The Universal Man

"The Sikhs are creations of Guru's universal Love. They are by their very birth of His spirit, citizens of the World," writes Professor Puran Singh, an eminent exponent of the Sikh religion.

Professor Puran Singh visualises universality in the message of Sikhism. He perceives the same soul in everybody. In fact, the human body is one in the perception of Prof. Puran Singh. Our perception of the Beautiful One is one. Our pursuits are akin. There is no difference in our outlook. Our feelings, enjoyments and sufferings are similar. Our Guru ji says the ear, the eyes, the speech of man are congenial all the world over. The guru also traces the angelic and the divine in all human beings. He emphasises this feature of human nature, in the realm of angels. The heartbeat of man is alike all over the world, all human beings are created by Him. He does not discriminate while creating. The Guru emphasises on this point by writing:

"Thou art the spirit that pervades all. It is thy light, that lights all hearts." P.13

Prof. Puran Singh gives example of Abraham Lincoln's fight for the freedom of slaves in America that gives him the dignity of a prophet among statesmen. That large sympathy of man for man is the recognition of the same heartbeat. These contradictions of feeling only show that something nobler is stirring in the human mind and man has begun to visualise his universality, Guru Nanak says;

"Religion consists not in mere talk He who looks on all alike and considers then as equals, is acclaimed as religious." P.730

Bhagat Kabir Ji expresses the same lofty thoughts;

"Firstly God created light and then, by his omnipotence, made all the mortals. From the one light has welled up the entire universe. Then who is good and who is bad? O men, my brethren, do not stay in doubt. Creation is in the creator and the creator is in the creation. He is fully filling all places." P 1349

All the higher tendencies of civilised and cultured men are inclined towards universal brotherhood. All desire peace on this earth, the small sweet home of man. This is the spirit of the Guru. Guru Nanak fascinated Bhai Mardana. After seeing Guru Nanak for the first time Bhai Mardana never called himself a Muslim. After seeing Guru Gobind Singh Ji Bhai Nand Lal never called himself a Hindu. They were absorbed in the lofty galaxy of humanity.

Guru Nanak gave a universal message to the world. It is written at the beginning of the Guru Granth Sahib. It says:

"He is the sole supreme being; of eternal manifestation; creator; without fear' without rancour; timeless form; un-incarnated; self-existent; realised by the grace of the holy preceptor."

The message itself is a message of one human race having one source; one caretaker and sustainer. Thus, there is indeed no justification for man of the Guru to hate and satient thing, far less a man. The ideal of brotherhood of man starts with the Guru. Universality has its roots in the ideals of the Guru. When carefully scrutinised the ideals of the Guru put us to shame. The Guru expects his Sikhs to think good and contribute goodness everywhere and in every corner of this world. But we are not among ourselves full of love for each other; we have not yet dropped selfishness and given ourselves wholly to love. We are engrossed in empty talk. If we have not acknowledged love as the only substance of human life, we have not yet risen to Guru ji's ideals. Guru Nanak says;

"Man without love is an empty shell which crumbles down and is reduced to dust." P62

We have yet to develop this universal love envisaged and revealed to us by our Guru. If we ever get a glimpse and taste of this universal love, then we can see people from amongst ourselves serving the helpless, the poor and weak with their lives. Sikh history will repeat. It is a manifestation of universal love. We have never experienced such love and we have never played the game of love. Guru ji says;

"If you are fond of playing the game of love, enter my path with your head on your palm. Once you set your foot upon it, lay down your head without any fear or hesitation.

This can only be done when there is true love; when there is truth and contentment. These are universal virtues. Let's inculcate in ourselves truthfully and practice them. Let us learn to speak the truth and all our problems will be solved. Do not fall into traps set by others. Speak the truth, practice the truth and live a truthful life.

"Truth is realised through purity of the heart" P.472

Let our hearts be pure and this purity will purify all the impurities around us and make us loveable and universal in the real sense of the world.

Principal Amar Singh, Vancouver