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Guru Granth Sahib
Composition, Arrangement & Layout
ਜਪੁ | Jup
ਸੋ ਦਰੁ | So Dar
ਸੋਹਿਲਾ | Sohilaa
ਰਾਗੁ ਸਿਰੀਰਾਗੁ | Raag Siree-Raag
Gurbani (14-53)
Ashtpadiyan (53-71)
Gurbani (71-74)
Pahre (74-78)
Chhant (78-81)
Vanjara (81-82)
Vaar Siri Raag (83-91)
Bhagat Bani (91-93)
ਰਾਗੁ ਮਾਝ | Raag Maajh
Gurbani (94-109)
Ashtpadi (109)
Ashtpadiyan (110-129)
Ashtpadi (129-130)
Ashtpadiyan (130-133)
Bara Maha (133-136)
Din Raen (136-137)
Vaar Maajh Ki (137-150)
ਰਾਗੁ ਗਉੜੀ | Raag Gauree
Gurbani (151-185)
Quartets/Couplets (185-220)
Ashtpadiyan (220-234)
Karhalei (234-235)
Ashtpadiyan (235-242)
Chhant (242-249)
Baavan Akhari (250-262)
Sukhmani (262-296)
Thittee (296-300)
Gauree kii Vaar (300-323)
Gurbani (323-330)
Ashtpadiyan (330-340)
Baavan Akhari (340-343)
Thintteen (343-344)
Vaar Kabir (344-345)
Bhagat Bani (345-346)
ਰਾਗੁ ਆਸਾ | Raag Aasaa
Gurbani (347-348)
Chaupaday (348-364)
Panchpadde (364-365)
Kaafee (365-409)
Aasaavaree (409-411)
Ashtpadiyan (411-432)
Patee (432-435)
Chhant (435-462)
Vaar Aasaa (462-475)
Bhagat Bani (475-488)
ਰਾਗੁ ਗੂਜਰੀ | Raag Goojaree
Gurbani (489-503)
Ashtpadiyan (503-508)
Vaar Gujari (508-517)
Vaar Gujari (517-526)
ਰਾਗੁ ਦੇਵਗੰਧਾਰੀ | Raag Dayv-Gandhaaree
Gurbani (527-536)
ਰਾਗੁ ਬਿਹਾਗੜਾ | Raag Bihaagraa
Gurbani (537-556)
Chhant (538-548)
Vaar Bihaagraa (548-556)
ਰਾਗੁ ਵਡਹੰਸ | Raag Wadhans
Gurbani (557-564)
Ashtpadiyan (564-565)
Chhant (565-575)
Ghoriaan (575-578)
Alaahaniiaa (578-582)
Vaar Wadhans (582-594)
ਰਾਗੁ ਸੋਰਠਿ | Raag Sorath
Gurbani (595-634)
Asatpadhiya (634-642)
Vaar Sorath (642-659)
ਰਾਗੁ ਧਨਾਸਰੀ | Raag Dhanasaree
Gurbani (660-685)
Astpadhiya (685-687)
Chhant (687-691)
Bhagat Bani (691-695)
ਰਾਗੁ ਜੈਤਸਰੀ | Raag Jaitsree
Gurbani (696-703)
Chhant (703-705)
Vaar Jaitsaree (705-710)
Bhagat Bani (710)
ਰਾਗੁ ਟੋਡੀ | Raag Todee
ਰਾਗੁ ਬੈਰਾੜੀ | Raag Bairaaree
ਰਾਗੁ ਤਿਲੰਗ | Raag Tilang
Gurbani (721-727)
Bhagat Bani (727)
ਰਾਗੁ ਸੂਹੀ | Raag Suhi
Gurbani (728-750)
Ashtpadiyan (750-761)
Kaafee (761-762)
Suchajee (762)
Gunvantee (763)
Chhant (763-785)
Vaar Soohee (785-792)
Bhagat Bani (792-794)
ਰਾਗੁ ਬਿਲਾਵਲੁ | Raag Bilaaval
Gurbani (795-831)
Ashtpadiyan (831-838)
Thitteen (838-840)
Vaar Sat (841-843)
Chhant (843-848)
Vaar Bilaaval (849-855)
Bhagat Bani (855-858)
ਰਾਗੁ ਗੋਂਡ | Raag Gond
Gurbani (859-869)
Ashtpadiyan (869)
Bhagat Bani (870-875)
ਰਾਗੁ ਰਾਮਕਲੀ | Raag Ramkalee
Ashtpadiyan (902-916)
Gurbani (876-902)
Anand (917-922)
Sadd (923-924)
Chhant (924-929)
Dakhnee (929-938)
Sidh Gosat (938-946)
Vaar Ramkalee (947-968)
ਰਾਗੁ ਨਟ ਨਾਰਾਇਨ | Raag Nat Narayan
Gurbani (975-980)
Ashtpadiyan (980-983)
ਰਾਗੁ ਮਾਲੀ ਗਉੜਾ | Raag Maalee Gauraa
Gurbani (984-988)
Bhagat Bani (988)
ਰਾਗੁ ਮਾਰੂ | Raag Maaroo
Gurbani (889-1008)
Ashtpadiyan (1008-1014)
Kaafee (1014-1016)
Ashtpadiyan (1016-1019)
Anjulian (1019-1020)
Solhe (1020-1033)
Dakhni (1033-1043)
ਰਾਗੁ ਤੁਖਾਰੀ | Raag Tukhaari
Bara Maha (1107-1110)
Chhant (1110-1117)
ਰਾਗੁ ਕੇਦਾਰਾ | Raag Kedara
Gurbani (1118-1123)
Bhagat Bani (1123-1124)
ਰਾਗੁ ਭੈਰਉ | Raag Bhairo
Gurbani (1125-1152)
Partaal (1153)
Ashtpadiyan (1153-1167)
ਰਾਗੁ ਬਸੰਤੁ | Raag Basant
Gurbani (1168-1187)
Ashtpadiyan (1187-1193)
Vaar Basant (1193-1196)
ਰਾਗੁ ਸਾਰਗ | Raag Saarag
Gurbani (1197-1200)
Partaal (1200-1231)
Ashtpadiyan (1232-1236)
Chhant (1236-1237)
Vaar Saarang (1237-1253)
ਰਾਗੁ ਮਲਾਰ | Raag Malaar
Gurbani (1254-1293)
Partaal (1265-1273)
Ashtpadiyan (1273-1278)
Chhant (1278)
Vaar Malaar (1278-91)
Bhagat Bani (1292-93)
ਰਾਗੁ ਕਾਨੜਾ | Raag Kaanraa
Gurbani (1294-96)
Partaal (1296-1318)
Ashtpadiyan (1308-1312)
Chhant (1312)
Vaar Kaanraa
Bhagat Bani (1318)
ਰਾਗੁ ਕਲਿਆਨ | Raag Kalyaan
Gurbani (1319-23)
Ashtpadiyan (1323-26)
ਰਾਗੁ ਪ੍ਰਭਾਤੀ | Raag Prabhaatee
Gurbani (1327-1341)
Ashtpadiyan (1342-51)
ਰਾਗੁ ਜੈਜਾਵੰਤੀ | Raag Jaijaiwanti
Gurbani (1352-53)
Salok | Gatha | Phunahe | Chaubole | Swayiye
Sehskritee Mahala 1
Sehskritee Mahala 5
Gaathaa Mahala 5
Phunhay Mahala 5
Chaubolae Mahala 5
Shaloks Bhagat Kabir
Shaloks Sheikh Farid
Swaiyyae Mahala 5
Swaiyyae in Praise of Gurus
Shaloks in Addition To Vaars
Shalok Ninth Mehl
Mundavanee Mehl 5
ਰਾਗ ਮਾਲਾ, Raag Maalaa
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Hard Talk
Sikhism, A Religion Created By God
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<blockquote data-quote="Sikh80" data-source="post: 69912" data-attributes="member: 5290"><p>There is no argument here.Even in SGGS ji we have a clear mention that the Bani is Nirankaar. Regarding the first line 'all reigions come from God', it is not so nor it can ever be. It is unique with sikhism and sikhism only.It is immaterial if it has been supported by Dasam Granth sahib ji whom I shall bow as many times as I am asked to even if some fool states that this is not original work. </p><p>Even the name of Dashmesh ji attached to any counterfeit will make the counterfiet an important edict for me. May be not with everyone. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /> </p><p> </p><p>In the nutshell sikhism is a religion created by God.<img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Symbol'"><span style="font-size: 12px">·</span> </span><span style="font-family: 'Tahoma'"><span style="font-size: 12px">He is the Creator of all, He is the Enjoyer of all. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Symbol'"><span style="font-size: 12px">·</span> </span><span style="font-family: 'Tahoma'"><span style="font-size: 12px">The Creator listens, and the Creator sees. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Symbol'"><span style="font-size: 12px">·</span> </span><span style="font-family: 'Tahoma'"><span style="font-size: 12px">The Creator is unseen, and the Creator is seen. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Symbol'"><span style="font-size: 12px">·</span> </span><span style="font-family: 'Tahoma'"><span style="font-size: 12px">The Creator forms, and the Creator destroys. The Creator touches, and the Creator is detached. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Symbol'"><span style="font-size: 12px">·</span> </span><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Tahoma'">The Creator is the One who speaks, and the Creator is the One who understands. The Creator comes, and the Creator also goes. The Creator is absolute and without qualities; the Creator is related, with the most excellent qualities. By Guru’s Grace, Nanak looks upon all the same. </span></span></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_in_Sikhism</span></strong></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">God in Sikhism</span></strong></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia</span></strong></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">The fundamental belief of </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikhism" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Sikhism</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"> is that God exists, not merely as an idea or concept, but as a Real Entity, indescribable yet knowable and perceivable to anyone who is prepared to dedicate the time and energy to become perceptive to His/Her persona. The </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gurus" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Gurus</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> never spoke about proofs of the existence of God: For them He/She is too real and obvious to need any logical proof.</span></span></p><p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Arjan" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Guru Arjan</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">, Nanak V, says, "'God is beyond colour and form, yet His/Her presence is clearly visible"' (GG, 74), and again, '"Nanak's Lord transcends the world as well as the scriptures of the east and the west, and yet He/She is clearly manifest'" (GG, 397).</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">In any case, knowledge of the ultimate Reality is not a matter for reason; it comes by revelation of the ultimate reality through "nadir" or grace and by "anubhava" or mystical experience. Says </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Nanak" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Guru Nanak</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">, <em>budhi pathi na paiai bahu chaturaiai bhai milai mani bhane which translates to "He/She is not accessible through intellect, or through mere scholarship or cleverness at argument; He/She is met, when He/She pleases, through devotion" (GG, 436).</em></span></span></p><p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikhism" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Sikhism</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"> as a religion is uncompromisingly monotheistic. The </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gurus" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Gurus</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"> have described God in numerous ways in their hymns included in the </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Granth_Sahib" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Guru Granth Sahib</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">, but the oneness of the deity is consistently emphasized throughout. Briefly, God for the </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikh" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Sikhs</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"> as described in the </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mool_Mantar" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Mool Mantar</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">, the first passage in the </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Granth_Sahib" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Guru Granth Sahib</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> and the basic formula of the faith is:</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center"><p style="text-align: center"><p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Ik oankar satinamu karta purakhu nirbhau nirvairu akal murati ajuni saibhan gurprasadi</span></span></p> <p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">translates to</span></span></p> <p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">One Universal Creator God,The Name Is Truth,Creative Being Personified,No Fear,No Hatred,Image Of</span></span></p> <p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">The Timeless One,Beyond Birth,Self Existent,By Guru's Grace.</span></span></p> <p style="text-align: center"><strong><span style="color: cornflowerblue"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">(GG. Pg 1)</span></span></span></strong></p> </p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Oankar is a variation of the mystic monosyllable Om (also known as anahata nada, the unstruck sound) first set forth in the Upanishads as the transcendent object of profound religious meditation.</span></span></p><p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Nanak" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Guru Nanak</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"> prefixed the numeral one (ik) to it making it "Ik Oankar" or "Ekankar" to stress GOD's oneness. GOD is named and known only through GOD's Own immanent nature. Almost all names are attributive. The only name which can be said to truly fit GOD's transcendent state is Sat or Satnam (Sanskrit 'satya' meaning TRUTH ), the changeless and timeless Reality. GOD is transcendent and all-pervasive at the same time. Transcendence and immanence are two aspects of the same single Supreme Reality. The Reality is immanent in the entire creation, but the creation as a whole fails to contain GOD fully. As says </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Tegh_Bahadur" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Guru Tegh Bahadur</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">, Nanak IX, "He/She has himself spread out His/Her Own "maya" (worldly illusion) which He/She oversees; many different forms He/She assumes in many colours, yet He/She stays independent of all" (GG, 537).</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">God is Karta Purakh, the Creator-Being. He/She created the spatial-temporal universe not from some pre-existing physical element, but from His/Her own Self. Universe is His own emanation. It is not "maya" or illusion but is real (sat) because, as say </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Arjan" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Guru Arjan</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">, “True is He/She and true is His/Her creation [because] all has emanated from God Himself” (GG 294). But God is not identical with the universe. The latter exists and is contained in Him/Her and not vice versa. God is immanent in the created world, but is not limited by it. “Many times He/She expands Himself/Herself into such worlds but He/She ever remains the same One Ekankar" (GG, 276). Even at one time "there are hundreds of thousands of skies and nether regions" (GG, 5). Included in </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sach_Khand" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Sach Khand</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> (Realm of Truth), the figurative abode of God, there are countless regions and universes" (GG, 8). Creation is "His/Her sport which He/She witnesses, and when He/She rolls up the sport, He/She is His/Her sole Self again" (GG, 292). He/She is the Creator, Sustainer and the Destroyer.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">What is the Creator's purpose in creating the universe? It is not for man to enquire or judge the purpose of His Creator. To quote </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Arjan" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Guru Arjan</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"> again, "The created cannot have a measure of the Creator; what He wills, O Nanak, happens" (GG, 285). For the </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikhs" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Sikhs</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">, the Creation is His pleasure and play "When the showman beat His drum, the whole creation came out to witness the show; and when He puts aside his disguise, He rejoices in His original solitude" (GG, 174, 291, 655, 736).</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Purakh added to Karta in the </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mool_Mantar" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Mool Mantar</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"> is the Punjabi form of </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanskrit" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Sanskrit</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"> purusa, which literally means, besides man, male or person, "the primeval man as the soul and original source of the universe; the personal and animating principle; the supreme Being or Soul of the universe." Purakh in </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mool_Mantar" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Mool Mantar</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> is, therefore, none other than God the Creator. The term has nothing to do with the purusa of the Sankhya school of Indian philosophy where it is the spirit as a passive spectator of prakriti or creative force.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">That God is "nirbhau" (without fear) and "nirvair" (without rancour or enemy) is obvious enough as He has no "sarik" (rival). But the terms have other connotations, too. Nirbhau not only indicates fearlessness but also the absence of fearfulness. It also implies sovereignty and unquestioned exercise of Will. Similarly, nirvair implies, besides absence of enmity, the positive attributes of compassion and impartiality. Together the two terms mean that God loves His handiwork and is the Dispenser of impartial justice, dharam-niau. </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Ram_Das" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Guru Ram Das</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">, Nanak IV, says: "Why should we be afraid, with the True One being the judge. True is the True One's justice" (GG, 84).</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">God is </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akal" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Akal</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"> Murat, the Eternal Being. The timelessness involved in the negative epithet akal has made it popular in </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikh" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Sikh</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"> tradition as one of the names of God, the Timeless One, as in </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akal" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Akal</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"> Purakh or in the slogan Sat Sri </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akal" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Akal</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"> (Satya Sri Akal). One of the most sacred shrines of the </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikhs" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Sikhs</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"> is the </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akal" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Akal</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"> Takhat, the Eternal Throne, at </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amritsar" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Amritsar</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">. Murat here does not mean form, figure, image or idol. </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikhism" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Sikhism</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"> expressly forbids idolatry or image-worship in any form. God is called "Nirankar", the Formless One, although it is true that all forms are the manifestations of Nirankar. </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhai_Gurdas" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Bhai Gurdas</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">, the earliest expounder and the copyist of the original recension of </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Granth_Sahib" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Guru Granth Sahib</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">, says: "Nirankar akaru hari joti sarup anup dikhaia (The Formless One having created form manifested His wondrous refulgence" (Varan, XII. 17). Murat in the </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mool_Mantra" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Mool Mantra</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">, therefore, signifies verity or manifestation of the Timeless and Formless One.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">God is Ajuni, Un-incarnated, and Saibhan (</span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanskrit" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Sanskrit</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"> svayambhu), Self-existent. The Primal Creator Himself had no creator. He simply is, has ever been and shall ever be by Himself. Ajuni also affirms the </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikh" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Sikh</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"> rejection of the theory of divine incarnation. </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Arjan" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Guru Arjan</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> says: "Man misdirected by false belief indulges in falsehood; God is free from birth and death. . . May that mouth be scorched which says that God is incarnated" (GG, 1136).</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">The </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mool_Mantar" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Mool Mantar</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"> ends with gurprasadi, meaning thereby that realization of God comes through </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Guru</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">'s grace. "</span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Guru</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">" in </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikh" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Sikh</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"> theology appears in three different but allied connotations, viz. God, the ten </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikh_Gurus" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Sikh Gurus</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">, the enlightened ones and enlighteners, and the gur-</span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shabad" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">shabad</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"> or </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Guru</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">'s utterances as preserved in the </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Granth_Sahib" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Guru Granth Sahib</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">. Of God's grace, Gurus' instruction and guidance and the scriptural </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shabad" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Shabad</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"> (</span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanskrit" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Sanskrit</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">, sabda, literally 'Word'), the first is the most important, because, as nothing happens without God's will or pleasure, His grace is essential to making a person inclined towards a desire and search for union with Him.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">God in </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikhism" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Sikhism</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"> is thus depicted in three distinct aspects, viz. God in Himself, God in relation to creation, and God in relation to man. God by himself is the one Ultimate, Transcendent Reality, Nirguna (without attributes), Timeless, Boundless, Formless, Ever-existent, Immutable, Ineffable, All-by Himself and even Unknowable in His entirety. The only nomenclatures that can rightly be applied to Him in this state of </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunn" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">sunn</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"> (</span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanskrit" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Sanskrit</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">, sunya or void) are Brahman and Parbrahman (</span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanskrit" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Sanskrit</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">, Parbrahman) or the pronouns He and Thou. During a discourse with Siddhas, Hindu recluses, </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Nanak" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Guru Nanak</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> in reply to a question as to where the Transcendent God was before the stage of creation replies, "To think of the Transcendent Lord in that state is to enter the realm of wonder. Even at that stage of sunn, he permeated all that Void" (GG, 940). This is the state of God's sunn samadhi, self-absorbed trance.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">When it pleases God, He becomes sarguna (Sanskrit, saguna, with attributes) and manifests Himself in creation. He becomes immanent in His created universe, which is His own emanation, an aspect of Himself. As says </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Amar_Das" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Guru Amar Das</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">, Nanak III, "This (so-called) poison, the world, that you see is God's picture; it is God's outline that we see" (GG, 922). Most names of God are His attributive, action-related signifiers, kirtam nam (GG, 1083) or karam nam (</span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dasam_Granth" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Dasam Granth</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">, </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaap_Sahib" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Jaap Sahib</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">). God in the </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikh_Scripture" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Sikh Scripture</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"> has been referred to by several names, picked from Indian and semitic traditions. He is called in terms of human relations as father, mother, brother, relation, friend, lover, beloved, husband. Other names, expressive of His supremacy, are thakur, prabhu, svami, sah, patsah, sahib, sain (Lord, Master). Some traditional names are ram, narayan, govind, gopal, allah, khuda. Even the negative terms such as nirankar, niranjan et al. are as much related to attributes as are the positive terms like data, datar, karta, kartar, dayal, kripal, qadir, karim, etc. Some terms peculiar to </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikhism" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Sikhism</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"> are </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naam" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">naam</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"> (literally <em>name</em>), sabad (literally <em>word</em>) and </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vahiguru" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Vahiguru</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"> (literally <em>Wondrous Master</em>). While nam and sabad are mystical terms standing for the Divine manifestation and are used as substitute terms for the Supreme Being, </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vahiguru" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Vahiguru</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> is an ejaculatory phrase expressing awe, wonder and ecstatic joy of the worshipper as he comprehends the immenseness and grandeur of the Lord and His Creation.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Immanence or All-pervasiveness of God, however, does not limit or in any way affect His transcendence. He is Transcendent and Immanent at the same time. The Creation is His lila or cosmic play. He enjoys it, pervades it, yet Himself remains unattached. </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Arjan" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Guru Arjan</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> describes Him in several hymns as "Unattached and Unentangled in the midst of all" (GG, 102, 294, 296); and "Amidst all, yet outside of all, free from love and hate" (GG, 784-85). Creation is His manifestation, but, being conditioned by space and time, it provides only a partial and imperfect glimpse of the Timeless and Boundless Supreme Being.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">That God is both Transcendent and Immanent does not mean that these are two phases of God one following the other. God is One, and He is both nirguna and sarguna. "Nirguna sargunu hari hari mera, (God, my God is both with and without attributes)," sang </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Arjan" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Guru Arjan</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"> (GG, 98). </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Amar_Das" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Guru Amar Das</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> also had said, "Nirguna sarguna ape soi (He Himself is with as well as without attributes) " (GG, 128). Transcendence and Immanence are two aspects of the same Supreme Reality.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">The Creator also sustains His Creation compassionately and benevolently. "My Lord is ever Fresh and ever Bountiful" (GG, 660); "He is the eradicator of the pain and sorrow of the humble" (GG, 263-64). The universe is created, sustained and moved according to His hukam or Divine Will, and Divine purpose. "The inscrutable hukam is the source of all forms, all creatures. . . All are within the ambit of </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hukam" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">hukam</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">; there is nothing outside of it." (GG, p. 1). Another principle that regulates the created beings is </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karma" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">karma</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> (actions, deeds). <strong>Simply stated, it is the law of cause and effect. The popular dictum "As one sows so shall one reap" is stressed again and again in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Granth_Sahib" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #0000ff">Guru Granth Sahib</span></u></a></strong> (GG, 134,176, 309, 316, 366, 706, 730).</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">The created world though real is not eternal. Whenever God desires, it merges back into His Timeless and Formless Self. </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Gobind_Singh" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Guru Gobind Singh</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"> calls this process of creation and dissolution udkarkh (</span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanskrit" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Sanskrit</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">, utkarsana) and akarkh (</span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanskrit" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Sanskrit</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">, akarsana), respectively: "Whenever you, O Creator, cause udkarkh (increase, expansion), the creation assumes the boundless body; whenever you effect akarkh (attraction, contraction), all corporeal existence merges in you" (Benati Chaupai). This process of creation and dissolution has been repeated God alone knows for how many times. A passage in the </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukhmani" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Sukhmani</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"> by </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Arjan" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Guru Arjan</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> visualizes the infinite field of creation thus:</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center"><p style="text-align: center"><p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Millions are the mines of life; millions the spheres; </span></span></p> <p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Millions are the regions above; millions the regions below;</span></span></p> <p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Millions are the species taking birth.</span></span></p> <p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">By diverse means does He spread Himself.</span></span></p> <p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Again and again did He expand Himself thus,</span></span></p> <p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">But He ever remains the One Ekankar.</span></span></p> <p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Countless creatures of various kinds</span></span></p> <p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Come out of Him and are absorbed back.</span></span></p> <p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">None can know the limit of His Being;</span></span></p> <p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">He, the Lord, O Nanak! is all in all Himself.</span></span></p> <p style="text-align: center"><strong><span style="color: cornflowerblue"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">(GG. 275-76)</span></span></span></strong></p> </p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Man, although an infinitesimal part of God's creation, yet stands apart from it insofar as it is the only species blessed with reflection, moral sense and potentiality for understanding matters metaphysical. In </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikhism" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Sikhism</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">, human birth is both a special privilege for the soul and a rare chance for the realization of union with God. Man is lord of earth, as </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Arjan" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Guru Arjan</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"> says, "Of all the eight million and four hundred thousand species, God conferred superiority on man" (GG, 1075), and "All other species are your (man's) water-bearers; you have hegemony over this earth" (GG, 374). But </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Guru</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"> also reminds that "now that you (the soul) have got a human body, this is your turn to unite with God" (GG, 12, 378). </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Nanak" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Guru Nanak</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> had warned, "Listen, listen to my advice, O my mind! only good deed shall endure, and there may not be another chance" (GG, 154). So, realization of God and a reunion of atma (soul) with paramatma (Supreme Soul, God) are the ultimate goals of human life. The achievement ultimately rests on nadar (God's grace), but man has to strive in order to deserve His grace. As a first step, he should have faith in and craving for the Lord. He should believe that God is near him, rather within his self, and not far away. He is to seek Him in his self.</span></span></p><p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Nanak" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Guru Nanak</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"> says: "Your beloved is close to you, O foolish bride! What are you searching outside?" (GG, 722), and </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Amar_Das" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Guru Amar Das</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"> reassures: "Recognize yourself, O mind! You are the light manifest. Rejoice in </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Guru</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">'s instruction that God is always with (in) you. If you recognize your Self, you shall know the Lord and shall get the knowledge of life and death" (GG, 441). The knowledge of the infinitesimal nature of his self when compared to the immenseness of God and His creation would instil humility in man and would rid him of his ego (a sense of I, my and mine) which is "the greatest malady man suffers from" (GG, 466, 589, 1258) and the arch-enemy of nam or path to God-Realization (GG, 560). Having surrendered his ego and having an intense desire to reach his goal (the realization of Reality), the seeker under </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Guru</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">'s instruction (gurmati) becomes a </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gurmukh" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">gurmukh</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"> or person looking guruward. He meditates upon nam or sabda, the Divine Word, while yet leading life as a householder, earning through honest labour, sharing his victuals with the needy, and performing self-abnegating deeds of service. </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikhism" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Sikhism</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"> condemns ritualism. Worship of God in the Sikh way of life consists in reciting </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gurbani" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">gurbani</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"> or holy texts and meditation on nam, solitary or in </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sangat" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">sangat</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"> or congregation, </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirtan" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">kirtan</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"> or singing of scriptural hymns in praise of God, and </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ardas" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">ardas</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> or prayer in supplication.</span></span></p><p><strong><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Sikhism attributes to God</span></strong></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Below are the main qualities that Sikhism attributes to God:</span></span></p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><strong>Only God is worthy of worship and meditation at all times</strong> </span></span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><strong>He is the Creator but also the Destroyer</strong> </span></span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><strong>God is Compassionate and Kind</strong> </span></span></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><strong>With His Grace, He comes to dwell within the mind and body</strong> </span></span></li> </ul><p><em><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Blessing us with His Grace, the Kind and Compassionate All-powerful Lord comes to dwell within the mind and body. (</span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Granth_Sahib" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Guru Granth Sahib</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"> Page 49)</span></span></em></p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><strong>He is merciful and wise</strong> </span></span></li> </ul><p><em><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">The Cherisher Lord is so very merciful and wise; He is compassionate to all. (</span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Granth_Sahib" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Guru Granth Sahib</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"> Page 249)</span></span></em></p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><strong>He is the ultimate Protector of all beings</strong> </span></span></li> </ul><p><em><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">The Lord is kind and compassionate to all beings and creatures; His Protecting Hand is over all. (</span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Granth_Sahib" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Guru Granth Sahib</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"> Page 300)</span></span></em></p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><strong>Only with His Will can pain, poverty, disease and hardships be removed from ones life.</strong> </span></span></li> </ul><p><em><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">O Nanak, God has been kind and compassionate; He has blessed me. Removing pain and poverty, He has blended me with Himself. ||8||5|| (</span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Granth_Sahib" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Guru Granth Sahib</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"> Page 1311)</span></span></em></p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><strong>God is everywhere</strong> </span></span></li> </ul><p><em><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Nanak is attuned to the Love of the Lord, whose Light pervades the entire Universe. (</span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Granth_Sahib" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Guru Granth Sahib</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"> Page 49)</span></span></em></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Sikh80, post: 69912, member: 5290"] There is no argument here.Even in SGGS ji we have a clear mention that the Bani is Nirankaar. Regarding the first line 'all reigions come from God', it is not so nor it can ever be. It is unique with sikhism and sikhism only.It is immaterial if it has been supported by Dasam Granth sahib ji whom I shall bow as many times as I am asked to even if some fool states that this is not original work. Even the name of Dashmesh ji attached to any counterfeit will make the counterfiet an important edict for me. May be not with everyone. :-) In the nutshell sikhism is a religion created by God.:-) [FONT=Symbol][SIZE=3]·[/SIZE] [/FONT][FONT=Tahoma][SIZE=3]He is the Creator of all, He is the Enjoyer of all. [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Symbol][SIZE=3]·[/SIZE] [/FONT][FONT=Tahoma][SIZE=3]The Creator listens, and the Creator sees. [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Symbol][SIZE=3]·[/SIZE] [/FONT][FONT=Tahoma][SIZE=3]The Creator is unseen, and the Creator is seen. [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Symbol][SIZE=3]·[/SIZE] [/FONT][FONT=Tahoma][SIZE=3]The Creator forms, and the Creator destroys. The Creator touches, and the Creator is detached. [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Symbol][SIZE=3]·[/SIZE] [/FONT][SIZE=3][FONT=Tahoma]The Creator is the One who speaks, and the Creator is the One who understands. The Creator comes, and the Creator also goes. The Creator is absolute and without qualities; the Creator is related, with the most excellent qualities. By Guru’s Grace, Nanak looks upon all the same. [/FONT][/SIZE] [B][FONT=Times New Roman]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_in_Sikhism[/FONT][/B] [B][FONT=Times New Roman]God in Sikhism[/FONT][/B] [B][FONT=Times New Roman]From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/FONT][/B] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]The fundamental belief of [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikhism"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Sikhism[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] is that God exists, not merely as an idea or concept, but as a Real Entity, indescribable yet knowable and perceivable to anyone who is prepared to dedicate the time and energy to become perceptive to His/Her persona. The [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gurus"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Gurus[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman] never spoke about proofs of the existence of God: For them He/She is too real and obvious to need any logical proof.[/FONT][/SIZE] [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Arjan"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Guru Arjan[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman], Nanak V, says, "'God is beyond colour and form, yet His/Her presence is clearly visible"' (GG, 74), and again, '"Nanak's Lord transcends the world as well as the scriptures of the east and the west, and yet He/She is clearly manifest'" (GG, 397).[/FONT][/SIZE] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]In any case, knowledge of the ultimate Reality is not a matter for reason; it comes by revelation of the ultimate reality through "nadir" or grace and by "anubhava" or mystical experience. Says [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Nanak"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Guru Nanak[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman], [I]budhi pathi na paiai bahu chaturaiai bhai milai mani bhane which translates to "He/She is not accessible through intellect, or through mere scholarship or cleverness at argument; He/She is met, when He/She pleases, through devotion" (GG, 436).[/I][/FONT][/SIZE] [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikhism"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Sikhism[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] as a religion is uncompromisingly monotheistic. The [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gurus"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Gurus[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] have described God in numerous ways in their hymns included in the [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Granth_Sahib"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Guru Granth Sahib[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3], but the oneness of the deity is consistently emphasized throughout. Briefly, God for the [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikh"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Sikhs[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] as described in the [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mool_Mantar"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Mool Mantar[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3], the first passage in the [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Granth_Sahib"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Guru Granth Sahib[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman] and the basic formula of the faith is:[/FONT][/SIZE] [CENTER][CENTER][CENTER][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]Ik oankar satinamu karta purakhu nirbhau nirvairu akal murati ajuni saibhan gurprasadi translates to One Universal Creator God,The Name Is Truth,Creative Being Personified,No Fear,No Hatred,Image Of The Timeless One,Beyond Birth,Self Existent,By Guru's Grace.[/SIZE][/FONT] [B][COLOR=cornflowerblue][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3](GG. Pg 1)[/SIZE][/FONT][/COLOR][/B][/CENTER][/CENTER] [/CENTER] [SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman]Oankar is a variation of the mystic monosyllable Om (also known as anahata nada, the unstruck sound) first set forth in the Upanishads as the transcendent object of profound religious meditation.[/FONT][/SIZE] [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Nanak"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Guru Nanak[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] prefixed the numeral one (ik) to it making it "Ik Oankar" or "Ekankar" to stress GOD's oneness. GOD is named and known only through GOD's Own immanent nature. Almost all names are attributive. The only name which can be said to truly fit GOD's transcendent state is Sat or Satnam (Sanskrit 'satya' meaning TRUTH ), the changeless and timeless Reality. GOD is transcendent and all-pervasive at the same time. Transcendence and immanence are two aspects of the same single Supreme Reality. The Reality is immanent in the entire creation, but the creation as a whole fails to contain GOD fully. As says [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Tegh_Bahadur"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Guru Tegh Bahadur[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman], Nanak IX, "He/She has himself spread out His/Her Own "maya" (worldly illusion) which He/She oversees; many different forms He/She assumes in many colours, yet He/She stays independent of all" (GG, 537).[/FONT][/SIZE] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]God is Karta Purakh, the Creator-Being. He/She created the spatial-temporal universe not from some pre-existing physical element, but from His/Her own Self. Universe is His own emanation. It is not "maya" or illusion but is real (sat) because, as say [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Arjan"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Guru Arjan[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3], “True is He/She and true is His/Her creation [because] all has emanated from God Himself” (GG 294). But God is not identical with the universe. The latter exists and is contained in Him/Her and not vice versa. God is immanent in the created world, but is not limited by it. “Many times He/She expands Himself/Herself into such worlds but He/She ever remains the same One Ekankar" (GG, 276). Even at one time "there are hundreds of thousands of skies and nether regions" (GG, 5). Included in [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sach_Khand"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Sach Khand[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman] (Realm of Truth), the figurative abode of God, there are countless regions and universes" (GG, 8). Creation is "His/Her sport which He/She witnesses, and when He/She rolls up the sport, He/She is His/Her sole Self again" (GG, 292). He/She is the Creator, Sustainer and the Destroyer.[/FONT][/SIZE] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]What is the Creator's purpose in creating the universe? It is not for man to enquire or judge the purpose of His Creator. To quote [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Arjan"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Guru Arjan[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] again, "The created cannot have a measure of the Creator; what He wills, O Nanak, happens" (GG, 285). For the [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikhs"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Sikhs[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman], the Creation is His pleasure and play "When the showman beat His drum, the whole creation came out to witness the show; and when He puts aside his disguise, He rejoices in His original solitude" (GG, 174, 291, 655, 736).[/FONT][/SIZE] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]Purakh added to Karta in the [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mool_Mantar"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Mool Mantar[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] is the Punjabi form of [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanskrit"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Sanskrit[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] purusa, which literally means, besides man, male or person, "the primeval man as the soul and original source of the universe; the personal and animating principle; the supreme Being or Soul of the universe." Purakh in [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mool_Mantar"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Mool Mantar[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman] is, therefore, none other than God the Creator. The term has nothing to do with the purusa of the Sankhya school of Indian philosophy where it is the spirit as a passive spectator of prakriti or creative force.[/FONT][/SIZE] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]That God is "nirbhau" (without fear) and "nirvair" (without rancour or enemy) is obvious enough as He has no "sarik" (rival). But the terms have other connotations, too. Nirbhau not only indicates fearlessness but also the absence of fearfulness. It also implies sovereignty and unquestioned exercise of Will. Similarly, nirvair implies, besides absence of enmity, the positive attributes of compassion and impartiality. Together the two terms mean that God loves His handiwork and is the Dispenser of impartial justice, dharam-niau. [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Ram_Das"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Guru Ram Das[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman], Nanak IV, says: "Why should we be afraid, with the True One being the judge. True is the True One's justice" (GG, 84).[/FONT][/SIZE] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]God is [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akal"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Akal[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] Murat, the Eternal Being. The timelessness involved in the negative epithet akal has made it popular in [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikh"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Sikh[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] tradition as one of the names of God, the Timeless One, as in [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akal"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Akal[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] Purakh or in the slogan Sat Sri [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akal"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Akal[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] (Satya Sri Akal). One of the most sacred shrines of the [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikhs"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Sikhs[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] is the [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akal"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Akal[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] Takhat, the Eternal Throne, at [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amritsar"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Amritsar[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]. Murat here does not mean form, figure, image or idol. [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikhism"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Sikhism[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] expressly forbids idolatry or image-worship in any form. God is called "Nirankar", the Formless One, although it is true that all forms are the manifestations of Nirankar. [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhai_Gurdas"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Bhai Gurdas[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3], the earliest expounder and the copyist of the original recension of [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Granth_Sahib"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Guru Granth Sahib[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3], says: "Nirankar akaru hari joti sarup anup dikhaia (The Formless One having created form manifested His wondrous refulgence" (Varan, XII. 17). Murat in the [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mool_Mantra"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Mool Mantra[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman], therefore, signifies verity or manifestation of the Timeless and Formless One.[/FONT][/SIZE] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]God is Ajuni, Un-incarnated, and Saibhan ([/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanskrit"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Sanskrit[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] svayambhu), Self-existent. The Primal Creator Himself had no creator. He simply is, has ever been and shall ever be by Himself. Ajuni also affirms the [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikh"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Sikh[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] rejection of the theory of divine incarnation. [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Arjan"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Guru Arjan[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman] says: "Man misdirected by false belief indulges in falsehood; God is free from birth and death. . . May that mouth be scorched which says that God is incarnated" (GG, 1136).[/FONT][/SIZE] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]The [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mool_Mantar"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Mool Mantar[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] ends with gurprasadi, meaning thereby that realization of God comes through [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Guru[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]'s grace. "[/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Guru[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]" in [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikh"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Sikh[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] theology appears in three different but allied connotations, viz. God, the ten [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikh_Gurus"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Sikh Gurus[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3], the enlightened ones and enlighteners, and the gur-[/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shabad"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]shabad[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] or [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Guru[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]'s utterances as preserved in the [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Granth_Sahib"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Guru Granth Sahib[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]. Of God's grace, Gurus' instruction and guidance and the scriptural [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shabad"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Shabad[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] ([/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanskrit"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Sanskrit[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman], sabda, literally 'Word'), the first is the most important, because, as nothing happens without God's will or pleasure, His grace is essential to making a person inclined towards a desire and search for union with Him.[/FONT][/SIZE] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]God in [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikhism"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Sikhism[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] is thus depicted in three distinct aspects, viz. God in Himself, God in relation to creation, and God in relation to man. God by himself is the one Ultimate, Transcendent Reality, Nirguna (without attributes), Timeless, Boundless, Formless, Ever-existent, Immutable, Ineffable, All-by Himself and even Unknowable in His entirety. The only nomenclatures that can rightly be applied to Him in this state of [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunn"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]sunn[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] ([/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanskrit"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Sanskrit[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3], sunya or void) are Brahman and Parbrahman ([/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanskrit"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Sanskrit[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3], Parbrahman) or the pronouns He and Thou. During a discourse with Siddhas, Hindu recluses, [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Nanak"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Guru Nanak[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman] in reply to a question as to where the Transcendent God was before the stage of creation replies, "To think of the Transcendent Lord in that state is to enter the realm of wonder. Even at that stage of sunn, he permeated all that Void" (GG, 940). This is the state of God's sunn samadhi, self-absorbed trance.[/FONT][/SIZE] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]When it pleases God, He becomes sarguna (Sanskrit, saguna, with attributes) and manifests Himself in creation. He becomes immanent in His created universe, which is His own emanation, an aspect of Himself. As says [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Amar_Das"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Guru Amar Das[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3], Nanak III, "This (so-called) poison, the world, that you see is God's picture; it is God's outline that we see" (GG, 922). Most names of God are His attributive, action-related signifiers, kirtam nam (GG, 1083) or karam nam ([/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dasam_Granth"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Dasam Granth[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3], [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaap_Sahib"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Jaap Sahib[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]). God in the [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikh_Scripture"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Sikh Scripture[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] has been referred to by several names, picked from Indian and semitic traditions. He is called in terms of human relations as father, mother, brother, relation, friend, lover, beloved, husband. Other names, expressive of His supremacy, are thakur, prabhu, svami, sah, patsah, sahib, sain (Lord, Master). Some traditional names are ram, narayan, govind, gopal, allah, khuda. Even the negative terms such as nirankar, niranjan et al. are as much related to attributes as are the positive terms like data, datar, karta, kartar, dayal, kripal, qadir, karim, etc. Some terms peculiar to [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikhism"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Sikhism[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] are [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naam"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]naam[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] (literally [I]name[/I]), sabad (literally [I]word[/I]) and [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vahiguru"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Vahiguru[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] (literally [I]Wondrous Master[/I]). While nam and sabad are mystical terms standing for the Divine manifestation and are used as substitute terms for the Supreme Being, [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vahiguru"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Vahiguru[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman] is an ejaculatory phrase expressing awe, wonder and ecstatic joy of the worshipper as he comprehends the immenseness and grandeur of the Lord and His Creation.[/FONT][/SIZE] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]Immanence or All-pervasiveness of God, however, does not limit or in any way affect His transcendence. He is Transcendent and Immanent at the same time. The Creation is His lila or cosmic play. He enjoys it, pervades it, yet Himself remains unattached. [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Arjan"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Guru Arjan[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman] describes Him in several hymns as "Unattached and Unentangled in the midst of all" (GG, 102, 294, 296); and "Amidst all, yet outside of all, free from love and hate" (GG, 784-85). Creation is His manifestation, but, being conditioned by space and time, it provides only a partial and imperfect glimpse of the Timeless and Boundless Supreme Being.[/FONT][/SIZE] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]That God is both Transcendent and Immanent does not mean that these are two phases of God one following the other. God is One, and He is both nirguna and sarguna. "Nirguna sargunu hari hari mera, (God, my God is both with and without attributes)," sang [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Arjan"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Guru Arjan[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] (GG, 98). [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Amar_Das"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Guru Amar Das[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman] also had said, "Nirguna sarguna ape soi (He Himself is with as well as without attributes) " (GG, 128). Transcendence and Immanence are two aspects of the same Supreme Reality.[/FONT][/SIZE] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]The Creator also sustains His Creation compassionately and benevolently. "My Lord is ever Fresh and ever Bountiful" (GG, 660); "He is the eradicator of the pain and sorrow of the humble" (GG, 263-64). The universe is created, sustained and moved according to His hukam or Divine Will, and Divine purpose. "The inscrutable hukam is the source of all forms, all creatures. . . All are within the ambit of [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hukam"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]hukam[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]; there is nothing outside of it." (GG, p. 1). Another principle that regulates the created beings is [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karma"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]karma[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman] (actions, deeds). [B]Simply stated, it is the law of cause and effect. The popular dictum "As one sows so shall one reap" is stressed again and again in the [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Granth_Sahib"][U][COLOR=#0000ff]Guru Granth Sahib[/COLOR][/U][/URL][/B] (GG, 134,176, 309, 316, 366, 706, 730).[/FONT][/SIZE] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]The created world though real is not eternal. Whenever God desires, it merges back into His Timeless and Formless Self. [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Gobind_Singh"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Guru Gobind Singh[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] calls this process of creation and dissolution udkarkh ([/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanskrit"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Sanskrit[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3], utkarsana) and akarkh ([/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanskrit"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Sanskrit[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3], akarsana), respectively: "Whenever you, O Creator, cause udkarkh (increase, expansion), the creation assumes the boundless body; whenever you effect akarkh (attraction, contraction), all corporeal existence merges in you" (Benati Chaupai). This process of creation and dissolution has been repeated God alone knows for how many times. A passage in the [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukhmani"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Sukhmani[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] by [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Arjan"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Guru Arjan[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman] visualizes the infinite field of creation thus:[/FONT][/SIZE] [CENTER][CENTER][CENTER][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]Millions are the mines of life; millions the spheres; [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]Millions are the regions above; millions the regions below;[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]Millions are the species taking birth.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]By diverse means does He spread Himself.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]Again and again did He expand Himself thus,[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]But He ever remains the One Ekankar.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]Countless creatures of various kinds[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]Come out of Him and are absorbed back.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]None can know the limit of His Being;[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]He, the Lord, O Nanak! is all in all Himself.[/SIZE][/FONT] [B][COLOR=cornflowerblue][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3](GG. 275-76)[/SIZE][/FONT][/COLOR][/B][/CENTER][/CENTER] [/CENTER] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]Man, although an infinitesimal part of God's creation, yet stands apart from it insofar as it is the only species blessed with reflection, moral sense and potentiality for understanding matters metaphysical. In [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikhism"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Sikhism[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3], human birth is both a special privilege for the soul and a rare chance for the realization of union with God. Man is lord of earth, as [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Arjan"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Guru Arjan[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] says, "Of all the eight million and four hundred thousand species, God conferred superiority on man" (GG, 1075), and "All other species are your (man's) water-bearers; you have hegemony over this earth" (GG, 374). But [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Guru[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] also reminds that "now that you (the soul) have got a human body, this is your turn to unite with God" (GG, 12, 378). [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Nanak"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Guru Nanak[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman] had warned, "Listen, listen to my advice, O my mind! only good deed shall endure, and there may not be another chance" (GG, 154). So, realization of God and a reunion of atma (soul) with paramatma (Supreme Soul, God) are the ultimate goals of human life. The achievement ultimately rests on nadar (God's grace), but man has to strive in order to deserve His grace. As a first step, he should have faith in and craving for the Lord. He should believe that God is near him, rather within his self, and not far away. He is to seek Him in his self.[/FONT][/SIZE] [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Nanak"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Guru Nanak[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] says: "Your beloved is close to you, O foolish bride! What are you searching outside?" (GG, 722), and [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Amar_Das"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Guru Amar Das[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] reassures: "Recognize yourself, O mind! You are the light manifest. Rejoice in [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Guru[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]'s instruction that God is always with (in) you. If you recognize your Self, you shall know the Lord and shall get the knowledge of life and death" (GG, 441). The knowledge of the infinitesimal nature of his self when compared to the immenseness of God and His creation would instil humility in man and would rid him of his ego (a sense of I, my and mine) which is "the greatest malady man suffers from" (GG, 466, 589, 1258) and the arch-enemy of nam or path to God-Realization (GG, 560). Having surrendered his ego and having an intense desire to reach his goal (the realization of Reality), the seeker under [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Guru[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]'s instruction (gurmati) becomes a [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gurmukh"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]gurmukh[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] or person looking guruward. He meditates upon nam or sabda, the Divine Word, while yet leading life as a householder, earning through honest labour, sharing his victuals with the needy, and performing self-abnegating deeds of service. [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikhism"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Sikhism[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] condemns ritualism. Worship of God in the Sikh way of life consists in reciting [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gurbani"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]gurbani[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] or holy texts and meditation on nam, solitary or in [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sangat"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]sangat[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] or congregation, [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirtan"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]kirtan[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] or singing of scriptural hymns in praise of God, and [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ardas"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]ardas[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman] or prayer in supplication.[/FONT][/SIZE] [B][FONT=Times New Roman]Sikhism attributes to God[/FONT][/B] [SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman]Below are the main qualities that Sikhism attributes to God:[/FONT][/SIZE] [LIST] [*][SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman][B]Only God is worthy of worship and meditation at all times[/B] [/FONT][/SIZE] [*][SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman][B]He is the Creator but also the Destroyer[/B] [/FONT][/SIZE] [*][SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman][B]God is Compassionate and Kind[/B] [/FONT][/SIZE] [*][SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman][B]With His Grace, He comes to dwell within the mind and body[/B] [/FONT][/SIZE][/LIST][I][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]Blessing us with His Grace, the Kind and Compassionate All-powerful Lord comes to dwell within the mind and body. ([/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Granth_Sahib"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Guru Granth Sahib[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] Page 49)[/SIZE][/FONT][/I] [LIST] [*][SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman][B]He is merciful and wise[/B] [/FONT][/SIZE][/LIST][I][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]The Cherisher Lord is so very merciful and wise; He is compassionate to all. ([/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Granth_Sahib"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Guru Granth Sahib[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] Page 249)[/SIZE][/FONT][/I] [LIST] [*][SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman][B]He is the ultimate Protector of all beings[/B] [/FONT][/SIZE][/LIST][I][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]The Lord is kind and compassionate to all beings and creatures; His Protecting Hand is over all. ([/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Granth_Sahib"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Guru Granth Sahib[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] Page 300)[/SIZE][/FONT][/I] [LIST] [*][SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman][B]Only with His Will can pain, poverty, disease and hardships be removed from ones life.[/B] [/FONT][/SIZE][/LIST][I][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]O Nanak, God has been kind and compassionate; He has blessed me. Removing pain and poverty, He has blended me with Himself. ||8||5|| ([/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Granth_Sahib"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Guru Granth Sahib[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] Page 1311)[/SIZE][/FONT][/I] [LIST] [*][SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman][B]God is everywhere[/B] [/FONT][/SIZE][/LIST][I][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]Nanak is attuned to the Love of the Lord, whose Light pervades the entire Universe. ([/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Granth_Sahib"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Guru Granth Sahib[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] Page 49)[/SIZE][/FONT][/I] [/QUOTE]
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Sikhism, A Religion Created By God
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