Obtaining God’s Grace
The proverb cleanliness is next to Godliness is accepted universally amongst all religions.
To be close to God, you need to be clean, both, physically and mentally as well.
The Sikh Scriptures say that you can clean your personal self by bathing.
Your clothes can be cleansed by washing them.
However, the mind can only be cleansed by prayer. Cleanliness of thought is very essential if you wish to travel on the Spiritual path.
To cleanse our minds, and travel on the road to higher consciousness, thereby obtaining God’s grace, His Holiness Sant Mohinder Partap Singh Ji of Guru Nanak Ashram, Patiala, India gave this advice -
In the morning, when we open our eyes, before getting out of bed, repeat 5 times, only one of the following Mantras -
All praise to the Lord. ( Christians)
Hallelujah. (Jews )
Jai Shri Krishna. (Hindus)
Allah o Akbar. (Muslims)
Jai Shri Mahaveer. (Jains)
Ahura Mazdā ( Zoroastrians)
Dhan Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. (Sikhs)
All praise to the Almighty. (For those who believe in the existence of The Unseen Force, but do not follow a religion.)
(The most elementary definition of Spiritualism — doing the same thing, at the same time, every day, meaning, discipline)
Please note that the exhortation is to repeat this mantra before getting out of bed.
The Almighty is a loving God without any parallel. You do not have to get up at any unearthly hour. You get up at your usual time, with one small difference. You now recite the mantra before getting out of bed. It cannot get any easier than this. And the mantra you recite is the mantra of the religion you belong to or you practice.
The above mantras become your Guru or guide as you find your way on the spiritual path. Hence, you do not need to look for a human guru.
Also, these mantras are the most basic. These mantras could also be described as being preschool syllabus. After some time, intuitively, you will know what your next mantra is. This could be from a few months to probably a few years.
The way to reach God is by reciting only one of the above mantras. Initially, you start by reciting the above mantra only five times, before getting out of bed.
The path that one has to traverse towards Spirituality is a long and arduous path. One must prove beyond any doubt, sincerity of intent in seeking the Truth.
Please bear in mind that religion is very important. By repeating the mantra, we are not eschewing religion. Far from it. It is important to go to church, synagogue, temple, mosque or any other place of worship. The congregation is very important. Religion teaches us the importance of discipline. Without religious discipline, it is not possible to become spiritual.
A question may be raised as to how the Mantra or Word or Gurshabad can help us to attain our goal?
Saint Scholar Giani Naranjan Singh Ji, Shiromani Kathakar, explains -
“The Word is linked to the mind, and the mind, through meditation practice of the Word (Gurshabad or Mantra), can establish its contact with God.
Conversely, the mind is connected with the Word and the Word is connected with God.
{ Note — the Bible says, “ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1: 1}
The Word, being the manifestation of the Jyot ( Spiritual Light), gradually removes the dust or dross of our sins which have accumulated in our minds over all our previous births. In other words, meditation of the Word transforms the mind to its pure God-like form; such that the mind ultimately realizes its fundamental spiritual origin.”
From the Sikh scriptures -
Sri Guru Amar Das Sahib Ji says:
“O my mind, you are the embodiment of the Divine Light, recognize your own origin.
(Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji 441 )
