GEMS OF GURBANI

Art of Living – 11

Sikhism is grounded in forward looking optimism that Gurus cultivated in themselves as an example so that the followers could make it part of their lives. Guru Nanak’s bold reprimands to the Rulers and their administrators, to Sidhas and fear cultivating Brahmins sounds more like a challenge. When he says: Raje shihn Mukkadam kutte…… he tries to awaken a spirit of chardi kala in dormant people who have lost all self respect he says:

 “so jivya jis man wasaya soi II          

   Nanak aur na jive koi         II

   Je jive patt lath jave           II

  Sabuh haram jeta kichh khave II” GGPg 903

Meaning: if you live without self respect then whatever you eat and achieve is all waste. Life becomes meaningless if you cannot recognize the real dharma of living life with self respect for yourself and the country. He suggested a new principle of worshipping that contained a self respectful life or death instead of slavery. For Guru Nanak social contentment was not a life without self respect and in slavery there was no spirit alive. A virtue of contentment or Santokh as we call it in Sikh ethics is an interpretation of continuous activity and hope that takes you away from psychological lethargy or feelings of distress and despair. Man gets ready to fight any adversities and challenges and that has given Sikhs a heritage of martyrdom. Its permanent disposition in human beings has a great moral and psychological value.  Cultivation of Chardi Kala a forward looking progressive virtue that could lead to contentment (Santokh) in Sikh followers was important and every Guru has contributed to cultivate this feature in their followers. Guru Nanak by challenging the oppressor, the tyrant, the Brahmin and the exploiters like jogis and corrupt officials. Guru Angad Devji developed gurmukhi and challenged the social system of the time that didn’t allow the education to all. Guru Amardas ji didn’t allow the audience to Akbar unless he eats food in Langar sitting in a pangat. Guru Ramdas ji created Amritsar and broke the myth of holi ganges. He made Amritsar in to a house of praises where people irrespective of caste could live together. A city where all four varnas and four religions could converge and Guru Arjun ji martyrs his life to fight the tyranny and asks his son to prepare the community to fight against atrocities. Guru Hargobindji create a new wave by adopting Miri-Piri and Guru Har Rai ji gives shelter to runaway prince Dara shikoh and challenges Auranzeb’s power that this is our dharma and we will keep doing it. Guru Teg Bahadurji martyred for the duty to human kind and human rights. Guru Gobind Singh ji created Khalsa to make a permanent disposition of Chardi Kala as an art of living in Sikhs.

By infusing this spirit in Sikhs a new identity has been given to Sikhs with a teaching that never to fall in despair or melancholy and this prepared the followers for fighting for their right wherever they are and untold sacrifices were given by men and women to keep their rights upright. Martyrdom is celebrated as a community get together (Jod-mela) in Sikhs and not as a memorial service. We praise our martyrs in daily prayers “Ardas” and also say that:”Nanak naam chardi kala tere bhane sarbat da bhala.” Meaning: Nanak says by reciting His name be in an ascendant spirit so that with His grace all His Creation can be benefitted.

On page 463of Guru Granth Sahib, Guru Nanak has taken the whole cosmos as the house of Lord where He dwells and enjoys His whole creation with glorious delight. Then why abandon his creation, corrupt or mutilate it for vested interests. Sikh world view is to live a positive life of a householder and living in a Society keep doing your social responsibilities