Introduction to Sikhism (5 minute Opening Speech)
Who is God? Nature and Characteristics : Theme Speech
Sikh Perspective
by Hari Nam Singh Khalsa,
Spiritual Leader, Mentor, Author, and Teacher
Abstract of Theme Speech
Within Sikhism the nature of God is described in the Mool (Root) Mantra. The Mool Mantra is the most important concept within the Guru Granth Sahib (Sikh Holy Scriptures), and is considered the basis of Sikh theology It is said that the Mool Mantra was the first composition of Guru Nanak, the founder of the Sikh Faith.
Mool (Root) Mantra
Ek Ong Kar , Sat Nam
Karta Purkh, Nirbao Nirvair
Akal Moorat, Ajoonee
Saibhung, Gurprasaad
Jap
Aad Suchh
Jugaad Suchh
Haibee Suchh
Nanak Hosee Bhee Suchh
The creator of all is One, Truth is the identity (name)
The creator is the doer of all, without fear or anger
And is undying, unborn and self-illumined
This is revealed through the True Guru’s grace
Meditate
True in the beginning
True through all the Ages
And is True even now
O’ Nanak, God shall ever be True
In relationship to God, Sikhism teaches three basic principles of conscious living, Kirat Karo, to work righteously as a contributor to society, Naam Japo, to meditate daily and Vand Chakkō, to share what you have with others.
In the Western World for the most part we are taught that God lives outside of us and that we have to reach out to find God. Guru Nanak, taught that God lives and breathes in the heart of every soul and that we can experience the God that lives within. His simple concept was:
“If you cannot see God in All, You cannot see God at All”
In that consciousness it is through the eyes of every human being that can see the light in each soul. When we hold that concept then life can become a joy and a celebration. That is truly seeing God in all.
There is a very popular saying that we are created in the image of God. That is easy to say and very easy to recognize, but the most difficult part is that we are created in the image of God, but do we LIVE in the image of God?
In the nature and characteristics of God we have to understand how God lives within each of us. We are born pure, but we forget to live purely. We put too much commotion and feeling into our life. One way to test something is to say: "Does this make me noble, does this make me Divine, does this elevate me to my Creator?" If the action or thought does not align with these three things, depart. And make it as a habit. First ask yourself, are you noble or not? If you are not, do anything you want—anything, it will not matter, because you are not noble, and your decision must be blessed. But if you care to decide you are noble, honorable, truthful, and pure, then whatever comes to you, filter it with one word that is very personal. "Does it make me noble, pure, truthful? Is it a love without condition or with condition?"
This is the essence of God in each of us.
We are human beings. “Hu” means "halo, light" which we all have. "Man" means "mental." "Being” means "for the time being." For the time being, you are a mental halo of light. Once you decide to be noble, Mother Nature and God will treat you so. Otherwise your life will be up, down, up, and down, left, right, and left, right, left. But you won't go anywhere. Our relationship is not what our relationship is here. It comes from many lives, and it will go on for many lives. As a human we have a breakthrough chance. We have come from Infinity to finite to merge back into Infinity. This is our temporary place. It's a motel. Do not take the pillows from the motel away with you.
Why pollute this beautiful human life with emotion and commotion, and ruin the whole thing? Why? There's a beauty in spiritual grace. That beauty is very attractive, very real. Conscious living is better than God itself. When you live consciously, you dwell in God. Then you have a very beautiful power. Wherever you cast your gaze, elevation occurs. Wherever you touch, elevation occurs. Wherever you speak, elevation occurs.
For three thousand years we have been told by every religion, "Find God." Where are you going to find God? God is everywhere—Omnipresent, Omniscient. That is the truth given by Guru Nanak In the Mool Mantra.
I believe that God is perfect, and I believe God, created as perfect and cannot create imperfection. It’s a science. Action has a reaction, equal and opposite. It’s Newton’s Third Law. It’s a law of life. Action has a reaction equal and opposite. Polarity has reality in the base of all Infinity. Finite is a part of Infinity and merger is possible when reality becomes pure in clarity. It’s a simple law and there’s no nonsense about it.
Sikh religion and it's concept is very realistic. It belives not in One God. It believes in the TOTALITY of One God. It does not have a guilt of good and bad: "Aval allah, noor upaayaa...." There is ONE light which created the whole universe and everybody is created by One God, the same God for all.
Ek Ong Kar – this is the fundamental universal truth of the Sikh Faith. There is One God who is the God for everyone regardless of religion, faith, cast, colour, creed, gender or preference.
In this God consciousness we can find peace, prosperity and happiness.