Does your faith teach that God is personal, and loves us individually?
Does your faith teach that God is personal, and loves us individually?
According to Sikh teachings, all living souls are an extension of the Divine Soul -- Waheguru (Wondrous Lord God). God does love each of us individually. Sikhs do not need priests or clergy to help them connect with God. The Guru Granth Sahib (Sikh scripture) offers us all the message of love from The Lord God. Meditation on the Name of God, the message contained in Sikh scriptures, and one's deeds/actions (for example, realizing that One Lord pervades all beings, honest living, pursuit of equality, etc., are the best way to strengthen one's bond with The Wondrous Lord. The key message is to efface all ego; therefore, congressional worship is essential.
The Supreme Lord is common to all humanity individually and collectively. Gurbani (the Word of God) reminds us again and again that God is our Mother, our Father and all relations, and we all are His children. If we form a partnership with virtues, abandoning vices (ego, anger, greed, lust and infatuation), and walk the Lord's way, one can meet the True Lord to never separate again.
Mind wanders about in all directions in doubts and duality; it is with the Word of God, the Guru, that mind becomes stable. Sincerity of belief and humbleness is all-important to be near God. If a person understands the light of One Lord shines in all people, and there is none other but God, then a person can be near God.
Sikhs' daily prayer includes Sarbat da Bhala, "welfare of all humanity." It's only by interacting with fellow humans that one can find one's own shortcomings and try to improve oneself. Therefore, collective and congregational worship can lead to equality of all and respect for the Guru and Supreme Lord.
Ajit Singh Sahota is a retired biologist from Agriculture Canada and a founding member of the Sikh National Archives of Canada; he was president of the World Sikh Organization of Canada from 2001 to 2005.
Write to Ask the Religion Experts, c/o The Ottawa Citizen, 1101 Baxter Rd., Ottawa, Ont., K2C 3M4. E-mail submissions to experts
Does your faith teach that God is personal, and loves us individually?
According to Sikh teachings, all living souls are an extension of the Divine Soul -- Waheguru (Wondrous Lord God). God does love each of us individually. Sikhs do not need priests or clergy to help them connect with God. The Guru Granth Sahib (Sikh scripture) offers us all the message of love from The Lord God. Meditation on the Name of God, the message contained in Sikh scriptures, and one's deeds/actions (for example, realizing that One Lord pervades all beings, honest living, pursuit of equality, etc., are the best way to strengthen one's bond with The Wondrous Lord. The key message is to efface all ego; therefore, congressional worship is essential.
The Supreme Lord is common to all humanity individually and collectively. Gurbani (the Word of God) reminds us again and again that God is our Mother, our Father and all relations, and we all are His children. If we form a partnership with virtues, abandoning vices (ego, anger, greed, lust and infatuation), and walk the Lord's way, one can meet the True Lord to never separate again.
Mind wanders about in all directions in doubts and duality; it is with the Word of God, the Guru, that mind becomes stable. Sincerity of belief and humbleness is all-important to be near God. If a person understands the light of One Lord shines in all people, and there is none other but God, then a person can be near God.
Sikhs' daily prayer includes Sarbat da Bhala, "welfare of all humanity." It's only by interacting with fellow humans that one can find one's own shortcomings and try to improve oneself. Therefore, collective and congregational worship can lead to equality of all and respect for the Guru and Supreme Lord.
Ajit Singh Sahota is a retired biologist from Agriculture Canada and a founding member of the Sikh National Archives of Canada; he was president of the World Sikh Organization of Canada from 2001 to 2005.
Write to Ask the Religion Experts, c/o The Ottawa Citizen, 1101 Baxter Rd., Ottawa, Ont., K2C 3M4. E-mail submissions to experts
