Guru Nanak was born in 1469. He repeated the basic message of Gurmat - that the only way to the Naam was Jap, and that all people are equal - women and men, black and white, poor and rich, and people of different religions. “Since the One Light shines in all hearts, why should I discriminate between people?” He asked people to abandon false ideas and systems, which divided them and make them exploit each other. They could enrich their lives with the Naam which would fill their lives with natural peace, spontaneous activity, dynamic harmony, and devotional power. The Naam is Life Itself - it is beyond religion, science, or any other thought. A life in harmony with Naam (Life) would be richer, stronger, purer. It would work for equality and love among all.
guru granth sahib ji
These ideas were very revolutionary when they were revealed and remain so today. Nine other Gurus followed and elaborated these ideas. A selection of their revealed Words and those of 36 Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhist saints were included in the Scripture. It was originally compiled in 1604 and the original copy, Kartarpur Bir, still exists today. God’s Grace (Gur prasad) descended through Song (Gurbani) which illuminated Ten Messengers (Gurus).
Today, the Light of God’s Grace is reflected as Gurbani in the platter of the Granth (Scripture) which is called, therefore, Guru Granth Sahib Ji (Book of Light) and which is reflected in and nourishes the body of Guru Khalsa Panth, the Sikh community.
