The seeker has innumerable paths in front of him. Which one to choose? That is the problem – the problem of plenty. Not only that, there are innumerable wrong paths as well. How not to fall in these traps? Before trying it, how can one decide which is the right path. Guru Nanak says there is only one solution to this problem: Whatever is thy will is the best path. Thy Will. Let whatever happens, happen. Don’t bring yourself into it. Don’t let your mind become an obstruction in the way. Let thy will prevail. Whatever pleases you is my command. I will not assert my will. Whatever is your will is my will. The secret lies in subordinating your will before the will of the whole. You are only a part, a tiny part. How can you presume that your will should prevail over the will of the whole?

All so-called prayers are basically attempts to make your will prevail. Give me this, give me that. This implies that you are not happy with what you have. You are not satisfied with things as they are. You want them to be different. This is the height of being presumptuous. No wonder you suffer. Not that anyone is punishing you. You are trying to swim upstream. You are going against the current. The outcome is obvious. You will be defeated and you will suffer. If you were to go along with the current you won’t even need to make an effort. The waves will take you. They are already taking you, but you became the obstruction.

Guru Nanak says you don’t have to choose any path, any technique, any scripture, any philosophy, any ideology. You don’t need them if you can surrender your will. Once you let go, the winds will take you on their wings. Then you need not worry about where you reach. Wherever they take you is your goal. Surrender is the ultimate goal. It is the path as well as the destination.

Similarly, there are innumerable names. Which name to choose to remember Him? Guru Nanak’s answer is names are immaterial. There is no need to articulate any name. Instead, you need to be still and silent so that you can listen to the sound of Omkar resounding within you and all around you. Other than the sound of Omkar, there is no prayer, no worship. Omkar is the prayer; Omkar is the worship. You don’t need to do anything. Just empty out your mind; be an empty vessel so that the sound of Omkar fills you up. Remain immersed in this sound. And your prayer is done.