Below is a humble translation from extracts of Bhai Sahib Randhir Singh jee’s book – Gurmat Naam Abhyaas Kamaayee. It’s taken from pages 49-51 or so (edition 1999). Here Bhai Sahib is explaining that even if Naam abhyaas is done for a worldly reason in the beginning, it’s perfectly fine. What is needed to be done is to engage in Naam Abhyaas. Naam Abhyaas is Kalyaankaari, no matter why you do it:

Those who are themselves devoid of Naam (bemukh from Naam) and who cause others to become bemukh from Naam, such pseudo philosophers are often heard saying that to recite (japp) Naam for personal need or selfish need is a pakhand (hypocrisy or pretension) and such recitation of Naam for selfish need is useless. Their such saying is totally false. To japp Naam for one’s own salvation is also a kind of selfish need. Only a rare individual recites (japps) Naam entirely for the love of Naam; and for such a person too, such pure love does not arise automatically on its own. Without doing Satsang (holy congregation) and without getting hit by the sorrow of separation (Vairaag) from Vaheguru, how can someone develop the love and enthusiasm for reciting Naam? In Satsang Samagams, all attendees don’t come solely for the purpose of earning the commodity of Naam. In the first stages, many ways have to be employed to get the seeker to come to the Satsang samagams. There are many children and even adults who develop the habit of coming to Satsang just to get Karah Parshaad. Bhai Mani Singh in his childhood developed the habit of coming to sangat just for the sake of eating nectarous (amrit-like) Karah Parshaad only and because of his love for Karah Parshad, he became a regular attendee and lover of Sangat.

The writer of this article while studying for BA (degree) had no idea even in his dreams about Gurbani or what Gurbani paath is. His worldly father gave him hukam (order), “O child if you want to pass the BA exam, do Siri Jap jee Sahib in the morning and Siri Rehraas Sahib in the evening time”. For this worldly reason of passing the BA exam, this daas learned paath within days and became a nitnemi (regular paathi) of these baanis at both times. While doing paath for worldly reason, he obtained rass (nectar like taste) from Gurbani and this rass kept increasing and increasing to this level that day and night he developed love for Gurbani paath. For him, the doors of Spiritual Tatt-Vairaag (sense of separation from Vaheguru) were opened. Unfathomable, unreachable tastes of Satsang came to him. What to say, it enabled him to reach of position of mukti. The following Shabad totally explains his situation:

ਗਉੜੀ ਮਹਲਾ 5 ॥
ਅਪਨੇ ਲੋਭ ਕਉ ਕੀਨੋ ਮੀਤੁ ॥ ਸਗਲ ਮਨੋਰਥ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਪਦੁ ਦੀਤੁ ॥1॥
ਐਸਾ ਮੀਤੁ ਕਰਹੁ ਸਭੁ ਕੋਇ ॥ ਜਾ ਤੇ ਬਿਰਥਾ ਕੋਇ ਨ ਹੋਇ ॥1॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
ਅਪੁਨੈ ਸੁਆਇ ਰਿਦੈ ਲੈ ਧਾਰਿਆ ॥ ਦੂਖ ਦਰਦ ਰੋਗ ਸਗਲ ਬਿਦਾਰਿਆ ॥2॥
ਰਸਨਾ ਗੀਧੀ ਬੋਲਤ ਰਾਮ ॥ ਪੂਰਨ ਹੋਏ ਸਗਲੇ ਕਾਮ ॥3॥
ਅਨਿਕ ਬਾਰ ਨਾਨਕ ਬਲਿਹਾਰਾ ॥ ਸਫਲ ਦਰਸਨੁ ਗੋਬਿੰਦੁ ਹਮਾਰਾ ॥4॥79॥148॥

Paaras (philosopher’s stone) always applies its Paaras kala (its power to change metal to gold). It has to apply its Paras Kala (on what comes in contact with it), all that’s needed is to bring the object in touch with it. Same way, it does not matter whether one touches paaras (of Naam and Gurbani) for spiritual purposes or for worldly purposes. What to say, if one touches the Gurbani roopi Paaras for purely spiritual purpose. Parmarthi Sidhis (powers) and worldly Sidhis all come after Naam the greatest Mantra. When touching this Naam paaras again and again, it brings the Amrit Rass (divine taste), then all worldly powers and tastes feel unsavory or tasteless. For this reason, the ones who taste Naam Rass, don’t get involved in ridhis and sidhis, and unbeknownst to them, all their tasks and desires are fulfilled.

But, when one starts the Naam Abhyaas kamaayee (begins japping Naam), it is not a must for everyone to have only the highest aim of Gurmat (i.e. attaining Vaheguru) in mind. One should get into Naam Kamaayee, for whatever reason it may be. The highest aim of japping Gurmat Naam is to have the vision of Vaheguru. This highest aim is in the minds of only very few and very fortunate individuals. Regular people don’t have any idea of what is the purpose of the human form and how to attain laaha (spiritual profits) of the human body. Worry or concerned about getting spiritual laaha on one side, they are not even aware of the fact that there is a need to do so. The creatures of 8.4 million life forms don’t know what it means to earn the spiritual profits of human life. Before the appearance of Guru Nanak Dev jee, the whole world was sliding towards nether worlds. There was no one to save the drowning world. The spiritually diseased world did not even know that it was diseased. The people of the world considered living a worldly life alone, the essence of human form. Even today, ones who have not adopted Satguru Guru Nanak Dasmesh and the visible form of ten Guru Sahibaan – Siri Guru Granth Sahib jee – are living in spiritual darkness. How would spiritual light come on its own, until they meet the ship of Kalyug, the true Guru.

Translated by: Bhai Kulbir Singh Ji