Sat Nam: what it means to me

Translation of “Sat Nam”: literally, “True” and “Name”, is the mantra which I have most frequently used in Kundalini Yoga. We say it to greet, to say good-bye, to bless, and to complete our classes and meditations. Sat Nam means “My name is truth” or, “I am the embodiment of truth”. 

I believe that Sat Nam is the closest connection that we have with our Higher Power here on Earth - that it is God’s gift which has been given so that we may go inward and gain strength. Our Sat Nam, I feel, is the soul, and cannot be defiled. I believe that it has been given to us by the Highest Power for our comfort and protection, so that we are able to come to personal and universal truths, and to also heal from injuries commonly sustained while on Earth.

Seekers have likened our internal force to a compass, always guiding us. I love this metaphor, because the needle points to the north, and arguably the ultimate goal of the soul is to return to its home in the heavens above. I believe that Sat Nam is what keeps our direction toward the Unnameable and Unknowable that we loosely call God.

Jesus said, “Do not let anyone call you ‘Rabbi’, there is but one Rabbi, the Christ…do not let anyone call you Teacher, there is but one teacher, the Christ.” - Matthew 23.8+10, King James Version. I believe that Jesus was not referring to himself in the third person, and that he repeats the word “Christ” as a teaching method. So then, who is the Christ?

I suspect that in his command, Jesus was teaching us of the Sat Nam: the purity within us that gently leads with clarity as the compass does, providing solace and wisdom, and guiding us in what to focus on, in what not to focus on, and in feeling confident about our choices. 

Later in chapter 24, Jesus says, “If anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ’, or ‘Over here’, do not believe it […]” (verse 23). I believe that Jesus is warning his disciples of the “false Christs and false prophets” (verse 24), because this Ultimate power is not separate from us. 

Luke’s Gospel also recaptures Jesus’ message to stay alert about those who misleading, but just before his warning, he gives a blessing, “The coming of the kingdom of God does not admit of observation and there will be no one to say, ‘Look it is here! Look, it is there!’ For look, the kingdom of God is within you.” (chapter 17, verses 20-1). Again, some translations say, “in your midst”, or “among you”, but I find these translations from the NIV and NJB to be intellectually dishonest; how can it not be “over there”, but still be “around”? 

I believe that Jesus was telling us of our Sat Nam: a reminder that we are loved just as we are, and that we already have all of the answers, relief, and strength that we need and want.

I recognize our Sat Nam to be a magical innate tool that can be used to keep us safe and happy. So when our connection to it is healthy, it will guide us to places and ideas that are true, and steer us from those that are false. Even the saints and the sages were, and are, limited here on Earth, and therefore so is their works: even the most spiritually advanced should be questioned.  I believe that our Sat Nam is God's instrument, our soul, and that it alone will never fail us.

My Sat Nam, as I understand it, is my greatest companion.


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