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Summary of Question:Guru Nanak
Category:The Sikh Gurus
Date Posted:Tuesday, 5/29/2001 6:01 AM MDT

sasriakal;

I read a response to a questionon another site to "is Guru Nanak god?", the response said that no, he is a part of God only. all gurus represent a part of 'the big God', is this true? is Guru Nanak a part of God or God himself. this has truely confused me, because when i asked my dad and mom, thay said that he was God himself, who came to earth to spread the message. i also found this quote on srigurugranthsahib.org
'Guru Nanak is the formless Lord himself, he appeared in the luminous form of jagat guru nanak and fascinates all the worlds, garibi is his fourth swaroop'
this was said by Baba Nand singh ji, who was/is Baba Nand singh ji? was he a follower, or a preecher type person?
i would really appreciate an answer to my question as to whether guru nanak is god, i am sooo confused by this.
also, sorry to hear about the fight that broke out at Sri Har Gobind Gurudwara in Coventry, England. Apparenty there were 2 conflicting groups within the gurudwara and a fight broke out, with the ceremonial swords and daggers being used in the process. It was not reported whether anyone was hurt.

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REPLY
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Dear One:
Sat Siri Akaal.
What is meant in Gurbani by this:
"'Guru Nanak is the formless Lord himself, he appeared in the luminous form of jagat guru nanak and fascinates all the worlds, ..."

Guru Nanak himself wrote this: "Ik Ong Kaar" - There is ONE Creator of the creation. He would not have said that if he thought he was the Creator!

Each of the Gurus had the EXPERIENCE of God, Who is All-in-all. In Japji pauri 4 is the line: "Nanank ayvai jani-ai sabh aapay sachiar." --O Nanak, know that the True Lord is All-in-all.
So, when the Guru had the experience of that Oneness, he became the formless Lord and the formless Lord became him. This does not mean that Guru Nanak became THE Creator of the creation. It means that Guru Nanak had the EXPERIENCE of being One with the Lord, so that there was no way to tell Nanak from the One. It is a subtle difference. Nanak was an incarnation of God, but so are you and me. We know this because we know that the True Lord is All-in-all. How Nanak is DIFFERENT than you and me is that the destiny was written on his forehead and to have that experience of God, which he had by meditating.

In India there is a Gurdwara in honor of Bhai Nand Ji. He lived at the turn of the 20th century (about 100 years ago or so) and was a follower of Nanak. He decided to have the experience that Nanak describes in his Gurbani. So he set himself up to meditate and meditate without stopping. He even rigged a pole so that his arms could hang over it and keep his body upright. He succeeded in his mission, and the Gurdwara stands today as a testament to what Guru teaches us about meditating, and as an inspiration for Sikhs to practice the Naam and Gurbani. (No one is allowed in the Gurdwara without promising themselves that they will do one of about 10 practices, such as reading entire Sukhmani every day for 50 days, or practicing Naam Simran 2 hours/day;, or doing Sehej Paath in 50 days, etc.)

I hope this clarifies things for you.
-DKK



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