Practice love,not hollow ritualsPractice love,not hollow rituals

Mindless and hollow rituals done for exhibition had no value with God.

RITUALSRITUALS They are like a counterfeit coin, which look ‑They are like a counterfeit coin, which look ‑

genuine but is rejected because it does not genuine but is rejected because it does not contain the specified precious metal. contain the specified precious metal.

Similarly, God rejects all rituals practiced by Similarly, God rejects all rituals practiced by the people who have no sincere goodwill or the people who have no sincere goodwill or other human beings.other human beings.

There is no benefit to the soul from There is no benefit to the soul from undergoing self inflicted tortures such as undergoing self inflicted tortures such as abstaining from food, bathing in ice cold abstaining from food, bathing in ice cold water,, keeping silent for long periods of time water,, keeping silent for long periods of time or standing continuously on one leg or standing continuously on one leg

The Guru did not The Guru did not approve of the belief approve of the belief that our ancestors that our ancestors who are already who are already dead, could dead, could be helped by giving ‑be helped by giving ‑alms to the alms to the Brahmans . People Brahmans . People themselves are the themselves are the abode of God. abode of God.

He knows what is in He knows what is in our minds. our minds.

One can cheat One can cheat people but not Him.people but not Him.

At Hardwar Guru NANAK Dev ji said that dead ancestors would not be benefited by the rituals performed by their children grandchildren

AT BAGHDADWHEN ASKED, WHO IS SUPERIOR, HINDU OR MUSLIM, GURUNANAK SAID,’’ EVERYBODY WITHOUT GOOD DEEDS WILL REPENT;

Deeds alone are valuedDeeds alone are valued

Guru Nanak preached that God does not Guru Nanak preached that God does not identify people by their sectarian religions identify people by their sectarian religions such as Christians, Jews, Hindus or Muslims. such as Christians, Jews, Hindus or Muslims.

," God judges us by our deeds and full justice ," God judges us by our deeds and full justice is delivered to every one in His court."is delivered to every one in His court."Guru Guru Granth P7Granth P7

God evaluates our deeds alone, and not God evaluates our deeds alone, and not merely our beliefs. merely our beliefs.

The Guru made it clear that neither he nor The Guru made it clear that neither he nor any other prophet would be able to intercede any other prophet would be able to intercede at the time of final judgment, which would be at the time of final judgment, which would be based on actions onlybased on actions only

ACTIONSACTIONS

Stresses the presence of God in every human Stresses the presence of God in every human being.being.

Any act that hurts another person is wrong, Any act that hurts another person is wrong, because it displeases God residing in him.because it displeases God residing in him.

Any act, which helps the other person, is good Any act, which helps the other person, is good because it is liked by Godbecause it is liked by God

same respect to men and women and equally same respect to men and women and equally welcomed them to participate in all social and welcomed them to participate in all social and religious functions.religious functions.

LIVE HONESTLYLIVE HONESTLY

The Guru exhorted Sajjan The Guru exhorted Sajjan (nicknamed Thag), * a robber (nicknamed Thag), * a robber and murderer living in the and murderer living in the village of Tulumba in Multan, village of Tulumba in Multan, Pakistan, to earn his Pakistan, to earn his livelihood through honest ‑livelihood through honest ‑means.means.

He was also, advised that He was also, advised that one has to pay for one's one has to pay for one's actions in the end. actions in the end.

`Sajjan gave up vices and `Sajjan gave up vices and became a true sewadar became a true sewadar (service man) of the people.(service man) of the people.

Sajjan Thag

Physical renunciation of no availPhysical renunciation of no avail

The Guru exposed the The Guru exposed the Sidhs‘ hollow claim that Sidhs‘ hollow claim that remaining celibates made remaining celibates made them better than married them better than married people. people.

He asked them, " How He asked them, " How dare you say that you are dare you say that you are superior or are nearer to superior or are nearer to God than family men God than family men when you beg for food when you beg for food and depend on them for and depend on them for your sustenance?" your sustenance?"

•Guru Nanak with the Sidhs in the Himalayas

SERVICE IS TRUE WORSHIPSERVICE IS TRUE WORSHIP

Guru Arjan Dev ji serving lepers

Service is true worshipService is true worship Guru Nanak told the Guru Nanak told the

priests that instead of priests that instead of worshipping stone worshipping stone images of the gods they images of the gods they should strive to become should strive to become one with God's one with God's pervasive nature.pervasive nature.

The correct way to The correct way to worship Him is to love worship Him is to love other human beings other human beings who are His creation who are His creation and in whom God and in whom God actually resides actually resides

At Jagan Nath Puri Temple,

Sangat and PangatSangat and Pangat

Guru Nanak established Guru Nanak established congregation, in which congregation, in which all people, Hindus and all people, Hindus and Muslims, low,caste and Muslims, low,caste and high caste, sit as equal high caste, sit as equal to sing the praises of to sing the praises of the Almighty.. the Almighty..

TheGuru also instituted TheGuru also instituted pangat, sitting together pangat, sitting together as equals to partake as equals to partake food which was food which was distributed free to distributed free to everyoneeveryone

..

Even today this practice of Even today this practice of free food (Langar) prevails in free food (Langar) prevails in gurdwaras and reminds us gurdwaras and reminds us that all human beings are that all human beings are equal and have the same equal and have the same rightsrights

Right to life, the right to equalityRight to life, the right to equality

Guru Nanak stated Guru Nanak stated that the right to life, that the right to life, the right to equality, the right to equality, and the right to and the right to worship Him are worship Him are God given gifts to ‑God given gifts to ‑every person. every person.

No religious or No religious or political authority political authority can take awaycan take away right right to life, the right to to life, the right to equalityequality

Guru nanak with babar at Eimnabad

. One may praise God by any name one wants . One may praise God by any name one wants to. to.

The World Conference of Religions for Peace, The World Conference of Religions for Peace, 1979, actually endorsed the basic principles of 1979, actually endorsed the basic principles of the Sikh faith, in New Jersey, USA, concluded:the Sikh faith, in New Jersey, USA, concluded:

"Too often the names and practices of our "Too often the names and practices of our religions have been associated with warfare religions have been associated with warfare and strife. Now we must reverse this and strife. Now we must reverse this

GUR TEG BHADUR JI SACRIFICED HIS LIFE FOR FREEDOM OF RELIGION OF KASHMIRI PANDITS

ALL HUMANITY IS ONEALL HUMANITY IS ONE

COMING OUT OF BEIN DECLARED’’ NO HINDU, NO MUSLIM’’

GOD DID NOT CREATE HINDUS OR MUSLIMS HE CREATED HUMANS HE LOVES ALL WHATEVER RELIGION BE

ALL HUMANS ARE EQUALALL HUMANS ARE EQUAL

GURU NANAK PREACHED THAT NONE CAN BE CONSIDEREDSUPERIOR OR INFERIOR ON BASIS OF RACE, CLASS,CULTUREHOLY PERSON IS ONE WHO ACCEPTS ALL PEOPLE AS HIS CLASS MATES ;HE CONSIDERS HIMSELF AN EQUAL MEMBER OF BIG CLASS OF HUMANITY;GGS 6

Guru Nanak, five centuries Guru Nanak, five centuries ago preached that the whole ago preached that the whole world was to be treated as world was to be treated as one vast multi cultural ‑one vast multi cultural ‑society. Mutual regard and society. Mutual regard and respect among all people respect among all people were the foundation of the were the foundation of the true religion. There was no true religion. There was no religion superior to this religion superior to this

The person who accepts all The person who accepts all humans as equals is a holy humans as equals is a holy person of the highest kind. person of the highest kind. One who controls his mind, One who controls his mind, and does not hate anyone and does not hate anyone wins the world with love--wins the world with love--GGSGGS

..

Contributor Bhagats of Guru Granth sahib were from low castes

MIRI PIRI—RELIGION AND MIRI PIRI—RELIGION AND POLITICSPOLITICS

MIRI-political life and MIRI-political life and PIRI-religious beliefs PIRI-religious beliefs should move hand in should move hand in hand to serve societyhand to serve society

Religion provides Religion provides motivation for serving motivation for serving people while political people while political thought provides thought provides social stucture for social stucture for samesame

Aim of both is to Aim of both is to provide service and provide service and justice to peoplejustice to people Guru Hargobind sahib wearing

two swords of miri and piri

ALL DAYS ARE AUSPICIOUSALL DAYS ARE AUSPICIOUS

Gurbani says every day is a good day and very Gurbani says every day is a good day and very valuable in our life. A person is supposed to love valuable in our life. A person is supposed to love God all the time.God all the time.

Every morning sit quietly to recite and Every morning sit quietly to recite and concentrate on the virtues God and do the same concentrate on the virtues God and do the same again when the day is over. again when the day is over.

Before going to bed, one is expected to tune Before going to bed, one is expected to tune one's mind to the blessings of God for aone's mind to the blessings of God for a peaceful sleep and prepare for the day when he peaceful sleep and prepare for the day when he will 'sleep' for ever.will 'sleep' for ever.

Generally, people believe a particular day to be sacred Generally, people believe a particular day to be sacred and more appropriate for prayers. ‑and more appropriate for prayers. ‑

In Hindus, certain days of the week being considered In Hindus, certain days of the week being considered either auspicious or inauspicious, Sankrant (first day either auspicious or inauspicious, Sankrant (first day of the Indian solar month), Pooran masi ull moon), and ‑of the Indian solar month), Pooran masi ull moon), and ‑Amavas (no moon) days are also considered sacred.Amavas (no moon) days are also considered sacred.

Gurbani reiects all these beliefs. It says God made Gurbani reiects all these beliefs. It says God made days, not ood or bad days. Those who worship days days, not ood or bad days. Those who worship days or dates, considering them to be ausnicious or or dates, considering them to be ausnicious or inauspicious, are naive and ill informed.inauspicious, are naive and ill informed.

Guru Granth P843Guru Granth P843

GODGOD

LORD OF ALL UNIVERSE LORD OF ALL UNIVERSE WHILE UNIVERSE IS CHANGING WHILE UNIVERSE IS CHANGING

ACCORDING TO HIS WILL ,HE ALONE ACCORDING TO HIS WILL ,HE ALONE IS UNCHANGED BEYOND TIMEIS UNCHANGED BEYOND TIME

HE IS NEITHER BORN NOR DIESHE IS NEITHER BORN NOR DIES HE IS EVER SELF EXISTINGHE IS EVER SELF EXISTING GGS 1 MUL MANTRAGGS 1 MUL MANTRA

HEAVEN AND HELLHEAVEN AND HELL

NO PARTICULAR NO PARTICULAR PLACES BEYOND PLACES BEYOND EARTHEARTH

PERSON WHO PERSON WHO LOVES GOD,GETS LOVES GOD,GETS HIS BLESSINGS IS HIS BLESSINGS IS LIVING IN HEAVEN LIVING IN HEAVEN GGS749GGS749

ANYONE WHO ANYONE WHO IGNORES GOD AND IGNORES GOD AND SUFFERS FROM SUFFERS FROM EGO,LUST,ANGER EGO,LUST,ANGER LIVES IN HELL LIVES IN HELL --GGS1369--GGS1369

NO ONE IS BORN SINNERNO ONE IS BORN SINNER

EVERY PERSON IS HIS EVERY PERSON IS HIS MANIFESTATIONMANIFESTATION

LIFE IS GIFT TO SING HIS VIRTUES,TO LIFE IS GIFT TO SING HIS VIRTUES,TO LOVE HIM,AND HIS CHILDREN –GGS12LOVE HIM,AND HIS CHILDREN –GGS12