Ragmaala

My knowledge is limited so please add. Also correct me where I am wrong.

I specifically want to talk about the techology involved.

The baata is made of Sarbloh, the khanda is made of sarbloh. Sarbloh is also an avtar. Sarbloh ki racheya hame... when the khanda strikes the baata electricity/energy is produced. The energy is contained . There is a conductor or insulator underneath the baata made of rock. Beneath the rock is wool.
The bani goes into the water through the eyes and hands of beloved ones. Then there is a granthi who is looking into the water at all times. Patase to add sweetness? not sure of the purpose.

this is a technology of greatest jantar mantar & tantar. Jantar is the 5 kakars that we wear. mantar is the gurbani. tantar is the technology of capturing energy in water.


So what I am getting at is that this process is happening at a way deeper level than we can understand with our intellect. Only Guru Ji knows what really happens at that time. When such a profound process is happening, I personally would like to keep it as traditional and as original to the real process. I would rather be on the safe side than to err.

Bhul Chuk Maafi


Mods pls feel free to del if it feels redundant.

The wall of haumai/ ego separates us from the Creator. Once that wall/layer is removed with grace of Guru then we can truly call ourselves One with God.

A quick watercolors that I painted.
 
But Bhagat Singh Ji, your skills are out of this world. It would be kool if you could transfer the experience of higher dimensions through colors and forms

Wow an artist I pencil sketch but not so much into painting. I studied graphic arts though before I got into the military. But... I just realized, I have been using your painting of Mai Bhago as my cell phone wallpaper for a long time now

Btw, this is what I consider nature photography... I also took this here locally in Halifax Canada... (I consider landscapes to be well... landscapes haha)

After seeing some discussions on the other threads about atma, soul and God within us and God in Gurus, maybe some further discussion is helpful.

Kabirji says the same thing about how we rant on and on about our Mind and soul, whilst at the same time using this mind's intellect in doing so!

ਜੀਉ ਏਕੁ ਅਰੁ ਸਗਲ ਸਰੀਰਾ ॥
Jī▫o ek ar sagal sarīrā.
There is One Soul, and it pervades all bodies.

ਇਸੁ ਮਨ ਕਉ ਰਵਿ ਰਹੇ ਕਬੀਰਾ ॥੯॥੧॥੩੬॥
Is man ka▫o rav rahe kabīrā. ||9||1||36||
Kabeer dwells upon this Mind. ||9||1||36||


Jio/atma/soul/ are the same thing.
These last pangtis (the jio ek ar sagal sareera) come after a number that are contemplating the MIND and questioning the mann.
they say........

ਸਨਕਾਦਿਕ ਨਾਰਦ ਮੁਨਿ ਸੇਖਾ ॥
Sankāḏik nāraḏ mun sekẖā.
Even sages like Sanak and Naarad, and the thousand-headed serpent,

ਤਿਨ ਭੀ ਤਨ ਮਹਿ ਮਨੁ ਨਹੀ ਪੇਖਾ ॥੩॥
Ŧin bẖī ṯan mėh man nahī pekẖā. ||3||
did not see the mind within the body. ||3||

ਇਸੁ ਮਨ ਕਉ ਕੋਈ ਖੋਜਹੁ ਭਾਈ ॥
Is man ka▫o ko▫ī kẖojahu bẖā▫ī.
Anyone can search for this mind, O Siblings of Destiny.

ਤਨ ਛੂਟੇ ਮਨੁ ਕਹਾ ਸਮਾਈ ॥੪॥
Ŧan cẖẖūte man kahā samā▫ī. ||4||
When it escapes from the body, where does the mind go? ||4||

ਗੁਰ ਪਰਸਾਦੀ ਜੈਦੇਉ ਨਾਮਾਂ ॥
Gur parsādī jaiḏe▫o nāmāʼn.
By Guru's Grace, Jai Dayv and Naam Dayv

ਭਗਤਿ ਕੈ ਪ੍ਰੇਮਿ ਇਨ ਹੀ ਹੈ ਜਾਨਾਂ ॥੫॥
Bẖagaṯ kai parem in hī hai jānāʼn. ||5||
came to know this, through loving devotional worship of the Lord. ||5||

ਇਸੁ ਮਨ ਕਉ ਨਹੀ ਆਵਨ ਜਾਨਾ ॥
Is man ka▫o nahī āvan jānā.
This mind does not come or go.

ਜਿਸ ਕਾ ਭਰਮੁ ਗਇਆ ਤਿਨਿ ਸਾਚੁ ਪਛਾਨਾ ॥੬॥
Jis kā bẖaram ga▫i▫ā ṯin sācẖ pacẖẖānā. ||6||
One whose doubt is dispelled, knows the Truth. ||6||

ਇਸੁ ਮਨ ਕਉ ਰੂਪੁ ਨ ਰੇਖਿਆ ਕਾਈ ॥
Is man ka▫o rūp na rekẖ▫i▫ā kā▫ī.
This mind has no form or outline.

ਹੁਕਮੇ ਹੋਇਆ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਬੂਝਿ ਸਮਾਈ ॥੭॥
Hukme ho▫i▫ā hukam būjẖ samā▫ī. ||7||
By God's Command it was created; understanding God's Command, it will be absorbed into Him again. ||7||

ਇਸ ਮਨ ਕਾ ਕੋਈ ਜਾਨੈ ਭੇਉ ॥
Is man kā ko▫ī jānai bẖe▫o.
Does anyone know the secret of this mind?

ਇਹ ਮਨਿ ਲੀਣ ਭਏ ਸੁਖਦੇਉ ॥੮॥
Ih man līṇ bẖa▫e sukẖ▫ḏe▫o. ||8||
This mind shall merge into the Lord, the Giver of peace and pleasure. ||8||
Kabirji is talking about the mind
He is saying "jio ek sagal sareera" because of what we do with our MIND....
You see we all say there is One God, Christians say it, jews say it, muslims say it....
The whole world around Kabirji is talking about the ONE God....just like they do today....but that's it...All talk , chatter,... discuss..but no real uddam or efforts to find Him.

All using their Mind's intellect to discuss the ONE parbrahm.......he is everywhere, in everything...but that's it !......how about experiencing ?

Remember that in gurbani it also mentions a few times....we are like different pots of clay with the same water inside.......just differently decorated on the outside but the inside has the same jal
....yet our mind's attach that same Water/Ji/ God/atma soul to the body and repeatedly discuss...discuss.... and wonder where is mind from, where does it go......etc...

In light of this, Kabirji is telling us 'WAKE UP'' because that same God-soul/water is right inside you.

No good just discussing....Do bhakti and GO WITHIN, find him right inside yourself.
We can carry on discussing until life end, but it is NO USE unless you make the effort to find that SAME God-soul that is INSIDE ALL of us.
God SOUL is very close and within us but by going around discussing and doing Mann vichaar of saying "Yes of course God is inside all of us" we are attaching and associating the Mind to the outer maya with discussions....which leads to EGO. ...We have to find ways of dissociating with this instead.
By associating we make a distinctive line showing MIND is separate from ATMA,,,and this makes the duality....the same Ego.

Simply put ,GOD + EGO= us individuals...manukhs,.. the pots with the water
If You go WITHIN and start doing bakti, then slowly you will start to merge bit by bit and in doing so, begin to shed that EGO, layer by layer..
then in simple math......... GOD - (minus) EGO = God, pure atma, sachkhand...where no ego or identity of mind remains. The mind is jyot saroop.
I said above that Kabirji's "Ji-o ek sagal sarira" is a WAKE-UP to us since, he is saying Kao-rav rahe..to dwell upon this Ji-o Ik in our body, rather than discussing the mind as in the prior pangtis.

ਜੀਉ ਏਕੁ ਅਰੁ ਸਗਲ ਸਰੀਰਾ ॥
Jī▫o ek ar sagal sarīrā.
There is One Soul, and it pervades all bodies.

ਇਸੁ ਮਨ ਕਉ ਰਵਿ ਰਹੇ ਕਬੀਰਾ ॥੯॥੧॥੩੬॥
Is man ka▫o rav rahe kabīrā. ||9||1||36||
Kabeer dwells upon this Mind. ||9||1||36||


With regards to this wake up, he finishes the shabad on this line and continues with raag gwaarayree with...

ਗਉੜੀ ਗੁਆਰੇਰੀ ॥
Gauree Gwaarayree:

ਅਹਿਨਿਸਿ ਏਕ ਨਾਮ ਜੋ ਜਾਗੇ ॥
Ahinis ek nām jo jāge.
Those who are awake to the One Name, day and night -

ਕੇਤਕ ਸਿਧ ਭਏ ਲਿਵ ਲਾਗੇ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
Keṯak siḏẖ bẖa▫e liv lāge. ||1|| rahā▫o.
many of them have become Siddhas - perfect spiritual beings - with their consciousness attuned to the Lord. ||1||Pause||

How are they awake ?? don't their bodies sleep ??..
Yes, the bodies sleep, but the water inside the pot is always jagat,
The Atma soul is untouchable and remains the active force of the universe, no matter what it is cased in.
They have merged their Mann Chit - mind consciousness with the EK Atma-soul inside them.
And How would they do that ?
answer - Bhakti, just like perfect siddhas.

No unless you are living in lala land they can't. Unless you died or were removed from your rank. They can't take your place.
What if they all worked just as hard as you, were just as skilled as you. You'd think they'd all be in your rank?

That's not how the world works. Hierarchy is the law. If everyone is a general, no one is a general. Differences in capability, ability, skill, responsibilities, obligations, interests, etc, make up a hierarchical world.

Das kept trying to tell you is just that, that the world operates on duality. There are always differences in people, in relationships and people often polarize further in relationships. Relationships are based on this polarity. Husband wife, elders children, general soldier, guru sikh etc. Each part in the relationship is polarized and each part has its own responsibilities and obligations.

You talk about wife considering husband as God. Everyone should consider everyone as God. That's what Namaskar means. This is the ideal that everyone should see divinity in everyone else and treat them fairly.

In Indian culture-
Children are to consider their parents as God.
Adults have to consider their elders as God.
Children have to look to their parents for nourishment. They have to listen to their parents, once they grow up in to adults they have to take care of their elderly parents.
It's the parents' responsibility to love and take care of their children, and prepare them for adulthood.

But why are children constantly reminded to view their parents as God?
Because usually children are focused on their own play on other children. This is why they must be reminded to pay attention towards their parents.
Similarly in Indian culture-
A wife is to consider her husband as God.
A wife has to look to her husband for nourishment. She has to listen to her husband and create a nice environment in the house for her children and husband. She has to prepare her daughters for adulthood and marriage.
Who is providing for the wife when she is undergoing pregnancies?
It's the husband's responsibility to love and take care of his children and wife and bring in resources for them and to protect them even if it means putting himself in the harms way. He has to train his son for adulthood and marriage. And has to send his daughters away to another home, once they are mature.

But why is the wife constantly reminded to view her husband as God?
Because usually wives are focused on their children and the elders. This is why they must be reminded to pay attention towards their husbands.

Similarly in Indian culture-
A husband is to pay attention to God.
Why is Guru Sahib always reminding the men to pay attention to God, using metaphors of a Pati varta woman?
Because usually husbands are focused on their wives, children and elders. Thus why they must be reminded to pay attention towards God.

Tu data datar tera ditta khawna
You are the giver; whatever You give us, we eat.

This concept of paying attention to the one who is nourishing you, is huge!

The fact that you equate God with something negative is your thinking alone. To see someone as God is the ideal in Indian culture. To see someone as God means to give them your attention. Especially when that someone is providing for you. Naturally if someone is sustaining you, you should give them lots of attention. It's the least you can do.

God nourishes us, that's why we pay Him with lots of attention. In child-parent relationship the parent provides for the child. In husband-wife relationship, the husband provides for the wife. Whoever is providing for you, you should give them attention.

If you don't, it's a lop-sided relationship. It's unfair for the person who is working hard to sustain you. Whoever they are.

Indian society is based on the concept of fairness and reciprocity, and it is the ideal. This where karma comes from. It all revolves around the concept of fairness and reciprocating when someone is providing for you.

Now there's always people who don't fit in. We have many examples of folks who didn't fit in, who just did their own thing. Who left societal norms and lived their own life.
Last time we spoke, I gave you the example of Mira Bai. She was deeply involved in Bhagti and wrote and sang lots of shabads. The life of the householder was not for her. She was devoted to God.

People who are not into society, they leave society and do their own thing.
E.g. Ascetics go off into the jungles, mountains and caves and do their own thing.

But men and women who are sitting in meditation in a cave somewhere cannot create a society. They must come together and take up certain responsibilities, to split up the labour amongst themselves.

Society cannot be built around men and women who do not create a family. So in order for society to go on, their members must have certain responsibilities and obligations. Otherwise it would die off.

This what Indian culture is based around, is creating a fair society, where it's members are treated fairly. Members like Paapiman who are posting here come from this Indian background. They are reciprocating within their society and describing ideal ways for others to reciprocate back.

Taking offense at their statements without understanding their frame of reference is a bad idea.

I understand that there are so so many of them , that no-one can really tell you the numbers.
However, I did find that there were a few things in that book that can mislead someone,...(well-they mislead me!). Especially the way it spoke about gurmat anhad shabad being different to yoga.....blah blah...and something about there being 2 dasam duars!

Yes, the same as above.. ALL cosmic universe is one in which all exists.


You get plenty in hospitals!........But yes, a lot of people see these entities near death.
I also understand that a lot of them move away and to some distance when they come near a soul that has stronger divine element compared to theirs... or when near higher avastha gurmukhs.

I have throughout my life had many out of body experiences... so yes I have experienced beyond the physical... from the age of 8. I have also encountered others... I know of several distinct 'realms' or levels... above the physical. Etheric, which is part of the physical and extends past it, but dies with it like a shell of sorts. If you travel to this realm you experience the physical world in real time, but obviously not with your physical body. Them astral level which is much more dream like and mystical in quality. I can only describe it as 'seeing sound and hearing colour' if that makes sense. Everything is frequency so you interpret it differently than in the physical. These experiences were what launched me on the path that ultimately ended up here.

Your post begs to differ.
Sikhi is about learning to develop Bhagti through the guidance of a Guru. Bhagti is a tool for self-transcendence.

Bhagti becomes an advantage for those who do bhagti. You have an advantage when you do Bhagti.

That's all it is.

Now you don't stop there. You start bringing in stuff that has nothing to do with self-transcendence, bhagti etc, stuff that is not Sikhi specific.

Be honest. Your are not just concerned with Sikhi specifically.

Don't be disheartened with Sikhism. The relationship is between you and Guru . You have already quoted excellent examples from Gurbani. So in Gurus eyes you are equal to Him. Why bother about what others think? It is silly, if you are getting disheartened just because you feel you are not equal. Suck it up and stay strong. There are examples in history when individuals have been disowned by their families but they did not leave Sikhi. This is a test. Stay firm.

Sikhi is about developing a relationship with Guru , taking it to love and beyond. Don't be affected by what others think or not. And at the same time keep doing self inquiry within yourself as well. There will always be a clash of opinions and interpretations on any topic. Dont think that you are being though of as an unequal or inferior.

As for Sat Sangat, do sangat of people who increase love for Guru and join you to Guru. For me sat sangat is being in a company of a Sadhu/ Mahapurakh.

Stay in Chardikala. And take a rest from debates for little while.

Satkirin_Kaur,
You seem to be considering yourself seeing beyond the physical traits but you end up going deeper into physical aspect. Understand the play, the more you try to go beyond, the more you go deeper into the same which you fight against. It is bound to happen if we don't understand the things properly. So, you end up being on the other side of the argument and NOT going beyond it.

There is a triangle: Neutral (at top) from which comes the duality (Positive and Negative).

First of all, if you've choosen Sikhism just because of the equality concept then from my point of view, its really sad. You can follow any kind of equality by being an atheist; what's the harm in being an atheist? So, again, think about YOUR choice if you're attracted to Sikhism just because of some equality OR because of the Truth?

One should follow any religion (Sikhism being one of them) IFF he/she is looking for some disciple which would eventually lead one to God via some technique.

Now the question of gender equality: There are 2 different points of view. Read this carefully without any prejudice.
1. First point of view is from the Creator's view; i.e in order to reach the Source, gender/caste/creed/karma/good-vs-bad/any-other-duality does NOT matter. It is because all is Him and everyone has equal rights. This is what is taught in real Spiritual schools or in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.
Second point of view is from the Mind/Time/Kal's view; i.e the entity who is responsible for the working of this universe. He has created a set of rules: karma/duality in every aspect of life. From this point of view, it does matter if a person is born in a criminal enviornment vs the person born in Spiritual family. Now, as per the FIRST point of view, both persons does have equal rights to go the Source but because they are in duality and in the corrupt environment, the person born in Spiritual family DOES have some advantage over the other. Moreover, there are many many other complex patterns that would come into play e.g if the person born in criminal family is inclined towards Spiritualism etc and is attracted to some good person leading him/her to higher spiritual state etc etc.

It (Mind/Time) along with Maya is extremely complex system designed to keep the Souls in regions lower than the 3rd eye. Compare it with the movie "The Matrix 1999". Gender being the part of this system (duality) is bound to have some advantages and disadvantages, so does every man born in different environment. "The Laws of Manu" along with Vedas are part of this complex system; reading them would tell us the working (karma/gender etc.) using which one can go to many heavens but NOT beyond the Mind. Using this system one can understand the working of this universe and can manipulate the things in order to secure the place in some heaven (e.g being a Pativarta - i.e treating your husband as God; charity to poor etc. etc.) but keep in mind that these things might bring a good karma but NOT help you go beyong the entity (Mind) who designed this whole system. So, if your intention is to reside in 2nd point of view but keep on debating about the equality, then keep in mind that you're going even deeper into mind. Mind is at play. But if your intention is to go to Source, then as per Guru Nanak Dev Ji: "Man Jeetai Jagjeet". It is foolish to debate on something (be it gender, food etc.) which IS different but the difference is NOT binding you to go to the Source.

REMEMBER that we're here to make sure that we break this karma bond and go beyond the Mind; to the Source. This is the central theme of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji where no matter what's your karma/caste/gender/criminal-vs-priest. ANyone can go beyond.

At last, it does NOT mean that one should not take are about the good deeds vs bad deeds because after all we ARE residing in this complex system of Time and Maya; and by using this system (Mind) wisely, one can go beyond. We don't have to fight with the system, just use it to go beyond. Don't indulge in good vs bad; man vs women. Just understand the system (Mind/Time and Maya/Matrix) and remember the Source (from which even the Mind/Time and Maya is created.)

I heard the tape last night. I had listened to it a decade ago. But yesterday was different. It drove through some major points about our limited time on earth.
could not sleep for sure

Waheguru Waheguru Waheguru Waheguru.......

"Have you ever had a dream, Neo, that you were so sure was real? What if you were unable to wake from that dream? How would you know the difference between the dream world and the real world?"

... Because this world is so convincing, and the ego identity so strong that we have become so immersed within this character we are playing. It's not just the illusion of the world around us.., it's the illusion of our own identity. It's hard to let go of the 'I' that we think we are. We are programmed to think that if the 'I' ceases to exist... That's it we die and there's nothing left. But it's not the 'I' that Is Experiencing... The doer the experiencer exists independent of the 'I' that we think is our identity. But out of fear, we just can't seem to let go of the 'I'

ਗਉੜੀ ਮਹਲਾ ੫ ॥ ਰਾਖੁ ਪਿਤਾ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਮੇਰੇ ॥ ਮੋਹਿ ਨਿਰਗੁਨੁ ਸਭ ਗੁਨ ਤੇਰੇ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ ਪੰਚ ਬਿਖਾਦੀ ਏਕੁ ਗਰੀਬਾ ਰਾਖਹੁ ਰਾਖਨਹਾਰੇ ॥ ਖੇਦੁ ਕਰਹਿ ਅਰੁ ਬਹੁਤੁ ਸੰਤਾਵਹਿ ਆਇਓ ਸਰਨਿ ਤੁਹਾਰੇ ॥੧॥ ਕਰਿ ਕਰਿ ਹਾਰਿਓ ਅਨਿਕ ਬਹੁ ਭਾਤੀ ਛੋਡਹਿ ਕਤਹੂੰ ਨਾਹੀ ॥ ਏਕ ਬਾਤ ਸੁਨਿ ਤਾਕੀ ਓਟਾ ਸਾਧਸੰਗਿ ਮਿਟਿ ਜਾਹੀ ॥੨॥ ਕਰਿ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਸੰਤ ਮਿਲੇ ਮੋਹਿ ਤਿਨ ਤੇ ਧੀਰਜੁ ਪਾਇਆ ॥ ਸੰਤੀ ਮੰਤੁ ਦੀਓ ਮੋਹਿ ਨਿਰਭਉ ਗੁਰ ਕਾ ਸਬਦੁ ਕਮਾਇਆ ॥੩॥ ਜੀਤਿ ਲਏ ਓਇ ਮਹਾ ਬਿਖਾਦੀ ਸਹਜ ਸੁਹੇਲੀ ਬਾਣੀ ॥ ਕਹੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਮਨਿ ਭਇਆ ਪਰਗਾਸਾ ਪਾਇਆ ਪਦੁ ਨਿਰਬਾਣੀ ॥੪॥੪॥੧੨੫॥{ਪੰਨਾ 206}

ਗਉੜੀ ਮਹਲਾ ੫ ॥ ਰਾਖੁ ਪਿਤਾ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਮੇਰੇ ॥ ਮੋਹਿ ਨਿਰਗੁਨੁ ਸਭ ਗੁਨ ਤੇਰੇ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ ਪੰਚ ਬਿਖਾਦੀ ਏਕੁ ਗਰੀਬਾ ਰਾਖਹੁ ਰਾਖਨਹਾਰੇ ॥ ਖੇਦੁ ਕਰਹਿ ਅਰੁ ਬਹੁਤੁ ਸੰਤਾਵਹਿ ਆਇਓ ਸਰਨਿ ਤੁਹਾਰੇ ॥੧॥ ਕਰਿ ਕਰਿ ਹਾਰਿਓ ਅਨਿਕ ਬਹੁ ਭਾਤੀ ਛੋਡਹਿ ਕਤਹੂੰ ਨਾਹੀ ॥ ਏਕ ਬਾਤ ਸੁਨਿ ਤਾਕੀ ਓਟਾ ਸਾਧਸੰਗਿ ਮਿਟਿ ਜਾਹੀ ॥੨॥ ਕਰਿ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਸੰਤ ਮਿਲੇ ਮੋਹਿ ਤਿਨ ਤੇ ਧੀਰਜੁ ਪਾਇਆ ॥ ਸੰਤੀ ਮੰਤੁ ਦੀਓ ਮੋਹਿ ਨਿਰਭਉ ਗੁਰ ਕਾ ਸਬਦੁ ਕਮਾਇਆ ॥੩॥ ਜੀਤਿ ਲਏ ਓਇ ਮਹਾ ਬਿਖਾਦੀ ਸਹਜ ਸੁਹੇਲੀ ਬਾਣੀ ॥ ਕਹੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਮਨਿ ਭਇਆ ਪਰਗਾਸਾ ਪਾਇਆ ਪਦੁ ਨਿਰਬਾਣੀ ॥੪॥੪॥੧੨੫॥{ਪੰਨਾ 206}

This question always get me in my own way.

For example, Gurbani say Kare re mann chitve udam... O Mind! Why are you thinking about making effort ?
And another instance, it says Udam Karendya... Make effort to get comfort...
So maybe the updesh is different for different people.

What I have understood is that we need to talk from where we are in our current experience of reality?
For me , makin effort is required, or Personal Will is more important in current experience of reality.
If I think there is divine will , I will not be able to make any effort.

In reality from Gurbani's perspective, everything is divine will. Which may become a current experience for me if Guru Ji wills. But for now, personal will is necessary to make the necessary effort for reaching that point where Grace takes us further into realizing that everywhere is God, and no one else or everything is divine will.

I think it all boils down to an individuals current experience of situation. For a Brahmgyani everything is Divine Willl, for a commoner like me a majority of life is personal will, rest is divine will.

What this pankti means to me : hukam rajaa-ee chalnaa naanak likhi-aa naal ?

I should be following the hukam of Guru Granth Sahib which is in the form of simple instructions, one of the major instruction being Naam Japna. And doing that I should strive for a stage where everything He does , I should be able to accept with bowed down head.

Totally agree...and I would recommend this.
Just breath real deep, slow and long whilst focusing on the breath and then bring waheguru jap in sync with it.
Try this first and every time you get bothered or drift away...then bring it back and do a few more long deeper breaths.

Sitting up and being completely body centered is quite helpful in my experience.
Being attentive with back straight, neck up and chin tucked in slightly-which should bring out your chest as well if done correctly.
This aligns all your chakras which will in turn help with the straight path of sukhmana nadi going straight up.

Whilst on the matter of the sukhmana ..There is also 'spinal breathing' which is taught in yoga and this is a pranayma that also settles you in preparation for deep meditation.
There are many different versions, but i usually do the one below....try it and see if it helps...........

1)Keeping your mouth closed, breathe in and out slowly and deeply through your nose, but
not to the extreme. Be relaxed and easy about it, breathing as slowly and deeply as possible
without discomfort.
2)Work your muscles so each breath begins in your belly and fills you up through your chest to the top of your collarbones, and then comes back down slowly.
3) Next, with each rising inhalation of the breath, allow your attention to travel
upward inside a tiny thread, or tube, you visualize beginning at your perineum (root chakra) and continuing up
through the center of your spine, and up through the stem of your brain to the center of your head.
-This center is directly behind your eyes upto the midline near where your ears are. The seat of the mind is here and the pineal gland is just above....this is where the amrit will drip from.

The idea behind this is that the central sukhmana , through which you want your prana travelling is right there in a straight line in all of us, but we have to imagine it at first to get going.
It's just like we make a survey of the land if we are looking for a straight pipe running underneath. Then we start digging and soon will be in direct contact with it.

I find it is very helpful to be motivated and encouraging yourself all day long. Keep telling yourself that when I do my simran today,.."I am going to go real deep and steady whilst staying focused"
Plan your time around the simran instead of just trying o squeeze in a few minutes when you have time.

With practice you should be able to deeper in much less time.

Sometimes if I find I keep getting thoughts of people or conversations I had in the day or even just family members, neighbors, someone who's coming over...etc....then if you find that these people keep coming into your mind....Then what I eventually do is simply imagine them and their voices doing the jap with me!...so you could be having the whole family doing the jap in your mind.
I usually find that not after long the thoughts of the people just stop because the mind shifts back to your own jap with their help!
(so you end up using the disturbance thought as another focusing tool instead)

Yes absolutely, you should do more Waheguru abhyaas.

This is direct connection with Wahiguru, and as such, it is the most effective jugtee to overcome mind, vikaars, trishnaas ...

The Bani clearly say: Nimakh nimakh kar sareer kataveh, toh bhee haume mael na jaae...

You see, all other methods are good to a point if we understand, that it is mahima sung of Wahiguru.

While, His Simran, His Dhyan, is putting ourselves at His Lotus Feet, and telling Him: Sachay Patshah, I am weak, blind and full of vikaars, how can I ever possibly overcome and come nearer to You and have Your Darshan, please bless me with You glance of Grace and pull me out of this well of Maha Bhavsagar.

His Simran, is being like a kookar laying at His door, and knocking constantly again and again...til a timecomes, when He the owner of His House, has ultimately no option but to open the door of His Darbar and let us in.

But for that we have to be there, and that is only possible by His Simran, which is the devotion stressed by our Guru sahibans and bhagat janas throughout the Bani.


Sat Sree Akal.

Chit Charan Kamal Sang Jodiye...

http://www.gurmatparchar.com/naam-simrangurbani-q-a/4572573217#

I think it's better sachkhand remains sort of mystery not fully solidified defined otherwise our conceptual mind will take over and deprive us from experience it. lol

I cannot speak for all Sikhs, But I and numerous other Sikhs I have met since my childhood believed in Guru Nanak being Nirankar.

Since you have a written proof from SGGS about Gurus being God, what do you have to say now ?