SunnySingh

23 hours ago, Michelle said:

I am college student in a cultural anthropology class, and we are doing a paper with interviews on a certain subculture. I've decided to do mine on the Sikh culture/religion. Would anyone out there be willing to be interviewed about Sikhi?

Hi, welcome.

You may place your questions here, and I am sure any of the members may reply you and then you may choose those answers for your paper interviews. 

Good luck.

Bandi Chhor Divas : A Festival of Light | An Animated Sikh Story

5 hours ago, Guransh SIngh said:

without love and naam we can never find nirankaar jee

Thank you bhaa jee, for this wonderful affirmation above, it is the only truth.

For unless we strive to be one only with that ultimate Truth/Nam/Satnam, it would sadly mean we are still confused of what is all about that to be one with IT.

As long one has any other ideas of oneself or others, we are much away from that TRUTH.

When the rays emanate from that one SUN, irrespective of where they fall upon, all carry the warmth, the light, the purity of it, and at end of the day, all the rays return back and merge in the SUN.

Due to the paraphernalia of maya and koor, the jeevas remain confused and delueded within the 4 walls of the mind.

Unless one crosses the limits of the mind, one will not realize that one has to leave behind all those coverings which hold us back here in the mayavee realms.

For God realization, one first needs self realization as jeev atma, in order to know what our true spiritual nature is and then proceed towards that infinite and limitless Truth of Nam.

If He is an infinte ocean of Truth, each of us, are a drop of the Truth, irrespective of jaat, paat, color, creed, dharam, genders or nationalities.

It is just a matter of realization of what that Truth is, and then do the needful only (bhakti) to merge in IT.

Happy Diwali to all the sangat.

"I won't wish you light (jot of Waheguru)cause you already have it within .

I will just hope that you find it and share it abundandtly to dispell the darkness around.

May the light within show us the way, may we celebrate it, not just today, but everyday."

5 hours ago, Guransh SIngh said:

Veerji what is difference between Baikunth and Sachkhand. In puratan janamsakhis the word baikunth is also used and so is sachkhand. Guru Sahib says

Taha Baikunth jaha keertan tera

Bhul Chuk maaf

Sat Kartar

Hi Guransh Bro,

you have asked a very intersesting question, well let me answer according to my understanding.

Many things are mentioned in the Bani, just to put each at its own place, but that does not mean, all are same, many of these things are just to explain and describe us the infinite mayavee creation of His in vast  variety and numbers.

The term Baikunth is probably mentioned in the hindu scriptures, even before our Guru Sahiban came here or the Bhagat Jan mentioned in the Bani.

Baikunth as such is the abode of  Sree Vishnu Jee, from where he comes to the earth in his different avatars, just for the sake of stopping evil and restablishing dharam or righteousness, as seen throughout the history, be it Krishna, Rama, Narsingh, etc..... And if anybody devotes to this entity, at most goes to Baikunth.

There is and interesting story regarding this topic.

Many many years ago, I read in some scriptures that, once Vishnu Jee was resting in Baikunth, and a sadhu or some sadhus ( i do not remember exactly)came to meet Vishnu Jee, but the guard at his entrance stopped him/them from enetering, so out of anger, the guard was cursed in being born as rakshas for several life times.

When Vishnu came to know about this incident, as the guard was in a stste of shock, he pacified him by saying that as you are my devotee, do not worry, I will come each time to rescue you, that is why, each time the rakshas or evil grew on earth with beings like Ravan, Kansa, etc.....Vishnu took the chance to come and  protect his devotees and establish righteousness.

That´s it, nothing more to it.

We have to bear in mind, Vishnu Jee or and of the other 2 members of that trinty, or even the lesser beings such as devatys, or other celestial beings are all there for a specific tasks to fulfill in this creation.

All of these creatures, have tremendous powers to and extent, weapons, abodes, parsadises, genders, sizes, forms, spouses, etc etc etc 

Baikunth and totally  all other realms below Sach Khand , are under the effects of Parlay and Maha Parlay, so naturally very much in the premises of  mother  Maya and Kal.

*When you write : Taha Baikunth jaha keertan tera, this means, while the devotees of Vishnu Jee after hardships of jap and tap at most reach Baikunth, but, anyone by just listening His(Waheguru) mahima through keertan, at least and most effortlessly, receives the fruits of peace and tranquility or other so called enjoyable conditions found  there....

But for us as sikhs, this is not our last stop for which we have to look for, but, by His apaar kirpa, cross and go beyond the triloki and trigunee mayavee creation, to reach that changeless TRUTH of SATNAM in SACH KHAND.

For that, we have to merge in the Shabad Guru, for as the Bani says:

Nanak Nam jahaaz hae, jinee chareeya soee utareeya paar.  O Nanak, the Nam is the vessel to board on for the purpose of crossing the mayavee creation, and reach the abode of eternity, Sach Khand.

And not by any other means, it does not matter how so many other  countless "man matee" tricks and efforts we may tirelessly and regularly perform

Nowhere in the Bani says, that by devoting to any avatrs of Vishnu Jee one is saved forever, it is only by Guru Jee and Nam as per Gurmat, that one can obtain salvation forever.

If one devotes to the resident of Baikunth, one goes there, while if we devote ourselves to the resident of Sach Khand, Nirankar, one shall reach there, by His apaar kirpa.

Our beloved Guru Sahiban, are the very embodiment of Waheguru Akal Purukh.

In this respect the Bani tells us:  

गुर महि आपु रखिआ करतारे ॥
gur mehi aap rakhiaa karathaarae |
The Creator Lord has enshrined Himself within the Guru.

गुर का सबदु मने सो सूरा ॥
gur kaa sabadh manae so sooraa |
He alone is a spiritual hero, who believes and practices the Word of the Guru's Shabad.

राम नाम बिनु मुकति न होई थाके करम कमाई हे ॥९॥
raam naam bin mukath n hoee thaakae karam kamaaee hae |9|
Without the Lord's Name, liberation did not come, although they grew weary of performing rituals. ||9|

करम धरम करि मुकति मंगाही ॥
karam dharam kar mukath mangaahee |
Practicing religious rituals, they sought liberation,

मुकति पदारथु सबदि सलाही ॥
mukath padhaarath sabadh salaahee |
but the treasure of liberation comes only by praising the Shabad.

बिनु गुर सबदै मुकति न होई परपंचु करि भरमाई हे ॥१०॥
bin gur sabadhai mukath n hoee parapanch kar bharamaaee hae |10|
Without the Word of the Guru's Shabad, liberation is not obtained; practicing hypocrisy, they wander around confused

से छूटे सचु कार कमाई ॥
sae shoottae sach kaar kamaaee |
They alone find release, who practice deeds of Truth

अहिनिसि भगति रते वीचारी ठाकुर सिउ बणि आई हे ॥११॥
ahinis bhagath rathae veechaaree thaakur sio ban aaee hae |11|
Day and night, the devotees remain imbued with contemplative meditation; they become just like their Lord and Master.
 

And as the Bani says: Sach Khand vaseh Nirankar, and it is the supreme Abode of Waheguru Akal Purukh, the Highest abode of Eternal TRUTH, SATNAM. 

There is nothing, apart from TRUTH/NAM/SATNAM/SHABAD/AMRIT BANI/ANHAD NAD; all these are different terms, but all refer to that everlasting and changeles Truth of Satnam.

Gurmat, Gurbani, if it differs from anything of all other paths, is that, this path of Gurmat, by His apaar kirpa, is the path for our sole reunification and blending  with that Supreme Truth and nothing else.

In Sach Khand, there are no Guru Sahiban as such seen here, or, Bhagat Jan, Gurmukh Jan, for anyone reaching there, become one with that Ultimate Truth, by merging in it.

Like at the beginning of the day, all the rays emege from the Sun and fall at different places, but at the end of the day, all the rays merge back in the Sun and become One with it, without any distinction.

When a drop of water, falls into the Ocean, becomes the Ocean, it is no more is a drop, no way to trace that individual drop anymore, for it has become the Ocean itself.

The jot of the soul blends in that akhoot and beant  Jot of Waheguru in Sach Khand.

jah tay upjee tah milee sachee pareet samaahu.
From where it originated, there the soul is blended again. It is absorbed in the Love of the True Lord.
 

गुर पूरे विणु मुकति न होई सचु नामु जपि लाहा हे ॥२॥
gur poorae vin mukath n hoee sach naam jap laahaa hae |2|
Without the Perfect Guru, no one is liberated. Chanting the True Name, one profits. ||

ਸਾਧਸੰਗਤਿ ਕੈ ਘਰਿ ਵਸੈ ਏਕੋ ਸਚਾ ਸੋਇ ॥੧॥
Saadhhasangath Kai Ghar Vasai Eaeko Sachaa Soe ||1||
In the Company of the Holy, the One True Lord comes to abide within the home of the self. 

Further on still, the Bani says: 

Gur Sabadhee Har Paaeeai Bin Sabadhai Bharam Bhulaae ||1||
Through the Word of the Guru's Shabad, the Lord is found; without the Shabad, people wander, deceived by doubt. 
Anadhin Naamae Rathiaa Naanak Naam Samaae ||4||25||58||
Attuned to the Name of the Lord night and day, O Nanak, you shall be absorbed into the Name. ||
 

So you see, there is a vast difference, nothing to be compared between Gurmat and any other paths.

Gurmat deals only with Waheguru, Guru Jee, Nam, and Sach Khand, as our origin and destiny.

That´s it.

*Note: sorry jee, if the reply has been extended  bit, but in my view, it was needed with the aid of clarifications in Gurbani.

All incarnations of Vishnu Jee or any other trinities or gods even .... are not the saviours of any souls, they have a particular role to play assigned to them, as for example, the incarnations of Vishnu come for the sole purpose of restablishing righteousnes, or say Dharam, and that´s it.

Whosoever adores or venerates them, will only reach Swarg or Baikunth at most.

For the salvation of the souls, if there is any entity to make it possible, it is as seen in Gurbani, is the GURU.

That is why Guru Jee tells us: mat koee bharam bhoolay sansar, Bin SATGURU koee na utras paar.

The main difference between Gurmat and any other paths, is that, while others depend on their different divinites manifested at different times during any of the 4 Yugas, in Gurmat, we only depend on the aid and guidance Guru Jee, be it in any Yuga.

Some may not agree, but that is only relative, for as sikhs of the Truth, we have to only understand and follow what Guru Jee or the highest Bhagat Jan tell us in Gurbani.

All incarnations or physical manifestations of any divinity come to our level. either to confuse us with their powers, or as Guru Sahiban and Gurmukh Jan come, to remind and reveal us the Truth of the true Aad Guru, Jugad Guru, Sree Guru Dev, which is also known as Satnam, Sachee Bani, Anhad Shabad, Amrit Bani or even more clearly "Shabad Guru", who is the True everlasting and eternal Guru, which Waheguru Akal Purukh has kept within each one of us in equal manner, irrespective of our color, caste creed or nationality.

As said, Guru Sahiban direct our attention to this Shabad Guru, who was with us before we were even born, and will be with us when we leave this world or any other mayavee plane with all the physical forms behind.

Now, how to manifest this Shabad Guru within us?

Third Patshahee Sree Guru Amar Das Maharaj tells us : Nam jiskay man vaseeya, vajeh Shabad ganere.

He says. when we meditate on that Nam/Satnam, it will manifest its divine melodies within us, an by holding on to them we shall cross each spiritual plane to finally reach and merge in the only existing supreme Truth of Satnam.

At other place Guru Jee clearly tells us: Jap man SATNAM, sadaah SATNAM.

The thing is, we keep on looking here and there too much and get impressed by these outer and petty things in comparion to Guru Jee, and we read the Bani like parrots without seeing what it is telling us to do, thus we we are strongly entangled by our "manmat".

Salvation is only possible by understanding and putting into practice what Sachee Bani tells us to practice as per means of devotion. not otherwise.

Anyhow, I will never blame anyone for their shortcoming, for as said in the Bani, only those wadbhagee jeevas, who are pulled by Him, are the fewer ones who will follow the teachings in Gurbani, the rest of the poor jeevaas, what can they do? 

If He the creator, does not pull their strings, for somehow or other He wants Hs creation to keep running, otherwise if it was that simple to return to Him by our will and efforts, the creation will gradually come to an end, that is why so many Avtars come, so many gods, or godesses, different religions exist, and so on layers of confusing braham..... 

But in spite of all this paraphernalia, Waheguru has given us His Gurbani, so that we  can attach our surtee to it, to cleanse ourselves throughly  and be receptive to His apaar kirpa, in order to get attracted to Him and finally merge in Him.

If any glory, that is only of Guru Jee and Waheguru Akal Purukh.

On 9/23/2021 at 6:58 PM, sevak said:

Sant Waryam says - SGGS says goto Sant and Sant says goto SGGS dont be my chela. 
 

Bro,

thanks a very good reply.

Just my 2 cents, in addition to your comments above.

It is sign of a real "sant", who out of true humility, when as you say: the Sant syas go to SGGS, don´t be my chela.

This is because, Guru Jee is the highest authority where spirituality is concerned, in the end it is the relation we establish with Guru Ji which counts, for it is Guru Ji who can ferry across the jeev atma, from the mayavee creation, to the ultimate realm of Absolute Truth: Sach Khand. 

In this respect, the Bani is very clear when it says: Mat koee bharam bhoolay sansaar bin Satgur koee na utras paar.

Which means, not our efforts, nor any devotion to any other spiritual entities, apart from one Waheguru Akal Purukh.

If we place our faith and love at Guru Ji´s Lotus Feet, then Guru Ji will surely ferry us across.

Just as simple as, when we sit in the aeroplane, we have just to sit and not do anything else, in order to fly from Amritsar to London for example.

This sitting in the plane,  is giving our love and faith to Guru Ji alone, who as a geniune pilot of spiritual realms, will take us back Home, such is the law made by the Creator Lord.

That is why also, Gurbani tells us: Shabad Guru surat(surtee/soul) Dhun chela.

Now, if we have Guru Ji, and we go go Him, it means we go as students, as disciples, as sikhs, in order to learn something from their infinite Wisdom.

And they as being an Infinite Ocean of Love and Mercy, give us their Parshaad.

So we may ask, what is their Gurparsad? 

Their parshaad is their teachings in a nutshell, for our spiritual uplitment as souls and our reunification with our origin Satnam.

In reality any of their teachings contain references to that Absolute Truth, Waheguru or Satnam.

But if we have to refer some of them for our simple understanding, it could well be, that, they with their utter love try to remove our strong wrappings of deep ignorance, by engaging us in such a practice, which if followed diligently and preseverance, will surely make us shine as pure soul drops of that Infinte Satnam samundar.

That practice is none other than our seva, our devotion done with our mind or soul subsequently, to that One true Lord God, Waheguru Akal Purukh.

Again, in this respect, Guru Ji tells us the seva to be done which is approved and accepted in His Darbar.

ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਕੀ ਸੇਵਾ ਸਫਲੁ ਹੈ ਜੇ ਕੋ ਕਰੇ ਚਿਤੁ ਲਾਇ ॥

Sathigur Kee Saeva Safal Hai Jae Ko Karae Chith Lae ||

Service to the True Guru is fruitful and rewarding,  with the mind focused on it, for it can reveal that Truth consciousness within us. (not otherwise or by any other means nor short cuts by our own chaturaee)

So, Guru Ji says:

Jan NanaK kau, Guru ehe mat denee, jap man Satnam sadaah Satnam.

It is by only doing the jaap of Waheguru/Satnam, that we manifest or reveal that  Jot of Satnam within us.

The supreme importance of Guru Ji in our existence is for all that Guru Ji stands for, but mainly, because He tries to shake us from our deep ignorance and falsehood, and attach us with the only one reality or eternal changeless Truth since Aad Jugaad, and that is Waheguru Akal Purukh (ONLY).