Repeat the Name Incessantly

How often do we think about what we think about? Thousands of thoughts cross our mind each day. Have these endless thoughts taken us any closer to the inner sky, to the peace and bliss that lies within each and every one of us?

Soami Ji, in his early discipleship, complained to his Master that his mind and soul were not stilled, nor had he succeeded in merging with Shabd. His Master urged him to be patient and to “repeat the name incessantly with your mind and hold the form of the Master in your heart” (Sar Bachan Poetry).

Repeating the names, simran, once or twice is already a challenge. Repeating simran incessantly goes against the very nature of the mind. Aristotle proclaimed there is nothing in the mind that is not first in the senses, meaning the mind does not move into action except when a choice needs to be made about how to satisfy a desire, which the mind experiences through the senses. The mind is easily addicted to the objects of the senses. Consequently, it can habitually entertain an endless parade of thoughts in the form of desires and schemes for their experience.

Our habit of thinking prevents us from experiencing our true potential. The mind has a limited view and, therefore, its image of itself is limited. It keeps us from experiencing the vast treasure that lies within, beyond thought. Our mind has become trapped in the illusions of time and space. If the mind could only see the true reality of its predicament, it would understand that an invisible and infinite consciousness exists that is distinct from the forms and pleasures of the perishable physical world.

The truth is, if we can rise above desire, we are liberated. All true spiritual teachers emphasize detaching the mind from the external world and from the pursuit of worldly objects by turning our attention within through full concentration.

This is why Soami Ji advises:

Repeat the Name incessantly with your mind
  and hold the form of the Master in your heart.
If you do this punctually, every day,
  the evil tendencies of your mind will be quelled.…
  you will get attuned to the melody of Shabd.
Carry on this practice daily, without a break; …
Your attachment to the world will disappear
  and you will begin to enjoy inner communion.
_{Sar Bachan Poetry}

If we can substitute thinking with repetition of simran, we are assured that we will make spiritual progress. “Spiritual progress” is a disappearing act. It is a disappearing of our thinking selves, of the part of us that thinks it is separate, the part that thinks happiness lies in the material world and desires things of the world. Our thinking selves need to be eliminated so the vision of the pure light from within can manifest and we can begin to “enjoy inner communion” with the Lord forever.

The most holy and powerful is your level of consciousness which you achieve by doing that simran.
_{Maharaj Charan Singh, Spiritual Perspectives, Vol. II}