Guru Nanak's caring communities
Guru Nanak taught us the importance of caring communities and promoted their birth; the concept of fellowship; of closeness; of caring for others are paramount to Sikhi and necessary for a rewarding spiritual life. The Guru helped to established many communities where the principles of fellowship, of community care, of kindness, of sharing and respect for all were strongly emphasised.
The code of behaviour and self-discipline of the individual was the first step; then came the duties to live and play an important and useful role in the family unit; and subsequently one was to play a coherent and systematic part in their local community and society at large. The person's role in each situation has been outlined in Gurbani; the pages of Guru Granth Sahib provide guidance to help us all live a spiritually healthy life, with contentment and satisfaction; the message of how to derive maximum benefits from this human life can be found in pages of the holy Granth.
The message of kindness and love
- Main article: Guru Granth Sahib on kindness
A non-caring environment is not compatible with the philosophy of Guru Nanak. The elimination of negativity from ones heart is highlighted frequently by the Sikh Gurus. The need to protect the weak; to help the young; to support women is central to the wishes of the Sikh Gurus; they denounce anyone who brings hatred and hardship to any innocent member of the community. The Guru ask us to be kind - "ਸਤ ਸੰਤੋਖ ਦਇਆ ਕਮਾਵੈ ਝਹ ਕਰਣੀ ਸਾਰ ॥ Practice truth, contentment and kindness; this is the most excellent way of life" (SGGS p 51). By living with kindness in your heart you fulfil one of your important duties to yourself, to your family and to your community.
Guru Nanak stressed the importance of personal codes of living; self-discipline was very important for everyone and was given highlighted frequently by the Guru. Individuals were not to follow the urges of their own senses and their personal traits but thing more about their community and help to safeguard its health. The Guru laid down code for these God-abiding individuals to follow. These individuals were referred to by the Guru as Gurmukhs - ones who follow the code laid down by the Guru. One of the important messages to these Gurmukhs is: "ਗਰਮਖੀਆ ਸੋਹਾਗਣੀ ਤਿਨ ਦਇਆ ਪਈ ਮਨਿ ਆਇ ॥ The Gurmukhs are the happy soul-brides; their minds are filled with kindness." (SGGS p 15) The Guru abiding souls are to give importance to others and keep kindness in their hearts.
Caring for the weak and disadvantaged
The caring of the weak and disadvantaged; the looking after of children and the young in the community; the protecting and guardianship of the weak and sick who are unable to take care of themselves; the support for the elderly who through infirmity, confinement or illness cannot do so themselves; the support and assistance for women who do not have a voice in the community are some of the vast spectrum of members in the community who need to be support as per Gurmat values. This is a duty of each member of the community; not to be left to others or to the "community" itself. The Guru warns us: "ਖਬਰਿ ਨ ਕਰਹਿ ਦੀਨ ਕੇ ਬਉਰੇ ਤਾ ਤੇ ਜਨਮ ਅਲੇਖੈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ You do not care for others, you are a religious fanatic, and your life is of no account at all. (1)(Pause)" (SGGS p 483)
The need to be supportive to other and to share resources is an important concept of Guru Nanak's humanity; the principle of Langar or free food for all and of Seva or free service to others are parts of this concept of sharing. The way of life introduced by Guru Nanak was revolutionary and difficult for the Mughal rulers to accept. While they were dictator practising the evils of gross discrimination and annihilation of others, these fanatics totally failed to share the wisdom of Guru Nanak.
However, the Guru reminds us that where there is a caring community, there will be the blessings of the Lord thus: "ਜਿਥੈ ਨੀਚ ਸਮਾਲੀਅਨਿ ਤਿਥੈ ਨਦਰਿ ਤੇਰੀ ਬਖਸੀਸ ॥੪॥੩॥ In that place where the lowly are cared for - there, the Blessings of Your Grace rain down (4)(3)" (SGGS p 15). So the establishment of a caring community is the beginning of a community which will thrive as the Blessing of God will fall upon such a caring society.
Increase in criminality and brutality
The practise in the West of strict Criminal laws and streamlined Corporal punishments has failed to bring solace of society; more and more laws are passed everyday and newer and better ways of punishment are introduced daily. However, the tide of criminality continues to grow; new prisons are built every month and more criminals are confirmed in these jails each month. The mountain of criminals has continued to expand on a yearly basis with no prospect of slowing down; new records are set every year of crimes by younger and younger criminal and harsher and harsher crimes.
The limit of criminality has reached a new high as time progresses; one commonly hears about children as young as 10 years old killing others younger than them; of young students murdering tens of their fellow students by gunning them down; of parents torturing and killing their young children; of mothers killing their babies; planes being used to kill people on a massive scale; there is something new every year!
Message of the Gurus
The Guru tells us how this spiral of criminality and brutality can be controlled; by instilling the codes of self-discipline in all our citizens so that they themselves know clearly the difference between right and wrong. In this way they will only step on the right path and will not follow the route to destruction.
In the following section the shabads from the Guru Granth Sahib tell how the way that a person should behave and live. In this first shabad which is from the Sukhmani Sahib bani, the Guru say that the God aware person should delight in doing good to others - the word used here is parupkar which means 'to do good to a stranger'; 'to be generous to a foreign entity'; 'to be nice to someone who you do not know'
| SGGS Page 273 Full Shabad |
| ਬਰਹਮ ਗਿਆਨੀ ਪਰਉਪਕਾਰ ਉਮਾਹਾ ॥
Barahm gi▫ĝnī par▫upkĝr omĝhĝ. ਬਰਹਮ ਗਿਆਨੀ ਕੈ ਹੋਇ ਸ ਭਲਾ ॥ |
| SGGS Page 356 Full Shabad |
| ਵਿਦਿਆ ਵੀਚਾਰੀ ਤਾਂ ਪਰਉਪਕਾਰੀ ॥ viḝi▫ĝ vīcẖĝrī ṯĝʼn par▫upkĝrī. |
Material benefits to the community
In a recent project carried in about 2005-2006 where the community had adopted plans for a more "caring community" the member when surveyed reported the following benefits:
- 1. A safer and more secure community environment.
- 2. A stronger, more prosperous and thriving local economy.
- 3. A better health and state of well-being.
- 4. An environment that is appreciated, protected and sustained for future generations
- 5. Members felt more supported, better cared and a valued community member.
- 6. A stronger local leadership and a sense of belonging.
- 7. More safer and accessible recreational facilities; a safe and better integrated transport system.
- 8. A community that values and promotes its culture, religions and heritage
See also
| Gurus: | Nanak Dev | Guru Angad | Amar Das | Ram Das | Guru Arjan | Har Gobind | Har Rai | Har Krishan | Tegh Bahadur | Gobind Singh | Guru Granth Sahib | Sikh Bhagats |
| Philosophy: | Sikh Beliefs | Simran | Sewa | Beliefs and Principles | Underlying Values | Prohibitions | Technique and Methods | Other observations | Technique and Methods |
| Practices: | Ardas | Amrit Sanskar | Chardi Kala | Dasvandh | Five Ks | Kirat Karni | Kirtan | Langar | Naam Japna | Simran | Three Pillars | Vand Chakna | Five Evils | Five Virtues |
| Scripture: | Guru Granth Sahib | Sikh Scripture | Dasam Granth | Ek Onkar | Waheguru | Bani | Mool Mantar | Japji Sahib | Jaap Sahib | Chaupai | Anand Sahib | Tav-Prasad Savaiye | Rehras | Sukhmani |
| More: | History | Gurdwaras | Harmandir Sahib | Khalsa | Khanda | Names | Places | News | Satguru | Sikhs | Bhagat Farid | Bhagat Kabir | Websites | Biographical | Terms |
