(Devinder Singh Chahal, Ph.d, Canada)
It has always been that people hate each other because of being inhabitants of different regions of the globe (even belonging to the same religion), because of different religions, and because of their different race, and there seems to be no solution for this big problem of hatred so far. However, the man has controlled. the most dangerous diseases and has evolved nutritious food and wonder drugs through genetically engineered plants, animals and microorganisms to increase span, He has also created many automatic machines and robots to make his life easier. He has also advanced so much in other Sciences especially in the fields of compiler and space technology that he is trying to travel deep into the space, i.e to the other planets of our solar system or to the other solar systems of our own galaxy, the Milky Way, and hoping to travel beyond our galaxy into other galaxies of the universe. Voyager I and Voyager II fired into space during 1977 have already crossed our solar system minnow heading, towards the unlimited space in the universe, nobody knows where they are going to land. On the other hand the man has failed to create peace or global fellowship on this tiny planet, the earth, either through science or religion. It might be because both, science and religion are not being applied properly by the man to achieve peace. That might be the reason when Albert Einstein had to say that.
Religion without science is blind. ‘Science without religion is lame.”
‘To me it appears that the science and the religion have to go hand in hand to create one universal order to maintain peace on the earth.
Sikhism is the youngest, scientific, and logical religion of the world, at a time when the modem nations and ideas resulting from development in the fields of science, technology, economics, psychology ete, had not yet become part of the world consciousness, Even then the principles of Sikhism laid down in the “Gurbani” (the word of the Almighty realized by the Sikh Gurus) incorporated in the and Guru Granth (AGS), the holy scripture of the Sikhs, are found true in the light of modern science and are applicable during the Age of Space. However, there are many unscrupulous Sikhs and some non-Sikh scholars knowingly or unknowingly are reducing Sikhism of the lofty ideals to a ritualistic and mythic religion. Due to the writings of such scholars the Sikhism, ‘even being the most recent religion, has become the most misrepresented and is most misunderstood religion.
I would like to present a part of philosophy of Sikhism formulated by Guru Nanak in his ten forms Mahlas (1469-1708), the Founder of Sikhism, for leading a moral life and to maintain peace on the earth,
- The Earth: Not going into the details of origin of the universe according to (AGS, ap 168.21, P3 £4), would come directly to the point where the man and the earth are concerned, While this earth was being formed as a planet of ‘our solar system, the Almighty created necessary environment on the: earth to sustain different types of lives (AGGS. M-1, P 1035). As we know at this time earth is the only planet where life is found, However, the possibilities of similar or better type of life on other planets of other solar systems of our galaxy or of other galaxies cannot be ruled out, Because it is beyond our all available technology to reach on such planets and beyond our comprehension to visualize life on the other planets. In this respect we should be grateful to the Almighty for giving us a chance to be a part of the life created on the earth.
‘The Almighty, after creating the earth ‘and the necessary environment for sustaining life, declared the earth as the realm. of justice, Where the actions (good or evil) will be considered, (The word, Dharmsaal,” used in the “Gurbani” has been interpreted as the realm of justice here, because the word “dharam” at many Places in the “Gurbani” means laws of the Almighty set to control the whole universe). In this realm of justice everybody will be adjudged and honored or punished according to their deeds (AGGS, Jap 34, 7). The importance of air, water and earth and of days and night have been expressed as the Guru (teacher) father and the Mother Nature and the nurse respectively for sustaining the life on this planet (AGGS, M2. P146).
Status of Man among the Living Organisms in “Gurbani” the status of man among the living organisms on this earth has been declared as of the highest order developed through long evolutionary processes (AGGS, M5, P176). Thus the man is the only organism who has the consciousness to realize the Almighty and can differentiate between good and evil (AGGS, M5, P.374).
Oneness and Sameness: Guru Nanak reached the Oneness, Omnipresence, Omnipotence, and omniscience’s of the Almighty and the sameness of all the peoples (AGGS, Manglachara, P1; M1, P62).
Truthful living: Everybody understands, that the of the highest order in the morality bat Guru Nanak emphasized that it is actually the truthful living that is ‘highest of all (AGGS, M1, P62). Egoism: According to the philosophy of Sikh Gurus the egoism is the biggest? factor in human nature that leads him, towards his destruction. To shed or to eliminate the nature of egoism in oneself is the greatest achievement of all for self-improvement and to maintain with “others (AGGS, M 3, P 115),
Casteism: If basically we all are same, being the creation of the only One, the Almighty, then why should we have any hatred among ourselves, Guru Nanak realized that this hatred was mostly due to caste system prevailing before and during his time. Most scholars say that Guru Nanak revolted against the caste system, in fact, he revolted against any type of discrimination based on the creed, color, ‘country of origin, social status, sex (woman, Status Was considered lower than the man) etc. (AGGS, Ml, P83), Although we may find slight morphological differences in peoples of different regions of the world, which developed due other different ecology of those regions, but we all share the ‘same physiological processes to maintain. the life and were created by the same one Father, the Almighty, Most probably we all might have one same mother originated somewhere in Africa so cording to the latest research on the origin of man.
Jealousy: Jealousy is another factor of hatred between two groups, between two communities, between two religions, between two races, between two nations, between two countries etc. Most of the time the jealousy is due to the economic factor that one group is more prosperous than the others because of their special traits and virtues. Instead of feeling jealous that creates hatred, one should develop friendship with the other groups, The Fifth Nanak, Guru Arjan, explained that jealousy can be controlled by keeping the company of good peoples. Once get rid of jealousy then nobody is an enemy or a stranger (AGGS. MS. P1209)
Tolerance When it has become clear about the Oneness of the Almighty and sameness of the whole humanity and we have eliminated the egoism; and following the path of truthful living; and have overcome the jealousy then developing Terre brotherhood of humanity would be easier if we have a spirit clearance, Tolerance of the ideas of other religions is the baste characteristic of Sikhism. During its evolution from 15th to early 18th cent (04691708), Sikhism was in direct con tact with two major religions, Hinduism and Islam of the Indian subcontinent.
Therefore the tolerance of these two particular religions is the main topic of Guru Nanak’s teachings. He declared that the highest class (Aai Panthi) is the humanity itself (AGGS, Jap 28, P6). Guru Nanak also instructed that one should not fall into the rituals of meditations and visit holy places but to practice the Gurbani to become morally a perfect citizen (AGGS, Jap21, P4)
To be continued
Article extracted from this publication >> November 10, 1995
