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Summary of Question:	Philosopher's Stone
Category:	Gurbani
Date Posted:	Wednesday, 7/25/2001 11:23 AM MDT

Sat Naam Ji, hope everyone is in the highest spirits of Chardi Kala!

Today when I was reading the hukamnama(from our Guru Granth Sahib at our home) I stumbled across a word that I could not understand at all, so I looked up the meaning in the English Translation online. The word is Paras-it mean's philosopher's stone, but I don't quite understand what even that means, what is philosopher's stone. Some examples from gurbani are : paarus bhaett ku(n)chun dhhaath hoee suthusu(n)gath kee vaddiaaee ||6||
Translation:Touching the philosopher's stone, metal is transformed into gold. Such is the glorious greatness of the Society of the Saints.
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Transliteration: bhan dhaas s aas juguthr guroo kee paarus bhaett purus kuruo ||
Translation:So speaks the Lord's slave: Guru Raam Daas placed His Faith in Guru Amar Daas, the Guru of the World; touching the Philosopher's Stone, He was transformed into the Philosopher's Stone.
Thank you for your help...Guru Rakha!
Summeet Kaur

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REPLY
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Sat Naam Summeet Kaur Ji - We greet you in the joy of Cherdi Kala!

Thank you for your excellent question! The "Philosopher's Stone" is a term used to describe the inner transformation that happens when the Guru gives his Sikh the experience of "Ang Sang Wahe Guru!". When you experience your True Identity (Sat Naam) you are transformed in your body, mind, soul and counsciousness. The Guru uses several expressions for this. One that he often uses is the metaphor of the dead wood sprouting new green branches.

The term "Philosopher's Stone" comes from the medieval tradition of Alchemy. Alchemy was a secret language in the Western culture of the Middle Ages used by adepts to describe spiritual transformation. It concealed its teachings under the guise of what we now know as "chemistry". The Philosopher's Stone was a stone that when touched to a base metal such as iron or lead, transformed the metal into pure gold! Of course there is no such stone, but the lay people who were not initiated into the spiritual mysteries of alchemy chased after the stone in their greed, never understanding that it was a metaphor for the transformation of consciousness.

The Guru, therefore, is the Philosopher's Stone. His touch transforms us into gold. Our base worldly consciousness is transformed into golden shining consciousness.

To learn more about Alchemy, take a look at this Web site: http://www.levity.com/alchemy/

.....G