GEMS OF GURBANI

National character – 9

Universal Brotherhood (Bhrataribhav)

The second positive step towards the realization of universal brotherhood is voluntary service or sewa. In fact service of others is nothing but practical version of altruism. Once a person has made up his mind and worked towards achieving the positive value of altruism in his individual character the feelings of service to others come naturally to him. For Guru Nanak attaining spiritual bliss one has to go through a stage of contemplation and attaining all the knowledge to reach this stage. At this stage when one attains the spiritual bliss and thinks that his destination has arrived then one is only selfish. All this knowledge achieved if not used in the service of humanity then it is all waste. Guru Nanak says;” when one dwells on the (Guru’s) word one’s mind flows out to serve the others and one practices contemplation and self realization and self control by overcoming ego.”

Sewa surat sabad vichar II

Jap tap sanjam haume maar II GG.pg.1343

According to him if a person does not fulfill his social obligations and moral duties he will not be able to realize himself and if you don’t realize yourself spiritual realization will not come. Guru Nanak not only practiced this tenet of social service all his life but made it a mission to make his disciples aware of this tenet to eradicate ego, caste differences and class feelings. Apart from preaching the value of this tenet he took practical measures to imbibe this high prized virtue of sewa. In last stage of his life he settled at Kartarpur now in Pakistan where he became a farmer and his followers shared his work and all the followers who visited him were served food that was cooked with voluntary service and also distributed by service irrespective of caste, class or ranking sitting in a row. This sewa or service came to be known as langar and became a permanent feature of Sikhism. Guru Nanak’s mission is fulfilled by Sikhs all over the world. It is not only a permanent feature of major Gurudwaras but also a main feature for contingency needs like at natural calamities like earthquakes, floods etc Sikhs reach out to help others irrespective of religion, castes or nationalities.

Gurus recommend only that service which is done without the conditions of reward. Any conditional service done for award is a bargain or trade. By calculations service is performed not what done is approved. Gante sev na hovai.. GG.pg 1246.

By imbibing these two positive values of altruism and service, kindness and understanding descends upon a person that leads to universal brotherhood and only through actions one can express it. As a reminder lest the Sikhs forget this ideal of Guru Nanak, the daily prayer “ardas’ contains the phrase “Sarbat da bhala” that means the welfare of the universe in mind. Every Sikh has to work and pray for this ideal of universal brotherhood.