Guru Nanak’s teachings

There is but one God, whose name is truth. “Ek Onkaar Satnam”. These magic words mean ‘there is but one God, whose name is Truth’. This simple concept was the cornerstone of Guru Nanak Dev’s teachings. The founder of Sikhism is one of the greatest philosophers and teachers the world has seen.

He taught ‘Naam’, the science of the Word, which proclaims that realisation of God is attained by communion with the ‘Shabad, Word’. He preached ‘Do Nam Smaran’– love, be devoted to God, and enjoy the bliss of union with Him.

Nanak’s prophetic message manifests in his three fundamental principles: Naam Japna, remembering God; Kirat Karni, working for a living; and Vand Chakhna, sharing one’s possessions with the needy. These were the mainstays of his philosophy and became guiding principles of Sikhs.

Nanak proclaimed, “I am neither a Hindu nor a Muslim. We are all children of God.” He spent his life trying to create a bridge between Hindus and Muslims. He was arguably the world’s first activist, environmentalist and conservationist extolling the value of water and vegetation. Nanak’s wisdom and benevolence earned him everyone’s love and respect. On his death in Kartarpur in 1539, both Hindus and Muslims placed flowers over his body. The site was immortalised by a tomb and temple built over the Muslims’ and Hindus’ flowers, respectively.

The Guru travelled great distances, propagating dharm. Nanak was a great traveller; he spent over 20 years visiting places within and outside India. He is said to have covered about 28,000 kms in his five major udasis, tours between 1500 and 1524. Nanak realised that the world was suffering because of hatred and fanaticism. He travelled because he wanted people to be humane and tolerant.

He started langar wherein food was served free to everyone, irrespective of caste, creed, religion or social and economic status. The langar, constantly served in thousands of Gurdwaras worldwide, not just feeds millions, but sustains many poor people. Today, the world is acknowledging Nanak’s glorious, invaluable legacy and philosophy, which promote generosity, communal harmony, and provide a healing touch to our fractured, turbulent society. The world owes him a debt of gratitude beyond compare.

The meaning of the word ‘Nanak’ is: “One whose dedication, love, and devotion belong solely to the One, not to the many – that is Nanak.” The world is an expansion of the many, yet one who, while living, connects with that One is truly a Nanak.

Guru Nanak Dev undertook four great journeys, or ‘udasis’, walking to distant lands on foot. Those who were blessed with his darshan or who heard his words were transformed.

Nanak’s words are graceful, precise, revolutionary in thought, and a reflection of supreme wisdom. While discussing the four aims of life – dharm, righteousness; arth, material pursuits; kaam, desires; and moksh, liberation, he emphasised that one does not need to renounce home and worldly life to fulfil these goals. Rather, he encouraged people to adopt wisdom through the tradition of sincere seekers.

Mool Mantra

Guru Nanak gave us the mool mantra, “Ik Onkar Satnam Karta Purakh Nirbhau Nirvair Akaal Murat Ajuni Saibhang Gur Prasad – O Supreme Lord, You are One. You are all-pervasive, the Truth, the Creator; existing without fear, without enmity, beyond time, beyond birth, and self-existent by the grace of the Guru.”

Karta Purakh means that God resides within this body-temple and is not only the Creator but also the creation itself, remaining within all that is created. Just as a spider weaves its web from within itself and later pulls it back inside, similarly, the Supreme Being creates the world and, one day, it will dissolve back into the same.

‘Nirbhau Nirvair’ – that is without fear, without enmity. When there is none other than the Divine, what is there to fear?

‘Akaal Murat’ – His form is beyond time. Anything that falls within past, present, or future is subject to destruction.

‘Ajuni Saibhang’ signifies that the Divine is self-existent and self-luminous. When we light a lamp, it requires oil and a wick; the moment oil runs out, the flame is extinguished. Only the Divine is self-sustaining, whose radiance is intrinsic.

‘Gurprasad’ – Guru Nanak Sahib provides the purest explanation of the Divine. ‘Gur’ refers to consciousness, while ‘Prasad’ implies bliss. This is the essential nature of the Divine.

This mantra is a priceless gift from Guru Maharaj that every seeker should embrace deeply. Just as watering the roots nourishes the tree, the mool mantra opens a gateway to ‘Guru Granth Sahib’, allowing one to imbibe its teachings effortlessly.

Wisdom is that light which dispels darkness within our minds, and this light is bestowed upon us by sages and gurus. Nanak teaches us how to dissolve our ego and remove the illusions of the mind.