WORD

ABSTRACT

Word means Sabd/hymn (ਬਾਣੀ/ਸਬਦੁ) in Sikh thought. It is a metaphor of the Divine Command or Will or direction. It is important to have a clear idea of what Word actually means. In essence, the Word is a message for us to act honestly and truthfully. Word is an idea, a notion, a concept, which manifests as an impulse in consciousness.

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In Webster’s dictionary it is defined as Truth, Logo, Bible, Scriptures or Gospel.

Word in Bible:

In the beginning was the Word, and

           The Word was with God,

 The same was in the beginning with God.

          Who made all things?

 And without God was not anything made that was made.

          In God was life; and the life was the light of men.-----Bible, John (1:1-4)

Word in Sabd Guru:

ਕੀਤਾ ਪਸਾਉ ਏਕੋ ਕਵਾਉ ॥

ਤਿਸ ਤੇ ਹੋਏ ਲਖ ਦਰੀਆਉ ॥

Keeta Pasaaou Ayko Kvaaou. Ŧis ṯe ho▫e lakẖ ḏarī▫ā▫o.

God created the vast expanse of the Universe with One Command! Hundreds of thousands of rivers began to flow. -----Guru Nanak, Japji, AGGS, Page, 3-16

ਤੂੰ ਜਾਣੋਈ ਸਭਸੈ ਦੇ ਲੈਸਹਿ ਜਿੰਦੁ ਕਵਾਉ ॥

ਕਰਿ ਆਸਣੁ ਡਿਠੋ ਚਾਉ ॥

Ŧūʼn jāṇo­ī sabẖsai ḏė laisahi jinḏ kavā­o. Kar āsaṇ diṯẖo cẖā▫o. 

You are the Knower of all, give life, and take it away again with a command. Seated within the creation, You behold it with delight. -----Guru Nanak, Raag Asa, AGGS, Page, 463-5

Sabd Guru (AGGS), contains the teachings or order to be free of doubt and duality leading to the evolvement of better human or Guru Oriented (ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ).

ਪਵਨ ਅਰੰਭੁ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਮਤਿ ਵੇਲਾ ॥

ਸਬਦੁ ਗੁਰੂ ਸੁਰਤਿ ਧੁਨਿ ਚੇਲਾ ॥

Pavan arambẖ saṯgur maṯ velā. Sabd Guru Surat Dhun Chela.

         

From the air came the beginning. This is the age of the True Guru's Teachings. Sabd is my Guru and the conscience is the disciple learning the Divine Knowledge in celestial music.-----Guru Nanak, Raag Ramkali-Sidh Gost, AGGS, Page, 943-1

ਦੁਰਮਤਿ ਘਣੀ ਵਿਗੂਤੀ ਭਾਈ ਦੂਜੈ ਭਾਇ ਖੁਆਈ ॥

ਬਿਨੁ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਨਾਮੁ ਨ ਪਾਈਐ ਭਾਈ ਬਿਨੁ ਨਾਮੈ ਭਰਮੁ ਨ ਜਾਈ ॥

ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਸੇਵੇ ਤਾ ਸੁਖੁ ਪਾਏ ਭਾਈ ਆਵਣੁ ਜਾਣੁ ਰਹਾਈ ॥

Ḏurmaṯ gẖaṇī vigūṯī bẖā▫ī ḏūjai bẖā▫e kẖu▫ā▫ī.Bin Satgur Naam Na Payee-ai Bhaaee, Bin Naamai Bharam Na Jaa-ee. Saṯgur seve ṯā sukẖ pā▫e bẖā▫ī āvaṇ jāṇ rahā▫ī. 

So many are destroyed by their own evil-mindedness, O Siblings of Destiny; in the love of duality, they are ruined. Without Word (Divine) the world remains in perplexity, O, friend, and without the Name, doubt does not depart. If one serves the True Guru, then he obtains peace, O Siblings of Destiny; his comings and goings are ended. -----Guru Nanak, Raag Sorath, AGGS, Page, 635-12

ਸਭਸੈ ਊਪਰਿ ਗੁਰ ਸਬਦੁ ਬੀਚਾਰੁ ॥

ਹੋਰ ਕਥਨੀ ਬਦਉ ਨ ਸਗਲੀ ਛਾਰੁ ॥

Sabhsai Ooper Gur Sabd Veechaar. Hor kathnī baḏa▫o na saglī cẖẖār. 

Deliberation of the Word is the highest attainment. Do not speak of anything else; it is all just ashes. -----Guru Nanak, Raag Ramkali, AGGS, Page, 904-13                                          

ਮੁਖਿ ਝੂਠੈ ਝੂਠੁ ਬੋਲਣਾ ਕਿਉ ਕਰਿ ਸੂਚਾ ਹੋਇ ॥

ਬਿਨੁ ਅਭ ਸਬਦ ਨ ਮਾਂਜੀਐ ਸਾਚੇ ਤੇ ਸਚੁ ਹੋਇ ॥

Mukẖ jẖūṯẖai jẖūṯẖ bolṇā ki▫o kar sūcẖā ho▫e.Bin Abh Sabd Na Manjee-ai Saachay Tay Such Hoey.

With false mouths, people speak falsehood. How can they be made pure? With out Guru’s Word mind cannot be cleansed, and through the Word one could realize the Truth.-----Guru Nanak, Siri Raag, AGGS, Page, 56-1

ਬਾਝੁ ਗੁਰੂ ਗੁਬਾਰੁ ਹੈ ਬਿਨੁ ਸਬਦੈ ਬੂਝ ਨ ਪਾਇ ॥

ਗੁਰਮਤੀ ਪਰਗਾਸੁ ਹੋਇ ਸਚਿ ਰਹੈ ਲਿਵ ਲਾਇ ॥

Bajh Guru Gubaar Hai Bin Sabdai Boojh Na Paaey. Gurmaṯī pargās ho▫e sacẖ rahai liv lā▫e.

Without the Guru, there is only pitch darkness; without the Sabd, understanding is not obtained. Through the Guru's Teachings, you shall be enlightened; remain absorbed in the Love of the True God.-----Guru Nanak, Siri Raag, AGGS, Page, 55-15

                            

ਸਰਮ ਖੰਡ ਕੀ ਬਾਣੀ ਰੂਪੁ ॥

ਤਿਥੈ ਘਾੜਤਿ ਘੜੀਐ ਬਹੁਤੁ ਅਨੂਪੁ ॥

Saram Khand Kee BaNee Roop. Ŧithai gẖāṛaṯ gẖaṛī▫ai bahuṯ anūp

In the realm of humility, Word is the beauty. Forms of incomparable beauty are fashioned there.-----Guru Nanak, Japji, AGGS, Page, 8-1

ਹਉਮੈ ਤ੍ਰਿਸਨਾ ਮਾਰਿ ਕੈ ਸਚੁ ਰਖਿਆ ਉਰ ਧਾਰਿ ॥

ਜਗ ਮਹਿ ਲਾਹਾ ਏਕੁ ਨਾਮੁ ਪਾਈਐ ਗੁਰ ਵੀਚਾਰਿ ॥

Ha▫umai ṯarisnā mār kai sacẖ rakẖi▫ā ur ḏẖār. Jug Meh Laahaa Ayk Naam Paa-eeai Gur Veechaar.

Subduing their egotism and desires, they keep the True Name enshrined in their hearts. There is only one greatest achievement in the world that of realizing the True Name, by concentrating on Guru’s Word.-----Guru Nanak, Raag Majh, AGGS, Page, 55-3

ਹਰਿ ਸਾਲਾਹੀ ਸਦਾ ਸਦਾ ਤਨੁ ਮਨੁ ਸਉਪਿ ਸਰੀਰੁ ॥

ਗੁਰ ਸਬਦੀ ਸਚੁ ਪਾਇਆ ਸਚਾ ਗਹਿਰ ਗੰਭੀਰੁ ॥

Har sālāhī saḏā saḏā ṯan man sa▫up sarīr. Gur Sabdee Such Paa-eaa Suchaa Gehr Ganbhieer.

Praise the God, forever and ever; dedicate your body and mind to God. Through the Word of the Guru's Sabd, I have found the True, Profound and Unfathomable God.-----Guru Nanak, Raag Suhi, AGGS, Page, 789-1

He, who recognizes God in himself and knows the secret of the Word/Will/Order, shall be satisfied. Why speak of meeting God? Man has already met the God, but only receiving the Word he is satisfied. God can be addressed by any name Sat Kartar (True Creator), Waheguru, Ram, Bhagwan, Allah, Jesus etc.; it is the humility, supplication, selfless service, inner cleanliness, and sincerity of the heart, which is important to becoming a candidate for receiving God’s Grace.

With these words (Name of the God) and deeds alone the state of perfection is not reached.  One needs to adopt the path as shown by the “Word” in Sabd Guru. One has to cultivate the habit of truthfulness at all times.  He must develop the moral fortitude to publicly (Holy Congregation) acknowledge his failures whenever he gets diverted from the correct practice.  

Can one reach God through repetition of some descriptive or specific name?

Guru Nanak says no one can reach or comprehend God by repetition of any descriptive or specific name, in Raag Asa: 

ਜਪੁ ਤਪੁ ਕਰਿ ਕਰਿ ਸੰਜਮ ਥਾਕੀ ਹਠਿ ਨਿਗ੍ਰਹਿ ਨਹੀ ਪਾਈਐ ॥

ਨਾਨਕ ਸਹਜਿ ਮਿਲੇ ਜਗਜੀਵਨ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਬੂਝ ਬੁਝਾਈਐ ॥

Jap Tap Kar Kar Sanjam Thaakee Hath Nigreh Nahee Paa-eeai. Nānak sahj mile jagjīvan saṯgur būjẖ bujẖā▫ī▫ai. 

Through recitation, austerity, and self-discipline, people have grown weary.  Even after stubbornly practicing these rituals, they still have not been able to realize God. O Nanak, through spiritual wisdom, the God, the Life of the world, is met; the True Guru imparts this understanding. -----Guru Nanak, Raag Asa, AGGS, Page, 436-18

ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਨੋ ਸਭੁ ਕੋ ਵੇਖਦਾ ਜੇਤਾ ਜਗਤੁ ਸੰਸਾਰੁ ॥

ਡਿਠੈ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਨ ਹੋਵਈ ਜਿਚਰੁ ਸਬਦਿ ਨ ਕਰੇ ਵੀਚਾਰੁ ॥

Saṯgur no sabẖ ko vekẖ▫ḏā jeṯā jagaṯ sansār. Dithai Mukat Na Hovaee Jichar Sabad Na Karay Veechaar.

All the living beings of the world behold the True Guru Merely seeing It does not liberate one, unless one contemplates the Word of God’s Sabd.-----Guru Amar Das, Raag Vadhans, AGGS, Page, 594-11

ਬਾਣੀ ਗੁਰੂ ਗੁਰੂ ਹੈ ਬਾਣੀ ਵਿਚਿ ਬਾਣੀ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤੁ ਸਾਰੇ ॥

ਗੁਰੁ ਬਾਣੀ ਕਹੈ ਸੇਵਕੁ ਜਨੁ ਮਾਨੈ ਪਰਤਖਿ ਗੁਰੂ ਨਿਸਤਾਰੇ ॥

BaaNee Guru Guru Hai BaaNee Which BaaNee Amrit Saray, Guru BaaNee Kahai Sevak Jan Maanai Partakh Guru Nistaaray.

The Word, the Bani is Guru, and Guru is the Bani (Sabd). Within the Bani (Sabd), the Ambrosial Nectar is contained. If God’s humble servant believes, and acts according to the Words of the Guru's Bani, then the Guru, in person, emancipates him.-----Guru Ram Das, Raag Nutt AGGS, Page, 982-10,11

God, in Its Mercy, destroys the impurities and limitations of the human ego and bestows upon him the true knowledge and everlasting existence. The man when freed from the gravitational pull of the world of corruption becomes weightless and purified with Truth, that is, the Word. It is sung with melodious music as expressed by Guru Ram Das in Raag Ramkali;

ਰਾਗ ਰਤਨ ਪਰਵਾਰ ਪਰੀਆ ਸਬਦ ਗਾਵਣ ਆਈਆ॥

ਅੰਦਰਹੁ ਜਿਨ ਕਾ ਮੋਹੁ ਤੁਟਾ ਤਿਨ ਕਾ ਸਬਦੁ ਸਚੈ ਸਵਾਰਿਆ ॥

Raag Rattan Parvaar Paree-an Sabd GavaN Aaee-aa, Androh Jin Ka Moh Tuttaa Tin Ka Sabd Sachai Sware-aa.

The jeweled melodies and their related celestial harmonies have come to sing the Word of the Sabd. Those who eradicate attachment from within them are adorned with the Sabd, the Word of the True God.-----Guru Ram Das, Raag Ramkali, AGGS, Page, 917-3

ਆਵਹੁ ਸਿਖ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੂ ਕੇ ਪਿਆਰਿਹੋ ਗਾਵਹੁ ਸਚੀ ਬਾਣੀ ॥

ਬਾਣੀ ਤ ਗਾਵਹੁ ਗੁਰੂ ਕੇਰੀ ਬਾਣੀਆ ਸਿਰਿ ਬਾਣੀ ॥

Aavoh Sikh Satguru Kay Piaarho Gaavoh Sachee BaaNee”, BaaNee Ta Gaavoh Guru Kayree BaaNiaa Sir BaaNee.

Come, O beloved Sikhs of the True Guru, and sing the True Word of God’s Bani. Sing the Guru's Bani, the supreme Word of Words.-----Guru Ram Das, Raag Ramkali, AGGS, Page, 920-4, 5

ਏਹੁ ਸੋਹਿਲਾ ਸਬਦੁ ਸੁਹਾਵਾ ॥

ਸਬਦੋ ਸੁਹਾਵਾ ਸਦਾ ਸੋਹਿਲਾ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੂ ਸੁਣਾਇਆ ॥

Eh Sohila Sabd Sohaavaa, Sabdo Sohaavaa Sada Sohila Satguru SuNaa-eaa.

This song of praise is the Sabd, the most beautiful Word of God. This beauteous Sabd is the everlasting song of praise, spoken by the True Guru.-----Guru Ram Das, Raag Ram kali, AGGS, Page, 919-5

Guru Ram Das has re-iterated the above philosophy of Guru Nanak as follows:

ਜਪੁ ਤਪ ਸੰਜਮ ਵਰਤ ਕਰੇ ਪੂਜਾ ਮਨਮੁਖ ਰੋਗੁ ਨ ਜਾਈ ॥

ਅੰਤਰਿ ਰੋਗੁ ਮਹਾ ਅਭਿਮਾਨਾ ਦੂਜੈ ਭਾਇ ਖੁਆਈ ॥

Jap Tap Sanjam Varat Karay Pooja Manmukh Roag Na Jaa-ee. Anṯar rog mahā abẖimānā ḏūjai bẖā▫e kẖu▫ā▫ī. 

The self-willed recites mantras or verses, practices austerity, self-discipline, and fasts but his sickness does not go away. Deep within him is the sickness of excessive egotism; in the love of duality he is ruined. -----Guru Ram Das, Raag Suhi, AGGS, Page, 732-8

Guru Arjun on Word in Raag Gauri:

ਅਖਰ ਮਹਿ ਤ੍ਰਿਭਵਨ ਪ੍ਰਭਿ ਧਾਰੇ ॥

ਅਖਰ ਕਰਿ ਕਰਿ ਬੇਦ ਬੀਚਾਰੇ ॥

ਅਖਰ ਸਾਸਤ੍ਰ ਸਿੰਮ੍ਰਿਤਿ ਪੁਰਾਨਾ ॥

ਅਖਰ ਨਾਦ ਕਥਨ ਵਖ੍ਯ੍ਯਾਨਾ ॥

ਅਖਰ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਜੁਗਤਿ ਭੈ ਭਰਮਾ ॥

ਅਖਰ ਕਰਮ ਕਿਰਤਿ ਸੁਚ ਧਰਮਾ ॥

ਦ੍ਰਿਸਟਿਮਾਨ ਅਖਰ ਹੈ ਜੇਤਾ ॥

ਨਾਨਕ ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਨਿਰਲੇਪਾ ॥

Akhar Meh Tribhavan Dhaaray, Akhar Kar Kar Bayd Beecharay, Akhar Saastar Simnirat Puraanaa, Akhar Naad Kathan Vakhaanaa, Akhar Mukat Jugat Bhai Bharmaa, Akhar Karam Kirat Souch Dharmaa, Dirsittmaan Akhar Hai Jaytaa, Nanak Paarbraham Nirlaypaa.

In the Word, God established the three worlds and from the Word, the Vedas (Hindu Scriptures) are contemplated. (Books of 1st age). From the Word, came the Shaastras, Simritees and Puraanas. (Books of 2nd, 3rd  and 4rth ages). From the Word, came the sound current of the Naad, speeches and explanations. From the Word, comes the way of liberation from fear and doubt. From the Word, come religious rituals, karma, sacredness and Righteousness. In the visible universe, the Word is seen. O, Nanak, the Supreme Creator God remains unattached and untouched.-----Guru Arjun, Raag Gauri, AGGS, Page, 261

The teachings of the Word are to be deliberated, contemplated, and reflected upon, in daily life. After a long practice, if one is blessed with Divine Grace, he can gain control of the mind.  He can then remove all extraneous thoughts from it, replacing them with just one central over arching thought: O, How shall I further the Will of “God”. As our mind gets cleansed, it becomes the abode of “Truth”, the enlightened mind transcends in to the “Supreme Creator.”

Conclusion:

The world is a tempestuous ocean (ਭਵਜਲ); how shall man traverse it?

Make God’s name the boat, and put the Word into it as helmsman,

God It self will ferry thee over, and thus you shall traverse the worldly ocean, difficult though it be.

God acts It self causes one to act; and adores men by Its word.

God Itself is the true Guru. God is the Word.  In every age and humans are dear to God.

God Itself is far seeing and causes men to serve It.

God Itself is the Bestower of merits and the remover of demerits.  It causes Its name to dwell in men’s heart.

Word/Will/Command  of God consists of bestowing Grace, Truth, Contentment, Mercy, and Faith in Immortal God.