Knock knock? Who’s there?
Well, that is what I have come to discover!
If someone were to ask me as to what my true identity is, I may well mention my name, my profession and the values that define me. But, if I were to delve deep into ‘who I am’ and ‘where I have come from’, I may search online for a family tree or order a personalised DNA kit to discover my heritage. However, will that really reveal who I am?
If I remove all the worldly man-made barriers, the layers of caste, creed, gender, personal beliefs and societal hierarchical ranking, I will find – at the core of everything – not only who I am, but that I am no different to any other person.
As humans we have far more similarities than differences. A smile is recognised universally. A heart-felt good deed is appreciated worldwide, and we all feel the warmth of an embrace from a loved one. If we consider the question from a scientific perspective, my DNA is 99.9% the same as yours.
So what is my true identity? Who am I? It would appear that we all have a common thread, permeating throughout the universe. But, in order to understand my true identity, I must first work on knowing myself and my essential nature.
Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, a French philosopher, reminds us that
We are spiritual beings having a human experience.
The Sant Nirankari Mission stresses upon the dictum, Know One, Believe in One, Become One. In the same vein, Rumi in his Mathnawi1 evokes the following emotion:
Do you know what you are? You are a manuscript of a divine letter.
You are a mirror reflecting a noble face. This universe is not outside of you.
Look inside yourself; Everything that you want, you are already that.
It is incumbent upon me, therefore, to introspect deeply. I must connect with the all-pervading God, Nirankar, to fully understand my identity. While being accustomed to having our questions answered immediately through search engines, the answer to the question of my true identity must come from within.
We must find a contemporary Master, who is able to unveil the Divine. This revelation, the Gnostic Knowledge, then has to be imbibed in our lives for us to be one with the Divine. It is a process that requires commitment, dedication and concentration2.
Rather than relying on external validation to gain inner-peace, I must dwell upon the inner-grounding, security and stability. Mata Sudikshaji puts it as follows:
We should create a life that feels good on the inside,
rather than one which just looks good on the outside.
That is not to say that we should shy away from worldly responsibilities. The fourth principle clearly tells us that God is to be realised, and imbibed, whilst living a normal family life. Behind all the material success in the world there has to be a universal purpose that is common to all of us. The likes of Jeff Bezos and Sir Richard Branson, some of the richest people on earth, also talk about unlocking our potential.
During his recent excursion into Space, Bezos shared how serene and peaceful Earth looked from above. It was ‘one’ with no boundaries or nationalities. He shared how he became inspired with the ambition to help future generations to unlock their potential. Branson, during a similar voyage through the stratosphere communicated that it was the most incredible experience of his life, looking down at beautiful earth in silence. He went on to vow that he would devote the rest of his life to tackling climate change and various issues the world is facing today.
I feel so fortunate to have been guided, and given the knowledge, which is the source of my identity. Although a trip to Space would be lovely, I must appreciate the land and the seas on Earth, while trying to remain grounded. After all, I am a mere droplet in this vast ocean of the Divine; my soul is part of this Super-soul. The same energy which is in me is within you too; it encompasses the entire Universe.
There is nothing wrong with having sky-high ambitions as long as I act with integrity, maintain good morals, work towards the betterment of society, and do not allow materialistic aspirations to consume me. I am to remember Almighty Nirankar, always.
We often hear the quote, based on inspirations from HH Baba Hardev Singhji;
It is worthy to be whatever you wish to be,
but first of all become a human being3.
How do I do that? In fact, how do I connect to my humanity? This is where Seva, Simran and Satsang come in. Serving others selflessly helps to nurture my love for Nirankar and His creation. Simran provides a platform for me to self-reflect, meditate, focus and have gratitude towards Nirankar. Surrounding myself with the company of enlightened beings helps me to solidify my faith and develop spiritually.
Being in touch with my true identity, I try and become more self-aware of my behaviour, particularly when nobody else is around me. HH Mata Savinderji reminded us that just as CCTV cameras monitor us in public, Nirankar is also always watching us. Hence, we should always be aware and constantly alert in order to avoid making mistakes.
Ultimately, if I dig even deeper, I realise that there is one string which connects us all. It is this limitless energy – the Almighty Formless Nirankar, which is the crux, and at the core of everything. It is my connection with Him that helps me to appreciate, who I really am. I then begin to understand my true identity – our true identity – and work towards the blissful state of Oneness.
– Harkrishan Batra, London
