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Augustine). Within us is the Light of Life. Day and night burneth eternally this celestial
lamp in the dome of the bodily shrine. 'Whosoever comes by this Light of lights, to
higher realms, he soars unfettered.' This is the truth and leads unto Truth. "He that
knows the Truth knows where that light is and he who knows that light, knows eternity,
(St. Augustine) knowing which (Truth) shall make you free" (free from all the
impregnable bondages, regrets of the past, fears of the present and terrors of death in
which we constantly live). (John 8: 12). The Word or the Holy Ghost is the great Truth
at the bottom of all creation: "All things were made by him (the Word), and without
him was not anything made that was made," says St. John. "The entire world sprang
from Shabd," is what Nanak tells us. Again, "With one Word of His, this vast creation
blossomed into being; and a thousand streams of life sprang into existence." In
Upnishads, it is said, 'Eko-aham, Bahu syaam' meaning, 'I am one and wish to become
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many.' The Mohammedans speak of the Word as 'Kun-fia-kun' - He willed, and lo, all
the universe sprang up. Thus it is God-in-action Power (Light and Life - The Melody of
God), All-pervading and All-powerful, immanent in all that is visible and invisible,
creating and sustaining countless creations. Speaking of creation, Nanak tells us: "And
countless Thy planes; unapproachable and inaccessible Thy innumerable heavenly
plateux." Even by the word countless, we fail to describe Him. The words count and
countless are indeed of little consequence for the Almighty. He who is immanent in
everything and is the very life of the creation itself, knows every particle thereof.
To come to a better understanding of the higher life, the life of the spirit, one has to
actually cross the trans-frontiers of the earth life and pass through the gates of what is
called death, and be reborn in the ethereal unearthly world beyond. "That which is born
of the spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, ye must be born again." (John 3: 6-
7). It is this contact with the 'Light of Life' as manifested within by a God-man that
brings to an end the peregrinations of the soul in the ever-revolving wheel of births and
rebirths. The entire creation is believed to be divided into eight million and four
hundred thousand species (84 lakhs); (i) water creatures - 900,000 (9 lakhs), (ii) air
creatures - 1,400,000 (14 lakhs), (iii) insects, rodents and reptiles etc.- 2,700,000 (27
lakhs), (iv) trees, shrubs, herbs and other vegetables and creepers etc. - 3,000,000 (30
lakhs), and (v) all kinds of quadrupeds and animals, human beings including gods and
goddesses, demi-gods and godly powers, demons and wandering spirits etc. - 400,000
(4 lakhs). A jiva-atman or an individual soul unless liberated (becomes an atman),
keeps revolving in one or other material body by the compulsive force of karmas and
impressions gathered from life to life. This then is a prelude to real life and life eternal,
coming, as it does from contact with the 'Voice of the Son of God (i.e. inner Music
made manifest by Him) and they that hear (though dead to It now) shall live (and live
eternally by us)' - John 5: 25 - for it is said: "Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
and the ears of the deaf be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as a hart, and the
tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness (of the human heart) shall waters (of life)
break out and streams in the desert." (Isiah 35: 5-6). "For now we see through a glass;
darkly but then face to face: Now I see part; but then shall I know even as I am known."
(I Cor. 13-12). "The spirit, when attuned to the Sound Current" says Nanak likewise,
"begins to see (the Light of God) without eyes (of flesh), to hear (the Voice of God)
without ears, clings on (to the Divine Music) without hands and moves forward
(Godwards) without feet." Again, the great teacher goes on to explain: "The seeing eye,
see not (the reality) but by the grace of the Guru, one begins to discern (the Power of
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God) face to face. It is why a worthy and worshipful disciple can perceive God
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