- Dec 21, 2010
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GadarJeet ji Sat Sri Akal. You raise some interesting thoughts in your post. Whereas I may not agree with some of the words used like "blasphemous", etc., I think the essence of your message is worthy.The human guru is a Hindu idea. The Granth wanted to strip that idea away of a human guide and make man focus on the one within. People will never understand the truth of Sikh history and what really happened if they keep putting the pretext of "guru" in front of Nanak's name. Calling Nanak a "guru" is blasphemous when his writings discard the human guru and point to the one within the home of the self!
Indeed, the concept of idol worship whether it is in the form of Guru Nanak Dev ji or others is contrary to SGGS's teachings, culturally there is a fine line between idol worship and respectful expression. Respecting our Guruji's and others in SGGS is not contrary to essence of SGGS. Idol worshiping the same for sure is not consistent with SGGS.
We also need to note that SGGS essence predates the birth of Guru Nanak Dev ji. For example taking an excerpt from Wiki in terms of Baba Farid ji, one notes the following;
Bābā Farīd was born in 1188 (573 AH) in Kothewal, 10 km from Multan in the Punjab region, to Jamāl-ud-dīn Suleimān and Maryam Bībī (Qarsum Bībī), daughter of Wajīh-ud-dīn Khojendī.[5] [7] He received his early education at Multan, which had become a centre for Muslim ...
I much rather recognize our Guru jis as teacher and not idols. How I show this relationship of respect is an individual decision and a spiritual one. We cannot fully comprehend each others hearts and minds and their relationships with SGGS so I would not judge others in this regard either positively or negatively. However, any dictatorial or other imposing declarations in this regard can certainly be challenged as you have in your post.Regards and Sat Sri Akal.