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Summary of Question:	Is Guru Nanak A Saint Or God Himself?
Category:	Sikh Practices
Date Posted:	Saturday, 4/24/2004 6:21 PM MDT

I was raised to believe that Guru Nanak is Nirankar himself, but everyone else I know believes that He is a saint/messenger of God.

I'm 12 and now I ponder about this a lot. I'm just curious, what are your views on this? Thanks!

PS: There is a line in the Gurbani that says something like 'If you call me Guru, you will go to hell.

My view on this is that God is testing us in a way. IF you say the name of God it is not hell anymore!

I dont know this line in Punjabi, but my mom says that if you read it in a perspective, it actually says 'If you call guru good, you'll be freed from hell

Also, I went to an IIGS camp, where they made us all say 'Guru is not God', together. I felt ENRAGED at this!!! They dont have a right to do that!

So, can you please tell me your views? Thank you!

PSS: Another example of Babaji testing us is when he told Ranjit Singh that if he built a Gurdawra in memory of him, he wont have any more descendents. It was a test, to see what sacrifices us humans could make for God, and what people would do for greed.

I know I'm asking to much, so here it is plain and simple:
1. What are your views on this matter?
2. What does the Gurbani say, what do you believe about that one line?
3. DOes IIGS have a right to make me say that? (IIGS is very good and i have a great deal of respect for them, except for that one thing

Thank you sooooo much! I've been pondering this for a while now!

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reply
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Sat SIri Akaal.
Guru Nanak was a saint and messenger, yet another representation of God. God is everywhere. In rocks, trees, boxes, plants, people, animals, etc. You name it, this Creation of all what you see IS GOD. So, in that sense, Guru Nanak is God, but so are you and me! I think your mataji's interpretation of that line is accurate.
Spend some time on Sikhnet at the Siri Guru Granth Sahib site, find it off the homepage www.sikhnet.com. Read the english. You won't understand it all or what it means, but that's OK. I have seen SGGS mention time and again that Guru is God. HOWEVER, the Guru referenced here is not a physical person, but Shabd Guru. The Guru of Nanak and all the 10 Gurus and all Gursikhs is SHABD Guru, and Nanak says this himself in his conversation with the yogis known as Sidh Gosht in Siri Guru Granth Sahib. It was in the beginning and is now. Shabd means word or hymn. 'Banee Guroo, guroo hai banee, vich banee, amrit sha-deh.' Bani is Guru and Guru is bani. That is why the we worship guru in the form of Siri Guru Granth Sahib, which is the WORD and sound current of Guru. So, IIGS is not completely wrong in saying Guru is not God, if they are referring to the 10 Sikh Gurus. However, Shabd Guru is what takes you to the experience of Ik Ong Kaar, and in the eyes of those who understood and experienced this and wrote it down in bani, it is one and the same. It cannot be understood through the mind, only in the experience of shabd, of Naam. So what does this mean? It means begin your daily practice of naam simran now, and in time you will understand it far more fully. Guru ang sang,
-DKK