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Summary of Question:	Another Question
Category:	General Sikhism
Date Posted:	Saturday, 1/24/2004 6:54 AM MST

DHAN BABA NANAK,

In my last question i have asked the meaning of Dukh. The reply that was given to me did little that made me understand. U said "Dukh occurs when we don't understand Naam. This is exactly what i don't understand the word "Naam"....In everyone thinking Naam means to meditate on. But i am sure there is something beyond just medatation..but i can't get to the point so please be kind enought to tell me my stage of mind and what does Shri Guru Granth sahib says about this kind of mind.

SABSE WADDA SATGURU NANAK, JINKAR RAKHI MERI.

jeevan singh

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REPLY
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Sat Sri Akal,

You have indeed asked a difficult question, "What is Naam?". The only way I can answer this by telling you what my understanding is, and from there you have to develop your own understanding.

First, Naam is everything:
naao maerae khaethee naao maerae baaree ||
bhagath karo jan saran thumhaaree ||1||
naao maerae maaeiaa naao maerae poo(n)jee ||
thumehi shhodd jaano nehee dhoojee ||2||
naao maerae ba(n)dhhip naao maerae bhaaee ||
naao maerae sa(n)g a(n)th hoe sakhaaee ||3||
"The Name is my crop, and the Name is my field.
As Your humble servant, I perform devotional worship to You; I seek Your Sanctuary. ||1||
The Name is Maya and wealth for me; the Name is my capital.
I do not forsake You; I do not know any other at all. ||2||
The Name is my family, the Name is my brother.
The Name is my companion, who will help me in the end. ||3||"
(SGGS, 1157).

This is one way to view Naam. However, Naam is something which we meditate on:
jap man sath naam sadhaa sath naam ||
"Chant, O my mind, the True Name, Sat Naam, the True Name." (SGGS, 669)

Naam is the Name of the Lord, Waheguru. Waheguru is in existence and gave Himself the Name. That Naam, which is the Lord, Waheguru, is everything to us (and we need to realize this) as given by the first quote from SGGS. Naam, as well as being everything to us, is also the Lord, Waheguru, the mantra on which we do Jap (chant). This is given by the second quote from SGGS.

By understanding that Naam is our sustenence and existence, we need to realize that all that there is, is Naam. Nothing else exists in an absolute sense. Naam is our sustenence and existence because Naam is everything and there is nothing but the Naam. By chanting the Naam, our intuitiveness is increased and we start vibrating with the Naadh, or sound current, by which Naam resonates. When we are in tune with Naam, we understand the true nature of existence, that is, that there is no "I", there is no duality. All there is, is Naam, Waheguru.

The best way to learn exactly what is Naam is by helping others, doing pious deeds and meditating, on Naam, by way of Gurbani. The best way to understand something is when we figure it out on our own, rather than someone telling us. By making an effort to help others, meditate and leading a pious life, then the understanding of Naam will come automatically. And at that point, the point when we understand Naam, we will be calm, cool and collective.

salok ma 5 ||
soe suna(n)dharree maeraa than man moulaa naam japa(n)dharree laalee ||
pa(n)dhh jula(n)dharree maeraa a(n)dhar t(h)a(n)dtaa gur dharasan dhaekh nihaalee ||1||
Shalok, Fifth Mehl:
"Hearing of You, my body and mind have blossomed forth; chanting the Naam, the Name of the Lord, I am flushed with life. Walking on the Path, I have found cool tranquility deep within; gazing upon the Blessed Vision of the Guru's Darshan, I am enraptured. ||1||"
(SGGS, 964)

I hope this helps (sorry about not being very clear the first time or this time).

Gur Fateh,
HSD