Sikhism - the way of the guru

Guru Nanak 1469-1538

founder of sikhism, leaves family to pursue “spiritual devotion” - no muslim or hindu but “True Name”

when was sikhism made

in Mughal Empire (period 4)

process of syncretising

hindu bhakti devotionalism with muslim sufi mysticism (path of love to god and then adoptive of divine)

human

a pear in an oyster, pearl = soul. our souls are pure + sinless, nanak: “"all humans are inheritedly good” awaiting the “shell” to open so the “pearl” can emerge.

problem

living apart from god, humans choose to live in a way that distorts their spiritual nature stuck on an unending cycle of rebirth (samsara).

karma

an impersonal law that explain the entrapment of the soul

cause

egoism, the cause of entrapment, lives on earth resolve around earthly desires, egoism involves lust, anger, greed, attachment, pride.

influences of hinduism on the cause

freeing oneself from attachment to the self caused by desire

influence on islam on the cause

avoiding idolatry (worship of earthly things over god)

end

absorption in god, release from samsara as ultimate transformation, soul/image of liberation is absorption into god (blending our light with the eternal)

influence of hinduism on the end

devotion to god

influence of islam on the end

sufism - god saturates all reality

means

praise + compassion

praise to god from means

repetition of god’s name (recitation of the creed like islam). meditation which focuses/stills the mind and prayer like hinduism. reverence + reading of Guru Adi Granth

Guru Adi Granth

Book of the Lord, guidance from it is essential to reigh in one’s ego

compassion from means

everyone has access to god (no castes). Gurdwaras are used to feed poor daily

Gurdwaras

house of worship, temples they go to

dharma

the duty is to praise god and be compassionate to others

reality

“penetrating the wall of falsehood”, god created the material world by drawing the veil of Maya (illusion) around himself. result: world has reality but it is a wall of falsehood for those seeking spiritual liberation. must be penetrated by those who see “true reality” - the personal god

“True Reality”

the personal god

Maya

illusion, The Wall of Falsehood

sacred

“True Name”, monotheistic: prevades all reality. god is: one, supreme, uncreated creator, all knowing, all compassionate, transcendant, immanent, “god abides in everything. see him, therefore in your heart”.