Does Sikhism embrace Mysticism?

harry haller · #1 (**permalink**) 24-Nov-2011, 17:35 PM

Gurfatehji

I quite like the idea that our Gurus left us all their knowledge and experience by way of a living Guru, the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. However, other than being a written record that gives us the tools to deal with life and live it as a good sikh should, is there any further than that?
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/sikh-sikhi-sikhism/37649-does-sikhism-embrace-mysticism.html

Does the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji have properties that elevate it above merely a written transcript, I am aware that it should not be worshipped, but cherished and respected as a living Guru, but does the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji have properties that one could call mystical?
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=37649

I suppose to clarify this argument, one would have to debate whether the Gurus themselves had special powers, or mystical abilities, I would like to think the Gurus were human beings that had understood completely the point of Sikhi, and endured everything that they did with no other abilities than are open to you and me, if that is the case, then the 11th Guru, the living book , surely would embrace a similar vein that promoted enlightenment through understanding, study and practical implementation of knowledge through action, I believe there is nothing further than this, I would be most interested in anyone who felt mysticism in Sikhi

Scarlet Pimpernel · #2 (**permalink**) 24-Nov-2011, 18:07 PM

Veer Ji
Is God not mystical or in your pragmatist Sikhi of tools is he is just an optional extra! (No time to argue as have to go out ,just got the ball rolling for my friend)

harry haller · #3 (**permalink**) 24-Nov-2011, 19:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scarlet Pimpernel

Veer Ji
Is God not mystical or in your pragmatist Sikhi of tools is he is just an optional extra! (No time to argue as have to go out ,just got the ball rolling for my friend)

Believe it or not, as far as I am concerned, God did nothing other than Create, the rest is down to us, so I suppose I work on the basis of nil intervention by Creator

That makes Creator not even an optional extra, more of uhmm just a Creator, I suppose

Scarlet Pimpernel · #4 (**permalink**) 24-Nov-2011, 20:45 PM

Veer Ji I'm back,don't the maker of Range Rovers or anything for that matter provide an after sales service and warranty,especially for driving club members ?

Taranjeet singh · #5 (**permalink**) 24-Nov-2011, 22:08 PM

Respected spji,
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=37649
The hangover of other thread has to come to an end. We are all different and have the right to disagree in an agreeable manner,; let the gone be bye gone. It is a club. The world is a bigger club

with love and regards.

Scarlet Pimpernel · #6 (**permalink**) 24-Nov-2011, 23:26 PM

Ok Veera ,I will agree in a disagreeable manner, for your hangover a joke;
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=37649

'A husband and wife are shopping in their local Wal-Mart.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=37649
The husband picks up a case of Budweiser and puts it in their cart.
'What do you think you're doing?' asks the wife.
... 'They're on sale, only $10 for 24 cans he replies.
'Put them back, we can't afford them demands the wife, and so they carry on shopping.

A few aisles further on along the woman picks up a $20 jar of face cream and puts it in the basket.
What do you think you're doing?' asks the husband.
'Its my face cream. It makes me look beautiful,' replies the wife.
Her husband retorts: 'So does 24 cans of Budweiser and it's half the price.

Kanwaljit Singh · #7 (**permalink**) 24-Nov-2011, 23:54 PM

Gurus had controlled the 5 vices, they were the biggest MYSTICS of the world.

Ambarsaria · #8 (**permalink**) 25-Nov-2011, 02:29 AM

For me much depends upon the definition of terms.

As I understand it Sikhism is not narrow enough and Mysticism is broad enough that there is no point trying to relate the inclusion and exclusion without specific examples.

Mysticism related to spirituality touches many of the same inners as Sikhism. Mysticism related to mystical powers is another ball of wax. With the following description I see Mysticism pulling away from Sikhism core values,

Quote:

Mysticism

First published Thu Nov 11, 2004; substantive revision Tue Feb 9, 2010
The term ‘mysticism,’ comes from the Greek μυω, meaning “to conceal.” In the Hellenistic world, ‘mystical’ referred to “secret” religious rituals. In early Christianity the term came to refer to “hidden” allegorical interpretations of Scriptures and to hidden presences, such as that of Jesus at the Eucharist. Only later did the term begin to denote “mystical theology,” that included direct experience of the divine (See Bouyer, 1981). Typically, mystics, theistic or not, see their mystical experience as part of a larger undertaking aimed at human transformation (See, for example, Teresa of Avila, Life, Chapter 19) and not as the terminus of their efforts. Thus, in general, ‘mysticism’ would best be thought of as a constellation of distinctive practices, discourses, texts, institutions, traditions, and experiences aimed at human transformation, variously defined in different traditions.

http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/mysticism/

So with the above understanding, mysticism as understood by the layman, does not line up with Sikhism.

Humbly submitted.

Sat Sri Akal.

Navdeep88 · #9 (**permalink**) 25-Nov-2011, 03:22 AM

Harry Ji,
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=37649

Umm... I think Guru Nanak Dev Ji embraced this quality of mysticism. In Sant Maskeen Singh Ji's katha, He often describes how Guru Ji would say "Mardana, get the rabaab ready, bani aye aa"... is that mysticism? the idea that Guru Ji claimed surrender, claimed they did not know how to speak any longer and upon this surrender, bani was uttered from the beyond??

this is just something i picked up on, if its incorrect, please dont jump me.