Found this interesting topic on internet... worth contemplating...
With all the arguments and attack within sikhs, I ask this question from learned members. I will share why we often behave as if there are three aspects of our founding guru. Then kindly read and understand, before you put your views.
Learned members, please share your ideas without getting personal and hijacking the real topic. Let us have nothing but respect for differing views and learn from each other. We all mean well.
IMHO, three aspects are not to divide but to understand better each other's perspective, and to love and respect each other.
FIRST Guru Nanak was the Nanak of history. The Nanak born in the house of Mehta Kalu around 1469. Described in his Janam Sakhis such as feeding the hungry sadhus and so on. That aspect is quite familiar to all of us who listen katha and stories by the kirtanias and katha experts.
SECOND is the Guru Nanak around whom all the rituals and organization is instituted around the name of Nanak. That's where we see Sikhs casting aspersions on those who disagree with them; accusing them of being part of a vast conspiracy (missionaries or even worse, intellectuals) to destroy Sikhi.
That's where we see Sikhs assaulting or even killing other Sikhs just because
their "religious sensibilities" have been hurt.
That's where we see Sikhs reading 20 simultanious Akhand Paats when there is
no one listening. This is just one of many meaningless rituals that
Sikhs engage in, from taking dips (thinking they are doing Ishnaan)
to the highly structured rituals of Gurdwara.
That's where we define sikhism by three word definition "ritualistic religious
road".
THIRD is the Nanak with God Consciousness who gave us the gurbani message of "Ik Onkar." IMHO, it takes one to get into that level of consciousness to understand the real Guru Nanak and his "Universal Message." Unless we follow that road, we will not be liberated and assault on the fellow sikhs will continue.
Unobstructed is the path of one who believes in the Name (Sat)
He departs this earth with honor and renown.
He never walks in the worldly ways
Nor does he travel by ritualistic religious roads.
The believer in God's Name is sincere to his dharma.
Of such Greatness is the Naam (Satonly if one were to believe with
all one's and soul, one would realize it.
Guru Nanak page 3