WHAT I LEARN FORM THE BOOK: A BRIEF BIOGRAPHY OF GURU TEGH BAHADUR
He was born in April 1621 in the historic town of Amritsar, here now stands Gurdwara Guru ka Mahal. He had a unique place in the gallery of martyrs. At the time of religious freedom, he was being threatened, he stood up to defend the cause of the Kashmiri Pandit and in the process sacrificed his life thus setting precedence in defending human rights much before the United nations taking up this cause and the governments appointing Human Rights Commission.
The Guru says-
Fight only the battle in the cause of righteousness to protect the weak and the oppressed. Fight against the tyrants who torture poor and helpless people. He further advises that they should think of God while fighting which implies that they should never lose sight of morality and ethics even in the field of battle.
Thus, Martial training along with study of other subjects had by then become a part of the curriculum of all children from the Gurus's families.
Guru Hargobind was well aware of the prevailing situation with common man’s mindset of abject submission to injustice and tyranny: this needed to be changed to prepare the masses to stand up and strive to write off the evils of injustice and tyranny from the face of society.
The hero, entering the field,
fights on without quailing.
know that man to be a true hero
who flights in defense of the defenseless;
Hacked limb by limb, he feels not the field.
Guru Granth Sahib, 1412
Lord, Grant me this boon:
Never may I retract from righteous deeds:
May I never turn back in fear when from facing the foe;
May I ever instruct my mind to chant Thy praises; a
And when the end approaches,
May I fall fighting in the field of battle.
Guru Nanak was the first to say that inter-religious dialogue, which is an essential characteristics of religious pluralism, is necessary to keep inter-community social relations amiable and peaceful.
As it is, the relationship between the Sikh and the Guru is of spirit and not of firm. This implies the Sikhs' firm belief that mere expression of faith in the Guru and just a glimpse of Guru are not going to help on their spiritual journey to self-realization. They must seek guidance from the Guru in all ventures of their personal and communal life and the letter will show the way which they must tread themselves.
True state of none has realized,
Yogis, celebrates, austerity performers, and
Many servants got exhausted (trying this).1. Pause
He can change a pauper into a Prince,
and a Princess into pauper;
He fills the empty and empties the filled ones;
This world is his manifestation and
He himself beholds the multiplicity of his creation
Yet he remains transcendent.
Beyond count and limited, in accessible and immaculate
He charms the world.
Only the ones who abandon all delusions
Get their hearts attached to him, says Nanak
-Guru Granth Sahib, 537
Why go into forests in search of God?
abides the immaculate Lord in all,
He pervades in each being.1. Pause
As fragrance in the Rose and reflection in the mirror
The Lord abides within: seek him there, O Brother.1.
Realize the Lord abiding with in as well as without,
The Guru has revealed this truth.
Delusion is not effaced without self- realization, says God’s devotee Nanak.2.1
-Guru Granth Sahib, 684
All strength is gone: have got bond down in Maya:
No effort is of any avail;
O Lord, Thou alone are the prob now,
Save me as Thou had saved the elephant, say Nanak.
Guru Granth Sahib, 1429
The guru states:
Only he be deemed a realized person who feels no grief when aggrieved;
Who has no attachment for comforts,
Transcends fear and deems gold as mud.1. Pause
Remains unaffected by
Slander or praise, ego or avarice;
He transcends joy and sorrow, honor and dishonor.1.
... ... ...
The person blessed by Guru with his grace understands this way of life;
Such a person attains oneness with God, Just as water merges with water 3.11.
-Guru Granth Sahib, 633
Great inspiration for all of us...
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