Sunday, 28 February 2016

Against Rituals/Superstitions


Guru Nanak Dev Ji preached against superstitions, false rituals, worship of demi-gods and goddesses. He stressed that only One God, the Formless, is to be glorified. In this way, he showed the path of truth and enlightenment.

No Discrimination

 

Guru Nanak Dev ji was strongly against all artificially created divisions and all discrimination, both in word and deed. He said that the caste of a person is based on what he does. His idea of a caste-free society transpired also in his concepts of Sangat and Pangat.

Importance of Guru


Guru Nanak Dev ji lay great emphasis on having the importance of Guru in one’s life. He put forward the thought that salvation occurs not from pilgrimage or rites etc, but through heart, spirit and soul. For this to happen continuous seeking of knowledge must take place which is dependent on one’s guru. Guru according to him is the voice of the god, the true source of knowledge and salvation.

Shun five Evils


GuruNanak Dev Ji asked his followers to shun five evils which leads to illusion ( maya) which eventually acts as roadblock towards attainment of salvation. The five evils are
Ego, Anger, Greed, Attachment and Lust.

The three Principals


  • Vand Chako: Sharing with others, helping those with less who are in need
  • Kirat Karo: Earning/making a living honestly, without exploitation or fraud
  • Naam Japna: Chanting the Holy Name and thus remembering God at all times (ceaseless devotion to God

SEWA and SIMRAN


Guru Nanak says that no one can save anybody else. It is only Guru who guides us to safety, and to be saved, one have to follow the right path of SEWA and SIMRAN told by him.  Further the Guru is not to be found in big palaces, he lives with poor.  Let us love the poor, God will bless us.  If we recite Gurbani with love, we will find the Guru is speaking to us.  We have been reminded of his observations many times in our life. When we barely make both ends meet, we are usually sincerely devoted to GURBANI and the Sikh way of life.  But when we have excess money to spend on worldly pleasures we follow vices and ignore the real mission of human life.  DHARAM is usually the first casualty when we become rich. About SEWA Gurbani explains:  (In the midst of this world, do SEWA and you shall be given a place of honour in the Court of the Lord)

Sach ki bani Nanak aakhai sach sunaisi sach ki bela


Guru Nanak Dev Ji told in front of King Babar “You are not Babar but JABAR”. We should always speak the truth without any fear. According to the Guru’s doctrine, the victory of truth is not dependent on ending or suppressing falsehood but in standing firmly by truth. That is why Guru Nanak Dev ji exhorts that to stick to truth and to remain on the side of truth when it is necessary is very essential –
Sach ki bani Nanak aakhai sach sunaisi sach ki bela
I have related the true Word of the True Lord as per His Will.