21/08/2021
GURU NANAK TEACHINGS:-
Born in 1469 in the Punjab region of India and Pakistan, Guru Nanak Dev Ji is the first guru and founder of Sikhism – the fifth largest religion in the world. While born into a Hindu family of a high caste, Guru Nanak had a revelatory experience at a young age, denounced his faith and caste, and realized that “there is one God and one human race.”
He traveled extensively to spread his belief that we can find the divinity within each of us through prayer, humility, service, meditation, and virtuous living. He was a poet, a mystic, a philosopher, and a singer who denounced ritualism as well as discrimination against women and those of lower socioeconomic status. Nanak’s followers became known as Sikhs, which means seekers of truth.
His Teachings:-
EQUALITY:-
Guru Nanak preached total equality for people of every race and gender. Guru Nanak instituted three practices to promote equality: Sangat, meaning all can pray together, Pangat, all can eat together, and Langar, distributing free food to rich and poor alike. These customs are still practiced today
WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT:-
Guru Nanak sought to elevate the status of women and insisted that women deserved the same treatment as men. The holy scriptures of Sikhism state that women are entitled to the same rights and privileges as men, and women are allowed to lead congregations, as well as serve as spiritual leaders in the Sikh faith.
LIVING TRUTHFULLY:-
There is a famous saying of Guru Nanak’s: “Truth is high, but higher still is truthful living.” By this he means that living truthfully, showing devotion to truth through one’s behavior and actions, brings one closer to spiritual awakening and to God. Righteousness and morality are central to the practice of Sikhism.
SERVICE:-
Guru Nanak taught that God is within all people and therefore, serving people is serving God. He encouraged his followers to live normal, compassionate lives in tandem with the larger society. Seva, (service to the wider community) and volunteerism towards all people, especially those less privileged or underserved, is a key goal set for all Sikhs.
THE ENVIRONMENT:-
Guru Nanak emphasized the importance of living in harmony with the Earth, teaching that all life is in unity with one another and that the Earth and universe are sacred. He taught that the reality we create around us is a reflection of our inner state, and in order to live in resonance and oneness with the planet, we must ascend to a higher spiritual state through a respect for all of God’s creation.
Teachings of Guru Nanak Dev Ji
Guru Nanak was a True Icon of Faith. Guru Nanak was a perfect human being and he awakened India from a dormant, dreamy condition to the realization of God. For true believers who live by his example, his word of God and his precious gems of wisdom shine a light on the meaning of life.
Guru Nanak was the Greatest Teacher of the World who brought forward True Knowledge and made no compromises in his principles. Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s teachings are a way of life to millions of people all over the world. Among the many philosophical foundations laid by Guru Nanak, his characterization of God is most recognizable. It forms the opening lines of Guru Granth Sahib :-
ੴ ਸਤਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਕਰਤਾ ਪੁਰਖੁ ਨਿਰਭਉ ਨਿਰਵੈਰੁ
ਅਕਾਲ ਮੂਰਤਿ ਅਜੂਨੀ ਸੈਭੰ ਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰ੍ਸਾਦਿ ॥
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
Guru Nanak’s Main Teachings are:-
ਨਾਮ ਜਪੋ Naam Japo: Chanting the Holy Name and thus remembering God at all times (ceaseless devotion to God).
ਵੰਡ ਛਕੋ Vand Chhako: Share and care, especially with those who are in need.
ਕਿਰਤ ਕਰੋ Kirat Karo: Earn an honest living by ensuring that no action leads to cheating or exploitation.
The crux of his teaching was "Equality of Humans" without distinction of caste or creed. Guru Nanak preached against discrimination and prejudices due to race, caste, status, etc. He didn't only preached these concepts he also took practical steps to achieve it. Guru Nanak was a reformer. He attacked the vicious tentacles of corruptions in society. He strongly protested against formalism and ritualism. He carried the message of peace and of love to everybody. He was very liberal in his views. He did not observe the rules of caste. He tried his level best to remove the superstitions of the people. He preached purity, justice, goodness and the love of God. He introduced the singing of God’s praise, along with music, as a means of linking the soul of man with God.
Guru Nanak believed in equality of men and women. He had great reverence for women; and elevated the position of women by spreading this message:
From woman, man is born; within woman, man is conceived; to woman he is engaged and married.
Woman becomes his friend; through woman, the future generations come.
When his woman dies, he seeks another woman; to woman he is bound.
So why call her bad? From her, kings are born.
From woman, woman is born; without woman, there would be no one at all.
O Nanak, only the True Lord is without a woman.
Guru Nanak scorned those who considered women to be evil and inferior to men by asking: Why should we call her inferior, when it is she who gives birth to great persons.
Pl. browse our Page...http://nanaknaamleva.org/gurunanakteachings.aspx
