"To See the World through the Guru's Eyes"
Mool Mantra and the Transmission of the Guru's Meditative Awareness
Read Part I here
Read Part II here
Read Part III here
Read Part IV here
Read Part V here
Read Part VI here
Read Part VII here
While today's predominant Sikh culture merely patronizes the spiritual experiences and potentialities of children and youth, the case study described here sets out to assess an eight-year-old Sikh child's capacity to understand the core concepts underlying the Mool Mantra. In this case study we have used an interpretation of Siri Singh Sahib Harbhajan Singh Khalsa Yogi which depicts Mool Mantra as a template for self-realized being.
You are the One. Ek: One. Ong Kaar: You are the creation of the One.
Sat Naam: Your identity is truth.
Kartaa Purkh: You are the doer of everything.
These are the faculties of God. Nirbhao, Nirvair-You are fearless and you are revengeless.
Why? You are Akaal Moorat. That is because you are a personified God: Akaal Moorat. And when you reach that faculty of realization, then comes the other sentence: Ajoonee, Saibhang, Gur Prasaad. You are self-born because you are the product of the karma. Ajoonee: You didn't come. You didn't go. You are here. Here and now. You always talk about 'here and now.' Ajoonee means which does not come, which does not go. That is you. This identity is here. Soul came. Soul will go. Subtle body came. Subtle body will go. You won't. Your identity is here now!
Saibhang: by your own grace, by your own karma, by your own individuality, by your own essence, by your own consciousness, by your own corruption, by your own honesty, you are, you are! Nobody will tell you who you are. Nobody can tell you who you are. People can only help you. Therefore, just remember in the end it said if you do not know all that, then you know by one virtue and that virtue is Gur Prasaad. Identify with the identity of the acknowledged learned. You will become learned.
Each phrase of Mool Mantra is given in the light of human experience with a reverse meaning, designed to help clarify the original meaning by contrast. These phrases, and their opposites, were illustrated by Japp Kaur over the course of a series of visits in early 2017, after a few classes of meditation instruction with the author. The artist required very little guidance in the execution of her work. Once the purport, simple meaning, and reverse meaning were explained to Japp, she set to work with alacrity and intuitive ease.
'IK ONG KAAR' (figure 1)
One Creator Creation
Basic translation: There is Oneness between Creator and Creation.
Purport: All the world is at play. May creativity, respect, and goodwill prevail.
Simple meaning: 'I play well.'
Contrast: Creator and Creation are estranged. Contrasting meaning: 'I am bored.'
'SAT NAAM' (figure 2)
Intrinsic Identity
Translated as an affirmation: Be true to your Self.
Purport: May we be guided by our intrinsic values and meditation.
Simple meaning: 'I am my Self. God and me are One.'
Contrast: I have no sense of myself or my value.
Contrasting meaning: 'I want attention.'
'KARTA PURKH' (figure 3)
Doing Being
Basic translation: Being is known through its actions.
Purport: May we seek out, and never shirk from, worthy actions.
Simple meaning: 'I am not discouraged.'
Contrast: Being is discouraged and does not act.
Contrasting meaning: 'There is no point in trying.'
'NIRBHAO NIRVAIR' (figure 4)
Fearless Revengeless
Basic translation: Intrinsic being, realized through meditation, is fearless and revengeless.
Purport: Through meditation, may we live fearlessly and resist the impulse toward vengeance.
Simple meaning: 'I am fearless and revengeless.'
Contrast: My mind is consumed by fear and vengeance.
Contrasting meaning: 'I am afraid and angry.'
'AKAAL MOORAT' (figure 5)
Timeless Rendering
Basic translation: The human form is a perfect embodiment of timeless spirit.
Purport: That body is good which does good things.
Simple meaning: 'My body is a beautiful temple and God lives inside.'
Contrast: Being is dissociated from embodiment.
Contrasting meaning: 'I don't like my body.'
'AJOONEE' (figure 6)
Wombless
Basic translation: Being is independent of any specific incarnation.
Purport: May we fulfill the purpose of this life this one time.
Simple meaning: 'The world is a school and we have been here many times.'
Contrast: Being is attached to this body and this lifetime only.
Contrasting meaning: 'Life is pointless.'
'SAIBHANG' (figure 7)
Self-existent
Basic translation: Existing in and of, and ultimately for, oneself.
Purport: May we experience the blessing of being happy with ourselves.
Simple meaning: 'I am, I am.'
Contrast: Existing primarily for the gratification of others.
Simple meaning: 'Who am I?'
'GUR PRASAAD' (figure 8)
Guru's Grace
Basic translation: Intrinsic being is realized by the Guru's grace.
It is inherently graceful.
Purport: The more realized we are, the sweeter we become.
Simple meaning: 'I am good. I am kind to myself and others.'
Contrast: Life without wisdom and without grace.
Simple expression: 'Get lost!'
In this case study we are able to see a simple case of transmission of spiritual awareness from a Sikh adult practiced in meditation to a young Sikh child with a beginning practice of meditation. We can observe that the young artist seems to have understood the core values of the Mool Mantra set in a human context and to have presented them with creativity and artistry appropriate to her age. Further studies may deepen our understanding of this original case study.
