Our world is increasingly interconnected. Gurbani.org strives to bring the Universal, egalitarian and Timeless enlightening Spiritual Wisdom / Message of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS) in English.
Gurbani-centered, presented in English
Wherever the word ‘GURBANI’ is mentioned on this gurbani.org Website, it means Only the BANI (ਬਾਣੀ) enshrined within the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, (SGGS), NO other text or Granth, hearsay or unreliable sources. Simply put, this Website is Gurbani-centered: Gurbani-based explanations presented in English.
- ਮੈ ਗੁਰਬਾਣੀ ਆਧਾਰੁ ਹੈ ਗੁਰਬਾਣੀ ਲਾਗਿ ਰਹਾਉ ॥੮॥ : Gurbani (i.e. the Enlightening spiritual Wisdom of the Guru Shabad) is the Base or Support of my life. Attuned to the Guru Shabad I remain spiritually alive. ||8|| (sggs 759).
- ਇਕਾ ਬਾਣੀ ਇਕੁ ਗੁਰੁ ਇਕੋ ਸਬਦੁ ਵੀਚਾਰਿ ॥: One Bani alone is the true Guru (i.e. Guru Shabad); therefore reflect only on the One Shabad. (sggs 646).
That said, the decision (ਫੈਸਲਾ) is considered to be the Guru’s only (‘ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਪੂਰੈ ਸਾਚੁ ਕਹਿਆ ॥’ The Guru Shabad has a clear edict (ਫੈਸਲਾ), NO compromise:
- ਸਤਿਗੁਰੂ ਬਿਨਾ ਹੋਰ ਕਚੀ ਹੈ ਬਾਣੀ ॥ ਬਾਣੀ ਤ ਕਚੀ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੂ ਬਾਝਹੁ ਹੋਰ ਕਚੀ ਬਾਣੀ ॥ ਕਹਦੇ ਕਚੇ ਸੁਣਦੇ ਕਚੇ ਕਚੀ ਆਖਿ ਵਖਾਣੀ ॥ : The Bani uttered by anybody other than the Satguru is ‘Kachee‘ (half baked; useless; lies, false, devoid of divine Wisdom etc.). Yes, without being uttered or approved by the Satguru, all other Bani is ‘Kachee‘. False are the reciters (of ‘Kachee Bani), false are the listeners (of ‘Kachee Bani); false are those who discourse on ‘Kachee‘ Bani. (sggs 920).
- ਕਬੀਰ ਜਉ ਤੁਹਿ ਸਾਧ ਪਿਰੰਮ ਕੀ ਪਾਕੇ ਸੇਤੀ ਖੇਲੁ ॥ ਕਾਚੀ ਸਰਸਉ ਪੇਲਿ ਕੈ ਨਾ ਖਲਿ ਭਈ ਨ ਤੇਲੁ ॥੨੪੦॥ : Kabeer, if you have a craving to play the game of divine love, then play it by following teachings of the Perfect Guru (Shabad-SGGS). Because neither oil nor mustard cake (cattle feed) is obtained by pressing the raw (Kachaa) mustard seeds in an oil mill – nothing is gained by following the imperfect or Kachaa Guru-Kachaa Giyan. ॥240॥ (sggs 1377).
Gurbani Explains Gurbani
The Gurbani (SGGS) commands that the ‘Key’ (ਕੁੰਜੀ) to understanding the Gurbani is through the Gurbani. Since the Gurbani defines itself, the Spiritual meaning and essence of SHABADS contained in the SGGS are to be found in the SGGS.
- ਗੁਰ ਕੀ ਬਾਣੀ ਗੁਰ ਤੇ ਜਾਤੀ ਜਿ ਸਬਦਿ ਰਤੇ ਰੰਗੁ ਲਾਇ ॥ ਪਵਿਤੁ ਪਾਵਨ ਸੇ ਜਨ ਨਿਰਮਲ ਹਰਿ ਕੈ ਨਾਮਿ ਸਮਾਇ ॥੮॥ : The Guru’s Bani (Gurbani’s enlightening Message) can only be comprehended through the Bani itself by those who have internalized the enlightening Message contained within the Guru Shabad (SGGS). They are of clean conduct and pure consciousness (free of vices/Bikaar) for they live by Naam (divine Wisdom / Virtues). ||8|| (sggs 1346).
Thus, the Gurbani’s assertion in the foregoing verses is significant as it underscores that the key to understanding and imbibing Sikhi based on the Gurmat beliefs is through the Gurbani (SGGS) itself.
Furthermore, the SGGS teaches Sikhs (lifelong learners/students of the Guru Shabad) that whenever in doubt about the original intent or meaning of words, metaphors, idioms etcetera, find the answer from within the SGGS – use the ‘Rahaou‘ verse, other verses and Shabads from within the Gurbani for better comprehension / grasp / understanding.
‘ਜੋ ਹਮ ਸਹਰੀ ਸੁ ਮੀਤੁ ਹਮਾਰਾ’
The following verse of the Gurbani (SGGS) embodies within itself the vast and profound meanings. It counsels SIKHS that its association and friendship is ONLY with the one who has come out of the ritualistic (Karamkaand) cycle of the Sanatanism / Bipar-vaad and is living a virtuous and wisdom-full life in conformance with the Divine Hukam – the ‘Sachiaar‘ state of mind (‘ਹੁਕਮਿ ਰਜਾਈ ਚਲਣਾ’).
- ਜੋ ਹਮ ਸਹਰੀ ਸੁ ਮੀਤੁ ਹਮਾਰਾ ॥੩॥੨॥ : Whosoever lives in this town — STATE OF MIND — is my friend (‘Sahari’). ||3||2|| (sggs 345).
Why do I write?
Whether people heed or not, the Gurbani alerts the entire humanity as follows:
- ਦੁਨੀਆ ਹੁਸੀਆਰ ਬੇਦਾਰ ਜਾਗਤ ਮੁਸੀਅਤ ਹਉ ਰੇ ਭਾਈ ॥ : O people of the world! Be vigilant and Alert; O brother! you are being robbed even while you are awake! (sggs 972).
Like the majority of people, I blindly followed and imitated the crowds without thinking in earlier period of my life. Since started thinking, I feel more alert, free, independent and don’t imitate and follow the crowds in sheepish attitude. I have no faction or a party to please, or compromise with my integrity.
There is abundance of online information readily available on Sikh history, Sikh Rehat Maryada, religious dogmas, religious paraphernalia, religious robes, un-Gurmat rituals (Karamkaand), pilgrimage (Tirath Yatra), and so on. However, it is rare to see focus on the CORE Gurmat of Guru Nanak, which is Unique, Pure and Revolutionary and has nothing in common with the pre-1469 spirituality, beliefs and mindset – Sanatan traditions.
Gurdwaras are the best platform in terms of conveying the Enlightening Spiritual Message of Gurmat of Guru Nanak and spreading it far and wide (‘ਸਾਝੀ ਸਗਲ ਜਹਾਨੈ’).
But, the way the current Gurdwaras or Sikh institutions are run worldwide, it’s apparent that they are not fulfilling that purpose! It is so because Gurdwaras are usually occupied by selfish, opportunistic, flattering and backward pulling people who want to take the Guru Nanak’s Sikhi back to pre-1469 mindset, who are neither capable of doing anything themselves nor allowing anyone to do it.
In addition, Gurdwaras are staffed by the greedy and self-serving Pujaaree – freeloading babas or sadhs (ਵੇਹਲੜ), ignorant Bhais / Ragis / Granthis / Pathis / Dhadis / Parcharaks, religious leaders and administrators, Jathedars etc schooled and trained in Taksali, Deraa, Sampardayi, Sanatanism, Nirmala or Benaras traditions who present Gurmat of Guru Nanak as an appendage of the more older Sanatan philosophy.
The result is Gurdwaras have become places for rituals (Karamkaand); performing social customs such as marriage ceremony, death ceremony, naming ceremony after birth; making pilgrimages; offering Daan when some trivial desires are fulfilled, and so on.
Distortion of the Gurbani becomes pretty apparent when siting in a Gurudwara listening to Parcharaks / KathaaKaars / Kirtanias etc and watching the screen displaying distorted translation of the Gurbani. Just as the majority of Sikhs going to Gurdwaras, I have no recollection of questioning any of this.
Having started thinking, and having developed passion for the Gurbani enshrined within the SGGS, my intent is towards learning and understanding the Gurbani through the Gurbani to the best of my ability and then share in hope to encourage further thinking and discussion, which may further help to learn and evolve.
If you have different view, you should believe as you wish. It’s not necessary that you also believe what I believe. In the same way, it’s not necessary that I also believe what you believe!
Since inception of this website in 1990s, the author (T. Singh) decided to keep this website non-commercial – NOT to use it as a mundane business (‘ਰੋਟੀਆ ਕਾਰਣਿ’ – ਧੰਧਾ, ਦੁਕਾਨਦਾਰੀ). In short:
The word ‘GOD’…
Most often Nanak did not use the word ‘God‘ or its Indic and Abrahamic (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) equivalents in the same sense as in the those religions.
Also, in order to CONVEY the truth of the BANI, all 35 composers of Bani (ਬਾਣੀਕਾਰ) who are included in the SGGS have used language, vocabulary, beliefs, phrases, terms, metaphors and traditions that were already within the use and within the psyche of people of their time.
The use of this vocabulary does NOT at all mean that the writers of the Bani in the SGGS have accepted the meaning of the vocabulary in the form in which it was prevalent at the time. They have used these terms as examples (ਹਵਾਲਾ), but explicitly with new meanings and understanding to fit the new spiritual paradigms of Sikhi or Gurmat of Guru Nanak.
Therefore, the use of term ‘God‘ here is made in a generic sense and certainly not in terms of its usages prevalent in the traditional religious sense. The reader ought to use caution here with not only word ‘God‘ but also with a number of new terms expounded by Nanak to explain his Unique, Pure and Revolutionary Spirituality. Accordingly, Guru Nanak emphasized reason and logical thinking in understanding ‘God’ and life.