Introduction
In a recent paper on Academia.edu, Ron Horgan [1], a Scientist by profession, has started a debate on the topic: "Enlightenment: The Gentle Religion Of Science That Will Save The Earth" under the rubric "How to Save the Earth". It has attracted the attention of dozens of experts in various fields to join this debate. I was among the first few discussants and presented my views based on vision of Sikh Gurus in GGS about the protection of Earth and its Ecology, which impressed Ron. This paper is an attempt to juxtapose the solutions offered by Guru Granth Sahib (GGS) against the arguments of Ron's paper to SAVE THE EARTH.
Dr. Sukhraj Dhillon [2] writes in his book "In Search for God: The God of Spirituality": "All religions teach that every man has a potential to reach God, but practically they say: Only our religion is the true religion to realize that potential. Yes, every man can reach God but he has to reach through our way: Unless you follow Jesus Christ you have no chance. But the same is said by Krishna (Hindu God): "If you surrender to me, leaving everything aside, I will take care of you, you need not worry." And the same is true about all other religions. They seem to be competing shopkeepers -- everybody is trying to sell his thing: his holy book, his messiah, his God". But Sikh religion does not belong to this category. The message of GGS is universal and does not claim any monopoly in being the only door for liberation.
Guru Amar Das, the third Guru of the Sikh religion, wrote in his universal message in GGS that this world is burning and sought the protection of God in his famous Shabad [3]:
ਜਗਤੁ ਜਲੰਦਾ ਰਖਿ ਲੈ ਆਪਣੀ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਧਾਰਿ ॥ ਜਿਤੁ ਦੁਆਰੈ ਉਬਰੈ ਤਿਤੈ ਲੈਹੁ ਉਬਾਰਿ ॥ (GGS, M.3, p.853)
God save this World, it is on fire, Save it by whatever door (religion) you deem fit.
I find its echo in Greta Thunberg, the 17 year old School student and Swedish environmental activist against climate change, when she says: “Your house is on fire”.
The progress of Science and Technology after the industrial revolution in Europe opened the flood gates of discovery and inventions. Francis Bacon [4] is credited with developing scientific method. Bacon has been called the father of empiricism. His works argued for the possibility of scientific knowledge based only upon inductive reasoning and careful observation of events in nature. Most importantly, he argued science could be achieved by use of a sceptical and methodical approach whereby scientists aim to avoid misleading themselves. Thomas Aquinas and other theologians of Scholastic school advocated a philosophy of dominance and exploitation of Nature. As a consequence, the scientific developments have brought a wave of destruction of nature which is still going on during the 21st century.
Looking for a Solution to Save the Planet Earth
To undertake this job, I had to prepare a sort of questionnaire based on Ron Horgan's paper. The following statements are excerpted from his paper to make my job easier.
Ron 1: Mother Earth, the biosphere, is dying. All of us, and the beautiful planet from which we sprang, are being killed by our own demands. There is an innate conflict between the instinctive greedy biological drives necessary for our successful evolution, and the reality of a finite planet. Advanced life in the universe is self extinguishing. We know what to do, but to change our behaviour we must find an empowering religious belief to motivate our emotional human nature. This belief must become the foundation of our culture for long term survival.
GGS: The concern of Ron is expressed in the opening line: "Mother Earth, the biosphere, is dying". He is looking for an empowering religious belief to motivate our emotional human nature. My search for such a belief system leads me to look into the GGS. Without much effort, I come across concern of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikh religion, for Earth and its Ecosystem in the Guru Granth Sahib:
ਪਵਣੁ ਗੁਰੂ ਪਾਣੀ ਪਿਤਾ ਮਾਤਾ ਧਰਤਿ ਮਹਤੁ ॥ ਦਿਵਸੁ ਰਾਤਿ ਦੁਇ ਦਾਈ ਦਾਇਆ ਖੇਲੈ ਸਗਲ ਜਗਤੁ ॥ (GGS, p.8)
Air is the Guru, Water is the Father, and Earth is the Great Mother of all. Day and night are the two nurses, in whose lap all the world is at play.
ਸਾਚੇ ਤੇ ਪਵਨਾ ਭਇਆ ਪਵਨੈ ਤੇ ਜਲੁ ਹੋਇ ॥ ਜਲ ਤੇ ਤ੍ਰਿਭਵਣੁ ਸਾਜਿਆ ਘਟਿ ਘਟਿ ਜੋਤਿ ਸਮੋਇ ॥
God created the air, from air came water and from water the world was created. God spirit permeates all the beings. (GGS, M.1, p.19)
Ron 2: We are the material of the universe come to conscious life. We are therefore conscious agents of God, and have Thus I have become a deist as this is fully consistent with all of our science. The conflict between belief and science disappears.
GGS: We are conscious agents of God on this Earth and it is our moral duty to protect its Eco-system and environment by our concerted efforts as there is no conflict between Sikh belief and scientific progress. GGS reminds us of our moral duty:
ਜਿਨਿ ਦੀਆ ਤੁਧੁ ਪਵਨੁ ਅਮੋਲਾ ॥ ਜਿਨਿ ਦੀਆ ਤੁਧੁ ਨੀਰੁ ਨਿਰਮੋਲਾ ॥
ਜਿਨਿ ਦੀਆ ਤੁਧੁ ਪਾਵਕੁ ਬਲਨਾ ॥ ਤਿਸੁ ਠਾਕੁਰ ਕੀ ਰਹੁ ਮਨ ਸਰਨਾ ॥੩॥ (GGS, M.5, p. 913)
He gave you the invaluable air; He gave you the priceless water;
He gave you burning fire; let your mind remain in the Sanctuary of that Lord and Master. || 3 ||
Ron 3: The explosive emergence of the universe from the void happened in an instant before time existed; and this eternal mystery is surely an act of God. Further the properties of the material of the universe permit the evolution of all subsequent events, including ourselves.
GGS: Guru Nanak in Maru Solhe Raaga explains the creation of the universe out of void (Sünn) in an explosive emergence (Big Bang) billions of years ago. This prediction came 500 years before Big Bang hypothesis was presented by Georges Lemaitre in 1932. Time and Space were created after Big Bang. There is perfect consonance between statement of Ron and scientific vision of Guru Nanak expressed in GGS:
ਸੁੰਨ ਕਲਾ ਅਪਰੰਪਰਿ ਧਾਰੀ ॥ ਆਪਿ ਨਿਰਾਲਮੁ ਅਪਰ ਅਪਾਰੀ ॥
ਆਪੇ ਕੁਦਰਤਿ ਕਰਿ ਕਰਿ ਦੇਖੈ ਸੁੰਨਹੁ ਸੁੰਨੁ ਉਪਾਇਦਾ ॥੧॥ਪਉਣੁ ਪਾਣੀ ਸੁੰਨੈ ਤੇ ਸਾਜੇ ॥ ਸ੍ਰਿਸਟਿ ਉਪਾਇ ਕਾਇਆ ਗੜ ਰਾਜੇ ॥
ਅਗਨਿ ਪਾਣੀ ਜੀਉ ਜੋਤਿ ਤੁਮਾਰੀ ਸੁੰਨੇ ਕਲਾ ਰਹਾਇਦਾ ॥੨॥ (GGS, M. 1, p.1037)
In the Sünya (Primal void), the infinite Lord assumed his Power.
He Himself is unattached, infinite and incomparable.
He Himself exercised His Creative Power, and He gazes upon His creation;
From the Primal Void, He formed the Void. || 1 ||
From the Sünya, He created air and water.
He created universe and the man in the fortress of body.
Your Light pervades fire, water and souls;
Your Power rests in the Primal Void. || 2 ||
ਕੇਤੜਿਆ ਦਿਨ ਗੁਪਤੁ ਕਹਾਇਆ ॥ ਕੇਤੜਿਆ ਦਿਨ ਸੁੰਨਿ ਸਮਾਇਆ ॥
ਕੇਤੜਿਆ ਦਿਨ ਧੁੰਧੂਕਾਰਾ ਆਪੇ ਕਰਤਾ ਪਰਗਟੜਾ ॥੧੨॥ (GGS, M.5, p.1081)
For countless days, He remained invisible.
For countless days, He remained absorbed in Sünya
For countless days, there was utter darkness, and
Then the Creator revealed Himself.
ਅਰਬਦ ਨਰਬਦ ਧੁੰਧੂਕਾਰਾ ॥ ਧਰਣਿ ਨ ਗਗਨਾ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਅਪਾਰਾ ॥ ਨਾ ਦਿਨੁ ਰੈਨਿ ਨ ਚੰਦੁ ਨ ਸੂਰਜੁ ਸੁੰਨ ਸਮਾਧਿ ਲਗਾਇਦਾ ॥੧॥ ਖਾਣੀ ਨ ਬਾਣੀ ਪਉਣ ਨ ਪਾਣੀ ॥ ਓਪਤਿ ਖਪਤਿ ਨ ਆਵਣ ਜਾਣੀ ॥ ਖੰਡ ਪਤਾਲ ਸਪਤ ਨਹੀ ਸਾਗਰ ਨਦੀ ਨ ਨੀਰੁ ਵਹਾਇਦਾ ॥੨॥ ਨਾ ਤਦਿ ਸੁਰਗੁ ਮਛੁ ਪਇਆਲਾ ॥ ਦੋਜਕੁ ਭਿਸਤੁ ਨਹੀ ਖੈ ਕਾਲਾ ॥ (GGS, M. 1, p.1035)
‘For billions of years, there was nothing but utter darkness. There was neither day nor night, nor moon, nor sun, but the Lord alone sat in profound trance. Neither there was creation, nor air, nor water. There were no continents, nor underworlds, nor seven oceans nor rivers, or the flowing water. There was neither death, nor time.
Ron 4: All is contained within the universe and within the boundaries of possibility set at the moment of creation. This is God’s work. We have the duty to explore and understand the universe, and pass the gift of life to our descendants on the beautiful planet that we have been given. It is science that has given us this knowledge of the universe.
GGS: In the opening stanza of GGS, the qualities of God are expressed by Guru Nanak. God is defined as 'Creator Person' (Karta Purkh); hence Creation of the Universe is an act of God without an iota of doubt. God is part and parcel of Nature (Qudrat) and it is our moral duty to protect the Nature and this beautiful planet as envisaged by Ron. We find an echo of Ron's statement in GGS:
ੴ ਸਤਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਕਰਤਾ ਪੁਰਖੁ ਨਿਰਭਉ ਨਿਰਵੈਰੁ ਅਕਾਲ ਮੂਰਤਿ ਅਜੂਨੀ ਸੈਭੰ ਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥ GGS, Japu, p. 1)
One Universal Creator God. The Name Is Truth. Creative Being Personified. No Fear. No Hatred. Image Of The Undying, Beyond Birth, Self-Existent. By Guru's Grace.
ਤੂ ਆਪੇ ਕਰਤਾ ਤੇਰਾ ਕੀਆ ਸਭੁ ਹੋਇ ॥ ਤੁਧੁ ਬਿਨੁ ਦੂਜਾ ਅਵਰੁ ਨ ਕੋਇ ॥
ਤੂ ਕਰਿ ਕਰਿ ਵੇਖਹਿ ਜਾਣਹਿ ਸੋਇ ॥ (GGS, M.1, p.12)
You Yourself are the Creator. Everything that happens is by Your Doing. There is no one except You. You created the creation; You behold it and understand it.
ਆਪੇ ਕਾਰਣੁ ਕਰਤਾ ਕਰੇ ਸ੍ਰਿਸਟਿ ਦੇਖੈ ਆਪਿ ਉਪਾਇ ॥ (GGS, M.3, p. 37)
The Creator Himself created the Creation; He produced the Universe, and He Himself watches over it.
ਅਸਥਿਰੁ ਕਰਤਾ ਦੇਖੀਐ ਹੋਰੁ ਕੇਤੀ ਆਵੈ ਜਾਇ ॥ (GGS, M.1, p. 54)
The Creator alone is seen to be Eternal; all others come and go.
ਬਲਿਹਾਰੀ ਕੁਦਰਤਿ ਵਸਿਆ ॥ ਤੇਰਾ ਅੰਤੁ ਨ ਜਾਈ ਲਖਿਆ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥(GGS, M.1, p. 469)
Glory to Thee who dwelleth in Nature, Infinite and Eternal,
Thy limits and frontiers are unknowable.
Ron 5: And here we are, at this pivotal moment of life, holding this gift from God and our ancestors: a gift to be cherished and passed on to our descendants on this are beautiful planet Earth. My individual life is unimportant; I am part of something greater, as an agent of God on Earth and a link in this chain. I am a grain of sand on the beach of eternity.
GGS: It is clearly mentioned in GGS that we the human beings are rulers of Earth and it is our duty to pass on the treasure trove given by God to our coming generations.
ਅਵਰ ਜੋਨਿ ਤੇਰੀ ਪਨਿਹਾਰੀ ॥ ਇਸੁ ਧਰਤੀ ਮਹਿ ਤੇਰੀ ਸਿਕਦਾਰੀ ॥ (GGS, M.5, p. 374)
Other people may be your water-carriers; in this world, you may be a ruler.
Ron 6: We are human animals, because our complex brains solve complex problems. However this suprAconscious function remains throughout our lives and provides the revelations and breakthroughs which are common to religious revelations and scientific discoveries.
GGS: Revelation is a part and parcel of GGS. In fact, in both Christianity and Islam, the holy books were written by the followers of Prophets. But in case of Sikh holy book, GGS, it was revealed truth written by Guru Nanak and other Sikh Gurus. There is a reference to evolution of human from lower animal species in GGS:
ਕਈ ਜਨਮ ਭਏ ਕੀਟ ਪਤੰਗਾ ॥ ਕਈ ਜਨਮ ਗਜ ਮੀਨ ਕੁਰੰਗਾ ॥
ਕਈ ਜਨਮ ਪੰਖੀ ਸਰਪ ਹੋਇਓ ॥ ਕਈ ਜਨਮ ਹੈਵਰ ਬ੍ਰਿਖ ਜੋਇਓ ॥੧॥
ਮਿਲੁ ਜਗਦੀਸ ਮਿਲਨ ਕੀ ਬਰੀਆ ॥ ਚਿਰੰਕਾਲ ਇਹ ਦੇਹ ਸੰਜਰੀਆ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ (GGS, M.5, p. 176)
In so many incarnations, you were a worm and an insect;
In so many incarnations, you were an elephant, a fish and a deer;
In so many incarnations, you were a bird and a snake;
In so many incarnations, you were yoked as an ox and a horse.
Meet the Lord of the Universe – now is the time to meet Him.
After such a long epoch, you are born as a human being.
Ron 7: My existence is the immaterial model of myself, built in my brain. I live in the material world; but I am the immaterial human being, “The Ghost in the Machine” that can only live in my material human body.
GGS: We find an echo of Ron in the GGS as human life is considered as divine and the soul of man is part and parcel of God.
ਮਨ ਤੂੰ ਜੋਤਿ ਸਰੂਪੁ ਹੈ ਆਪਣਾ ਮੂਲੁ ਪਛਾਣੁ ॥ (GGS, M.3, p. 441)
O my mind, you are the embodiment of the Divine Light - recognize your own origin.
Ron 8: Science is the most successful way for humans to progress in the material world; using measurement and causal logic has given us mastery of the Earth. By explaining many mysterious natural events it has weakened belief in many Gods, and it threatens to dehumanise us.
GGS: Scientific research is encouraged by Sikh Gurus in search of Truth in the GGS:
ਖੋਜੀ ਉਪਜੈ ਬਾਦੀ ਬਿਨਸੈ ਹਉ ਬਲਿ ਬਲਿ ਗੁਰ ਕਰਤਾਰਾ ॥ (GGS, M.1, p. 1255)
As the spirit of enquiry grows, dogmas degenerate.
ਖੋਜਤ ਖੋਜਤ ਬਹੁ ਪਰਕਾਰੇ ਸਰਬ ਅਰਥ ਬੀਚਾਰੇ ॥ (GGS, M.5, p. 714)
Continuously engaging in research in all possible manner, rationalize every opinion before accepting it.
The Hindu belief in many Gods and Goddesses is decried and denounced by Sikh Gurus and some other contributors in GGS. Kabir is most vehement in condemning the worship of stone idols in GGS:
ਕਬੀਰ ਪਾਹਨੁ ਪਰਮੇਸੁਰੁ ਕੀਆ ਪੂਜੈ ਸਭੁ ਸੰਸਾਰੁ ॥ ਇਸ ਭਰਵਾਸੇ ਜੋ ਰਹੇ ਬੂਡੇ ਕਾਲੀ ਧਾਰ ॥ (GGS, Kabir, p. 1371)
Kabeer, someone sets up a stone idol and all the world worships it as the Lord. Those who hold to this belief will be drowned in the river of darkness.
ਕਬੀਰ ਕਾਗਦ ਕੀ ਓਬਰੀ ਮਸੁ ਕੇ ਕਰਮ ਕਪਾਟ ॥ ਪਾਹਨ ਬੋਰੀ ਪਿਰਥਮੀ ਪੰਡਿਤ ਪਾੜੀ ਬਾਟ ॥(GGS, Kabir, p. 1371)
Kabeer, the paper is the prison, and the ink of rituals are the bars on the windows. The stone idols have drowned the world, and the Pandits, the religious scholars, have plundered it on the way.
Ron 9: Harari can find no explanation for consciousness and mind, and therefore considers that underlying brain mechanisms are solely responsible for our behaviour. Thus we have no free will and are essentially predetermined to act according to genetic and environmental stimuli. We are biological machines of limited ability and will be replaced by superior machines. We are not simple, “cause and effect”, biological machines. As social animals we cannot thrive without meaning and belief in the future. Despair is lethal.
GGS: Hope and despair are the driving forces in this complex emergent world of human reality. Our destiny is governed by our past karmas and there is no scope for free will. Our fickle Mind is bound by Maya and duality. It needs liberation by following the guidelines proposed in GGS:
ਜੋ ਦੀਸੈ ਸੋ ਆਸ ਨਿਰਾਸਾ ॥(GGS, M.1, p. 224)
Whoever is seen, is driven by hope and despair.
ਇਹੁ ਮਨੂਆ ਅਤਿ ਸਬਲ ਹੈ ਛਡੇ ਨ ਕਿਤੈ ਉਪਾਇ ॥ (GGS, M.3, p. 33)
This mind is very powerful; we cannot escape it just by trying.
ਬਿਨੁ ਗੁਰ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਨ ਪਾਈਐ ਨਾ ਦੁਬਿਧਾ ਮਾਇਆ ਜਾਇ ॥੫॥ (GGS, M. 3, p. 67)
Without the Guru, liberation is not attained, and the double-mindedness of Maya does not go away. || 5 ||
ਨਾਨਕ ਭਾਇ ਭਗਤਿ ਨਿਸਤਾਰਾ ਦੁਬਿਧਾ ਵਿਆਪੈ ਦੂਜਾ ॥੨॥ (GGS, M.1, p. 75)
O Nanak, emancipation comes only by loving devotional worship; through duality, people are engrossed in duality. || 2 ||
Ron 10: Understanding how our immaterial thoughts arise from our material brain has puzzled thinkers throughout history. Ryle saw cause and effect as universal but that; “minds are not bits of clockwork, they are bits of non clockwork”. “Man need not be degraded to a machine by being denied to be a ghost in a machine”.
GGS: There is no reference to the mechanism of origin of thoughts in the brain in GGS. However, references to thoughts are available in context of worldly entanglements and to the 'ghost' in the human body in GGS:
ਅਲਹ ਅਗਮ ਖੁਦਾਈ ਬੰਦੇ ॥ ਛੋਡਿ ਖਿਆਲ ਦੁਨੀਆ ਕੇ ਧੰਧੇ ॥ (GGS, M.5, p. 1083)
O slave of the inaccessible Lord God Allah, forsake thoughts of worldly entanglements.
ਪ੍ਰੇਤ ਪਿੰਜਰ ਮਹਿ ਦੂਖ ਘਨੇਰੇ ॥ (GGS, M.1, p. 1029)
The ghost, in the body-cage, suffers all sorts of afflictions.
ਜਤੁ ਸਤੁ ਸੰਜਮੁ ਸੀਲੁ ਨ ਰਾਖਿਆ ਪ੍ਰੇਤ ਪਿੰਜਰ ਮਹਿ ਕਾਸਟੁ ਭਇਆ ॥ (GGS, M.1, p. 906)
You do not practice truth, abstinence, self-discipline or humility; the ghost within your skeleton has turned to dry wood.
Ron 11: All human reality is internal immaterial models. We live in two worlds: the physical world on Earth and the human world within our brains. Our human brain has a processing capacity equivalent to a supercomputer about 38 thousand trillion operations per second.
This is human reality. It is immaterial, emergent, and real. It is not predetermined. Neither is it fully causal nor predictable. It is unique to humans, a gift from God?
GGS: There are references to human reality in GGS but in a different context. Only the God-oriented, Gurmukhs, comprehend the nature of reality, or those who follow the Hukam, the divine laws of Nature:
ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਬੂਝੈ ਤਤੁ ਬੀਚਾਰਾ ॥ (GGS, M.1, p. 109)
Gurmukh, comes to understand the essence of reality.
ਆਤਮੁ ਚੀਨੈ ਸੁ ਤਤੁ ਬੀਚਾਰੇ ॥੮॥ (GGS, M.1, p. 224)
One who understands his own soul, contemplates the essence of reality.
ਹੁਕਮੈ ਬੂਝੈ ਤਤੁ ਪਛਾਣੈ ॥ (GGS, M.1, p. 1289)
Whoever understands the Hukam of the Lord's Command, realizes the essence of reality.
Ron 12: The disintegration process is now obvious as we fail to take decisive action against the pandemic and global warming.
GGS: There is a clear warning in GGS to do good deeds while living on this Earth before the noose of death entraps the human being. However, the message of Bhagat Kabir is most relevant to the context of saving the Earth from its dooms day:
ਕਾਲੁ ਬਿਆਲੁ ਜਿਉ ਪਰਿਓ ਡੋਲੈ ਮੁਖੁ ਪਸਾਰੇ ਮੀਤ ॥੧॥
ਆਜੁ ਕਾਲਿ ਫੁਨਿ ਤੋਹਿ ਗ੍ਰਸਿ ਹੈ ਸਮਝਿ ਰਾਖਉ ਚੀਤਿ ॥ (GGS, M. 9, p.631)
Death is on the prowl, with its mouth wide open, friend. || 1 ||
Today or tomorrow, eventually it will seize you; understand this in your consciousness.
ਕਬੀਰ ਕਾਲਿ ਕਰੰਤਾ ਅਬਹਿ ਕਰੁ ਅਬ ਕਰਤਾ ਸੁਇ ਤਾਲ ॥
ਪਾਛੈ ਕਛੂ ਨ ਹੋਇਗਾ ਜਉ ਸਿਰ ਪਰਿ ਆਵੈ ਕਾਲੁ ॥ (GGS, Kabir, p.1371)
Kabeer, that which you have to do tomorrow - do it today instead; and that which you have to do now - do it immediately!
Later on, you will not be able to do anything, when death hangs over your head.
Ron 13: The universe exploded into being from the immaterial void. And human reality is also immaterial! Could this evolved emergent development connect us in some profound way to the God that created the universe?
GGS: The creation of universe from the void (Sünn) has been explained in Ron 3. We are connected with the creator God as a Son is connected with his Father. This metaphor of Father and Son has been used in GGS:
ਪਿਤਾ ਹਮਾਰੇ ਪ੍ਰਗਟੇ ਮਾਝ ॥ ਪਿਤਾ ਪੂਤ ਰਲਿ ਕੀਨੀ ਸਾਂਝ ॥
ਕਹੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਜਉ ਪਿਤਾ ਪਤੀਨੇ ॥ ਪਿਤਾ ਪੂਤ ਏਕੈ ਰੰਗਿ ਲੀਨੇ ॥੪॥੯॥੨੨॥ (GGS, M. 5, p. 1141)
My Father has revealed Himself within me. The Father and son have joined together in partnership.
Says Nanak, when my Father is pleased, then the Father and son are joined together in love, and become one.
ਰਾਖਿ ਲੇਹੁ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਜਨੁ ਤੁਮਰਾ ਜਿਉ ਪਿਤਾ ਪੂਤ ਕਿਰਪਾਲਾ ॥੪॥੧॥ (GGS, M. 5, p. 608)
Protect and preserve Your servant Nanak; be kind to him, like a father to his son.
Ron's Concluding Remarks: But I can see that survival is within our grasp if wise talented powerful people can be inspired to make this survival transition happen. In the cause of unity for survival, can a deist God be concordant with your faith? We can do this if we unite. There are so many talented people on Earth, that this immense task, perhaps taking centuries to complete is entirely possible. “I would gladly work with you in the en-devour of ensuring that God’s will be done on Earth as it is in heaven”. I know that we humans have the talent and energy to survive the enormous challenge we now face. The foundation of human wisdom, guiding a culture of long term survival, will be the most important document in human history.
After reading my reply to his queries, Ron Horgan felt confident and elated that Guru Granth Sahib offers hope for survival of Planet Earth.
Acknowledgement: Author is grateful to Ron Horgan, Melbourne, Australia for permission to use his copyrighted paper. I thank Dr DP Singh, Center for Understanding Sikhism, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada for providing some relevant Gurbani quotes in GGS.
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Hardev Singh Virk
Professor of Eminence, SGGS World University, Fatehgarh Sahib (Punjab)
E-mail: [email protected]
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