Sikhism is a universal world faith...a message for all men. This is amply illustrated in the writings of the Gurus. Sikhs must cease to think of their faith as just another good religion and must begin to think of Sikhism being the religion for this New Age.

The above description of Sikhism was made by the Reverend H.L. Bradshaw, a Christian academic from the United States. Many others have made similar observations about the Sikh faith. Understanding what these scholars mean is an important process.

The Degeneration of Religion
There are many races, cultures, and ethnic groups on this earth. Different holy men related their own understanding of God and founded different religions on different lands. With the passage of time, the population increased and people began migrating from one land to another. Each religious community tried to subdue the other, leading to the development of hatred and ill will.

Further, whenever a new religion was founded in a land, people committed to older, preexisting faiths resisted it. This opposition quite often resulted in wars. Thus, religion, which should have taught people to treat all humans as equals, became a highly divisive force. How to address God became a controversial issue. Vulnerable people were forced by those in power to change their Name for addressing God and their method of prayer, all in the name of salvation. Refusal to comply meant harassment, torture, and even murder by the rulers. This phenomenon is still with us today. We see it manifested in religious wars, in terrorism, and more subtly, in evangelism and proselytism.

A Revolutionary Thought
The founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak Dev Ji (1469-1539 CE), was born in the village Talwandi (now Nankana Sahib, Pakistan). His father, Shri Kalu Ram, was the revenue official of the village. Chuharkana, a few miles away from the village, was the main marketing center for the region. It had a resting place for holy men moving around the country on pilgrimage tours. Guru Nanak, whenever he visited Chuharkana, liked to discuss religious philosophies with the holy men there. After he had read various religious scriptures, Guru Nanak felt there could not be multiple Gods, Ram for the Hindus, Allah for the Muslims, and so on as claimed by the people. He declared that there is only ONE God for all humanity, and that we can love Him by any name. Guru Nanak, therefore, preached that a believer of one faith should not be considered a 'pagan' or 'non-believer' by the followers of other faiths, just because he prefers to use a word of his own language for God, or express his love for society in a different way.

This was a revolutionary idea in those days, and it gave food for thought to the holy men of various faiths visiting Chuharkana. They carried this philosophy all over India on their pilgrimages and discussed it with other holy men. Because of his unique faith, Guru Nanak became well known not only in Punjab but also in all regions throughout the Indian subcontinent, including Sri Lanka.

One morning, as was his routine, Guru Nanak visited the nearby rivulet for bathing, but this time he did not return. People began to worry about what had happened to him. They feared he had drowned in the river. However, three days later, people were shocked to find him returning. Everyone, including the local ruler, was jubilant to see him back. They came running to him and asked what he had been doing. Guru Nanak replied that he had brought a holy message for them. The essence of the message he declared was, "Let us not fight one another over what faith is best. What is important in God's eyes is not our label, but our deeds and our love for our brothers and sisters. Hatred or feelings of superiority have no place on the spiritual path." This is considered to be the first formal sermon of Guru Nanak.

After his historical message, Guru Nanak left Sultanpur to preach his newly-founded religion all over India and nearby countries. All through his arduous journeys his close associate, Bhai Mardana, played on the rebeck, a string instrument, while Guru Nanak sang holy hymns. He met the heads of religious sects in India and in the Arabian countries to explain his message of one God and the brotherhood of humanity. Religion was thus once again made a uniting force rather than a dividing force.

Basic Principles of Sikhism
Practice Love, Not Hollow Rituals
Guru Nanak went to a large number of religious places and met Pundits (scholars), Sidhs (miracle-workers), and Yogis (feat-performers, such as fire walkers). He told them all that mindless and hollow rituals done for exhibition or to inflate one's ego had no value with God. These amazing feats were like a counterfeit coin, which looks genuine but is rejected because it does not really contain the precious metal. Similarly, God rejects all rituals practiced by people who have no sincere goodwill for other human beings. There is no benefit to the soul for undergoing self-inflicted torture such as fasting, bathing in ice-cold water, remaining silent for long periods of time, or standing continuously on one leg or in any other awkward posture. In those days, Yogis and Sidhs performed such acts to claim their superiority over common people.

The Guru also rejected the belief that dead ancestors could be helped by giving donations to religious authorities (in India, the so-called 'high caste' people, or Hindu Brahmins). Guru Nanak claimed this was simply a means for these priests to become rich at the expense of the masses. Guru Nanak made it clear that people would be judged solely by their actions, not by ritual donations given by their children or grandchildren after their death. Showing sincere goodwill towards others (not just for exhibition purposes) was the surest way of obtaining peace here and hereafter.

Deeds Alone Are Valued
Guru Nanak visited many Muslim religious places as well, including Mecca, Medina, Baghdad, and other shrines. Kazis (Muslim judges) asked him repeatedly, "Who is superior, a Muslim or a Hindu?" Guru Nanak's reply was, "Without good deeds you will both repent."

Guru Nanak preached that God does not give special treatment to people based on their religious affiliation, such as Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, etc. In his hymns, he observes, "God judges us by our deeds and full justice is delivered to everyone in His court."

Women Are Equal
Guru Nanak strongly condemned the gender discrimination pervasive at that time. Women were openly regarded as inferior and incomplete human beings, and hence were given a very low status in society. They were considered by the major religions as obstacles in the path to God. That is why mystics, who wanted to devote their lives to realizing God, did not marry. Celibates, known as 'Jatis', were considered superior to family men.

Guru Nanak strongly condemned such lines of thought. He asked, "How can women be rated inferior when they give birth to all men, including the kings to whom people bow their heads?" Guru Nanak showed the same respect to men and women and welcomed them equally to participate in Sangat, Pangat, and other functions. The hymns of Guru Nanak stress the presence of God in every human being, man or woman.

Disengagement Is Counterproductive
Guru Nanak promoted a life-affirming faith. He opposed the life-denying philosophy behind convents, monasteries, and other religious institutions which aims to separate people from daily life in the hope of finding God. Instead of renouncing normal interactions, Guru Nanak expected religious individuals to become fully integrated leaders in their communities as agents of positive change.

Guru Nanak undertook a long and treacherous journey to visit holy men who lived high in the Himalayas. These renunciates were surprised to see the Guru there in the snowy mountains. They questioned him about the people down below in the plains. Guru Nanak replied, "The people are wondering who will protect them from evil-doers. All the religious men who obtained donations from them have run away to the snowy hills." Hence, Guru Nanak declared that every God-oriented individual had a duty to actively promote the welfare of his or her community, not renounce it in favor of isolation.

The chapter above is a brief taste of the many lessons taught by Guru Nanak. For preaching his message, Guru Nanak Dev Ji spent about two decades visiting different places in India and adjacent countries. Wherever Guru Nanak went, people greeted him in large numbers and leaders bowed to his new religious thought. To learn more about the interesting and revealing incidents of the life of Guru Nanak, the reader may refer to one of the many books on this subject, or peruse some of the more detailed articles on this Web site.