Nanak
(1469-1563)
Nanak was born in Talwandi, which is now Pakistan, on April 15, 1469. His parents were Mehta Kaylan and Mata Tripta. From an early age, Nanak showed signs of unusual intelligence and a devotional nature. Once when his father gave him money and sent him to carry out some business transactions he spent the money on feeding sadhus instead. When he was working at a grain store, he would often measure out extra quantities to the needy and poor.
All around him were signs of a divided culture. Divisions ran along the lines of caste, birth, vocation, color, creed, language, culture, etc. He saw much animosity, arrogance, greed, and exploitation. He was aware of the negative effects of hypocrisy and oppression of religious, social, cultural, and political realms. It was in this context that he developed his ideas, and began to speak of his vision of cultural transformation, through compassion and understanding between people. He spoke out against injustice and inequality, and he challenged religious hypocrisy and blind ritual. He undertook a voyage of four directions, traveling to the East, South, North, and West. In Haridwar he offered the water in the Western direction unlike the Brahmins who offered it to the east. In Mecca, he slept with his feet pointing towards the Kaaba. He challenged people to understand their own connection with the Divine, and to see the connection between themselves and all life. The words he spoke as he traveled were compiled into the “Guru’s Sayings.”
In his travels he visited many temples, religious centers, and caves of holy men. Everywhere he went he spread the message that God was within, as well as everywhere around, and that worship of God was practiced through love and compassion. He spoke of the common roots of the Hindu and Muslim religions, and encouraged the leaders of these religions to come together and unify.
One story of Nanak tells of his time of enlightenment. Each morning he and his friend Mardana would take their sacred bath in the river. One day after plunging into the river, Nanak did not surface. After waiting for some time, it was believed that he had drowned. The villagers search for him but found no trace. After three days, Nanak appeared at the same spot where he disappeared, but he was no longer the same person he had been. He radiated divine light, and his eyes shone. He spoke to no one, remaining in a blissful state. He gave up his job and gave all his belongings to the poor. When he finally spoke, the words he said were, “There is no Hindu, no Muslim.” During the three days, Nanak had been in communion with God, and God, offering him a cup of nectar said, “I am with you. Go and repeat my name, and teach others to do the same.”
During his travels, Nanak was often asked whether he was Muslim or Hindu, as he would wear a combination of styles worn by both. He was asked by Sheikh Ibrahim, a Muslim Sufi holy man, which of the two religions was the true way to attain God. Guru Nanak replied, “If there is one God, then there is only His way to attain Him, not another. One must follow that way and reject the other. Worship not him who is born only to die, but Him who is eternal and is contained in the whole universe.” There are many stories of Guru Nanak's travels, and his teachings and instruction to many leaders and wise men. He always spread the message of love and equality among people, the worship of God through singing of his sacred names, selfless service, and the well-being of all. He founded the Sikh religion, based on these values as the way to truly honor God.
His most devoted and favorite disciple was Lehna. One day, toward the end of his life, Nanak was walking with Lehna and his two sons. He came upon what appeared to be a corpse covered by a sheet. All of a sudden Nanak spoke out and said, “Who would eat it?” Both of his sons were surprised, and refused, thinking that their father’s mind was not right. Lehna, though, agreed. As he removed the sheet, a beautiful tray of sacred delicacies was revealed. Lehna first offered the tray to Guru Nanak, and then his sons, and finally ate what they had left. After observing this, Guru Nanak told him, “Lehna, you were blessed with the sacred food because you can share it with others. If the people use the wealth bestowed on them by God for themselves alone or for treasuring it, it is like a corpse. But if they decide to share with others, it becomes sacred food. You have known the secret. You are my image.” He then blessed Lehna with his hand (ang), and gave him a new name, Angad, saying, “You are part of my body.” He placed five coins and a coconut in front of Angad, and then bowed before him. He then had another disciple anoint Angad with a saffron mark on his forehead. At this time, he gathered all his devotees together to pray, and invited Agnad to occupy the seat of the guru. In this way, Guru Agnad became his successor.
Seeing that his end was near, his Hindu followers told him they would cremate him, and the Muslims told him they would bury him. Guru Nanak told them to place flowers on both sides of him, the Hindus to place flowers on his right, the Muslims to place them on his left. He told them that the side on which the flowers remained the freshest would choose. He instructed them to pray, and laid down covering himself and the flowers with a sheet. On September 22, 1539, in the early hours of the morning, Guru Nanak merged with God, and when the followers lifted the sheet they found nothing more than a pile of flowers, all of them radiant and beautiful.
Sayings
of Guru Nanak~
(These words are recorded at the beginning of the Sikh Holy Scriptures.)
“There is but one God, His name is truth, He is the creator, He fears none, He is without hate, He never dies, He is beyond the cycle of birth and death, He is self-illuminated, He is realized by the kindness of the True Guru. He was true in the beginning, He was true when the ages commenced and has ever been true. He is also true now.”
“The entire humanity has originated from the same divine light, so how can there be divisions of good and bad, higher or lower amongst His creatures?”
“As you go about your affairs using your hands and feet, let your consciousness remain with the immaculate Lord.”
“Whosoever, styling himself as a teacher, lives on the charity of others, never bow before him. Him who earns his livelihood by the sweat of his brow and shares it with others, only He can know the way.”
“Even Kings and Emperors with heaps of wealth and vast dominion cannot compare with an ant filled with the love of God.”
“As fragrance abides in the flower, as reflection is within the mirror, so does your Lord abide within you, why search for him without?”
The teachings of Guru Nanak are the foundation of the Sikh religion. He is the first of ten Sikh gurus. Those that follow the Sikh religion have found spiritual growth and enlightenment in the teachings of Nanak and nine successive spiritual gurus. There are a great many separatists in this world today, among these are Sikh separatists lead sometimes to fight against government violence. This seems a long way from the age of enlightenment that Guru Nanak had most likely envisioned for those following his teachings. Our world may need a bit of growth and healing before we are able to become more balanced and follow a path of spiritual enlightenment. It is believed by many of those of the Sikh faith that following the teachings of the gurus will lead to balanced enlightenment and spiritual healing.