Naam far transcends these two; for both of them are within its controlling Power, from age to age. Though both Brahm and Ram are beyond comprehension, yet they can be known and realized through Naam. I therefore say that Naam is greater than both Ram and Brahm.
I cannot possibly sing the greatness of Naam. Even the blessed Lord Rama himself can hardly do any justice to the glory of Naam.
The last dictum of Sant Tulsi Das is significant indeed. Rama is said to be the incarnation of Brahm, and the latter with the entire hierarchy upward is the by-product or creation of Naam. In Jap Ji Sahib, Guru Nanak also refers to it pertinently:
There is one Spirit that has created the Universe; and given over its control to the three guardian angels: Brahma, Vishnu and Siva: one of whom is enÂtrusted with the task of creation, the other with that of sustenance or maintenance and the third with that of administering justice according to the Divine Law. That Spirit always keeps a watchful eye on the works of all the three, but the latter have no knowledge of It.
The majority of the multitudinous world has forgotten the Reality – the Ever-enduring Spirit of Naam – and are mightily busy in parrot-like repetition of the so many names of that Spirit, with the result that they keep enÂgrossed all the time in gathering husk and chaff instead of the grain. Hence all their hard labour goes unfruitful and they live in a famished state without getting any satisfacÂtion:
Those who ignore Naam or the Power of God
and are busy with various other names
are just like muckÂworms wallowing in filth.
The scriptural studies, the religious debates are all Mayaic or illusory and shadowy nothings,
O Nanak! except Naam, nothing is stable, and all acts not centred on Naam are fruitless.
Verily, verily, O Nanak! the true study is the study of Naam.
Bookish knowledge is all worldly wisdom.
GURU AMAR DAS
Hari Naam is the essence of
GURU TEG BAHADUR
Everyone wants happiness
but gets what God may ordain.
All acts of devotion and charity count for nothing
when compared with Naam.
GURU NANAK
Naam far excels Japa, Tapa, deeds of charity and the like.
A contact with Naam gets all desires fulfilled.
One cannot by the study of the scriptures cross the ocean of life,
Naam far transcends all acts of piety and
GURU ARJAN
Naam is a Power and Motor Force behind everything and hence outer actions like pilgrimages to holy places, acts of charity, fasts, penances, yajnas or sacrificial oblations to fire and the like are of no avail to a seeker after Truth. Naam alone is the link between God and man. It is with the help of Naam that one can traverse to higher regions. It serves as an electric lift that can safely carry a spirit yearning for God-realization. Except Naam, there is no other Path Godward.
The body may be consigned to the flames or cut to pieces. The mind and the body may be made an offering and allowed to be consumed from day to day. All such penances and austerities are of no conÂsequence when compared with Hari Naam.
The body may be cut in twain and the head be cut off for an offering or else it may be allowed to rot in the Himalayan snows, yet none of these acts can cure the mind. Alas, these have no efficacy, for we have tried them all with no avail.
One may give millions in charity including horses and elephants, lands and kine, yet these will make him a bloated coxcomb. It is only Ram Naam (the all-pervading Sound Current) that can still the mind, and It comes as a pure gift from a Master-soul. All intellectual wranglings, Hath-yogic practices, scripÂtural studies, are but the varied types of karmic bondÂages. The only way to freedom and salvation is a Master-saint.
Truth is greater than everything but higher still is true living.
GURU NANAK
In Sukhmani, we have a wonderful account of Naam:
The rosary, the penances, knowledge and thinking,
the study of shastras, smritis and scriptures,
the yogic practices and the performances of rites and rituals,
a life of solitude in the deep recesses of the forests,
all endeavours of various types, including deeds of
charity for name and fame, cutting of limbs in self-conceit,
all these and more still, do not come up to the merit of Naam, O Nanak!
A beloved of the Master is ever engaged in communion with the Word.
Circumambulation of the globe and a life of longevity,
Observance of austerities coupled with renunciation,
Life spent in the midst of five fires, or one devoted to
charitable deeds like giving away of worldly posÂsessions,
The observance of Niyoli Karm* and many other
yogic postures as enjoined by Jain scriptures,
And even a holocaust of one’s body inch by inch,
All these and still more fail to purify the dirt of egoism;
Nothing comes up to the merit of Naam, O Nanak!
A beloved of the Master saves himself through communion with the Naam.
Even the desire to die at a sacred place does not rid one of his egoism,
All efforts to purify the body cannot sanctify the mind,
All physical practices cannot drive away the mental impurities,
All the methodical washings of the body cannot wash clean the clay-house,
The Power of Naam far transcends all these, O Nanak!
it has saving grace even for the worst of sinners.
GURU ARJAN
The Vedas, the Smritis and all other sacred scriptures unanimously proclaim
that besides Naam there is no other Sadhan for spiritual advancement;
all else is mere idle talk.
GURU AR JAN
Nanak has the riches of Naam to dole out.
GURU AR JAN
Nanak and Kabir both taught the science of the Naam,
And I too have manifested Naam within me,
Dhru and Prahlad were intoxicated with the elixir of Naam,
And Lord Siva too is ever engaged in meditating on Naam.
DULAN DAS
The world reveres those who have sought the path of the Naam for Naam can transform sinners into saints, for it ennobles and purifies:
By practising the science of inversion, one becomes world famous,
Even Valmik, a well known highwayman, acquired the status of a Brahm.
TULSI DAS
The lovers of God are ever engaged in the practice of the Word:
Whether awake or asleep and in whatever condition, O Nanak!
while doing everything they remain conÂtacted within.
GURU ARJAN
In the scriptures of all the religions, there are references to the Power of the Word:
All the religions are deeply rooted in the Naam,
There is no religion higher than that of the Naam.
The practice of the Naam is the noblest of all virÂtues.
GURU ARJAN
*One of the Shat Karma or six acts in Hatha Yoga, in which the breath is held inside and the bowels are made to move both sides, right and left, so as to clear away waste matter from them.