Aspects of Guru Nanak's Philosophy (An Old and Rare Book)

The religious movement initiated by the Sikh Gurus presents a unique phenomenon in the religious history of India. Guru Nanak started this movement five hundred years ago a ment distinct from both Hinduism and Islam. move His 'dialogues' with leaders of different sects and schools of thought reveal his rational, experimental and critical approach to religion. He questioned the relevance of both the Brahmin priest and the Muslim Mulla and rejected the Hindu ritualism and Muslim ceremonialism. He avoided the Arabic language of the Muslims and the Sanskrit of the Brahmins. Guru Nanak did not base his authority on the Vedas or the Qu'ran. The truth which filled his mind was not borrowed from books. It emanated from his religious experience. It came to So says him as an illumination of his entire life. He realized the eternal Truth and showed others the path of God-realization. Nanak, so says Nanak' is the burden of his songs. He guided the common people in their temporal difficulties as well as in their spiritual quest. He spread his message in a language intelligible to the ordinary man, which henceforth came to be known as Guru bans. It has ever since brought comfort and peace to sensitive souls in moments of strain, misery and death. Substantial studies have been made regarding the social, political and cultural implications of the teachings contained in the Gurubani. It has been and continues to be pervasively used for personal and communal edification. But the works that focus on the philosophy of Gurubani are few and far between. It is a field rich with potentialities for research. There is need for sustained study of the basic concepts of Gurubani and a systematic exposition of its philosophy.