Truly Rich

The term “Saahu” (ਸਾਹੁ) appears many times In the Gurbani. It literally means a banker, a trader, a money-lender, ਸਾਹੂਕਾਰ (Saahookaar)…

In the worldly sense, a wealthy or rich person is considered “Saahu” (ਸਾਹੁ). But not in the spiritual sense.

According to the Gurbani, truely rich (“ਸਾਚਾ ਸਾਹੁ”- Saachaa Saahu) is whose heart is filled with the Wealth of Naam (ਨਾਮ-ਧਨ).

Now, what’s Naam? In nutshell, Naam is Giaan (Divine Knowledge, Gur-Giaan, Aatam-Giaan, Gurmat…), Hukam, Shabad…

ਜਿਸੁ ਨਾਮੁ ਰਿਦੈ ਸੋ ਸਾਚਾ ਸਾਹੁ ॥: Jisu naamu ridai so saachaa saahu: Whose heart is (filled, imbued, attuned, linked….) to the Naam is the true “Saahu” (ਸਾਹੁ). (sggs 1156).

ਜਾ ਕੈ ਹਰਿ ਧਨੁ ਸੋ ਸਚ ਸਾਹੁ ॥: Who possesses the wealth of the Lord is the true “Saahu” (ਸਾਹੁ). (sggs 189).

Why does the Naam-Dhann (ਨਾਮ-ਧਨ: the Waelth of Naam) so important? Accordingto the Gurbani, when the heart is established in the Naam-Dhann (ਨਾਮ-ਧਨ: the Waelth of Naam), it becomes “Nihachal” (ਨਿਹਚਲ) meaning still, stable, firm, steady, immovable, at reast, ਅਡੋਲ (Adol), free from the effect of the treacherous waves of Maya, etc.

ਜਿਸੁ ਨਾਮੁ ਰਿਦੈ ਤਿਸੁ ਨਿਹਚਲ ਆਸਨੁ ॥: Jisu naamu ridai tisu nihachal aasanu: Who keeps the Naam in his heart is (established in) Stable Position. (sggs 1156).

Also, the Naam-Dhann (ਨਾਮ-ਧਨ: the Waelth of Naam) bestows upon one the Higher Spiritual State (ਆਤਮਕ ਅਡੋਲਤਾ ਦੀ ਉੱਚੀ ਅਵਸਤਾ…).

ਜਿਸੁ ਨਾਮੁ ਰਿਦੈ ਤਿਸੁ ਤਖਤਿ ਨਿਵਾਸਨੁ ॥: Jisu naamu ridai tisu takhati nivaasanu: Who keeps the Naam in his heart is seated on the (heart-) throne (Intuitive Steadiness, ਆਤਮਕ ਅਡੋਲਤਾ ਦੀ ਉੱਚੀ ਅਵਸਤਾ, Higher Spiritual State…). (sggs 1156).

To the contrary, whose heart is devoid of the Naam-Dhann (ਨਾਮ-ਧਨ: Naam-Wealth) recieves no honor, dignity, credit, trust (ਭਰੋਸਾ, ਇਤਬਾਰ), confidence…

ਨਾਮਹੀਣ ਨਾਹੀ ਪਤਿ ਵੇਸਾਹੁ ॥੫॥: Naamheen naahee pati vesaahu: Without the Naam, there is no honor and trust. ||5|| (sggs 1156).

Accordingly, the Naam is said to be “Sweet” (“ਗੁਰਮਤਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਮੀਠਾ”), Medicine (” ਨਾਮੁ ਅਵਖਧੁ”), Amrit (“ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤੁ ਸਾਚਾ ਨਾਮੁ ਹੈ”), and so on.

Mental purity (mental-strength, mindfulness…) comes through the Divine Name. This is the simplest way. We are trying to cross the ocean of repeated suffering. The Divine Name is the oar of the boat; it is the instrument we use to cross the ocean of our restless mind, with its unending thought waves (ਫੁਰਨੇ). It helps us go deep within us. It helps us realize that God and Guru are within us.

Without it, the mind sees the gross and does not get to realize the Truth. For the Supreme Truth lies behind the functioning of our faculties — speech, mind, sight, hearing and breath.