and then there's Nanak

[Guest guest]

After sharing the Wiki on Babur, India's conqueror during Sikhism's

birth, check out the Wiki entry on Nanak himself, the originator of

the first universal* path...

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Nanak_Dev

 

This is amazing, even for the nonreligious. Truly, truly amazing.

For those wanting more, check out the most powerful Sikh, Ranjit, who

was on the verge of taking over India - just as England decided she

wanted South Asia instead: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranjit_Singh.

An interesting dynamic of Ranjit was the attraction Westerners had to

him - as with yogi Sikhs to Yogi Bhajan: some English and French

soldiers joined his leadership structure, moved by the force of his path.

 

Back to Nanak around the year 1500:

 

" Never did he ask his listeners to follow him. He asked the Muslims to

be true Muslims and the Hindus to be true Hindus. "

 

" ... although his followers still remained Hindu, Muslim, or of the

religion to which they were born, they became known as the Guru's

disciples, or Sikhs. "

 

It was in Sultanpur that Guru Nanak Dev formalised the three important

pillars of Sikhism:

 

* Naam Japna: Chanting the Holy Name and thus remembering God at

all times (often meditation).

* Kirat Kar & #333;: Earning an honest living.

* Va & #7751; & #7693; Chakk & #333;: Sharing with others.

 

Other beliefs and contributions

 

Guru Nanak had many beliefs which were not popular at the time but are

now widespread.

 

* Equality of Humans: When throughout the East and West Slavery

and race discrimination was rife, and disrespect amongst the different

classes and castes was at its peak, Nanak preached against

discrimination and prejudices due to race, caste, status, etc. He

said: " See the brotherhood of all mankind as the highest order of

Yogis; conquer your own mind, and conquer the world. " (SGGS page 6);

also " There is one awareness among all created beings. " (Page 24) and

finally " One who recognizes the One Lord among all beings does not

talk of ego. ||4|| " (page 432). He urges all the peoples of the world

to " conquer " their minds to these evil practises. All human beings had

the light of the Lord and were the same – only by subduing one's pride

and ego could one see this light in all.

 

* Equality of Women: In about 1499 when the society offered little

status or respect to the womanhood, Nanak Dev elevated the position of

women by spreading this message: " From woman, man is born; within

woman, man is conceived; to woman he is engaged and married. Woman

becomes his friend; through woman, the future generations come. When

his woman dies, he seeks another woman; to woman he is bound. So why

call her bad? From her, kings are born. From woman, woman is born;

without woman, there would be no one at all. O Nanak, only the True

Lord is without a woman. " (Page 473). In so doing he promoted the

equality of women in the 15th century. Nanak Dev also condemned the

ritual of Sati some 300 years prior to the British doing so.

 

* Universal message for all People It had been a custom at the

time for religious leaders to address only their own congregation, and

for segregation of the different religions – but Nanak Dev broke with

tradition, and spoke to all of humanity. To the Muslim he said: " And

when, O Nanak, he is merciful to all beings, only then shall he be

called a Muslim. ||1|| " (page 141 " ; to the Hindu, he said " O Nanak,

without the True Name, of what use is the frontal mark of the Hindus,

or their sacred thread? ||1|| " (page 467); and to all he preached: " To

take what rightfully belongs to another is like a Muslim eating pork,

or a Hindu eating beef. " (Page 141).

 

Upon being asked which religion, Hinduism or Islam, was the true path

to God, he replied that the true way to attain God was to worship Him

who is eternal and contained in the whole Universe.

 

AA

 

* You need to find the " universal " reference in the Nanak link to

understand its context here