WAY OF THE SAFFRON CLOUD MYSTERY OF THE NAM-JAP TRANSCENDENTAL MEDITATION THE SIKH WAY A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO CONCENTRATION Dr. KULWANT SINGH PUBLISHED AS A SPECIAL EDITION OF GURBANI ISS JAGG MEH CHANAN, TO HONOR 300TH BIRTHDAY OF THE KHALSA, IN 1999. WAY OF THE SAFFRON CLOUD Electronic Version, for Gurbani-CD, authored by Dr. Kulbir Singh Thind, 3724 Hascienda Street, San Mateo, California 94403, USA. The number of this Gurbani- CD, dedicated to the sevice of the Panth, is expected to reach 25,000 by the 300th birthday of the Khalsa, on Baisakhi day of 1999. saffron.doc, MS Window 95, MS Word 97. 18th July 1998, Saturday, First Birthday of Sartaj Singh Khokhar. Way of the Saffron Cloud. This book reveals in detail the mystery of the Name of God. It is a spiritual treatise for the uplift of the humanity and is the practical help-book (Guide) to achieve concentration on the Naam-Jaap (Recitation of His Name) with particular stress on the Sikh-Way of doing it. It will be easy to understand if labeled "Transcendental Meditation the Sikh -Way," though meditation is an entirely different procedure. Main purpose of this book is to train the aspirant from any faith, to acquire the ability to apply his -her own mind independently, to devise the personalized techniques to focus it on the Lord. Information about the Book - Rights of this Book. All rights are reserved by the author Dr. Kulwant Singh Khokhar, 12502 Nightingale Drive, Chester, Virginia 23836, USA. Phone – mostly (804)530-0160, and sometimes (804)530-5117. Published in 1998, as a special issue of Gurbani Iss Jagg Meh Chanan, to honor the Tercentenary -Birthday of the Khalsa, on 13th April 1999, by Gurbani Iss Jagg Meh Chanan Parchar At-e Parsar Sanstha, 254 Phase II, Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar (Mohali, Chandigarh), District Ropar, Punjab, India, Phone 172-671455, with the cooperation of Academy of Guru Granth Studies, 6415 Amicable Drive, Arlington, Texas 76016-2009, USA. Printed by – Writing of this book. It was started on Sunday, 13th July 1993, and completed on Friday, 30th May 1997, at the residence of Dr. Baljit Singh Sidhu-Dr. Jatinder Kaur Sidhu, at the junction of the James and Appomattox rivers, 13801 Allied Road, Chester, Virginia 23836, USA. The finalized file was accidentally deleted on 24th September 97. Luckily its copy was found with Dr. Jangsher Singh. Its re- editing ended on 24th Nov 97, updating on Sunday 18th January 98, and the work was finalized on 19th April, 1998. Its version with change in font size to 10 points, was created on 22nd April 1998 and it was further modified from 23rd April 98, to its completion on Saturday 18th July 1998, First Birthday of Sartaj Singh Khokhar. Repetitions. Repetitions are there and these are meant to provide clarification at the spot. These save time and fix things in the mind. 2 Conventions - Foreign Words, not belonging to the English language have been given with a capital letter and not as a lower box letter in Italics which is a standard convention. Spellings, of the Non-English words may vary without changing their meanings, expression or sense. Translation of the Hymns. It is by the author and is given in bold Italics When typing, if the translation of a single line of the original verse has extended, its second line has been started with a lower box character. If it is a couplet, both the lines of the translation commence with the upper box characters. He or she. He or she, has mostly been given as he-she. In future writings, this may become hshe. Gender. The book is gender-neutral, but for both He and She, a single word He might have been used. Ji. In the Indian culture, Ji is used to show respect and this word has occasionally been retained. Sardar is like Sir or Mr. It is often used to indicate a Sikh male. Its abbreviation is letter S. Sardarni is like Madam or Mrs. It may mean a Sikh woman. I prefix Sr. to the name as an abbreviate of the word “Sardarni.” CONTENTS. Some topics have expressly been included to reply everyday questions and to provide clarifications especially to the youth in the West. DEDICATION TO CELEBRATE THE BIRTH OF SARTAJ SINGH KHOKAR (FRIDAY, 12.33 AFTERNOON, 18th JULY, 1997), I DEDICATE THIS WORK TO ALL MY GRAND CHILDREN Amandeep S. Sidhu, Ramandeep S. Sidhu, Ajaydeep S. Sidhu, Peesha Barot, Prya Barot, Sandeep Barot, Puneet K. Khokhar, Sheeri K. Khokhar, Naveen. S. Khokhar, Jasmine K. Khokhar, Jyoti K. Khokhar. 3 BOOKS BY THE AUTHOR Published by Atam Parkash Sangat, Cinema Road, Batala - Hemkunt Darshan. 1981. Punjabi, Gurmukhi, Pages 28. A guide for the pilgrimage to Sri Hem-Kunt Sahib. Published by Ravi Parkashan, Hall Bazar, Amritsar - Wahu Wahu. 1991. Punjabi, Gurmukhi. Pages 252. A spiritual treatise on the Naam-Jaap (Technique of reciting the Name of God). Published by the Academy of Guru Granth Studies, USA - Parjat. 1993. Punjabi, Gurmukhi. Pages 103. Very selected quotations from Sri Guru Granth Sahib (The Holy Book of Sikhs). Sagar-Nad. 1993. Punjabi, Gurmukhi. Pages 148. Selected quotations from the commonly recited Gurbani (Scriptures of the Sikhs) including Nitnem (Their routine Prayers) with meanings of the difficult words. Jiwan Marag. 1995. Punjabi, Gurmukhi. Pages 128. Saintly life of S. Mela Singh Khokhar. Mansrovar. 1995. Punjabi, Gurmukhi. Pages 385. About 8,000 quotations from Sri Guru Granth Sahib, grouped under appropriate headings. Anhad Ki Dhun. 1995. Punjabi, Gurmukhi. Pages 80. A practical book for practicing the Naam-Jaap (Recitation of the Lord’s Name). Published by the Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab, India - Sobha Singh Artist. 1995, English, Pages 91. Biography of the eminent artist S.Sobha Singh. Published by Gurbani Iss Jagg Meh Chanan Parchar A-te Parsar Sanstha, Mohali – Anhad Ki Dhun. Second Edition, 1997, Pages 88, updated. Way of the Saffron Cloud. English, 1998, Pages 176. Practical book on the recitation of the Name of the Lord. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I thank Dr. P.S. Khokhar. C- 1/9 Rajauri Garden, N.Delhi, for his blessings. I appreciate my children - Dr. Jatinder Kaur Sidhu - Dr. Baljit Singh Sidhu. 4 Dr. Arvinder Kaur Barot - Dr. Ghanshyam C. Barot. Dr Manmohan Singh Khokhar – Mrs. Baljinder Kaur Khokhar. Mr. Gurinder Singh Khokhar – Mrs. Satinder Kaur Khokhar. They support my writing-work and liberally participate in the printing as well as, publication of my books. Mrs. Bhagwant Kaur Khokhar. I hold my wife in my high esteem. She is my memory-bank. I am thankful to Mrs. Gursharan Kaur-S. Harcharan Singh Saggu, Mrs. Gajinder Kaur, Mrs. Mohinder Kaur, Mr. Ajit Singh-Mrs. Kuldeep Kaur, S. Sunder Singh-Mrs. Harnam Kaur, S. Bhagat Singh-Mrs. Harbans Kaur, Mrs. Amar Kaur, for their moral support to my writing work. My thanks are due to Mr. B.P.S.Sokhi-Mrs. Jaswinder K. Sokhi, Jugsalai, Jamshedpur, for their affection and appreciation. I cherish the memory of S. Amar Singh, Dr. S.B.Singh, Dr. Piara S. Khokhar, Mrs. Karam Kaur, Mrs. Prem Kaur, S. Partap Singh, S.S. Sohan Singh Sokhi, S. Jagat Singh, S. Sampuran Singh-Mrs. Charanjit Kaur, who gave me so much to enrich my life. I am grateful to the Sikh Heritage Society: Dr. Harmohinder Singh, Dr. Shahbeg Singh Sandhu, Dr. & Mrs. Ranveer Singh Achreja, Dr. Gurmukh Singh Wallah - all from North Carolina, USA, and Mr. & Mrs. Kirpal Singh Bhogal of Arlington, Texas, USA, for their liberal contributions to the Academy of Guru Granth Studies, for the printing of my works. I am obliged to my relatives, friends, associates and well wishers for their encouragement and cooperation to write this book – S. Attar Singh Bhagwant, S. Sardara Singh: Editor and Dr. Paramjit Singh: Sub-Editor, Gurbani Iss Jagg Meh Chanan, Mohali. They checked and edited the manuscript. We share our thoughts through this magazine and letters. They are dedicated to the promotion of Gurbani. As of this day (July 1998), this magazine in Gurmukhi–Punjabi, Hindi and English, has a circulation of about 30 thousands copies per month. It is distributed free of any cost. Dr.Gurbux Singh, Ex. Dean, Agriculture University, Ludhiana, No. 1 Winning Colors Road, Stafford, Virginia 22554, USA, for his guidance. Dr. Bhai Harbans Lal. My thanks are due to Dr. Bhai Harbans Lal, Arlington, Texas, USA, for his keen interest for me to write this book. Mr. Harpreet Singh, New York. He went through the manuscript. I followed his suggestions, added more quotations from Gurbani (Hymns) and tried to make this work friendly to the youth in the overseas` countries. Mr. I.P.S.Sandhu, Ph.D., VA Tech, 9216 Whitemont Dr, Richmond VA 23294, USA. He did checking of the finalized work and modifications were made according to his valuable suggestions. 5 Dr. and Mrs. Jangsher Singh Brar, Dallas, Texas. He is my medical - school time friend (1947). Dr. Brar checked the material in the book to ascertain if it has been discussed thoroughly and is put up in an easily understandable way. Mr. Jaswant Singh, Festival Circle, Lapalma, California, for his important contribution to the Gurbani-CD of Dr.Thind. Dr. Kulbir S.Thind, San Mateo, California, for his help in the computer maneuvering. He is the author of Gurbani-CD. Mr. M.J.Singh, Savoy Road, Richmond, VA 23235, checked the lay out of the book. Mr. Manvinderpal Singh, Greater Kailash, New Delhi, scanned through the manuscript and gave his suggestions. Mr. Shamsher Singh Puri, Lilburn, Georgia. He revised and commented on the manuscript of this book. MYSTIC CONTRIBUTORS This book is overflowing with the hidden contributions of the following saints, spiritually elevated and other noble persons, beside those of my revered parents and respected brothers - Sardar Sobha Singh Artist, Andretta, District Kangra, Himachal.