Which is the Place where the Shabd is heard?

There are ten doors of the body. Nine are outer, and one is inner.

The fort of the body has nine doors. The tenth is kept secret. The secret door will not open. Only the Shabd of the Master can open it.

The fortress of the body has nine gates; the tenth gate is kept hidden. The rigid door is not open; only through the Word of the Guru’s Shabd can it be opened.

Guru Amar Das –
Adi Granth, Var of Ramkali M3, p. 954

So long as the soul wanders in the outer nine doors, it is being robbed of its birth-right. It is not able to see the precious inner treasure. There is, however, the tenth door, where the Heavenly Music is heard.

Oh damsel fair, you searched in all the nine doors. But did not find the precious treasure. Oh Kabir! The nine doors hold it not; It is in the tenth door.

Seeing the nine openings of the body, the soul-bride is led astray; she does not obtain that incomparable thing. Says Kabir, the nine openings of the body are being plundered; rise up to the Tenth Gate, and discover the True Essence.

Kabir Sahib –
Adi Granth, Gauri, Ashtapadi, p. 339

Guru Ram Das also says that one should turn the attention of the soul away from the nine doors and, after controlling the senses and the wandering mind, should take the soul to the tenth door from which a path leads upwards to the Original Home. The Unstruck Music is resounding there day and night, but this can only be heard by following Gurumat, the Master's directions.

He who closes the nine doors and stills his wandering mind, enters through the tenth door his Original Home. Hears he day and night the Unstruck Music through the Guru's instructions.

Those who close off the nine gates, and restrain the wandering mind, come to dwell in the Home of the Tenth Gate. There, the Unstruck Melody of the Shabd vibrates day and night. Through the Guru’s Teachings, the Shabd is heard.

Guru Amar Das ­–
Adi Granth, Maahj M3, Ashtapadi, p. 124

Guru Nanak lucidly explains that this Shabd transcends Ida, Pingla and Sushmana (inner places concentrated on by yogis) and can be heard only through the Grace of the Master.

He knows Ida, Pingla and Sushmana he sees for himself the unseeable. Oh Nanak! The True Master takes one beyond them He merges him in the Sound.

He understands the Sushmana, Ida and Pingala, when the unseen Lord reveals Himself. Oh Nanak! The True Lord is above these three energy channels. Through the Word, the Shabd of the True Guru, one merges with Him.

Guru Nanak Dev –
Adi Granth, Ramkali, Sidha Goshti, p. 944

So far as mind, maya and matter are concerned, the Shabd works in co-ordination with them. Beyond them it is both subtle and pure.

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