SIKHISM: A UNIQUE RELIGION

GURU NANAK & THE SIKH RELIGION – An Anthology of Critical Essays –, 2023

“This book is intended to serve as seekers guide to Sikhism, the 5th largest religion of the world with its adherents, the Sikhs spread over all the continents. It will introduce participants to the history of its origin in India, its belief system, the sacred scripture, its philosophy, and the practices of the Sikhs. The main emphasis will be on the teachings of its founder, Guru Nanak, and the succeeding nine Gurus to the house of Nanak. The role of Sikh scripture, the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, as the living Guru of the Sikhs and its use as a liturgical text will be explained. An attempt will be made to establish the unique identity of Sikh religion among the comity of world religions.

Sikh Formations, 2012

A review of Nikky-Guninder Kaur Singh's Sikhism: An Introduction.

1993

iuscanada.com

The Sikh religion, which was created over five centuries ago and was a progressive religion well ahead of its time, it now has a global following of over twenty million people and is the world's fifth largest religion. Sikhism preaches a message of constant devotion and remembrance of God, true life, and human equality, while condemning superstitions and blind rituals. The teachings of Sikhism's ten Gurus are inscribed in the Sikh Holy Book and Living Guru, Sri Guru Granth Sahib, and are open to all. But Sikhism is much more than just the teachings of the gurus or the mass following or social servitude, it's a long saga of valor, heroism and unwavering devotion, there are multiple shades of the same ism that have been left ununderstood and its high time for us to understand the truth behind this valorous clan who even today stand bold against all odds.

This article is based on excerpts from the Spirit of the Sikh written by Professor Puran Singh in 1920's and published by Punjabi University Patiala in two volumes during 1982. Puran Singh was a great scientist, mystic poet, and a visionary and interpreter of the Sikh cultural consciousness. This article reflects the personal views of the great Sikh scholar which seem to be relevant for understanding Sikhism and the geopolitical aspirations of the Sikhs.

Below are a series of objections from a member of the Sikh religion. They have been adapted from the original messages we received, but the main gist of the objections were kept so that the readers may understand what the Islamic responses to such objections would be. We have separated the objections in "sessions" based on the number of messages we received in this respect.

Sikh Doctrine, 2021

Who is rightful to unveil the unknown and obscure mysteries of Revelations of any Scripture of the world-religions united with conduct of Gurus/Prophets or some others? At very initial stage of this review of "Good-Governance" I give here a citation from the world famous book "The Bezels of Wisdom" (Fusus al-hikam) by Ibn al-'Arabi to make visible the secret about this mystery who is rightful and who is not to make justice with the Revelations of any scripture of a religion in oral or written efforts : It is known that when the Scriptures speak of the Reality they speak in a way that yields to the generality of men the immediately apparent meaning. The elite, on the other hand, understand all the meanings inherent in that utterance, in whatever terms it is expressed.(The Wisdom Of Exaltation In The Word Of Noah). But the paper to be written on "A Perspective from the Sikh Doctrines" and also in "Good-Governance" is in my share as a very humble Sikh of Guru Sahib. Therefore I will try to fulfill the conditions of the demand from academia.edu with the shelter of our Sikh geniuses close together with others at suitable sequences. Sikh Scripture is entitled in thirty one Ragas/ Melodies, but other whole Scriptures are entitled in chapters written in different languages, which are the tongues of small or vast tribes etc. But melody is the common tongue of whole universe and its length and breadth is spread from "mysterious subterranean and sub aquatic" to "the signs of the horizons". Our great and enlightened genius Puran Singh had raised a serious question upon any even elite sages how to possess and elaborate the mysteries of this Scripture? In his own written words in his book "The Spirit Born People" on an article on hymn of "Sukhmani" (the treasure of gemlike heavenly tranquility) of Guru Arjan Sahib : "It is music and it requires music in us to dare approach it." But what type of music is required here? Is it similar to Indian sacred vocal and instrumental music or some other. When Khalsa was illuminated in its visible shape from its invisible journey from Guru Nanak Sahib up to the stage of tenth Guru Gobind Singh Ji, with his sword under heavenly command of Hukam/Will at that auspicious moment of history, the terrestrial "self" of Panj Pearayas was assimilated in "Divine Self" of heavenly brightness. Similarly the Ragas/ Melodies of Gurbani are also emancipated from previous tendencies of inclinations of terrestrial senses. But still "to dare approach" to elaborate the mysteries of Gurbani even this above "magdalene" music is still not sufficient to make justice to unveil its mysteries of Gurbanimelodies. Then what type of melody of sublimation is required here? We again give the citation of Prof. Puran Singh from his written article in brief of "Guru Nanak's Rabab" holding very subtle and vast untouched mysteries behind it till now : The revival of Sikhism in the modern times will be the restoration of the music of Guru Nanak's rebec to the audience of the whole world. The instrumental and vocal music which all the world appreciates and which those who do not appreciate are, according to the poet Shakespeare, only fit for treason and stratagem, is only a means to the end. It is better than noise, but it's harmony is limited in seven tunes only. The Sikh life will have to carry with it is a very high perfection in the art of music, both instrumental and vocal, but, unlike others, it will also have to rise above its perfections in the arts fed by human limitations. There is a music higher and sweeter and ampler and nobler by far than the art music, Guru Nanak's Music of the Soul. A glimpse of the sweet harmony of that music may be caught in the non-musical ness entering which the musician, the master off all tunes, goes out of tune, knowing not whither goes his tune and whither goes he himself. The same glimpse can be caught in the madness of Chaitanya and Miran Bai.