Do we all believe in the same Guru Nanak?

Aman Singh · #1 (**permalink**) 01-May-2009, 10:10 AM

Found this interesting topic on internet... worth contemplating...

Quote:

With all the arguments and attack within sikhs, I ask this question from learned members. I will share why we often behave as if there are three aspects of our founding guru. Then kindly read and understand, before you put your views.
Learned members, please share your ideas without getting personal and hijacking the real topic. Let us have nothing but respect for differing views and learn from each other. We all mean well.

IMHO, three aspects are not to divide but to understand better each other's perspective, and to love and respect each other.

FIRST Guru Nanak was the Nanak of history. The Nanak born in the house of Mehta Kalu around 1469. Described in his Janam Sakhis such as feeding the hungry sadhus and so on. That aspect is quite familiar to all of us who listen katha and stories by the kirtanias and katha experts.

SECOND is the Guru Nanak around whom all the rituals and organization is instituted around the name of Nanak. That's where we see Sikhs casting aspersions on those who disagree with them; accusing them of being part of a vast conspiracy (missionaries or even worse, intellectuals) to destroy Sikhi.

That's where we see Sikhs assaulting or even killing other Sikhs just because
their "religious sensibilities" have been hurt.

That's where we see Sikhs reading 20 simultanious Akhand Paats when there is
no one listening. This is just one of many meaningless rituals that
Sikhs engage in, from taking dips (thinking they are doing Ishnaan)
to the highly structured rituals of Gurdwara.

That's where we define sikhism by three word definition "ritualistic religious
road".

THIRD is the Nanak with God Consciousness who gave us the gurbani message of "Ik Onkar." IMHO, it takes one to get into that level of consciousness to understand the real Guru Nanak and his "Universal Message." Unless we follow that road, we will not be liberated and assault on the fellow sikhs will continue.

Unobstructed is the path of one who believes in the Name (Sat)
He departs this earth with honor and renown.
He never walks in the worldly ways
Nor does he travel by ritualistic religious roads.
The believer in God's Name is sincere to his dharma.
Of such Greatness is the Naam (Sat

only if one were to believe with
all one's and soul, one would realize it.
Guru Nanak page 3

Narayanjot Kaur · #2 (**permalink**) 02-May-2009, 05:39 AM

Aman ji

Thanks for this article.

This Nanak is with us every day

Unobstructed is the path of one who believes in the Name (Sat)
He departs this earth with honor and renown.
He never walks in the worldly ways
Nor does he travel by ritualistic religious roads.
The believer in God's Name is sincere to his dharma.
Of such Greatness is the Naam (Sat

only if one were to believe with
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/sikh-sikhi-sikhism/24893-do-we-all-believe-same-guru.html
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=24893
all one's and soul, one would realize it.
Guru Nanak page 3

vsgrewal48895 · #3 (**permalink**) 02-May-2009, 22:08 PM

Dear Aman Ji,

Your perspective on Guru Nanak is very right IMHO. Guru Nanak first questions and then answers with examples in Raag Gauri, AGGS, Page, 152 about some of the questions raised by you;

ਗਉੜੀ ਮਹਲਾ ੧ ॥

Gauree, First Mehl:

Q. ਜਾਤੋ ਜਾਇ ਕਹਾ ਤੇ ਆਵੈ ॥ਕਹ ਉਪਜੈ ਕਹ ਜਾਇ ਸਮਾਵੈ ॥ਕਿਉ ਬਾਧਿਓ ਕਿਉ ਮੁਕਤੀ ਪਾਵੈ ॥ਕਿਉ ਅਬਿਨਾਸੀ ਸਹਜਿ ਸਮਾਵੈ ॥੧॥
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=24893
Jāṯo jā▫e kahā ṯe āvai. Kah upjai kah jā▫e samāvai. Ki▫o bāḏẖi▫o ki▫o mukṯī pāvai. Ki▫o abẖināsī sahj samāvai. ||1||

How can we know where we came from?

Where did we originate, and where will we go and merge?

How are we bound, and how do we obtain liberation?

How do we merge with intuitive ease into the Eternal, Imperishable Akal Purkh? ||1||

A. ਨਾਮੁ ਰਿਦੈ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤੁ ਮੁਖਿ ਨਾਮੁ ॥ਨਰਹਰ ਨਾਮੁ ਨਰਹਰ ਨਿਹਕਾਮੁ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ਸਹਜੇ ਆਵੈ ਸਹਜੇ ਜਾਇ ॥ਮਨ ਤੇ ਉਪਜੈ ਮਨ ਮਾਹਿ ਸਮਾਇ ॥ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਮੁਕਤੋ ਬੰਧੁ ਨ ਪਾਇ ॥ਸਬਦੁ ਬੀਚਾਰਿ ਛੁਟੈ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਇ ॥੨॥
Nām riḏai amriṯ mukẖ nām. Narhar nām narhar nihkām. ||1|| rahā▫o. Sėhje āvai sėhje jā▫e. Man ṯe upjai man māhi samā▫e. Gurmukẖ mukṯo banḏẖ na pā▫e. Sabaḏ bīcẖār cẖẖutai har nā▫e. ||2||

With the Naam of Akal Purkh in the heart and on our lips, we rise above desire, like It. ||1||Pause|| with intuitive ease we come, and with intuitive ease we depart. From the mind we originate, and into the mind we are absorbed. As Guru willed, we are liberated, and are not bound. Contemplating the Word of the Sabd, we are emancipated through Its Name. ||2||

ਤਰਵਰ ਪੰਖੀ ਬਹੁ ਨਿਸਿ ਬਾਸੁ ॥ਸੁਖ ਦੁਖੀਆ ਮਨਿ ਮੋਹ ਵਿਣਾਸੁ ॥ਸਾਝ ਬਿਹਾਗ ਤਕਹਿ ਆਗਾਸੁ ॥ਦਹ ਦਿਸਿ ਧਾਵਹਿ ਕਰਮਿ ਲਿਖਿਆਸੁ ॥੩॥
Ŧarvar pankẖī baho nis bās. Sukẖḏukẖī▫ā man moh viṇās. Sājẖ bihāg ṯakėh āgās. Ḏah ḏis ḏẖāvėh karam likẖi▫ās. ||3||

At night, lots of birds settle on the tree. Some are happy, and some are sad. Caught in the bondage of the mind, they perish. And when the life-night comes to its end, then they look to the sky. They fly away in all ten directions, according to their pre-ordained destiny. ||3||

ਨਾਮ ਸੰਜੋਗੀ ਗੋਇਲਿ ਥਾਟੁ ॥ਕਾਮ ਕ੍ਰੋਧ ਫੂਟੈ ਬਿਖੁ ਮਾਟੁ ॥ਬਿਨੁ ਵਖਰ ਸੂਨੋ ਘਰੁ ਹਾਟੁ ॥ਗੁਰ ਮਿਲਿ ਖੋਲੇ ਬਜਰ ਕਪਾਟ ॥੪॥

Nām sanjogī go▫il thāt. Kām kroḏẖ fūtai bikẖ māt. Bin vakẖar sūno gẖar hāt. Gur mil kẖole bajar kapāt. ||4||
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=24893

Those who are committed to the Naam, see the world as merely a temporary pasture. Sexual desire and anger are broken, like a jar of poison. Without the merchandise of the Name, the house of the body and the store of the mind are empty. Meeting the Guru, the hard and heavy doors are opened. ||4||

ਸਾਧੁ ਮਿਲੈ ਪੂਰਬ ਸੰਜੋਗ ॥ਸਚਿ ਰਹਸੇ ਪੂਰੇ ਹਰਿ ਲੋਗ ॥ਮਨੁ ਤਨੁ ਦੇ ਲੈ ਸਹਜਿ ਸੁਭਾਇ ॥ਨਾਨਕ ਤਿਨ ਕੈ ਲਾਗਉ ਪਾਇ ॥੫॥੬॥
Sāḏẖ milai pūrab sanjog. Sacẖ rahse pūre har log. Man ṯan ḏe lai sahj subẖā▫e. Nānak ṯin kai lāga▫o pā▫e. ||5||6||

One meets the Holy Saint only through perfect destiny. The God's perfect people rejoice in the Truth. Surrendering their minds and bodies, they find the Akal Purkh with intuitive ease. Nanak falls at their feet. ||5||6||

Cordially,

Virinder S. Grewal