Gurbani Enlightenment
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This book on “Gurbani Enlightenment” is based on the spiritual hymns of Universal human values for a useful life of peace and harmony. The hymns were composed by Sikh Gurus (15th to 18th century) and several other preachers (12th to 17th century) of diverse faiths from the subcon-tinent of India. These hymns in Punjabi language are embodied in the scripture Guru Granth Sahib (GGS, 1708), the eternal Word Guru of Sikh faith. The current book starts with a poetic translation of Jap ji, the first composition of Guru Nanak (38 stanzas) and is followed by a collec-tion of the selected quotes from GGS and the writings of Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru of Sikhs. Divinity, the forever existent truth, transformed itself to the material Universe that is illusive and transitory. According to Guru Nanak, the human beings behave in an undivinely manner due to the use of lies to attain selfish objectives in life. Therefore, he suggested that everyone should find the company of a truly spiritual enlightener Guru. Get to-gether as a congregation to reflect and sing the praises of Divinity to learn and facilitate the practice of truth. Truthful living is essential to break down the fallacious wall that separates one from realizing the ultimate liberating goal of divine bliss. Remarkably, GGS is the first scripture in the world that brought humanity under one spiritual umbrella over half a millennium back. The basic message to humanity is to be grateful to the one universal Divinity for its wondrous creation and to live a life of virtues for the common good of everybody irrespective of race, caste and creed. The emphasis on always remembering the name of God, the divine creator is to liberate the egoistic mind from the forever indulgent clutches of lust, anger, greed, obsessive attachment, stubbornness and jealousy like instincts that dominate human life. Meditation and reflection of di-vine hymns helps treading on the path of truth with contentment rather than having uncontrolled hunger for the fulfillment of incessant desires. Awakening to the Divinity that is already present within mind lib-erates from anxiety and helps the development of virtues of honesty and dedication in work, true love and service of fellow beings. However, abandoning the family life and adopting the life style of self-mortification as a recluse or a celibate to realize this goal, that some peo-ple often do, is not at all supported. There is exhortation for truthfully following one’s own spiritual path pragmatically in true sense without conflict and hatred for the way others are practicing. However, false practices for material or psycholog-ical gains are vehemently opposed in these hymns. The cruel rulers are tersely reminded of their responsibility for peace and justice for all. Eve-ryone becomes divine through love and practice of virtues. Regard no one as a stranger and pray for the good of everybody. Oh Divinity, you are present in every heart. All living beings are called a divine expression and none is without you. (GGS: 97-8) My dear friend, please meditate on Divinity and that will purify your consciousness for virtuous acts. (GGS: 288-19) Oh Nanak, one knows of the perfect spiritual technique in the com-pany of an enlightener Guru. Following that virtuous path, one is spirit-ually liberated while living a wholesome life of laughing, playing, dress-ing and feeding. (GGS: 522-10)
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About the Book
This book on Gurbani Enlightenment is a message to humanity to be grateful to the Universal Divinity for the wondrous creation through living a life of virtues for the common good of everybody irrespective of race, caste and creed. The message is derived from the hymns in Guru Granth Sahib, the Word Guru of the people of Sikh faith. It contains the poetic compositions of six Sikh Gurus and several other religious preachers of different faiths from 12th to 17th century in the subcontinent of India. Guru Granth Sahib is the first religious scripture in the world that brings humanity under one divine umbrella.
About the Author
Dr. Janak Singh retired as a Principal Scientist (2006) from the Pharmaceutical Research Institute of Bristol-Myers Squibb, Princeton, NJ. He was a lecturer for couple of years in Jammu and Kashmir University, India. He had an eight year academic career of research and teaching at Banaras Hindu University followed by Post Doctoral research in Department of Chemistry, Columbia University in New York, USA. He published over 60 scientific papers and patents in Organic and Medicinal Chemistry, a book on “World Religions and the New Era of Science” (2010) followed by four poetry books. The last composite poetry book “Flights of Reflection” was published in 2022.