Some interesting views. The subject of idol worship and sikhism has raised some questions for me in the past. I knew that such practice was illogical and forbidden but often wondered why the Sri Guru Granth Sahib had its own bed in the gurdwara and the bowing down, not sitting with your back to it etc.
At the time I was young and didn't realise what the Gurbani meant, I suppose I mistakenly and wrongfully understood it as the holy book for Sikhism comparing it as other religions have the Bible, Koran and Torah. I realised how wrong I was once I learned the history of the Granth Sahib and how it teaches us about the One God and to worship the true omnipresent and to spiritually join with him.
I have come to the conclusion that it is pure respect we have for the eternal living guru that we treat it this way.
Idol worship is a blind worship, whereby people feed physical milk and food to stones and statues treating them as the God, believing their prayers will come true if it is given physical offerings, holy baths etc
We worship the one and true God which is without form and omnipresent and the treatment given to the Guru granth sahib is not worshipping but giving it the highest respect possible, that respect being like -how we would treat a fellow being of the highest order but considering the living Guru granth sahib even higher.
This is what I feel as the Guru Granth Sahib is the true word of God (ek onkar) from beginning to infinity.
As for having photos of Gurus and Gurdwaras like most of us have, they are reminders and act as guides that give us impressions like any piece of art would. They are also respected in the sense that we don't throw last years calender with the gurus pictures on into normal garbage. For me, anything in Sikhi from the Granth Sahib to Gurdwaras, Gurujis portraits, Kirtan and shabad books or any object that is a help and reminder in showing the way to the ONE God, I feel obliged and thankful for it's creation so as to highly respect and value such items for guiding me in worshipping the One True God.
Please forgive if anyone is offended.
Bhul chuk maaf
LuckySingh
At the time I was young and didn't realise what the Gurbani meant, I suppose I mistakenly and wrongfully understood it as the holy book for Sikhism comparing it as other religions have the Bible, Koran and Torah. I realised how wrong I was once I learned the history of the Granth Sahib and how it teaches us about the One God and to worship the true omnipresent and to spiritually join with him.
I have come to the conclusion that it is pure respect we have for the eternal living guru that we treat it this way.
Idol worship is a blind worship, whereby people feed physical milk and food to stones and statues treating them as the God, believing their prayers will come true if it is given physical offerings, holy baths etc
We worship the one and true God which is without form and omnipresent and the treatment given to the Guru granth sahib is not worshipping but giving it the highest respect possible, that respect being like -how we would treat a fellow being of the highest order but considering the living Guru granth sahib even higher.
This is what I feel as the Guru Granth Sahib is the true word of God (ek onkar) from beginning to infinity.
As for having photos of Gurus and Gurdwaras like most of us have, they are reminders and act as guides that give us impressions like any piece of art would. They are also respected in the sense that we don't throw last years calender with the gurus pictures on into normal garbage. For me, anything in Sikhi from the Granth Sahib to Gurdwaras, Gurujis portraits, Kirtan and shabad books or any object that is a help and reminder in showing the way to the ONE God, I feel obliged and thankful for it's creation so as to highly respect and value such items for guiding me in worshipping the One True God.
Please forgive if anyone is offended.
Bhul chuk maaf
LuckySingh
