Comments on Sadh Sangat—A Discourse on Comparative Religion from a Sikh Perspective: Sadh Sangat - The Holy Congregation

Dear Harpreet Singh Ji,You have raised the questio...

2008-03-10T11:58:00.000-04:00

Dear Harpreet Singh Ji,

You have raised the questions about social and economic equality. Gurbani addresses both these but slightly differently.
Social inequality on the basis of ethnicity, caste, religion or gender is decried. On lineage and caste:
ਜਾਤਿ ਜਨਮੁ ਨਹ ਪੂਛੀਐ ਸਚ ਘਰੁ ਲੇਹੁ ਬਤਾਇ ॥ ਸਾ ਜਾਤਿ ਸਾ ਪਤਿ ਹੈ ਜੇਹੇ ਕਰਮ ਕਮਾਇ ॥ ੧ ੧੩੩੦
Do not ask about any one's caste or lineage; A person is known by his or her deeds.

On religion:
ਕਹੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਗੁਰਿ ਖੋਏ ਭਰਮ ॥ ਏਕੋ ਅਲਹੁ ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮ ॥ ੫ ੮੯੭
Difference on the basis of religion is delusion which the Guru removes; one then understands that different Names for God in various religions refer to the one Creator. Quotations for others are not being given to keep the post short.

On the economic status the difference is accepted but:

ਨਿਰਧਨੁ ਸਰਧਨੁ ਦੋਨਉ ਭਾਈ ॥ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕੀ ਕਲਾ ਨ ਮੇਟੀ ਜਾਈ ॥੩॥ ਕ ੧੧੫੯
A poor and the rich man are like two brothers; their economic status is as as per God's will.
Such situations actually exist in some families and no distinction should be made.
With reference to Communism, Sikhi abhors its materialism and totalitarianism. Sikhi may be called spiritual socialism, where equality is promoted on a voluntary basis as in Vand Chakna i.e. sharing with others. It is different from the concept of charity which gives a sense of superiority to the donor.This translates into Sangat and Pangat i.e. congregation and Langar where there is no recognition of any status.

Guru Rakha

It is important to note that this article on sādh...

2008-03-10T01:46:00.000-04:00

It is important to note that this article on sādh saṅgat is grounded in textual sources that represent the topic faithfully. The article, however, begins by stating that "God therefore expects all to be treated equally and one should not find fault with or look down upon any one." While I disagree with Raj Rattan Singh's premise that Creator does not expect anything, I want to probe this quote from the article's introduction further. The quote contains two very unrelated ideas: 1) God seeks equality; 2) God does not want us to find fault in others. The first idea concerning equality is what interests me the most. Here "equally" needs to be defined first of all. Does it mean that all human beings should be equal in social and economic sense? Or are they to be equal in terms of their potential to realize God? If it is the former, the thesis cannot be supported using Sikh sources. If it is the latter, then it is easier to justify. I say so because the Gurus sought to remove oppression from society but they did not envisage a social order in which all human beings would have the same social status: the latter is socialism, not Sikhi. It is important, therefore, that terms such as these be defined precisely before they are employed. For additional discussion on the issue of incompatibility of some socialist doctrines with Sikhi, see Kapur Singh's article, "Sikhism and Communism." Kapur Singh's is obviously not an exhaustive statement on socialism (since socialism and communism are different, albeit related) and more work is needed to understand the Sikh position on this political ideology.

Harpreet Singh

Guru Piaray Raj Rattan Singh Jeo and Guru Pirary R...

2008-03-08T10:33:00.000-05:00

Guru Piaray Raj Rattan Singh Jeo and Guru Pirary Rawel Singh Jeo !!!

first of all With Guru's great blessings through this blog may His Light spreads everywhere.

Scondly,the creator doesn't expect anything is very powerful and blissful understanding which happens with the company of creator or the Sadh Sangat ONLY,which is the central theme of this article.

Without the sadh sangat, creator manifests as creation also, however ,with expectations. for example through the creator in us when we read this article The Creator didnt expect anything, however as His creation we are making comments and expressing our understanding about the article whether this article met or didn't meet creation's or The Creator's manifestation's expectations.

With Prayers to remain in the company of The Creator only( as Sadh Sangat) so that no expectation arises in the creation. expectations arise only when we are not in the company of The Creator THE SADH SANGAT.

Charan Singh
Oshawa CA

Raj Rattan Singh Ji,The aspect you have commented ...

2008-03-07T06:00:00.000-05:00

Raj Rattan Singh Ji,

The aspect you have commented on should be seen in the context of "Aval Allah noor upaaeaa kudrat kay sabh banday; Ek Noor tay sabh jag upjiaa kaun bhallay ko manday". So the Creator does expect what has been mentioned.

Rawel Singh

God therefore expects all to be treated equally an...

2008-03-06T13:05:00.000-05:00

God therefore expects all to be treated equally and one should not find fault with or look down upon any one.

This is either very poorly written or the author is The Creator's Creator. The Creator, (in Sikh concepts), creates. The Creator DOES NOT EXPECT ANYTHING. iF the Creator were to expect things to happen a certain the Creator would have created them that way.

Raj Rattan Singh