Brother MysticMonist,
on one of your questions about the soul and the Lord, following is a beautiful verse from our First Guru, Guru Nanak Dev Maharaj(His Majesty), where He clearly describes out what happens when the soul gets cleansed of all its impurities due to its association with the mind, ultimately it also gets released from the mind´s clutches, then only does the merging in Him takes place, with the aid and guidance of Naam or Word at all times:
ਸੁਭਰ ਸਰਵਰਿ ਮੈਲੁ ਨ ਧੋਵੈ ॥
Subhar Saravar Mail N Dhhovai ||
Bathing in the over-flowing tank of nectar, filth is washed away.
Raag Asa Guru Nanak Dev
*Here the over flowing tank of Amrit or tank, means that the Naam, the Shabad, the Word, is resounding at all times within us, he whosoever is blessed enough to listen to it within, means, it is like bating in that tank of Eternal Life giver, gets cleansed of all its sins/impurites.
Then in this next verse, Guru Jee tells us what happens, when one is blessed by Him and acts accordingly.
ਜੈ ਸਿਉ ਰਾਤਾ ਤੈਸੋ ਹੋਵੈ ॥
Jai Sio Raathaa Thaiso Hovai ||
We become like the One with whom we are imbued.
* Guru Jee says, by associating ourselves with that One Primal Reality, through meditating devotion, one becomes one, with that One, o whom one meditates upon, and gets hold of the Divine melody of Shabad within, not otherwise.
You see, in Gurbani, we only find facilities, and direct instructions, to become one with Him, this is the goal of sikhee, if only followed faithfully, thus its unique indescribable beauty and universal truth, to be most benefited from.
Stay blessed.
Sat Sree Akal.