Throughout history humans have had the desire to dodge biological death, prolong physical existing for a potentially infinite or indeterminate length of time and thus live forever in this world. There are stories of many emperors who spent all their lives searching for that magic formula or elixir of life that would grant them Immortality, so that they could remain here forever and enjoy pleasures of their wealth, power etc.

The SGGS offers all of us the map by following which we all can dodge death and experience the true Immortality ("Amar Pada, Amaraa Pada"), here and now. In fact, to become Immortal (deathlessness) is not a privilege of a few selected ones — it's the birthright of each and every person on this earth; regardless of one's religion, race, color, and so on.

God is said to be Immortal. Since we all are part-and-parcel or the True Image of that Immortal Light, inherently we are also Immortal. But — because of the limitedness of the false ego-sense (Haume, conceit etc.) that arose in us — the majority of us (over 99.9 percent!) have forgotten this True Nature ("Joti-Svaroopa") of ours. According to the SGGS, we all can reclaim this forgotten Immortality. Time and again repeated throughout the SGGS, the following recommendations of the SGGS are self-explanatory.

1. Unbroken Abidance in the Lord's Immortal Naam (Name) Bestows Immortality:

• Amru hovY jo nwm rsu pwvY: Amar hovai jo naam ras paavai. Whoever obtains the Sublime Essence of the Naam becomes Immortal (sggs 101).
• nwmu pdwrQu Amru hY ihrdY mMin vswey: Naam padaarath amar hai hiradai mann vasaaye: (Through the Guru's Grace, one) enshrine the Naam in his heart and mind; this is Immortal (never ending, Real) Treasure (sggs 1011).
• inrml joiq AMimRqu hir nwm ]pIvq Amr Bey inhkwm: Niramal jot amrit har naam. Peevat amar bheya nihakaam: The Light of the Amrit Name of the Lord is immaculate and pure. Drinking it in, one becomes Immortal and free of desire (sggs 866)
• hir aUqmu kwmu jpIAY hir nwmu hir jpIAY AsiQru hovY: Har ootam kaam japeeai har naam har japeeai asathir hovai: Chanting the Name of the Lord is the most exalted occupation. By chanting the Name, one becomes Immortal (sggs 444).
• hir hir nwmu Amr pdu pwieAw hir nwim smwvY soeI: Har har naam amar pada paaiaa har naam samaavai soee: Through the Name of the Lord (obtained from the Guru), one obtains the Immortal status, and remains merged into the Lord's Name (sggs 447).
• iehu hir rsu pwvY jnu koie ]AMimRqu pIvY Amru so hoie: Ihu har ras paavai jan koi. Amrit peevai amar so hoi: Only a few obtain this Amrit of the Lord's Name .Drinking in this Amrit (Naam), one becomes Immortal (sggs 287).
• scu iDAwie Amrw pdu pwieAw Anhd sbd vjwey: Sach dhiaai amaraa pada paaiaa anahad sabad vajaaye: Meditating on the True Lord, the status of Immortality is obtained, and the Unstruck Word of the Shabad vibrates and resounds (sggs 850).
• nwnk jIvdw purKu iDAwieAw Amrw pdu hoeI: Nanak jeevadaa purakh dhiaaeiaa amaraa pada hoee: O Nanak, meditating on the Lord of eternal life, the status of Immortality is obtained (sggs 1247).
• jIvn pdvI hir kw nwau]mnu qnu inrmlu swcu suAwau: Jeevan padavee har kaa naaou. Mann tann nirmal saach suaaou: The Immortal status is the Name of the Lord. (Due to the Naam) the mind and body become pure, and the Eternal Lord (realizing Him) becomes the purpose of life (sggs 744).

2. Death Of False Ego-Sense (Haume) Leads One to Deathlessness or Immortality:

• Amrw pdu pwieAw Awpu gvwieAw ivrlw igAwn vIcwrI: Amaraa pada paaiaa aap gavaaiaa viralaa giaan veechaaree: (Those who) eradicate their self-conceit (false self, ego etc.) attain the Immortal status; (but) how rare is that person, who contemplates spiritual wisdom (given by the Guru) (sggs 688).
• ivchu Awpu gvwie kY rhin sic ilv lwie: Vichahu aap gavaai kai rahan sach liv laai: (Those who serve their True Guru) eradicate self-conceit from within and remain lovingly absorbed in the Truth (sggs 88).
• hau vwrI jIau vwrI Awpu invwrixAw ]Awpu gvwey qw hir pwey hir isau shij smwvixAw: Hau vaaree jeeou vaaree aap nivaaraniaa. Aap gavaaye taa har paaye har siou sahaj samaavaniaa: I am a sacrifice to those who eliminate self-conceit. The Lord is found by eradicating the self-conceit; (meeting the Lord) one remains immersed in Sahaj--Natural State of Being (sggs 118).
• haumY roig sBu jgqu ibAwipAw iqn kau jnm mrx duKu BwrI: Houmai rog sabh jagat biaapiaa tin kaou janam maran dukh bhaaree: The entire world is afflicted by the disease of egotism. They suffer the terrible pains of birth and death (sggs 735).
• hy jnm mrx mUlµ AhMkwrM pwpwqmw]imqRM qjMiq sqRM idRVMiq Aink mwXw...: Hay janam maran moolam ahankaaram paapaatamaa...: O sinner ego, you are the root of birth and death. By spreading out countless illusions of Maya, you make forsake friends, and make hold tight to enemies (sggs 1358).

Thus, the root of man's mortality is indicated to be his false ego-sense, which makes him blind to his spiritual nature (Immortality). Therefore, according to the Teachings of the SGGS, detecting false ego-sense, recognizing it's emptiness, guarding against it, and defeating it by eradicating brings one Immortality.

• AhMmyv isau msliq CofI ]guir kihAw iehu mUrKu hofI ]iehu nIGru Gru khI n pwey ]hm guir rwiK lIey ilv lwey ]6]: Ahammev siou masalat shodee. Gur kahiaa ihu moorakh hodee. Eihu neeghar ghar kahee na paaye. Ham gur raakh leeye liv laaye ||6||: I have forsaken the advice of my ego. The Guru has told me that in ego a person becomes foolish, obstinate or stubborn. This ego is homeless; it will never find a home. Attuning me to God, the Guru has saved me ||6|| (sggs 1347).

3. Meeting the Satguru Brings Immortality:

• khu nwnk ijsu siqguru ByitAw so jnu inhclu QIAw: Kahu Nanak jis satgur bhetiaa so jan nihachal theeaa: Says Nanak, one who meets the Satguru, becomes Immortal (sggs 407).

Just going through the motion of meeting the Satguru will not bestow Immortality. "Meeting the Guru" or that the "Guru is gracious" does not mean that a seeker can receive wisdom without any effort on his part. Though liberation from bondage is the birthright of every human being but, according to the SGGS, the desire to pursue the spiritual path is intense only in very few individuals. Therefore, the seeker must be eager not only to meet the Guru but also follow the Word (Shabad, Bani, Teaching etc.) of the Satguru. That will bring Immortality.

• ijau AMbrIik Amrw pd pwey siqgur muK bcn iDAwvYgo: Jiou ambareek amaraa pada paaye satgur mukh bachan dhiaavaigo: Just as Ambreek was blessed with the status of immortality, meditating on the Word of the Satguru (sggs 1311).
• scY sbid scu kmwvY ]scI bwxI hir gux gwvY ]inj Gir vwsu Amr pdu pwvY ]qw dir swcY soBw pwvY: Sachai sabad sach kamaavai..: Through the True Shabad (of the Guru), one practices Truth. He sings the Glorious Praises of the Lord, through the True Bani (of the Guru). (Instead of chasing Maya outside) He dwells in the home of his own heart deep within, and obtains the Immortal status. Then, he is blessed with honor in the Court of the Eternal Lord (sggs 1342).

4. Working in God Consciousness Brings Immortality:

• jw kY kwim hovih qUM Amru: Jaa kai kaam hovahi toon amar: Working for Him (acting in God Consciousness), you will become Immortal (sggs 238).

5. Saadh-Sangat (Holy Company) Bestows Immortality:

• siqguru prcY min muMdRw pweI gur kw sbdu qin Bsm idRVeIAw ]Amr ipMf Bey swDU sMig jnm mrx doaU imit geIAw ]1]myry mn swDsMgiq imil rhIAw ]
  ik®pw krhu mDsUdn mwDau mY iKnu iKnu swDU crx pKeIAw ]1] rhwau ]: Satgur parachai mani mundraa paaee...: With whom thw Satguru becomes pleased, (the Satguru's this pleasing becomes) the wearing of the ear-rings (of Yogis) in his mind; he has applied the Guru's Shabad to his heart, this like applying the ash (Yogis apply ash to their bodies) to his body. (like this) He has become Immortal, in the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy (of the Guru). His both birth and death have come to an end. ||1|| O my mind (pray) to the Lord, (so that) I may remain united with the Saadh Sangat (Holy Company of the Guru), and each and every instant I may wash the Holy Feet ||1||Pause|| (sggs 835).
• imil sMq sBw mnu mWjIAY BweI hir kY nwim invws: Mil sant sabhaa manu maanjeeai bhaaee har kai naam nivaas: O Brother, Joining the Society of the Saints, cleanse your mind, and dwell in the Name of the Lord (sggs 639).
• rwm mo kau hir jn myil min Bwv]Aimau Aimau hir rsu hY mITw imil sMq jnw muiK pwvY: Raam mo kaou har jan mel mani bhaavai. Amiou amiou har ras hai meethaa mil sant janaa mukh paavai: O Lord, my mind longs to meet with the humble servants of the Lord. The sweet, subtle essence of the Lord (Naam Rasa) is Immortalizing. Meeting the Saints, I want to drink it in (sggs 881).

6. Abandonment of Other (Maya's) Tastes Brings Immortality:

• myry mn nwmu AMimRqu pIau ]Awn swd ibswir hoCy Amru jugu jugu jIau: Aan saad bisaar hoshe amar jug jug jeeou: Mere mann Naam Amrit peeou. O my mind, drink in the Naam-Amrit. (With the help of Naam-Amrit) abandon other (Mayaic) bland, insipid tastes; live forever: an Immortal and Eternal life (sggs 1007).
  
• An rs mih BolwieAw ibnu nwmY duK pwie ]siqguru purKu n ByitE ij scI bUJ buJwie ]1]ey mn myry bwvly hir rsu ciK swdu pwie ]An ris lwgw qUM iPrih ibrQw jnmu gvwie: Ann rasi mahi bholaaiaa...: (The man) wanders around, engrossed in other pleasures (Mayaic), but without the Naam, he suffers in pain. He does not meet the True Guru who imparts true understanding. ||1|| O my insane mind, drink in the Naam-Rasa, and savor its taste. Attached to other pleasures, you wander around, and waste away your life uselessly (sggs 430).
• kMcn nwrI mih jIau luBqu hY mohu mITw mwieAw ]Gr mMdr GoVy KusI mnu An ris lwieAw ]hir pRBu iciq n AwveI ikau CUtw myry hir rwieAw ]1]myry rwm ieh nIc krm hir myry ]guxvMqw hir hir dieAwlu kir ikrpw bKis Avgx siB myry: Kanchan naaree mahi jeeou lubhat hai...: My soul is lured by the attachment to gold and women; this attachment to Maya taste so sweet to me! My mind is attached to the pleasures of houses, palaces, horses and other enjoyments. (As a result) The Lord does not even enter my thoughts; how can I be freed (from this Moha)? ||1|| O my Lord, these are my lowly actions, O my Lord. O Lord, But You are the Treasure of Virtues, and You are Mercifu, please bless me with Your Grace and forgive me for all my mistakes (sggs 167).
• hir rsu pIvq sd hI rwqw ]Awn rsw iKn mih lih jwqw ]hir rs ky mwqy min sdw Anµd ]Awn rsw mih ivAwpY icMd ]1]hir rsu pIvY Almsqu mqvwrw ]Awn rsw siB hoCy ry ]1] rhwau ]: har ras peevath sadh hee raathaa...: One who drinks in the Lord's sublime essence is forever imbued with it, while other essences wear off in an instant. Intoxicated with the Lord's sublime essence, the mind is forever in ecstasy. Other essences bring only anxiety. ||1|| One who drinks in the Lord's sublime essence, is intoxicated and enraptured; all other essences have no effect. ||1||Pause|| (sggs 377).
• ey rsnw qU An ris rwic rhI qyrI ipAws n jwie ]ipAws n jwie horqu ikqY ijcru hir rsu plY n pwie ]hir rsu pwie plY pIAY hir rsu bhuiV n iqRsnw lwgY Awie ]eyhu hir rsu krmI pweIAY siqguru imlY ijsu Awie ]khY nwnku hoir An rs siB vIsry jw hir vsY min Awie ]32]: Ye rasanaa too ana ras raach rahee teree piaas na jaai...: O my tongue (here the tongue is to hint to indicate all senses), you are engrossed in other tastes, but your (Maya's) thirst is not quenched. (In this way) Your (Maya's) thirst will not be quenched by any means, until you attain the Naam-Rasa (Simaran). If you do obtain the Naam-Rasa, and drink in it, you will not be troubled by the (Maya's) thirst again. However, this Rasa is obtained by good Karma, when one comes to meet with the Satguru. Says Nanak, all other tastes are forgotten, when the Lord comes to dwell within the mind ||32|| (sggs 921).

7. By Becoming the Gurmukh (the Spiritual Being free of Haume or ego) One Becomes Immortal:

• suK duK hI qy Amru AqIqw gurmuiK inj Gru pwiedw: Sukh dukh hee te amar ateetaa Gurmukh nij ghar paaidaa: By becoming the Gurmukh, become Immortal, and remain untouched by pleasure and pain. He obtains the Eternal Home of his own Inner Being within (sggs 1037).
• hir jIau imlY qw gurmuiK bUJY cInY sbdu AibnwsI hy: Har jeeo milai taa Gurmukh boojhai cheenai sabad abinaasee hay: By becoming the Gurmukh, when one meets with the Dear Lord, he then understands and remembers the Shabad of the Immortal Lord (sggs 1048).
• Amru vyprvwhu hY iqsu nwil isAwxp n cleI n hujiq krxI jwie ]Awpu Coif srxwie pvY mMin ley rjwie ]gurmuiK jm fMfu n lgeI haumY ivchu jwie: Amar veparavaah hai...: (The Lord is ) Immortal, , cleverness and arguments will not work against Him. So abandon your self-conceit, take to His Sanctuary, and accept His Will. (Those who) become the Gurmukh (eliminate self-conceit from within), are not punished by the Messenger of Death--fear of death (sggs 1251).

8. Intuitive Understanding Brings Immortality

• ijh mrnY sBu jgqu qrwisAw ]so mrnw gur sbid pRgwisAw ]1]Ab kYsy mrau mrin mnu mwinAw ]mir mir jwqy ijn rwmu n jwinAw ]1] rhwau ]mrno mrnu khY sBu koeI ]shjy mrY Amru hoie soeI ]2]khu kbIr min BieAw Anµdw ]gieAw Brmu rihAw prmwnµdw ]3]20]: Jih maranai sabh jagat taraasiaa...: That death which terrifies the entire world - the nature of that death has been revealed to me, through the the Guru's Shabad. ||1|| Now, how will I die? My mind has already accepted death. Those who do not know the Lord, die over and over again, and then depart. ||1||Pause|| Everyone says, ""I will die, I will die."" But he alone becomes Immortal, who dies with intuitive understanding. ||2|| Says Kabeer, my mind is filled with Bliss; my doubts have been eliminated, and I am in cstasy now. ||3||20| (sggs327).

9. Constant abidance in God Bestows Immortality:

• Amru hoie sd Awkul rhY: Amar hoi sada aakul rahai: Whoever constantly abides in the Lord, becomes Immortal (sggs 1351).
• ijsu min bsY su hoq inhwlu ]qw kY inkit n Awvq kwlu ]Amr Bey Amrw pdu pwieAw ]swDsMig nwnk hir iDAwieAw: Jis mani basai su hot nihaal. Taa kai nikat na aavat kaal. Amar bhaye amaraa pada paaiaa. Saadhsang Nanak har dhiaaiaa: The one, within whose mind God abides, is blissfully happy. Death (fear of death) does not draw near him. O Nanak, meditating on the Lord in the Holy Company one becomes Immortal, and obtains the Immortal status (sggs 1068).
• ibnvMiq nwnk imil sMig swjn Amr pdvI pwvh: Binavant Nanak mil sang saajan amar padavee paavh: Prays Nanak, meeting with our True Friend (God), attain the Immortal status (sggs 846).

• kbIr kwm pry hir ismrIAY AYsw ismrhu inq ]Amrw pur bwsw krhu hir gieAw bhorY ibq ]163]: Kabeer kaam pare har simareeai aisaa simarahu nit. Amaraa pur baasaa karahu har gaiaa bahorai bit ||163||: Says Kabeer, you remember the Lord in meditation, only when the need arises. But, as you remember Him in need, you should remember Him all the time. (This way) You will dwell in the city (the state) of Immortality, and the Lord will restore the wealth (of Divine Virtues) you lost ||163|| (sggs 1373)

10. By Becoming Drenched in the Bani One Becomes Immortal:

• suix vfBwgIAw hir AMimRq bwxI rwm ]ijn kau krim ilKI iqsu irdY smwxI rwm ]AkQ khwxI iqnI jwxI ijsu Awip pRBu ikrpw kry ]Amru QIAw iPir n mUAw kil klysw duK hry: Sun vadabhaageeaa har amrit bani raam...: Listen, O most fortunate ones, to the Amrit Bani of Lord. He alone (fortunate one), whose Karma is so pre-ordained, has it enter into his heart (i.e, he lives the Bani). He alone knows the Unspoken Speech (of the Lord), unto whom God has shown His Mercy. He becomes Immortal, and will not die again; his troubles, disputes and pains are dispelled (sggs 545).

11. Compassion (Love, Tolerance, Forgiveness, Mercy etc.) for Others Brings Immortality:

• Ksmih jwix iKmw kir rhY]qau hoie iniKAau AKY pdu lhY: Khasamahi jaan khimaa kar rahai. Taou hoi nikhiaou akhai pada lahai: Know the Lord, and become situated in Him: The Source of compassion. Then, by becoming one with Him, attain the Eternal state: Immortality (sggs 340).

The material scientists have Hubbell telescope way up there in the space to explore the external world. The Spiritual Masters were the Spiritual Scientists who explored the man's inner world, and map the path to Immortality as clearly depicted above. It's also clear from the SGGS that one's external trickery will not help in experiencing Immortality.

According to the SGGS, Immortality is the ultimate objective of life, which is neither prolonging of the physical life nor something to be experienced or attained after biological death. It is the Spiritual Vision (the Gurmukh Lifestyle), the state of being a living liberated (Jeevanmukti) while still alive: free from the pangs or throes of time. To become a living liberated, one has to die to oneself (eradication of the false self or Haume) while still living in the body. Simply put: Dying to the ego (Haume) is real death, which makes one Immortal. It's the state of Self Realization (Aatam Giaan, Turiyaa Avasthaa, Chauthaa Pada, annihilation of the Haume-mind, Bliss or Anand etc.) — complete union of the unit consciousness with the Supreme Spirit, the Universal Consciousness.

In nutshell, Immortality is to move from Asat (untruth, falsehood unreality, temporary, darkness, ignorance, Haume- or ego-consciousness, Bikaars, etc.) to Sata (Truth, Reality, Eternal, Permanent, Knowledge, Light, Wisdom; constant abidance in the Immortal Naam, Virtues, and God Consciousness, etc.). It's moving from the state of Mrit (meaning death) to the state of Amrit (meaning no-death, i.e. Immortality). Thus, the path to Immortality appears to be a constant turning within, turning the Light of the Consciousness into the dark corners and recesses of the Haume-mind. In other words, it seems that if one can perceive Light within the body while yet alive (Jeevanmukti), one is on the path to Immortality. Otherwise there is the need to work diligently each day to remove negativity or Bikaars of the mind — lust, anger, greed, attachment, pride, enviousness, stubborn mindedness, and so on.

To say it otherwise, Immortality is dodging the memories of the past and worries and fears of the future by bringing them into the Eternity of the present moment. It's just being the "Joti-Svaroopa", an Eternal Immortal Principle, which is indicated to be Changeless except it Unfolds more, and it lives in NOW — the state where nothing ever happened (past) and nothing will happen (future).

It's difficult to walk on sharp rocks with barefoot. But it becomes easier to walk on them with shoes. This world (Sansaar) is likened to sharp rocks: the place of repeated suffering. The above recommendations of the SGGS makes it easier to walk through the life's journey in this world, leading to the state of Immortality — awakening, rise or entering of Divinity in our consciousness. The man's sense of being an identity apart from God is called Maya (Ma—not and Yaa—this). When this mistaken identity or the sense of an existence separate from God is removed, there arises the state of Immortality.

— T. Singh
www.gurbani.org

Updated on Friday, August 15, 2008 8:23 AM (PST)

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