Gurbani gives simple guidelines for Simran. What is Simran? The literal meaning is remembrance or repetition. What is to be repeated? Naam. What is Naam? Naam has two aspects. One since Akal Purakh has no shape or form we remember or think of His virtues – Gun. By doing this we fall in love with those virtues and try to emulate them. This in turn wins us His love in the spirit of:

Question: Muhu ki bolan boleeai jit sun dharai piaar;
Answer: Amrit vaylaa sachu naau vadiaaee veechaaru (M: 1, SGGS, p 2).

Question: What should we say to win His love
Answer: In the ambrosial hours contemplate on His virtues.

The second aspect is that saying only will not do. Before birth the soul is told that it is being sent to serve the Creator’s purpose. This is Hukam, the Divine commands. Carrying these out is serving the Master – Seva The soul must carry these out. An ordinary mortal does not know this and hence the need for the Guru, in our case Gurbani.

Accordingly the fundamentals of Sikhi are Simran and Seva.

Guru Nanak summarizes this in Japu Ji thus:

Jin seviaa tin paaia maan; Nanak gaaveeai guni nidhaan (M: 1, SGGS, p 2).

One who serves receives honor; sing the virtues of the Treasure of virtues.

Some of the the guidelines in Gurbani on how to do Simran.

1. ਸਾਲਾਹੀ ਸਾਲਾਹਿ ਏਤੀ ਸੁਰਤਿ ਨ ਪਾਈਆ ॥ ਨਦੀਆ ਅਤੈ ਵਾਹ ਪਵਹਿ ਸਮੁੰਦਿ ਨ ਜਾਣੀਅਹਿ ॥ ੧ ੫
Saalaahi saalaahi ayti surt na paaeeaa; nadiaa atay vaah paveh samund na jaaneeah (M: 1, SGGS, p 5).

Praise the Lord but it should not come to mind that you are doing it; get absorbed the way when a stream or river flows into the sea and loses its identity.

2. ਮਨ ਮੇਰੇ ਸੁਖ ਸਹਜ ਸੇਤੀ ਜਪਿ ਨਾਉ ॥ ਆਠ ਪਹਰ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਧਿਆਇ ਤੂੰ ਗੁਣ ਗੋਇੰਦ ਨਿਤ ਗਾਉ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ ੫ ੪੪
Mann mayray sukh sahj sayti japi naau (M: 5, SGGS, p 44).

O my mind remember Naam naturally and comfortably.

3. ਹਰਿ ਕਾ ਬਿਲੋਵਨਾ ਬਿਲੋਵਹੁ ਮੇਰੇ ਭਾਈ ॥ ਸਹਜਿ ਬਿਲੋਵਹੁ ਜੈਸੇ ਤਤੁ ਨ ਜਾਈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ ਕ ੪੭੮ Har ka bilovna bilovhu maray bhaaee; sahji bilovhu jaisay tatu na jaaee (Kabir, SGGS, p 478).

Churn the Naam in your mind; do it slowly and naturally so that the essence (Like butter from curd) is not lost.

Simran is not to be done fast or deliberately slow. Just naturally.

4.ਕਿਉ ਕਰਿ ਵੇਖਾ ਕਿਉ ਸਾਲਾਹੀ ॥ ਗੁਰ ਪਰਸਾਦੀ ਸਬਦਿ ਸਲਾਹੀ ॥ ੩ ੧੧੯

Kio kari vaykha kiu saalaahi; gurparsaaadi sabad saalaahi (M: 3, SGGS, p 119).

How should we remeber God to have vision of Him?
Through Shabad by the Guru’s grace.

5. ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕੀ ਉਸਤਤਿ ਕਰਹੁ ਸੰਤ ਮੀਤ ॥ ਸਾਵਧਾਨ ਏਕਾਗਰ ਚੀਤ ॥ ੫ ੨੯੫
Prabh ki ustati karhu sant meet; saavdhaan aykaagar cheet (M: 5, 295).

Praise God my friends being alert and with single-minded concentration.

6. ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਜਸੁ ਗਾਈਐ ਹਰਿ ਨੀਤ ॥ ਮਿਲਿ ਭਜੀਐ ਸਾਧਸੰਗਿ ਮੇਰੇ ਮੀਤ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ ੫ ੨੯੬
Gobind jas gaaeeai hari neet; mili bhajeeai saadh sangi mayray meet: pause: (M: 5, SGGS, p 296).

For ever praise the Master; let us sing His adulations together in Sadh Sangat , the holy congregation.
7. ਸਦਾ ਸਦਾ ਸੋ ਸੇਵੀਐ ਜੋ ਸਭ ਮਹਿ ਰਹੈ ਸਮਾਇ ॥ ਅਵਰੁ ਦੂਜਾ ਕਿਉ ਸੇਵੀਐ ਜੰਮੈ ਤੈ ਮਰਿ ਜਾਇ॥ ੩ ੫੦੯

sadaa sadaa hari sayveeai jo sabh mahi rahiaa samaaey; avar dooja kio sayveeai jamai tai mari jaaey (M: 3, SGGS, p 509).

We are to remember for ever One who is all pervasive; why should we remember any one who is born and then dies (like devi devtaas).

In Sukhmani Sahib, the Psalm of peace the fifth Guru says we should use our action organs in such a way as if we are praising the Creator:

ਉਸਤਤਿ ਮਨ ਮਹਿ ਕਰਿ ਨਿਰੰਕਾਰ ॥

Praise the Formless Master in your mind;

ਕਰਿ ਮਨ ਮੇਰੇ ਸਤਿ ਬਿਉਹਾਰ ॥

Let your dealings be bases on truth;

ਨਿਰਮਲ ਰਸਨਾ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤੁ ਪੀਉ ॥ ਸਦਾ ਸੁਹੇਲਾ ਕਰਿ ਲੇਹਿ ਜੀਉ ॥

Let the recitation of Naam be as tasteful as nectar; this way your soul will derive comfort;

ਨੈਨਹੁ ਪੇਖੁ ਠਾਕੁਰ ਕਾ ਰੰਗੁ ॥

With your eyes see every thing as the Lord’s play;

ਸਾਧਸੰਗਿ ਬਿਨਸੈ ਸਭ ਸੰਗੁ ॥

Go to the holy congregation, you will then not seek other company;

ਚਰਨ ਚਲਉ ਮਾਰਗਿ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ॥

With your feet walk on the path to the Master;

ਮਿਟਹਿ ਪਾਪ ਜਪੀਐ ਹਰਿ ਬਿੰਦ ॥

ਕਰ ਹਰਿ ਕਰਮ ਸ੍ਰਵਨਿ ਹਰਿ ਕਥਾ ॥

With your hands seve the Lord, with your ears listen to His praises

ਹਰਿ ਦਰਗਹ ਨਾਨਕ ਊਜਲ ਮਥਾ ॥੨॥

All these will lead to your receving honor in God’s court where your fate will be decided.