Way of the Saffron Cloud
(Mystery of the Nam-Jap)
By Dr. Kulwant Singh
Reviewed by Kulwant Singh
Pages 159 Price not mentioned
Publisher: Gurbani Iss Jagg Meh Chanan Parchar Ate Parsar Sanstha, 254 Phase II, S.A.S. Nagar, Mohali,
Chandigarh, Distt. Ropar, Punjab. India in co-operation with Academy of Guru Granth Studies,
6415, Amicable Drive, Texas 76016, U.S.A
The book is published as a special edition of Gurbani Iss Jagg Meh Chanan(Monthly), to honor 300th Birthday of the Khalsa in 1999. The book is divided in three sections. The first section of the book covers fifteen pages giving a brief description about the author, the need, and the name of the book.While giving the reason for choosing the name of the book as "Saffron Cloud" the author says-"Saffron is the color of spirituality and an effortless way is that of a cloud."Just as the cloud floats in the sky without any visible effort, therefore, perhaps the author means that the study of this book will ensure and guide the aspirant of spirituality to follow easy and comfortable steps in practicing and achieving the goal of "Naam Jaap".
The second section which covers the major part of the book scans the various aspects of issues concerning Naam Jaap. Right from its fundamentals to the advanced stages of "Turiya Padd" where one enjoys the cosmos vision of the fourth dimension. The first chapter of this section discusses common questions like; Is God there or not? Why to remember Him? Do we gain anything? etc, etc.After dicussing on lot of questions like this, the author tries to converge the thought of the reader on the "Third Eye". According to him , through this third eye we see the things by our evolved minds and not with eyes only. It is God-realization and attainment of Braham-Gian. The author says, there is a "Pineal Body",an anatomical structure, in the brain stem in line the Mid-Brow Point, presumed to have psychic function, and it is termed as "Third Eye" which is the "Light of Knowledge".
After this discussion, the author, in the next chapter, opens the subject of controlling the mind and remembering God. For this he says we use a formula called Mantar. Here he discusses all about Gur-Mantar, Mool-Mantar, Beej-Mantar, etc, etc, with lot of quotations from Gurbani. He ends this chapter with a note, which is partly like this-"The Jaap (Repetition of the Mantar) is important to eradicate perturbed thoughts ----. We tie down the mind to the Naam and repeat it till it stops running after the thoughts and starts staying at its center(Fixed to the Lord).
Next seven chapter of this section are enumerated as (3) Fundamentals of the Naam-Jaap, (4) Additional Information for the Jaap, (5) Naam-Jaap procedure, (6) Practice of Jaap, (7) Advanced Jaap, (8) Important topics and (9) Attainments by doing Naam Jaap. These chapters are full of informations and valuable guidance for learning, practicing and attainig a perfection in Naam Jaap. Giving special attention to the (8) Important topics and (9) Attainments by doing Naam Jaap, the author has put light on various terminology used in Yogic books and technical terms associated with Naam Jaap used in Gurbani. According to the author Anhad(Naad) is said to be heard at early stages of Naam Jaap when one concentrates on inhalation and exhalation of the breath and hears subtle sound of breathing. In Anhad itself there is nothing great. The prime thing is Naam of Waheguru,; To get lost in Naam is Anhad----
Naam laaet. anhad. poorae naad. S.G.G.S------ 5-1144-8
Similar terminology like Ridhi, Sidhi, Char-Padarath, Traaekal-Drishti, Samm-Drishti,Turiya Avastha etc, etc, are dealt with to provide information to the readers because all these terms are relevant to the Naam Jaap.
Section three of the book is an appendix where the author has compiled alphabetically more than fifty words and terms which are of common interest to the person engaged in the practice of Naam Jaap. It will not be out of place to mention that these terms include certain Yogic terms like Yog, Raj-yog, Ashtang-yog, and Kundalini are explained so that this adds to the knowledge of the practitioner and help him in his progress of Naam Jaap. However, the author has said on page 67, that the Jaap of any formula not belonging to Gurbani(The Sikh Scripture) is absolutely forbidden in the Sikh World: anything not from Gurbani is not accepted.
Courtesy: Sikh Review