- Dec 21, 2010
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Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji is a compilation that provides us a final statement, guidance form our founding fathers, the Gurus. The Gurus also selected to include in the compilation poetic writings of Hindus and Muslims.
It is a record of,
So right now if you want to read Guru ji’s writings and their guidance, there is only one choice, “Sri Guru Granth Sahib”.
So an inquiry comes to mind as to treat the Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji as a living entity. Functionally as we see each Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji’s printed or handwritten copies in houses, Gurdwaras, Libraries and Museums, these are books with binding, glue, paper and ink. It is impacted by our upbringing, the cultural heritage and the social norms. This is an area of great internal and personal reflection. Some thoughts,
Does it give me a right to question or ridcule other people’s way of doing things and giving respect, it does not. This is an area which for ever will remain of great internal and personal reflection since as humans we have no way of knowing the inner selves of people even when they are asked or they verbalize.
Sat Sri Akal.
It is a record of,
- The final guidance and wisdom from our Guru jis and others they selected
- So right now if you want to listen to Guru ji’s and their guidance, there is only one choice, “Sri Guru Granth Sahib”
- General vehicle is “Gurbani Kirtan” or reading of Sri Guru Granth Sahib by others that you listen to
So right now if you want to read Guru ji’s writings and their guidance, there is only one choice, “Sri Guru Granth Sahib”.
- You can read it in various languages and phonetic equivalents
- You can independently do it yourself and knowing Punjabi and Punjabi Grammar is a must
- You can review works of others like,
- Professor Sahib Singh ji’s “Guru Granth Darpan”
- You can study D. Manmohan Singh ji’s English translation
- You can study Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa ji’s translation developed out of Dr. Manmohan Singh ji’s translation
So an inquiry comes to mind as to treat the Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji as a living entity. Functionally as we see each Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji’s printed or handwritten copies in houses, Gurdwaras, Libraries and Museums, these are books with binding, glue, paper and ink. It is impacted by our upbringing, the cultural heritage and the social norms. This is an area of great internal and personal reflection. Some thoughts,
- When I try to read and understand I visualize myself sitting in front of live Guru ji
- When I try to understand I visualize a live as is environment of the day including the then practices of Hindus and Muslims
- When I try to understand I visualize Guru ji as a teacher in a class that I am sitting in with others
- When I hear great Kirtan of Gurbani from Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji I visualize the environs in which it was created way back
- For me Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji becomes alive and living through such.
- Is it another way of showing reverence for great teachers, the great material they brought forth, the value that it brings into our lives, perhaps it is and that is the reason I feel the way I do
Does it give me a right to question or ridcule other people’s way of doing things and giving respect, it does not. This is an area which for ever will remain of great internal and personal reflection since as humans we have no way of knowing the inner selves of people even when they are asked or they verbalize.
Sat Sri Akal.