There is "homecoming" (spelled herein with small "h") and there is "Homecoming" (spelled herein with big "H")! The former is physical (for example, the home of parents, etc.) and the latter is spiritual, the place of Healing within!
"homecoming" is when one returns or comes back to his worldly home. After school, work, travel, etc., we want to come back to our worldly home. Not only that, we never forget how to get there. Nothing wrong with it. It's a part of the living in the "midst of Maya", whilst we try to Grow to go beyond the influence of the three modes of the material nature (Maya). Even birds come back to their nests in the evening, and animals to their dens.
"Homecoming" — "Ghar Vaas" — is when we return to our True Center or True Being within ("Joti-svaroopa", Pure Consciousness, etc.). This is indicated to be the real purpose of human birth. It's difficult for birds and animals to understand this. But we humans can; for we are endowed with a keen discerning intellect or Viveka-Budhi.
The majority of us (the 99.9 percent category) having separated from our godly status ("Joti-svaroopa") have lost our way. We are given an opportunity in this human form to reform (mend our ways to overcome latent tendencies and old habits) ourselves and return "Home" — "Ghar", "Nij Ghar", "Sach Ghar", "Nij Pada", "Thaan Suhaaiaa", "Chauthaa Pada", "Turiyaa", "Aap Pashaanai" or Self-realization, God-realization, etc. — within
Freedom from repeated suffering (Aavaa Gaman) is figuratively described in scriptures as “Homecoming” and it is the birthright of every bonded Jeeva (individual being). The Homeward-bound soul is said to follow the path of Light (Wisdom, Aatam-Giaan, Self-knowledge, etc.). He enjoys great Anand (everlasting Bliss, Joy, rejoicing, etc) and is escorted to the Transcendental Realm (Sachkhand, etc.) within. Self-knowledge is indicated as supreme as it removes ignorance, which is the cause of bondage. All other knowledge is relative.
How can we receive the Guru/God's Grace? According to SGGS, by reforming ourselves and thus becoming fit for that Grace.
The SGGS stresses the absolute necessity of transcending the realm of the three-modes of material nature (Traiguna Maya: Saatav, Raajas and Taamas). SGGS says that the Chauthaa Pada (the Fourth State, Turiyaa or the state of Pure Awareness) is experienced only when the "Trikuti" of Maya is transcended. In other words, when the knot of the three qualities of Maya stands untied, the Tenth Gate (Dasam Duaar) opens up (Homecoming!). Hence, the sphere of Maya is wherein matter predominates over Spirit. In this sphere, the Kaarmic law of repeated suffering works in full swing. Therefore, SGGS accentuates one must go beyond Maya to come Home.
Going beyond Maya or the gross realm of material is synonymous with many other esoteric terms and expressions such as Sunn, Sunn Anaraagee, Sunn-Samaadhi, Sunn Kalaa, Panch-Shabad Jhunakaar, Shabad-Surti, Surati-Dhun, Ajappaa Jaap, Akul Niranjan Deethaa, Sachee Nagree, Baygumpuraa, Kundilini Surjhee, Siv Kee Puree, Sasi Ghari Soor, Siv Shakti, Anhata Naad, Anhata Dhuni, Anhata Shabad, Anhata Baaje, Anhata Bani, Anhata Beenaa, Anahad Benu, Anhata Run Jhun, Anhata Sunn, Ounman, Dhandhookaar Niraalam, Sat Saroop, Guptee Bani, Bees Ikees, Sat Saru, Sahaj-Avasthaa, Gurmukh state, understanding of Irhaa-Pingla-Sushumanaa, turning of the Heart-lotus upright, opening of the Tenth gate (Dasam-duaar), opening of Bajjar Kapaat, third eye, and so on.
The SGGS indicates that the Reality of our Being or our True Home is within us, here and now (Haajraa Hajoor). So there is nowhere to go! That is, "Bande Khoj" or "Mann Khoj Maarag" is the journey within: inner search! Accordingly, the SGGS time and again reminds us to look inwards to know the Reality. However, with awareness externalized, we are unable to see it. Consciousness of most of us is being attuned to the physical aspect of life, makes it hard to believe or accept the simple Truth that everything is within the body. It is the deceitful nature of the outgoing mind that shield this Truth from us. The SGGS indicates that all we need is a pure, calm, or silent (Haume-free) mind to experience it. But, the truth is that our mind is never silent or still. So our mind is never found there. It is always somewhere else, lost wandering in the glitter of the world (Maya). Hence the Real Home remains empty. It wants us to come back and occupy it, but we are always somewhere else, thus keep missing it. As indicated in the SGGS, "Joti-svaroopa" is our Originality, our very Being. Everything else comes and goes... this Reality always is, changeless in midst of the changefulness.
The SGGS shows us the way to get established in the Inner Home. A mind free of passions (Bikaars, etc.) is indicated to be an innocent and pure mind (empty of Haume but full of "Joti-svaroopa"). To the contrary, a mind full of passions is indicated to be a corrupt and impure mind (empty of Awareness). So the SGGS urges us dropping our passions and becoming the Gurmukh (Spiritual or Enlightened Being). The Gurmukh leads Spiritual Life (also called Inner, Divine or Eternal Life) of non-attachment, purity and contentment; for he knows that only by knowing one's True Nature one can overcome material afflictions (passions), and become eternally Blissful. Hence, the one with Spiritual outlook spend their time and energy on the Spiritual path (Aatam-Maarag) practicing dispassion, resorting to acquisition of Self-knowledge (Aatam-Giaan), practicing love and devotion, doing selfless service, meditating on Divine Name, and associating with Sat (Truth) within and outside; without however sacrificing the household duties and responsibilities. How it's possible?
The analogy of watching pictures on the television screen will be helpful to further appreciate this. The screen is fixed, whilst the pictures move in it. However, the screen remains unaffected by the movement of these pictures. Likewise, the True Home is the changeless Center within; the waking, dream and sleep states are mere movement in it. The Gurmukh (Spiritually Awakened) is fully aware that the true state of his inner Being ever remains unmodified and that all activities go on around him; hence he considers only the screen and not the moving pictures. To silent or to arrest the mind is easier said than done. The mind is ever changing. It is restless, unsteady and imbalanced. That's why our thoughts, emotions, fears, and worries are ever unsteady and changing. Accordingly, the SGGS urges us becoming the Gurmukh (egoless being) and arresting (conquering or annihilating) the mind and making it intuitively balanced and steady (purified). The wobbling and unsteady mind is indicated to become steady when it has realized its essence or True Nature as Pure Consciousness. Therefore, in the Gurmat (Teachings of the SGGS), true understanding or right viewpoint is said to be the key.
But, this "Home" within is not palpable and its existence can only be inferred by the seeker. A seeker can reach a certain stage on his own. To progress beyond in this inner search by himself, the Guru who already has been there is needed to guide him further. If approached with reverence, patience, enthusiasm, faith and sincerity, Guru's Teachings, Instructions and Wisdom (Gurmat) will clarify one's doubts and will impart the Knowledge of Truth unto him. The Gur-Shabad deals with spiritual Knowledge, which removes ignorance that causes bondage and mistaken identity with the limited (finite) body-mind-intellect personality obscuring one's eternal spiritual nature ("Joti-svaroopa"). The SGGS indicates that when the dirt (of passions, ego or Haume, etc.) is removed from the "mirror" of the mind, the True Home will manifest itself. To say it otherwise, when the mind attains the Purity of the Naam (meditation), instantly the Home is there just as bringing of the light spells sudden disappearance of the darkness!
— T. Singh
www.gurbani.org
Updated on Monday, September 8, 2008 9:07 AM (PST)
[Home] [Article Menu]