Manmukh Avastha
ਮਨਮੁਖ ਅਵਸਥਾ
The mind faces itself. Life is run by manmat — my opinion, my desire, my anger. Gurbani may be read, but it is not internalised, so haumai and krodh stay untouched.
- Trishna — desire never settles; satisfaction is always one gain away.
- Maya as forgetfulness: not only wealth, but entanglement that makes you forget the Source.
- Restlessness even after 'completing' paath, because reading was quantity, not vichaar.
Moving on: Turn to sadh sangat and start reflective reading. Give up manmat for Gurmat.
Sikh / Jigyasu Avastha
ਜਿਗਿਆਸੂ ਅਵਸਥਾ
The seeker's state. You have accepted the Guru and begun rehat, Nitnem and seva. Effort is real, but it is still effortful — the mind must be dragged to simran.
- Discipline appears: amrit vela, Nitnem, honest kirat, seva in sangat.
- The mind still wanders constantly during paath and simran.
- You begin listening to your own voice while chanting, instead of counting.
Moving on: Daily, unbroken abhyaas — a small amount every day beats a large amount occasionally.
Sadhak Avastha
ਸਾਧਕ ਅਵਸਥਾ
The practitioner's state. Simran begins to run on its own between sittings. Surti (consciousness) is joining the Shabad, and that joining gives the strength to detach.
- Breath and Naam start moving together without being forced.
- The vices lose their bite — anger arises, but it no longer commands.
- In antargat simran the surti is drawn inward, toward the nabhi.
Moving on: Add antargat (silent, internal) simran after saas-giraas — ideally for the same length of time.
Gurmukh Avastha
ਗੁਰਮੁਖ ਅਵਸਥਾ
The mind faces the Guru. Living in Hukam is natural rather than imposed. The Gurmukh is at inner peace, sees the one Jot in all, and quietly helps others toward Truth.
- Sehaj — an unshaken evenness through praise and blame, gain and loss.
- Naam is held in the heart at all times, not only at the set time.
- Worldly work continues fully, but is done remembering the Mool.
Moving on: Stay in sangat and keep serving. The crow becomes a hansa only through Satguru's guidance.
Brahmgiani / Turiya Avastha
ਬ੍ਰਹਮਗਿਆਨੀ ਅਵਸਥਾ
The fourth state, beyond waking, dreaming and deep sleep — chauthaa pad. Prem bhagti has ripened, trishna has ended, and the Brahm Jot is manifest within. Guru Sahib calls this state akath.
- No sense of a separate doer remains; everything is seen as Hukam.
- Dasam Duar opens and the Anahad Shabad sounds — a fruit of grace, never a technique to promise.
- Fearless, egoless, and of use to everyone; nothing is claimed for oneself.
Moving on: Nothing is 'done' here. It is bakhshish. The seeker's work remains abhyaas and humility.
