Guru Nanak and His Sikhs Today - Part I: Ek Ongkaar

Guru Nanak (29 November 1469 – 22 September 1539) was the founder of Sikhism and the first of the ten Sikh Gurus. Guru Nanak traveled far and wide from Tibet to Srilanka, and from Bengal to Baghdad, teaching people the message of one God who dwells in every one of His creations and constitutes the eternal Truth. He set up a unique spiritual, social, and political platform based on equality, fraternal love, goodness, and virtue.

Guru Nanak

Guru Nanak's words are registered in the form of 974 poetic hymns in the holy text of Sikhism, Sri Guru Granth Sahib. His teachings have broader imprint, but lets look at just ten of his core teachings and then reflect upon how he would judge us if he visit us today. Will he be pleased how we have followed his messages and applied them to our lifestyles, or he will be disappointed by our behaviors and actions?

1. There is Only One God

Guru Nanak coined the concept of Ik Ongkaar (Gurmukhi: ੴ, ਇੱਕ ਓਅੰਕਾਰ; the symbol that represents the one supreme reality and is a central tenet of Sikh religious philosophy. Ik Ongkar has a prominent position at the head of the Mool Mantar and the opening words of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib.

"There is but One God, His name is Truth, He is the Creator, He fears none, he is without animosity to none, He stays the same forever, He is beyond the cycle of births and death, He is self illuminated, He is realized by the blessing of the True Guru. He was True in the beginning, He was True when the ages commenced, He is Tue today, He will be True in future."

By this symbol, Guru Nanak placed God and spirituality on a unified and higher than any one religion, belief system, or religious practice.

He quizzed the Hindu priests, "Let mercy be the cotton, contentment the thread, Continence the knot and truth the twist. O priest! If you have such a thread, Do give it to me. It'll not wear out, nor get soiled, nor burnt, nor lost. Says Nanak, blessed are those who go about wearing such a thread."
(Rag Asa)

In the same spirit, he questions the Mullahs, "Let God's grace be the mosque, and devotion the prayer mat. Let the Quran be the good conduct. Let modesty be compassion, good manners fasting, you should be a Muslim the like of this. Let good deeds be your Kaaba and truth be your mentor. Your Kalma be your creed and prayer, God would then vindicate your honor."
(Majh)

Today, the religion is seen as more of a source of tension in the world with religious strife plaguing harmony across the globe. Tensions between Islam, Christianity, and Judaism have spilled outside the middle east and now threaten peace in countries like UK, France, Russia, China, Indonesia, Kenya, Nigeria, and the US. Rising anti-semitism and attacks on synagogues threaten the minority Jews.

Defacing of Jewish Cemetery

Tension between Buddhists and Islam led to genocide of minority Rohingya community in Myanmar.

Rohingya Refugees escaping genocide in Myanmar

Minorities such as Sikhs, Hindus, Christians are under constant threat of violence in Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

Sikh Businessman killed in Pakistan

In India, the Sikh Genocide in 1984 targeted the followers of Guru Nanak on the streets of Delhi and other Congress ruled states. Riots in Gujarat, Muzaffarnagar reflect severe religious hatred between communities of differing religion.

A Sikh targeted on streets on Delhi in 1984

The claim of rebuilding the temple at the birthplace of Hindu God Rama which was destroyed in the 16th century by Babur, the Islamic ruler of India and a mosque built on the same site, has divided India for over 40 years,

Hindu Activists on Ram Mandir

The Indian army's attack in 1984 on Golden Temple, one of the holiest place for Sikhs, killing thousands of men, women, and children, created a wedge between Hindus and Sikhs that has not healed since then.

Protest on Sikh Genocide in 1984

Did we learn what Guru Nanak was telling us? Or we continue the caveman mentality that my religion is superior to other beliefs as those are evil? Do we, the Sikhs, the inheritors of Guru Nanak's legacy fare any better?

Verdict: Fail (F)

Next: Guru Nanak and His Sikhs Today - Part II: Truthful Living

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