How we celebrated 300 years of Guru Granth Sahib as our Guru in 2008, is also a measure of our progress as the Sikhs of the Guru.

To mark this centennial milestone in our lifetime, a souvenir publication, “One Guide & One Path – Preceptor Eternal Guru Granth Sahib” produced by the Eastern Media Group has been made available online (see bottom left of this column). At Annex IV of this souvenir is a Gurbani based check-list to see how we measure up to the Eternal Guru’s teaching. This self test can be used to  ask ourselves how truly we understand and abide by the True Guru’s teachings in our personal and corporate (Panthic) lives.

Have we made progress, are we standing still, or are we moving away from the Guru’s path. About treading the path of Sikhee, the Guru had warned from the outset, “If you yearn to play the game of love, place your head on your palm and come my way. And once you set your foot on this path, never hesitate to lay down your life. [Guru Nanak Sahib, SGGS 1412.]. To tread the path of Sikhee is to continually challenge the inequality and injustice in human society. This challenge starts with the adoption of the visible Sikh identity stressing the right to own identity and respect for human diversity. 

Overall, when the test of Gurbani and Sikh Reht Maryada, is applied at individual and community level, then, regrettably, we do not measure up to many important criteria. To quote a bullet point from the souvenir, “Guru Granth is not an idol to be worshipped but to be read, contemplated and its divine principles enshrined in our hearts and lives as guiding precepts.” Yet, from the following it will be seen that while we worship Sri Guru Granth Sahib like an idol, we hardly follow the divine guidance! For example, how do we score against the following:-

Do not recognise gurudoms: only Gurbani, the Revealed Word in Sri Guru Granth Sahib is The Guru. Do not be deceived by bogus “sants” (self proclaimed saints)

Accept men-women equality – the same human soul resides in different bodies

Condemn the degrading caste system. Reject fear based superstition and ritualism: Do not believe in pilgrimages & holy baths, nor in good or bad omens, and have any superstition about good-bad days or months. How do we score against these basic teachings?

As for our corporate progress as the Khalsa Panth, we are required to follow the path of Sikhee as taught by the Gurus. The path of Sikhee requires an independent disposition. For that reason it is often called Tisra Panth, the Third Path, independent of previous creeds resulting in the emergence of Niara Khalsa, The Unique Khalsa, as revealed by Guru Gobind Singh Ji on Vaisakhi Day 1699.

“I do not go on pilgrimage to Mecca, nor do I go to places of (Hindu) pilgrimage to worship (idols). I serve only One Timesless Being and no other.”  (SGGS p 1136)

So where are we now and which way are we heading ? Dr I J Singh has summarised our “progress” from the historical perspective in his key article in the souvenir publication under the heading, “So Large an Umbrella” and concluded, “Sikhism is now 500 years old, and we should not expect differently. With time, some divisive interpretations of the message may be inevitable in living traditions. All living societies, even those that emanate from the same starting point, show change – some for better, some for not so.”

            In Sri Guru Granth Sahib, quite uniquely amongst world religions, we have inherited the original Word. Modern means of communication are a powerful tool at our disposal. Research and dissemination of the divine Word will surely continue to preserve the founding principles of Sikhee in its pristine form. Let us hope so as we start year 2009.