Guru: Personification of Divine Blessings

In faith histories, folklore, and legends - recorded, verbally transferred, or popularized by succeeding generations, we come across no greater example, nor a testimony of humility such as exemplified by Guru Gobind Singh. Humility has been a cherished virtue in faith traditions. In Guru Gobind Singh, other nine Sikh Gurus, Sri Guru Granth Sahib, and countless devout followers of the faiths, we find the virtue of humility elevated as an exalted Divine marker. Guru Gobind’s life is an encyclopedia of faith lessons enshrined and lived as an everlasting testimony for all to witness in faith, awe, and reverence that such a radiant soul graced our world.

Through his writings, life and testimony, and contemporary scholars, we get a glimpse of Guru’s mighty mission and his unmatched excellences. A rare ‘Badshah-Durvesh,’ Divine Messenger and Enlightened Teacher, Guru Gobind was, and continues to be, a brilliant guiding star in the Spiritual Galaxy. His universal message and prayers transcend cultures and generations; the Light reflected in his amazing hymns of Praise (Jaap Sahib) illumine the entire universe of faiths. Guru Gobind jolted the masses of India to reject entrenched customs and practices that divided and enslaved people. Guru called upon the people to unite in the common cause of liberating and defending the honor, sanctity, and heritage of the Motherland from the menacing designs of foreign occupants, who against all civilized norms, openly violated what the people of the land held sacred. The Guru challenged fellow citizens of all faiths and all segments of society:

Right the unpardonable wrongs against the Motherland and her people.
Stem the blatant assaults on faiths and freedoms.
End the indignities, injustice, and unconscionable religious persecutions,
The reign of terror, conspired and unleashed upon the law-abiding subjects
By powerful rulers and their blind ambitions, by the ruthless religious zealots.
Organize in self-defense; safeguard national dignity, communities, cultures as a sacred right

Guru Gobind understood the gravity and urgency of the moment and the need to uplift the crushing burdens and fears that devastated and demoralized the people, disturbed peace, wounded and frayed the societal moral order. To address this challenge, Guru Gobind created the Khalsa as the God’s Army of the Pure of heart and spirit and always ready to serve, restore the legitimate rights of the defenseless, and fight against evil that terrorized the innocents. He baptized and transformed his followers into a fearless Brotherhood to fulfill the mission commanded by God as Guru Gobind himself related in his autobiography, Bachittar Natak, and faithfully pursued throughout his life:

To establish and safeguard Dharma and uproot evil.
Reject all divisions of caste, creed, ethnicity, nationality, or gender.
Give an honorable testimony to the teachings of Guru Nanak and his nine successors.
Uphold cherished freedoms: life, liberty, sacred rights, and human dignity.
Defend Justice, promote peace, extend goodwill towards all God’s Children.
Lead by example and a true compassion that transcends divisive barriers created by men.
Reject trespassing differences and indifference that often separate man from God, each other.
Meditate (Naam-Simran) upon the Name of Almighty God; live and honor faith lessons.
Serve without distinction; protect, preserve and be better angels to all Creation.
Bring honor to our humanity and to God who knows and sees all things.
Keep God always at the center of our lives and submit to His Will in humility and grace

GURU GOBIND’S LEGACY AND LESSONS FOR OUR TIMES The world has been sliding ever deeper into darkness: confrontations, regional conflicts, racial and moral divides. Nations are engaged in a frantic race to build dangerous and deadly weapons that can create incredible devastation and have the awesome power to lead to mutual self- destruction. With exploding populations and human expectations, we are also witnessing fierce struggles for survival, unprecedented deterioration and rampage of our environment essential to sustain life; repeated incidents of unprovoked violence by the strong against the weak and defenseless; unconscionable assaults on cultures, faith, ethnic minorities, and sacred rights of others. We see before us moments of great uncertainty, formidable challenges, frightening conflicts and nightmares amidst the great advancements, unimagined abundance, marvels of science and technology, a time of increasing global interdependence, exchange, and cooperation. The life and brilliant legacy of the Great Guru offer us some valuable lessons:

Unite for causes greater than ourselves and abandon self-serving narrow interests.
Build a world free of prejudice, violence, and basic wants.
Shape a world anchored in peaceful coexistence and shared responsibility.
Safeguard, preserve, and advance the collective good as a sovereign universal right.
Envision a world where hopeful initiatives power and launch unlimited possibilities for all.
Imagine a world where life, liberty, and inalienable human rights flourish in safety.
Openness of spirit, peaceful pursuits, guide our creative passions.
Trust and thoughtful concern for others are a celebrated way of life.
Every one is assured and recognizes a fair stake in our advancement as a human family

The Great Guru Gobind proclaimed and exemplified: that when evil raises its ugly head or where it persists, devastating human spirit and causing unjust fear, hardships, death and destruction, then, taking a moral and courageous stand and ending such tyranny with appropriate force is an act of righteousness and a just course to redress the such wrongs and violations.

GURU’S LIFE PERSONIFIES TIMELESS SEARCH FOR TRUTH: A timely stand in the face of formidable odds, define true human character. Such courage has assured human survival, led to celebrated triumphs and advancements in the darkest events in human history; often dared us to leap across daunting thresholds just on faith, explore new frontiers, and find new shores in search of bigger dreams. Our innate and primordial urge to know and understand our universe has helped us unravel fabled great mysteries, and stirred generations to trailblaze to unknown and emerging new frontiers and excel in the Holla Mohallas of our times. Guru Gobind set down his own defining and exemplary markers in courage, sacrifice, service, and truthful living.

A FRAMEWORK OF FAIRNESS AS A TRUE CAUSE FOR PEACE As a solemn commitment, we must create an environment and framework of fairness that dispels fear and ignorance that often threatens human progress and peace. For worthy outcomes, we must honor that which anchors our lives, builds trust and understanding about ideas and ideals different from our own; affirms and delivers equal justice and opportunities without distinction.

SEEING HUMAN UNIVERSE IN THE LIGHT OF IMMACULATE MANDATES: We must not let our personal prejudice cloud our judgment, nor intrude upon our shared sacred space. We must bridge our differences; seek and promote common good and universal goodwill by our submission to Divine mandates and honoring faith lessons. We must together weave a tapestry where every treasured element of our humanity finds a friendly reception and every sacred panel of our heritage enjoys a proud and rightful place in the magnificent whole.

MULTIPYING OUR STRENGTHS AND HUMAN PROMISE We must discover, appreciate, and preserve the Divine threads that connect us and place us at frequent and unimagined crossroads; multiply our strengths and blessings by working in solidarity with others to find answers to critical concerns of our times. We must put our talents and imagination to the tasks that benefit the entire Creation, always remembering that above all, all good works are our gifts to our Humanity. Where such deep concern and spirit of universal goodwill exist, there also is manifest God’s Light, ancient wisdoms, and blessings of all venerated Spiritual Mentors, enlightened souls, righteous braves and trailblazers to guide humanity forward to a more hopeful promise as a civilization and as a human family.
 

Kanwal Prakash “KP” Singh
Indianapolis, Indiana USA
April 13, 2009© 2009

Reprinted with the Author’s Permission