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he Sikh Bulletin cyq-vYYyswK 542 nwnkSwhI March-April 2010 fools! The next pauree returns to provide a detailed pronouncement on Gavna. It begins with the question so dru kyhw so Gru kyhw ijqu bih srb smwly Meaning: what is the nature of the door and of the abode from within which God resides? The answer is provided in terms of music, raag, instruments, taal, singing and song. so dru kyhw so Gru kyhw ijqu bih srb smwly ] vwjy nwd Anyk AsMKw kyqy vwvxhwry ] kyqy rwg prI isau khIAin kyqy gwvxhwry ] gwvih quhno pauxu pwxI bYsMqru gwvY rwjw Drmu duAwry ] gwvih icqu gupqu iliK jwxih iliK iliK Drmu vIcwry ] gwvih eIsru brmw dyvI sohin sdw svwry ] gwvih ieMd iedwsix bYTy dyviqAw dir nwly ] gwvih isD smwDI AMdir gwvin swD ivcwry ] gwvin jqI sqI sMqoKI gwvih vIr krwry ] gwvin pMifq pVin rKIsr jugu jugu vydw nwly ] gwvih mohxIAw mnu mohin surgw mC pieAwly ] gwvin rqn aupwey qyry ATsiT qIrQ nwly ] gwvih joD mhwbl sUrw gwvih KwxI cwry ] gwvih KMf mMfl vrBMfw kir kir rKy Dwry ] syeI quDuno gwvih jo quDu Bwvin rqy qyry Bgq rswly ] hor kyqy gwvin sy mY iciq n Awvin nwnku ikAw vIcwry ] soeI soeI sdw scu swihbu swcw swcI nweI ] hY BI hosI jwie n jwsI rcnw ijin rcweI ] rMgI rMgI BwqI kir kir ijnsI mwieAw ijin aupweI ] kir kir vyKY kIqw Awpxw ijv iqs dI vifAweI ] jo iqsu BwvY soeI krsI hukmu n krxw jweI ] so pwiqswhu swhw pwiqswihbu nwnk rhxu rjweI ] Melody vibrates Your door step, and countless musicians play countless instruments, singing countless raags and songs. The wind, water and fire are engaged in a song. The angels who record actions and the judge who judges also sing at Your door. Shiva, Brahma and many gods and goddesses, ever adorned, sing. Inder, seated upon his throne, sings at Your door. The Siddhas in meditation sing; the Saadhus sing in contemplation. The celibates, the truth seekers, the pacifists and the fearless warriors sing. The scholars, who recite the Vedas, with the supreme sages of all the ages, sing. The celestial bodies created by You, and the sixtyeight places of pilgrimage sing. The brave and mighty warriors sing; the spiritual heroes and the four sources of creation sing. The planets and galaxies, created and arranged by Your Hand, sing. They alone sing, who are pleasing to Your Will. Your devotees are imbued with the nectar of Your essence. Many others that do not come to mind sing. O Nanak, how can I count them all? The Lord is true, forever true, and true is His existence. He is and shall always be. He shall not depart, even when this universe which He has created departs. He created the world, with its various colors and variety of species. Having created the creation, He watches over it Himself, by His greatness. He does what He pleases. No order can be issued to Him. He is the king, the king of kings, the supreme lord and master of kings. Nanak remains subject to His will. Such is the importance of this pauree that it appears three times in the GGS with very slight poetic variations. Its second appearance is in Rehras on page 8 of the GGS. In the Rehras version, the word “Terey” meaning ‘Yours’ appears prominently in every line. It appears yet again in Aasa Raag on page 347. The second appearance of any shabad in the GGS is indeed rare. That one entire composition on Gavna appears three times definitely speaks volumes of the importance of the concept. Sikhi is thus a spiritual and Godly song. The essence of Sikh spirituality is Gavna. Guru Nanak introduced Gavna in pauree three as the first concept of Sikhi practice – right after introducing Hukam as the first concept of Sikh philosophy. He then lays out a practical flow chart for Sikh spirituality that flows out of Gavna into Suneay which flows into Maney and on into Parvaan. After the Parvaan pauree Guru Nanak returns to the concept of the Creator’s supremacy in order to root this concept firmly in the mind of the journeying Sikh. The Baba’s spiritual wisdom regarding the supremacy of God is established through ten paurees: the Asankh Aant, Kaytay and the Amul. Twenty four paurees after introducing Gavna – the starting point of the flow chart, and after framing Gavna within the supremacy of the Creator in ten K. T. F. of N. A. Inc. 3524 Rocky Ridge Way, El Dorado Hills, CA. 95762 6
he Sikh Bulletin cyq-vYYyswK 542 nwnkSwhI March-April 2010 paurees, Guru Nanak returns to complete the flow. The logic and flow of Japji is marvelous, to say the least. It is thus not without basis that many Gursikshs accept the notion that Japji contains the essence of the entire GGS. The next 11 paurees and the final salok are marvelous in their own regard as well. Their explanation will follow in succeeding articles. [Note: Comments and questions may be directed to the writer at dhillon99@gmail.com – Editor] ***** WHY IS RELIGIOUS LITERACY IMPORTANT IN TODAY’S WORLD? Prof Devinder Singh Chahal, PhD Institute for Understanding Sikhism The place of religion in public education is a hotly debated topic that continues to challenge school system in all parts of the world. For some religion is primary cause of social division, conflict and war, whilst others have argued that this is a distortion of the 'true' significance of religion, which when properly followed promote peace, harmony, goodwill and social cohesion. The modern world is looking for peace for the survival of the humanity. Why Religious Literacy is important in Today’s World - An International Symposium for Educators, Scholars and policy makers was held at Moyse Hall, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada on October 2, 2009. It was attended by about 200 students, teachers, scholars and policy makers. The educators attending this symposium carried home a message that there is growing recognition in Europe and North America that religious illiteracy creates serious barriers between cultures. In this symposium the emphasis was on how education of religion could be imparted in schools so that students could understand and appreciate the beliefs of other religions to eliminate intolerance towards somebody’s faith. Dr Spancer Boudreau of McGill University, Montreal reported the history of teaching of Religion in Quebec State, Canada. He mentioned that teaching of religion is very controversial task since it is difficult to decide what is right and what is wrong in a particular religion since a teacher cannot be expert in all the religions. Dr Boudreau also made very clear that ethics and religions are two different subjects. Dr Robert Jackson, University of Warwick, UK presented the situation of teaching of religions in the world. He mentioned incidence of 9/11 is an awakening since there is an increase interest to know religions. However, he said that research on religion has also increased to develop understanding of other religions to increase the spirit of tolerance. He has also mentioned that books on religions are written by those who don’t know religions. He further mentioned that how the same religion is being taught differently in different countries. For example, Islam of Indonesia is different from that of Iran, Iraq and other Islamic countries. I have also noticed that whereas the hijab is must in some Islamic countries but it is banned in Public offices in another Islamic country, Turkey. Now somebody may pose a question: What is the truth about Hijab? Dr Isabelle Saint-Martin, University Sorbonne, France reported that education of religion from 1882 to 1923 in French school was mandatory: Duty before God. First book on religion for schools was published in 1877 and it was modified in 1906: Heaven – Dead. And use of reason was incorporated in the book. France is a secular country and in 1905 Church was separated from the State. The State wants to maintain secularism but teaching of religion in private schools is not hindered. She emphasized that understanding of other religions will infuse spirit of tolerance in young fellows. She also mentioned that interpretation of religion in the contemporary world is too allusive. She also quoted some figures that Catholics are in majority forming about 60%, Islam is 6% and other religions are in minority (Sikhism was not mentioned may be because of insignificant number of Sikhs), however, the population of people without any religion is 26%, next to Catholics. I think this is almost the same percentage found in British Columbia (BC), Canada. And population of people without any religion is increasing in the other well-educated states or cities of the North America. Although population of people without any religion is increasing still many religious groups claim that interest in religion is reviving. But I think it might be due to the after effect of 9/11 that people want to know why any religion would do such a horrendous K. T. F. of N. A. Inc. 3524 Rocky Ridge Way, El Dorado Hills, CA. 95762 7
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The Sikh Bulletin

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