BLASPHEMY
The word “Blasphemy” has been used in recent years by political or religious leaders or others to divert attention or to control the rabble (spiritually ignorant or otherwise). It has been used very loosely even by Sikhs towards others actions and calling it blasphemous. Blasphemy is defined by various dictionaries as;
1.
a. A contemptuous or profane act, utterance, or writing concerning God or a sacred entity or disrespect for religion.
b. The act of claiming for oneself the attributes and rights of God.
2. An irreverent or impious act, attitude, or utterance in regard to something considered inviolable or sacrosanct.
Blasphemy Synonyms;
1. An act of disrespect or impiety toward something regarded as sacred: desecration, profanation, sacrilege, violation.
2. A profane or obscene term: curse, epithet, expletive, oath, swearword. Informal: cuss. See decent, sacred, words.
The term blasphemy may be generally defined as "defiant irreverence." I would apply the term to such sins as cursing God, or willfully degrading things relating to God. It is also attributing some evil to God, or denying the God or some good that we should attribute to It. It also could be a blasphemy when someone accuses Sikh Gurus of something false.
In Christianity it is an unpardonable/unforgivable sin when committed against Christ or Holy Spirit.
Sikh principles clearly state “as you sow, so shall you reap” and each one is responsible for the consequences of their own actions say Guru Nanak;
ਲੇਖਾ ਇਕੋ ਆਵਹੁ ਜਾਹੁ ॥
Lėkẖā iko āvhu jāhu.
According to the account of our actions, we come and go. -----Guru Nanak, Sri Raag, AGGS, Page, 25-1
ਨਾਨਕੁ ਆਖੈ ਰੇ ਮਨਾ ਸੁਣੀਐ ਸਿਖ ਸਹੀ ॥ ਲੇਖਾ ਰਬੁ ਮੰਗੇਸੀਆ ਬੈਠਾ ਕਢਿ ਵਹੀ ॥
Nānak ākẖai rė manā suṇī¬ai sikẖ sahī. Lėkẖā rab mangėsī¬ā baiṯẖā kadẖ vahī.
Nanak says, O mind, listen to the True Teachings. God will call each to his account by opening the ledger. -----Guru Nanak, Raag Ramkali, AGGS, Page, 953
No one pays for another’s account or consequences of actions. Each one is responsible for his or her action says Gurus Nanak and Amardas in Ragas Ramkali, Majh & Gauri;
ਤਲਬਾ ਪਉਸਨਿ ਆਕੀਆ ਬਾਕੀ ਜਿਨਾ ਰਹੀ ॥ਅਜਰਾਈਲੁ ਫਰੇਸਤਾ ਹੋਸੀ ਆਇ ਤਈ ॥ਆਵਣੁ ਜਾਣੁ ਨ ਸੁਝਈ ਭੀੜੀ ਗਲੀ ਫਹੀ ॥ ਕੂੜ ਨਿਖੁਟੇ ਨਾਨਕਾ ਓੜਕਿ ਸਚਿ ਰਹੀ ॥
Ŧalbā pa¬usan ākī¬ā bākī jinā rahī, Ajrā¬īl farėsṯā hosī ā¬ė ṯa¬ī, Āvaṇ jāṇ na sujẖ¬ī bẖīṛī galī fahī, Kūṛ nikẖutė nānkā oṛak sacẖ rahī.
Those rebels who have similar unpaid accounts shall be called out. Azraa-eel, the Angel of Death, shall be appointed to punish them. They will find no way to escape coming and going in reincarnation; they are trapped in the narrow path. Falsehood will come to an end, O Nanak, and Truth will prevail in the end. -----Guru Nanak, Raag Ramkali, AGGS, Page, 953
ਜਿਥੈ ਲੇਖਾ ਮੰਗੀਐ ਤਿਥੈ ਛੁਟੈ ਸਚੁ ਕਮਾਏ ॥
Jithai lėkẖā mangī¬ai ṯithai cẖẖutai sacẖ kamā¬ė.
Where one is called to answer for one’s account, one shall only be emancipated by true actions. -----Guru Amardas, Raag Majh, AGGS, Page, 112-3
ਨਿੰਦਕਾਂ ਪਾਸਹੁ ਹਰਿ ਲੇਖਾ ਮੰਗਸੀ ਬਹੁ ਦੇਇ ਸਜਾਈ ॥
Ninḏkāʼn pāshu har lėkẖā mangsī baho ḏė¬ė sajā¬ī.
The God summons the slanderers to answer for their accounts, and punishes them severely.-----Guru Amardas, Raag Gauri, AGGS, Page, 316-6
Q. How come every one is interested in judging others rather than themselves against the advice contained in Sabd Guru;
ਨਾਨਕ ਪਰਖੇ ਆਪ ਕਉ ਤਾ ਪਾਰਖੁ ਜਾਣੁ ॥
Nānak parkẖė āp ka¬o ṯā pārakẖ jāṇ.
O Nanak, if someone judges himself, only then is he known as a real judge.-----Guru Angad Dev, Raag Majh, AGGS, Page, 148-8
Here I make a plea to the members to look in to the subject of Blasphemy a little more deeply and leave every one alone and concern to themselves.
Question is who defines the blasphemous act?
Is it blasphemous to be atheist or agnostic?
There are an estimated 20 to 30 million atheists in the United States these days, and some of them say they feel like a persecuted minority.
Even in a civil academic discussion, and agreeing to disagree this word has been used by some on controversial issues with differences of opinion or in understanding the Philosophy contained in Sabd Guru.
Is it ok to instill fear of God in people? It has been discussed in the Christian world being blasphemous to Jesus by atheists by creating fear of hell.
Sabd Guru answers it that God is found through Its love and fear;
ਡਰਿ ਘਰੁ ਘਰਿ ਡਰੁ ਡਰਿ ਡਰੁ ਜਾਇ ॥ ਸੋ ਡਰੁ ਕੇਹਾ ਜਿਤੁ ਡਰਿ ਡਰੁ ਪਾਇ ॥
Dar Ghar Ghar Dar Dar Dar Jaaey, So Dar Kayhaa Jit Dar Dar Paa-ay.
Place the Fear of God within the home of your heart; with this Fear of God in your heart, all other fears shall be frightened away. What sort of fear is that, which frightens other fears? -----Guru Nanak, Raag Gauri, AGGS, Page, 151-7
ਭੈ ਵਿਚਿ ਨਿਰਭਉ ਪਾਇਆ ॥ ਤਾ ਸਹਜੈ ਕੈ ਘਰਿ ਆਇਆ ॥
Bhai Vich Nirbhou Paeyaa, Taa Sahjai Kai Ghar Aa-i-aa.
Through the Fear of God, one attains the Fearless Akal Purkh, then, one enters the home of celestial bliss. -----Guru Nanak, Raag Sorath, AGGS, Page, 599-11
ਭੈ ਬਿਚਿ ਭਾਉ ਭਾਇ ਕੋਊ ਬੂਝਹਿ ਹਰਿ ਰਸੁ ਪਾਵੈ ਭਾਈ ॥ ਜੇਤੇ ਘਟ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤੁ ਸਭ ਹੀ ਮਹਿ ਭਾਵੈ ਤਿਸਹਿ ਪੀਆਈ ॥
Bhai Bich Bhaou Bhaaey Ko-ou Boojheh Har Ras Paavai Bhaaee, Jaytay Ghat Amrit Sabh Hee Meh Bhaavai Tiseh Pee-aa-ee.
In the Fear of God, is the Love of God? Only those few who understand Its Love obtain Its sublime essence, O Siblings of Destiny. As many hearts as there are - in all of them, is Its Ambrosial Nectar; as It pleases, It causes them to drink it in. -----Bhagat Kabir, Raag Kedara, AGGS, Page, 1123-15
Sabd Guru References clearly show that consequences will be suffered by the individual committing blasphemy as judged by the Highest Power.
No one has seen that Power and no one has seen the consequences of their actions and more so no one remembers about their last life if there was one or it is the first and the last one.
ਅਦਿਸਟੁ ਦਿਸੈ ਤਾ ਕਹਿਆ ਜਾਇ ॥
Adisat Disai Taa Kahi-aa Jaa-ay.
If the Unseen God could be seen, then It could be described.-----Guru Nanak, Raag Gauri Guarary, AGGHS, Page, 22-12
No one knows what happens after death as quoted by Guru Nanak in Ragas Malar and Gauri;
ਕਹਾਂ ਤੇ ਆਇਆ ਕਹਾਂ ਏਹੁ ਜਾਣੁ॥ਜੀਵਤ ਮਰਤ ਰਹੈ ਪਰਵਾਣੁ॥ਹੁਕਮੈ ਬੂਝੈ ਤਤੁ ਪਛਾਣੈ॥ਇਹੁ ਪਰਸਾਦੁ ਗੁਰੂ ਤੇ ਜਾਣੈ॥
KahaaN Tay Aa-i-aa KahaaN Ayhu Jaan, Jeevat Marat Rahai Parvaan. Hukmai Boojhai Tat Pachhaanai, Ih Parsaad Guroo Tay Jaanai.
Where has he come from, and where will he go? Remaining dead while yet alive, he is accepted and approved. Whoever understands the Hukam of the God's Command, realizes the essence of reality, this is known by Guru's Grace. -----Guru Nanak, Raag Malar, AGGS, Page, 1289-6
ਜਾਤੋ ਜਾਇ ਕਹਾ ਤੇ ਆਵੈ ॥ ਕਹ ਉਪਜੈ ਕਹ ਜਾਇ ਸਮਾਵੈ ॥ ਕਿਉ ਬਾਧਿਓ ਕਿਉ ਮੁਕਤੀ ਪਾਵੈ ॥ ਕਿਉ ਅਬਿਨਾਸੀ ਸਹਜਿ ਸਮਾਵੈ ॥
Jaato Jaa-ay Kahaa Tay Aavai, Kah Upjai Kah Jaa-ay Samaavai. Ki-o BaaDhi-o Ki-o Muktee Paavai, Ki-o Abhinaasee Sahj Samaavai.
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 Creator? -----Guru Nanak, Raag Gauri, AGGS, Page, 152
Guru Nanak has used the word Kufar (ਕੁਫਰ) in Majh Ki Vaar translated as a liar or atheist describing the consequences;
ਰਾਹ ਦੋਵੈ ਇਕੁ ਜਾਣੈ ਸੋਈ ਸਿਝਸੀ ॥ ਕੁਫਰ ਗੋਅ ਕੁਫਰਾਣੈ ਪਇਆ ਦਝਸੀ॥ਸਭ ਦੁਨੀਆ ਸੁਬਹਾਨੁ ਸਚਿ ਸਮਾਈਐ ॥ ਸਿਝੈ ਦਰਿ ਦੀਵਾਨਿ ਆਪੁ ਗਵਾਈਐ ॥
Rāh ḏovai ik jāṇai so▫ī sijẖsī. Kufar go▫a kufrāṇai pa▫i▫ā ḏajẖsī. Sabẖ ḏunī▫ā sub▫hān sacẖ samā▫ī▫ai. Sijẖai ḏar ḏīvān āp gavā▫ī▫ai.
One knowing both paths (Hindu & Muslim) is to be the one who alone will find fulfillment. One who repudiates this faith will burn in the fire of hell. The whole world is holy. Be absorbed in its purity and by discarding egoism does one finds acceptance at God’s portal and Its Divine Court. -----Guru Nanak, Raag Majh Ki Vaar, AGGS, Page, 142-8
Guru Nanak was called a Kufar (ਕੁਫਰ) by Mullah’s during his visit to Mecca as written by Bhai Gurdas in his Vaar 1, Pauri 32-5;
ਜੀਵਨ ਮਾਰੀ ਲਤਿ ਦੀ ਕਿਹੜਾ ਸੁਤਾ ਕੁਫਰ ਕੁਫਾਰੀ ।
Jeevan Mari Lat Di Kehrha Suta Kufar Kufari.
The Qazi named Jeevan kicked him and asked who this infidel enacting blasphemy was?
Conclusion:
In the final analysis it is difficult to say as to who committed blasphemy and who diagnosed it by being a judge and jury. IMHO it serves no purpose except for creating ill-feelings between members and actually is a waste of time. We should leave it as agree to disagree with out hurting one another’s feelings and getting upset unnecessarily.
Virinder S.Grewal
Williamston, MI
