Naam SIMRAN -
nwmu ismrin ]
Simran is from Sanskrit, meaning to 'remember' or a simple memory. In Hindi Simran means 'Yaad' and in Punjabi it is 'Cheta'. Simran is not meditation as being translated in English. Meditation is 'Livtaar' in Punjabi and 'Samadhi' in Hindi. Refer first pauree of japji for livtaar; the word 'liv' appears several times in Gurbani in context of Samadhi or meditation. Meditation is 'Dhyanyog' also called 'Yoga'.
The word "yoga" is also from the Sanskrit root "yuj", which means "to yoke" the spirit and physical body together. Thus Yoga means union, primarily a spiritual discipline. Therefore Yoga means union with God or, union of the little, ego-self with the divine Self, the infinite Spirit, popularly termed as meditation.
As far as dhyanyog or medition goes, this is a matter of following your mind and soul and that is called contrition. Coordination between mind and soul is required in process of meditation for absorption (Ekagrata). This can be done in isolation where there is total peace. And requires control on hunger and thirst of all kind! The practice involves repetition of Naam slowly and silently and one should listen peacefully with his own ears. It should never be loud or noisy, requires maintenance of rhythm with love and interest. Leave aside all worries or thoughts and just concentrate on dasamdwar, the breathing way through nose, centre between the eyes. This is also called Naam Abhyas, a practice to remember God naturally in sahej (constant memory), and this can be made possible continuous process as suggested in Gurbani 'Aathh Paher Aaradhi-ei'. However Baba Nanak has rejected this kind of dhyanyog.
This practice of Yoga as meditation is not a system of beliefs. It takes into account the influence on each other of body and mind, and brings them into mutual harmony. So often, for instance, the mind cannot concentrate simply because of tension or illness in the body, which prevent the energy from flowing to the brain. So often, too, the energy in the body is weakened because the will is dispirited, or paralyzed by harmful emotions. The coordination works primarily with the energy in the body, through the science of pranayama, or energy-control. Prana means 'breath.' Yoga teaches how through breath-control or still the mind and attain higher states of awareness. Simran is certainly not a yoga or meditation but a simple memory of God as suggested in Gurbani.
ਸਿਮਰਉ ਸਿਮਰਿ ਸਿਮਰਿ ਸੁਖੁ ਪਾਵਉ ॥
ismrau ismir ismir suKu pwvau ] Simra-o Simar Simar Sukh Paava-o, (GGS: 262). Remember Sri Akal Purakh continuously and constantly, and you will find peace.
Consider the following shlok of Bhagat Kabeer, in reference of Bhagat Namdev on page 1375 of Sri Guru Granth Sahib.
nwmw khY iqlocnw muK qy rwmu sMm@wil ] hwQ pwau kir kwmu sBu cIqu inrMjn nwil ]
ਨਾਮਾ ਕਹੈ ਤਿਲੋਚਨਾ ਮੁਖ ਤੇ ਰਾਮੁ ਸੰਮ੍ਾਲਿ ॥ ਹਾਥ ਪਾਉ ਕਰਿ ਕਾਮੁ ਸਭੁ ਚੀਤੁ ਨਿਰੰਜਨ ਨਾਲਿ ॥213॥
Naamaa kahai tilochanaa mukh tay raam samHaal. haath paa-o kar kaam sabh cheet niranjan naal.
Naam Dayv Says, O Trilochan, with your tongue chant the Naam and with your hands and feet do all your work. Let your consciousness remain with the Immaculate Lord all the day.
So called Simran done in Gurdwara by group of people just by repeating Naam one can never attain absorption or ekagrata. The process is just a waste of time and energy. In such gathering you can't have Truth, Love and Strength by your side for total concentration and absorptions. As said by Guru Teg Bahadar on page 633.
ਨਾਨਕ ਲੀਨ ਭਇਓ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਿਉ ਜਿਉ ਪਾਨੀ ਸੰਗਿ ਪਾਨੀ ॥3॥11॥
nwnk lIn BieE goibMd isau ijau pwnI sMig pwnI ]
“Nānak līn bẖaio gobinḏ sio jio pānī sang pānī”. As water merges with water, Nanak absorbed with the Lord, Akal Purakh, like water. Through this process of meditation constant and continuous memory of God will sprout automatically. Guru Arjun said on page 749,
ਜਿਸ ਕੇ ਸਿਰ ਊਪਰਿ ਤੂੰ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਸੋ ਦੁਖੁ ਕੈਸਾ ਪਾਵੈ ॥
ijs ky isr aUpir qUM suAwmI so duKu kYsw pwvY ]
“Jis kay sir oopar tooN su-aamee so dukh kaisaa paavai.”
When you are there in our memory, O Lord Akal Purakh, Waheguruji, how can we suffer in pain?
Simran (memory) start in a subtle way by the grace of Akal Purakh, the Almighty God! The wandering mind will coordinate with soul, engross and merge in the memory of God throughout the day and night! This is what simran is!
This may sound strange but by this way Simran can be everywhere.
As I said Simran means to remember as we remember our parents, children or relatives and friends, just keep Waheguru in your memory.
Thus simran is a simple process of memory and not yoga like exercise. This way easily you can remember God by practice! This is also a kind of Contemplation and this can be done by doing anyway you like it doesn't matter so long as you have love for it. You could do Simran by just seeing the beauty of the world! Normally in side the gurdwara a group of 50 to 500 people simply repeat the Whaeguru Naam in coordination with one another physically moving the whole body as in exercise! This is not a simran or meditation. This is simply a waste of time and energy. The effects of Simran are limitless, it does give you the gift of Truth which itself brings other gifts, as you progress the more you understand them.
Let us remember the 'destination' of our journey (Sikhi) and never follow the way of other people. Let us always conform to the bare Truth and the truth is that there is a need for something in life. One could have all the loving people sitting around, one could have all the things ever wanted in possession but still, there is something missing! Are we brave enough to explore our spirits and ask ourselves why we do the things we do? Or why we feel the way we do? Ask yourself, what is 'missing.' The truth of soul is that ' our soul is missing God.' Only presence of Sri Akal Purakh can complete you! This is what to be a Sikh!
Do we know how much Kirpa has been bestowed upon us to have the tools to build the 'ship' we need to take us back to Him, on our doorstep? Many of us entered this earth born into 'Sikh' or 'Punjabi' families. We have the gift of knowing the language and therefore the 'tool' to know our Guru. We have beautiful souls coming from all races drinking from this Amrit Baani and gaining 'REAL' knowledge which leads them to love as they have the Udam (effort) to know the Creator, thank God for such souls.
Guruji says that there are two animals that have a lot of 'Udam'; they are the mouse and the ant. Whenever you look at these creatures they are always very busy. The ant is running this way and that, just as the mouse is always running around! Both animals have so much 'Udam.' But there is a difference in their 'Udam.' You will see the ant busy carrying things to and fro. They say the ant is wise as it knows when the rains are coming. So in preparation the ant gathers food to keep its colony well 'stocked up' so that they will not run out of food. The ant is always doing something to 'get things done!'
The mouse is also very busy, it never sits still! The mouse is running back and forth. Sometimes you will see it amongst the books cutting them with its teeth. Then you may see it amongst old clothes, knowing them to bits but what for? It doesn't eat the books nor does it eat the clothes, it is of no good to the owner of the clothes/books or to itself. In effect, it's 'Udam' is of no avail, it will do these pointless things all night and have nothing to show for it. (Refer GGS: page 681).
This is what is going on inside Gurdwara. Sikhie is sinking, quality of preaching is deteriorating, and all show of being religious by sangat is just a weekend decoration! Growing guilty conscious day by day of prabandhaks has turned Gurudwaras into deras. Preachers have failed to understand gurbani and spiritual wisdom hidden in Sri Guru Granth Sahib.
Let us learn the Sikh way of life, Baba Nanak founded Sikhism for DIY, 'Do it yourself' and keep pandits and Brahmins out of rituals. It is really unfortunate our preachers took over the job as kashadhari pandits, and fail to convey the true message of Gurbani to the sangat.
Mohan Singh (Homeopath)
Toronto, Canada.