Learn About the Important Teachings of Guru Nanak Dev Ji
My mother’s maternal home was in Sultanpur Lodhi, where Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the first guru of Sikhs had spent almost 15 years of his life. Hence, the place is bound to have many Gurudwaras dedicated to Guru Nanak Dev Ji and his sister Bebe Nanki who was married in Sultanpur. One of this Gurudwara is ‘Ber Sahib’, which is a famous and very historical gurudwara of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Guruji used to take a bath in the Bein River just behind this Gurudwara and meditate under a Beri tree (Indian Plum Tree). Everything is still there, making the whole atmosphere very serene. You can feel the calmness of Guru Nanak Dev Ji in the entire place.
Guru Nanak Dev Ji was born in a Hindu family, but he had never followed and accepted anything that he was supposed to do just because he was born in a particular community. He refused to wear the Janeu (sacred thread) as he believed that wearing anything of this kind could not keep you free from sin. Guruji said that this thread would be automatically worn by praising the almighty and living an honest life and that thread once worn could never be broken. These things if understood by us can transform our personality to a great extent.
Guru Nanak was a well-read and well-traveled person and it was his spiritual teaching which laid the foundation of Sikhism. Guruji started the Langar tradition and through this implemented his teaching of ‘Sangat and Pangat’, which means that people from any community, caste, faith, colour or creed would sit together, eat together and pray together.
There is only one God and this is the supreme truth and reality. He is not bounded in worldly things like birth. He is everywhere and in his every creation so it is wrong to tie him in a specific worship pattern.
Guru Nanak Dev Ji had always emphasized sharing, as this gives ultimate satisfaction and happiness that no other thing in this world can give. Also one should help those who are needy and leave all our selfish desires and greed.
Guru Nanak preached that one should live their life with honesty and without doing any fraud and by not giving any sort of the pain to anyone.
Always remember the almighty, as he is the supreme power is another thing stressed on by Guru Ji. Guru Nanak also gave great importance to the worship of God. One should remember him all the time. Also while doing prayers one should request for the welfare of the entire community, not only for his or her family or community. One should not be self-centered.
Never hesitating to speak the truth and speaking it without any fear is another of Guru Ji’s teachings.
Guru Nanak also advised his followers to not be scared of death as it is inevitable.
As Guru Nanak Dev Ji was born during a period of great inequalities and during that time women were considered far inferior to men and even evil, but even then Guru Ji preached the equality of men and women.
Guru Ji also taught that egotism is very dangerous to leave it.
I think that if we make Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s preaching a way of our life then everywhere there will be peace and calmness.
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15 April 1469: Guru Nanak, founder of Sikhism and first Sikh Guru, was born
