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Sickhism 360

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The Sikh faith was established by ten Spiritual Masters called Gurus over a period of some 240 years from 1469 to 1708. The ten Spiritual Masters are:
First: Guru Nanak Dev Ji
Second: Guru Angad Dev Ji
Third: Guru Amar Das Ji
Fourth: Guru Ram Das Ji
Fifth: Guru Arjan Dev Ji
Sixth: Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji
Seventh: Guru Har Rai Ji
Eighth: Guru Harkrishan Sahib Ji
Ninth: Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji
Tenth: Guru Gobind Singh Ji
The eleventh Guru is the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji - the Sikh Holy Scriptures. In 1708 Guru Gobind Singh Ji the tenth Guru affirmed the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji as His successor and commanded all Sikhs to accept the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji as their perpetual Guru.

Thus began the reign of the Shabad Guru as the spiritual light and guide to the Sikhs. A Guru is a spiritual teacher. The word Guru is made up of two syllables: Gu meaning darkness and Ru meaning dispel1. Together the two syllables make the word Guru meaning one who dispels darkness. For a Sikh a Guru is a spiritual teacher who guides a Sikh on the path of salvation through darkness of no spiritual understanding to spiritual enlightenment.

Guru Nanak Dev Ji the first Guru of the Sikhs preached the core principles of the Sikh faith from a very young age. He travelled on four journeys to share the message of God. One journey was as far south as Sri Lanka and another far west to the Middle East.

Guru Nanak Dev Ji taught three fundamental principles:
1. Naam Japna: Guru Ji led the Sikhs directly to practice Simran - Naam Japna meaning chanting the Name of God or meditation. Repeating the name of God (naam) helps purify the mind and over time gets closer to God.
2. Kirat Karni: Guru Nanak Dev Ji expected the Sikhs to live as honorable householders and practice Kirat Karni. Kirat Karni means to honestly earn by ones physical and mental efforts.
3. Vand Chakna: The Sikhs were asked to share their wealth within the community by practicing Vand Chakna which means to 'Share and Consume together'. Every Sikh should contribute in whatever way possible to the common community pool for the wellbeing of those less fortunate. This spirit of sharing and giving refers to wealth as well as physical service.

The writings in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib starts with Ek Oang Kaar: Ek a number meaning one and Oang Kaar meaning God, highlighting that there is One God. The One God who created us all and that He resides and pervades in His creation. In the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji God is referred to by various names some of which are Waheguru; Ram; Har; Rahim; Satnam; Mukand; Allah; Prabhu; Madhav; Karim; Laal; Bithal; and Meetha.

The Sikh faith preaches: devotion to and remembrance of God the creator at all times; truthful living; equality of mankind emphasizing the equality of women; social justice; and denounces the caste system, superstitions and blind rituals. The practice of the Sikh faith through the teachings of the ten Gurus enshrined in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji - the Sikh Holy Scriptures - is open to all.

Guru Nanak Dev Ji passed on his Guruship (enlightened leadership) to nine successive Gurus. The tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh completed the transformation of the Sikhs as Saint Soldiers combining the martial and spiritual concepts together in balance and solidifying the identity and appearance of the Sikhs as it is today.

The tenth guru, Guru Gobind Singh in 1708 afrmed the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji - Sikh Holy Scriptures - as His successor and commanded all Sikhs accept Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji as their perpetual Guru. Guru Gobind Singh Ji declared that the scriptures were the living embodiment of the ten Gurus and all Sikhs will bow, receive guidance and pledge allegiance to the teaching of the now perpetual Guru of the Sikhs, the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.

For the Sikhs the contents of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji are the visual body of the Guru or Master, therefore it wouldn't be right to refer to the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji as a book. Accordingly the pages are referred to as ang.

The Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji was originally compiled by the fifth guru, Guru Arjan Dev Ji with the verses of the first five Gurus and selected verses from the writings of other holy men from other faiths, where the teachings reflected the belief in the one God and the equality of all. Guru Gobind Singh Ji completed the teachings by including the verses from the ninth guru, Guru Teg Bahadur Ji and one verse of Guru Gobind Singh Ji. After completion Guru Gobind Singh Ji passed the Guruship to the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, in the form we have today. It is important to note that the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji was compiled and written by the Masters Guru Arjan Dev Ji and Guru Gobind Singh Ji themselves.

The sacred verses of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji are called Gurbani or Shabad. It contains the actual words and verses as uttered by the Sikh Masters. The Masters preached what came directly from the One God. Guru Nanak Dev Ji in His shabaads below says:

'jaisee mai aavai khasam kee baanee thaisarraa karee giaan vae laalo'
As the Word of the Forgiving Lord comes to me, so do I express it, O Lalo
Ang 722 of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji (SGGSJi)


'ho aapahu bol n jaanadhaa mai kehiaa sabh hukamaao jeeo'
By myself, I do not even know how to speak; I speak all that the Lord commands
Ang 763 of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji (SGGSJi)


Guru Arjan Dev Ji's shabaad says:

'dhhur kee baanee aaee thin sagalee chi(n)th mittaaee'
The Bani of His Word emanated from the Primal Lord It eradicates all anxiety
Ang 628 of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji (SGGSJi)


Thus the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji contains spiritual knowledge and teachings that came straight from God. It stresses on Naam - meditation on the Name of God - and that salvation can be obtained by means of regular, persistent and disciplined meditation. Most of the shabads are addressed to God and often describe the devotee's condition i.e. ones aspirations and yearning, ones agony in separation from God and ones longing to be with God again.
The subject of Guru Granth Sahib is truth: how to become a 'person of truth', that is, an ideal person. As Guru Nanak Dev Ji states; God is the Ultimate Truth and one has to cultivate those qualities which are associated with Him. Through its teachings, the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji can enable men and women to lead a purposeful and rewarding life while being members of a society. It seeks universal peace and the good of all mankind. Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji also stresses the democratic way of life and equality of all people. The emphasis is on moral actions, noble living and working for the welfare of all people. The Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji can be referred to as 'the universal scriptures'

The Gurus considered divine worship through music as the best means of attaining a state of bliss. Therefore, each of the shabads in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is noted with the melody and raag (rhythm) to which it is to be sung or read. The basic concept behind the shabads is that kirtan (sacred music), when sung or listened to with devotion and undivided attention, can link the individual's consciousness with God. A mind may become stable and enjoy the peace of His divine presence, as listening to the shabads can exert a powerful in?uence on the mind and help to establish its communion with God.

The Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji also incorporates and sanctifies the writings of holy men of different faith. Therefore, the language of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is a mixture of many different languages, yet it is written exclusively in the Gurmukhi script. Guru Arjan Dev Ji did not believe that there is one particular sacred language in the sense that man can pray to God only in that language.

As the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is the spoken word of the Gurus and the teachings have comedirectly from the True God, this creates a very high degree of sanctity. Therefore a strict protocol is required with the scriptures and how they are to be housed and handled. This includes any smaller extracts or quotes from the scriptures. In order to maintain protocol while sharing Guru's message, this book does not include any sacred writing in Gurbani. Instead the Romanized version is used and the translations.

This book contains a collection of verses from the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, also some from the Sri Dasam Granth and varaan of Bhai Gurdas Ji4 whose writing are considered to be the key to understanding the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. The Sri Dasam Granth contains verses written by the tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh Ji. The Sikh Nishkam Society of Australia has put these collections of verses together, in order to share some of the beautiful teachings contained in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.

In this book where the term Guru or Spiritual teacher is mentioned in the Path of virtue sections, the definition encompasses prophets such as Sikh Gurus, Jesus Christ, Buddha, etc.

The Sikh Nishkam Society of Australia is a not for-profit organization established to work in a number of different areas including education, advocacy and Interfaith dialogue. In conjunction with an affiliated organization based in Kuala Lumpar, the Sikh Nishkam Society of Australia has been able to provide the 360 quotes published in this book.

Kamaljit Kaur Athwal



S ri Guru Granth Sahib Ji the Sikh Holy Scriptures begin with the number 1 (One) indicating that there is only One God. This means that there is only one Force. There is no other force or power running parallel to the One Force to God.

Bhai Gurdaas Ji in Vaars Bhai Gurdaas Ji writes: “By writing 1 (One) in the beginning, it has been shown that Ik OanKaar, God, who subsumes all forms in Him is Only One. Ura, the first Gurmukhi Letter of the alphabet, in the form of OanKaar shows the world controlling power of that One Lord.” The One God or Waheguru created all mankind and everything else. We are all His Creation


Sikhism quote 6746 |  ANG 1 SGGSJi  




T he One is the Knower of all beings; He alone is our Saviour The One is the Support of the mind; the One is the Support of the breath of life In His Sanctuary there is eternal peace. He is the Supreme Lord God, the Creator.


Sikhism quote 6747 |  ANG 45 SGGSJi  

Waheguru: the True God is our creator; He gives us life and sustains it. He knows us all; He knows our thoughts, He knows our intentions. Remember Him through prayer and meditation and obtain His sanctuary.




T he One is my Brother, the One is my Friend. The One is my Mother and Father The One is the Support of the mind; He has given us body and soul May I never forget God from my mind; He holds all in the Power of His Hands


Sikhism quote 6748 |  ANG 45 SGGSJi  

Love Waheguru: the True God as your own as He sustains you through this world / life. Remember Him and all that He does for you.




T he One is within the home of the self, and the One is outside as well. He Himself is in all places and interspaces Meditate twenty-four hours a day on the One who created all beings and creatures Attuned to the love of One, there is no sorrow or suffering


Sikhism quote 6749 |  ANG 45 SGGSJi  

Waheguru: the True Lord is in His creation. He is everywhere. He is within everyone and everything. See Him in all. Love Him through meditation and prayers and you will have no sorrow or suffering




T here is only the One Supreme Lord God; there is no other at all Soul and body all belong to Him; whatever pleases His Will comes to pass


Sikhism quote 6750 |  ANG 45 SGGSJi  

He, Waheguru: the True Lord is our creator. He has created everything. What He wishes will happen. Always remember we belong to Him.




O Lord God, You are the One and Only Giver; You forgive us, and unite us with Yourself Servant Nanak seeks Your Sanctuary; if it is Your Will, please save him


Sikhism quote 6751 |  ANG 234 SGGSJi  

Waheguru: the True God gives us everything. He forgives us and will unite us with Him. We pray for His sanctuary so that He may save us.




H is Glorious Virtues are infinite, and His greatness is unlimited. His value cannot be described at all God is the One and only, the Unseen Lord and Master; O Nanak, I have grasped His protection


Sikhism quote 6752 |  ANG 458 SGGSJi  

His virtues are so many and they cannot all be known. He is the One God and within His sanctuary there is protection. His limits cannot be known and He is the omnipresent




W herever I look, there I find the One Lord permeating and pervading all In each and every heart, He Himself dwells, but how rare is that person who realizes this


Sikhism quote 6753 | 

See Waheguru: the True God in all as He resides in all His creation




I nwardly and outwardly, they saw only the One Lord God; for them there was no other second They centred their consciousness lovingly on the Lord, Har, Har. The Lord’s Name was their companion, and in the Court of the Lord, they obtained honour


Sikhism quote 6754 |  ANG 445 SGGSJi  

In the golden age of Sat Yuga all meditated and attained spiritual wisdom. There they sang the praises of the Waheguru: the True God. They saw no other and performed loving meditating on His Naam (Waheguru, Satnam) and they attained honour




G od is merciful and infinite. The One and Only is all-pervading He Himself is all-in-all. Who else can we speak of?


Sikhism quote 6755 |  ANG 710 SGGSJi  

There is the One God and He is everywhere in His creation. He loves all in His creation. Remember Him as our creator as there is no other




T he True One is everywhere, wherever I look By Guru’s Grace, I enshrine Him in my mind


Sikhism quote 6756 |  ANG 119 SGGSJi  

Through the true word of the Shabad (Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji) one praises the True One, Waheguru. The Sri Guru Granth Sahib is our spiritual teacher, our perpetual Guru. Pray and remember Him. Those who remember Him merge into the True One




W herever I look, I see the One and Only Lord


Sikhism quote 6757 |  ANG 227 SGGSJi  

Waheguru: the True God created us all, He created everything. So wherever we look we see Him in His creation. Remember Him as the One and Only. There is no other force but Him




H e Himself is the One and only; from the One, the One and only, came the expanse of the entire creation


Sikhism quote 6758 |  ANG 379 SGGSJi  

Waheguru: the True God is contained in all, He is the only One. From Him came the entire creation, the entire universe. He is the Lord of His creation. Remember Him as your only Lord




M y Immaculate God is pervading and contained among all By Guru’s Grace, one is united in His Union


Sikhism quote 6759 |  ANG 233 SGGSJi  

Waheguru: the True God is everywhere in His creation and in each and every one of us. If He grants His grace then one is united with Him




H e Himself creates, O Nanak; He establishes the various creatures How can anyone be called bad? We have only One Lord and Master


Sikhism quote 6760 |  ANG 1238 SGGSJi  

One should build faith in the One God Waheguru by accepting that all that is happening is the best for me. One should never quit and always pray before commencing a task. Face challenges in life by building strength. We are all His creation and have Him as our Lord and Master




Y ou do good for us, but we do not see it as good; You are kind and compassionate, forever and ever You are the Giver of peace, the Primal Lord, the Architect of Destiny; please, save us, Your children!


Sikhism quote 6761 |  ANG 613 SGGSJi  

When good things happen one must thank Him; when challenging events happen one must ask Him for strength; when doubt springs about ask Him for assistance; when challenges sprout ask Him for intelligence; when confusion creeps in ask Him for vision; when greed overpowers ask Him for contentment; and when one prays ask for Him as your only Lord. We are all His children and He loves all His children




O ne is bad, and another good, but the One True Waheguru is contained in all Understand this, O spiritual teacher, through the support of the True Guru


Sikhism quote 6762 |  ANG 905 SGGSJi  

Waheguru: the True God is the only guide that can teach one not to discriminate. With His support only can one see all people as equal. One should pray before Him daily and ask for the virtue to see Him in all and to continuously remind oneself to neither judge others nor their actions




Y ou Yourself created the creation; You Yourself infused Your power into It You behold Your creation, like the losing and winning dice of the earth


Sikhism quote 6763 |  ANG 474 SGGSJi  

Waheguru: the True Lord created the universe and everything in it. In it He installed His power and He controls what happens. One who has come into this world will one day depart. No one is here forever. One should make their time here worth while doing good deeds and offering prayers




B y His Command, when He places His hand on our foreheads, wickedness departs from within


Sikhism quote 6764 | 

Only those who please Him receive His blessings. When He is pleased He gives His blessings and all good is retained within one. Remember Him and earn His blessings through good deeds and truthful actions




W hen You come to mind, You are always merciful to me; what can the poor people do to me? Tell me, who should I call good or bad, since all beings are Yours?


Sikhism quote 6765 |  ANG 383 SGGSJi  

Waheguru: the One God is one’s guide in life. He has created all and He exists in His creation. When one is overwhelmed with anger, stop and recognize that the person, that one is angry with, also carries the same spiritual light of Waheguru




T he world is the creation of the True Lord He alone is the Master of all


Sikhism quote 6766 |  ANG 914 SGGSJi  

Waheguru: the One God created the world and He alone is the Master of all. Remember that He gave one all that one has and He will reward one’s good deeds. Do good deeds not fruitless acts that gain nothing




I nwardly and outwardly, in all places and interspaces, wherever I look, He is there


Sikhism quote 6767 |  ANG 619 SGGSJi  

Waheguru is everywhere. He exists in His creation. He is in the places of worship; He is within His people; He is in the wilderness; He is in the ocean. He exists in His creation. See Him in all




T he Lord has no form, features or colour. Through the Guru’s teachings, He inspires us to understand Him


Sikhism quote 6768 |  ANG 120 SGGSJi  

Waheguru: the True Lord has no colour, form or features. In order to reach Waheguru one needs a spiritual teacher – a Guru. So how can one reach Him? Through the teaching of a Guru He can be attained. One must follow the teachings of their Guru (for the Sikhs - Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji) in order to understand Him and to be one with Him




Y ou are my Protector, forever and ever, I meditate on you All beings and creatures are Yours; You are pervading and permeating in them


Sikhism quote 6769 |  ANG 517 SGGSJi  

One should always remember Waheguru: the True God as their True master and Protector. Pray that He may guard you always. He is the True creator of all and He resides in His creation




T he Infallible Lord never makes a mistake. He does not have to write His Orders, and He does not have to consult with anyone In an instant, He creates, embellishes and destroys. He is the Lover of His devotees, the Treasure of Excellence


Sikhism quote 6770 |  ANG 1211 SGGSJi  

Waheguru: the One God created all in an instant. He can destroy in an instant too. He makes no mistakes nor needs to consult with anyone. He is the One and Only. Accept this and become a sacrifice to Him and devote your life to the Almighty God



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