AKHNOOR, Jul 5: A large congregation of devotees gathered at Akhnoor on Sunday to attend the spiritual discourse of Sadguru Shri Madhuparamhans Ji Maharaj of Sahib Bandgi, who highlighted the significance of Sumiran (remembrance of the Divine Name) as the ultimate path to inner peace, self-realisation and spiritual awakening.
Addressing the gathering, the spiritual leader said that modern science has only recently begun acknowledging that the human brain remains active during sleep and that breathing continues even in an unconscious state. He remarked that these truths have been known in spiritual traditions for centuries.
Explaining the spiritual concepts of Surati (conscious attention) and Nirati (the vital force of awareness), Shri Madhuparamhans Ji Maharaj said that Surati is the primary element of meditation, while Nirati energises the entire body through the breath. He said the union of Surati and Nirati enables the soul to realise its true nature, but the restless mind constantly prevents this union by keeping the consciousness distracted.
Using a simple analogy, the Sadguru narrated the story of a child who repeatedly demanded different milk products from his mother. The child’s father advised him to simply drink milk, as all those delicacies originated from it. Drawing a spiritual parallel, he said that Sumiran is the essence of all spiritual practices, as Jap (chanting), Tap (austerity), Sanyam (self-restraint) and Sadhana (spiritual discipline) are all contained within it.
“At the conclusion of every spiritual programme, I encourage everyone to practise Sumiran because it unites Surati and Nirati. There is no spiritual practice greater than remembrance of the Divine Name,” he said.
Quoting the Ramayana, Shri Madhuparamhans Ji Maharaj said that while Lord Rama redeemed a limited number of sinners during His earthly life, the Divine Name has liberated countless souls. He also referred to the teachings of Kabir Sahib, stating that through constant Sumiran, the soul ultimately merges with the Divine.
The spiritual master urged devotees to remember God in every moment of life—while eating, sleeping, working and walking. He said Nirati pervades every pore of the body, sustaining life through the breath, and that only through continuous Sumiran can a person experience lasting happiness, overcome suffering and attain spiritual fulfilment.
The discourse concluded with devotees resolving to incorporate the practice of Sumiran into their daily lives as a means of achieving inner peace and spiritual progress.