:: DHAN GURU NANAK SAHIB JI ::
 

A TRUE UNIVERSITY
( As defined by Guru Nanak Sahib Ji )

The Guru has talked of a school, an institute, a workshop, a mint, in fact a university where human life is prepared, mended, erected so that man may achieve the most needed purposeful and successful cherished aim of life.

Guru Nanak has stated this in the 38 th stanza of JAP JI, the first and foremost prayer in the Sikh Holy Book "Guru Granth Sahib Ji"

The Guru has used metaphor of a goldsmith.

1. The goldsmith works with utmost care and patience.
2. He melts the impure gold, kept in a saucer with fire underneath.
3. The fire is intensified with blower.
4. After impurities are burnt, he pours the melted gold in moulds of various designs.
5. The molded gold in the form of various designs and ornaments is kept on anvil and its features are further sharpened with the help of a small hammer and other tools.

The Guru preaches that like wise, let:

1. Chaste character be the shop.
2. Patience the workman, the goldsmith.
3. Understanding the anvil.
4. Knowledge, spiritual wisdom the hammer and tools.
5. Fear of God the bellows, blowers.
6. Honest, sincere, hard working way of life the flames.
7. Love of God the saucer, the crucible.
8. Name of God, Word of God (Shabad), Nectar (Amrit) the gold.

Such a living with God's Glance of Grace up lifts and exalts the human being.
In simple words what the Guru teaches is that a Sikh must:

1. Live a simple, chaste life of high character and moral values.
2. Always keep patience, never be angry or hate anybody.
3. Illuminate consciousness, mind and soul with eternal knowledge of God, his qualities, virtues, love and affection for all.
4. Brighten his way of life with sustained good character, fear of God, love and affection to all, serve mankind-the poor and needy.
5. Always keep the ambrosial name of God in mind by remembering his blessings, his kindness and gifts, virtues etc. and thus attain a blissful life forever.

The Guru is very particular and explains specially that above all, the Sikh must not have an iota of Ego, but always beg for his mercy, as EFFORTS of only those become fruitful on whom God showers his MERCY, GRACE.

.:::: THE FIVE REALMS ::::.


The concept of five steps, stages or realms for attaining spiritual progress leading to ultimate unity with God - As explained by Guru Nanak - in stanzas 34 to 37 of JAP JI the most revered prayer of the Sikhs.

Ist stage: Dharam Khand - Temple of Law:
God created Earth as temple of law, abode of righteousness, to practice truth, to lead a virtuous life and listen to the conscious.
On earth, there are days, nights, dates, weeks, seasons, climates, air, water, fire, nether regions. On earth, He created creatures of diverse kinds, species with multitude of names. He put it to His creatures that they would be judged according to their deeds. As one sows so shall he reap - good actions would have rewards and bad actions would call for punishment. Before God true and false would stand revealed. None could expect to get undue favour, for God is True and dispenses nothing but Truth. With good deeds one enters the second stage.

IInd stage: Gian Khand - The realm of Enlightenment:
In this realm of Enlightenment, one learns of many lands, mountains, seas, regions, galaxies, solar systems, suns, moons, orbital bodies, which generate and reflect divine light in many forms, colors and appearances.
One learns of many religious schools of thoughts, men of occult powers, mythologies of many gods, demigods, demons, sages, jewels and oscines. In nature there are many sources of life, many systems, manners and traditions, many traditions of divine knowledge and many followers of these systems.
In fact, there is no end to what one comes across in the realm of Enlightenment. At this stage, in one's mind the light of divine knowledge is resplendent and he perceives myriads of joys of sounds, sight and deed. 
One realises one's meagerness and God's magnanimity. One conceives of brotherhood of man, unity of mankind, where all are equal, none higher or lowers. It leads to breaking of one's egoism, self-centeredness, greed, craziness, anger, lust and all such deceptive vices.
With such a realisation of one's proper place in the universe in context to one's relationship with God, the devout enters the third stage - the stage of Grace.

IIIrd stage: Saram Khand: The realm of action, effort:
In this realm one acts, makes efforts, struggles, works hard and practices to mould his life according to the realm of Dharam Khand - the Law of Truth.
At this stage are fashioned creations of surpassing wonder, beyond description, better left of unsaid than a hazard guess. Here the faculty of one's inner perception, discernment and cognition of mind are fashioned. One's understanding of a divine hero or spiritual adept is developed. There is inner illumination of mind. Henceforth one enters Karam Khand - the realm of Grace and Fulfillment.

IVth stage: Karam Khand - The realm of Grace and Contentness. 
One catches His Sight, His Grace and is honored. One perceives the power of God in self, ego is obliterated, becomes a divine human, throbbing with the spirit of Almighty, his mind is completely knit in His praise. He dwell in the state of bliss, in the congregation of devotees, holy men with the manifestation of indwelling Truth. He becomes JEEWAN MUKTA - attain salvation while still living in the world. One retains his individuality but completely surrendered to God. It is at this stage wherefrom one enters the next stage of SAC KHAND - the realm of Truth.

Vth stage: Sac Khand - The realm of Truth:
It is the final stage where one achieves union with God, loses one's entity as water mingles with water, light with light. The devotee is no more, he is merged in God. The final consummation being the goal, the ultimate purpose of human existence is achieved. 
The realm of Truth is the abode of Formless One, who bountifully keeps a watch over His creation -the earth, upper and lower regions, suns, moons, spheres, galaxies- beyond limit, beyond count, wherein He is manifest, all pervading. He delights in contemplation. His HUKAM, His Will is ingrained in everyone and everywhere. It is really difficult to narrate and describe of such a Being.

After the description of these realms Guru Nanak speaks of a True university, a school, a workshop, a mint where Name of God - His WORD is coined, where human being is mended to achieve His Grace and ultimate salvation.




 

HOME :::: Back