Guru Nanak Dev ji (1469 - 1539)
On occasion of Today's Gurpurab.i.e. Birthday Of Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, A Great Master, Founder of Sikhism and the First Guru of Sikhs, let us take a look (Re - look) on how Guru Nanak Dev Ji shared to the world, the simple way of living an honest life by doing right deeds and his message for eternity which are still relevant in this modern times too.
More than 500 years have gone by when Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji started his holy mission to transform world social structure in a way that human society rids itself of all social evils. He preached his followers, the Sikhs, to lead truthful and pious lives and do good to others. He also preached to his Sikhs to inspire others, their near and dear ones and their friends to lead truthful and pious lives and doing good to others so that a wave is created and whole of the nation is transformed into a pious society. This was in fact a message for eternity, for all times to come and a message not only for India but for whole of the world.
Basic concepts of Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s teachings :
Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s teachings puts main emphasis on righteous living and doing good to the society. According to him, it is through good deeds that a person can reach the door of God. Guru Ji says,
“God rules through His supreme command but His pen flows according to our deeds. His justice is truth and his court is truth” (Ang 1241 of Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji).
At another place Guru Ji says,
“For every human being, life means action (work) and God would take His decision on the basis of our good or bad actions” (Ang 1176 of Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji).
In fact Guru Ji says that we have got human birth according to our good deeds done in the past births (Ang 18 of Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji). Also no worship of God can be possible without righteous living and without inculcating good attributes (gunas) in our mind (vin gun keete bhagte na hoe).
You do not have to be a Sikh to follow the teachings of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. You just have to understand the meaning of what he taught and the significance of the same and that would be the true respect to the Saint on this Guru Nanak Jayanti.
The teachings of Guru Nanak Dev Ji revolves around the three most important aspects which are also the foundation of Sikhism :
- Kirt Karna (Honest Earning)
- Naam Japna (Chanting God’s name in a meditative manner)
- Vand ke Shakhna (Sharing with others)
1. Kirt Karna (Honest Earning) :
Guru Nanak Dev Ji has laid stress on honest and truthful labor (Das Nauhan Di Kirat ). Work ethics are considered as essential ingredient for harmonious society and recommend that a Sikh must earn his livelihood with the sweat of brow and share the earnest earnings with the needy.
There should be no idle rich man and no exploitation of the poor by the rich. All must labor and must sweat to create the foodstuffs. This would eliminate poverty. Riches have no meaning in the court of God if the wealth is earned by evil means and spent on selfish causes. On the other hand, money earned by hard labor and honest means and spent on right causes makes the life sublime and is accepted in the court of God. The dishonest earnings are declared Haraam as sucking the blood of the poor.
Well, we all know the story of Honest Bhai Lalo and Rich Malik Bhago where, when the Roti earned by hard and honest means by Bhai Lalo on squeezing excludes milk of his hard earnings and whereas the squeezed Roti of Malik Bhago excludes blood implying the Roti was earned by the exploitation of poor and by using evil means. Guru Nanak Dev Ji did not eat food prepared by Malik Bhago as it was the result of his dishonest earning. On the other hand, Guru Nanak Dev Ji ate very simple food prepared by Bhai Lalo with honest means. That is the difference between Malik Bhago sumptuous meals and Bhai Lalo’s simple food.
There is temptation in every materialistic person to lead an easy and comfortable life. There is desire to collect money overnight and through unfair means. The Guru Nanak Dev Ji showed us the path that dishonest earnings pollute the mind and are hindrance in the way of pure and pious life.
2. Naam Japna (Chanting God’s name in a meditative manner) :
The human body should be working for the well-being of the family and society but the mind has to remain tuned towards God. Our mind should instead be so tuned that at every step or rather at every breath, it thinks of good and nothing else. By attaining this state of mind, a person can attain highest level of piety in his life. To achieve this, Guru Nanak Dev Ji has repeatedly preached to us to have a symbiotic association of Monkey Mind and Naam, the Name of God or the Noble attributes of God.
Guru Nanak Dev Ji says,
“To do good deeds is the best rosary. If our mind is tuned in doing good deeds, our life goes according to God’s wishes (Sukirt karni saar jap maali hirde pher challai tudh naali)” (Ang 1134 of Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji).
Guru Nanak Dev Ji preached that the human birth is a chance for the soul to get purified by avoiding committing sins, atoning for the sins committed in the past births, integrating Naam with Mind and doing good deeds.
Integration of Mind and Naam i.e absorption of God’s attributes in Mind should be such that the Monkey Mind becomes tuned to the wishes of God or whatever Mind will think will be as God desires it to think. To receive Naam, Mind should be free from all ills like hatred, jealousy, backbiting, bigotry, thinking bad of others, hurting others feelings, stealing, telling lies, etc etc and also have complete control on anger, sex, greed, worldly attachments and ego.
When the soul becomes free from sins and the human birth is dedicated to the will of God, the soul becomes pure. It then becomes like that of its source, God Almighty, free from the vicious cycle of life and death. Guru Nanak Dev Ji says that truth is above every thing and higher than truth is truthful living.
At Ang 1291 of Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Guru Nanak Dev Ji says,
“When the mind becomes abode of God, it hears continuous tunes of all the five types of instruments(Dilruba, Saranda, Taus, Sitar and Rabab) along with the beating of the drum of guru’s word. This condition of mind is called the condition of total trance or absolute bliss. At this state of mind, the worldly attachments (Materialistic things) disturb the mind. But these attachments do not affect the mind as mind is fully integrated with Naam and God is experienced as if He is sitting on the throne of mind.”
The mind frees itself from all worldly attachments and is filled with nectar of Naam. Now the mind does not run after worldly things. As the mind is completely integrated with Naam, it remembers God without using the tongue. The five senses of knowledge (senses of hearing, smelling, tasting, touching and seeing) have now achieved five noble attributes of sat, santokh, daya, dharma and dheeraj (truth, contentment, compassion, religious principles and tolerance).
Guru Ji in the end says that he will be the servant of that person who achieves the above state of mind”.
Guru Nanak Dev Ji believed that greatest of the evils and the worst of crimes is poverty. Thus, Guru Nanak Dev Ji started the institution of Langar so that nobody should sleep without food as no one can be honest and wise on an empty stomach. He will not be able to think independently and can commit antisocial and immoral acts.
3. Vand ke Shakhna (Sharing with others) :
The term “Vand ke Shakhna” means to share one’s wealth with others in the community, to give to charity, to distribute in Langar (free Kitchen) and to generally help others in the community who need help. A Sikh is expected to contribute at least 10% of their wealth/income called Dasvandh to the needy people of the world or to a worthy cause.
This concept acknowledges the fact that everything that one receives is by God's Will or Hukam. And when one receives more than one can consume, then this gift must be shared with the community especially people who are needy and have much less than you. Thus, to live as an inspiration and a support to the entire community.
A Sikh is duty bound to share his food and earnings with needy, sick and poor people but there should be no ego of contributing in charity. Sikhism believes that charity is given only by God and human beings have just to share the boon given by God. Sikhs all across the world voluntary pay for Guru Ka Langar, construction of Gurdwara buildings, Kar Seva of holy pools, schools, hospitals for sick and general uplift of the humanity as a whole.
The charity money is also used for imparting the professional education in the area of engineering and medical fields to the people to eliminate poverty among human beings. There are numerous schools and colleges run by the Sikh organizations including Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee Amritsar which are engaged in helping the people to lead a life of prosperity. This creates a sense of equality, brotherhood and oneness.
The Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s concept of Vand ke Shakna also implies the action of letting go. Everything that we have or possess is provided for us. Only Waheguru is the real provider who worries and cares for us. Only He is the Giver; everyone else begs at His door. All is provided to us only by the Almighty.
"Says Kabeer, listen, O my mother - the Lord alone is the Provider, for me and my children. There is no one else!" (Ang 524 of SGGS).
“If we cling tightly to the belief that what we have is not enough (Lobh or greed), how can we be open to receiving more? If we hold on tightly to a system of dealing with our personal finances which does not work for us, how can we expect God to provide better for us? By the same token, when we learn to give within our ability that which is surplus to our "real" requirements, then we are letting go.
Thereby we will be opening the door for the flow of prosperity in our lives. We must examine what it is that we are holding on to so fiercely, and we must learn this simple trust of letting go.
Releasing of the convictions which impede us from giving is the first step on this journey. Only when we have this conviction can we begin to receive freely from God.”
Thereby we will be opening the door for the flow of prosperity in our lives. We must examine what it is that we are holding on to so fiercely, and we must learn this simple trust of letting go.
"Prosperity consciousness (Vand ke shakna) is a journey".
Releasing of the convictions which impede us from giving is the first step on this journey. Only when we have this conviction can we begin to receive freely from God.”
Bhai Gurdas Ji on Ang 20 of his Vaars says:“The Gurus of the Sikhs inspire the Sikhs of the Guru to serve. Serving the holy congregation they receive the fruit of happiness. Sweeping and spreading the sitting mats they bathe in the dust of the holy congregation. They bring unused pitchers and fill them with water. They bring sacred food and distribute it among others and eat.”
Guru Nanak Dev Ji laid emphasis that this principle of Vand ke Shakna should be considered as Shukrana of the Creator. The Sikh should feel that it is his duty to help the needy, sick and poor. He should not take pride to have served the less fortunate as their benefactor and protector.
Guru Nanak Dev Ji says, “A person can judge their closeness to God by sharing their bread with the needy. If this can be done without feeling as if they are doing someone a favor, then they are on the right path and are close to God. Broadcasting their contributions and feeling proud of their “benefactor” image is the ego (ahankar) that denies them the spiritual benefits obtained by remaining humble.”
This is the reason that Sikhs are never seen as beggars. Wherever they live, they live in prosperity under Hukam of the Guru.
“The unique Lord is the Bestower. He is the Giver to all. In His giving, there is no stint.”
Prevalent Society at Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s Time & it's relevance to today’s modern Society :
Guru Nanak Dev Ji has described the state of decadent society prevailing in his times in his own words. He writes that the sin was the ruler, greed was his prime minister and falsehood was his finance minister. Ladies of the harem were the king’s advisers with whom the ruler was ever engaged in conversation. The public was ignorant and mindless and accepted every thing thrust on it by the corrupt ruler. At another place, Guru Nanak Dev Ji likened kings to ravenous lions, their officials to dogs and their subjects to blind sheep. (Ang 468-469 of Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji).
The teachings of Guru Nanak are very relevant in the modern world, which is presently suffering from a deep moral and spiritual crisis, characterized by religious animosity, unbridled materialism, moral decline, superficial religiosity and misuse of religions and religious symbols. Even if you are not a Sikh, you can still apply his teachings to your daily life and benefit from them immensely, because his teachings transcend social and religious barriers and appeal to us directly as the guiding principles of an ideal human life that can bring out the best in our character and reconnect us with our source.
More important than being born in a Sikh family or wearing the five Ks or visiting a Gurudwara, is adhering to truth, devotion to God, constantly remembering His name, practicing inner purity by overcoming the five enemies of lust, greed, attachment, anger and pride, cultivating selflessness and doing selfless service to humanity.
To realize God you do not have to renounce the world you can lead a normal and ordinary life, as a householder, just as Guru Nanak Dev ji did, doing whatever you are interested in, but with a selfless attitude, keeping your heart and mind filled with devotion to God and dedicating your life to the service of God and His creation.
These are the values taught by Guru Nanak. These can be of immense help if we want to focus more on our inner connection with God. Therefore, there is a dire necessity of renaissance of Shri Guru Nanak Dev ji’s message for eternity. I think this can only save the present day society from self destruction.
These are the values taught by Guru Nanak. These can be of immense help if we want to focus more on our inner connection with God. Therefore, there is a dire necessity of renaissance of Shri Guru Nanak Dev ji’s message for eternity. I think this can only save the present day society from self destruction.
I leave you with the video which summarizes most of the teachings of Guru Nanak Dev Ji here.
Have a great Guru Nanak Dev Ji Jayanti and have prosperity in your life.
WAHEGURU JI KA KHALSA WAHEGURU JI KI FATEH
