"SPEAK THE UNSPOKEN SPEECH"

One who speaks the Unspoken Speech, and remains balanced (even-minded
in all situations in life) O Nanak, attains God, the Supreme Soul (sggs 945).
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"Akath" is ordinarily translated as "unspoken", and "Kathaa" is ordinarily translated as "speech". The choice of the words "unspoken" and "speech" is unfortunate, but there are difficulties in translating; for in the English language there are no exact equivalent to certain words.

Baabaa Nanak says "speak the Unspoken Speech". That is, express the inexpressible or utter the unutterable — "Akath Kathaa ", "Akath Kahaanee ", and so on. The word "speech" or "speak" looks like doing (physical action). He says, "speak the Unspoken Speech" or "speak without a tongue". How can one speak the unspeakable, and how can one speak without a tongue?

This material existence is by its very nature paradoxical. It (including human life) consists of contradictions. For example, if there is life, there is death. If there is love, there is hate. If there is happiness, there is misery (Dukha), so on and so forth. Human language is also limited, hence paradoxical. Therefore, many religious and spiritual assertions appears to be paradoxical. They may be in any scripture of the world religions, we will find them paradoxical. This is why people continually go on debating, arguing, and fighting about God. They go on hating and killing others in the name of their God and religion!

It's our Haume (false ego-sense) that sees contradictions. In other words, contradictions exist only in the limitations of our psycho-physical personality. There are no contradictions and paradoxes in the Soul-Nature or the "Joti-Svaroopa". Since our Haume is of the opposite of the Soul-Nature or the "Joti-Svaroopa", it sees contradictions and paradoxes in everything in the existence. In fact, come to think of it, this life or the existence is beautiful because there are contradictions and paradoxes!

Baabaa Nanak seems to be asking us to do that which cannot be done (through physical action). In other words, he seems to be urging us to do that which can only be experienced within, which can only be realized within, or that which happens only within, naturally and spontaneously (Sahaj). And that experience can only be enjoyed by the experiencer. That is, neither he can speak about it nor express it, nor communicate it to others. It cannot be made to an order or given as a gift to others. The taste of this happening is called "Goonge Kee Mathiyaaee" (mute's candy) in the SGGS. One established in this Supreme Consciousness watches the Ocean of Pure Awareness and his little bodily wave as one and the same thing. Radiating luminous rays of Grace, Wisdom, Peace and Joy, the world appears as Bismaad (pronounced Bismaad) to him and he experiences "Bisam, Bisam" (wonder-struck and amazed).

As indicated in the SGGS, this "speak the Unspoken Speech" is the Realization of the Indescribable: remaining dead while yet alive (i.e., Jeevanmukta), Nirvana (pronounced as Nirvaana or Nirwaana).

Thus, Nirvana or to "speak the Unspoken Speech" is beyond and unbound by earthly words, expressions, and descriptions: non-dual Oneness (Ik) is on the other side of speech. It's essentially the state of inner purity, boundlessness, formlessness, no-Haume (i.e., cessation of all illusions and mirages created by ego), full Awakening within, Naam-consciousness, Shabad-Surti, living liberated (Jeevanmukta), God-realization, Union with the Universal Mind, Heightened Awareness, Pure Consciousness, Transcendental Bliss, identification with Truth; complete extinction of passions, Self-realization, Enlightenment, full contentment, full detachment, even-mindedness, childlike innocence, and so on. It is also synonymous to awakening, within, of Gurmukh, Kundilini, Satguru, Sant, Saadh, Sajjan, Sahib, Mahaan Purakh, Chauthaa Pad, Naam-Amrit, Anahad Baanee, Anhata Shabad, Panch Shabad, Anahad Dhuni, Anahad Naad, Gur Charan, Gur Moorati, Amrit Dhaaraa, Sahaj Avasthaa, Anand, Brahm Giaan, Gobind Gajjiyaa, Baygumpuraa, Gaganpuraa, Sookh Mahal, Bismaad, Agam Roop, Ratan Kothree, Baikunth Nagar, Param Pad, Pooran Pad (the state of Perfection) Param Purakh Kee Ghaatee, Sunn Samaadhi, Sahaj Samaadhi, Nirvikalapa Samaadhi, Joti Saroop, Dasam Duaar (Tenth Gate), Jeevan Padvee, Divine Darshan, Kanchan Kaya or Kaaiaa, and so on.

This leads to the following question: "How can this state of Nirvana or the state of Jeevanmukti (living dead) be experienced, within"? In other words, how can this state of "speak the Unspoken Speech" be experienced or awakened (Pargat) within, naturally (Sahaj)? Does the SGGS give us Guidance in this regard? Yes, in fact that's what the SGGS is all about.

First, this is the state of the mind, "here" and "now", not at some "other time" or "other place". Neither it is after death phenomena; for it's not a post-mortem state! To put it otherwise, it is not futuristic and otherworldly experience. Nirvana is to live the life, NOW, as the result of full Spiritual Awakening and Awareness. So it is a state of the mind in which one is released from the illusion of the false ego-sense (Haume) and its faults: desire, fear, Kaam, Krodh, Lobh, and so on.

As indicated in the SGGS, for this sublime state to happen naturally within, "here" and "now", we need to become Gurmukhs (Pure Spiritual Beings). Indeed, to be in the Presence of such a Being situated in the elevated state of spiritual realization (Pure Awareness) is to experience the best that the life has to offer. The very presence of such an Enlightened Being — his calmness; his serenity; his overflowing Bliss (Anand), compassion, and his enlightened vibes — others towards a new, Divine Life.

But, who is the Gurmukh? How does one become the Gurmukh? This subject has extensively been covered in the SGGS. Here is a glimse into it:

In nutshell, this is the definition of a Gurmukh, a truly religious and spiritual being: he sees without eyes; he hears without ears; he walks without feet; he works without hands; he speaks without a tongue; and he speaks the Unspoken Speech! To be a Gurmukh is like standing in a fire without getting burnt! But as time and again indicated in the SGGS, the majority of us remain in the Manmukh state (Haume, duality, ignorance, materiality, falsehood, etc.):

— T. Singh
www.gurbani.org

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Updated on Sunday, August 2, 2009 7:19 PM (PST)

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