The reasons that we are here : Essence of religion
Last year on birthday of Guru Nanak ji, I had a vacation and I decided to spend some time to reading what this saint said.
I found this
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Nanak_Dev#Teachings
- Naam Japna: Chanting the Holy Name and thus remembering God at all times (ceaseless devotion to God)
- Kirat Karō: Earning/making a living honestly, without exploitation or fraud
- Vaṇḍ Chakkō: Sharing with others, helping those with less who are in need
This is a very short list - easy to remember, simple, profound and very practical.
I tried to reduce it further but couldn't -
1. Naam Japna (नाम जपना) is very important because that will fulfill 'the reason that we are here' on Earth. i.e. to see/enter 'Kingdom of heaven' and preparation to enter it.
Without this, even a good execution of 2nd and 3rd point may leave a person with void/emptiness inside.
2. Kirat Karo (कीरत करो) is very vital for person and society both.
Read about a demonstration by Guruji here.
Lack of it has made corruption so prevalent in my country.
3. Vand Chakko (वंद छको) has some obvious and some subtle implications. I am reminded of Amrapali asking Buddha of reason of 'joy and peace' she experienced when Buddha came with his disciples to her place to eat. Said the enlightened one 'you are learning the joy of giving'.
Helping others keeps the ego low. Inflated ego is obstacle to spiritual realization and daily human interaction.
Somewhere in the race to tame the nature, we have missed on these fundamentals.
I think we should always strive, to be able to say 'yes I do' to all the three.
I found this
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Nanak_Dev#Teachings
- Naam Japna: Chanting the Holy Name and thus remembering God at all times (ceaseless devotion to God)
- Kirat Karō: Earning/making a living honestly, without exploitation or fraud
- Vaṇḍ Chakkō: Sharing with others, helping those with less who are in need
This is a very short list - easy to remember, simple, profound and very practical.
I tried to reduce it further but couldn't -
1. Naam Japna (नाम जपना) is very important because that will fulfill 'the reason that we are here' on Earth. i.e. to see/enter 'Kingdom of heaven' and preparation to enter it.
Without this, even a good execution of 2nd and 3rd point may leave a person with void/emptiness inside.
2. Kirat Karo (कीरत करो) is very vital for person and society both.
Read about a demonstration by Guruji here.
Lack of it has made corruption so prevalent in my country.
3. Vand Chakko (वंद छको) has some obvious and some subtle implications. I am reminded of Amrapali asking Buddha of reason of 'joy and peace' she experienced when Buddha came with his disciples to her place to eat. Said the enlightened one 'you are learning the joy of giving'.
Helping others keeps the ego low. Inflated ego is obstacle to spiritual realization and daily human interaction.
Somewhere in the race to tame the nature, we have missed on these fundamentals.
I think we should always strive, to be able to say 'yes I do' to all the three.
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