Book V / I
Bani and Gurbani
The term Bani is rather difficult to define and to understand; its significance goes far deeper than is commonly supposed. In common parlance it means words that we read, write or speak. But Saints have used it with an altogether different meaning. Ordinarily there is not much difference in the terms Bani, Shabd and Naam, for the three are used interchangeably to denote one and the same thing.
Bani or Naam is of two kinds:
- Varan Atmak and
- Dhun Atmak.
The former is an outward expression of inner feelings by means of words through reading, writing or speaking; and the other is the Inner Sound Principle or Sound Current.