Previous

Next

Ask a Question

Summary of Question:	Satnaam/Waheguru And The Rehat
Category:	Sikh Practices
Date Posted:	Tuesday, 2/18/2003 11:27 PM MST

Vaheguru Jee Ka Khalsa, Vaheguru Jee Kee Fateh.

This is not a question, but a comment on the response on the above mentioned subject dated 2/18/2003. I apologise for the intrusion, as the forum is doing an excellent job of answering questions on various subjects.

It is stated:
<<
Meditation should be done on Naam. You can meditate to Waheguru, Satnam, or even Om if you want to.
>>

A warning bell here.

While "OM" may be a mantar that people use, Guru Nanak's hukam to us in Sri Guru Granth Sahib is to do the jaap of Mool Mantar, while Bhai Gurdas has told us in his "key" to the bani to recite Waheguru, as the Gurmantar. (Mool Mantar is what Guru Nanak got from the Akal Purakh..Ek Onkar to Gur Parsad, and he then appended what he (as in Guru Nanak) saw in his court...Aad Sach to Hoseh Beeh Saach).

As a sikh forum, let us stay with what Guru Nanak and Bhai Gurdas are saying on this subject.

If you read Bhai Randhir Singhs autobiography, he tells us of an instance where a person who had been reciting "Sukhshaam" a mantar for the last 20 years got nowhere. It sort of tallies in with the view that the redeemer of Kalyug is Guru Nanak and as Sikhs let us stick to what he has said rather than what others say.

2. It is further stated:
<<
I personally don't have much confidence in the so-called "rehat maryada".
>>

As individuals we have a lot of opinions, but as a forum moderator I would urge caution when making such statements. The Panthic rehat maryada is PUBLISHED (only) by the SGPC but it took about 30 + eminent sikh savants more than 14 years to crystallise and issue way back in 1940 or so. Due process was followed and the deliberations and opinions of all were considered before final release.

This rehat maryada is naturally subordinated to the rehat of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, but the message of equality preached by the Kalgidhar (Manas kee jaat saabeh eek pahchaneey) is tempered by the hukamnamas in Sri Guru Granth Sahib where Bhagat Kabir warns us to stay away from bad company. He gives us the analogy of a care free banyan tree which resides next to the "behar,(fruit)" tree. In a gentle breeze when the banyan leave trees make contact with the thorns of the behar tree the thorns slice the leaves.

The hukamnama, therefore, advises us to stay away from "bad" sangat.

Similarly in the rehat maryada we are asked to stay away from Dhir Maal, Ram Raai etc., as their sangat was that of the tree quoted above.

So please while the forum does excellent sewa, for which we all look up to it, let us be careful about the words we use to assault the works of Gur Sikhs who did what they did with only love for the Guru in their heart.

That love which undobtedly inspires this forum as well must be respected and not trashed.

With apologies again for the intrusion

Humbly

Hargurmit Singh
[email protected]

<<<<< REPLY >>>>>

Wahe Guru Ji ka Khalsa
Wahe Guru Ji ki Fateh!

Thank you, Hargurmit Singh Ji. You are correct that the mantra "OM" will not take us where we need to go. Guru Nanak gave us "Ong Kar" in the Mool Mantra which is God in manifestation - much more powerful than the formless OM. As Sikhs of the Guru, we hardly want to end up as beggars. Let us stick with Guru's Mool Mantra.

.....G