothi parmeshwar ka thaan.  Sadh sang gao gun gobind puran braham gyan.”  The Granth represents the Gyan Saroop of the Almighty.  It defines what a Guru is, what a Sant is, what a SatGuru is, what a Braham Gyani is. 

The word Guru means the person or the entity who can enlighten us from inside and take the darkness away.  Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji gives us all of this divine knowledge.  Once this divine knowledge is put into practice by us with full commitment and belief then one can become a Sant, a Braham Gyani.  And there is no difference between a Sant and Akal Purakh Himself.  A Braham Gyani and the Almighty are the same, “Ram sant dohen ek hain,” and “Braham gyani aap parmeshwar.”

The Shabad Guru is the Gyan Guru and the Pargateyo Jyot is the Braham Gyani.  If the Shabad Guru was everything and could give salvation by itself to an ordinary person, then what was the need for Guru Nanak Patshah to institute Bhai Lehna Ji as Guru Angad Dev Ji and further Gurus too?  What was the need of Guru Dassam Patshah Ji instituting five Puran Khalsas, each of whom were Puran Braham Gyanis?  Each one of them was called a SatGur Poora (Perfect SatGuru), “Khalsa mera sat guru poora.”

It was a combination of the Shabad Guru and a soul that created Dhan Dhan Guru Angad Patshah Ji and Guru Angad Patshah Ji’s Guru was Dhan Dhan Guru Nanak Patshah Ji who was a Pargateyo Jyot Puran Braham Gyani.  Guru Amar Dass Ji’s Guru was Guru Angad Patshah Ji and so on.   A soul was required to continue the Pargateyo Jyot in Guru Angad Patshah, then in Guru Amar Dass and so on.  That is why and how it continued.  The question then is why did this stop after the tenth Guru?  The answer is very simple and is written in GurBani repeatedly,  “Har yug yug bhagat upayea.”
The answer is that it didn’t stop.   The GurParsaadi game didn’t stop and has never stopped and will never stop.  It continues and will continue in a different form at a different place for all times.  There are no two Braham Gyanis or Bhagats or Sants alike.  There has never been and never will be.  Everyone’s Bhagti is different.  That is why every Bhagat’s style is different , “Chaal nirali bhagta keri bikham marg chalna.”

After Guru Dassam Patshah there have been a number of Braham Gyanis.  In fact, Guru Dassam Patshah Ji created five Puran Braham Gyanis, known today as the Panj Pyare.  He called them “Khalsa mero satgur poora.” After them there has been a continuous stream of such Braham Gyanis.  They are here today as well and they will continue to nurture spirituality for all times and Ages to come.  The creation survives only because of the existence of such spiritual souls on this Earth.

This divine system is the creation of Akal Purakh and nobody can change it.  Actually, it is not a system, it is complete and pure Truth and Truth is Truth.  Truth has only one identity and cannot be changed by anybody.  It was Truth and has remained Truth throughout all Ages past present and future, “Aad sach jugaad Sach. Habi sach nanak hosi bhi sach.”

Everything explained here is what the Shabad Guru teaches us.  The divine laws have never changed since their inception and will never change.  They were the same when brought out from the Dargah by Guru Nanak Patshah and will always remain the same when brought out by other Braham Gyanis. 

Guru Granth Sahib Ji is the divine knowledge sung in the praise of Naam, Akal Purakh, Sant, Bhagat, Gurmukh, GurSikh, Junn, Bhai (brother of the Guru i.e. a Brahm Gyani), Sadh, SatGuru, Braham Gyani and Khalsa.  There is a large content of GurBani that concentrates on the praise of this human element.  Stop for a moment to ask yourself why that was?  You will realise that it is not right to discard the importance of the human element in our spiritual development. 

Even within the human element, a person who is a Guru does not mean that their physical body is the Guru.  The Guru is the Pargateyo Jyot in the body that represents the divine element.  The Param Jyot, God, needs a physical body to appear in this world to help others in marching towards the complete realization.  Those who disregard this Eternal Truth remain in Dharam Khand or lower and are never able to progress in spirituality.

Guru Nanak Patshah Ji was Nirankaar Roop – the Roop of Akal Purakh Himself.  It is not adequate to call Him a Guru when He was Nirankaar Roop Himself.  He was the living God on Earth.  We can follow the same direct and difficult path as was followed by Nirankaar Roop Nanak Patshah Ji to become a Pargateyo Jyot Puran Braham Gyani and realize our spiritual goals.  But, there is an alternative route too that was instituted by Nirankaar Roop Nanak Patshah Ji.  And that is to become like Bhai Lehna Ji and do it faster, in fact much faster.  What Nirankaar Roop Nanak Patshah Ji started preaching at the age of 34 years, Bhai Lehna Ji achieved in few years.  It is up to us what route we choose.  Everybody cannot be like Guru Nanak Patshah Ji.  There are very few souls born like that on this Earth.  There is nothing wrong in becoming like Bhai Lehna Ji to achieve our spiritual goals.

Let us look at the verse, “Shabad guru surat dhun chela.”  The Shabad Guru is the Gyan Saroop of Akal Purakh, the divine knowledge, the Braham Gyan.  Since it teaches us all of the divine laws it is known as the Guru.  Also it is Guru because it takes away darkness from inside us and enlightens us with the true meaning of spirituality.  It provides us with guidance to follow the Truth and become Truthful and serve the Truth. 

Now what does Surat mean?  It means the soul, the mind, the Hirda within a human body.  Dhun means the commitment, the Shardha, the Lagan which comes with belief.  Chela is again the human element.  The relationship between Guru and His disciple. 

Now if we put into practice just this one line from Guru Nanak Patshah Ji then we will reach Sach Khand and become a Jivan Mukt, a Sant, a Braham Gyani.  Is it not appropriate to say that now we can help others to realize their spiritual goals?  This is exactly what has been repeatedly said in the Shabad Guru, the Dhan Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.  That is exactly what was done by the ten Gurus.  That is exactly what has been done by other Braham Gyanis around the world.  That is exactly what will continue to happen forever.  Again there may be unlimited ways to realize Almighty, but based on the history of our Gurus these are paths we can choose to follow.  One Nirankaar Roop Nanak Patshah Ji followed and the other one that was followed by Bhai Lehna Ji.  Remember, the path followed by Bhai Lehna Ji was much easier and quicker.

Now, the question is what about the path that most people follow nowadays i.e. the path of taking Khande Batta Ki Pahul (Sikh Initiation) from the Panj Pyare (five beloved ones)?  It is fine to follow this path and the majority of the Sangat does that.  The only thing is that for the majority it takes too long to realize their spiritual goals, that is if they do indeed realize them.  Why is that?  It is very important to understand that the Panj Pyare instituted by the Dassam Guru were Puran Braham Gyanis.  They were Puran Khalsa and according to GurBani, Khalsa is a Puran Braham Gyani.  Dassam Patshah said, “Khalsa mero satGur poora.”

Now here is the human element again – Khalsa.  So are the Panj Pyares who give Khande Batta Ki Pahul five Puran Khalsas?  Is even one of them a Puran Braham Gyani who meets the standard set by Dhan Dhan Dassam Patshah Ji?  Unless we can find even one Puran Khalsa in the Panj Pyare we cannot expect to get the GurParsaad of  Naam Amrit, Seva and Puran Bandgi.  Even if we can find one Puran Khalsa that is more than enough, because He can give us the GurParsaad of Naam, Puran Bandgi and Seva, Parupkaar and Maha Parupkaar. 

Another very important point to understand is the fact that Guru Dassam Patshah Ji Himself gave GurParsaad of Amrit to the first five and by virtue of this GurParsaad these fortunate five became Puran Khalsas.  After that Guru Patshah Ji gave them the Wadyaaee and called them SatGur Poora.  Another illusion is that these five together become the SatGur.  This is not true because each one was a Puran Khalsa and being so each one of them became SatGur Poora. 

There is another very important point to understand.  When Guru Dassam Patshah Ji created these five Puran Khalsas, they were five out of out of tens of thousands.  Only the five who really loved the Guru came forward.  Only five out of thousands of Sangat present there came forward to give absolutely everything to the Guru.  Only five fortunate ones completely surrendered to the Guru and that is how they achieved the GurParsaad and became Puran Khalsas.  The rest of the Sangat did not come true to the standards of the GurParsaad of Naam, Puran Bandgi and Seva, Parupkaar and Maha Parupkaar. 

Imagine if all of the Sangat had completely surrendered to the Guru, then all of them would have become Puran Khalsas.  But, it is very difficult to completely surrender to the Guru.  The ones who do it though, get GurParsaad and become Gurmukhs.  All others are Munnmukhs. 

If you have already been following this path for a long time and have not realized anything then there is obviously something wrong.  Now it is up to you to remove the illusions from our mind and soul and learn and follow GurBani in its real eternal sense and benefit from it. 

We have shown how the Shabad and Surat combine together with GurParsaad blessed by a Puran Braham Gyani.  Shabad and Surat combined transforms an ordinary soul into a Pargateyo Jyot Puran Braham Gyani.  And such a soul has been called an Apras in this divine Salok.  Only a soul that has become an Apras can only transform an ordinary person and make Him like Him – Apras. 

There is a mythical stone called Paras Pathat.  The very special thing about this stone is that if we touch a piece of iron to this stone, the iron turns into gold.  Similarly, whoever comes under the Chattar, the eternal blessings of such an Apras and gets the GurParsaad of Naam Bandgi and Seva, eventually becomes Jivan Mukt and becomes Apras too.  They will always and forever remain absorbed in the Amrit – Nirgun Saroop Puran Parkash and will feel the presence of the Nirgun in the Sargun.  They will feel the presence of God everywhere.  In summary, only an Apras can transform an ordinary person into an Apras.
 
Astpadi.
Mithi-aa naahee rasnaa paras.
Man meh pareet niranjan daras.
Par tari-a roop na paykhai naytar.
Sadh kee tahal sat sang hayt.
Karan na sunai kaahoo kee nindaa.
Sabh tay jaanai aapas ka-o mandaa.
Gur parsaad bikhi-aa parharai.
Man kee baasnaa man tay tarai.
Indree jit panch dokh tay rahat.
Nanak kot madhay ko aisaa apras.  1.
 
Guru Pancham Patshah Ji is very kindly continuing to give us the divine wisdom about the attributes and qualities of a person who becomes an Apras.  Again it is of paramount importance for us to  understand this part of the Sukhmani Bani.  By putting it into practice in our daily life we reap unbelievable rewards.   Unfortunately most people are not following this part of the divine wisdom.  The same message has been presented by the Guru Sahibs not only in the Sukhmani Bani, but in the entire Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. 

What are the divine qualities that make a person an Apras?  The most important thing is that such a soul has freed himself from the shackles of Maya.  All His senses are free from the influence of Maya and they are under Puran Hukam of Dhan Dhan Paar Braham Parmeshwar.  Such a soul is a completely truthful person.  He lives a completely truthful life.  Such a soul acts and reacts truthfully, practices Truth, abides by Truth, delivers the Truth and serves the Truth. 
All of the untruthful actions and reactions – the Asat Karams, are carried out under the influence of the Panj Doots.  These Panj Doots reside inside our body:-
 
·         KAAM resides in the lower portion of our body around the sex organs. 
·         KRODH resides in the stomach area. 
·         LOBH and MOH reside in the chest area, and
·         AHANKAAR/HAUMAI is the biggest enemy and lives in our head.  It is the most difficult to control. 

A normal person’s daily actions and reactions are controlled by the Panj Doots and desires.  The mind of a normal person works under the direct control of the Panj Doots.  Our past life has a very big influence on how we conduct ourselves in our day to day activities.  And our current life’s character is greatly influenced by our character that prevailed in all of the previous lives. 

The idea is to get away from the influence of our past life and previous lives in our daily conduct to be free from the control of the Panj Doots.  This is the most difficult task to accomplish.  To win over the Panj Doots and all desires is winning over the mind and bringing all your senses under the control of Param Jyot – in Puran Hukam.  The person who does that becomes an Apras.  Winning over the mind and desires is the most difficult task and when a person does that He becomes an Apras.  This is the most important divine quality of a person who becomes Apras. 

When a person becomes Apras all of the Doots leave His body and His body becomes as pure as gold.  Then nothing can distract Him.  No illusion, delusions, no Dubidha, no effect of Maya.  In fact, Maya comes under His control.  Maya lives under His Charans and serves Him.  There is only one person in tens of millions who reaches this state of spirituality  and achieves the Param Padvi. 

The next very important and mandatory divine quality of such a person who becomes an Apras is the utmost humbleness.  Humbleness is the key element in the life of an Apras.  He is full of utmost humbleness and humility, Gareebi Ves Hirda.  Humility of the mind and soul is the key to the Dargah of Akal Purakh. 

The next very important and mandatory divine quality of a person who becomes and Apras is that He doesn’t listen to nor indulge in the Nindya, the slandering of others.  Nindya means negative criticism of somebody.  To deliberate on somebody else’s actions, character, integrity, lifestyle, behavior or other attributes in the negative sense.  To discuss the presumably bad qualities and doings of another person.  It can be in his absence or in his presence. 

This is a common fashion in today’s society to either praise or criticize somebody else’s character, actions, doings or behavior, or for that matter anything connected to the person being criticized.  This criticism is normally created to put down the person being criticized in society.  In certain cases it will go to extent of excluding the person from daily dealings then completely disrespecting him in the society. 

However, this criticism can also be positive in some cases, where the group exclaims over the good qualities of a person beyond the reality.  Again it can be in his absence or presence.  Such actions are to praise somebody for his good qualities beyond the reality.  This is known as Ustat, or flattery in the divine language.  The interesting thing is that doing Nindya is enjoyable for ordinary people.  We have seen that people give much more time and attention to negative criticism of somebody, than trying to gain from that person’s good qualities. 

In all such discussions propagating Ustat and Nindya, we have observed that the participants don’t mind spending a lot of time.  There are only a few rare ones who avoid such negative criticism and flattery to  concentrate and learn from the good qualities of another person. 

Ustat and Nindya have been a part of the human character since the beginning.  Though both Nindya and Ustat are prohibited in GurMat, it is Nindya that is much more dangerous.  It is a serious mental sickness – Mansik Rog.  We should therefore, not resort to doing Nindya of anybody, whether He or she is an ordinary person being controlled by the Panj Doot or a Sant.  The consequences of Nindya are very serious and are sure to cause irreparable damage to our spirituality as well as to our physical being. 

A Nindak, the person who is doing Nindya, is a Munnmukh and Maha Moorakh (great fool) according to GurBani.  A Nindak may even be reading a lot of GurBani, but has never truly understood or applied it.  A Nindak has a blackened face, Kala Mooh, in the Dargah and is heavily punished in the Dargah of Paar Braham Parmeshwar.  A Nindak is in a living hell –  Narak, for a long time.  An Apras never indulges in Nindya of others and keeps Himself clean inside and free from this serious mental sickness.

Such an Apras is always absorbed in the Amrit and drinks the Atam Ras continuously.  For Him all women, except His own spouse, are sisters, daughters and mothers.  All men are brothers, fathers and sons.  He is always absorbed in the Sat Sang and in the act of uniting His Sat Sangat with the Almighty.  This is the highest service of the Sat, the only Eternal Truth which lives and prevails forever, the Aad Sach Jugaad Sach.  By doing so, He serves His Guru, Gur Sangat and the Gur.  All this happens only with GurParsaad.  Nobody can achieve this spiritual state without GurParsaad.  Winning over the Panj Doot and Asa, Trishna and Mansha happens only with GurParsaad.  Winning over all of the mental corruptions and sicknesses happens only with GurParsaad.  Achievement of all of these divine qualities happens only with GurParsaad.  The one who is fortunate is one in tens of millions and only they get the GurParsaad of these divine qualities and become an Apras. 
 
Baisno so jis oopar suparsan.
Bisan kee maa-i-aa tay ho-ay bhinn.
Karam karat hovai nihkaram.
Tis baisno ka nirmal dharam.
Kaahoo fal kee ichhaa nahee baachhai.
Kayval bhagat keertan sang raachai.
Man tunn antar simran gopaal.
Sabh oopar hovat kirpal.
Aap darirhai avrah naam japaavai.
Nanak oh baisno param Gat paavai.  2.
 
Guru Pancham Patshah Ji is very kindly continuing to reinforce in us the divine attributes and qualities of a person who becomes an Apras.  Here again Guru Patshah Ji has reiterated the relationship of Maya with an Apras.  The basic meaning of the Shabad Apras is “which cannot be touched by Maya.”  This means which cannot be harmed or distracted by Maya. 

The person who keeps on working on the Sato Karams and pleases God, gets the GurParsaad of Naam, Naam Ki Kamai, Puran Bandgi and Seva – Parupkaar and Maha Parupkaar.  They reaches the heights of the spiritual world and becomes an Apras.  They get relieved from the shackles of Maya, they win over Maya completely.  They win over desires completely and reach the Param Padvi. 

The Real Eternal Meaning Of The Shabad Kirtan

An Apras soul is always absorbed in Kirtan.  The Shabad Kirtan is a divine word which is very commonly used in day to day religious life.  The true eternal and divine source of any word in GurBani is the Eternal Truth, the Dargahi Truth, Nirankaar’s Hukam.  The divine word basically represents the Param Tat; the Braham Tat; the divine essence; the divine Jyot; the divine light.  That is what the phrase “Shabad Guru” means.  The Eternal Truth part of any word is the Guru part – the divine Jyot.  The Param Tat part of any word is the Guru part as it enlightens us from inside and removes the darkness of the Maha Kaal – Kal Age – the Dark Age from our Hirda and soul and unites us with the Almighty, Paar Braham Parmeshwar. Due to the unlimited spiritual power of the Shabad, the Param Jyot and Atam Ras Amrit continuously forever – for all Ages to come. 

Every Shabad has a divine essence in it that is why it is called Shabad Guru.  Each and every word of GurBani is a Shabad Guru due to the presence of the Sat Tat; the Braham Tat; the Eternal Truth; the Divine Light and Divinity in it.  That is why every word is a Guru because it tells us and provides us with the divine wisdom to achieve the highest status in Divinity, which is merger in the Almighty Himself and thus become Jivan Mukt. 

The Shabad is the Hukam.  And the mother of all Shabads is the Shabad Naam, the GurParsaad.  This is the highest Hukam of Akal Purakh.  There is a deep divine connection of this Highest Hukam with each and every word that is in GurBani, because this Highest Hukam of  Naam, the GurParsaad, is the Origin.  Everything has emanated from this Origin.  The entire GurBani is the explanation of this Origin.  This Origin is Akal Purakh Himself and His GurParsaadi Naam.  Let us see how the word Kirtan is connected with this Highest Hukam of Akal Purakh which is the Naam.  The word Kirtan can comprises of two words:- Kir and Tunn.  Kir means:- 

·         to stabilize (in Punjabi it means Keelna),

·         to become stable,

·         to keep it away from all kinds of distractions, delusions and illusions,

·         to control,

·         to keep in a stable position,

·         to keep it tied,

·         motionless,

·         no movements,

·         silent,

·         calm,

·         no thoughts,

·         emptiness of thoughts,

·         concentrated around a pivot,

·         become a pivot,

·         become still, and

·         no effect of any outside worldly things.

The second word Tunn means the physical body.  Under normal daily circumstances the mind is directed by our own wisdom, the worldly wisdom, the wisdom of the society around us, our own education and so on.  The mind is behind all of our actions and reactions.  All of our physical deeds and mental thoughts are governed by the self-wisdom or the worldly wisdom.  In summary, we can say that the physical body is directed by the mind which itself is based upon self or worldly wisdom. 

The existence of our Tunn – the physical body is due to the life element in it.  This life element comes in our physical body due to the presence of the divine element which is the soul – Atma.  This is a part of the Param Atma the Almighty, the Braham Tat, the Param Tat, the divine Jyot, the divine light.  We breath and remain alive due to this divine element.  The moment the soul leaves the body, the body dies and goes back into its  respective elements in the universe.

Combining these deep divine meanings of these two words Kir and Tunn will give us the deep divine meaning of the word Kirtan.  By virtue of these divine meanings the essence of this word comes out to be, “stabilization of our mind,” meaning:-

·         no effect of any outside worldly things.
·         make the mind calm and motionless,
·         keep the mind away from thoughts,
·         keep the mind out of distractions, illusions and delusions,
·         keep the mind calm and empty (of any kind of thoughts) without any effect of the outside world,
·         have a complete control over the mind, and
·         in fact, win over the mind.

When such a status of mind comes into being,  then the divine element comes in to control  everything.  The divine light and Divinity gains control of everything.  The Param Tat, the Braham Tat comes in to control the mind.  And under the control of the divine mind, the body also acts and reacts according to the divine wisdom.  This means that the mind and body start to operate according to the divine wisdom.  This is known as the Puran Hukam state of the soul and mind.  Such a state is described as the Kirtan state of the mind and soul. 

Such a state of mind and soul comes in when Naam takes over the mind and soul and so the body comes under the highest Hukam – Naam Hukam, which is the GurParsaad.  Such a state is called Samadhi and Sunn Samadhi.  This comes when we are instituted in Karam Khand and Sach Khand.  When GurParsaad goes into the Surat and Hirda, the mind and soul are filled with Naam Amrit and we continuously recite inside our Surat and Hirda and eventually in every bit of our body, the GurParsaadi Naam.

Kirtan is the state of our soul and mind when we win over the mind; when we conquer our mind; when we conquer over the five vices and all of our desires; when Naam Simran goes on automatically and continuously inside our mind and Hirda.  This is what Kirtan means in a divine sense and since at this stage of spirituality the Dassam Duaar also opens and all of the seven centers of spiritual energy are activated and also the Anhad Naad word is heard in the Dassam Duaar continuously, it becomes the real Akhand Kirtan because it never stops, it goes on 24 hours a day for ever.

Listening to Kirtan means listening to the Anhad Naad word in Dassam Duaar.  Singing Kirtan means the Rom Rom Naam Simran, which is the Amrit Ras, the Atam Ras and is the divine pilgrimage, the inner pilgrimage.    The singing of GurBani with the tongue is the Rasna Ras (enjoyment of the tongue) and listening to GurBani with the ears is Kanni Ras (enjoyment of the ears), this is all the Atsath Teerath – outer pilgrimage and of little spiritual value.  So in this way an Apras is always absorbed in the Kirtan, the Akhand Kirtan.

The essence of the Shabad Dharam is that Karams are performed without any desires.  The Apras does not expect any rewards for His deeds.  An Apras becomes the true definition of Dharam.  An Apras has brought into His Hirda all of the divine qualities.  That is the real Dharam.  Becoming Sat Saroop is the Dharam and that is an Apras. 

An Apras is very kind and this is a mandatory divine quality.  Utmost kindness is a deep divine quality.  In fact, there is no limit to kindness.  It cannot be measured.  It is without boundaries, that is why it is called a deep divine quality.  Utmost kindness promotes true eternal love and is a divine quality of Paar Braham Parmeshwar – Dana Dina (Always Kind), Param Dyaloo (Supremely Merciful), Dayal Bakshind (Merciful Forgiver), Bakshanhara (Forgiver Of Sins).  That is what makes Him Nirvair.  That is what makes Him Mith Bolra –  always soft and sweetly spoken.  He never hurts anybody.  Our sorrows and troubles are due to our own past deeds.  When we sincerely pray and ask for forgiveness, He always overlooks our bad deeds and forgives us for all of our bad deeds and bad habits and gives us chance after chance to reform ourselves. 

Utmost kindness is a mandatory deep divine quality of a Sant, a Bhagat, a Gurmukh, a SatGur and a Braham Gyani.  All of these entities are also called Apras.  This is what makes such an entity Ik Drisht – single vision.  For such a soul all are equal, there is no discrimination, no hatred no duality in a person who is kind, as kind as Akal Purakh Himself.  Forgiveness is His nature, forgiveness is the Dharam, kindness is the Dharam, being Nirvair is the Dharam.  All of these things promote true love and compassion for others, which is unlimited like Braham Himself. 

Kindness and forgiveness go hand in hand and are very powerful as far as Divinity and spirituality is concerned.  They bring us eternal peace.  They take us closer to the Almighty and remove ego from within us.  They promote sacrifice and service for others, feeling the pain of others and working towards relieving the pain of others, thereby promoting the true service of humanity and hence of Akal Purakh.

Such an Apras is always absorbed in Naam.  Naam goes into His Rom Rom.  Rom Rom Simran is a very high spiritual and eternal stage.  It comes in us when our soul is instituted in Sach Khand.  This is the last stage of Naam Simran.  It is when Naam Simran goes into every cell of our body.  Each and every cell does Naam Simran.  In every fraction of a second the body recites Naam with every cell.  This happens when the Suksham Sareer, which is also called the soul, is completely cleaned and is filled with Amrit.  In fact, it becomes Amrit by itself.  It gets filled with the Nirgun Saroop Param Jyot Puran Parkash and then it gets over filled.  In fact, the Amrit starts to flow out of the Suksham Dehi and starts to effect the physical body.  We actually physically feel and experience that each and every part of our body is vibrating with Naam.  That each and every cell of our body is vibrating with Naam. 

Rom Rom Simran is the real Akhand Kirtan, it is the real Kirtan, it is the real Akhand Paath.  It is the real Amrit, the highest Amrit, the Atam Ras Amrit, the Atam Ras Kirtan, the Puran Jyot Puran Parkash Amrit, the Nirgun Saroop Amrit.  Rom Rom Simran is when every cell of our body becomes Sat Naam, when every cell becomes Amrit, when the Param Jyot flows through every cell of our body, and that is what happens physically and is experienced physically. 

It is felt and experienced very prominently in the more sensitive parts of the body like hands, head, forehead, spine, feet, but it can be felt and experienced like a pulse in all parts of the body.  When we reach this stage then every cell of our body becomes so sensitive that when we listen to Kirtan and GurBani, our Rom Rom hears, feels and experiences GurBani and the music.  The Anand becomes the greatest when GurBani is sung in the Raag (musical measure) in which it is written.  This is probably the height of Naam Simran, when each and every cell sings in praise of Akal Purakh, His Naam.  That is what an Apras enjoys continuously. 

An Apras becomes Naam Ka Daata, Amrit Ka Daata.  He absorbs himself in Parupkaar and Maha Parupkaar of helping others unite with Naam by giving them the GurParsaad of Naam, Naam Ki Kamai, Puran Bandgi and Seva.  He helps others to walk through the entire course of their internal pilgrimage and complete realization.  He helps to transform them into becoming just like Himself.  He helps them to become  an Apras as well by helping them to reach the Param Gat status which is the achievement of the Param Padvi – the highest spiritual status.

Bhag-utee bhagvant bhagat ka rang.
Sagal ti-aagai dusat ka sang.
Man tay binsai saglaa bharam.
Kar poojai sagal Paar Braham.
Sadhsang paapaa mal khovai.
Tis bhag-utee kee mat ootam hovai.
Bhagvant kee tahal karai nit neet.
Man tunn arpai bisan pareet.
Har kay charan hirdai basaavai.
Nanak aisaa bhag-utee bhagvant ka-o paavai.  3.
 
Guru Pancham Patshah Ji is very kindly continuing to reinforce in us the divine attributes and qualities of a person who becomes an Apras.  Guru Patshah Ji is describing some of the other qualities of an Apras and how a person can become Apras. 

The true Bhagaautee, the devotee of Adi Shakti, loves the devotional worship of God.  The true devotion is to surrender everything we have to the Gur and Guru.  Everything belongs to Him.  The Bhagat worships Bhagwant and Bhagwant worships the Bhagat.  Just as the Bhagat does Dhyaan of Bhagwant with full and complete Sachee Shardha, Sachee Preet, full and complete commitment, trust, devotion, faith and love then Bhagwant is so pleased with His Bhagat that the Bhagwant does His Bhagat’s Dhyaan.  This means as much as we give back to Him so much and much more the Bhagwant will return back to us. 

There is no limit to these divine qualities – Sachee Preet, Sachee Shardha, trust, faith, commitment, belief, devotion and love.  As much as we give of these to Bhagwant, He multiplies these many times and give them back to us.  This is the divine law pronounced by Him and all of the divine laws pronounced by Him are automatically implemented when we follow them with commitment, belief, trust, faith, devotion and love towards Him. 

All of these divine traits have no limits.  Let us think for a second can anybody measure love?  Can anybody measure commitment and belief?  Can anybody measure trust?  Can anybody define a yardstick for devotion?  Can anybody define a yardstick for Shardha and Preet?  These divine traits are limitless.  There is no measurable depth of these divine traits and qualities.  They are infinite like Akal Purakh.  When we practice these divine qualities and bring them inside our Hirda, then our Hirda becomes infinite too.  It becomes a place where the Infinite resides.  This is all Bhagat Kaa Rang (the divine qualities of the Bhagat):-

·         Fearlessness – Nirbhao,
·         Ik Drisht,
·         Nirvair,
·         Karta Purakh – the only Doer,
·         Akal – beyond the Kaal, beyond time and space,
·         Ajuni – beyond the cycle of birth and death,
·         Saibhun(g) – self created self supported,
·         Sat Santokh – contentment, no desires, utmost humbleness.

This is all Bhagat Kaa Rang.  The Bhagat gets absorbed in all of these divine qualities.  These divine qualities becomes an inseparable part of the Bhagat’s Hirda.  There remains no difference between Bhagwaan and the Bhagat.  The Bhagat praises Bhagwant and Bhagwant praises the Bhagat.  Everything that belongs to Bhagwant, belongs to the Bhagat. 

An Apras forsakes the company of all that is wicked.  What is wickedness?  What is the meaning of Dusht (sinner) in a human being?  The Panj Doot part is the wicked part, the Dusht part.  It is Trishna that forces a person to become wicked.  Desires are the basic reason for making a person mentally sick.  When desires are fulfilled according to our Karams, then you get a short lived happiness.  But, when desires are not fulfilled then it brings sorrow and pain.  Unfulfilled desires cause you to start complaining and not accepting God’s Hukam.  The accumulation of these sorrows and pains leads to mental depression which leads to mental sicknesses.  So Dusht is that part of a human being which is influenced by Kaam, Krodh, Lobh, Moh and Ahankaar.  These things are nowhere near the Apras. 

All doubts are removed from the mind of the Apras.  These doubts, the Dharam Ke Bharam, are serious road blocks to your spiritual progress.  These doubts are defined as Dubidha.  Dubidha means double mindedness, distortion of our mind, distraction of our mind, disbelief.  Dubidha takes us away from the core of GurBani, away from Tat Vastoo, the Tat Gyan, the deep divine knowledge and understanding.  Without divine understanding, Dubidha keeps us in Dharam Khand or below for ages.  This is the main reason for 99% of the people being in Dharam Khand or below. 

Dubidha is a very serious mental sickness, Mansik Rog.  It blocks our mind and stops us from progressing on the path to Eternity, to salvation, to Jivan Mukti, to meeting the Almighty.  As long as we are in Dubidha we have doubts that make us lose our confidence in the correct spiritual path.  We even ignore what GurBani tells us, for example that we need a Braham Gyani, Sant, Apras to give us GurParsaad.  We doubt what GurBani says due to the miscommunication to us from various sources.  Dubidha will not allow us to reach anywhere spiritually. 

For our spiritual advancement we need to have a crystal clear direction to follow.  That is what we are blessed with when we do eventually eradicate all of the doubts, delusions, illusions from our mind.  This leads us to become an Apras.  Or in other words an Apras is never in any kind of Dubidha, delusions, illusions or Bharams.   

The Apras performs devotional service to the Supreme Lord God in all.  For Him, Nirgun and Sargun becomes one.  He sees the presence of the divine Jyot in every creation.  He sees God all over and that is how He becomes Nirvair.  This is how He becomes Ik Drisht.

In the company of the holy, the filth of sin is washed away.  The filth and scum of the mental sicknesses created by the Panj Doots and Trishna can only be washed in the company of an Apras.  Only the one who has already done so can be called our teacher, our Guru.  Only the one who has achieved the supreme spiritual status and won over His mind completely and won over Maya completely has the authority to give us the GurParsaad of Naam, Naam Ki Kamai, Seva, Parupkaar and Maha Parupkaar.  And only Naam and Naam Ki Kamai can wash off all of the scum and dirt of our mind.  Only the Sangat of such an Apras can help us wash the dirt of our mind and clean us up completely from inside.  Only the Sangat of such an Apras can make us completely truthful on the inside and fill up our Hirda with all of the divine traits and qualities. 

The wisdom of such a Bhagaautee becomes Supreme.  This means the Bhagaautee becomes a Braham Gyani.  A Braham Gyani is a walking encyclopaedia of divine wisdom.  He has earned the divine wisdom through practice of GurBani in His daily life.  He constantly performs the service of the Supreme Lord God by seeing the Truth, speaking the Truth, hearing the Truth, serving the Truth and delivering the Truth.  He becomes the custodian of the Amrit and can deliver the GurParsaad of Naam, Naam Ki Kamai, Seva, Parupkaar and Maha Parupkaar to the others.  In this way He makes their lives sublime by getting them to realize their spiritual objectives.  He dedicates His mind and body to the service and love of God.  Dedication of the physical body to the Almighty means:-

·         the dedication to Naam Simran,
·         collecting Naam Ki Kamai,
·         doing Seva of others,
·         involving our self in Parupkaar, such as:-
          ·   doing good for others,
          ·   helping others,
          ·   serving the poor and down trodden,
          ·   donations,
          ·   service,
          ·   charity and similar  activities.

Maha Parupkaar means:-

·         helping others in uniting with God,
·         giving the GurParsaad of Naam, Naam Ki Kamai and Seva to others,
·         helping others to complete there internal pilgrimage,
·         leading others to complete realization,
·         guiding others in how to achieve Jivan Mukti and to become an Apras themselves. 

The mind of an Apras does not exist any more.  He doesn’t follow the worldly wisdom – Sansarik Mat, the self wisdom – MunnMat, nor the bad wisdom – DurMat.  The only thing He follows is the divine wisdom – GurMat.  Eventually, His  mind is replaced by the Param Jyot.  This is when His body is directed by the divine wisdom and He is completely enlightened.  Then the Lotus Feet of the Lord abide in His heart.  The Charans of Akal Purakh are saturated in His Hirda.  Such a Bhagaautee attains the Lord God.  Such an Apras gets united with God.
 
So pandit jo man parbodhai.
Raam naam aatam meh sodhai.
Raam naam saar ras peevai.
Us pandit kai updays jag jeevai.
Har kee kathaa hirdai basaavai.
So pandit fir jon na aavai.
Bayd puraan simrit boojhai mool.
Sookham meh jaanai asthool.
Chahu varnaa ka-o day updays.
Nanak us pandit ka-o sada adays.  4.
 
Guru Pancham Patshah Ji is very kindly telling us how a person can become Apras.  His astral body, the Suksham Dehi, becomes absorbed in the GurParsaad of Naam.  This begins to happen when we dedicate ourselves to Naam Simran and start collecting Naam Ki Kamai.  Then slowly and surely with GurParsaad, our soul – the Atma, the Suksham Dehi, becomes pure and clean.  It becomes Kanchan Dehi, meaning as pure as gold.  Our body and soul are relieved of the Panj Doots and Trishna.  All of our sins are washed away.  The effect of all of the sins committed thus far including all of the previous lives are washed away.  In this way an ordinary person becomes an Apras.

The Apras enjoys Naam Ras – the Amrit, continuously.  His entire body physically feels the vibrations of Naam.  This is the presence of the super power of God inside Him.  A continuous stream of cosmic energy, Amrit, keeps on flowing through His physical body.  This is a very special divine feeling and keeps the Apras absorbed in enjoying this continuously flowing Amrit, enjoying the Atam Ras.

Some people are also given the GurParsaad of seeing Parkash, meaning seeing the Nirgun Saroop (Divine Light) with their eyes open.  Some people see the Divine Light when they close their eyes.  These blessed people see the Divine Light all around an Apras. 

It is worth mentioning here a very most important point concerning GurParsaad of  Naam.  Everything that makes spiritual advancement happens is GurParsaad.  Nothing is going to happen by our own efforts.  Everything happens by GurParsaad only.   However, it is crucial that along with praying for  the continuous flow of the GurParsaad of Naam, we need also to be praying for GurParsaad of Puran Bandgi.  Puran Bandgi means doing Naam Ki Kamai and Seva.  And Seva means doing Parupkaar and Maha Parupkaar.  Pray for winning over Maya completely, for winning over desires completely, for filling our Hirda with all of the divine qualities, for exercising GurBani in our daily life. 

Such an Apras dives into the Mansarovar – the Nirgun Saroop, and carves all of the divine qualities inside His Hirda and becomes a Braham Gyani and becomes a custodian of the GurParsaad of Naam, Puran Bandgi and Seva.  The Apras can help us go through the same process which He has been through and takes us to the heights of the spiritual world and make us and Apras as well. 

The words and teachings of such a soul who becomes an Apras is called the word of God.  This is because there remains no difference between God and Him.  The words and teachings of such a person provide life to the entire creation.  The GurParsaad of Naam and Puran Bandgi from the Apras provides life to the seekers. 

In the real divine sense, real life is beyond Maya.  As long as we are in Maya we will continue to die a constant death.  When we get out of the shackles of Maya then we really wake up and become alive forever.  The real life is in Jivan Mukti, in becoming an Apras.  The Apras implants the sermon of the Lord in His heart.   Har Kee Katha (God’s Katha) is Akath Katha.  Akath Katha is when the Apras unites with the Almighty and feels in His Hirda what is indescribable in words.  The Apras experiences Akath Katha when He:-

·         merges with the Almighty,
·         has Darshan, vision, of the Nirgun Saroop of Akal Purakh,
·         meets Paar Braham Parmeshwar and talks to Him,
·         takes a deep dive into the Mansarovar.

The experience of Akath Katha is beyond description and cannot be described in words.  Only the Apras and His Hirda knows the physical experiences He goes through during this process of union with God. All of these incidents of His union with God become carved into His Hirda.  The Shri Charan Kamal of Dhan Dhan Paar Braham Parmeshwar are carved and saturated in His Hirda.  Naam goes into each and every bit of His physical body.  Rom Rom Naam vibrations are heard continuously.  Anhad Shabad music goes on continuously.  Amrit keeps on flowing through His entire body continuously.  He goes into full eternal enjoyment and happiness.  When this happens and He is united with God then nothing can separate Him from God.  Maya becomes His servant and He becomes Jivan Mukt.  No more reincarnating through the cycle of birth and death.  He becomes alive forever.  Such a person is the real Pandit, meaning a Puran Sant Puran Braham Gyani, an Apras. 

An Apras carves the fundamental essence of the Vedas, the Puraans and the Simritees into His Hirda.  The fundamental essence is the GurParsaad of Naam.  The Mool is the basis of the entire creation.  It is the origin of the creation.  It is the Beej, the seed of the creation.  It is Naam, the GurParsaad of Naam.  It is Sat Naam as presented by Dhan Dhan Guru Nanak Patshah Ji in the Mool Manter.  The first line of the Shabad Guru Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji up to GurParsaad is called the Mool Manter.  The Mool or the Beej contains everything including the Tat Gyan, the Braham Gyan, the divine knowledge.  The person who is blessed with GurParsaad of understanding the Mool or the Beej and carves this in His Hirda is blessed with GurParsaad of the Tat Gyan and becomes a source of divine knowledge for others. 

Within the creation where God is seemingly not accessible, the Apras manifest’s God in His Hirda.  The life element of the creation is the divine Jyot.  That is what keeps life going.  The Apras feels the presence of this eternal essence in the entire creation.  Sookham is the divine element and Asthool is Maya element.  So it is the divine element that provides life to the creation.  The bottom line is that such an Apras feels the presence of the Divine Jyot running the entire universe.

The Apras gives His blessings to people of all castes and social classes.  A Sant, a Braham Gyani, a SatGur doesn’t belong to any particular sect of society.  He belongs to all parts of society.  There is nothing known as cast or creed for an Apras.  For Him all are human beings.  They are not Shoodras, Vaish, Khatri or Brahmins.  Hindu society is still unfortunately divided into four man-made categories of people called castes:-

1.        Brahmins – the so called highest class of the people who are engaged in the worship of God and control the places of worship. 
2.        Khatri – who are given the responsibility of maintaining the defence of the kingdom;
3.        Vaish – engaged in business activities;
4.        Shoodras – the so called untouchables doing menial jobs, considered to be the lowest;

   

In olden times, Shoodras were not even allowed to enter the temples.  This division of society has been a major drawback for Indian society.  Let us make it very clear, there is no such division of society for an Apras.  He is single vision, Ik Drisht and Nirvair, so for Him all are equal.  They are all human beings and are treated equally.  His teachings are for all people of all societies.  Anybody can be His disciple and can follow His teachings.  In fact, a Sant, a Braham Gyani, a SatGur belongs to the entire creation.  There is no duality in His mind.  For Him a beggar is as important and lovable as a king is.  His love for the entire creation is the same as His love for God. 

All of the Guru Sahibs were Apras.  They were Puran Sant SatGurus, Puran Braham Gyanis and their teachings are carved in divine words in the Shabad Guru, Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.  The entire creation is benefiting from the divine GurBani.  The entire creation bows in salutation to GurBani and Guru Sahibs.  In the same way, anybody who becomes an Apras becomes a Puran Sant, a Puran SatGur, a Puran Braham Gyani and gets the same respect from the entire creation. 

Beej manter sarabh ko gi-aan.
Chahu varnaa meh japai ko-oo naam.
Jo jo japai tis kee Gat ho-ay.
Sadhsang paavai junn ko-ay.
Kar kirpa antar ur dhaarai.
Pas parayt mughad paathar ka-o taarai.
Sarabh rog ka a-ukhad naam.
Kali-aan roop mangal gun gaam.
Kaahoo jugat kitai na paa-ee-ai dharam.
Nanak tis milai jis likhi-aa dhur karam.  5.

The one who becomes an Apras sows the Beej Manter into His Hirda.  The Beej Manter – the Seed Mantra, is the source of spirituality, Divinity, spiritual wisdom, divine wisdom, Tat Gyan, Braham Gyan about the entire creation.   Beej Manter is “Ik Oankar Sat Naam.”  The Mool Manter is the description of and further expansion of the Beej Manter.  And the Beej Manter itself is just a longer form of the Gur Manter “Sat Naam,” but means the same thing “One God whose name is Truth (Sat).”  The person who carves the Beej Manter into His Hirda becomes a Braham Gyani.  Beej means the Primal Seed or Origin which is the Creator and the source of creation, from where all of the creation has been born from.  So when the Beej is sown into the Hirda then the person becomes enriched with the complete divine wisdom – the Puran Braham Gyan about the Creator and creation. 

Just as a huge tree is contained within a very small seed.  The seed is planted in the Earth and becomes a plant.  When properly nurtured with time it becomes a huge tree, with a lot of  branches and leaves.  In a similar way, the Beej Manter is like the seed of the tree.  It is planted in the human Hirda.  It is nurtured with the food of  surrendering Tunn, Munn and Dhann to the Gur and Guru.  It requires dedicating our self to Naam Simran in  Samadhi and Sunn Samadhi, Seva, Parupkaar and Maha Parupkaar.  This takes us through the process of Puran Bandgi with Gyan, Dhyaan, Ishnaan in accordance with the divine laws.  This seed grows into an unimaginably huge spiritual tree with all of the diamonds and jewels of divine wisdom, Braham Gyan and all of the divine qualities and unlimited divine powers.  It transforms  an ordinary person into an Apras. 

This is just a glimpse of the Mahima of the Beej Manter.  The Mahima of Beej Manter is beyond description.  It can only be physically experienced through the GurParsaad.  The Mahima of the Beej Manter is a Puran Sant, a Puran SatGur, a Puran Braham Gyani and “Braham Gyani Ki Gat Braham Gyani Janey”.  Anyone, regardless of the groupings of society, whoever gets the GurParsaad of the Beej Manter planted in their Hirda and does Puran Bandgi becomes an Apras.  But, remember that only one in tens of millions gets the GurParsaad of the Beej Manter and Puran Bandgi and reaches the spiritual heights.   So we should all keep on continuously praying for the GurParsaad of the Beej Manter, Puran Bandgi, Seva, Parupkaar and Maha Parupkaar. 

The GurParsaad of the Beej Manter lives in a Puran Braham Gyani.  The Amrit lives in a Puran Sant.  The GurParsaad can only be obtained from the ones who have gone beyond the three aspects of Maya, “Trihu Gun Tey Parey.”  Only they become a Puran Sant, a SatGur, a Puran Braham Gyani, and only they are the custodians of the GurParsaad of the Beej Manter and authorized by Akal Purakh to give GurParsaad to the Sangat.  It is a rare soul who gets the GurParsaad of the Beej Manter, Puran Bandgi and Seva from a Puran Sant SatGur Braham Gyani and completes His Bandgi and becomes an Apras.  It is all GurParsaad that makes these divine things happen.  It is the eternal grace and blessings that will get us the GurParsaad of Beej Manter, Puran Bandgi and Seva.  Then the Amrit will go into our Rom Rom, all of our Bajjar Kapaats will be opened.  It is the GurParsaad that also opens our Dassam Duaar and form our permanent connection with Akal Purakh.  Then we are blessed with the GurParsaad of Panch Shabad Anhad Naad music and Amrit continuously. 

When we go through this process of Puran Bandgi and become an Apras then we are blessed with all of the eternal treasures.  A Puran Braham Gyani becomes the owner of all of the eternal treasures and becomes capable of giving salvation to the birds, ghosts and even the stone hearted ones.  They are the ones who have never done any Bandgi or any Sato Karams.  In the Sat Sangat of such souls we can get Jivan Mukti very easily.  We can reach the spiritual heights in a short period of time. 

Naam is an eternal prescription for all of our sorrows, pains, physical ailments and mental ailments.  Naam Simran eliminates all of the sorrows in our life.  We become so strong mentally that we are able to tolerate all kind of sorrows and diseases including the chronic mental diseases caused by the Panj Doots.  There remains no difference between sorrow and happiness.  We become single vision and enjoy the complete, pure and pious happiness – Sat Chit Anand – which is Param Jyot Puran Parkash – Nirgun Saroop of Akal Purakh.  This stage of spirituality cannot be obtained by any kind of external rituals.  It is internal pilgrimage that cleans us up from within and makes our Hirda a Puran Sachyara Hirda.  Then we are able to achieve Puran Sachyari Rehat.  This internal compliance is the key to spiritual success.  External compliance is of no use at all if we have not earned the internal compliance.  Unless we become internally compliant our Hirda will not become Puran Sachyara and the Sachyaar, God, lives only in a Hirda which has become Puran Sachyara. 

The GurParsaad of Naam, Puran Bandgi and Seva is only obtained through the accumulation of Sato Karams, truthful actions and behavior.  By putting GurBani into practice we keep on accumulating Sato Karams.  Eventually when God is pleased by our Sato Karams we are awarded the GurParsaad of Naam, Puran Bandgi and Seva.  The addiction to Sato Karams changes our fate in the future and makes us fortunate enough to receive the GurParsaad of Naam, Puran Bandgi and Seva and makes our life sublime by achieving salvation.

Jis kai man Paar Braham ka nivaas.
Tis ka naam sat raamdaas.
Aatam raam tis nadree aa-i-aa.
Daas dasantan bhaa-ay tin paa-i-aa.
Sada nikat nikat har jaan.
So daas dargeh parvaan.
Apunay daas ka-o aap kirpa karai.
Tis daas ka-o sabh sojhee parai.
Sagal sang aatam udaas.
Aisee jugat nanak raamdaas.  6.
 
Guru Sahib Ji Pancham Patshah Ji has very kindly given the title Sat Ram Dass to a person who becomes an Apras.  Sat Ram Dass means “the true servant of God”, because such a person becomes Puran Sachyara.  The Hirda of such a person becomes Puran Sachyara.  It becomes completely truthful from inside and out.  Only in a Puran Sachyara Hirda does the Sachyaar, the Dhan Dhan Paar Braham Parmeshwar come in and live. 

Such a person becomes Sat Saroop as they have defeated Maya.  They are always and continuously absorbed in the service of the Almighty and unite their Sangat with the Eternal Truth, the Sat, the Nirgun Saroop of Dhan Dhan Paar Braham Parmeshwar.  In other words the Sat Ram Dass is a Puran Khalsa, a Puran Braham Gyani, a Puran Sant, SatGur. 

The soul of such a true servant of the Dhan Dhan Paar Braham Parmeshwar becomes saturated with Naam Amrit.  The Amrit keeps on flowing through the body of such a person continuously.  The Amrit starts to over flow physically from the body of such a person.  That is how He delivers the Amrit to others.  The person who with full faith and trust, devotion and love goes into His Sangat and completely surrenders to Him, gets the GurParsaad of this Amrit.  The receiver of the Amrit cools down inside from the fire of Maya and Kal Yug.  The receiver of Amrit gets enlightened and starts to move on the path of Puran Bandgi and service to others.  Eventually, they become an Apras too.

The Sat Ram Dass becomes the apostle of utmost humbleness with GurParsaad of Gareebi Ves Hirda.  A Puran Sachyara Hirda becomes a Gareebi Ves Hirda, full of utmost humbleness.  He calls Himself a slave of the slaves.  He becomes the dust of the feet of the entire creation and calls Himself with the very humble name of Dassan Dass.  God lives in such souls and appears in such souls who become Dassan Dass. 

God speaks through such souls who become Apras.  They become Nirankaar Roop and see and feel the presence of God in them and around them in every creation continuously.  They are always and forever absorbed in God, the Nirgun Saroop of Dhan Dhan Paar Braham Parmeshwar.  Such souls are honored in the Dargah of Akal Purakh.  They are given a Dargahi Hukam (command from God’s Court – a mission) and authority to give the GurParsaad of Naam, Puran Bandgi and Seva to others and help them achieve salvation. 

We should all keep on praying for the GurParsaad and pray for God to keep us engaged in the Sato Karams – truthful deeds.  Only then will God accept us as His servant and give us the GurParsaad of  enlightenment.  Give us the GurParsaad of understanding the divine wisdom and follow it religiously.  Eventually, only with His mercy and grace do we get the GurParsaad of Naam, Puran Bandgi and Seva.

By getting the Sangat of an Apras we are ferried across the ocean of Maya and desires, the ocean of darkness and taken into the ocean of Divine Light, the Mansarovar.  The Apras is a Dassan Dass and always remains detached from Maya.  Always remains attached to the Param Jyot Nirgun Saroop.  Only such a soul can help us become an Apras.  The Sangat of such a Puran Braham Gyani, Sat Ram Dass is the only way to get salvation. 
 
Prabh kee aagi-aa aatam hitaavai.
Jeevan mukat so-oo kahaavai.
Taisaa harakh taisaa us sog.
Sada anand tah nahee bi-og.
Taisaa suvran taisee us maatee.
Taisaa amrit taisee bikh khaatee.
Taisaa maan taisaa abhimaan.
Taisaa rank taisaa raajaan.
Jo vartaa-ay saa-ee jugat.
Nanak oh purakh kahee-ai jeevan mukat.  7.

Guru Pancham Patshah Ji has with utter kindness given this divine wisdom for us to understand the meaning of the Shabad Jivan Mukt.  A Jivan Mukt is an Apras.  In fact, a Jivan Mukt is the one who has won over Maya and has relieved Himself from the shackles of  Maya.  Jivan Mukti is Mukti from Maya.  A Jivan Mukt is a Puran Braham Gyani who is beyond the three aspects of Maya.  They have become an inseparable part of the Nirgun Saroop.  They have merged in the Nirgun Saroop.  There remains no difference between God and an Apras. 

A Jivan Mukt obeys the Hukam of Akal Purakh.  The soul which lives by the Hukam of Akal Purakh, all His senses are directly under the Puran Hukam of Dhan Dhan Paar Braham Parmeshwar.  All of His deeds, Karams, are Sat Karams.  He is always absorbed in the Amrit, the Nirgun Saroop Param Jyot Puran Parkash. 

The soul is recognized in the Dargah as a Jivan Mukt when it:-

·         has unconditional love for Dhan Dhan Paar Braham Parmeshwar has reached such an eternal height that it sees and recognizes only the Hukam of Almighty, 
·         has completely detached from its own wisdom,
·         has adopted the complete divine wisdom, the wisdom of the Gur and Guru,
·         resides under the complete Hukam of Akal Purakh every moment of its existence in this world,
·         has reached such levels of eternal blessings that it is at the stage of Sach Khand.

At the stage of Sach Khand there is nothing but complete Truth.  The complete silence and Param Jyot Puran Parkash is all that is present.  Such a soul has become completely truthful and by virtue of being so, has merged in Akal Purakh and achieved the Param Padvi.  Jivan Mukt is such a soul:-

·         for whom there is no difference in worldly sorrows and happiness,
·         which cannot be distracted by worldly comforts and discomforts,
·         which is beyond the effects of Maya,
·         which cannot be distracted by Maya,
·         which has conquered over Maya,
·         which is served by Maya and by the Panj Doots,
·         who has no desires,
·         is always in the state of highest spiritual and eternal blessings,
·         which is always in a state of full and complete balance,
·         which is always in full and complete eternal and spiritual internal happiness,
·         always remain one with Almighty and
·         cannot be separated from the Almighty.
 
For such a highly eternally and spiritually blessed soul that is Jivan Mukt, there is:-

·         no difference between gold and soil,
·         no greed for anything,
·         no five vices – Panj Doots,
·         no difference between Amrit and poison (the Jivan Mukt drinks the poison of the Sangat’s sins and gives them Amrit in return),
·         no respect and disrespect for Him,
·         there is no Haumai,
·         such a high level of humbleness inside Him that no word of disrespect, Nindya, slander can distract Him,
·         constant Chad Di Klaa, a complete state of eternal and spiritual blessings all of the time,
·         no distraction from words good or bad,
·         only single vision – Ik Drisht, everybody is equal for Him, there is no duality inside such a soul.  For Him all creations of the Creator are equally important.  There remains no difference for Him between a poor person and a king.  Since He is of single vision, there is no duality inside.  By virtue of this quality He becomes a friend of all and enemy of none, He is Nirvair.
 
The Jivan Mukt soul becomes:-

·         the owner of divine wisdom and spiritual powers, 
·         eternally blessed by Dhan Dhan Paar Braham Parmeshwar and is authorized by Him to disseminate the GurParsaadi Blessings to the others, 
·         the guiding light for others.  He has completed His journey to Sach Khand, Dargah of Dhan Dhan Akal Purakh with the GurParsaadi GurKirpa.  He knows the way to do it, 
·         the deliverer of the Truth,
·         a Guru for others to show them this path of Jivan Mukti and to help them achieve it as well,
·         Puran Sant SatGuru, a Puran Braham Gyani, 
·         the custodian of the GurParsaadi GurKirpa, Prabh Jyot (Divine Light), the GurParsaadi Naam.. 

The bottom line is that when a person is given the GurParsaad of Jivan Mukti, salvation, then everything appears to be a Maya Khel (game of Maya), a Jagat Tamasha (worldly show) and nothing else. 
 
Paar Braham kay saglay thaa-o. 
Jit jit ghar raakhai taisaa tin naa-o.
Aapay karan karaavan jog.
Prabh bhaavai so-ee fun hog.
Pasri-o aap ho-ay anat tarang.
Lakhay na jaahi Paar Braham kay rang.
Jaisee mat day-ay taisaa pargaas.
Paar Braham kartaa abinaas.
Sada sada sada da-i-aal.
Simar simar nanak bha-ay nihaal.  8.9.
 
Dhan Dhan Paar Braham Pita Parmeshwar is Omnipresent.  This means He is everywhere, that there is absolutely no place without His presence.  It means we are under the constant watch of Dhan Dhan Param Pita Paar Braham Parmeshwar Ji.  Due to His infinite super powers, Sarabh Klaa Bharpoor, He is present everywhere and keeps us all under His continuous observation.  Our deeds are being constantly watched by Him.  We cannot hide anything from Him.  And according to His divine laws whatever we sow today in terms of our deeds so shall we reap in terms of the rewards in the future.  All of our sorrows, pains or sufferings are a result of our own deeds in the past.  Whatever the state our life is in today is a result of our own doings in the past.  If we have success and happiness in our life, it is because of our good deeds in the past lives.  If we have problems, pains and sorrows, sickness or troubles in our current life then that is a result of our misdeeds in the past or previous lives. 

In order to make our future happier and pain free, suffering free, trouble free, healthy and happy we should watch our own deeds at the present time.  We need to ensure that our performance is truthful in the present and that we are conducting ourselves in a truthful manner.  This makes all of our Karams into Sato Karams.  Then for sure, according to the divine law of Karma, we are rewarded for our good deeds and our life is happy and trouble free, pain free, suffering free and smooth and nice. 

The performance of Sato Karams eventually brings us to a level where we become eternally blessed by Dhan Dhan Paar Braham Parmeshwar with the GurParsaad of Naam, Puran Bandgi and Seva.  We are then able to achieve the objective of this human life, salvation, Jivan Mukti.  Meaning Mukti from Maya, winning over Maya and going beyond the three aspects of Maya. 

We should all understand very clearly that there is only one Doer and He is Dhan Dhan Paar Braham Pita Parmeshwar Himself.  Whatever happens with all of us is His will and nothing else.  Everything happens in His Hukam, nothing happens outside the Hukam.  If we understand this thing and take this Braham Gyan, divine wisdom, inside our Hirda then our ego and pride will vanish. 

There is nothing under our control.  Everything is commanded and controlled by God Himself.   Whatever pleases Him that happens.  From the beginning to now and for all Ages to come, only Eternal Truth prevails, Maya doesn’t prevail, only God prevails.  His Naam prevails.  Ik Oankaar Sat Naam prevails.  Everything else has either perished or is perishable and will perish.  Except for God, everything else is prone to change and changes with time.  There is a definite effect of time on everything else and eventually everything else vanishes and doesn’t prevail.  But, God, Dhan Dhan Paar Braham Parmeshwar is non-perishable, always stable, self created, self supported, beyond the effect of time and remains the same forever. 

The infinite superpowers of Nirgun Saroop Dhan Dhan Paar Braham Parmeshwar cannot be described.  Nobody has ever been able to measure the nature and super powers of God and nobody can do so.  God is infinite and immeasurable.  There are no limiting dimensions of Mansarovar.  There is unlimited depth to the Mansarovar.  We can only get a glimpse of the depth of the Mansarovar if we are fortunate to get the GurParsaad of Naam, Puran Bandgi and Seva. 
Our understanding of Divinity and divine wisdom depends upon our own Karni.  Those who concentrate on the Sato Karams and those who keep on accumulating the Sato Karams eventually become fortunate to get the GurKirpa and the GurParsaad of Naam, Puran Bandgi and Seva and make their life sublime by achieving salvation.  But, those who are always engaged in the Rajo and Tamo Karams remain deprived of the GurKirpa and GurParsaad and keep on reincarnating through the birth and death.  They go through this cycle for an indefinite period of time until by His eternal grace they start to participate in the Sato Karams.  They start building an account of Sato Karams and move towards the next stage of getting GurParsaad. 

The level of our divine wisdom is governed by our participation in the Sato Karams.  The higher the number the better our spiritual level.  Eventually we receive GurParsaad.   Further accumulation of the Sato Karams means more and more detachment from Maya and more and more attachment with God.  When we do cross the line where God is pleased with our Karni, He pulls us out and gives us the GurParsaad of Naam, Puran Bandgi and Seva.  This leads us on the path to Sach Khand and eventually makes us an Apras. 

God is very kind, we cannot even imagine how kind He is towards us.  He keeps on giving us chance after chance to unite with Him and get relieved of the cycle of life and death.  So we should all keep our focus on doing Sato Karams and keep on working for getting the GurParsaad of Naam, Puran Bandgi and Seva.  Firmly believe that He is very kind.  When we show our unconditional devotional love for Him, when we completely surrender to Him with Tunn, Munn and Dhann with full belief and commitment, faith and trust, devotion and love, then He takes care of us.  He takes us in His lap and blesses us with an everlasting eternal happiness.  He gives us a place in His Dargah.

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