☀️ JOIN SPN MOBILE
Forums
New posts
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
What's new
New posts
New media
New media comments
New resources
Latest activity
Videos
New media
New comments
Library
Latest reviews
Donate
Log in
Register
What's new
New posts
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Welcome to all New Sikh Philosophy Network Forums!
Explore Sikh Sikhi Sikhism...
Sign up
Log in
Discussions
Sikh Sikhi Sikhism
Sikhism Is Not The Same As Hinduism, Islam Or Christianity Etc
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="Harjas Kaur Khalsa" data-source="post: 84536" data-attributes="member: 2125"><p>Either we believe in Gurbani or we don't. No, I don't accept that Guruji (One Jyot in 10 physical forms founded a "new religion" which defined itsef as being against caste system, yet Guru Ramdas Ji is described in Gurbani by caste. Yet, somehow this means there was a gradual evolution of this distinction of this new religious movement which would eventually, though not unequivocally stated in Gurbani, amount to rejection of the caste system they had formerly acknowledged as being a design of the God.) You can't just accept some things and reject others, and then add interpretations which aren't there to create your own philosophy and call it Guruji's Sikhism. </p><p></p><p>If I believed Sikhism had 10 "only" human Gurus, then they would have only arguable opinion. How could we then accept Guruship of such "confused" teachings of Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji which change and evolve over time according to who was the author of the particular bani? And the answer is, Shri Guru Granth Sahib is not merely some book written by mere men with meaningless phrases which I can refute or discard ad lib. Clearly, either SGGS Ji is the Divine Shabad-Jyot, Guru in every page, or it is simply a piece of literature. I accept that it is the Divine Jyot, and it is our human understandings which oversimplify, and add on to what we haven't analyzed or understood properly or within context. Even this is too weak a point of debate. If Sikhism defines itself as contrary to Hinduism on the basis of rejecting caste differences, how can you explain why the Guru (SGGS Ji) after 10 forms and several bhagats could not manage to clearly state this? </p><p></p><p>Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji contains the Shabad-Jyot of Guruji (Nanak 1) which is consciousness merged with Timeless God. I find it astounding, that on so critical a point as people assert without analysis, that Sikhism doesn't believe or doesn't accept caste system. Yet we know the Guru's physical forms all married within their caste, and even caste of Guru is mentioned in Gurbani. Are you implying this was an accident? The fact is, there are many inconsistencies like this, including the historical pattern among Sikhs to uphold and marry within their caste. Sikhs will traditionally marry their children to a Hindu of the same caste, than a Sikh of a different caste. So certainly on many points besides the Gurbani, socio-historical points, the illusion that caste divides Sikhism from Hinduism has no foundation.</p><p></p><p>So in analyzing such "controversial" tuuks of Gurbani, we can reconcile them to show that Guruji accepted that caste system is part of the order designed by God. But the caste system <em><span style="color: Red"><strong>is</strong></span></em> broken and unjust, even Hindus will acknowledge that. The reformers within Hinduism say the caste/varna/occupational system has become corrupted to a form of hereditary social injustice. Originally, varna, which means "color" applied to one's temperament and inclination. And according to such temperament and aspiration, one could devote oneself to God and become, a Brahmin, regardless of caste. That is the Vaishnav philosophy.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: Teal"><p style="margin-left: 20px"> “All men are brothers; no one is big, no one is small. All are equal.” ~Rig Veda</p><p></span></p><p></p><p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Blue">ਅਧਮ ਚੰਡਾਲੀ ਭਈ ਬ੍ਰਹਮਣੀ ਸੂਦੀ ਤੇ ਸ੍ਰੇਸਟਾਈ ਰੇ ॥ </span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Blue">adhham chanddaalee bhee brehamanee soodhee thae sraesattaaee rae ||</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Blue">The lowly outcaste becomes a Brahmin, and the untouchable sweeper becomes pure and sublime.</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Blue">~SGGS Ji p. 381</span></p><p></p><p>As per Vaishnav tradition, anyone who japs the Naams of God with bhakti, regardless of caste distinctions, becomes equal to a brahmin.</p><p></p><p></p><p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Purple">ਪੰਡਿਤ ਸੰਗਿ ਵਸਹਿ ਜਨ ਮੂਰਖ ਆਗਮ ਸਾਸ ਸੁਨੇ ॥ </span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Purple">panddith sang vasehi jan moorakh aagam saas sunae ||</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Purple">The fool may live with the Pandit, the religious scholar, and listen to the Vedas and the Shaastras.</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Purple"></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Purple">ਅਪਨਾ ਆਪੁ ਤੂ ਕਬਹੁ ਨ ਛੋਡਸਿ ਸੁਆਨ ਪੂਛਿ ਜਿਉ ਰੇ ॥੪॥ </span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Purple">apanaa aap thoo kabahu n shhoddas suaan pooshh jio rae ||4||</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Purple">You can never escape your own inner tendencies, like the crooked tail of the dog. ||4||</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Purple"></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Purple">ਇਕਿ ਪਾਖੰਡੀ ਨਾਮਿ ਨ ਰਾਚਹਿ ਇਕਿ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਚਰਣੀ ਰੇ ॥ </span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Purple">eik paakhanddee naam n raachehi eik har har charanee rae ||</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Purple">Some are hypocrites; they do not merge with the Naam, the Name of the Lord. Some are absorbed in the Feet of the Lord, Har, Har. </span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Purple"></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Purple">ਪੂਰਬਿ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਪਾਵਸਿ ਨਾਨਕ ਰਸਨਾ ਨਾਮੁ ਜਪਿ ਰੇ ॥੫॥੪॥ </span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Purple">poorab likhiaa paavas naanak rasanaa naam jap rae ||5||4||</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Purple">The mortals obtain what they are predestined to receive; O Nanak, with your tongue, chant the Naam. ||5||4||</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Purple">~SGGS Ji p. 990</span></p><p></p><p></p><p>Our tendancies cling to us and determine our temperament and level of spiritual jeevan. This is the original definition of caste/varna system.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p><span style="color: DarkGreen"><p style="margin-left: 20px">ਖਟੁ ਕਰਮ ਕੁਲ ਸੰਜੁਗਤੁ ਹੈ ਹਰਿ ਭਗਤਿ ਹਿਰਦੈ ਨਾਹਿ ॥ </p></span></p><p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: DarkGreen">khatt karam kul sanjugath hai har bhagath hiradhai naahi ||</p></span></p><p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: DarkGreen">One who performs the six religious rituals and comes from a good family, but who does not have devotion to the Lord in his heart,</p></span></p><p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: DarkGreen"></p></span></p><p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: DarkGreen">ਚਰਨਾਰਬਿੰਦ ਨ ਕਥਾ ਭਾਵੈ ਸੁਪਚ ਤੁਲਿ ਸਮਾਨਿ ॥੧॥ </p></span></p><p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: DarkGreen">charanaarabindh n kathhaa bhaavai supach thul samaan ||1||</p></span></p><p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: DarkGreen">one who does not appreciate talk of the Lord's Lotus Feet, is just like an outcaste, a pariah. ||1|| </p></span></p><p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: DarkGreen"></p></span></p><p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: DarkGreen">ਰੇ ਚਿਤ ਚੇਤਿ ਚੇਤ ਅਚੇਤ ॥ </p></span></p><p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: DarkGreen">rae chith chaeth chaeth achaeth ||</p></span></p><p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: DarkGreen">Be conscious, be conscious, be conscious, O my unconscious mind. </p></span></p><p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: DarkGreen"></p></span></p><p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: DarkGreen">ਕਾਹੇ ਨ ਬਾਲਮੀਕਹਿ ਦੇਖ ॥ </p></span></p><p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: DarkGreen">kaahae n baalameekehi dhaekh ||</p></span></p><p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: DarkGreen">Why do you not look at Baalmeek?</p></span></p><p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: DarkGreen"></p></span></p><p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: DarkGreen">ਕਿਸੁ ਜਾਤਿ ਤੇ ਕਿਹ ਪਦਹਿ ਅਮਰਿਓ ਰਾਮ ਭਗਤਿ ਬਿਸੇਖ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ </p></span></p><p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: DarkGreen">kis jaath thae kih padhehi amariou raam bhagath bisaekh ||1|| rehaao ||</p></span></p><p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: DarkGreen">From such a low social status, what a high status he obtained! Devotional worship to the Lord is sublime! ||1||Pause||</p></span></p><p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: DarkGreen"></p></span></p><p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: DarkGreen">ਸੁਆਨ ਸਤ੍ਰੁ ਅਜਾਤੁ ਸਭ ਤੇ ਕ੍ਰਿਸ੍ਨ ਲਾਵੈ ਹੇਤੁ ॥ </p></span></p><p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: DarkGreen">suaan sathra ajaath sabh thae kirasa laavai haeth ||</p></span></p><p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: DarkGreen">The killer of dogs, the lowest of all, was lovingly embraced by Krishna. </p></span></p><p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: DarkGreen"></p></span></p><p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: DarkGreen">ਲੋਗੁ ਬਪੁਰਾ ਕਿਆ ਸਰਾਹੈ ਤੀਨਿ ਲੋਕ ਪ੍ਰਵੇਸ ॥੨॥ </p></span></p><p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: DarkGreen">log bapuraa kiaa saraahai theen lok pravaes ||2||</p></span></p><p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: DarkGreen">See how the poor people praise him! His praise extends throughout the three worlds. ||2||</p></span></p><p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: DarkGreen">~SGGS Ji p. 1124</p></span></p><p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: DarkGreen"></p><p></span></p><p></p><p></p><p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Teal">ਰਾਮਾਨੰਦ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਰਮਤ ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ॥ </span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Teal">raamaanandh suaamee ramath breham ||</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Teal">Raamaanand's Lord and Master is the All-pervading Lord God. </span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Teal"></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Teal">ਗੁਰ ਕਾ ਸਬਦੁ ਕਾਟੈ ਕੋਟਿ ਕਰਮ ॥੩॥੧॥ </span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Teal">gur kaa sabadh kaattai kott karam ||3||1||</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Teal">The Word of the Guru's Shabad eradicates the karma of millions of past actions. ||3||1||</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Teal">~SGGS Ji p. 1195</span></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>So how did Sikh Guru's feel about caste? From Gurbani they didn't reject or dissociate from it outright. It's true purpose within social and spiritual circles is clarified as a point of anti-discrimination against a brotherhood of man which was a true revolutionary reform, although one which transpired within context of a larger and older Vaishnav reform. Hence I must reject caste system as a <em>point of departure</em> between the philosophy of Guru Nanak and Hinduism, rather than within context of a reform movement against social injustices of ritualized corruptions which Vaishnava sampradyas of the time, were also against.</p><p></p><p></p><p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Blue">ਜਾਣਹੁ ਜੋਤਿ ਨ ਪੂਛਹੁ ਜਾਤੀ ਆਗੈ ਜਾਤਿ ਨ ਹੇ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ </span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Blue">jaanahu joth n pooshhahu jaathee aagai jaath n hae ||1|| rehaao ||</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Blue">Recognize the Lord's Light within all, and do not consider social class or status; there are no classes or castes in the world hereafter. ||1||Pause||</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Blue">~SGGS Ji p. 349</span></p><p></p><p></p><p>~Bhul chak maaf karni ji</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Harjas Kaur Khalsa, post: 84536, member: 2125"] Either we believe in Gurbani or we don't. No, I don't accept that Guruji (One Jyot in 10 physical forms founded a "new religion" which defined itsef as being against caste system, yet Guru Ramdas Ji is described in Gurbani by caste. Yet, somehow this means there was a gradual evolution of this distinction of this new religious movement which would eventually, though not unequivocally stated in Gurbani, amount to rejection of the caste system they had formerly acknowledged as being a design of the God.) You can't just accept some things and reject others, and then add interpretations which aren't there to create your own philosophy and call it Guruji's Sikhism. If I believed Sikhism had 10 "only" human Gurus, then they would have only arguable opinion. How could we then accept Guruship of such "confused" teachings of Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji which change and evolve over time according to who was the author of the particular bani? And the answer is, Shri Guru Granth Sahib is not merely some book written by mere men with meaningless phrases which I can refute or discard ad lib. Clearly, either SGGS Ji is the Divine Shabad-Jyot, Guru in every page, or it is simply a piece of literature. I accept that it is the Divine Jyot, and it is our human understandings which oversimplify, and add on to what we haven't analyzed or understood properly or within context. Even this is too weak a point of debate. If Sikhism defines itself as contrary to Hinduism on the basis of rejecting caste differences, how can you explain why the Guru (SGGS Ji) after 10 forms and several bhagats could not manage to clearly state this? Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji contains the Shabad-Jyot of Guruji (Nanak 1) which is consciousness merged with Timeless God. I find it astounding, that on so critical a point as people assert without analysis, that Sikhism doesn't believe or doesn't accept caste system. Yet we know the Guru's physical forms all married within their caste, and even caste of Guru is mentioned in Gurbani. Are you implying this was an accident? The fact is, there are many inconsistencies like this, including the historical pattern among Sikhs to uphold and marry within their caste. Sikhs will traditionally marry their children to a Hindu of the same caste, than a Sikh of a different caste. So certainly on many points besides the Gurbani, socio-historical points, the illusion that caste divides Sikhism from Hinduism has no foundation. So in analyzing such "controversial" tuuks of Gurbani, we can reconcile them to show that Guruji accepted that caste system is part of the order designed by God. But the caste system [I][COLOR="Red"][B]is[/B][/COLOR][/I] broken and unjust, even Hindus will acknowledge that. The reformers within Hinduism say the caste/varna/occupational system has become corrupted to a form of hereditary social injustice. Originally, varna, which means "color" applied to one's temperament and inclination. And according to such temperament and aspiration, one could devote oneself to God and become, a Brahmin, regardless of caste. That is the Vaishnav philosophy. [COLOR="Teal"][INDENT] “All men are brothers; no one is big, no one is small. All are equal.” ~Rig Veda[/INDENT][/COLOR] [INDENT][COLOR="Blue"]ਅਧਮ ਚੰਡਾਲੀ ਭਈ ਬ੍ਰਹਮਣੀ ਸੂਦੀ ਤੇ ਸ੍ਰੇਸਟਾਈ ਰੇ ॥ adhham chanddaalee bhee brehamanee soodhee thae sraesattaaee rae || The lowly outcaste becomes a Brahmin, and the untouchable sweeper becomes pure and sublime. ~SGGS Ji p. 381[/COLOR][/INDENT] As per Vaishnav tradition, anyone who japs the Naams of God with bhakti, regardless of caste distinctions, becomes equal to a brahmin. [INDENT][COLOR="Purple"]ਪੰਡਿਤ ਸੰਗਿ ਵਸਹਿ ਜਨ ਮੂਰਖ ਆਗਮ ਸਾਸ ਸੁਨੇ ॥ panddith sang vasehi jan moorakh aagam saas sunae || The fool may live with the Pandit, the religious scholar, and listen to the Vedas and the Shaastras. ਅਪਨਾ ਆਪੁ ਤੂ ਕਬਹੁ ਨ ਛੋਡਸਿ ਸੁਆਨ ਪੂਛਿ ਜਿਉ ਰੇ ॥੪॥ apanaa aap thoo kabahu n shhoddas suaan pooshh jio rae ||4|| You can never escape your own inner tendencies, like the crooked tail of the dog. ||4|| ਇਕਿ ਪਾਖੰਡੀ ਨਾਮਿ ਨ ਰਾਚਹਿ ਇਕਿ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਚਰਣੀ ਰੇ ॥ eik paakhanddee naam n raachehi eik har har charanee rae || Some are hypocrites; they do not merge with the Naam, the Name of the Lord. Some are absorbed in the Feet of the Lord, Har, Har. ਪੂਰਬਿ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਪਾਵਸਿ ਨਾਨਕ ਰਸਨਾ ਨਾਮੁ ਜਪਿ ਰੇ ॥੫॥੪॥ poorab likhiaa paavas naanak rasanaa naam jap rae ||5||4|| The mortals obtain what they are predestined to receive; O Nanak, with your tongue, chant the Naam. ||5||4|| ~SGGS Ji p. 990[/COLOR][/INDENT] Our tendancies cling to us and determine our temperament and level of spiritual jeevan. This is the original definition of caste/varna system. [COLOR="DarkGreen"][INDENT]ਖਟੁ ਕਰਮ ਕੁਲ ਸੰਜੁਗਤੁ ਹੈ ਹਰਿ ਭਗਤਿ ਹਿਰਦੈ ਨਾਹਿ ॥ khatt karam kul sanjugath hai har bhagath hiradhai naahi || One who performs the six religious rituals and comes from a good family, but who does not have devotion to the Lord in his heart, ਚਰਨਾਰਬਿੰਦ ਨ ਕਥਾ ਭਾਵੈ ਸੁਪਚ ਤੁਲਿ ਸਮਾਨਿ ॥੧॥ charanaarabindh n kathhaa bhaavai supach thul samaan ||1|| one who does not appreciate talk of the Lord's Lotus Feet, is just like an outcaste, a pariah. ||1|| ਰੇ ਚਿਤ ਚੇਤਿ ਚੇਤ ਅਚੇਤ ॥ rae chith chaeth chaeth achaeth || Be conscious, be conscious, be conscious, O my unconscious mind. ਕਾਹੇ ਨ ਬਾਲਮੀਕਹਿ ਦੇਖ ॥ kaahae n baalameekehi dhaekh || Why do you not look at Baalmeek? ਕਿਸੁ ਜਾਤਿ ਤੇ ਕਿਹ ਪਦਹਿ ਅਮਰਿਓ ਰਾਮ ਭਗਤਿ ਬਿਸੇਖ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ kis jaath thae kih padhehi amariou raam bhagath bisaekh ||1|| rehaao || From such a low social status, what a high status he obtained! Devotional worship to the Lord is sublime! ||1||Pause|| ਸੁਆਨ ਸਤ੍ਰੁ ਅਜਾਤੁ ਸਭ ਤੇ ਕ੍ਰਿਸ੍ਨ ਲਾਵੈ ਹੇਤੁ ॥ suaan sathra ajaath sabh thae kirasa laavai haeth || The killer of dogs, the lowest of all, was lovingly embraced by Krishna. ਲੋਗੁ ਬਪੁਰਾ ਕਿਆ ਸਰਾਹੈ ਤੀਨਿ ਲੋਕ ਪ੍ਰਵੇਸ ॥੨॥ log bapuraa kiaa saraahai theen lok pravaes ||2|| See how the poor people praise him! His praise extends throughout the three worlds. ||2|| ~SGGS Ji p. 1124 [/INDENT][/COLOR] [INDENT][COLOR="Teal"]ਰਾਮਾਨੰਦ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਰਮਤ ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ॥ raamaanandh suaamee ramath breham || Raamaanand's Lord and Master is the All-pervading Lord God. ਗੁਰ ਕਾ ਸਬਦੁ ਕਾਟੈ ਕੋਟਿ ਕਰਮ ॥੩॥੧॥ gur kaa sabadh kaattai kott karam ||3||1|| The Word of the Guru's Shabad eradicates the karma of millions of past actions. ||3||1|| ~SGGS Ji p. 1195[/COLOR][/INDENT] So how did Sikh Guru's feel about caste? From Gurbani they didn't reject or dissociate from it outright. It's true purpose within social and spiritual circles is clarified as a point of anti-discrimination against a brotherhood of man which was a true revolutionary reform, although one which transpired within context of a larger and older Vaishnav reform. Hence I must reject caste system as a [I]point of departure[/I] between the philosophy of Guru Nanak and Hinduism, rather than within context of a reform movement against social injustices of ritualized corruptions which Vaishnava sampradyas of the time, were also against. [INDENT][COLOR="Blue"]ਜਾਣਹੁ ਜੋਤਿ ਨ ਪੂਛਹੁ ਜਾਤੀ ਆਗੈ ਜਾਤਿ ਨ ਹੇ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ jaanahu joth n pooshhahu jaathee aagai jaath n hae ||1|| rehaao || Recognize the Lord's Light within all, and do not consider social class or status; there are no classes or castes in the world hereafter. ||1||Pause|| ~SGGS Ji p. 349[/COLOR][/INDENT] ~Bhul chak maaf karni ji [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Discussions
Sikh Sikhi Sikhism
Sikhism Is Not The Same As Hinduism, Islam Or Christianity Etc
This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
Accept
Learn more…
Top