Sri Guru Granth Sahib: A Teacher or a Book of Solutions?

A great teacher has the following typical attributes,

• Gives you guidance
• Makes you familiar with the tools of developing solutions
• Encourages you to learn and find answers
• Does not give you easy answers
• Encourages dialog in the class for learning between students

So what becomes of a student nurtured by a great teacher,
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/sikh-sikhi-sikhism/37136-sri-guru-granth-sahib-teacher-book.html

• Student becomes self sufficient, drilled in guidance and a possible role model and helper of others
  • Analogy: You don't give someone fish when they are hungry, you teach them how to fish so they are never hungry again

One encounters many a Sikhs in various walks and theaters of life who either through their upbringing, their company or bad teaching start taking the easy way out. They look for answers in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji rather than develop understanding. They are looking for cheat sheets of facts to show to others or prove they are right. They take words and quote. They take Tuks/sentences and they quote. They take bunch of separate lines/tuks and create a story. What results from such as stroking one's ego, making one look more knowledgeable, make one look more respectful of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. However nothing could be far from the truth. Such people are just cheating on themselves, they get false satisfaction and some may at advanced age suddenly realize that their approach was a farce.

So if you want to respect Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, spend the time to understand. Converse with others with an open mind with as much to learn as to share your thoughts.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=37136

Please don't be dis-respectful and quote or treat Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji as a book of solutions or book of fast facts or an encyclopedia. It is a teacher and the best teacher at that. Be a respectful student driven by the need to study, understand and apply.

Sat Sri Akal.

 
Do share your immediate thoughts or reactions on this issue? We value your views! Login Now! or Sign Up Today! to share your views with us.. Gurfateh!

Excellent Veer Ji, As the philosopher said 'Knowledge is not Understanding.'

Beautifully put Ambarsariah veer Ji. An excellent Lesson Plan for my Gurbani Classes !!
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=37136
THANK YOU JI.

I wish I could join your classes Gyani ji!!!

I will join too aslong as Gyani Ji will not make me hold my ears through my legs ,as I can't do it any more but I will sit in the naughty boys corner !

jasleen Ji and sinner ji..

whosoever asks me this question..I ask him/her..."Your "Father"..is He a "Father" or a Man? Human ? You see MY "Father" was a Man/Human...BUT inside that body of skin and bones there was a vast storehouse of GYAAN....and while that mortal body burnt on the funeral pyre more than 25 years ago..the GYAAN lives ON in Me......so YES the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is a "Book"..and also the Ultimate GURU GYAAN LIGHT that dispells darkness endlessly..the "Book" made of paper ink and binding can burn..can drown..can float..can sink...BUT all these actions cannot BURY the GYAAN within...cannot disrespect it..cannot damage it..cannot deny its place...

GYANI JARNAIL SINGH Ji,
You are quite aware that Guru is the refence for GurJot(i) in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji .
Being teacher as mere reference for Guru is only one of the aspects of Gurus infinite references.Guru is what any one can think to be.Guru has been refered as Sailor or Gardener .That is why Guru can be refered as Beant.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=37136

Secondly in Gurbani you will notice that the word Giyan is always Singular as (GIYANu) so we can say Gurbani is telling about some Single Knowledge .Can we consider this aspect of the word Giyan to be more clear about the message from Gurbani.

These are my personal views based on observation from within Gurbani.Nothing to offend anyones views in this regard.I look forward to your valued views.

Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=37136
Prakash.S.Bagga

Parkahs Singh bagga ji,
Youa re of course absolutley RIGHT. The "GYAAN" in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji/Gurbani is with the Capital "G" (in gurbani the Capital Alpahbet meaning/Marker as in English Grammar Rules.... is shown by the Aunkarr under the N)
SO this GYAAN in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is the SUPREME KNOWLEDGE about the ONE SUPREME Akal Purakh. Its NOT "worldly gyaan"....as people would like to imagine and thats why they ask silly questions like..where in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji it says keep kesh..keep kirpan..or eat daal only and dont eat meat etc etc..or knowledge about how air waves carry sound or how plants grow..that type of "gyaan" is NOT for Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. Anyone looking for that in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji will be sorely disappointed. The GYAAN in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji will make one a BRAHAM-GYAANI..knowledgeable about THE GYAAN !!