The Bliss of "Sabh Gobind Hai"

Waheguru~~~*!

This shabad is pure bliss... Waheguru!!!! Waheguru!!! Wahhhhh!Guru!!!!!! Sabh Gobind Hai!!! Everything is God, Everything is God. Everything is God. Everything is God! Repeat it, over and over and over. Wahhhhh Jap! Repeat and believe, and see - All around is God, all within is God. Each breath, each person, each soul - the light in the eyes of every friend and stranger. Each whisper of the wind. His Shabad written on each leaf, vibrating on each string on each hair of the human instrument. Wahhhhh Sahb Gobind Hai! Sabh Gobind Hai! Without God, there is nothing at all... Without God, there is nothing at all... Eyes - Awake! Heart - Awake! Soul - Awake! See, He is All. Waheguru...

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Ik Oa(ng)kaar sathigur prasaadh ||
Aasaa baanee sree naamadhaeo jee kee
Eaek anaek biaapak poorak jath dhaekho thath soee ||
Maaeiaa chithr bachithr bimohith biralaa boojhai koee ||1||
Sabh gobi(n)dh hai sabh gobi(n)dh hai gobi(n)dh bin nehee koee ||
Sooth eaek man sath seha(n)s jaisae outh poth prabh soee ||1|| rehaao ||
Jal thara(n)g ar faen budhabudhaa jal thae bhi(n)n n hoee ||
Eihu parapa(n)ch paarabreham kee leelaa bicharath aan n hoee ||2||
Mithhiaa bharam ar supan manorathh sath padhaarathh jaaniaa ||
Sukirath manasaa gur oupadhaesee jaagath hee man maaniaa ||3||
Kehath naamadhaeo har kee rachanaa dhaekhahu ridhai beechaaree ||
Ghatt ghatt a(n)thar sarab nira(n)thar kaeval eaek muraaree ||4||1||

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One Universal Creator God. By The Grace Of The True Guru:
Aasaa, The Word Of The Reverend Naam Dayv Jee:
In the one and in the many, He is pervading and permeating;
wherever I look, there He is.
The marvellous image of Maya is so fascinating;
how few understand this. ||1||
God is everything, God is everything.
Without God, there is nothing at all.
As one thread holds hundreds and thousands of beads,
He is woven into His creation. ||1||Pause||
The waves of the water, the foam and bubbles,
are not distinct from the water.
This manifested world is the playful game of the Supreme Lord God;
reflecting upon it, we find that it is not different from Him. ||2||
False doubts and dream objects - man believes them to be true.
The Guru has instructed me to try to do good deeds,
and my awakened mind has accepted this. ||3||
Says Naam Dayv, see the Creation of the Lord,
and reflect upon it in your heart.
In each and every heart, and deep within the very nucleus of all,
is the One Lord. ||4||1||

Shabad by Bhagat Naamdev Ji, in Raag Asa
Ang 485 of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Maharaj

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To listen to a version of it on mrsikhnet.com
click on the first audio file, by Hari Bhajan Kaur
http://www.mrsikhnet.com/index.php/2008/08/04/latest-audio-picks/

Union and Alignment

Just wish to share a thought that came to me today, while moving furniture around in my home... I happened to notice that I was standing between two mirrors that were facing each other.

The mirrors were not exactly parallel
So there I was - an image of me
repeated unto Infinity

It made me think about the cause of Duality
The way Maya* comes into Being.
The Illusion of Many from One.

And how - if only I could align the Me with the other me
Perfectly Parallel - mirror to Mirror, soul to Soul
They would Unite, and become One.

~~~Isn't that the point of all Yoga, Spirituality and Religion?
To Align Oneself completely, with ones True Identity
To break the bonds of Duality... to Merge in the Middle
So, that the One may experience the Infinite
And the Infinite may experience the One~~~

Ahhh...
---------------------------
*Maya: The illusion of separateness between two (or more) entities/objects, that occurs during the Manifestation or Materialization of the "gross" from the "subtle".

Who is Blessed? - a Free flow

My inner mind burns with questions - curiosity never satisfied - the walls of my consciousness even if transparent veils - too thick to handle. I grapple with the air. My Paven Guru. Teach me - no. Bless me.

Like an animal pacing in its cage, I roar out question after question. Paws with sharp nails clawing at the solidity of my foundation - particles of earth rise up like stardust. Hair raised - a tangled mane of insanity. Eyes lucid and lingering upon the cracks of "Here" and "There" - Piercing. Smokey mirrors, give rise to Grave illusions dancing.

I cry out, voice cracked, echoing upon the walls of my compound - WHO IS BLESSED? - looking up toward the sky and laugh devilish - midnight mingling with madness. - WHO IS BLESSED? ---- My roar turning into a soft whine, bewilderment and urgency. - Who is blessed?!

Images of Prophets, and Saints stream through my mind. Then visions of thieves and killers and rapists and sinners. Those in white, and those in black. "What the..." I pause - frozen in the crispness of my mind's illusions.

I hear voices of people praying in various languages, voices mingling together in the thick moist air, tears like pin-drops raining on cement floors, begging, clammy hands clasped tight together, "bless me dear God, bless me..."

I rumble in the cage of my self-identity, snarling "Who is this God, that seems to play favourites?!! Who gives joy to some, pain to others... Virtues to some, sinfulness to others... Honour to some, and shame to others... Some life and others death... To some faith, and others non-belief... To some you clothe in Black, and others you clothe in White... To some you give pleasures of the World and other you give pain and suffering and complete despair... You answer some prayers, and others You ignore. Some you heal, and some you make sick. Some you cause them to die in loneliness. And yet others, you send them on a Search for You - the all pervading. (As You laugh like a child playing hide-and-seek - knowing You are everywhere, and yet they cannot see You). To some You make them wander forever in vain... and to others You bless them with mercy, and your divine touch - they become saints and mystics...

...How do you decide who you will Bless?" My animal mind rocking to and fro, the chains of my narrow understanding clanging against the cold floor. But my voice becoming soft, whisper-like, a glint of awe in the eyes... fingers playing nervously with the fabric of my torn body-cloth...

"Some say it is based on Karma, on our Actions and Intentions, on how good or Bad we are - something we earn or lose. Some say it's based on sincere prayer, true devotion and dedication, service after years and years (or lifetimes). Some say, it only takes in instant of self-annihilation, the death of the Ego. Some say it is purely Love.

But does it even make any sense? One Omnipotent Being - My Lord and Master - causes some to do good and others bad, some with good intentions others not, some you give prayer and virtues, some you cause the death of their ego, and to some you fill their hearts with Love. There is nothing we can earn by our own doing - As You my Lord, are the cause of causes."

"Thus my question remains - Or is it just a strike of luck? Some random roll of the dice? A bit of amusement for the Tenant of the Sky, to look upon the Earth and smile... as we mere humans dig our toes into the soil, and laugh or cry?

Or...

Perhaps the Blessing is all the same... that You blow the breath of life within us, and when You wish you take it back. Even if for just a brief moment - that we may live and experience the wonderment of Your infinite polarities. None greater or lesser than the other, as all are within You.

So, who is blessed...? We all are, by Your Divine Touch, you make us what You will. And live, through us, your Being..."


Ahhhh............. the beast of questions within me subsiding... purring softly in Wahhhh of God's intricate unknowable Beauty...

Waheguru...

Rain of Nectar

Dearest Beloveds, dearest souls - beings of light. Dearest boundless and beautiful.... my heart wishes to envelope You... in a warm embrace of pure conscious connection - acknowledgement of your existence and of mine, mirroring one another, intuitive understanding that we are One. I love you All, as deeply as I love the One who lives in All~~~*

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God bless
I must share this... wahhhh
The Cage of my Heart opens forth!

One sweet afternoon in the midst of August, a young woman returns Home. She's dressed in white from head to toe, turban wrapped around unshorn hair, heavy kirpan hanging at the left hip, thick iron around thin wrists....

She's walking home, and it is pouring rain outside. Heavy wet drops of water are pouring down from heaven's gate... and it strikes her. The Saring, the Chatrik, the thirsty rainbird who has much cried for a single drop of rain, obtains it... and it strikes at her body fiercely heavy hard drops of God's Love Tears...

She feels suddenly light! And it strikes her! My Beloved is Everywhere! She lifts her face towards the sky, eyes closed as it pours on her, washing away all her minds illusions... she laughs and tastes the sweet drops of God's blessing... wonder and amazement seeping into her wet skin, her body begins to dance!

She laughs, and submits to this urge to be One with nature, and its Creator. A hand quickly grasps her immaculate white turban and places it in her bag. Long golden curls fly in the wind and rain as she spins upon herself, twirling, laughing and dancing... the flow of here-and-now upon her, Hai Bhee Sach. God is Everywhere, Here and Now. God is....

Her clothes are drenched... her hair is wet and matted to her face and back, strands clinging down the whole length of her arms... she falls at her knees on the muddy grass... white clothes humbled by the kiss of earth and dust and rain. Shavasana, her body lies merging with the elements... palms up by the sides of her body... chest open to the infinite sky! Heart racing, smile of rapture upon her glowing wet face... tears merging with Tears.

"My Beloved~~*!"... she cries out wonder-struck... "You drench me in your nectar! Oh God! You kiss me with your tears of mercy! You bathe me in your Earth and Sky and Water and Rain... You fill me with your Spirit.... You soak me in your Love!!! And free me from my bonds of illusion... You baptize me as Yours, with the rain of your Amrit...!!!"

Lying in the mud, she had never felt so clean. Naked hair sprawled around her. Heart open to receive... God's baptism, the tears of His own mercy.... and hers mingling with the dust of her being... my God!

My God.... Sooooo Beautiful.......

Oh God Beautiful!

Another song I wish to share... It is entitled "Oh God Beautiful" on a CD called "songs of the Lord's Love" and was recorded live at the Guru Nanak Dwara Ashram in 1978 by the sweet nightengale of the Lord, Singh Kaur. She passed away some years ago, but her music leaves a legacy of grace, beauty and wonder. I absolutely love her music, and this song is my most favourite by her... Ahhh... God bless...

To listen to it, scroll to the bottom of this link and click on "Oh God Beautiful":
http://www.invinciblemusic.com/yoga-music-reiki-music-14.htm
Or open the direct link at:
http://www.invinciblemedia.com/SLL8.ram


Wah....

"Su-asat aath banee barmaa-o.
Sat suhaan sadaa man chaa-o."
I bow to the Lord of the World, to His Word, to Brahma the Creator.
He is Beautiful, True and Eternally Joyful.
-In Pauree 21 of Jap Ji Sahib

By request, I have tried to find the lyrics to post them here. Since I have not found them, I did my best to transcribe them here. Please forgive me and inform me of any errors that may have been made in transcription. I hope this song brings peace and love into your heart... It is indeed soooo beautiful!!!!

Oh God Beautiful - Lyrics
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Oh God Beautiful Oh God, So Beautiful
Oh God Beautiful Oh God, So Beautiful!!
At Thy Feet, I do bow~~*

Oh God Beautiful Oh God, So Beautiful
Oh God Beautiful Oh God, So Beautiful!!
Oh God!!! So Beautiful!!

At Thy Feet, I do bow
At Thy Feet, I do bow

In the forest, Thou art green
In the mountains, Thou art High
In the rivers, Thou art restless
In the oceans, Thou art rain

Oh God Beautiful Oh God, So Beautiful
Oh God Beautiful Oh God, So Beautiful!!
Oh God!!! So Beautiful!!
Oh God!! So Beautiful!!!
Oh God!! So Beautiful!!
Oh God!!! So Beautiful!!!!

At Thy feet, I do bow
At Thy feet, I do bow

To the serviceful, Thou art service
To the lover, Thou art Love
To the sorrowful, Thou art sympathy
To the Yogi, Thou art Bliss

Oh God Beautiful Oh God, So Beautiful
Oh God Beautiful Oh God, So Beautiful!!
Oh God!! So Beautiful!!
Oh God!! So Beautiful!!
Oh God!! So Beautiful!!!!!!
Oh God!! So Beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

At Thy feet, I do bow
At Thy feet, I do bow
At Thy feet, I do bow!!!
I --- I do bow...
I do bow...

Peace to All
Light to All
Peace to All
Light to All
Love to All~~*

Hallelujah!!!

Though this might not be from Gurbani, Sikh scripture... it contains a holliness too. Ahaha... Please, I wish to share this gem of a song, which has been one of my longtime favourites from the "western world". The music and lyrics are written by Leonard Cohen. There are tons of cover versions of this song, it is just so beautiful. Each time I play it, read it, hear it, sing it... I am filled with a blazing passion and awe... And indeed Hallelujah in the chrisitian world contains the same emotion and exclamation of Wow and Wonder - as Waheguru...

It relates to a story found in the old testament of King David and a woman named Bathsheba. Even though King David was a man of God, and wrote many of the Psalms contained in the bible... he still had his weaknesses as we all do, as the story of Bathsheba shows...

But what amazes me the most about this song - as a Sikh - reading these words are in the last 2 stanzas... it is sooo beautiful... Tears drip down my face, filled with the amazing awe of it... singing "There's a blaze of light in every word! It doesn't matter which you heard!" and "even though all went wrong, I'll stand before the Lord in song, with nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah"!

Ahh... Waheguru!

The Lyrics of Hallelujah:

Now I've heard there was a secret chord
That David played, and it pleased the Lord
But you don't really care for music, do you?
It goes like this - The fourth, the fifth
The minor fall, the major lift
The baffled king composing Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah

Your faith was strong but you needed proof
You saw her bathing on the roof
Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew you
She tied you to a kitchen chair
She broke your throne, and she cut your hair
And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah

Baby I have been here before
I know this room, I've walked this floor
I used to live alone before I knew you.
I've seen your flag on the marble arch
Love is not a victory march
It's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah

There was a time you let me know
What's really going on below
But now you never show it to me, do you?
And remember when I moved in you
The holy dove was moving too
And every breath we drew was Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah

You say I took the name in vain
I don't even know the name
But if I did, well really, what's it to you?
There's a blaze of light - In every word
It doesn't matter which you heard
The holy or the broken Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah

I did my best, it wasn't much
I couldn't feel, so I tried to touch
I've told the truth, I didn't come to fool you
And even though - It all went wrong
I'll stand before the Lord of Song
With nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah....

A few of the many versions of the song on YouTube:

Lenard Cohen:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzWeN-bVDUc

Jeff Buckley:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AratTMGrHaQ

Bon Jovi:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMRPfCRV2xI

Sherl Crow:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWDfH51gvc0

Damien Leith:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kA9Gpisd2IY

The Giver of Virtues

Waheguru ji ka Khalsa, Waheguru ji ki Fateh, Jio~~*

What is the nature of *Virtue*. I am sure that at the core of everyone - no one wants to be cheap, no one wants to be fake. We all yearn to be true, virtuous, and to have good qualities. No one wants to be a failure, in anything. But in reality, we are unable to give ourselves Virtue - just like - How can the blind, give themselves sight? How can the limp, learn how to walk on their own, without legs? How can one breathe, without lungs?

Some say... Chant and Meditate... then you will become a saint and become virtuous and good. But WHO is the one who allows anyone to Chant and Meditate? Have you so forgotten, that before the 'Jap' in Mool Mantra there is 'Gur Prasaad'?

Gur Prasaad - By Guru's (God's) Grace
Jap - Chant and Meditate

Only the Virtuous are able to exercise Virtue... but where do their virtues come from? Without the gift of consciousness, how can one realise? Without realisation, how can one actualize? Who gives the gift of consciousness, of realisation, and of virtue?

Naanak Nirgun Gun Karay Gunvanti-aa Gun Day.
O Nanak, God blesses the unworthy with virtue, and bestows virtue on the virtuous.
-In 7th Pauree of Jap Ji Sahib

Then what becomes of the hierarchy of good and bad, of virtue and lack of virtue, of saintliness and sin, of guilt even? What becomes of judgement of others and of self... and of so-called spiritual evolution? What state is "more" than the other? What kind of illusion of "more or less" spiritual, is this? Who is high or low, who is sinner and who is saint... and what is the difference if God Himself is the only Giver of Virtue...

Hukmai Andar Sabh Ko Baahar Hukam Na Ko-ay.
Everyone is subject to His Command; no one is beyond His Command.
Naanak Hukmai Jay Bujhai Ta Ha-umai Kahai Na Ko-ay. ||2||
O Nanak, one who understands His Command, does not speak in ego. ||2||
-In 2nd Pauree of Jap Ji Sahib

And what of this EGO - The desire to "be good", to "be saintly" to "be enlightenned" - is it not as fake as any other maya-related desire? This desire to be more than what you already are - is to deny the will of God - is to deny the equality of all qualities - is to cling to the false dualistic idea of hierarchy. Is to deny that All is Divine, by the touch of God's will.

No wait... There's an important distinction to make here:
The desire to be Good, is a good thing.
But the desire to claim that goodness as your own, is Not.
Whatever goodness you have is a blessing, recognize it as such - in this way you win over the ego, and remain humble.

sabh gun tayray mai naahee ko-ay.
All virtues are Yours, Lord, I have none at all.
vin gun keetay bhagat na ho-ay.
Without virtue, there is no devotional worship.
-In 21st Pauree of Jap Ji Sahib

Some say, and rightly so - that we should not desire enlightenment and virtue, instead we should simply desire to worship and praise God. But even this, we cannot do without virtue, without His blessing. Oh Great Giver!!! I cannot even take a breath, without you! How can I think I could worship you, have your name sweet upon my tongue, without your doing? My Lord! My Love...

In what Sea can I drown myself
To drench in Your crimson essence?
To bask in Your glories and praises...
Ah my love! I can not even swim there...
Let me sink in The Ocean of Your Grace.
In Your Command, Your Embrace..
Dye this body and mind cloth, the colour of Your Love
In the Nectar of Your Pervading Presence...

Too'n ghat ghat antar sarab nirantar jee har ayko purakh samaanaa.
You are constant in each and every heart, and in all things.
O Dear Lord, you are the One.
Ik daatay ik bhaykhaaree jee sabh tayray choj vidaanaa.
Some are givers, and some are beggars. This is all Your Wondrous Play.
Too'n aapay daataa aapay bhugtaa jee ha-o tuDh bin avar na jaanaa.
You Yourself are the Giver, and You Yourself are the Enjoyer.
I know no other than You.
Too'n paarbarahm bay-ant bay-ant jee tayray ki-aa gun aakh vakhaanaa.
You are the Supreme Lord God, Limitless and Infinite.
What Virtues of Yours can I speak of and describe?
Jo sayveh jo sayveh tuDh jee jan naanak tin kurbaanaa. ||2||
Unto those who serve You, unto those who serve You,
Dear Lord, servant Nanak is a sacrifice. ||2||
-2nd Stanza of So Purakh, Ang 11 of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

What more to say, but Wow. I seek not virtues, nor enlightenment, nor the status of Your Beloved. If you may grant me with Your grace, then by your doing may I praise You... my each fiber infused with Your WOW... Your Wonder... and me, humble before You who has all virtues, the greatest of the great, the undescribable, the great Giver - I humbly Bow. I humbly bow.