| Guru
Nanak Dev Ji's message is not unique, but rather a compilation of Hindu
ideals |
First, define Hinduism, there are as many definitions as there
are people.
Hinduism like Sikhism says that there is only one God but they
have lost sight of this, the deities that the Hindus worship
represent various attributes of the one God. God has many attributes,
such as the creator, destroyer and the cherisher, however, God
in Sikhism is Nirankaar. This means that God is without form.
God cannot be reduced to thought as revealed in Japji Sahib.
(Sochai Soch na Howi Je Sochi Lakh Waar) God in Sikhism is described
as Alakh, indescribable, and Apaar, infinite.
For an experiment, can someone count to infinite? Impossible.
Guru Granth Sahib Ji reveals that many people have tried to
find the limits of the infinite Lord but have failed. Therefore,
God is described differently in Sikhism as compared to Hinduism.
In Sikhism, God's virtues and attributes are infinite and therefore
cannot be counted and summed to equal a whole. In Hinduism,
the various deities worshipped represent a particular attribute
of god, in Sikhism only the whole is worshipped by acknowledging
the vastness of God through the revealed Shabad, or the word
of God.
This is where the concept of Naam comes in, something which
does not exist in Hinduism and as such is a fundamental difference
between the two faiths.
In Sikhism Naam is of the utmost importance, without it no
liberation of the soul can take place.
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What is the concept of Naam in Sikhism:
Naam is a very deep and integral part of Sikh
belief. If one reads the English translation of Naam, it says
Name. This is true but does not explain Naam completely. This
is because Naam is the essence of God, in Sikhism God is Alakh,
unfathomable, Apaar, infinite. Naam is not just the Name, but
also, truthful living, truthful speaking, seeing the truth in
every single being, breathing the truth, eating truth, totally
immersed in the truth. In the first line of Guru Granth Sahib
Ji, it says ‘SatNaam,’ that God's name is Truth.
Naam is also a way of life in Sikhism.
Let's do another experiment/demonstration, describe
your mother.
A mother is someone who feeds you when you are
hungry (sustainer), comforts you when you are sad (cherisher),
protects you from danger and harm (protector). Now, when someone
asks us, who is that woman? We say that is my mother. We do not
say, that is the lady that protects me, feeds me, cherishes me,
etc. The title of "Mother" is very informative and all
the qualities associated with the name are understood without
explanation.
So
it is in Sikhism, the Naam, or the Name is very important. What
is that name, SatNaam, the true name. The name is Waheguru, Satnam,
Akal Purkh, Kartar, Narain, Nirankar etc. The Name describes the
Lord and all the Lord's glorious attributes, infinite in number.
Meditation and repartition of the Name brings one closer to the
one God and all his attributes. In Sikhism one receives this Naam,
from God, or from the Satguru, true guru, the perfect guru or
the revealed word of God, Guru Granth Sahib Ji.
baani guru, guru hai baani - The word of God is Guru, and Guru
is the word of God.
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| Guru
Nanak Dev Ji was a Hindu reformist. |
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Definition of reform is "improve by alteration or correction
of errors or defects and put into a better condition.”
Martin
Luther dealt a symbolic blow that began the Reformation when he
nailed his Ninety-Five Theses to the door of the Wittenberg Church.
That document contained an attack on papal abuses and the sale
of indulgences by church officials. But Luther himself saw the
Reformation as something far more important than a revolt against
ecclesiastical abuses. He believed it was a fight for the gospel.
Reform has come in many religions all over the world. In this
example, Martin Luther wanted reform, he did not want to change
the fundamentals, he did not change the Bible.
Christianity
has the Bible, The Jews have the Torah and Hindus have the Vedas,
Puranas, Simritees. The Sikhs have Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.
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If Guru Nanak Dev ji was a Hindu reformist, why write the Shabad
and spread it to humanity? Why claim to speak “Dhur ki
Baani”, or God's own true word? Reform in religions have
never meant introducing a new holy scripture to a faith this
would be considered blasphemy. Yet Guru Nanak Dev Ji did exactly
this, Guru Ji rejected all other scriptures and spoke only the
word of God as spoken by god. Also, if Guru Nanak Dev Ji was
a Hindu reformist, then why did Muslims call him Pir (holy saint)?
Why would a people from a Semitic faith with no connections
to Vedic thought call a Hindu reformist a Pir? There have been
no examples of any other Hindu Swamis, Acharyas etc being called
"Pir" by Muslims.
The truth is that Guru Nanak Dev Ji was the Truth, he spoke
the truth, he spread the Truth and all those people with a higher
enough spiritual intellect, irrespective of faith, recognised
this. Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s message transcended all barriers,
all faiths. Hence, the reason why the Hindus and the Musallmans
claim him as their own, but Guru Ji belongs to all.
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| Sikhs
speak about being a peaceful people, but what about the constant connection
with the kirpaan, or sword |
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took ten Guru Sahibs to mould a down-trodden people into saint-soldiers
who could stand proud. A person who has no value for human life
will only do harm with a weapon. When the time was right Guru
Gobind Singh Ji created the Khalsa panth, a brotherhood with a
strict rehit - a code, a discipline. Every army has to have discipline.
An army's effectiveness is measured by discipline. When one becomes
a Gursikh, or Khalsa, one takes amrit and follows the rehit or
the discipline prescribed by Guru Sahib Ji, and with this comes
responsibility.
With
the Shabad Guru in one's mind and soul, a kirpaan is to only be
used to protect the down-trodden and weak; to fight oppression
and injustice; to stand up for all faiths and peoples.
To
a non-Sikh a sword means violence, and bloodshed, to a Sikh the
sword represents the ultimate power of God, to wield with responsibility
to fight injustice and protect the poor and weak.
In this same way, the sword is seen as a symbol of violence. It
is seen as a negative concept. In some cultures a sword is a symbol
of respect, bravery, chivalry, such as the great samurai warriors. |
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So in other words, it depends on a person's perspective, and life
experience. The khalsa has never used the sword to oppress. The
Sikhs have always used the sword to defend the down-trodden. One
only needs to open a history book to see how the Sikhs have used
the sword and continue to do so. It is amazing to see that Sri
Guru Gobind Singh Ji created a nation armed with swords, not just
to defend themselves but to defend the rights of mankind. Is such
an army associated with violence?
A
nation like India, which always talks about Mahatma Gandhi's non-violence
, has some interesting stats on military defense spending:
India
increased its defence spending by at least 14% this year to more
than $13 billion, according to the federal budget, which some
experts say does not disclose the full cost of defence. By the
official figures, the military consumed about 15% of Indian government
money. India's budget totalled $91.2 billion this year, and only
7% of it went to social services such as schools and health care
programs.(http://www.globalpolicy.org/socecon/develo... rmsvshealth.htm).
For
a nation which proclaimed non-violence and invests billions on
defence, why does it seem so odd that Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji
would invest in the future of the Khalsa’s defence? |
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| You
cannot enter heaven and be in God's presence with sin. Because Jesus died
for your sins you can receive forgiveness only through him and enter heaven,
with Sikhism you still sin and have not been forgiven. No matter how much
you meditate you cannot receive forgiveness so you cannot enter God's
presence. |
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This argument
is fundamentally flawed. We all sin, all of the time and only we will
be held accountable for our actions, no one else. We are judged, not
on judgement day whenever that is, but every single minute of the day
for our actions and the choices that we make, and only we are responsible
for them.
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Pauree:
All are held accountable, even the egotistical self-willed manmukhs.
They never think of the Name of the Lord; the Messenger of Death
shall beat them.
Their sin and corruption are like heavy rusty heaps; they carry
such a heavy load.
The path is treacherous and terrifying; how can they cross over
to the other side?
O Nanak, those whom the Guru protects are saved. They are saved
in the Name of the Lord. ||27||
Guru Amar Daas Ji in Raag Saarang on Pannaa
1247 From
the Guru, I have obtained the Lord; I have made Him my Guru. ||2||
The Sovereign Lord is the Giver of virtue. I am worthless and
without virtue.
The sinners sink like stones; through the Guru's Teachings, the
Lord carries us across.
You are the Giver of virtue, O Immaculate Lord; I am worthless
and without virtue.
I have entered Your Sanctuary, Lord; please save me, as You have
saved the fools. ||3||
Guru Amar Daas Ji in Raag Gauree on Pannaa
163
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It
maybe true that Jesus is the son of God, but I also call God ‘my
father’, and He also loves me like a son. A mother and father love
each of their children the same, no one is the favourite. |
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Maajh,
Fifth Mehla:
You are my Father, and You are my Mother.
You are my Relative, and You are my Brother.
You are my Protector everywhere; why should I feel any fear or anxiety?
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By Your Grace, I recognize You.
You are my Shelter, and You are my Honour.
Without You, there is no other; the entire Universe is the Arena
of Your Play. ||2||
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The
question infers that a person can sin all his life and then if he asks
for forgiveness through Jesus he is saved, or that once forgiven he can
(and no doubt will) sin again free from consequence. This is false hope,
everything one does, every action one takes is recorded and one is answerable
for those actions. |
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Pauree:
Deception does not work with our Lord and Master; through their
greed and emotional attachment, people are ruined.
They do their evil deeds, and sleep in the intoxication of Maya.
Time and time again, they are consigned to reincarnation, and abandoned
on the path of Death.
They receive the consequences of their own actions, and are yoked
to their pain.
O Nanak, if one forgets the Name, all the seasons are evil. ||12||
Guru Arjan Dev Ji in Raag Gauree on Pannaa
321
Aasaa, Fifth Mehla:
Rise up and go forth, O traveller; why do you delay?
Your allotted time is now complete - why are you engrossed in
falsehood?
You desire that which is false; deceived by Maya, you commit innumerable
sins.
Your body shall become a pile of dust; the Messenger of Death
has spotted you, and will conquer you.
Abandoning your wealth and youth, you will have to leave, without
any food or clothing.
O Nanak, only your actions shall go with you; the consequences
of your actions cannot be erased. ||1||
Guru Arjan Dev Ji in Raag Aasaa on Pannaa
459
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The
word of God was revealed to Guru Nanak Dev Ji, but in all humility Guru
Sahib Ji says “I am just saying O Lord, what you want me to say.”
At no time do any of the Gurus say that “they are the way”
or that only through them can one achieve salvation, even though this
is the Truth.
Even though the
Gurus had merged with the One, their humility and humbleness is breathtaking:
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First
Mehla:
Since I am no one, what can I say? Since I am nothing, what can
I be?
As He created me, so I act. As He causes me to speak, so I speak.
I am full and overflowing with sins- if only I could wash them away!
I do not understand myself, and yet I try to teach others. Such
is the guide I am!
O Nanak, the one who is blind shows others the way, and misleads
all his companions.
But, going to the world hereafter, he shall be beaten and kicked
in the face; then, it will be obvious,
what sort of guide he was! ||2||
Guru Nanak Dev Ji in Raag Maajh on Pannaa
140
O God, You are the Hope of all. All beings are Yours; You are
the Wealth of all.
O God, none return from You empty-handed; at Your Door, the Gurmukhs
are praised and acclaimed.
In the terrifying world-ocean of poison, people are drowning-please
lift them up and save them!
This is servant Nanak's humble prayer. ||4||1||65||
Guru Raam Daas Ji in Siree Raag on Pannaa
39
This mind is intoxicated with the sublime essence of the Lord;
The Gurmukh realizes the essence of totality.
For the sake of devotional worship, he dwells at the Guru's Feet.
Nanak is the humble servant of the slave of the Lord's slaves.
||9||8||
Guru Nanak Dev Ji in Raag Aasaa on Pannaa
415
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The
Word of God was revealed to the Gurus and resides in Guru Granth Sahib
Ji. No other scriptures were written by the prophets other then Guru Granth
Sahib Ji which was compiled by Guru Arjun Dev Ji. How can the scriptures
of the Semitic faith be true when it has been altered in so many ways.
Why only the four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John? What about
all the other Gospels that have been discarded or suppressed by a male
dominated clergy? What of the Gospel of Mary Magdalene, the Gnostic Gospels
or the Gospel of Judas why were they discarded and upon whose authority?
As for other acts
of "religion", this is what Guru Nanak Dev Ji says:
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Pilgrimages,
austere discipline, compassion and charity these,
by themselves, bring only an iota of merit.
Listening and believing with love and humility in your mind,
cleanse yourself with the Name, at the sacred shrine deep within.......
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The sins that one has accumulated over eons of time stick to the soul
like a poison, only through meditation on Gods name will the grime of
your sins be washed away and this meditation can only be done by the grace
of the Guru and none else.
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Gauree
Gwaarayree, Fourth Mehla:
Service to the True Guru is fruitful and rewarding;
meeting Him, I meditate on the Name of the Lord, the Lord Master.
So many are emancipated along with those who meditate on the Lord.
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O GurSikhs, chant the Name of the Lord, O my Siblings of Destiny.
Chanting the Lord's Name, all sins are washed away. ||1||Pause||
Guru Raam Daas Ji in Raag Gauree on Pannaa
165 Ashtapadee:
Where there is no mother, father, children, friends or siblings
O my mind, there, only the Naam, the Name of the Lord, shall be
with you as your help and support.
Where the great and terrible Messenger of Death shall try to crush
you,
there, only the Naam shall go along with you.
Where the obstacles are so very heavy,
the Name of the Lord shall rescue you in an instant.
By performing countless religious rituals, you shall not be saved.
The Name of the Lord washes off millions of sins.
As Gurmukh, chant the Naam, O my mind.
O Nanak, you shall obtain countless joys. ||1||
Guru Arjan Dev Ji in Raag Gauree on Pannaa
264
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Only
Sikhism reveals the concept of Gumat Naam and only through Naam can one
achieve salvation, and only in the house of Guru Nanak can one obtain
Naam |
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Bhai
Gurdass Ji.
In Satyug, Vishnu in the form of Vasudev is said to have incarnated,
and ‘V’ Of Vahiguru reminds of Vishnu.
The true Guru of Dauapar is said to be Harikrishna and ‘H’
of Vahiguru reminds of Hari.
In the the treta was Ram and ‘R’ of Vahiguru tells
that remembering Ram will produce joy and happiness.
In kalijug, Gobind is in the form of Nanak and ‘G’
of Vahiguru gets Govind recited.
The recitations
of all the four ages subsume in Panchayan i.e. in the soul of
the common man.
When joining the four letters Vahiguru is remembered, The soul
merges again in its origin
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Salvation
is through the grace of the Guru only, he is the only one who can give
you Naam, the one thing that will lead you to salvation. Through the meditation
of Naam your sins are washed away like water washes away grime, if a sin
is washed away it is forgiven.
Again and again
and again the Gurus have stated without any ambiguity that through meditation
on the Name will your sins be washed away, and once this is done who
can stop you from entering God’s presence? In fact the Almighty
will welcome you with open arms.
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O
GurSikhs, chant the Name of the Lord, O my Siblings of Destiny.
Chanting the Lord's Name, all sins are washed away. ||1||Pause||
By Guru Raam Daas Ji in Raag Gauree on Pannaa 165
Singing the
Kirtan of His Praises, my mind has become peaceful;
the sins of countless incarnations have been washed away.
I have seen all the treasures within my own mind;
why should I now go out searching for them? ||2||
By Guru Arjan Dev Ji in Raag Gauree on
Pannaa 178
By this act,
your sins shall be washed away.
Remembering the Lord in meditation, you shall not be punished
by the Messenger of Death.
The couriers of the Righteous Judge of Dharma shall not touch
you.
The intoxication of Maya (illusion) shall not entice you at all.
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You shall be redeemed, and through you, the whole world shall
be saved,
if you chant the Name of the One and Only Lord.
Practice this yourself, and teach others;
instil the Lord's Name in your heart. ||3||
By Guru Arjan Dev Ji in Raag Gauree on
Pannaa 185
Gauree, Fifth
Mehla:
Meditating, meditating, meditating in remembrance, I have found
peace.
I have enshrined the Lotus Feet of the Guru within my heart. ||1||
The Guru, the Lord of the Universe, the Supreme Lord God, is perfect.
Worshipping Him, my mind has found a lasting peace. ||Pause||
Night and day, I meditate on the Guru, and the Name of the Guru.
Thus all my works are brought to perfection. ||2||
Beholding the Blessed Vision of His Darshan, my mind has become
cool and tranquil,
and the sinful mistakes of countless incarnations have been washed
away. ||3||
Says Nanak, where is fear now, O Siblings of Destiny?
The Guru Himself has preserved the honour of His servant. ||4||112||
By Guru Arjan Dev Ji in Raag Gauree on
Pannaa 202 |
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And
finally, Guru Amar Das Ji tells us unequivocally how to obtain liberation
and ultimately salvation. |
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Siree
Raag, Third Mehla:
You may torment
your body with extremes of self-discipline, practice intensive
meditation and hang upside-down, but your ego will not be eliminated
from within.
You may perform religious rituals, and still never obtain the
Naam, the Name of the Lord.
Through the Word of the Guru's Shabad, remain dead while yet alive,
and the Name of the Lord shall come to dwell within the mind.
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Listen, O my mind: hurry to the Protection of the Guru's Sanctuary.
By Guru's Grace you shall be saved. Through the Word of the Guru's
Shabad, you shall cross over the terrifying world-ocean of poison.
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Everything under the influence of the three qualities shall perish;
the love of duality is corrupting.
The Pandits, the religious scholars, read the scriptures, but
they are trapped in the bondage of emotional attachment.
In love with evil, they do not understand.
Meeting the Guru, the bondage of the three qualities is cut away,
and in the fourth state, the Door of Liberation is attained. ||2||
Through the Guru, the Path is found, and the darkness of emotional
attachment is dispelled.
If one dies through the Shabad, then salvation is obtained, and
one finds the Door of Liberation.
By Guru's Grace, one remains blended with the True Name of the
Creator. ||3||
This mind is very powerful; we cannot escape it just by trying.
In the love of duality, people suffer in pain, condemned to terrible
punishment.
O Nanak, those who are attached to the Naam are saved; through
the Shabad, their ego is banished. ||4||18||51||
Shabad is by Guru Amar Daas Ji in Siree
Raag on Pannaa 33
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