a muslim said:
Thank you all for your reply’s, you have made me feel welcome.
Glad to hear it
You ma brotha from anotha motha :}{}{}:
This means: If one can not see God in All, then one can not see God at all.
(from Vijaydeep) all the things are nothing but manifestations of God
Just to make sure I’m not interpreting things wrong, does Sikhism distinguish between God and creation? By “if one can not see God in All” does that mean All is God, or does it mean is all God’s?
A lot of people refer to Sikkhism as a 'monotheist' religion. Monotheism - as per the requisites of the Abrahamic faiths such as Christianity and Islam - is a concept of God as being a distinct and separate entity. Think of the Architect's character in the
Matrix series: an omnipotent watcher personified who looks upon his creation and makes judgements and changes according to what pleases him.
It seems that Nänak viewed this form of deifying God as a personification of the true form (or lack of form) of God. It was like a metaphor that didn't quite give the full picture.
In actuality, Sikkhism is really more of a 'pantheistic' religion. Pantheism is a form of belief in God that states that he is both the created and the creator. He is One with all and all is One with him. Think the Force from
Star Wars and you'll get the picture:
"It surrounds us, it penetrates us, it binds the universe together."
Bäni starts by dehumanising God, and although humanistic properties are implied throughout
bäni, the fundamental concepts laid down in the
mool mantra and other passages indicate quite clearly that those personifications are but metaphors; borrowing from Vedic and Islamic images to explain in terms that people at the time would understand about how God does and does not 'operate'.
It's not a case of "you become gur-mukh and then you become complete".
It's more a case of "you become complete and then you become gur-mukh".
What do you mean by “become complete”? im sorry if this is an obvious question, but as stated earlier my knowledge of Sikhism is negligible.
No, not at all! It's an absolute joy for me to talk about these things; it helps to make things even more clear in my own mind as well :u): And regardless of what ideologies we subscribe to, treating each other with equal respect for being human beings is the absolute ground-root of starting any kind of discourse and harmonious interaction...and general brotherhood among
all humans. That's what the goal of Guru Nänak was, and I'm sure that the same applies for Prophet Mohammad.
It's just that we often tend to forget that part :}{}{}:
It is said that the full and virtuous human being attempts to overcome the following Five Evils or Five Thieves:
- Lust (käm)
- Anger (krödh)
- Greed (löbh)
- Attachment (möh)
- Pride (hankär)
And these are to be overcome using the Five Virtues or Five Weapons:
- Contentment (santökh)
- Charity (dhän)
- Kindness (dhaya)
- Positive Energy (chardih kalä)
- Humility (nimarta)
It's not that you're punished for not doing this. It's simply that one will live a happier and more full life if they do. And it is holding these principles at the core of one's thoughts and actions - rooted by constantly remembering the Oneness of All (God) - that allows us to be "complete".
It's also not said that the Five Thieves are to be removed...merely conquered. After all, without lust there would be no children. Without anger, greed, attachment and pride there would be no drive to live.
And this is why they are not to be removed, but
controlled, so as to prevent an excess in indulgement that leads ultimately only to pain and suffering.
Also, as a separate question, I would like to ask what the relationship between Guru Nanak and God was / is according to Sikhism. Was he human, is he God, was he like a prophet, someone who can communicate with God by His Grace?
Guru Nänak - contrary to what some people will tell you - was a man. Not a God, not a divine presence...but a man. A very wise man, a very insightful man.
We believe that Mohammad and Christ and Buddha and all the other individuals who have been said to be Men Of God are in fact simply ordinary men who thought and did extraordinary things in an attempt to better the society with which they were presented.
And Guru Nänak is no different.
He had insight and wisdom and compassion and a lot of common sense.
The
mool mantra states that every man has the potential to 'commune' with God because God is within every man.
Indeed, we need but to realise this close proximity - that God is within us - and lo! We are now communing with God.
It really is as simple as that.
There are some Sikkhs who believe that people reach certain 'levels' of awareness or 'spirituality'. But some of the most 'spiritually aware' people I know are also some of the most unpleasant and arrogant and sometimes even corrupt individuals I have ever met.
So to simply be having mental delusions is not enough to be virtuous.
One must be virtuous through
thoughts and subsequent
actions...and not by simply believing that reciting words (however 'holy' you believe them to be) and dressing in a certain fashion to attain some grand level of spirituality.
The ultimate awareness is epiphanical awareness. A realisation that the Truth is simply what
is.
This is the ultimate bliss.
Not a problem.
God is described as being completely removed from any human constructs that we may take for granted. He is beyond any of the constraints upon which mankind's nature is based.
How does a sikh know anything about God, that is, if He is removed entirely from human constructs. Is he also removed from human reason? thank you
Yes. God is inconceivable by human qualification.
Not only because we can't physically 'see' him as a discrete entity, but also because he is not in any way human.
When we use the term "God's Will", we obviously think of "Will" as being a humanisitc, personified drive...something motivating God by characteristics resembling the Five Thieves. But God - an infinite entity in and of itself - has no use for these things. We need them as survival instincts as biological machines, but God is not bound by these neurochemical signals.
When we use the term "Will", it's better to think of the Schopenhaurian notion of Will...a Cosmic Will. A universal forward-drive that exists as a result of the natural laws upon which this universe is predicated.
It's not 'conscious' in the way that you and I are conscious. It is both
less conscious and
more conscious at the same time.
As such, when one realises that God pervades every particle in the universe, and that God's Will is undefinable, undefiable, and - ultimately - inevitable, it brings a sense of peace and calm and satisfaction that what will be will be.
Now we can leave God's work to one side and focus on what we
know exists: our lives and everything in it.
And what is most important?
To live those lives with the ultimate fulfillment.
The Guru Granth Sahib and the teachings that spawned from the mind and heart of Guru Nänak are but a guidance on how to do this, although it is certainly not the
only way.
Thanks for giving the pleasure of reading this thread. The five virtues are a new learning to me.
