Book I / III – (v)

Naam is the Heritage of the Gurumukh

All are engaged in the repetition of names, but one gets to Naam only through the Grace of a Master-Saint. 

Guru Amar Das, Malar M3

Spirituality can neither be bought nor taught, but may be caught like any infection from a spiritually infected person, a Satguru, a Sadh or a Sant. An adept in spirituality may in compassion and grace grant a spiritual experience of Naam, now lying buried within each one of us. We have of course to develop a receptive attitude and then the grace flows in automatically. The riches of Naam or Word come to a Gurumukh and not to a manmukh, who constantly grovels on the sensual plane.

Search within for everything is within, only a devotee of the Guru can unearth Naam, and remain in touch with It all the time. Inexhaustible as is the treasure of Naam, It comes to one so ordained. 

Guru Amar Das, Sri Rag M3

Nothing comes up to Naam, oh Nanak! a rare Gurumukh gets this Gift. 

Guru Arjan, Gauri M5

By communion with the Naam one gets to know the value of the Naam, by communion with the Naam, one is cleansed of the sins and knows Truth; by communion with the Naam, oh Nanak, one becomes luminous, but one gets this communion through the Grace of a Guru. 

Guru Ram Das, Sarang War M4

Escaping bondage one attains salvation and remains absorbed in Truth, Naam is a rare thing in this world, only a true devotee may get to It, Nanak would make a sacrifice of himself for one who is devotedly attached to his Guru.

Guru Amar Das, Sorath War M3

A worldly-wise man knows not the Naam, and without Naam, loses his respect here and here-after. He derives not the benefit of Naam, engaged as he is in other pursuits.

Guru Amar Das, Sri Rag M3

The philosophy of Naam cannot be explained in words. A mere talk on Naam is not helpful at all, for the Naam can only be contacted through an inner experience. 

If we were to ask professor to get us an M.A. degree in return for cash, he would refuse. We have to work for it and qualify for it. The Power of God is within each one of us, but through the Grace of a Master-Soul and some spiritual discipline it can be made manifest and developed. But all creation whatever the source (Andaj, Jairaj, Setaj, Utbhuj) and all modes of Japa worship (Baikheri, Madhma, Pashianti and Para) are far removed from Naam and are nothing but a grand delusion.

All creation and all modes of worship remain in delusion without Naam. 

Guru Amar Das, Majh M3

A Contact with this Naam comes only through devotion to a Master-Soul and not otherwise. 

The Kingdom of God cometh not by observation. […] The Kingdom of God is within you. 

St Luke 17:20-21

Be ye the doers of the Word and not the hearers only,

was the advice of Jesus to his followers.

Human life is a great privilege, for every individual is gifted with an ethereal element in his constitution that gives him the power of discrimination – judging right from wrong and evaluating life's essentials and non-essentials. On this Path two things are absolutely necessary: A true Guide or an Adept traveller of the Path, and the practice of Naam or the spiritual Sadhna as enjoined by that Adept. But one who has not yet freed himself from the world and worldly entanglements cannot achieve anything in this sphere. The Divine Link within us is the very life of our life, yet Its contact comes through the grace of the Master-Soul; and without an actual experience of the Godhead within, all creatures and all Sadhnas or religious practices are of no consequence whatsoever. 

All creation and all devotion is a noisy game without the saving Grace of Naam.

Contact with Naam is possible through the Grace of some living Master, for without his help and guidance one simply can not have this inner experience of the soul.

I got Hari-Naam through the compassion of the living Master, without a Satguru to help him through, one can have no experience of It at all. 

Guru Amar Das, Majh M3

It is, however, extremely difficult to meet a genuine Master of Truth.

God Himself has ordained that no one can even conceive of Him except through a Satguru. 

Guru Amar Das, Majh M3