Is your Destiny awakened

I

No matter which hymn you study from the Great Masters, you will find that the subject is the same. Bite on any part of a sugar toy and it will be sweet! The theme of all the Masters is the Naam or Shabd – the God-into-Expression-Power. There is a hymn of Guru Ram Das to which is worth giving considerable thought; for when the subject is unfolded clearly, it is easier to understand. So, listen with Love and full concentration:

“If the fortunate one’s destiny is great, he will then meditate upon God’s Naam.”

To be given the human birth is a great good fortune, for it is the highest of all the eighty-four hundred thousand (8,400,000) species of creation.

All species are born to serve you. Yours is the highest birth.

Oh man, all the earth’s species were created to serve you. Having gained the human birth, your destiny should awaken and become great; otherwise, the life is wasted away in enjoyments along with the rest of mankind. Having been born a human being, then what does he do if his destiny is awakened?

He will then meditate upon God’s Naam.

What is God’s Name? It is That which all Saints have spoken of – God’s Name is the greatest – That which created all. Nothing can be greater than the Naam of the Lord, which gave birth to everything. It is not just a mere word in any language; it is the very Power of God which created and which continues to sustain all creation. And, he who meditates upon that Power has the very Highest Destiny.

So much praise has been sung of those who meditate on Naam.

Those Who meditated upon the Naam had all worries erased; oh Nanak, Their countenances were radiant, and those in Their company gained freedom.

Whoever meditated upon the Naam, fully, made a complete success of life; all life’s burdens and difficulties faded away. Not only were Their faces radiant, but others, too, got salvation through Them.

The Gurumukh gives salvation to millions with a little ray of Naam.

So, when the Masters come, millions who enjoy Their company are carried across the ocean of life. Guru Ram Das Ji also recommended a daily program for the disciple;

He said,

He who calls himself disciple of the Satguru, should rise early and meditate upon the Naam.

Anyone who calls himself a disciple of that Personality Who is the Truth Personified – the daily routine of such a disciple should be to rise before the dawn every day and contact the Naam-Power. To meditate upon Naam and to repeat the word Naam are two entirely different things. Repetition of the word is merely to get one started.

It is said also,

Rise before sunrise; take a bath in Amritsar.

Now, what is the meaning of this? – for those people who live in Kabul, in Afghanistan, for instance, would not be able to travel to Amritsar every day for a bath! – for Amritsar is in Punjab, India. It is the city which was started by Guru Ram Das Ji and completed by Guru Arjan Sahib, and we have great regard in our hearts for this sacred place, the residence of the Great Masters. It is not surprising that it is a famous pilgrimage.

But, to which Amritsar does Guru Amar Das here refer?

The True Amritsar is within the physical form, tasting which purifies the mind.

The True Amritsar, which has the precious Nectar, lies within the human form. Whereabouts? Beyond Pind, And, and Brahmand – the physical, astral, and causal planes. It is also referred to as Daswan Dwar. Sometimes it is called Sarovar (Pool) of Amrit, and the Muslim fakirs spoke of it as Hauz-i-Kauzar, and the Hindu Rishis named it Prag Raj.

When bathing in this Sarovar, the soul becomes immortal – free from all dross. So, this is why that soul who calls himself a disciple of He Who is Truth Personified, should rise early, meditate upon the Naam, and take a bath in Amritsar daily. He should get that far at least, with Pind, And, and Brahmand left far behind.

What else does Guru Amar Das say?

After rising, sing the Gurbani (words of the Masters).

Having been in communion with Naam, we are then fit to read the Master’s words; but we have long forgotten all this. We have forgotten that meditation upon Naam means to rejoin It. Where is Naam? The Giver of the nine varieties of happiness is the Lord’s Naam, which can be found within the human form. It actually exists within us; It is not merely a spoken word. 

Ultimate, beyond the senses – Naam is limitless.

It is not an outer practice, for one can contact It only when above the senses.

Very sweet is the beloved Naam.

He says there is a great sweetness in the Naam, and those fortunate ones who meditate upon It are the Highest Souls – those who meditate with full concentration.

What is gained by such meditation? Why are those who meditate upon It so fortunate? Who gets connection with It?

The answers to those questions are found in the Gurbani.