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Summary of Question:	Question About Gurbani Being Guru
Category:	Gurbani
Date Posted:	Wednesday, 12/11/2002 1:12 PM MST

I have recently started learning more about Gurbani from the granthis at my Gurudwar. I am confused by a few things and they did not acknowledge my question so I was hoping you would be better able to answer them.

1-Guru Nanak came to show people the truth about religion and he said in a few places that by reading scriptures and doing rituals we will not get closer to God, but only by experiencing God we can get closer to Him. This is what has been read to me by the granthis. Like I heard stories too, about Guru Nanak explaining to people who were reading the vedas and puranas that their efforts were useless without knowing God. But then when I go to the gurudwara I see that everyone is only involved in things that Guru Nank came to put an end to! They pay people to read Gurbani for them and there is reading of Gurbani like a ritual instead of to understand what Guru was trying to tell us. This seems very hypocritcal to me. So aren't we actually going against what is written in gurbani by doing these things?

2-Where does it say that the SGGS is the guru? I have not read it anywhere.

I have more questions also, but this is enough for now I think. Thanks!

Wahe Guru ji ka Khalsa , Wahe Guru ji ke Fateh!


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Wahe Guru Ji Ka Khalsa,
Wahe Guru Ji Ki Fateh.

Wow. You're great. You see the difficulty exactly. Guru Nanak did point out that ritual and blind reading did not take one closer to God. And yes, it is very true that in today's world, some of the Sikhs have turned Gurdwara and reading of Gurbani into a ritual. Is it hypocritical? Well - it's actually human nature. It is far easier to act ritualistically than to actually engage the Guru and allow the Bani to transform you. So that's one of your challenges - make sure that you don't turn Gurbani into a ritual yourself. You can't change other people. But you can make an intention for yourself that you will engage the Guru's words in a very genuine way and allow those words to guide you, change your perceptions and your understanding. Set the good example. That's the best you can do.

Guru Gobind Singh installed the Siri Guru Granth Sahib as the Guru. It was his command that made the SGGS our spiritual guide.

Hope this answers your questions.

All love,

GPK