- What are the Salient features of the Sikh religion?
When Guru Nanak Dev Ji founded the Sikh religion, he gave the following immortal message to the world. It is the first principal of the Sikh religion. There is but one God His name is Eternal Truth. He is the Creator of the Universe and everything else. He is devoid of fear and enmity. He is immortal, unborn, self-existent ‘and is made known to men by the grace of the Guru, the Enlightener.”
The Sikh religion is monotheistic in character, It believes in One God and He is the Supreme of all. Guru Nanak Ji proclaims that no penance or austerity is equal to contemplation on God’s Name. Further Guru Nanak Dev Ji manifests in His Gurbani, “I do not dabble in duality; I worship none but God. I neither visit tombs nor crematoriums. Lured by desire, I am neither tempted to knock at another for, God’s Name has stilled all and the Master has shown me the Lord’s mansion within my ‘own mind, which now rests imbued with equanimity.”
The Sikh religion is very much objective in nature. It is to be lived practically. Ethics and the Sikh religion go together and both form the basis of life. Virtues of life such as honesty, compassion, generosity, patience, service and humility, are to be practiced in everyday life. The Gurus lived such practical lives and showed the way to their followers. Special effort and perseverance has to be made in daily life to inculcate such virtues in life. The aim of life in Sikhism is to merge with God. Meditation on the holy Name and service to mankind shows the way to merge with God. Guru Nanak Ji says, “The breath that goes out without remembering God, goes in vain.” He further manifests that the Word is the essence of all meditation and austerity.
Emphasizing on the virtues of service and making it part of life Guru Nanak Ji says, “If you want to get a seat in the Court of God, you should dedicate yourself to the service of the people in this world.” All efforts made to purify life and make it fragrant go in vain if honesty is not practiced. GuruJi says, “He alone has found the right way who eats what he ears through toil and shares his earnings with others.”
An egoist has no place in His Court. It is humility that is to be merged in ‘one’s life to bring him nearer to God. Guru Nanak Dev Ji says, “Sweetness and humility are the essence of all virtues.” He further shows the Sikh way of life to mankind by saying, “Salvation is attained by cherishing the love of God and meditating on Him; and by living humbly.”
Idolatry is not encouraged at all in the Sikh way of life. Guru Ji says, “God can neither be installed (like an idol) nor can He be shaped.” It is further emphasized by the Guru in Gurbani. “Ignorant fools worship stones, not realizing that stones which themselves sink, cannot ferry others across. The idol can neither feed the hungry nor rescue the dying. Then why worship it?”
Sikhism believes in the equality of all human beings without any barriers of castes or any other divisions. A person does not become impure by touching a person of another caste. This was a clear revolt against the divisions of the human race. Guru Ji says, “All impurity contracted from touch is but superstition.”
The Sikh religion emphasizes on the path of devotion (Bhakti Marg).Guru ‘Nanak Ji says, “They who worship God with loving devotion, thirst for the Supreme love and cry out in prayer to Him, find peace; as they are thoroughly imbued with His love.”
Complete surrender and fervor are keys to a devoted life. No wavering or just a demonstration can serve the purpose. Guru Nanak Ji says, “If you are fond of playing the game of love, enter my path with your head on the hand. Once you set your foot on it, lay down your head without any fear or hesitation.”
It is true love of God that enlightens one’s inner self and leads him on the path of merger. Guru Ji says, “All sins are eliminated with the Supreme nectar of God’s love.”
Sikhism also recognizes the value of the Path of Knowledge (Gian Marg) as it is a means of advancement in the spiritual and mundane spheres. Guru Ji says, “as with the appearance of the sun, the moon disappears, so with the attainment of knowledge, ignorance is dispelled.”
‘The Path of Action (Karam Marg) maintains its own importance as nothing is achieved in this world without action. Deeds of a person vouch him in the Court of The Lord. “All are yoked to God’s Will, and will be judged according to their deeds,” says the Guru. He further stresses by saying, “True is God, true is His Court. All are judged there by their deeds.”
Sikhism believes in a normal family life and it manifests that the normal family life is no barrier to salvation. A Sikh leads a normal life in this world and while devoting one tenth of his life in the service of mankind, he keeps himself firmly on the path of Sikhism. He does not budge to temptations and illusions. As a soldier, he fights against the five vices and injustice. To be knowledge able he acquires knowledge for the whole of his life. And to maintain the Saintly beads of a Sikh, here members God with every breath.
A Sikh realizes the opportunity given to him in this life to achieve salvation by good deeds and devotion to God. Self-realization sets him on the path of devotion. He knows that only deeds would touch him in the Court of The Lord. As the Guru says, “We only reap, what we sow.” His only Guruis the Guru Granth Sahib and there is no place for a living Guru in his life.
Amar Singh, Principal Khalsa School, Vancouver.
Article extracted from this publication >> September 18, 1996
