Glimpses of Samadhi

Glimpses of Samadhi

Taoshobuddha Meditations International

Taoshobuddha

Glimpses of Samadhi


Glimpses of Samadhi

Samadhi is the ultimate flowering of inner

oneness, bliss and harmony. However before the ultimate happens there are

many small yet enlivening, invigorating and breathtaking moments when the

seeker experiences these moments as glimpses to the Ultimate flowering. These

are like small windows into the totality.

Zen calls these as Satori. I share with you such moments from the life of

Ramakrishna Paramhansa and Guru Nanak.

Glimpses of Samadhi


Glimpses of Samadhi


amakrishna’s first SAMADHI

happened that way. He was only thirteen. He was coming home from

his farm, and was passing by a

village pond, and a few swans suddenly flew from the pond. The sky was dark, full

of dark clouds. Against the backdrop of those dark clouds, the white swans flashed

like lightning. The moment was so pure, of such utter beauty, that Ramakrishna fell

then and there to the ground in great prayer. He was struck by God.

He remained unconscious for a few hours.

Somebody discovered him and people carried him home. That was his first

SAMADHI. When he opened his eyes after a few hours, he was a totally different man.

Those eyes were no more the old ones

instead they had a new shine. The face was no more the old one it had a new glory. The

boy was transformed. People started worshipping the boy as people started to

come from far and wide just to see what had happened. Something divine had

penetrated him. And he had not been doing anything, he was just passing by the pond,

but he never allowed his ego to take possession of it. When people would ask

‘What did you do?’ he would say ‘I have not done anything it has just happened.’

And he never was greedy for it to happen

R

Glimpses of Samadhi


again otherwise he would have missed. And it started happening again and again;

then small things started triggering it.

You cannot find swans flying against the

dark clouds every day. But that is not the point; that was just the beginning. Then

small things explode into something magnanimous. Somebody would smile, and

it would happen. A flower by the side of the road, and Ramakrishna would look at it and

go into ecstasy again and he would no more be there. Or somebody would say

something - just the sound or chant a mantra again just the sound or somebody

playing on a VEENA again just the sound, and he would go into ecstasy.

Later on it was so difficult for his disciples to take him anywhere was a problem. On

the road, walking, and suddenly he would be gone, he would disappear.

That must have happened to Basho, the

Zen mystic and poet.

The ancient pond A frog jumps in

Plop!

Basho must have gone into a deep ecstasy — just the ‘plop’, the sound of the frog

jumping into the ancient pond, was more

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than enough — the door opened. It opens to you too — God is generous — but you

miss the point, because you misinterpret it. Sometimes it happens while you are

making love, more often when you make

love because that is your deepest experience. Ramakrishna must have been a

very aesthetic soul, otherwise who goes into such orgasm seeing a few swans flying

by against the black clouds. He must have been of immense aesthetic sensibility. It

was enough therefore for him to go into an orgasmic state.

Ordinarily, people are not so sensitive;

they have become very hard. Just to survive they have gathered armor around

themselves — just to protect themselves because they are afraid of being

vulnerable. But while making love one becomes vulnerable. In that intimacy, the

glimpse comes; you are lost, and possessed by some energy which is not

your own. You are tiny compared to it while it is enormous. But never take

possession of it later on; the ego is cunning. When it comes thank God when it

goes, thank God again, but do not become in any way a doer, and always remain a

non-doer.

Glimpses of Samadhi


Glimpses of Samadhi


He is Omkar

He is one he is Omkar, the supreme truth. He is the creator, beyond fear, beyond

rancor.

His is the timeless form. Never born, self-creating

He is attained by the guru’s grace.

He was truth before the ages and as time ran its course.

Nanak says, now is he truth eternal, and forever will he be.

We cannot comprehend him though we

think a million times; Nor quiet the mind by silence, however

long we sit;

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Nor a mountain of bread appeases the hunger of the soul;

Nor one hundred thousand feats of mind achieve unity with him.

How can truth be attained And the veil of falsehood torn

Nanak says, by submission to the divine order which is preordained.

#k Aae<mkar sitnamu krta puéo inr_av inrbEr

Akal mUrit AjUnI sE_a<g gué prsad jpu

Ek‐omkār saṯ nām karṯā purakẖ nirbẖa‐o nirvair akāl mūraṯ ajūnī saibẖaŉ guru

parsāḏ!

PURPORT: One Universal Creator God! Thy

Name Is Truth! Creative Being Personified! No Fear! No Hatred! Beyond death! And

beyond Birth too! Self-Existent - cause of His own existence! How one can attain!

Certainly by Guru's Grace alone!!!

Glimpses of Samadhi


THE MOOL MANTRA - THE INVOCATION:

The mool mantra has two parts the Invocation and the Explanation of the

attributes. As is the customary etiquette

before one begins the message there is invocation. Invocation comes first. ‘Ek

Omkar Satnam’ is the Invocation. This is the essence. The entire Sikh religion is

condensed in these three words. After this all that Nanak spoke is the explanation.

Not everyone is at the same plain as Nanak

is. And if that has been the case then there was no need for Nanak. The explanation is

therefore needed. This is the methodology or Tariqat or the Way of Nanak to bring

transformation in you.

This is the way for the transformation of human consciousness. ‘EK OMKAR

SATNAM’ is the remembrance and salutation of that which is. And there can

be no better way than remembering the attributes of that which is. There is a

significant difference between the invocation you do and the invocation of

Nanak. The words Nanak is using as attribute are his experience.

These are the words of the one who has

known. When a master uses certain words there is certainly a difference. In fact it is

the master who gives his fragrance to

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these words. Each word that Nanak has used echoes his fragrance and his being.

Nanak experienced his beloved and out of that experience these words overflow.

Before I go into the actual text it is important to know something of the birth

of Jap Ji. Only then we will be able to enter the being of Nanak through the message of

Jap Ji.

First Glimpse of Samadhi

Glimpses of Samadhi


The first experience or the satori of Samadhi or Ultimate or Enlightenment

Nanak had when he was only Thirteen years old.

Nanak was then working at the shop of a grocer. His job was to weigh the grocery or

food grain for the customers visiting the shop. In India people will buy items like

wheat, rice and beans in bigger quantity. The weighing mechanism was ancient. No

electronic scales or pre—packed bags. Every time when a customer visits the shop

the item has to be weighed before the transaction is completed.

The weighing scales were hand held.

However I could only find the image of the scale on a stand. Through the traditional

hand held scale has been strenuous because the person has to hold the scale

with weight on one side and the item to be weighed on the other side. And then the

scale holding in the hand is raised high enough the ground level to balance the two

sides.

And when the quantity is large the weighing is done in multiples. For instance

If 20 Kilograms of what is to be weighed then it has to be done in smaller multiples

because the scale with equal amount of wheat and weight has to be held with one

hand. This is tenuous.

Glimpses of Samadhi


One day there was a similar situation. Nanak had to weigh a huge amount and

this was to be done many times. Each time Nanak weigh he repeated the number until

the next weighing completed. Thus having

completed twelve time Nanak reached the Thirteenth time. In Gurumukhi thirteenth

implies – Tera or Terah meaning your – think. This word became catalyst to

transport Nanak to a new realm. This word became a glimpse into the unknown. Then

Nanak continued weighing but counting did not go beyond thirteen. There are only two

situations mine and yours. The entire inward journey starts from mine or I or

ends on yours. This is beginning. And then one day one attains to the ultimate. This is

Enlightenment.

Either man is guided by ego then he is concerned with ‘I’ and ‘mine’. He is self-

centered in his ego and ignorance. And when he comes out of this quagmire of ego

he flies in open sky. This was the beginning of the inward journey for Nanak.

Thereafter he was a totally different person. This glimpse was followed by many

such similar glimpses until the dawn of ultimate awakening happened on the inner

horizon and Nanak was enlightened.

Let me explain another incident when Nanak was sixteen to seventeen years of

age. One dark rainy night in the month of

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Bhadaun (The Indian Name for the rainy month)! Thunder! In between lightening!

Periodic pangs of rain. The entire village was asleep. Only the lamp is lit in Nanak’s

room. Thunder! Lightening! In between the

sound of rain drops falling on the roof breaks the stillness of the night. An

indrawn Stillness continues! Total silence! Only the melody of Nanak echoes.

Until late that night Nanak continues

singing. Night entered the third quarter. Nanak’s mother feared. She gave a gentle

knock at the door. Mother Tripta said, ‘Son, go to sleep now. The night is about to

disappear. It is almost day break, son go to sleep now.’

Nanak got silent. Same time amidst the

dark stillness of the night a bird ‘papeeha’ echoed the sound PIHU PIHU…. Nanak

drew the attention of his mother towards this sound, and said, ‘mother are you

listening to the sound of this bird. This bird is not asleep as yet. Its song – the Clarian

call continues. The bird continued the lament of separation with its beloved. I am

in competition with this bird. It is calling to its beloved. Then how can I be silent. I will

continue to sing as long as this bird continues to call. Its beloved is close by.

But my beloved is far. Even if I continue for lives only then I can reach. In love one

does not count days.’ And thus Nanak

Glimpses of Samadhi


continued singing. Nanak reached to the Ultimate through singing.

Nanak’s path is full of songs. Nanak’s

search is unique. Remember Nanak did no

Yoga! No Tap! No Dhyana! Nanak simply sang. And thus attained to oneness with

the Ultimate! Nanak sang with so much totality that his song became ‘dhyana’

(meditation). Song became Yoga! Also song became tap or austerities. An ecstatic

Kabir sings:

surt klarI mtvarI mxuva pI GayI ibn taEle,

SURAT KALARI MATVARI

MADHWA PEE GAYEE BIN TAULE!

Nanak is the one who drank the mystical wine to immesurable quantum!

Nanak continued to sing the rest of the life.

Such songs are not the songs of an ordinary singer. These are the songs of one

who has known Truth. These songs echo the ultimate experience of Truth or

Oneness. These songs reflect the very Being of Parmatma or God or ‘Rab’ as

Nanak calls Him. Having drunk Nanak is now overflowing that which cannot be put

into words. Only an enchanting heart can feel Nanak and His ENERGY FIELD. The

energy of Nanak cannot be destroyed by

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any means. Only an Enchanting heart can become a medium of communion.

The birth of Japji Sahib The dark night of rainy season I spoke of

earlier, and then Nanak was about 16‐17

years old. When Jap Ji was born Nanak was

36years, 6 months and 15 days old. The night that I spoke of earlier Nanak was an

aspirant. That night he was in search of his beloved. Search has just begun. The call for

the beloved is continuing— PIHU, PIHU… The bird was still calling. Union had not yet

happened. The flower has not yet blossomed. But the bud has its beauty

fragrance and aura as well.

Whenever an individual does any act with so much totality that alone becomes the

path! Anything done halfway! Be it meditation, cannot lead to ultimate

flowering!! If you sing with your whole being! Dance totally! Certainly you will

reach. It matters not what you do? What really matters how you do? The question is

of your totality.

Just as atom cannot be destroyed so too consciousness can never be destroyed!!!

Scientists have harnessed atomic energy

only for destructive purposes so far! But

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Nanak has harnessed the energy field of consciousness for the transformation of

human being! Feel it! Be it!!! Nanak’s effort is the birth of a new man out of you! The

integrated, harmonized, and blissful!!! One

who lives life beyond duality!!!

JAPJI SAHIB is the announcement of Nanak’s union with God. The bird is now

united with its beloved. The lament of PIHU, PIHU is over now. After this solemn

union with his beloved JAPJI is Nanak message. Nanak’s compassion overflows

through JAPJI. Japji is the Being of Nanak. Japji is the Fragrance of Nanak. Therefore,

in the message of Nanak JAPJI occupies a very significant place. Most sublime of

Nanak’s message is Japji. Japji is the most authentic, sublime, and the recent message

from the UNKNOWN AND UNKNOWABLE.

JAPJI is the first words that overflowed through Nanak after the Union with his

beloved.

Prelude to Japji

In the darkness of the night! On the bank of the river! Nanak remained sitting till late

in the night along with his disciple and attendant Mardana. All of a sudden Nanak

took off his clothes. Without a single word Nanak entered the river. Mardana followed.

Glimpses of Samadhi


And kept on asking, what are you doing? Night is cold and dark. Far he went in the

river. Nanak took a dive. Mardana thought in a few moments Nanak will come out.

Nanak did not come out of the river. For

five to ten minutes Mardana waited. Then he started searching for Nanak. He started

calling. Then he started sprinting along the shore. Where are you? Respond! Mardana

felt as if each wave is responding. Have patience! Wait a little longer! But there

was no trace of Nanak. Mardana ran to the village. Midnight he woke up every one.

Crowd gathered. Everyone loved Nanak dearly. People saw a rare possibility in

Nanak. A possibility of blossoming!

In the presence of Nanak everyone felt a different aura. A new fragrance! Flower has

not yet blossomed! Yet still the bud has its beauty! And fragrance too! Entire village

started crying. People gathered. They searched the entire river. But found no

trace of Nanak. Three days passed. It was accepted either Nanak drowned or some

animal has eaten Nanak. It was accepted that Nanak died. There seemed to be no

possibility of Nanak coming back. Sudden demise of Nanak was accepted. Three days

after Nanak appeared from the river suddenly.

As Nanak appeared JAPJI is his first

message. Nanak made this announcement.

Glimpses of Samadhi


Such is the story. I say a story! A story means it is true and not true at the same

time. It indicates truth. And it is not true because it indicates in symbols. And

deeper the message is one has to search

for deeper and more subtle symbols.

When Nanak disappeared in the river for three days, the story says Nanak appeared

in front of his beloved – God. Nanak experienced Totality. He came face to face

with God. Found his beloved in front of his eyes. One whom Nanak called day and

night through his songs found in front of his eyes. For whom all his songs were

addressed! One who was his heart beat! One who was the cause of his existence!

Found right in front of his eyes! Nanak is fulfilled. God said, ‘Now you go back. All

that I have bestowed upon you, Share the same with people.’ Returning from this

communion, JAPJI is the offering of Nanak.

Birth of Japji When I said Nanak disappeared in the river

for three days he appeared in front of his beloved. Found the beloved in front of his

eyes! One for whom he sang! One for whom he spent sleepless nights! One that

existed within him like a deep thirst! Now found him in front of his eyes! Eyes are

overflowing with joy. Insatiable quest is

Glimpses of Samadhi


fulfilled now! His beloved asked him now to return and share all that He has filled him

with. JAPJI is the first offering of Nanak to humanity.

After this communion with his beloved JAPJI IS THE FIRST WORDS THAT EVOLVED

OUT OF NANAK! JAPJI IS THE ECSTASY OF NANAK! NOTHING IS MORE SUBLIME IN

THE MESSAGE OF NANAK THAN JAPJI! JAPJI IS THE BEING OF NANAK! HIS

FRAGRANCE!

This is a story. And I say this is a story. Try to understand its symbols. Until you

disappear there can be no communion. What is this paradox! Until you disappear!

And if I disappear then who will meet! Who will be in front of God! This you need to

understand. You are not what you ought to be. You are not one. You are divided. There

is utter confusion and conflict within. You cannot see that a seed is a flower. All this

happens because of the false center-Ego.

So when I say until you disappear it refers to the disappearance of ego. Ego has to

dissolve. Only then your real face will appear. And remember this is the first

criterion. How does this ego disappears it matters not. It is insignificant whether you

disappear in the river, or mountains or forests. None of these really matter. What

really matters is that you disappear. Where

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and how you disappear matters not. Your very presence is the obstruction. You are

the china wall. This is the reason that story says Nanak disappeared in the river. So too

you have to disappear. Your ego has to

vanish. This takes minimum three days.

This is the reason when someone dies we celebrate ‘Teesara’ or the third day

ceremony. For the process of death to complete minimum it takes three days.

That much time is needed. So too ego never dies instantaneously. Slowly and

slowly it dissolves. And it takes three days. This is the reason there is gap of three

days. Nanak disappeared in the river for three days. Nanak remained in the river for

three days. Ego dissolved completely. Man exists as ego alone. Ego feels happy, sad,

etc. All that you do is the outcome of ego. This happens until ego dissolves

completely. Thereafter a new journey begins. Family, friends, and relatives can

only see ego. If you are not operating as ego you do not have any existence.

Sometimes you would have observed this happening to you as well. We do not have

the eyes to see the soul. So it was considered that Nanak drowned or died.

Whenever one begins the inward journey

he becomes futile for the outer world. Now he is no more. He does not behave as you

are. There is a discontinuity. Past is no

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more. New is now born. This is the reason that the story has the gap of three days.

The symbol of three days! Three days after Nanak returned.

On the inward path whoever begins the journey certainly returns. But returns as

refurbished, as new, as reborn! Certainly whoever moves on this path ultimately

returns to the world of beings. He returns to share all that he has experienced

through this commune. On his way he was thirsty. His quench is satiated now. He was

a beggar while he was going. But he returns as an emperor. Emperor not of the

outer but of the inner! He is now connected to an unfathomable ocean of bliss.

JAPJI is such an offering of NANAK. Never

consider this story of Nanak disappearing in the river or drowning and then

appearing in front of God literally. If you think so then you are still an infant -

juvenile. You have only grown physically. Consciousness or wisdom is not yet born in

you. What to do? Something sublime has to be communicated. Language is the only

medium. This is the problem with the masters. They have to choose the words

from the language. Words and language has its limitations. All that he wants to

communicate is magnanimous. And cannot be put into words! Words are incapable to

Glimpses of Samadhi


manifest its magnanimity. So this remains the barrier.

When ego vanishes the entire creation

becomes godly. In that inner harmony and

oneness everything and everyone dances in that glory. Remember God is not a

person sitting somewhere and you have to be in front of him. God is an invisible

energy field. Such an understanding comes out of maturity. How can you appear in

front of that invisible energy field? When this happens you see that invisible energy

at work all around. It is this energy that surrounds you. To say then that the creator

is separate from the creation is wrong and ignorance.

The creator is hidden in the creation. The

creation is the manifestation of the creator. And creator is the unmanifest creation.

Precisely creator is the process of creativity. God is an unmanifest power

hidden within you. It is this power or energy field that knows beyond our finite

understanding. And we are bound to each other by a causeless force. We are not

aliens nor as strangers meet. Instead we are bound to each other by an invisible

causeless force. Such an understanding is the beginning of the inward journey. An

ecstatic Kabir says:

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jb mE< wa tb hrI nahI<, jb hrI hE< mE< nahI<.

JAB MAIN THA TAB HARI NAHI, JAB HARI TAB MAIN NAHI!

As long as I was, Ego continued to

function. No union with God was possible! And now that when God is I have

disappeared!!

àem glI AtI sa<krI tame du# n sma@,

raja prja jeih écE zIz dE lE ja@.

PREM GALI ATI SSANKRI

TAAMAI DUI NA SAMAI RAJA PRAJA JEHI RUCHE

SHEESH DAI LAI JAI!!!

The lanes of love are very narrow! Two can never dwell simultaneously!

The rich or poor; king or the subject Whoever this appeals can get it!!

Certainly not as he is; Certainly a price is for this:

And what is the price? Your mind, your thoughts, your

conditionings, Your traditions and your dogmas too;

Are the prices for this invaluable inner treasure of love!!!

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With ego and vanity how can you be in front of him? Also how can you be in such a

presence that is not an ordinary presence? You cannot look towards the sun

attentively. The glare blinds you. Then how

can you be in front of that which is thousand times more glowing than the sun.

The day your inner vision opens, you will

realize only that energy field surrounds you. Only you disappear. That is all. This

cannot happen as long as you have ego. Ego is like a speck of dust in your eye. With

that speck you cannot open your eye. And with closed eyes you cannot envision. Do

not consider me literally. By opening the eye I mean the disappearance of the speck

of ego in your eye. The moment this speck is removed the unknown and the

unknowable becomes visible to you. God is always. There was never a time when he

was not and also there will never be a time when he will not be. This is true of you as

well. Only you were not available. Nanak disappeared. God appeared. Now God

manifested through his very being, and his presence! Remember there is nothing

except God. But God only appears through his creation and godliness. This is more

sublime that God himself.

Nanak returned as God. The man in him died. And now God is born in Nanak. After

this happening whatever Nanak said is

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precious. Every syllable is precious than the costliest gem. For each word or syllable

even the entire wealth is meaningless. Each syllable then is Scripture. Each

syllable is VEDA. Now try to understand

JAPJI:

Ek omkār sat nām kartā purakh nirbhao Nirvair akāl Murat ajūnī saibhaŉ guru

parsād

He is one! His very form is Omkar! The existential! He is Satnam! Embodiment of

truth! Truth incarnate! The cosmic doer! Beyond fear! Beyond prejudice! Beyond

time and space is his sublime existence! Born out of his own free will he ever

remains unborn! Yet still he is the cause of his own existence! Such are his attributes

Sacred and Sublime!

How can one attain to this presence!!

Certainly not by your own efforts alone! Be assured! By the grace of the Master! Let

this be your trust and certitude as well!!!

All that we see around is many. Wherever you see division is. All around only duality

and multiplicity is. You go to the sea shore. Only waves are visible. Ocean alone is. And

waves are on the surface. Yet still you do not see the ocean.

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You can see all that is on the surface. This is the only vision that you have. You do not

see beyond the duality! To see beyond the outer you need a different eye. As is your

vision so will be the scene. Whatever shade

you have on your eyes will certainly give you the hue. Your awareness can never be

deeper than your understanding. This is the reason there are altered states of

awareness. And Sufis call these as various states of Nafs. And when you have the

outer eye, then you can only see the waves. And then you will claim that you

have seen the ocean.

Use your intelligence to find the answer yourself. This is not the way to go to the

ocean. From the shore only waves are visible. To know the ocean you have to be

in the ocean. This is the reason that Nanak drowned in the river. He is not lost in the

waves. Instead Nanak is deep within the river. Mystically river symbolizes the being

of an aspirant. And from the surface whatever you will say will be false. How

can you say that you have been to the ocean? A wave is not ocean. And neither

the sum total of waves is ocean. There is a fundamental difference between the ocean

and a wave.

Wave is short-lived. One moment before it was not! Next moment it appears. And then

the following moment it no more again!

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This is transitory. Such cannot be the taste of God. Can it be? Certainly not! Once there

was a mystic, a Sufi master! His name was JUNNAID. He loved his son dearly.

Suddenly, one day the son died in an

accident. Junnaid cremated the son. This baffled his wife. Wife always thought that

Junnaid could never bear the agony of separation with his son. It appeared as if

nothing has happened to Junnaid. It appeared son has not yet died. Junnaid

remained unaffected. By evening everyone left expressing their condolences. An

amazed wife enquired if he did not feel the agony. You loved your son so dearly that I

thought you may break apart with this.

Junnaid’s response is significant. It reflects the understanding of a master, one who

has known how to be. For a moment I was taken aback by the sudden demise. The

same time I remembered something. There was a time when the son was not and I

was happy. And then the son came, happiness remained. Now that the son is

no more then why lament. Happiness is there still. You think happiness increases

or decreases. Happiness is not quantitative. Happiness is the quality of

your being. In that state it is Bliss.

Happiness is an inner functioning. It has nothing to do with the outer. I am blissful

because of a different reason. When the

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son was not yet I was not unhappy. Then how can I be unhappy when the son is no

more. Between these two happenings was a dream. Children are born through you.

Not from you. You are the door. You are

the mechanism that a child is conceived. A child is the gift from the unknown. Give

them your love. Mind they will have of their own.

And once you have given them your love

certainly something will evolve from within. That which comes and disappears is

dream. That which attains form and dissolves is dream. Waves are dream like.

Waves are numerous. Ocean is one. We can only see many. As long as we will not see

oneness wandering will continue. Misery and despondency too will continue. TRUTH

IS SOLITARY. Nanak sings:

Ek omkār sat nām kartā purakh nirbhao Nirvair akāl Murat ajūnī saibhaŉ guru

parsād.

EK OMKAR SATNAM!

Glimpses of Samadhi


Glimpses of Samadhi

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