Samyoga - Union of the Soul with God
Saṁyoga - Union of the Soul with God
Instead of imparting an attitude of dissatisfaction with the existing order or promoting perpetual intellectual unrest or a general sceptical attitude towards religious and philosophic problems, which modern civilization and culture appear to do,
Sikhism regards faith, concentration, peace of mind and universal love as essential prerequisites for the realization of truth and the final emancipation of the soul.
Nothing, according to the Sikh view, can be achieved in a state of extreme doubt and dissatisfaction.
Love breaks down the barrier between the self and not-self, it widens or enlarges the ego, leads to an attitude of self-sacrifice, disinterestedness, and resignation, which minimize repression and leave practically no scope for conflicts which are believed to be the root causes of pain and suffering.
Every line of the Sikh Scriptures is set to music and at the head of every hymn or pada detailed instructions as to how it is to be sung are given. Sankirtana is a part of daily worship in every guru-dvāra.
A disciple who accepts the guru must daily resort to sat-sang (company of the true) in order that he may be strengthened in his resolve to stick to the path.
He must listen to kīrtana: “Kīrtana is a priceless jewel.” When music has softened the mind, it is in a better mood to drink in the nectar of the guru's word.
By serving others he destroys his ego and then the name, the last and the highest gift of the guru, takes its abode in his mind.
The word “name” (śabad) has been used in the Sikh Scriptures in two senses, an appellation and as a symbol to denote the All-Pervading Spirit that sustains the universe.
Constant meditation on the name destroys the ego altogether:
“The name and the ego are opposed to each other; they cannot abide in the same place.”
And when a disciple through loving devotion constantly keeps the name in his mind the last stage is reached. The ray is united with the sun, water has run into water. Light has blended with light, perfection has been achieved."
Through life of active service, which is only possible through sat-sang, a disciple takes to kīrtana and the name, and attains perfect “saṁyoga" (union). This is the supreme state, the bliss of which is indescribable:
And when a disciple has reached this stage and is absorbed in meditation on the name, and persuades others to do the same, he has attained the supreme purpose of his life. He goes beyond pleasure and pain:
“He looks with the same eye on pleasure and pain. He passes beyond the stage of virtue and vice."
Of him the guru says:
“I crave for the dust of the feet of a disciple of the guru, who himself repeats the name, and makes others do the same."
“He who undergoes the discipline is the true disciple. Nay, he is my master, and I am his disciple."