Simran, Meditation & the Prayer of the Name

[Guest guest]

Forwarded........

 

Dear Kirpal:

 

Greetings!

 

Yes, there are many parallels amongst the various world religions: the

Orthodox Prayer of the Name, Sufi Zikhr, and Simran in the east.

 

In the form of Sant Mat I follow, and it's the same also in the Radhasoami,

Dariya, Dadu and Kabir Panths, the word 'Simran' is used for Divine Remembrance

and the repeating or chanting of sacred Names of God. These Names can

be used to begin meditation, as well as they can be repeated whenever

possible throughout the day as a way to always remain centered upon God.

 

 

I understand Sikhs use this word as well. I remember reading a post at

one of the Sikh eGroups and it was titled something like " Simran and

Healing, " about the many positive effects (body, mind and spirit) of

repeating Names of God.

 

In many forms of Sant Mat, one is Initiated into Panch Naam or what's

called 'the Five Charged Names' of God. These are Names never revealed

in public but are one's private meditation Words. Other Radhasoami Paths,

usually based in Agra, India, instead of using the Five Names, perform

Simran with the Word 'Radhasoami' (Radha-Swami). This a very public

Word and everyone is instructed to repeat Radhasoami, Radhasoami, Radhasoami,

Radhasoami.......... Radhasoami means: 'The Lord' (Swami, masculine)

'of the Soul' (Radha, feminine). It's equivalent to another sacred Name:

'Anami' (the Nameless One), used instead of Radhasoami by other forms

of Sant Mat (outside the Radhasoami world) to refer to the Formless/Nameless

Most High, the Lord of the Eighth Khand or Plane.

 

In the writings of Kabir, Tukarama and other earlier Sants, are found

sacred names like 'Ram,' and 'Hari,' many others also. Ram (or Rama),

often used by Kabir, is apparently a very sacred Name of God chanted

in some earlier forms of Sant Mat. God goes by many many Names and yet,

as Guru Nanak says, " Ik Ongkaar Saat Naam, " " There is One God, Truth

is His Name. "

 

I have read Sants say to verbally repeat God's Name. Simran can be done

verbally, but in Sant Mat there's mostly an emphasis on doing Simran

mentally, with the 'tongue of thought.' I believe the reasoning for this

is that mental chant or repetition is further inside, within oneself.

By mentally repeating God's Name, one's awareness starts to 'rise above

body-consciousness' and collect at the Third Eye Center, the Seat of

the Soul.

 

Below is a quote as well as links to a couple of articles on Simran from

the Sant Kirpal Singh website.

 

Naam Bhakti, Peace,

 

James

 

Simran

The repetition of the holy names is given to the disciple at the time

of Initiation as a guard against all dangers. It acts also as a password

to all spiritual planes, gives strength and sustenance to the body and

mind during trouble and afflictions, brings the soul nearer to the Master,

is instrumental in achieving concentration, and imparts many other diverse

powers. Simran taught by a so-called Master is merely a number of words.

But these very words become electrified when charged with the attention

and grace of a real Master.

 

Initiation commences with the explanation and description of the inner

spiritual regions and the way in which the path is to be pursued. The

opening of the inner vision to see the inner regions, with their distinct

heavenly lights, together with the contact with the Divine Link or Sound

Principle, constitutes the practical side of Initiation. Daily practice

of these combined with Simran, is meditation. In addition to this, the

Master gives instructions on pure and simple living, the need of devoting

regular time to the practices, and other words of sound advice. The whole

ceremony takes from two to three hours. Diaries of one's spiritual progress

must be kept and the mistakes of old and new disciples are corrected

from time to time to ensure progress.

 

Also on Simran: http://web3.humboldt1.com/~jiva/simran.htm

and, http://web3.humboldt1.com/~jiva/5names.htm

_________

>kpsingh (Kirpal Singh)

>flamingisnotahimsa (radhasoami)

>Re: On the Invocation of the Name

>Sat, 23 Dec 2000 22:59:19 -0600 (CST)

>

>Among Sikhs,meditation is done by invoking & repeating the

>mantra " Waheguru,Waheguru...... " & Moolmantra " Ik

>Oankar,Satnam,Kartapurakh,Nirbhao,Nirvair,Akalmoorat,Ajooni,Saibhang,Gurparsad " \

What

>is the process in Radhasoamis?

>

>Kirpal Singh

>

 

 

 

 

 

_________________

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