Extracting Maximum Rass from Gurbani

When juice for sugarcane is extracted, it is placed between two rollers. If there is space between the rollers, then maximum juice is not extracted. Closer the rollers are to each other, more the juice that comes out. Same way, when we don't keep our mind under control and allow space in the mind for alien thoughts to come, we can't derive full Rass and Laaha from Gurbani Paath.

When we do many Paaths of Siri Jap jee Sahib or Siri Sukhmani Sahib, we must ensure that maximum Laaha or Rass is extracted from each Paath. If we let our mind wander around, then surely we do extract Laaha but the Laaha is much less than Paath done in concentration. There is no limit as to how much Laaha we can extract from just one Paath of Siri Jap jee Sahib. So how can we derive maximum Laaha from each of the Paaths we do? We require, at least the following ingredients or factors to derive maximum Laaha:

1. Dhyaan (concentration): Dhyaan means to not let the mind wander anywhere but within the Baani we are reciting. When non-Gurbani alien thoughts enter our mind, they prevent us from extracting maximum Laaha from it. Dhyaan is kept in Dhuni (sound) of Gurbani and simultaneously in Arths (meanings) in order to bring Vismaad and Anand.

2. Prem (love) and Shardha (devotion): Paath done with Prem and Shardha brings immense Laaha and Rass and Paath that is devoid of Prem and Shardha is dry, and does not give Rass. Prem and Shardha is kept in Guru Sahib who is the Author of Gurbani. More we love our Guru Sahib, more lovingly we will do Paath of Gurbani.

3. Vishvaas (faith): We must have Vishvaas in Guru Sahib's Baani and believe that this Baani alone is the truth. For Gursikhs, Gurbani is Brahma's Ved and Gurbani alone is all the required Gyaan. Faith should be such that we must actually believe that Gurbani alone is the light of this world and nothing is more powerful than Gurbani. No problem, disease, accident, person is greater than Gurbani. When a Gursikh who has faith in Gurbani, utters Shabads like "ਤਾਤੀ ਵਾਉ ਨ ਲਗਈ ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਸਰਣਾਈ ॥ ਚਉਗਿਰਦ ਹਮਾਰੈ ਰਾਮ ਕਾਰ ਦੁਖੁ ਲਗੈ ਨ ਭਾਈ ॥੧॥ ", then indeed a Kaar or protection wall gets erected around that Gursikh. It's all about Vishvaas. A faithless person can't derive much Laaha from Gurbani.

4. Arth-bodh (understanding of Gurbani): Arth-Bodh of Gurbani is required to understand and fulfill the Hukams of Gurbani and also aid in getting Dhyaan. After many Paaths of Siri Jap jee Sahib or Siri Sukhmani Sahib, when one's mind stands still, then the Dhuni (sound) of Paath alone gives Rass but if a Gursikh also concentrates on the Arths of Gurbani, then one's mind goes into Vismaad. Vismaad augments Anand and gives more and different Anand. Another reason why Arth-bodh is important is that without Arth-bodh, Shudh Uchaaran that includes pronunciation and proper Bishraams (pause), is not possible. In short, Arth-bodh aids greatly in getting Dhyaan in Gurbani, doing Shudh Uchaaran and understanding and obeying Hukams of Gurbani.

Since we do Gurbani Paath, then why not give it our full effort because we are spending the time to do Paath anyways; so we might as well derive maximum Laaha from it. It is very tragic to see us spending time on Gurbani devoid of the four ingredients mentioned above.

Another thing is that Dhyaan, Prem, Shardh and Vishvaas etc. are not attained by doing just regular Nitnemi Paaths. Nitnem is the bare minimum. A Gursikh should spend all his day and night in Gurbani and Naam. Dhyaan, Vishvaas etc. come after Ghor-Ghaal-Kamaaee (massive) of Gurbani Paaths. Gursikhs who are serious about getting somewhere spiritually, spend maximum time in doing Paath and Naam Simran.

May Guru Sahib enable us to do Paath in such way that we may derive maximum Laaha and Rass from it.

Bhul chuk dee Muafi jee.

Daas,
Kulbir Singh

Kulbir singh jeeo - great post however i feel , missing one vital ingredient - you may want to try it - based on "Shabad Guru surat Dhun chela", when doing paath once shuld listen with EARS clearly - - stop at the || too . Secondly try to do paaat in a rythmic breathing pattern - which attains further concentration. For e,g. when doing Sukhmani Sahib one should try and do each pauri with one breath -- this helps concentration even furhter. This was propagated by Baba Nand Singh Jee Nanaksar wale - many Gursikhs miss this vital point when doing paath. I have seen Gursikhs slowly increase by doing two paruis of Sukhmani with one breath and some even the entire salok by one breath!! Don't take this out of context I am not trying to kill you by holding your breath. But it's a known fact that Breathing is linked with the mind and by doing paat in such a way helps the wandering situation of the mind immensly and also furhter deeper concentration and a peaceful mind.

Please feel free to comment - just my 2 cents/

Thank for sharing Bhai Kulbir Singh Jeeo,

Personally I believe the two most important ingredients to get full rass of sweet bani are:
1) constant Ardas to SatGUru JI
2) Keeping Sangat of Gursikhs who love Gurbani and avoiding
people who doubt, mock, or do not follow Gurbani.

One can just automatically feel the anand when being in the presence of Sadhus who
obey Hukums of Guru Sahib. WHen in such sadh sangat hardly any effort is needed to
acquire ingredients of Faith, understanding, love, and concentration . When in the presence
of Sadh Sangat its much more easier to merge ones mann in to Gurmat; however; when in the
presence of those that do not have love for Gurbani one mann is more prone to wander from
Gurmat.

Ns44 Jeeo,
Please expand on the method of breathing which you have mentioned.
What you have stated about breathing seems alot like hath yoga which is completely opposite
from Gurmat Naam Abhyiaas where one recites Gurbani and automatically japps naam with
each breath. Please expand on the method you mention

veer Sukhdeep Singh jeeo - not hath yoga -- no way - we have to make the breath dance for the mind sir ,how we live depends on how we breath! For example, watch the breathing pattern when in the sway of any of the numerous faults (Bikaars, passions, negativities, etc.) of Haume (false ego-sense): lust, anger, greed, emotional attachment, pride, jealousy, stubbornness, selfishness, and so on. If we watch ourselves carefully when in the vertex of such conditioned consciousness, we will notice that our breathing pattern will be very choppy, thumping, pulsating, wavering, fast, inharmonious, inconsistent, dissonant, unrhythmic, feverish, unnatural, chaotic, and so on. In this conditioned state, our senses omit nothing but "ਦੁਰਗੰਧ" (Durgandh, literally meaning foul smell or bad odor). In this contaminated state, our aura shrinks, which repels.

ਬਿਰਥਾ ਨਾਮ ਬਿਨਾ ਤਨੁ ਅੰਧ ॥ ਮੁਖਿ ਆਵਤ ਤਾ ਕੈ ਦੁਰਗੰਧ ॥ ਬਿਨੁ ਸਿਮਰਨ ਦਿਨੁ ਰੈਨਿ ਬ੍ਰਿਥਾ ਬਿਹਾਇ ॥ ਮੇਘ ਬਿਨਾ ਜਿਉ ਖੇਤੀ ਜਾਇ ॥: Birthaa naam binaa tanu andh...: Useless is the body of the spiritually blind, without the Name of the Lord. From his mouth, a foul smell issues forth. Without the Simran the Lord, day and night pass in vain, like the crop which withers without rain (sggs 269).
To the contrary, however, when in meditation (Simran), the pattern of our breathing is totally different - it's very rhythmic, harmonious, silent, natural, and so on. We feel at Home. In this more refined state, one has a big aura, which attracts. In fact, in deep Simran, at times the breathing becomes so silent that we can hardly notice it. Essentially this is the idea behind continually contemplating, observing, and witnessing each and every breath.

ਪੂਜੈ ਪ੍ਰਾਣ ਹੋਵੈ ਥਿਰੁ ਕੰਧੁ ॥: Poojai praan hovai thir kandh: One who worships the Lord with his Praan (i.e., Saas Saas), gains stability in his body (i.e., becomes free of Bikaars, passions, etc. (sggs 1289).
ਮਨੁ ਤਨੁ ਸੀਤਲੁ ਸਾਚ ਸਿਉ ਸਾਸੁ ਨ ਬਿਰਥਾ ਕੋਇ ॥: Manu tanu seetal saach siou saas na birathaa koi: One who without wasting breath (remembers) Truth (with each breath), his mind and body are cooled (or become peaceful or attains perfect equilibrium) (sggs 35).


here are some further Gurbani parmaans:

ਕਾਮ ਕ੍ਰੋਧ ਵਸਿ ਕਰੈ ਪਵਣੁ ਉਡੰਤ ਨ ਧਾਵੈ ॥: Kaam krodh vas karai pavan udant na dhaavai: Lust and anger are brought under control, when the breath does not fly around, wandering restlessly (sggs 1395).


ਮਨੁ ਮੋਤੀ ਜੇ ਗਹਣਾ ਹੋਵੈ ਪਉਣੁ ਹੋਵੈ ਸੂਤ ਧਾਰੀ ॥ ਖਿਮਾ ਸੀਗਾਰੁ ਕਾਮਣਿ ਤਨਿ ਪਹਿਰੈ ਰਾਵੈ ਲਾਲ ਪਿਆਰੀ ॥: Manu motee jay gahnaa hovai pa-un hovai soot Dhaaree...: If the mind is made pure like the pearl and is strung on the thread of the vital breath (performing meditation or Simran), and if the soul-bride adorns her body with the quality of compassion, then she will join the Beloved God (sggs 359).


ਸਾਸੁ ਸਾਸੁ ਜਾਇ ਨਾਮੈ ਬਿਨੁ ਸੋ ਬਿਰਥਾ ਸਾਸੁ ਬਿਕਾਰੇ ॥: Saas saas jaa-ay naamai bin so birathaa saas bikaaray: Each and every breath which escapes me without meditation on the Divine Name - that breath is useless and corrupt (sggs 980).


ਪਵਣੈ ਕੈ ਵਸਿ ਦੇਹੁਰੀ ਮਸਤਕਿ ਸਚੁ ਨੀਸਾਣੁ ॥: Pavnai kai vas dayhuree mastak sach neesaan: (According to) the True Sign (Hukam on the) forehead, the body is under the power of the breath (sggs 63).

ਇਕਸ ਕਾ ਮਨਿ ਆਸਰਾ ਇਕੋ ਪ੍ਰਾਣ ਅਧਾਰੁ ॥: Ikas kaa man aasraa iko paraan adhaar: The One is the Support of the mind; the One is the Support of the breath of life (45).

ਜਬ ਲਗੁ ਸਾਸੁ ਸਾਸੁ ਮਨ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਤਤੁ ਬੇਗਲ ਸਰਨਿ ਪਰੀਜੈ ॥: Jab lag saas saas man antar tat baygal saran pareejai: So long the breath breathes through the mind deep within, hurry and surrender: false ego (sggs 1325).


On the other hand, the faults of Haume ( false ego-sense) make us breathe unnaturally, causing us waste our vital energy. Baabaa Nanak says:

ਹਉ ਮੁਆ ਮੈ ਮਾਰਿਆ ਪਉਣੁ ਵਹੈ ਦਰੀਆਉੁ॥ਤ੍ਰਿਸਨਾ ਥਕੀ ਨਾਨਕਾ ਜਾ ਮਨੁ ਰਤਾ ਨਾਇ ॥: Haou muaa mai maariaa paoun vahai dareeaaou. Trishnaa thakee Naanakaa jaa mann ratta naai: The breath flows like a river (of desires within that person who is) killed through egotism and mine-ness (ਭਾਵ, ਜਿਤਨਾ ਚਿਰ ਜੀਵ ‘ਹਉਮੈ’ ਦਾ ਮਾਰਿਆ ਹੋਇਆ ਹੈ ਉਸ ਦੇ ਅੰਦਰ ਤ੍ਰਿਸ਼ਨਾ ਦਾ ਦਰਿਆ ਵਹਿੰਦਾ ਰਹਿੰਦਾ ਹੈ). Desire is exhausted, O Nanak, only when the mind is imbued with the Name (sggs 1091).


Issue is veer jeeo if Gurbani paath especially Sukhmai sahib jee is done as decribed just one pauri one breath -i.e breath in and do one pauri as you breath out - just try it for 45 mins - your concentration and hearing of the shabad will increase dramatically. As per Baba Nand Singh Jee's quotes in his books that if one does 24 pauri's in such a way all of the 24 hours are safal of a Gursikh - due to 24000 breaths average per person per 24 hour period This has been proven sceientfically too average human above 18-20 breath min 8640/14400 breaths per day 12 hour day. Sukhmani Sahib is an immense jewel given to us

sceintific proof of western world of today:
[en.wikipedia.org]

Bhai kulbir Singh Jee amazing, keep the inspirational articles coming.

Sukhdeep Singh Jee I agree, doing ardaas is very very important, a lot of us dont realize how great adaas is. We cannot do anything without doing ardaas first to guru jee. Also staying in sangat of pooran gursikhs is very helpful. I have realized that when I am near gursikhs their is more chaa to read bani and do abhiaas and their is more anand just by being in their presence.

Great post Kulbir Singh Jee. I think that Ardas itself can also come under Vishvas because it is only if a Sikh has Vishvas in Guru Jee does he do Ardas to Guru Jee for blessings.