Hearing / reading of the Shabad is physical.
But, Listening is the mental Understanding of the Gur-Shabad – INTERNALIZATION of the Message of the Gur-Shabad, resulting in having Impact on our thought process (Soch) and becoming the basis of our temporal and spiritual life.
Listening (‘ਸੁਣਿਐ-Suniai‘) is the starting point of the spirituality of Sikhi.
The process of Shabad-Realization (Enlightenment) starts with the Listening process and ends with BECOMING THE GURBANI – where the Direction of our thoughts (‘Mann-ਮਨ’), the Direction of our speech (‘Bachan-ਬਚਨ’), and the Directions of our actions (‘Karam-ਕਰਮ’) come from the Message of the Shabad.
That being said, Listening is very essential to the spirituality and Sikhi of Baabaa Nanak. Its so important that Baabaa Nanak devoted four stanzas of ‘Jap’ Baanee to this process of ‘Listening’ (stanzas 8 through 11).
- ਸੁਣਿਐ ਸਿਧ ਪੀਰ ਸੁਰਿ ਨਾਥ ॥: Internalization of the Shabad elevates spirituality to its heights. (sggs 2).
- ਨਾਨਕ ਭਗਤਾ ਸਦਾ ਵਿਗਾਸੁ ॥ ਸੁਣਿਐ ਦੂਖ ਪਾਪ ਕਾ ਨਾਸੁ ॥੮॥ : Nanak, the spirituality of Internalizing the Shabad is Blissful. Internalization of the Shabad rids us of vices and sorrows. ॥8॥ (sggs 2-3).
- ਸੁਣਿਐ ਸਤੁ ਸੰਤੋਖੁ ਗਿਆਨੁ ॥ ਸੁਣਿਐ ਅਠਸਠਿ ਕਾ ਇਸਨਾਨੁ ॥ : The Internalization of the Shabad brings Godly contentment and Giaan (Enlightenment). Internalization of Shabad enables an evaluation of the reality of cleansing at sixty-eight Teeraths (Locations of pilgrimage). (sggs 3).
Listening to the Guru’s Shabad
The spirituality of the Shabad creates an Elevated and Sanctified Mind (Gurmukh-Hood State Of the Mind).
- ਸਬਦਿ ਭੇਦਿ ਜਾਣੈ ਜਾਣਾਈ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਹਉਮੈ ਜਾਲਿ ਸਮਾਈ ॥੨੯॥: The Message embedded within the Shabad causes Realization (of the Creator) to come about. Nanak, (the Message embedded within the Shabad) removes false ego-sense from the Journey of Realization of the Creator Within. ॥29॥ (sggs 941).
- ਐਸਾ ਨਾਮੁ ਨਿਰੰਜਨੁ ਹੋਇ ॥ ਜੇ ਕੋ ਮੰਨਿ ਜਾਣੈ ਮਨਿ ਕੋਇ ॥੧੨॥ : Such is the nature of the Divine Naam (Naam, Shabad, Gurbani, Enlightened, Virtues, Wisdom etc.) that the being that Realizes the Creator Becomes (the Naam, Shabad, Gurbani, Enlightened, Virtues, Wisdom etc.). (sggs 3).
The Gurmat Wisdom of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS) further elaborates on a mind imbued in the Shabad!
- ਖੇਮ ਸਾਂਤਿ ਰਿਧਿ ਨਵ ਨਿਧਿ ॥ ਬੁਧਿ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਸਰਬ ਤਹ ਸਿਧਿ ॥ ਬਿਦਿਆ ਤਪੁ ਜੋਗੁ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਧਿਆਨੁ ॥ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਸ੍ਰੇਸਟ ਊਤਮ ਇਸਨਾਨੁ ॥ ਚਾਰਿ ਪਦਾਰਥ ਕਮਲ ਪ੍ਰਗਾਸ ॥ ਸਭ ਕੈ ਮਧਿ ਸਗਲ ਤੇ ਉਦਾਸ ॥ ਸੁੰਦਰੁ ਚਤੁਰੁ ਤਤ ਕਾ ਬੇਤਾ ॥ ਸਮਦਰਸੀ ਏਕ ਦ੍ਰਿਸਟੇਤਾ ॥ ਇਹ ਫਲ ਤਿਸੁ ਜਨ ਕੈ ਮੁਖਿ ਭਨੇ ॥ ਗੁਰ ਨਾਨਕ ਨਾਮ ਬਚਨ ਮਨਿ ਸੁਨੇ ॥੬॥: (O brother, a person who does Naam Simran – listening/remembering Naam – Wisdom, Virtues...) is forgiving and of calm disposition; these are the Qualities that make his ‘Ridhi Sidhi’. He is intelligent and Wise (ਗਿਆਨਵਾਨ), these are all his ‘Sidhi’. He gets education, instead of ‘Tapa’ and ‘Yoga‘ practice he abides in Rabb. By acquiring Giaan or Wisdom of the highest degree, he bathes his mind in it (i.e., instead of visiting Teerath he thus washes the filth of Bikaar from his mind). ‘Four Padaarath’ blossoms in his Heart-Lotus. Remains in the midst of all, and yet detached from all. He is Beautiful (inner Beauty), wise and knower who has understood this Reality. He knows all the same and sees all with one eye. All these Qualities Come and dwell within that man who has listened to the Gurbani attentively, accepted it an applied it to his daily life (this is the real Simran). (sggs 295-296).
- ਜਿਨ੍ਹ੍ਹਾ ਨ ਵਿਸਰੈ ਨਾਮੁ ਸੇ ਕਿਨੇਹਿਆ ॥ ਭੇਦੁ ਨ ਜਾਣਹੁ ਮੂਲਿ ਸਾਂਈ ਜੇਹਿਆ ॥੧॥: (O brother!) Those human beings who never forget Naam (do you know what) they are like? They are like Rabb (Prabh, Raam, Hari, Gobind, Allah, etc.), there is absolutely NO difference between the two. (sggs 397).
Diligent listening helps in cultivating Spiritual Knowledge (Aatam-Giaan). The Gurbani asserts that the listening process should be coupled with deep attention, concentration, singular mindedness, full faith, willingness, earnestness, right mindset etc.
Thus, listening to the Gur-Shabad is an art that will take the learner (i.e. Sikh) to the Ultimate Goal of life. This is the reason some seekers seem to make better spiritual progress than others, because, they know how to listen It helps transform our lives by properly listening and living by the Wisdom of the Gur-Shabad.
- ਸੁਣਿ ਸੁਣਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਤੁਮਾਰਾ ਪ੍ਰੀਤਮ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਪੇਖਨ ਕਾ ਚਾਉ ॥: Listening continually to Your Naam O Beloved Prabhu, I yearn to behold You (sggs 405).
- ਪਿਰੁ ਰੀਸਾਲੂ ਤਾ ਮਿਲੈ ਜਾ ਗੁਰ ਕਾ ਸਬਦੁ ਸੁਣੀ ॥੨॥: We meet our Beloved, the Source of Joy, when we listen to the Gur-Shabad ||2|| (sggs 17).
- ਕੰਨੀ ਸੁਣਿ ਸੁਣਿ ਸਬਦਿ ਸਲਾਹੀ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤੁ ਰਿਦੈ ਵਸਾਈ ॥: With my ears, I continually listen to the Shabad and praise it (i.e., live it); His Amrit Naam abides within my Heart (sggs 596).
What prevents us from properly listening to the Gur-Shabad with one-pointedness is the stony core of ignorance-born false ego-sense (Haumai), our mind’s attachment to Maya etc.
Any reading or listening of the Gurbani without gaining Intuitive Understanding is totally unavailing. The purpose of listening to the Gur-Shabad is to develop Divine Understanding and then act upon it. If that does not happen, then, the Gurbani thunders there is no difference between a human being engaged in reading or listening to scriptures and a beast engaged in filling his belly.
- ਗੁਰਮਤਿ ਸੁਨਿ ਕਛੁ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਨ ਉਪਜਿਓ ਪਸੁ ਜਿਉ ਉਦਰੁ ਭਰਉ ॥: Despite listening to the Gurmati (Shabad-Giaan, Divine Teaching of the Gur-Shabad, etc.), (if) no spiritual wisdom (ਆਤਮਕ ਜੀਵਨ ਦੀ ਕੁਝ ਭੀ ਸੂਝ) wells up within (me); (then it would be) like a beast (routinely) filling its belly (sggs 685).
- ਮਾਇਆਧਾਰੀ ਅਤਿ ਅੰਨਾ ਬੋਲਾ ॥ ਸਬਦੁ ਨ ਸੁਣਈ ਬਹੁ ਰੋਲ ਘਚੋਲਾ ॥: One who is attached to Maya is (spiritually) very much blind and deaf (to the Gur-Shabad…). (In such conditioned state), he is unable to listen (i.e., don’t pay attention…) to the Shabad; (but, in love or hunger of Maya) he makes much uproar and tumult (ਰੌਲਾ-ਗੌਲਾ, noise, chatter, etc.).
- ਬਿਨੁ ਬੂਝੇ ਪਸੂ ਭਏ ਬੇਤਾਲੇ ॥੬॥: Without understanding, people become beast (-nature) and demon ||6|| (sggs 224).
- ਪੜੀਐ ਗੁਨੀਐ ਨਾਮੁ ਸਭੁ ਸੁਨੀਐ ਅਨਭਉ ਭਾਉ ਨ ਦਰਸੈ ॥: The Naam is read, pondered and heard (meaning, all beings read the Naam, think, listen, but because of Bikaar the knot of fear remains in the mind, consequently) the divine love does not arise in them, the divine vision does not appear (i.e., understanding, Soojh-Boojh). (sggs 973).
By Connecting the Awareness through the Gur-Shabad, our Conscience becomes Shabad Based. This intensity of Divine Strength, in turn, helps us burn the seeds of our deep-rooted spiritual ignorance and Vaasnaas.
- ਮੰਨੈ ਮਾਰਗਿ ਠਾਕ ਨ ਪਾਇ ॥ ਮੰਨੈ ਮਗੁ ਨ ਚਲੈ ਪੰਥੁ ॥ ਮੰਨੈ ਧਰਮ ਸੇਤੀ ਸਨਬੰਧੁ ॥ : The spiritual State of BECOMING (Naam, Shabad, Gurbani, Enlightened, Virtues, Wisdom etc.) removed obstacles from the path of Realization of the Creator. The Spiritual State of BECOMING precludes traversing prescribed path (by the different religions, etc.).. The spiritual State of BECOMING is a State of Association with His Hukam (sggs 3).
Listening and Bhagti
Listening (hearing) to the Truth is one of the forms of Bhagti. Listening indicates developing a taste for listening to the Truth by which the mind is encouraged to think more often about the divine Qualities so that it becomes a continuous lifestyle.
- ਹਰਿ ਭਗਤਿ ਦ੍ਰਿੜਾਵੈ ਹਰਿ ਭਗਤਿ ਸੁਣੈ ਤਿਸੁ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਮਿਲੀਐ ॥: One should meet the Satigur who (in the mind of a person) fixes Bhagti (with whom he) listens to Bhagti (with love). (sggs 168).
With an open mind filled with Bhagti, the Gurbani encourages us to develop listening skills. Because, it helps to understand the Gur-Shabad through listening with rapt attention.
- ਸ੍ਰਵਨ ਸੁਨਨ ਭਗਤਿ ਕਰਨ ਅਨਿਕ ਪਾਤਿਕ ਪੁਨਹਚਰਨ ॥: Listening to (Naam), practicing (this) Bhagti – these are good deeds which make up for the past corrupt deeds. (sggs 1230).
Baabaa Nanak has devoted four stanzas of Japji Sahib to Proper listening (stanzas 8 through 11).
Develop true listening skills
Listening is an art. Volumes have been written on developing effective listening skills, and volumes have been written on how to become a good listener.
The Gurbani guides us in a few words as follows:
- ਇੰਦ੍ਰੀ ਬਸਿ ਕਰਿ ਸੁਣਹੁ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ॥: By subduing the sensory organs (ਇੰਦ੍ਰਿਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਕਾਬੂ ਵਿਚ ਰੱਖ ਕੇ), listen to the divine Naam (Giaan or Wisdom). (sggs 299).
- ਸੁਣਿ ਸੁਣਿ ਮੰਨਿ ਵਸਾਈਐ ਬੂਝੈ ਜਨੁ ਕੋਈ ॥: Enshrine (Naam) in mind by repeatedly listening it, but rare is the one who understands it. (sggs 1239).
The Gurbani here clearly tells us that true listening is not just through ears; it is with one’s whole being (Saabat).
When one listens with the complete involvement of his whole being, then chances are you may appreciate the whole Message!
- ਸੁਣਿ ਸਬਦੁ ਤੁਮਾਰਾ ਮੇਰਾ ਮਨੁ ਭੀਨਾ ॥: Listening your Shabad (Upadesh, Naam, Giaan or Wisdom...), my mind is soaked (with Naam). (sggs 1117).
Such proper listening then helps one understands what is being said beyond the words that are uttered, followed by application (practice, ਅਮਲ, ਕਮਾਣਾਂ)!
- ਸੁਨਤ ਕਮਾਵਤ ਹੋਤ ਉਧਾਰ ॥: Deliverance is obtained through listening (Words of the Gurbani…) and acting on them (sggs 295).
- ਜਿਨੀ ਸੁਣਿ ਕੈ ਮੰਨਿਆ ਤਿਨਾ ਨਿਜ ਘਰਿ ਵਾਸੁ ॥: Those who having listened (to Naam: Wisdom/Virtues) firmly believed in it, their minds become established in their ‘Nij Ghar‘ (Own Home within, Mool, Jot Saroop, True Nature, Truth…). (sggs 27).
What prevents mind from rapt listening
The mind – the flow of thoughts – free to escape the senses carries stress, restlessness, illusory realm, waves of Maya, desire for sense-gratification, negativity, Bikaar (i.e., lust, anger, greed, etc.)etc.
Thus, the mind creates havoc through its power of imagination, wandering, imaginary fears of many sorts, exaggeration, concoction, mental dramatization, building castle in the air are due to this power of imagination or fancy.
In turn, all this prevent the mind from true listening.
- ਇਹੁ ਮਨੁ ਮਾਇਆ ਮੋਹਿਆ ਵੇਖਣੁ ਸੁਨਣੁ ਨ ਹੋਇ ॥: This mind is infatuated by Maya so much so, that it can not see and hear (Rabb). (sggs 83).
- ਅਵਰਿ ਪੰਚ ਹਮ ਏਕ ਜਨਾ ਕਿਉ ਰਾਖਉ ਘਰ ਬਾਰੁ ਮਨਾ ॥ ਮਾਰਹਿ ਲੂਟਹਿ ਨੀਤ ਨੀਤ ਕਿਸੁ ਆਗੈ ਕਰੀ ਪੁਕਾਰ ਜਨਾ ॥੧॥ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮਾ ਉਚਰੁ ਮਨਾ ॥ ਆਗੈ ਜਮ ਦਲੁ ਬਿਖਮੁ ਘਨਾ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥: O my mind! They are five (lust, anger, greed, etc.). I am but all alone. How can I protect my hearth and home (within, i.e., Virtues, Wisdom, good thoughts…). They daily kill and plunder (my Virtues, Wisdom, good thoughts…). Unto whom can I complain? (O my mind!) Utter the Naam of Raam; (because, stood) before you is (this) awful terrible, and numerous band of Jamm (i.e., lust, anger, greed, etc.). ||1||Pause|| (sggs 155).
In nutshell, the Gurbani urges us to empty or free our mind of demands of our defiled senses.
In other words, when the mind is free of the push and pull of the senses, listening then just happens!
Listening or reading the Gurbani is a mean, not the end!
Therefore, listening alone or hearing alone is not enough. After thorough understanding, it has to be followed by assimilation of what has been heard or read — fully practiced, implemented, lived in daily life, acted on, ਅਮਲ, ਕਮਾਈ, ‘ਸੁਣਿ ਮੰਨੇ’, ‘ਸੁਨਤ ਕਮਾਵਤ’). Otherwise, any listening or reading will create spiritual or ritual (Karamkaand) indigestion!
- ਸੁਨਿ ਉਪਦੇਸੁ ਹਿਰਦੈ ਬਸਾਵਹੁ ॥: After listening to the Upadesh, enshrine it in the Heart (sggs 293).
- ਸੁਣਿ ਸਿਖਿਐ ਸਾਦੁ ਨ ਆਇਓ ਜਿਚਰੁ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਸਬਦਿ ਨ ਲਾਗੈ ॥: Hearing the Teaching (of the Shabad…), one does not appreciate or relish (that Teaching) so long — by becoming the Gurmukh — he is not affixed to the Shabad (i.e., so long that Teaching of the Shabad is not assimilated and lived…).(sggs 590).
In nutshell, without practiced, implemented, or application (ਅਮਲ, ਕਮਾਈ), the following edict of the Gurbani will apply to us:
- ਗਲੀ ਅਸੀ ਚੰਗੀਆ ਆਚਾਰੀ ਬੁਰੀਆਹ ॥ ਮਨਹੁ ਕੁਸੁਧਾ ਕਾਲੀਆ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਚਿਟਵੀਆਹ ॥ ਰੀਸਾ ਕਰਿਹ ਤਿਨਾੜੀਆ ਜੋ ਸੇਵਹਿ ਦਰੁ ਖੜੀਆਹ ॥ ਨਾਲਿ ਖਸਮੈ ਰਤੀਆ ਮਾਣਹਿ ਸੁਖਿ ਰਲੀਆਹ ॥ ਹੋਦੈ ਤਾਣਿ ਨਿਤਾਣੀਆ ਰਹਹਿ ਨਿਮਾਨਣੀਆਹ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਜਨਮੁ ਸਕਾਰਥਾ ਜੇ ਤਿਨ ਕੈ ਸੰਗਿ ਮਿਲਾਹ ॥੨॥: We are good at talking, but our conduct is bad (ਮਾੜਾ ਚਾਲ-ਚਲਣ ਜਾਂ ਆਚਰਨ…). Mentally, we are impure and filthy, but outwardly, we appear pure and clean. (Yet) we imitate (ਰੀਸ) those (Bhagat, Gurmukh…) who are established in divine consciousness (i.e. serve or live the Truth with full attention – ਸਾਵਧਾਨ ਹੋ ਕੇ). They are soaked in the love of Khasm (Truth), and rejoice in Bliss. They remain powerless (ਤਾਣਹੀਣ) even while they are powerful; they remain humble. O Nanak! (Our) birth can be successful (fruitful, ਸਫਲ, ਲਾਹੇਵੰਦ) if we stay in their Company (Sangat). ||2|| (sggs 85).
GOD GIFTED ME THIS LISTENING SKILL AND MY LIFE IS CHANGING EVERY MOMENT
god is present every where