Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Guru wrote: God is in the Hindu Temple, as He is in the Muslim mosque He is in the Hindu worship as He is in the Muslim prayer The Hindus and Muslims are all one Each with the culture of different environments But all men have the same eyes; the same body The one Lord made them all.
Sikh teachings remind us that nature, God's creation including all forms of life, reflects God himself and we have a responsibility to cherish it. We are reminded that all human behaviour, including scientific research carries either gurmukh (positive or uplifting) or manmukh (negative or demeaning) potential. We need to constantly bear this in mind in deciding where and how far to go in playing with the very building blocks of life itself.
When Guru Teg Bahadhur, our 9th Guru, gave his life defending the right to freedom of worship of another community, the Hindus, in the face of persecution by the Mughal rulers, he poignantly reminded us of the need to stand up for the rights of others. It takes courage, but for true community cohesion, we need to look well beyond mute tolerance, and bring this higher vision of respect for difference to the fore in schools, the workplace and in all we do.
Over the years Sikhs have developed a highly sophisticated system of checks and balances to ensure that their response to threat or attack was always just and proportionate. Force should only be used as a last resort, and that it should be the minimum required to redress injustice. There is also the requirement that force should never be used for personal or political gain, and that non-combatants, particularly women, should always be treated with dignity and respect.
In the Sikh marriage service, a married couple are required to see themselves, not so much as individuals, but as a team of equals in mutual support, and in joint care and commitment, not only to the family, but also to wider society.
When we remove the distorting overlay of culture from religion, we see our different religions as they really are, overlapping circles of belief with much in common. Taking culture out of the equation will also help us see areas of religious difference in a fuller perspective and develop strategies to promote integration, based on genuine understanding and respect.
In keeping with Guru Arjan 's teaching of compassion and concern for others, Sikhs mark the anniversary of his martyrdom in an unusual way. There is no show of bitterness, Instead Sikhs set up stalls outside their gurdwaras and homes to serve cool refreshing drinks to passers-by. In this way we remember the thirst and suffering of Guru Arjan by looking to the needs of others, whatever their race, colour or creed.
While the Sikh Gurus supported the institution of marriage, and themselves lived married lives, they never criticised those that chose alternative lifestyles. Sikhs do not see such relationships as a sin. They are simply a matter of personal choice, which should be respected.
Guru Arjan Dev, the main compiler of the Sikh holy Granth, included in it not only teachings of the Sikh Gurus, but also verses of Hindu and Muslim saints to show that no one religion has a monopoly of truth. Earlier, the Guru showed his respect for Islam, by asking a Muslim saint Mia Mir, to lay the foundation stone of the famous Golden Temple, which has doors on four sides to emphasise a welcome to people from different spiritual and geographic directions.
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