Sikhism and Bias

Guru Nanak was impartial about the existing faiths of his day explaining what was right and wrong in the individual practices. Some followed him like his two friends but they did not renounce their faiths. Today we are not so impartial we try to point out what we don’t like about other faiths, like turning the other cheek,implying christians are too pacifist but we have forgotten that many Christians fought and faced death bravely,two shining examples being Joan of Arc and Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar and even Richard the Lion heart was very brave although misguided.Some American Sikhs harbour resentment at muslims for having made the turban a target and European Sikhs for the burkha laws which may lead to more legislation but the majority of muslims don't wear either. Some just don't like other faiths because the have more followers or power and that is idiotic! Guru Nanak said there were no Hindu and no Muslim,today we can also then say there is no Sikh or Christian in other words mankind being one, has only one faith ,simply the one who loves, finds, We must have love in mind for God or everything is lost but rare is that real lover.It is like when we enter a house we greet all those who are already there with respect and then it is the House of Love.

 
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sBu ko bolY Awpx BwxY ] Everyone speaks as they please.

yes, veerji, but love for who? god? our family? everyone? or first and foremost should it be ourselves?

You might say love for the Creative Force because it is within everyone anyway... you love you wife for the person she is and you love the Creative Force that moves her at her essence... you love you dogs in the same way... a stunning landscape or piece of classical music... so beautiful and also has the Creative Force at it's essence or else it wouldn't even exist?
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/interfaith-dialogues/36883-sikhism-and-bias.html
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=36883

Just thinking out loud (again).

Bhenji,

As fond as I am of mutual backslapping, trying to be true to what I am, rather than what I should be, is, I feel, the best way so that my outsides mirror my insides, which is what every sikh desires, I think that is the way to contentment, not enlightenment, just contentment,

On that note, while I accept that the creator is in every living thing, trying to connect with the creator in every living thing surely detracts from the personality and character of music, or the painting, or the person. Creator has no wants or needs, as Sinnerji once said, creator does not even have a personality, surely in attempting to love the creator instead of the creation, we are missing something in the beauty of the creation.

Indeed Harry ji.

Although I think if God is all then part of .loving God must be loving God in everything. To love God you must love the creation.

I think Gurbani talks more about contentment than enlightenment... I'm not sure.

Though, if you know your insides could be better, why not work to improve them?

I don't think there needs to be a focus on 'only the creator' or 'only the creation'. Each is nothing without the other. I think it enhances the personality, the character of music, or the painting to know that underneath that unique manifestation of creation is the swirling blood of the ever-moving creative force.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=36883
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=36883

I think it increases acceptance of others and adds another element to life.

But that's just me and I'm pretty confused!

Ishna ji you confussed? Naaa I think not.

Carrying on with the art anology. When you go buy your self a pice of art, you will pay more and have more interest if the dealer can show you the provonence of the piece.

So yes I agree with you, the more fully you embrace the whole the better off you are bound to be.

"Guru Nanak was impartial about the existing faiths of his day explaining what was right and wrong in the individual practices. Some followed him like his two friends but they did not renounce their faiths."

Please provide evidence that bhai Mardana was a Muslim and stayed a Muslim. Provide evidence to back up your claims.

If Bhai Mardana ji was a Muslim before meeting Guru Nanak Dev ji or not. Once he came into cantact with Jagat Guru, Dhan sri Guru Nanak Dev ji, he became a Sikh of Guru ji. Bhai Mardana ji stayed beside Guru Nanak Dev ji all of his life and was his keertania (singer of Gurbani). How lucky bhai sahib bhai Mardana ji was. It was written in Dargah that all his life, bhai sahib would enjoy the nazara of Sachkhand on this earth.

Point is that bhai Mardana accepted Guru Nanak Dev ji as his prophet, saviour, pir, murshid, sadhu, sant........

From that day onwards, bhai sahib sang kirtan of only Gurbani. He kept Rehat (discipline) of Sikhi that Guru Nanak Dev ji instructed him. He renounced his prior faith. He did not do sri Jap ji sahib at amritvela and then go and do namaz prayers of Quran. He did nitnem bani's of that time. He did paath of 'Mahalla 1' (Guru Nanak Dev).

You cannot have your feet in two boats at once. You cannot have Guru Nanak Dev ji as your Guru, Muhammed Sahib as your prophet, sri Ram Chander as the avtar you worship, at the same time. The only people that subscribe to such concepts are those that do not want to follow the Rehit of each religion. So they make up false stories and convince themselves that they are right. They label those that follow Rehit as extremists, fundamentalists and whatnot.

Bhai Sahib Bhai Mardana ji did kamai of Gurbani and followed Rehit according to bachans of Guru Nanak Dev ji. He was a pooran Gursikh and personally one of my favourite Gursikhs of all times.

Bhai Sahib Bhai Gurdas ji's pavittar bani say it best:

ਇਕ ਬਾਬਾ ਅਕਾਲ ਰੂਪੁ ਦੂਜਾ ਰਬਾਬੀ ਮਰਦਾਨਾ। ik Baba Akaal Roop, dooja rababi Mardana
One Guru Nanak who is the roop of Akal Purakh on this earth, alongside him is Rababi (musician) Mardana.

If we want to become Sikhs of Guru Nanak Dev ji then we must follow bhai Mardana ji's example and surrender our mind (mann), body(tan) and wealth (dhan) to them:
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=36883

ਤਨੁ ਮਨੁ ਧਨੁ ਸਭੁ ਸਉਪਿ ਗੁਰ ਕਉ ਹੁਕਮਿ ਮੰਨਿਐ ਪਾਈਐ ॥ tan man dhan sabh saump Gur kau hukam maniai paeeai
Surrender body, mind, wealth, and everything to the Guru; obey the Order of His Will, and you will find Him
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=36883

RARE are those Sikhs that follow bachans of Gurbani and follow Rehit Maryada. I seek the dust of such Sikhs.

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

Leeji, allow me to sum up the rationale and feeling behind my thoughts, my wife, who is not a sikh, refused to let me kill a spider the other day, arguing that the little spider behind him, was probably his child, or mate, and she would not allow the killing. She took into account the feelings and circumstances of not only the big spider, but also the little spider too. Whereas some might say, don't kill the spider, it has god in it, to my mind, not killing the spider regardless of who created it seems more, uhmm correct and humanist.

Do people that dont kill spiders because they see the creator trying ingratiate themselves with the creator? Instead of mimicking creators ways, should we be finding out that our own ways are in tune with creator and creation for the sake of truth, rather than compliance?