Religious Orthodoxy:
Sikhs of today are lost in labyrinthine maze of rituals, priest craft, religious robes, and submerged in superstitions. They are holding views that could neither be proven historically, scientifically, justified logically, realized and cognized inwardly. Their Wishy-Washy wishful religion is purely of promise and not of proof and performance. They try to compress life and truth in to a system of institutionalization, not knowing that to systematize life and truth is to limit it. Their desire to organize and proselyte rather than to inform, enlighten and subjectively experience that Truth themselves. The innate human alone can attain true power, for it is from with in that such power springs.
Truth of a religion is experienced and realized when copiousness of man consciously enters in to his own being. He sees the things of flesh or pictures in question with the eyes of spirit.
Spiritually fantasizing pictures of Sikh Gurus as painted by artists, according to their own feelings as they would have looked are being considered as idols and worshiped against the Philosophy of Sikh Gurus. Spiritually there is no difference between Gurus and Akal Purkh. Akal Purkh is formless so how come form/appearance of a Guru in a picture has any spiritual value. The following hymns from Sabd Guru are self explanatory;
ਸਮੁੰਦੁ ਵਿਰੋਲਿ ਸਰੀਰੁ ਹਮ ਦੇਖਿਆ ਇਕ ਵਸਤੁ ਅਨੂਪ ਦਿਖਾਈ ॥ਗੁਰ ਗੋਵਿੰਦੁ ਵਿੰਦੁਗ ਗੁਰੂ ਹੈ ਨਾਨਕ ਭੇਦੁ ਨ ਭਾਈ ॥
Samunḏ virol sarīr ham ḏėkẖi¬ā ik vasaṯ anūp ḏikẖā¬ī. Gur govinḏ govinḏ gurū hai Nānak bẖėḏ na bẖā¬ī.
I have churned the ocean of the body, and I have seen the incomparable thing come into view. The Guru is God, and God is the Guru, O Nanak; there is no difference between the two, O Siblings of Destiny. -----Guru Amardas, Raag Asa, AGGS, Page, 442-18
ਮਹਿਮਾ ਕਹੀ ਨ ਜਾਇ ਗੁਰ ਸਮਰਥ ਦੇਵ ॥ਗੁਰ ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਪਰਮੇਸੁਰ ਅਪਰੰਪਰ ਅਲਖ ਅਭੇਵ ॥
Mahimā kahī na jā¬ė gur samrath ḏėv. Gur pārbarahm parmėsur aprampar alakẖ abẖėv.
The Glory of the all-powerful Divine Guru cannot be described. The Guru is the Supreme, Infinite, Unseen, Formless, and Unknowable Transcendent God. -----Guru Arjan, Raag Gujri Ki Vaar, AGGS, Page, 522-14
ਦੂਜਾ ਨਹੀ ਜਾਨੈ ਕੋਇ ॥ਸਤਗੁਰੁ ਨਿਰੰਜਨੁ ਸੋਇ ॥
Ḏūjā nahī jānai ko¬ė. Saṯgur niranjan so¬ė.
Let no one think that God and Guru are separate. The True Guru is the Immaculate God. -----Guru Arjan, Raag Ramkali, AGGS, Page, 895-5
ਇਹ ਪਧਤਿ ਤੇ ਮਤ ਚੂਕਹਿ ਰੇ ਮਨ ਭੇਦੁ ਬਿਭੇਦੁ ਨ ਜਾਨ ਬੀਅਉ ॥ ਪਰਤਛਿ ਰਿਦੈ ਗੁਰ ਅਰਜੁਨ ਕੈ ਹਰਿ ਪੂਰਨ ਬ੍ਰਹਮਿ ਨਿਵਾਸੁ ਲੀਅਉ ॥
Ih paḏẖaṯ ṯė maṯ cẖūkeh rė man bẖėḏ bibẖėd na jān bī¬a¬o. Parṯacẖẖ riḏai gur arjun kai har pūran barahm nivās lī¬a¬o.
O mortal being, do not leave this path; do not think that there is any difference between God and Guru. The Perfect God has manifested It self; and dwells in the heart of Guru Arjan.
ਭਨਿ ਮਥੁਰਾ ਕਛੁ ਭੇਦੁ ਨਹੀ ਗੁਰੁ ਅਰਜੁਨੁ ਪਰਤਖ੍ਯ੍ਯ ਹਰਿ ॥
Bẖan mathurā kacẖẖ bẖėḏ nahī gur arjun parṯakẖ¬y har.
So speaks Mat'huraa: there is no difference between God and Guru; Guru Arjan is the Personification of the God It self. -----Bard Mathura, Swaeyea Mahla 5, AGGS, Page, 1409-5 & 12
ਬੀਸ ਬਿਸੁਏ ਜਾ ਮਨ ਠਹਰਾਨੇ ॥ਗੁਰ ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਏਕੈ ਹੀ ਜਾਨੇ ॥
Bīs bisu¬ė jā man ṯẖehrānė. Gur pārbarahm ėkai hī jānė.
When the mind is totally held in check, one sees the Guru and the Supreme God as one and the same. -----Guru Arjan, Raag Ramkali, AGGS, Page, 877-14
ਨਾਨਕ ਸੋਧੇ ਸਿੰਮ੍ਰਿਤਿ ਬੇਦ ॥ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਗੁਰ ਨਾਹੀ ਭੇਦ ॥
Nānak soḏẖė simriṯ bėḏ. Pārbarahm gur nāhī bẖėḏ.
Nanak has studied the Simritees and the Vedas. There is no difference between the Supreme God and the Guru. -----Guru Arjan, Raag Bhairo, AGGS, Page, 1142-8
ਸਭੁ ਕਿਛੁ ਤੇਰਾ ਤੂ ਕਰਣੈਹਾਰੁ ॥ ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਗੁਰ ਅਗਮ ਅਪਾਰ ॥
Sabẖ kicẖẖ ṯėrā ṯū karṇaihār. Pārbarahm gur agam apār.
Everything is Yours, O Creator. The Guru is the Supreme Infinite, and Inaccessible God. -----Guru Arjan, Raag Bhairo, AGGS, Page, 1149-17
ਗੁਰ ਪਰਮੇਸਰੁ ਇਕੁ ਹੈ ਸਚਾ ਸਾਹੁ ਜਗਤੁ ਬਣਜਾਰਾ ॥
Gur Parmaysar Ik Hai Sacha Saah Jagat BaNjara.
The Guru and God are One; Creator alone is the true Master and the whole world craves for It. -----Bhai Gurdas, Vaar 1, Pauri, 17-7
ਸੰਤਾ ਕਉ ਮਤਿ ਕੋਈ ਨਿੰਦਹੁ ਸੰਤ ਰਾਮੁ ਹੈ ਏਕੋੁ॥ਕਹੁ ਕਬੀਰ ਮੈ ਸੋ ਗੁਰੁ ਪਾਇਆ ਜਾ ਕਾ ਨਾਉ ਬਿਬੇਕੋੁ ॥
Sanṯā ka¬o maṯ ko¬ī ninḏahu sanṯ rām hai ėko, Kaho Kabīr mai so gur pā¬i¬ā jā kā nā¬o bibėko.
Let no one slander the Saints, because the Saints and the God are as one. Says Kabir, I have found that Guru, whose Name is Clear Understanding (Gnosis). -----Kabir, Raag Suhi Lalit, AGGS, Page, 793-11
Religious illiteracy is the cause of problems in the world at present. In general people are deeply religious but profoundly ignorant about religion. One of the great ironies is that people ignorant of other faiths don’t even know much about their own. Majority of the Sikhs can’t even name their ten Gurus and what to talk about do’s and don’ts written in AGGS. Sikhism is about inner cleanliness with development of virtues with contemplation, deliberation, and reflection of Naam in real life by living the instruction given in AGGS rather than wearing religious robes.
Conclusion;
Religious symbols, robes, rituals or external show of piety in any faith physically or in portraits does not confer spirituality as per AGGS. There are hundreds of hymns on form, robes and rejecting these in the AGGS and here are few;
ਅੰਦਰਹੁ ਝੂਠੇ ਪੈਜ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਦੁਨੀਆ ਅੰਦਰਿ ਫੈਲੁ ॥ਅਠਸਠਿ ਤੀਰਥ ਜੇ ਨਾਵਹਿ ਉਤਰੈ ਨਾਹੀ ਮੈਲੁ ॥ਜਿਨ੍ਹ੍ਹ ਪਟੁ ਅੰਦਰਿ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਗੁਦੜੁ ਤੇ ਭਲੇ ਸੰਸਾਰਿ ॥
Andrahu Jhoothay Paij Baahar Dunee-aa Andar Fail, Athsath Tirath Jay Naaveh Utrai Naahee Mail, Jinh Pat Andar Baahar Gudarh Tay Bhalay Sansaar.
Those who are false within, and honorable on the outside, are very common in this world. Even though they may bathe at the sixty-eight sacred shrines of pilgrimage, still, their filth does not depart. Those who have silk on the inside and rags on the outside, are the good ones in this world. -----Guru Nanak, Raag Asa, AGGS, Page, 473-15
ਭੇਖੀ ਹਾਥ ਨ ਲਭਈ ਤੀਰਥਿ ਨਹੀ ਦਾਨੇ ॥
Bhaykhee Haath Na Labh-ee Tirath Nahee Daanay.
Wearing religious robes, Akal Purkh is not obtained, nor is It obtained by giving donations at sacred shrines of pilgrimage. -----Guru Nanak, Raag Maru, AGGS, Page, 1012-13
Finally even the ordinary Sikhs getting enlightened by honestly following the teachings incorporated in Sabd Guru are spiritually exactly like God and Guru Arjan in Raag Asa vouches for;
ਜਿਨ੍ਹ੍ਹਾ ਨ ਵਿਸਰੈ ਨਾਮੁ ਸੇ ਕਿਨੇਹਿਆ ॥ਭੇਦੁ ਨ ਜਾਣਹੁ ਮੂਲਿ ਸਾਂਈ ਜੇਹਿਆ ॥
Jinĥā na visrai nām sė kinėhi¬ā. Bẖėḏ na jāṇhu mūl sāʼn¬ī jėhi¬ā.
What are they like - those who do not forget the Name of the God? Know that there is absolutely no difference; they are exactly like the It. -----Guru Arjan. Raag Asa, AGGS, Page, 397-17
Virinder S.Grewal
Sikhs of today are lost in labyrinthine maze of rituals, priest craft, religious robes, and submerged in superstitions. They are holding views that could neither be proven historically, scientifically, justified logically, realized and cognized inwardly. Their Wishy-Washy wishful religion is purely of promise and not of proof and performance. They try to compress life and truth in to a system of institutionalization, not knowing that to systematize life and truth is to limit it. Their desire to organize and proselyte rather than to inform, enlighten and subjectively experience that Truth themselves. The innate human alone can attain true power, for it is from with in that such power springs.
Truth of a religion is experienced and realized when copiousness of man consciously enters in to his own being. He sees the things of flesh or pictures in question with the eyes of spirit.
Spiritually fantasizing pictures of Sikh Gurus as painted by artists, according to their own feelings as they would have looked are being considered as idols and worshiped against the Philosophy of Sikh Gurus. Spiritually there is no difference between Gurus and Akal Purkh. Akal Purkh is formless so how come form/appearance of a Guru in a picture has any spiritual value. The following hymns from Sabd Guru are self explanatory;
ਸਮੁੰਦੁ ਵਿਰੋਲਿ ਸਰੀਰੁ ਹਮ ਦੇਖਿਆ ਇਕ ਵਸਤੁ ਅਨੂਪ ਦਿਖਾਈ ॥ਗੁਰ ਗੋਵਿੰਦੁ ਵਿੰਦੁਗ ਗੁਰੂ ਹੈ ਨਾਨਕ ਭੇਦੁ ਨ ਭਾਈ ॥
Samunḏ virol sarīr ham ḏėkẖi¬ā ik vasaṯ anūp ḏikẖā¬ī. Gur govinḏ govinḏ gurū hai Nānak bẖėḏ na bẖā¬ī.
I have churned the ocean of the body, and I have seen the incomparable thing come into view. The Guru is God, and God is the Guru, O Nanak; there is no difference between the two, O Siblings of Destiny. -----Guru Amardas, Raag Asa, AGGS, Page, 442-18
ਮਹਿਮਾ ਕਹੀ ਨ ਜਾਇ ਗੁਰ ਸਮਰਥ ਦੇਵ ॥ਗੁਰ ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਪਰਮੇਸੁਰ ਅਪਰੰਪਰ ਅਲਖ ਅਭੇਵ ॥
Mahimā kahī na jā¬ė gur samrath ḏėv. Gur pārbarahm parmėsur aprampar alakẖ abẖėv.
The Glory of the all-powerful Divine Guru cannot be described. The Guru is the Supreme, Infinite, Unseen, Formless, and Unknowable Transcendent God. -----Guru Arjan, Raag Gujri Ki Vaar, AGGS, Page, 522-14
ਦੂਜਾ ਨਹੀ ਜਾਨੈ ਕੋਇ ॥ਸਤਗੁਰੁ ਨਿਰੰਜਨੁ ਸੋਇ ॥
Ḏūjā nahī jānai ko¬ė. Saṯgur niranjan so¬ė.
Let no one think that God and Guru are separate. The True Guru is the Immaculate God. -----Guru Arjan, Raag Ramkali, AGGS, Page, 895-5
ਇਹ ਪਧਤਿ ਤੇ ਮਤ ਚੂਕਹਿ ਰੇ ਮਨ ਭੇਦੁ ਬਿਭੇਦੁ ਨ ਜਾਨ ਬੀਅਉ ॥ ਪਰਤਛਿ ਰਿਦੈ ਗੁਰ ਅਰਜੁਨ ਕੈ ਹਰਿ ਪੂਰਨ ਬ੍ਰਹਮਿ ਨਿਵਾਸੁ ਲੀਅਉ ॥
Ih paḏẖaṯ ṯė maṯ cẖūkeh rė man bẖėḏ bibẖėd na jān bī¬a¬o. Parṯacẖẖ riḏai gur arjun kai har pūran barahm nivās lī¬a¬o.
O mortal being, do not leave this path; do not think that there is any difference between God and Guru. The Perfect God has manifested It self; and dwells in the heart of Guru Arjan.
ਭਨਿ ਮਥੁਰਾ ਕਛੁ ਭੇਦੁ ਨਹੀ ਗੁਰੁ ਅਰਜੁਨੁ ਪਰਤਖ੍ਯ੍ਯ ਹਰਿ ॥
Bẖan mathurā kacẖẖ bẖėḏ nahī gur arjun parṯakẖ¬y har.
So speaks Mat'huraa: there is no difference between God and Guru; Guru Arjan is the Personification of the God It self. -----Bard Mathura, Swaeyea Mahla 5, AGGS, Page, 1409-5 & 12
ਬੀਸ ਬਿਸੁਏ ਜਾ ਮਨ ਠਹਰਾਨੇ ॥ਗੁਰ ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਏਕੈ ਹੀ ਜਾਨੇ ॥
Bīs bisu¬ė jā man ṯẖehrānė. Gur pārbarahm ėkai hī jānė.
When the mind is totally held in check, one sees the Guru and the Supreme God as one and the same. -----Guru Arjan, Raag Ramkali, AGGS, Page, 877-14
ਨਾਨਕ ਸੋਧੇ ਸਿੰਮ੍ਰਿਤਿ ਬੇਦ ॥ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਗੁਰ ਨਾਹੀ ਭੇਦ ॥
Nānak soḏẖė simriṯ bėḏ. Pārbarahm gur nāhī bẖėḏ.
Nanak has studied the Simritees and the Vedas. There is no difference between the Supreme God and the Guru. -----Guru Arjan, Raag Bhairo, AGGS, Page, 1142-8
ਸਭੁ ਕਿਛੁ ਤੇਰਾ ਤੂ ਕਰਣੈਹਾਰੁ ॥ ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਗੁਰ ਅਗਮ ਅਪਾਰ ॥
Sabẖ kicẖẖ ṯėrā ṯū karṇaihār. Pārbarahm gur agam apār.
Everything is Yours, O Creator. The Guru is the Supreme Infinite, and Inaccessible God. -----Guru Arjan, Raag Bhairo, AGGS, Page, 1149-17
ਗੁਰ ਪਰਮੇਸਰੁ ਇਕੁ ਹੈ ਸਚਾ ਸਾਹੁ ਜਗਤੁ ਬਣਜਾਰਾ ॥
Gur Parmaysar Ik Hai Sacha Saah Jagat BaNjara.
The Guru and God are One; Creator alone is the true Master and the whole world craves for It. -----Bhai Gurdas, Vaar 1, Pauri, 17-7
ਸੰਤਾ ਕਉ ਮਤਿ ਕੋਈ ਨਿੰਦਹੁ ਸੰਤ ਰਾਮੁ ਹੈ ਏਕੋੁ॥ਕਹੁ ਕਬੀਰ ਮੈ ਸੋ ਗੁਰੁ ਪਾਇਆ ਜਾ ਕਾ ਨਾਉ ਬਿਬੇਕੋੁ ॥
Sanṯā ka¬o maṯ ko¬ī ninḏahu sanṯ rām hai ėko, Kaho Kabīr mai so gur pā¬i¬ā jā kā nā¬o bibėko.
Let no one slander the Saints, because the Saints and the God are as one. Says Kabir, I have found that Guru, whose Name is Clear Understanding (Gnosis). -----Kabir, Raag Suhi Lalit, AGGS, Page, 793-11
Religious illiteracy is the cause of problems in the world at present. In general people are deeply religious but profoundly ignorant about religion. One of the great ironies is that people ignorant of other faiths don’t even know much about their own. Majority of the Sikhs can’t even name their ten Gurus and what to talk about do’s and don’ts written in AGGS. Sikhism is about inner cleanliness with development of virtues with contemplation, deliberation, and reflection of Naam in real life by living the instruction given in AGGS rather than wearing religious robes.
Conclusion;
Religious symbols, robes, rituals or external show of piety in any faith physically or in portraits does not confer spirituality as per AGGS. There are hundreds of hymns on form, robes and rejecting these in the AGGS and here are few;
ਅੰਦਰਹੁ ਝੂਠੇ ਪੈਜ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਦੁਨੀਆ ਅੰਦਰਿ ਫੈਲੁ ॥ਅਠਸਠਿ ਤੀਰਥ ਜੇ ਨਾਵਹਿ ਉਤਰੈ ਨਾਹੀ ਮੈਲੁ ॥ਜਿਨ੍ਹ੍ਹ ਪਟੁ ਅੰਦਰਿ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਗੁਦੜੁ ਤੇ ਭਲੇ ਸੰਸਾਰਿ ॥
Andrahu Jhoothay Paij Baahar Dunee-aa Andar Fail, Athsath Tirath Jay Naaveh Utrai Naahee Mail, Jinh Pat Andar Baahar Gudarh Tay Bhalay Sansaar.
Those who are false within, and honorable on the outside, are very common in this world. Even though they may bathe at the sixty-eight sacred shrines of pilgrimage, still, their filth does not depart. Those who have silk on the inside and rags on the outside, are the good ones in this world. -----Guru Nanak, Raag Asa, AGGS, Page, 473-15
ਭੇਖੀ ਹਾਥ ਨ ਲਭਈ ਤੀਰਥਿ ਨਹੀ ਦਾਨੇ ॥
Bhaykhee Haath Na Labh-ee Tirath Nahee Daanay.
Wearing religious robes, Akal Purkh is not obtained, nor is It obtained by giving donations at sacred shrines of pilgrimage. -----Guru Nanak, Raag Maru, AGGS, Page, 1012-13
Finally even the ordinary Sikhs getting enlightened by honestly following the teachings incorporated in Sabd Guru are spiritually exactly like God and Guru Arjan in Raag Asa vouches for;
ਜਿਨ੍ਹ੍ਹਾ ਨ ਵਿਸਰੈ ਨਾਮੁ ਸੇ ਕਿਨੇਹਿਆ ॥ਭੇਦੁ ਨ ਜਾਣਹੁ ਮੂਲਿ ਸਾਂਈ ਜੇਹਿਆ ॥
Jinĥā na visrai nām sė kinėhi¬ā. Bẖėḏ na jāṇhu mūl sāʼn¬ī jėhi¬ā.
What are they like - those who do not forget the Name of the God? Know that there is absolutely no difference; they are exactly like the It. -----Guru Arjan. Raag Asa, AGGS, Page, 397-17
Virinder S.Grewal
