Pujaaree’s Sikhi vs. Guru Nanak’s Unique Sikhi

The Sikhi or Gurmat of Guru Nanak Dev Ji believes in one eternal God and does not recognize any other gods or goddesses. Before the arrival of Guru Nanak Dev Ji in the Indian subcontinent (1469), mainly two religions were dominant in the Indian subcontinent (two ideologies-ਵਿਚਾਰ ਧਾਰਾ) – (1) Brahmin (Pujaaree-clergy) influence, madness of belief in caste system (Jaat Paat) in the society, idol worship in temples and related rituals (karamkaand), dogmas, superstitions etc., and (2) Muslim influence in which Islamic Sharia and forced conversion of people into Islam was dominant. In addition to organized religions (ਮਜ਼ਹਬ-Mazhab), the human society was divided into divisions, sects etc.

Guru Nanak replaced these things with the Divine Word of One eternal God and bestowed upon mankind the Divine Bani. Since the Universal Truth is ONE, all Gurus declared that we are none of these groups that divide humanity into different religions and sects etc. In fact teachings of Guru Nanak is for the entire humanity (‘ਸਾਝੀ ਸਗਲ ਜਹਾਨੈ’). The Gurbani enshrined within the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS) declares:

• 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).

Guru Nanak traveled to various popular places of both Hindu and Muslim religions and debunked the priests (Pujaaree class) and Qazis for their practices, dividing people, misleading and fleecing the masses.

Guru Nanak’s Unique Sikhi

Gur Nanak taught a Spiritual WAY OF LIFE applicable to all mankind because all humans are Spiritual beings who are going through human experience. He did not start or give us a new religion, because:

1. Religions (ਮਜ਼ਹਬ-Mazhabs) are hundreds, but Spirituality is ONE.
2. Religion makes people Pakhandi, blindly follow the crowds and imitate others, but Spirituality is about doing as per the Awakend Self, paying attention to the Inner Voice.
3. Religion is for those who sleep, but Spirituality is for those who are Awake.
4. Religion divides, threatens, frightens and instigates conflicts and killing, but Spirituality unites, bestows Anand/Bliss, inner Joy and love.
5. Religion is about past, future or after death nonsense, but Spirituality is to live life in the HERE and NOW.
6. Religion sets dogmatic rules and does not tolerate questioning, but Spirituality encourages us to think logically (Bibek/- ਬਿਬੇਕ/ਤਰਕ), to reason about everything, and to question everything. Gurmat of Guru Nanak stands on logic (Tarak-ਤਰਕ, reasoning).
7. Religion talks about God separate from humans sitting ‘up there’ in the sky, but Spirituality is All-Present and is realize God’s presence within.
8. Religion enslaves people’s mind. It works on our emotions rather than our intelligence and powers of reasoning but Spirituality liberates human Conscience (Surt-ਸੁਰਤ), knowing oneself, seeking/searching (ਖੋਜ), discovering, learning, and getting closer to Truth.
9. Religion promises fake heaven after death, but Spirituality makes us live heavenly life Here and Now.
10. Religion nourishes false ego-sense (Haumai) for it kills one’s True Nature (Jot Saroop) by feeding fear and vices/Bikaar, but Spirituality transcends it.
11. Religion is organized/institutionalized with man-made rules, but spirituality has no man-made rules for it is Divine and Universal, and so on. That said, religion destroys Spirituality and humanity within the human conscience (Surat).
12.  Religion seeks refuse in religious fanaticism and brutality (e.g. Aurungzeb’s brutality and fanaticism had no bounds), but Spirituality gives inner peace, harmony, love, Oneness.
13. Religion scares people by speaking of sin and guilt, ritualistic Paap Punn etc, but Spirituality asks us to learn from mistakes, evolve, and to live in conformance with Naam (Giyan–Wisdom / Virtues / Hukam) etc.
14. Religion is sectarian, Spirituality is not sectarian.

In fact Guru Nanak rejected all the religions of his day,
including the one he was born into – he was born into a Hindu household but with that faith his Gurmat or Sikhi shares nothing. That said, he was not to start an another religion!

Hence, the Gurmat (teachings of the Guru Shabad – SGGS) is not Meant to Regurgitate what already existed before the Advent of Guru Nanak (i.e. pre-1469 belief systems)!

That being said, Guru Nanak not only rejected the existing Semitic religions and Indian religions of his time, but he also rejected their rituals (Karamkaand), religious symbols, religious robes, religious dogmas, clergy and their Gods and Goddesses in no uncertain terms. Guru Nanak holds them responsible for the destruction/annihilation of the Spirituality and humanity from within the human conscience (Surat-ਸੁਰਤ),

• 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).
• ਹਮਰਾ ਝਗਰਾ ਰਹਾ ਨ ਕੋਊ ॥ ਪੰਡਿਤ ਮੁਲਾਂ ਛਾਡੇ ਦੋਊ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ : (Bhagat Kabeer Ji says) I have no conflict in my mind whatsoever — no struggle within me anymore. (I have achieved this state because) I have discarded all the claims of the clergy (Pujaaree). |1|| Pause || (sggs 1158).
• 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).

Guru Nanak taught the Spiritual Path or Way of life (‘ਰਾਹੁ’-Rah, ਮਾਰਗ-Marag, ਰਸਤਾ-Rasta…) – Sikhi – ‘Nirmal‘ (pure), free from the contamination of the pre-1469 beliefs, ritualized dogmas, practices and mindset that have been rejected and discarded by Guru Nanak in no uncertain terms.

• ਜੋ ਨਿਰਮਲੁ ਸੇਵੇ ਸੁ ਨਿਰਮਲੁ ਹੋਵੈ ॥ ਹਉਮੈ ਮੈਲੁ ਗੁਰ ਸਬਦੇ ਧੋਵੈ ॥ : One who contemplates the PURE (‘Nirmal‘) becomes PURE. That person removes the filth of his/her Haumai or false ego-sense by internalizing and applying the enlightening Giyan-Wisdom of the Guru Shabad. (sggs 121).
• ਮਾਰਿਆ ਸਿਕਾ ਜਗਤ੍ਰਿ ਵਿਚਿ ਨਾਨਕ ਨਿਰਮਲ ਪੰਥ ਚਲਾਇਆ । : In the world of Spirituality, the Way (of Spirituality or Sikhi) of Nanak has its Trademark in its Uniqueness as being ‘Nirmal‘ (pure – free from contamination/impurities of the existing pre-1469 beliefs, free from the filth of Bikaar/vices/Haumai or false ego-sense). (Bhai Gurdas Ji, Vaar1, Pauri 45).
• ਸਬਦਿ ਜਿਤੀ ਸਿਧਿ ਮੰਡਲੀ ਕੀਤੋਸੁ ਅਪਣਾ ਪੰਥੁ ਨਿਰਾਲਾ । : Through (the power of the) Shabad (Guru Nanak) won over the group of Siddhs and propounded his altogether new/Unique (‘Nirala‘) ‘Panth‘ or way of life. (Bhai Gurdas Ji, Vaar1, Pauri 31).

Guru Nanak Re-Defined all pre-1469 Spiritual concepts to explicitly with new meanings and understanding to fit the new Spiritual paradigms of Sikhi or Gurmat. Therefore, whenever there is a mention of an old concept, we need to understand the RE-Defined meanings of that concept from the Gurbani (SGGS). Because Gurbani explains Gurbani.

All the 35 composers of the Gurbani (SGGS) walked the Path that they speak of, and expected the rest of us walk that Path as well. Briefly, Guru Nanak’s Sikhi:

• is of the SELF, for the SELF, and by the SELF
• is not sectarian
• is not based on any Karamkaand/ritual or tradition, but the ideological principle (Gurmat Sidhaant) of the Gurbani enshrined within the SGGS. Rituals and traditions may change according to the times and needs, but the principles of Gurmat (Gurmat Sidhaant) do not change.
• is based on Enlightenment – Giyan-Wisdom (ਗਿਆਨ), reasoning or logic (Tarak-ਤਰਕ, Bibek Budh. discerning intellect), education, becoming Sachiaaraa or Gurmukh State of the Mind, discarding Manmukh mindset (Un-Enlightened state of the mind). Therefore, a person who doubts powers of intelligence, reasoning or logic cannot be a Sikh of Guru Nanak’s Pure, Unique, and Revolutionary Way of life
• is based on Gurmat or Gurbani (SGGS) which inspires the entire humanity to become self-reliant and righteous/virtuous (Sachiaaraa) and a message is given for social reform etc
• is Universal and egalitarian – embraces all of existence. Hence has transformational potential worldwide. It is meant for the entirety of mankind hence meant to be shared (‘ਸਾਝੀ ਸਗਲ ਜਹਾਨੈ’)
• is a timeless and unique value system rooted in ethical and moral living, centered around a profound love for the One Formless CREATOR (Universal Energy) to be realized within oneself and within all beings – Gobind in Me is Gobind in All
• is free of pre-1469 beliefs, rituals (Karamkaand), dogmas, superstitions or doubts, myths, ignorance, dogmas, religious paraphernalia, imaginary Spiritualties of fake stories (Sakhis) and concocted narratives, racism, casteism (Jaat Paat), prejudices, hatred, and so on
• is Spirituality of HERE and NOW, NOT afterlife
• shuns man-made customs, Maryadas, and riti-rivaz
• teaches to remember/realize/apply God-connecting Naam, become ‘Sachiaaraa‘
• teaches our fate is in our own hands (‘ਆਪਣ ਹਥੀ ਆਪਣਾ ਆਪੇ ਹੀ ਕਾਜੁ ਸਵਾਰੀਐ’)
• teaches our destiny unfolds based on our actions (‘ਕਰਮਾ ਉਪਰਿ ਨਿਬੜੈ ਜੇ ਲੋਚੈ ਸਭੁ ਕੋਇ ‘)
• teaches Kirat Karni and not to become a free-loader, or a parasite
• teaches to share with needy (Vand Shakna)
• teaches to live in conformance with the One Invisible Divine Hukam (Cosmic System-Rule-Law-Order of Nature) – law of consequences (‘ਹੁਕਮਿ ਮੰਨਿਐ ਹੋਵੈ ਪਰਵਾਣੁ’)
• teaches practical and commonsense Spirituality
•  teaches humanity is One because the Creator is ONE (ੴ)
• teaches a life of ethical and moral responsibility (ਜਿੰਮੇਦਾਰੀ)
• teaches becoming living liberated, not after death
• teaches NO one place is holier than the other because ONE Omnipresent God permeates everywhere
• teaches gender equality – the equality of men and women. Instructed the women to discard veil. Allowed widow and widower remarriage, and condemns the Hindu practice of Satee (live immolation of widow on her husband’s funeral pyre)
• teaches Universal Brotherhood, unity, love, justice, Humanism, tolerance, respect, accepting all mankind without any preconditions or compulsions for there are no enemies but friends, social justice and equality, ‘Sarbat Daa Bhalaa’ – wishing well being of all
• teaches Dharma of Godly Virtues
• teaches the importance of labor and hard and honest work (‘Kirat Karo‘), responsibility, truthful living
• teaches not to covet what belongs to others, be it property, or other possessions
• teaches world is good and we are inherently divine (Jot Saroop); live a Wise, friendlier, happier and optimistic life (‘Charh Di Kalaa‘) of love and joy — live a divine life (Gurmukh Lifestyle),
• teaches to serve (Sevaa-ਸੇਵਾ) the fellow human beings, help and support the poor and unfortunate (‘Sarbatt Daa Bhalaa‘)
• teaches respecting and caring the ENVIRONMEMT (creation, Kudrat: ‘ਬਲਿਹਾਰੀ ਕੁਦਰਤਿ ਵਸਿਆ’), and so on
• rejects Pujaaree System (clergy class – ‘ਪੰਡਿਤ ਮੁਲਾਂ ਛਾਡੇ ਦੋਊ’).
• rejects Middle-Man between God and man. God in Sikhi does not function through any prophet / messiah / priest or Pujaaree etc.
• rejects Sanatan-Bramnical-Yogic rituals, symbols, religious paraphernalia, Bhekh or religious robes etc.
• rejects idol worship – idolatry
• rejects multiple gods and goddesses
• rejects the concepts of virgin birth
• rejects resurrection because death is final. It also rejects concept of a set doomsday for God’s verdict
• rejects specific times, place and facing specific direction for prayer
• rejects venerations of dead relatives
• rejects pilgrimmages (Teerath Yatra), superstitions, ‘Bhekh’ (religious paraphernalia), dogmas, stubborn mindedness, blind faith, ritual bathing for Spiritual gain such as washing your sins away etc
• rejects fasting (starving the body), and Tapa, penance, torturing body etc.
• rejects concepts like apostate or ‘Kafir‘ etc of traditional religions
• rejects the pre-1469 prevalent concepts of AFTER LIFE
  salvation (Mukti),
• reject Sannyasa (renunciation) etc
• rejects AFTER DEATH fake heaven and hell
• rejects the cycle of 84 lakh Joon (8,400,000 lifeforms)
• rejects the illogical concept of reincarnation or transmigration as well as Jum Doot, Dharma Raj, and Chitr Gupt, and so on
• rejects Bhoot Pret (Ghost, goblin…)
• emphasizes Shabd-Langar, Shabad Vichaar, churning of the Gurbani, and becoming the Gurbani etc
• emphasizes hard and honest work (‘Kirat Karo‘), responsibility, self-efforts to improve ownself, persuade ownself, change or recreate ownself, search ownself, instruct own mind etc. — hence, each person’s competition is with his ownself; try to be better than yourself!, accountability of one’s own deeds etc.
• alike science, it encourages questioning, it helps the questioner/seeker/learner (i.e. the Sikh) to Awaken so as to find his or her own answers
• recognizes Creation is Infinite Energy, beyond description
• respects and celebrates life

During the time of Guru Nanak, the word ‘Gurdwara’ was not in common use; it was called Dharamsala, a place where Sikhs could come together and learn / discuss Gurmat and Sikhi.

• ਮੈ ਬਧੀ ਸਚੁ ਧਰਮ ਸਾਲ ਹੈ ॥ ਗੁਰਸਿਖਾ ਲਹਦਾ ਭਾਲਿ ਕੈ ॥ : I have established a true Dharamsala. I’ve discovered the right-minded GurSikhs in this place of learning. (sggs 73).

However the Gurdwaras today are no longer the same Dharamsalas created by Guru Nanak. Why?

Pujaaree’s Sikhi

No matter what religion a Pujaaree belongs to, his main goal is to collect as much donations as possible by fooling people.

That said, this may come as surprise to most Sikhs that Guru Nanak neither recommended nor established a Pujaaree system. To the contrary, the Sikhi of Guru Nanak teaches to discard the Pujaaree system or priestly class. Simply put, there is no place for a formal priesthood in the Sikhi of Guru Nanak.

Despite this liberating theology, Sikhi has also developed a Pujaaree clique (clergy) – freeloading babas or sadhs (ਵੇਹਲੜ), ignorant Bhais / Ragis / Granthis / Pathis / Dhadis / Parcharaks, so called 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.

Lack of understanding of real Gurmat among common Sikhs, reluctance to read or listen to the Gurbani and unwillingness to internalize and live daily life in conformance with the Gurmat’s Giyan-Wisdom is encouraging and creating a Pujaaree class (priests) among Sikhs. Gurbani is saying something else, but the Pujaaree click and administrators are doing something else (i.e. contrary to the Gurbani’s Unique Message). Because the self-serving claims the right to interpret the teachings of the SGGS as they wish!

We Sikhs (learners or ਸਿਖਿਆਰਥੀ) have for a very long time lost control of our institutions to deviant and anti-Sikhi groups mainly the UDASSIES and NIRMALAS beginning from 1718. As a result, Gurdwaras today are no longer schools of learning Gurmat. Instead, they have become centers of money generating activities such as wedding ceremonies, birth anniversaries, death anniversaries, naming ceremonies, and so on.

From day One Guru Nanak’s Revolutionary and Unique Spiritual ‘Path‘ was opposed and castigated by the forces who thrived on superstition and ritualized religious dogmas, and by the entrenched self-serving religious leaders and the Pujaaree clique who had the most to lose from Guru Nanak’s emancipation of the downtrodden and under privileged segments of society.

Upon the fall of the Sikh Raj of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur in 1715, Baba Banda Singh and his entire army of Sikhs was captured and tortured to death.

Because there was a price on heads of authentic Sikhs, they took refuge in the jungles of Punjab and nearby states. This created a void and vacuum in virtually everything connected to the Sikh psyche – Sikhi related  historical shrines, Sikhi Parchaar, Sikh institutions, Sikhi historical narratives, and so on.

This void and vacuum was filled by the anti-Sikhi groups such as UDASIS and Banaras trained NIRMALAS. It was during this period that the NIRMALAS and UDASIS transformed Gurdwaras into temples. Even idols were placed in some of the historical Gurdwaras! The Guru’s ‘Golak’, instead of being put to the service of the poor and needy, came to be used for the comforts and luxuries of the self-serving and freeloading priestly class (ਵੇਹਲੜ).

They controlled the Sikh Gurdwaras and institutions, Sikhi Parchaar, Sikh historical narratives, and virtually everything connected to the Sikhi for a long and continuous period of time after the Guru period (for about 200 years; about 1716 – 1925). Thus slowly and surely they were able to severely distort the Uniqueness of the Sikhi of Guru Nanak and made it look like the pre-1469 religions (ਮਜ਼ਹਬ) and their belief systems from which Guru Nanak DIVERTED us!

These Banaras trained NIRMALAS also distorted Sikh history through a systematic process, manufactured books (close to three dozens), untruths, lies (ਝੂਠ), concoctions, fabrications (ਮੰਨ-ਘੜੰਤ ਸਾਖੀਆਂ), gossip stories, miraculous and otherwise unexplainable
phenomenon, unbelievable tales of miracles, using vedic and puranic slants in interpretations and translations of Gurbani etc. This barrage of untruth (ਕੂੜ੍ਹ ਮਿਥਿਹਾਸ) has destroyed the source of inspiration of Guru Nanak’s Unique and Revolutionary Sikhi. 

To dilute the teachings of Sikh Gurus which have no place for a formal priesthood, a plethora of so-called classic texts were created by Nirmalas, Udasis and other sects keen to show Sikhi of Guru Nanak as just another branch of Sanatanism. Some of the theses books include Janam Sakhis, Suraj Parkash, Bansavlinama, Bhagat Maal, Sarab Loh, Gurbilas Patshahi 6, Bachitr Natak, Rahatnamas etc. These books were written while they were in control of the Sikh Gurdwaras, Sikhi Parchaar, Sikh institutions and virtually everything connected to the Sikh psyche. In short, this process of corruption started after the passing of Guru Gobind Singh Ji.

All these so called Sikh Classical Texts reject the ‘Vichaardhaaraa‘ (ਵਿਚਾਰਧਾਰਾ-ideology …) of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS) – they are full of anti-Gurmat contents and blasphemous chronicles.

As far Sikh history is concerned, the purpose of these texts is to prove a lie to be true and a truth to be false.

These texts were written not because the Sri Guru Granth Sahib was incomplete, rather it was done so that these freeloaders (ਵੇਹਲੜ) would continue to live a life of revelry by keeping people ignorant of the true Gurmat of Guru Nanak. The so called ‘Puratan Mariyada‘ practiced today in Sikhi comes from these anti-Gurmat texts.

Their main aim was to strip Guru Nanak’s Sikhi or Gurmat of its Uniqueness (ਨਿਰਮਲਤਾ-Nirmalta) by undermining and choking Sikhi and taking it back to the belief systems that existed prior to the birth of Guru Nanak in 1469. Yet, these NIRMALAS-composed books are accepted by the Sikh Clergy – Deraas, Ragis, Kirtanias, Granthis, Parcharaks, Dhadees, Jathedars, writers, thinkers, poets etc. Furthermore, they are called ‘classical Sikh literature’!

While NIRMALAS were in control of Gurdwaras and everything else related to Sikhi, they also corrupted other non-NIRMALAS Sikh literature. For example, they added their own anti-Gurmat stuff in the writings of Bhai Gurdaas. They could do all this with liberty because they were in full control of the Sikh Gurdwaras, Sikhi Parchaar, Sikh institutions, Sikh historical narratives, Sikh literature, and virtually everything connected to the Sikh psyche for a long and continuous period of time.

The self-serving Sikh clergy is schooled and trained in these NIRMALAS texts. How surprising it is that Sikh community considers these anti-Gurmat texts as the foundation of Sikh history in which the Guru Sahibs have been insulted (ਜਲੀਲ). The Sikh community has not yet been able to recognize this. It is a very deep conspiracy. Sikhs need to be alert. When will Sikhs wake up? It is a matter of great shame for Sikhs who, acting as mentally blind and deaf, keep such anti-Gurmat texts in their Gurdwaras in which their is no truth, no Gurmat, no history, and no Giyan-Wisdom. To the contrary, the main purpose of these texts is to annihilate Gurmat or Sikhi of Guru Nanak into the pre-1469 spirituality of Sanatanism.

In short, first, the enemies of Sikhi of Guru Nanak wrote many anti-Gurmat texts. Finally, by mixing rubbish and lies of all these fake granths, an another text or granth called gur partap suraj granth or suraj parkash granth was written. The writer of this fake granth is Kavi Santokh Singh. Born in a poor family, this Kavi Santokh Singh was given job in the court of Maharaja Kethal as a court poet (Kavi). It should be noted that this Maharaja Kaithal was a slave of the British Rule in India.

Masters of the art of ‘divide and conquer’, the British occupied the Punjab in 1849, and being aware of the liberating influence of the Sikhs decided to control Sikhs and Sikhi through controlling Gurdwaras, creating Deraa-Vaad in Punjab, and so on.

Those associated with and trained in Deraa-Vaad consider worshipping the pictures/idols, garbs, shoes, walking sticks etc of their leaders as Dharma or Dharmic acts. They have become attached to people instead of Gurmat of Guru Nanak. A true Sikh can never be a worshipper of the body, a person.

• ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਸਾਹਿਬੁ ਛਡਿ ਕੈ ਮਨਮੁਖ ਹੋਇ ਬੰਦੇ ਦਾ ਬੰਦਾ । : Manmukh (unenlightened, Saakat, Mayadhaaree etc.), leaving away the Giyan-Wisdom of Truth (ਸੱਚ ਦਾ ਗਿਆਨ) becomes slave of man (Bhai Gurdas, Var14, Pauri 4).
• ਕਬੀਰ ਬੈਸਨਉ ਕੀ ਕੂਕਰਿ ਭਲੀ ਸਾਕਤ ਕੀ ਬੁਰੀ ਮਾਇ ॥ ਓਹ ਨਿਤ ਸੁਨੈ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮ ਜਸੁ ਉਹ ਪਾਪ ਬਿਸਾਹਨ ਜਾਇ ॥੫੨॥ : Kabir, even a dog of a God’s devotee is good in comparison to the evil Budh (intellect, mind) of a Manmukh (unenlightened, Saakat, Mayadhaaree etc.). Because a dog still listens to the Divine Naam (from the devotee meaning it is loyal to him), but a Manmukh’s intellect (Budh, mind) goes around accumulating vices. ||52|| (sggs 1367).

They give priority to the anti-Gurmat Granths. The self-appointed and self-serving Sikh Pujaaree clique supports and quotes these anti-Gurmat texts to keep their lucrative business going. Because if they do the right thing and speak the truth, then all those who support these anti-Gurmat texts and Un-Gurmat practices will become their enemies! As far as the Shiromani Committee (SGPC) goes, they rarely flinch from the arbitrary attacks on Gurmat Sidhaant of Guru Nanak. In addition, Sikh religious and political leadership and their Panthik institutions are self-serving, do not have Panthik interests at heart, and are largely dysfunctional.

Hidden in the Sikh fold, they may appear to be Sikhs from the outside, but these anti-Gurmat elements who against the teachings of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib give more importance to these so-called ‘Sikh Classical Texts’ than the Sri Guru Granth Sahib. As a result, the Sikhi we see today is not the Sikhi that was given to us by Guru Nanak. Instead, it is a Sikhi of the self-serving Pujaaree clique.

The Gurbani-English translations readily available on the Internet/Apps are not only direct literal translations, they’re also NOT in-line with the Gurmat Sidhaant of Baba Nanak (SGGS). The translations have a strong Brahmanical influence because they are based on Gurbani translation of ‘Fareedkoti Teeka‘ which was created by a group of Nirmala gathered by the Fareedkot ruler in 1880. Despite having identified inaccuracies and omissions in this ‘Fareedkoti Teeka’ has never been corrected and presents Gurmat as an appendage of the more older Sanatan philosophy. In a nutshell, it is a Sikhi of:

• rituals or traditions that have rejected by Guru Nanak in no uncertain terms – it is NOT based on Gurmat Sidhaant of Guru Nanak.
• sectarianism.
• self-serving Pujaaree that works on our emotions rather than our intelligence and powers of reasoning (logic,Tarak-ਤਰਕ)
• fake Granths (so called Sikh classic texts), written by the enemies of Sikhi of Guru Nanak – the purpose of these texts is to take Sikhi / Gurmat back into the Sanatanism
• religious paraphernalia
• external form or appearance – Bhekh, Bana, religious robes
• ritual reading of SGGS to loot people (Akhand Path, Kotri Paths, Sampat Paths etc.)
• ritual bathing
• ritual pilgrimage (Tirath Yatra)
• ritualized dogmas
• ritual Pooja
• fake Sach Khand, fake hell and heaven
• manufactured God separate from man and rest of the Creation
• Karamkaand (anti-Gurmat RITUALS, formalities, dogmas etc.),
• MIDDLE-MAN (ਵਿਚੋਲਾ)
• fear and greed
• free-loaders
• LIFE AFTER DEATH
• reincarnations or transmigration
• miracles (karaamaat)
• fake Jum Doot, Dharma Raj, and Chitr Gupt etc.
• elaborate Langars that are being made into feasts
• ritual Nagar Kirtans
• ritual counting beads
• superstitions
• that breeds a pessimistic outlook
• Bhoot Pret etc.
• Jaat Paat (casteism), biases etc – as Brahmins, sikhi of Pujaaree has created another upper-class caste among Sikhs, that of those who have partaken the Khande de Pahul. Thus keep on
  discriminating against the Dalits and other disadvantaged people, treating them as sub-humans. This goes against the concept of equality among humans
• Mayaic Ardas (prayers) – begging, ‘asking’ or ‘constantly reminding the Creator to give this or that’ to fulfill insatiable temporal desires. However, such Spirituality of BEGGING (Mayaic Ardaas-prayers) does not fit into the Spirituality of Sikhi which is of Godly Contentment and Ananad
• treating and worshipping SGGS as an idol, and keeping it wrapped up in fancy Rumalas to keep people away from understanding the Enlightening Message contained in the Guru Shabad
• concocted narratives, made-up tales (Sakhis) etc.
• installation of fake granths in some Gurdwaras par with the SGGS, including Kathaa of these fake granths
• business (ਧੰਧਾਂ) in the name of Gurbani, God, Dharma etc
• Deraa-Vaad, Baabaa-Dom, Sant-Dom etc.
• self-made ‘RAHAT‘ instead of the ‘Rahat‘ or Way of Life taught in the SGGS (every Deraa has its own Rahat!),
• the list goes on and on

In short, the Pujaaree’s Sikhi is of ‘ਰੋਟੀਆ ਕਾਰਣਿ’ (‘Roteeya Kaaran’) — as a means of livelihood, solely and exclusively to misguide and loot unsuspecting public. Such crafty mindset of the Bipar-Vaad is debunked in the SGGS in no uncertain terms.

• ਰਾਜੇ ਪਾਪ ਕਮਾਵਦੇ ਉਲਟੀ ਵਾੜ ਖੇਤ ਕਉ ਖਾਈ । ਪਰਜਾ ਅੰਧੀ ਗਿਆਨ ਬਿਨੁ ਕੂੜੁ ਕੁਸਤਿ ਮੁਖਹੁ ਆਲਾਈ। : The kings are sinning as if the protective fence were itself devouring the crop in the field. Bereft of Giyan-Wisdom, the mentally blind people are uttering falsehood. (Bhai Gurdas Vaar1, Pauri 30).

When we look at this foregoing verse in relation to the self-serving and self-appointed Sikh Pujaaree clique, we understand their dishonesty and anti-Gurmat/anti-Nanak/anti-Sikhi role. These people make living of the Guru’s name, but act contrary to the teachings of the Guru.

They do this because they want to prevent the Giyan-Wisdom of Guru Nanak’s Core Gurmat or Sikhi from spreading among the people. They want Sikhs remain ignorant and not become enlightened so that Sikhs do not reason and no one ask questions. Why do they put us in such misguided confusion (ਕੁਰਾਹੇ, ਭੰਵਲਭੂਸੇ ਵਿਚ)?

Because, we the people want to be misguided; we want sublime thing such as Gurmat Giyan-Wisdom of the SGGS given to us in a readymade package. However, the truth is that the Gurmat Giyan-Wisdom can be explained, but can NOT be given as a readymade package, or made to an order. One must be willing to TAKE it, digest it, and then diligently apply it do daily life, Here and Now.

• ਲੂਣ ਹਰਾਮੀ ਗੁਨਹਗਾਰ ਬੇਗਾਨਾ ਅਲਪ ਮਤਿ ॥ : An ungrateful Haraamee person is a sinner, has shallow understanding and is alienated from Creator. (sggs 261).

As a result, everyday there seems to be a new Karamkaand, Shoshay-Bazi (ਛੋਛੇ-ਬਾਜੀ), and Pakhand in the name of the Gurus, Gurbani, and so on. As a result, we are being pushed to the point that we are separated from the real Gurmat or Sikhi of Guru Nanak. Just adopting religious Bhekh (ਭੇਖ) or religious paraphernalia can never be Sikhi of Guru Nanak who rejected all sorts of religious Bhekh and Karamkaand in no uncertain terms.

Clearly, it is a deliberate conspiracy to deprive the Sikhs of Giyan of the Shabad Guru and limit them to fighting and dying. Because of that conspiracy, much of the Sikh community has been disconnected from the Pure, Unique and Revolutionary Gurmat of Guru Nanak. Regrettably that is why, with the exception of a small number of enlightened Sikhs (probably 1%), the majority no one care for the Truth (Sach-ਸੱਚ) of the core Gurmat or Sikhi of Guru Nanak.

Regrettably, since the so-called Sikhs have abandoned the teachings of the Shabad Guru, they have outdone the people of other so-called religions in external ‘Bhekh‘, religious paraphernalia, prejudices, useless rituals (Karamkaand), Pakhand (hypocrisy), madness of Jaat Paat (casteism) etc.

Sikhs need to open eyes, and enlighten our minds which can only be enlightened by reading, understanding, internalizing and applying the counsel of the Gurbani recorded in SGGS. This will give us the true and unique way to live a spiritual, political, and daily life.

Ending

Guru Nanak’s Gurmat or Sikhi tells SIKHS that its association and friendship is ONLY with those who have come out of the ritualistic (Karamkaand) cycle of the Sanatanism and Biparvaad and is living a virtuous and wisdom-full life in conformance with the Divine Hukam – the ‘Sachiaar‘ STATE OF MIND (ਆਤਮਕ ਅਵਸਥਾ).

• ਜੋ ਹਮ ਸਹਰੀ ਸੁ ਮੀਤੁ ਹਮਾਰਾ ॥੩॥੨॥ : Whosoever lives in this town — STATE OF MIND — is my friend (‘Sahari’). ||3||2|| (sggs 345).

It is by accepting this STATE OF MIND the Purity, Uniqueness and Universality of Guru Nanak’s Sikhi can be maintained.

A Sikh is supposed to be a lifelong learner (‘ਸਿਖੀ ਸਿਖਿਆ ਗੁਰ ਵੀਚਾਰਿ’). If one does not want to learn, then he/she is a Sikh of mere Bhekh (religious robes, religious paraphernalia, appearance etc), NOT a Sikh of Guru Nanak’s Pure, Unique and Revolutionary Gurmat or Sikhi.

It is natural for Sikhs who have broken away from the CORE GURMAT of Guru Nanak (i.e. Sikhs of mere Bhekh) to consider only the traditions formed under Sanatan or Bipar-Vaad culture/dogmas/rituals (Karamkaand) as Sikhi of Guru Nanak. Such Bipran thinking destroys the distinction between right and wrong, poison and Amrit, friend and foe etc. When some (believers of CORE GURMAT of Guru Nanak) try to Awaken them, their pride (Ahankar), greed, fears etc do not allow this to happen for they can not see their crude traditions breaking down.

• ਖੋਟੇ ਕਉ ਖਰਾ ਕਹੈ ਖਰੇ ਸਾਰ ਨ ਜਾਣੈ ॥ ਅੰਧੇ ਕਾ ਨਾਉ ਪਾਰਖੂ ਕਲੀ ਕਾਲ ਵਿਡਾਣੈ ॥੩॥: Spiritually Ignorant people consider false/counterfeit to be true/genuine and do not recognize the value of true/genuine. So astonishing is the present age of Kal Yuga (i.e. Kal Yuga = corrupt state of the mind) that spiritually blind person is called appraiser (or wise)! ||3|| (sggs 229).

However, even today, the MARYADA (ਮਰਿਆਦਾ) of Udasi and Nirmalas continues in the Sikh community throughout the world. Because, they control Sikh Gurdwaras and institutions, Sikhi Parchaar, Sikh historical narratives, and virtually everything connected to the Sikh psyche worldwide. These regressive and retrograde people are bent on taking the Guru Nanak’s Unique Sikhi back to 1468. They view regression as progress!

Back in 1920s, Singh Sabha Movement — Sikh Reform Movement — alerted the Sikh world of the dire need to discard and cleanout books written by NIRMALAS. If not, then the fabrications, concoctions, untruth and lies written by NIRMALAS in these books will come back to haunt Sikhs. However, 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 Spiritualities of Pujaaree — clergy. It seems as Sikhs forgot 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).

Some Related Posts:

• Gurbani Defines ‘Panth’
• Sikhi: a New ‘Way’ of Life
• Sikhi of the Clergy – Pujaaree
• Sikhi Teaches to Discard priestly Class
• Pujaaree System Wants People Remain Ignorant, Fearful, Ritualistic…
• Missing Component from Sikhi Parchar
• Man Invented Separate God and Related Fear, Blind Faith, Fantasy…
• Is Gurmat a Doctrine or a Sidhaant?
• Gurbani can only be Comprehended Through Gurbani Itself
• Become the Gurbani
• Realize Enlightening Message Embedded within Shabad
• Core of Gurmat Spirituality – Kiv Sachiaaraa Hoeeai?
• Hukam is the Core of Sikhi
• Shabad Langar
• Don’t Take Anything at Face Value
• Brahmins in Sikh Garbs and Casteism – Jaat Paat
• Gurbani is not Meant to Regurgitate Pre-1469 Belief System
• It’s the Mind that Needs to Become a Sikh
• Gurbani Says Mind Must Become a Temple!
• Gurbani Rejects Afterlife Reincarnation or Transmigration