Shabad of Second Guru

Why praise the created being?
Praise the One who created all

Oh Nanak, there is no other Giver,
expect the One Lord.

Praise the Creator Lord,
who created the creation.

Praise the Great Giver
who gives sustenance to all

Oh Nanak, the treasure of the,
Eternal Lord is flowing.

Praise and honor the One,
who has no end or limitation.

(Source: Sri Granth Sahib Ji, Page 1239)

Gurmat

Gurmat is a great way of life. Whosoever has come near it with dedicated heart, has not escaped adopting it. When Guru Nanak Dev Ji showed the true path to this distressed world, then not only thousand but millions of people adopted this true path. According to Mirza Gulam Ahmed Kadian, Guru Nanak Dev Ji initiated three million crore seekers and brought them in the fold of Sikhism.

Even the great Saints, Sadhus, Pandits, Chaudhris and Kings started adopting Sikhism.

Guru Arjan Dev Ji's martydom

Saain Mian Mir was greatly annoyed on seeing Guru sitting on a hot plate, while hot sand was poured on his head and body. He sought Guru Ji's permission to end this cruel rule but the peace loving Guru commented which is expressed by a poet as:

(Mian, chhodo preeti cham se,
Tan tap raha to kiya hua,
hum shant hain Harinam se.)

Main, let go the attachment of the skin,
If my body is getting hotter, so what,
i am totally at peace with Naam (his presence).

The mighty composer of the Divine Bani displayed its miraculous power practically. The granter of peace, tolerance, patient, humility, and goodwill towards all showed its characteristics through Guru Arjan Dev Ji.

Love for Sikhism.

The principles of the Sikhism being clear, concise and easy to follow attract every human being. Persons of other religions also consider this religion to be supreme and dispenser of purposeful sermons to its followers. Many anecdotes are available in the Sikh history that show that many leaders of other religions adopted Sikhism and became famous followers of Guru's house.

Of the anecdote, one of the famous incident found mentioned relates to Saain Main Mir Ji, who was the jewel of the Qadri sect of the Muslims. He developed such an ardent affinity for Sikhism that he stayed with Guru Ji for ever.

source: Selected Episodes from Sikh History.

Gurmat

Sensible and intelligent people now that a human being is not only leading life with conscious mind but also unconscious mind also plays an important role in moulding his personality. Thus unconscious mind is the treasure house of consciousness.

All the sacraments starting from birth are stored in this unconscious mind. This unconscious mind can be called a power house of human life in which the electric surges of emotions and sentiments work to run this life.

In order to form good sacraments or to control the current thoughts of unconscious mind, the inevitable principle of the tenets of the Gurmat is - refuge of Guru, Sangat of Guru and love for Gurbani.

Many episodes from Sikh history teach us that a great life can be moulded by Sangat causing transformation in life.

from: Selected Episodes from Sikh History.

The Guru: Guru Granth & Guru Panth

Concept of ‘the Guru’ in Sikhism is two fold; spiritual and temporal, also known as ‘Guru Granth & Guru Panth’. This can be defined as follows:

Guru Granth:
Guru Granth Sahib is the only Guru (the guide) for the Sikhs. It is treated as the spiritual embodiment of the ten Gurus. It provides all type of spiritual and temporal guidance to the mankind. Here is brief information about the Holy Guru Granth Sahib, which a Sikh must know:

Compilation:
When: 1604
Where: Ramsar Sahib near Sri Harmandir Sahib, Amritsar
Who compiled: The fifth Nanak, Guru Arjan Dev ji

First Installation as a Holy Book:
When: 1604
Where: Sri Harmandir Sahib, Amritsar
Who installed: Baba Budha ji, in presence of the fifth Guru and other Sikhs.

Final Installation as the spiritual Guru:
When: 1708
Where: Sri Hazur Sahib, Nander, Maharastra
Who bestowed the Guruship: The tenth Nanak, Guru Gobind Singh ji

Other Information:
Total Contributors: 35
Total Compositions: 5885
Musical Measures: 31


Guru Panth:
“The Guru Panth (Panth’s status of Guruhood) means the whole body of committed baptized Sikhs. This body was fostered by all the ten Gurus and the tenth Guru gave it its final shape and invested it with Guruhood.” (Sikh Rehat Maryada)

All Sikhs belong to Guru Panth. It is also called Khalsa Panth. It is a combined family of the Sikhs. Any man or woman of any nationality, race or social standing, who adheres to the principles of the faith, can join the Sikh Common wealth, the Khalsa Panth.

Every Sikh has to fulfill his obligations as a unit of the corporate body, the Panth along with his or her individual duties.

The common rules prescribed in ‘The Sikh Code of Conduct’ (Sikh Rehat Maryada) are the guidelines to be followed by all members of the Panth.

The Khalsa as a whole believes in:
Unity of God: the Creator, Provider and Savior
Unity of Mankind: the Equality
Unity of Religion: the Truthful living
Unity of Guru: the Shabad (true Knowledge)

The Khalsa doesn’t believe in:
The Caste System;
The Rituals;
The Superstitions;
Magic, spells, incantation;
Omens, auspicious days or occasions;
Influence of stars, horoscopic dispositions;
Fasting on some special occasions;
Wearing of frontal marks on the forehead;
Wearing of thread;
Wearing of a necklace of pieces of some stone;
Worship of graves;
Idolatry;
And other such superstitious observances.

Quick Lesson in Sikhi : The Sikh

The definition of a Sikh is, that whoever,

1. Believes upon the One God.
2. Believes upon the ten gurus (from Guru Nanak to Guru Gobind Singh) and lives life according to the writings and teachings of Guru Granth Sahib.
3. Believes in the concept of Sikh Baptism.
4. Don’t believe in any other faith or religion.