Understanding Guru Nanak

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Guru Nanak’s advent (1469-1539) is an epoch making singular event in the recorded history. He traveled extensively across the world during his spiritual journeys. He observed empty and imaginary rituals (Karamkaand), hollow superstitions, meaningless religious practices etc. He critiqued, debunked and rejected them all in no uncertain terms. Then he painted a new canvas and laid the foundation of Sikhi — a Unique, Revolutionary and New, fearless vision of truth and humanity.

Sadly, the (1) so called ‘Classical Sikh History’ is inflicted by untruth and lies. This classical literature is mainly written by non-Sikhs, anti-Sikhs, ghost/fictitious writers or individuals or organizations with particular agendas; (2) Sikh clergy (Ragis, Bhais, Granthis, Parcharaks, Kirtanias, Kathakars, Jathedars etc), institutions, leadership and intelligentsia have failed to play their respective roles — they have consciously chosen not to use critical thinking (Bibek Budh) to expose the true level of corruption and co-option within the narrative of the so called ‘Classical Sikh History’; (3) the Hindutva led movements whose primary aim is the cooption of Sikhi and Sikh Gurus — of course with the help of our own greedy and selfish Sikhs and Deraas who publicly display their loyalty and affiliation to the Hindutva agenda; (4) with the exception of few enlightened ones, the large proportion of Sikh population have broken away from reading, reflections or Shabad Vichaar, researching, critical thinking, ability to analyze information objectively and form reasoned judgments. Sikh history has been so tainted that even if someone tries to find the truth and writes it with great efforts, research and care, most Sikhs consider this truth to be a lie, and go so far as to insult, hurt, kill or excommunicate (ਛੇਕ ਦੇਣਾਂ) the one who dares to explain, write or speak the truth. Behaving so, we do not even think that such conduct discredit, disrespect and slander the life and history of our Gurus.

Guru Nanak of Fake Sakhis (ਗੱਪ ਕਹਾਣੀਆਂ)

Guru Nanak was born on 15 April 1469 (Vaisakh month – more on birth date later in this post) at Rāi Bhoi Dī Talvaṇḍī village (present-day Nankana Sahib, Punjab, Pakistan) near Lahore. His elder sister’s name was Nanaki, and he was named Nanak (NOT Nanak Dev). His father’s name is Mehta Kaliyan Chand (NOT Mehta Kalu). His mother’s name was Tripta, and wife’s name was Sulakhni. He had two sons, Sri Chand and Lakshmi Das. According to the Gurbani (NOT according to the fake literature), both sons of Guru Nanak did not obey him — ‘ਪੁਤ੍ਰੀ ਕਉਲੁ ਨ ਪਾਲਿਓ…’ (sggs 967).

Sikhs know Guru Nanak through thousands of fake, outright ridiculous stories or concocted narratives written long after his passing. Further his Gurmat or Sikhi has been distorted, obscured, corrupted or hijacked by a whole gamut of individuals, institutions, Pujaaree groups and the ruling elite. Therefore, the Sikhi we see today is not the Sikhi that was given to us by Guru Nanak.

The real Guru Nanak is clear, original and true. He was empty of imaginary beliefs and spirituality, traditions, rituals, religion, Pujaaree structure etc. Guru Nanak rejected the concepts of virgin birth, resurrection (death is final), specific times and facing specific direction for prayer, fasting or starving the body for a day or day time and then gorging at night fall, pilgrimage for spiritual gain, feeding the Brahman to sustain deceased relatives, afterlife transmigration or reincarnation, concept of previous life, hell and heaven, ascetic lifestyle or Saniyas etc that Guru Nanak rejected in no uncertain terms — he did NOT give any of this to us. But that did not stop Sikhs from creating Gurmat of imaginary concepts and rituals!!

The real Guru Nanak did not fit into any man-made religion, empty and imaginary belief system, ritualized dogmas, traditions, Pujaaree structures etc. However the people of empty and imaginary beliefs and spirituality (khiaalee Phalsafaa) fit Nanak into a religion, so they created/concocted one. That’s why Sikhi today is of religion, empty and imaginary belief system, rituals (Karamkaand), dogmas, traditions, Pujaaree structures, fake God, fake heaven and hell, previous life or reincarnation, bigotry, prejudices, caste system (Jaat Paat) etc. The real Guru Nanak did NOT give any of this to us. Instead he gave us intrinsic truth of life, unfiltered, uncontaminated. Since Sikh psyche has gone blind to the enlightenment of Guru Nanak, Sikhs want Guru Nanak that can be used.

That said, the real Guru Nanak cannot be known through the concocted Janam Sakhis and other books manufactured by his enemies. His 974 Shabads in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS) can help us know the real Guru Nanak, his Sikhi, and ourself (where we stand). They convey insights about universal divinity that also exists within all humans. They defined his Unique, New and Revolutionary Spiritual/foundational concepts, which did not exist in the pre-1469 belief system.

However Sikhs are today content with the empty and imaginary beliefs and spirituality of the self-serving Pujaaree, bowing here and there, paid recitation of Bani, ritualized dogmas, washing floors and flagpoles with milk, begging and crying to god sitting somewhere up there in heaven etc. What is even more sad that we do all this in the name of Guru Nanak. As a result, Just like mighty tree that is dead to the awareness of the sweetness of it own fruit, Sikh mind is incapable of appreciating enlightenment of the Guru Shabad.

The wagon of organized religion runs on two wheels — fear and greed. Therefore, the self-serving Sikh Pujaaree clique, institutions, intellectuals, leaders, Deraas want to make sure these two are grilled into our psyche. They want to remind people that ‘others’ are our enemies. But Guru Nanak wants us to discard our fear, and enmity. He wants people to BECOME ENLIGHTENED and AWARE instead of ignorant. As a result we don’t want to go near the Gurbani because we are afraid what we will see in its mirror of enlightenment. On account of our fear and greed, we want empty beliefs and rituals instead of enlightenment and Awareness. As a result, the real Guru Nanak remains an outsider, even to the general population of Sikh masses. We have created our own version of Guru Nanak, the one who gave us imaginary beliefs and rituals instead of enlightenment.

If fear and greed are eliminated, the enterprise of religion would collapse, and close down.

In a nutshell, all Janam Sakhis are fairy tales. The most popular is the Janam Sakhi attributed to a fictitious writer ‘Bala’ for it has overwhelmed the Sikh mind and thought. Written about 120 years after the demise of Guru Nanak, the truth is this Janam Sakhi is associated with Handalis, who were fierce enemies of Guru Nanak. The narrative presented in this document is fabrication aimed at belittling Guru Nanak. The content of this Janam Sakhi consists primarily of ridiculous miracle stories (‘Kraamaat‘) which appealed to the popular mind. However, Guru Nanak was strongly against any forms of miracles and would not perform any for it only inflates one’s false ego sense — ‘ਰਿਧਿ ਸਿਧਿ ਅਵਰਾ ਸਾਦ’ (sggs 6). People who believe in miracles are the victims of delusion, a psychological disorder. Miracle or Kraamaat is NOT the subject of Guru Nanak’s Spirituality, because its substance does not confirm to his teachings.

A prominent Sikh Historian, Karam Singh (1884–1930), writes in ‘Kattak Ki Vaisakh’ about Bala Janam Sakhi:

  • “The Bala Janam Sakhi is a totally false, fraudulent book from start to finish. It’s full of vilification of Sikh Gurus through the creation of fake stories, concocted narratives, and totally unbelievable tales. This book should be buried miles deep, so deep that it is never found again.“

According to the prominent Sikh and non-Sikh historians, Guru Nanak was born in Vaisakh (1st Vaisakh 1,469). However, the fictitious Bhai Bala Janam Sakhi and many other fraudulent writings say Guru Nanak was born on the Puranmasi of the month of Kattack! Month of Vaisakh corresponds to the month of April and Kattack corresponds to October or November. Put plainly, the Brahmin clergy considers the month of Vaisakh the holiest month of the year, fit for events belonging to the upper Brahmin classes. So, they would not allow or tolerate Guru Nanak’s birth day to sit in Vaisakh because he was not a Brahmin! On the other hand, in Brahmanical sense, the month of Kattack is reserved for ‘low caste’. Hence, the writers of the fake (ਮੰਨ-ਘੜਤ) Sakhis falsely determined Kathik (Puranmashi) as the specific day for Guru Nanak’s birthday. In accordance to Brahmanical/Vedic beliefs of auspiciousness — this day is considered the MOST inauspicious!

Back in 1920s, Singh Sabha Movement — Sikh Reform Movement — alerted the Sikh world of the urgent need to reject and clean out books written by anti-Nanak groups such as NIRMALAS. If not, then the fake, outright ridiculous, concocted, untruth and lies written by them in these books will come back to haunt Sikhs. Alas, instead of acting upon what the Sikh Reform Movement alerted, the Sikh world and the Sikh clergy accepted these books as true depiction of Sikhi and Sikh history! As a result, the Sikh psyche is becoming mentally blind to the Enlightening Spirituality of Guru Nanak, and content with false pride of empty and imaginary Spirituality of the Bipran. Apparently  Sikhs have forgotten the following warning of the Gurbani:

  • ਅਗੋ ਦੇ ਜੇ ਚੇਤੀਐ ਤਾਂ ਕਾਇਤੁ ਮਿਲੈ ਸਜਾਇ ॥ : If the mortal is conscious before hand (ਸਾਵਧਾਨ – wise, prudent or heedful etc.), then why he be punished later (i.e. then does not have to face consequences later). (sggs 417).

Guru Nanak of false pictures

Majority of Sikhs (99 percent) also know Guru Nanak by the painting or portrait of painter Shobha Singh. However, perhaps not too many know the truth that he painted himself in that portrait!!! What it means is that the Sikh world has been worshiping painter Shobha Singh for the last 50 years or so!!!

Again the Sikh world accepted it as the real portrait of Guru Nanak without using Bibek Budh, critical thinking or questioning. To add to this folly, in 1969, Sikhs celebrated 500th birthday of Guru Nanak. Shobha Singh presented this painting of Guru Nanak to the Sikh world that year. SGPC accepted this photo of Shobha Singh as official photo of Guru Nanak. Giani Zail Singh, president of India, awarded Shobha Singh the highest award of India ‘Padam shri’ in 1983. It can not get more witless and bizarre!!

The truth is this fake portrait of Guru Nanak remains but his innovative Sikhi/Gurmat is lost. The Sikh world still buying those portraits in mass! We buy and bring these pictures home, but leave real Guru Nanak behind. Even our Pujaarees (Ragis etc) have begun to imitate Sobha Singh’s image. During Nagar Kirtans, the fake portrait of the Guru is carried on trucks, tractor-trolleys etc, paid performers sing devotional hymns, and the crowds trail behind like a festive parade. Sikhs have simply changed the name, but it is nothing more than what other religions do — wheel their idol through streets.

Unenlightened (Manmukhs) consider the fake photo (ਮੂਰਤ-Moorat) of Guru Nanak itself as his form. Gurbani (SGGS) strictly prohibits Sikhs from idol worship (ਮੂਰਤਿ-Moorat). People who have no clue of core Gurmat or who have agenda always go against the teachings of Guru Sahib. Such hypocrites (Pakhandi) are leading the Sikhs towards idol worship (Moorat Poojaa). These stone and picture worshipers must be avoided to keep the Guru Nanak’s Light burning brightly, because we Sikhs are the worshipers of the SHABAD, not of stone idols, not of pictures.

  • ਗੁਰ ਕੀ ਮੂਰਤਿ ਮਨ ਮਹਿ ਧਿਆਨੁ ॥ ਗੁਰ ਕੈ ਸਬਦਿ ਮੰਤ੍ਰੁ ਮਨੁ ਮਾਨ ॥ ਗੁਰ ਕੇ ਚਰਨ ਰਿਦੈ ਲੈ ਧਾਰਉ ॥ ਗੁਰੁ ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਸਦਾ ਨਮਸਕਾਰਉ ॥੧॥ ਮਤ ਕੋ ਭਰਮਿ ਭੁਲੈ ਸੰਸਾਰਿ ॥ ਗੁਰ ਬਿਨੁ ਕੋਇ ਨ ਉਤਰਸਿ ਪਾਰਿ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥: Reflect on the Divine Wisdom in your mind. Take the enlightening Message embedded in the Guru Shabad and accept the divine Shabad as the injunctions through which to gratify the mind. Enshrine the Guru’s Divine Wisdom in your mind. The Guru is indeed the embodiment of God and is forever worthy of our obeisance. ||1|| Wandering in the haze of doubt no one should forget that without the divine Wisdom, none will ever cross over the worldly ocean of vices/Bikaar ( Bhav Saagar). ||1||Pause|| (sggs 864).
  • ਜੋਗ ਜੁਗਤਿ ਸੁਨਿ ਆਇਓ ਗੁਰ ਤੇ ॥ ਮੋ ਕਉ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਸਬਦਿ ਬੁਝਾਇਓ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ … ਐਸਾ ਜੋਗੀ ਵਡਭਾਗੀ ਭੇਟੈ ਮਾਇਆ ਕੇ ਬੰਧਨ ਕਾਟੈ ॥ ਸੇਵਾ ਪੂਜ ਕਰਉ ਤਿਸੁ ਮੂਰਤਿ ਕੀ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਤਿਸੁ ਪਗ ਚਾਟੈ ॥੫॥੧੧॥੧੩੨॥ : I have learnt from the Guru the right way of Uniting with God. The Guru’s SHABAD has made me understand it. ||1||Pause|| … By great good fortune, such a Yogi (Guru Shabad) is met who cuts away the traps of Maya. Nanak, I too adore and worship such that (i.e. Shabad Guru) and touch the feet of such (Shabad Guru). (sggs 208).
  • ਗੁਰ ਮੂਰਤਿ ਗੁਰ ਸਬਦੁ ਹੈ ਸਾਧਸੰਗਤਿ ਵਿਚਿ ਪਰਗਟੀ ਆਇਆ ॥ : The Guru’s form (body, Moorat…) is the Guru’s ‘SHABAD’, and it is revealed in the company of the holy. (Bhai Gurdas, Vaar 24: 25).
  • ਗੁਰ ਮੂਰਤਿ ਸਿਉ ਲਾਇ ਧਿਆਨੁ ॥ ਈਹਾ ਊਹਾ ਪਾਵਹਿ ਮਾਨੁ ॥੩॥ : (The Guru’s Shabad is the image – Moorat – of the Guru, the form of the Guru) Connect your mind with the Guru’s Shabad). You will attain respect/honor here and now and in future. ||3|| (sggs 192).

Since our Guru is connected to the Akal Moort (the Timeless image of God), he is the form of the God himself. His Giyan-Wisdom, his Upadesh (teaching), his Shabad are eternal truth. Therefore, this aspect of the Guru is eternal. That said, the Guru’s Shabad, which connects with the eternal truth, is the Guru’s image. This Timeless and eternal image of the Guru has no markings etc. So nothing can be made of it, such as a photograph, picture, or image. The ONLY thing that can preserve this image is the human MIND.

In fact, Guru Nanak explains this in his own Bani that the Guru of a Sikh is only the Shabad, and that one’s Conscience / mind / Surat-ਸੁਰਤ needs to become the Sikh (learner, student – ਸਿਖਿਆਰਥੀ), NOT the physical body-frame:

  • ਸਬਦੁ ਗੁਰੂ ਸੁਰਤਿ ਧੁਨਿ ਚੇਲਾ ॥: The SHABAD is my GURU (i.e. the Source of my Enlightenment), and my conscience (Surat, mind) is the disciple (of this SHABAD GURU (i.e. I adhere to the Instructions contained within the Shabad). (sggs 943).
  • ਸਬਦੁ ਗੁਰ ਪੀਰਾ ਗਹਿਰ ਗੰਭੀਰਾ ਬਿਨੁ ਸਬਦੈ ਜਗੁ ਬਉਰਾਨੰ ॥: Shabad (Giyan, Upadesh, Naam, Wisdom…) is the Guru and Peer; (with this Shabad, a person) becomes profoundly earnest; (however) without the Shabad the world is gone crazy. (sggs 635).

Since Shabad can only be realized in conscience (Surat-ਸੁਰਤ-mind), making idols of the Guru Sahib is completely contrary to Gurmat principles. Before the advent of Guru Nanak, the custom of worshiping various gods and goddesses by making idols and painting them on walls was going on for a long time. But Guru Nanak criticized the idol worship. He said there can be no real worship of the Eternal Creator without the Naam. The Gurbani (SGGS) further enlightens us:

  • ਪਾਖਾਨ ਗਢਿ ਕੈ ਮੂਰਤਿ ਕੀਨ੍ਹ੍ਹੀ ਦੇ ਕੈ ਛਾਤੀ ਪਾਉ ॥ ਜੇ ਏਹ ਮੂਰਤਿ ਸਾਚੀ ਹੈ ਤਉ ਗੜ੍ਹਣਹਾਰੇ ਖਾਉ ॥੩॥ : The sculptor carves the stone and fashions it into an idol; while carving he put his feet upon the Idol’s chest. If this idol were really a true god (possessing any power) it would devour the sculptor (for insulting and torturing him in such a way). ||3|| (sggs 479).
  • ਜੋ ਪਾਥਰ ਕਉ ਕਹਤੇ ਦੇਵ ॥ ਤਾ ਕੀ ਬਿਰਥਾ ਹੋਵੈ ਸੇਵ ॥ ਜੋ ਪਾਥਰ ਕੀ ਪਾਂਈ ਪਾਇ ॥ ਤਿਸ ਕੀ ਘਾਲ ਅਜਾਂਈ ਜਾਇ ॥੧॥ : Those who call the stone-idols as God, all their service (worship-Poojaa…) goes waste. Those who fall at the feet of a stone-idol, all their efforts go in vain. ||1|| (sggs 1160).
  • ਪੂਜਾ ਕੀਚੈ ਨਾਮੁ ਧਿਆਈਐ ਬਿਨੁ ਨਾਵੈ ਪੂਜ ਨ ਹੋਇ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ : Contemplation on the Naam is the Poojaa. Without the Naam, there is no Poojaa ||1||Pause|| (sggs 489).

Guru Nanak’s New concept of ‘ੴ’

Guru Nanak’s SIKHI is Non-sectarian. Guru Nanak rejected earlier religious paradigms of God, and proclaimed that God is without enmity and is non-retributive and embodiment of Virtues such as enlightenment, compassion, love, generosity, kindness, contentment, forgiveness etc.

He gave us New concept of ‘ੴ’ (Iko or Eko) — ONE AND ONLY CREATOR WITHIN, infinite, ineffable and unfathomable, beyond
human comprehension in totality. This New. Unique and Revolutionary concept discarded existing concept of God that God is an entity separate from man sitting up there somewhere or out there in heaven, micromanaging the world. His God is loving and merciful God of the entire universe and all the creation in it.

  • ਕੁਦਰਤਿ ਕਰਿ ਕੈ ਵਸਿਆ ਸੋਇ ॥ : The Creator resides within the Creation that He Created. (sggs 83).

With the exception of few enlightened Sikhs, 99 percent of Sikhs worship God discarded by Guru Nanak. ‘ੴ’ represent the oneness of the creator and the creation — creation is His manifestation. As God is within his creation, the same God is withing me and everybody else (i.e. within all mankind). That said, God within is a Unique, New and Revolutionary concept. Aptly, Guru Nanak ascribed the spirituality as a state of being one with God within. This is IMPOSSIBLE if anybody thinks God is up there or out there somewhere, separate from mankind. The one who looks within Awakens. A person so Awakened does not need validation from outside.

  • ਤੂ ਹਿਰਦੈ ਗੁਪਤੁ ਵਸਹਿ ਦਿਨੁ ਰਾਤੀ ਤੇਰਾ ਭਾਉ ਨ ਬੁਝਹਿ ਗਵਾਰੀ ॥ : (O Lord) You dwell, hidden, within the Heart (of all beings) day and night, but the fools do not understand to Love You (sggs 607).

Guru Nanak did not start a new religion

Guru Nanak reacted to what was happening in the contemporary Indian society that was plagued by moral degeneration, tyranny, bigotry, prejudices, casteism (Jaat Paat), injustice, enmity, religious conflicts, cruelty, greed, corruption, falsehood, hypocrisy (Pakhand), pretension, deception, ignorance, heartbreaking condition of woman, self-conceit, poverty, lack of education, exploitation of masses (by rulers, government administrators, clergy and the rich), and so on.

Although Guru Nanak was born into a Hindu household but with that faith his Sikhi shares almost nothing, not even the concept of God, let alone starting a new religion — no Ten Commandments, no the Sharia Law, no the Brahminical rituals, no the Yogic/Udasi lifestyle for him.

Religion is a Judaeo-Christian term, and the term ‘Mazahab‘ is from Abrahamic traditions. Guru Nanak did not use or accept the term religion or Mazhab (ਮਜ਼ਹਬ). Truth is that Guru Nanak rejected the existing Semitic religions and Indian religions of his time along with their rituals (Karamkaand), religious symbols and robes, religious dogmas, clergy and their Gods and Goddesses in no uncertain terms. In fact he holds them responsible for the destruction/annihilation of the spirituality and humanity from within the human conscience (Surat-ਸੁਰਤ), Also, in the mind of Guru Nanak, the notion of a single Mazhab (decree that was the brainchild of the zealot and fanatical Aurangzeb) was anti-thesis to the foundational principle of diversity in Creation. Being humanist and uniter, all Gurus and Bhagats whose Bani is included in the SGGS rejected all existing religions and their respective Pujaaree (clergy) systems for they divide humanity. The Gurbani proclaims:

  • ਪੰਡਿਤ ਮੁਲਾਂ ਜੋ ਲਿਖਿ ਦੀਆ ॥ ਛਾਡਿ ਚਲੇ ਹਮ ਕਛੂ ਨ ਲੀਆ ॥੩॥ : ALL that the Pandit and Mullah Clergy have prescribed or presented to us, I have DISCARDED (while walking on the Path of Spirituality). I DISCARD IT ALL and have ACCEPTED NOTHING at all. ||3|| (sggs 1159).
  • ਨਾ ਹਮ ਹਿੰਦੂ ਨ ਮੁਸਲਮਾਨ ॥ : We are not Hindus, nor are we Muslims (i.e. for the guidance of spiritual life, we do not depend on them). (sggs 1136).
  • ਹਿੰਦੂ ਅੰਨ੍ਹ੍ਹਾ ਤੁਰਕੂ ਕਾਣਾ ॥ : The Hindu is blind (mentally blind, UN-Enlightened), who has made-up phony stories and claims God is limited only to the temple…) and the Muslim is one-eyed (i.e. who belives in One God – but claims Allah is limited only to the mosque, etc.).  (sggs 875).

This principle and Message of universal diversity is the basis of Sikhi or Gurmat of Guru Nanak. It teaches the entire mankind that we humans are neither Hindus nor Muslims, because they divide humanity into different religions and sects. However, many with agenda misinterpret this verse of the Gurbani to mean Sikhs are separate from Hindu ands Muslims. In the following Shabads, Bhagat Namdev teaches us how to liberate ourselves from mental traps and shackles of man-made religions. This principle of diversity was a foundational belief of Guru Nanak’s Sikhi as encapsulated in the following verses of the SGGS:

  • ਏਕੁ ਬਗੀਚਾ ਪੇਡ ਘਨ ਕਰਿਆ ॥ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਨਾਮੁ ਤਹਾ ਮਹਿ ਫਲਿਆ ॥ 1 ॥ : The Orchard — meaning Humanity — is One, but the vegetation within it — meaning People — is diverse aplenty. It is within such kind of Creation that diversity comes to fruition. ||1|| (sggs 385).
  • ਮੇਰੈ ਪ੍ਰਭਿ ਸਾਚੈ ਇਕੁ ਖੇਲੁ ਰਚਾਇਆ ॥ ਕੋਇ ਨ ਕਿਸ ਹੀ ਜੇਹਾ ਉਪਾਇਆ ॥ : The creation of my Lord is such. None is like the other. (sggs 1056).

That said, he did not start or give us a new religion. Put simply, religion destroys spirituality and humanity, mankind and universality within the human conscience (Surat). Religions are hundreds, but spirituality is ONE, hence religion divides and instigate conflicts. Here is a burning example of how divisive man-made religions are — 1947 partition of India based on religion. Communal riots which preceded the 1947 partition in the Punjab region in the west and Bengal on the east; millions of people were dispersed and slaughtered in the retributive genocide in the name of religion.

  • ਕਾਦੀ ਕੂੜੁ ਬੋਲਿ ਮਲੁ ਖਾਇ ॥ ਬ੍ਰਾਹਮਣੁ ਨਾਵੈ ਜੀਆ ਘਾਇ ॥ ਜੋਗੀ ਜੁਗਤਿ ਨ ਜਾਣੈ ਅੰਧੁ ॥ ਤੀਨੇ ਓਜਾੜੇ ਕਾ ਬੰਧੁ ॥੨॥ : The clergy of the Muslim faith was corrupt, the Brahmin was murderous and the Yogi UN-Enlightened. These three (clergy) had become the root cause for the spiritual wreckage and desolation that mankind had come to endure. (sggs 662).

Therefore, often misunderstood, Sikhi is not a combination or offshoot of any traditional religion (Mazhab-ਮਜ਼ਹਬ). In a nutshell, Guru Nanak’s Sikhi (a Way of life) is ‘Nirmal‘ (Pure) and ‘Nirala‘ (Unique) because it is free from the contamination of the pre-1469 belief systems rejected and discarded by Guru Nanak in no uncertain terms.

One Sublime Universal Dharma

The Unique spirituality of the SGGS teaches us about the most Sublime Dharma of Divine Naam — Universal Natural Order, which is the same over time, culture, region, age, location etc.

  • ਸਰਬ ਧਰਮ ਮਹਿ ਸ੍ਰੇਸਟ ਧਰਮੁ ॥ ਹਰਿ ਕੋ ਨਾਮੁ ਜਪਿ ਨਿਰਮਲ ਕਰਮੁ ॥ : Of all worldly religions, the most SUBLIME DHARMA (ਅਧਿਆਤਮਕ ਧਰਮ) is realization of Naam (Divine Wisdom / Virtues / Hukam), and maintaining immaculate conduct with this Spiritual Dharma. (sggs 266).
  • ਕਰਮ ਧਰਮ ਅਨੇਕ ਕਿਰਿਆ ਸਭ ਊਪਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਆਚਾਰੁ ॥ : To live by the Divine Naam (Divine Wisdom / Virtues / Hukam…) in life is superior to all prescribed religious rituals. (sggs 405).

Three terms — (1) Dharma (‘ਧਰਮ’), (2) Naam (‘ਨਾਮੁ’) and (3) Jap (ਜਪਿ) — in the above verse need special attention. Because these terms have been used willy-nilly by the the self-serving Sikh Pujaaree clique etc. Let’s look at them from a Gurmat perspective.

(1). DHARMA: This term ‘Dharma‘ has no English equivalent word. The word Dharma comes from the Sanskrit root ‘Dhri‘, which means ‘to hold’. Therefore, Dharma refers to that innate characteristic or Eternal Nature which constantly exists with a particular object or beings. In short, we can describe the term Dharma as ‘The Universal Order’. The Gurmat Wisdom (SGGS) asserts the Creator is One (i.e. One Universal Energy as Hukam), and this One is Omnipresent.

For example, heat is the natural Dharma of fire, liquidity is the natural Dharma of water, light is the natural Dharma of sun, to produce plants is the natural Dharma of a seed, energy is the natural Dharma of electricity, and so on. Hence, the word Dharma refers to and expresses the vital or Essential Nature of beings, animals, all other creatures, metals, and so on. Dharma, therefore, is a comprehensive term that refers to the immutable System-Rule-Law of Nature (Hukam, ਨਿਯਮ…). In a nutshell, for heat, water, wind or gravitational force to become ‘Without Dharma‘ is to forget or give up their Inherited Qualities, or properties (ਗੁਣ-Virtues), or duty. Similarly, at the human level, for a person to become ‘without Dharma‘ (become A-Dharmee, ਅਧਰਮੀ) is to forget or give up his / her Inherited Qualities (ਗੁਣ-Virtues), duty or responsibilities (ਫਰਜ, ਜਿੰਮੇਵਾਰੀ), innate or Original Nature (i.e. Jot Saroop) etc.

  • ਧੌਲੁ ਧਰਮੁ ਦਇਆ ਕਾ ਪੂਤੁ ॥ ਸੰਤੋਖੁ ਥਾਪਿ ਰਖਿਆ ਜਿਨਿ ਸੂਤਿ ॥ : Pure Dharma is the offspring (of the divine Virtue of) Compassion. (The offspring of Compassion is) spiritual Contentment that anchors and binds (the five senses). (sggs 3).

The Gurmat Wisdom (SGGS) asserts the Creator is One (i.e. One Universal Energy or Hukam), and Omnipresent — ‘ਏਕੋ ਹੈ ਭਾਈ ਏਕੋ ਹੈ ॥’. Now, common sense would dictate since the Creator is ONE and Omnipresent, the true Dharma must also be One and the same everywhere in the world like gravity — the Universal Dharma of realizing divine Naam (Divine Virtues / Wisdom) or live life in harmony with the Divine Hukam (Hukam Rajaayee Chalanaa-‘ਹੁਕਮਿ ਰਜਾਈ ਚਲਣਾ’). Rest are all man-made/organized religions (ਮਜ਼ਹਬ), which have been rejected by Guru Nanak in no uncertain terms. In fact, God in Sikhi or Gurmat is depicted as a collection of divine Virtues! The entire Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS) provides us a whole gamut of the Divine Virtues attributed to the ONE CREATOR. All Names given to God are in fact divine Virtues. In other words, every Name the Gurus, Bhagats and seekers have given to God are in terms of the divine Virtues.

  • ਸਭਿ ਗੁਣ ਤੇਰੇ ਮੈ ਨਾਹੀ ਕੋਇ ॥ ਵਿਣੁ ਗੁਣ ਕੀਤੇ ਭਗਤਿ ਨ ਹੋਇ ॥ : I Cleanse my mind Within (of vices) with Godly Virtues. There can be NO Bhagti (spirituality or divinity) sans the Realization of Divine Virtues. (sggs 4).

That being said, in Sikhi, the Realization of the ONE Creator WITHIN and seeing IT in everyone comes through the process of acquisition of the divine Virtues in life and then living them when transacting with the outside world of objects, sphere of emotions, and the realm of thoughts. — BECOMING the Divine VIRTUES.

  • ਅਸਮਾਨ ਮ੍ਯ੍ਯਿਾਨੇ ਲਹੰਗ ਦਰੀਆ ਗੁਸਲ ਕਰਦਨ ਬੂਦ ॥ : In the mind, a stream flows (i.e., the stream of Virtues, Wisdom, Amrit, Truth, Universal Energy…); take your bath in it. (sggs 727).

(2) Naam: Guru Nanak introduced the concept of Naam — Divine Wisdom / Virtues / Hukam — which is critical to Spirituality and humanity. Mankind is infested with vices/Bikaar, which have to be replaced with Divine Virtues.

(3) Jap: In Guru Nanak’s Sikhi, Jap is realization — it is the process of knowing, understanding, accepting, believing, habitualizing, inculcating, and finally BECOMING. That said, in Guru Nanak’s Sikhi, Jap is NOT chanting or ritual recitation of some words with half closed eyes staring in the sky. All that have been rejected by Guru Nanak. He teaches us that Creator, Shabad and Naam, each one of them have to be realized WITHIN.

Guru Nanak gave us this Unique concept of BECOMING. Acting without BECOMING is sheer Pakhand. Becoming is not about rituals, religious symbols, religious robes etc. It is about BECOMING Sachiaaraa, enlightened, God realized within, free of enmity, free of fear etc. He gave us SHABAD, a vehicle/means/instrument for divine spiritual enlightenment. In Nanak’s spirituality, an UN-enlightened being will never be spiritual.

Ritual recitation or chanting is easier than BECOMING. As a result, we don’t want to go near the Guru’s Shabad because we are afraid of BECOMING. People want beliefs such as empty and imaginary rituals. However, Guru Nanak gave us enlightenment or Awareness instead of rituals. This is why the real Guru Nanak remains an outsider, even to the Sikhs. because people want phony beliefs and rituals instead of BECOMING. So we have created our own version of Guru Nanak, the one who gave us empty beliefs and rituals instead of enlightenment. The Message of Guru Nanak contained in the Gurbani is Universal and valid for all times — it applies to all places and all people in the world. For example, if something is addressed to a Muslim, it also equally applies to all Sikhs, Hindus, Yogis and everybody else in the world. If something is addressed to a Hindu, it also equally applies to all Sikhs and everybody else in the world.

  • ਏਕੋ ਧਰਮੁ ਦ੍ਰਿੜੈ ਸਚੁ ਕੋਈ ॥ ਗੁਰਮਤਿ ਪੂਰਾ ਜੁਗਿ ਜੁਗਿ ਸੋਈ ॥ : Whosoever firmly internalizes the ONE Dharma or Truth (Sach-Creator, Virtues), through the Guru’s teachings he/she spiritually becomes stable (against vices forever). (sggs 1188).

Simply put, a Sikh can Awaken within Divine Virtues (Gun-ਗੁਣ) by remaining a good Sikh; a Hindu can Awaken within Divine Virtues by remaining a good Hindu; a Muslim can Awaken within Divine Virtues by remaining a good Muslim; a Bodhi can Awaken within Divine Virtues by remaining a good Bodhi; a Christian can Awaken within Divine Virtues by remaining a good Christian; a Jew can Awaken within Divine Virtues by remaining a good Jew; and so on.

However, the greedy and self-serving Sikh Pujaaree systems and religious establishments of all the organized religions will NOT let it happen! Instead, they will make sure the people remain divided, fearful, greedy, ignorant, unvirtuous (Gun-ਗੁਣ), bigots, prejudiced, hostile to others, and so on. Aptly, the SGGS teaches to discard the corrupt Pujaaree system. Because the Pujaaree groups have turned their man-made religions into a mundane business (ਧੰਧਾ)! Peace on Earth will not prevail until all the organized religions and their concocted gods exist. Aptly, for the betterment of the human society, all contributors of the SGGS tried their best to break the crafty and stagnant Pujaaree systems of the organized religions. They knew that without breaking these corrupt Pujaaree systems, people cannot be steered away from the lifestyle of ‘Bhangaar‘, enmity, fear and greed they propagate.

In a nutshell, Dharma or Sikhi should reflect in one’s Virtues, in one’s character (ਕਿਰਦਾਰ, conduct, thoughts, Wisdom, deeds…), in fulfilling one’s responsibilities, in one’s life etc. In other words, Dharma or Sikhi should reflect in one’s Quality of daily life or deeds (Giyan-Wisdom, Virtues) —  Gurmukh mindset (Enlightened, Guru Shabad-Oriented, God centered).

  • ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਗਿਆਨ ਭੇਟਿ ਗੁਣ ਗਾਹੀ ॥੭॥ : Those who become Gurmukh, merge in Wisdom and live (daily life) of Divine Virtues. ||7|| (sggs 226).
  • ਹੁਕਮੁ ਪਛਾਣੈ ਸੁ ਹਰਿ ਗੁਣ ਵਖਾਣੈ ॥ : Who recognizes or understands the Hukam lives (daily life) of Divine Virtues. (sggs 109).

Ending

Guru Nanak kindled the Light of spiritual Giyan (ਗਿਆਨ) to dispel the darkness of ignorance from within the human conscience (Surat-ਸੁਰਤ-mind). Alas, it’s flickering inside the completely cloudy glass lamp fueled by empty and imaginary rituals (Karamkaand), spectacle etc, wholly
disjointed from the intellectual clarity of Sikh thought. That said, sadly, we Sikhs have lost true Light that illuminate within the conscience, and in its place we keep kindling its imitation.

Guru Nanak’s authentic Sikhi is born out of Guru’s own life experience. It’s Guru’s own inspiration and thought process that inspires him to seek and speak truths. Aptly, Guru Nanak wants us to WALK THE PATH of SPIRITUAL DISCOVERY, NOT JUST KNOW THE PATH!

  • ਨਾਨਕ ਗਇਆ ਜਾਪੈ ਜਾਇ ॥੩੪॥: Says Nanak — (I) have walked on the Spiritual Path and have Realized / Understood; now you walk on this Spiritual Path and Realize / Understand yourself (i.e. it is only upon walking the Path and Realizing one discovers if one succeeded or failed). ॥34॥ (sggs 7).

I believe in Guru Nanak’s Unique, Revolutionary and Liberating Gurmat Dharma of universal humanism — wishing well-being of all (Sarbatt Da Bhala), liberty, love, friendship, respect, justice, equality, peace, harmony, which is applicable to the entire humanity. Guru Nanak emphasized that the purpose of life is to realize God within by living a truthful life, NOT through endless ritual purification, religious paraphernalia, ascetic practices (withdrawal from active life), amassing riches, clever arguments etc.

That said, Guru Nanak taught us a simple, practical and universal Spiritual Way of life applicable to all mankind for all humans are spiritual beings who are going through human experience. Simply put, Guru Nanak wants humans to BECOME SACHIAARAA. Such enlightened person remains within the confines of the Divine Hukam (‘ਹੁਕਮਿ ਰਜਾਈ ਚਲਣਾ’).

  • ਕਿਵ ਸਚਿਆਰਾ ਹੋਈਐ ਕਿਵ ਕੂੜੈ ਤੁਟੈ ਪਾਲਿ ॥ ਹੁਕਮਿ ਰਜਾਈ ਚਲਣਾ ਨਾਨਕ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਨਾਲਿ ॥੧॥ : How then can I become God-Realized being within (‘Sachiaaraa‘)? How can I remove the obstacle of my non-realized state within? O Nanak! (The way to realize Creator within is to) remain within the confines of His Hukam (the Cosmic System-Rule-Law of Nature, ਕੁਦਰਤੀ ਨਿਯਮ…), as (Creator and His Hukam) is contained with us. ||1|| (sggs 1).

Guru Nanak would have agreed with Rumi (1207-1273) who said:

  • “I’m not from the East or the west. I’m not Christian or Jew or Muslim. I’m not Hindu, Buddhist, Sufi or Zen. I do not belong to any established religion or any cultural system … My place is placeless, a trace of the traceless. I’m neither body nor soul. I belong to my Beloved.”

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2 comments

  2. As always your articles or blogs or analytical views substantiated by Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji are absolute truth.I have been going through your articles for so many years.They have helped me a lot to transform.Gurbani says,”Satguru ki Bani Sat Sarup Hei Gurbani Banie”.Thanks

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