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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Sikh80" data-source="post: 76649" data-attributes="member: 5290">http://www.sikhnet.com/sikhnet/discussion.nsf/SearchView/1FC6D04EE035B87A87256BCD00097AA3!OpenDocumentOn interpretation of GurbaniRecently one of the participants on this forum started a rather meaningless debate related to the usage of certain Gurbani words in the description of a phenomenon and the stature of Sikh Gurus. The arguments made were of the following variety:'Since the word Rama has been used over a thousand times in SGGS, it must mean the mythological Hindu God Ram. And since the word Vaheguru hardly appears in SGGS its usage must be defunct.'To anyone not familiar with Sikh theology and framework, the above interpretation would look sound. However, anyone with basic understanding of interpreting the Sikh scripture would know the blatant problems with it inasmuch as in the Sikh framework the 'names' of God have little meaning in themselves. All the names used for one Almighty Vaheguru automatically get the adjectives mentioned in the Mool Mantra and at other places in SGGS. Accordingly, the 'names' of God that are Islamic in origin most certainly do not point to an Islamic God, so Allah in the context of SGGS is NOT the same as ALLAH in Quran. To some people on this forum, this comment would appear rather rudimentary, but as we have witnessed in last few days that polemic rubrics such as 'Islmization of Sikh Panth based on Islamic words...' have appeared more than once, completetly ignoring the basic framework of understanding Sikhism. Renowned Sikh scholar and philospher Sirdar Kapur Singh provides an excellent introduction to the concept of understanding Sikh terms and usage based on the fundamental Sikh framework in an essay that I posted a few days ago. I am reposting excerpts from that essay considering the signficance of this issue. He also illustrates the results of NOT following the concept of 'Auto-Intepretaion'-the proper way of understanding the Sikh scripture. Finally, a sincere request to all those who are not aware of this basic concept of Sikhism should please take the time to develop an understanding in these before posting on this forum. ----Excerpts from Sirdar Kapur Singh's essay on Guru Amardas-----There is one dogma and one scientific truth without accepting and understanding both of which, Sikhism cannot be properly appreciated. There are two approaches to understand and appreciate a religion, one valid and legitimate and the other invalid and arbitrary. The valid approach is that of auto-interpretation. That is, interpretation according to the basic postulates and doctrines of that religion itself, and the arbitrary and presumptuous approach is that of hetero-interpretation, that seeks to evaluate and judge a religion according to postulates and norms alien or hostile to it. This latter is the domain of polemics and confrontation and not of understanding and appreciation.Hetero-interpretation is, in the poetic imagery of the Gitanjali by Rabindranath Tagore, as if "a jeweller has come to the garden to test excellence of rose-flower by rubbing it against his touch-stone." In Sikhism, auto-interpretation of a religion alone is approved. The Sikh Scripture lays down that, "a sympathetic approach towards a religion is alone fruitful and satisfying, while an attitude of acrimony and faultfinding is frustrating and self-stultifying"(Humble_Gursevak upajai badi binasai). The Sikh Formularies sternly declare "a fault-finding approach towards other religions as anathema" (avar jagat panthan hain jete, kare ninda nahi kababun tete -Chaupa Singh).The fundamental dogma of Sikhism and its epiphany is that all the historical Manifestations of Sikh Gurus, the Ten Nanaks, constitute one identical Personality in continuous movement through ten corporealities, as God of Sikhism is a God of revelation who, on His own initiative presses towards revealing Himself. This dogma is the starting point of Sikhism and is fundamental to its understanding and practice. A dogma is a body of teachings necessary for salvation, rejection of which constitutes adamantine impediment to spiritual progress. It is in this sense that Guru Gobind Singh, Nanak the Tenth, proclaims that without accepting and understanding this dogma, "a Sikh never achieves spiritual fulfilment" (bin jane sidhi hath na ai). Full article link:<a href="http://www.sikhnet.com/Sikhnet/discussion.nsf/All+by+Date/C1BD364FA0EB802F87256BCB001FDBCD?OpenDocument" target="_blank">Re: Islamizing Sikh Panth by using Islamic terms</a> </blockquote>

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