Book II / XX

Shabd: Anhad (Limitless) or Anahat (Self-Existing)

Shabd is of two kinds: Ahat and Anahat. Ahat is that sound which is produced when two or more things contact each other. All the outer sounds, all the world over, fall in this category. Anahat is that Sound which does not depend on hat or contact of two or more things; It does not depend on anything whatever. The Muslim divines call it Anhad, meaning unceasing, eternal or limitless as the term literally means. 

Shah Niaz speaks of It thus:

Hear thou one continuous and unending Music, a music that is eternal and beyond the confines of death.

Again,

When It has no beginning and no end, It is therefore called Anhad or endless.

The Absolute Truth is both imageless and soundless, for all images and sounds lie dormant in that state of complete fullness within the eternal seed.

He is the Ruling Power over all that exists, the unstruck Music too is His manifestation. 

Guru Arjan, Sorath M5

With no form and no lineaments, His Music doth flow ceaselessly, Shabd or the Sound Current is the creative Life-Principle of the Immaculate One. 

Guru Nanak, Asa M1

In the Shabd there is Light giving rise to Music:

Sit steadily in the cave of the mind and then shalt thou witness the sounding fire within. 

Guru Arjan, Asa M5

There the unending melodies float, and the mind drinks the nectar thereof. 

Guru Nanak, Ramkali M1

This Anahat Dhun (self-existing Music) is going on all the time and is eternally endless:

The self-existing Music is eternal and continuous, be ye saturated in the ineffable sweetness of the Sound Current.

Guru Nanak, Ramkali M1

Night and day the ceaseless strains float down. 

Guru Nanak, Jaitsri M1

The melodious strains of the unceasing music are ineffably sweet and charming:

Countless are the notes in the unending Melody, the charming sweetness whereof is ineffable indeed. 

Guru Arjan, Sarang M5

Innumerable are the melodies that are going on before the Court of God:

The sorrows and afflictions of the ages are blown away, the endless Music plays continuously at His Court. 

Guru Arjan, Bhairon M5

What is there to indicate the abode of God? There plays the Heavenly Music all the time. 

Guru Nanak, Ramkali M1

The All-Pervading Music is going on everywhere, in the heart of all, there Divine Music flows. 

Guru Arjan, Vadhans M5

Its reverberations are heard in the Gagan, and charmingly sweet is the eternal Music. 

Guru Nanak, Ramkali M1

One can contact the Heavenly Music only when he transcends body consciousness:

When the soul currents withdraw from the sensory plane in the nine outlets and get concentrated at the still point in the body in the tenth door at the back of the eyes, it is only then that one, with the guidance of the Master, is able to contact the Heavenly Music that plays interminably. 

Guru Amar Das, Majh M3

Close thy outgoing faculties, and hear the eternal Melody. 

Kabir, Sorath Kabir

Bhai Gurdas Ji says thus:

When the soul is absorbed in the Word, It gets lost in the sublime Music. When the soul is engrossed in the Word, the unending Music floats down. 

War 19: page 8,20

The communion with the Anhad Shabd is the only source of perfect knowledge, true devotion and the endless Song that glorifies God and man.

For perfect knowledge and devotion and the story of the great God, listen ye ever to the Anhad which is the food of the devotees and destroys all their fear. 

Guru Arjan, Suhi M5

Anhad Shabd can be contacted beyond the plane of the senses; none can reach It by his own unaided efforts, without the Grace and guidance of the true Master. Its manifestation comes as a pure gift from the Master (Gur Parsad).

Anhad Shabd is very exhilarating, but one gets to It by the Master's Grace. 

Guru Nanak, Sri Rag M1

Oh Nanak! One who has access to a perfect Master, He alone is enabled to contact the eternal Music.

Guru Arjan, Asa M5

The Anhad Shabd is the only way that leads to God and one begins to relish and enjoy God-intoxication only after the eternal Song is manifested within.

The eternal Song becoming manifest within, one is united with the Beloved, the lowly Nanak is now in perfect bliss, for he has found the merciful Lord. 

Guru Arjan, Gauri M5

It is only a devotee of the Master in whom the divine eternal Melody may become manifest.

The worldly wise cannot reach It. The Creator has ordained it as a fundamental law, the eternal Song can be heard through communion with the Word, It is made manifest in the devotee of the Master and in no one else, in the mighty swirl of the mind one forgets It and the Godman reminds of It, this Law has been in operation throughout the ages. 

Guru Amar Das, Bhairon M3

With the practice of the eternal Sound Current, one is purified of all sins and lusts and is washed clean of the karmic impressions of all previous births, and with the light of Self-Knowledge and God-Knowledge he rises into Brahm and Par Brahm and reaches far beyond into the Kingdom of God, his eternal heritage. The Lost Word comes back to light and life only through the Grace of a competent Master, as a free gift to whomever He may choose to grant It.