Editor's note: In the last several weeks, the world has witnessed the worst religious sectarian violence seen in a generation. What is happening in the Middle East, especially, should give all of us pause. When religious fanaticism is used as an excuse for ruthless bloodshed and inflicting suffering on others, religion becomes the antithesis of the Divine Itself. Guru Nanak didn't distinguish who he chastised and enlightened, all were subject to succumb to "the impermanent dye" of religiosity.
One young Sikh woman has put together a video to express outrage at religious hypocrisy, and share Guru Nanak's message that all of us, whatever we call ourselves, belong to the same Creator. We are grateful to share her video with the SikhNet audience.
In the past few decades, civilization has advanced in ways we could never have imagined. Things such as the internet and Whats app. turn our world into one big village. While it is wonderful that society has taken such strides in technology and medicine, we must take steps to evolve our mentality as well. One example of this is the amount of religious violence which goes on in the world. It is even worse that some of this violence, which has recently been in the news, has come from those who call themselves Sikhs. Although they might say they are Sikhs, they have not adopted the way of thinking of our Guru and are stuck in the small mindedness of their cultural environment.
The way of thinking laid down by Guru Granth Sahib ji is astonishing. Guru Granth Sahib ji preaches Prema Bhagti, or Universal love to be the highest form of worship. Guru ji preaches that the highest of all religions is to worship God and be pure in deed. Gurbani says that the holiest place of worship is the heart that truly loves God. This message of Pluralism is revolutionary even when we look at it today, let alone over hundreds of years ago. Guru Granth Sahib Ji is amazing in the way that all barriers which cover the human soul are broken. The ideas of religion, caste, color, outward appearance, and even gender are all transcended as one realizes the divinity of the spirit.
Guru Granth Sahib is not only a guru for the Sikhs, but is and enlightener and teacher for the whole Universe. If a Christian reads Gurbani, they will merge in the Holy Spirit. The Muslim who reads it will become the image of Allah. Our Jewish brothers who read it will find a clear path to Divinity and Hindus will live forever in the divine presence of Parbhram. All who read Gurbani will find the essence of all religion and holiness within their souls.
Perhaps it is for this reason that when a Muslim reads the Guru Granth Sahib, he is told not only to do his daily nimaz (prayers) but to make his whole life a Nimaaz. Guru ji says “There are five prayers. Make the first prayer eternal truth. The second should be an honest living and the third prayer should be to wish well upon all. The fourth nimaz should be keeping the intentions of one’s mind pure and the fifth should be to lovingly praise God. “These words are a beacon to our Muslim brothers.
Guru ji speaks to our Hindu brothers as well. In Sukhmani Sahib Guru ji says that “One is a true Hindu priest only if they have enlightenment of their mind and God’s Naam in their soul.” Hindus have a tradition called arti where they burn incense and rotate two lamps on a plate. At times this plate also has pearls on it. Guru Nanak Dev ji tells our Hindu brothers to consider the whole sky as a an Arti plate. Imagine the sun and moon as lamps. One should consider all the other stars like the pearls. All of the vegetation is the incense. The wind is the fan that waves over the eternal idol which is the formless Lord.
When we look at the saints whose writing is in the Guru Granth Sahib, we see some saints who were of the untouchable class. We see Saints who were born to different faiths. One such Saint who was born a Muslim proudly proclaims “ I, Kabeer, am the child of the one Lord who is called Allah by Muslims and Raam by Hindus. All holy men and prophets are mine.” When Guru Arjan Dev ji was arrested, he was asked by Jehinger which God he worships. Guru Arjan Dev ji said that all have the same God and those who make divisions among humanity in the Name of God are trouble makers. Guru ji then wrote the well known shabad “Koi bole Raam Raam Koi Khudae.” Some call God Raam and others Kudha, some serve God as Gusain and others as Allah.”
In a world where the ruling class often would conquer countries and break the idols and places of worship of those they conquer, The Gurus would build Mosques and Mandirs. One well known one built by Guru HarGobind Sahib ji still stands. It is called Guru ki Maseet (the Mosque of the Guru). A Muslim saint named Mian Mir ji is said to have laid the foundation stone of Harmandir Sahib. During the times of Guru Gobind Singh ji, when Guru ji would wake up Sikhs for their morning Amrit Vela prayers, he would also wake up Muslims so that they too may go to the Mosque and praise the Lord in their own beautiful way. Guru Gobind Singh ji would say that God is present in all prayers of all faiths and we should recognize the human race as one.
Perhaps the greatest act of Pluralism was when Guru Teg Bhadur ji gave up his life to defend a faith that he did not believe in. Guru ji spoke out and shunned the Hindu traditions of Tilak (mark on forehead) and Janeu (sacred thread worn by High Castes) and argued agaist them. Although Guru ji himself did not believe in these rituals, he defended with his life the right of our Hindu brothers to proudly wear them. That is why even today he is known as “Tilak Jaeau Rakha” or the protector of the tilak and Janeu. Guru Teg Bhadur ji was beheaded and the only martyr known to give his life to protect the rights of those who were from another faith.
It is this message of Universal love and pluralism which can save today’s world from crumbling into pieces. We have a duty to spread this message. We have a duty to open our hearts and break the barriers which we have locked ourselves in. It is for this reason that with God’s grace, I have written this poem. I wish to share this message with the world This is my way of fighting. It is my hope that this poem will help us open our hearts and, as mentioned in the poem, turn this whole world into God’s holy Promised Land.