Real meaning of NAAM or SHABD

NAAM or SHADB are words that people use without really understanding. What is NAAM? What is SHADB?

Prepare to have your concepts turned upside down!

First of all - there are TWO types of NAAM: Varanatmik and Dhunatmik. Right?

(1) Varnatmik means it is SPOKEN, WRITTEN, and is in language. It hints at the real Naam which is the Dhunatmik one.

(2) Dhunatmik Naam means that it is not a word. It is not in language. It is the TRUE NAAM.

When you are initiated you aer given Varnatmik Naam, and your purpose is to get to the Dhunatmik one.

When you get Dhunatmik Naam - you become Enlightened.

So what does all this really mean?

Here's a new interpretation that might begin to unravel the mystery for you.

The REAL meaning is Varanatmik Naam is the SPOKEN WORD of the GURU. Whatever the Guru SAYS, it is all Varnatmik Naam. When I say Guru - I mean an Enlightened Master.

When the Guru talks about God, Enlightenment, he is using varnatmik Naam. He is hinting at the truth.

When you REALISE the truth for yourself - that is called Dhunatmik Naam

Naame means REALISATION of truth. When you HEAR the truth - that is Varnatmik - it is outer - it will not have any effect - it is just a concept.

When it becomes REAL for you - you REALISE it - now it has an effect. This is Dhunatmic Naam.

That is why it says - that the Dhunatmik Naam liberates you - it is the REAL Naam - meaning that you become REALISED.

The Varnatmik Naam is the MEANS - you do SIMRAN of it. What does SIMRAN mean? It means to go into DEEPLY - to CONTEMPLATE - to think deeply about.

DHYAN is meant to be not OF THE MASTER but of what he is REALLY SAYING. If the Master is Enlightened - then his words will show you the way to truth. DHYAN means to think about deeply. It is similar to SIMRAN - but it means to focus on something to the exclusuon of all else.

So when you listen carefully to the words of an Enlightened Master and if you are OPEN and receptive - and you allow his words in - something will begin to SHIFT for you. This is why the GURU is of paramount importance. His words will affect you. That is why they say spirituality is caught not taught. There are no teachings as such - because there is no method - nothing to learn.

Something happens to you in the presence of the Master - you become infected by his presence. The truth he speaks about cannot be expressed in words - you will find many apparent contraditions because what he speaks about is beyond the mind - and you are trying too grasp it with the mind. So your efforts are doomed to fail. However, in the process of failing to grasp - if you are receptive - you will have an EURIKA moment when it will suddenly make sense. It will be as if you have just come out of a dream or out of a lifelong trance. Suddenly it will become clear that you had trapped yourself by your own concepts - by the mind.

When you REALIZE the truth - it means that the Dhunatmik Naam is manifest within you - the shabd is menifest within you and you no longer need do to simran

Like Kabir Says: Mera Pritam Mujh ko Bhaji, Mein Karun Bisraam.
My Lord now recites my name and I just enjoy my life.