You may able to read the Sikh Scriptures online by clicking on the following website:
http://www.gurbanifiles.org/translations/English
1. Sikh Sacred Scriptures are known the Guru Granth Sahib (or Adi Granth, meaning the original book).
http://www.gurbanifiles.org/translations/English
1. Sikh Sacred Scriptures are known the Guru Granth Sahib (or Adi Granth, meaning the original book).
2. It is unique among the world's great scriptures containing writings of not only Sikh Gurus but also writings from people of other faiths. A list of all the contributors of this great scriptures containing around 3,384 verse are found in the following website: http://www.sikhs.org/granth.htm
3. It is considered the Supreme Spiritual Authority and the current Guru, the head of the Sikh religion.
4. Sikhs consider this Holy Book with utmost reverence both in Sikh homes and the Gurudwara.
5. Sikhs reject idol worship. Hence their respect and adoration for the Holy Book should not be considered as idol worship.
6. Guru Granth Sahib is a collection of devotional hymns and poetry, which proclaims God. The emphasis in these sacred writings is “meditation on the True Guru (God)”. There is also a great stress on “moral and ethical” living that would eventually lead to union with God.
7. The writings here are supposed to be in a chronological order!
Below you will find a quote from the beginning of this Sacred Book to get a flavour of this book – for easy reading I have omitted the numbers:
“By thinking, He cannot be reduced to thought, even by thinking hundreds of thousands of times. By remaining silent, inner silence is not obtained, even by remaining lovingly absorbed deep within… Some, by His Command, are blessed and forgiven; others, by His Command, wander aimlessly forever. Everyone is subject to His Command; no one is beyond His Command. O Nanak, one who understands His Command, do [edited] not speak in ego. Some sing of His Power-who has that Power? Some sing of His Gifts, and know His Sign and Insignia. Some sing of His Glorious Virtues, Greatness and Beauty. Some sing of knowledge obtained of Him, through difficult philosophical studies. Some sing that He fashions the body, and then again reduces it to dust. Some sing that He takes life away, and then again restores it. Some sing that He seems so very far away. Some sing that He watches over us, face-to-face, ever-present. There is no shortage of those who preach and teach… The Great Giver keeps on giving, while those who receive grow weary of receiving… O Nanak, know this well: the True One Himself is All. He cannot be established, He cannot be created. He Himself is Immaculate and Pure. Those who serve Him are honored. O Nanak, sing of the Lord, the Treasure of Excellence. Sing, and listen, and let your mind be filled with love. Your pain shall be sent far away, and peace shall come to your home… Guru's Word is the Wisdom of the Vedas; the Guru's Word is all-pervading. The Guru is Shiva, the Guru is Vishnu and Brahma; the Guru is Paarvati and Lakhshmi. Even knowing God, I cannot describe Him; He cannot be described in words. The Guru has given me this one understanding: there is only the One, the Giver of all souls. May I never forget Him! …Without pleasing Him, what good are ritual cleansings? I gaze upon all the created beings: without the karma of good actions, what are they given to receive? Within the mind are gems, jewels and rubies, if you listen to the Guru's Teachings, even once. The Guru has given me this one understanding: there is only the One, the Giver of all souls. May I never forget Him!..."
Question to Explore:
Explain the content of the Sacred Scriptures of the Sikhs. What place do they give for the scriptures in their religious life?
Below you will find a quote from the beginning of this Sacred Book to get a flavour of this book – for easy reading I have omitted the numbers:
“By thinking, He cannot be reduced to thought, even by thinking hundreds of thousands of times. By remaining silent, inner silence is not obtained, even by remaining lovingly absorbed deep within… Some, by His Command, are blessed and forgiven; others, by His Command, wander aimlessly forever. Everyone is subject to His Command; no one is beyond His Command. O Nanak, one who understands His Command, do [edited] not speak in ego. Some sing of His Power-who has that Power? Some sing of His Gifts, and know His Sign and Insignia. Some sing of His Glorious Virtues, Greatness and Beauty. Some sing of knowledge obtained of Him, through difficult philosophical studies. Some sing that He fashions the body, and then again reduces it to dust. Some sing that He takes life away, and then again restores it. Some sing that He seems so very far away. Some sing that He watches over us, face-to-face, ever-present. There is no shortage of those who preach and teach… The Great Giver keeps on giving, while those who receive grow weary of receiving… O Nanak, know this well: the True One Himself is All. He cannot be established, He cannot be created. He Himself is Immaculate and Pure. Those who serve Him are honored. O Nanak, sing of the Lord, the Treasure of Excellence. Sing, and listen, and let your mind be filled with love. Your pain shall be sent far away, and peace shall come to your home… Guru's Word is the Wisdom of the Vedas; the Guru's Word is all-pervading. The Guru is Shiva, the Guru is Vishnu and Brahma; the Guru is Paarvati and Lakhshmi. Even knowing God, I cannot describe Him; He cannot be described in words. The Guru has given me this one understanding: there is only the One, the Giver of all souls. May I never forget Him! …Without pleasing Him, what good are ritual cleansings? I gaze upon all the created beings: without the karma of good actions, what are they given to receive? Within the mind are gems, jewels and rubies, if you listen to the Guru's Teachings, even once. The Guru has given me this one understanding: there is only the One, the Giver of all souls. May I never forget Him!..."
Question to Explore:
Explain the content of the Sacred Scriptures of the Sikhs. What place do they give for the scriptures in their religious life?
