Slide 1

Practice love,not hollow rituals Mindless and hollow rituals done for exhibition had no value with God. Slide 2 RITUALS They are like a counterfeit coin, which look genuine but is rejected because it does not contain the specified precious metal. Similarly, God rejects all rituals practiced by the people who have no sincere goodwill or other human beings. There is no benefit to the soul from undergoing self inflicted tortures such as abstaining from food, bathing in ice cold water,, keeping silent for long periods of time or standing continuously on one leg Slide 3 The Guru did not approve of the belief that our ancestors who are already dead, could be helped by giving alms to the Brahmans. People themselves are the abode of God. He knows what is in our minds. One can cheat 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 Slide 4 AT BAGHDAD WHEN ASKED, WHO IS SUPERIOR, HINDU OR MUSLIM, GURUNANAK SAID, EVERYBODY WITHOUT GOOD DEEDS WILL REPENT ; Deeds alone are valued Slide 5 Guru Nanak preached that God does not identify people by their sectarian religions such as Christians, Jews, Hindus or Muslims. ," God judges us by our deeds and full justice is delivered to every one in His court."Guru Granth P7 God evaluates our deeds alone, and not merely our beliefs. The Guru made it clear that neither he nor any other prophet would be able to intercede at the time of final judgment, which would be based on actions only Slide 6 ACTIONS Stresses the presence of God in every human being. Any act that hurts another person is wrong, because it displeases God residing in him. Any act, which helps the other person, is good because it is liked by God same respect to men and women and equally welcomed them to participate in all social and religious functions. Slide 7 LIVE HONESTLY The Guru exhorted Sajjan (nicknamed Thag), * a robber and murderer living in the village of Tulumba in Multan, Pakistan, to earn his livelihood through honest means. He was also, advised that one has to pay for one's actions in the end. `Sajjan gave up vices and became a true sewadar (service man) of the people. Sajjan Thag Slide 8 Physical renunciation of no avail The Guru exposed the Sidhs hollow claim that remaining celibates made them better than married people. He asked them, " How dare you say that you are superior or are nearer to God than family men when you beg for food and depend on them for your sustenance?" Guru Nanak with the Sidhs in the Himalayas Slide 9 SERVICE IS TRUE WORSHIP Guru Arjan Dev ji serving lepers Slide 10 Service is true worship Guru Nanak told the priests that instead of worshipping stone images of the gods they should strive to become one with God's pervasive nature. The correct way to worship Him is to love other human beings who are His creation and in whom God actually resides The correct way to worship Him is to love other human beings who are His creation and in whom God actually resides At Jagan Nath Puri Temple, Slide 11 Sangat and Pangat Guru Nanak established congregation, in which all people, Hindus and Muslims, low,caste and high caste, sit as equal to sing the praises of the Almighty.. TheGuru also instituted pangat, sitting together as equals to partake food which was distributed free to everyone .... Even today this practice of free food (Langar) prevails in gurdwaras and reminds us that all human beings are equal and have the same rights Slide 12 Right to life, the right to equality Guru Nanak stated that the right to life, the right to equality, and the right to worship Him are God given gifts to every person. No religious or political authority can take away right to life, the right to equality Guru nanak with babar at Eimnabad Slide 13 . One may praise God by any name one wants to. The World Conference of Religions for Peace, 1979, actually endorsed the basic principles of the Sikh faith, in New Jersey, USA, concluded: "Too often the names and practices of our religions have been associated with warfare and strife. Now we must reverse this Slide 14 GUR TEG BHADUR JI SACRIFICED HIS LIFE FOR FREEDOM OF RELIGION OF KASHMIRI PANDITS Slide 15 ALL 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 Slide 16 ALL HUMANS ARE EQUAL GURU NANAK PREACHED THAT NONE CAN BE CONSIDERED SUPERIOR OR INFERIOR ON BASIS OF RACE, CLASS,CULTURE HOLY PERSON IS ONE WHO ACCEPTS ALL PEOPLE AS HIS CLASS MATES ;HE CONSIDERS HIMSELF AN EQUAL MEMBER OF BIG CLASS OF HUMANITY;GGS 6 Slide 17 Guru Nanak, five centuries ago preached that the whole world was to be treated as one vast multi cultural society. Mutual regard and respect among all people were the foundation of the true religion. There was no religion superior to this The person who accepts all humans as equals is a holy person of the highest kind. One who controls his mind, and does not hate anyone wins the world with love-- GGS .... Contributor Bhagats of Guru Granth sahib were from low castes Slide 18 MIRI PIRIRELIGION AND POLITICS MIRI-political life and PIRI-religious beliefs should move hand in hand to serve society Religion provides motivation for serving people while political thought provides social stucture for same Aim of both is to provide service and justice to people Guru Hargobind sahib wearing two swords of miri and piri Slide 19 ALL DAYS ARE AUSPICIOUS Gurbani says every day is a good day and very valuable in our life. A person is supposed to love God all the time. Every morning sit quietly to recite and concentrate on the virtues God and do the same again when the day is over. Before going to bed, one is expected to tune one's mind to the blessings of God for a peaceful sleep and prepare for the day when he will 'sleep' for ever. Slide 20 Generally, people believe a particular day to be sacred and more appropriate for prayers. In Hindus, certain days of the week being considered either auspicious or inauspicious, Sankrant (first day of the Indian solar month), Pooran masi ull moon), and Amavas (no moon) days are also considered sacred. Gurbani reiects all these beliefs. It says God made days, not ood or bad days. Those who worship days or dates, considering them to be ausnicious or inauspicious, are naive and ill informed. Guru Granth P843 Slide 21 GOD LORD OF ALL UNIVERSE WHILE UNIVERSE IS CHANGING ACCORDING TO HIS WILL,HE ALONE IS UNCHANGED BEYOND TIME HE IS NEITHER BORN NOR DIES HE IS EVER SELF EXISTING GGS 1 MUL MANTRA Slide 22 HEAVEN AND HELL NO PARTICULAR PLACES BEYOND EARTH PERSON WHO LOVES GOD,GETS HIS BLESSINGS IS LIVING IN HEAVEN GGS749 ANYONE WHO IGNORES GOD AND SUFFERS FROM EGO,LUST,ANGER LIVES IN HELL -- GGS1369 Slide 23 NO ONE IS BORN SINNER EVERY PERSON IS HIS MANIFESTATION LIFE IS GIFT TO SING HIS VIRTUES,TO LOVE HIM,AND HIS CHILDREN GGS12