Jan-March 2006 - Institute of Sikh Studies

GURU GRANTH SAHIB – THE PERFECT, PERPETUAL GUIDE...33name and doing good deeds.)– Guru Granth Sahib, p 266Koi bole raam raam koi khudae.......(Some call him Ram, some Khuda; He is the gracious Doer;Some call him Gusain, other Allah.Some go on pilgrimage to Hindu centres, others to Mecca forHaj;Some worship in temples, others offer Namaz;Some read Vedas, others Quran; some wear blue, others white;Some call themselves Muslims, others Hindus. Some wish to goto Swarag, other to Bahisht (Hindu and Muslim Names forHeaven)But, says Nanak, only those who recognise the will of the Lord,are able to know His secrets.– Guru Granth Sahib, p 885Jagat jalanda rakh lei apni kirpa dharJit dware ubhre, teite leio ubhar.(Oh Lord, save this burning world by your Grace, by whicheverdoor – religious path, they approach you, lift them from thequagmire.)– Guru Granth Sahib, p.853Daya kapah santokh soot jat gandi sat vatEh janeo jeeka haai tan pande ghat.(O Pandit, let their be cotton of compassion, yarn of contentment,knots of self-control and interwining of truth, if you have such ajaneo of the soul, bring it to me.)We shall see that whether one belongs to any of the divisions ofthe Hindu religion, or to a Muslim faith or to self-proclaimed Brahminfold, Guru Granth Sahib dwells on values and makes no distinction.In fact, the Guru’s two-fold emphasis is that every religion is wonderfulif recitation of Naam and good deeds form the core. And, the prayerto the Lord is to lift everyone from whichever religion they are.Here is thus a perpetual system of spirituality which neither believesin conversion of faith, nor is interested in making others adhere to thetenets of a particular faith from outside. In other words, it is clear that solong as one believes in truth, love and meditation of God’s Name, anyonecan belong to the religion of Guru Granth Sahib.