Bhai Gopal Singh – Jaisi Meh Aavai Khasm Ki bani

by Harnaak Singh

Asia Samachar published article on the GLOBAL SIKH COUNCIL INC. (GSC INC.) meeting hosted by Malaysian Gurdwaras Council (MGC) title “Sikh lady helms nascent global Sikh organisation” dated 27-Mar-2017. 

My article on 3-Apr-2017 looking at the philosophy of one of the speakers, Col. Manmohan Singh, at the GLOBAL SIKH COUNCIL INC. / MALAYSIAN GURDWARAS COUNCIL meeting held in KL concluded that

Gurbani does NOT subscribe to DEISM.  The Manmohan created God is not what our Gurbani preaches.  These are the type of deviant teaching, hinged on logic/reasoning and critical thinking, MGC subscribes to.  That is why they bring lecturers with such anti-Gurmat thoughts for their Seminar and Conference. 

Please read and have an understanding of Deism because I will show that the present problems experienced by the Sikh Panth is due to DEIST THOUGHT by those (the ADNs) who question the Dasam Granth, many parts of our SGGS Ji as well as our long standing practices.  BASED ON GURBANI DESIM IS “MIND’S THINKING” “MAN MAT” (ਮਨਮਤੁ).

Figure 1: Manmohan Singh at Global Sikh Council Conference 

WHAT IS DEISM?

IN THIS article let us delve further and understand what DEISM is?  See Figure 2.

The definition of DEISM in The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (SEP) as penned in the previous article is repeated below.  My comments in blue italics explain / clarify the meaning.

The continued existence of created things required no activity by God in addition to that of creating them (or their ultimate constituents) in the first place.  This means that in DEISM, the GOD made universe and then moved awayor cleared out and does not interfere in the operation of the universe.  This means the DEIST GOD has nothing more to do than create the universe.  The question is, is the GOD STILL AROUND or HAS DISAPPEARED sort of DEAD? 

Further it adds that

Such future activity beyond creation itself was unwanted, since it posed a concern for the success of the scientific attempts to understand cosmos.

Why was it necessary for GOD to CLEAR OUT?  This was necessary so that the cosmos can be explained scientifically using LOGIC,  REASON and CRITICAL THINKING.  Thus the cosmos is explained based on the Mind’sThingking and is what Gurbani terms Man Mat (ਮਨਮਤੁ)

And also

Deism is the form of religion most associated with the Enlightenment  

Enlightenment here means understanding by scientific means i.e. by way of LOGIC, REASON and CRITICAL THINKING.  This is clearly stated in the next sentences by the phrase “NATURAL LIGHT OF REASON” This is what Gurbani terms Man Mat (ਮਨਮਤੁ).  

• According to deism, we can know by the natural light of reason that the universe is created and governed by a supreme intelligence 

Based on REASON, it has to be and so, Deists accept, that supreme intelligence(we call it GOD) created the universe; 

• however, although this supreme being has a plan for creation from the beginning, the being does not interfere with creation 

The SUPREME BEING (GOD) does not play any part in the universe after creating it; 

• the deist typically rejects miracles and reliance on special revelation as a source of religious doctrine and belief, in favour of the natural light of reason.  

This clearly means that there is no revelation (no ਧੁਰ ਕੀ ਬਾਣੀ ਆਈ Thur Ki Bani Aaee The Bani of His Word emanated from the Primal Lord as Gurbani states).  

This is because according to DEISM GOD has created the universe some 13 – 15 billion years ago and will NOT  INTERFERE thenceforth.  So the DEIST SUPREME BEING cannot be giving any information to our Gurus.  

But our Gurus stated that the message was from GOD (see below); therefore the Deist concept is Man Mat (ਮਨਮਤੁ).

Figure 2: Deism

What does Gurbani say about GOD involvement with the creation?

ਹੁਕਮੁ ਸਾਜਿ ਹੁਕਮੈ ਵਿਚਿ ਰਖੈ ਹੁਕਮੈ ਅੰਦਰਿ ਵੇਖੈ॥  SGGS 1243 M2: Sarang Ki Vaar  

By the Hukam of His Command, He formed the Universe, and in His Hukam, He keeps it. By His Hukam, He keeps it under His Gaze.

ਕਰਿ ਕਰਿ ਵੇਖੈ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਚਲਾਏ ਤਿਸ ਨਿਸਤਿਰੇ ਜਾ ਕਉ ਨਦਰਿ ਕਰੇ॥  SGGS 443 M:1 Aasa

Having created the creation, He watches over it; He issues His Commands, and emancipates those, upon whom He casts His Glance of Grace.

ਓਅੰਕਾਰ ਆਦਿ ॥ ਕਥਨੀ ਅਨਾਦਿ ॥ ਖਲ ਖੰਡ ਖਿਆਲ ॥ ਗੁਰ ਬਰ ਅਕਾਲ ॥ Dasam Granth Guru Gobind Singh Jaap Sahib Stanza 167

You are the Beginning of all (Pervading all over right from the beginning). No one can tell about Your Beginning. You destroy the evil ones just by thought (in a moment). You are very powerful (Mighty), and not bound by the time (Deathless).

Gurbani clearly says that God is actively involved in the creation.  

What does Gurbani say about where did the Bani come from?

ਜੈਸੀ ਮੈ ਆਵੈ ਖਸਮ ਕੀ ਬਾਣੀ ਤੈਸੜਾ ਕਰੀ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਵੇ ਲਾਲੋ ॥ SGGS 722 M: 1 Tilang 

As the Word of the Forgiving Lord comes to me, so do I express it, O Lalo.

ਜੋ ਨਿਜ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਮੋ ਸੋ ਕਹਾ ਸੋ ਕਹਿਹੋਂ ਜਗ ਮਾਹਿ॥ Dasam Granth 141 Guru Gobind Bachitar Natak 

Whatever my Lord said to me, I say the same in the world.

Without doubt our Gurus explicitly stated that Banee is from GOD.  Hence GOD is not only created the creation but is actively involved in the creation.

Therefore DEISM is out the window as far as Gurbani is concerned.

SOME INFORMATION ABOUT DEISM (source Wikipaedia)  

Deism, a concept where God is known ONLY through REASON and the observation of nature, BUT NOT by revelation or supernatural manifestations or miracles.  Deism emerged during the 17^th century Europe.  (Note: my comments in blue and red)

Critical elements of Deist thinking are

• rejection of religions that are based on books that claim the revealed word of God

Strictly they would reject the Granth which is the source of “revealed word”.  Hence the EK GRANTH of the ADNs.   

• rejection of religious dogma and demagogy

Dogma means religious doctrine without proof (scientific LOGIC/REASONING/CRITICAL THINKING based proof) e.g. SIMRAN, MEDITATION cannot be proven (only personally experienced).  Demagogue in our context means that we follow our Gurus who have given us the instructions/teachings which we do not question. We do not question our Gurus teachings using RATIONAL THOUGHT i.e. by using LOGIC/REASON/CRITICAL THINKING. For example if the water in Harmandir Sarovar is AMRIT, or AMRIT given during Amrit Sanchar, or Guru Teg Bahadur Ji meditating in the Bhora; we accept this and don’t question it.  The ADNs denigrate SIMRAN, denigrate AMRIT both in the Sarovar as well as Amrit Sanchar and also Guru Teg Bahadur Ji meditating in the Bhora.

• scepticism of reports of miracles, prophecies and religious “mysteries”.

Examples of this is we do not question Baba Deep Singh going to Harmandir Sahib with head in hand, Guru Gobind Singh Ji taking the SEES (ਸੀਸ) of the PANJ PIARAY etc.  The ADNs question all these.

Wikipaedia quoted from Peter Gay, Deism: An Anthology

• All Deists are in fact both critical and constructive Deists. All sought to destroy in order to build, and reasoned either from the absurdity of Christianity to the need for a new philosophy or from their desire for a new philosophy to the absurdity of Christianity.

The above phrase shows the method by which the Deists operate.  They destroy in order to build.  This means they destroy the present practice to build and propagate the Deist Ideology.  ADNs are doing exactly this.  Destroy Dasam Granth, destroy parts of SGGS Ji, destroy current practices like Nishan Sahib, Akhand Path, Madh di Ardas, Simran, Amrit etc etc to preach their distorted version of Sikhi.

CONCLUSION

It has been shown that Gurbani does not support Deism.  In fact according to Gurbani, Deist concepts and beliefs are MAN MAT (ਮਨਮਤੁ).   

ADNs are destroying our present concepts and practices, they want to destroy Dasam Granth, destroy parts of SGGS Ji, destroy current practices like Nishan Sahib, Akhand Path, Madh di Ardas, Simran, Amrit etc etc to preach their distorted version of Sikhi.  

The ADNs (Guru Nindak’s and Panth Doki’s) are actually DEIST in disguise.  MGC appears to be supporting this by inviting and associating with those who preach this concept.