The Guru’s way to God

Guru Nanak asserted, “God is neither Hindu nor Mussalman, so the path I shall follow is God’s way.” After a mystic experience of cosmic consciousness, he realised, “Truth is the highest, but higher still is truthful living.” So he emphasised on absolute integrity, devotion to duty and benevolence with inner focus on divine oneness. Since the Omnipresent is in all creation, he stood for universal brotherhood and transcended sectarian boundaries into Divine presence and filled his cup with nectar of His name to rejoice in Lord.

This largeness of vision sourced his synthesis of nondual Nirgun with dualistic Sagun. Although without any attribute in the ultimate sense, God has manifested Himself in ephemeral world. All that exists is God. God’s will is always done. The best course is joyful surrender to His will and chanting His name with prayer.

Make your mind the plough, deeds the farming, body the field and steady work the watering. Let Nam be the seed you plant.” Nam is the total divine self-expression. The sacred vibration of his chanting Nam enchanted even a cruel murderer like Sajjan and transformed him into a true devotee overnight.

The ultimate reality, Akal Purukh, beyond time and space is beyond human comprehension. But He is self-revealing. The materialistic view of the universe cherished by the ego is the real obstacle for realisation.

Guru Nanak described five stages through which a person passes on his way to oneness with God. First, one must be virtuous, dutiful and benevolent, as each one is judged by his deeds by a faultless judge in a perfect court. Second, knowledge or divine awareness with a new vision in expanded mind is necessary, as enlightenment shines in the realm of knowledge. Third, acquired knowledge is required to be assimilated as profound wisdom through constant endeavour and selfeffort. Thus, one reaches the ultimate level in the realm of truth in infinite perspective in ecstasy which can only be experienced, and never described.