Truth is high but higher still is truthful living: Difference between revisions
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{{p|File:Guru 01.jpg|Guru Nanak<br>''photo courtesy: naamjapo.org''}} | {{p|File:Guru 01.jpg|Guru Nanak<br>''photo courtesy: naamjapo.org''}} | ||
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|Truth is high but higher still is truthful living.(5)}} | |Truth is high but higher still is truthful living.(5)}} | ||
The quote above is | The quote above is an important saying of the founder of [[Sikhi]], [[Guru Nanak]], the first [[Sikh Guru]]. Most religions revere the Truth. [[Hinduism]] tells us that truth is ever triumphant. “Ye shall know the Truth and Truth shall make you free,” promises the {{w|Bible}}. Guru Nanak, too, reminds us that “Truth is the panacea of all ills,” and that “Truth is high but higher still is truthful living.” God's name, according to [[Sikhi]] is said to be 'Truth'. | ||
The first [[Sikh Guru]] who was born in [[1469]] at [[Nankana sahib]] in present-day [[Pakistan]]. From an early age, he began his mission to change the world for a better place. He preached to all the peoples; to the whole world and is today recognised as an en-lightener of the conciousness of all the peoples of Earth. He travelled many thousands of miles from [[India]] to Mecca, to Turkey, Tibet, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and many other countries and cities of the old world. | |||
{{tocl}} | |||
The lives of many thousands of peoples were changed for the better by the knowledge and spiritual wisdom imparted by this wise servant of God. With dedication, for nearly 7 decades, he promoted the message of peace and brotherhood, of equality and compassion, of justice and fairness, of service and prayer ([[simran]]), of devotion and of many other valuable traits of the purest human endeavour, which had been forgotten by most of the inhabitants of the world. | |||
His birth marked the beginning of a sea-change in the behaviour of mankind; which had never been lifted to a level of awareness and purity of this kind before. The Guru's message spelt the end of discrimination against women; the end of race and caste prejudices which had existed for millions of years; the end of the age of darkness, conflict, ignorance, animal-like instinctive behaviour of tension and a new beginning. Man was portrait as God's 'super species' who had to realise the huge potential that was locked within this unique body and to take on the responsibility befitting this 'master creation of God'. | |||
==Live better spiritually== | |||
The Guru taught the path of love and respect for all of God's creation; highlighted the need to work together as diverse individuals but with the same common primary aims; to live in harmony and understanding; to protect and promote the best that is possible in human values; to thank Almighty and remember Him at all times; to work hard and share the rewards received from God. | |||
Today, when the people of the world are, all | Before departing for his heavenly abode, [[Guru Nanak]] appointed [[Guru Angad]] as his successor. His teachings and those of his successors were preserved in writing, along with selected writings of many great men of other religions, in the Sikh holy book called the [[Guru Granth Sahib]]. The holy Granth provides spiritual guidance for all of mankind. Nowhere does it preach a message of division or exclusivity; all are treated equally; only the ones who perform good deeds and actions are praised while those who engage in negative action and wasteful deeds are warned. | ||
==Only the Good will rise== | |||
Today, when the people of the world are, all too often, engaged in the basest instincts; sleaze, deception, greed and even war, it is a good time to re-affirm the teachings of the great Gurus. The suffering of the world is bound to continue while the powerful leaders in positions of strength; heads of nations, corporations, institutions, etc., continue to move away from lives of honesty, truthfulness, compassion, humility and service. | |||
The [[Guru Granth Sahib]] is the prime repertoire of the ethics taught by the [[Sikh Gurus]]. The Gurus show us the way to achieve a balanced and contended life through their words or [[Gurbani]]. Moral conduct or righteous behaviour is stressed at each and every step. The Gurus were men of vision and the Guru Granth is engrained with ethical and spiritual insights. The Gurus were perceptive and intuitive to the socio-natural habits and weaknesses of man. | The [[Guru Granth Sahib]] is the prime repertoire of the ethics taught by the [[Sikh Gurus]]. The Gurus show us the way to achieve a balanced and contended life through their words or [[Gurbani]]. Moral conduct or righteous behaviour is stressed at each and every step. The Gurus were men of vision and the Guru Granth is engrained with ethical and spiritual insights. The Gurus were perceptive and intuitive to the socio-natural habits and weaknesses of man. | ||
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==Self improvement== | |||
Truth, contentment, wisdom, meditation, kindness and forgiveness are some of the virtues that are held as important in the [[Sikh scriptures]]. The holy Granth says: {{srig|1245|53566|Those who have truth as their fast, contentment as their sacred shrine of pilgrimage, spiritual wisdom and meditation as their cleansing bath, kindness as their deity, and forgiveness as their chanting beads - they are the most excellent people.}} So it is up to the individual to arrange his or her life in such a way so that these virtues become part of their personality. | |||
One thing that [[Sikhism]] teaches is that you don't have to renounce the world in order to be a religious person, you can enjoy life, be a house-holder, fulfil your obligations to family and society while pursuing the spiritual path to self improvement and enlightenment. [[Sikhi]] is a way of life and mode of living for most adherents rather than a commitment to specific rituals and activity for its own sake. | |||
==External links== | |||
* [http://www.emgonline.co.uk/news.php?news=1800 Truth is high: but higher still is truthful living] | |||
{{belief}} | {{belief}} | ||
Revision as of 23:31, 23 April 2009
| ਸਚਹ ਓਰੈ ਸਭ ਕੋ ਉਪਰਿ ਸਚ ਆਚਾਰ ॥੫॥ |
| Sacẖahu orai sabẖ ko upar sacẖ ĝcẖĝr. (5) |
| Truth is high but higher still is truthful living.(5) |
The quote above is an important saying of the founder of Sikhi, Guru Nanak, the first Sikh Guru. Most religions revere the Truth. Hinduism tells us that truth is ever triumphant. “Ye shall know the Truth and Truth shall make you free,” promises the Bible. Guru Nanak, too, reminds us that “Truth is the panacea of all ills,” and that “Truth is high but higher still is truthful living.” God's name, according to Sikhi is said to be 'Truth'.
The first Sikh Guru who was born in 1469 at Nankana sahib in present-day Pakistan. From an early age, he began his mission to change the world for a better place. He preached to all the peoples; to the whole world and is today recognised as an en-lightener of the conciousness of all the peoples of Earth. He travelled many thousands of miles from India to Mecca, to Turkey, Tibet, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and many other countries and cities of the old world.
The lives of many thousands of peoples were changed for the better by the knowledge and spiritual wisdom imparted by this wise servant of God. With dedication, for nearly 7 decades, he promoted the message of peace and brotherhood, of equality and compassion, of justice and fairness, of service and prayer (simran), of devotion and of many other valuable traits of the purest human endeavour, which had been forgotten by most of the inhabitants of the world.
His birth marked the beginning of a sea-change in the behaviour of mankind; which had never been lifted to a level of awareness and purity of this kind before. The Guru's message spelt the end of discrimination against women; the end of race and caste prejudices which had existed for millions of years; the end of the age of darkness, conflict, ignorance, animal-like instinctive behaviour of tension and a new beginning. Man was portrait as God's 'super species' who had to realise the huge potential that was locked within this unique body and to take on the responsibility befitting this 'master creation of God'.
Live better spiritually
The Guru taught the path of love and respect for all of God's creation; highlighted the need to work together as diverse individuals but with the same common primary aims; to live in harmony and understanding; to protect and promote the best that is possible in human values; to thank Almighty and remember Him at all times; to work hard and share the rewards received from God.
Before departing for his heavenly abode, Guru Nanak appointed Guru Angad as his successor. His teachings and those of his successors were preserved in writing, along with selected writings of many great men of other religions, in the Sikh holy book called the Guru Granth Sahib. The holy Granth provides spiritual guidance for all of mankind. Nowhere does it preach a message of division or exclusivity; all are treated equally; only the ones who perform good deeds and actions are praised while those who engage in negative action and wasteful deeds are warned.
Only the Good will rise
Today, when the people of the world are, all too often, engaged in the basest instincts; sleaze, deception, greed and even war, it is a good time to re-affirm the teachings of the great Gurus. The suffering of the world is bound to continue while the powerful leaders in positions of strength; heads of nations, corporations, institutions, etc., continue to move away from lives of honesty, truthfulness, compassion, humility and service.
The Guru Granth Sahib is the prime repertoire of the ethics taught by the Sikh Gurus. The Gurus show us the way to achieve a balanced and contended life through their words or Gurbani. Moral conduct or righteous behaviour is stressed at each and every step. The Gurus were men of vision and the Guru Granth is engrained with ethical and spiritual insights. The Gurus were perceptive and intuitive to the socio-natural habits and weaknesses of man.
Life of virtues
| ਮਨ ਹਾਲੀ ਕਿਰਸਾਣੀ ਕਰਣੀ ਸਰਮ ਪਾਣੀ ਤਨ ਖੇਤ ॥
ਨਾਮ ਬੀਜ ਸੰਤੋਖ ਸਹਾਗਾ ਰਖ ਗਰੀਬੀ ਵੇਸ ॥ ਭਾਉ ਕਰਮ ਕਰਿ ਜੰਮਸੀ ਸੇ ਘਰ ਭਾਗਠ ਦੇਖ ॥੧॥ |
| Man hĝlī kirsĝṇī karṇī saram pĝṇī ṯan kẖeṯ.
Nĝm bīj sanṯokẖ suhĝgĝ rakẖ garībī ves. Bẖĝ▫o karam kar jammsī se gẖar bẖĝgaṯẖ ḝekẖ. (1) |
| Make your mind the farmer, good deeds the farm, modesty the water, and your body the field. Let the Lord's Name be the seed, contentment the plow, and your humble dress the fence. |
Gurbani, (the message of the Gurus) asks us to wear the coat made of virtues - (Guna, sift, sheel - good qualities, merits, excellences) to think in a positive manner and practises deeds and carry out actions which are fair and beneficial to all. "As you plant, so shall you harvest. Without virtue, this human life passes away in vain." (SGGS p 56) Gun, Augun (bad deeds) and Vingun (without good deeds) have also been referred in Gurbani and the importance of avoiding them. Virtues in Sikhism is a quality that is vigorously promoted by Guru Nanak.
Self improvement
Truth, contentment, wisdom, meditation, kindness and forgiveness are some of the virtues that are held as important in the Sikh scriptures. The holy Granth says: "Those who have truth as their fast, contentment as their sacred shrine of pilgrimage, spiritual wisdom and meditation as their cleansing bath, kindness as their deity, and forgiveness as their chanting beads - they are the most excellent people." (SGGS p 1245) So it is up to the individual to arrange his or her life in such a way so that these virtues become part of their personality.
One thing that Sikhism teaches is that you don't have to renounce the world in order to be a religious person, you can enjoy life, be a house-holder, fulfil your obligations to family and society while pursuing the spiritual path to self improvement and enlightenment. Sikhi is a way of life and mode of living for most adherents rather than a commitment to specific rituals and activity for its own sake.
External links
