Authenticity of Kartarpuri Bir - Global Sikh Studies

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Sikhism every other religious practice is preparatory, the only
spiritual index of man’s progress being his deeds in this world:
For it is “by service in this world that one gets bon our in His
Court,” 22 It is in the above context that Sikhism does not
recommend a monastic or an ascetic life. Because altruistic
deeds can be performed only in the social life and never by
withdrawal from it, or by a life given to monastism, ascetism,
or meditation alone. The contract with systems like Vaisnavism,
Nathism, Sufism and Budhism which recommend Sanyasa or
monastism, thus, becomes evident. In Budhism good deeds
can lead to a better birth, but never to Nirvana. 23 In Sikhism
deeds are the sole measure of one’s spiritual development.
7. Acceptance of Householder’s responsibilities
Having rejected monastism and ascetism, the
acceptance of social and householder’s responsibilities becomes
a natural corollary of the fundamental of God is Love. It is
significant to note that Guru Nanak and other Gurus have
sanctified man-woman relationship by profusely using it as the
metaphor for the expression of their devotion to God. That
the Gurus were consciously making a major departure from
the then existing religious tradition is evident from the fact
that all the Gurus, excepting Guru Harkrishan, who died at an
early age, accepted the responsibilities of a married life. “The
spiritual path can be trodden not by mere words and talk but
by actually treating all men alike and as one’s equals. Yoga
does not lie in living in cremation grounds, doing one-pointed
meditation, or roaming all over places, or visiting places of
pilgrimage, but in remaining balanced and God-centred while
conducting the affairs of the world.” 24 “One gets not to God
by despising the world.” 25 “One becomes liberated even while
laughing and playing.” 26 “The God-centred lives truthfully while
a householder .” 27
In the Bhakati systems of Nathism, Vaisnavism and