What help us to know ourselves what things are not helping factors, and how we can analyse ourselves from the outgoing faculties and intellect is a practical subject. This is truly called spirituality.
Sant Kirpal Singh

Introduction

From the book "Naam or Word", written by Sant Kirpal Singh


Naam is easier said than known and practiced. It is only an adept in the mysteries of Naam who knows its true significance and the great power that lies hidden in it. Apparently it is just a syllable, but what it connotes is beyond understanding even by the most learned in book knowledge; though it may be possible to apprehend it through the grace of one well versed not only in the theory but in the practice as well of the Word.

"Name" and the "named" are, in fact, one and the same. There is hardly any distinction between the two: one is the abstract form of that which is concrete. Light cannot be separated from the sun. The two go together all the world over. Similarly Godhood and God cannot be demarcated and set aside in watertight compartments as two separate entities. The former is just an attribute of the latter. "Naam" is nothing more nor less than Godhood of God; one may call it what one may like – the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, etc. It is the primal manifestation of God, re­sponsible for the entire creation. It is the primeval form of God. St. John speaks of it thus:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God.
The same was in the beginning with God.
All things were made by Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made.
In Him was life; and the life was the light of man.
And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehendeth it not.

In these memorable words, St. John has tried to give us some idea of the marvelous nature of the Word or Naam, as it is also called. It combines in it the triple principle of Creation, Sustenance and Destruction – the Trimurti of the Hindu mythology of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva – the Creator, the Preserver and the Destroyer respectively, all the three deriving their motor power from Godhood or God-in-action, Naam or Word.

Hazrat Moieen~ud-Din Chishti, in this context, says,
Name and the Named are but one, Light of Name witnesseth His glory.

All that is, is of and from Naam, for it pervades every­where. It is the life principle of the entire creation. He in whom this Word or Naam becomes personified is called a saint for it is said that, "Word was made flesh and dwelt among us." Such a one has reached the summum bonum of life and gained the El Dorado of human existence. For him there is nothing more to wish for and aspire for. On the other hand, one who has not been able during his life­time to establish a contact with Naam, at the time of death quits the body like a defeated gambler who leaves a gam­bling den with empty hands. Sant Kabir says,

Better by far is a leper with weeping sores, if estab­lished in Naam,
Than a fine stalwart swain who knows not the value of Naam.