“Vismad” and “Samadhi” are two beautiful states of universal consciousness that can be experienced when immersed in the Divine sound current of Shabad Guru.

 

Vismad

“Vismad” is a state of mind where a clear message is received from silence. No words are needed to convey it. When a person is aware of God, the state of vismad prevails.

Guru Nanak, the first Sikh Guru, describes the wondrous state of Vismaad in the Slok of the bani Asa di Vaar. When one is in a state of Vismaad, one experiences the feeling of being “wonderstruck” or “awestruck” by the Divine, the vastness of the self, and all of creation.

ਸਲੋਕ ਮਃ ੧ ॥

salok mahalaa pehilaa ||

Shalok, First Mehla:

ਵਿਸਮਾਦੁ ਨਾਦ ਵਿਸਮਾਦੁ ਵੇਦ ॥

visamaadh naadh visamaadh vedh ||

Wonderful is the sound current of the Naad, wonderful is the knowledge of the Vedas.

ਵਿਸਮਾਦੁ ਜੀਅ ਵਿਸਮਾਦੁ ਭੇਦ ॥

visamaadh jeea visamaadh bhedh ||

Wonderful are the beings, wonderful are the species.

ਵਿਸਮਾਦੁ ਰੂਪ ਵਿਸਮਾਦੁ ਰੰਗ ॥

visamaadh roop visamaadh ra(n)g ||

Wonderful are the forms, wonderful are the colors.

ਵਿਸਮਾਦੁ ਨਾਗੇ ਫਿਰਹਿ ਜੰਤ ॥

visamaadh naage fireh ja(n)t ||

Wonderful are the beings who wander around naked.

ਵਿਸਮਾਦੁ ਪਉਣੁ ਵਿਸਮਾਦੁ ਪਾਣੀ ॥

visamaadh paun visamaadh paanee ||

Wonderful is the wind, wonderful is the water.

ਵਿਸਮਾਦੁ ਅਗਨੀ ਖੇਡਹਿ ਵਿਡਾਣੀ ॥

visamaadh aganee kheddeh viddaanee ||

Wonderful is fire, which works wonders.

ਵਿਸਮਾਦੁ ਧਰਤੀ ਵਿਸਮਾਦੁ ਖਾਣੀ ॥

visamaadh dharatee visamaadh khaanee ||

Wonderful is the earth, wonderful the sources of creation.

ਵਿਸਮਾਦੁ ਸਾਦਿ ਲਗਹਿ ਪਰਾਣੀ ॥

visamaadh saadh lageh paraanee ||

Wonderful are the tastes to which mortals are attached.

ਵਿਸਮਾਦੁ ਸੰਜੋਗੁ ਵਿਸਮਾਦੁ ਵਿਜੋਗੁ ॥

visamaadh sa(n)jog visamaadh vijog ||

Wonderful is union, and wonderful is separation.

ਵਿਸਮਾਦੁ ਭੁਖ ਵਿਸਮਾਦੁ ਭੋਗੁ ॥

visamaadh bhukh visamaadh bhog ||

Wonderful is hunger, wonderful is satisfaction.

ਵਿਸਮਾਦੁ ਸਿਫਤਿ ਵਿਸਮਾਦੁ ਸਾਲਾਹ ॥

visamaadh sifat visamaadh saalaeh ||

Wonderful is His Praise, wonderful is His adoration.

ਵਿਸਮਾਦੁ ਉਝੜ ਵਿਸਮਾਦੁ ਰਾਹ ॥

visamaadh ujhaR visamaadh raeh ||

Wonderful is the wilderness, wonderful is the path.

ਵਿਸਮਾਦੁ ਨੇੜੈ ਵਿਸਮਾਦੁ ਦੂਰਿ ॥

visamaadh neRai visamaadh dhoor ||

Wonderful is closeness, wonderful is distance.

ਵਿਸਮਾਦੁ ਦੇਖੈ ਹਾਜਰਾ ਹਜੂਰਿ ॥

visamaadh dhekhai haajaraa hajoor ||

How wonderful to behold the Lord, ever-present here.

ਵੇਖਿ ਵਿਡਾਣੁ ਰਹਿਆ ਵਿਸਮਾਦੁ ॥

vekh viddaan rahiaa visamaadh ||

Beholding His wonders, I am wonder-struck.

ਨਾਨਕ ਬੁਝਣੁ ਪੂਰੈ ਭਾਗਿ ॥੧॥

naanak bujhan poorai bhaag ||1||

O Nanak, those who understand this are blessed with perfect destiny. ||1||

~ Guru Nanak Dev Ji, Siri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Ang 463-464

Samadhi

When one is in an absolute state of meditation, it is called “Samadhi.” In this state, a person becomes still and experiences the bliss of Oneness with God.

Guru Arjan, the fifth Sikh Guru, describes this state of peace and bliss:

ਸਿਮਰਿ ਸਮਰਥ ਪਲ ਮਹੂਰਤ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਧਿਆਨੁ ਸਹਜ ਸਮਾਧਿ ॥

simar samarath pal mahoorat prabh dhiaan sahaj samaadh ||

Remember in meditation the Almighty Lord, every moment and every instant; meditate on God in the celestial peace of Samaadhi.

~ Guru Arjan Dev Ji, Siri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Ang 508

Being in a state of Samadhi, one is in a most concentrated and high state of meditation and union with Divine consciousness.

ਅਸਥਿਰੁ ਚੀਤੁ ਸਮਾਧਿ ਸਗੋਨੀ ॥

asathir cheet samaadh sagonee ||

The most worthy Samaadhi is to keep the consciousness stable, focused on Him.

~ Guru Nanak Dev Ji, Siri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Ang 932

~Resources: Living Reality (1994) by Bibiji Inderjit Kaur Khalsa, Bhupinder Singh, “Vismaad – The Awe Factor,” (SikhNet), and “Samadhi” (SikhiWiki).