I have a few questions about Waheguru.

I know that the purpose of a Sikh's life is live according to the rehat maryada and achieve enlightenment or moksha, which in turn gets us out of the circle of re-incarnation. so question one is

1. How exactly did we get into this circle to start with ? Lets presume a long time ago we were all NOT in this circle and lived harmoniously with God...then how did we separate. And if we ARE able to be sucessful in achieveing moksha what are the chances we wont fall back into the circle?

2. Secondly, why do we have to be in constant remembarance of God. Why can't God just grant it and accept us?

3. Finally God is a mystery to me. I know there are descriptions in Gurbani but I am not able to translate and comprehend all the complicated ways. Even when it is translated into english...why can't people just right it in simple, plain english ... why do they have to go into 'Thou' and all those fancy olde english words. I am trying to become a better Sikh but these fancy translation dont help. BUt back to the issue. Besides the mool mantar, can someone really tell me more about God. What is right and wrong according to him. And furthermore how does God define right and wrong and what according to God is sin and what is not a sin?

Now i know that many of these answers are in Gurbani but can someone please explain me so that this can be like a starting point for me to link with Gurbani. I mean Gurbani has poetry in hindi, punjabi, sanskrit, arabic, persian and what not. It is not exactly easy to sit there and read. Furthermore, (as i mentioned earlier) the english translations are helpful but often confusing.

Finally please accept my deepest apologies if i have said anything rude and I juse hope that I will be a better Sikh. Please go easy on me (dont attack <cough>) just help me understand God better so that I can become a better Sikh.

From an islamic perspective, God is one and only meaning he is unique, he is eternal and absolute meaning everything is dependant on him but he is not dependant on anything, he does not begett nor is he begotten, there is nothing like him meaning mental image that comes in to your mind as God is not God. This is the four line definition of God in Islam, hope you dont mind me posting this here, but you guys do have some things in common with Islam.

he didn't ask about an islamic perspective. and unless the thread is in the interfaith discussions, it would be better if you leave islam out of it.

thanks.

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From a Sikh perspective,

Unity of God

Sikhism supports the idea of the unity of God i.e.
Raam, Allah and Waheguru are the same supreme
entity by different names.

"The Muslim God Allah and the Hindu God Paarbrahm
are one and the same."
(SGGSJ, p.897)

"O Allah, O Raam, I live by Your Name."
(SGGSJ,
p.1349)

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The above answers verily contains the concept of God and is self-explanatory. In case of more attributes of God one may refer pages 597 through. 606 of the Granth Sahib. All these describe in continuity about God as perceived and summed up by Guru Sahibaans.

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~~~**Jap mun Satnaam sda Satnaam...sda satnaam sda satnaam.....~~~

kay ji -- Yes and No.

Let's take a look at the Bani below.

Unity of God can be a slippery term -- too easily redefined according to one's perspective, and not necessarily a Sikh perspective.

Raam, Allah and Waheguru may to some religions be one and the same supreme entity -- but look closely at the first line from SGGS-- these are one and the same by different names. If one is saying that Raam, Allah and Waheguru are three concepts of God fused into One -- That is not a Sikh perspective. It is more a Hindu perspective. For example, all the avatars of Vishnu have named identities that are are fused into his single identity. This is not true of Satgur.

The idea that Allah and Parabrahm are fused as One is not a Sikh concept of God. Rather, again in Sikhism, there is One who is called by different names.

And finally in "O Allah, O Raam, I live by Your Name." This is uttered by the Hindu/Muslim Sant Kabeer who is talking about the Oneness of God. He never talks about multiple identities fused into one god.

Then there is another problem. A practical and devotional problem. Sikhism's Waheguru never asked for sacrifice or asked that animal or human sacrifices be made in His Name -- for example, by calling out Allah Akhbar! In fact, this is alien and incompatible with Sikhism. There are important differences in the way God is encountered in Sikhism versus Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

The thread did not start as an Interfaith discussion. So it can stay here unless the thread starter would like to see it moved. However, in Gurmat Vichaar -- the discussion should be based in Gurmat Vichaar and not (pardon me for my harshness) grounded in inter-faith comparisons. Gurmat Vichaar means Vichaar of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib and not cross-platform understandings.

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ਮਨ ਕਰਹਲਾ ਗੁਰ ਗੋਵਿੰਦੁ ਸਮਾਲਿ ॥ man karehalaa gur govindh samaal O camel-like mind, dwell upon the Guru and the Lord of the Universe.

kay has a long history of interrupting discussions with completely unrelated posts about the "truth" of islam, telling us we're wrong, we don't really know the "true" faith, etc.

and me being me, i have a long history of asking kay to back off.


i agree, the forums are for anyone, just like gurdwaras. however, i don't think it's appropriate to bring up islam in every discussion...

i wouldn't go to an islamic forum and start talking about sikhi...

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