Comes
Vaisakhi and it brings a season of Nagar Kirtan around the world. To me it
sounds like a mass congregation with no spiritual significance. It is mere a
funfair. People come to socialize; enjoy assortment of free food and
beverages. There are no preaching values during the procession.
Notwithstanding the magnitude of gathering at Nagar Kirtan year over year,
we fail to increase awareness of true Sikh values around the world resulting
in many un-resolved issues. On-going fears of 911 hate crime in North
America as an example.
Singing divine hymns from the Sri Guru
Granth Sahib requires devotion and dedication. Gurbani informs that
association with God is not a matter of accident. In order to attain
ultimate stage (sahaj avastha) one has to follow through an arduous process
of spiritual practices or discipline and progress stage by stage.
In Sri Guru Granth Sahib, there are over
5,800 shabads and for a Sikh each one is divine order (Hukam).
It’s a huge ocean of knowledge and wisdom
that requires contemplation with utmost concentration and consciousness.
This can not be attained in large gathering on streets; gurbani never
suggests this type of revelry.
In the opening stanza of Sri Guru Granth
Sahib (on page 14th), Guru Nanak seeks a lifetime promise of honesty and
loyalty towards Guru, Gurbani and God in every situation or circumstance.
The stanza suggests one can attain all the riches of the materialistic world
and by following Guru’s direction, one can receive blessing of Waheguru.
Therefore oh Gursikh, “mat daykh bhoolaa veesrai!” - be honest and loyal to
your Guru, Gurbani and God (Akal Purakh) throughout your life as a true
Sikh. Baabaa Nanak also urges us to develop humility, compassion and Sahaj
through constant remembrance of God. Spiritual and material life could be
maintained in harmony. Sikhi is the state of mind, while outlook is a
reflection of a solder that is why a Sikh is also known as a “Sant-Sipahi”,
however such a temperament is missing today.
