"I am that Pure Infinite [Being]" - Vichar Sagar
ਜੋ ਸੁਖ ਨਿੱਤ ਪ੍ਰਕਾਸ਼ ਵਿਭੁ ਨਾਮ ਰੂਪ ਆਧਾਰ ॥
That Blissful, Everlasting, Consciousness, which is the support of all Names and Form [Maya].
ਮਤਿ ਨ ਲਖੇ ਜਿਹਿ ਮਤਿ ਲਖੈ ਸੋ ਮੈਂ ਸ਼ੁੱਧ ਅਪਾਰ ॥1।
[That non-dual] which is not understandable with the mind [which is engrossed with vices] yet understandable with the mind [which has wisdom and unattached], I am that Pure Infinite [non-dual Being].
[An uncertain pupil asks Nichal Das; why have you not first paid salutation to Shiv Ji or other important deities? Response below]
ਅਬਧਿ ਅਪਾਰ ਸਰੂਪ ਮਮ ਲਹਰੀ ਵਿਸ਼ਨ ਮਹੇਸ਼ ॥
I am That limitless, infinite form, whose waves are Vishnu and Shiva.
ਵਿਧਿ ਰਵਿ ਚੰਦਾ ਵਰੁਣ ਯਮ ਸ਼ਕਤਿ ਧਨੇਸ਼ ਗਨੇਸ਼ ॥2॥
[my waves are] Brahma, the Sun, Moon, Varun Devta, the Messenger of Death, Shakti, Kuber, Ganesh.
Vichar Sagar, Page 1
Nichal Dās (1791-1863), author of Vichar Sagar, was a very prominent Vedāntist scholar. His work was written in Brij Bhāshā, and quickly became apart of the curriculum amongst the traditional scholarly lineage schools, the Udasi's and Nirmala's. The main point of the book was to expound upon the philosophy of Advāitā Vedāntā, the non-dualistic approach in the Vedas. The same philosophy underpins Gurmat, hence the start of every scripture begins with ੴ. The passage above is the 'Manglācharan', the beginning passage in salutation to their focus of worship, in Vichār Sāgar. Traditionally in Sikh literature, one would find Manglācharan's to ੴ, to Devi Ma Shakti, Nanak-Gūrū Gōbind Singh, and occasionally Ganesh. However this concept of recognizing, and using the Mantra of ਸੋਹੰ [I am That], That being the Infinite Ultimate Consciousness, is present in Gurmat.
ਤਤੁ ਨਿਰੰਜਨੁ ਜੋਤਿ ਸਬਾਈ ਸੋਹੰ ਭੇਦੁ ਨ ਕੋਈ ਜੀਉ ॥
That true immaculate all pervading consciousness, I am It, and It is Me, there is no difference between us.
ਅਪਰੰਪਰ ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਪਰਮੇਸਰੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਗੁਰੁ ਮਿਲਿਆ ਸੋਈ ਜੀਉ ॥੫॥੧੧॥
[That] Infinite, Master of All, Highest Ishvara; Nanak says through the Guru, I have merged with That.
Adi Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Page 599